Disclaimer: Kubo is god, Kubo is king, Tite Kubo owns everything. I am making no money from this. I also do not own any of the quotes I use in any chapter.
Author's Notes: Thanks to everyone who stuck with me, as this story took longer than I had anticipated. I hope it was worth it. I didn't get to reply individually to anyone who reviewed the last part, but know that your reviews are greatly appreciated. Oh, and Kaze-chan, the fact that I didn't send this to you to beta doesn't mean I don't love you anymore, I just really wanted to post this now that I've finally finished it, and was fairly sure my readers would agree. Oh, and yes, one more thing. Lemon Warning.
I'll Stand By You
By Lady Callista
Chapter 11: Words
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Kiss me too fiercely, hold me too tight. I need help believing you're with me tonight.
My wildest dreamings could not foresee, lying beside you, with you wanting me.
'As Long As You're Mine' from "Wicked"
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Karin let loose a scream of terror as Hollow-Ichigo massacred the Gillians, and only Orihime grabbing the girl tightly kept her from trying to charge into the fight.
"It's okay, it's Ichigo." Orihime said softly, more to reassure herself than anything else, although she knew his sister could hear her.
"That…. That's Ichi…" Karin cut off as she obviously sensed the truth of the older girl's words.
"Just be quiet, okay. Don't move." Orihime clutched the girl to her, grateful when Karin's arms wrapped around her in return. "He's…. his control isn't the best when he's like this."
"You've seen this before?" Karin asked in awe as she watched him rip though four Gillians with a single whip-like movement of his hand. Although the wound on her upper arm still burned, Orihime had healed it enough that she could think through the pain, and at the moment she was so fascinated by watching her brother fight in his new form that the pain was almost easy to ignore.
"Twice, and both times I was the only one that could bring him out of it." Orihime whispered, letting her shield fade away as the last of the Gillians was destroyed. "Stay here, don't move or speak. No matter what. Please."
Karin didn't respond, and Orihime wasted a moment to grab the girl by the chin, forcing their eyes to meet. "Promise me, Karin."
A growl emerged from Ichigo as he landed on the ground not too far from them, still in Hollow form, and Karin's gaze flicked fearfully to him before she whispered, "I promise, Orihime."
"Ichigo." Orihime said softly as she approached him. Although he looked at her, and some of the rage seemed to leave his eyes, he showed no sign of shifting back.
Orihime took another careful step forward, pausing when he growled, but then continuing to move forward. "Ichigo-kun, it's me. It's Orihime. Everything's okay."
Ichigo's form took a single step towards her, then snarled and darted away.
"Ichigo… I love you." Orihime said in panic, amazed when it worked and he froze again, looking towards her. "I don't need you to change like this whenever I'm in danger. I... I love you for being so overprotective, and I trust you to protect me. I'm not afraid of you, even when you're like this. But, please, turn back into my Ichigo."
"Hime."
Orihime had been advancing as she spoke, and it was only the fact that she now stood less than a foot away from him that allowed her to hear his whisper.
Closing the final distance, Orihime wrapped her arms around him, praying that the gasp she heard Karin give wouldn't break this fragile peace. His arms wrapped around her, clutching almost desperately, and she nearly fell to her knees from the shock of being so close to him as his power flared again.
"Our Orihime."
She managed to pull back enough to look at him, and without thought leaned up to kiss him as well as she could through the mask.
The mask shattered, and she could feel Ichigo's form changing even as he continued to cling to her, kissing her desperately.
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"I…I promise we'll explain in the morning, Karin-chan." Orihime said as she rose from Karin's bedside, letting her healing shield fade as the wound on Karin's arm finally healed fully. "I just don't have time tonight." She glanced across the hall to the closed door of Ichigo's bedroom. "He… he needs me right now. I…"
"Go, Orihime, it's okay." Karin said softly, remembering how broken her brother had seemed on the short walk home. She reached over to her clock-radio and turned it on, hitting the preprogrammed number for a classical station. "I just want to go to sleep."
Orihime gave her one worried glance before hurrying from the room, closing the door softly behind her. She knocked on Ichigo's door softly, saying his name when there was no answer to her knock.
Then she just quietly opened the door and went in.
Her heart almost broke when she found him sitting on the side of his bed, head in his hands, a few tears trailing down his cheeks.
She closed the door behind her, and he looked up quickly. "Karin's okay?"
"She's fine." Orihime replied quietly. "I told her we'd explain in the morning. I… I'm sorry she got hurt. I should have protected her better…"
"It wasn't your fault." Ichigo replied immediately. "I'm just glad you were there with her."
"She kept her head, did exactly what I told her to. She's pretty good. She um…she went to sleep."
Ichigo glanced at the clock. "It's barely 8pm."
"And she had a very busy day." Orihime replied. "Her reiatsu… she spiked it to almost as high as mine can get. And I don't think she's ever attacked at full power that many times before, from what she was telling me earlier Urahara-san's been working more on her accuracy with the shot, and her other power, more than he has transferring reiatsu, and well… she seemed pretty exhausted. You remember what it felt like in the beginning…"
Ichigo nodded, and then was silent for several minutes while Orihime just stood quietly watching him.
"I can't control it." Ichigo whispered finally, and she took that as an invitation to go and sit beside him, hesitantly putting an arm around his shoulders, leaning her head unto the nearest one when he didn't pull away.
"I remember it though. I didn't the first time, but the last two I remember. I remember what I did, but it's like someone else was doing it." Ichigo had stopped crying, but refused to look at her and stiffened in her embrace. "I thought it was just because I was fighting such powerful enemies, but if it happens anytime you're in danger…"
Orihime recognized the look in his eyes, and her heart bled for him. "This is what you've been having nightmares about."
Ichigo nodded, suddenly reaching over and hugging her tightly. "I can't think straight when you're in danger." His voice was barely a whisper. "I barely survived losing my mom, I can't lose you too. But what if I hurt you when I'm like that…"
"You would never hurt me, Ichigo." Orihime said with certainty, remembering what she'd said to Karin earlier. "In fact, I seem to be the only one your Hollow recognizes."
"That's because he loves you too."
Orihime inhaled in shock, the hands that had been running up and down his back freezing.
Ichigo froze as well, realizing not only what he had said but how he had said it. Pulling back from her quickly, Ichigo cupped her face with both of his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. "Orihime, I love you."
Orihime felt her eyes fill with tears, and couldn't stop her breath from hitching, both at the words themselves and at the love burning in his eyes for her.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to say it." Ichigo whispered, wiping her tears away only to have them be replaced with new ones. "I was afraid. So afraid that if I admitted I loved you, I'd lose you just like I lost my mom."
Now it was her turn to wipe his tears away, and she went one step further to gently kiss one of his cheeks. "And if I had died tonight, how would you have felt about never having told me?" Orihime said it gently, remember how she'd felt about the fact that she'd had a fight with her brother right before he died.
Ichigo choked and clutched her to him. "I love you. I do. And I'm so sorry."
"I love you." She whispered back as her hands slid up into his hair, pulling him back enough to look into his eyes again. "We'll have to talk about your Hollow form, and how to control it, but can we just forget about it tonight? Can we just forget about everything except the two of us?"
His face stayed blank for a moment, then a blush slowly spread up his cheeks. Orihime giggled at just how adorable he looked as both hope and anxiety came into his face. Then over it all swept a look of such longing and desire that she could barely catch her breath.
"Orihime? Are… are you sure?" His voice was so uncertain it caused her to giggle again; he never sounded uncertain.
Orihime reached up to pull the pins from her hair, setting them on his nightstand. "I want you to do more than hold me tonight." Orihime whispered as she shifted to kneel over his lap, the way he was sitting putting their heads on an almost equal level. Delighted she didn't have to crane her neck leaning up, Orihime slid her body against his slowly and began kissing him.
Ichigo's hands began to move of their own accord, sliding slowly up the bed to touch her knees. She trembled at the touch, and with a slight surge of pride Ichigo trailed his hands up her bare upper legs, stopping only when his long fingers reached the edge of her short pleated skirt, although he did slide the edges of his fingers under the skirt and felt the joy of her trembling once again.
Orihime pulled away from the kiss as his fingers slid under her skirt, the hesitant flickering of his thumbs on her inner thighs sending waves of heat through her body. Although she wanted to do this, Orihime was still slightly shy as she held his eyes and reached up to undo the top button of her shirt.
His hands immediately covered her own, and as he undid the second button Orihime let her hands slide down his arms, caressing the muscles he'd put so much work into. She saw the moment he realized he'd undone the last button, for his hands slid up to her shoulders to push the shirt off of them even as his eyes slid down to her chest.
The heat in his eyes making her nervous, Orihime slid her hands up shyly to cover her own chest. His eyes moved back to hers immediately, and Orihime found herself lost in another drowning kiss. She was so lost in his scent and smell and taste that she barely noticed it when his hands shifted from caressing her back to fumbling at the hook of her bra for a moment before unhooking it with a small snap.
His eyes still on hers, Ichigo broke the kiss, pulling back from her enough to slid the bra down her arms after he had carefully unwound them from her chest. He put his hands on the sides of her waist, slowly sliding them up. He tortured them both by brushing his fingers lightly over her breasts, taking his time before he brushed his thumbs over her nipples.
Orihime's breath caught as nerves she hadn't known she had sprang to life, and when his eyes dropped to her chest again she no longer felt shy.
"You're so beautiful." Ichigo whispered, his fingers dancing over her chest for a moment before his mouth followed, and he chuckled under his breath when her body went taunt as a bowstring before turning boneless as he took one of her nipples gently into his mouth and began to suck.
Orihime shuddered each time his tongue flicked over her, amazed at the sensations running through her even as she wondered how she could survive more. She slid her hands from his waist slowly up his chest under his shirt, and when she began to tug slightly he took the hint and pulled away from her long enough to help her tug the shirt over his head.
Orihime was still staring at his chest, feeling slightly lightheaded from watching the muscles ripple as he had lifted his arms over his head to remove the shirt, when she heard a slight chuckle.
Ignoring him, although she felt the blush creep up her face, Orihime ran her fingers lightly over his chest, giggling when he made his pecs twitch as her fingers passed over them.
She giggled again when his breath caught as her fingers flicked at his nipples as he had done to her, but the giggle turned into a moan an instant later as his hands cupped her ass and pulled her closer to him.
The first brush of their cores, even through their clothing, caused Ichigo to moan as well, and he drew her lips to his in another searing kiss.
Clothes were slowly discarded as they continued to kiss and explore one another, and for the first time both of them allowed themselves to forget their worries and just feel. Just be with one another.
It seemed so right now, so perfect. Ichigo was glad they had managed to wait, for this seemed like exactly the right time.
She loved him enough that she had been able to hug him, to kiss him, while he was in Hollow form. She trusted him, even then.
He had finally told her he loved her.
Yet as they touched and kissed, heartbeats slowly speeding up and hands eventually growing more curious and less hesitant, Ichigo did wonder how they had managed to wait.
How had they not done this before? How had he borne not running his hands up her bare legs, her narrow waist, lingering on her belly button to make her giggle? How had just the taste of her lips been enough when the taste of her skin was so amazing?
Orihime found that time seemed to randomly speed up and slow down as Ichigo's hands and mouth worked wonders on her body. It seemed like he would never grow tired of touching or kissing her. And she understood the feeling, for she couldn't imagine ever growing tired of looking at him. Of touching him the way she had wanted to for so long. Knowing that tonight they weren't going to stop, knowing that…
Orihime's thoughts shattered into a million pieces as his hand brushed her core for the first time, and she actually bit the bottom of her lip to stop her moan from getting louder as her entire body trembled, fire flashing through her.
Ichigo's fingers stroked her again, one sliding slightly inside her, and this time he kissed her as he did it, swallowing her moan of pleasure. "Next time we do this at your place." His voice was a husky whisper. "You sound so sexy right now." His eyes and hand traced over her as his one hand stayed where it had been, wringing soft sounds of pleasure from her. "You're so beautiful."
"I feel beautiful right now." She offered hesitantly as her hands traced over his body, reaching down to cup him lightly.
Now it was his turn to bit his lip to keep himself quiet.
Hearts continued to race and breath came more and more gaspingly until finally Orihime turned her head into the pillow to muffle her cries as he drove her over the shimmering edge, her vision going white as fire poured through her body, leaving her utterly limp and trying to remember how to breath.
"Ichi….Ichigo…that was… that…"
He bent his head to suckle gently at her breast. "We're not done yet." He whispered after a moment, a deep chuckle coming through in his voice.
"I know. I just… uh… top of my head-blown off-" she gasped.
"I hope that's a good thing." Ichigo chuckled again as he cut her off before she could start to babble. He recognized the signs.
Orihime giggled. "The best." Then she looked momentarily flummoxed. "Oh, but um… do you have…."
Ichigo grinned as he reached into the bedside table. "The good thing about Dad having that clinic. He actually tried to give them to me that first day he found us sleeping up here."
"He… he…" Orihime stuttered as he quickly ripped open the packet and put it on.
"He knows what we've been through." Ichigo whispered as he ran his fingers over her face. "He trusts us."
They kissed again as he slowly slid on top of her, and Orihime gave a nervous giggle as she felt him between her legs, not entering her yet but definitely there. "I was nervous at first…. I mean, I've never… but you're so good at this."
Ichigo chuckled again even as pride surged through him. "Well, I've only done it about a million times." There was a very pregnant pause before he grinned. "In my head. With you."
He pressed his mouth to hers again, and they kissed passionately even as Orihime began wrapping herself around him as closely as she could. She split her legs to allow him to slid between them, and he slid into her slowly until they were complete.
Even as he paused to give her time to adjust, kissing away the single tear that trailed down her cheek and hating that he had to hurt her even a little, he couldn't help but notice the conflicting emotions inside him. How could he feel so safe and complete, and yet so vulnerable at the same time?
Orihime had been waiting for this and dreaming of this for years, and now they were finally together as she'd always known they were meant to be. The slight pain she'd been prepared for was already washing away as a feeling of total rightness flowed through her, and when he whispered her name softly, starting to ask if she was okay, she simply shifted her hips a little away from him before moving back.
His eyes brightened as he began to thrust gently, his hands supporting his weight even as her own hands raised to his chest to trace the outlines of his muscles.
Time lost all meaning.
Orihime felt herself scaling that tall peak, and she flew over the edge again just as he started to move faster, almost frantically.
Ichigo cried out, trying to muffle his voice in the pillow below her head, then collapsed on top of her as he slid her arms under her body to hold her closely, both of them still shuddering.
It was like the polar opposite of when he'd been training for Bankai. Or of when he changed into a Hollow. He'd known pain coursing through his body, pain worse than most people ever felt; now he knew what it was like to feel the exact opposite in every fiber of his being.
"How's the top of your head?" he asked impishly, whispering into her ear as he didn't have the energy to move just yet.
"Flying somewhere above the town." Orihime answered softly. "I love you. So much…"
"I love you." Ichigo replied as he rolled off of her, burying the condom in the bottom of the trash can beside his bed so his sisters wouldn't see it. "And I'm going to say it so often from now on that you'll get tired of hearing it.
"I'll never get tired of hearing it." Orihime whispered as she turned onto her side, waiting for him to spoon in behind her. Instead she turned curiously when she felt him leave the bed, and her breathing started speeding up again as he crossed the moonlight-filled room naked, locking his door and then sliding the chair from his desk under the knob.
"Hopefully Dad'll get the hint in the morning." Ichigo said with a grin as he crossed back to her. He would have been amused by the way she was staring at him but for the fact that she'd sat up and let the covers pool at her waist. He was staring just as much as she was.
"It's after 10 already, we have school in the morning." Orihime whispered as he reached for her again.
"So we'll be tired tomorrow." He replied as he began kissing her.
"I think it'll be worth it." She agreed.
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Ichigo awoke the next morning at 6am like he always did, despite the fact that he'd only been sleeping for a few hours. He sensed his dad at the door for an instant, but he likely sensed the energies in the room for he didn't even try to knock.
As the footsteps moved down the hall towards his sisters' room, Ichigo sighed and cuddled back around Orihime, sliding some hair away from her face so he could see her profile in the sunlight just starting to filter through his blinds.
His eyes slid shut as he remembered his dream that wasn't a dream from the night before, the final words of his inner Hollow echoing in his mind just as his alarm clock went off.
"As long as you fear me I will have power over you; learn to love me as she does and all will be well. After all, I'm just a part of you."
Ichigo turned off his alarm and leaned down to kiss Orihime gently as she began to awaken.
He knew it would take time for him to learn to work with and accept the Hollow, but he knew Orihime's acceptance of him had taken away any danger. Now that he no longer worried about hurting her, he would be able to do this.
As the girl in his arms slowly awoke and began to return his kiss, Ichigo knew for certain that all would indeed be well.
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Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'Cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you
"I'll Stand By You" by the Pretenders
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THE END
AN: Thanks again to everyone who stuck with me through this, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sorry if the realization with his Hollow seems like I'm cheating, and I may show Ichigo dealing with this in future stories, but this fic was about him and Orihime, and I didn't want to lengthen it just to deal with the Hollow.
The epilogue Omake will be out within a few days, and I hope you enjoy that as much as people have enjoyed the few other omake scenes I've done.
There is currently a poll up on my main page for which story in the series will be next. Please let me know what you think.
