AUTHOR'S NOTE

This story will have short chapters, each one (save for the first and last ones), representing one minute until ten o' clock in the morning when Ichigo and Orihime's wedding ceremony will commence.

Please note that because Ichigo and Orihime live in Japan, and they obviously would have a more Japanese-like wedding. Since I am not very familiar with how weddings are done in Japan, I'm going to base their wedding on what I know best. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

9:00 A.M.

Today was the day.

Today was the day that Orihime Inoue's dreams were going to come true; the day when all the months of planning she had put in would finally come to fruition. The day when she would finally shake away years of loneliness and sadness.

She reached out and touched the glass of the window, sighing loudly. Her wide eyes scanned the bright green scenery and the enormous parking lot where several cars were parked. If one considered the number of guests they were entertaining, one would think that the number of cars would be too few—and that would be the case had not most of the guests traveled by Senkaimon from the Soul Society or Gargantas from Hueco Mundo.

"Orihime, are you coming or what?" Rangiku called. Her hand was poised on several makeup brushes stacked on a small golden vanity. "We don't want to be late to the ceremony!"

"Oh!" Orihime forced herself to move away from the window and scurried to where Rangiku stood. "Coming, coming! I'm sorry, I was just daydreaming!" She flinched slightly when Rukia placed a hairbrush on her head.

"Why daydream when this day is going to be a 'real-life dream', anyway?" she asked, a reassuring grin forming on her face. "I mean, you're marrying the man you've always loved, no?"

This time it was Orihime's face to break out in a smile. "Of course! I guess . . . I just can't believe it's real."

Before anyone could say anything in response, Tatsuki burst through the door, carrying a large bag with a dress-rental company's logo emblazoned on it. She breathed heavily as if she'd just run several miles. "It's—it's here. I've got it."

Orihime leaped from her seat and ran toward her friend. "Oh my God! Tatsuki, did you run here?"

"Sprinted's more like it. You guys did not tell me how far the dress store was." The black-haired girl squinted angrily at Rangiku and Rukia, who whistled innocently and looked as if they'd rather be anywhere else. "Anyway, come on, Orihime. Let's get you into your wedding dress."

It was all Orihime could do not to squeal in excitement, as Rukia helped Tatsuki carefully pull out the gown. Rangiku had helped her pick it out a few months back, although the busty woman had originally opted that the strapless sweetheart neckline be much, much lower. Even still, after much bargaining, it was lower than Orihime would have preferred, but Rangiku had insisted that her dress help to show off her assets.

"Silk," Rukia noted, drawing a hand down the length of the dress. She nodded appreciatively. "This is really nice."

"Well," a voice came from the doorway. "It would look much better with a cute headband!" Riruka ran in, out of breath, her face blazing red in fury. With one hand, she held a rhinestone-gilded hairpiece, and with the other, she pointed an accusing finger at Tatsuki. "You left me behind at the dress store!"

Rukia looked at the former X-Cution member, deadpan. "Your Bringer Light was slower than a regular human on foot?"

"Yeah," Tatsuki shrugged. "I thought you'd catch up. Sorry."

"I—er—argh—I—" Riruka stuttered. She looked flustered. "I forgot to use Bringer Light." She sunk to the ground in despair and held the hairband out to Orihime, who accepted with a beam.

"Enough chit-chat, girls," Rangiku ordered. "We've got to be at the wedding hall in an hour and Orihime's not even done with her makeup or hair yet!"

Tatsuki nodded in determination. "Yeah, we gotta make sure Ichigo's knocked off of his feet when he sees her at the altar!"