Orihime skipped over to Ichigo after hanging up with Urahara. "Urahara-san will be dropping it off. I told him how you have been having trouble with the gigai, but were still in it, and he said that would be fine for now. He will be over tomorrow morning, so you get some rest." She walked over and tucked in the blanket around him. She slowly sat down beside him and ran her hand through his hair. He looked over to her and gave a half smile. "Can I get you anything, Ichigo?"

Ichigo shook his head. "You've done so much for me, I want to pay you back for it in some way. Can I take you out for dinner in my new body?"

Orihime looked nervous and pulled away from him, placing her hands on her pants and grabbing the fabric to prepare herself for what she was about to say. "Actually, Urahara-san said he was bringing a friend along and is offering to pay for us to go to dinner. He said that Kuchiki-san and Abarai-san will be along as well. We will all be going out for dinner once you are able to. He said that he doesn't need a place to stay though. I don't know where he's going to find a hotel for four people in this area, but I'll leave that up to him." Ichigo mumbled and turned away. The air was thick, and Orihime could feel the difference easily. She thought about it for a moment, then realized with a reddening of the cheeks that Ichigo was probably upset that more than them would be going out. She chuckled at this thought and saw Ichigo turn back in confusion. Orihime shook her head. "It's nothing. I just think it's so cute that you're getting upset that we can't go to dinner alone." She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "You may not get the first dinner, but there will be plenty more firsts for you to accomplish." Ichigo looked back again in a look that said, 'that can be interpreted many ways.' Orihime smiled and exhaled loudly as she popped back up off the couch. "You rest now. I'm going to finish making dinner and then maybe we can watch a show or play a game." Ichigo merely nodded and let out a small smile. Orihime seemed to be unnerved by it, but she figured he was tired and wanted to rest.

She finished her meal at the table while chatting with Kon, who was sitting on the table. They could hear Ichigo groan a few times, but it didn't seem to be anything major. After a while, Orihime had cleaned the dishes and was ready to have some relaxing time. As they were finishing up in the kitchen, Kon and Orihime suddenly felt very heavy and the room seemed to be charged. A sense of dread came over her, and she looked down at Kon, who was already on the floor, but was now on his paws, trying to regain his bearings. Her mind snapped back to reality. "Ichigo!" Her voice hoarse and full of worry. Orihime and Kon ran out of the kitchen and saw Ichigo standing. "Are you ok Ichigo?"

She took a step closer, but Kon grabbed her leg. "No, stay here." His voice low and serious. She looked down at him with her concern showing easily. She looked back at Ichigo and tried to observe the situation. Ichigo was standing next to the couch. The blanket thrown to the side. He was standing there, smiling, but it wasn't the smile she knew. She could feel the heaviness almost push her to the floor. His stare towards her was something that she hadn't seen before. His eyes looked like they had found prey. Finally, with a shaking voice, she spoke.

"What's going on Ichigo?"

He took a step forward and smirked. "King's not here right now."

Orihime looked down at Kon, who gave a shrug in mutual confusion. Kon took a few steps and stood in front of Orihime. "Who are you?" This further confused Orihime. Kon knows who Ichigo is. Her heart nearly leaped out upon hearing what he said in response.

"Who knows."

Kon stepped forward. "You are not welcome here. Bring back Ichigo."

A horrible cackle could be heard as a reply. Orihime was now shaking. She had no clue what was going on, but somehow, the person in front of them was not Ichigo. "Nah, I like this little experiment King is doing. Plus, he really knows how to get the ladies." Orihime stepped back and almost tripped over the chair.

"Bring Ichigo back!" She screamed with trembling fingers grasping for the chair. He began walking towards her until he seemed to have stopped mid step. Orihime grabbed the chair and waved it towards him. He easily dodged it. The smirk returning to the face that was not his.

"You're quick with that. Why don't you step closer and try again."

Orihime repositioned her grip, but a voice came through her clouded thoughts before she could step. "Don't move Orihime! Put the chair down." She could hear Kon's voice, but couldn't see him. She did what he said and placed the chair back.

"Kon, where are you?"

"Down here."

She looked down to find Kon under the table. She then took note of something white near him. She followed it with her watery eyes and saw that she was standing in a white ring. "What is this?"

"It's salt. I got it from the big container in the cabinet. You should be ok in here until we can figure out what to do." Kon saw how confused she looked and explained. "Salt is a symbol of purity. Most negative spirits can't get through the salt, so anything inside the area is protected, for now." He rubbed his face in annoyance. "Just get down here. You don't have to understand it, just please follow my instructions." Orihime crouched down and lifted Kon up to her ear. "Urahara actually thought this might happen, so he gave me something to do to get the bad spirit out. Listen up, I'm going to recite a sutra. After I do it, take me out of this body and try to get him to get close to you so you can force me down his throat. It should get Ichigo and the bad spirit out of the body and then I can keep reciting if I need to once I'm in the gigai. Got it?" Orihime nodded, though she worried she wouldn't be able to get close to him.

"Secrets don't keep friends." They looked up to find him mere inches away from them, leaning over. Kon jumped out of Orihime's hands and began reciting.

"Om namo Bhagavatayai Arya-Prajnaparamitayai !" He grunted and showed obvious malice towards Kon.

"You bastard!"

"Om, Gate, Gate, Paragate, Para Samgate Bodhi Svaha! Now Orihime!"

The bad spirit put his hands to his head and began yelling towards the ceiling. In one quick movement, Orihime took the mod soul out and stepped one foot out of the circle to grab him by the back of the neck and use his yelling as an opportunity to shove the mod soul into his mouth. She stepped back into the circle and watched as he swallowed. A gust of wind came and she could see a form that looked like Ichigo rise up from the gigai and disappear. She could see his eyes. They were mixed with emotion and she wasn't sure it was completely Ichigo that she saw. Kon, now in the gigai, ran over to Orihime.

"You ok?"

Orihime gave the best smile she could. "I'm fine." A moment passed. "You were amazing Kon! I would never be able to recite something that fast!"

Kon gave a huge grin. "Yeah, I was pretty awesome, wasn't I?" They both giggled and it broke out into a full laugh before long. Orihime didn't know why she was laughing at such a time. She thought maybe the shock was short circuiting her brain. Eventually, they stopped and Orihime began pondering what to do next.

"What can we do from here, Kon?"

"Well, Urahara will be here tomorrow, so we will just have to keep inside the circle until morning."

Orihime began to whine. "Aw Kon, can't we at least put salt around the couch? Oh and salt to the bathroom and to the door."

Kon was about to say she didn't have enough, but then he had an idea. "Hey, do you have any salt outside to melt ice?"

Her face lighted up. "I do! But how are we going to get out there?"

"We're just going to have to risk it. Just stay by me and we should be ok. We should just spread it around the entire house, that way, we can move around freely."

"Oh that would be great! I wanted some tea! Salt first though."

Orihime moved slowly out of the circle, and then they both quickly moved outside. She grabbed her coat and quickly put on her boots, causing her to stumble as she tried to walk and pull them on. They made it to the garage and found the salt. Kon took the heavy bag and began running around the house. Orihime had to shovel to get him out of some areas, but they were pretty confident the salt was adequate. They ran inside and left the salt by the door. They both sighed as they made it back. Orihime was relieved nothing had happened, but the reality of the situation kicked in and she began to feel a tightness in her throat. With a voice barely above a whisper, she spoke.

"Kon, do you think we will be able to bring the good Ichigo back? How did this happen? He was fine a minute ago."

Kon took her arm and guided her to the couch, where he wrapped her in the same blanket. "You lay here and rest. I'll make you tea." He saw the pain in her eyes. "I don't know how or why good spirits become bad. Urahara never explained it to me. My guess is that they have unfinished business or they are under too much stress. Ichigo has been trying hard to stay in this body. That may have sent him over the edge. Or he's always had that other side in him. He was just too weak at the time to keep control." Orihime's expression remained unchanged. Kon grabbed her hands and put them in his. "We will bring him back. Don't worry. Urahara will be here tomorrow. He's the one who taught me that sutra. He has to know what to do. Now, I'll get you that tea. You stay here and watch a show to take your mind off of everything."

Orihime gave a weak smile. "Thank you Kon. You are a good friend."

"Hey, no prob. Maybe later you will let me snuggle up to your.." A pillow was thrown and hit him square in the face.

"No way!" Her voice was serious, but her face finally showed a bit more relaxed expression. Kon smiled and gave the pillow back.

"I'll go make you that tea now."

Orihime leaned back and turned on the TV. She hoped with all her heart that tomorrow will be the beginning of something great.

Note: Thank you for all the reviews. They help me decide where to go with the story. I originally didn't have this chapter as part of the story, but after watching too many Supernatural episodes one day, I decided I needed this part.