Orihime sighed, leaning against the wall of her apartment building. Her memories were fuzzy; all she could recall of the last afternoon was that she had arrived home from school and began her homework.

But then she had awoken in Urahara's shop. She had no clue as to why she was there, and her friends didn't seem to have any explanation to offer. She didn't delve into the topic however, she was so exhausted that she could barely stand upright.

Ishida had dropped her off at her building, jumping around with his Quincy abilities and reaching the place in little over a minute. He had insisted that he escort her inside, however, she had resisted strongly, not wanting to cause any more trouble.

She sighed, trudging up the stairs to her floor. For some reason, something seemed off, not quite right. The hallway had a different scent to it, and as she walked further through it, an unusual chill went up her spine. Orihime shuddered, trying to shake it off in vain.

She turned the corner, footsteps freezing.

Yellow tape stretched across the hallway, flapping on the breeze from the heating vents. Orihime found herself stepping forward, heart beginning to beat faster. Had something happened?

A gasp echoed throughout the hallway, and Orihime clamped a hand over her mouth, realizing that it had come from her.

There was no door on her apartment. Instead, there was just a gaping hole, charred on the edges. Peering into the shadows, Orihime could see that there was no floor either, all seemingly burned out by some unknown source. Singed curtains floated around on the wind that came from an open window, bringing in a fresh scent that barely masked it's smoky shadow.

She stumbled backwards, her heartbeat quickening as her breath came in shorter and shorter gulps. Something was wrong. Her house was destroyed. She had no recollection of the past afternoon and evening. And something about that look in Ishida's eyes as he released her hand, telling her to have a good night had tipped her off.

The sound of footsteps came from behind her, and she jumped, a strangled squeak tearing from the back of her throat. She stumbled away from the sound, her feet flying into the air.

Before she knew it, she was tumbling towards the vast empty space where her apartment used to be, arms flailing. She tried to scream, but it came out as a panicked yelp instead. Her hands groped for something, anything in the darkness to stop her momentum before she toppled over the edge. She found the flimsy plastic of the warning tape, but it was too late.

Suddenly, hands grabbed her around the waist, yanking her back from the void. They tightened around her as she stepped back, yanking her away from the empty only sound for a few moments was her breathing and heartbeat, as Orihime stood there, too terrified to know how to scream.

The hands didn't let go.

She finally got her bearings, whipping around, grabbing at the grip that held her back.

The hands didn't let go.

Orihime's widened, and she tried to turn. " Who are you, and why won't you let go⁈" she exclaimed angrily.

She froze as she felt the warm sensation of breath on her ear. " Woman, if I were to let you go, there is a high possibility that you would do something that would make you liable to perishing."

Orihime couldn't breath. There was something familiar about that voice. It tore through her mind, ravaging like flames, but frigid and thin like couldn't exactly remember where it was from however, and she resolved to figure out as soon as she saw the man's face.

Just as she was about to request once more for him to let her go, he did so, as if he had heard her thoughts. She staggered forward, but remained wary of the cavity that yawned before her. She then turned around.

The man who stood before her was mostly concealed by the shadows, so she couldn't see his face the best. He had skin as pale as the moon, and raven black hair that almost looked unnatural. His eye glowed a deep emerald green, and they were ringed in hard black, as though his eyelids were charcoal. He looked at her with a look similar to contempt. Orihime however, who always tried to see the best in people, pretended that wasn't the case. She also shook off the unnerving sensation that she had seen him before.

She curtsied slightly, blushing. " Thank you for saving me."

There was a silence that seemed to not be able to be filled as he stared at her, lips still as he refused to talk. Orihime noticed then that they were a peculiar color, a dark onyx that only makeup could have created. Her face heated up. Who was she to be examining his lips. She turned away. " I guess I'll be going then. My friend will probably let me stay over." She started walking down the hallway when a hand clamped onto her wrist.

" No."

She turned around. The man-well, he looked more to be her age, but that wasn't the point-was holding her back once more. He looked at her oddly, his eyes holding no emotion. " Why would you walk such a distance, woman? It is obvious that you are not in the best of health as of the moment." His eyes bored into hers, and she found herself staring back.

Yes. He was correct, she realized. Her head was pounding, and she felt as though she would fall over again if he let go of her. She staggered forward, face feeling hot. " I suppose so," she mumbled.

His lips curved upwards, but it was more of a grimace than a smile that came onto his face.

At this point, Orihime couldn't even tell the difference.

He led her down the hallway.

" You make things easy, woman."

There was just one thing. One tiny little memory that buzzed around Ichigo's head, the only thing that made it even remotely explainable that a whole afternoon had gone by, and Ichigo didn't remember any of it.

That memory was of Rukia kissing him.

Or rather, him kissing Rukia. He had been the one who had initiated it, of course. Ichigo could hardly picture Rukia starting such a thing.

He glanced over at her. They were leaping once more from roof to roof, aiming for the general direction of his father's clinic. Her hair fluttered in the wind, eyes sharp and attentive, not even glancing in his direction. Face heating, Ichigo looked away. Did she even remember it? Or would he have to start from scratch?

Ichigo slapped his forehead mentally. This was stupid. It was impossible for him to have any feelings for Rukia, or at least not in that way. She was his friend, his companion. The kiss, the way he had held her close to him was just an act of desperation in a weak moment. It could've been anyone, he rationalized. Inoue, Rangiku, Yoruichi.

Yet he still felt a sense of denial as he flew through the night. And a deep warm feeling in his chest as his arm accidentally brushed against Rukia's as they jumped once more.

The two of them landed on a short ash tinted building, the Kurosaki clinic looming in front of them. It wasn't particularly large, but the shadows and the dark sky behind it mad it seem much more massive. Ichigo jogged to the edge of the building, lowering himself down over the edge in preparation to drop down to the cement below. He turned around, looking back towards Rukia.

She hadn't moved. Her eyes were downcast, and her feet shuffled slowly as she pressed her lips together. Ichigo looked at her strangely. " What are you waiting for? It's not like you have anywhere else to stay."

Rukia looked down at him, and with a sad look in her eyes, she nodded. She walked to him slowly, and before Ichigo knew what was happening, she dropped down beside him, cupping his face with her hand.

Ichigo just stared at her. That same bittersweet look remained on her face, and as her eyes drilled into his, Ichigo realized that they were filled with tears. She looked at him for a long time, and the whole world was silent.

She finally bit her lip, turning her face away. " You don't remember anything, do you?" she asked.

Ichigo's eyes widened. " No, I don't." He shifted slightly, into a more comfortable position. " None of us do, so what's the point in asking?"

Rukia sighed, shaking her head. " Nothing." Ichigo could sense something off about the way she acted around him, though, the way she dismissed his inquiry. He pressed on. " Then what's the matter?"

" Well… I was hoping you would remember one thing…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Out of nowhere, she surged forward, grabbing his shirt in her hand as she pressed her lips to his.

Ichigo was suddenly drowning in a river of unidentified feelings that washed over him, sinking into his pores. He found himself snaking his arm around her back as she leaned into him more, tightening her hold on him. Ichigo was about to respond to this when she pulled away abruptly, staring at him once more with that expression on her face. Ichigo couldn't help but wonder for a moment if she was just leading him on, only to leave him in the end. He didn't voice this thought however, for he hadn't given her the chance to speak yet.

Rukia stood up, walking to the edge of the building. " Go to sleep Ichigo. You've had a long day." She gestured towards the clinic.

Ichigo got to his feet, following her as she leaped. He wanted to say something, anything, to break the silence as they walked through the doors to the building. Ichigo sighed in relief as he remembered that his father was out of town, making a house call far away. He was practically crawling up the stairs as he realized how tired he really was. Rukia stayed by his side, and when they reached his bedroom, she took the closet shelf that she had inhabited earlier. Ichigo smiled at this, remembering the old days when she slept up there, bugging him in the middle of the night and stealing his sisters' pajamas.

Ichigo shook his head, scoffing. Those days were over, and so were his sisters. Tears welled in his eyes, and he turned away so Rukia wouldn't see them. " Good night," he said thickly as she shut the door.

Rukia opened it again slightly as he climbed into bed.

" Good night, Ichigo."

In the morning, she was gone.