Orihime's fingers closed over empty space, the dust that was once the fourth espada's fingers drifting away. She and Ichigo stared blankly at the sheet of dust blanketing the space in front of them, the remains of Ulquiorra. Slowly the two met gazes, still silent. Ichigo looked back at the ashes.

"Why is it that we discover the important things just before we die?" he questioned the air before him.

Orihime had no answer. I wish he could've lived to use his newfound heart. She thought sadly. I wish I could give him another chance. I wish I could give them all a chance to live a good life. She sucked in a quick breath. Ichigo's head turned towards her.

"Let's get off this thing." he said. Turning on his heel the substitute stepped around the dusty circle and headed towards the hole broken into the dome that would lead them back to their friends. Ichigo's back facing her Orihime stooped and gathered a handful of Ulquiorra's ashes in her hand. She stared at the grey powder filling the creases of her hand for a moment, before covering it with her fingers, the dust held safely in her fist. She followed Ichigo's path to the hole, where Ishida's head popped up.

"You sure you're floating reshi surfboard will hold all three of us?" Ishida pushed up his glasses like he did before he delivered a correction or smart remark. Often both.

"'Floating reshi surfboard' is hardly what it is called Kurosaki, and who said it would be carrying all of us? I was planning on you jumping." Ichigo looked past Ishida to the long drop below.

"No way! That's like a thousand feet! "

"Scared Kurosaki?" The quincy asked, smirking.

"NO!" He shouted, and jumped into the hole. Orihime let out a startled gasp. He fell. And fell. And fell. Finally a cloud of sand puffed up where Ichigo hit.

"Kurosaki-kun.." She murmured worriedly.

"Thirty seconds," Ishida commented. "He was actually almost right about it being a thousand feet." He looked up at Orihime, offering his hand to help her onto his platform. She grasped it in her free hand and jumped carefully down. As they descended down Orihime looked at the destruction of the white hollow world spread out below. She had never considered the place pretty, but now she couldn't help but feel sad. A shot of terrible reiatsu pulled Orihime out of her pity.

"What is that Ishida?" She asked. The quincy surveyed the ground approaching and pointed.

"It seems another espada has begun battle with us." Filtering through the reiatsu she realized the opponent was the giant espada who been the first, along with Ulquiorra, to come to the real world. Renji, Rukia, and Sado were fighting him, and Ichigo had just joined the fray. Ishida's platform descended faster, reflecting his desire to reach their friends. Jumping the last two feet the two ran towards the battle, only to be stopped short by Ichigo and co.

"What are you-"

"We need to find captain Kurotsuchi." Ichigo interrupted the quincy's question.

"Why?" He looked back at the battle.

"I've got a town to protect."

Captain Kuchiki and Zaraki having taken over the battle, Renji and Ishida led the group to Szayel's lab, where they had defeated the eighth along with the twelfth squad captain. It was where the invading forces had set up a base.

Orihime cast her gaze around the large room strewn with rubble. In the center was a small square building with a door leading into it. Continuing her survey, she stopped short when she found a body lying amidst the destruction. A pink haired man with strange finger-like appendages extending from his back was sprawled out, eyes open wide in death.

"Inoue?" Ichigo called, having seen her fall behind. She pulled her gaze away.

"Coming!" I will save you next, she thought.

She followed the group to the door, where stood Captain Kurotsuchi.

"Yes, I have a garganta, an experimental one yes..." the man suddenly clapped his hands, glee evident in his words.

"You shall be my first test subject!" Ichigo's stern face only wavered for a moment.

"Fine."

"I will go as well."

A woman with a braid lacing around her neck stepped from the door, Captain Unohana.

"Unohana-taicho!" Ichigo said, startled. The captain smiled.

"I'm sure there are many people in your world that would like to be healed." Ichigo's expression softened.

"Yes." She nodded, and they both turned to the gaping maw that Kurotsuchi had opened with a snap of his fingers. (That didn't open it, Nemu did the opening when he snapped his fingers)

"Save them Kurosaki-kun." Orihime whispered to his retreating back.

A/N: This story is solely based on the manga, so those who've only seen the anime might think that I'm not taking into account certain things.

I'm reposting this story in a more spaced out format, as reviews have told me that reading it in the large chunks I write in is frustrating; so here! Hope this makes it easier!

Thank you!