Ichigo leaned heavily against his zanpakutou, his vision blurry from the blood seeping from the wound on his forehead and into his eyes. He wiped at it with a flimsy hand, the action feeling sluggish and strained. He wanted to collapse so desperately, but he had to make sure that Inoue was alright; she'd taken such a hit when she'd stepped in front of Ulquiorra, taking the brunt of that last attack. He'd felt something in him break at the sight her limply flying through the air and landing raggedly; the only thought running through his head had been why? and damnit, not again!

He'd sworn to protect her, and she'd forgiven him, given him another chance. What sort of friend...what sort of man, would let something so unacceptable happen?

He limped slowly towards her still body, and sighed out his relief when he saw her face twitch slightly at his shadow.

"Hey, Inoue...Inoue," he whispered, tapping her softly on the face. She gave a weak little moan, and he sank to his knees next to her, his face going slack as he fell to all fours, hysterical laughter bubbling up from inside him.

I'm so glad...so happy...it's all over...

He woke sometime later, the wounds on his head and in his abdomen healed. He was a little surprised to see Inoue sitting beside him, her head bowed, her hand knotted in her lap. She was staring at him with fathomless eyes, as if everything she wanted to say she couldn't find words for.

"Kurosaki," she said, and Ichigo was overcome with relief at the sound of her voice.

"I'm glad you're not hurt." he breathed as he sat up. Her small, strong hands were instantly at his back, helping.

"Kurosaki-kun...I'm sorry."

"No, I am."

"Eh?"

He gave her a smile; the one he reserved for his sisters, and Rukia. The one that was gentle and warm, the one that made her heart ache. "I'm sorry you had to deal with so much all alone."

He wasn't sure what to do about the tears that flooded her eyes.

She was looking at him so intently - as if trying to memorize the look of his face at that moment - and it occurred to Ichigo that he never really appreciated how pretty Inoue was before, how brave she was, or how her slight form belied the power she truly held.

"We should go find the others." he said at length, and raised a curious eyebrow when the girl shook her head.

"There's something I have to do first."

Despite Inoue's amazing abilities, Ulquiorra's attack had done more damage than Ichigo had previous believed. He had offered to carry her again, but she had turned such an interesting shade of red when he'd offered he didn't push. Instead, he found himself helping Inoue down the long, winding staircase to the fated Hōgyoku, his calloused hands rough against the soft fabric on her hip. She stumbled frequently, and he didn't understand why the feel of her body bumping into his left him feeling awkward.

Awkward, but pleased. He felt stronger, needed, like when Yuzu had fallen and scrapped her knee, but different.

He knew when they reached their destination; the small black orb spiraling just out of touch was familiar - he'd seen Aizen remove it from Rukia's gigai.

"I think I can stand on my own, Kurosaki-kun," Inoue whispered, and moved slowly away from him. Her hands went to the flower barrettes sparkling in her hair.

"Everyone," she whispered when her Shun Shun Rikka surrounded her, "I'd like to try something new. I'm just...unsure it will work..."

"We're your power Orihime," Shun'o said, usual smile in place, "if you believe you can do it, we can."

Inoue glanced anxiously over her shoulder at Ichigo, and she nodded resolutely when she found solemn support there. "Okay."

She folded her hands in close to her chest, still unsure, still so afraid. What if something terrible happened? What if what happened to Tsubaki happened to Lily, Hinagiku, Ayame? She didn't know if she could live with herself if tragedy was repeated.

But...this was so important. It was her penance, for causing her friends so much worry and pain.

"I reject." she hissed, and a shield of white light surrounded the Hōgyoku. She instantly felt the strain it put on her body, and she closed her eyes to focus as much as she could.

The Hōgyoku was huge; a swirling, angry ball of lethal energy, but she felt it shrinking, felt the strain on her powers lessen, and she let relief wash through her.

I can do this, I can!

The sound of footsteps, slow and measured, echoed deafeningly through the hall, and she felt the air swish behind her as Ichigo turned to see who was descending the stairs.

Her confidence faltered when she heard Aizen's surprised chuckle.

"Ah...Orihime-chan, what are you up to, hmm?" The voice was smooth as silk, like a curious uncle.

Inoue felt her hands start to shake.

"OI!" Ichigo shouted, stepping between the two, "What the hell do you want?"

"Haven't you been paying attention?" the man asked, sounding disappointed. Inoue chanced a look out of the corner of her eyes, and her concentration almost dissolved completely when Ichigo raised his sword.

"You're in my way, boy."

"That's sort of the point." the shinigami hissed, and tightened his grip on his zanpakutou.

Aizen's sigh was disappointed. "You are more trouble than you're worth."

And suddenly he was across the room, staring at Orihime, his eyes unblinking and flat, cold in their confidence. Behind her, Ichigo gave a weak gurgle, and feel to his knees, blood splattering the black floor beneath him.

She spun, her hands leaving her barrettes, her concentration gone completely, but Ichigo's look stopped her, his eyes hard with determination.

You finish what you're here for, and I'll handle him, they said, but her heart was so torn. Ichigo would always be more important; she'd made that decision when she'd chose him over Tatsuki.

"Don't," he raged weakly, getting to his feet, his hand flying to his side as he tried to ebb the blood flow. "Don't you dare stop, don't you dare let him win!"

He took off with a roar, his feet bicycling through the air as he flew at Aizen. Inoue saw the opening before he knew to block it.

Ichigo didn't even get to swing again; his neck was sliced from side to side, blood running down his chest in rivulets. The shield-rejection shattered completely as Inoue rushed to catch Ichigo before his body hit the floor.

Aizen's hand twisted into her hair, and she hissed through her teeth as he jerked her back agaist his body. He smelled of fire and death, and she choked back a sob when she realized they'd lost.

Karakura town was gone.

Tatsuki, Chizuru...they were all dead.

No.

"No!"

"Yes. I've won. And you see him? Lying there?" the man - no, monster - asked, jerking her head forward as she tried to turn away, "I have use for him yet."

Aizen yanked her along by her hair, keeping her head low as he walked, as if to emphasize his power over her. She tumbled forward with a gasp when he threw her face down into Ichigo's chest. Blood smeared onto her face and hands and she trembled uncontrollably, so afraid of what was happening.

"Heal him."

Inoue blinked up at him, confused.

"I said HEAL HIM."

Inoue's face snapped to the side, she felt blood pool in her mouth and coughed, spitting out a broken chunk of tooth. He'd kicked her in the face.

Aizen squatted down beside her, his face even and reasonable. "You love him don't you?" he asked softly, "Would gladly love him again in another life?"

How does he know...?

"Yes," she whispered, still shaking.

"Then you want him to live. The wound is shallow, he won't die for a few minutes yet, but you certainly don't want to chance it, no?" he patted her cheek, which was swelling quickly.

"I-"

"Hmm?"

"I-I don't-"

Ichigo gave a weak little twitch, his body gasped desperately for air.

Inoue couldn't stop the tears that streamed down her face. It wasn't in her to let Ichigo die, but more than that...she didn't know what awaited him at Aizen's hands, what the man might have in store.

She bowed her head resolutely, and raised quivering, blood soaked fingers to the pins in her hair.

But her hands never made it that far.

Aizen's sword swung down in one swoop and detached her head from her body.

The illusion dispelled, leaving an unconscious Ichigo, alive, and mostly uninjured laying on the floor beside Inoue Orihime's corpse.

"What'cha do that for?" Gin asked from behind him. Aizen turned, flicking blood splatters from his cheeks, and grinned easily.

"She faltered; chose the wrong side."

"Ah." the man said, stooping to load the shinigami's body over his shoulder. He follwed after Aizen's careless hand wave.

They could have paused, cleaned the mess the murder of Inoue had created, checked to make sure the Hōgyoku was stable, but they were in a rush.

It's not everyday one tries to assassinate God.