A/N: So first off I know that you will be disappointed with the length of this chapter, and all future chapters, after the last one but that was a once in a while thing. And I would like to thank all of you that reviewed, you guys and girls are awesome! Keep up with the reviews I love hearing what you think. Anyway this chapter will be less exciting but has some more plot developments and stuff so it will be interesting at the least. Here is chapter 8, enjoy.

Songs: Would? by Alice in Chains, Sweating Bullets by Megadeth, Say Goodbye by Skillet.

Truth Isn't Free

"Remember, remember, remember…" Ichigo's own voice kept echoing in his head. He made it his only option to remember as he was unconscious. It was his only goal, besides staying alive. He didn't know if he would lose his memory but the fear of it kept him from completely blacking out. He remembers waking up several times.

The first was when it was still night and raining. Kaien had him over his shoulder and was taking him… somewhere. The black. Next he woke up on a bed somewhere, the room appeared to be empty but he could feel something, or someone, on him. Then it was black. The third he got a better image of where he was. His eyes opened barely and he could tell it was night again, probably been another day. The room was small and a single candle gave light to the dark room. He felt sluggish, but better, like his wounds were healed. He couldn't look down and see at the moment but he could tell his wounds were healed. His half opened eyes were blurry but he could have sworn he saw Kaien, dressed back in his bodyguard attire, talking to someone. Someone with auburn hair. Then, he was back in the darkness.

He had no idea how much time had passed, probably too much. But he knew that when he woke up he was going to have one hell of a headache. His eyes began to open on their own and he was hit by the light again, but this time it was the light from the sun. He kept his eyes closed to prevent the rays from hitting his eyes painfully. He finally took a fresh breath, the first in days. When he exhaled he suddenly realized he wasn't alone. The fresh sweet scent brought him to full consciousness whether he wanted it to or not. In a matter of seconds the other occupant in the room was by his side. Ichigo chanced it and opened one eye.

There she was. Orihime was kneeling beside him with a small bowl and a rag. Ichigo smiled faintly but knew that his mask still prevented him from showing any outward emotion. "Inoue…" He spoke at a whisper.

"Please don't talk Kurosaki-kun, your wounds are still fresh." Ichigo was surprised by the stern tone in her voice but complied. He kept quiet as he felt the warm washcloth press up against the wound on his chest. Ichigo closed his eyes and let out a small sigh. She was gentle as she moved the washcloth around, cleaning up any remnants of blood. After a little while Ichigo held his hand up and gently grabbed hers. Orihime stopped and looked back at his face as Ichigo opened his eyes again.

"Are you mad?" Ichigo asked looking into her eyes.

Orihime cocked her head, as if she didn't understand the question. "I could never be mad at Kurosaki-kun." She gave him a small smile and continued cleaning off the blood on Ichigo's chest. "I'm just happy you are okay."

Ichigo looked at her eyes for a moment before he looked towards the door. He saw Kaien standing there, dressed in his angel uniform, observing him. The hard glare was aimed at him and Ichigo didn't have the energy to return it. Ichigo let his head fall back down on the pillow and closed his eyes once more. "Yeah…"


Heaven was buzzing after the events that had transpired in the world of the living. The main judicial bureau, Central 46, had been outraged over Rukia's behavior, as well as the noble Kuchiki clan. They thought of her as an abomination of sorts, sticking up for their enemy. Who would do such a thing? The Gotei 13 had mixed feelings over the event. Everyone close to Rukia knew she wouldn't do something unless she believed in it. If she believed in saving the unlife of a demon than she had a very good reason. The decision to place her under arrest came from General Yamamoto, but even he didn't have a say. Central 46 had placed her under immediate arrest as they continued their hearings over the matter.

When they returned, two days prior, Rukia didn't say a word to anyone. She had yet to speak to anybody for that matter two. She quietly went to her cell and awaited her punishment. That was all she could do. Her captain, Jushiro Ukitake, had visited her once but she still refused to speak. Jushiro was very protective of his division and everyone in it. So when he heard the reports he immediately called a meeting with the Head Captain and the General. He had left in disappointment. It was out of everyone's hands.

Now Rukia sat in her cell, alone, waiting to hear about the consequences to her actions. If asked she would still stand by her decision. It's what anyone with a conscience would have done. There was a plate of food next to her, still filled with its contents. She hadn't eaten either. The only thing that she did do was sit and stare out the window of her cell.

Behind her, the door to her chamber opened and she heard loud aggressive steps approach her. Without turning around she knew instantly who it was. The footsteps stopped close to her cell, right behind her in fact. She had her back against the bars of the cell, leaning her head back against it.

"If you have a good explanation for doing what you did, I want to hear it." The loud and abrasive voice of Renji echoed behind her. She knew it was him from the way he walked. From being around him for so many years she practically knew everything about him. Rukia only gave him silence though, and he did not take it well. He leaned forward and grabbed one of the bars. "Damn it Rukia, do you know what's going to happen to you? If you would have pulled that shit when it was just me than nothing would have happened, but you had to wait for your brother to show up and now…" He sighed and took a step back. "Now you're here." He mumbled.

Rukia remained quiet and brought her knees up to her chest. She knows it was stupid. She knew that all of this would happen but it would have been worse if she would have let Byakuya kill him and then living with the fact that someone who was innocent be given a fate like that. It just wasn't right.

Renji stared at her back for a while. This was the first time he came to see her. It wasn't that he didn't want to see her it was that he didn't know what to say to her. She was his closest and oldest friend. He would never quit on her, even in a situation as hopeless as this. "Rukia… say something." He said, trying to keep his voice from anywhere near pleading. But he failed at that.

Rukia kept her eyes fixed on the window. Renji observed her for a moment before he sighed running a hand over his face. He looked back at the door and saw it closed with no one coming. Rukia heard him moving and she thought he was leaving. She was shocked when she felt his presence against her back. She looked over her shoulder to see that he was sitting against the cell as well, with his back to her. She smiled sadly and turned back to the window. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Rukia finally spoke.

Renji had his head down but he managed to smile a bit. "I would now." He said in a low tone.

Rukia took a deep breath and kept her eyes fixed on the window. "The night you showed up, when I was in trouble, the demon, Ichigo, had saved me. I was hurt really bad and probably would have bled out if not for him. He had stopped the bleeding until you had showed up. He said something that made me think that he wasn't what he was. Like he was probably forced to walk the path he had taken. Killing him didn't make sense to me."

Renji didn't say anything at first. He was still processing what he heard. So a demon had a conscience. Was that what made Rukia question everything? It was plausible, after all a demon saving an angel was unheard of. "But why did you stop the captain? Surely you didn't think you could save him?"

Rukia shrugged. "Maybe, but I did stop Nii-sama. Was it enough for you?" She asked.

Renji stared forward. He wasn't sure how to answer that. It still didn't make sense that she did what she did. She could be kicked out of the Gotei 13. Or worse. But her conviction was sound. Even if it didn't make sense to him right now, he knew that it probably would later. She had a strange way of making him see things her way, even if he didn't want to.

"Yeah, it was enough Rukia."

He stayed there for hours with her. They stayed in silence the whole time, no more words needed to be said. Renji felt that he needed to stay with her. For old time's sake, or something more than that. Rukia welcomed his company, even if she didn't say so.

She didn't need to say so, because he knew.


It took most of the day for Ichigo to get up and start walking. It was mostly due to Orihime's constant protests that he shouldn't move yet but in the end she reluctantly let him. He found that his strength was renewed along with his spiritual pressure. Which didn't make sense since the guy that attacked him said that he shouldn't have any spiritual pressure left. But he didn't dwell on it.

"Thanks for watching out for me Inoue." Ichigo said stretching the muscles in his arms. He had his eyes off somewhere else and didn't notice Orihime watching his every movement, with obvious interest. When Ichigo stopped and looked at her she turned red and looked to the side.

"You're welcome, I'm just glad that Kurosaki-kun is okay and not hurt anymore." She said in her natural soft voice.

Ichigo looked back down at his chest and put a hand up to where he used to have two small holes of blood in his chest. They were completely gone, no trace and no scar. He didn't know how it happened and he didn't care. He was back at full health and he would get to the bottom of whatever the hell happened that night.

"How long have I been out?" He asked, turning his attention to Orihime again. The girl looked at him then put a finger on her chin and looked up in the air thoughtfully.

"Umm, you have been in and out the past two days. Shiba-san said he found you like that when he heard a disturbance outside the castle. Are you sure you're okay Kurosaki-kun?" She asked looking back at him and tilting her head as if she were examining him.

He had looked back down at his chest and had a hand over the hole in the middle of his chest that was permanently on him, same as his mask. He shook his head and turned away, moving towards the open window where the sun rays were coming in. "I'm fine." He mumbled taking a step towards the window. He could see the light on his body but he couldn't feel anything. No heat. He narrowed his eyes in confusion and looked over his shoulder at Orihime. He could feel warmth coming from her but nothing from the sun. Wasn't the sun supposed to be the source of heat? Ah, it didn't matter. It made his head hurt just trying to think about that stuff.

He opened his mouth to say something when a high pitched beeping alerted him. He looked at Orihime who was staring back at him. "Uh, I think it's coming from there." She said pointing to Ichigo's back. He looked over his shoulder at the soul badge to see that the eyes were glowing. His eyes widened.

'Right now?' He grabbed it off his blade. Looking from it to the sun he glared. 'No, that's not right, it's day. None have come during the day.' Then the beeping became louder and he realized he had to move away from Orihime. "Inoue, I'll be back. Just stay here and don't come looking for me, got it?" After a couple seconds she didn't respond. He turned around and looked at her to see that her face was all scrunched up. Like she was pondering if she should listen to him or not. "Nothing will happen that I can't handle. I'll be back before you can even worry about it." He said.

Orihime was deeply worried about him. Not just from him getting hurt but anything else he could be associated with. If he could have been incapacitated like he was before than he was up against things that not even he knew. Well, she didn't know either, but that didn't mean she couldn't try to stop him. But then again, what could she do? She couldn't fight and she sure couldn't protect like he does. In the end, she knew that she had to just trust him.

Which she always does.

"Okay, be careful Kurosaki-kun." She said giving him a small smile.

He gave her a quick nod of approval before leaping out of the window and heading off towards whatever was coming. He hit the ground and went east, away from the town and from the castle. Also, the opposite way of the forest in which he was left for dead. No need to relive that experience.

He made it just barely past the castle walls when the beeping stopped. He halted and looked down at the badge to see that the eyes were still glowing but it made no sound. He frowned and looked around the area. He was on top of a hill looking down at a clearing where there was nothing but grass and flowers. Above him a large dark cloud came around and blocked out the sun. He looked up as the rays of light disappeared leaving it completely dark. He looked back in front of him to see the flowers a few feet away from him began to shrivel up and die. He walked towards them and knelt down next to them. He lifted a flower up to examine it to see that there was frost on the petals and that it was dead.

He stood back up abruptly and had a hand on Zangetsu, scanning the area. Something was coming, and it probably was not friendly. He heard a loud exhale behind him and a sudden rush of cool air all around him. His eyes widened at the all too familiar feeling. It was cold, something he didn't feel unless it was him coming. And he was here.

"I see you have met someone from your past, Hollow." The dark cloaked form of the Devil said. Ichigo slowly turned his head over his shoulder and saw the black aura floating around what was supposed to be the form of a man. His face was completely hidden from the darkness around him leaving no expression.

"I have a name." Ichigo said, just like the Devil, his voice was raspy and dark. Like it had been since he had awoken.

"Indeed, but I prefer to give the name I gave you. Since you are my creation. My first creation. See? Even I can play God." The Devil let out a short laugh and the sky shuddered from his laughter. As his laughing echoed through the sky the darkness surrounding him turned him into a cloud and went around Ichigo, forming back into the Devil in front of him. Ichigo followed him with his eyes.

"What do you mean? Your creation?" Ichigo asked, narrowing his eyes at the embodiment of evil.

"I created you. I am your God and you must serve me. And unlike God," the Devil was directly in front of Ichigo in the blink of an eye with his arm raised out, touching the top of Ichigo's mask. "I don't give you free will."

Ichigo's expression was shocked for a moment before it went back to his hardened glare. "I have free will whether you like it or not. God." Ichigo muttered the last part with dark sarcasm.

The Devil slowly lowered his hand and then held it up next to his side. "That's the best part. I can still control you." Out from his hand came a black circle that turned into a window. "You've been busy, I see. Rebuilding your memory, looking for answers to your past." In the window appeared Orihime smiling like she had smiled at Ichigo. His eyes widened as he saw this. "Ah, revisiting the innocent but very beautiful princess." At where the face was supposed to be on the Devil's dark body, red eyes appeared and they narrowed. "Oh how I hate her. You would think that someone so pure would be easy to corrupt by taking the thing they love most." The red eyes flashed to Ichigo meaningfully. "But no, she just keeps persisting at being so beautiful, inside and out." A dark hand came up and rested on the top of the moving picture of Orihime and dark talon like claws came out of the hand. "What do you think it would take to break her if I really tried?"

Ichigo's eyes went wild with hatred and he didn't think twice as he lunged forward, Zangetsu in his hand and ready to strike. He yelled in rage as he swung at the Devil but he went completely through the dark spirit. Ichigo whirled around and saw the Devil back as he was like nothing happened. Ichigo held his blade in both hands and readied for another attack. He didn't care if he couldn't do anything he was still going to try. "Shut the hell up!" Ichigo yelled.

The laughter of the Devil echoed once more. "Alright, that's seems to be the sensitive spot. How about your sisters too?" The picture flashed to show his sisters this time. "Are you understanding what I am saying?" He said ticking his fingers across the top of the picture.

Ichigo began to shake with rage. He was being thrown into a corner and there was no way of escaping it. He caught on to the Devil's not so subtle threats. It was obvious really. It dawned on him that there wasn't much he could do at this point. He wasn't strong enough to protect them… yet.

Lowering his sword, he released one hand from it and let his blade point towards the ground. He dropped his head and closed his eyes. "I got it." He said lowly.

"Good, I would love to pay them a visit, or your precious little princess." Ichigo shot his head up and stared at the Devil in shock. The Devil's eyes lit up. "Oh trust me, I have been aiming at her for years. Logically, I can only hate those who live so well and so innocent like her. But I can be persuaded to keep my distance. If you can be persuaded to do as I say." The picture went away as the Devil swiped his hand at it. "Good, now you have almost destroyed all the escaped souls. In fact you only have one left. The one you met a couple nights before. Grand Fisher."

Ichigo's expression turned dark. "How come I only have one left? You said that over twenty escaped and yet I only got eleven."

"Well you had… help. For lack of a better word. The angels in the area made short work of the rest."

"I see, so is that one the one that broke them out?" Ichigo asked knowing it wasn't the correct answer.

The Devil stared at him for a moment before speaking. "It is likely. He was the strongest out of the rest."

"In other words not even you know who released them all."

The Devil instantly grabbed Ichigo's throat with his clawed hands. The tips sinking deep into his neck letting blood seep out. "Don't mock me. I see all and know all so don't presume to think that you are smarter than me."

Despite the crushing force around his neck Ichigo let out a small laugh. "Actually," he managed to choke out. "You just made me the smarter being." The Devil's eyes narrowed, asking Ichigo to explain. "Since you know everything than you know who broke them out and you refuse to tell me."

The Devil clenched his throat harder making Ichigo's laughter die down. Ichigo's hand went up to try and break the grasp but he could not. As soon as his arm fell limp to his side the Devil tossed him, like trash, on the ground.

"You seem to think you are so smart. Smart or not you still will do as I say." Ichigo coughed and grabbed his throat still feeling the frosty cold grasp of the Devil's hands. He couldn't help but laugh again as he stood back up.

"I have no other purpose at the moment it seems. What am I going to do after I find Grand Fisher and kill him? What next?" Ichigo glared at the hated entity.

The Devil's eyes lit back up as if he was smiling. "Then, you come with me." Before he could actually predict it, Ichigo was once again in front of the Devil with his sword pressed against the throat of the dark spirit. The Devil's eyes widened in confusion. "You… how did you learn shunpo?"

Ichigo kept his eyes narrowed as he held firm. "Eh? Shunpo? So that's what this is called. Good to know." Ichigo leaned farther and pressed Zangetsu harder against the Devil. "If you think you're going to take me to Hell, then you're going to have to drag me, kicking and screaming."

The Devil narrowed his eyes and brought a hand up to Ichigo's blade and gripped it. "Fair enough, I might need more use of you here. But if I take you back," he shot his other hand out and touched one finger on Ichigo's mask. "It will be when you are kicking and screaming." The Devil gave Ichigo's mask a tap and Ichigo recoiled from a flash that hit his mind and crazy laughter echoed in his ears. Ichigo stumbled back and gripped his head. When he looked back up the Devil was gone but he still heard his last words. "That's the only way I like to take them."


"This captains meeting will now begin." General Yamamoto commanded as he stood in the front of all the captains of the Gotei 13. The even number divisions were all in a line on his left and the odd number divisions were all on his right. Head Captain Kisuke Urahara was standing on his right a little behind him.

"Ah usually that's my line Yamamoto-san." Kisuke said with a playful grin. Despite the strict regulations for captains meetings he still wore his favorite hat.

Yamamoto grumbled. "Yes but when I am conducting the meeting I will announce it." He said in an annoyed tone.

Kisuke grinned and gave him a bow. "As you wish, please carry on General Yamamoto-san."

The old angel ignored him and continued. "I have called this meeting for two reasons. First: to inform all captains that the issue concerning angel Kuchiki Rukia is only for her division and Central 46. That is all I will speak about this subject. Second: the issue over the current demon threat. According to our research division the demon has survived the attack dealt by division six captain Kuchiki Byakuya and has in fact recovered to full strength. And since his strength is also unknown, and may very well be high, I have given control of tracking down this demon to division eleven."

All at once, Kisuke's eyes widened while Isshin looked in pure shock. While the captain of the eleventh division, the monster known as Kenpachi Zaraki, grinned like a mad man. "So, I get to kill somethin'? Is he even worth my time?" The tall dark figure of Kenpachi Zaraki said with enthusiasm.

"You will not oversee the matter personally Captain Zaraki. Instead you will send a member of your division of your choosing. If the threat is greater than your appointed member can handle than you are authorized to intervene." General Yamamoto said.

"Tch, now it sounds like boring paperwork." Kenpachi said in a bored tone.

"Now then, if there is no other business, this meeting is dismissed." Yamamoto said. The captains all filed out of the room as they had come in. No one stayed behind as the only captains left were Yamamoto and Kisuke. The old angel lowered his head and opened his eyes a little. "I thought you were going to handle this." He spoke in a dangerous tone. Kisuke looked at the back of him and held a firm gaze. "Now, there is an angel on trial for treason and the demon is possibly more powerful than you predicted. And," The General turned around quickly and faced Kisuke fully. "He is our enemy." Those words echoed in the confines of the room and the two remained silent after that.

Kisuke was really in a jam. Most people who knew Kisuke really well would tell you that he was a very keen intellect. A man who could predict the enemy fifteen moves in advance and that he could read people easily. Most people would tell you that he would never be in a situation he couldn't predict already.

Sometimes, they gave him too much credit.

"So it seems." Kisuke trailed off still holding the older angel's gaze.

Yamamoto raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That is all you have to say? No elaborate explanation, no smart reply?"

"What do you expect me to say?"

"In all the years you have been the head captain you have never been out of things to say. One of the many reasons I appointed you to this position."

Kisuke remained silent for the moment as Yamamoto eyed him. Truth be told he had a lot to say, but he knew it would fall on deaf ears. "I accepted this position, under the terms that I handle things my own way, no matter how it looked on the outside. But I guess someone went back on their deal, didn't they?"

Yamamoto glared. "Are you questioning my authority?"

Kisuke glared back. "Are you questioning mine?"

The two kept their little stare down for a few seconds before Kisuke broke it. He flash stepped towards the door on the far side of the room. "Sometimes before you battle your enemy," Kisuke said as he opened the door to leave. Behind him General Yamamoto turned to watch him leave. "You have to know who your allies really are." Kisuke said as his parting words.

Most people say that Kisuke is smarter than anyone cares to know. That he knows what is going to happen before others realize it themselves. That he can predict anybody's intentions based on their nature.

Sometimes, they give him too much credit.

But they are always right.


"Are you alright Kurosaki-kun?" Ichigo was staring out Orihime's window into the night sky. He had returned after his little confrontation with the Devil. He had to go back to make sure she was safe. A threat from the Devil was something you never take lightly. When he returned he found that Orihime had some things to do and was a little too preoccupied to talk with him privately. That didn't stop Ichigo from keeping a close eye on her, along with his sisters. He was always around throughout the day, watching. Then he realized that the Devil had given him a warning, more or less.

But this was when Ichigo really noticed Orihime. What the Devil said had really hit him. Not the threats, but the nature of them. He realized that what he said was true, Orihime was beautiful inside and out. This weighed heavily on his mind, whereas he was a demon. A thing of evil, opposite of her in every way.

"I'm fine." He replied a little too harsh as he kept his gaze fixed on the sky. Orihime had just come up to her room after a long day of organizing the ball that she was apparently hosting and had walked into her room to see Ichigo like this. He was staring absently at the sky through her window. She had noticed something was off when he was following her all day without saying anything to her. Something was bothering him.

"There's no stars out tonight." He said as he felt her warm aura come near him. It soothed him, feeling the warmth and comfort she brought with her presence. How it masked the darkness that was his power. She was something else.

"The clouds are covering them up." Orihime remarked as she kept her eyes on him. His mask was still raised to the sky and he didn't even turn to look at her.

"How can dark air cover up something so bright?" Ichigo wasn't talking about the stars now.

"They don't cover it up Kurosaki-kun. They only mask it. A dark cloud may pass for a day or two but the stars remain bright and beautiful forever. You can't always see them but they are there."

"How do you know that the light will always be there when you cannot see it? Don't you lose faith of ever seeing it again? If the darkness is too strong…" Ichigo trailed off. He lowered his head and sighed.

Orihime frowned at first when she didn't understand. After a moment of silence her eyes widened in slow understanding. She may be ditzy but she did have her moments. "Kurosaki-kun." She held her hand out to touch his shoulder when he slowly took a step back.

"I am only endangering you Inoue." He said finally looking up at her. "You and my sisters."

"W-what are you saying?" Orihime asked as she drew near.

"I'm a thing of evil!" Ichigo roared as he leaned forward with wild eyes. Orihime's eyes grew with shock. "I can't protect you! Or anyone for that matter, I cannot even protect myself." He grew quiet at his last sentence. He dropped his head a little. "You don't know what is coming. If I can't protect you, than I have nothing."

Orihime gasped slightly as she heard that. Were her ears playing tricks on her? No, he just said that he had nothing without her, right? But from where this conversation was going she was starting to get worried.

"Kurosaki-kun," she whispered, taking a brave step forward. Ichigo reflexively took a step back and Orihime stopped. Ichigo was still staring at her and Orihime held his gaze and slowly raised her right arm. "Please." Ichigo stayed in his spot as she continued to come towards him. She put her hand on the side of his mask and his eyes slowly closed and tilted his head towards her small hand. "I know what you are." He opened his eyes to look in her big gray ones. "I don't know how or why you ended up like this, but I will never give up on you. I want you…" Her head dipped a little and she trailed off. Her fingers curled a bit on his mask and Ichigo widened his eyes in confusion. She looked back at Ichigo and forced a smile. "I want you to be here. I don't want you to leave. I know you're hurting, I know you lost, and I know you feel like the only way to keep me safe is to leave but that's not it." Her eyes held more power as she spoke. "The only way you can protect me is by being here. Where you're needed, where everyone who cares about you is."

Ichigo let out a deep breath and reached up, grabbing her hand. He gently brought it off his mask and looked in her eyes. "I wish that were true, but you don't know what I'm up against."

"Then tell me." She said, rather sternly for someone like Orihime.

Ichigo stared at her for a moment before letting go of her hand and turning back to the window and looking at the sky. "Every day since I've been…" He stopped to find a good way for saying it. "Back, I've been trying to understand what I am, who I was, and why I was here. And with your help I figured it out. I thank you for that." He stopped and lowered his head. "But now, I need to figure out what the hell is going on and why I am so damn important to everybody. And I can't have you in the middle of this. I can't…" He trailed off and finally looked at her again.

"If something happens to you, I can't forgive myself. I can't, no, I won't let anything happen to you."

"What are you talking about? Please tell me Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime pleaded desperately.

"The Devil!" He yelled at her and she was taken aback. Ichigo almost never yelled at her, unless it was for her safety but this wasn't the case. This was really troubling him. "The Devil, threatened me by targeting you."

Orihime's eyes widened in understanding. "W-what?"

Ichigo sighed and walked over to her. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to sound as quietly and calm as possible. "If I don't listen to him, if I try to fight against him or do anything that he doesn't like, he will come for you." Orihime gasped slightly and put a hand up to her mouth. "I can't let him do this. I'm sorry."

Orihime kept holding his gaze and put her hand back down. "You… don't want him to have anything to use against you?" As she said this she felt her heart crumbling. Maybe he didn't care as much as she thought he did.

Ichigo raised his eyes in confusion. Once he finally understood it he shook his head. "No, well yes but that's not it. I can't let him, or anyone else, hurt you. You are… the only thing I have and I can't lose you."

Water slowly dripped down the auburn haired princess' cheeks. Her eyes were filled with even more tears as she looked into Ichigo's yellow eyes. "I…" She tried to speak but it came out weak and timid. Ichigo waited patiently for her to say something but saw that her eyes were full of fresh tears. More streams came down her face and he lifted one hand up hesitantly. He didn't know what he was doing, nor did he know that this was in some way romantic. He somewhat awkwardly attempted to brush her tears away with the back of his fingers.

Before he could retract his hand Orihime was wrapped around him in an instant. He was stunned by her sudden embrace and left his arms up around her back. He looked down at the back of her head before finally returning the hug. She was warm, so warm, it felt so comforting to have her like this. The thing he liked about her most was the beauty she held on the inside.

"I don't want you to leave." She finally spoke, she clenched the fabric of his Shihakusho tighter. Not wanting to let him go. But, she knew she had to. "But, I understand. If you need to go than you need to go. I just, don't leave me again." Ichigo could feel her tears on his shoulder and held her tighter. Her voice cracked as she spoke. God, he didn't want to leave her. But he wouldn't leave her forever. He would be back, he had to come back. She was his reason for coming back.

"I don't want to leave, I want you to know that. And I'll be back, I will. I promise. And if anything happens I will be back." Ichigo brought up a hand and let it drift through Orihime's auburn hair. It felt so soft to the touch. Like silk. Why was she so perfect?

"I believe in you Kurosaki-kun." She spoke softly as she held onto his fabric tightly. Ichigo slowly let go of her and stepped back. Orihime reluctantly let go and looked down at the ground.

"I won't return like last time. Once I sort this out, I will see you first." Ichigo reached up with one hand and lifted her chin up. His mask was dangerously close to her face and she hitched her breath staring at him. "I promise." He said one final time.

"Kurosaki-kun…" She whispered. Before her eyes Ichigo whisked away, disappearing into the night. Ichigo didn't want to stay any longer. He didn't like long goodbyes, or any goodbyes for that matter. He knew that he would see her again. He had to.

Until he could get this whole situation under control, with the Devil and the angels coming after him, he had to leave her and everyone else behind. Who knew what he had really gotten himself into?

In the dead of the night, amidst the blackened clouds, the sky opened up. A gateway in the middle of the sky. Around it, the clouds broke away to let the moon reveal itself and shed light on everything below. In the moonlight appeared one figure, with a Zanpakuto along the waist.

"Hope captain was right about this." The figure said before leaping down into Karakura Town.


Omake:

"Hey Yuzu," Karin said as she played her newest video game. Yuzu was sitting on the other end of the couch reading a book.

"What?" Yuzu asked looking up.

"Didn't you find Orihime acting funny today?" She asked still totally into her game.

Yuzu tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Karin rolled her eyes and paused her game looking at Yuzu. "Remember…"

Earlier…

Karin and Yuzu were staring at Orihime as she started talking to a blank space on the wall.

"What are you doing back so soon? Did everything go alright?" Orihime seemed to be asking a nonexistent person. Yuzu and Karin had just stepped into the room to see her back to them and deep in a conversation with no one. Both girls looked at each other in confusion before looking back at the auburn haired girl.

They both had sweat drops on the back of their heads. Slowly, without being noticed, they slipped back out of the room without her even noticing.

"Oh yeah, now that you mention it." Yuzu said as she went back to her book. "We should probably get her to see somebody for that."


Fin.

A/N: Dun, dun, DUN! Does anyone want to take a wild guess as to who it is? Don't worry, you'll find out next chapter. And I don't know about this chapter but it kinda felt repetitive from the last chapter in turns of Ichigo saying goodbye to Orihime. But don't worry, this goodbye is more of a definitive. Like, we won't be seeing Orihime for a little while. But this will all work out in the end. Maybe… You don't know yet. And so if you thought that the Devil was too soft in the beginning to be, well, the Devil, than you get to see why he is the embodiment of evil. Naturally, he would hate someone like Orihime, so pure and all. And to not so mainly focus on only Ichigo and Orihime we get the brief glimpse of Rukia and Renji, which is another favorite of mine. Well, I have a lot of favorites actually but Ichihime would be number 1.

Anyway please review letting me know what you think and I love all opinions.