Why don't we play a game?

Orihime begged for the umpteenth time.

"Sorry, Inoue-san, but I am very busy that night," Ishida said politely. He carried on shooting his arrows with his quincy bow, he had really no idea how Orihime managed to find his favourite practice area, but he didn't feel like asking.

Orihime pouted slightly in a childish manner, of course she wasn't that annoyed, she was only trying to show it. "You hardly do anything out of school, so really, you are not busy at all."

"I am," Ishida said. "I'm... going shopping."

Orihime blinked. "For what?"

"A new set of needles," he replied hastily. "My old set is getting blunt."

"Surely it does not take an entire night to buy a set of needles?"

"I am a very picky person."

Orihime mused to herself. "Well, you can be a little choosy..." Her eyes brightened suddenly. "How about if I go and pick some for you, you should always trust a girl's taste, we could buy the needles in no more than 10 minuites and would have plenty of time to go to Kurosaki-kun's birthday!"

"Inoue-san, I shall say this the most lightest way as possible," Ishida said slowly. "I have no intention going over and celebrate Kurosaki's birthday."

Orihime's smile faltered a little. "But... aren't we all nakama?"

There was an awkward pause between the two, the only sound which absorbed the emptiness was the whistle of Ishida's quincy arrow flying.

Kurosaki Ichigo's birthday was tommorow, and his father somehow managed to get everyone in his class's phonenumbers and rang them and gave them an invitation to a special beach party. It would seem Ichigo was oblivious to the fact.

Ishida remembered listening to Kiego, Asano and Rukia talk about it.

"I mean, if Ichigo doesn't know, what's going to happen on his actually b-day?" asked Kiego.

"We're probably supposed to drag him over to the party ourselves," Asano said, texting something on his phone.

"How we're going to do that?" Kiego asked.

Rukia broke into a grin. "Leave it to me!"

She was later seen the day shoving into her locker a long rope, a large sack (that could easily fit a person), some tape, and a baseball bat. No one asked any questions.

"Remember how we all went to save Kuchiki-san and fought our way through Soul Society?" Orihime said.

"I had my own reasons for saving Kuchiki-san," Ishida muttered.

"Is it possibly because you like her?" Orihime asked, her eyes twinkled with curiosity.

Ishida almost misfired. "Erm, frankly, not in that way."

"Oh."

The quincy did his best to hide a blush, of course though he did not 'like' Kuchiki Rukia, there was someone else who he had a soft spot for. And that would be Inoue Orihime. Unlike most girls he meet, she actually was pretty smart, was the first person to talk to him at school, had smiled at him the same smile she would for her friends, she never lost her temper, or even look angry about anything.

One problem, it seemed that she too had a crush, but it was on the substitute shinigami, Kurosaki Ichigo. Not that he was anything that interesting, the only thing which made him really stand out was his stubborn personality, his bright orange hair, and his oozing reaitsu.

"Neh, Ishida-kun, why don't we play a game?" Orhime suggested.

Ishida sighed slightly and adjusted his glasses. "What kind of game?"

"If I manage to make you miss your target without moving from this spot in 5 minuites, you would come to Kurosaki-kun's birthday, but if I can't do that, then I won't ask you again," Orihime said brightly.

Ishida thought about this. Orihime had nothing to throw at him which could make him misfire his shot, which meant her best chance would be trying to scream at him. It was a win-win situation from his point of view so he agreed to the 'game.'

The first minuite went by, Ishida had not heard Orihime try anything suspicious as he fired about 10 smooth shots. He never misses a target, waiting would be futile.

Another minuite went by.

Then another.

And another.

Then Orihime straightened up slightly and cleared her throat.

Ishida fired thinking, here comes the scream

"Ishida-kun," Orihime said in her normal cheerful tone.

"Yes?" Ishida fired again.

"I love you."

For the first time, Ishida fired at Kurosaki Ichigo unintentionally.

Writer's note: Just thought it up during the morning on my way to school. First time writing a proper fic with Ishida in it. Hope you enjoy. Review if possible.

PS If any of my regulary readers are reading this, then please enter my poll on my profile!

Many thanks