It had taken her awhile, but Orihime has finally arrived at the conclusion that Kurosaki Ichigo needs many things.
He needs his family, for instance, his father and his sisters must always be kept safe and sound. He needs his power, as well, his power is everything to him; she feels the back of her throat begin to burn whenever she catches that look on his face as Ishida-kun once again rushes out of class. Kurosaki-kun and weakness are two things she had never thought to associate with each other, not since the day her brother had died and she'd felt the strength in his kind shoulder.
So yes, his power is immeasurably important to him, because without it, he can never fulfill his need to protect. And Orihime knows very well that that is the reason why Kurosaki Ichigo flew to her rescue in Hueco Mundo: she is his friend, and Kurosaki-kun protects his friends. It is in his bones to protect, because Kurosaki-kun cherishes the people important to him fiercely, even if all the calm power in his eyes says otherwise. He had gained that power for them, after all, but Orihime understands now that one person stood out to him, from everyone else. His ray of light, the woman who had dropped in and changed his world so many times, as if it were the easiest thing to do.
As Orihime watches Kurosaki Ichigo stare up at the sky, she understands that he needs Kuchiki Rukia above all else.