The rest of the week went by without incident and only a few hollows appeared during that time which is unusual, 'normally I have to fight several hollows per day.' Ichigo was leaning against one of the few buildings that was at the beach with a smirk on his face. He and Rukia arrived at the beach earlier then everyone because they were on their home from the store getting new swimsuits when a hollow appeared. Since the hollow was close by them they were able to stay in their bodies and get to the hollow, after defeating the hollow they decided to go on ahead to the beach (since it was close by) and it was about time to meet everyone there. When they arrived Rukia went on ahead and changed into her new swimsuit and Ichigo went to the building where everyone agreed where they would all meet at. Ichigo was lost in thought that he didn't notice when everyone got there, that is until Rukia kicked Ichigo in the back of the head and yelled. "Snap out of it you dumb ass!"

"OW! DAMN IT RUK- oh, hey guys." said Ichigo rubbing the back of his head, didn't know you were here.

"Well what can we expect you don't exactly have that great ability of keeping focused on your surroundings Ichigo" replied Ishida

"Ya ya, whatever you say." Ichigo looked over everyone to see if they were all there. "Hey where is Keigo?"

Oh, right I forgot to tell you all, his sister is having him do something before he can come so he'll be here as quick as he can" Mizuiro replied while he was messing with his cell phone. "The beach doesn't have very good signal out here"

"OOOH! RUKIA I LOVE YOUR SWIMSUIT, ITS SO CUTE!" squealed Orihime.

"OH, thanks Inoue, I think its chappy the rabbit!"

Ichigo stood there looking at Rukia with a huge smirk on his face. When they got their swimsuits Rukia had to go the kid section because she couldn't find anything to try on, and when she saw the one with the rabbits she just had to get them.

"What are you smiling so big for Ichigo?" asked Tatsuki with a puzzled look on her face

"Um, its nothing. Anyways lets all get changed I didn't come here to talk all day and admire every bodies swimsuits.

Keigo showed up about five minuets later telling everyone what his sister had him do.

"WOW RUKIA! YOU LOOK AMAZING. SO DO YOU INOUE!" shouted Keigo with the look of lust burning in his eyes.

"Don't get any ideas Keigo." Tatsuki said behind him with the look of murder in her eyes.

"What me? What would I try?" said Keigo trying to give Tatsuki an innocent look while he looked at Ichigo hoping he would help before he got killed, or worse.

Ichigo just sighed and walked over towards the two "Come on Keigo lets join up with Chad and Ishida, we'll let the girls do their thing."

"OK, thanks Ichigo. Where's Mizuiro?"

"Where do you think? He's off flirting with some of the older women."

Several hours later everyone went to one of the shacks to settle down, rest and to get something to eat when Orihime went to Ichigo.

"Um, Kurosaki-kun… may I talk to you…" asked Orihime with rosy red cheeks.

"Um, sure, OK… you want to take a walk while we talk?" Ichigo didn't know why he did that, but he just wanted to take a stroll on the beach.

"Sure"

Rukia just sat there quietly trying to pretend she didn't care, 'damn it, why do I feel this way? Why do I care about what's going to happen, I was the one that told her to be bold and tell him how she feels.'

"Where are those two going?" asked Chizuro with a sad look like she just got turned down.

Rukia sat there for a second staring into space before she turned around to answer Chizuro

"Sh-

"She's going to tell how she feels about Ichigo!" Keigo answered enthusiastically

"SHE'S GOING TO WHAAT!" Shouted Chizuro "NOT OVER MY DEAD BODY, HE'S NOT TAKING MY HIME FROM ME" as she was about to take off for them Tatsuki put her in a choke hold.

"Shut the fuck up and don't interfere or I'll kill you. GOT IT?" Shouted Tatsuki in Chizuro's ear with the look to kill in her eye's.

Chizuro just stood there limp looking in the direction Orihime and Ichigo went. She kept watching them until they went down a little hill where they were out of site.

"You can let go of me now Tatsuki, I've always known it was a matter of time before she told Ichigo, I just didn't expect it was going to be this soon."

Tatsuki slowly let go of Chizuro and stood next to her looking at the direction where Orihime and Ichigo went.

"Well want can you say, she's been trying to get the courage to tell him for the past year now."

Chad, Ishida, Mizuiro, Keigo and Rukia just stood there silently and watched, they all knew she was going to tell Ichigo today, that was the reason Keigo planned to have everyone go to the beach, now all they could was wait and see what happened next.

Ichigo knew Orihime was nervous, but he wasn't sure why. He didn't think it was because the two of them were alone, that's nothing new not to them.

"I was kind of surprised you agreed to come to the beach today Kurosaki-kun, I thought you wouldn't be interested in coming here." Orihime was fidgety, and she looked like she was scared.

"Well I figured since it's our senior year I might as well come and try to enjoy myself." Ichigo replied while he studied her. 'What's on her mind?'

Orihime stopped and look over the sea, Ichigo joined her side and looked at the sea with her.

"Your Kurosaki Ichigo, right?" came a voice from behind the two.

Ichigo and Orihime to find out that they weren't completely alone.

"And you Orihime Inoue, correct?" said the stranger

"Who are you?" asked Ichigo as he studied the new comer, he was at lest six-foot tall, black hair, and a scar on is lower right lip, if Ichigo had to guess, he was between seventeen and nineteen.

"I doesn't matter who I am at the moment, and I take it that I am correct, your are Kurosaki Ichigo. Finally, I've been looking for you for the past couple of weeks."

"What do you want?" Ichigo asked while he tried to keep from getting aggravated.

"Straight the point, I like that. Well, I guess I'll get straight to the point as well. Have you regained your Shinigami powers?"

Ichigo stood there frozen, 'How douse he know? I've never seen this kid before, and yet he knows my name and about my Shinigami powers? How?'

"DAMN YOU WHO ARE YOU?! Inoue get back to the others, HURRY!

Shouted Ichigo

"My apologizes but, you're not going anywhere."

Suddenly a huge crushing force of reiatsu appeared. Ichigo wasn't affected by it, Aizen's was stronger than this but Orihime wasn't going to be able take it. Ichigo looked over in the direction she was running to find her laying on the ground. 'damn it, can this get any worse?' "Inoue! Damn you… JUST WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?"

I hope you all enjoy reading this one. The next chapter is in progress, but I don't know when it'll be done, all I can ask is please wait patiently.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!