Hi folks!!! My first ever fan fiction, and it's unfinished. Love triangle: IchigoXOrihimeXGrimmjow. It's about the endless cycle of death and rebirth and a love that will last. Chapter 2 coming up! )

"Rebirth"

Chapter 1

Countless Reasons

She slowly woke up, feeling her head throbbing with pain. She didn't know what happened to her. She felt strong arms carrying her slowly and gently. Surely, she was knocked out.

When she finally managed to open her eyes, she first saw the person she had wanted to see for years. Yes, she was away for so long and she yearned for him. The man she loved, Kurosaki Ichigo.

Then, her eyes shot up wide and took in the sky that she had cursed for two years. That ever dark and gloomy sky with a fake and mocking moon. Hueco Mundo.

Memories of what exactly happened flashed back in her mind like an avalanche. She remembered what she did.

Inoue Orihime stayed in Hueco Mundo for two years, under Aizen Sousuke's capture. She had been the healer of the many arrancars who continuously kill for the pleasure and success of their leader. For two years she spent her time in a wretched place where fallen souls go. She was surrounded by people who would kill on a whim. She healed them just so that they could murder more innocent lives.

But still she went on. For in her hands lie the lives of those people dearest to her. Her only family. Her only love.

At the beginning of her stay, she often had this hope that someday, her friends would come and save her. She knew that Ichigo would eventually come, like what he did to Rukia when she was the one in trouble. Orihime realized that the brave, raven-haired shinigami had won Ichigo's heart and she wanted to give up. Orihime knew that she had lesser importance than Rukia and that she wasn't exactly the greatest impact on her love's life, but she still hoped. They were still friends after all. They went to Soul Society together with their other companions. She helped during the Bounto attacks. She still had worth.

But her whole world nearly crumbled when Ulquiorra came to her cell one night, bringing her the usual food she ate. The 4th Espada bluntly told her that her tears were useless since her so-called friends had already deemed her as a traitor and that Soul Society has banned her rescue.

She was devastated. But she knew it was no use. She knew that her friends had no idea how she sacrificed herself to save their lives. And having them save her would be a waste of her sacrifice. The enemy is strong. She knew that they would have a slim chance of winning. And she couldn't bear it when Ichigo dies for her sake.

She was treated well, since most of the residents in the palace of Las Noches left her alone and even had this little respect for her God-like skills. She was given food, although she missed her own sweet jelly bean paste and the food she used to make. Most of the arrancars just pass her by and only talked to her when necessary. Except one…

The war had started and Orihime was glad that her friends hadn't forgotten about her at all. Ichigo finally came to her rescue.

Then she stood amidst the nearly ruined palace of Las Noches, watching Ichigo and Aizen battle it out. Ichigo indeed attained a new power, and she was very scared of him at first. The look in his eyes turned dark and his pupils a horrid shade of yellow. His face was covered by a hollow's mask. She briefly thought he changed until he appeared beside her before the fight had started while keeping his hollow form.

"Don't be scared. It's just me," he said.

Orihime nearly wounded her own hands as her fingernails dug in it in nervousness. Ichigo was severely wounded and covered in blood. He was struggling to keep his Vizard form and his breathing was getting heavier by the second. Aizen was tired also and had several wounds from Ichigo's black Getsuga Tenshou.

She froze momentarily when she saw Aizen fire another Red Cannon kidou spell aimed at Ichigo's chest. Ichigo, who was still occupied blocking the first spell, was caught off-guard by the second attack. Orihime reacted instinctively and sent her Santen Kesshun to protect Ichigo.

It was then when Aizen directed his cold eyes to Orihime that terror washed over her. She was open to his attack when she sent her shield to Ichigo. She watched as Aizen said, "Destructive Art no. 4, White Lightning."

The hit was direct to her heart, she knew that. Just then, a blur of white caught her sight, appearing in front of her. A uniform so familiar to her along with the equally familiar vision of cerulean blue hair and eyes wearing an indefinable expression was right before her.

Then, a strong pair of hands pushed her to save her completely. As Orihime fell and went to the state of unconsciousness, she saw the man who just saved her life. He took a direct hit of the spell right through his stomach.

Grimmjow…

Grimmjow Jaggerjack, the great 6th Espada breathed heavily against the pile of rubble and cold floor of Las Noches. The war is over. The arrancars and Aizen Sousuke have fallen in the hands of the Shinigamis and their allies.

He smirked. He stared at the pool of blood under him, coming out of a wound caused by a simple kidou spell. The hit was lethal and he hadn't expected to die this way. He had won numerous battles, ate powerful hollows, shinigamis and other souls. He survived so many critical events, yet, he died this way. He died not for himself, but for a person he had grown very much attached to.

Who would have thought that the ruthless Espada would die to save a human? A human. Although she wasn't ordinary and possessed God-like powers of healing or space and time manipulation, she was still a human. But she proved to him that humans were more than that.

He despised her, he had to admit that. At first, he couldn't bear those human expressions and emotions that cross her gray eyes in fleeting instants. He couldn't bear the way she trembles whenever any arrancars, especially he, passes by. He couldn't bear the way she cries for that bastard Kurosaki's name and his help when she's asleep and Grimmjow was the one guarding her.

He's not coming woman, Grimmjow would whisper when he hears Orihime while she was asleep. And if he does come, he won't reach you, coz I'll kill him.

Then, months have passed. The same girl he despised restored his amputated arm. She saved him from death when battles crossed his way. She was unwilling of course. And whenever he asked her why she healed them when every time she does so, a life could be lost. She just bows her head and shrugs wordlessly, continuing her work.

He hated that unresponsive side of her. She demanded respect from them when necessary and could be a downright bitch sometimes but he grew to appreciate that side of her.

Eventually he yearned to take a peek of that smile that once appeared when he asked her to quit yapping like a sick puppy. Her smile, even though it was sad, ignites something in him that he couldn't understand. He thought of hearing her laugh and talk to him without being angry. He thought of her expressive eyes, her innocent face, and her alluring mouth. He wanted to hear her gentle voice every time he sees her. He thought of her soft and warm skin against his ever-cold one. His once bloody dreams were now filled with visions of a woman who was not even his own race. He desired her. Then as more time passed, he realized it was more than desire.

He hated those unwanted feelings. Everyone knows that Hollows have no heart, and never will they have them. But because of that woman, Grimmjow wondered and yearned to have one. She woke up a soft spot within his usually brutal self. He couldn't change himself, he knew that. But he wanted her.

"Where is he?" Orihime asked.

Ichigo, who was still carrying her away from Las Noches, looked down at her pale face and smiled weakly. "You're finally awake. Are you ok?"

"Y-yes," she said, briefly thinking and blushing inwardly that her love was carrying her bridal style and their bodies were touching. Reality snapped back. "Where is he? Where is Grimmjow?"

Ichigo frowned. He turned around and jerked his head towards a crumpled and blood-drenched figure lying in the middle of the rubble. The recognizable blue hair was apparent despite the distance.

"Kurosaki-kun, please put me down," she said slowly.

"What? Why?" Ichigo inquired.

"I have to heal him."

She felt Ichigo's reluctance. She gave him a reassuring smile and said, "He saved me. I saved you. Please do me a favor and put me down."

He finally put her down and whispered in her ear in a sad tone. "Sorry I wasn't able to protect you that good. In saving me, you could have been killed."

She smiled up at his handsome face. "I'd do anything for you, Kurosaki-kun. You did well. You killed Aizen. That's good enough for me."

Ichigo was surprised by what she said; especially when she said that she'd do anything for him with such emotion.

He watched her walk away towards the arrancar who saved her life. Ichigo thought that the ruthless arrancar might have an ulterior motive behind what he did. But he was proved wrong when Grimmjow did nothing to stop him from destroying the whole place and taking Orihime.

Grimmjow lied motionlessly, waiting for death to claim his body and send him to hell. Even now in the time of his death, he smiled mercilessly. He could still smell her fragrance. Honey and water. He was in his illusions again.

He wasn't dreaming after all. Inoue Orihime kneeled in front of his wounded form and tears were silently flowing down her face as she whispered, "Shunou. Ayame. Souten Kesshun, I reject."

Before the orange glow enveloped his body in their incredible warmth, he spoke. "Stop it woman."

"But Grimmjow-sama, you saved me. You're dying. I have to heal you," she said, momentarily withdrawing her magic.

"I said no. Let me fuckin' die, woman," he said again, as blood trickled down his mouth.

Orihime obeyed as she started to sob harder. "Why? Why did you do it?"

"What did I do?"

She laughed brokenly. It was the first time he heard her laugh, and it was for him. "Don't ask stupid questions woman."

"A-answer me. Why did you save me?"

"Tse. How pointless," he managed to say sarcastically, avoiding her crying form. "The more important question is why you are here. I thought you were knocked out and hauled away by that bastard. Why are you still here? Isn't leaving and being rescued by that son-of-a-bitch your wish?"

He managed to blurt out so many words with his usual tone that Orihime smiled. She knew he was strong even now. He was able to bring back his old self even though he was dying.

She briefly remembered the times they quarreled with each other. He was loud-mouthed and brutal. He insulted her and her friends. He threatened to murder them all, including her. He was also the one who attempted to kill Kurosaki-kun so many times. Yet, he was the one who saved her.

She was surprised that she sensed jealousy from the arrancar. She was familiar with that emotion, having felt it herself when it came to Ichigo and Rukia.

"Do you want to rest Grimmjow-sama?" she asked softly.

"Hell yeah. I'm excited to meet the head honcho of hell and kill him. I want to be the king there," he said ruthlessly.

"You're not going to hell Grimmjow," another voice said.

It was Ichigo.

Grimmjow frowned. "And how the fuckin' hell would you know, brat?"

"Because you committed sins while being a hollow. Hollows naturally kill. They have no hearts. If you have done a mortal sin while you were still living, then you would go to hell. Did you kill anyone?" Ichigo asked.

"No. I was the one who was killed," Grimmjow replied with hatred.

"Then let me purify your soul."

Grimmjow directed his strong glare at the substitute shinigami. "As if I'd let my soul be purified by you."

"Please do it Grimmjow-sama. It's the least we could do. And you wanted to rest. Rest in Soul Society," Orihime piped in, begging him.

Grimmjow couldn't resist those pleading eyes and nodded slightly, so that she would be the only one to see.

"Get on with it Kurosaki," he said with finality, eyeing Ichigo.

Ichigo nodded and pulled Zangetsu from his back.

Orihime smiled at Grimmjow. "See you then, Grimmjow-sama."

"Whatever, woman."

"Thank you," she added as Ichigo brought down his sword and slashed Grimmjow's body with it, cleansing his soul.

They watched as Grimmjow's body faded away, fragment floating to Soul Society. Orihime smiled as she walked side by side with Ichigo, the man she loved, leaving Hueco Mundo forever.