All around her were lights and laughter.

Paper lanterns were strung up tastefully along the mountain path, and glowed bright like the stars in the sky. Children in traditional robes danced and ran around the area, cotton candies and sparklers held tight in their tiny hands. The sight brought the smallest of smiles to her lips, and she watched with quiet serenity as a particularly loud group raced by and up the newly paved pathway. It was such a far cry from what it had been so many years ago.

The day after the fire had been completely put out, Orihime had been found at the shrine, unscathed apart from a small singe to her clothes and hair. She had somehow managed to avoid carbon dioxide poisoning as well. The people called it a miracle. For the first month she was hounded by the public. All of them, be it reporters, classmates or even women at the grocery store, wanted to know why she had been so crazy as to run into the fire. She had even met priests who had commended her on some level, saying that her desire to protect the shrine drove her toward the flames without fear. They had even said that she was shown favor for and saved by the god of said shrine.

But she knew what it really was; who it really was.

Ichigo Kurosaki. The man – the spirit - that she had known for nearly a decade of her life, fallen in love with, but hadn't even known the name of until… until it was all over. She had gone for him, and she had lived because of him.

Beside her, Tatsuki huffed.

"Ah! They were supposed to be here half an hour ago!" She flipped out her phone from the pocket of her jean shorts, tapping aggressively at the buttons on the screen. Beside her, Orihime smiled and shrugged her shoulders as if saying "oh well" before turning her attention back to the playing children. Before long, her gaze wavered.

After graduating, she had not had the heart to move far away like most of her friends. Instead, she had thrown herself into work and took classes at a local college. She created distractions for herself, and for the longest time it worked. She had studiously avoided the place she was about to set foot.

She gulped, her fingers digging into the soft material of her red flower printed yukata.

Another miracle, the citizens of Karakura called it. In only a few years, the forest had returned to life. The trees seemed to almost flourish after the fire, and with the aid of volunteers were now more beautiful than ever. Donations and charities had turned the ragged mountain path into a beautiful, stone paved and lit trail that rose up and up to the shrine at the top of the mountain. Even from the bottom at the start of the trail, she could see the soft glow at the top where the festivities were being held.

The people of Karakura rejoiced. Their precious shrine and the mountain surrounding it were in perfect repair.

"Orihime? Orihime you in there?" Tatsuki snapped her fingers in front of Orihime's face, forcing the girl back from her thoughts.

"We're going to head up now, are you sure you can do this?" Tatsuki frowned.

Tatsuki had been ever the observant guardian since the incident. Orihime never told her what happened, partially because she knew Tatsuki would never believe her, but also because it was too painful. It had taken her so long to even leave her apartment upon the realization that he (Ichigo, a voice whispered in the back of her mind) was honestly and truly gone.

And so, she smiled the same gentle, assuring smile she had perfected since High School. It was a well-placed façade that had even Tatsuki fooled. Because how could she ever explain the pain in her chest when she felt the cool autumn breeze, or the tickle of a leaf along her throat. Every memory of him challenged her resolve. And yet, every memory also urged her forward.

Because there was no doubt in her heart that he would want her to smile.

.

Immediately, Orihime was struck with how different it looked.

The dirt path was gone entirely, replaced with flat stone steps that wove through the trees. The path had been shortened significantly, and instead of taking an hour to reach the shrine it would only take half the time it used to. And now, lined with glowing lanterns strung up on poles, it had a beautiful clean feeling the old trail lacked.

Instinctively she searched for markers she had known as a young girl. The markers that used to lead her to him so long ago were gone now, hidden behind new trees and new bushes. It was even more likely they were burned away by the fire. And the thought made her heart ache.

When they reached the top of the stairs, they were met with the sights and sounds of the spring festival underway. The old shrine had been fixed and restored to its former glowing glory, and now stalls of various foods, games and items were lined up along the long walkway. The lanterns were bigger, and higher up, bearing new designs of varying intricacy.

Beside her, Tatsuki swiped a button on her phone and sighed loudly.

"Sorry Orihime, give me a second to call them so we can find them. I'll be right back." She apologized before moving away to a quieter area to make the call.

Orihime felt guilty that Tatsuki's absence seemed more like a relief now. She raised a hand up to rub her cheek, which had been starting to hurt from smiling so much. Smiles came less easily to her now. She sighed, casting her gaze around the crowded area. The people of Karakura swarmed around in groups, varying from two people to large groups of at least a dozen. The stalls were all crowded, and the scent of delicious food drifted through the air. Feeling somehow overwhelmed, she took a step away from the festivities and toward the tree line. The same tree line that Ichigo had led her to the first time he guided her trough the forest.

Unable to stop herself, she peered hopefully into the darkness. But as predicted, she saw nothing but a small flicker of cobalt blue-

She turned, and she ran.

Her heart leapt to her throat, and she rushed forward. Her movements were clumsy, jerky as she trampled through the bushes further and further away from the loud noises and lights of the festival.

Twigs snapped, and leaves scattered as branches tugged at her yukata. In the back of her mind, she hoped that she wasn't ruining the beautiful garment. But a larger part of her couldn't care for it. Her hands grasped the sleeves of her yukata in a vice as she pushed forward. Her eyes scanned the dark forest, searching for just the smallest sign of-

Cobalt blue.

His name rested on her tongue as she surged forward, stumbling into a tiny clearing with all her usual grace. And her heart stopped.

His tree.

It stood, a shadow of what it once was. It was nearly pitch black, not a hint of its beautiful cobalt blue coloration left. Not a single leaf was left on its branches, or on the ground, leaving it looking barren and... dead. More fiercely than ever, her heart ached. A sob rose up to her lips before she could stop it. She crossed the clearing with a few more steps, before raising a trembling hand to touch the charred bark.

It was cold like ice, lifeless and unfamiliar.

"Why…" Her voice was soft, broken sounding as she gazed up at the dead tree before her. At him. Her palm pressed into the wood.

"Why did you… I know I could have saved you. I'm sure of it." But her words sounded false, even to her own ears. "If I'd had more time… but…"

Her fingertips turned white as she dug her nails into the charred bark. A feeling bubbled up in her chest. Hysteria.

"You shouldn't have saved me. And you… why did you tell me your name then? I wanted to hear it so badly, but not like that." Her free hand rubbed at her eyes, wiping away the tears that had begun to overflow the moment she stepped into the clearing.

Her hand suddenly slapped down on the wood, repeatedly. She ignored the dark clouds of ash that rose up from the bark, dirtying the sleeve of her yukata, instead hitting the tree harder and harder. Until her hand was angry and red. With every hit her heart only hurt more.

"You stupid, stupid!" Sobs bubbled up from her chest, shaking her frame as her other hand began to beat down upon the dead tree. "You left me, and you said you'd protect me! This isn't protecting me! I didn't even get to… to…"

.

.

.

"Oi. That hurts."

.

.

.

Her knees gave out from under her.

Strong arms covered in cobalt blue slid around her waist, catching her before she hit the ground. Arms that she had felt only once but would recognize anywhere. They pulled her into a warm chest, tight and secure. Her tears fell faster, harder as his familiar scent washed over her. Pine and spice. It had to be a dream.

She forced herself to turn, even as afraid as she suddenly felt that it might very well be a dream. And this time, her very soul trembled. Her poor, fragile heart was finally given a break.

Piercing chocolate brown eyes met her own, and her heart seemed to stagger inside her chest.

Because he was there. Just the same as she remembered, but different. He no longer wore the familiar cobalt blue shirt and pants, but a deep blue yukata – for the festival? His hair was longer too, wilder, and he was a few inches taller than she remembered. He looked… older. He had always been a teenager, ever since she had met him he hadn't changed even a little, but now he looked like an adult. A man.

Smack.

"H-Hey! Orihime!" His hand caught her wrist as she prepared to deliver herself another slap for her impure thoughts. His scowl – the scowl that she loved so much – was steadily set in place. And she stared at him, wide and teary eyed. When she spoke, her voice trembled with the force of her emotions.

"S-so it's real. You're here? And I… I can touch you?"

Without warning, her hands did just that, cupping his cheeks and cradling his face in absolute wonder. His skin was soft, although she could feel just a bit of stubble along his jaw. Something he hadn't had previously. She found she rather liked it, as it felt like his leaves.

He nodded, eyes softening.

"Ichigo…" It was the first time she had spoken his name out loud. The first time she dared to. Even in the dark, she could see his cheeks turn darker. But his expression remained soft.

"I'm here."

"Ichigo…"

"I know…"

Her smile was so large, so grand, her cheeks hurt. And for the first time in so long, her tears were ones of joy.

"Ichigo Kurosaki…" His full name, she hadn't dared speak it before. His eyes burned like molten amber as he looked at her with the same expression she had seen on his face on that day. Only this time she could finally revel in it.

"My name is Orihime Inoue, and I love you so very much."

And finally, their lips met. And the world began to turn.

.

.

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Unfortunately, Tatsuki was not too thrilled to find a stranger "molesting" her best friend. And it took Orihime and several of their friends to get the karate champion to release the headlock she put him in.

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