May I just say, how THANKFUL I am for all the totally awesome lurve. :3 I really never expected this to be such a huge hit, and I couldn't be happier. So thank you for all the loverly reviews, for those of you who added it to their story alert lists, me to their favorite author lists, and everyone who read my story! Honestly, my heart skipped several beats when I read all your reviews.

***

"I-Inoue?"

"Hello, Kurosaki-Kun."

"What are you doing here? I haven't seen you for 2 months."

"You're out of pickles, by the way." Inoue said, turning around and pulling out a jar of mayonnaise and a loaf of bread. "But I guess a cucumber will do."

"Did you hear me?" Ichigo nearly yelled.

"Yes, Kurosaki. I heard you." Orihime said, slapping globs of mayonnaise on bread. "Aren't you gonna take your jacket off? You're very wet. You know, one ti-"

"Listen to me!" Ichigo yelled. "Cut the crap and stop ignoring me. I was arrested this morning for murder, I was interrogated by Rukia's brother for an hour, and then I find you rooting through my fridge! So please, tell me what you want!"

Inoue took a bite of her sandwich and smiled. "You were framed."

"Framed? What are you talking about?"

"Okay, now it's time for you to cut the crap. Is it not obvious enough?" Inoue paused, and noticed his blank face. She let her head fall between her shoulders, and set her sandwich down. "Grimmjow died last night, and you were the last person to ever see him. Not to mention the text messages they found on his cell."

"Texts? What text messages?"

Orihime sighed again, and said, "Really? Byakuya didn't mention it?"

Ichigo shook his head, though he was barely aware. It was all a shock. The puppeteer moved the string attached to his head, and Ichigo felt as if he was watching himself from the corner.

"When they searched the scene, they found his cell phone. On it was a conversation between you and him. And it wasn't pretty. There were some threats in there." Inoue took another bite of her sandwich.

"Threats? What kind of threats?"

"Just the normal, 'chop your head off', 'hunt you down', 'murder you in your apartment' kind of threats. Y'know."

"Oh my god."

"Yeah. And did you check your bank account? $15,000."

"What?!"

"Yup. When did you last have a job, Kurosaki-Kun?"

"I haven't had a job in months."

"Exactly. How did that get there?"

"I'm gonna help you." Inoue finally said, wiping the crumbs from her palms.

"Help…me?"

"Yeah. You were framed, Kurosaki. No way am I gonna let you deal with it yourself. You're gonna get put in jail, unless you trust me on this." Inoue walked over to the couch, sat down, and turned off the TV. "Do you trust me?"

"I don't know." Ichigo whispered. He was unaware of what he just said. The puppeteer hated him, wanted to make him miserable. And yet again, his mind watched his body from the shadows of the corner.

"What do you mean, 'you don't know'?"

"What happened to us, Inoue? I loved you. You loved me. What happened?"

Inoue sighed. She was really afraid that the conversation was going to sway this way. "It was Grimmjow. After you cut him, and Ulquiorra showed up, I didn't recognize you after that. It was like watching your hollow shell with no soul. After that, I saw you from a totally different angle."

"It was Grimmjow?"

"Yup."

"Oh no." Ichigo finally sat down on the recliner next to him, and pulled his wet jacket off.

Inoue stood up and moved over to Ichigo. She picked up his jacket and set it on the floor next to him. "Do you trust me, Kurosaki?"

Ichigo looked into her blue grey eyes. They seemed to shimmer in the light. And he leaned forward.

Their lips met; their body heat flowing to each other. Ichigo stuck his tongue out, and licked her teeth. Inoue met his with her tongue, and savored the taste. She missed it so much.

Ichigo pulled away, and stared into her eyes. He tucked her hair behind her ear, and whispered, "I missed you."

He lunged forward, but Inoue laid her finger on his lips. Without a word, she grabbed his arm and pulled him into his bedroom. They both fell onto his bed, the springs creaking beneath them. Lying on their sides, Ichigo kissed her, rubbing her arm and feeling the satin of her dress.

Inoue sat up, and pulled her dress over her head. As he continued to kiss her neck, and travel down her body, she tried to take his shirt off.

***

Ichigo and Inoue laid next to each other, naked under the sheets.

"Inoue?" Ichigo whispered, not sure if she was asleep.

"Mmmm." She murmered.

"…I trust you."