Hey guys, sorry about leaving you hanging on Saturday. I ended up spending the weekend in Hollywood trying to help my best friend redecorate her apartment and left my laptop at home so I didn't get the chance to update. Forgive me!

Anyhow, here is the second to last chapter. I will say, it's not as climactic as I was hoping it would be but time restrictions within the story kind of limited me. Anyway, please enjoy! I'll have the final chapter for you on Saturday morning! I PROMISE!

"Ichigo Kurosaki, surrender now!" Rukia said with a scowl as she entered the clearing with Orihime trailing behind. She was watching him and feigning anger while trying to hide her worry. He was taking severe damage from both Chad and Uryū and his reiatsu was extremely weakened. Of course, that was the plan all along.

Ichigo had to die.

It was risky but it was obviously a risk he found worth taking for Orihime's sake so she wouldn't argue with him. Still, it was hard to watch Ichigo take each hit from his allies and know that the ultimate goal was to end his life. From the looks of him, it wouldn't be much longer.

Rukia turned her gaze to Orihime to guage just exactly what her reaction was to seeing Ichigo so torn and bloody. Orihime's body seemed paralyzed, frozen where it stood as though it was a soulless Gigai. It became clear to Rukia that whoever had been in control of Orihime's body was currently occupied elsewhere. It was hard to determine whether the perpitrator had left Orihime's body vulnerable on purpose or if there was some internal struggle to gain control but she had little time to think about it. She had a task ahead of her. "Ichigo! It's time!"

"Inoue!" Ichigo shouted, rushing to the emotionless body standing and staring blankly at the ground. He placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her gently, hoping that he could gain the real Orihime's attention, if only for a second. "Inoue! Inoue, say something! Inoue! Inoue!"

...

"Let go of me!" She shouted as she struggled against his hold. His claws were digging into her arms and his grip was tight but she fought with everything she had. She thought she could hear Ichigo's voice shouting for her in the distance but it was all she could do to just fight against the grip she was being held in. "What do you want!?"

"I want you to look through your own eyes." He said with a smirk. "Look at what has become of your precious Kurosaki-kun."

She felt herself being shoved then, pushed into what felt familiar and she realized it was her own consciousness. She was looking through her own eyes, although she didn't have control over her limbs or muscles, and she could see Ichigo standing before her looking bloody and beaten. "K-Kurosaki-kun!? What happened to him!?"

"Isn't it fantastic? Your Shinigami friend and the others seem to believe that he is responsible for all that's been happening to you. And from the looks of it they're going to kill him over it." He said with a deep chuckle. "He will die and you'll be entirely to blame."

She shook her head desperately, tears coming to her eyes. "No! Kurosaki-kun! Kurosaki-kun!"

...

"Kurosaki-kun." Orihime managed to mutter, looking at Ichigo's face sadly.

"Inoue!" Ichigo smiled in relief at hearing Orihime's voice speak his name. Her eyes were brimming with concern and he could see that it was her true self. "Inoue, you have to push him out! Force him out of your body and regain control!"

Orihime looked to Ichigo, her eyes filling up with tears. "I... I can't. If I do, he-"

Ichigo looked behind him to see Rukia standing there prepared to do the task he had asked her to do. "Rukia, do it now!"

"Right." Rukia raised her Zanpakuto high into the air and looked to Ichigo regretfully. "This better work, Ichigo. I'll never forgive you if it doesn't."

"I figured as much." Ichigo replied with a smile before turning his gaze back to Orihime. "Sorry, Inoue."

Orihime watched in horror as Rukia brought her Zanpakuto down swiftly and impaled Ichigo through the chest. His eyes were watching her sorrowfully despite the crooked smile on his face until his body fell limp and it became clear to her that Ichigo Kurosaki was dead. "N-no! No! K-Kuchiki-san, why!?"

"Take his soul in, Inoue." Rukia replied stifly. "Take his soul in and let him save you so that you can save him."

...

She felt herself being pulled back into her subconsciousness. She expected to feel clawed hands tugging at her but the hands she felt were soft and gentle. She turned to look behind her to see Ichigo standing there with his hands on her arm. "Kurosaki-kun!"

"Inoue, it's really you." He spoke quietly with a smile on his face.

"Kurosaki-kun, why!? Why did you let them kill you!?" She cried out, tears overwhelming her face. "Why!?"

"So that I could save you." He answered. "But we don't have much time. We have to hurry. Where is that bastard Ulquiorra?"

She shook her head, tears flying from her face as she did so. "Kurosaki-kun, Ulquiorra isn't-"

"I'm right here." He spoke, his emerald eyes piercing through the darkness to gaze at the man across from him. He wanted to be furious but he could truthfully only crack a small smile of relief. "I knew you'd come for her eventually. I just never expected it to be like this."

"Ulquiorra..." She muttered, turning her eyes to him in concern. "What are you-"

"Do as Kurosaki says." He replied calmly. "Regain control of your body. Push us out."

She shook her head again and turned to face him, his eyes staring straight through her like they always had. "If I do that you'll die!"

"I told you, woman. I'm already dead." He said, turning his gaze from her to the orange haired man and back again. "No amount of memories or wishful thinking will change that. I am dead. I will remain dead forever. It's fine. I accept it."

She took a hesitant step toward him, reaching her hand out to him sadly. "Ulquiorra, there has to be a another way."

"There is no other way." He replied with a shake of his head. "At least, not one that can be determined in the amount of time it would take before Kurosaki dies permanently. I know you don't want that."

"It isn't fair!" She shouted, tear drops pooling at her feet. "I never meant for this to happen! It's wrong! You shouldn't have to just fade away!"

"The truth is, woman, I want to fade away." He said softly, looking at the faces of the two standing before him. "Yes, I was enjoying this second chance at life but once that stopped I found myself consumed with anger, greed and hatred. Those are quite possibly the most wretched aspects of a heart and yet that was all that I had. It only changed once you came here and it is because of that change that I realize it's best if I leave. If I stay the jealousy and bitterness will once again become the only thing I can feel and I can't promise to you or myself that something like this won't happen again. Then of course there's Murciélago. He is and always will be a part of me. I won't always be stronger than him. I won't always be able to suppress him and in those times it would be far worse."

She listened to him as he spoke, tears still streaming down her face. She knew he was right. She knew that his soul needed to be free from her body. It was what he wanted and yet she couldn't fight the sorrow she felt about it. "I'm so sorry, Ulquiorra."

"Don't be." He replied, a simple smile gracing his lips. "You have a responsibility to live your life and to obtain happiness. That is the goal of a human heart as I have come to understand it. Do not disappoint me in that task, woman."

"Alright. I'll try my hardest." She said with a nod, fighting back her tears long enough to force a smile. "Goodbye, Ulquiorra."

He continued to smile as he bowed his head, keeping his gaze averted from her. He knew if he didn't he might change his mind. "Goodbye, Orihime Inoue."

"How sentimental." A voice came from behind the trio, dark and devious. He had been watching the exchange in interest and wavering on whether or not he would intervene but his bloodlust got the best of him and he couldn't allow it to end so simply. "However, I'm afraid I'm not done with the woman yet."

She turned wide, frightened eyes in his direction but she found that both Ichigo and Ulquiorra were quick to stand between her and the monstrous form hovering not far away. She knew she had little time to act so she kicked her feet into a sprint and hurried as fast as she could away.

...

Orihime gasped as she regained full consciousness in the world of the living. She heaved for air and noted right away that she once again had complete control over her own body. Ichigo's lifeless form lay only mere inches from her and her hands flew instinctively to her Shun Shun Rikka. "Sōten Kisshun, I reject!"

Rukia watched nervously as Orihime tried to use her Shun Shun Rikka but to her dismay the ability wasn't working. "Inoue, what's wrong!?"

"I..." Orihime grit her teeth in frustration. She knew exactly why her ability wasn't working. She still had not forced Ulquiorra or Murciélago from her body and she knew the latter was likely still interfering with her powers. It was in her best interest to reject their souls from her body but she was struggling with the idea of it all. She clenched her eyes shut, trying to force back the tears that were coming to her eyes. "I never wanted this! I never wanted any of it! It's not fair!"

"Inoue!" Rukia reached out and slapped Orihime across her face. "Focus! Do what needs to be done! Ichigo is counting on you!"

Orihime stared up at Rukia with wide eyes before nodding quickly. "R-right!" She took a deep breath to calm herself and concentrated hard on forcing the foreign reiatsu she felt within her body out. Her chest felt heavy, weighed down by the souls within her as she focused her energy on pushing them out. After a moment that felt like an eternity the weight seemed to lift and a darkness engulfed the area before slowly dissipating.

She placed her hands back on her hairpins and repeated her earlier command. "Sōten Kisshun, I reject!"

Rukia watched in anticipation as Orihime's Shun Shun Rikka finally activated and the yellow shield spead over Ichigo's body. They sat in silence watching and waiting for a reaction from Ichigo that seemed it would never come. "Why isn't it working? His wounds are healing but he's not responding."

Orihime stared at Ichigo's body in desperation before realizing that although his body was healed his soul was still within her. She closed her eyes and focused once more on pushing the intrusive soul from her body. She felt another wave of reiatsu leave her and her body felt noticibly weak but she knew that was a good thing. Her eyes snapped back open to see Ichigo's finger flicker in movement.

Ichigo bolted up quickly and sat looking around, gasping for breath as he realized he was alive. "It worked? I'm alive!?"

Rukia smiled and nodded with a look of relief on her face. "You're alive, Ichigo."

Uryū crossed his arms as he approached Ichigo and scowled down at him. "You're also incredibly stupid. You were cutting it pretty close, don't you think?"

Ichigo grinned and placed his hand on his head in thought. "Was I? I didn't realize. It wasn't quite what I was expecting it to be so I had to improvise."

"K-Kurosaki-kun..." Orihime managed to croak out past the lump in her throat.

Ichigo turned to look at Orihime and his smile faltered. "Inoue, are you okay?"

"Kurosaki-kun! You jerk!" Orihime dove forward in her kneeling position and threw her arms around Ichigo's neck. She began to cry heavily against his shoulder as she clung to him tightly. "Why are you always risking your life to protect me!? Stop doing that! Ishida-kun is right! It's stupid!"

Ichigo let out a soft chuckle as he placed is hand on the back of Orihime's head to comfort her. "Sorry, but I'll always be there to protect you. I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm just glad you're okay!" Orihime wailed against the fabric of his Shihakusho. She continued to cling to him as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Rukia smiled knowingly and turned away from Ichigo and Orihime. "Well, I've done what you asked me to do. I have to return to Soul Society but I'll be back in a few days to check on things here. You take care of yourselves."

Ichigo nodded and watched as Rukia opened a Senkaimon and disappeared through it. He quickly noticed that both Uryū and Chad had also left the area leaving him holding Orihime as she cried against him. He pulled back from her slowly and raised his hand to her chin to get her to look at him. "Inoue..."

Orihime raised her eyes and looked up at Ichigo with a bright blush. It took her only a moment to realize she'd let her emotions get the best of her and she quickly pulled away from him and sat back on the grass. "I'm sorry!"

"Don't be." Ichigo answered with a chuckle. He stared at her in silence for a moment, noting that she had a hard time holding his gaze. "Are you truly alright, Inoue? After everything you've been through-"

"I'm fine." Orihime uttered quickly. "I don't want to talk about it. It's just too depressing."

"I understand." Ichigo said with a nod. "I'm sorry I didn't realize something was wrong sooner."

Orihime felt tears coming to her eyes once more but she blinked them away. "So am I."

Ichigo watched her for a moment in silence. It was clear she had so much she wanted to say but he had a feeling that he wasn't the person she wanted to say it to. After a while of sitting there and saying nothing he stood and held a hand out to her with a smile. "Come on, Inoue. Let's go home."

Orihime looked up at Ichigo's outstretched hand and let out a heavy sigh. She reached up and clasped his hand with hers, allowing him to pull her up. They began the long trek home in silence, Ichigo's hand shifting to wrap around hers delicately and for the first time in weeks a smile graced her lips that was genuine and full. It was a happy smile.