A/N: I know, I know. I really sold the premise of an IchiHime holiday at the end of the last chapter, and I promise it is coming! I just wanted to tie a couple loose ends before getting to it.

It's also a shorter chapter. I might move to shorter chapters overall just to keep things moving more quickly.

As always, thank you for reviews and favourites! Your kind words of welcome are super encouraging.

-x-

In the weeks leading up to exams, Orihime fell into a comfortable pattern of classes, studying, volunteering, and more studying.

She continued volunteering at the psychiatry ward once a week, mainly as Hinamori's assistant. She had gotten used to the work, answering the phone, learning more about the hospital, and so on. She hadn't yet gotten involved in any research or had much interaction with patients, but she figured that may or may not come up in her work.

Orihime hardly saw Tsukishima outside of the weekly tutorials, which was surprising given taht he was the one who had told her about the volunteer position as a way to bring up her grades in the first place. Given how their last date had fizzled, Tsukishima and Orihime were both grateful to not be forced to spend additional time together.

As the exam period and the holidays were coming up, Ulquiorra approached Orihime at the end of one of her shifts.

"Inoue-san."

"Good evening, Ulquiorra-san." Orihime nodded. She had mostly worked with Hinamori, but was starting to get used to the odd man and his stoic, cold persona.

"With exams coming up in a week or so, it will not be necessary for you to volunteer at this lab."

Orihime furrowed her brows. "I'm sorry?"

Aizen came through the doors just in time to clarify, "What he means to say is that you deserve a vacation." He came up to the receptionist desk and smiled warmly at Orihime. "Your work has been greatly appreciated by all of us, Inoue-san, and you should focus on your exams and have a restful break. I have some exciting new research I would love to get you involved in, in the new year."

Orihime beamed at her professor and bowed deeply. "That would be wonderful, Aizen-kyoujou! Thank you for the opportunity."

Aizen smiled, before looking down at this watch. "It is nearly 6pm, Inoue-san. I think you should get going. We will see you in the new year!"

Orihime smiled, put together her things, wished them all a happy holiday, and waited for the elevator going down.

She stepped into the elevator, and as it closed, the one beside it opened.

Grimmjow walked out of the elevator and towards the reception area. Over his many weeks of treatment, he had gotten used to the hospital and this ward. He especially hated the clinical no-fragrance smell of the place. Which is why, when the smell just outside the elevator triggered his olfactory sense and a memory, he rushed his doctor, nearly bowling him over.

"She's here, isn't she?! Where is she? Bring me to her!"

Aizen smiled and muscled Grimmjow to be an arm's length away, holding him in place. Though he didn't look it, Aizen hid a strong frame underneath his doctor's coat. If Grimmjow wasn't so singularly focused, he might have been surprised at how easily his doctor removed him from his personal space. "She isn't here now but she was."

Grimmjow nearly foaming at the mouth, Aizen continued. "You're making such great progress, Grimmjow-san, that you may even be seeing her in the new year!"

-x-

With volunteering removed from her list of to-dos and classes finishing up, Orihime's to-do list had dwindled down to two items: studying and more studying. Well, and one more thing Orihime wanted to do before exams.

It had been a distraction from her studies, and she wanted to resolve it once and for all. One evening, Orihime gathered the courage to check in with Byakuya. They hadn't had a chance to talk face to face since the incident.

Orihime paced outside his door, staring at her phone and debating between texting him and knocking. As she paced, the door opened in front of her, revealing her two RAs.

"Orihime-chan!" Rangiku exclaimed, as Byakuya looked on in mild surprise.

A faint rosy blush appeared on Orihime's cheeks. She also hadn't spoken to Rangiku since their kiss months ago. "M-Matsumoto-senpai! Kuchiki-senpai! M-my apologies, I didn't mean to intrude. I should've texted ahead of time."

Rangiku looked curiously between the two as she responded, "No intrusion at all, Orihime-chan. We just finished an RA meeting. Were you looking for me or Byakuya-kun?"

Orihime's blush deepened as she answered quietly. "Kuchiki-senpai."

Rangiku swore she saw a faint blush appear on Byakuya's cheeks as he avoided eye contact with her and she smiled. "Very well, have a good evening you two." As she brushed past Orihime, she added quietly to her with a wink, "He's all yours."

Orihime's blush stayed on her face, and she only moved once invited by Byakuya.

"Please come in, Inoue-san."

Orihime nodded, and as she had done a few times before, went to the living room and took a seat by the coffee table.

Byakuya smiled lightly, noting how she had already fallen into the same habits as when they were studying legal procedures together. In keeping with their habit, he prepared some tea in silence before joining her by the coffee table.

By the time Byakuya joined her, Orihime had felt her embarrassment diminish and she felt the comfort of their habitual behaviour. Byakuya poured them both tea, and with Orihime maintaining her silence, decided to speak up first.

"Thank you for coming to see me, Inoue-san. I imagine you're very busy with your studies and I apologize if my updates to you regarding the legal proceedings are lacking in frequency or detail."

"Not at all, Kuchiki-senpai! Though I wouldn't mind hearing an update from you on that matter, I actually came here for another reason."

Byakuya, thinking of only one other reason, was speechless.

"I wanted to let you know that my friends and I have reconciled, so you will not need to harbour me as much as you have in the past."

"Ah, I see." Byakuya sighed in relief.

"And also", Orihime continued with a blush on her cheeks and a clear voice, "When you were unwell a few weeks ago, I took advantage of you and we were i-intimate with each other." Orihime bowed deeply towards him. "I sincerely apologize and I hope you can forgive me."

Orihime remained in her deep bow for a few moments. After what felt like an eternity, she dared to peek up at Byakuya, only to see that he was also in a deep bow towards her.

"Kuchiki-senpai?" she questioned.

Byukuya, thinking only of his own pride and the complications of discussing their tryst, had been totally okay with the idea of never discussing this topic with Orihime. How he just heard her explain it, the idea that she had taken advantage of him was far from the truth, and he felt foolish for avoiding talking about it.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Inoue-san, and it is I who should apologize. While I did initially think that our intimacy was a dream, I soon realized it did in fact happen."

He brought his head up and locked eyes with her. "I didn't think you would think of it as taking advantage of me. And I am sorry that my avoidance of it made you think that way. You didn't do anything wrong."

Then, it was Orihime's turn to breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness." She smiled, then suddenly looked up at Byakuya in horror. "Wait, but that means… you, you remember what happened?"

Byakuya couldn't quite meet her gaze, but a faint blush across his pale skin was all the answer she needed.

Orihime bit her lip as her entire face got hot.

Byakuya cleared his throat and met her gaze. "I do not regret our intimacy that night, Inoue-san. You, undoubtedly, are a beautiful woman. Passionate and sensual, and extremely kind." Here, Byakuya paused, searching for the right words. "I… don't feel that I'm in the right place to be in a relationship, right now. And given the fact that I'm your RA and helping you with this restraining order" Byakuya sighed, "I don't want to overcomplicate things."

Orihime, only somewhat hearing Byakuya, nodded.

"The important part is," Byakuya reiterated, "you didn't do anything wrong. I want to help you and be here for you. Just not in an intimate way."

Orihime, hearing things more clearly now, nodded. "I understand, Kuchiki-senpai."

Byakuya nodded. "I'm glad you reconciled with your friends."

Orihime nodded and cleared her throat, searching quickly for a different topic. "Would you be able to share an update on the restraining order process?"

Byakuya then discussed what had come up in discussion with his family's lawyers, which was more of a non-update. Basically, they would assess the collected information and send them their assessment in the new year.

Orihime thanked Byakuya and excused herself, wishing him good luck on exams and a happy holiday.

As the door closed, each of them sighed deeply trying to dispel the awkwardness of their situation. Orihime, with the sense of having just been rejected, and Byakuya, with the sense of losing out on any chance with Orihime. Though he felt it was for the best, he still felt frustrated.

I need to go for a run.