Tossing, turning, tossing, turning, turning, tossing, and sighing. You couldn't go to sleep tonight as Ichigo being hurt killed at you in a way inside your soul.

Sleepily you dragged yourself out into the hallway of the stairs going down to get a glass of water, until Ichigo and Orihime's voice filled the living room air.

You quickly and quietly pressed yourself up against the wall, listening in on what they have to say...

Ichigo's pov

Burning, everywhere. I sat on the couch and let Orihime heal me up. It doesn't hurt much as it did before... maybe because I was acting tough for (y/n) so she didn't have to worry about me much...

But her brother... Akio... his power is similar to that one arrancar Ulquiorra's power... it's amazing to think that an arrancar like him can have that much power... maybe more than Ulquiorria himself. The spirit energy around Akio is different in a way. I moves with the air instead of pulsing around the air like it does with us...

"Kurosaki-kun." Orihime snaps me from my thoughts. Her gray eyes staring into my deep-dark brown ones seriously. "This spirit energy I'm sensing around you... it isn't anything I've felt before... it has a richer color of red with hate, anger, sadness, with every negative emotion around it. It would have started to affect you if I didn't come in time."

I nod my head, knowing what she was talking about. I felt something chewing at my soul, as if it was always hungry and didn't wanna stop or it would die of starvation.

"I know Orihime, I felt it affecting me... but when I wasn't around (y/n) the pain died down... it was like the energy would only work around her."

Orihime bit her lip, thinking while staring out into space. "I believe either (y/n) was somehow powering the spirit energy faster, or the spirit energy inside only attacks when near a person."

I shook my head. "How could (y/n) speed up the spirit energy from her brother? Don't each person have their own soul that ties with themselves?"

"I believe so, but maybe it's an bond like thing. Take you and your two sisters. All of you can sense when one or the other is hurt. So I believe Akio and (y/n) share some kind of bond still and it's affecting you Kurosaki-kun..."

I grind my teeth, tasting the blood that tasted like metal in my mouth. "I don't believe (y/n) would help her brother! That bastard tried to kill her before we started dating! I don't get how any of this is suppose to make sense!"

Orihime sadly shook her head. "I'm sorry Kurosaki-kun..." She finishes healing me as the orange light barrier breaks around me. "I'm just saying all of this as an theory. Maybe ask Rukia, and the other soul reapers about this. They know more about spirit ribbons and other things than me."

I sigh, tired to the bone as I get up. I could feel them squeaking inside me with each step I toke. "I'll ask tomorrow. Thanks for healing me Orihime."

She gives me one of her friendly smiles she always gives me. "Anything for you Kurosaki-kun." She says as I walk her towards the door. "Tell (y/n) I said hello from me."

I give her an smile back. "Will do. Night Orihime." I close the door as she says her goodbyes.

I then hear an slip and fall along with someone cursing out. I run up to see (y/n) down by the stairs to see she slipped when climbing up.

(y/n) pov

I look up to see Ichigo towering over me. I give him an tiny nervous wave.

He sighed while picking me back up and placing me into his arms. "What are you doing? I thought I told you to be in bed."

I laugh nervously. "Well I couldn't get some sleep! So I thought I would go downstairs and get an glass of water and-"

"You heard Orihime and I talking." saying while cutting me off.

I huff and flick his forehead lightly. "I didn't think you guy would be taking so long. I just got up and went to get an drink of water! That's all!"

He stared me down with his handsome rich brown eyes. I could just get lost in them by looking into them. He seemed to be looking at my face, searching for something you couldn't see outside, but in the inside of an person.

Sighing, he just carried me up stairs to his room and snuggle warmly with me in his bed. He closed his eyes while kissing my forehead. "We'll talk more in the morning... I'm here now so you can sleep..."

I smile, knowing now I can sleep, but frowning in my sleep as I think about the conversation the two just had...