Sorry folks I know this chapter is a little late but I have a good reason (special training up next) it's gonna be a bumpy road I fear. Just a bit of sap in this one to give you fair warning.

Chapter 4

Orihime progressed faster in her training, learning the next three steps in about the same time it took to learn the first one. Taking the next two days to hone her skills to point where she didn't need to concentrate to ground herself, she just did it automatically. She also became adept at shielding her feelings to keep them from escaping and becoming dangerous to others. There were no more incidents or issues, although she did notice Ichigo stop by about a day into her training but since she never saw him she guessed Kisuke shooed him away. She was happy that she had gotten her ability under control and that Kisuke thought she was doing well enough to go home later today and resume her "normal" life.

"Alright Urahara what do you need me to do?" asked Ichigo as he walked into Urahara's shop.

"Did you bring him?"

"Of course I did" said Ichigo unpacking Kon from his bag hearing him start to complain but ignoring him, "What do you need him for anyway?"

"Let's sit have some tea first and I'll explain what I need you two to do" said Kisuke pouring Ichigo some tea. "It's not unlike any other game we've played. Kon is here because I need you in shinigami form but I also need your body there and that is where Kon comes in."

"So what will we be doing" asked Ichigo grabbing for Kon so he can pull the soul candy out of the stuffed lion.

"Right now I am shielding your spiritual pressure to keep you a secret from Inoue but the moment we go down into the training area I will no longer be able to do to your proximity. I'm going to tell her you came by to train due to the lack of hollows lately if she asks which won't be too far from the truth. I will give you a couple of minutes to speak with her I know you have been chompin at the bit to do so. Clearing the air with her would be a good idea seeing all that has gone on in the past couple of days."

Inwardly flinching Ichigo downed the last of his tea 'God does everyone know' thought Ichigo thinking back to earlier when he had to defend Orihime's honor against some perverts who had heard about the kiss they shared. Although the knowledge of the kiss going around the school was completely his fault remembering the conversation with Tatsuki saying he kissed her out loud in the middle of class he must be a complete idiot, of course people were going to overhear things like that. 'I'm gonna have to apologize to Inoue for that too.' Finally fishing out the soul candy Ichigo swallowed it and with a distorted pop Kon was left sitting on the floor in Ichigo's body while Ichigo is pushed out.

"Let's get this game started" said Ichigo psyching himself up, feeling like he was going to war…..again.

While the three of them filed down into the training room, Orihime was cleaning up the little corner of the training ground she had called her own for the past couple of days.

"Ichigo" she said out loud as she caught sight of him walking over to her. "Oh God I'm not sure I'm ready for this." Keeping a close eye on Ichigo as he walked over to her unsure even if she wanted to look away she could. 'Focus, Focus, Focus' said Orihime scolding herself as she felt a little slip of her emotions, quickly drawing it back in.' If I can keep myself under control then I'm on my way to making things up to Ichigo!'

Ichigo took in the sight of Orihime looking her over to make sure she looked alright and in good health. In Ichigo's opinion she looked better than she had the last time he saw her knowing she must have been working her butt off. He felt no extra emotions that he didn't feel when he entered Urahara's shop so Orihime must have done what she came here to do. Coming to a stop just a few feet in from of her Ichigo was suddenly at a loss for words. He knew what he wanted and needed to say, his brain just wouldn't form the words. DAMNIT say something, Ichigo yelled at himself and all but blurted out "I'm sorry, Inoue"

"Sorry? What do you need to be sorry for" asked Orihime a bit of confusion lacing it way into her words.

"I took advantage of you and that is unforgivable, I'm sorry" said Ichigo bowing to her.

Orihime hands flew to cover her mouth trying to stifle the relieved giggle that was attempting to escape.

'Is she laughing at me' thought Ichigo as he felt his anger rising.

"No" said Orihime taking the final steps to close the gap between them placing her hands on the sides of his face and bringing him up to look her in the eyes, knowing she just answered his silent question, "I'm relieved, I was sure you would hate me for what I did to you."

"What you did? Hate you? I could never…" said Ichigo trying to force his brain to comprehend the words she just said placing his hands over hers and removing them from his face to hold her hands in his. "Listen Orihime I kissed you because I wanted to I've been wanting to since before you got your new abilities it wasn't anything you did." Did I just say that out loud? "I've had feelings for you for some time now" oh God I can't stop "I just never had any hope you would ever feel the same but I wanted you to know" what is wrong with me?

"Ichigo I …." said Orihime, crystalline tears forming at the corner of her beautiful eyes "I …I umm…."

"No please don't …. I can't ….. " said Ichigo sure she was going to reject him.

"Love you"

Love you…. the words echoed through his head he expected her to say anything - everything – but that.

"You….laa..?"

"I love you,Tá grá agam duit, I love you, how many times do you want me to repeat it cause I will repeat it til the end of time" said Orihime with happy tears streaming down her face. Pulling her into him Ichigo tenderly kisses her with all of the joy he felt. Passion and happiness wrap around the pair blocking out the world, if only for a minute.

Kisuke looked at the intertwined couple with astonishment, Well that worked better than I thought it would.

"Hey Kon, you want to get some revenge on Ichigo?" When Kon looked at him with interest Kisuke continued. "I need you to distract him at certain times so I can get a bit of my edge on him. So here's the plan I need to cut him about five times..." said Kisuke leaning closer to Kon to make sure no one could overhear him.

"Oi over there are we going to get on with this training or are we just here for tea?" said Kisuke trying to sound a bit peeved.

With a low growl Ichigo regretfully withdraws from Orihime's embrace and lovingly smiles at her, "Wait for me?" he whispers to her. She nods her head in response and watches Ichigo walk over to Kisuke.

"Alright Mr. Hat-N-Clogs let's get on with this" said Ichigo with a deep scowl on his face.

"You know the rules right? Fight with everything you've got or I will kill you" said Kisuke with no hint of anything but seriousness. Without hesitation they were off leaving behind the distinctive ring of their two zanpakutos clash in their wake. Even though Orihime could follow them it was difficult, she likened it to watching a ceiling fan spin. You can do it if you concentrate and if you concentrate hard enough you could even follow a single blade but it would give you a headache after a while.

The constant ringing clash of Benehime and Zangetsu went on for what seemed like hours until the dueling pair split apart, panting. In that second Kon was on Ichigo catching him on the shoulder with a high kick and forcing him to block and pay attention to Kon for a moment, SLICE, Kisuke caught Ichigo on his arm.

"ONE" said Kisuke out loud.

Ichigo cringed at the sudden spring of blood on his arm as he turned his attention back to Kisuke. Maybe I am a bit rusty, thought Ichigo astonished Kisuke was able to cut him so easily.

Cuts two and three went about the same with Kon being the distraction and Kisuke coming in the moment of distraction. When Kisuke noticed Kon wasn't finding his way into the fight at his cues Kisuke quickly scanned the area to find Kon slumped against an out cropping of rock. Damn I thought it would take longer than this I'm gonna have to hurry, he thought. Noticing Kon slumped Ichigo yells at Kisuke, "What did you do to my body?"

"I did not do anything to your body" said Kisuke thinking, now the Canterella poison is a different story it defiantly did what it was supposed to do to your body.

Catching Ichigo off guard for the moment he took a quick glance at his body Kisuke scored the fourth cut to Ichigo.

"FOUR"

"Are you feeling a bit off?" asked Kisuke when he noticed Ichigo slowing and wobbling a bit making sure Orihime was within hearing distance. "The poison should start to be taking full effect on my next cut."

Feeling emotion slowly leak into the area Kisuke quickly glances at Orihime giving her a silent warning and instantly the emotions disappeared. Catching the exchange Ichigo glances between the two which gives Kisuke the opening he needed to give the final cut.

"FIVE"

"I should tell you I've been experimenting with a new poison I read about and in these experiments I found I can affect the spirit and the body with the poison and that is why Kon is over there slumped against a rock. The cuts I have been giving you are laced with poison as well, you see I had to give your body the poison as well as your spirit." Said Kisuke explaining

"The tea" said Ichigo starting to figure things out.

"Exactly, there is a side effect to the poison that was a bit unexpected when I first tested it that worked in mine and your favor though."

"And what was that?" questioned Ichigo cynically, starting to slump and lose his balance.

"It has a truth serum quality to it and that is how I knew it was working, now if I cut you a sixth time you will die of overdose or was that at the fifth cut I can't quite remember" said Kisuke raising his sword as Ichigo collapses to the ground in front of Kisuke.

I can't feel his spirit energy oh God…

"NOOOO! Santen Kesshun" screamed Orihime placing a shield between Kisuke and Ichigo. "Koten Zanshun." Tsubaki flies out to knock Kisuke's zanpakuto away and comes to rest on Kisuke's shoulder placing a sharp wing against his neck in warning. I can save him, thought Orihime running over to Ichigo.

"It won't help" said Kisuke tempting fate

"I have to try" said Orihime bluntly flaring controlled anger at him

"It won't help because he's not dead not even close."

"What do you mean? I can't feel his spirit energy or a pulse and you want to tell me he's not dead?" said Orihime unbelievingly as Tsubaki pulls back from Kisuke's neck but remains on his shoulder.

"The poison I gave him just puts him into a state of suspended animation." said Kisuke trying to explain. "Ever heard of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet? I got the idea from that story. It is theorized that the poison that Juliet used was called Canterella. So I got a sample of it and experiment with it and found it can be used on both the spirit and body if I tweaked a little bit. So I promise you he will be fine, he'll be out for about seven hours but he'll be fine."

Feeling that Kisuke was telling the truth Orihime withdraws her shield and Tsubaki back into her hair pins. Sitting down beside Ichigo she places a hand on his chest where his heart is wishing to feel the pound of his heartbeat. Exhaling the breath he was holding, Kisuke relaxes as he realizes that Orihime successfully controlled her emotions as well as used them against him when she thought Ichigo was in danger. Incredible she took my training and pushed it far beyond what I was able to teach her, was that knowledgeable use or was she acting on instinct I wonder.

"Come on we can go get something to eat while he's recovering from the Canterella" said Kisuke not wanting to say poison again.

"It's fine you can go but I'm staying" said Orihime not looking up at him.

"There's not much you can do here you might as well get some fresh air and a bite."

"No I'm staying" said Orihime looking up at Kisuke the anger in her eyes very apparent.

"Ok fine" said Kisuke shrugging as he started to walk away, looking over his shoulder. "By the way you did excellently.