I will protect you!
Chapter 1 why does his tears hurt my heart?
Orihime and Chad right now are currently running through the forest. They are following after Tsukishima their minds are currently under his spell. With the use of his fullbring, Tsukishima has placed himself in both Orihime's and Chad's memories. He has replaced himself as Orihime's guardian in exchange of her brother. Whereas for chad he has taken over Ichigo's position as his best friend and his grandfather. After hearing Ichigo's cries of despair, they took off in high speed towards him to find out what was happening. Orihime's mind is in pain as her thoughts are now in confusion.
"Ichigo, he was crying. I don't understand? Mr Tsukishima and Ichigo are best friends? So why are they fighting?"
"Mr Tsukishima is the one I'm in love with. He's been there for me since I was a child always protecting me showing me his kindness and love for me."
"So then why does it hurt me more to see Ichigo cry like that? It hurts my mind, my heart and even in the pit of my stomach!"
"Please don't cry Ichigo; it's tearing me apart! Please don't cry!" Orihime begged her heart at its limit. Orihime stopped running her feet crashing through the last puddle as they grounded to a halt.
"Ichigo thank goodness you're not crying."
"It looks like Ichigo has got his soul reaper powers back. We have to protect Mr Tsukishima!" Chad stated in a worried tone prepping his hollow arm.
"Don't worry Chad, Rukia and Renji are here to stop him!" Orihime replied back relieved.
"I don't think so. Look they're all behind Ichigo like they are all on his side." Said Chad.
Orihime turned back towards Ichigo and the other visiting captains staring at him waiting to see his next move.
"Ginjo you bastard! You and Tsukishima are going to pay for what you did to Orihime! Even if she sees me as an enemy right now, I have regained my powers! So now I can protect her once again!" Ichigo declared pointing his Zanpakto towards him.
Orihime couldn't help her heart skipping a beat and her cheeks reddening after hearing Ichigo's words.
Just staring into his eyes gave her a huge sense of nostalgia as they contained a strong sense of hope and determination.
Orihime placed both her hands on her head as she saw images of a shadow saving her countless times.
"My head what's happening to me?" Orihime questioned as she struggled to comprehend who was her mysterious saviour.
All of a sudden, Orihime jumped out of her skin as Tsukishima placed his hand on her shoulder.
"What's wrong Orihime? Don't you remember what happened in the past?" Orihime stared towards the malicious stare of Tsukishima her head going through immense pain as the shadowed figure in her memories became him.
However, despite his memory manipulation, Orihime had feelings of doubt as he tried to take over the role of Ichigo Kurosaki as her saviour.
"What's this pain I'm feeling in my heart? I believe in Mr Tsukishima! So why am I having doubts?!" Orihime cried out bringing her open palm to her chest.
"What's wrong Orihime are you having doubts towards me? Are you afraid of me?"
"No what's going on why am I doubting his words?" Orihime questioned her eyes shot wide open.
Chad approached her in an attempt to comfort her but he wasn't able to reach her as Tsukishima once again manipulated his memories.
Chad this time grabbed his skull with great force yelling as his mind halted his movements.
"Well I'm sorry to say this Orihime. But if you don't believe in me anymore, I'm afraid you're no longer any use tom me." Tsukishima stated unsheathing his non enchanted blade.
Orihime stared in fear as he approached closer to her with a sadistic look upon his face.
"No! Mr Tsukishima that's not true, you know I would never doubt you." Orihime said as she panicked walking backwards tripping over a tree branch on the floor.
"Goodbye Orihime."
"Mr Tsukishima please don't!"
"Orihime!" Chad yelled as his friend was about to be sliced.
Orihime closed her eyes in complete shock as imminent death awaited her.
But as she opened her eyes, she had no wounds on her nor was there any sign of a blade impaled in her.
Orihime's eyes shot open as she stared at what was happening in front of her.
"You bastard don't you dare touch her!"
"Ichigo?" Orihime questioned as she witnessed him holding back the one who just claimed to kill her with his Zangetsu blade.
"Ichigo Kurosaki you're in the way! Can't you see you're making Orihime uncomfortable with you attacking me like this?" Tsukishima replied his face full of confidence.
"Don't you dare say her name so easily! You know nothing of her and you don't deserve to have her smile reflected at you either. Ichigo roared as he overpowered the evil doer's blade knocking him backwards.
Tsukishima grinned recovering his stance and aimed straight for Orihime again.
"Didn't I tell you? Stay away from Orihime!" Ichigo yelled cradling her in his arms saving her from Tsukishima's deadly attack.
Ichigo placed her down her face reddened as he released his grip from her.
"Please just stay here this won't take long." Ichigo asked her as he turned to face his opponent.
Orihime once again had an immense headache as she saw the figure in her memories change.
The scene of her being saved from the Arranchar yami, now being Ichigo wielding Zangetsu. The pain didn't stop there though, as Tsukishima was replaced by the orange haired hero again this time saving her from Ulquiorra.
Tears streamed down her eyes as she brought her fist to her heart admiring the man standing in front of her.
"It's futile Kurosaki!" Tsukishima stated sending some of his fullbring energy towards the frightened girl.
"I already told you! I won't let you hurt her! GETSUGA TENSHO!" Ichigo's Zangetsu and the area surrounding him became immersed in a holy blue aura as his spirit energy skyrocketed, slicing through the atmosphere.
Tsukishima retreated back to regain his footing after just barely dodging Ichigo's signature move.
"Orihime. I don't care if anything happens to me. Even if you can't trust me right now. I promise I will protect you! I won't let anyone ever hurt you or take you away ever again!"
Orihime blushed her eyes tearing up from Ichigo's powerful words.
"Chad please get yourself and Orihime to a safe distance this won't take long. BANKAI!"
Ichigo's huge Zangetsu was surrounded by a blackened light as it took on its new form to Tensa Zangetsu in the shape of an obsidian black katana its size differing from most Bankai's but this meant nothing compared to its true power.
Chad didn't say another word as he picked up Orihime and began to retreat back.
Orihime gazed at the battlefield as the two swordsman clashed with one another, her heart in dismay as her mind couldn't decipher who she truly loved.
Her eyes widening as a tree was sliced at the centre by Tsukishima's katana. Ichigo enraged used his flash step technique intercepting the falling tree cutting it clean in two.
"I told you already, I'm your opponent! I won't let you lay a finger on her you bastard!" Ichigo yelled infusing his spiritual energy into Tensa Zangetsu soaring into the air In pursuit of Tsukishima.
Orihime went into a panic.
"I don't know what's going on anymore. Why does my heart hurt so much when I look at Ichigo and when I look at Mr Tsukishima I feel nothing but doubt and fear? I don't understand I love Mr Tsukishima more than anything and yet." Orihime's rambling was silenced as she and Chad were attacked from behind their necks. Struck by mystery assailants.
The last thing she saw as her vision faded was the sight of Ichigo fighting on with determination and courage in his eyes.
"Save me Ichigo." Were the last words she uttered as she passed out on the floor.
Ichigo looked down to the ground feeling a sense of relief that Kisuke Uraharra and his father had taken Chad and Orihime into their care.
"Don't worry about these two Ichigo; they are safe just knocked out. Now you can unleash all of your power without holding back." Kisuke said causing Ichigo to smile as he prepared for battle.
"That's just what I wanted to hear. Take care of Chad and Orihime I'll end this in an instant!" Ichigo commanded as he submerged himself in spiritual energy.
"Are you finished saving your damsel in distress? Pity it will all be in vain once I take you down, you will both only see me in your memories and I will take that girl all for myself." Tsukishima said a huge grin upon his face.
"What do you want with Orihime you bastard?" Ichigo ordered becoming further enraged.
"Her power is incredible and knowing that I have her eyes looking at me instead of yours, it amuses me greatly. You heard what she said before right? She would do anything for me. She sees you as nothing more than an enemy who is hurting the man she truly treasures and cares about. Maybe I'll take her up on her offer of doing anything for me." Tsukishima said egging Ichigo on.
"You bastard!" Ichigo screamed as he sliced down at Tsukishima's katana.
"You don't deserve her kindness! I swore to myself after hueco muendo that I would never let anyone ever take Orihime away from me ever again! And I swore to protect her whether she looks at me in disgust, I swear I'm going to kick your ass and teach you a lesson for messing with that innocent girls memories!" Ichigo roared as he smashed Tsukishima's substitute weapon into pieces.
"Ha-ha I see so your power is even more of a threat to me now in terms of when you were using your fullbring against me. However, don't get too confident you're no match for me. One strike from this blade, and you're memories will too be vanquished and you too will worship the man who stands before you." Tsukishima stated transforming his book into a majestic blade.
"Well then I guess I just have to end this before you can touch me!" Ichigo said flash stepping behind him and striking at his back.
"You're good Kurosaki but you're not fast enough!"
Tsukishima sliced at where Ichigo stood unable to dodge his next attack as his Bankai struck his shoulder.
"Getsuga Tensho! Ichigo called forth his signature blade slash attack causing a cloud of smoke to form in front.
"What do you think you're doing Ginjo?!" Tsukishima asked the fullbring armoured man.
"I was going to ask you the same question Tsukishima, you know that Kurosaki is my prey and you will stay back whilst I rid him from this world!" Ginjo snapped back as he drew his blade.
Tsukishima didn't argue back as he avoided Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho.
"I don't give a damn about you're stupid argument. I'll take you both on at once!"
"Don't get cocky just because your soul reaper powers have returned. With your fullbring powers you won't lay a hand." Ginjo was interrupted as Ichigo's fist of fury collided with his cheek.
"Don't underestimate me Ginjo! That fullbring isn't even a fraction of my true power!" Ichigo yelled roundhouse kicking him in the gut.
"Impressive Kurosaki this may be more fun than I thought." Tsukishima said as he lunged towards Ichigo. The orange haired swordsman slashed at Tsukishima's sword overpowering his defence crashing him into the ground.
"Ichigo!" Ginjo charged Ichigo with his skull blade infusing It with a purple ominous light.
"Getsuga Tensho!" Ginjo roared his eyes full of rage.
"You really think your weak imitation is enough to even compete with the original?!" Ichigo yelled back infusing himself with spiritual energy as a powerful aura exploded from his blade.
"Getsuga Tensho! Ichigo's blade sliced through the atmosphere emitting a deadly piercing impact erasing Ginjo's cheap imitation with ease.
The strike carried on after erasing Ginjo's attack and grazed his arm just barely dodging it.
However, although he dodged the Getsuga Tensho, the blow critically damaged his arm as it drooped down gushing out blood unable to move.
"Tsukishima go get that damn girl to come heal me!" Ginjo ordered as he grasped at his lifeless arm.
"Are you kidding Ginjo you're pathetic! And besides, Orihime is to be used only at my disposal." Tsukishima said angering the substitute soul reaper.
Ichigo attacked Tsukishima head on his eyes full of anger.
"Orihime is not an object for you to use whenever you please! She is an incredible girl who doesn't deserve this treatment! I promise I will make you pay for hurting her!"
"Oh I see now, you're jealous that Orihime cares about me more than you. I get it now you're."
"Shut the hell up! You don't know anything about her! All you did was mess with her head and her heart!"
"Messed with her heart? Nonsense all I did was convince her I was her beloved carer who raised her from birth taking her away from her cruel neglectful parents."
"You bastard! How dare you replace her brother! He's dead you sick scum! I was there the night her brother died and I will never forget the look on her face as she cried. I won't let you hurt her anymore!" Ichigo's anger erupted like a volcano, he unleashed his flash stepping so fast, that he created several after images of himself.
"Your efforts are futile, my eyes can't be deceived by your tricks" Tsukishima said as he analysed the various forms of Ichigo.
"Found you!" Tsukishima sliced at Ichigo with blood thirst in his eyes.
"Sorry wrong target Tsukishima!" Ichigo said flash stepping behind him and cutting his back.
Tsukishima yelled as the wound in his back stung with excruciating pain.
"Damn you Kurosaki how dare you cut me! I will cut you and manipulate your memories until you won't even dare to even look at me funny! You're no match for my fullbring!" Tsukishima charged Ichigo again attacking him with full force.
Ichigo simply parried his sword strike and punched him in the gut knocking the wind out of him.
"Damn you Kurosaki don't get so over confident!" Tsukishima stared at Ichigo his eyes full of power and determination.
Tsukishima lunged for Ichigo but his speed was insignificant compared to Ichigo's regained power.
Simply stepping to the side, Ichigo sliced upwards mutilating his arm.
"Ahhhh! My arm! Damn you Kurosaki! Wait till I get that bitch to heal me! I'll even convince her to attack you as well!"
Tsukishima using the full power of his full bring, soared straight for Kisuke carrying the unconscious Orihime.
Ichigo had enough of this darting straight through his opponent cutting through his right leg.
"How many times do I have to tell you until it will bury into that thick skull of yours?! I will not let you hurt her!"
Ichigo infused his Getsuga Tensho into Tensa Zangetsu surrounding the blade in spiritual energy but instead of releasing its power, Ichigo used the power of his blade to attack Tsukishima directly slicing through his fullbring and obliterating it. Ichigo descended to the ground reverting his Bankai back into his Shikai form.
As he did so, Tsukishima's body dropped into the ground at great speed causing a huge crater.
"Kurosaki what are you waiting for kill me."
"You're not worth killing, you're full bring is destroyed so you no longer have any power. Live your life in confusion and remember the name Ichigo Kurosaki the weak soul reaper who defeated you and destroyed both you and your believed to be unstoppable power and pride."
All of a sudden, Thousands of cherry blossoms struck the defenceless opponent.
"Senbonzakura. I knew you wouldn't have been able to finish him off Kurosaki so I took care of him myself." Ichigo tried to argue but knew Byakuya was right and left Tsukishima's corpse to focus his attention on Ginjo.
And that's the first chapter done. I decided on writing this fan fiction because I really like Orihime and Ichigo as a couple. This arc had a lot of potential moments for Ichigo and Orihime and I have decided to bring these two together. I will start chapter 2 straight away.