Double Trouble

49. Smile

Orihime quickly ran over to Shiro. Her heart clenching at the sight of the young man that had captured her attention so long ago. Calling forth her healing power, the shield appeared over him. Her emotions began to spill over as tears ran down her cheeks. "Soten Kisshun!" Pouring her entire soul into healing him, her mind drifted to when they met in high school earlier this year.

Orihime was staring off into space, or so it seemed. In reality she was thinking of what she would make for dinner that evening. I could make myself some pork cutlets over rice with some sweet bean sauce and some banana cream with strawberry pudding and maybe use the rest of the spicy sauce from last night over the cutlets. A flash of silvery white caught her eye causing her to stare at the young man next to her. She recognized him as the boy she had met in the hospital a few years ago. She had always wondered where he had gone off to. He worn sun glasses inside, even though it was against school policy. He also had a pair of blue earphones around his neck. He was looking out of the window, not paying attention to anyone inside.

Suddenly he turned and looked at her, annoyance evident in his face. "What?" he asked gruffly.

The memory from the hospital conjured up a name. "S-Shiro?" she asked with uncertainty.

The boy cocked his head. "Do I know you?"

Embarrassment filled her as her cheeks flushed. "I-I..I mean...we met...a long time ago..." She trailed off. Maybe he doesn't remember me. "I'm Orihime Inoue."

He grinned at her, showing off sparkling white teeth. "Shiro Kurosaki."

His smile was a true smile, not a false one she would see him give others. He had been truly happy to meet her. His real smiles, she found out, were reserved for his sisters, his twin Ichigo, and his friends; everyone else received a false smile or a quirk of the lips.

Back to the present, Orihime's brow furrowed as she tried to concentrate on bringing him back. He can't die! He just can't! Just then his chest began to lift as he took a single breath.

~
Inside Shiro's inner world he watched as the many skyscraper buildings began to crumble into nothingness. His hollow Zanpakuto stood with his back to him. "Zen, thanks for teaching me everything."

The hollow snorted. To see our lives end this way is pathetic.

Shiro gave him a half smile. Looking over his shoulder, his silvery hair blowing in the wind as he did so. "Yeah, but it was fun."

The hollow gave a full on grin. That it was.

The two watched as the building they stood upon became the last building standing when suddenly the dust, the crumbs from the previous buildings around them stood still, frozen in place. Shiro saw light blue petals begin to fall around him. Holding his hand out, a flower petal fell into his palm. The design of the flower was the same as those Orihime wore in her hair.

The hollow chuckled. I guess your girlfriend doesn't want you to leave her just yet.

Shiro gave his hollow a real smile. "What can I say?" he stated with a shrug. "The girl is head over heels for me."

~

Outside his inner world, Shiro gave a gasp as air rushed into his air deprived lungs. Upon opening his eyes, his gold on black eyes, he saw Orihime's barrier vanish before suddenly he was grabbed by Isshin who was weeping like a baby. Ichigo wrapped his arms around him from behind. He coughed as the new air in his lungs was forced out by his stupid father.

"My boy is back!" Isshin cried out. Tears of joy ran down his cheeks as he squeezed Shiro. Never again would he let his son feel unloved. He would support and love him no matter what!

"Pop." Shiro gasped as he tapped Isshin's shoulder. He couldn't breathe! He just came back from being dead. He didn't need to do a second visit.

Ichigo squeezed Shiro one more time before letting go. Suddenly he felt the air from his own lungs rush out as somebody rushed at him. Tiny hands grasped him from behind. "Ichigo..." It was Rukia's voice. "You idiot!" Her fist banged on his back. "What were you thinking!"

Turning he grabbed her fist and pulled her into a hug. "That a friend needed my help." He gave her one of his best smiles. "You think I'd let anyone hurt you after everything we've been through?" she gave him a blank stare. "If you're in danger, I'll be there to protect you. If you're hurt, I'll end the one causing you pain." He pushed a strand of her hair out of her eyes. "There might be a huge age difference between us, but that means nothing to me."

Rukia's cheeks turned pink. "Ichigo." She looked away from him. "You really are stupid."

He laughed. "I never claimed to be smart."

Shiro, becoming annoyed, had enough of his father's blubbering. Fisting his left hand, he brought it up and under Isshin's chin in a hard punch. "Enough old man! If I wanted to be left lifeless I would've stayed dead!" Standing, Shiro turned towards Orihime and gave her one of his gleaming bright smiles. "By the way, thanks gorgeous."

Orihime felt her cheeks heat up. "S-Shiro!" She grasped her cheeks with her hands to hide the apparent redness.

Peering at her face, Shiro's grin broadened. "What?"

A ways off from the small group, the three older captains gave the group some time to celebrate. "How long do you think they have before Yamaji gets involved?" Shinji asked as he picked up his fallen hat from the ground.

"I give them another five minutes." Jushiro answered as exhaustion from the day's events started to quickly tire him.

Unohana looked around Sokyoku Hill at the various captains and lieutenants as they healed each other. The head captain stood at the top of the hill overlooking everyone. He was standing back, allowing healers to do what needed to be done as others from squad one began to secure the sealed body of Aizen. Gin Ichimaru laid with his head still upon Matsumoto's lap as Isane and Hanataro examined his back and legs to see if he was truly a cripple now. Soi Fon sat on the ground with a flush of embarrassment as Yoruichi berated her as Urahara examined her to ensure she wasn't injured too horribly. Unohana smiled at the two men next to her. "I'm certain once things quiet down, Yamamoto will have a long talk with Isshin about his two boys becoming the next Substitutes."

"Hmmm..." Shunsui hummed. "I hadn't thought about that."

"I wonder what he will have to say about Shinji and the others." Jushiro gave a quick glance towards their old friends who were surrounding Hiyori who was complaining about the attention from her companions.

"That one could go either way." Shunsui answered as Unohana decided to approach the Vizards to see who needed healing.

In the end, three of the Vizards, Shinji, Kensei, and Rose, were asked to return as captains to divisions without captains. Rose returned to the third, Shinji returned to his old division to undo the damage Aizen had done to the fifth, and Kensei returned to the ninth, only to find out that the kid he had saved a hundred years ago was his new lieutenant, this annoyed him ever so slightly especially once Mashiro found out about Shuhei.

As for the Kurosaki twins and their friends, things were never the same...they were even better.