"We're back." Ichigo called out. After paying a visit to Karakura, Ichigo and his friends headed back to the guild except Uryu. He stayed behind because he says there's something he needed to investigate.

"Welcome back. Hey, where's Uryu? Didn't he go with you guys?" Lucy said.

"He stayed behind. He said there was something he needed to check out." Renji said.

"I just heard that he contacted us a while ago. He needed Grimmjow's help with something." Gray said.

"Doesn't matter. They can do whatever they want and so can we." Ichigo said. All of them went back to going like everything was normal. Erza stood on the upper floor of the guild from when they came back.

'I'm glad to see Noches Espada didn't try anything.' Erza thought. 'However, Orihime….' Erza was in deep thought about something. With all that has happened, there's one course of action that is needed to be taked.

"Hate What I Become"

…

Orihime's Apartment

Orihime thought that since Sora was in town, she show him around. He's already seen the guild and she showed him around Magnolia. Now would be a great time to show him her apartment.

"Here we are. What do you think?" Orihime said as she showed him the place.

"A nice place." Sora said.

"Might not be much, but I like it." Orihime said.

"Don't sell this place short. It doesn't look bad at all." Sora said. "So now that we have a chance to talk, I've been meaning to ask what it's like to be in a guild."

"It's amazing." Orihime said. "I've made so many friends and they all treat each other like family. They might fight, but they are there for each other when it's needed the most."

"Must be nice. Ever since we were separated, I've been on my own." Sora said.

"Sora, as much as I would like to go home back to Karakura, I don't think I could really leave Fairy Tail." Orihime said. "It means too much to me. I just hate that I've caused so much trouble for them. It's because of me that this Noches Espada is attacking us and the entire world is in danger because of it."

"But it seems Fairy Tail is willing to go as far as they can to make sure you're safe." Sora said. "You're lucky to be part of it since this is the most powerful guild in all of Fiore."

"Thanks, Sora. I'm also happy that I've made the friends I have in that guild." Orihime said.

"Let me ask you something else. How did you end up in this guild in the first place?" Sora said.

"I've been wanting to join Fairy Tail for a long time." Orihime said. "I just didn't know how until I met Ichigo. Ichigo was the one that brought me there."

"I see. Your friend with the orange hair and the black clothing." Sora said to have an understanding.

"Yeah and it wasn't just that." Orihime said with a smile on her face and a dreamy eye look. "Ichigo has been there for me when I needed it even when I didn't ask for it. He always came through for me and did everything he could to protect me."

"Orihime, are you okay? You look like you're dozing off." Sora asked and that brought her back to reality.

"Sorry. I don't know what came over me." Orihime said.

"I know that look. Orihime, I think you're in love." Sora said and Orihime became red with embarrassment.

"I'm what?!" Orihime said.

"You're in love." Sora said. "It's nothing to be a shame of. It's a beautiful thing. Orihime, perhaps you should go and tell him. If by some cruel chance of fate that you are unable to win this fight, you should tell him." Orihime never thought about it before, but now she was. Ichigo was always there when she needed him and she always felt so happy around him. Her heart always beat incredibly fast and she wouldn't be where she is now without him.

"Oh my god. Sora, you're right. I think I am in love." Orihime said.

"Then go. Go on and tell him. He just might feel the same." Sora said.

"Yeah. I need to tell him if things do take a turn for the worse." Orihime said. "I have every bit of faith in this guild, but I need to tell him." Orihime got up and ran right out the door and straight to the guild.

…

The Guild

Ichigo and the others were kept informed about their quest for Noches Espada. So far, no one has been able to locate where they are, but they aren't giving up yet. Ichigo was hanging at a table until Erza came up to him.

"Ichigo, can I talk to you in private for a moment" Erza said.

"Sure." Ichigo agreed. He got up and followed Erza into her office. Just as they went up there, Orihime came running into the guild.

"Orihime, what's with you?" Rukia said.

"Where's Ichigo? There's something I need to tell him." Orihime said.

"Erza just asked to speak with him." Chad said.

"He's got to be in her office." Renji said. Orihime made a direct route for her office without even thinking. "Hold on, what's going on?"

"Orihime, you can't just go running in there." Rukia said, but Orihime wasn't listening. She ran right to the door of Erza's office.

"Ichigo, I need a favor." Erza said and Orihime stopped to listen.

"What is it?" Ichigo said.

"I need you to make sure Orihime stays out of this fight." Erza said.

"What? Why?" Ichigo asked.

"I know Orihime wants to help, but I don't think it's a good idea." Erza said. "She's Noches Espada's target, the last key to their goal. They will do anything to make sure they have her. We're looking at war against them."

"I don't see the problem. There's no way they're going to get her." Ichigo said.

"That's a risk we can't take." Erza said. "Orihime is a kind hearted person….too kind. She can't bring herself to hurt an enemy. Her defense and healing power would be helpful, but we need all the power we can get. Orihime has little to no experience in combat and that's something we can't afford."

"What about Wendy? She prefers to heal instead of fight, but you're letting her take part." Ichigo said.

"Wendy is different. She's the Sky Dragon Slayer and she has combat abilities." Erza said. "She's willing to fight for us. Orihime is the same, but she can't bring herself to actually fight. She only get in the way. It's just too big of a risk to have Orihime out on the battlefield."

"Erza, how could you say that?" Ichigo said.

"I hate to say it and I apologize, but as the master of this guild, I need to do what I think is best." Erza said. "Ichigo, try to understand that this is for the best. We can't have Orihime take part in this war. That would only be playing into the enemies hands and we have to stay focus on the battle and not just protecting her. If Orihime take part in this, she'll become the one thing she hates the most: a hindrance." Orihime heard every single word and she was practically crying. She saw that Erza had a point. Orihime would only get in the way, an annoyance to others, what she hates to be the most.

'I would only become a hindrance?' Orihime thought. 'I feel bad enough that I put everyone in danger because of me, but I would also only get in the way.' Orihime had lost all the courage to talk to Ichigo and just started running away. Erza and Ichigo heard footsteps. Ichigo looked out and saw Orihime run out of the guild.

"Oh man." Ichigo said as he figured Orihime overheard them talking. "Orihime, wait!" He called out to her and went after her. Orihime just continued to run and she didn't even look where she was going.

"I hate this. I hate what I become. I'm only making things worse." Orihime said as she cried and kept running.

"Orihime!" Orihime looked ahead and saw Sora was right in front of her. He became concern when he saw the tears. "Orihime, what happened? What's the matter?" Orihime kept sobbing and couldn't actually talk. "Come on, let's go somewhere more private." He grabbed her by the shoulders and guided her outside Magnolia.

….

The Woods

Sora guided Orihime out of Magnolia and into the woods so they could talk in private. Orihime already told him everything she just heard from Ichigo and Erza.

"I can't believe she said that. This Erza must not believe in you." Sora said.

"It's not like that." Orihime said as she was able to calm herself down. "Master Erza is only thinking of what is best. She didn't mean to sound hurtful, but she has a point. We're only in this trouble because of me. Now, I just don't know what to do anymore."

"There is one thing you can do. You can still leave with me." Sora said.

"What?" Orihime said.

"Orihime, you said it yourself that you've caused a lot of trouble." Sora said. "Perhaps if you go into hiding, Noches Espada will spend so much time trying to find you and leave Fairy Tail alone. That will also give Fairy Tail the chance to strike them. All you have to do is come with me." He held out his hand for her to take, but Orihime still wasn't sure. She hated to be a nuisance to her friends, but she didn't want to leave either. How can she put one desire over another?

…

Uryu

Uryu was walking through a cemetery in Karakura. He was hoping to find some answers here. He came up to a space between two graves. He looked down and slid his hand through the grass and saw something was not right with the ground.

"Uryu!" Uryu looked behind him and saw Grimmjow was able to catch up and find him.

"Grimmjow, I'm glad you could make it." Uryu said.

"So why am I here?" Grimmjow said.

"I need your help to dig something up." Uryu said.

"You called me to dig?" Grimmjow asked.

"Look at the ground." Uryu said as he pointed to a thin wide lie in the ground. "It looks like something was pulled out recently. Something's been bothering me for a while and I'm hoping to find the answer here. Your animal-like behavior will help speed this along."

"Alright." Grimmjow said. He didn't get it, but he went with it.

"Wait." Uryu said and put his hands in a praying position. "Please forgive us for deviling this sacred ground, but it's for the good of humanity. Alright, now!" Grimmjow placed his hands in the ground and started digging like a wild animal. It didn't take long until he found something. "Did you hit something?"

"Yeah." Grimmjow said as he cleared more dirt away and they saw it was a coffin.

"Open it and see if anything is in there." Uryu said. Grimmjow opened it up, but quickly closed it as he freaked out.

"Oh yeah. There's a dead body in there." Grimmjow said.

"This proves what I thought. I'm willing to bet the person in there is the REAL Sora Inoue." Uryu said.

"What?! How do you know?" Grimmjow said.

"I found it strange he showed up right after Noches Espada did." Uryu said. "I had my suspicions from how he acted. He didn't act like someone who was sad or joyful. There weren't even any tears from seeing his sister. What really threw me was his story. He said that he and Orihime were separated in Amaryllis during the Spring Festival. They hold it at the end of spring to memorize the beauty that came with it. Sora said it was on the twenty-first of June, but the last official day of spring is on the twentieth. The dates are so close so it's easy to overlook that fact, but maybe Orihime was just so happy to see her brother that she didn't even notice. Someone must have removed his gravestone so no one would notice."

"So…if the real Sora Inoue is really dead, who's been hanging around Orihime?" Grimmjow questioned without knowing that Orihime is alone with him right now. A taste of self-hatred and doubt stirs in a young flower and someone who pretends to be someone he's not takes advantage of that.

…

Ichigo: A rift has begun to form with Orihime and someone tries to use that to their own advantage as they tear at the torn. At her weakest, Orihime is vulnerable and is left with the decision that could shape everything we've come to known.

Next time: Nothing Left

Ichigo: A trick revealed that will shatter an innocent woman.