Hey guys sorry for the slow update, I have so much on my plate right now, Working on multiple things. Again Just Friends is not on a Hiatus, I've just been to lazy to edit. I make sure that I am atleast 5-8 chapters ahead of what I update, I do this so when I am writting, I'm not pressured to quickly think of a new chapter. Same goes for this story. I told you guys when it comes to this story, Updates would be slow. But I'll try to not make it to slow.

Have you heard the bad news? Bleach is cancelled. I was so shocked and disappointed and sad, i spent days googling it's status. Theirs like three

conspiracy
one is that the Show is catching up to the Mango so Tite is taking a long break, and going into a hiatus, rather than making fillers.
another is that the show is changing channels.
And there are some saying its definately cancelled. *cries*

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, Tite does.

ENJOY.


-Back to Seireitei-

"Its no wonder Hitsugaya's group is having trouble over there" Squad eight captain Shunsei said, sipping his sake. He was the only captain that could drink in such a pensive moment.

"What do you mean?" Captain Ukitake said. He was feeling better now, though his tuberculosis only dissolve when given a redress. A redress that was becoming more and more useless to him as he used it over and over again.

"Hmm, isn't obvious, if these Arrancars are really what they are, then they have something hollows lack, a brain, and they can easily manipulate the team. They'd make fool out of us."

-Back to Kakura town-

"Thanks Orihime" said a newly revived Rukia. The pain in her side no longer ached and the blood debris on her face and arms were gone. "No problem" Orihime said, a wide smile appeared on her face, but fatigue clung to her soft expression.

"Well, I have to go now, I was actually on my way to Tatsuki's I promised to help her with something…But I can call her if…"

"No, everything's fine here Orihime" Rukia said smiling.

"You sure?"

"I'm positive." Orihime nodded with a smile and made her way out the room.

"Uhh Orihime" Ichigo began. Orihime stopped. "it's a bit hectic outside, with the Arrancars running wild. I think I'll walk you to Tatsuki's since I'm on my way to the clinic anyways."

"No its fine Ichigo, You don't have to go through all the trouble" Orihime said with a light smile. "I wasn't asking permission" He said seriously, though his tone was far from serious, it almost seem that a faint smiled appeared on his lips. Orihime, who could not suppress a blush from him, began to blush. After Ichigo and Orihime left Kisukes store, it left Renji and Rukia alone together.

"I'm glad…you feel better" Renji said breaking the silence between them. He still felt guilt, but seeing her up and okay lessened it.

"Have you guys caught the arrancars" Rukia said disregarding what Renji said. "No. not yet" He said. She did not bother thanking him for his concerned, she would if she wasn't so hung over the fact she seemed weak near him. And she couldn't help but help but feel angry that he was always coming to her rescue, even sometimes risking his own well being to help her. She feared one day, he'd end up terribly injured because of her feebleness, the guilt would only eat away at her. She had to be stronger.

"I'm better now, you can go help the others, you don't have to watch over me" Rukia said in a detached tone, she got up and sheathed her Zangpakto. "I'll go back to my post. And if I see or find anything I'll contact you guys" She said preparing to leave. Renji nodded, he didn't feel comfortable letting her quickly jump back to the fields but ordering her to stay would only anger her. But the guilt he felt was eating away at him. He would not be able to live with himself if something happened to her. He had to become stronger to better protect her.

...

"Raaangikuuu" Captain Hitsugaya said through clenched jaws. Maybe bringing her along to this mission would only cause him to freeze hell over. The seireitei Research department demanded a sample of an arrancar, and since Ikkaku had obliterate one, they had searched for another. How could something so massive be so hard to locate. It was like a needle in the haystack.

"Captain" Rangiku rose up when felt a change in the atmosphere. Toshiro had felt it too. "I feel it too. Contact Yummichika and Ikkaku"

"Yes sir!"

...

Ichigo walked with his hands In his pocket, his gaze on the ground, Orihime was a few steps behind him. She studied his unreadable expression. She hated not being able to read him. She could read just about anyone; but him. He was impossible. He always had on an awful permanent scowl. The sky was a darker shade of blue, the sun a deep orange, it's rays reflecting off the puddle of water on the ground. Orihime looked down at the puddles, and the puddles produced tiny ripples small rings. It was then she felt the vibration that caused the ripples. "

Ichigo" She said, but to her surprise he was already in his soul reaping uniform. "I feel it too" He said, his scowl deepened.

"Orihime, I want you to run before the arrancar arrives" He ordered. She wanted to protest, she wanted to stay and help him, but he made it clear he wanted her to retreat so she nodded and ran the other direction.

"Where are you going. Little girl" A huge arrancar appeared in front of Orihime. He was large, his face masked, the monsters back shield by the hard white material that is on his face, his tale large and in the end it split into two, in the end of each tail, was a retractable segment.

"ORIHIME!" Ichigo yelled over, but he was too late; the monster with a whip of his tail smashed into her. The impact the monster used, vibrated the air, and Orihime's body flew up. Ichigo flashed step up in the air to catch her. She landed bridal style in his hand, her head arched down, her temples refused to stop bleeding, and to add more worry, the way her arms hang over her body it seemed broken. A feeling of anger surged through him.

"You bastard" Ichigo sneered. He could not fight the arrancar with Orihime in his arms injured. He shifted her body to his other arm and used his free arm to unsheathe zangetsu, he lifted his arms up and sliced through the air, a blue powerful blast; with lightning speed tumult down to the arrancar, before the monster recovered from the blast. Ichigo retreated; an action he never did; he had too much pride. But he would not let his pride stand in the way from helping Orihime.


So what you think?

Good, bad, eh?

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Chapter 3: Protocol of Protection

-Will Orihime survive this? Her wounds are pretty drastic! [Suspense Builder]

-Ichigo takes drastic measures to assure of Orihimes safety. Find out what he does

-Renji starts feeling guilt for a mission that strained his relationship with Rukia.

STAY TUNE!

Thanks for reading! :)