I really dropped four chapters back-to-back. The overnight shift at the hospital has been really good.

Guest - Momo's betrayal will be explained next chapter. Just know Aizen is a sweet talker.

tipipkd - I shall keep my promise and finish this. Thank you for your kind words. I will re-upload the previous chapter 27 after chapter 30 as an extra for those who have the stomach to read it.

Sweetykinz - I thought of them running away together, but I rather them face the trauma together. I feel that's how they'll grow as individuals and possibly a couple...? *wink*

Thank you for the reviews and the uplifting messages!

Disclaimer: Mention of Torture, Sexual Abuse, and Mental Health.

Enjoy!

Checkmate

Ichigo watched as Orihime stood up from behind her desk. The breathtaking image of her burned into his retinas. She seemed so different from the last time he had seen her. Her clothes usually formed around her curves were looser, and her face was slimmer. The makeup was brushed on flawlessly except for the smudges of mascara around her eyes.

Her eyes, however, were far from what he remembered. That day in the emergency room she was having a miscarriage, she had life and fight behind them. Now she looked enervated. No amount of makeup she had done could hide the pain in her eyes.

"Orihime…" He took a step closer. Her breath hitched at the call of her name. When he took another step, she took one back. But he needed her in his arms. To feel her; to know that she is actually real and not a mirage of his imagination. He extended his arms to touch her, but she stumbled back and pushed the chair between them. His eyes fell on the chair before going back up to her face. The tears she had tried to hide started forming again.

"Ichigo…"

"Orihime!" The two people snapped their heads toward the door. The banging and jangling of keys could be heard on the other side. Momo had gotten security since Grimmjow was indisposed at the moment.

She quickly wiped the fresh set of tears. "We need to go." Remembering Grimmjow and his weapon of choice was outside of those doors, Orihime began moving. Ichigo watched her scramble to the desk and snatch her purse. When her hand reached for the file Momo had given to her prior, Ichigo's own hand was placed on top of hers.

Feeling the heat of his touch, she snatched her hand back and brought it to her chest. She instantly regretted doing it when a hurt expression crossed his face.

"I'm sorry…" her eyes went to the door when a loud thud banged into it. "We really need to go." She reached for the file again and shoved it into her purse. "Let's go." She turned and made her way to the door. He was right behind her.

When they reached the door, Momo and two security guards had come in. "That's him," she pointed.

"He was just leaving," Orihime quickly said, trying to pacify the situation to not have a repeat of the manhandling he faced at the hospital. The two men dropped their hands angrily and stood to the side as Ichigo walked out of the office. She was walking behind him when Momo grabbed her arm.

"You can't leave. Not without Mr. Aizen's permission and without an escort." Momo's grip tightened on her arm and tried to pull her back inside the office.

She glanced up at Ichigo as he stood a few feet away watching the exchange. If she left now, would what she had planned be destroyed?

"Orihime!" Momo's shouting of her name pulled her from the internal turmoil. She snatched her arm back, making her assistant stumble to catch her balance, and continued walking. "Don't just stand there, restrain her."

The two security guards glanced at Momo and then back at Orihime. Not bothering to turn around, she spoke, "I'll remind you, I'm the one who runs this company that employs you." She resumed leaving the floor when Momo cursed and ran to her desk to grab her cell phone.

Desiring not to find out who she was calling, Orihime grabbed Ichigo's arm and pulled him toward the elevator bank.

"What is going on?" he asked when the doors closed. She shook her head trying to think what her next move would be. She needs to call her contact. Glancing up at Ichigo she opened her mouth to ask a question when the elevator alerted them to their arrival to the lobby.

When the doors opened, Orihime cursed under her breath. Nelliel sat in the lobby scrolling on her phone and sipping an iced coffee. She hadn't seen the two of them. "Where's your car?" She glanced up at Ichigo who was looking out into the lobby trying to see what had spooked her.

"In the garage." She turned, grabbed his arm again, and pulled him to the stairwell heading to the parking garage. Before the door closed, she heard Grimmjow's voice roar into the lobby. Not looking back, Orihime bent down to take off her stilettos and started running down the stairs.

"What the… " Ichigo was confused by her actions.

"Come on!" They both started running down the stairs to the garage. Once there, they ran in the same direction. Oil and wet spills soaked her feet through her pantyhose, but she didn't care. This was due or die.

Ichigo secured his keys out of his pocket and pointed them in the air. The alarm went off directing them to his car. He pushed the button on the keys to start the car.

When they reached the doors, the sound of multiple footsteps filled the quiet garage. Orihime glanced to the exit and saw Grimmjow, Nelliel, and other men running around the parking garage.

"Get in," Ichigo called out, pulling her from the distraction. Without hesitation, she climbed in and secured her seatbelt. Pushing the car into reverse, Ichigo threw his arm over the passenger seat to check his blind spots out the rear window. He pressed down heavily on the gas causing the tires to screech as he reversed out of the parking spot. The distorted sound drew the attention of the burly men toward their way. "Shit. Hold on." He turned around, put the car in drive, and floored it.

Wiping the steering wheel like a race car driver, Ichigo turned and maneuvered through the men running in their direction. Grimmjow pointed his gun at the runaway car and began shooting at the back window.

"What the hell are you doing!" Nelliel screamed over the gunshots.

Grimmjow turned to her annoyed. "What?"

"Are you trying to kill her?"

Grimmjow clenched his teeth, checking the remaining bullets left in the chamber. "Probably."

"Well take your anger out on something else. You have to explain this situation to Father."

"Don't remind me."

Aizen waltzed into his office dropping the portfolios of new hiring employees for Sweet Treaties. He unbuttoned his navy blue suit jacket and took it off. Making his way to his desk, he threw the jacket over his office chair. He took off his glasses, slicked his hair back, and sighed.

Tosen came into the office a few minutes after him when he was trying to get settled.

"What is it?" he asked sitting in the chair.

"There's a problem back at Sweet Treaties," said Tosen as he walked closer to the desk.

"What did Grimmjow do this time?" Aizen sighed in annoyance.

"Apparently while secreting his excrements, Orihime Inoue ran away with Ichigo Kurosaki."

Aizen balled his hand into a fist and pressed it to his jaw as he leaned back in the chair. "How in the hell did he even get in the building?"

"Nelliel didn't position anyone in the parking garage. He entered and escaped that way."

"Sloppy work," he stood up and faced the window of his office. The sun wasn't even high enough until noon for this disarray to happen. "Get in contact with the chief of police to put out an APB to capture them."

"Sir," Tosen spoke softly.

"What is it?" He turned away from the window to look at his assistant.

"I tried to handle this before telling you. I called the Chief, but his calls were going straight to voicemail." Aizen raised an eyebrow. "I took it a step further and called all the high-ranked detectives in our pockets, including the Commissioner. Neither of them could be reached."

"That…" He grabbed his suit jacket and fished out his cell phone. Dialing the Commissioner's number, he was met with his voicemail. "Odd."

"Very much, sir."

"What about the others? I know we have the low-ranking ones too. All that money I've been giving, one of them better have answered the call."

"Well, there is one I was able to get in contact with."

"And?" Aizen crossed his arms over his chest.

"He wants to meet."

"Now?"

"Yes. In the café downtown."

"Café? Downtown?" Aizen looked at his watch frowning at the time before dropping his arms. "Fine. Let's go. The more time we waste the farther she could be." He slid on his suit jacket and made his way to the door.

Aizen and Tosen walked into the dainty café. Not many people were around. He scanned the area and saw a man with sunglasses sipping from a white coffee mug in a booth.

"Is that him," he pointed with his chin.

Tosen nodded. "Be discreet, sir. Don't give away more than you should," he whispered behind him.

Aizen frowned while making his way to the booth behind the man. Tosen sat across from him and gazed at the menu.

The man placed his mug down and leaned back. Picking up his cell phone, he pressed it to his ear and started talking. "Good morning, Mr. Aizen."

"Why are we meeting here and not talking on the phone away from each other?"

"Too many eyes and ears."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

The man coughed looking around before talking again. "There's an open investigation coming from the top."

Aizen's eyes widened, and Tosen placed the menu down to the side sitting up. This man had their full attention. "Investigation?"

"Mhmm," he nodded. "From the Commissioner, Chief, his lieutenants, captains, detectives, and even the boots on the ground." A hush silence fell between the three men as a waitress came up to the table. Tosen pointed to the drink menu and raised two fingers. Understanding his nonverbal motion, she smiled and took the menu before walking away.

"Why?" Aizen asked after she was an earshot distance away from the table.

"It appears that some of the deeds we did in exchange for you have been pushed to the light. Cases are being reopened and investigated by the prosecution."

"How?"

"Well… through the grapevine, I heard it was a whistleblower in the department. No one knows who it is yet or what specific station they're based in. The department handling the case is secret too. The only names I got were Detective Kisuke Urahara and his partner Detective Yoruichi Shihoin."

Tosen took out his phone and began scrolling. "Continue."

"The charges they have that are sticking are destruction of evidence, fraud, bribery, and tax evasion."

"But?"

"They want the bigger fish. Someone is talking, because the lawyers are breathing down our necks and giving out deals like candy. Some are taking it to keep their jobs while others are resigning to avoid jail time."

Aizen remained silent when he saw the young lady from earlier emerge from the kitchen. The waitress came over to the table with their drinks. They nodded in thanks before talking again. "Who is the bigger fish if it isn't the Commissioner?"

The man sat back and whispered lowly. "It's you, Sosuke Aizen."

Aizen rubbed his chin and glanced at Tosen who was frowning. "Me? I wonder who would say such a thing?"

The man sipped his now cold coffee. "Just telling you what I heard."

"Why should I trust anything you have to say or of heard?"

"Honestly you shouldn't. But the Chief trusted me enough to pass the message to you. He got his orders from the Commissioner, and so forth and so on. You know, down the chain of command… sir." He smirked over his shoulder. "And he said with the information I have provided… it will be essential to you and my bank account."

Tosen sighed and Aizen dropped his hand from his chin. "That man was too greedy for his own good."

"And it rubbed off."

"Fine, you will have it in your account before you get in your car."

"Great doing business with you." The man got up dropping a few dollars on the table. "Good luck." He moved the phone from his ear and proceeded out of the café.

Tosen already sent the set amount, plus more to the informant's bank account. "Those two detectives. Are they not on the roster?" Aizen asked.

"No, sir."

"I wonder why?" Aizen threw his arm over the headrest of the booth.

"They weren't in our district when we started recruiting."

"I see," he glanced at the cold drink watching the droplets fall to the table. "Finding out who the whistleblower is would be problematic due to the prosecution. We don't have the police on our side because of them too. I have to use the resources we have at the moment to find them."

"I agree."

"Hopefully, Grimmjow doesn't fuck up again."

"Of course." Tosen's phone began ringing. Aizen nodded for him to answer it. "This is Kaname Tosen." A few seconds into the call, he abruptly stood up. "What do you mean they are there?" Aizen raised an eyebrow at his assistant's outburst. "That is absurd. Hold them off until we get back." He hung up and glanced down at his boss. "The prosecution and the ministry of finance are at the office. They have a warrant for our financial records."

Aizen slammed his hand on the table, "What!" The few patrons in the café looked at them. Not bothering to ask for more details, he reached into his wallet to throw a few bucks down and turned away. Tosen was right on his heels calling their lawyer.

Ichigo pulled into the driveway of his childhood home. As much as he hated being here, this was the only option he had to stay off Aizen's radar.

Knowing no one was home, he hopped out of the car and ran to the other side to open the door for Orihime. She gave a weak smile and a small thanks. Inside the house, she stood in the foyer when he offered her some slippers.

"What's wrong?" She glanced down at her oil-tracked pantyhose and the clean pair of slippers. He followed her gaze and understood her reasoning. "If you want, you can grab a shower while I go and clean your clothes."

"My clothes are fine, just my feet."

"A shower is still a shower." He turned away and walked into the house. Nervous to track any more of the mess on her feet, Orihime placed her shoes to the side along with her purse. Leaning against the wall, she shimmed the pantyhose down her legs. She then began wiping her feet in the best way possible with the sheer fabric.

Ichigo came back with extra clothes in his hand. He had also changed out his slim-cut dark grey suit into basketball shorts and a college hoodie. His eyes widened watching her. "That could work too, but the offer for the shower still stands." She paused in cleaning what little she could muster. He pointed down the hall. "To your left." She planted her bare feet on the wooden floor.

"You just want to see me naked," she smirked. He frowned at her joke. The smile did not reach her eyes like before. She took the clothes from his hand and walked past him. "Thanks," she mumbled.

After about an hour, she emerged walking into the living room with a towel tied over her hair. He gave her a pair of sweats that were rolled up past her ankles and his college t-shirt. She looked more comfortable. He patted the couch next to him.

"I made us some tea." Orihime glanced at the couch and then back at him.

"Can I borrow your cell phone to call your father?"

"My dad? Why?"

"To update him on the situation." Ichigo blinked several times confused.

"Wait, hold up. My dad is in on the 'situation'?" He stood up. "I need you to tell me what's going on."

"I will," Orihime took a step back. "After I talk to your dad."

Ichigo groaned in frustration and lack of knowledge. "Fine," he grumbled. Reaching into his hoodie's pocket, he unlocked the device and scrolled to Isshin's number. He handed it over to her. Her hand took it, not before he saw the glint of diamonds. He dropped his hand. "Wha-"

"Thanks." She cut him off. "Be right back." She turned around and walked to the kitchen, which wasn't too far. She pressed the phone to her ear and turned her back to him. "Hello," her soft voice spoke. The conversation lowered as she began speaking.

Ichigo watched her move back and forth, biting her fingernails as she listened to whatever Isshin was saying. She gave short responses in return.

His mind raced thinking about the ring on her left hand. She gave quick glances in his direction but looked away when his eyes didn't leave hers. She pulled off the towel from her head and placed it on the kitchen counter. She used her free hand to run her fingers through the wet locks trying to detangle what she could without a brush. She stopped moving her hand as her eyes focused on one spot on the counter. She nodded and frowned dropping her hand. Her eyes looked at the hand that held the diamond ring. "Okay, thanks. I'll be waiting for your call." She paused and glanced up at Ichigo but quickly looked away again. "Yes… I'll… I'll tell him. Thank you, Mr. Kurosaki. Goodbye."

Orihime removed the phone from her ear. Clearing her throat, she moved out of the kitchen and made her way back to him. "Thanks again."

"Yeah." He took the phone and placed it on the table. "Mind telling me what's going on now? Since when have you and my father been so close? I've only heard about your interactions when I was in the hospital getting brain surgery."

"I know," Orihime stood by the couch and looked anywhere but him.

Ichigo frowned at her subtle answer. "Okay… so care to explain?" She glanced up at him and then looked away. "Orihime!"

She jumped at his angry voice. "I'm sorry. There's a lot."

"I've got time." His cell phone began ringing. They both glanced at it. "Don't move." He snatched the phone from the table. "What is it, Renji?"

"You tell me. You left without a word."

"Rukia told me she was back," he glanced at Orihime who shifted under his stare. "I went to her as soon as she told me where."

"Okay. I'll put off the meetings for the rest of the day. How about tomorrow?"

His eyes watched her closely, "I'll be in late. Can you push it back till then?"

"Sure. Good luck with everything man."

"Thanks." Ichigo hung up and placed it back on the table. "Ready to talk?"

Orihime bit her lip and then let it go. Her hands tugged on the oversized shirt and pulled at the hem. "Where should I start?"

"How about the beginning? After my surgery, you disappeared. Start there."

She nodded and pointed to the couch. "You might want to sit for this."

"I rather stand."

"Please don't be stubborn at a time like this. I'm trying to talk to you."

"Okay, I'll sit if you sit with me."

She rolled her eyes and chuckled. Another smile not reaching her eyes. "Fine." She took a seat first but pulled away, curling into herself when he sat down.

He tried to hide the hurt from her distance. Orihime pushed her wet bangs from her forehead and pushed it behind her ear. "During your surgery, your grandfather Yamamoto and your father Isshin approached me," she started without wavering. "They were able to cover the media about the sex tape and have Senna arrested." She slowly reiterated the conversation and the plan his father had to capture Aizen. Her eyes stared straight ahead telling the story. "After I heard you were out of surgery, I left."

"Okay. Where did you go after that? My father asked you again to help, but you didn't give a definite answer."

She nodded. "He didn't hear it verbally, but I think he knew after I walked away, I had agreed to bring Sosuke down." He flinched at the way she said his name. His eyes went to her left hand that rested on her lap. "After walking in the hallway, I ran into Grimmjow." Her eyes glossed over with tears. "There I found out how deep his power ran. He gotten to my assistant and took her away from me too." She wiped at the tears before they spilled. "Momo, my child… and you," she whispered sniffling. "I realized if he continues to take something from me… I will do the same."

Ichigo watched her look down at her hand and pick at her nails. "The next day… I went to see Ulquiorra. He was still recovering from his own surgery. When I was in his room alone… I," she paused glancing at him. He nodded for her to continue. She turned away to stare at her hands. "I took a pillow and smothered him." Ichigo's eyes widened at her confession.

She killed him…?

Orihime sniffled. "I didn't see the damage because the guards, doctors, and nurses dragged me away. I was later told… he died from a stroke. The suffocation caused an embolism to go to his brain." She shrugged and laughed dryly. "I wish I made him suffer like he did to me, but we all can't win, right."

Ichigo turned away from her and leaned forward. He ran a hand down his face. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. From the corner of his eyes, he saw her shift on the couch uncomfortably. Putting on a straight face, he leaned back and looked at her.

"I get it. What else?" She stared at him for a moment before looking forward.

"I was knocked out after that." She rubbed her lips together. "I found out he paid the doctors and nurses to keep their mouths shut. Even the medical examiner to forge the cause of death. After that Sosuke… kidnapped me out of the country for our… honeymoon?" Ichigo's shoulders dropped.

He swallowed the lump in his throat. "What? Are you two… married?"

"No! God no!" Orihime quickly defended. "He wanted us to get married after our so-called honeymoon." Ichigo sighed relieved. He glanced at her. Her eyes welled up again and her body trembled.

"Hey. What's wrong?"

She twirled the engagement ring on her finger trying to stay strong. But the constant reminder of the ring cuffing her to the damage Aizen inflicted on her remained. She still has no idea why she didn't take it off as soon as she was within reach of Ichigo.

"I… I didn't have a choice."

"Choice? About what?" His eyes watched her twirl the ring. "Orihime what happened over there?"

She snapped her head in his direction. He quickly regretted his question. The utter devastation etched on her face broke him. Tears fell as her mouth tried to move but quivered with fear.

"I'm sorry…" Ichigo apologized confused. He tried to understand what he asked that caused her to lock up and shut down on him. His eyes flickered back and forth remembering his every word until then. The reality of his question hit him. "Did he… did he rape you?" The foul word fell off his lips before he could take it back. A crushing sob escaped her.

"I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry… I'm sorry…" she repeated the same words over and over again. Her arms wrapped themselves around her body. Her manicured fingernails dug into her skin causing the puncture marks to start bleeding. "He… just wanted a baby…"

Ichigo felt his own tears burn behind his closed lids listening to her cry.

"I tried for months to get away from him… but he… he…would…"

"Orihime it's okay." He didn't want her to relive her nightmare, let alone for him to hear about it. Knowing what she went through will surely break him too.

"No, it's not!" He grimaced at her broken voice. "I gave in once! The constant beatings. Mutilation of my feet to stop me from escaping… the taunts. Oh god, the taunts!" She trembled at the memories. "Calling me a murderer… and how I belong only to him." Her voice grew hoarse from the yelling. "Day in and out… he hurt me for some sick pleasure. Just to have his fucking baby!"

Hearing her say every detail that he put her through did break him. In a fit of rage. His hands trembled needing to punch something. Someone. Punch him. Kill Him! The anguished wail of her cry pulled him out of his dark thoughts and focused his attention back on her. Orihime's body rocked back and forth crying hysterically. Words of apologies and a baby kept leaving her lips.

Contemplating his choices, he reached for her to pull her in for a hug, but she recoiled from him. "Don't touch me!" She quickly stood up and backed away from him.

"Orihime-"

"You can't touch me." Her arms wrapped around herself again. "I'm… so dirty and used." Ichigo felt an extensive amount of anger course through his mind. Picturing the torment and torture she had endured. Ruining her for what? A baby?

Choosing to take the step needed to assure her, Ichigo stood up and wrapped his arms around her. "No!" She pushed at him, but he didn't let up.

"I'm so sorry Orihime." He buried his nose into her hair. Her small body trembled at his voice. Every few seconds she would try to push him away, but he held her tighter. Her frame was slowly losing strength. Whispering in her ear, "You're not dirty or used."

She cried, "Yes… I am." Her arms dropped to her side.

"This isn't your fault…"

"Yes, it is," her voice cracked.

"No, it's not!" He pressed her closer to him. "He shouldn't have forced you into such a situation because of how obsessed and delusional his mind is." He ran his fingers through her damp hair trying to soothe her. "You had no other choice. You needed to survive, yet he took it too far."

"He did… I said no," her voice whispered. "I said no over and over again but he still… still hurt me." Ichigo began crying too. "But… I thought of you," she choked out through each sob. "Every night… he touched me… when I had no other… choice but to… give in… I thought of only you."

"You did it to survive," he whispered, feeling his tears trail down his cheeks and into her hair.

"Only you… kept me alive."

"I'm right here now," Ichigo sobbed at her pain. Orihime wept harder hearing his cries.

Her tears settled, but his didn't as they sat back down on the couch. Anger in him caused him to tear up every few seconds.

Ichigo couldn't get past the hurt she faced for months. The memento of it rested on her finger glaring at him. Shackled back on that island enduring mental, physical, and sexual abuse. She was able to tell him the rest of the story of her ordeal and the nurse who helped her cope. The only witness to her nightmare. Ichigo felt sick knowing that that one person couldn't help her more than just cleaning wounds and sending letters.

Orihime still expressed gratitude to the woman. He couldn't.

"The letters were sent to your company writing your father's name as the recipient. I had no one close to me to send them to. Sending it there was my only option. Rukia happened to be the one to gather them and send them right to him."

"You're telling me Rukia knew where you were this whole time?"

"No. I didn't even know where I was. The nurse wouldn't tell me no matter how much I pleaded. The letters didn't have a return address so they could only be sent forward. I was happy to know it reached him."

"Wow." Ichigo swiped his hand down his face for the umpteeth time that afternoon. "So, my dad and Rukia received your letters. None for me?" He gave a fake hurt look and placed a hand on his chest.

Orihime gave a weak smile. This time the spark he remembered glowed in her eyes a smidgen. "I'm sorry. When I left… you were out of surgery. The doctor said you would be recovering for a while."

"Touche," he dropped his hand from his chest and rested it on his lap.

She sighed, "Your dad was able to get the ball rolling with the investigation into Sosuke-"

"Why do you keep calling him that?" Ichigo cut her off. She glanced up at him confused. "His name… it's…"

Orihime frowned looking away. "It's… a habit."

"That you need to break immediately."

"Okay," she whispered. "The investigation into his finances and business will hit the media by tonight. While on the island, I got hints of information through his secret phone calls. When they find what they need, he will be arrested. For espionage, bribery, and among other charges."

"How did you figure any of it would stick?"

"I noticed he did everything through his business." She propped her leg up on the couch, leaned her elbow on the backrest, and pressed her knuckles to her temple to face him. "Sos… he believed in a legitimate paper trail. The payouts to the police for cover-ups, and scandals with clients among other things he disguised it as donations. I saw it before, but he covered his tracks better than those other businessmen I encountered at the beginning of my entrepreneurship." She rubbed her other hand on the sweatpants. "I figured he was a legit guy from my knowledge, but I wasn't a finance officer, so it wasn't my expertise to notice the discrepancy. However, when I found out he was Ulquiorra's adoptive father… I derailed any chances of dating him. They might not be related but they sure acted the same. Since then, I presume my rejection fueled him to pursue me instead."

Ichigo sighed, "What a fucking idiot."

Orihime chuckled but quickly stopped. "Oh! Senna's baby." He narrowed his eyes. "Evidently, you are not the father."

"I found that out a couple of days ago," he said leaning back on the couch.

"Did you get a DNA test too?"

"My dad did after I collapsed the second time."

"Second time?" Her eyes widened. "What happened?"

"Nothing. It's fixed," he waved her off, changing the subject. "Who's the father then?" She furrowed her eyebrows but continued.

"Ulquiorra is the father." Now it was Ichigo who furrowed his eyebrows.

"Huh? How? How do they even know each other?"

Orihime shrugged, "Not a clue." She folded her arms over her chest. "But if I know Sosuke… sorry." She glanced over to Ichigo. "If I know him… he forced them to bond in this mindless game of his."

"Still weird. Both of our exes getting together to have a baby."

She shivered at the thought. "I know." Ichigo turned to her and smiled. She grinned at him. Suddenly they started laughing at the idea. It was cut short by the ringing of his cell phone. They gazed down at it. It was his father.

Reaching for it, he put it on speaker when he accepted the call. "Hey, Dad."

"Hey, kiddo. You sound… okay," Isshin said hesitantly.

"Uh, I guess."

"Is Orihime still with you?" Ichigo glanced up at her.

She scooted closer to him, "I'm here Mr. Kurosaki."

"Good. I'm guessing you didn't tell him everything?"

She stopped breathing to look up at Ichigo. "Not yet…" He raised an eyebrow at the coded messages his father and Orihime were exchanging.

"Am I missing something?" Ichigo asked confused. The silence stretched longer than necessary. "What aren't you guys telling me?"

"Orihime… tell him before they show up." She glanced at the phone and then backed up at Ichigo.

"Before who shows up?"

"Ichigo," she softly whispered. "There is one last thing I haven't told you."

"What?" He felt his heart sinking at the new fresh tears welling up in her eyes. "What is it?"

A pounding at the front door interrupted them. "Shit. They're there already." Isshin cursed. "I'm five minutes away. Whatever you do, stall them until I arrive," he then hung up.

He gazed at his phone confused and then glanced up at Orihime. "Who is a -"

"Police! We have a warrant." The pounding was louder.

They both turned back toward the front door. "Why are the police at my house?"

Orihime stood up and brushed her hair behind her ears. "They're here for me."

"What?" He also stood up to his feet towering over her. "Why?"

She placed a hand on his arm. "To arrest me."

"Orihime!"

"We're counting to three before we break the door down!" They glanced over to the door again.

"1!"

She squeezed his arm drawing his attention back to her. "The only way for some of the charges to stick to Sosuke is my confession to murdering Ulquiorra."

"2!"

Ichigo's mouth dropped open. "What!"

"3!"

BANG!

One last chapter to go. It'll be up -fingers crossed- by the end of the week.

I swear no more separations. I'm keeping my promise.

Thoughts.