A/N: Don't like the plot of character plot, then don't read. Or I'll get my Zangetsu and Getsuga Tenshou you :P

Disclaimer: All is owned by Tite Kubo.

CHAPTER 2:

Waiting Is The Hardest Part.

Ichigo had fallen asleep when Rukia arrived with a change of clothes. She walked up to his sleeping form, and she slowly shook his broad muscular shoulder. "Ichigo...wake up.." She said softly.

His eyes opened and he stared at her. "Rukia...are you okay?" Ichigo asked, sitting up to look at her.

"I'm fine, I brought you a change of clothes and to check on Orihime. Everyone is worried." She said, tears shining in her eyes.

"Ryuken Ishida, Uryu's dad is taking care of her, they haven't come out for.." Ichigo checked his watch, "6 hours. It must be really bad if they haven't come out yet."

"Some wedding huh?" Rukia asked, laughing, resting her head against Ichigo's shoulder and Ichigo chuckled.

"Yeah, but you know what? It wouldn't have been complete without some kind of fight, though I wished I could have left this part out." He sighed, orange hair falling against his face, hiding deep brown eyes.

"Yes but Orihime was so brave in that battle. I can't believe how strong she has become. She almost is at the same level as you Ichigo." Rukia observed, staring at the doors which Orihime had been wheeled in for emergency surgery.

"She is very brave. I guess I kind of rubbed off on her. If I hadn't gotten her involved in all of this in the first place, she would never have been injured. If my own Spiritual Pressure hadn't awakened Chad and hers, hell, nearly all of the damn school, they would never have been subjected to this." Ichigo clenched his fists, and lowered his head.

"No, Ichigo, you gave them a gift. They became closer to you because of this, and you grew closer to them. Orihime protected her friends and killed the Hollow, no matter how strong it was. She overcame that power with her own. Orihime sacrificed herself for her friends, as we would all have done for her. She made the choice, it isn't your burden to bear." Rukia whispered softly, rubbing Ichigo's shoulder.

Just then, Ryuken appeared from the doorway, his scrubs covered in blood and he led the wedded couple to an empty room. "I managed to extract the Hollow's fingertips from her stomach and I've sealed her wound. But, it wasn't until the Hollow's Spiritual Pressure mingled with her own, it's impossible to separate the Hollow's power from Orihime's. I'm afraid, when she has recovered, you will have to take her to Kisuke Urahara, to be Hollowfied."

"WHAT?!" Both Rukia and Ichigo screamed, their eyes wide as they stared at the elder man.

"It has to be done, or Orihime Inoue will be replaced with the Hollow. And you will be forced to eliminate her." Ryuken pushed his glasses up, mirroring his young son.

"I will not kill my friend!" Ichigo snarled, his hands clenching even tighter, his Spiritual Pressure rising.

"I agree, there is always a way." Rukia said, calming Ichigo with one hand on his arm.

"I already told you the way. She must be Hollowfied, or you eliminate her." Ryuken once again stated, staring at them, emotionless.

"What kind of monster are you?!" Ichigo growled, his Hollow rejoicing in the anger he was being fed. "I will not subject Orihime to this! To have some evil thing inside her toying with her mind, whispering things in her innocent head when it can, Orihime having to fight for control every single day! Hoping and praying that it doesn't come out and kill everyone dear to her!" He screamed, his Spiritual Pressure exploding, pouring out his true feelings of the burden he had to bear.

Rukia grabbed his hand, and he fell into her arms, sobbing. He didn't want this for Orihime. If only she had let him in, she would never be in hospital, she would never have to become what he is, to face the same problems he had to.

Orihime's life would now be changed forever, because of one fight that ended bad for both Hollow and human.

Her eyelids spread to reveal stormy gray irises. Her eyes struggled to focus on anything, it was so blurry from sleeping for so long.

When her eyes finally focused, she looked into a mass of violet. "R-Rukia?" Orihime whispered, her voice croaky from not being used.

"Hey, you're finally awake." Rukia said, her beautiful eyes overflowing with tears. "Oh, Orihime, you had as all so worried. Oh, my sister." Rukia started to cry, burrowing her head against Orihime's hand.

"Rukia..." The injured girl whispered once more, eyes wide in shock as one of the toughest Soul Reapers in all of the Soul Society -in Orihime's eyes- sobbed brokenly into her open hand.

Immediately, Orihime's healing oval covered Rukia and the healer sensed for any injury.

"I'm not hurt Orihime, I was just so worried about you. We all were. Everyone is here." Rukia said, lifting her head and wiped a strand of red hair from the poor injured womans eyes.

The glow faded and Orihime's snowdrop pins became whole.

"C-can I see Ichigo?" Orihime whispered, staring at Rukia's pretty face.

Rukia smiled serenely. "Of course you can. Let me get him." The black haired woman left the room and Orihime closed her eyes once more, sensing everybody's Spiritual Pressure.

Chad, Uryu, Tatsuki, Toshiro, Rangiku, Byakuya, Jushiro, Renji.

But the most prominent was the man she loved.

Ichigo.

She could feel him nearing her room, could hear his footsteps and the power of soul.

Her mouth watered.

Ichigo entered, his orange hair flat for a change, which made him look somewhat different, as if he was someone else, not his usual spiky-haired self.

He looked innocent.

Ichigo pulled the seat that Rukia had been sitting on even closer to Orihime and sat, his face so close to hers as he took her soft hand in his. "Orihime...are you alright?" He asked in that soft gentle voice that made her heart flutter and her toes wiggle.

"I'm great. I'm so great that the little blue men are singing, and the green men are dancing, and the little orange men are making sure everything is going according to plan!" Orihime said, her smile brightening the entire room and Ichigo's dark mood.

His lips lifted into a soft smile.

"I'm glad you're feeling better. You gave us all quite a fright." He continued in that soft voice, the smile that softened his features only made her want to kiss every inch of his ruggedly handsome face.

"Oh, I was sure I was going to be okay! Because if I wasn't, you would have helped me, right!?" She asked, her eyes sparkling with her story.

"Damn right I would have. But not even my Bankai would have broken that shield you had up. That was some pretty strong stuff there Orihime. Who have you been training with?"

"Oh, your Dad said he could help me and we trained underneath Mr. Urahara's shop! Then at one point, my opponents were Mr. Urahara, Mr. Kurosaki, and Yoruichi. I beat them all with Tsubaki by my side as my offence."

Ichigo forgot everything. His marriage, the Hollowfication process, her injuries and he chatted with her, asking her about her abilities and praising how strong she became.

Orihime truly was a transcendent being indeed.