OH MY GLOB! I haven't updated in forever! Sorry bout that. My life is...well my life. Sorry about the not updating thing! But here is that really long chapter I promised ya way back when!

Don't own Bleach...

She did not know what to say. What could she say? She had promised herself to never forget what had happened that day, but now, she couldn't remember. Renji and everyone were staring at her from her spot on the couch, waiting to hear what she had to say. She still had nightmares about that night. About the blood and screams and about HIM. Had she'd even seen him? Really seen him? Had it been a trick of her mind? No, the thugs proved that someone had saved her, but had it really been Ichigo?

She stood in the middle of Squad Four Barracks, healing several people at once. Practice had allowed her powers to expand so she could heal multiple persons at once. Captain Unohana and Hanataro were assisting the wounded and healing as best they could, but even they knew it was futile. If this war did not end soon...

Orihime Inoue tried not to think about it. She focused on the hurt soul reapers in front of her, determined to help them. But Ichigo should have been back by now...

"Inoue," Unohana called. "There are more patients coming."

"Right." She answered. She exited the barracks, heading for the supplies room as a voice called after her.

"Inoue look out!"

Too late. A pair of hands grabbed her arms and disappeared along with the brunette woman.

"Let go of me!" She demanded. The male holding her smiled as they flew through a black garganta, but before entering her heard another voice,

"ORIHIME!" Ichigo, she thought. She saw a man with bright orange hair flying after her as the three entered the garganta and it sealed shut behind them. Next thing she knew she was forced on to the floor of a dark room as her kidnapper stood over her with his sword drawn.

She screamed as the metal flew at her, only for it to be blocked by another, larger, sword.

Ichigo and the arrancar were locked in battle, with Orihime behind Ichigo staring at them.

"I wouldn't touch her if I were you." Ichigo threatened. His spiritual pressure fluctuated rapidly, causing the other man to struggle. Orihime could see it, Ichigo was a lot stronger than this man. He would win.

"Jealous type, are we?" The enemy taunted.

Ichigo smirked, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Terrible manners. I would have thought the Captain Commander was above choosing children to run his court divisions."

"Say what you want. I've beaten strong guys than you dozens of times."

The amount of spiritual power was beginning to suffocate Orihime. Her breathing was shallow and her body wouldn't move. She was stuck in the middle of a duel between to very powerful beings. Ichigo noticed and broke aways from the arrancar, pushing them both back. Ichigo landed next to Orihime.

"You alright?" He asked.

"Yes I'm fine. But we need to get out of here."

Ichigo nodded in agreement. "I'm gonna have to carry you and open another garganta. You okay with that?"

Orihime nodded. Over the past few years, both her and Ichigo had learned multiple new tricks, Ichigo could now summon ceros and garganta's at will and control his hollow powers thanks to training with the other visordes. She only hoped he wouldn't have to resort to actually using a cero.

Ichigo picked Orihime up, bride style, and a small garganta opened, big enough for two people. Unfortunate their enemy had recovered quickly and fired a small cero at Ichigo, hitting him square in the back. It didn't hurt him but he was stunned.

"Looks like I have to take care of this guy first. Sorry Inoue." He set her down on her feet. "You know how to make a spirit pathway through a garganta right? Then get out of here. I won't be long."

Another cero was fired, this time Ichigo felt it. He yelled, falling to his hands and knees before turning to his enemy.

"You asked for it, don't say I didn't warn ya." And Ichigo was in front of the man, Zangetsu flying towards his face as fast as a bullet. The arrancar barley had enough time to block the sword but that didn't stop Ichigo. His leg crashed into the side of the man, sending him into the wall. Ichigo stared at the hole with his trademark scowl on his face.

"Are you done yet?" He asked.

"Not even close." The hollow answered flashing out of the rubble and attacking Ichigo, who blocked the attack with ease.

Orihime watched as the two blocked and attacked each other. Knowing that Ichigo would undoubtably win she began to sneak to the garganta. She ignored the pain in her arms and legs, noticing small cuts and scratches, most likely from all the soul reapers that had been traumatized and accidentally hurt her, also from being pushed to the ground by the arrancar. She hurried towards the gargata when a body flew past her, landing in the nearby wall with a sickening CRACK! Orihime turned and saw Ichigo standing in the middle of the room, blood on his sword but otherwise unharmed. She smiled at him and he smiled back, finally a good moment between all the carnage, before Ichigo's face turned scared and he started yelling at her to run.

She didn't understand until a sword was pointed at her throat and a strong hand held her by the arm. She didn't move to see who it was, too afraid and preoccupied with the sharp blade millimeters from her throat.

"Let her go." Ichigo said.

"Oh I will, Kurosaki-kun. Just listen to me for a second, kay?"

She recognized that voice, but that was impossible. He was dead, wasn't he?

"How are you still alive?" Ichigo asked, as if reading her thoughts.

"Ah,ah,ah." The man taunted. "No questions. Just listening right now."

"Fine. I'll listen."

"Good. Okie-dokie then, Kurosaki-kun. I just wanted to tell ya that I know a way to stoppin' this war. But ya gonna have to listen to me carefully."

"Fine."

"It's simple, Kurosaki-kun. All ya have to do is give yerself over to the King and he'll end this war and call back all his troops. Sound fair?"

Ichigo's face seemed to pale, like he knew who this man was talking about. Orihime didn't understand. Give Ichigo over to the enemy? Was this man crazy? Ichigo would never do that, he was too big an asset to lose. He wouldn't leave her...

"Does this 'King' swear that he will call off the attacks on Soul Society? Leave everyone alone and never come back?"

"He'll even leave yer family and Ms. Inoue here alone too. What do ya say Kurosaki-kun? Deal?"

Ichigo thought for a second, looking at Orihime and then back to her captor, "Deal. Now let her go."

Something behind Ichigo caught Orihimes attention, but the second she realized who and what it was, a hand was placed over her mouth before she could warn Ichigo. Her caught her eye, and he gripped Zangetsu...

Too late.

A blade ripped through his chest from behind him, a blade they both recognized and feared. Ichigo stood, wide-eyed, at nothing as the swords owner walked up from behind him, placing a hand on Ichigo's shoulder and whispering into his ear.

Orihime screamed, but the noise was muffled due to the hand over her mouth. She struggled to free herself from the mans clutches but his grip was like iron. She watched as Ichigo fell to the ground, blood soaked and unmoving, and as the man she hated most walked towards her, stepping into the garganta and disappearing.

The man holding her let go and she ran to Ichigo's side, not caring if the garganta had closed but instead placing her hands on to her hair clips ready to heal Ichigo until she remembered. She had left soten kishun back at the barracks to heal the others. She could not use her healing abilities.

She turned Ichigo over so his head rested on her lap, his breathing was getting shallow and blood was pouring from the wound... A wound that had punctured his heart.

"Ichigo! Ichigo it's going to be okay! I promise! I-I can get you back and Ms. Unohana... We'll..I'm going to heal you and you'll be okay and..and... I promise you. It's going to be- be okay and..."

"Inoue."

His voice was strangled, his lungs must have been damaged. "It's fine. Part of the deal, okay? Don't worry about it."

"Ichigo what deal? What- what are you talking about? You need to be healed. Your heart-"

"Belongs to you."

Her heart stopped. Ichigo had never said that before, sure they had been on dates and sealed a kiss now and then, but never something that serious! Here Ichigo was dying at her feet and now he wanted to have a serious talk about their relationship!?

"What?"

"You heard me. I love you."

I love you. ICHIGO YOU IDIOT! Now what was she supposed to say!? She had had a crush on him since they were kids and now he was the first to proclaim his love for her! For so long I love you was the one thing she had wanted to say to him and now he got to say it first.

"I-I love you too."

She looked at him, holding his head, pouring every loving emotion into her words. Ichigo seemed to believe her since he smiled.

Orihimes heart leapt. Very rarely did Ichigo smile, but when he did it melted her heart. His face was getting paler and more blood was pooling, soaking Orihimes clothes and white coat. She smiled back, though the smile couldn't hide the tears that were streaming down her face as she held her dying boyfriend. Maybe it this had never happened... Maybe they would have become something more...

"Hime." The nickname he had given her when they had their last picnic. "Just wanted you to know that I need you to do something for me."

"Oh course. Anything."

He held up Zangetsu. "Hold on to Zangetsu for me. He gets lonely with only Shiro for company."

She placed her hand on top of his, before Ichigo let go the blade and the weight fell into her hand. Surprisingly it wasn't heavy at all. It felt almost natural in her hand.

"You'll need that later, okay?"

Orihime nodded, "Yes."

Ichigo relaxed, "Good. Hime I can open another portal so you can get out and find help. Promise me you'll get out safe."

She agreed, more tears falling as she understood that Ichigo would not be coming with her. "I don't want to leave you."

"You don't have a choise. Hime you promised me. Take Zangetsu and get out of here." Ichigo pointed at the wall and a garganta opened. She stared at it before a hand grasped her cheek and Ichigo pulled her into a kiss. A warm sensation flowed over her and she forgot about everything for a second. The war, the battles, the blood soaking into her clothes. Everything was good, for the moment.

Until she felt Ichigo's breath disappear and his face go slack. She pulled her lips away and stared at his face, so peaceful he could have been sleeping, before breaking down into tears and sobs.

Ichigo Kurosaki was dead.

Orihime grasped his body and held it close, crying into his still chest for lord knows how long. Not aware of his body slowly dissapearing from reality until she was alone, her arms limply by her sides as her hand still clutched Zangetsu.