Love: Same Heart, Different Face

She had returned from Hueco Mundo to Karakura Town for the second time when it happened. And also for the second time, Ichigo had been in the midst of fighting to save Karakura Town from those who wished for its destruction. He was facing off against every single opposing force from Hollow to Shinigami to Quincy to Fullbringer that he had fought to date and that had somehow managed to coexist within his own DNA.

Only this time, his ultimate sacrifice would include more than just giving up his powers. He was to be a true savior for Karakura Town, Soul Society and the entire world. However, only a handful of people would know of Ichigo's sacrifice for them.

Orihime had witnessed how Ichigo had snapped his weapon, which released a powerful force. The rest of the battle had lasted less than two minutes, but in that time Orihime could sense the Spiritual Pressure and literal life force draining from Ichigo's body in that time.

When Ichigo had finally collapsed after he had ensured the downfall of his opponents, Orihime had rushed over with every intention of using her powers to revive him once again. She had vowed that she would never again let him be mortally wounded, but Ichigo himself had other ideas.

"Not this time, Orihime," he had said, grabbing her hand, "Not this time."

Trying and failing to keep her tears at bay, Orihime had choked, "But I…I promised…I promised that I would never let this happen to you again. Please, please, please let me…"

Closing his eyes, Ichigo winced before he groaned, "I'll confess I'm tempted…but it has to be this way…"

Looking at Orihime, Ichigo said, "My family…my friends…Soul Society…you…I promised to protect all of them…understand?"

"I do understand. I do, Ichigo," Orihime sobbed, "But I don't want to let you go."

For the first time, an expression of fear and pain entered Ichigo's eyes as he looked around and said, "I don't want to either…I don't know who will protect everyone when I'm gone…"

Kneeling down next to Ichigo, Rukia said softly, "I will and Renji and Brother and Orihime and everyone else. We'll fight on just like we have been."

Grinning gratefully at Rukia, Ichigo nodded and said, "You're right…you're right, Rukia…thanks…"

Ichigo closed his eyes again and Orihime felt a rush of panic as she leaned towards Ichigo's ear and said urgently, "Ichigo, please don't leave yet. I need to tell you something. Something that I've wanted to say since…since you saved me…

"I love you. I love you, Ichigo Kurosaki. I promise that I will keep on living and fighting no matter what, but my heart will never be completely full without you here living and fighting beside me."

Orihime never discovered whether Ichigo had heard her or not. All she knew is that when she had finished, he was gone. His body and soul had disintegrated in order to complete the binding seal that would keep the world safe. The moment Ichigo's body had disappeared, Orihime had laid down on the ground and began to weep.

Through the haze of her troubled and heavy sleep, Orihime thought she felt something cold ever so lightly graze her skin. Like a splash of cold water, Orihime felt her brain become more alert and the heavy grogginess of sleep seemed to evaporate immediately. Opening her eyes, Orihime blinked several times slowly to focus her gaze on her surroundings. It wasn't long before her gaze landed on a figure looking down at her with a seemingly impassive expression but whose eyes were filled with concern and a kind of deep-seated pain.

As soon as she realized this last part, Orihime's own heart gave a lurch and she struggled to sit up as she asked breathlessly, "Are you all right, Luka? What's the matter?"

For his part, Luka had been too taken aback at first to react, but he quickly recovered himself and gently yet firmly grasped Orihime's shoulders and tried to ease her back into a resting position as he said, "You shouldn't exert yourself. Just rest."

Even though she allowed herself to be guided back against the pillows, Orihime reached up and cradled the side of Luka's face. At this familiar gesture, Luka froze and looked at Orihime blankly while she looked at him with a rather startled yet calm expression. Now that she stopped and thought about what she had done, Orihime believed that under normal circumstances she never would have done something so impulsive as to reach out and caress someone's cheek.

With few exceptions, Orihime kept herself at a distance from others and didn't engage in physical contact very often. And in all cases, all contact had been between her and either her brother or girls like Tatsuki and Rukia, never Uryu, Chad, Renji or even Ichigo. Yet, here she was with her palm and fingers touching the cheek of a man she had only just met that day…and in some ways, it felt like the most natural thing for her to be doing.

Looking straight into Luka's eyes, Orihime asked quietly, "What's the matter? When I looked at you just now, your eyes…they were filled with pain. Why?"

Luka didn't respond right away, but continued to look into Orihime's eyes. For whatever reason, Orihime's intuition was reading his expression as being one of searching, slight confusion and a hint of awe. Orihime's response was to return Luka's gaze steadily and wait patiently for him to answer her question.

"You were crying."

With those three words, Orihime felt her heart give another lurch. Luka's response reminded her of a night not long ago when she had sensed and known that the young man she loved desperately was kneeling in the rain, defeated and crying. Ichigo's tears and pain had laced through her own being so that she felt herself being nearly torn apart by his grief. The memory of that pain caused her throat to constrict and a familiar pricking feeling to gather at the corners of her eyes.

Luka's face swam in front of Orihime's vision, but despite the fact that her sight was blurred, the moment Orihime's eyes began to fill she saw that same pain-filled expression to enter those stunning silver eyes she had seen when she first opened her eyes. Instinctively, Orihime realized that Luka was sensing and reacting to her tears and pain like she had with Ichigo and so she furiously began rubbing her eyes and taking deep, calming breaths. It took a few moments, but Orihime was able to force her tears and emotions into submission before opening her eyes once more to meet Luka's gaze.

This time, Orihime reached out with both her hands in order to completely enclose Luka's face in her warm, gentle hands as she said softly and sincerely, "I was remembering…things. I'm all right now."

Both remained absolutely motionless for a minute or two, as if not wanting to break the kind of spell or connection between them. Then Luka ever so slowly raised his own hands to cover Orihime's before he gently laced his fingers through hers and rested their joined hands on the bedcovers.

From outside the hospital room, Orihime's and Luka's friends and comrades stood watching in fascination as the kind of dramatic scene unraveled before them. Then, slowly they all turned and made their way silently down the hall. No one was sure if romance was dancing in the air of that hospital bedroom, but there was some important bond being formed and none of them wanted to be the one to disrupt its forging.

Author's Note:

I know I said the romance would be slow building, but this just sort of happened. We'll see how things develop from here.