Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

This was originally on my other account, Namikaze Artemis, but I got too embarrassed of it. So, I moved it over here, with some edits.

Prologue: Confessions Have To Be Done On Rooftops

A deep scowl landed on Ichigo's face. He stared out the window, not paying attention to the teacher's blathering. She had been repeating the same things over and over again for a while now.

The bell finally rang, thankfully, putting a stop to the teacher's lecture.

"Then, I'll see you all tomorrow!" the teacher called out, slamming her hands onto her desk. "Don't forget to do your homework!"

Ichigo got up from his desk, yawning. He was walking towards the door when Orihime stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"What is it, Inoue?" Ichigo asked curiously.

"Um, Kurosaki-kun..." Orihime said hesitantly. "Could you come up to the rooftop?"

"Sure, why not?" Ichigo scratched his head. "Any particular reason why, though?"

"Er... not really," Orihime answered, avoiding Ichigo's eyes.

Ichigo and Orihime quickly walked up the stairs to the rooftop. Ichigo pushed the door open. After keeping it open for Orihime to walk through, he leaned against the door. Despite himself, he was quite curious as of why Orihime had felt the need to bring him up here.

After advancing a few paces and turning around to look straight into Ichigo's eyes, Orihime took a deep breath.

She said the words she had been dying to say for months.

"Kurosaki-kun, I love you."

Ichigo looked at her with a blank expression. His mind had frozen, unable to process the words that must not be what he thought he heard.

"Sorry, I must have misheard you. Could you say that again?" Ichigo asked haltingly.

"I said that I love you, Kurosaki-kun," Orihime repeated firmly.

Ichigo paled slightly.

What can I say? Ichigo thought in sheer panic. Inoue is a good friend and all, but I don't really see her in a romantic manner. I mean, we don't even call each other by our first names! Though that may be more because of habit if anything... and don't forget about Ru-

Ichigo cut his thoughts off before they ventured into dangerous territory.

"Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime said, her voice already tinged with disappointment.

Ichigo took a deep breath.

Better get it over with.

"I'm sorry Inoue. You're a good friend and all. But – I don't like you in that way."

"I see," said Orihime quietly.

They stood in silence for a brief moment before it was broken by Orihime.

"Do you like Kuchiki-san?"

A pale pink tinge covered Ichigo's face. He shook his head.

"Of course not! That's- that's- why would you think that?" Ichigo demanded, a familiar scowl settling back onto his face.

Orihime smiled, a small, somewhat bitter smile.

"Kurosaki-kun..." Orihime said softly. "The least you could do is tell me the truth."

Ichigo's face turned a little redder at that, for various reasons.

"I suppose I might like Rukia," Ichigo admitted, scratching his head.

"Kuchiki-san is a shinigami, Kurosaki-kun," Orihime pointed out. "You live in different worlds. Literally."

"I'll die and go to Soul Society eventually, you know." Ichigo said dryly.

"But you'll probably be an old man by then," Orihime countered.

Ichigo sighed, ever so slightly. "Inoue, you know that my old man is a Shinigami, right?"

"Yes," Orihime replied, starting to see where he was going with this.

"I'm half-shinigami. In fact, you could said that I 'died' when Urahara cut of my chain in order for me to regain my shinigami powers." Ichigo explained.

Orihime's eyes widened, as what Ichigo was saying started to sink in.

"Therefore, while my human body will age normally, my soul will age like any Shinigami," Ichigo continued. "When I eventually go to Soul Society, I probably won't look much older than I do now."

"I see." Orihime stayed quiet for a moment longer, before coming up with another arguement. She hated herself for having to ask all these questions, but she had to know. She had to know if there was any chance at all.

"Kurosaki-kun, you'll probably die in seventy years or so. Even for a shinigami, that's a long time," Orihime said. "If Kuchiki-san likes you back, I doubt she'd wait that long either. Not to mention that your feelings may change as well."

Ichigo looked up at the sky, an unusually melancholy expression on his face.

"I don't know if Rukia likes me. Probably not. But I don't care. I will wait, no matter how long it takes. And I will find out, eventually." Ichigo said. Looking back towards Orihime, he gave her a brief, mischievous, grin. "Also, I think Ishida might like you."

Orihime blinked in surprise. "Wait, what?"

Meanwhile, behind the door leading to the rooftop, Rukia and Ishida had identical expressions of incredulity. Chad just looked slightly surprised.

"What- that Kurosaki, saying unnecessary things!" Ishida snapped in embarrassment.

Rukia looked at the ground, completely floored at what she had just found out.

Chad looked at Rukia. "Do you like-"

"None of your business," Rukia snapped, starting to stomp down the stairway.

"Will you wait?" Chad said quietly.

Rukia stopped, her foot suspended mid-air. "Of course."

She softly placed her foot down on the next step.

"That idiot."

Ishida and Chad were silenced at those words.

"You know, if you don't hurry, Orihime and Ichigo will find you when they come down from the rooftop," Rukia added, looking back up at the two of them.

Ishida and Chad exchanged glances of terror- well, what passed as an expression of terror for Chad- and raced down the stairs.

Rukia snickered as she ran right after them.

I was planning to not edit it much, but then my hand started twitching.