A/N: I've made some adjustments to this chapter since I first posted it. Sorry~

Chapter One

Placement Test

15 years later...

Orihime Inoue sat outside the 13th division's barracks under the shade of the trees that surrounded the property, waiting to be summoned for her placement test. She looked up at the leaves that shielded her from the mid morning sun's rays, smiling and softly humming no specific tune to herself. While she was attempting to pass some time, Orihime began to think back to the war.

Yhwach was a terrible man. He was hell bent on the destruction of Soul Reapers, Hollows and even his fellow Quincy. His only goal was to make himself stronger, a true God. His plan was to merge himself with Uryū Ishida, though no one knows why except Uryū. Though once Uryū had briefly mentioned to Orihime during one of his visits that he was special, but he didn't say anything more than that. Luckily Yhwach didn't succeed in his plans, mostly because Uryū wasn't on his side, he was mostly acting on his own accord to stop Yhwach, revealing his true intentions for the war to his subordinates. As the war waged, his own army turned on him, Yhwach went insane and Ichigo took the chance to end his miserable existance. After the war ended, Uryū and the rest of the Quincy pledged allegiance to the Soul Reapers. The Soul Reapers and Quincy agreed to finally make peace and work along side each other to protect the balance between the worlds.

Orihime sighed, thinking about the past made her sorely miss her friends, especially Tatsuki and her Shun Shun Rikka. She willed all her feelings of attachment away. She knew she wouldn't ever see her old powers ever again. She also knew that it was her choice to detach herself from Tatsuki since her death. The only person she kept in contact with was Uryū.

She was brought out of her reverie when she heard footsteps in the soft grass coming her way, she knew who it was immediately. "Hello, Lieutenant Kuchiki." Orihime teased, trying to seem happy. She knew Rukia hated being addressed formally, especially by her friends.

Rukia rolled her eyes and kept her temper in check, coming to stand a few feet away from her. "There was a jigokuchō sent for you, Orihime. Head Captain Kyōraku wants you to head over to the 1st division, and from there he will take you to where you will go through the placement test." Rukia gave her a soft smile before adding, "Good luck, Orihime."

Orihime nodded her thanks and returned the smile Rukia gave her before heading in the direction the 1st division using shunpo. She loved traveling this way, reveling in the feeling of wind in her long hair, the fabric of her shihakushō moving just as wildly against her body. She felt like she was flying, the only time she felt free. She was truly grateful that Yoruichi Shihōin was her teacher.

Before long, Orihime was standing in front of the 1st division's main office where she knew the Head Captain always was, but as she was about to knock on the door, she was greeted by the very person she came to see.

"Hello, Orihime!" Head Captain Kyōraku all but sang, a bottle of sake and a cup in one hand. He motioned for her to follow as he spoke, "I've already sent those who will also gauge your abilities ahead to the designated place. Now if you'll follow me." He paused mid-step, as if he forgot something, and poked his head into his office. "My sweet Nanao! I leave everything in your hands while I'm busy today," he said in an airy sing-song voice.

For what ever reason, Orihime blushed. Perhaps out of embarrassment for Lieutenant Nanao's sake. After that, they finally went on their way to join the others.

Orihime stood before the four people who were about to gauge her abilities, but she thought this odd. She had asked Captain Ukitake about how these placement tests were usually conducted, and what she should expect. He had informed her that only three captains were ever present during these tests. Yet who stood before her was Head Captain Kyōraku, Captain Kuchiki, Captain Zaraki, and off to the side was a tall shrouded figure. This confused her.

"Judging by the look on your face, I suppose you're wondering why we have an extra in attendance, but don't pay them any attention. Shall we proceed?" The Head Captain mused, eyes dancing with mirth.

Orihime nodded once in response, left hand resting lazily on the hilt of her zanpakutō.

"Good! Okay, we'll start off with a few questions. Do you know any kidō? If so, can you demonstrate for us?" Kyōraku inquired.

Orihime smiled, letting loose some of the pristine control she had over her reiatsu before gracefully pointing the index and middle fingers of her right hand at the wall of a secluded courtyard to the right of her. She murmured "Hadō number 73, Sōren Sōkatsui," and blue energy shot out of said fingers, decimating several walls and buildings in the direction she pointed.

Once the debris settled down, Byakuya voiced his response in his usual indifferent tone, "I hope you realize you're going to pay for that. That was a careless show of your knowledge in kidō."

Orihime was annoyed at Byakuya's response, and she was about to defend herself when Kyōraku spoke up.

"Now, now. You know that is why we do this in secluded areas. We wish to see what abilities she possesses, we do not expect those we test to restrain themselves for the sake of not destroying anything. These walls and buildings can be easily rebuilt." He turned his attention to Orihime with kindness in his eyes, "Your Sōren Sōkatsui with no incantation was very powerful, not many soul reapers can perform that hadō spell without it, at least not with that power. I assume since you were with Kisuke Urahara until recently, Tessai taught you in kidō."

Orihime nodded, smiling at the kind Head Captain before adding, "He did, I also learned from Hachigen. He took a liking to me when I was still alive and offered to teach me as well. Tessai and Hachi had said that I have a knack for kidō. Probably due to the fact that I can control my reiatsu, even as a human I had no problem."

"Tch, whatever. Enough kidō talk. That stuff is for wimps. What we should focus on here is your melee skills," came the rough and impatient voice of Kenpachi. "Beyond the abilities of your zanpakutō I bet you don't even know how to use it prop-"

Before he could finish talking, Orihime swiftly drew her zanpakutō with her right hand and flash-stepped. She stood in front of Kenpachi, the blade of her zanpakutō at his throat. She spoke in a condescending tone, her gray eyes glinting with anger,"I don't mean to be rude, but you're underestimating me. I don't like it."

Kenpachi laughed, staring down at the small girl in front of him, a grin contorting his features. "Huh, seems you've changed since you were human. I like it," he said, the grin on his face growing impossibly big, making him look like a crazed maniac. "Unfortunately your blade can't cut me. Not at your current power level."

Meanwhile, Byakuya was watching the exchange between the two. Though he wouldn't admit it, Zaraki had a point. She had changed. He thought the girl undisciplined, quick to let her emotions guide her blade. His thoughts turned to the previous memories related to Orihime Inoue. He didn't come in contact with her much, but when he did he thought her delicate, caring and in control of herself. A pacifist by nature. The girl he was analyzing today was just about the opposite.

What happened, Inoue?

"Alright, alright you two. Orihime, could you kindly withdraw your zanpakutō from Captain Zaraki's throat?" Kyōraku said, sipping his sake.

Orihime did more than that. She moved back to where she was before, standing several meters away from them, towards the middle of the vast courtyard. She still held her zanpakutō in her right hand, but took on her nonchalant stance again.

"Okay! Now we normally do a bit of show and tell with zanpakutō demonstrations, but we're going to do it a bit differently this time." Kyōraku motioned for the shrouded figure to come forward, a mysterious playfulness twinkling in his eyes. "I'd like you to demonstrate for us by dueling him."

Orihime turned her attention back to the shrouded man, sizing him up. This guy... I don't sense anything from him. That's impossible, right? What game is the Head Captain playing?

"Okay, but you should stop with that look in your eyes. You look like Urahara, Head Captain," she smiled quickly at Kyōraku before addressing the mysterious man in front of her who had just made a coughing sound as if to keep from laughing. "You ready?"

By way of response, he drew his zanpakutō. He placed both hands on the hilt, as if he was about to demonstrate kendo, but then his sword split in two, he had wordlessly released his zanpakutō. The zanpakutō were completely black with no guards, the one in his left hand smaller than the other, almost like a dagger. He stood there, waiting for her to make a move.

Orihime just stared for a moment, she thought the zanpakutō before her was familiar. She narrowed her eyes and in a quick movement, moved forward and removed the hood concealing his identity instead of releasing her own zanpakutō. As soon as her eyes caught the bright orange hair, her grip on the fabric of his shroud tightened. She stood there for what seemed like forever, looking at the face of the man she once trusted and loved with all her heart. The man who killed her.

Ichigo looked down at her with cinnamon colored eyes filled with deep sorrow and guilt, shifting the sword in his right hand to his left and made to wipe the tears that were now freely falling down her cheeks, "Orihime..." he murmured gently, almost pained. Before Ichigo could, however, she slapped his hand away and in a swift movement, was standing several feet away from him. The look in her eyes pained Ichigo.

"Don't... Just don't, Kurosaki," she said, voice trembling on his name with anger, Ichigo winced in response.

Orihime moved her basic katana zanpakutō in front of her, pointing the blade towards the sky and placed her left hand on the side facing away from her as she released it in a confidant voice, "Absolve, Ten'nin!" Her zanpakutō shone with a white light that quickly faded away revealing a chokutō styled sword, the chain hanging from the end of the hilt, which held a large ring with three feather ornaments, similar to the ones that she wore in her long hair, dangling off it and tinkling in the pleasant breeze. She immediately started attacking Ichigo. "Sabakinohikari!" Orihime yelled, arching her blade up and down slashing the air several times in a manner almost like dancing, sending three fast traveling crescent shaped energy projectiles his way.

Ichigo just flash-stepped, now standing on top of one of the walls of the courtyard. He stared down at her with the same look in his cinnamon eyes. Those eyes haunted Orihime, shaking her flimsy resolve. He has no right to look at me like that! She internally roared. Gritting her teeth, she vanished from sight. Ichigo merely closed his eyes, feeling the weight of her hate filled reiatsu engulf him, waiting for her next attack. He ducked forwards as she appeared behind him, swinging her zanpakutō as if to behead him. Her eyes widened at his reflexes, then she quickly brought up her leg, rotating her body, kicked him hard in the side. He fell and rolled off the wall, landing on his feet like a cat and immediately flash-stepped. Orihime and Ichigo went at it like that for some time, playing cat and mouse while the captains watched on.

Byakuya resisted the urge to scoff at the two battling, using the term loosely mind you. Ichigo was only dodging and blocking, and Orihime was becoming more wild by the minute. You fool, Ichigo Kurosaki. Why are you not attacking? The whole point of this is to see how the girl handles herself offensively and defensively. Since Ichigo took off the cloak he was wearing earlier, all he felt from his reiatsu was remorse, which had confused him at first but then he had felt the overwhelming feelings of betrayal and rage from Orihime. He looked over at the Head Captain who was obviously enjoying himself while drinking his sake, and saw his eyes dancing with something, like he was knew something that he should have informed Kenpachi and himself of. He knew that look and he agreed with Orihime's quip from earlier. Head Captain Kyōraku looked like Kisuke Urahara when he was up to no good. Byakuya came to the conclusion that Kyōraku changed the test for this purpose, to see how Orihime would do against someone who apparently betrayed her. Again, he resisted the urge to scoff. Senile old man. Byakuya was brought out of his thoughts when he heard a loud explosion, debris from a wall almost hitting him. He turned his attention back to the two, feeling nothing but contempt for them now.

Orihime and Ichigo were standing far apart, the former breathing heavily and trembling from rage. Ichigo continued to look at her with his remorseful gaze, he wanted to talk to her and explain what really happened that night, but truth of the matter is he blamed himself as much as she thought him a murderer. He had long since decided he would let her kill him, if that would give her the peace she needed, but first he would let her take out her anger on him until he was able to talk to her.

Stop... Stop looking at me like that... Stop... Stop! "Stop! Stop it, Ichigo!" She yelled, almost desperately. Orihime's grip on her zanpakutō tightened until her knuckles her white, using her left hand to make a triangle in the air in front of her, she said "Bakudō number 30 Shitotsu Sansen." Ichigo hadn't bothered avoiding it, letting himself get pinned to the undamaged part of the wall behind him by the kidō spell.

"You have no right to look at me with those eyes, Ichigo Kurosaki. A murderer doesn't look at the person he killed like that." Her suddenly cold, unwavering voice cut Ichigo deeper than anything. He felt his resolve to explain things to her fade away and he hung his head, his shaggy orange locks hiding his eyes, unable to look at her anymore.

Murderer... Hot tears rolled down Ichigo's cheeks, unable to hold them back. I'm... a murderer. He suddenly heard quick foot steps on the hard ground, she was charging at him for the finishing blow. He knew her zanpakutō was aimed right at his heart, he didn't need to look at her to know this. Orihime... Please kill me, I don't deserve to live anymore. I killed you, avenge yourself and finally feel peace. Then the rapid sound of foot steps stopped, and at first he thought he was dead, but then it didn't make sense and he looked up. What he saw confused him. Standing before him was Orihime, eyes mirroring his own confusion, her zanpakutō an inch from his chest. He vaguely noticed Byakuya standing next to them, captain's haori billowing around him and his hand poised above Orihime's right hand, ready to stop her attack.

"Why... Why are you crying? Why can't I kill you?" Orihime all but croaked, her zanpakutō reverting back to its sealed form. "You killed me, right? But I feel so conflicted all of a sudden. Why, Ichigo?" She dropped to her knees, staring at Ichigo, looking as if she was about to go insane.

Byakuya was utterly confused by this whole thing again, but decided to ask questions later. He looked down at Orihime and saw that she was going into hysterics so he swiftly hit a pressure point and knocked her out. As soon as Ichigo was free from the bakudō spell he vanished. Byakuya narrowed his eyes in response to Ichigo's vanishing act and then picked up Orihime, craddling her in his arms. Turning to the Head Captain he said, "I'm going to take Inoue to the 4th and have Lieutenant Kotetsu take care of her."

"Alright, Captain Kuchiki. After you give her to Lieutenant Kotetsu, we should discuss the matter of what we should do with Orihime Inoue in the captain's meeting room. Though I think I know just the thing." Kyōraku said, eyes glinting with a new devious plan as he observed how Byakuya held the girl in his arms. He looked as if he'd protect her no matter what. Hmm... Interesting behavior. Though he doubted Byakuya was aware of it himself.

Byakuya closed his eyes, yet again resisting the urge to scoff at the Head Captain's expression. Instead he gave a curt nod before swiftly heading towards the 4th division. He glanced down at the girl in his arms, he realized that she was very beautiful. He felt compelled to help her finally find peace, to solve the conflict between her and Ichigo. Then he made a face, banishing those thoughts from his mind, and looked away from her. Foolish. Do not get involved. He looked down at her again, and his features softened. Unruly woman, you'll be the end of me.

A/N: Alright! Chapter 1. R&R please! I have some interesting things planned for the next chapter. I'm excited about this story and I hope you are too.

Ps. Does anyone think it's a bit ironic Orihime's release command is "Absolve?" I do~

Ten'nin means "Heavenly being" and Sabakinohikari means "Light of Judgement"