The next morning, Orihime woke up feeling refreshed and immediately turned around to tell Norainu 'Good morning' and was completely taken aback when she saw only sleeping human figures on the ground on the opposite side of the fire pit. A moment later, all the events of the previous day came flooding back and Orihime felt her eyes begin to prickle as she thought about Norainu's sacrifice. Before she had a chance to cry, however, Orihime stopped and thought that there was something odd about the scene in front of her, but she couldn't put her finger on exactly what it was.

Shoving the feeling to the back of her mind, Orihime got up and started preparing a simple, yet filling and nourishing breakfast for herself and her companions. Coaxing the nearly lifeless embers into a steady heat, Orihime added more fuel and waited for the heat to rise before she set her 'breakfast invention' on a flat stone to cook. After that, Orihime went over to feed the horses and make sure everything else was in order when she heard her new friends begin to wake up.

Seeing Chad sit up first and scratch his head absentmindedly, Orihime said softly, "Good morning," then seeing Uryu also sit up and stretch his arms above his head, she said, "I hope you're all hungry. Breakfast should be ready shortly."

Grinning at Orihime as he finger combed his straight and so only slightly mussed hair, Uryu replied, "That is what helped to wake me. I thought I smelled something tasty."

"Well, while we wait," said Tatsuki as she stood to stretch her limbs and rub her back, "why don't we finish packing up the gear so that we can leave as soon as we've all eaten."

Yawning and standing up, Chad said in a sleep-deepened voice that was nearly unintelligible, "Sure," before he picked up his blankets and began folding them neatly.

At that moment, Orihime realized exactly what had been bothering her earlier and she asked in alarm, "Where's Grimmjow?"

In reaction to her words, Uryu and Chad both jumped and looked around as if to make sure Orihime was telling the truth, but Tatsuki said abruptly, "He left last night."

As all three of them turned to look incredulously at Tatsuki, Orihime asked in bewilderment, "He left? How is that possible? He was so badly wounded…why didn't he rest? When did he…no, where did he go?"

Looking down at the blanket she was folding, Tatsuki replied, "Well, I don't know for sure, but I imagine he left not long after we were all asleep. I tried to stay awake to keep watch since I didn't fully trust him, but I guess I fell asleep just long enough for him to sneak out of camp since by the time I woke up, there wasn't a trace of him anywhere."

Before Orihime could say anything, Tatsuki gave her a knowing look as she said, "Now that the sun is out, I'm sure that Uryu and I can work on picking up Grimmjow's trail. While I sensed that Grimmjow is abnormally strong, based on the wounds you treated yesterday, I think it's safe to say that he couldn't have gotten much of a head start."

And so, less than an hour later, the group made their way carefully and yet quickly through the woods with Tatsuki and Uryu at the forefront guiding the way. Chad and Orihime each held the reigns for one of the horses and followed along as quietly as they could under the circumstances.

Since she didn't want to disturb Tatsuki and Uryu while they were tracking and Chad didn't seem like the talkative type and because she didn't think that now was the best time to hold a conversation anyway, the only thing Orihime had left to do to occupy herself was to mull things over in her mind. Had it really been almost a year since Ichigo had left the safety of Karakura Town? It must have been since Orihime could tell that fall was coming to a close. That meant that her sixteenth birthday had already come and gone…technically, according to the laws of Karakura Town, Orihime was a full-grown adult. Odd, to think of herself as a real adult since she really didn't feel any older and she certainly didn't think she was ready to be an adult and handle all the responsibilities that came with adulthood.

Also, now that she thought about it, Ichigo had also turned sixteen over the summer, so in reality he was considered a man now as well. Had he changed at all in the past year? Would she recognize him when she saw him or would he be far more mature now? Even before he had left Karakura, Orihime had seen him age before her…not in the literal sense, but in the way he acted and carried himself. However, rather than carrying himself proudly and erectly, Ichigo's perceived failings had weighed him down so much that his shoulders had rounded and slumped under the burden.

More painful that watching him carry around the imaginary weight was the almost physical pain Orihime would get whenever she had looked into Ichigo's eyes. The deep brown eyes that had often looked at her seriously or in exasperation or every so often softening in kindness and borderline affection had become so tortured…now that she had begun thinking about Ichigo's eyes, Orihime suddenly made the connection between his eyes and the dreams she had been having on her journey. In her dreams, she had seen Ichigo's eyes blaze with determination and purpose and then last night she had seen the fire die out. Imagining looking into Ichigo's eyes when they had such a dead and hopeless expression, Orihime felt a cold chill creep up her spine and then slowly grip her heart in a vice grip as well as force the air from her lungs briefly.

Feeling a heavy hand land on her shoulder, Orihime jolted slightly and turned to look up into Chad's deep brown eyes that were full of life and concern at the moment. Feeling the ice leave her body as the warmth and life in Chad's eyes chased away the negative thoughts that had been suffocating her, Orihime realized that he had said something to her and was waiting for a response.

Giving her head a shake, Orihime gave Chad an apologetic smile and she asked cheerily, "I'm sorry, but what did you say?"

"Are you all right? You looked really pale just now and scared, just like last night."

Automatically, Orihime opened her mouth to say that she was perfectly fine, but sensing what she was about to do, Tatsuki called back meaningfully, "Don't even think about it, Orihime. Tell the truth."

Hanging her head in shame, Orihime said slowly, "It's just that I remembered something about the dream I had last night. I'm not sure why I didn't realize it until just now, but one of the pairs of eyes I saw in my dream were Ichigo's…in my dream last night, they looked at me without seeming to know who I was…they were almost lifeless in a way and the thought that Ichigo would ever look at me like that…it's just…"

When a pair of hands grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a fierce hug, Orihime didn't know how to react at first. Then, seeing and feeling Tatsuki's spiky black hair against her face, Orihime simply wrapped her arms around the girl in reply.

"You and your dreams and your journey and your hardships and your ridiculous excuses and attempts at lying to us and your infectious hopeful spirit…" Tatsuki pulled back to give Orihime a somewhat confused, somewhat reproachful and somewhat affectionate expression as she asked, "I may not know this Ichigo guy, but if he was your friend for fifteen years and he has somehow managed to forget every moment he spent with you while I haven't even known you for twenty four hours and I can barely remember how the three of us got along without you around…he deserves to be laid out flat and given a good thumping on his thick, stupid skull!"

"Tatsuki's usual violent tendencies aside," cut in Uryu, "when we find Ichigo, I myself would like to find out why exactly he chose to leave everyone and everything behind. I'd like to know how someone could be so self-centered and selfish as to just up and leave without a word of warning or farewell to those he claimed to care about."

Adjusting his glasses, Uryu continued, "Chad here is an orphan who was raised by his grandfather, but he passed away a few years ago, so Chad has no one waiting for him at the moment. I knew both my parents, but my mother died when I was young and my father was a traveling physician so I have no idea what happened to him."

Looking at Tatsuki as if asking for permission to go on, Uryu said, "As for Tatsuki's family, her parents and grandfather have their own farm, but the last few years have been hard on them so we took this…ah, side job up to relieve the burden on them."

At Orihime's puzzled expression, Tatsuki explained quickly, "My family took in Chad and Uryu a few years ago just before things started getting bad and we could barely grow enough food to feed ourselves. Being the kind of people they are, my parents and grandpa never complained, but found ways to keep the truth from us, usually by carefully making sure to eat at different times than us so we wouldn't find out that they were giving us more than half their rations of food to add to what they gave us normally."

Turning away to hide what looked like tears, Tatsuki said firmly, "It wasn't until last year that I finally figured out what they were doing and confronted them about it. Their response was that we were growing children and so therefore were definitely hungrier and needed more nourishment than three fully grown adults. They said it was their duty to take care of us until we came of age."

Before Orihime could say anything, Chad's hand suddenly appeared in front of her face clutching a decently clean handkerchief and began wiping under her eyes and across her cheeks. Without realizing it, Orihime had begun crying as she had listened to Tatsuki and felt the young woman's pain at having caused her parents and grandfather to go hungry for so long. She also sensed that Tatsuki was furious with herself for not having realized what was going on sooner.

Gently pushing Chad's hand away and giving him a grateful smile, Orihime enfolded Tatsuki in an embrace that revealed without words that Orihime understood a little of how Tatsuki felt. To be on the receiving end of another's sacrifice and knowing you could never hope to repay the debt…coming to terms with that realization wasn't easy.

Tatsuki reached up to grip Orihime's forearm before carefully extracting herself from Orihime's grip and saying briskly, "Well, no use standing around here and wasting the day away. Let's keep moving."

While part of Orihime wanted to ask if Tatsuki was all right, when she looked up her eyes connected with Uryu's and he gave her a look that said 'She'll be all right now. Just give her some time.' Looking over at Chad, he also gave her a grateful look that said she had done enough for now. So, the group of four continued on in silence for a time, each lost in their own thoughts.

When they stopped to water the horses and rest themselves, Tatsuki said abruptly, "Just in case you were wondering, before we left home, we made sure to leave a note saying that we would be back but that we were going to make our way in the world. We turned to thievery when we ourselves were robbed not long after we set out."

Giving Orihime a rueful grin, Tatsuki said, "Yeah, that was like fighting fire with fire, but what's done is done, right?"

Wide-eyed, Orihime said quickly, "You don't need to justify yourselves to me. That's in the past and it's not like you chose to live that way…well, in a way you did…but that's not what I meant…oh dear."

Adjusting his glasses, Uryu said smoothly, "We understand what you're trying to say, Orihime. I'd say this is an awkward conversation all around, so why don't we change the subject and get moving again."

So they set out again, each lost in thought, but feeling more at ease. By nightfall, they had covered a good distance and just before the sun completely disappeared behind a mountain they were approaching, Orihime spotted a cabin at the foot of the mountain and the others agreed that they would ask if they could spend the night there.

They arrived at the front door as the light began to fade and Orihime discovered that she had almost no energy left. If the owner of the house turned them away, Orihime wasn't sure how she would put one foot in front of the other. She might just collapse in a heap in the yard.

Taking the lead, Tatsuki marched up to the door and gave three sharp raps on it. There was no sign of life for about fifteen seconds and just when Orihime's heart began to sink, the door opened. In the doorway stood a tall, dark skinned woman with golden eyes that shone even though the sun's light had almost gone and the light from the fireplace was at her back.

Flipping her long hair behind one shoulder, the woman said in a silky tone, "Well, well, well. What do we have here? Four strays wandering around at this time of night? Whatever could they want from a poor woman like me?"

Before any of them could answer, the woman snapped her fingers and said, "I know! They've come seeking room and board from Lady Yoruichi. Am I right? Of course I'm right."

Giving them all another long look, Yoruichi gave them all a knowing grin and beckoned them in, saying, "You'll have to be patient a while for dinner since I was only planning a meal for two. However, it shouldn't be difficult to make enough for us all. Come in, come in and make yourselves comfortable."

Turning back to the two boys, Yoruichi said, "Oh, you two take care of your horses. There's a place for them out back and there should be more than enough grass for them to munch on and such."

While Uryu and Chad did as Yoruichi said, Tatsuki and Orihime followed the woman indoors. It took a few moments for their eyes to adjust to the flickering light of the fire, but the first thing Orihime noticed was not all the odd contraptions, dried herbs, stacks of books or odd looking charts on the walls. Her attention was riveted on a figure who lay stretched out in front of the fire. Unable to contain herself and feeling the need to confirm what, or more accurately, who she saw was truly there, Orihime stumbled forward and cried out a single word.

"Norainu!"

The enormous wolf made no protest as Orihime flung her arms around his neck, buried her face in his long, warm fur and began to soak it with her tears of joy and relief. With her face pressed against his neck, Orihime could feel Norainu's heart steadily pumping the blood throughout his body and confirming that he was indeed alive and well.

Pulling back slightly so that she could kiss Norainu's nose, Orihime said shakily, "I thought…I thought you had died…and that it was all my fault."

While normal wolves would never have been able to do this, Norainu managed to give Orihime a soft, soothing look as he said in a low rumble, "It was my choice to defend you. Were I faced with the same decision again tomorrow, I'd do it again without hesitation."

Sitting down on the opposite side of the fireplace, Tatsuki shook her head and said under her breath, "You never know with this girl. First we try to rob her and then we wind up being her friends. Then we bring her into our camp and then make room for a fifth. We set out this morning looking for that ungrateful guest and wind up finding the companion who we all took for dead. What will happen next?"

Later, when Uryu and Chad had come inside and all had sat down to eat and refresh themselves, Yoruichi sat back and listened languidly and yet attentively as Orihime relayed her tale. Ever since her entrance into the cabin, Orihime had not left Norainu's side and had even asked for permission to wash and redress Norainu's bandages. While she was overjoyed to see her friend alive, Orihime grimaced inwardly as she took in the deep gashes and bite marks scattered over Norainu's body, though mostly on his chest and back.

After Orihime finished talking, Yoruichi sat silently for a time before she said, "That is quite the tale, Child. And while I fully believe that you speak the truth, forgive me for saying that I would never have thought someone like you could have ever made it this far. You obviously care deeply for this Ichigo to have done all the things you have and still remained focused on your goal."

Leaning forward, Yoruichi gave Orihime an unreadable expression as she said, "However, I must ask you one question that hasn't seemed to have occurred to you yet," then she paused before asking, "What will you do when you find him?"

Returning Yoruichi's gaze steadily, Orihime replied, "I'm not sure yet," then giving her a small smile, Orihime went on, "I guess I'll figure that out when I finally catch up with him."

Yoruichi continued to look at Orihime with a curious expression on her face before she stood up and said cryptically under her breath, "I suppose you'll have to. One can't prepare themselves for every single possibility, can they?"

Then shaking herself out of a daze, Yoruichi went over to fetch some bedding and blankets and helped them to bed down for the night. Curled up next to Norainu just like she had done for so many night, Orihime drifted quickly into a deep and dreamless slumber. However, in the middle of the night, Orihime felt herself emerge groggily from her sleep and she sat up to try and make sense of what was going on.

Looking up, Orihime saw soft moonlight drifting in through a window towards the back of the cabin. For reasons she could not explain, Orihime found herself up and walking to the window before she had time to process that she had done so. At the window, Orihime looked out and saw that it had begun to snow.

The ground was just barely dusted with the white powder and Orihime was simply content to stand and watch the scene for a time. Just as she was about to go back to bed, Orihime heard something that made her stop and listen.

Somewhere in the distance but seeming to get closer, a voice was singing.

Author's Note:

Can't write much now since I'm worn out and need to get up tomorrow for work. So all I'll say for now is that I hope this makes sense, I'm really, really, really sorry about the delay and, as always, I hope you enjoyed it. This story is beginning to wrap up, so get ready for a lot of stuff to start happening in the next part...which hopefully should be out soon...keep you fingers crossed.