Chad walked around the forest before figuring out that walking was pointless. He was getting nowhere. After a while he sat down on a small mound in the grass to rest and put things in perspective. He knew this illusion he and the others were trapped in would only lift if they could solve the puzzle. Suddenly he felt a presence watching him.

"I know you're there," Chad spoke aloud, not facing the tree he felt the being appear in.

A figure unfolded herself and hopped down the tree, landing so softly he couldn't even hear her feet touch the ground. "I need to work on my stealth. It has been too long," the woman cooed. Her voice was gentle like the hum of the sea moving along the beach.

Her hips swayed as she walked towards the large man, his back turned towards her. She slid her lean, bronze hands along his back and across his shoulders. Her firm breasts pressed up against his muscular frame. The thin material of her dragon-printed yukata was the only thing separating her naked flesh from his body. Her hands dared to keep moving, slipping into the folds of his dark purple yukata, but Chad caught her hands by the wrists, stopping their motions.

"Don't," he spoke with a hint of regret. The woman slyly smiled and moved around to face him. She let her fingertips drag along his collarbone as she strolled. Her curves were accented in the moonlight, shimmering against the darkness in the forest. The blue and green silk draped around her barely covered her body. She leaned down to him and brushed her rosy lips against his.

Chad placed his large hands on her shoulders and slowly pushed her away. "Don't. Please." His eyes peaked out from his coffee colored curls and she saw they were sincere.

"Why?" she teased, a finger coming up to brush his plump lips.

"Because I don't think your husband would be very happy." Chad raised an eyebrow at the woman. She stepped back with a smirk on her face and crossed her arms.

"I know who you are," he spoke. "I know what you are. Even in the body of a child, I knew it was you." The woman seemed to take interest.

"The snake, your dragon-printed yukata, the name you gave my friends: Ben-Ten. It didn't take me long to figure out that you were behind all this. I know my Japanese Folklore…" The woman let out a small smile.

"What are you doing here?"

Ben-Ten shrugged her elegant shoulders. "I was bored."

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"Wait, Shiba? Kuukaku and Ganju had another brother?" Ichigo couldn't believe his ears.

"You wanna hear this or not?" Rukia snapped. Ichigo shut his mouth.

"Yes, they had another brother. The Shiba clan was one of the four noble clans in Soul Society, and Kaien-dono was the head."

Ichigo waited as she paused, then asked a question he had been dreading. "Were you guys…together?"

"What? No!" Rukia lightly blushed and held her head in her hands. She took in a breath and continued. "He was married," she explained, "to a beautiful, kind, sweet Shinigami. Miyako-dono was the third seat in the 13th Division." Her eyes softened, remembering her early days as a fresh graduate. "They were the first people in the division who treated me…normally. They weren't afraid of the Kuchiki name. They were…family.

"Then one night, Miyako-dono went on a patrol mission with others. They were attacked by a hollow and she was the only survivor." Rukia narrowed her eyes at the next memory. "But it was a trick. The hollow had possessed her body. She started killing her subordinates at random. We tried to help, but it was too late. The hollow had already taken her soul."

Rukia looked down at her reflection in the stream. "Kaien-dono wanted to avenge her death, but the hollow was too strong. It took over his body and he moved to attack Ukitake-taicho and me. Ukitake-taicho tried to help, but he was still sick.

"Then…" she swallowed. "Then, I drew my zanpaktou just to defend. I couldn't attack Kaien-dono. But he took back control of his body and knew something had to be done. He stabbed himself with my sword still in my hands." Rukia let the tears fall from her eyes. "He died in my arms."

Ichigo couldn't find the words to comfort her. He knew what death was like, watching his mother die when he was a boy, but this was different. Rukia had strong feelings for that man, and he died by her hand.

"And it didn't end there," she practically sobbed. Ichigo looked over at her with a shocked expression. How would it have gotten worse? He held his tongue and let her continue.

"In Hueco Mundo, the Espada I fought had absorbed that same hollow that killed him. Aaroniero Arruruerie…when he first showed his face, it was Kaien-dono. He looked like him, fought like him, acted like him. But it wasn't really him." Rukia wiped her face.

"When I killed the Espada, Kaien-dono's soul was finally at peace. Even Kuukaku-san forgave me after I explained what happened to her brother."

Ichigo swallowed, still trying to find the words to say. Instead he put his hand on her back and rubbed it slowly to calm her sobs. He never thought he would see Rukia cry in front of him.

"I don't know if I can ever forgive myself," she burst out, burying her head in her hands. He draped his arm around her in a tight hug. Suddenly Ichigo found her sitting in his lap, balled up like a child against its mother. She grabbed at him blindly, pulling at the folds of his yukata to close the gap between them. She choked out sobs, pressing her head against his chest.

"I know you're not him, Ichigo. You could never be Kaien…but he could never be you." She tilted her head up to him, her face damp with tears. Her eyes were finally filled with relief to get it all out. She had been holding on to that for so long.

Her lips grew thin with thought. "I don't want to lose you, too…" she said in a whisper. Her face suddenly turned serious and she ran her fingertips over his lips. Ichigo lifted a shaking hand up to her fingers and interlaced them with his own. He held her hand against his heart.

"I'm not going anywhere." He spoke soft and low, so deep she could barely make out his words. But they were there. She looked at him with fresh eyes, able to completely see the boy in front of her—the boy who was very much a man. The only sound she could hear was her own heart beating to the quickening pace of his.

The visible space between them closed, both drawn to each other from grief, need, or something more. Rukia's head swam as his lips lightly touched hers. They were hesitant at first, and then filled with an equal desire to melt the tension they had been fighting since they met. Ichigo tasted the salt from her tears and deepened his search, finding the sweet and tart sensations of berries. Kissing her was like drinking red wine, full of flavor and thoroughly intoxicating.

Taking a breath, Ichigo whispered against her lips, "Rukia, I… I…"

He felt her put a finger against his mouth. "Don't speak. Just let me feel this." She pulled his face towards her for more.

I love you.

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Silence sat between them so thick you could cut it with a knife. Ishida felt he should change the subject to lighten the mood. "I don't think we're in a forest," he spoke. "We must be stuck in an illusion that the little girl created." He couldn't bring himself to look over at Orihime now that he was wearing his heart on his sleeve. "I'm not sure how we can get out, but we should keep going."

He sighed and stood up, ready to move on. He motioned for Orihime to follow him, but she didn't budge. She looked up at him differently now. "You're wrong," she stated. It was simple and direct, but explained so much.

"I know we're in an illusion. How is that wrong?" Ishida pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He couldn't make the connections at this point anymore.

She picked herself off the ground, careful to not dirty the yukata Ishida stitched for her. She looked at him with resolve, her eyes growing serious. "You're not a second choice."

Ishida was stunned. He had been so prepared for heartbreak and this was further way from what he ever could have imagined.

"I'm sorry," she started. "I'm so sorry that I didn't see it before." Her eyes narrowed, unable to look him and not break down. A delicate fist coiled against her side. "I was so…jaded. For the longest time I couldn't see past Kurosaki-kun to what was right in front of me." Orihime's hazel orbs began to well up with tears.

"I couldn't see you." She sniffled and a tear dared to escape. Orihime lowered her head. "I don't deserve someone like you. I'm so sorry, Uryuu."

Ishida stiffened, shocked to hear those words come from her. He slowly walked closer to her. "Say it again," he spoke in a low voice.

Orihime lifted her face to see him walking towards her. "I'm sorry."

Ishida picked up the corner of his mouth. "Not that." He stood nearly toe-to-toe with her. "What did you call me, Orihime?"

Orihime lightly licked her lips, her palms growing clammy and heat rushing towards her face. "Uryuu…"

Ishida tucked his hand under her chin, looking deep into the pools of caramel. "Orihime," he cooed.

"Uryuu," she whispered. She closed her eyes as he pulled her towards him.

"Orihime…" Ishida's breath was warm and close. He closed his eyes and they met halfway, their lips lightly brushing. Orihime leaned into Ishida, deepening their kiss. He placed his hand on the small of her back to bring her in. She softly moaned at his gesture, and he grew more daring.

Ishida pressed harder against her lips, taking in their sweetness. He pushed a hand through her hair, holding the base of her neck. His fingers tangled in the silky ginger strands. Orihime smiled against his mouth and left a mark of her own. She explored his mouth, taking in the tastes and sensations that rippled through her body. She ended their passion with a soft kiss.

"Uryuu?" she whispered.

"Yes, 'Hime?"

"Your glasses are foggy."

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