If there were two things that Inoue felt guilty for, it was the night of her inability to help Ichigo from death and the wound that failed to heal and spread malice throughout his body. When they had first returned from Heuco Mundo Inoue had tried her best to reject the stab wound, but to no avail. She tried again for three nights after, but every time it seemed the wound would just get worst. She gave up the night he cried out incalculable pain.

Now she dressed his wound with upmost care. Every sight of it only reminded her of her failure and the heavy guilt she had for having apart in it. Ichigo was aware of this, he watched her intently as she secured his bandages.

"Inoue, we've been over this many times" he tried his best to comfort her.

"I know, but it still bugs me. I've tried to let it go and I don't think I will until you're well again" she sighed. Ichigo chuckled because he always did the same thing whenever it came to changing his bandages, he tried convincing her that it wasn't her fault and Inoue feeling every bit guilty would give him the same reply, or something like it.

"Ichigo, don't laugh at me" she said looking down as she cleaned up the mess. Ichigo lifted her head with his fingertips.

"I'm sorry, but you're so cute when you get like this" he smiled. Inoue blushed furiously.

"Alright all done" she said trying to change the subject. She got up and disposed of the soiled bandages and returned with a teacup for Ichigo. "This one tastes good I promise" she said placing it in his hands. He trusted her because the scents that filled the room were delicious; caramel and sweet apple, plus Inoue never lied. She was always the first one to tell him the truth about tests and whether or not his medicine tasted bad. Her honesty was admirable.

"So tell me something" Ichigo asked sipping his tea. Inoue looked at him trying to come up with a new story; she was used to this part in their relationship. Sometimes he would just sit there silent enjoying her company the afternoon, other times he couldn't take it and needed something to do. Listening to Inoue was his favourite pastime.

"I'm running out of stories" Inoue laughed.

"It doesn't matter, tell me anything, even draw some ridiculous bunnies for me" he joked thinking about Rukia. A shadow of worry darkened his features. Taking note of this Orihime tried her best to make light of the situation.

"Kurosaki-kun, I'm sure Rukia-san is alright. She's strong and she has Renji-san with her"

"Yea I hope you're right" he said still brooding over it.

"Once upon a time there lived a boy and girl who were the best of friends. Wherever the boy went the girl was sure to be in step behind him, no matter what sorts of trouble he got into. On a dark day the girl was stolen away, never knowing if she would see her friend again. Of course the boy, headstrong as ever went after her. He rescued her, but was injured along the way. He got sick and there was nothing, not even the best doctors could do for him, not even the girl who loved him terribly, but she was determined to stay strong for him until the day he got better. Which eventually he did because he was the strongest guy in the land." Inoue said trying her best to hold in her tears.

Ichigo thought about the story and smiled. "She loved him terribly?" he asked poking her thigh. When he looked up into her eyes he noticed she was crying. Ichigo froze, he didn't know what to do at the moment and he cringed whenever he saw her like this. Without really thinking his hands reached for her waist and gathered her to himself. His face was close to her as he wiped her tears away not looking away from her eyes an instant. "What's wrong Orihime?" he asked softly.

More tears gushed out when he asked her. She was painfully aware of how close she was too him, his hand caressed her back while the other one glided along her face. She wondered how such a solid and strong man could be so gentle to the point of making her melt. She felt safe in his arms, even though there was no present danger. She felt that way when he picked her up in Hueco Mundo. The feeling returned the moment he touched her. Her heart fluttered inside sending waves of eurphoria through her body. This was love. In that moment Inoue was aware of his feelings for her. They were in love. She wasn't dreaming it, or imagining it. Ichigo loved her just as much as she loved him. No words were needed to let her know it. His touch spoke volumes of what he felt for her. "I just thought I had lost you" Inoue hiccupped. "And it feels like I'm still losing you" she cried more. Her body shivered in his embrace.

"I'm not going anywhere Inoue" he said pulling her close to him. Their lips met, sending shockwaves through her body. He was warm, full of life and every bit of it fighting fiercely against the disease. He was soft, heart beating strongly in his chest, not willing to give up on him. He was a man, and he loved all of her. If god ever created anything better go together than man and woman they were a perfect description of it. Two souls under one sky meant for each other, finding one another. It was a love story worth hearing about.

She sank into his arms, crushed firmly against his chest; letting out a sigh she kissed him back. The heat of their bodies mingling with each other caused uproar of bliss. Inoue had the first kiss she always dreamt about. She was grateful then that she had not stolen it away that night before leaving for Heuco Mundo. Her hand was resting above his heart, feeling for the steady rhythm. The last of her hot tears streamed down his face and when he was convinced that she had stopped crying he tore himself away to look at her. Her eyes were red and puffy, but he saw them sparkle. He smiled and rested his head against hers, their noses touching. "I promise you I won't go anywhere without you" he closed his eyes and kissed her again. "Now can we lay down, seemed like that took a lot from me" he chuckled falling back on his pillow. He really was exhausted. He couldn't do much anymore without getting tired quickly these days.

She smiled and laid down beside him on the cramped hospital room. "I'm holding you to that" she said relaxing against him. She felt comfortable, like this was how things were supposed to be. After their faces hurt from smiling they fell asleep wrapped up together.

He woke up in the middle of the night, his side was burning, his throat dry and torn. He felt like there were invisible weights pressing down on his chest. He couldn't move, it was too painful. A sheet of sweat covered his face and torso.

"Inoue" his voice was gone. He tried again, but not even the slightest sound came from his lips. He looked around the room, but couldn't see anything. The room was dark, the color of night and no matter how long he stared his eyes couldn't adjust. The burning on his side was probably coming from his wound, it grew each minute that passed by until it filled his lungs.

Suddenly white light filled the room; he could see the sky, the sun shining down on him. He saw the figure of someone standing beside him. Ichigo struggled to focus, the figure moved closer until he was beside Ichigo's face. It was Aizen.

"You know, I have more tricks up my sleeves" he said pulling away. Ichigo eyes widened when he caught the view of Inoue in his grasp. She was held up in the air gasping for breath. Aizen pulled out a blade and stabbed her.

"No!" Ichigo roared coming back to consciousness he reached for Aizen but instead caught Inoue by her throat. His eyes were fierce, determined to choke the life out of his enemy. When he finally came to he saw her pleading figure. "Inoue" he whispered letting go, he fell back into his bed. "I'm sorry" he cried, tears rolling down his face. The dream was so real, so vivid. He felt everything in the nightmare, the burning, nausea, aching, and throbbing pain. It felt just as real as being awake. "I'm sorry" he said again trying to wipe away the tears on his face.

"Kurosaki-kun just relax, it's alright" she said bringing a cloth to his face to help him. "It was just a dream" she added. She ignored the pain in her neck and did her best to put him at ease. She put her hand on his forehead to check his temperature. He was heating up. She was surprised how a few short hours could change your whole world. Instead of panicking she did what was needed she opened the window to let some cool in and uncovered him. He was drenched in sweat while blood soaked his bandages. Worried she quickly gave him medicine and went to work carefully removing the gauze. She was terrified when she saw how horrible his wound looked.

Jolts of pain forced their way through his body, pain worse than the sword. He was helpless against it, he winced trying his best not to concern Inoue. "I'm not going anywhere okay?" he said looking at her seriously. He must have passed out then because he realized he was in his mother's arms again, her melodic voice singing that same lullaby.

A few hours passed when he came to. He couldn't focus and for a long time, he just lay there, barely alive. In that time Inoue had gone for help calling for the aid of Unohana. The fourth captain had performed some tests in private and delivered the news shortly after.

Ichigo was dying.

His body was breaking down, it had fought for a month against it, but was finally wearing down. He was dyeing and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Inoue didn't know what to do, she stood just outside him room looking at Unohana with pleading eyes. When Inoue finally accepted there was nothing any of them could do she asked the most reasonable question. "How long?" her voice was frail and exhausted.

"Two-three days" Unohana replied solemnly. Understanding Inoue bowed and made her way into the room with her dyeing friend. She held back her tears, if there was anything Inoue would lie about it would be this. She knew Rukia had gone to find his cure and she hoped she would return soon, but for now she would let Ichigo cling to that hope without giving him news that would shadow it. She smiled and sat beside him.

"So Unohana let you tell me what's up?" he asked laying on his side, off his wounded area. It hurt just applying pressure.

"I want to show you something" Inoue said placing a pillow underneath his side, she pushed him back to lean on it gently. She then pulled open the thin robe his was wearing revealing a ghastly site. Underneath the loosely placed gauze was an open wound, oozing who knows what kind of bodily fluids. What's worse were the veins tracing outwords from the wounds like a new species of flower. The veins were dark near the center and turned red the farther out their arms reached. Ichigo turned his head away and Inoue covered him up.

"I had no idea it was that bad" he said trying to make the best of the situation. He laid his head back down on the pillow and grabbed Inoue's hand, like he understood what was happening to him. In fact he did know exactly what was wrong, only he wouldn't tell Inoue because he couldn't stand to see her pity or cry for him. He knew she was trying her best not to anyways, and he wanted it that way. "Rukia will be back soon" he finished thinking about the small shinigami. She could handle herself he knew that, but his dream was so intense, what if Rukia had been caught by Aizen.

"Ichigo stop whatever you're doing" Inoue's voice raised barely a register. She sat on the bed beside him and began wiping the blood from his mouth. Apparently Ichigo was so deep in thought that he had bit his lip too hard. He was unaware of it because all the painkillers he was on. It was the only way he could function, mostly.

"I didn't realize how numb I feel" Ichigo said lazily. When she was done Ichigo grabbed both of her hands forcing her too look at him. "Everything will be alright Orihime" was all he said. After that they sat together in silence.

I only just found you, let me stay.

Remember how every time I saw you I smiled. It was a natural instinctive reaction to your presence. I couldn't help it, but it didn't matter anyways. You were so beautiful, so loving, just what a mother should be. You never once raised your voice to me, you always knew what to say and when to say it. When you held me nothing else existed but you and me. The maternal strength in your arms, the manner in which you spoke, the sun radiating off you. I love you so much and that will never change. You are the center of my universe.

Now that center has changed kazaa. Her name is Inoue Orihime and she is beautiful, strong-willed and she loves me. I smile everytime I see her, she always knows what to say and when to say it. Her embrace is every bit gentle as your, nothing else exists when I'm with her. She is the rain connecting us all. I love her and that will never change.

I'm not going anywhere, but if this is the end then I want to lay under the Sakura trees. I want you there, she will understand if you are there to comfort her. If I go, I want her to know she can't follow me this time because it would break my heart if she gave up everything for me. I couldn't bare it. She deserves better.

I want to lay under the Sakura trees.

Two days had passed like this, constant fever and pain. New doses ofpain killers, no bother to change his bandages, just cleaned away whenever it overflowed. He couldn't breath on his own anymore, his lungs filled with fluids continually. A tube lodged in his side ready to drain his lungs when needed. He wore a mask that delivered a constant supply of clean air. Death is near, but at least he got his wish. He lays peacefully under the Sakura trees. He was told that Byakuya came to the fourth compound the day before, learning of the news he had decided to allow Ichigo to live the rest of his life in serenity, under the cherry blossoms. It's a death Byakuya himself would have wanted.

Inoue rested herself beside him, her head by his heart listening to the slow beat. She isn't crying, she just waits running her fingers through his hair, telling him stories she already told him before.

Ichigo groaned, alerting Inoue of his wake. They looked at eachother for sometime understanding that the end was near. He wanted to talk then, but he couldn't, the tubes in his mouth snakde down his throat. He wanted to hear their story again; tired of listening to the same old fairytales, only this time he wanted the ending to change.

Understanding somehow Inoue continued to gaze in his eyes. "Once upon a time there lived a boy and girl who were the best of friends. Wherever the boy went the girl was sure to be in step behind him, no matter what sorts of trouble he got into. On a dark day the girl was stolen away, never knowing if she would see him again" Inoue stopped and sobbed against his chest. She can't stand to see him like this, her heart aches every painful minute that passes by "Don't leave me Kurosaki-kun. I love you! " she pleaded to the gods for his life. She cried until she couldn't anymore and despite the pained effort, Ichigo lifted his arm to stroke her back. He damned himself for not telling her sooner.

I love you Orihime. Somehow he knew he would live well enough, long enough to let her know what she deserved.

Suddenly a weight of pressure forced down on his chest. Such strong reiatsu, something is wrong. It's Aizen and... it was faint, but definetly her. Rukia. Inoue seemed to be aware along with Ichigo, she lifted her head and looked towards the direction of her reiatsu as though to better focus her senses. Inoue and Ichigo looked at eachother then, but the look on his face was unlike anything she had seen before. He is terrified and ferocious, his body tense, struggling to move under an invisble force. Inoue turns around to face Ichigo's fears.

A flash of four over pale white and she's in his arms.