What did Orihime Inoue do when she finally wrapped her head around that fact that her main goal in life was never going to be complete? Sure, she knew that somewhere in the back of her head that she will never going to get him if she doesn't confessed to him before he leaves for collage and since he's planning on becoming a doctor, who knows how long he'll be gone and how many beautiful woman he'll meet on the way? Yet, to the very end she never got the guts to do it. She didn't confessed to him when she was sure she's going to die alone during the Azien situation so what makes her think she'll be able to do it just because he'll be gone for a very long time? It wasn't her fault he was gone for three month after he got his powers back and when he actually came back, he announced that he's going to college. Everyone expected her to be sad but she wasn't. The reason was simple. She was in denial that he was actually going to be gone for who knows how many years. Then after a year and four month, the fact finally hit her and was there sadness? None, only shock, anger for letting the chance go, a tad of hurt, disappointment, and finally confusion. What was she going to do with her life now?

Nearly everything she had done was for him. It started out simple like studying hard to get him to notice her as someone smart, not some ditsy girl. Then it grew to her training to protect herself so he wouldn't have to and becoming good enough to heal him after every battle. She knew it was love when she threw away her own life to leave with that horrid place. All was for him. The day she left to that place was the day she decided she'll throw away all her dreams for him. After his powers were gone and things were looking normal again, she didn't slack off. No, she trained even harder so she can protect him at last. Then he decided he wanted his powers back after all and she was with him through it all, but she was too weak still to do much. She did everything she could to help put his life back together, not even noticing that hers was basically gone. Then he was up and gone without a word to her. Now that the truth finally hit, she was just laughing at how Rukia knew where he was and what he's going the whole time because apparently, she was important enough for him to inform.

So one year and four months later, Orihime Inoue accepted the fact that she's not loveable no matter what she does and decided to do something with her life, not for him, for herself. She kept working at the bakery even though pay was old now that she's no longer a teen but since the older the elderly couples get, the more they depend of her and she doesn't have the heart to leave them! Eventually, the elderly couple died and surprisingly, they left the old bakery filled with their hard work and memories in her hands. She was shocked herself when a lawyer came with their will. She was still in shock when she found a letter address to her from them just minutes before they died.

She never expected the bakery but this was just shocking. They left her their saving and who would have expected this much from an elderly couple who owns a little bakery down the block? They explained that they didn't mean to be rude to her sometime but they wanted the money to go to someone with a real heart unlike their spoiled niece and nephew. We hope this makes up for being stingy with your paychecks these past years and not paying you for the extra hour so think of this as a big bonus since we never gave you them anyway. That was their last words and she was pretty sure this was the biggest bonus she'll ever get.

She would give the money back saying it's too much but how can she? Their will stated that this will be delivered to her a week after their death! This couple sure had a lot of time on their hand but how can they not? She did most of the work! She would send the money and deed to the bakery to their niece and nephew but after three month of working there, not one week goes by without them badmouthing their niece and nephew. She was sure they definitely don't want them getting anything and since she was too in love with the bakery, she kept it. As for the money, she didn't really need it so she just kept it in her bank account. The sudden boost of income from being an employee to owner was more than good considering how well the bakery does.

She had lots of free time on her hands now that she hired Aiko. She didn't really want to hire someone not because she can't afford to pay them or don't want to but because the way the bakery was run was different from the rest since everything was freshly made because all the leftovers will be brought to a local children's orphanage, they recipes didn't come out of some store brought cookbook and she was proud the tweaks she made to the original was successful as well as the honey muffin! Sadly, with only her working, it was getting too overwhelming so she had no choice. Luckily, Aiko caught on quick but can't make a muffin to save her life. So she just need to come in early, make the usual bread, muffin, sandwiches, etc., leave on break, come help around a bit, and finish the day off by locking the store and bring the leftovers to the orphanage or shelter. Then she had the rest of the night to herself but she would just spend it going back to the bakery and mess with the ingredients and sometime it would turn out good.

She could finally afford all the cute clothes she sees in the window and buy all the bean paste she can eat without going hungry! She was successful money wise like she should be if she never devoted her life to help Ichigo's life! Sure she would've gone to collage instead but she wouldn't have been as happy, being stuck in an office all day or spend eight years behind medical textbooks. Yet she still wasn't happy. That is, until the day she met Kazuhiko Shiraishi.

Hey guys! I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a while. I lost the chapter I wrote and I was meaning on retyping it but was too lazy! WOW, looking back at the other chapter, I just realized how horrible my grammar was! Well, it still is now but at least I've improved right? I still need a beta for anyone who's interested! I have an entire plot planned out for this fanfic and there will be lots of turns and unexpected events. This will be AUish in case you haven't notice. This Orihime will be stronger willed but will it all breaks when Ichigo return? I hope you'll forgive Ichigo's behavior later on and this new guy, Kazuhiko Shiraishi will play an important role in Orihime's life that's for sure. I'll give you a clue; she won't be a regular bakery owner for long. Her new part time job will rivals ichigo's major success but with a twist.