Summary: a Bleach/ Ichihime fanfiction , that takes place after the fullbring arc. RATED- K.

Disclaimer-I DO NOT OWN BLEACH!

CHAPTER 1: BEGINNINGS

Orihime Inoue felt tears stream down her face, as she the whirling flames around her burn the Seretei. She stood in the middle of the chaos, holding her hands tightly on her chest as she heard familiar voices echo around her.

"ROAR, ZABIMARU!"

"SCATTER, SENBONSAKURA!"

"DANCE, SODE NO SHIRAYUKI!"

She could do nothing, because she wasn't really there, she was a ghost, she was allowed only to observe, nothing more. Suddenly ,she felt a fast breeze brush past her body….

A person?!

She then turned her head to look back at what it was that had almost hit her.

Abarai-kun…..

The fallen warrior lay up against a smashed wall, red hair fallen over his face. His whole body was covered in blood, and his body so battered that he lay almost undistinguished, among all the other piles of soul reapers, whom also lay defeated, bathing in their own blood.

Orihime felt fear quiver all over her body as she ran toward her broken friend. When she came close to him, still running, she made a gesture with her hands as she shouted,"SOUTEN KUSHEEN, I REJECT!"

Silence…..

In shock, she fell on her knees beside Renji's body, eyes wide in looked down at the hairpins in her hand, and rapidly shook her shouted again,"SOUTEN KUSHEEN, I REJECT!"

Nothing….

She was about to try again when she suddenly heard a familiar voice shout,"RENJI!"

Kuchki-san….

She turned her head to see her old friend running toward them.A hint of joy erupted in Orihime's heart, as she was glad to see that she was still alive, but it quickly died as she sensed a hidden spiritual pressure thinking, she quickly screamed,"NO! RUKIA, STAY BACK!"

Too late….

Rukia's eyes grew wide with terror, as she turned her head toward the appearing spiritual pressure. But no sooner did a distorted hand grab her face, throwing her with full force through a nearby building.

Despite her terror, Orihime began to rapidly run to her wounded friend's aid, as the creature had begun to walk in the direction to which its target had flew. Remembering that he could'nt use Souten Kusheen, she instinctively grabbed an abandoned, nearby the sword felt foreign and wrong to her, she knew that he must detach herself from all fears, if she had any chance of saving her friend.

When the creature had finally gotten close to Rukia's body, Orihime lunged at it, raising the sword in a full attempt to kill. Her efforts, however, quickly became in vain as she passed straight through the creature's body, like a ghost. She fell to the ground, her body skidded, putting some distance between her and the tried to lift herself up with her arms,but then felt a stinging sensation shoot through her leg.

B-broken?Damnit!

Slowly, she lifted her head to see what had happened. Though her vision was blurry , she saw that Rukia was holding up her Zanpakto in a blocking position. As her vision became more clearer, she saw that the creature was pushing its sword down, with full force, at Rukia's.

Kuchki-san….no…

Rukia's eyes silently filled with terror, as she still tried to appear brave before her vile opponent.

Crack!….crack!….crack!….

Both Rukia and Orihime could feel their hearts stop, as they saw the white Zanpacto cracking in the middle on impact. Each snap echoed as the chaos around them seemed to stop, each snap counting down… to her death…..

Crack…crack…crack….

Rukia was too weak to get away ,half of her bones were broken, and her body was bloody and bruised, she barely had enough strength to hold back the creature's eyes wandered, searching for anything comforting to give her even the smallest bit of hope,anything but the distorted face of her killer. Surprisingly, she caught the gaze of stared at each other,and a deep sadness suddenly fell upon the entire rolled down Orihime's face as her dear friend stared into her was going to die here…..and she could do nothing….

But,..despite everything else…her eyes softened..and she managed to create a weak smile…And in the softest whisper she said, "Thank you, my friend…"

Orihime reached out toward her with one hand and screamed,"NOOOOOO!"

SNAP!...

As the beautiful, white Zanpacto snapped in two, the enemy's sword quickly, tore through Rukia's body, right below her lieutenant gagged blood, as she looked down at the bloody weapon that had stolen her life away, still holding the broken pieces of her once glorious creature tore it's weapon out of her body, which caused her to fall backwards.

Seeing that she wasn't dead yet,the enemy raised its sword to finish the final blow. Only to abruptly stop the thrust….just before it struck Orihime Inoue, whom had suddenly appeared, shielding Rukia with her entire body. She lay on the ground in front of the Soul Reapers body, hand stretched up towards the creature in an attempt to help her friend in the only way she knew how…She tried to keep a straight face, despite the pure agony her battered leg was causing her….

Slowly, the creature pulled back its unfinished thrust, turned, and began to slowly walk away….Suddenly used flashstep….and was gone…

Orihime stared for a moment in the direction, in which the creature had retreated. But her astonished gaze quickly disappeared, when she heard the wheezing sound of a half dead warrior behind her. She turned to see her friend breathing slowly and faintly.

"I-Inoue…..?"

Orihime stared at Rukia, as her fading eyes stared half closed and blankly at her auburn haired friend. Orihime's eyes wandered to look at the deep cuts and bruises all over the brunette's body. She was so badly beaten that Orihime even caught herself doubting that this broken and defeated soul was even the strong warrior that she had admired and adored.

Rukia's vision was blurry from all the blood flooding into her eyes , and she couldn't really tell that the smeared creature before her was her gentle friend. She forced the word out of her weak throat once more ,"Inoue...?"

Orihime was sobbing softly, as she still lay there mesmerized by the tragic sight. But she found herself come to the attention of Rukia's somber question. She forced herself to gain at least a small amount of her rapid emotions, and instead let her sobs cease, and let her emotion flood out of her eyes instead. She gently touched Rukia's limp hand and whispered, "I-I'm here..Kuchki-san…."

Rukia's eyes widened a little, but still remained dull, blank violet orbs.

"I-I'm so sorry Kuchiki-san….I can't…I can't…"Orihime's words were interrupted with hiccups and sobs , as her grip became tighter around Rukia's hand .However, she stopped abruptly when she her a soft chuckle, she looked up to see Rukia's emotionless face suddenly brighten up, as her lips slowly creased into a weak smile. Her eyes became filled with life once more, as they gleamed at Orihime , consumed with love and kindness.

"It's okay Inoue I know…..I know…."Rukia touched her face , as if she was a mother speaking to her daughter. The blood stained on Orihime's cheek, as her hand slowly came down, loosing its grip upon her face. Her eyes slowly closed , and smile died along with it, her whole body fell limp and still….

"K-Kuchki-san?"

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Silence….

"KUCHKI-SAAAANNN!"

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Darkness…

Orihime's eyes grew wide when she realized that she found herself in a dark void. The battered body of her friend no longer lay before her, and the burning Seretei had felt cold and icy, and her breath created steam in the air.

Dazed and confused she slowly forced herself to get up, only using one leg for eyes wandered for any sign of light or guidance.

There….

She suddenly noticed a woman standing a long distance away from her, but her features were still visible. Dim and gentle light illuminated all around her body, as if she was a candle. Her extremely long hair spun and twirled in the air space all around her body, its dark blue and golden highlights shown brilliantly as they glittered in the light. Light blue soul ribbons (which seemed to be a part of the same color dress she was wearing) acted as dance partners to her wondrous hair. Her dress, from what Orihime could see, had an incredibly long train, that surrounded the ground around her.

"Orihime Inoue…."The mysterious figure whispered, and Orihime shuttered as the voice echoed around her.

She knew this voice…but why…she felt a small tear roll down her cheek.

"Why does it hurt so much?"She thought.

"You must find the Light,"The woman's voice echoed throughout the empty void."For it may be the only thing that can save them…."

The black floor beneath Orihime became like glass and broke .

She was in mid air…above the burning Seretei…

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Her eyes became wide, as she began to fall backwards unto the ground. As she fell, she found herself whispering, "W-Who are you?.."

She heard the woman's painfully sad voice shoot through her ears once more, "Oh..dear child…you come to find many things in the days to come…but..some secrets are better left buried…"And when Orihime Inoue was barely an inch from the violent flames..she woke up..

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She found herself sitting up straight in her bed. She was sweaty and her heart was beating so fast she felt as if it was going to leap out of her chest. She calmed herself down, and sighed in relief.

Just a dream….wasn't it?

END OF CHAPTER 1