Chapter 21

Grim choice

Orihime was singing a little nonsense-song of her own making while she was hanging out the freshly washed clothes to dry. Since she had been so hungry, Ichigo had told her not to wait for him with breakfast, so she had already eaten her peanut-butter and ketchup toast, with olives. Ichigo's mug of wasabi-free coffee was waiting for him on the table, along with the single leftover chocolate filled muffin which she decided to save for him, knowing how partial he was to them.

She smiled when the gray sweater that had the large strawberry on it's front came to her hand from the washed stock. It had really became her favorite, she hardly wore anything else inside the house. It was warm, fluffy, comfortably loose on her, and she simply loved it. The next item was a jeans of Ichigo that got a little muddy when he was chopping up wood in bad weather. Having been finished with the bigger clothing she could start untangling the wet pile of shirts, socks and of course underwear...

Looking back, it seemed so comical now how stressed out they had been about the washing of clothes at first when they started their living together with Ichigo. Though the house had a little washing-machine, they had opted not to use it first, but rather washed their things separately by hand to avoid coming across each others more private things. But then they had to acknowledge, that it was just way more easier to dump the lot into the machine, which could be filled with only both their laundry. Anyway, it's not like they had two separate bathrooms: what they washed had to be hanged to dry somewhere, so either way, the unavoidable was unavoidable. And it's not like her panties and bras could blush next to Ichigo's boxers while tumbling inside, she thought. She was just about to hang a sock up, when suddenly her hand stilled, and the notes of the merry little melody died on her lips. She sharpened her scenes, and focused her attention. She was feeling something...

Ichigo. He was close. But something was wrong. She could feel his spiritual pressure fluctuating slightly, signaling stress, but she couldn't feel the familiar outburst of his reiatsu that always accompanied his change to his soul reaper form. Orihime knew he must be in some kind of trouble, and became anxious, but with only this much information, her first guess was that he had just fallen down, or otherwise injured himself, she didn't read more into it.

She dropped the sock right back on the pile, ran to the coat-rack, quickly pushed her arms through her jacket, and headed out. Only then did she try to feel out with her spirit senses more to pinpoint his location exactly.

'Something's not right...' she murmured, stopping her running legs abruptly. 'Ichigo's not alone.'

She looked up as she saw movement coming from the bushes at her path's left. She was facing three approaching stranger men.

'Hiya, Beautiful!' said the tallest one, grinning confidently. 'Feeling alone? Feeling... lonely?'

She narrowed her eyes.

'I'm not alone.'

The men snickered at her.

'Don't lie. We already took care of Ginger. We KNOW there's no-one left to protect you.'

In time with his last words, the man jumped forward, wanting to catch her. Orihime recalled their karate practices with Ichigo that took place not far from that very spot, and she aimed a forceful kick for the man's lower region. A low, surprised and pained 'uh' sound told her it was a perfect hit.

But now the other two men started moving, cornering her. It took only a moment for her to decide: she had no time for playing more tag... Before the men's arms could take hold of her, she activated her newest power, and vanished into thin air. She reappeared a little farther into the forest, and hoped it was far enough for the greenery to conceal her. She could hear shoutings, probably the men's confused cries. She tried to move forward quietly, avoiding stepping on leaves and brunches, but she had to hurry. She had to find Ichigo.

It was no problem for her senses to feel him. She went closer, and closer, the concentration of his spiritual pressure growing steadily. But she could still see nothing. Where could he be? There was also no sign of more attackers. She guessed they must be Kouno's men. He must have found their hideout somehow. Rationally, there was a slim choice they were just random thugs, but her heart knew better. She had to be careful. Who knows how many of them are lurking near by? Next time, she won't be able to escape this easily.

'Whow!'

Her feet suddenly lost footing, and she only managed to steady herself by pulling herself back, and landing on her behind. She very nearly had fallen into some pit. There must have been some water pipes or something leading to the lake, and this was an inspection pit concealing an interlocking device which regulated the flow. Someone must have removed the pit's lid. She looked down into it's depth, suspicion awakening.

'Yes. Congrats. He IS down there.' said a cool voice.

Orihime quickly turned around.

'Knew you will come and search for him, so why trouble myself with going ahead of you.'

Orihime recognized the voice, recognized the face. The man had appeared so suddenly, and without any warning, like he had been standing there all along, only masking his presence somehow. Well, Orihime reflected quickly, after everything they've heard of him from Urahara, she really wouldn't put it past him. It was Kouno himself. He was standing above her, twirling something between his fingers, amused. She chanced a look: it was Ichigo's substitute badge! So it was not that he didn't want to transform, he simply couldn't. But how did Kouno get it? Not that it mattered much now. This promised no good... She tried to stand up, to have a better chance of defense, but another voice immediately cautioned her.

'Don't think of anything stupid... Don't even move an inch! I'm aiming right at your friend down there...'

Orihime looked, and saw Soga, one of the other men Ichigo had fought that night months ago, aiming a gun down into the pit's darkness.

'I must say you two kept me waiting for long enough, but now I will have my double revenge!' Kouno continued. 'How do you like the grave I have chosen? Not very picturesque, but the choice is SO limited around here. It's your fault, not mine! I would have liked a burning seven story building more... or an explosion. Fire always looks more dramatic in papers, you see, than the simple picture of the cold, gray, unrecognizably puffy faces of two drowned teenaged corpses. But it will have to do... What do you say?'

Meanwhile, Orihime's mind was wildly searching for a way of escape, but she could come up with nothing. She was really worried for Ichigo too. She guessed he must be unconscious, or otherwise, he would undoubtedly have done something by now. She hated to think about what they must have done to him to make him pass out...

'You seem to be rather distracted, Darling! Let me drag you back to the present.'

Orihime saw Kouno raise his long staff, but she could only pull in a surprised gasp, before it transformed with emitting shining light into it's sword-form. Even though she was told to stay put, she couldn't help slightly leaning out of range, and lifting her hand above her head protectively on instinct. The blade's tip reached her however, and she knew what this meant, even before she felt the first sweep of the burning pain rush upwards from the cut on her arm. She barred her teeth, trying to fight it. In her mind's eye, she recalled the picture of Ichigo's suffering face, when he had to fight the effects of Kouno's cruel weapon. Her eyes were stinging with tears of pain, but she kept herself upright, fighting the urge to just flung herself down on the ground, thrashing and screaming. Instead, she looked into the merciless eyes of the man before her. Kouno smiled evilly, only his mouth curving upwards, his stare remaining stone cold.

'That's it little girl. Feel the pain. Finally, I payed you back. A slash for a slash...' he said, absently rubbing the red line of the healed mark on the left side of his face that was the evidence of her Koten Zanshun attack against him. 'Now, I permit you to die!' he declared, with another humorless smile. 'Soga!' he commanded.

'Yes, master!'

There was the sound of a gun firing, and an explosion.

'No!' cried Orihime.

Soga moved, and nudged her. That was all it took: the immense pain have clouded her vision with large black spots by now. She could do nothing, she fell down into the pit, crying out. She heard some commanding voices from above her, but she didn't have any strength to try to understand the meaning. The next second, her vision darkened completely, but not from loosing consciousness, even though she longed to. She still felt the agonizing pain. Through the haze of her clouded mind, she realized that Kouno's men must have sealed the top of the pit, that's why it was pitch dark.

'Stop! Stop! I don't want to feel this any more! Stop!' she cried inside her mind. 'I want this to stop! I reject!'

She didn't need to say the words out loud, her powers obeyed.

…...

'… go! Ichigo... Ichigo! Come on! You've got to wake up!'

Ichigo reluctantly opened his eyes, with a pained moan. But opening his eyes made no difference: darkness greeted him all around, he couldn't see anything. Pain was pulsating suffocatingly in his whole body. He moaned some more in helplessness.

'Oh, I'm so sorry! But I can't see anything!' the girl's voice came again from somewhere next to him.

'Orihime?'

'Oh, Ichigo! What did they do to you? Tell me where to heal you!'

'Everywhere...' he choked.

His tone really scared Orihime. He sounded so weak! She tried to grope around in the darkness to at least feel his position better, but when her hands came in contact with him, he hissed. She pulled back immediately.

'Sorry!... It's just that I can't see a thing! All right, I'll have to try anyway. Stay still. Soten Kisshun!'

Ayame and S'huno flew out of her hairpins, forming the healing dome. Their shining light enabled them to see each other dimly. Even what she could see of him with only that much light was awful. Dark stains of blood obscured half his face, which was swollen to twice it's usual size. It was a few seconds before Ichigo started to feel some relievement, and could speak some more.

'What happened? Where are we?' he asked. 'And more importantly: are you all right?'

'Yes I am. They didn't do much to me.' Orihime lied to him quickly and easily. They had more important matters at hand to focus on. 'But we're trapped here, and if we don't do anything soon, then we'll be in trouble.'

Ichigo frowned, then winced, remembering that frowning was not a very good idea, not with the state of his face after the blow of Takeuchi even though it was currently healing.

'What do you mean "will be in trouble"! We're already in it!' he said, sounding grumpy.

'Right... but if the water continues to flow in like this...'

'Water? What water?' Only now did he realize that they were sitting in dampness. He could even hear the faint rushing of water. Orihime quickly recounted to him what happened, though leaving out the details.

'… and before they threw me in too, they've blasted some of the pipes.' she concluded.

'I see... so they plan to drown us. Have you tried rejecting yourself out of here yet?'

'No. Not yet. I didn't want to leave you... But I'm almost sure it won't work: I feel that they've put up some strong kido-kind barrier above us.'

'And I can't transform, they've taken my badge.'

'I know...

'Real astute... how annoying! Kouno must really want us dead badly! Try your rejecting anyway!'

'Now?'

'Yes, now. I don't mind if the healing is not flawless. Seems like we have very limited time.' Ichigo said, concentrating on the water. It seemed to him that he could already determine a slight rise of the level of it from since he first looked. The blasted pipe must have been a massive one...

Orihime sighed.

'Give me a few seconds more. I'm almost done to first-aid level.'

'That will be fine.' Ichigo said, his tone relaxing. When he spoke again, it was soft. 'Hey... I'm so sorry. I failed. Instead of me protecting you, YOU need to patch me up again! I should have listened to my instincts more. When I saw those guys, I felt that something was not right, but I was still stupid enough to walk right into their trap! I should have been more on my guard. This is all my fault.'

Orihime smiled, then removed her shield, though keeping her fairies out to provide light, and she leaned forward for a quick kiss.

'Stupid! Of course it's not. Or if it is, it's both our faults equally! But with months of waiting, it's impossible to always be on your guard, at every second...'

'Guess you're right. But I'll still never forgive myself! They could have done anything to you... and I wasn't there!'

'They've done terrible things to you, and I wasn't there!'

Ichigo only looked away. He went even farther, plastering himself to the farther side of their prison.

'Try your thing...' he ordered.

Orihime closed her eyes with a sigh. She tried to concentrate. A soft light surrounded her, and she knew that her body was leaving the three-dimensional space temporarily, as she tried rejecting her own presence from the darkness of the pit. But something was wrong. She felt a strange pressure, that almost hurt a little, and when she opened her eyes she fond herself next to Ichigo again.

'Told you it wouldn't work... I felt that this shield was not comparable with my powers. And it's strong. I can't get out.'

Ichigo kissed her.

'At least you tried. Any other ideas that will get us out of this?'

'Hm... I can try rejecting the whole shield.. or cutting through it.' she said doubtfully.

'Try everything.' Ichigo sad, his eyes dancing on the rough walls of the cave uneasily. The water have now risen to their waist.

A few moments later, Orihime was looking down on the hurt and pissed Tsubaki in her palms, apologizing over and over.

'… sorry! So sorry! Let me heal you, Tsubaki-kun!'

'Just quit fretting already, woman, and let me have another go! I'll cut through the shield this time for sure!'

'Wait. I just had another idea...' Ichigo said. 'I can't transform, but my spiritual pressure is intact even in human form. I never thought that some day I'll resort to this, but maybe it's time for me to try kido. Rukia could even do it in gigai.' he lifted his hands before himself uncertainly, but with a slightly excited air, like a little boy wanting to try out his father's fishing-gear for the first time in his life.

But Orihime quickly put a hand on his, looking alarmed.

'Er... Ichigo... I don't think so.'

'Why not?' he asked, looking even more excited. 'I won't try anything too difficult. Even Renji can do "Shakkaho", I'll be damned if I don't succeed... maybe it can blast us out from here! Take a big breath, and hide underwater!'

'Ichigo, no!' Orihime cried, but he was determined to try, and seeing the gathering red energy-ball grow in his palm, she decided to comply. Ichigo joined her under the water's surface as soon as he fired. There was an explosion, that racked the ground, and the water splashed angrily all around them. They surfaced, and Orihime screamed. A few boulders fell down, nearly missing her head.

'Watch out!' Ichigo cried, but his cry was drowned into chokes. Smoke, dust and burned smell polluted the air, along with heavy steam that the explosion lifted from the water.

'Ouch... that's not exactly how I meant it to be! Damn!' Ichigo cursed.

'Were you hit?' Orihime asked.

'...not by the falling rocks. My own blast backfired, and burned my hand.'

She scowled her cute pouting-scowl.

'See? Told you not to do it...'

'But I have to do something!' he retorted angrily. 'I'll try again. I just got to have the hang of it!'

'No!' Orihime cried firmly. 'You've already burnt half our oxygen with your first try. Remember Kukkaku's lessons with the cannon-ball? You would definitely need more practice to do it right, and even then, I can't help doubting that a kido of this level would succeed where my Koten Zanshun failed, even if it had your spiritual pressure behind it!'

Ichigo looked taken aback for a second. Then a sour expression took over his features.

'Yeah. You're right, of course. Absolutely right. Sorry. It's just so hard for me to sit here, without being able to do something. I hate it...'

'I understand.' she smiled. 'Sorry, I didn't mean to be this hard on you, it's just that...'

'Don't apologize. You were right to reprint me. My emotions took the better of me, I wasn't thinking rationally. But now what do we do?'

'Back to the drawing board I guess...'

For a few seconds, they sat in total silence. Only the soft rushing of the water could be heard. It's level now reached past their shoulders.

'You know, those men really could have beaten me some more...' Ichigo finally declared in a clearly irritated tone.

'Ichigo!' Orihime screamed his name in protest, but he didn't care.

'Why? Only a few more kicks and punches would have been enough, I'm sure. Then at least I would be out of my body, with a sword in hand, and could protect... Hey! That's an idea...'

Orihime looked at him confused. The excited expression from earlier at finding a new possible way of escape however was now missing form his face. Instead, there was a solemn, calculating look on his features, hardening slowly into determination. Seeing it, Orihime felt some unknown chill creep into her heart. When Ichigo spoke next, he seemed to be choosing his words very carefully.

'Orihime! I... I have an idea on how we can get out of here.'

'Really?' Orihime asked nervously.

'Yeah. But you won't like it. Before I tell you, I need to remind you, that if we don't get out of here, we'll both be DEAD. And I also want you to remember, that what ever happens, you can reverse it, as long as you're around.'

'Ichigo... I... I don't understand... I... ' she stuttered. Somehow, she felt almost paralyzed.

'To tell you the truth...' Ichigo cut across her firmly, continuing his argument. '...I'm not really interested in finding out how being suffocated to death feels like. That must be nasty. I would much rather prefer a quick slash.' Ichigo said the last sentence looking her in the eyes firmly.

Orihime remained silent, only her eyes widening as realization slowly came to her. Finally she cried out, horrified.

'NO!'

'That's the only way to do it, Orihime! That way you'll survive to relieve me. Once I'm in my soul reaper form, I can blast us out from here! I'm sorry, trust me, if there was any way for me to do it myself, I would... but unfortunately, this is the only way...'

'I refuse!' Orihime screamed.

'Listen here, Hime! Did you know, that technically... technically I die every time I exit my body? So you could say I've been dead a hundreds of times before, and no matter how weird that sounds I still live to tell the tale. If you look at it logically...'

'Logically?' Orihime's voice sounded close to hysterics. 'Sorry, but I just can't discuss your murdering "logically"!'

'Please, if you would only...'

'No more word of this!'

'But don't you see? That way both of us will die!'

'I don't care! I won't save myself like this! I just can't do it! There's got to be another way!'

'But we've already tried, and there isn't!

'I'd rather die than kill you!'

Silence settled between them, heavy and filled with suppressed, but burning emotions. S'huno and Ayame just watched this silent battle of wills between them, floating in the air above their heads with anxious expressions. Orihime cried from anger, and Ichigo scowled meaner than ever. Neither would yield, because both believed they were protecting the other. In truth, they were both protecting themselves: Ichigo could never bear the pain of not being able to save her, not even in death, and Orihime wouldn't be able to cope with the thought of having killed him, not even in life... But their time was almost up. They now had to turn their faces upwards, to keep it above water. The chance to decide would soon be denied them, if they did nothing.

'You know...' Ichigo finally began again. 'That's a little selfish of you!'

It seemed Orihime's indignation over his last comment have reached the level that was beyond words. Ichigo took advantage of that, and continued.

'Because I want to LIVE! Only you can give that to me...'

Orihime looked like she was finally wavering.

Suddenly more light surrounded them, as the rest of the Rikka flew out to join S'huno and Ayame.

'All right.' Tsubaki declared grumpily. 'This can't go on like this!'

He looked at S'huno, asking for consent. S'huno nodded back at him, then turned to Orihime.

'I'm sorry, Princess. You saw it. We already tried everything in our power.' S'huno said. 'There is nothing else we can do to help. And we won't let you die, no matter what. That is our duty, in honor of your brother's love for you...'

'Never though the day would come when I'll say this, but can't help it... what this punk ruffian says makes sense.' Tsubaki said pointing towards Ichigo, who smiled despite himself, being relieved. This was the second time he received help from the Rikka in order to save Orihime, and Sora's picture flashed through his mind for a brief moment, and he offered a silent thanks.

'No! No!' Orihime moaned.

'Come on, Princess, get yourself together!'

'I can't, I just can't!'

All six Rikka looked at each other.

'Then you leave us no choice, woman!' Tsubaki cried angrily.

'What?'

'Wait.' Baigon said. 'Give her one last chance.' he turned to Orihime with pity in his features. 'Princess... Try to understand. We will do this anyway...'

'Didn't we tell you before? We're the Princess shielding Rikka. Our first priority is your safety... even against your wishes! Even before everyone else...' Hingiku said.

'No!' Orihime cried helplessly.

'But it would be better if we didn't have to rip ourselves completely out of your command. I'm afraid of the damage that could do.' Baigon continued.

'Orihime please!' Ichigo hastened to press his point. He wildly racked his brain for whatever reassurance he could give the girl, whatever would make her understand. 'Please, let me protect you!... Have I ever told you the full story of how I became a Soul Reaper in the first place?'

Orihime closed her eyes over her burning tears. She struggled to keep her head above water, and Ichigo pulled her closer, helping her hold herself up with his steady arms on either side of her body.

'You... you took Rukia's power, because that was the only way to save your family.' she said, trembling.

'Not exactly. I took her sword, and ran myself through with it, welcoming death into my body. The very first soul I ripped apart, was my own. And Rukia told me how easily it could mean the end, and it nearly did. But I love my family too much to just leave them here, all alone, unprotected. That was what brought me back, and made me how I am. I first became a soul reaper out of my love for them, and out of the desire of protecting them. It's not any different now. I love you, I promised to protect you for forever, and I'll be damned if I don't!'

'I still can't do it...' Orihime said in a small voice. 'What if something goes wrong? What if I can't relieve you? I don't want to live without you...

Lily flew close to Orihime's tear-soaked face.

'Don't you trust us? You've got to trust us... you've got to trust your powers! We can do this!'

'Just close your eyes, and try not to think about it too much.' Hinagiku advised. 'You'll be over the worst in seconds...'

'Yeah.' Baigon seconded.

Ayame only patted her cheek consolingly, not speaking.

Orihime finally looked up, meeting Ichigo's gaze.

'I love you.' the boy said.

She opened her mouth to say the words back, but no sound came out.

'Kiss me!' Ichigo demanded, and took her mouth the next second without waiting for an answer. The whole world started to spin with her, and for the second time that day, she wished to loose consciousness, to fade into painless dark. Ichigo slowly drew back, releasing her, making space between them again. He saw that her eyes were fixed on him unseeingly, without any expression in them. Her fairies were still close to her ear, but he could no longer hear what they were saying. He closed his eyes, concentrating inside, readying himself. He had no fear inside him, only concern. Acceptance, and determination. Some healthy anger, that only made him stronger, but even more love. Yes, he was ready.

But the blow still didn't come.

'Oh, for Heaven's sake... I so hate it when she does this!' Tsubaki raged, clearly ready for action, and pissed at being held back.

Ichigo gingerly opened one eye, peaking out.

'Er... Princess?' S'huno asked tentatively.

Orihime had her hands raised before her, it the familiar stance of her attack, but she was shaking, and pressing her mouth so firmly together, that not one sound could have escaped it, let alone a healthy command.

In Orihime's head, a familiar, chilling mantra started to echo: 'What should I do? What should I do?' She hated this... Oh how she hated it! Was this really her fate for forever? Was she only good at holding on to and protecting bounds, not lives?

'It's no use.' Lily sighed. 'Are we going to...?'

'Yes. There's no use putting it off any more. Everyone agrees?' S'huno looked around.

Tsubaki, Baigon, Hinagiku and Lily all nodded in turn.

'Ayame?'

The littlest spirit of the six left Orihime's side last to join the others with a pained sigh.

'Maybe it's more kind this way... not letting her do it herself... I just wish she ever forgives us. And him...'

The Rikka formed a circle, and each of them raised their tiny hands. There was a blue light, and the next moment their six fists held the six petals of the hibiscus flower.

Orihime seemed to come out of her trance.

'My... my hairpins!' she cried, her hands automatically flying to her temples.

S'huno flew to Ichigo and bowed low.

'It's an honor to be working with you. You have my gratitude and high esteem. Please, command us!'

'Er... what?' Ichigo blinked stupidly.

'He means that we're willing to do this, but we need a commanding will. She's clearly not capable of it. So it has to be you. We're placing our powers into your hands.' Hinagiku explained.

Ichigo's features cleared.

'Really? Cool!'

Tsubaki hit his head in rage.

'Don't you start acting like some immature brat right now! It's only temporarily. Get yourself together. It's me you will command!'

'I know that you little pain-in-the-ass! Geez!'

Ichigo finally looked back to the helpless girl facing him, who looked competently broken.

'Ichigo... please... don't!' she pleaded again, but from the tone of her voice, she already knew it was useless.

'I'm sorry.'

Ichigo knew he had to be strong, and get this over with as soon as possible. In every other circumstance, he would have done anything to prevent such a pain showing on her face. But no matter what, he couldn't let her die. He turned back to face Tsubaki.

'Give me a clear shoot!' he told him sharply.

'The least I can do.' the spirit answered seriously.

'All right them. I guess I have to say the commanding words...' he said slowly. All fairies nodded at him. He sighed, and closed his eyes. 'Here goes. Koten Zanshun!'

…...

A/N: Reviews are appreciated. No flames, please though.

This chapter is dedicated to „Lady Alkina", who's kind words put me in the mood of finishing it. (Köszi, remélem kellően izgalmas volt! :-)) And to my steadiest friend from home, who's my constant companion in all kind of craziness...