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Jubilant yells of triumph. Gasps of disbelief. Excited chatter and pats on the back. Ichigo and Orihime blocked it all out. For now, there was no one there but them.

It wasn't a conscious decision Orihime made when her hands whispered a need for comfort, as they clung to the fabric of his haori. Neither was it a conscious decision on Ichigo's part, when his arms held reassurances of protection, as they snaked around her tightly, holding her as close as physically possible to his body.

The tears that rolled down her cheeks and hit his chest spoke of guilt and regret. Guilt that she had actually taken life, no matter how despicable the person was. But also regret at the fact that she felt that way still. His face buried in her hair, gently nuzzling her long tresses whilst breathing in her scent, wordlessly replied that it was ok. That she would never have to go through that again, because he would be there.

Silently, their bodies conversed, conveying meaning that words could not.

It was such an intimate moment that Rukia felt the need to look away, her cheeks flushed. Quickly, she dragged Renji away by the ear, who having caught sight of the two, had opened his mouth to make some stupid remark.

The Spirit King and Queen shared a knowing look at the sight of their daughter in the arms the young Kurosaki. The Spirit King squeezed his wife's arm gently and she wrapped her arms around him in response. A slight tremor in the ground, caused yells and jumps of alarm to ring across the area. It was a rude awakening as Ichigo and Orihime finally came to their surroundings. Their eyes seemed to come back in to focus, as if they had been in a daze.

Realizing just how close and how intimate they had been only seconds ago, they jumped apart, staring diligently at their own feet, to hide the red hue on their cheeks as well as the lingering longing look in their eyes.

The Spirit King let out a sad, wistful sigh. 'It is almost time,' he said in his low, powerful, yet oddly tender voice. As the overwhelming force of Orihime's reiatsu ebbed away and returned to normal, shinigami, humans and vizards alike fell to their knees, at the force of the combined reiatsu of the Spirit King and Queen. It wasn't rough and stifling though. Like before, it held a certain need for respect, rather than forced obedience. The only person who managed to stand her ground, was Orihime and even she had her head bowed.

The ground trembled again, this time a bit more violently.

''We haven't got much time, what with all three members of the Royal family plus the Hougyoko in one area, there is a great imbalance in Spirit particles,'' said the Spirit Queen, a slight crease between her brows.

'Rise,' the Spirit King ordered softly. Everyone complied immediately, but kept their heads bowed. The King shook his head. 'Have no fear. Look at us.' Once more they complied, shocked at the Spirit King's humility. He had always been portrayed as something mysterious and other worldly. But he-he treated them as equals. Even Ichigo, who for the most part had a serious disregard for authority, couldn't help but feel respect fill his chest...and with it a growing sense of shame and worthlessness.

'' We would like to thank you. All of you. For your effort, sacrifices and sheer determination. Truly, without you Aizen may well have succeeded. And secondly and most importantly, for being there for our Hime. My daughter...' he reached out a hand to Orihime, who hesitantly took it. Gently, he pulled her towards him and kissed her forehead lovingly as only a father could. Orihime felt her body tremble with pent up emotion and her eyes sting uncomfortably as her mother pulled her towards her, kissing her too and cupping her cheek adoringly.

Once more the ground trembled, making some people wobble. The hand on Orihime's cheek tightened and a pained look crossed the Queen's eyes.

''Mum?'' she asked, the word feeling both foreign and familiar in her mouth. Swallowing to try to lodge the lump in his throat, the King spoke, his voice laced with regret. ''It seems cruel, I know. To have had to send you to Earth as a baby and now where we are finally reunited, we have to part ways once more.'' Orihime gripped the wrist of the hand on her cheek.

''What? Why?'' To have just found my family...only to lose them so soon?

''The spirit particle imbalance,'' Urahara whispered sadly.

''Yes,'' the Spirit Queen breathed, tears rushing to her eyes. She leaned her head towards Orihime and their auburn hair mingled, as if one.

''Your place is here on Earth little Hime,'' the Spirit King went on. ''Just as we have our responsibilities in the Spirit Realm, you have your responsibilities here. As guardian over the living and to help the Shinigami as best you can.'

The ground shook once more, the remains of Las Noches in the distance shifting and crumbling even more.

''We will meet again someday,'' the King assured her quickly. Time was running out.

''Orihime, just know that we are exceptionally proud of the woman you are and have become,'' her mother said, tears flowing freely down her face, mirroring her daughter's. The King nodded vigilantly, grey eyes boring in to grey eyes. ''The fact that you would sacrifice your life for others is testament to that.''

The ground shook again, groaning loudly in protest. This isn't meant to be for me...at least not now, Orihime realized. A sudden, alarming thought crossed her mind.

''Is-is Sora my real brother?' she asked her voice cracking. The King smiled slightly. 'Not in the biological sense, no.'' Orihime felt her heart pummel to the ground. Ichigo didn't have to see her face to know how distraught she was. He was tempted to wrap her in his arms again...but his self disgust stopped him.

''But he is your brother Hime, in all sense of the word,'' the Queen said. ''He raised you, he was there for you. He is your brother. Biological isn't everything. Your friends can testify to that. After all, you're all a sort of family after all,'' she said looking at each of Orihime's nakama in turn. Her gaze lingered the longest on Ichigo.

The sand jumped up and down in a quick tempo as the ground shook more prolonged. ''We're always watching over you my little Hime,'' the King said, kissing his daughter's forehead one last time, before stepping back, preparing to open a special portal. The queen hugged Orihime tightly to her. Though still sniffling, Orihime could hear the whispered words clearly.

''Don't be afraid my Hime. Trust a mother's intuition...what you feel is worth more than just five lifetimes. What you have, transcends death.'' Orihime froze, swallowed and relaxed in to the hug again.

''Thank you,'' she whispered back. The Queen laughed lightly, pulling slightly back to wipe the tears of her daughter's face.

''It's time,'' the King said, his voice subdued. The Queen released Orihime from her arms slowly, trying to prolong the inevitable as much as possible. The ground shook more and more violently, but mother and daughter didn't notice.

''Once again, thank you,'' the Spirit King exclaimed loudly to the group, his voice saturated with deep gratitude. They turned their backs on them and walked through the portal.

As soon as the portal vaporized in to thin air, the trembling in the ground stopped. Orihime turned towards her friends a small, sad, but understanding and mature look on her 16 year old face. Truly she had grown in this short amount of time and not just in powers.

*

''He's her choice,'' the king said to his wife, walking hand in hand through the castle they would have to repair.

''Yes,'' she said, a smile firmly upon her lips. ''And I couldn't be happier for her.''

*

To say that normal felt wrong, was the biggest understatement of the century. Upon returning from Hueco Mundo, she had gone to Soul Society to heal the wounded and restore damage there. Of course a lengthy talk with the Captain Commander had been in order. Once he had been updated of Orihime's new 'status' he had all but kissed her feet. Ichigo couldn't help but clench his fists in anger. Not weeks ago, he had branded her a traitor and now he's acting like a slimy git.

When they had finally been allowed to go home, it had been more than disturbing. The calmness. The trivial everyday atmosphere in the streets they had grown up in.

When Orihime returned to her small empty flat, she couldn't help but rush to her bed and curl in a foetal position, tears streaming down her face. The solitary feel of her flat was more obvious to her than ever before. To have had a family...to have gone through so much change in such a short period of time...to have her heart throb painfully but yet pleasantly at the thought of a certain orange haired substitute shinigami...

She tried to wipe the tears away furiously at first but then let them fall. Sometimes...sometimes it's better to cry. To just let it all out. I'll be alright after that. So she would be.

Initially, Ichigo had hugged his sisters and didn't even bother side stepping his dad's fly kick. After the relief of seeing his family safe set in, he retreated in to his room, just lying on the bed. Rukia wasn't due to come back for another two days, for the start of school, so he could wallow in his misery undisrupted. He had told them that he felt tired after his trip, but it was a lie. Orihime had restored all his energy.

Orihime, no - Inoue... Inoue.

Her name rang through his head over and over. Ichigo was dense about a lot of things, primarily his feelings. But even he couldn't deny what he felt anymore. The first indication had been when he found out she had been kidnapped...a sharp stab in his chest...which intensified with each new danger they faced. He had fallen for her deeply and irrevocably he knew...But I'm not good enough for her. He clenched his fists angrily.

The first morning back at school, Tatsuki ran at Orihime hugging her tightly, relief pouring out of every fibre of her body.

''You will explain everything to me, no excuses,'' she growled. Orihime smiled and nodded. ''I will, just, not today.'' Tatsuki nodded, knowing that Orihime would stick to her word.

''My Orihime, how I've missed you!'' the crazy psycho lesbian known as Chizura, made a mad dash for Orihime's breasts, but was almost reflexively intercepted by Tatsuki, who now had her foot pressed against the lesbian's head.

''When will you ever learn?'' she growled good naturedly at her. All was right in the world. Things were as they should be even if they were slightly strange. Ichigo entered the classroom with Rukia then and involuntarily his gaze was drawn to the one person, he wanted to avoid. But he couldn't look away from her lively grey orbs. He was caught in her gaze and she was equally transfixed by his. Half a minute passed, neither looking away, so many emotions flicking through their eyes it was too quick to catch.

I guess everything isn't quite right after all, Tatsuki thought. Her eyes slid from Ichigo to Rukia and the two exchanged significant glances.

''ICHIGOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!'' Keigo yelled running straight at the said teen. Just like that, the moment broke and Ichigo raised a fist, knowing Keigo's face would meet it. To the more unobservant members of their class, the last 30 seconds hadn't happened or had any meaning and everything was just as it always had been. Their nakama noticed though, even if they didn't comment on it.

Classes that morning had been the same as before. Sure sensei had badgered them a bit about their sketchy sick note (provided by Shinji, who had forged a doctor's note claiming they all had severe food poisoning from some shabby restaurant) as well as giving them masses of catch up work...but the classes were the same. Not the material. But the feel of it.

The note passing when students thought Sensei wouldn't notice. Chalk flying at them when they realized that that hadn't been the case. That same familiar lull of events was a comfort to them, no matter how small.

The lunch bell finally rang and Ichigo rushed out to get to the roof top. He really needed some fresh air, after having being cooped inside for so long. He was shortly followed by Chad, Ishida, Keigo, Mizuiro, Rukia, Chizura and a bunch of other girls. Briefly he wondered why all those girls were coming too-but of course, he answered himself. They want to sit with Ori – Inoue. Inoue, he corrected himself mentally.

''Hey Orihime, aren't you coming?'' Tatsuki asked, waiting at the door of the otherwise empty classroom.

''Yes, in a minute Tatsuki-chan. Go on ahead. I left my lunch box in my locker. I'll be up before you know it,'' she waved the girl towards the stairs to the roof top.

''If you're sure,'' Tatsuki replied. Orihime just gave one of her trademark bright smiles. As soon as Tatsuki got to the roof top she could tell that the boys were disgruntled, by their new lunch mates. After catching a few phrases from the girls' conversation, she couldn't blame them.

''Edward Cullen is sooo fit!''...Yes, she really could sympathize with the guys. Rukia on the other hand, was completely taken by it. Vein throbbing threateningly on his temple, Ichigo stood abruptly and headed towards the door.

''Where are you going Kurosaki?'' Ishida asked, adjusting his glasses. None of your business.

''Toilet,'' he answered, turning his head to answer him as he took the first step down the stairs. Having his head turned meant that he hadn't seen Orihime come up the stairs, who was looking down (probably in an attempt not to trip), only for him to bump in to her. She started to fall backwards, arms flailing wildly in a desperate attempt to regain her balance. Wide eyed and heart in his throat, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her towards him. She crashed in to his hard, sculpted chest, grasping a hold of his shirt to steady herself.

Realizing that he (once again) found himself in a rather intimate position with the girl whose face haunted his mind, he let go of her.

''You ok?'' he asked gruffly, scanning her body for any sign of injury and breathed a sigh of relief when he found that she was unscathed.

''I'm fine,'' she said one of her heart warming smiles plastered across her face. ''Thank you Kurosaki-kun.'

''Don't mention it.'' They stood for a moment in a tense, electrifying silence, before Orihime broke it.

''So where were you heading, Kurosaki-kun?''

''Umm...'' he was going to say 'toilet' but found that he didn't want to lie to her. Even for something so small, she deserves better.

''The girls are having a Twilight gushing discussion and I didn't want to hear it all again. Seriously, I've heard it all from Yuzu a million times before – I pretty much know the book inside out,'' he huffed.

''Really?'' she asked enthusiastically. ''I really love it. Particularly Edward's character.'' Orihime swallowed audibly. ''I just wish he would realize sooner that he isn't some monster. That there's no need for all the self-hate and disgust that he feels.'' Her gaze pierced his very soul, digging, searching and plundering his very being. Ichigo swallowed, his throat suddenly very dry. Somehow he had the feeling they weren't really talking about Edward anymore.

'No there is. He isn't worthy of Bella. She's such an innocent girl, with the possibility of leading a safe normal life – even if she is a bit clumsy – but still. All he does, is put her in life threatening danger. What kind of a person is that? He isn't even human...and he fears not being able to control himself. That he would end up hurting her.' Ichigo's gaze flickered to her neck, where his hand had been only days ago.

They weren't talking about Bella either and they both knew it. Orihime looked him straight in the eyes trying to pluck courage from her mother's words. 'What you feel is worth more than just five lifetimes.'

''No he wouldn't and Bella knows that. She appreciates the hardships he's going through, what with trying to come to terms with himself but – the fact that he has a dark side and he refuses to succumb to it makes him better than anyone else she knows. And if he were to, it would only be wth good intentions. She trusts him completely with her life because from the very start she – because she l-loves him. ''

Ichigo stared at her in wide eyed shock, body unmoving. Were we talking about the book after all? She couldn't possibly mean that she l-loves me...could she? A small bubble of hope rose in his chest and he tried to squash it viciously. Orihime's eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let then drop, fiddling with the hem of her skirt in her nervousness.

''I love you Ichigo.'' Her voice was barely more than a whisper but he heard it, his brain trying to convince him that he was having hallucinations. She couldn't possibly...could she? Her glistening eyes, filled with an overwhelming amount of love for him told him that it was true.

''But-but I'm no good for you, Orihime – I mean Inoue!'' he quickly corrected himself, cursing that he had slipped up like that. Orihime's eyes widened then shone with understanding.

''You called my name. When I...died ''– (Ichigo flinched at the memory). ''When I woke up in the Spirit Realm I could hear you repeat my name over and over.'' Ichigo looked at her dumbfounded.

'What you have transcends death...'

With new found determination, Orihime looked straight in to his deep brown eyes. 'If anything, I'm not good enough for you and I guess that I'm selfish like that but...I need to know if you feel the same or not.'

Brown and grey locked, an intense fire lighted within them, originating from their very core. Their very souls. Calloused hands snaked their way round the side of her neck, framing her face and sending sparks throughout her body. Hesitantly but with a definite air he slowly moved his face closer to hers, all the while never breaking eye contact.

Their lips met lightly at first and their eyes fluttered closed. He pressed his lips to hers once more harder, firmer. Their lips moulded beneath each others, moving in a synchronization and pattern that could not be learnt, but was purely instinctual. One arm slid down her arm, raising goose bumps along her skin, before wrapping possessively around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Her hands in turn slid up his chest tantalizingly slowly, before wrapping around his neck, where she ran her fingers through his soft spiky hair. His tongue stroked her bottom lip, asking for permission to enter her mouth. Ichigo may have been a forceful person in many aspects of his life, but never this. Shyly, but eagerly, she opened her mouth, letting his tongue slip inside, to explore her, to taste her.

There was no physical gap between them as they intertwined in to one. Their skin was on fire but pleasantly so. Only when the need for oxygen became unbearable did they separate. They panted heavily, forehead to forehead, eyes to eyes.

'I never, ever want to leave your side again Orihime,' he said earnestly, his voice low and heavy. It made a shiver run down the back of her spine. God she loved the sound of her name on his tongue. He smiled suddenly. 'She loved him from the start? I must have been one blind fool,' he shook his head regretfully.

'Yeah Ichigo, you were,' she said playfully. He captured her lips lightly once more, before nestling her head under his chin.

'I guess we have a lot to make up for then,' he replied simply.

*

Rukia knew that Ichigo would get irritated by all the Twilight talk but seriously-did he have to walk off? She got up and headed towards the stairs when she heard two very familiar voices. Crouching down behind the door on the pretence of adjusting her shoes and socks, she listened to every word, being said.

She caught Tatsuki's eye who looked bored from the Twilight centred conversation and discretely beckoned her over.

'What?' Tatsuki whispered kneeling down in front of Rukia. Rukia put a lip to her fingers before indicating that she should listen...and listen they did, with big, happy goofy smiles that their two best friends had FINALLY gotten together.

'What are you two grinning about, over there? Let me in on it too!' Keigo exclaimed in his usual noisy way.

'Hey why isn't my Orihime here yet?' Chizura asked, suddenly noticing the glaringly obviously missing Orihime. She moved towards them as did Keigo. Tatsuki and Rukia's eyes widened. Tatsuki nodded at Rukia, before rushing to take both of the idiots down.

They respected their friends' right to privacy after all...particularly Rukia, who managed to snap a few photos of the new couple, with a new phone she had brought from Urahara.

Yes Rukia respected her friends' privacy but she also loved chappy and this would make excellent blackmail material.

A/N: FINISHED! Omg I can't believe it. It's 2:37am and I'm knackered. But I just had to finish this – longest chapter yet and it's 6 (technically 5) days early!

(looks around nervously) I'm really sorry if there are people who read this who don't like twilight-i just thought that there were certain characteristic parallels in Edward/bellas relationship to ichi/hime that could work...so yh...i dunno...i hoped it worked.

You have no idea how much i was blushing and giggling during that kiss scene (happy now saj?). I can me so immature lol.

Anywayz, i might not get to ritin fanfic again soon (updating this much invariably means im neglecting more pressing hwmk urgh-can u blame me tho?) but i'll try. Dunno if i'll do ichi/hime again, depends on my mood. (dnt worry, im so not crossing over in to )

Anyways thank you so much for reading this fic, I hope you enjoyed it.

Please leave a review and tell me wht you thought!

Ta!

Missy

xxx