Chapter 9: Ichigo's Choice

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Warning: Angst!

Squad Twelve; R&D Dept.

Toshiro and Rose rushed to the fallen Kenpachi's aid while the others looked on in shock. Shinji looked back at the deceased Orihime's corpse and shook his head. "We shouldn't have asked him. Not like this."

"He needed to know," Kyoraku objected.

Shinji cursed and glared at his commander. "No disrespect, Head-Captain, but I know Ichigo a little better than you and the others. I knew from the get-go that Ichigo wouldn't take the news well, especially since you practically rubbed his girlfriend's dead body in his face," he said with a hint of anger. Ichigo was one of the few people that Shinji cared about and respected. The Vizard knew that Ichigo deserved better than that.

Toshiro inspected Kenpachi and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the man still breathed. "He's alive!" he called out to the others. "Send for Isane, quick!"

Soi-Fon barked some orders to some of the men nearby before turning away from the assembled captains. "I will mobilize the Stealth Force and find Ichigo Kurosaki."

Shinji scowled at the woman. "You know he won't come quietly."

"I don't give a damn," Soi-Fon said coldly. "I don't care that he stopped Aizen and Yhwach. Right now, his selfishness is going to bring the Soul Society to ruin. I'll have him apprehended and immobilized. Then we'll drag Orihime Inoue's consciousness out of him, by force if we have to."

"It's not that simple."

All eyes turned to Osho, who'd been watching the captains bicker silently. "You can tie him up as much as you like, Soi-Fon. You can torture him, drug him, beat him within an inch of his life but he still will refuse to relinquish Orihime's consciousness. This is something that Ichigo, and Ichigo alone, must do."

"What are you saying?" Kyoraku asked.

"As I told the boy, it was his grief and his pain that drew Orihime into his Inner World. Even if she were to leave, she'd find herself back inside the recesses of Ichigo's spirit no matter what. No," the monk sighed, shaking his head, "the only way for Orihime to free herself from Ichigo is for Ichigo to free himself from his grief. He has to let her go."

The room became silent as the captains realized that this was beyond them. Once again the world hinged on Ichigo's decision.

"That might be impossible," Kyoraku glumly put. "We were all there after the battle. We all know how Ichigo was when she died." He himself knew the pain of loss. However, Ichigo's pain was much different from the pain he felt when his brother and sister-in-law died, nor was it similar to when Ukitake died.

Shinji headed for the door. "I'll find him. I know Ichigo the most. I'll try to talk sense into him."

"Wait."

The blonde turned to see Byakuya Kuchiki walk up to him. "What do you want?"

"I'll go."

Shinji deadpanned. "Uh…no. No offense, Byakuya, but right now, Ichigo needs a friend, not the guy who almost tried to kill him," he said bluntly. "Right now, he's unstable and-"

"And that," Byakuya interrupted, "is exactly why I should go to him."

Meanwhile…
Kisuke's Underground Lair Beneath Sokyoku Hill

Pain. Misery. Anguish. Despair.

So much despair.

Ichigo sat on a rock, curled up into a ball. Tears ran down his face. This was the worst pain Ichigo had experienced in his life. He'd watched his mother die, been stabbed repeatedly by multiple blades, had a hole blown in his chest and had his powers stripped from him. But this was a pain which he felt he couldn't endure.

"Ichigo…"

The boy flinched when he heard Orihime's voice from inside of him. "Orihime…I can't…" he sobbed. His mind became a collage of his memories of Orihime. From the first day they met to the moment he found her cold, lifeless body. "I can't lose you again."

"But Ichigo, if I don't become the new anchor for the three worlds then…"

Ichigo stiffened, knowing that the truth was bearing down on him. He wasn't stupid. He knew he was being selfish. 'So what?! What's wrong with being selfish? After all I've done, I have to lose Orihime again?!' he thought to himself. He heard Orihime pleading from inside his Inner World but his friend's voice fell on deaf ears.

But his thoughts were interrupted when he heard footsteps coming towards him. He immediately leapt off the rock and drew his zanpakuto blades. He expected Osho, Kyoraku or Soi-Fon but instead he saw…

"Byakuya?"

The Kuchiki Clan leader slowly walked up to the boy. He saw the distraught look on his face and the swords in his hands. He opened up his Haori to reveal that his Senbonzakura was nowhere on his person. "I am not here to fight you, Ichigo," the man said. With a surprisingly soft look on his face, he continued to walk towards the grieving Substitute. "I'm here to help you."

"Help me?" Ichigo questioned.

The man again gestured to his lack of weapon. "I am here to talk, Ichigo. If you want to attack me like you did Zaraki, then I will not stop you." Reaching the boy, he sat down next to him and gestured for him to sit. Hesitantly, Ichigo sat down next to Byakuya on the rock, neither Soul Reaper saying anything.

Another tremor rumbled beneath their feet, reminding Ichigo of what will happen if Orihime didn't become the Soul Queen. But just the mere thought of his beloved Orihime trapped forever in a crystal stasis, unable to see her again made his heart clench with pain. The tears returned as he sat next to Byakuya, not caring if what the man thought. "Byakuya…"

"I know," the captain said gently. He didn't come here as a captain or as a clan leader, bound by duty to stop Ichigo form his own selfishness. Right now he was just a man trying to help another. "Ichigo, I know what it's like to lose someone dear to you," he told him.

Ichigo tried to dry his eyes. "You mean your wife, right?" he recalled vaguely.

Byakuya nodded. "I watched as my wife died before my eyes. The pain I felt that day," he put a hand over his heart before he pointed at Ichigo's, "is the same you feel now. When Orihime died-"

"Don't!" Ichigo spat angrily. "You don't have the right to compare my pain to yours!"

"Maybe," Byakuya admitted. "When you told us that Orihime had returned to you in spirit, I was happy. I was happy for you," he said with the smallest of smiles. "I don't respect many people, Ichigo. You are one of the few exceptions. You saved us all and yet you lost more than any of us. I knew that something was wrong when you told us about she came back to you but I stayed my hand. I didn't want to hurt you more than you've already been hurt. If our positions were reversed, I'd be in the exact same position you are in."

"Byakuya," Ichigo muttered, looking away. "I can't…I just can't…"

"I know," he nodded. "Ichigo, what do you want?"

"I want Orihime," the boy said. "I want her back." He looked down at his hands. "I want to hold her in my arms."

"And what does she want?"

Ichigo blinked. "What?"

"You're in pain." Byakuya reached out and put a hand on Ichigo's shoulder. "But you're forgetting her. How do you think she feels, being locked in the depths of your Inner World? Or knowing what she must do but you won't let her?"

Silence filled the chamber as Ichigo stared down at the ground, knowing that Byakuya was right. 'Orihime…'

"He's right, Ichigo. I don't want to leave you. But I don't want everyone to suffer because of me."

Taking deep breaths, Ichigo placed the smaller of the two Zangetsu blades on his lap. "I need to speak with Orihime," he quietly said.

Byakuya nodded. "I'll be waiting right here."

Ichigo wasn't even surprise when he saw that his Inner World was underwater again. The once great skyscrapers were now in ruins, a result of Ichigo's grief and pain. "Orihime," he said, knowing that the girl he loved was somewhere among the ruins of his pained soul.

Amidst the dark murkiness of the water came a bright golden glow. Orihime appeared in front of him, glowing in the darkness, like she was a beacon of hope amidst Ichigo's sadness. Ichigo immediately wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. His tears mingled with the water as he held her, wishing that time could stand still so he'd never have to let her go. "Orihime…" he sobbed.

The girl ran a hand through his hair gently, understanding how torn her friend was. "It's alright, Ichigo," she whispered. She'd listened to Byakuya's words and had come to terms with what she had to do. Now, she had to get Ichigo to come to terms. "Ichigo, you know that I can't stay," she said, her own heart clenching at the words. She hated this. She wished that she could stay here forever, to stay with Ichigo. But she knew that it wasn't to be. And she knew that deep down, Ichigo knew it too.

"I can't…" Ichigo choked, pulling away from Orihime and looking away. "I can't lose you again!"

"Ichigo," Orihime wrapped her arms around Ichigo and hugged him from behind. "If I don't, then Tatsuki will die. Rukia will die. Uryu and Chad will die. Your dad, your sisters. Everyone…"

Hanging his head, Ichigo closed his eyes. He thought about his family, his classmates, Rukia, Renji, Byakuya and the other Soul Reapers. Deep down inside, Ichigo knew that if Orihime didn't take the Soul King's place, they would all die. He touched Orihime's hands, finding them warm in the cold water. "Orihime, I can't live without you," he mumbled. "When I lost you…I thought that I lost a part of me forever."

Continuing to hug Ichigo, Orihime laid her head on his shoulder. "Ichigo, when I died…my final thoughts were of you. I knew that you would be devastated…but I also knew you'd move on." Her hug tightened as she smiled. "You're the strongest, kindest person I ever met. You're the person I loved the most. And that's why…I have to do this."

"…I know…" Ichigo said after a moment. He turned around and hugged Orihime again. The two friends looked into each other's eyes, tears coming from the both of them as they realized that this might be the last time they could say what needed to be said.

"Ichigo…" Orihime whispered. She knew she'd never get this chance again. This time, she wouldn't hesitate. "I love you." She leaned forward and kissed Ichigo.

Ichigo's mind turned blank as Orihime kissed him, the two friends floating in the water. As they parted, Ichigo cupped her face and kissed her back. "I love you too, Orihime," he confessed.

"I will always love you, Ichigo," she whispered, "but you need to let me go."

Closing his eyes, Ichigo held her close again. "Alright, Orihime," he finally said. "I'll do it." He kissed her again, wishing once more that time could stand still for him. "I have to go…" The despair and darkness that clouded Ichigo's heart began to lift, the ruins of the skyscrapers putting themselves back together.

"Go, Ichigo," Orihime smiled, thankful that she'd gotten through to him. "They need you."

"They need us both," Ichigo replied before he left his Inner World, returning to the real world.

True to his word, Byakuya was waiting for him when he left his Inner World. When Ichigo's head snapped up, Byakuya readied himself. He hoped that the boy had come to his senses but if he was still hellbent on damning everyone for his own selfishness then he'd take drastic measures.

The man was taken by surprise, however, when Ichigo looked up at him and gave him a sad nod. "Okay, Byakuya. You win…"he said.

Ichigo was taken aback when Byakuya put a hand on his shoulder. "I know that this can't be easy, Ichigo. For what it's worth, I am truly sorry." Getting up, he pointed to the ladder. "We must hurry. Osho told us that the Soul King can't keep this up for much longer."

Solemnly, Ichigo followed Byakuya's lead, afraid of what was to come…

To be continued