EDIT (02/28/2007): I can't believe I'm finally done with this revising… I'm so… glad… (crawls away from the computer and dies).

---

Author's note: I would like to point out urgently that, just because I wrote about impulsive sex, it does not mean that I condone unprotected sex at all. It's important to learn about contraceptives methods, if you want to avoid STDs and pregnancy, and which one to use depending on your sex life. Condoms have their risks, the pill is rather irksome, and every other method has its advantages and disadvantages, but you should never engage in sex without any protection at all. It's just not smart anymore, because with so much information going around, you should know what the consequences are and know that it can happen to you too. None of us is invincible.

I'd like to dedicate this final chapter to two people; my friend Alexz for keeping me on track with this story, with her e-mail reviews and long chats that kept me inspired. And to Harry, my boyfriend, for being my inspiration for Ichigo's romantic side (which is also a novelty in Harry, but I'm not complaining, I'm actually very glad). He finally read my story, too, and told me I have just turned him into a shipper. Isn't that great? I transformed my bf into IchiHime shipping. Kudos to me!

Music: "Kimi ga sora data" by Misato Aki, "I remember you" by Yui, "Hands" by Jewel, "Stay awake" by Dishwalla, "Chasing cars" by Snow Patrol", "Crystal ball" by Keane, "Alcatraz" by Kubb, "Someone like you" by New London Fire, "A sorta fairytale" by Tori Amos.

Disclaimer: Dear Kubo-san is the genius behind it all. This fanfiction is a humble demonstration of my appreciation for his genius.

---

Coming Undone – by Deathberry15

11: Death and the Princess (not afraid, not anymore)

Kurosaki Isshin locked the double glass doors of the clinic entrance, ready to call it a night. He'd just seen his last patient of the day, a two-year-old with an ear infection, the parents calling near midnight to beg him to see the child; it wasn't anything serious, nothing that ear drops couldn't fix, and it could've waited until morning, but if Isshin hadn't let them in, they would've bothered him all night anyway. The parents were more flustered than the child, who seemed annoyed by being woken up in the middle of the night. After a quick check and writing a prescription, they left, and now Isshin could go to sleep.

Well, not yet, actually.

"You bring good news, I hope, Kisuke?" he asked, looking out the door and the dark street.

Behind him, Urahara Kisuke shifted out of the shadows like a kid who's been hiding after doing something bad, and grinned behind the fan he held. How and when he got in would've been puzzling and maybe a bit disturbing, if it weren't because Isshin was used to night visits from his friend. He was expecting him.

"It depends on how you look at it, but considering what happened this week, I supposed they're the best news we can get right now," Urahara said nonchalantly.

"Your son is back," he added.

Isshin turned to face Urahara with a mild grin on his face, eyebrows raised slightly. "He is?"

"Why do you sound so surprised?"

The doctor shook his head with a chuckle. "Not surprised. Did I sound surprised? That wasn't my intention. I'm delighted. And I already knew," he said. Urahara's face fell. "I'm not his father for nothing," Isshin added with a shake of his head. "Though you have to admit he can be quite reckless. You should know, right? You've been keeping an eye out for him," he said, leading Urahara into the house, where everything was dark and quiet; the girls were upstairs sleeping soundly, unaware of what was going on in the living room. "You've seen him grow as a soul reaper more closely that I have had the chance," he continued, taking a seat at the dining room table. Urahara sat across from him. "I thought something like this might make him lose his head and get himself killed." He smiled politely "Tea?"

Urahara smiled back and shook his head. "Well, somehow he managed to keep his head in place and get back alive. Although that Shirosaki is going to pose a problem if he doesn't get it under control."

"Shirosaki? Is that what you're calling him?" Isshin asked in an amused tone. He knew Urahara was referring to the infamous inner Hollow his son had.

"It's quite the appropriate name.".

"I see. So you think he should go back to training with the Vizards?"

"I think it's what's best for him."

Isshin nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll have a chat with them." He sighed. "What a hassle."

"Maybe not. I think they were quite impressed with him tonight. They say he's more cooperative, at least."

There was a silence; Isshin just drummed his fingers on the tabletop.

"And… Aizen?"

"Oh, he's pissed," Urahara replied.

The other man grinned again. "Good."

Another silence followed.

"Well… where is he now?" Isshin asked.

Urahara shrugged again. "Somewhere in his palace, sulking and cursing, I guess."

"I meant Ichigo," Isshin clarified.

"Oh… him…" Urahara scratched his head, and shrugged again; but he was also fighting off a smile. "Well, I guess it's safe to say he won't be coming home tonight. He took Inoue-san home, and I'm almost quite sure he'll spend the night there."

As anyone would expect, Isshin's smile became mischievous. "But of course. I didn't expect any less from him. After all, like father like son."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"He's going after the girl. I'm so proud of him," said Isshin tearfully.

Urahara gave him an odd look. If there was anyone odder than Urahara, it was Isshin, without a doubt. And right now, Isshin was being his usual odd self.

"Are you telling me that you are prouder of your son because he's spending the night with the girl he's romantically involved with, rather than because he just risked his life in an epic battle in Hueco Mundo against our current greatest and most powerful enemy, thwarted his plans, and came back safe and sound?"

"It's the heroic charm, Kisuke. He obviously gets that from his father."

"You have no remedy," the blond man shook his head and got up to leave. "You do know he probably won't be bringing her around to introduce her to you if you continue with this behavior. I'd say you're the reason he hasn't had a decent love life."

"Until now," Isshin said confidently. "I have a feeling she's a keeper."

"You barely know her," Urahara countered.

"But I know him," Isshin grinned wider.

He knew Urahara was right; Ichigo would never come and introduce Orihime formally as his girlfriend, not if he knew how Isshin was likely to react. Ichigo knew his father well (except for a few minor details that he had no clue about, like his shinigami past), and knew his father would embarrass him to no end, and he didn't need that. Maybe Isshin could show him that he could control his instincts and behave like a normal person, even in such an occasion, and maybe Ichigo would eventually (in a couple of years or so) decide to risk it and let his father meet Orihime. However, knowing in secret would have to do for now.

---

In all the time she had known Ichigo, not in her wildest dreams did Orihime imagine that everything could happen so perfectly. Yes, she did believe things were perfect, or as perfect as they could become. They had very nearly died, but they were okay and he was with her and that was all that mattered. Anyone might believe she was searching for a sort of fairytale happy ending only a hopeful romantic like her could believe in, but then again, who wouldn't want that?
This wasn't an ending; it was only the beginning.

The unease and the fear of Aizen and Hueco Mundo gone, she basked in a new feeling; true joy. As the first rays of sunlight poured into her bedroom, she sleepily lay on her side, head propped onto her right hand, watching Ichigo sleep. It wasn't cold anymore, even when she wasn't wearing anything; in fact, she had never felt warmer and cozier and more relaxed than she did now, gently stroking his bright hair. He lay on his stomach, one arm around her waist, and even as she stirred, he continued to sleep. I bet he's really tired, she thought, smiling. She leaned down slightly and placed a kiss on his head. He still smells like Kurosaki-kun…

What would she call him now? She couldn't keep calling him Kurosaki-kun. It made her nervous and tingly to think of him as her boyfriend now, but that's probably what he was now. And she should call him by his name now. It would take some time to get used to it, but she liked the idea.

She sighed. What would onii-chan say if he could see me now? He would hopefully be happy for her, knowing that she was happy, that Ichigo made her happy, and that he would protect her just like she would protect him, and Sora wouldn't have to worry about her anymore.

She was glad to have her hairpins back. It would've broken her heart to lose them. They were a part of her now, as much as her brother was a part of her, no matter how many years passed since he'd been gone. She'd always wear the hairpins, and so he'd always be with her.

To think that so much power could come from what Sora thought was just an innocent gift for his little sister. Was there a connection between the Shun Shun Rikka and her brother? Not even Aizen had mentioned anything, but she was sure he knew, since he knew so much about the true workings of her shields. If Aizen knew, then Urahara probably knew too; she'd have to ask him.

But that would have to wait.

Today she just felt like seeing her friends; Tatsuki, and Rukia and Yoruichi and Hitsugaya and Matsumoto and Ishida and Chad and everyone, really. Even the Vizards. They were there last night, although she barely remembered seeing them. She did remember Tatsuki hugging her and crying; Orihime didn't like it when Tatsuki cried. Her friend seemed very worried, so today she wanted to assure her that everything would be okay.

"I guess school is out of the question for today, isn't it?" she asked softly, careful not to disturb him. Ichigo sighed slowly and deeply. He was obviously still tired, and way too comfortable to think of going to class, just as if nothing had happened. She thought it was silly to even consider it. They deserved a break. Ichigo did, especially. Orihime had a lot to thank him for. She would think of some way to show him.

Tracing a line down his bare back, feeling the spots where his wounds have been, she blushed and smiled. Last night was only the beginning. She had enough time.

---

Ichigo woke up, and stared up at a strange ceiling.

The sun was well up already, shining into the room and forcing through his heavy eyelids. He had the strangest dream. This time, he was sure it had been a dream. But he could barely remember what it had been about.

Instead, he had woken up, tired and sore all over, and very cold. He had that strange sensation, one that invaded him whenever he didn't wake up in his own bed, but in a strange place. It happened to him very often lately. At his age –and if his life were normal at all—, his chances of waking up elsewhere but his own house would be rather low. But his life was anything but normal. Of course, he was already used to it.

Still, at that rate he hadn't imagined he'd find himself waking up in someone else's bed. Orihime's bed. Under her covers. Naked.

Memories of last night's events reeled through his mind. Everything from the Arrancar attack, to Hueco Mundo, to the long plummet back to earth, replayed inside his head. He then realized what his dream had been, and that it hadn't been a dream after all. Although he considered spending the night with Orihime and making love to her something quite surreal, that his mind had momentarily processed it as a result of his subconscious.

The spot beside him on the mattress was empty. She was already up. Ichigo's face fell at that realization. He would've liked to wake up and find Orihime there, sleeping. He loved the idea of watching her sleep. He loved the idea of waking up next to her.

With a sigh, he sat up and listened. There were faint noises coming from outside. The kitchen, maybe? Orihime might be preparing breakfast.

Ichigo suddenly gulped. What if Orihime was preparing breakfast? Regardless of the flawless fudge cookies, he still didn't trust her cooking skills. How do you tell your girlfriend she's got weird taste?

Girlfriend, he said to himself. My girlfriend. My girlfriend Orihime… It had a nice ring to it. He smiled to himself.

Better go check on her. He thought he should at least supervise her; even if he couldn't stop her, at least he'd know what he would be eating.

He flung his legs over the edge of the mattress, nearly stepping on Enraku, and looked around for his clothes. They were nowhere to be found. Uh-oh, he thought. He wrapped the bed sheets around his waist so he'd feel less exposed, and started searching, looking under the bed, the blankets, behind the furniture. Did she perhaps pick them up and fold them or something? But they weren't anywhere; he checked the laundry hamper. No jeans, no boxers, no socks or shirt. Nothing.

"Um… Orihime?" he called out gently, poking his head out of her room, sheets still secured around his waist. There was a faint noise coming from the kitchen, like clanking of silverware and china, running water and a radio with bad reception. He ventured out, glad that there was no one else in the place.

Orihime stood at the sink, wearing yellow rubber gloves and a red apron tied over her khaki shorts and yellow top, her hair tied back into a ponytail. The silver hairpins were back in their righteous place, each at either temple. She looked shower-fresh and she hummed along with the radio, staring out the window as she held a glass under the stream of water. How could she feel so fresh after a night like that?

"Hi," he said to get her attention. She turned her head and her eyes widened at the sight of him. She probably didn't expect him to walk in wearing nothing but bed sheets. He was suddenly very aware that he was naked. "Good morning," he added bashfully, turning red under her stare.

Orihime seemed to have trouble speaking. "Good morning," she finally said, her voice coming out rather strangled.

Neither said anything, and there were a few awkward seconds of silence, with only the running water and the radio making any noise.

"Heh," Orihime chuckled nervously, turning off the faucet and taking off her gloves.

Ichigo gulped. "Um, I couldn't find my… my clothes…" Orihime's eyes widened even more and she blushed.

"I, uh, I—I put them in the—in the washer and then in the… in the dryer…" she stammered. "They were smeared with mud, and they were very wet and cold so… I thought they'd be ready for when you woke up, but… I guess not… I just thought it'd be nice if you didn't have to wear them again as they were, because they were quite cold and wet, and—"

"Don't worry," Ichigo said sheepishly. "I was just wondering, because I couldn't find them… and thank you… I'll wait for them to be ready."

"Sure. Okay," Orihime nodded.

Another silence stretched between them. Their eyes met, and they laughed.

"I'm sorry, it's just… this is weird… I-I mean, weird in a good sense…" Ichigo said.

"I know. I guess it is weird…" Orihime agreed, untying her apron. "I mean, I never thought that I'd… that you would be here in my flat, you wake up here… and you're wearing my bed sheets around you, and you're… naked."

Ichigo turned red again. "Heh, yeah."

"Did you sleep well?" she asked nervously.

Ichigo's lips stretched into a big smile. "Definitively."

She smiled back, and again a few seconds of silence passed. He toyed with a corner of the fabric. "I guess it'll be weird at first… but we'll get used to it eventually." He gave her a meaningful look. "Right… Orihime?"

"Right," Orihime flushed prettily, "Ichigo," she answered, and laughed. Maybe it was his name (a lot of people found it funny and cute, much to his disgust), but Ichigo decided she laughed because it was funny to call him by his first name, since it was a new thing and it felt strange; and in that case it was okay to laugh.

He held on to the sheets tighter and walked over to her; putting one arm around her, he leaned in and kissed her cheek. She smiled and blushed again, and wrapped her arms around his bare torso, and he pulled her closer and they kissed. It was short and sweet, and he inhaled her scent deeply; she smelled of floral shampoo and soap and sweet perfume.

"You smell great," he breathed.

"You have bad breath," she giggled. Ichigo grimaced and stepped away, turning red.

"Aw crap, I'm sorry. I'm not used to waking up in someone else's house and not having my toothbrush with me. I wish I were better prepared."

"I'm kidding. I don't mind," she said. "I have a spare toothbrush in the bathroom, though. I was going to switch mine. You can use it."

"I'll do that," Ichigo grabbed her hand and caressed each finger with his own, one by one.

"And maybe you can put on my bathrobe, instead of just wearing my sheets."

"It's okay. I'll just wait for my clothes to come out of the dryer."

"Well, I don't think the others would like to have breakfast with you if you're practically naked."

Ichigo looked worried. "What others?"

"WE'RE HERE!"

A cold sweat broke at his forehead at the sound of the entrance door opening, and he felt the cold traveling down to his limbs. Ichigo stepped out of the kitchen and turned all colors of the rainbow as he saw the people gathered there. It would've been a fantastic feat not to be noticed at this very instant, but when he stood in the middle of Orihime's living room, wearing nothing but a bunched up white sheet around his lower body, in front of a large group crowding into the tiny flat, he supposed he was hard to miss.

Rukia and Renji walked in first, followed by Yumichika, Ikkaku, Matsumoto and Hitsugaya; the gang from the Shouten, Urahara, Yoruichi, Tessai and the two kids, Jinta and Ururu, squeezed in against the wall; the Vizards, Hirako, Hiyori, Hachigen, Kensei, Riza, Ravu, Rozu and Mashiro, pushed the shinigami to make space; and already settling around the table were Ishida, Chad, Tatsuki, and even Kon, who sat on the table. They stopped chattering and looked at Ichigo, wearing expressions ranging from shock to amusement, to blatant hilarity, blank looks and even a vein popping out of a forehead (Hitsugaya's).

Clearing his suddenly very dry throat, Ichigo spoke up hoarsely. "Wha—what are you guys doing here?"

Orihime appeared behind him. "I thought it would be nice for all of us to get together," she explained, blushing at her new boyfriend's obvious embarrassment. "I wanted to thank everybody for what they did last night. I didn't know what else I could do, so I invited them all over for breakfast. It's the least I could do."

"Breakfast, eh?"

Orihime gave a sheepish look. "I didn't cook," she assured him.

"We brought… uh, breakfast… um, we, uh, stopped to pick it up… and," Rukia stuttered, clearly vexed by the sight of her friend wearing close to nothing. Ichigo blushed even more furiously and bunched the sheets even more around the front.

"Uh, dude, are you getting dressed or having breakfast like that? Let me know so I don't sit next to you," Kensei teased. Ichigo sighed and dropped his head.

"What's the point? I can't get any more embarrassed than I am right now," he shrugged dejectedly.

Tatsuki snorted. "Don't underestimate us. You know there is no limit to our ability to embarrass you. This is nothing, really. In fact, it would be too easy; I don't feel like doing it. As long as you promise to make a bigger fool of yourself on your own by, oh I don't know, accidentally dropping the sheets or something."

"Tatsuki, I could kill you, but I want no more blood spill."

"You try something and you'll wish you were dead. I can still kick your ass, you know."

"Oh yeah?"

There was a buzz.

"Are we expecting even more people?" Ishida asked, wondering if anyone else would fit into the tiny, cramped up place. Orihime grinned.

"That's the dryer. The laundry's done," she announced and disappeared into the kitchen again. Ichigo's face fell. The darn thing couldn't have buzzed a minute earlier, before he lost his dignity in front of a crowd of the biggest weirdoes he ever met.

"Well, isn't that timely," Hitsugaya said sarcastically. "If you don't mind, Kurosaki, I think we would all appreciate it if you would please put some clothes on now so we can have breakfast like normal people."

Ichigo glared at him before rushing after Orihime, to get his clothes, in hopes of salvaging what little pride he had left.

---

No one in their right mind would go to school after a night like the one they had. Tatsuki felt sorry; she had karate after school, but she'd have to skip it; she couldn't not show up for school and then show up for karate like nothing. But it was nice to take a break for one day; especially to spend it with her friends.

Her parents would be mad, no doubt about it. And for once she didn't care at all. She couldn't care right now. It meant so much more to be with Orihime after such an ordeal. Just hanging out, doing nothing, as if none of them had a care in the world.

I'm a truant, she thought mischievously.

"So, taichou, what's the plan? What are we going to do about Soul Society?" Matsumoto was asking Hitsugaya. The captain was silent for a moment.

"I guess we'll have to check on that later," Hitsugaya replied.

After breakfast, the Vizards and the gang from the Shouten left, and the shinigami plus Orihime, Tatsuki, Chad and Ishida went to the riverbank, knowing no one would find them there, even in broad daylight. After all, it was not even noon yet, and a bunch of high school students out of school for no apparent reason was enough to get anyone's attention, so they went somewhere secluded. They sat around the little hill, looking past the river, waiting for the hours to pass.

During breakfast, they breached the topic of what exactly had happened in Hueco Mundo; how exactly had Orihime escaped from Aizen? No one really wanted to ask her; it wasn't a pleasant topic for table-talk. But it was important; they had to know. No one could figure out how or why Aizen would let her go just like that. And they needed to know what happened so that they could try to figure out what would probably happen next.

"I don't really know," she had answered with a shrug when Urahara straight-out inquired what went on up there. She took another bite of toast with peanut butter and mayonnaise and waited to swallow before she spoke again. "I just got tired. I told him I was leaving, and he just didn't do anything about it."

Her nonchalant statement was met by twenty-four blank, confused and disbelieving stares. She took a sip of her tea and said no more, unaware of her friends' reactions. However, she did encourage the Vizards to give their side of the story. Ichigo yielded nothing; nobody needed to know what he saw and what he thought after his Hollow overtook him. It's not that he felt embarrassed, he would just rather not think about that anymore.

It was determined, in any case, that later in the afternoon a meeting would be held at Urahara Shouten, including humans, shinigami and Vizards, to determine further measures that would have to be taken. So the issue of Aizen's possible next move would eventually be discussed, but in the meantime, questions still arose regarding Soul Society's participation and the actions of the members of the Gotei 13 in the living world, and it made them all feel rather uneasy.

"Surely they already know what happened, right?" Yumichika interjected. "I mean, they have a way of knowing. Especially with so many Arrancar coming to the living world last night, they should've gotten an alert, right?"

"They probably did, yes," the tenth division captain answered. "But we have to speak with the commander."

"What for? We already know we're getting lectured for what we did," Ikkaku said. "I mean, it's likely that we'll get sacked or something, or maybe they won't be so drastic. But surely what we did deserves a severe punishment of some sort."

Hitsugaya sighed. The more he thought about it, the more he knew nothing would've changed his mind about infiltrating Hueco Mundo. And deep down, he knew he did it for Tatsuki as much as for Orihime; if anyone else besides Orihime reminded him so strongly of Hinamori, it was Tatsuki. But no one needed to know that.

Tatsuki looked at Hitsugaya for a long time; he was probably in greater trouble than the other shinigami, because he was a captain and he led the mission against Aizen's army, in direct violation of Soul Society's orders. She gave him a sympathetic look; she knew she had somewhat influenced him. But they only just met, so it couldn't be just because of that. He cared for Orihime as well, and he understood how much she meant to Tatsuki. And Tatsuki was sorry that he would get in trouble for caring for someone enough to risk his job, his position or whatever, but she was also grateful. Even if she had no idea how to express her gratitude.

"What are we going to do now?" she asked him. "Now that this guy Aizen might still come back for Orihime, for her powers, now that she's stronger?"

"She's not stronger," Hitsugaya said. "She's… we don't know what she is now. We don't know what happened to her powers. I don't think she understands very well, even with Aizen's explanation. Who knows if he's right or not. But we don't know if that means that she's stronger."

"But he'll still come back for her, right?"

She looked at him for a long time, scrutinizing his expression, unable to figure out what he was thinking. He just shook his head.

"He might," he finally said.

Matsumoto toyed with a flower she found. She put it in his hair, causing Hitsugaya to sneer at her.

"I think it'd be best to lay low for a while. I'll speak with the general commander as soon as they get in touch, and we'll try to sort things out," he explained. "I think it's safe to say we'll have to stay here in the living world for a while. Not just because it's likely to be part of the disciplinary measures they'll probably take with us, but also because we have to stay here on duty, for Inoue-san's sake."

"We can't protect her forever, you know," Ishida said disappointedly.

"Of course not," Renji, who had been very quiet, spoke up. "But I'd say she can take care of herself now. We'll just stick around for extra support."

"I think he'll want to do that, actually," Rukia said, nodding her head in Ichigo's direction. Tatsuki spotted her friend standing on the edge of the riverbank, gaze lost. She smiled; even after what happened this week and everything she had heard so far that took place in the last months, she was surprised and glad to see him like this. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen him smile, but that was the effect Orihime was having on him now. In spite of everything, the fear, the tragedy, the terrible times they were now facing, he was smiling again.

---

"So much has happened here, hasn't it?" Orihime said softly, standing next to Ichigo.

Ichigo looked at her. He had never noticed just how beautiful she could be, until now; wearing a simple white sundress, her red hair loose around her shoulders and her flower-shaped hairpins, there was not much else she needed to look pretty. Standing side by side, they looked into the far off distance.

They had held hands before, a couple of times, when he walked her home. But the feeling of her hands in his gave him a nice jolt, waking him to the reality of being with her. Not just as a friend, but as a companion. She wasn't just someone who listened to him or tuned with his feelings; she took his loneliness away completely.

"Yes, and they're not at all pleasant," Ichigo replied. He felt her give his hand a gentle squeeze. He thought of his mother; that day he remembered, as they passed this very spot, up there on the sidewalk, he asked his mother if he could hold her hand.

This time, he wouldn't let go. Not for anything in the world.

His name meant guardian, protector. It was important for him to live up to his name. It was especially important now to be able to protect those whom he loved. This time, he chose Orihime. He only hoped it would be enough. He believed he had gone bravely into battle, ready to embark in a dark adventure to rescue her, when the truth was he was the one who needed to be saved.

For a long time, he felt he was sinking, drowning, going deeper and deeper underneath his surface. And now someone had reached down and pulled him back up, and he felt he could breathe again. He had another chance. This time he'd take that chance, and he was going to fulfill his own mission.

"Do you like coming here?" she asked him, standing closer to him, so that their arms grazed each other.

"Not really. Just to think," he answered without much thought, "it's a good place to think."

"Can I come with you? You know, whenever you come here? So you don't feel lonely," she said.

"Wouldn't this be a dangerous place for you to be? After all that happened?"

Orihime shook her head. "I'm not afraid; not anymore. As long as I'm with you."

This was a depressing place for him to be, actually. Orihime was right, and enough awful things had happened to him in that place. But he found himself oddly drawn to it. Because of what he'd lived through there, that place was appropriate to remember what he had done, so he could figure out what he wanted to do different.

"I'd like that," he answered with a smile. She smiled back, and that was all he needed for now.

A maelstrom was likely coming. It was quite simple to tell that Orihime's increase in power –or rather Aizen's desire for that power and seeking it out at any cost– was the catalyst. Darker times were approaching. They would have to be ready. But now, Ichigo had every reason not to give up, one very good reason for which not to step back. He knew what he was fighting for.

"Let's go get some ice cream. I don't think the others want to stay here much longer. We can come some other time," she said, and pulled very lightly on his arm.

"Ice cream, huh?"

"Well… to tell you the truth…" she grinned mischievously, "I'm rather in the mood for a strawberry sherbet."

Ichigo cocked an eyebrow.

"With whipped cream," she added.

"You're insane, you know that?" he said with a laugh.

"I know that," she replied, and pulled him toward the shinigami sitting on the hill. Ichigo walked along, as everyone got up and followed them back to the street.

With everything that was yet to come, there would likely be no peace, no rest for who knew how long. So for now, these moments of quiet and peace, these halcyon days, he would enjoy them fully, before they could be gone completely.

---

---

This did not turn out quite as I expected, but it was definitively shorter than the version inside my head. So I like this. Maybe I will edit it in the future, but for now, I'm quite happy with it.

Yes, the halcyon days reference at the very end was inspired by the manga's recent chapters (237, wasn't it?), it was just perfect for the occasion. The very first part of this chapter was not originally in my mind until recently, when I decided I had to include Orihime's point of view somewhere in this, or I would go crazy. Just to show you how much tweaking really goes on during the writing-the-chapter part, which is why I take so long.

I sort of really wanted to show Isshin working, and I mean doing some actual work, because I worry that he never seems to do anything but lurk around Ichigo, waiting for him to have his guard down so he can attack him. Seriously, he's a doctor who doesn't seem to have any patients. All he does all day is attack his son. That's not very professional. So I wanted to have that perspective of him. (Well, actually, we've seen him in action, like in the first few chapters, with Chad in the Parakeet part, but that was quite brief).

I should have a deviantART account open by my next post, which is a new fic, and when I do I shall notify; I'm uploading these amazing illustrations done by southPoe for this fic, specifically chapter 7, and I wanted to share them with you (mind you, I already have her permission to do so, she already has a dev account), so you can check it out as soon as I have them.

But for now, that is all. Thank you to all my readers. I hope you enjoyed the fic. I know I did (I'm kind of sad, finishing this story off, but all things must come to an end, and time flies when you're having fun).

We'll meet again in another story. Long live IchiHime! Thank you and good night!

And have a nice one.

-Nariko the Seer a.k.a Deathberry15