Orihime revealed the true form of her bankai. It shined like the sun with it being made from the six flowers of her Shun Shun Rikka. Masara would have been amazed if it weren't for the fact that she was in the middle of a fight.

"That does seem to be truly amazing. It's a shame that I'm going to have to break it." Masara said.

"Go ahead and try." Orihime said. Masara jumped right at her. She swung down, but Orihime was able to block it with just one wing of one of the Shun Shun Rika and pushed back that caused Masara to slide back.

"It seems you also hold amazing power. Let's put it to the test." Masara said. She attacked Orihime and the two of them kept slashing weapons against each other.

…

Ichigo

Ichigo and the others arrived to the top of the staircase. They stood by the edge and could feel the force of the power both of them were releasing.

"Orihime is giving off intense energy." Rukia said.

"I can feel it from here. I never knew someone like her could be this powerful." Renji said.

"Shouldn't we do something?" Yuzu said.

"Perhaps she's right. Ichigo let's get in there." Uryu said as he turned to face him.

"I'm staying right here." Ichigo said.

"But why?" Uryu said.

"This is a battle Orihime has to face. This is where she's going to face her past and overcome her greatest obstacle." Ichigo said. "If she needs me, I'll be right here. Until then, I'm not going to move from this spot." Uryu looked down and saw Ichigo's grip on his sword tighten.

'I see.' Uryu thought as he noticed that Ichigo wanted to jump in, but was using all his strength and will power to keep him from going. 'This is just like when Ichigo fought Byakura, but the roles are reversed. Orihime, Ichigo finally understands your feelings, he understands you. This is your chance to be with him just like how you always wanted, so you have to win.'

…

Orihime

Orihime and Masara clashed their swords against each other in the air. They both jumped down and went and attacked again as the two kept swinging their swords against each other. They placed their swords against each other as they tried to push the other back.

"This is ridiculous. How can you have kept up with me for this long?" Masara said.

"Maybe you're not as good as you thought." Orihime actually insulted her. Masara got angry and banged her head against Orihime and then kicked in the gut to move her back.

"You should know better than to make me mad." Masara said. "If you say the wrong word to me then it will be your last mistake. You didn't seem like the type that would do such a thing anyway."

"I guess becoming a soul reaper and obtain the power to fight gave me a backbone." Orihime said.

"Then I'll have to break that bone." Masara said.

"Do your worst. I won't give up because my friends and the soul reapers are counting on me to stop you." Orihime said.

"I don't get it. Can you explain yourself?" Masara said and Orihime was wondering what she meant. "Why do you continue to fight for them? I told you that Byakura killed our grandfather, a member of our family. How can you still side with them when they killed one of our own?"

"I know you told me all that. I actually attacked Byakura, but that was out of confusion because I didn't know what to believe or what to feel." Orihime said. "I hate what I did, but Ichigo saved me. My friends have always been there for me in the worst of my times and now it's my turn."

"I can't believe this." Masara said. "Orihime, our brother is dead, our grandfather was killed, and our parents don't care for us. You and I are all that we have left of this family. How can you just turn you back on that?"

"I'm not turning my back, you were the one who's turned her back on this family." Orihime said and that struck another nerve in Masara.

"That does it. That was the last straw because I'm trying to avenge our grandfather and you think I'm the one who's not seeing what's right in front of us." Masara said. "I gave you more than one chance to make the smart decision and join us and you blew each one. I'll kill you with the soul reapers!" She slammed her sword into the ground and shot another wave of spirit energy, much stronger than the last, but Orihime jumped over it.

"If that's how you feel, fine!" Orihime said. "Sora and I've tried to get you to open your eyes, but you meant it when you said that there wasn't anything we could do to change your mind." Masara yelled as she jumped up at her, but Orihime blocked her attack and pushed her back. "Since you refuse to give in, I'll be the one to stop you."

"I'm not done with you yet." Masara said as she used the flash step and appeared over Orihime, but Orihime dodged her attack and thrusted her own sword, but Masara used the flash step to avoid her.

"Try as much as you want. I'm not going to lose." Orihime said.

"The same goes for me." Masara said. The two of them ran straight towards each other and kept slashing their swords against each other. Masara swung her sword, but Orihime ducked down. Before Orihime could counter attack, Masara kicked her to the side and she rolled against the ground. Orihime pulled herself up as Masara tried to attack her again. Orihime swung her sword, but Masara used the flash step to appear behind her. Orihime swung around, but Masara used the flash step again.

'This isn't good. I haven't learned how to use the flash step yet and I don't know how much longer I can keep up with her.' Orihime thought.

"Getting tired yet, Orihime?" Masara said as Orihime turned to face her. "At this rate, this fight might never end. You're more skilled than I thought. I think we should end this right here and now."

"If that's what you want." Orihime said as she held up her sword and started to pour some of her spirit energy around it in a yellow color and her sword glowed brighter. Masara did the same as red energy formed around her sword. They were both putting all of their energy in for their next attacks.

"Here I come, Orihime!" Masara shouted.

"Masara!" Orihime shouted as they both jumped straight at each other. Both of the reared back their swords and they both slashed simultaneously and they went past each other. Neither one of them made a move, but Orihime felt pain as she was losing balance. Blood spilled out of her and it looked like she was going to be the one to fall over

"I warned you Orihime." Masara said feeling confident that she won.

"Masara!" Masara turned her head and saw Orihime facing her as she pointed her sword and fired the six fragments of her sword. Masara was caught off guard as all six of them pierced through her body. She fell over as her blood spread around her and the six formed Orihime's sword again. Orihime had no more words to say as she saw her sister's life coming to an end.

"How could you?" Masara said with the last ounce of strength and of breath she had left. "How could you not side with me? Why would you betray your family?"

"I didn't." Orihime said. "Sora took me away from our parents when I was only about three years old and he raised me. Sora died in a car accident, but I still had a family. My friends are my family. Ichigo, Chad, Uryu, Rukia, and Renji. I haven't betrayed my family. That is the family I belong in. I just wished you could have been a part of it." Masara was amazed that Orihime would still want her to be family, but it was too late as her life slipped away as her eyes shut.

'Grandfather, you were the only person that cared for me. If you saw Orihime now, would you have tried to convince me not to destroy the soul reapers? Do you think that maybe I could have actually been part of a family with Orihime? What am I saying, of course you would.' Those were Masara's final thoughts.

"I did it. I really won!" Orihime whispered, but from exhaustion she fell back as she used up most of her strength in that final attack. Then, Ichigo ran over to her and caught her as he wrapped his arms around her and she fell into his chest as her head rested against it and he dropped to his knees for her to rest.

"You did it, Orihime." Orihime looked up to see she was surrounded by all of her friends.

"Ichigo, Uryu, Chad, Rukia, Renji, Yuzu, Karin. You're all here." Orihime said.

"Of course we are." Karin said.

"We all came as soon as we could. We all felt your power." Ichigo said.

"You were amazing." Chad said.

"Did she really do it?" Renji said as he walked over to Masara. He tapped his foot gently on her and saw she wasn't responding. "I can't believe she actually took out her own sister. You're tougher than I thought."

"You truly were amazing. We're all proud of you, Orihime. I'm proud of you." Ichigo said as he reached for her hand and held onto it. Orihime blushed, not just from Ichigo holding her hand, but as she felt the praise of all of her friends. All the times that it was them who saved her or they were doing all the fighting, she was the one that fought and won. Now, she knew how it felt and how her friends cared so much like in the family she truly belonged in.

"Thank you Ichigo, everyone." Orihime said.

To Be Continued…