I am not exactly sure why, but I am obsessed with this couple. They are so interesting with each other, it's a shame Kubo didn't explore more of what their relationship could be. So here I am, writing my third fanfic based on my favourite couple. Hope you all will like it. Please read and review.

Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo.

Aiko is my OC.

11/12/11:- Correcting the grammatical errors and typos that were in the story.

Prologue

The day had started out as any other day. The Sun had risen at its usual time, its heat slowly enveloping the Earth, evaporating the dew that had settled in the night. The birds had long since started their activities, hunting the worms from whatever crevices they had chosen to hide themselves in. The people around were slowly beginning to head to where ever their day was to take them to. All in all it looked like the average day which would blend into another without leaving any trace of its passing. However, for a certain little girl it felt as though the world was coming to an end. She pouted, sticking out her lower lip at her mother, her ash-grey eyes brimming up with tears.

"Orihime," her mother said in a would-be-patient voice "You have to understand, I need to do this."

On some level Aiko knew that she was asking too much of her daughter, who was still trying to understand that her father and brother had died. How was a six year old supposed to understand why her father and brother would never come back and why her mother was now going to get her a new father?

"What will papa say when he comes back?" the child's voice was quivering.

"ORIHIME!" Aiko snapped "you have to understand, your father is NOT coming back! Neither is your brother!"

"Why?" the child stomped her foot, refusing to believe.

A blind rage and helplessness took over Aiko as her hand acted of its own accord, landing forcefully on the girl's cheek. Aiko's chest twisted painfully as she watched her daughter cry and run away from her, calling out her brother's name.

"I am so sorry Hime." Aiko said clutching at her chest, tears falling from her eyes.