Orihime's Life after Death
Chapter 1: The Death of Orihime Inoue
IchigoXOrihime

A.N.: This is another story from my junk drawer. A bit of forewarning, there is massive Angst in this story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Warning: Character death! Don't like, don't read! Spoilers for the final chapters!

After Ichigo and Renji left to fight Yhwach….
Soul King's Palace

Rukia and the members of Xcution watched as Ichigo, with his restored Bankai, left through the portal with Renji before turning back to Orihime. The lieutenant bit down on her lip as she struggled to heal Orihime's injuries. Orihime gasped for air as she lay on the ground, her body going numb from the pain, small whimpers escaping her.

The others watched as Rukia tried in vain to heal Orihime but the extent of her wounds were severe. 'This is bad! She's got a punctured lung and she's going into shock! And she's getting worse by the minute!' She ran a hand soothingly through Orihime's orange hair to try to comfort her, letting her know she was doing her best to save her. "Stay with me, Orihime," she said, though she cursed herself for not putting more strength into her words.

"Rukia…" Orihime groaned. Ginjo and Tsukishima knelt down on her opposite side while Yukio and Riruka hopped out of their dimensional block, rushing over to see what the commotion was. Riruka gasped when she saw Orihime and ran to her, holding her hand tightly as she watched Rukia try to save her.

But the glow from Rukia's hands was too weak; she was already at her limit from running from the sharpshooter Quincy plus the pummeling she took from the giant. In her present condition her spirit energy was too low to properly heal her. Rukia looked desperately at the members of Xcution. "Can't any of you help? Please!" She wished Captain Unohana was still alive but Kenpachi reported that he'd killed her and Isane was missing, either dead or wounded, after being hit by the sharpshooter Quincy, leaving Orihime with nobody who could heal her since her own power was ineffective thanks to Yhwach's The Almighty.

But the four shook their heads with sadness, Tsukishima taking hold of her neglected hand and holding it gently. "I'm afraid that none of us have the ability to heal, Rukia. I'm sorry…" he said, looking at the wounded girl and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Stay strong, Orihime," he told the girl he'd once brainwashed. "Ichigo will return soon."

By now Orihime's chest heaved as she struggled for air, "Ru…Rukia…" she whimpered.

Rukia's violet eyes were tearing up as she struggled in vain to save her friend. 'I have…to save her! She's my friend! Come on!' She clenched her teeth as her spirit energy ran out, the glow in her hands fading. 'COME ON! I HAVE TO SAVE HER!' She took a deep breath, fear dripping from her shaking body. "Orihime…."

"It's…okay, Rukia…" Orihime said. "I…I was able to fight next to Ichigo." With what strength she had left she reached up and removed her hairpins, giving them to Rukia. "Please, give these to Ichigo."

"Don't say that!" Rukia lifted Orihime's head up and held her, unable to fight back the tears now. "You're not going to die!" The members of Xcution looked at the dying Orihime with sadness, the group having come to like the girl, even Tsukishima.

Orihime's vision started to blur, her life flashing before her eyes. 'I wonder…will I see Sora and Ulquiorra?' she wondered, remembering when her brother was sent to the Soul Society and when Ulquiorra faded into dust. Her hazel eyes glanced to the portal. She knew that Ichigo would not return before the end came for her. 'My only wish is that I wanted to tell Ichigo how I felt.' Her mind wandered for a moment, contemplating on what the future could've been for her and Ichigo. She imagined her in a white wedding dress, surrounded by her friends as she and Ichigo married, holding their child after giving birth and living a happy life. 'It was a nice dream….'

"Ru…Rukia…."

Sobbing, Rukia nodded. "Yes?"

"Please…tell Ichigo…I'm so sorry…."

"You have nothing to be sorry about!" Rukia said, her hand on the girl's heart, feeling Orihime's heartbeat growing weaker. "You can't die! You just can't!"

Orihime's vision darkened and she gave a weak smile. "Please…tell Ichigo…that I l…I love…I love…."

Riruka gasped in horror as Orihime's hand let go of hers, Tsukishima letting go and turning away. Both Ginjo and Yukio bowed their heads in respect at her passing. Turning away, Riruka started to sob in despair. She never openly admitted that she liked Orihime but now….

Rukia's lips trembled as the light in Orihime's eyes faded, her friend breathing her last. "No…"she whispered. "Orihime! NO!" She began to cry as she held her friend, wishing this was just a bad dream. "ORIHIME! NOOOOO!" She squeezed her eyes shut as she felt the warmth leave Orihime's body. "How can I ever face Ichigo again?" she sobbed.

Footsteps echoed from behind them and the members of Xcution turned to see Chad, Ganju, Byakuya, Toshiro and Kenpachi running up the steps. Chad's eyes widened in horror at the scene before him. "Rukia…Orihime…." He ran over to the group and took hold of Orihime's hand, only for him to realize that his friend was gone. The others walked over to them and gathered around the fallen Human, none of them knowing what to say.

Rukia did nothing but cry as she held her friend, knowing that even if Ichigo defeated Yhwach, this would not be a victorious day…."Orihime…."

Later….

Ichigo, Renji and Uryu stepped through the portal, having finally defeated Yhwach. Ichigo smiled to see everyone right in front of the portal. "Byakuya! Kenpachi! You're all okay!"

"That's up for debate," the one-armed Kenpachi grumbled.

But the trio noticed Chad, Ganju and the others looking at Ichigo with sad eyes. The Substitute looked at everyone funny. "What's wrong, guys?"

Rukia, still on her knees, turned to Ichigo. The girl's eyes were red from crying. "Ichigo…she's…she's gone…."

The boy blinked before walking over to her, and then feeling his heart being ripped out of his chest when his eyes saw the lifeless body of Orihime. "No!" Ichigo shoved everyone out of the way and knelt down; not believing what was in front of him. "Orihime!" He cradled her, thinking that she was in a coma or just asleep. But he felt no life from her, either physically or spiritually. He turned to Rukia with accusing eyes. "What happened?! Why didn't you save her?!"

Rukia's lip trembled and she stared at her knees in shame. "I'm sorry. I couldn't save her. Her injuries were too severe."

"NO!" Ichigo screamed, looking up at everyone, hoping that one of them had some last ditch technique that could save her. But Byakuya and the others shook their heads. When his eyes turned to Mayuri, even the mad scientist gave a disapproving look, as if telling him that bringing Orihime back to life was beyond him. His tears dripped down onto Orihime's face as he wept for his friend, the boy holding her tightly. "Don't go, Orihime…" he cried, wishing her eyes would open. 'I never got the chance to tell her how I felt….'

Uryu, Chad and Ganju all turned away as Ichigo cried, knowing that there was nothing they could do to lessen Ichigo's pain. Isshin, who'd joined the group shortly before Ichigo had arrived, knelt down and put a hand on Ichigo's shoulder. But the boy shrugged him off and continued to cry over Orihime's lifeless body. Finally, the boy threw his head back and a loud cry filled the air. "ORIHIME!" The Soul Reapers and Xcution left him to grieve, leaving only his friends and father standing over him while he mourned her.

Ichigo had won the battle but in the end for him there was no victory….

Orihime Inoue was dead.

To be continued