Whee, two chapters in a week. This is itching at my fingers. Short and sweet this time, from Orihime's POV after Rukia tells her the news. I'm having to stop myself getting distracted by another couple of stories I've been working on, but don't worry, I won't let this fall by the wayside

Have to admit Orihime seemed such a typical anime airhead girl and annoyed the hell out of me at first, but she's really grown on me. She's a much more complex character than she first seemed, and so far I think she's the best female character in the show (though I have a soft spot for Matsumoto lol). I also find her much more interesting to write than Rukia, who probably has more layers to her than I see but who always strikes me as being too withdrawn for me to really get involved with the character.

Last scene-setter - next chapter, the gang head out!

As ever, reviews make me happy! Actually I've become a bit of an addict :) The more reviews, the sooner I update (ha haaaaa, bribery!)

The auburn-haired girl sinks down onto the floor, pink phone clutched tight in her pale hand.

Ichigo.

Kurosaki-kun…

Clenching her fists, she fights to hold back tears that threaten to spill from her grey eyes. She would not cry. She wouldn't be weak. Not again.

It was just the shock. Yes, that was it. All this time, all these months with no scowling orange-headed boy in class, no raging reiatsu battering at her senses, no talking, no word…

He had protected her.

At first, he had just been the rather scary boy in her class who was always frowning. She had tried not to get in the way of that too-intense gaze, afraid of the blush that would spill across her cheeks. But then she had caught herself staring at him, wondering about him. His orange hair was so much brighter than hers. She wondered if he got teased about it like she did. She wondered if that was why he was always scowling. She wondered who kept the bullies away from him, like Tatsuki kept them away from her.

Then she saw him fight, and realised he didn't need anyone to keep the bullies away. He was strong. And she'd noticed him even more, that 'I don't care' attitude that melted away when he thought no-one was looking, the way he leaned against a wall looking bored while Kiego bounced around beside him, the rare smiles that only came on those very special occasions when someone said something both amazingly clever and amazingly witty.

She wanted to make him smile. But she never could – she was just…

… silly.

He never noticed her. Of course not, why would he? She was just Tatsuki's friend, no-one to him. She practiced in her head, clever things she could say, things that would cause that scowl to lighten – just for a heartbeat, maybe just enough to quirk the edge of his lips into a smile. She'd watched him from afar, knowing that it made no difference, because he would never see her, never touch her.

And then… everything had gone… strange. Weird things had started to happen, accidents, a sense of a presence around her. That had all culminated in her staring at her body, attached to her by an ethereal chain hanging from her ghostly figure, while that ugly, evil, white-bone-masked monster attacked Tatsuki.

Her best friend! And she had just… sat there! And when she had tried to help, she'd been completely ineffectual… the thing had just thrown her away, like she was nothing…

Until it had spoken to her in Sora's voice.

And then it had turned to kill her best friend.

And then he was there. It couldn't have been anyone else, not with that bright orange hair, even in those unfamiliar black robes, carrying that huge sword that looked like she'd never be able to lift it.

And he'd looked right at her for a moment, then said if the monster wanted to kill her, it had to kill him first.

He had saved Tatsuki. And he had saved her… and he had brought Sora back. Made him himself again before it had ended. He'd given her… the chance to say goodbye to her brother. Even though it had been her fault, not telling Sora how much she missed him every day, talking about her new life, talking about her friends.

Talking about Ichigo.

He'd let her say goodbye to her brother.

Why hadn't he let her say goodbye to him?

Orihime drew herself up and fluffed the pillows, padded into the kitchen to make tea, busying herself for the guests that would soon arrive.

Sado-kun and Ishida-kun.

Ichigo had brought out powers she and Sado never knew that had. Because of him, they'd been given strength. Well… Sado had been. She… She had been useless. Rukia had been her friend, and she had wanted to save her! But she wasn't strong, like the others. They had defeated so many shinigami, even held their own against the elite. She had been pushed out of the way after her first pathetic attack. Shouted at by her own powers. Grabbed and thrown over someone's shoulder like a sack of potatoes as Ishida gave up everything he cared about just to win, to survive!

Weak. Useless. Pathetic.

No wonder Ichigo had left without saying anything to her.

She remembers the way he would look, so much determination in his eyes sometimes that she wonders how his enemies didn't just flee in fear. Ichigo had so much more strength in him than she could ever hope to. Than anyone could ever hope to. But so much kindness, too… she remembers him helping her, his touch so gentle as he examined the cut on her arm, asked her if she was ok. So much warmth atop the usual steel of his gaze. She had blushed, turned away, stammered, unable to think above the pounding of her heart.

I'm sorry I couldn't help you, Kurosaki-kun. I'm sorry you had to look after me.

She wasn't going to let it be like that again. She had been training, fighting, bugging the others – even that strange getaboushi guy – to help her get stronger.

She would help, this time. She wouldn't be a burden. She would be strong. She would fight.

She would find Ichigo, and make him smile.

A knock at the door wakes her from her thoughts.

It's time. Orihime draws herself up, unclenches her firsts, and reaches inside herself for the happy smile she always wears. It would take someone who knew her very well to see the determination behind that gentle grey gaze.

Drawing back the chain, she opens the door, already sensing the quietly controlled reiatsu on the other side.

"Inoue-san."

"Ishida-kun! How lovely! Come in, come in!"

She knows already that Ishida and Sado will go with her. They feel the same as her. They need to fill that gaping hole he left in their lives.

It didn't matter that she would never be good enough for him. She just had to be there. She just had to see him again.

We're coming, Kurosaki-kun.

n.b. getaboushi – sandal-hat (geta are those strange sandals Urahara wears)

Hope y'all enjoyed :) Let me know what you think!