Hi There!

I'm so sorry this took so long guys, Humungous apologies… my new job had me away for a long time & travelling the country… but I have a three week break and I plan to try to finish this story. Just one more chapter after this one. Thank you very much to those who enjoyed reading and have waited for my updates. You guys rock!

Yoruichi let out a loud sigh and leaned against the nearest rock.

That little dumbass, carrot-top shinigami and his clueless girlfriend were finally gone. She put her arms up behind her head and looked off at the giant ladder they had just finished climbing out of.

If only that little mongrel knew what a huge favor she was doing for him.

"He really should be thanking me." She mumbled to herself.

After all being able to succeed in this kind of transformation is exceptionally rare and required a tremendous motivation to help bridge the gap between the soul and the heart.

Not everyone possesses the gift of a bond that transcends time and space. Urahara and Yoruichi, however, shared an unspoken bond built on hundreds of years of respect and strength, passion and love that made them almost like a single entity. He was her bridge. She had a sneaking suspicion as to who Ichigo's bridge might be, seeing as he had already defied to laws of nature to protect that girl.

Yoruichi sighed again, dropped her arms arm pushed away from the rock – making her slow, purposeful way back up to the little shop.

"I am such a kind and thoughtful person, I'll have to pound that brat for not appreciating me when this all over."

DAY 1:

He was going to KILL Yoruichi when this was all over.

This was terrible!

He couldn't scowl, he couldn't be sarcastic, he couldn't act aloof -- he was completely defenseless! And on top of that, he was at the mercy of the girl he cared about most. Now, maybe that would have made some boys happy but it terrified him to no end; because it just so happened that this girl had one of the quirkiest imaginations on the face of the earth, and a taste in food that could only be described as alien.

Plus, at the moment he was riding in a basket -- like a friggin' bunny! – swinging from Orihime's arm, and he was finding it hard to imagine feeling more emasculated than he felt right now.

He just had to concentrate on what Yoruichi had said about his soul and his heart .

Well his heart was telling him this sucked...right? Maybe he should meditate, concentrate really hard. Maybe this way a test at clearing my head? Yeah maybe that's it!

He just had to find a way to focus through all of this and concentrate on turning back.

As Ichigo was formulating theories down in the basket, Orihime was hard at work thinking of plots of her own. She didn't want to let Kurosaki-kun down, and she didn't want Yoruichi to think she had failed.

There was so much pressure on her… plus she was going to do everything in her power to distract herself from the fact that her beloved Ichigo was essentially going to be living with her for god knows how long. She blushed a little and picked up her pace towards her little apartment… she didn't want Kurosaki to see her as just a silly little girl, she was definitely going to prove herself to him!

She would have to put off her other secret training with Hachi for the time being. Maybe she could have someone send the message for her? She was definitely going to give this her 100% effort...

She finally walked up the steps of her building and into the apartment.

Ichigo rocked back and forth in the little basket in deep thought, when suddenly everything stopped moving and Orihime opened up the lid. They were in her living room again. He tentatively stepped out and sat on the living room rug in front of him and looked up at his (currently) very tall friend.

He heard a sigh escape Orihime's lips, and the next second she was sitting on her knees in front of him, her head hanging low which caused her silky dark red hair to fall gently over her face. Ichigo put a paw up in concern.

"Kurosaki-kun… OUCH!" Orihime jumped! Ichigo jumped too! She forgot about the little shock bracelet. She stared at the thing on her wrist.

Ichigo saw an expression cross her face that he had never quite seen before, it was over so quickly too. She looked annoyed or angry or… it was almost as though she were giving it a "fuck you" kind of face. He had never seen that face before, and he had to admit that he liked it, he wondered what she was thinking, what other kinds of faces and emotions she kept tucked away behind her cheerful façade. But this look in particular, Ichigo kind of thought it was a bit… sexy.

Sexy?

A second later she bravely went on regardless of the pain. "I'm going to do my best to help Kurosaki-kun (Ouch!) and it's for Kurosaki-kun's (Oh!) sake that we will get you back. I know Kurosaki-kun (Ah!) must be really upset and worried but we will figure this out for sure Kurosaki-kun! (Ow!)"

Ichigo sweat dropped a few times – he really wished he could tell her it was alright to call him something other than Kurosaki-kun. Plus he had no idea she could be so stubborn and masochistic!

"I will definitely help you! I know Yoruichi is trying to have her fun with us, but we're going to prove her wrong!"

That got his spirits up! Down with Yoruichi!

The two shared a fiery gaze of determination and resolve that definitely was not a silly look at all.

Inoue. I'm sorry I got you into this but we'll definitely get out together! Ichigo vowed.

He nodded his furry head and Orihime nodded hers with passion.

"YOSH!" She yelled then – Zoooom! -- Orihime ran out of the room leaving Ichigo in the dust. Before he had time to wonder where the hell she had run off to, Orihime returned with a white head band on her auburn head that read 'VICTORY!' She posed, her fingers in a triumphant V. She looked eerily like Dan Kanonji with that pose… [More sweat drops from Ichigo]

Huuuh?

Then she was running to the closet.

The next second a horrible screeching, scraping sound forced Ichigo to cover his foxy little ears with his paws. When it stopped he tentatively opened his eyes only to see Inoue standing triumphantly in front of a portable chalk board.

"Ok, here's the plan!"

Soon she was writing and rambling about all sorts of ideas! There was training sessions, running, fighting, adventures, meditation… hypnosis, swimming, competitive eating?

As Ichigo listen to one progressively more insane idea after the other he knew this sure was going to be one heck of an adventure.

It was finally night time. After the strategy session they had run 3 miles, then practiced some reiatsu tracking -- which consisted of chasing Chad around town as he desperately avoiding Orihime and her foxy companion. It was a surprisingly evil yet kick-ass idea, especially coming from Inoue and Ichigo was pleasantly surprised – it had been a lot of fun. And now they were home and thoroughly exhausted.

It's so friggin' easy to get worn out in this tiny body! Ichigo thought wearily.

Orihime walked into the living room with a bowl of water for Ichigo. She put it down on the ground and then took a seat on the floor next to him. After a few minutes silence (in which a desperately thirsty Ichigo was lapping up all the water) Orihime spoke up.

"Now that you're tired maybe you'll have more time to think."

Ichigo looked up with a questioning look.

"Well, it's just that now is the best time to meditate isn't it? I always find I'm able to think the best when I have no energy left in my body. I just thought that if I got you totally worn out then it would be easier for you to meditate and then maybe that would help you turn back..." she trailed off looking bashful for some reason.

Little red fox Ichigo perked up. He was genuinely surprised (again) at how much thought and care she had put into this day. And she had run with him every step of the way, she must be just as exhausted. They had gotten so much done in just one day.

A wave of gratitude washed over him as Ichigo remembered that Inoue had always been there running next to him, since pretty much the beginning of all this shinigami business.

Ichigo nodded his fuzzy, adorable head. She's right!

Their eyes met in agreement and he sat pensively, allowing his eyes to fall closed. Orihime was using every ounce of self control that she had to stop herself from scooping him up and petting him to DEATH with how adorable he looked right now with the stern little look on his puppy-like face.

He felt the calm coming on; the emptiness that could only be reached at the point of total exhaustion… This was going to be good.

"I'm glad… I'll leave you to it."

Ichigo sat, ready for deep serenity and serious meditation to come on, he felt totally calm, totally drained, but completely comfortable and at peace.

That is until…

Orhime whispered. "I'll just be in the shower."

As she padded off to the bathroom, little Ichigo screwed up his face in concentration…

DAMN IT!

So much for my clear mind.

After her shower Orihime left the bathroom in her white and pink polka-dot pajamas, rubbing a towel through her long wet hair. Peaking into the living room she saw that little Ichigo was still sitting in the same spot seemingly deep in thought.

She sighed and smiled. It felt so warm to have him here, even if he wasn't exactly in his normal form. This certainly had been the strangest week of her life, and that was truly saying something considering everything that they had been through!

I guess I'll try to make him something to eat! Oh, I'm cooking a home-made meal for Kurosaki-kun! She blushed at the thought. But then again, she seemed to remember Tatsuki-chan warning her the last time she had thought about making food for everyone.

I don't know why Tatuski-chan is so worried, everyone likes fried squid and I have so many toppings! Oh I can't wait to try it with chocolate oh yum yum! She danced and hugged herself thinking of the delicious meal she was going to prepare! Then again maybe I should make some plainer things just in case…

A half-hour later Ichigo was distracted from his meditation by the smell of frying food.

He was frustrated! He hadn't been able to think of a way to turn back and meditation alone didn't seem to be cutting it.

Fuck this! He thought angrily. What the hell am I supposed to do? He put his head under his little paws in frustration.

A few moments later he heard a loud clatter in front of him and felt a warm hand on top of his head.

"Are you ok?"

Looking up he was met with Orihime's wide hazel eyes full of empathy and concern.

She looks pretty with her hair wet like that. He thought as he blushed a little under his fur as he continued to stare into her eyes.

He nodded and she removed her hand giving him a little smile. (She just couldn't help but touch him when he was this cute and fragile looking.)

Ichigo then noticed that she had put a bowl of hot steaming food down in front of him. Tentatively looking into his food bowl and breathed a sigh of relief at what he saw.

Rice balls and hotdogs!

"I called Tatsuki and asked her what I should make if I had to cook something for a boy in our class and she absolutely forbade me from making all of my favorite foods so this was all that I had left." Orihime rambled.

Ichigo munched on the food happily giving her a nod of gratitude.

However he quickly averted his eyes when he saw what she was eating… Who on God's green earth would put chocolate on fried squid?

Ichigo would quickly learn that even if he was eating a normal dinner, if he didn't want to get sick and throw-up he better not look at what she was eating… He sucked it up and continued to eat everything up. It was most satisfying after a long exhausting day! Orihime spoke up when she saw that he had finished.

"Now it's time for your bath!" She proclaimed happily.

HuuuuuH? Ichigo was mortified but before he could move she had scooped him up like a puppy and carried him into the little bathroom. He squiggled, and wriggled in vain. Next think he knew Orihime had plopped him into a small tub of warm water.

Gah!

Orihime wasted no time in squirting the helpless, and incredulous little red fox with a healthy dose of soap and scrubbing away at his dirty fur. However, what Ichigo didn't notice was the blush and blank look on his friend's face. She was trying to do this as quickly as possible without it looking like it bothered her. She knew he needed a bath and she had to give it to him. On the inside though she was waging a little emotional battle!

Jusy keep calm, treat him like a normal puppy, a normal puppy, a normal puppy…..

Poor Ichigo couldn't fight it! He was embarrassed beyond belief but he wasn't going to try to run away. He would just have to bare it.

Orihime looked down at Ichigo for a moment as she prepared to rinse the bubbles off but she suddenly stopped. When he felt her stop, Ichigo looked up. His black ears were droopy and wet, his rich red fur soaked and covered in pink and purple bubbles. When he saw a weird look on Orihime's face he cocked his head to the side in a quizzical way, like a dog does when it's confused.

What's wrong with her? He thought nervously.

Seconds passed, it looked like she was shaking…. What is going on?

Ichigo cocked his head back in the other direction.

The next moment she couldn't hold it in any longer…

First she let lose a giggle which made Ichigo jump and slosh in the water.

Then she let go rip roaring hysterical laughter!

"WahahahaahahaHahaha! You're so CUUUUUTEE!"

Ichigo tried squirming away in the bubbles but it was futile. The purple soap suds in his wet fur, plus the big eyed puppy expression as he moved his head back and forth created an epically devastating level of cuteness, and Orihime was helpless against it!

She picked him up, wet and all, and started hugging the life out him! Water splashed everywhere, Ichigo squirmed in confusion and his self-preservation instincts were telling him to run, but it was no use!

…

After a 15 minute mini-battle – which left the entire bathroom, including Orihime, soaked -- Ichigo was finally clean.

The helpless shinigami sighed as Orihime finally relented and let him down. She threw a little blue towel over him and happily started rubbing him dry.

Ichigo was out of breath, a little confused and a lot embarrassed. She was practically sexually harassing him here! Plus why was she so friggin strong?

Suddenly the towl was whipped off and was now face to face with what looked like a shinning metallic silver weapon in Orihime's hands, and it was pointed right at him! What looked like a gun was actually a hair dryer and the auburn hair beauty was grinning almost maniacally as she switched it on!

Woooooooooo!

Ichigo whimpered but there was nothing he could do.

Hot, hot, hot!

In no time at all he went from red wet rat to a big fluffy cheese puff looking thing and it had Orihime rolling on the floor laughing even more!

Ichigo tried to keep his breathing steady as a still giggling Orihime brushed his puffy fur back down.

If her smile wasn't so damn pretty it would really be pissing him off that she was getting so much enjoyment out of his humiliation. (The wonderful sensation of the brush through his fur and her warm hand on his head were helping a little also. His little eyebrows twitched as he tried to control his thoughts.)

Orihime really was starting to feel and act so much more at ease with her little companion.

"Time for bed then! We have a lot of work to do tomorrow!" Orihime said happily leading little Ichigo from the bathroom.

"Here's your bed Kurosaki-kun (Ack!)"

Ichigo jumped a little, he had forgotten that Inoue still had that shock bracelet. But that wasn't the only thing that surprised him. She had set up a comfortable little bed of pillows and sheets right at the base of her own bed!

Ichigo blushed a little. He was sleeping in her room!

He would have objected if he could speak, but he also didn't want to hurt her feelings.

As Orihime flicked off the lights, Ichigo made himself comfortable on his little make-shift bed and noted that it smelled overwhelmingly of sweet Orihime. It made him calm and a little warm on the inside.

Orihime had jumped straight into bed and pulled the covers up over her head. She was so embarrassed by her own boldness and a little ashamed. She did sort of attack him in the bathroom, and she couldn't help but want him close to her as she slept. She just hoped that after all of this was over he would forgive her. But for now, that little bit of selfishness was kicking in. She sighed softly and began drifting to sleep. Forgive me Kurosaki-kun, but I feel so much safer and happier to have you here with me.

Ichigo was quickly drifting off as well. It had been a long hard day. He heard Orihime's little sigh and it sent a slight shiver down his spine. He secretly relished being able to hear her little sleeping sounds – they were very sweet.

As he closed his eyes, just before finally relenting to his exhaustion, Ichigo noted that he had learned something new about Orihime today: Not only was she was extremely strong willed, loyal, and quirky but also… she was unbearably adorable.

NEXT CHPT: The training continues and Ichigo finds the path!