A/N: Chapter 7 here. Be warned! Mature stuff! (I tried to go for more poetry than explicitness, but it's still what it is...)

Thank you for all the amazing reviews!

Chapter 7

Ichigo opened his eyes. He seemed to be floating in nothing. Only it was a thick nothing. It was like swimming in water. Maybe even thicker than that. He found breathing to be heavy. Then his feet touched some uneven ground, and he stood on it gladly. The floating was starting to make him dizzy.

He thought he saw something ahead, so he squinted his eyes. But it was difficult. There wasn't much light. But he could recognize the outlines of a figure standing before him. A figure of a tall man. He had his back turned to him, so Ichigo could study the tattered black cloak he was dressed in.

'Where am I? What's this strange place? And... who are you?' he asked.

'Can you hear my voice, again Ichigo?' the stranger asked in a deep voice.

'What do you mean? Of course I hear you, you crazy old man! You're standing right before...'

'This place is the shattered remains of a place that was once my home. It once had a blue sky, constantly cloudy, and tall skyscrapers standing proud...'

'Yeah, yeah! Quit your blabbering, and answer my question already!' Ichigo cried, losing patience. He reached for his sword and raised it high above his head. 'Or I might just cut you down!'

The old man turned, and locked eyes with him. Ichigo's hands began to tremble... His grip on the hilt slackened. Those eyes... this face... he knew this man!

'That blade can not hurt me.'

'Zangetsu!' he choked, shocked by the recognition.

'Yes. You remembered. I'm glad. There's someone here you've got to meet...'

He stepped to the side, reveling that an other man stood behind his back. Ichigo narrowed his eyes. But as he looked, and recognized more and more details of this mysterious stranger's face, wonder took him over again.

'No! This can't be!'

'Hi... long time no see...' said the man quietly, with sadness in his eyes.

'King!'

'Not any more.'

Ichigo's face hardened.

'I guess you're the steed now then.'

'Whatever. It doesn't matter what you call me any more. Anyway, I've got something for you.'

Ichigo narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

'Something for me?'

'Yes.' The other reached into his pocket, and pulled something out, then presented it to him. Ichigo chanced a look.

'The substitute shinigami badge? What would I do with that? Why would I need it?'

'It has the answers to all your questions.'

'And you're offering it freely? Where's the catch?'

'There is no catch. I can't MAKE you take it, but if you're willing to accept it, it's yours.'

Ichigo hesitated. He reached out, but pulled his hand back again. The other waited patiently, not hurrying or nudging him further. Finally he took it, trembling a little when his hands came in contact with the other's.

'Thank you!' he said, his brown eyes shining with sincere gratitude, and maybe some relief.

'Now what do I do?' Ichigo asked.

The other smiled, though it was just a small twinge of his mouth.

'You'll figure it out. And if you don't, I'll still be here.'

…...

'Gil?'

'Hmm?'

Neliel gripped the front of his robe more securely, as he carried her slowly back home. Vasco walked next to them leisurely, still ginning with satisfaction at the thought that they just successfully eliminated a handful of Cayo's men.

'Why are you so nice to me?' Nel asked, her turquoise eyes shining.

Gil looked down to the woman in his arms. A soft smile played at the corner of his lip.

'Idiot! You are still such a child...'

…...

Ichigo opened his eyes again, this time arriving back to reality. He was lying on some soft surface: his own bed back home. And somebody was there beside him...

'Hi...' she greeted nervously.

Ichigo blinked.

'Are you all right?' Orihime asked.

He pondered the question, letting his mind reboot slowly.

'Yeah... More than all right. I think. I can remember everything now.'

'Everything?'

She smiled at him tentatively, but he didn't return it. His eyes were lost in the distance.

'Yeah. I remember Karakura... I remember my family... Karin and Yuzu. I remember Rukia, and being a substitute shinigami. I remember Tatsuki, Keigo and Mizuiro. I remember meeting Chad, and I remember making a truce with Ishida. And I remember you... I remember the feelings. I remember the satisfaction when saving someone. I remember the will to protect. I remember friendship. And I remember love...'

'Oh, Ichigo!' Orihime whispered, tears of happiness in her eyes. Her heart felt so warm, like it wanted to explode from all the feelings it couldn't contain. She wanted to embrace him, but he suddenly sat up.

'Neliel! She's...'

'Don't worry. Gil and Vasco have returned with her. I already healed her injuries. You were passed out for quite long...'

'Where are Chad and Ishida?'

'I've sent them back home... To Karakura.'

His eyes bulged.

'You... you have?'

'Yes.'

'And they just left you here?'

'Well... they did argue... a bit. But I told them I've made my decision.'

'To remain here?'

'Yes.'

'With me?'

'Yes.'

He looked at her with an unfathomable expression, being silent for long. Then asked simply:

'Why?'

She smiled.

'See this?' she asked, reaching up to lightly touch the spiky orange locks at the top of his head. 'Your hair. It's just as short as it used to be... Maybe it's silly, but I've always thought that your hair's longness indicates how much control you have over yourself and your powers. And your eyes. They are almost brown again.' she cupped his face. 'You've changed so much for me...'

But Ichigo drew back from her touch, scowling.

'You should have gone home with them... You really should go now... while I still have the strength to release you. You don't belong here, Orihime...'

'Yes, I do. I once said, that I would love you five lifetimes over. I won't fail right at the second.'

'Orihime...' Ichigo said, already feeling his not that iron-clad resolve shatter.

'You said you needed me... then I do belong here.'

'No matter how much I've changed, I'm not the one I used to be.'

'I know that. But... you've kept your promise...' she answered, her cheeks sparkling crimson. Ichigo could feel her tremble a bit, a thing he couldn't account for in their current situation.

'What promise?' he asked, baffled.

'You... you didn't kill them...'

'Oh. That... Well, of course I didn't!' he said scowling, but the next moment his eyes widened, as he felt the soft, plump lips of Orihime touch his. He could hardly contain the growl of approval slipping through his lips as his one hand flied to the back of her neck while the other curved behind her back pulling her closer with the same move.

He had kissed her a quite a few times since he brought her here, but those were stolen, forced kisses, they couldn't compare with the real thing... This right now, this was what he was missing! He needed it like breathing. His lips slowly mapped out hers, taking dominance, but not overruling her completely. Her mouth parted for him without pressure, and he eagerly devoured her sweet taste, enjoying the gift, enjoying that she was giving it freely. His hands pulled her flush against him, not baring any kind of space between them.

Orihime just melted into his hold, shutting out the outside world completely. Nothing mattered, only the two of them. She silenced all questions, all doubts she may still had. It was almost like they were back to how it used to be before: he had just walked her home from school, and they were now in her apartment... It was easy to imagine, that his skin wasn't paper white, and that she could hear the steady rush of blood under it... She would make them dinner, curry with red-bean paste and onions, and they would watch a movie cuddling on her couch...

Orihime drew back a little. Her eyes were hooded as she whispered.

'I so missed you! You can't even imagine it! It was like... like my life was meaningless without you! That's why I'd do anything, everything for you, as long as I can be beside you!'

Ichigo wanted to scowl, but it came out a little trembling, the side of his mouth curving upwards.

'I remember no such condition in our deal!'

Orihime giggled. She pulled him closer for another kiss. Ichigo returned it eagerly, and his spiritual pressure flared violently as passion ruled over his brain. He only narrowly remembered to put his hand under her head, to ease her fall when he pushed her back on the bed. Now she was spread out under him, an eager prey, ready for the taking. Her eyes shining held no resistance, they only beckoned her hunter closer. Ichigo wanted nothing more than pounce on her, tear off her clothing and claim her as his own without any further delay. Every cell in his body was trembling with need. But strangely enough, her unreserved offering was what gave him the strength to wait, and ask:

'Are you sure about this? If we go any further I won't be able to stop...'

'I'm sure.'

'Orihime... Look here!'

She raised her eyes to his questioningly.

'No! Here!' Ichigo said, directing her head downwards. He took her hand, and pressed it to his chest, starting to move it down. His shirt parted, and the black hole in the middle of his chest became visible. He felt Orihime's hand twitch in his, as he forcefully made her touch the grotesque gap.

'I want you to completely understand what you're facing. This here... no matter how much I change, this will remain. I said I remember everything from my past life. And I do. But that's it.'

'What do you mean "that's it"?' Orihime asked, trembling.

'I only remember. I can't feel. I don't have a heart any more to feel with! I know I've been deeply in love with you. I know how it used to warm me. How it used to fill me, like life itself... I'll never stop carving it... But I can't feel it any more... '

Pity flashed through Orihime painfully. But it was only pity for him, she wasn't thinking at all about herself... Her trembling stopped, and her eyes hardened with resolution, as she pressed her palm flat against the hateful hollow-hole on his chest. With her other hand she grabbed his collar, and pulled him firmly down.

'I'll make you feel it!' she wowed, before kissing him, putting everything she got into it...

This was too much for Ichigo, and his control snapped totally. She was prepared for that, even if she hadn't been able to exactly imagine how intense it would feel. It was all part of the deal she made. So it was all right...

She met his passion with tenderness. His lust with gentle longing. She tamed his force by acceptance, his haste with patience, his dominance with yielding and his roughness with forgiveness. He wanted her, and she needed him. He was taking and she was giving. He was instinct and she was emotion. He was power and she was wisdom.

'Tell me if I'm too rough!' he said hoarsely, and she valued this gesture, feeling how much it cost him in his current state. She didn't even know how, but he was already naked, and he was working on getting her there too, without breaking his kisses, that rained down on every part of her body he could reach. He flipped her over, pulling her up to stand on all fours to be able to take off her skirt and panties. He now had access to her bare back, and he took advantage of the fact. Orihime moaned discovering how sensitive the skin just under her neck was...

Hearing her voice, Ichigo couldn't contain himself, and his hip rocked forward, pressing up against hers. He growled, while she blushed, and couldn't help a little shiver of fear ran through her. He just felt so hard down there... He withdrew, and used his hand to find her entrance. Orihime's fear quieted as she was lost in the new pleasurable sensations his actions were making her feel. He slipped a finger inside her, and it was maddening how hot, tight and wet she was... After a few more seconds he lost all patience for a longer foreplay and removing his finger he gripped her hips and positioned himself, ready to thrust.

'No...' Orihime panted. She turned out of his grip and lied back on her back, facing him. 'Please... like this!' She smiled for him, letting him know that it was all right. She lifted her hands to pull him close. 'I want to see you... It's more intimate this way...'

'Ok.' he managed to reply, because really, at this point it made no difference to him anyway.

He didn't give her any more time to feel fear, or anything else. With one confident, powerful move he took her. As he filled her, and felt her tight walls surround him, suddenly everything became quiet inside him. It was like jumping into a lake after running a marathon. There was peace and contentment inside him. It was soothing, like listening to an old, half forgotten melody. He had arrived home...

He remained in place, looking down on her, not even realizing that she was in pain. But he bent down to kiss her, and kiss away the tears slipping from her eyes, feeling the salty taste like a curious scientist studying a mesmerizing phenomena. And for a moment he was able to believe it... that she would indeed be able to do as she promised... to make him feel again. Like with a heart...

Then the spell was broken, and the compelling instincts resurfaced again. Luckily, Orihime was able to somewhat adjust, now she only needed to find a way of keeping up. With the first pain gone, she needed to will herself to relax and just let him have his way, just let it be. It was not easy: when you're blown away your instinct tells you to grab onto something, not to float off with the tides... But she managed, her only support being his sweet name, that she whispered over and over again. She was soon rewarded. If she didn't, at least her body knew how to respond to him. She felt some strange, foreign hotness build up, that was only embers at first, but transformed to crackling flames soon. She closed her eyes, and saw white lightning flash through her eyelids. She heard her own voice, no longer coherent words, only gasps and moans, and she vaguely wondered whether she would make it without passing out...

She made it... The end came for both of them soon, and it was so intense, that Orihime's body could process the bliss only slowly, providing her with a few minutes of delightful afterglow, which plastered a goofy smile on her face. Finally she felt him move, and that made her open her eyes again. She frowned mildly from the feeling of loss when their bodies separated from each other. Ichigo collapsed next to her, his body glistering from sweat. His breathing was even now, his eyes closed and his features relaxed. Orihime climbed closer to him, waiting for some kind of message or reaction.

'Ichigo?' she asked shyly, her voice hoarse from dryness of throat.

Hearing her voice he smiled. He reached out, pulling her closer. Orihime sighed contently, and nested herself cozily in his embrace.

'I love you...' she whispered tiredly.

She went to sleep with the thought that no matter what, they would be all right now...

oOoOoOoOo

A/N: This is not the end... about half of 2/3rd of the story I guess. Hope the lemon was all right, that's something you can only write when you're in the mood, I kept putting it off for days now, lol, even though I was impatient to know your opinion on the rest of the chapter. If you're confused about something, please don't hesitate to ask! (The substitute badge was only a mental representation of Ichigo regaining something from his earlier self, it doesn't mean he has soul reaper powers now.)

Please review!