A/N: Hey, what's up, nerds. Just curious about something. Do any of you look up the songs I put on here? If you do, then you're awesome. If you don't, then you should. If you look them up before each chapter, you might get kind of an idea of what might happen in the chap. Not gonna lie –it's hard to find stuff that fits exactly. But. I have managed to do it for most of the chapters, so it's worth looking into.
Disclaimer: If I owned Bleach, that would be cool. But I don't, and that's why it's so popular. Also, Breath is owned by "Breaking Benjamin" and probably some other people as well.
Ulquiorra: She would have never come up with me. I am far too original.
Me: Shut up!
Ulquiorra: -mutters-
Fang: -points- No one can ever call me 'emo' again.
Ulquiorra: What?
Me: Fang, get back to your fandom! And Ulquiorra, shut up! I need to respond to reviews!
Veraozo: Why thank you.
Ulquiorra: Why do you take the time to do these…?
Me: I said shut up! –pushes annoying emospada out of frame-
Misha: Of course I didn't forget. My updates aren't that irregular, are they? (kind of worried…) And yeah, there's always been zero competition, so hahaha Ichi…
himelove22: She will, my friend. Patience is a virtue.
nypsy: LOL. I can totally picture a Shinigami counseling session. /laughs That would be hilarious.
moonlightrurouni: Ahaha, I feel like we're in a secret club because I'm pretty sure you're the only one who reads this story and My Espada Boys. Updates are going to be more often because I'm pumped to finally be finishing everything! /sings Ceeeelebrate good times, c'mon! Yayfulness!
: Hi, anonymous hater! Bitch if you're gonna hate grow a spine and log in so that I can hate back! Cuz you know what they say. Haters gonna hate! Potatoes gonna potate! Waiters gonna wait! Alligators gonna alligate!
whitechan16: Speculate away, my friend. I will not give away anything.
GameFreak: Yay, I'm glad you're actually a nice person, I forgive you.
HellYus: I'm happy you're reading this. I know I'm reading something of yours but I don't remember what it is… /sweat drop & nervous laughter hehehehe…on with the chapter!
Is it over yet?Let me in! So sacrifice yourself and let me have what's left. I know that I can findthe fire in your eyes. I'm going all the way - Get away!You take the breath right out of me!You left a hole where my heart should be! You gotta fight just to make it through…'cause I will be the death of you.
Ichigo was frustrated.
He didn't know what to do. He'd found Orihime. Before, he didn't really know what to do when they found each other. Would she want to go back to the World of the Living? Or would she want to stay in the Soul Society? It didn't matter. As long as he found her, had held her in his arms and told her that she was loved, it didn't matter what they would do next. He had spent all his energy just trying to find her.
But it was completely in vain. She had no idea of who he was - and worse, there was someone else.
He glared daggers into Ronin's back. The boy was walking with Orihime, laughing with Orihime. It was the weekend, and they had decided to go to Seireitei to see Rangiku. Ichigo was a bit apprehensive - he didn't know quite what he would do if the busty lieutenant didn't remember her favorite disciple.
He winced internally. That made it sound horrible.
"Kind of kills you inside, doesn't it?" Tatsuki remarked from next to him, her gaze on Orihime.
Ichigo was silent, but his lips were trembling. He swallowed a sudden lump in his throat. Damn, when had he become such a crybaby? Then he remembered something. Oh, no...
"Shit," he swore suddenly, pulling out his phone. "Oh, crap. I never called Rukia...shit..." He dialed quickly and put the phone to his ear while Tatsuki chuckled humorlessly next to him.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Rukia, it's Ichigo."
There was a moment of silence. And then something exploded. Tatsuki watched as Ichigo winced and pulled the phone quickly away from his ear, cringing at the violent noise that came from it. He put it back.
"Yeah, we found her." He held the phone away from his ear again, rolling his eyes. "Sure, you can talk to her," he said, bringing the phone back to his ear. "I doubt she remembers you, though."
There was a long pause. A puzzled noise came from the phone.
"I mean she doesn't remember anyone. No one remembers her either."
Another pause.
"God, I don't know!" Ichigo shouted into the phone. "Leave me alone! I'm trying!"
He hung up abruptly and shoved the phone into his pocket with a dark expression on his face. "She pisses me off sometimes," he muttered.
Tatsuki laughed.
"Let's catch up with Orihime," he said. "I don't want her to be alone with that bastard for too long."
They caught up with the couple ahead of them, Tatsuki falling into place next to her friend and Ichigo keeping pace next to Tatsuki. Orihime smiled and then jumped when someone caught her eye.
"Aha! Konichiwa, Hinamori-san!" she called, waving. Ichigo recognized the fifth lieutenant - the one with the bun who had been almost killed by Aizen. She looked around at the voice, and then smiled when she saw Orihime.
"Konichiwa, Abarai-san!" she called back cheerfully.
"Do you know her?" Ichigo asked once they'd passed the small woman.
"Yep!" Orihime answered. "She's my Kidô instructor. She also helps me train. Oh yeah, Ichigo-kun! Guess what! I finally got my sword!"
"Did you now?" Ichigo asked, sounding impressed. Orihime's smile could have dazzled a blind man.
"Yeah! Want to see?"
She reached for the sword at her hip. Ichigo followed her movement. Before, the sword had been plain, with dully colored wrappings. Now it was colorful and bright with a flower-shaped guard in the same form as her hairpins.
"What's it's name?" Tatsuki asked.
"Well, it's not just one spirit inside," Orihime said, confused. "There are -"
"Six," Ichigo finished. "Hinagiku, Baigon, Lily, Ayame, Shun'o, and Tsubaki."
There was a long and awkward silence.
"Ahaha, but that's just a guess," Ichigo laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck.
"That's exactly right," Orihime said, her voice low. "How'd you know?"
Ichigo shrugged. "That's the Shun Shun Rikka. When you were alive, that was your power. I figured it'd be the same thing. And especially with this sword - let me see the hilt...?"
Lost for words, Orihime handed him the sword. He examined the guard carefully. It was shaped exactly like her hairpins, down to every seam and cut in the actual flower. The wrapping was blue with orange diamonds peeking through.
"Yeah," he said. "Just like the Shun Shun Rikka." He gave the sword back to her, and she put it back in her belt. "Any luck with it yet?"
"A little," Orihime said.
"That's good." Ichigo nodded. In actuality he had no idea what the hell he was talking about. He decided he should probably be quiet before he bit down too hard on the foot that he was slowly inserting into his mouth.
"Are we almost there yet?" Tatsuki asked grumpily.
"Yes." Ichigo cut a glance over to Ronin, who was being strangely silent. He noticed that the boy's purple eyes were facing straight forward, and his expression looked like he was struggling to keep them there.
"Okay, we're here," he said a few minutes later as they approached the squad 10 offices. He saw Orihime's jaw drop and her mouth form an 'o' at the regalness of the building; the imposing cross numeral representing 10 stamped above the door. He smiled at her honest surprise. It was what he loved about her.
They went in. The receptionist waved them in, her eyebrows raising a little at the student uniforms that Orihime and Ronin were clad in, but she didn't say anything.
They went back to the office. Ichigo was nervous for some reason. He chided himself. This was Rangiku. What was the worst that could happen?
She might not remember Orihime.
He pushed that thought away. That wasn't possible. It just wasn't going to happen. Rangiku just had to remember Orihime. He didn't know what he'd do if she didn't.
"Knock, knock," Ichigo said by way of announcing himself. He pushed the door open. "Rangiku?"
The office was empty.
"Huh?" Ichigo went inside, followed by the others. "Where is she?"
"I don't know," said Tatsuki. "It's weird that the captain isn't here either."
"There's a note," Ronin said, picking something up off the desk. He read it out loud. "It says, 'Dear Shiro-chan, I went to visit our cute little fourth seat in the squad four barracks. He was cut up by an especially bad hollow out in the Rukon district. I might be back later. Then again, I might not. –Ran-chan.'" He looked up. "If I was Captain Hitsugaya I'd have torn my hair out over this woman awhile ago. There's even a kiss mark."
"He's too proud of his hair," Ichigo sighed. "We should head to squad four. Rangiku's like the ultimate test. If she doesn't remember Orihime then I don't know who will."
They left squad 10. Making small conversation on the way there didn't improve the tension in the group. In fact, it just grew steadily more awkward as they got nearer and nearer to the medical squad.
As they entered, they looked around. There was a lobby in here as well, and they went over to sign in. As Ronin said his name, the receptionist looked up with a frown.
"Abarai Ronin, you said?" she asked.
"Erm, yeah," said Ronin.
"Um, you wouldn't happen to know an Abarai Kaori, would you?"
"Yes, she's my sister," said Ronin. "Why? Did something happen?"
"Oh, it's nothing, really," said the woman. "It's just that our third seat left about an hour ago, saying that he was going to visit a certain Abarai Kaori. I just remembered, is all. I'm sure that Third Seat Iemura had a reason for going there."
All the blood drained out of Orihime's face.
"What? What is it?" Tatsuki asked her worriedly.
"Third Seat Iemura?" she rasped.
"…Yes," said the receptionist, looking confused.
"Is he blond?" Orihime asked.
"Yes."
"Does he have glasses?"
"Um, yes."
Orihime looked sick.
"Why? What's wrong?" Ichigo asked her, his face a mask of puzzlement.
"Third Seat Iemura," she croaked. "He…he recognized me."
There was a stunned silence.
"I'm sorry. WHAT?" Ichigo nearly yelled.
"Third Seat Iemura. He was the first Shinigami I saw when I got here. I was walking up to the Academy with Ronin and he saw us. He said, "The ryoka…!" and then left really fast when we asked him what he said. Then I asked Ronin what a ryoka was and we got sidetracked. I completely forgot about it until now."
Ronin paled too. "And he's on his way to my house now."
"He's probably already there by now," Tatsuki offered unhelpfully.
"We have to go now," Ichigo said. He looked more furious than Tatsuki had seen in a while – like he was getting ready to kick some ass. "Tatsuki and Orihime, make your way on foot. Ronin, I hope you can flash step. 'Cause we're going there, and we're going fast. You better believe there'll be blood."
No one messes with my woman and gets away with it.
O_o