Author's Note: Here is another update! It's short and I apologize for that but I thought it'd be fun to leave it off how I did. Please review and tell me what you think! I have started chapter 10 so you can feel reassured that an update is in the near future. I am also working on a new story that will probably, hopefully, only be five chapters long. So look for that, it could be posting anytime soon. I am sorry for the delay, this time there really was no excuse except for my own laziness. Plus, I tend to write with my cousin and that takes up most of my time.

Anyway, please enjoy this short but exciting chapter!


Chapter 9- Remembrance

The room was simple and yet intriguing. Ichigo kicked his door shut and stopped to watch Orihime's face as she slowly walked the short expanse of the room. She touched the desk and then the chair, her eyebrows furrowing in concentration.

"Do you remember this room?"

"I have been in here before then. I thought it seemed familiar and," her bangs hung in her eyes as she looked at him with, "it has your signature all over it."

Ichigo smirked, "Well I do spend most my time here."

Orihime fingered the blue blanket that was laid out flat on his bed, "I wish I could remember everything. Things seem familiar to me and yet I can't recall the memories that are supposed to go with it."

"You've been in my room several times. The last time was before you got taken."

That spun her around, "Taken?"

Ichigo nodded his head slowly, "You were taken by Aizen and his forces. They wanted you because of your power."

Her head pounded, "Power? The power has to do with these flowers!" She was holding up her Zanpakuto now, her gray eyes shining with joy at having put one of the puzzle pieces together.

"That's right, except they were only two flowers at the time. They were hair pins that your brother had given you the day of his death."

That was a memory she did remember, "And you were there to help me. I do remember that."

Ichigo smiled sadly, "I was young and stupid then, and after that incident—I somehow forgot that it was you that had been that little girl. I am sorry about that."

Orihime shrugged, "I don't remember much so there's no reason to apologize to me. So the flower hairpins…how did they become my power?"

"This part is a little more complicated and I'm not sure I even understand it completely. But when I first got Rukia's powers to become a Soul Reaper my spiritual pressure affected those I was close to; which was you and Chad. So both of you had your inner power awakened when it probably would have stayed dormant inside of you."

He spoke again when she didn't reply, "Then a hollow came and attacked the school. I wasn't here for this part since I had my own thing I was taking care of, but apparently this hollow attacked Tatsuki and that's what made you use your power."

"Tatsuki…" the name came off her lips in a whisper. "She was important to me—a friend that helped me when I felt that I was alone."

"That's her; I shouldn't be surprised you remember her."

Orihime sat on the edge of his bed, her hands going to the sides of her head as it began to pound, "I remember the name, but I can't remember what she looks like. This is horrible; I just want to remember everything so I can move on with my life."

Ichigo picked up her Zanpakuto and touched one of the flowers, "One step at a time Orihime. We don't want to overload your brain. So let's start with what we have been. The next thing I'll tell you is the name of all your flower friends."

"Friends? You mean they are real?"

He beamed at her, "You bet they are, and I'm sure they are upset you haven't recalled their names. I bet they have been calling out to you for a long time and because of the stupid block Yamamoto placed on you, you haven't been able to hear them."

"What are their names?"

Ichigo sat down beside her, the bed sinking under his added weight, "Ayame, Baigon, Hinagiku, Lily, Shun'o, and Tsubaki."

Orihime's eyes widened as the names sank in. When Ichigo had said their names the flowers on her hilt had begun to glow brightly.

"Yes, those are our names. Remember us Orihime; we've been trying to reach out to you."

The two in the room glanced at each other in surprise, "Did you?"

He nodded, "I heard it too."

The Zanpakuto shuddered in Ichigo's hands and then rose into the air, "We have always been with you Orihime. Even when you have forgotten us we have never forgotten you." The voice that spoke was female.

"Shun'o?" Orihime asked her eyes closing as if she was in pain.

Ichigo watched her intently; Kisuke had said it would be a slightly painful process for Orihime to regain all her memories of when she had been living. It wouldn't be an easy transition. After a few minutes he couldn't watch her in pain anymore so he rested his hand on her shoulder just as the Zanpakuto replied.

"Yes! You recognized my voice; that makes me so happy Orihime!"

"I am glad I could put the right name to the voice." Orihime giggled lightly.

"So am I, now, for you to regain some more of your memories you need to remember what function we had. Can you do that? It's one of the attacks you could do with us when you were living." Shun'o explained slowly so Orihime would be able to process the request.

Orihime sat on Ichigo's bed, now leaning against the wall that it was pressed against. Ichigo watched her as he sat on the computer chair that he had had in his room for what seemed like forever. He loved seeing the look of happiness that was on her face as she talked to the sword that was now resting on her thighs. It was as he watched her that he realized how important it was for her to have all her memories back. Even though it was going to be dangerous for her to have them back he wanted her to have them. She never smiled this brightly when she was in the Soul Society.

Being lost in his thoughts he hadn't heard Orihime's question when she asked it. Stumbling over his words he squabbled, "What was that? Sorry Orihime."

She shook her head at him, a disapproving look on her face as she tried to remain serious but had a hard time doing it. "I told you taking in all that alcohol was bad for you. It has made it so you have an even harder time focusing."

Ichigo chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck, "It was my first time drinking…but it took me a couple of beers before I started to feel any affect at all. Although, by the time I finished off the entire six pack I was pretty tipsy. And that was when you arrived."

Orihime patted her chin thoughtfully, "Don't worry; I don't think any differently of you. Anyway, let's get back on task." Her big gray eyes looked back at her Zanpakuto, "So you said something about needing to remember something that I first learned when I got my powers?"

The sword glowed a blue color, the flowers on it glowing even brighter, "Yes, you must remember and say the first defense you learned."

Closing her eyes Orihime concentrated on what had been asked of her. As she was doing that Ichigo slowly got off his chair and took the single step it took for him to reach his bed. With her eyes closed he leaned towards her and pressed his lips against her cheek. That surprised her greatly and her eyes snapped open and she blinked at him. Slowly her cheeks turned a bright red, "I-Ichigo, what was that?"

Ichigo blinked in response to her question. What was it? It was a kiss on the check, it was harmless right? If Ichigo hadn't been influenced by the alcohol he had consumed there was no way he would have done something as bold as this. They held each other's gazes for what seemed like a millennium and then ever so slowly Ichigo leaned forward again.

'She's so beautiful.' Was the only thought that was in his mind as he closed the distance between them. His lips brushed against hers awkwardly, proving how inexperienced he was when it came to this type of thing. Give him a blade and he could easily cut anything down, but put him in a room alone with a girl and he would flutter like a leaf in the wind. Especially if the girl was Orihime Inoue; the girl that had sacrificed herself to protect him when he should have been protecting her.

When Ichigo's lips pressed against Orihime's it felt like lightning shot through her entire soul. Here she was not even human and he was able to touch her as if she was in a living body. Her whole being tingled pleasantly as she slowly let her eyes close. That was when she was flooded with memories, of the time he had saved her from her brother when he became a Hollow, and the time when they went to the Soul Society to save Rukia from her death sentence.

Orihime clung onto the memories, trying to keep them close as they filtered into her mind and soul. With that response she had no idea that she had moved onto her knees and had her arms wrapped around Ichigo, clinging to him as if her life depended on it. Just when she felt like she was going to get them all back it stopped. Ichigo had broken the kiss and was staring at her.

They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Licking his lips Ichigo opened them, about to speak, his checks having turned a light pink.


Last thing! Didn't it take them long enough?! I think this has been the longest I've taken Ichigo and Orihime to kiss. Anyway, please tell me what you thought! I look forward to all reviews. And sorry for any mistakes that are most likely present in this.