Fear of Loss

The night devoured their young forms as she stood there helpless. The angry shadows took her children away, to pay the debt that all men pay. Her long red hair bright against the black mist, her weary eyes watched as the poisoning fog engulfed her body, taking her away from her life. From her children. Her husband. It was the darkness that her children followed without a whim, and she let them. She let his shadow take her babies and she would never get them back.

Now her life hang in the balance.

What did the shadows have in store for her?

What torture would befall her while he ruled her freedom?

What different monsters walked the Earth with her innocent children among them?

The last thing she saw was a head of orange hair and that voice calling to her.

"Orihime! Orihime, honey! Baby, wake up!"

Why was he saying those things? Shouldn't he be scolding her for not fighting him?

"Orihime! For the love of Kami, wake up!"Her sweet husband yelled, his face now visible, it was hazy, as if he were ethereal, unable to be reached. Untouchable. It was just a mirage. A cruel trick on her mind.

"You brought me to this. I have no choice." He said and his face disappeared.

'NO! Don't leave me!' Her plea was silent, nobody could hear her. She was held forever silent.

{B}

A sharp stinging pain brought her back to the hard, cold, safe blanket of reality.

Orihime sat up, straight as a board, holding her stinging cheek. "Owieee!" She squealed, holding onto her injured cheek.

"Thank Kami! You're awake!" Ichigo said, holding onto her warm body. "I was so worried, you were screaming and crying in your sleep and you wouldn't wake up. I thought you were going to stay comatose." Ichigo whispered, his muscular arms wrapping around her soft curves. "Oh, honey.." His voice was like a reverent caress, his hands cradled her back.

"Ichigo. . it was such a horrible dream! Ichirou and Kazumi were gone and so were you. I was all alone in this dark forest, darkness consuming me. ." Orihime started to sob as she held onto her husband like a life raft, hiccupping and sobbing even harder.

"Shh, baby. It's okay. I'm here. You're safe." Ichigo whispered tenderly, rubbing her back in soft circles, his lips pressing soft kisses to her forehead.

It was almost 2:30 before she calm down and her breath was slightly shaky.

"Are you feeling better now, love?" Ichigo asked, holding Orihime in his arms tightly.

"Yes, thank you."

"Would you like a glass of cold water?" Ichigo asked, worrying over her.

"That would be lovely, honey." Orihime whispered, kissing her beautiful husband gratefully, thanking her lucky stars that Ichigo was as caring as he was.

Ichigo disentangled himself from her limbs and rose from the bed, going downstairs to get his wife what she desired.

{L}

While he did that, Ichigo contemplated what she said while she was frantic: 'it was such a horrible dream! Ichirou and Kazumi were gone and so were you. I was all alone in this dark forest, darkness consuming me. . .'

This obviously shook Orihime to her very core and he hated that he couldn't protect her, even in her dreams.

Ichigo sighed and sliced a cucumber quarter and popped it in the water for a refreshing buzz, walking back upstairs to see to how his beloved wife was doing.

{E}

"There's my beautiful girl, how are you feeling now?" Ichigo inquired softly, handing her the drink and getting back in bed.

"I'm feeling better." Orihime smiled as she saw the cucumber slice and took a greedy sip, the subtle hint of the cucumber soothed her rattled nerves and in no time at all, the drink was gone and she was munching on the cucumber. "That was perfect. Thank you, Ichi." Orihime bustled to his side and leaned her head up to his, batting her eyelashes innocently.

Ichigo chuckled, seeing what she said was true and leaned down and touched her lips with his, tasting the refreshing cucumber; her mouth cold from the water.

Orihime put the glass on the bedside table and decided to banish away what dark thoughts remained of that terrible nightmare with Ichigo, her loving, caring and kind protector. Her lover.

Her husband.

Her mate.