Pre-Author's Note:

This is a companion piece for my longer fanfiction 'Night and Day', which I started last year as my Tanabata story and as of this point (July 22, 2016) has not been finished just yet. I hope to remedy that very soon. Anyway, while it is not necessary to read the longer story in order to understand everything that is going on, it probably would be helpful.

"Now, are you sure everything's packed the way you want? There's no reason for you to go all the way to the king's palace only to unpack and find all your dresses rumpled and tossed about carelessly."

Giving Tatsuki a small smile, Orihime replied, "That's a kind offer, but I'm certain the trunks have been packed better than if I had done it myself."

Shrugging her shoulders and flopping backwards onto Orihime's bed, Tatsuki half-murmured, half-grumbled, "I still don't get the appeal of going to train at the palace in order to be considered a 'true lady' or whatever. It's not like they'll teach you anything practical there."

Leaning on her elbow to gently stroke her friend's hair, Orihime answered, "Well, I'm sure Lady Shihoin and Lady Matsumouto-Ichimaru can teach me lots of things about how to be a better lady. And even if not, another reason lots of noble families send their children to be trained under palace officials is to be able to make good connections with other noble families."

Quirking an eyebrow up at Orihime, Tatsuki said in a flat tone, "Yeah, but usually they're looking for potential spouses in those cases. You've already picked who you're going to marry."

Turning her face aside to hide the furious blush rising in her cheeks, Orihime stammered, "Maybe I'll make some new friends there instead."

Letting out a mock mournful sigh, Tatsuki said, "Oh, I see. Make new friends over there who have impeccable manners and good breeding because your friends back home are too much of an embarrassment to you. My family is only made up of simple merchants, so a connection with us is a poor one, to be sure."

Whirling back around, Orihime desperately gripped Tatsuki's shoulder as she cried, "That's not true! You're my best friend in the whole world, Tatsuki! I don't know how I'm going to stand being so far away from you! Not to be able to watch you and Ichigo practice sparring, to go and visit our favorite shops together, to ride our horses out to watch the sunrise and to do everything else with you!"

Sitting up, Tatsuki wrapped her arms around Orihime and said softly, "Sorry, Orihime. I didn't mean any of that."

Returning Tatsuki's hug, Orihime whispered, "I know. I'm just..."

Nodding as squeezed a little tighter, Tatsuki said, "I know. Me too."

Swallowing down her tears, Tatsuki said in as even a tone as she could manage, "Just remember to write as often as you can. It'll give you good practice when they start teaching you proper calligraphy."

"I promise," said Orihime before she pulled away and said in a small voice, "Three years. Will I really not see you for three years?"

Brushing Orihime's hair off her shoulder, Tatsuki put on a brave face as she replied, "It'll go by quickly enough. And who knows? Maybe Ichigo and I will drop by when you least expect it."

"You'd really do that?" asked Orihime with a half-bewildered, half-hopeful expression.

"Of course I would, silly goose," said Tatsuki with a grin, "I'd do just about anything for you and you know Ichigo feels the same."

Before Orihime could say anything, Tatsuki smirked and asked in a teasing tone, "So, will you be giving him a good-bye kiss before you leave? You won't get another chance for a while, you know."

In the courtyard, Ichigo was standing to one side as he watched Sora and his father talk with the men who would be escorting Orihime to King Tamashi's palace. In all honesty, Ichigo knew exactly why this change in Orihime's life was necessary and even good for her. Didn't mean he was going to feel happy about it. Once he saw his mother enter the courtyard with servants trailing behind her carrying all Orihime's trunks and a few pieces of furniture was the point at which it really began to sink into Ichigo's mind that she was truly leaving. It was all actually happening.

While a part of his brain wanted to demand that he also be allowed to escort Orihime to the palace, Ichigo knew that wouldn't be a good idea for either of them. Best for him to try and get Orihime alone for a couple of minutes to say their good-byes rather than prolonging the agony. And he certainly wasn't going to say what was on his mind in front of anyone, especially his own father. Ichigo was sure he'd never live it down.

Isshin happened to see Ichigo standing off to the side and beckoned him over saying, "Come, come, Ichigo! I'm sure you want to meet these fine, upstanding men who are going to be escorting your future br-"

"Dearest husband," came Lady Masaki Kurosaki's sweetest and most cajoling tone, "I hope you remember our earlier discussion."

After giving a few more brief instructions to the servants, Masaki came over to stand next to her husband and gestured for Ichigo to also join them as Isshin cleared his throat and said, "Commander Ryuuken Ishida, may I introduce my wife, Lady Masaki Kurosaki, and my son and heir, the Viscount Ichigo Kurosaki."

Inclining his head to each of them, Ryuuken then said, "And if I may be so bold as to present my own son, Uryu Ishida, and his good friend, Chad Yasutora. As of yet, neither of them have earned rank or title, but I expect that will not be the case for much longer."

Looking the two young men over, Ichigo couldn't be entirely sure, but he was fairly certain that he liked the taller young man better out of the two. Possibly it was just his own protective instincts kicking in, but Ichigo imagined that in a fight Chad would be better equipped and able to protect Orihime. To be fair, Uryu was probably faster and more agile with his lean build, but the young man had such a blank expression that Ichigo couldn't get a good read on his character or personality. How much effort would he exert if their company was attacked? He was the commander's son, but that could simply mean that he had taken this assignment simply because his father was in charge.

Ichigo's thoughts were interrupted when Sora asked, "Lady Kurosaki, is my sister about ready to depart?"

Smiling at him, Masaki replied, "I'm sure she will be down shortly. She was with Tatsuki the last I knew, but I'm sure she also wishes to take her leave of some of our staff as well."

Returning her smile, Sora said, "Of course. Sometimes I think that my sister feels Castle Tensho Tensa is her home rather than Kinnotate Castle. She has spent so much of her time here over the past...how long has it been?"

"Over five years."

It took Ichigo a moment to realize that he had been the one who answered the question and hastily added, "We were ten when we met and Orihime just turned fifteen a month ago, so it's been a bit over five years."

"Is that all?" exclaimed Isshin, "Why I could have sworn it was longer than that, what with all the things that have changed in the past couple of years alone-Ouch!"

When everyone looked at him curiously, Isshin rubbed the back of his head with one hand and shook the other one limply as he said, "Silly me! I think I just got stung!"

Seeing his mother's placid expression and realizing what must have really happened, Ichigo covered his snort of laughter with a loud cough. From the slight softening at the corners of Uryu's mouth, Ichigo figured that he hadn't been fooled either. So, maybe the guy could make himself useful by reading another's body language, but Ichigo still preferred the big guy overall.

Just as Ichigo was beginning to wonder how in the world he was going to excuse himself to go find Orihime and talk to her, Masaki looked over at him and said, "Ichigo, it looks as though one of the servants neglected to bring down Orihime's small trunk of jewelry and other accessories. Would you find it since I believe it is the last piece of luggage left to be packed."

Automatically, Ichigo inclined his head and said, "Of course," but when he looked back at his mother and saw the subtle wink and smile she gave him, he knew the item had purposefully been overlooked. Without another word, Ichigo went inside.

Orihime had always stayed in the same guest chamber whenever she had come to stay for any amount of time. While she could have easily made the trip back and forth between the two castles as they were only about three miles apart, Sora willingly allowed Orihime to stay and Tensho Tensa for extended periods of time because of Lady Kurosaki. More than just a noblewoman who had begun Orihime's proper training for how to run and care for a castle and its staff, Masaki was also a role model for Orihime on how to be a young woman.

"It's going to be so strange without her being nearby," Ichigo mumbled to himself as he turned a corner and quite literally crashed into the very person he was seeking out.

Squeaking in surprise, Orihime's arms flailed desperately in an attempt to regain her balance before Ichigo snatched her hand and pulled her firmly against him. Another squeak escaped her lips, but Orihime quieted immediately when she hit Ichigo's chest and automatically reached up her hands to grip the front of his tunic for support. Down the hall, Ichigo saw Tatsuki turn the corner carrying the trunk that Ichigo assumed he was supposed to be carrying. Seeing the two of them, Tatsuki's expression turned smug and she pulled a face at Ichigo, but before he could say anything, she quietly retreated and he assumed that she was going to take a different route to the courtyard to give him and Orihime a bit of privacy.

Looking down at the top of Orihime's head, Ichigo asked, "You all right?"

"Mm-hmm," Orihime nodded against his shirt front and while she did relax her grip slightly, she did not release him entirely.

Just as he was about to explain why he was looking for her in the first place, Ichigo decided against it since they probably didn't have much time, so he licked his lips and said quietly, "I wanted to talk with you before you left."

Leaning back far enough to look up at him, Orihime replied in a similar tone, "Me too."

Giving her a small grin, Ichigo nodded and said, "Ladies first."

Pushing gently against his chest while still maintaining her hold on him, Orihime's expression became serious as she said, "Ichigo, three years is a long time, but I want you to know that it doesn't matter how long we're apart. That my heart is yours. It will always be yours."

Adjusting his hold on her, Ichigo pulled her a little closer as he bent his head down to touch his forehead to hers. Orihime responded by reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck and gently massage the back of his neck.

After a little while in that position, Ichigo whispered, "Thank you, Orihime," before he pulled back slightly to grin at her and say, "You know, I can't even remember what I was going to say."

"I'm sorry," said Orihime with a giggle before her expression became a bit 'dreamy' (that was the only word Ichigo could think of to describe it) and started raising herself up on tiptoe. Realizing what she was about to do, Ichigo gripped her chin gently and waited for her to look at him properly before he spoke.

"As much as the idea of kissing you appeals to me right now," Ichigo said carefully, "rather than our first kiss being one where we say good-bye, why don't we wait until we see each other again? Is that all right with you?"

Watching Orihime process through what he said (her expressions going through mortification at the thought that she had just basically thrown herself at him, dejection at being gently rebuffed and finally understanding as to his true intentions), Ichigo waited until she nodded at him with a watery smile before tenderly and affectionately kissing the top of her head. When Orihime once again wrapped her arms around his neck to keep him in place while she placed a kiss of her own on his cheek, Ichigo was about ready to take back what he had just said and kiss her. However, he managed to suppress the urge since he really didn't want their first kiss to be one before they were separated. The idea just didn't sit right with him.

Stepping out of her embrace, Ichigo took her hand and threaded it through the crook of his arm as he prepared to escort her to the courtyard and said with a grin, "And besides, it's just possible that I might see you a bit sooner than you expect."

As per tradition, Orihime and her escort left the castle just as the sun began to rise. Standing on the parapet, Ichigo watched the entourage slowly wind their way down the road. The others around him were waving and calling out their final farewells, but Ichigo preferred not to participate. That is until Orihime crested the hill and turned to look behind her one last time. A heavy weight seemed to settle in the middle of his chest and without thinking, he placed two fingers over it. While it didn't take the tightness completely, the salute did help to ease it a little.

They wouldn't be parted for long. Ichigo promised himself that much.

Author's Note:

And there you have it. Hope you guys liked it and I definitely hope that I kept Ichigo and Orihime's interaction there realistic and in character for them for the most part. Or if not, at least make it somewhat believable under the circumstances.