Author's note: Well here I am again! I thought I'd work on getting another chapter out to you guys. I hope this one does not disappoint. I finally bring in a hint of the beings that Aizen is worried about. XD. Please let me know what you thought of this chapter. It isn't terribly long but that is how I do things, haha. Oh! And I am collaborating with Ichihime Kurosaki on a drabble series for Ichihime month, it's called Young Hearts please check it out, and read her stories, they are AMAZING! Anyway, that's enough of my note, enjoy!

Chapter 10- New Enemy shows himself

Ichigo licked his lips for the second time, having lost his nerve to speak the first time after he had pulled away from the kiss. Orihime's arms were still wrapped around his neck, her Zanpakuto on the mattress between them as she was now kneeling on it to compensate for his height.

Her gray eyes blinked at him big and round, it was easy to see that she was also very confused by what had just transpired. But then she nervously let go of him and moved back, the wall stopping her from getting further away from him. Her face was now a deep crimson red and she played with the ends of her hair.

Now she would not meet his eyes and he felt guilt hit him like a boulder. Did she think he regretted it? Because there was no way he would regret something like this. Hell, she was good looking and—well, who wouldn't love her? "Orihime…" his voice surprised even him at how soft it sounded.

Nervously she peeked at him from under her lashes. They beated against her delicate skin and Ichigo wished he could be those lashes at this very moment. 'Dammit, I am drunk aren't I? To be thinking cheesy, girly things like that.'

"Eh? What is it?" came her timid reply.

Ichigo moved carefully, not to scare her because at this very moment she looked like a scared animal ready to spring away. He sat on the edge of the bed and put his hands on his knees, his upper body turned towards her. "I…"

"I remember."

"What?"

Orihime chewed on her lower lip and inwardly Ichigo groaned. That lip had just been his a moment ago. "I remember…how you saved me from my brother Sora when he became a Hollow, saving Rukia…almost everything. I didn't get all the memories back though…" Now she met his gaze, "When you pulled away they stopped."

Ichigo was slightly confused by this but then he remembered talking to Kisuke and his father at the hat in clogs shop. They had told him that there would be a way he could help her, this must have been what they meant. 'You pervert! What if I had never kissed her? Then she would never regain her full memories? That was a twisted joke, very twisted.' Ichigo vowed to get even with Kisuke when he had the chance. For now he had this beautiful girl to contend with, something he was more than eager to do.

"So you really remember everything from before Aizen took you?"

"Yes, I…I can't believe I could forget all of that. Everything that happened was so important…how could I forget about you? And about Tatsuki? I am a terrible friend!"

Ichigo shook his head, "It wasn't in your control. When people die and move onto the Soul Society they tend to forget their memories. So it makes sense that you forgot."

"It doesn't excuse it." Orihime covered her face with her hands, "I can't believe I could do something so horrible."

This was a side to her he was not used to seeing and dealing with. Usually she was so bright and happy but now she was melancholy and even depressed. Deciding he didn't like this for her Ichigo moved further back on the bed so he was now sitting beside her. Their shoulders touched, well her shoulder touched about the middle of his arm, and they remained silent for a moment. Then slowly Ichigo moved his hand until it found her smaller one.

"I realize it's hard for you Orihime. If it had happened to me I'd feel probably the same way."

"But I don't think it will happen to you, look at all that you've done for the Soul Society! I'm sure they will make an exception and let you keep your memories." Orihime poked at her sword that she hadn't picked up, "Now everything is making more sense, they weren't required to do something like that for me. Also," now she ran her fingers over the hilt, "I am sorry I forgot about you guys. All of you have always been there for me. Always protected me even when things were hard and scary."

Ichigo gripped her hand tighter with his. Words couldn't express how much he wanted to take her pain away. As Orihime continued to talk to her Zanpakuto, Ichigo couldn't shake the urge to use the restroom. Never before had he felt like he needed to go so bad he thought he would burst. And yet, it would be rude to simply get up and leave when Orihime was having a hard moment. 'Damn…what do I do? Normally I would just politely excuse myself and then return as soon as I can. But now…she is going through so much that it wouldn't be right to get up and leave her.'

A figure jumped through the darkness of the night. There was much for him to do on a night like this. The girl-she had awakened and she was no longer in the protection of the Soul Society. This was the perfect chance to make his move. This was what they had been waiting for. Now they would be able to grab her and use her powers for their goals.

The Kurosaki clinic came into view and the figure stopped on one of the near rooftops. Yes, that was her spiritual pressure. It was amazing how easy it was to find her once she set step into the world of the living. What was even more amusing was the fact that her becoming a Soul Reaper had just made that need for her grow. Now she would have the strength needed for what they would put her through.

Standing to his full height the blonde haired man with vibrant purple eyes jumped one more roof over. His eyes narrowed when he sensed the mass of spiritual pressure that was around her. So Ichigo Kurosaki was home as well. It appeared the human girl, Tatsuki was it, was not able to keep him at bay. No matter, he would deal with her shortly.

Perching on a ledge of the roof he focused his eyes and soon he was able to see inside of the room. The two people he had sensed were sitting side by side, deep in conversation. But there was something else-the girl-she had not regained all her memories. That simply would not do. Even though it would make his master upset he would return for now. There was no point in taking the girl when she did not remember everything. For what she was needed for she needed all of her memories.

With a tsk, he put his hands together and vanished without a trace of ever having been there.

Isshin Kurosaki looked up from his steaming cup of coffee. It was late and he knew it wasn't smart to drink coffee at this hour but he had much work to do. He had just been about to stand and put his cup in the sink when he felt something strange. It was a presence he'd never encountered before. 'What was that? It wasn't human, arrancar, hollow, or soul reaper.' His brow furrowed in worry, and he looked over when his daughter, Karin, stepped slowly into he kitchen.

"Dad...something was out there...and...Ichigo didn't sense it. Why do you think that is?"

"Your brother is under the influence of alcohol and he has a pretty girl in his room. It doesn't take much thought to figure out why he didn't notice. But we have, and we need to figure out what that thing was."

Karin nodded gravely, "If I was stronger..."

Isshin placed a hand on his daughters shoulder, "What you did for your brother was more than enough. You need to recover from that, which is going to take time. For now let me and Kisuke worry about what just happened."

"Do you think whatever it is wants Orihime?"

His mouth pressed into a tight line and he leaned back in his chair, "Probably, that girl has a unique gift, her powers have always been one of a kind so it doesn't surprise me if someone else is after her. What does surprise me is that it wasn't Aizen's presence. Surely he knows she is no longer in the Soul Society."

Karin took a shattered breath and Isshin was up and out of his chair instantly. He scooped his daughter up into his arms and began to walk towards the stairs, "You need to rest, I will figure things out. Don't worry, we'll protect Orihime."

"We have to..." her voice was weak, her black eyes having closed, "because...Ichigo...loves her and...needs her."

"I know."

"I don't...want...to see...him...cry..."

Isshin pushed his daughters room open and placed Karin on her bed. He tucked her covers around her body and placed a kiss to her brow, "Sleep Karin."

When his daughter didn't reply Isshin slowly left the room. He went and leaned against the wall besides Ichigo's bedroom door. He could hear the voices within and he looked up at the ceiling. "Masaki-watch over our children, this new enemy seems to know how to attack them. I will try to protect them with all my power but...it may not be enough."