She was safe, at least that's he told her.

There Inoue was, standing behind her golden shield, tears still falling down her cheeks.

You don't have to fight for me

"Cheer for Istygo! He wuvs* you wif* all his heart, and you're just gonna stand there, crying!?" Nel was outraged, and could only scream and shout.

You don't have to win,

"Kurosaki-kun, Kurosaki-kun.." Was all that came into her mind. He shouted, cursed lightly, killed, fought, all for her. "Getsuga tensho!" Grimmjow was defeated...sprawled onto the ground in a pool of his own crimson blood. Ichigo's tangerine locks stuck to his forhead from sweat and blood.

"Inoue, Inoue...please...tell me. You must be..alright."

Just please don't fight anymore. Don't get hurt anymore. I couldn't bear it.

She only nodded, her shield slowly breaking into thousands of shards, just like her heart when she saw him like this. Inoue's lip quivered, and more tears flowed down her cheeks again.

"I thought that..you were alright...Inoue. If you're still crying, then...I failed." Orihime blinked, and looked into his eyes. Every time she looked into them, her mind would flash They turned into that familiar shade of chocolate brown, the bony mask cracking and falling off in chunks from his face. "If you're in pain, when you're not smiling...I didn't protect you, Inoue." He walked closer to her, from the midair spot. "How do you feel?" Inoue only shook her head, the tears falling away from her eyes.

"What kinda quethon* ith* that?!" Nel demanded, stomping up to Ichigo, frowning. "Owihime has been standin' here, waitin' for yous*, cwying* and stuff!! And all yous* did was ask her how she feels? W-What about a kiss, or at weast* a hug!" Ichigo's eyebrows furrowed, and he looked into Orihime's eyes.

"Is that...how you feel?"

"...yes."

"Well, then," His arm reached out around her waist, tucking her close to him, his bloody, battered body. "I..am glad that we feel the same about each other." His cheeks were on fire, the crimson color brighter than his hair. Orihime was shaking, though she wasn't crying. "K-Kurosaki-kun.."

"Yeah?"

"I..s-should heal you now." He nodded, and she began to work. "Uh, Inoue?" Gray eyes locked into chocolate, "Yes?"

"Next time...we should try kissing instead."

That earned a boisterous cheer from Nel.

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* words:

wuvs = loves

wif - with

quethon = question

ith = is

yous = you

cwying = crying

weast = least

That was fun, typing like Nel. ^^ I hope you like it, I didn't really try, and was just jotting down whatever came to mind.