Temporary Pain
Disclaimers: I do now own Bleach, Bleach rightfully belongs to its creator and network.
The story is six months after his fight with Tsukishima's fight. He might have won the fight but his fight with was more than likely not over. His family and friends had returned to normal no longer thinking he was insane and returned to training as a full bringer.
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Introduction
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Ichigo Kurosaki, age 17, hair color orange, eye color brown, and current occupation of a high school student also had training session with Ginjo. Everyone knew for the past six months that Ichigo had been lost, his heart have been missing. Six months ago Orihime Inoue was taken from them all. Everyone tried their best to help Ichigo continue his training but his life had changed…his will to fight, to protect was being drained from him day by day. Tatsuki Arisawa, Orihime Inoue's best friend took her friend's lost incredibly hard however her heart went out to Ichigo Kurosaki. They were sitting in class and everything that made Ichigo was lost...gone the instant that Orihime died…the moment he knew she had only one regret.
Keigo Asano, Mizurio Kojima, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, and Uryu Ishida all have taken notice of the once substitute soul reaper's change. It wasn't gradual as some thought it would have been but it was immediate and a constant quick turn to the worst. His family tried desperately to bring out the old Ichigo but even his own family just let him be. His father tried to be his usual energetic self, picking his usual fights with his son but it was just nothing… By the request of Urahara all of his training was monitored by Ishida and Chad but they weren't the only ones that could tell there was a difference in the boy. Ginjo several times tried to get him to a spark of some kind even go as far as mentioning Orihime to him but only he fell deeper into depression. He would withdraw from the fight giving some excuse, he would go through the motions of school and training but all seemed lost to the seventeen year old.
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Six Months Prior
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Ichigo ran as fast as he could, he had gotten a call from Chad saying that the human trio had been fighting off some hollows. He was trying to get to the hospital in time, his heart nearly shattered into a million pieces. He was wondering why they didn't call him sooner why did they wait until she was in the worst possible condition. He prayed his feet would carry him faster he didn't have time…he prayed he would reach her in time…that she wouldn't be gone…that she would be ok. Idiot she will be fine, just make it there…remember Chad said she was asking for you…run idiot run!
He finally made it to the hospital and he saw all of his friends and his father. He ran to his dad, considering his father was a physician after all, "Old man…tell me…tell me…."
Isshin Kurosaki saw the desperation in his son's eyes, "Go see her…we'll tell you what happened after you see her." Ichigo didn't have to be told twice as he ran into the room. His eyes were deceiving him, they just had to be. There was Orihime Inoue on a hospital bed with wires and tubes hooked up to her. She had a breathing mask on her face and her body covered the huge gash in her body. He could tell she was badly injured without ever looking at the actual wound. Her eyes fluttered open and she weakly held her hand up. Ichigo grabbed it and her soft gray eyes were looking up at his.
"Kuro…Kurosaki…kun…."
Ichigo's heart was clenching in his chest, "Inoue don't talk. Save your strength…you're going to make it through this…" He was trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill from his eyes. "You're going to make it through...you'll be just fine…"
Orihime shook her head, "I…know…I know that I'm dying…"
"In…Inoue…" He clutched her hand tighter as she tried to speak. "Don't say things like that…"
Orihime had tears in her own eyes, "It's alright…I was trying to make sure Sado-kun and Ishida-kun were alright. I shielded Ishida-kun and I took the blow for Sado-kun…"
"Inoue…" Ichigo couldn't stop his tears any more even if he tried. Tears began to fall little did he know that the people outside were listening to the conversation occurring instead of the hospital room. Isshin felt his heart go out to his son, he remembered what it was like losing his wife but he had his children to help him move on. He wasn't a completely broken man after his wife's death but he knew his son wouldn't leave here a whole person. He was glad his daughters weren't here or they would not be helping their older brother's emotional state.
"Inoue…please save your strength…" Ichigo pleaded with her trying to get some hope that she was going to make it through this.
"I have only one regret…that…"
"Inoue please," Ichigo had tears falling freely and he didn't care if she saw them or anyone else for that matter. "Don't…Don't…say another word. You're going to make it through this…just save up your strength and you can call heal yourself in no time…"
Ryuken Ishida joined the group in the hallway, though a man known to not portray any emotions on his face, he truly felt bad for the group outside of Orihime's door. They all had gone and spoken with the girl for a short time but…he could hear the pain in the young man's voice that was currently in there with her. Her spiritual essence was slipping away at a rapid pace and there was nothing they could do for the girl. She probably healed herself enough to say her final goodbye to Ichigo. He pushed his glasses up on his face and stood next to Isshin. He softly whispered but loud enough for the other teens to hear, "I did all I could do. The damage was too severe for even for either one of us to fix, Kurosaki."
"I'm well aware of that, I'm well aware she kept herself alive long enough to give this to Ichigo…" Isshin said looking at his hunched over son. "Ichigo hasn't cried since his mother passed on, this is the first time that he has been this broken."
"I see," Ryuken nodded. "Call me when…never mind contact me if anything changes."
"She's going to die, isn't she," Tatsuki clung onto the younger Ishida tightly. She didn't hide her tears to the quincy, he just let her cling to his arm. He was blaming himself, if only him and Chad had been on better alert of the hollows this wouldn't have had happened. However he knew he could move on slowly with the help of his friends but Ichigo was another story. There was no telling what will happen to the young man desperately pleading with some higher power to save her life. Chad and Ishida froze as did Isshin as they saw Rukia Kuchiki standing over Orihime's body. "Uryu what is it?"
Ishida shook his head, "It's nothing."
"They've come to take her," Chad informed them as they all looked at the often quite tall teen. There was no point in hiding the truth, "They are here to take her to soul society…Ichigo can't see them…"
"It might be for the better if he didn't then." Isshin said softly, "If he did see them, he probably would just end up hating them all…besides if you look closely Rukia is crying as well…she doesn't want to do this either."
"Sending Kuchiki-san is a bit cruel," Keigo said softly. "I guess those soul society people don't have too much heart in them after all."
"At least it's someone Orihime knows," Tatsuki said through her tears. "She won't be going over there with some strange person…"
Mizuiro nodded, "All we can do is be here for Ichigo when this is all done. This will be the hardest on him…moving on I mean…"
Their thoughts were broken as they all heard Ichigo's painful cry, "INOUE!" They all walked into the room to see the heart monitor had gone flat. Her breathing had completely stopped and her eyes closed shut, Ichigo was clutching her hand as his eyes were staring at the empty body. The ones that could see Rukia took notice she was gone now, that only meant their friend had gone to soul society. "Inoue…open your eyes, Oi INOUE!" Ichigo shook her shoulders and all they could do was watch him. They didn't have the heart to tell him to stop.
Ishida was the first to speak, "We went to where we sensed a small number of hollows. We didn't expect them to be exception to mindless monster rule. We were able to take down most of the lower level hollows with ease and with the help of Inoue."
Chad added in, "Ishida and I tried to take care of all of the stronger ones so Inoue didn't need to get involved. She had grown stronger but we didn't want to burden her considering Ishida and I had suffered some injuries."
"Inoue…she's much more observant than we give her credit for, she saw the extra hollow hiding behind in the trees. Once we had defeated most of them Chad and I were exhausted," Ishida closed his eyes trying not to recall the impaled image of Orihime. "She put a shield that protected me from the hollow's attack but the hollow also quickly aimed at Chad. I took out the hollow right after he…he…"
"After the hollow was defeated, Orihime quickly used her ability to try to heal herself but the damage had been done. We tried to give her some of our spiritual essence but she told us she would be fine and not to worry," Chad finished.
"No…no…you're lying…she's just sleeping, she'll wake up…she's just resting so she can…" Ichigo wept as held onto her now cold hand. The hand that once healed him so many times and that hand even protected him when he was training. She had discovered new abilities with that very same hand, the same hand she gave him in Hueco Mundo when he reached out to her. "Whatever that one regret is, Inoue…you won't have it anymore…just tell me so I can fix that…Inoue please just wake up…please…"
"Ichigo…"
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Present Time
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It's been six months, Ichigo…Tatsuki looked over at the slumped over Ichigo, his eyes had gone dull with no life in them. He didn't even eat his lunch on the roof anymore with the boys. He just sat there still looking out the window, for a while he would watch the door almost hoping it was all a joke and Orihime would walk right in as nothing ever happened. She had to admit she took it hard but it was nothing compared to his pain. He heard straight from Orihime she had one regret and Tatsuki was well aware what that one regret was. She was glad that Orihime didn't tell him or he would probably have been depressed even faster. Keigo and Mizuiro tried to bring out the old punk Ichigo but there was nothing really left without Orihime.
She remembered his father telling them all something on why he thought Ichigo was going to take longer to recover, "Orihime is much like my Masaki. She is the calming force much like his mother was for me…she calms him when no one else can. He needed her to set him at ease, that idiot of a son of mine will never admit it out loud or maybe he didn't even know…he had fallen in love with a princess…whatever his reasons for not realizing it sooner it won't matter. He needs to come to terms with this on his own."
Tatsuki sighed, Orihime…he needs you so much right now. I hope you are doing well in Soul Society. Rukia even came by to tell us that you had made it over there safely but not to tell Ichigo anything. I don't understand why we can't tell him, he needs to know the most she is ok…
"You can't tell him," Rukia sighed. "Even if you did tell him, he would still blame himself for not having the powers to protect her."
"But Rukia, why did you come to tell me," Tatsuki asked looking at the petite soul reaper. "Ichigo is the one that needs to know she is ok, it could help him move on."
"We are well aware of his condition but it was orders from above to not say anything. I haven't even seen her yet with my own two eyes so I don't feel like it could reassuring," Rukia said sadly. "Head Captain directly ordered all of us not to tell Ichigo anything…he said he would see to it that Inoue would be fine in soul society."
"I see," Tatsuki smiled. "At least I know she's there now. I'm happy to know she made it. Can I at least tell the others at least? I'm sure they can keep it a secret…"
"That should be fine" Rukia nodded. "I should be off now…hit that idiot a few times for me will ya?"
Tatsuki sighed, she had told Ishida and Chad. They all sighed in relief knowing she was on the other side. Keigo and Mizuiro felt better with the announcement that Orihime had made it safely. They all made a silent agreement to not tell Ichgio after Tatsuki told them why. They all began to wonder why they didn't want Ichigo to know, they wondered if it was something maybe for him to try harder to regain his powers. It didn't affect him in that way, his training was hollow, empty, lifeless even Ginjo had said so. He had the powers of a full bringer and he was so close to regaining his powers until that night six months ago. That night where Orihime protected her friends gladly without a second thought and her one regret was not telling Ichigo how she felt about him. It had been clear as day that the two of them had feelings for each other but it was all in the past now.
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Soul Society
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"Too slow!" The Captain Commander Yamamoto smirked as his young captain came at him again with another strike. He smiled as he easily dodged it, "I thought your skills were improving…"
"I'm not finished yet," the young captain said with a bright smile. "Oi, that's not fair! You're not even trying Head captain!"
"Head captain," Yamamoto stopped what he was doing and easily blocked the flying kick that came at his head. "The preparations have been made. We are ready whenever you are…"
"Thank you, Captain Ukitake," Yamamoto nodded as he looked over at the young captain that became like a granddaughter to him landed on her feet and knelt down next to the head captain. The silver haired captain Jushiro Ukitake of the thirteenth division captain nodded as he looked over at the woman Yamamoto had been training for the past six months. "Ah, don't worry Ukitake she will make it through the gate this time. She will be going through the gate with subordinates she personally requested. Isn't that right Captain Inoue?"
Orihime Inoue stood up, she had been on the fast track of training since her arrival in Soul Society. Yamamoto kept her a secret from everyone but the other captains. Her body had changed a bit, she was slimmer but she was now very fit. Her face lost a bit of her baby fat due to her training with the head captain. Her spiritual essence had grown during her six months of training. Her hair was up in a ponytail, she had let it grow a little bit longer as it sat down at her hips. She was smiling greatly as they began their walk to the gate.
"Are you ready, Orihime," Yamamoto asked with a smile on his lips.
Orihime nodded, "I am. My mission begins today?"
Yamamoto smiled, "Yes. This will be your assignment to watch over Karakura Town due to the increasing spiritual pressure and to oversee Ichigo Kurosaki's training to regain is powers of a soul reaper."
"Yes sir," Orihime nodded with a huge smile. "But why me, Head Catapin?"
"Do not worry about that, the head captain thinks highly of you," Ukitake smiled at the young girl. "Urahara will be expecting your arrival and has a special Gigai awaiting you once you get there Captain Inoue…"
"Ukitake-san, you know I don't like it when you call me that," Orihime smiled and waved it off. "Orihime is just fine, besides you have been a captain much longer than I have. I was given this captain's robe from the head captain only a couple months ago."
"That might be true but you are considered a captain part of the first division under the head captain," Ukitake replied with a smile. "Rukia will be very excited to see you. As will your friends once you enter the world of the living."
"I'm excited to see them as well," Orihime gently touched her earrings. The head captain had turned her hair pins into a pair of dangling earrings so she could still us her ability as part of her soul reaper abilities. She developed her own skill with the zanpakuto and kept a lot of her personality which everyone was clearly suprised. In training and battle she was different but no one wanted to ever see her in actual battle but at least they wanted to prepare her. They have been expecting a new challenge coming their way and wanted to make sure they have covered all their bases.
They made their way up to hill to see the gate waiting for them. There were two confused soul reapers with their mouths gaping open, "In…Inoue…" Rukia ran up to the auburn haired princess and hugged her tightly. "I don't believe it. You're a … you're a…"
"Please don't call me captain," Orihime scrunched her nose and then smiled brightly. "It's good to see you and Abarai-kun, Kuchiki-san. I requested that you two be assigned with me. Although Head Captain says I have to make a rotation schedule on who is supposed to be stationed with me in the living world. I am supposed to report back every three months to continue my training with Head Captain Yamamoto."
Renji Abarai was staring like an idiot while Orihime was ranting on about her duties and orders to say the least Rukia was not going to have it. She quickly bonked him on the head, "Renji you should be excited that we get to go see Ichigo…"
"WHY would I be EXCITED to go see that idiot?" Renji glared at the petite soul reaper. "That idiot has been probably sitting on his ass doing nothing probably for months now. I heard his training has hit a dead end that moron."
"Well what were you doing gawking at Inoue like that," Rukia shouted back at the red headed soul reaper. "You act like you've never seen her before? She looks the same as before stupid!"
"Ow, ow….Rukia stop….ow…ow…that hurts! Rukia stop it already!"
Yamamoto sighed, "Orihime…you're task is to watch over Karakura while insuring that Ichigo Kurosaki attains his soul reaper powers. Try not to go after hollows unless absolutely need be, that is what Renji and Rukia are for. Ichigo Kurosaki will more than likely be reluctant and stubborn as always after seeing you. Also take this with you…" He handed her a jeweled necklace. "Keep this one you at all times especially after you receive your gagai and this necklace will be used for you to put in a substitute soul when you need to be a soul reaper. It will also help you to keep your spiritual pressure hidden from others that have the ability to detect you especially the enemy, no need for them to know you is there. So you will able to finish the life of this school in the living world without being detected." Orihime leaned her head forward as the older man put it around her neck. She smiled warmly and she bowed before the elder captain.
Renji and Rukia took the time to finally pay attention to what was going on as Orihime spoke, "Thank you for everything Head Captain. I know it wasn't easy to train me and I was very reluctant at first in wanting to be offensive with a zanpakuto. You had patience and even let me spend time with my older brother, Sora here in Soul Society. You have taken such great care of me and given me a second chance at life with my friends. I will try not to disappoint you in any way. I will protect my home town and help Kurosaki-kun regain his powers of a soul reaper no matter how long it takes."
Yamamoto nodded, "I am already proud of Orihime, I will see you in three months to continue to train with your Bankai. After we have our training session you will return back to your station in Karakura town with another two soul reapers to help you do as you need. I'll have a courier sent to you if there is paper work or anything that I might need you to do."
"Thank you," Orihime smiled warmly and gave the older man a warm hug. "For everything…"
"Now, now, you should be on your way. I'm sure Urahara is waiting for you anxiously," Yamamoto grinned. Many of captains believed that Orihime was a light for many people but she would be the most important light for a former substitute soul reaper that has lost his way. He would soon learn pain is only temporary, the darkness only falls shadow over people for a small time before the light once again shines. Ichigo Kurosaki will soon see his light once again…
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See you next chapter! I don't know why I hadn't read or watched Bleach in forever and the more I watched the more I fell in love with Ichigo and Orihime.
