I claim no rights, or anything associated with the Bleach series and/or its characters. As they are owned by Tite Kubo. This story is completely my own idea as it will be an IchiHime love story. Some of the characters maybe a bit OC so please don't hate. Please leave me your comments and reviews telling me what you think. Thanks!

Key Guide: "regular speech", 'thinking to one's self', *mental speech*, (author notes/translations), bold - hollows/demons speaking, italics - attacks

Thirteen: changes

Dark energy rippled around the demon surrounding the creature in a black ball. It's painful screams echoed out as the demon was under going a transformation. Tears streaked down Orihime's face as she listened to the screams. Orihime felt so powerless that she couldn't help Ichigo through whatever was happening to him. She began to silently pray that Ichigo would be all right. Meanwhile within the mind and body of Ichigo, the human and demon where merging. Both had heard Orihime's cries for help and her soft voice calling them to come back. The two knew that one day this would happen so, they didn't fight the changes that was happening but the pain was so intense as the two souls merged into one. Suddenly the black ball exploded revealing an altered Ichigo. A single horn came out of his head as black markings ran down part of his face down to his chest. The eye on the side of markings was golden yellow with black Scalia while his normal eye had a light glow to it that was hardly noticeable. His usual moon robes had changed but still had the black and white color scheme (new bankai). Even Ichigo's sword had changed as it no longer looked like a katana but rather a large butcher knife with a black chain at the end. The sword was white with a black middle and black handle wrapped cloth for the guard (new tensa zangetsu).

Ichigo's sword suddenly disappeared as the young man whom looked slightly older now swayed as his eyes rolled back. Ulquiorra moved with a burst of speed catching his king before he fell. Beads of sweat lined Ichigo's head as the young king was burning up because of the changes that he just went through. Orihime, Szayel, and Retsu looked at the moon king with concern in their eyes.

"He's burning up. We need to get him into the palace so we can try to bring his temperature down and to treat any wounds that he may have." Retsu stated. Szayel turned to Nell as the young woman let out a soft sigh before allowing herself to transform into her demonic form. Nell's lower body transformed into a white horse as now she looked like a centaur. Ulquiorra gently placed Ichigo onto Nell's back. The small group made their way into the palace and to a room that Retsu used as a clinic. Both Szayel and Retsu begin to work pushing everyone out of the room. Orihime couldn't help but to worry. Nell took this chance to transform back into her human form.

"Don't worry Princess. Ichigo is very strong and tough. I am certain that he will make it through." Nell stated.

"I hope so." she replied softly.

In order to keep Orihime from worrying about Ichigo. Ulquiorra and Nell brought her to the Defense Core to train. It was obvious that the Hollows wouldn't stop at nothing to destroy both the sun and moon kingdom. This made the moon warriors desire to awaken their mates powers and abilities stronger than ever before. They were determined not to have Ichigo stand alone against this threat. The moon people had a feeling that by marking their mates, it would cause their slumbering powers to surface. So Ulquiorra, Nell and Szayel took steps to help awaken their mates true powers and abilities. Tier whom was back on the moon had already helped Toshiro help awaken his powers and worked with the young man to train him how to use his powers.

Several hours have passed before Ichigo regained consciousness. A low deep moan escaped from his lips as he slowly moved to sit up. Ichigo's entire body hurt as he cold feel his powers had become much stronger than normal as he could no longer feel or sense Shiro's presence. Ichigo slowly sat up as he tried not to wince when he moved.

"Please take it easy Lord Ichigo as you underwent a rather painful transformation." stated Szayel as he helped Ichigo sit up.

"Is everyone alright?" Ichigo asked in a rough voice. His voice sounded different as it had a demonic tone to it mixed with his human voice. Ichigo rubbed his throat as it felt raw when he spoke. 'Possibly from all the screaming that I did. It feels weird not to feel Shiro presence any more.' Ichigo thought to himself.

"Everyone is fine my king. Your princess was very worried about you." replied Szayel as Retsu approached him with a mug filled with warm liquid to help soothe his sore throat. Ichigo had noticed that Szayel had marked Retsu as his mate as his symbol was stamped proudly on the hollow of her neck. Szayel's mark looked more like a tattoo of a tribal line in the form of a heart. Each of the moon people had a special mark that looked like tattoos done all in tribal lines. Ulquiorra's was that of a bat, Grimmjow's was that of a panther, Nell's was that of a horse head, Tier's was that of a shark, Coyote's was that of a wolf head, and Ichigo's was that of a crown. by marking their mates, it would help awaken the sun people's full power as of right now only a part of their power had been awakened.

Ichigo could feel warm energy flow into his body relieving his pain. The energy felt similar to Orihime's healing barrier but much stronger. The moon king noticed Retsu's hand was glowing with energy. Ichigo could feel all of his aches and pain vanish as the warm drink in his hands helped soothe his throat. Ichigo could hear Szayel contact both Ulquiorra and Nell mentally to let them know that Ichigo was awake.

"Has the other taken steps in awakening their mates powers?" Ichigo asked Szayel when he noticed the mate mark on Retsu.

"Yes... We all felt with after the last fight against the Hollows that you are going to need all of us to help you with the leaders of the Hollows." replied Szayel. Ichigo nodded his head as he knew that he had to mark Orihime as they all needed to step up with their fight against the Hollows. The doors opened up as Orihime came rushing into the room straight into Ichigo's arms. Tears lined her eyes when she saw Ichigo.

"It's all right Orihime... I am fine now." Ichigo stated as he gently rubbed Orihime's back trying to get her to calm down.

*We will leave you so you can mate mark Orihime.* Szayel told Ichigo mentally as the moon prince nodded his head. Both Szayel and Retsu slipped out of the room leaving Orihime to cry in Ichigo's arms. Ichigo allowed Orihime to cry on his shoulder as he spoke softly to calm the young woman down.

It took several minutes for Orihime to calm down. Ichigo gently wiped away the tears that still lingered.

"Everything will be alright Orihime. I knew that one day this would happen. I just didn't expect it to happen this soon. It will take several days for me to get used to this form and the increase in my powers." Ichigo stated as he brushed Orihime's long orange hair away from her neck. "Orihime... Can I mark you?" Ichigo asked in rough voice. Lust partly clouded his eyes. Nell and Ulquiorra explained the need for Orihime nodded her head yes. Ichigo began to lick and nip and her neck. "Let me hear you say it princess." Ichigo whispered huskily. Orihime tried not to moan out as she felt a buzz of pleasure wash through her body.

"Ichigo... Please... " Orihime gasped out. Ichigo allowed his fangs to pierce Orihime's neck as he drank some of her blood. Orihime gasped out a gasped out a moan when she felt Ichigo's fangs pierce her neck. She could feel her powers becoming much stronger as her body felt warm. "Ichigo... I love you!" Orihime cried out in pleasure.

*And I love you too my sun princess!* Ichigo replied mentally.

Next chapter…

Final battle