The Sky Cries Memories

"You're finished!" Ichigo shouted in his Vizard voice, his battle cry barreled into Orihime, her heart sped at the terrifying sound. Ichigo was battered and bloody, but he kept fighting. Even though he must have been exhausted. Then Ichigo made a mistake, he looked over to where Orihime was and his gold eyes stared at her, widening when her soft gray met his.

The Hollow struck.

With one giant paw, he punched Ichigo, the mask crumbled into tiny pieces and Ichigo flew back from the impact. The Hollow went in for the final blow.

Orihime screamed. "ICHIGO!" Her Santen Kesshun blocked the Hollow's attack upon Ichigo but then it just shifted it's attention upon her.

"Another tasty soul?" The Hollow asked rhetorically, the Hollow once again roared and lunged for Orihime. But she was ready, she faced her opponent with a strong demeanor and used her Koten Zanshun, aiming her technique right at the hollow. Tsubaki took his opportunity, his power stronger as Orihime grew even more enraged at the pain the Hollow inficted on her Ichigo.

Tsubaki flew straight at the Hollow, his tiny wings cutting the air like small little blades. He flew into the Hollow's hole and sliced the Hollow in half with the shield, as the Hollow disappeared, Tsubaki flew back into the snowdrop hairpin. Orihime immediately used her Soten Kesshun and it immediately enveloped Ichigo in it's healing warmth, it levitated Ichigo to the ground safely and the soft hum of her power rang through her, giving her the power of speech.

"Ichigo..a-are you okay?" Her soft lips trembled as she spoke, her gray eyes swimming with delicate tears as her mistake nearly cost Ichigo his life.

"Orihime..please don't cry. I didn't know that Hollow would be that strong. Even in my Vizard form I couldn't beat it. Am I worthy enough to protect you?" He asked brokenly, his voice sounded weary, tired, as if he was too tired to go on, even though Orihime's healing was surely re-energizing him.

"This time, I was able to save you. I wasn't captured, I wasn't injured. I protected you."

Ichigo smiled at her soft voice, her presence soothed his ravaged soul and knit the pieces of his heart together. "Orihime...about that letter.."

Orihime sighed, waiting for him to say it was true. That he was in love with Rukia and he could never love her.

"It's not true. I don't love Rukia, we are just friends, nothing else. I love you Orihime. Only you. The flowers were for you, it was supposed to be a surprise, it's Valentines Day today and I bought you a dozen roses and teddy bear for Enraku." Ichigo explained and had to gasp for air once he was done, his heart swelled with his feelings, knowing he would burst if she said the three words that meant so much to him.

"Ichigo.."

"Yes?"

"Ichigo..."

"Yes?"

"I love you."

Ichigo's heart burst.

"My Orihime."

The gold healing power faded and Ichigo pulled Orihime into his newly healed arms and he pulled her chin up, his lips came down and tasted hers softly, Orihime tasted of a heady aroma, of wildflowers and chocolate, a warm summers day, a fire in the middle of a cold winter's night.

His love.

His woman.

His Orihime Inoue.

RIKOREN here! I'm here to tell you that I will be writing more, more of their adventures and mistakes in their relationship! Review and Follow! Tell me some more ideas I could do for this new love story.

Disclaimer: All is owned by Tite Kubo.

RIKOREN :)