Ichigo helped Orihime down the stairs after her battle and she got the strength to stand again. When they made it down, they saw Sora was down there and was waiting for them.

"Orihime, did you actually do it?" Sora said.

"I did." Orihime said. He went over and hugged her as he was glad his sister was safe.

"I'm just sorry you had to go through this." Sora said.

"It was a little hard, but I had to do it." Orihime said.

"You did do a great job." Ichigo said.

"You're the last person I thought that would congratulate someone on killing their brother or sister." Karin said.

"I know, but that girl messed with Orihime's head and emotions. She even tried to kill Orihime and took her original powers away." Ichigo said. "Orihime tried to stop her, but she just wouldn't listen and I don't consider her Orihime's sister. Any person that tries to kill their brother or sister doesn't deserve to be called one." He said, but realized that Sora was here and he tried himself as a hollow and that's just what Orihime did. "Sorry Sora, Orihime."

"That's okay. I wasn't in my right mind back then." Sora said knowing he was referring to when he was a hollow.

"And I agree with you Ichigo. Even if we were related, I wouldn't really consider Masara my sister." Orihime said. "I'm just glad that this nightmare is finally over."

….

Girusei

Girusei managed to sneak away during the fight. He tried to walk, but it was difficult since he had a large wound on his chest and leaned against the rock wall.

"That doesn't look good." Girusei looked up to see Susuke.

"Susuke, you're alive!?" Girusei said.

"Yes, but the battle with the quincy has done a lot more damage to me." Susuke said as he held up his sword. "When I thought he was going for the kill, he destroyed my soul chain. My zanpakutō is just an ordinary sword now. All the powers I once had are gone. He must have spared me because we're humans or whatever his reason was."

"You must have felt that Masara has been defeated." Girusei said.

"Yes. You and I seem to be all that's left." Susuke said. "With you injured and my powers lost, we might as well just leave this place because we won't stand a chance in a fight against these people."

"I agree, but what do we do from here?" Girusei said.

"We live our lives and change them from our past, the right way." Susuke said; and so the two of them set out to return to the world of the living and start out to set their new lives in motion.

…

Captain's Meeting

"You did a job well done for mere humans." Yamamoto said as the captains gathered together to thank Orihime, Chad, and Karin for assisting them.

"We were glad to help." Orihime said.

"But what now? Are you going to take our powers away?" Chad said.

"Actually we've already decided on that." Ukitake said as he reached inside his kimono and pulled out three substitute soul reaper passes. "Knowing that you three are close to Ichigo Kurosaki and have assisted all of us, we've decided to make you all official substitute soul reapers. You'll be fighting alongside Ichigo to help watch over Karakua Town."

"Cool." Karin said as they each took one.

"Are you okay with this?" Renji said.

"Knowing Karin, no matter what I say I can't stop her. As for Chad and Orihime, they're free to do whatever they want." Ichigo said. "I know they can take care of themselves from here on out."

"We welcome you into our organization. That is all." Yamamoto said as the meeting came to an end and the captains begin to leave.

"Byakura, do you have a minute?" Orihime said.

"What is it?" Byakura said.

"Masara told me that you killed our grandfather. You might not know who I'm talking about, bu…" "I know who it is." Byakura interrupted.

"In all my time as a soul reaper I did take the life of a human, one of my biggest regrets and shame as a soul reaper." Byakura said. "I was in the world of the living and I was executing a hollow. A humble old man was there. I tried to save him as the hollow attack, but I used too much power. My Senbonzakura ended up cutting the man and I couldn't save him. When I checked to see if he was still alive a young girl was there and she was on the verge of tears."

"That girl had to be Masara." Uryu said.

"Thank you Captain Obvious." Ichigo said.

"Before I could explain myself, she ran off and I could not find her to explain myself." Byakura said. "I was punished, but I've lived with that regret. I did not know he was your grandfather."

"That's what threw her to do this. She thought you killed him on purpose." Rukia said.

"When it was really an accident." Orihime said. "I knew you would never do something like that on purpose."

"Masara must have had strong spiritual energy if she was able to see my brother before gaining the abilities she had." Rukia said.

"Thank you for telling me this Byakura and I'm sorry for attacking you the other day." Orihime said.

"My forgiveness has already been passed on to you." Byakura said and just walked away. The sun was coming down on another day. Uryu and all the others were celebrating over their victory and were getting ready to leave.

"What an amazing adventure. I can't wait to come back here again." Yuzu said.

"Don't go getting use to this place Yuzu. You're still young and should enjoy your life in the world of the living." Rukia said. "Enjoy it while you can because you and the others are leaving for it first thing in the morning."

"That and there's no way that Ichigo is going to let you come back here." Renji said.

"Speaking of Ichigo, where is he?" Chad said.

"I think I saw him wanting to talk to Orihime." Uryu said.

"I think I see where this is going." Karin said and all of them were smirking and laughing as they were all thinking the same thing. Orihime was with her brother as they stared at the open sky as they shared the last moment they could have for a long time.

"I guess you'll be heading back to the world of the living soon." Sora said.

"Yeah, I wish you could come with us." Orihime said.

"I wish I could too, but I'm happy here. I'm even happier to know that there will be times you can come here. I just hope you will stop by when you can." Sora said.

"I'll try every chance I get." Orihime said.

"It's okay if you can't. Now that I know you have these powers, whenever I see the sun, I'll think of you." Sora said.

"I'm going to miss you." Orihime said.

"I'll miss you too." Sora said as he hugged his little sister one last time. "I love you, Orihime."

"I love you too." Orihime said. He let her go and was on his way back to his home. As he walked back inside, he passed by Ichigo.

"How long have you've been standing there?" Sora said.

"A little while. I just didn't want to ruin your moment with her." Ichigo said.

"Thank you and now I think you're about to have a moment of your own with her." Sora said. Ichigo smiled and stared right at her as she continued to gaze at the setting sun lit sky. "I know you'll treat her right and take great care of her."

"Thank you." Ichigo said and Sora left. Ichigo turned to Orihime. She caught a quick glimpse of him as they both stared at the sky. Neither one of them said a word because they didn't need any. Ichigo looked right at her as his face began to blush. He reached right at her and move a strand of hair back behind her ear and rested his hand against her face that got her attention. Just by meeting their eyes, they could feel the connection the two were making. Ichigo placed his forehead against hers. He went in and kissed her. They wrapped their arms around each other as they both became official.

Inoue Arc, End