Uh, this is my round 4 entry with the pairing Byakuya/Orihime.
Warnings: Character death, wimpy Orihime, OOC Byakuya
As Byakuya lay in a pool of his own blood, he could feel his body numbing and realised this is it, no one can save me now. The realisation of his impending death truly scared him, for now he wouldn't get to see Rukia grow, nor see her advance through the seated ranks. He'd miss Renji, but knew the red-head was going to be a more than capable replacement for him, if he accepted the position. Another person he'd miss (though he would never admit it) was Kurosaki Ichigo. The way he never used honorific's when addressing most shinigami was something Byakuya found refreshing and reminded him of when he was a kid.
Byakuya smiled faintly as he remembered times during his youth when he would tear after that were-cat, while she seemed to be almost dancing along in her shunpo. It appears I didn't practise hard enough while you were gone. I was still too slow.
As Byakuya forced himself back to the present, he could hear people screaming, most of which he could understand to be his name. However the only scream he was looking for, was getting louder, as if the person was ploughing their way through so they could reach his side.
"Kuchiki-taicho? Byakuya, please, answer me!" It was obvious that they were crying and Byakua was even more saddened by this. Slowly he reached his arm up and forced his eyes open as he cupped the face of the sobbing human above him.
"Inoue Orihime," When the girl reacted to her name, Byakuya gently brought her head down, and captured her lips with his. It was a sad and simple kiss, and in it, Byakuya hoped Orihime would find the strength to move on without him. "I'm so sorry Orihime, but this is goodbye."
At his words, tears began to flow afresh from the girl's eyes. "No, no ii,it ccan't be," she stuttered through the tears, "Llet me help, yyou, Sōten Kisshun!" At her command an oval of orange reiatsu formed over Byakuya's body, and despite himself, the shinigami smiled.
"Orihime, you need to stop, saving me is a waste, go help your friends," Due to the severity of his injuries, talking was becoming quite a strain on Byakuya, so his words came out a lot more forceful than he meant them to. "I'm going to die, and you don't have enough reiatsu to change that." Byakuya lowered his voice and spoke very softly, "I'm sorry Orihime, but you can't save me this time. I love you with all my being, but you have to move on, focus on your friends, a… and be… hap…py…" And with those final words, Byakuya's eyes glazed over, and his blood stained body slowly began to grow cold, the Sōten Kisshun faded, and Orihime crossed her arms over Byakuya's cheast, put her head on them and began to cry uncontrolably.
Thanks for reading, reviews are appreciated and flames are welcome!