Strawberry Assassination?

1》 Jealousy

"I'm going out, Karma." Ichigo called out to him from the front door.

"Be home by dinner, Ichi nee!" Came Yuzu running, standing behind Karma.

"I'll be home by dinner." Ichigo informed shooting a quick smile as he walked out the door, closing the door behind him.

"Alright. Call me if you need anything, Orangi." Karma waved at him with a smile.

The moment Ichigo left the house, Yuzu skipped her way back to her sister. Karma stood there with clenched fists. The content on his face melted away to wear an annoyed expression. Ichigo had been going out a lot these days. Now that school finally ended the ginger had all the time to hang around. Karma wasnt any different. He used the free time he now had to spend it with his new family that Ichigo, a dear friend of his, gave to him - sisters, a father, friends. Karma wouldn't have any problem if it was him going out with him. But Ichigo was spending rather too much time with his friend, Orihime Inoue.

Orihime sure was a lovely woman, helpful, kind, friendly, beautiful..everything. Yet Karma didnt like her. She was friendly towards Karma, not that he didnt like her for that. But the redhead had caught up on her emotions towards Ichigo in their first meeting. It bothered him, but he never could understand why. Not yet that is. And Ichigo was the least sensitive person, a dumbass when it came to emotions. The ginger was completely out of the question to even ask.

Karma & Ichigo met each other a few months ago, in one of Ichigo's hunt for a Hollow that brought him to Karma's school. Ichigo had helped Karma to take down the octopus teacher who had plans to destroy Earth after their finals. But certainly the Shinigami had no chance against the Octi, he would only end up being dressed up like a girl which according to others, suits him. Ever since that day, they became great friends. Best friends? Maybe? Maybe not?

"Baka! Watch it!" Karin warned as she dropped a plate in the sink. The poor glass in Karma's hand looked it was in the brink of cracking with how much pressure he was putting on it while wiping the dishes. Karma blinked, being pulled out of the daze. He muttered an apology and put it down. "Take a break. You look exhausted."

"Ichi nee looks happy, don't you think so?" Karin spoke while washing the dishes and handing each to the redhead.

"What do you mean?" Karma asked, carefully.

"Ichi nee has been smiling quite often. He always seem excited to go out with Orihime. Thats a good thing. He has been through a tough time with the finals. If it werent for you tutoring him all night, he would have failed." Karin joked with a chuckle.

"Really? I havent noticed." Karma shrugged, chuckling to Karin's words. But truth be told, Karma had noticed it. Ichigo was smiling too often and he hummed more than usual. Just the way he talked about her seemed to light him up. It irritated Karma to no end. He wanted to be the reason for his smile, he wanted to be the one he had gone out with, he wanted to be the one to step up when he had the chance. Now it was too late. Ichigo was falling for someone else and not him.

But Ichigo took Orihime only as a friend that he enjoyed spending time with. It wasnt that he would press the topic on Karma. It would be more like sharing his knowledge about her. And from how things were going, Ichigo was far from noticing Orihime's feelings towards him.

"So what are we eating today?" Karin asked with a poker face. "Dad's not home. Lets go out to eat?"

Karin's question brought him out of his thoughts. "I..uh dont know yet."

Karin raised an eyebrow while wiping her hands on the kitchen towel. "You always have an answer. It seems like you lost your head."

He didnt lose his head. He lost Ichigo. "Lets go out to eat tonight. My treat."