"Ha ha, that's a relief...!" She didn't know if she could keep this up. By now she knew there was no real warmth or humor in that false smile of his. He wore it as a mask, just one more tool to manipulate people into behaving the way he wanted for the sake of his plans.

Orihime stiffened, attention called back to the sign on the door. Her head whipped around to stare at the sign, and the dread was nearly overwhelming. Was this really the only way out? She would rather starve to death!

But if she refused, he would be suspicious, and her true feelings would be bared. She knew it was a simple matter. They had to do little more than keep their lips pressed together for seven minutes. But the idea of kissing the man who had tried to destroy her home and all of her friends, the man who had tried to strike down the person she loved most, was completely revolting. Goosebumps prickled over her arms and legs. What if he wanted more than that?

What if the chip made her want it too?

"It's...it's a childish game!" she laughed, trying to hide her unease as shyness and embarrassment. "It isn't really how I thought my first kiss would go, to be honest."

To say the least.