A/N: And now I bring you chapter nine! I hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. I am never going to own Bleach. This can't really surprise anyone….

After Life

Chapter 9: For the Better

Uryuu set the freshly-brewed cup of tea on the table in front of Orihime before taking his seat on the other side of Chad.

"Thank you, Uryuu," Orihime whispered, taking the cup of tea in both hands and bringing it up to her nose. She inhaled deeply and let her eyes close for a long moment, before she slowly lowered it back to the table, as it was still too hot to drink.

"You're welcome," Uryuu assured her.

After she'd lifted her eyes again, she mumbled, "I'm so sorry…I never meant to hurt you all."

"We know that, Orihime," Tatsuki promised with a gentle smile.

Orihime took a breath and attempted to explain herself, her eyes falling back to her tea. "I just…I don't know how to handle it. I feel guilty for being sad, when I know so many other people are sad, too, and…I don't have any reason to claim to be any sadder than any of you."

"Sure you do," Tatsuki argued. "I certainly wasn't in love with him."

Orihime swallowed. "But you knew him so much longer than I did!"

"That's true," Tatsuki allowed, "but the way I see it, that just means I had more time with him. Sure, I miss him, but I always will. I can move forward, and I will."

"Th-that's…that's my problem," Orihime admitted softly, her gaze straying to the picture that still rested on the table, now beside her tea. Staring into Ichigo's photographed brown eyes, she mumbled, "I…I'm not sure I can."

"Not sure you can do what, Orihime?" Uryuu pushed gently.

She looked up at her friends sadly, honesty radiating from her. "Move forward. Oh! I feel so horrible! H-his family is suffering more than I am, and I'm sure they haven't just given up…. And he wouldn't want me to…to be like this, I know that, but I…I just can't imagine a life that doesn't have him in it."

Her whispered words echoed through the room with a force they couldn't even describe. Hearing their gentle, heartbroken friend utter those words, even if they had already suspected the truth of them, was nearly overwhelming. But she wasn't done.

Wrapping her hands again around the teacup, she added softly, "I'm just so tired of losing the people I love the most. I know I'm not alone this time, but that doesn't make it any easier, and I feel so horrible for feeling this way!"

As Tatsuki and Uryuu searched for the words to offer her, Chad rumbled softly, "It's alright, Orihime. We're not upset."

Orihime turned her teary eyes to the quiet man and smiled a sad, but grateful, smile.

After a moment, she admitted, "I don't know what to do anymore. Please, can you tell me what to do?"

Tatsuki turned away, trying to subtly wipe away a stray tear, her heart breaking for her friend.

Uryuu took a deep breath. This was why they were there, after all. "Actually, Orihime, that's why we insisted on having this conversation. We want you to know…you do have options."

Orihime took a long sip of her perfectly-cooled tea and asked softly, "What do you mean?"

"We've been talking with Urahara," Uryuu explained. "And he has come up with a possible solution." At the twinkle of hope that was beginning to light her eyes, Uryuu forced himself to add, "Before you get your hopes up, you need to understand, there's just no way for Ichigo to come back. Urahara's solution is something else."

Pulling her lower lip between her teeth for a moment, Orihime nodded. "That makes sense…so what is it?"

"Soul Society won't allow traveling to-and-from," Uryuu began purposefully. "But the Head Captain has offered to let you go over there. On the condition that you stay, and make Soul Society your home."

Her face, which merely two hours before had been void of any emotion, was now a jumbled mess of emotion. A dozen reactions rolled through her and she could barely contain them. Gratitude eventually settled on her face, over a backdrop of hesitation.

"But…I would have to lose all of you," she said slowly. "And…what if he doesn't want me to do that? He could get mad at me…and then I'd be all alone anyway, and it'd be worse because he'd be so close but not really, an-!"

"Orihime, stop!" Tatsuki interrupted, reaching over and covering one of her hands with her own. "First of all, ask anyone, Ichigo could never be mad at you. Even if he didn't like your decision, he would accept it. So don't even worry yourself over something like that."

Orihime chewed her lower lip, looking less than convinced.

"Do you honestly believe Ichigo would abandon you?" Uryuu asked pointedly.

With a soft sigh, Orihime released her lip and shook her head. "No, I know he wouldn't." She looked up then and added, "But I would still have to leave you. I can't be so selfish!"

"Yes you can," Tatsuki asserted firmly.

"We would be the selfish ones, to ask you to let go of Ichigo and lose yourself like you did, just to stay close to us," Uryuu added.

Chad nodded silent agreement.

Tatsuki's expression softened and she said, "Listen, Orihime, we're not trying to tell you what to do. We just wanted you to know your options, and whatever you decide we'll support, because there's only one thing we really want from you."

Swallowing, Orihime asked quietly, "What?"

"We want you to live. So promise me that you'll do whatever it takes to do that, okay?" Tatsuki replied, grinning faintly. "Otherwise, you're gonna make a liar out of me."

Now looking thoroughly perplexed, Orihime's head tilted slightly to the side (a gesture the other three were immensely glad to see) and she asked, "How would I do that, Tatsuki?"

"Because I promised Ichigo I'd take care of you," she said. "And if you're walking around like a human-robot, then obviously I'm not taking care of you, now am I?"

Tears swarmed Orihime's eyes again and she looked away from Tatsuki, back down to the photo on the table. Her fingers went out and began lightly trailing over Ichigo's face, and she remembered the broken heart she'd decided to draw for their final art project.

She looked up again, and studied their faces. All she saw was concern, and her heart swelled. She had lost one brother, years before, but without realizing it, she had gained two more – and a sister to boot. And that was when she knew that they had spoken the truth – they would support her decision, and be happy for her – because that was what family did.

Smiling shakily, she reached for her art project and said, "I'm going to need help if I'm gonna get a new one done on time; but this isn't really accurate anymore."

Tatsuki smiled crookedly. "That's my girl," she said softly.

"I don't have anywhere to be," Chad offered with a nod and a faint grin.

"Neither do I," Uryuu said with a gentle smile.

Before he'd even opened his eyes, Ichigo knew he was no longer in his bed. He was lying on a cold, flat, hard surface, and he was wet. In fact, though he knew he couldn't have been there very long, he was already soaked, and raindrops continued to fall relentlessly against his face.

What the hell…? he groused as he squinted his eyes against the pounding rain and pushed himself up onto his elbows. After blinking rapidly several times, he was able to see past the rain enough to realize where he was.

He'd returned to his inner world.

Pushing himself to his feet, he turned in a tight circle and looked around. The skyscrapers remained tall, and everything still seemed sideways, and though it had always made him feel fairly disoriented, he was glad to see a semblance of familiarity. Though, at the moment, he sincerely missed the clear sky.

"Hey! Zangetsu!" Ichigo called, knowing the zanpakutou spirit was lingering somewhere nearby.

"Zangetsu's not here, King," the hollow declared, suddenly standing across from him. Smirking dangerously, he added, "You'll have to leave a message."

"Cut the crap, dammit," Ichigo snapped, glaring at his counterpart. Gesturing with one arm to their surroundings, he demanded, "Why'd you drag me here, then? And what's with the weather?"

His hollow's smirk shifted easily into an irritated, slightly disappointed, scowl. "I can't believe you're even asking me that. You really are an idiot, aren't you?"

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Ichigo said, "Will you just answer the damn question?"

"Which one? The stupid one or the pointless one?"

"You know what I meant!" Ichigo roared, his glare darkening. He was half a second from beating the cocky hollow senseless.

The hollow sighed, scoffing in blatant irritation. "After all these years, you still need to be told, don't you? The weather of this world is a direct reflection of your heart, remember?"

Ichigo's eyes widened as he realized his hollow was right. How the hell'd I forget that? It was his turn to sigh as he crossed his arms and asked, "Okay, I get it. I'm upset. I don't need you dragging me here to tell me that. But what the hell do you expect me to do about it?"

His smirk slowly returning, the hollow reached up and wrapped his hand around the hilt of his own Zangetsu as he said, "That's why Zangetsu's not here. He sees it like you do – just a crappy situation that we have to put up with. But I'm not that reasonable, and I'm fucking sick of this rain!"

Ichigo blocked the initial attack and shoved out with his zanpakutou, forcing the hollow backwards. "There's nothing I can do about it, dammit! But if it's a beating you want, well, that I can help you with!"

Sparks flew as the opposite zanpakutous clashed once more.

Orihime spent the remainder of her weekend – around two long shifts at the bakery – working out the details of her new plan. She still felt bad about the idea of leaving her friends behind, but they had each assured her that they would be alright. And, more importantly, she couldn't deny the simple truth: she would not be alright if she stayed. So, really, either way she would be leaving her friends behind.

By the end of her Saturday shift, she had made her final decision, and so when she had met up at Urahara's shop that evening with everyone, she was able to confidently tell them what she wanted to do.

"I'm definitely going," she had said, "but I want to wait until after graduation."

Kisuke had casually inquired for her reasoning, his face hidden behind his fan, and something in his tone suggested that he had foreseen her answer.

And her answer was rather simple. "I've put so much time and effort into high school, I feel like it would be a waste to drop out with only a couple of weeks left. And it'll give me a little time to get used to the idea. Plus, after high school, most of the others were going to be moving away anyway – actually, so was I – so it's a more natural goodbye."

With the timeline properly decided, Kisuke had promised to contact Soul Society and work out the details with Yamamoto, in order to have everything ready for her in time.

It was late when they all made their exit, and they were barely past the front entry when Uryuu exclaimed, "I almost forgot! Orihime, there's something we didn't tell you."

Everyone, including Orihime, looked over at him curiously. "What is it, Uryuu?"

He looked almost sheepish as he turned to properly face her. "Well, you see, Yoruichi told us something after her first trip to Soul Society a little while ago. Apparently, Rukia forgot to tell you, and the three of us decided to wait for the right time to bring it up…."

"Oh, right!" Tatsuki suddenly cried, clearly realizing what Uryuu was talking about.

Orihime frowned faintly, worried something was wrong. "Is…is he alright? Did something happen?"

"He's fine, I promise," Uryuu quickly assured her. Adjusting his glasses subconsciously, he added, "It's just that Rukia forgot to tell you…where he was stationed, after he arrived."

Realization dawning, Orihime's eyes widened. "Oh! Where was he stationed? I hope he wasn't put in Mr. Kenpachi's squad, I don't think he'd be happy there, but I wonder where they would put him, and how do they decide those things, anyway?"

Her friends all smiled faintly at her brief rambling. It was amazing how quickly she had reverted to her old self, now that she knew she would be able to see Ichigo again.

Clearing his throat, Uryuu replied, "I have no idea how they decide where to station whom, but, somehow, Ichigo has ended up as Squad Three's new Captain."

Somehow, Orihime's eyes widened even more as she sucked in a breath, her mouth forming a small 'o' as she envisioned Ichigo in a Captain's haori. "He's…a Captain now? Oh, wow! Has anyone told his family? I bet they'd be so proud!"

"Yeah," Tatsuki put in, looping an arm around her friend's shoulders. "Apparently Rukia remembered to tell them."

"That's good!" Orihime declared with a smile. Her face contorted slightly and she asked, "Oh, unless…do you think he didn't want us to know for some reason? Maybe she wasn't supposed to tell us?"

Tatsuki laughed lightly and grinned. "You worry way too much, Orihime! Nah, the way Yoruichi told it, Rukia just managed to get a little too wrapped up in her 'mission' and let it slip her mind."

"Oh," Orihime said, before laughing softly and saying, "well, I can't be mad about that; it's totally something I would do!"

The group laughed (even Chad chuckled quietly) and began to walk once more.

As they walked in the general direction of Orihime's apartment, Orihime suddenly declared, "Ooh, I guess I should contact the college and tell them I won't be coming, shouldn't I?"

Ichigo was doing fine – he swore he was – until he went to talk to Renji the following afternoon. He had a report to deliver, but it was really just an excuse to visit his friend, as he wasn't in the mood for sitting by himself in his office, drowning in paperwork. When he approached the office, he dropped his knuckles against the door and waited two seconds before easily sliding it open.

He was half-way inside before his eyes registered the sight that greeted him.

Rukia (still proudly donning her new Lieutenant's badge) was leaning around Renji, who was sitting in his chair, and holding his face between her hands as they kissed. Although 'kissed' seemed too plain a word, judging by the grip Renji had of Rukia's short, dark hair.

Ichigo supposed he shouldn't be overly surprised to find the two in an embrace, especially in their own office, since even he had been noticing a difference between them lately. But it wasn't exactly something he'd ever wanted – let alone expected – to walk in on. And so he was unable to stop himself from spluttering as his face heated from embarrassment.

Renji and Rukia pulled apart immediately, faces flushed and trying to discreetly stabilize their breathing.

"The hell, Ichigo, don't you knock?" Renji cried indignantly.

Despite the situation, the irony of the remark was not lost on Ichigo. Ichigo grumbled and stalked forward to slam the report on Renji's desk as he loudly said, "I did! You need to listen! Damn, I'm never gonna get that image outta my head!"

"You did not knock!" Renji argued disbelievingly.

"Yeah, I did!" Ichigo returned loudly.

Rukia reached over and smacked Renji upside the head, exclaiming, "You idiot! You were supposed to be listening!"

Renji turned his attention to Rukia and argued, "Me? You're the one who jumped me, you should be listening!"

Rukia's face reddened all over again. "I did no such thing!"

Deciding he was learning far too much about his friends, Ichigo spun around and started toward the door. "I am not hearing this! I'm out of here!"

He wasn't sure they even heard him, though he clearly heard their arguing as it escalated.

He went straight to his house, needing to be alone, though he wasn't entirely sure why. It wasn't until after he'd set Zangetsu against the couch, and sat down heavily himself, that he even allowed his mind to wonder about his reaction.

For as long as he'd known Renji he'd suspected the other man's feelings for Rukia. Renji isn't very good at 'subtle', he acknowledged. And, though it had taken him a little longer to see it, he'd suspected Rukia's feelings for her childhood friend for a while as well. He was sure their attachment to each other was a large part of the reason that Rukia had taken over as Lieutenant of Squad Five, especially when Byakuya was now looking for a new Lieutenant.

And he'd have had to be blind not to see the tell-tale signs that the two had been exchanging since his arrival at Soul Society.

So why am I surprised? he asked himself with a frown. After a moment, he shook his head. No, that's the wrong word; I'm not surprised. I'm… His eyes went wide when he found the word he was searching for. Jealous. I'm jealous.

He sighed and slumped against the back of the couch, his eyes rolling up to stare at the ceiling. It was official. He, Ichigo Kurosaki, was jealous of his two closest friends. But it wasn't as simple, or over-done, as 'I'm in love with her, too.' No, specifically, what he was jealous of was their relationship.

He loved her. She loved him. They (apparently) had confessed to each other. And now they were together; they were happy. Even if they still argued too much.

And Ichigo was happy for them. He was glad to see they had finally cleared that hurdle. The problem wasn't them – it was him.

His head rolled to the side and his eyes landed on the framed photograph standing on the small table beside the couch. Without even thinking, his gaze focused on the auburn-haired girl, then fifteen, who was standing between him and Rukia.

Orihime…. Her name slipped across his mind like a forbidden caress. Some days he tried not to think about her (or any of them, really), and other days he told himself that if he put them out of his mind, he'd forget them that much sooner. And he didn't want that. He especially didn't want to forget her.

If I'm lucky, he mused, not for the first time, I'll see her again once, maybe twice, when I get to visit. He choked on a bitter chuckle, eyes skimming over her picture one more time before rolling back up to the ceiling. I've never been that lucky.

The truth was, he knew she was all set to go to Tokyo University. She'd been accepted (as had he, but that didn't exactly matter anymore), and she'd be leaving a month or so after high school graduation. He doubted she'd come back to Karakura. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if she traveled around and moved to Europe or America or something. She had always seemed more interested in that sort of thing than he had.

So, realistically, he wouldn't see her again in her lifetime. And there was no guarantee that she would become a Soul Reaper after she was re-born in Soul Society. If he was being honest with himself, he wasn't even sure he wanted her to – Orihime wasn't suited for fighting. Of course, I'm assuming she'll be the same, he reminded himself.

But this was all part of the problem. Not only were chances incredibly high that he'd never see her again, but if he did, she wouldn't know him. She might be an entirely different person. All of it contributed to his reason for being jealous of his friends.

He would never admit it – especially now, when it was so utterly pointless – but he wanted that kind of happiness. Well, maybe without the violence, he reflected. Still, what Renji and Rukia had was something he hoped they would be smart enough not to take for granted.

"Captain Kurosaki?" Izuru called from the other side of Ichigo's closed front door.

Ichigo had been so lost in his musings that he hadn't even noticed the other man's approach. Sighing, he pushed himself to his feet, knowing his work wouldn't wait for his heart to heal. As he reached for Zangetsu, he called, "Just a sec, Izuru."

"Orihime! What a welcome surprise!" Isshin Kurosaki exclaimed when he pulled open the door one afternoon. "Please, come in," he added, a broad grin curving his lips as he stepped aside to make room for her.

Orihime smiled softly. "Thank you. I'm so sorry if you're busy. I was…hoping to talk to you for a minute?"

Isshin closed the door after she'd entered, and gestured down the hall toward the living room. "I'm not busy at all! Please, come in and make yourself comfortable! Can I get you anything? We have tea…."

They were in the living room by the time Isshin was done, and a sheepish smile curved her lips. "Tea sounds delicious, but please don't make it just for me."

"Nonsense!" Isshin cried, turning towards the kitchen. "What kind of host would I be if I didn't make my guest tea? You just sit down and get comfy, I'll be right back!"

Orihime sat, as instructed, and waited for Isshin to return. While she was waiting, she looked around.

It had been nearly two months since she'd been in the Kurosaki household, though it felt like so much longer. In some ways it was exactly as she remembered it, but in other ways it felt like a brand-new house. I guess…that's what happens when you lose an integral member of the family…it's been so long since Sora died, I don't even remember what the apartment used to be like.

Isshin returned shortly with a steaming mug of tea and held it out to her. "Careful, it's still hot," he said with a smile.

Orihime returned the smile and took the mug carefully. "Thank you, Mr. Kurosaki," she said politely.

The elder Kurosaki scoffed and sank into a chair opposite her. With a nonchalant wave of his hand, he said, "Don't worry about being so formal, Orihime! Now, tell me, what brings you by?"

Shifting self-consciously now, Orihime took a tentative sip of her tea (which was still too hot to drink), before setting it down on the table and taking a deep breath. "Well," she began slowly, not at all sure how her generous host would take what she had to say. "I, um…I'm going to be leaving in about a week…for the Soul Society. And I was wondering if perhaps there was anything you'd like for me to bring…for…Ichigo." It was still hard for her to say his name, but she was proud of herself for not stuttering.

Isshin nodded thoughtfully, his playful demeanor gone for the moment. "I already knew about your upcoming trip," he admitted. There were no traces of any negative feelings in his eyes; and, in fact, a faint smile was beginning to curve his lips again. "To tell you the truth, I was glad to hear it. I'd heard you weren't doing too well – and trust me, I can imagine how hard it was – and, more to the point, I know my son will be glad to have you around."

He paused, making sure to hold her gaze, and added, "As for your other reason for coming by: I'm so touched that you thought to ask!" Isshin jumped to his feet and hurriedly said, "You just wait here, and drink your tea, and I'll be right back!"

Orihime had no idea what to say or do as she watched him practically leap up the stairs. So she told her muscles to relax (he had already known, and he wasn't upset), and she lifted the mug to her lips again. It had cooled enough to drink, and she quickly discovered he had prepared one of her favorite flavors, so she took a large gulp.

Isshin returned only a couple of minutes later, with a small duffle in one hand. He held it up as he said, "I was actually going to ask if you or Yoruichi would be willing to take this over. It's nothing much, just a few things I think he'd like to have that I forgot about when Rukia was over. But it would mean a lot to me if you'd see that he gets it."

Smiling brightly, Orihime nodded. "Of course! I will deliver it to him myself when I get there!"

He set the duffle beside her on the couch and re-claimed his seat. "You're an amazing young woman, Orihime," he declared suddenly. "And, in case I don't get the chance to say this before you leave, I wish you luck."

Feeling a faint flush rise to her cheeks, Orihime stuttered, "L-luck?"

He was grinning cheekily now. "Getting through that thick head of his, of course!"

Orihime flushed brighter and nearly dropped her tea. So distracted was she by his words that she failed to realize, until it was too late, that he had promptly turned to his newly-back-from-school daughters and told them that she was staying for dinner.

To Be Continued…

A/N: I hope you understand, I just had to have a little bit of Isshin-humor in this story somewhere…LOL Anyway, the plot is developing nicely here (as you can clearly tell), and I hope you enjoyed it! Please drop me a review, and don't forget to come back for chapter ten!