My lord, sorry for the loong delay. Life has been a pain in the tooshie, and I was debating whether or not to actually end it with the last chapter because it would be a fitting end to the story, but then I thought that it would be the easy way out soo...yeah no. XDD so thank you to all who subbed/reviewed. Can't tell you how much it means to me 3333

rating: T, until the lemons come marching in.

disclaimer: umm...done.

------------

3 weeks later..

"So, how does it feel to be in love, Kurosaki?" Renji sneered as he swung Zabimaru at Ichigo's torso. He effortlessly dodged it and rushed with Zangetsu. Renji held his stance.

"Pretty..damn..good!" He breathlessly said between swings at Renji's zanpaktou. Truth be told, it was more than good, it was bottomline enthralling.

Orihime seemed to dominate Ichigo's mind and thoughts every single moment. He couldn't get enough of those gray eyes he loved to stare deeply into, the way her auburn hair fanned around her every time she sensed him near. (he swore it was like something out of those sappy movies he claimed to hate but secretly loved when watching them with her). The way her nose would wrinkle everytime she laughed, and oh God that laugh, that bell-like sound that seemed to warm his soul each and every time. There wasn't nothing about this woman that didn't do something for him and he found himself loving her more and more. And was the feeling mutual. Orihime loved snuggling in his arms, kissing him whenever she could get a chance, demanding piggy back rides (in the most adorable, non-demanding way possible), being with him, whether it meant just standing next to him, made her day so much better. They were literally lovebirds; their love for one another boundless.

"Heh, I hope you being sprung won't mess with your meager battling style, carrot top." Renji snarked as a subtle white aura began to form around him.

"Fuck you, period hair! I can kick your ass even while kissing Orihime," Ichigo's chocolate eyes took on a bright blue as his reiatsu spiked.

"Period hair...you--"

"BANKAI!!!" They both bellowed.

Rukia observed the battle unfolding in front of her, shaking her head. "Men..isn't that right, Orihime?"

"I just hope they don't kill each other like they did last time." Orihime bit her nails. What a bloody day that was..

"If they do, I'll knock their heads off for you, k?"

"But if you do that, how will we kiss them?" She giggled, causing Rukia to laugh. Rukia and Orihime were now closer than ever, talking about any and everything.

"Come on, let's get out of here before splintery wood falls on us again." Orihime agreed, cringing at the memory of Urahara shouting at Renji for the obliteration of his door. For someone who acted like if fire went in his butt he would still keep cool, to see him raging mad was somethng to behold, or rather, never behold again.

"I'm surprised that no alarms have come from Soul Society, Kuchiki-san," Orihime said as they walked into the cool outdoors.

"Yeah, it's been rather peaceful lately.." Rukia wondered sometimes if her phone was broken since no alarms, updates, or words came to her, and this has been ongoing for 3 whole weeks. I know the captain-commander wanted Renji and I to have some time off, but this is just weird. Dismissing those thoughts, she visibly shook her head.

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Come on." Taking Orihime's hand, they walked in the direction of Orihime's favorite restaurant, Bean Paste n' Beyond. Surprisingly Rukia rather liked the bean paste sandwiches, and it was here that Orihime got some of her..well, kooky ideas for her creations.

"Ooh! I hope they have the bean paste and jello dish again!" Orihime beamed while Rukia sweatdropped. Only you, Orihime..

Sitting across from each other, Orihime munched down on her sandwich of choice, bean paste and candy corn with a syrup coating, her face one of elation. Rukia wondered just how much her stomach was made of steel. Taking a bite of her sandwich, she smiled.

"So..how are things with you and Ichigo?" Rukia asked.

"Iff wondorfull, I culdnt bee haffier," Orihime tried to get her words out from a mouth full of candy corn, and Rukia couldn't help but laugh. Pushing a glass of milk towards her, Orihime took it gratefully.

"Sorry, everything is going great with me and Kurosaki-kun." She said after washing the large mixture down her throat. "I want to thank you, Rukia." Rukia's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Me..? What for?"

"Kurosaki-kun told me about you giving him ideas on how to tell me how he felt, and interesting idea about the shoulder injury," She laughed.

"Oh yeah, that..sorry, it was the first thing that came to mi--"

"Oh no, please don't apologize," Orihime cut her off, smiling. "I'm happy you did, and I'm happy that it brought us that much closer to telling each other how we truly felt. I don't think we would be together without you, Kuchiki-san." Putting a hand on hers, she smiled deeply.

"Orihime.." Rukia was speechless for a moment before putting her hand on Orihime's. "Thank you." She felt her heart swell for her best friend. Best friend..i have a best friend. Those words had always been alien to her, but she loved being able to say it more and more knowing it was the truth.

"So, how are things with you and Abarai-kun?" Orihime asked.

"You know, I may show it through slapping and punching him, but i truly do love that man. We honestly couldn't be happier." Rukia thought about when Renji finally got the nerve to confess how he truly felt about her. Rukia was torn between the absolute joy of knowing that her feelings she had harbored for him, and the annoyance at them both for taking so long to just come out with it. She didn't want that for Ichigo and Orihime, which is why she pressed him on for coming out and saying it. She always knew that underneath that stone, scowling exterior, he had some feelings for Orihime, and it was pretty damn obvious that she was crazy about Ichigo.

"I'm so happy for you, Kuchiki-san." Orihime truly was. And now look at us, two women in love. Imagine that. She smiled and took another bite of her sandwich.

"And I'm happy for you, Orihime."

"And I'm happy that we finally found the both of you." Ichigo stated, almost making the two women jump two feet in the air.

"Kurosaki-kun.." She looked him up and down as he took a seat next to her. Apparently the potential massacre Rukia and Orihime feared only turned out to be a simple sparring match, thank Sereitei. "Don't scare me like that!" She playfully hit him on the chest, but Ichigo actually felt some pain.

"Wow, Orihime, that training you've been doing is paying off. You actually hurt me a little bit." Ichigo said. It was true, Orihime spent 3 days a week (it would've been 7 but at Ichigo demanded she do 3 so as not to overwork herself) training along with Rukia after school, perfecting her Shun Shun Rikka and healing powers, as well as fighting. She could now heal extensive wounds in less than 20 minutes, and her training in fighting was improving. Ichigo stifled a laugh at the thought of the first day she tried to do a high kick--and fell on her butt. But with her iron resolve she got back up again and practiced. The next step was swordfighting, something Ichigo was wary about.

"Orihime's improving wonderfully, Ichigo, you better watch your ass," Rukia stated proudly as she scooted over to make room for Renji. Ichigo laughed and looked at his girlfriend. "I'm proud of you, really." A light blush graced Orihime's cheeks.

"I promised myself that I would fight by your side, and not depend on you always, Kurosaki-kun." She firmly stated while looking into his eyes. "And I meant it." Ichigo was stunned for a moment before kissing her forehead, filled with more love and passion for this woman then he ever thought possible. I'm proud of you, Orihime, but I will always protect you. I promised you that too.

"Yech, I'm going to pu--" Renji was cut off by a sharp blow to his ribs. "Hush, baka." They all laughed, except Renji, who pouted while rubbing his side.

After 3 courses of bean paste & jello (which Orihime couldn't get enough of) and sandwiches, they decided to leave. Walking side by side, they chattered and laughed, thinking it really was a perfect end to a perfect day.

Imagine their surprise when Byakuya Kuchiki appeared to them out of thin air, his haori tattered; his kenseikan hanging off his bloody hair by a thread. His formerly pearl white gloves were stained with dirt and blood, his scarf was ripped to shreds. And he was being held up by Zaraki Kenpachi, a solemn look on his face instead of his insane trademark wide smile. He didn't look much better. His signature bells were gone; the raven hair hung loosely around his face, wounds crisscrossed his arms and legs.

Rukia's heart stopped. "Brother.."

"You must come at once, Rukia," He half-coughed out, blood splattering the ground before the group.

"Soul Society..has been destroyed."

--------

Uh oh!!! What happened to SS? Not good for our group, huh? Stay tuned.

/endjankshcommercialtalking XDDD