A/N: Thanks for all your reviews again! It's so satisfying to see the attention! Let me reply shortly to something that more of you voiced: I can totally understand why you wouldn't want to read a fic where Ichigo dies. I was like that myself, and I would be real wasted if the manga would take a similar direction... But this is kind of like an experiment, a little AU-ish, if you'd like.

…...

Chapter 5

Isshin stood facing the others with a sour, pained expression. They all looked expectantly at him, but he was still hesitating.

'You don't know what you're asking from me, Kisuke...'

'I'm sorry my friend... It's only for Orihime Inoue's sake. Otherwise I would never...'

'I know.' Isshin sighed. He turned to Uryu, wearing a scowl. 'This must be your last resort! Got that?'

The Quincy nodded solemnly. Isshin reached into his pocket, and withdrew a little container, presenting it reluctantly. Uryu took it from him.

'What's in it?' Tatsuki asked, shivering a little.

'I stored away some of Ichigo's spiritual pressure while he was still human.' Isshin answered. 'Though... I never dreamed, not in my darkest nightmare, that I would use it like this one day...'

'Can it be used as a weapon against him now?'

'Yes.' Urahara answered. 'I designed a special arrow for Ishida-san. Filling it with Ichigo's spiritual pressure, we get a weapon that will be fatal, but only for him. It's not a strong arrow, it won't explode or do anything, but when connecting with his spirit body, it will unleash a chain reaction.'

'Will it kill him?' Tatsuki asked, looking scared despite herself.

'No. Worse. It will completely erase his existence from this world. That's why it's a final resort.'

Silence followed these heavy words. They all looked at each other uncomfortably. Tatsuki was trying to wrap her head around the concept of "erasing somebody's existence completely" with little success. Finally Uryu spoke up.

'Try to understand... If I'm not mistaken, I've already seen once what his most powerful form must be... We'll try everything, but if he releases THAT on us, I really don't know what we can do.'

Tatsuki looked down. Some strong force was squeezing her throat.

'Couldn't Kuchiki-san, or somebody else from Soul Society help?'

'They could. But I doubt it would make any difference.'

'He took Orihime. He took her, not killed her.' Tatsuki stated. 'I'm terribly scared for her of course, and want her back, but... Isn't it possible... isn't there the smallest chance...'

'Even a cat would play with a mouse before eating...' Uryu answered bitterly.

An other, even more darker silence followed.

'Well, time is pressing!' Urahara said. 'Are you ready, Ishida-san? Sado-san?'

'Yes!' Uryu replied firmly.

Chad only grunted his reply, the fist of his left arm balling up.

'Then lets go down to the basement... everything is ready.'

…...

'Hey! Would you look at that! Here comes lover boy! Did you have a pleasant... sleep?'

Ichigo sent the taunting Vasco a dark look, that would have intimidated anyone of a less sturdy character.

'Shut your mouth!'

He walked to the table, and took the mug Neliel was offering him, still scowling heavily.

'Erm... Ichi?' she tried to ask him something.

'Hmm?' he grunted to show he was listening, while he took his seat.

'Did you... cut your hair?'

Everyone's eyes bulged. Even Ichigo's. He quickly turned back, looking a bit comical as he studied the long locks at his back. While yesterday he was quite sure they reached past his shoulder-blades, now they only hang to his shoulders.

'What the?' he choked.

'You nasty little perv! What kind of games do you enjoy that involves playing hairdresser? Or was it the girl's request?' Vasco laughed heartily.

But the sounds died on his lips, because they could all hear approaching footsteps draw near, belonging to small feet. The steps stopped hesitantly before the door, and they could almost hear her taking a huge breath, before she entered...

'Erm... good morning.'

Ichigo growled inwardly: of course she would talk now!

Gil raised from his seat instantly.

'Hi! Please, join us for breakfast. I'm Gil. Pleased to meet you!'

'I'm...' Orihime tried to introduce herself, but Ichigo beat her to it.

'She's Orihime Inoue.'

Her eyes shifted in his direction involuntarily, almost meeting, but she thought better about it in time. She only paled somewhat.

'Vasco's the name, Darling!' the other arrancar said, reaching out to take her hand despite her not offering it, which earned a warning hiss from Ichigo. 'I must say I was beginning to be most curious about you!' he winked at the girl.

'All right... let her sit down now!' Neliel sighed. She had a feeling that if Vasco continued promoting his new relationship, then her breakfast table would be ruined by the two jumpy males of the household fighting again. She went to Orihime, and took her hand herself, and led her to sit opposite Ichigo. She regretted this later, because all of them noticed how he was simply burning and piercing the poor girl with his unwavering stair all throughout the meal. But she just ate quietly, her gaze wondering everywhere in the room but at him.

Suddenly, Peche ran in, screaming, his two arms swinging like a windmill.

'Sirs! Most gracious Sirs! I came to tell you immediately! Our sensors detect the opening of a garganta, with human spiritual pressures coming through! I repeat: humans are invading Hueco Mundo!'

Crash!

There was a sound of breaking china. Orihime had dropped her mug. All looked at her. She trembled, and her gray eyes finally found Ichigo's orange ones, who noticed the clear signs of terror in her features satisfied. Finally! Emotions! He grinned. He closed his eyes briefly, but only to feel out and study the spiritual pressure waves.

'Ah... that's right. They've come. The irritating Quincy, and the giant of a man. I'm sure of it.' Then he looked back at Orihime. 'What were their names, I wonder...? I know somehow that I should know it, but when ever I try to remember the Quincy's name, I just get fucking angry for some reason!'

Orihime swallowed, but she didn't think there was anything in telling him. Maybe it would even help... Or not. But it wouldn't make the situation any worse that it already was.

'Uryu Ishida.' she whispered with cast down eyes.

'That's right!' Ichigo said, his eyes glinting contently. 'And the other's?'

'Sado-kun. Yasutora Sado.'

Ichigo frowned.

'No. That doesn't feel familiar...' He closed his eyes again, covering them with his palms too this time, trying to concentrate. 'Ah!' he grunted in frustration. If he continued this, he would end up giving himself a headache, on top of his already strained morning. 'So damn difficult to remember! But I'm pretty sure it was something like... Chad?'

Orihime now had a very strange expression on her face.

'You... you do remember!' she said, finally letting Ichigo hold her gaze. 'That's what you used to call him...' There was something new in her look now, different from the resignation or the fear. It felt foreign to Ichigo, but still pleasant.

Vasco looked between the pair a few times, then shook his head.

'Pretty freaking out stuff... I know I wouldn't want to remember anything from MY human life! Not that there's any chance of me remembering: I've been like this for decades now, with not even a slight deja-vu ever.'

'I'm curious too!' Gil said. 'I've never heard of such a thing happening before. Not with arrancars... Maybe it's because of your strength.'

'Or maybe it's some kind of special power you never knew you possessed.' Nel speculated.

'No. I'm pretty sure it's because of her! She must be the key to this.' Vasco pointed to Orihime. 'And I must say that I don't like it! It's just not natural! All these memories will fuck with your mind, and ruin you if you're not careful!'

They all looked expectantly at Ichigo, but he didn't react at all to their theories.

'Hey, Ichigo! Are you listening?' Vasco cried.

Ichigo stood up unexpectedly. He put down his mug, and headed for the door.

'HEY! Where are you going?'

'Well, since it's me the visitors are searching for, I guess I'll just go and greet them.'

Orihime jumped up.

'NO!' she cried, alarmed.

'Should we come too?' Gil asked. 'At least one of us could...'

'No. That won't be necessary.' Ichigo said confidently. 'I'll just deal with them on my own.'

'NO!' Orihime cried again.

Ichigo didn't turn back, only stopped in the doorway. A soft chuckle left his lips.

'Don't worry. I'll be back real quick. This won't last long. Neliel, I'm leaving her to your care...'

Orihime seemed frozen to her place, but after Ichigo disappeared through the door, she quickly pulled herself together.

'Wait!' she cried, and ran after him, leaving the others behind.

She caught up with him on the little terrace, in front of the building. As she stepped out under the grey sky, the chill of the air bit her skin, making her shiver even more than she already did. She stopped for a second, to fight back the tears, that were threatening to burst out even more, knowing how she would have to address him.

'Ichigo!'

He turned to face her, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

'Please... you mustn't do this... You mustn't fight them!'

He looked amused.

'Why not? They came to fight me, I'm only giving them what they want!'

'You used to be friends. Great friends.'

'That's charming. But not enough reason to make me stay.'

Orihime bit her lip.

'I... I'm not worth fighting over...' she said in a weak voice.

Ichigo scowled.

'They clearly have a different opinion about that... And me too, for that matter. I found you, and you belong to me now... You just better accept that! Whether you want it or not. I don't understand why, but I need you. I'm not giving you up! Not even close! And I'd fight anybody wanting to take you away... even irritating Quincies! So you better present some decent counter-argument, if you don't want me fighting them!'

Orihime looked down to hide her emotions. She didn't want him to see either the emotions caused by him threatening her friends, or by him saying he needed her...

'You mustn't fight them, because I... I couldn't bare it.' she finally admitted quietly.

Ichigo reached under her chin, and tilted her head upwards, forcing her to look in his eyes.

'I know why... Because you are concerned about them. Is that right?' he asked, with some edge to his voice.

'Yes. But that's not all...'

'What else is there?'

'I couldn't bare the thought of YOU hurting them...'

He looked like he was pondering her words.

'What would you be willing to give me in exchange, if I promised not to kill them?'

Orihime gasped. She could hear her own heartbeat flutter wildly in her chest. She half hoped he was only kidding, but saw in his eyes that he wasn't. She swallowed thickly.

'Anything... Everything...' she whispered finally.

Ichigo took a long breath, and released it contently.

'You better have a clear idea of what that "everything" might be...'

She only nodded, as far as she could in his grasp, while red patches of mortification crept to her cheeks.

Ichigo leaned in, and kissed her. To her surprise, it was brief, and unexpectedly tender...

'It's a deal then...' he whispered in her ear, before stepping away, and the next moment he disappeared.

…...

Lord Cayo looked at the report in his hands with an amused expression.

'Ah... these humans are so predictable! Always liked this about them!'

'Your orders, Sir?' the messenger bowing before him on the ground asked.

'Tell Blas to attack the girl with his men... That ought to do the trick. But tell them to make sure not to kill her.'

'And the two males who had just arrived?'

'They are disposable.'

'Understood!' the messenger said, wanting to retreat to deliver the orders.

'Wait!' Cayo halted him.

'Yes, my Lord?'

'I need to make an other journey... Hiroto can replace me while I'm away. Get the Senkaimon ready!'

'Yes sir!'

After Cayo remained alone in his throne-room, he walked slowly to the window and looked out. The window panels reflected his hard features: keen yellow eyes, sitting deep in their sockets, a sticking out chin, and black hair. He gave off a slightly hawk-like impression, which was intensified by the remaining part of his broken hollow mask, which consisted of his nasal bone, turned to a beak-like form. A small smile played at the corner of his lips.

'I guess you'll be happy with my news, Master! Everything is going as you planned. It won't be long now... And I'd be rid of Shirosaki Ichigo for good...'

…...

'Orihime! Please! Don't do this to me!'

'I'm sorry, Nel-chan! I can't just sit here... I've got to do something!'

'It's dangerous for you to leave the protection of this house! I wonder if you realize this, but you smell as sweet to ordinary hollows, as honey to bees! Ichi... he'll tear me to pieces if I let anything happen to you!'

But what ever she said, Orihime looked defiant. She had made her decision. Neliel knew she could probably hold her back: she was stronger in terms of power. But the truth was that she wanted to go too. She too was concerned about the fight, especially concerning Ichigo. And she realized that if they went now, there was a chance for Orihime to be able to reach the human world with one of her friends, and hide there, no matter how faint it was... She knew Ichigo would be terribly angry with her afterwords, and would probably hurt her badly, but thinking it over, she found she could bare with that. For she was certain that Vasco had been right about all this painful remembering and being linked to the past would do no good to Ichi in the end... So she thought she was protecting him in the long run...

'All right then... but I'm coming with you! I'll make Peche and Dondochakka occupy Gil and Vasco... Just give me a minute...'

She ran out of the room, but was stopped by somebody standing right behind the door-frame. Two strong arms held her, one over her mouth to stop her shout.

'Shh!' Gil warned her, then let her mouth free.

'Gil! You've scared me!' she whispered. 'How much have you heard...?'

'Everything.' he whispered back. 'You're making a big mistake...'

'Let me go!'

'You know I can't protect you.'

'I never asked you to.'

Gil's hands finally released her. She started going again, but turned back at the corner.

'You won't tell Vasco, will you?'

'No, I won't.' he answered through gritted teeth.

…...

A/N: As you now see: Cayo is not the final villain! Any guesses where this is leading? Surprise me with your brilliance!

The scene between Ori and Ichi in this chapter surprised me: I wasn't planning that beforehand, it just typed itself out of my fingers. Honestly that's how it was! But I like it.

About Nel: she is totally jealous of course, and that adds to her desire of wanting Orihime away, even if she reasons to herself differently. But what I like about how I made it is, that she is jealous without being nasty: she also wants Orihime safe, she doesn't want her to get hurt.

And who can guess about Ichigo's hair?

Please review!