Orihime's life is explained in this chapter. I had a bit of a tough time writing the silly Orihime, because I hate that person with all my heart. Let's hope I get better as I write more.

Haruki is my OC

Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo.

Chapter 1-The two faces of Orihime Inoue

10 years later

Orihime stood facing the sky, her arms open, smiling as she welcomed the season's first snow that settled on her cheek and eyelashes. She had grown up to be a beautiful girl. Long ginger-colour hair that fell to her waist framed a beautiful fresh face, which was dominated by sparkling grey eyes, coupled with a small pert nose and pretty pink lips. Her figure was much fuller than an average sixteen years old.

"Orihime!"

Smiling widely she turned around to greet one of her best friends, the boisterous, short haired Tatsuki. Behind her was the other short haired boisterous girl, Rukia. Orihime loved both these girls fiercely.

"Come on, let's go." Rukia said, holding her hand.

"Where to?"

"You forgot?" Tatsuki huffed, "Really girl, I wonder where your mind stays."

Orihime giggled, "Seriously, where are we off to?" she said as the girls dragged her.

"Uryu's birthday!" the black haired girls chorused.

"Oh yes! ha ha!"

"So, what are you getting him?" Rukia asked.

"Hehe, I had actually thought of baking a cake for him, but then, when I told him I wanted to add green bell pepper, cilantro and bits of mushroom, he seemed to fall sick at the mention of the cake. I couldn't think of anything else." she pouted slightly at the end.

The other two girls shared a quick look of mortification, each silently thankful that Uryu had managed to dissuade from what sounded to be a colossal disaster of a cake. Orihime, their innocent, lovable but slightly crazy friend had weird tastes when it came to food. She would venture into grounds where none of them would dare to walk. The three girls walked to where the boys stood waiting for them. The tall, burly quiet Sado, half of whose face was covered with his hair. The red haired, tattooed and loud mouthed Renji. The lean, bespectacled, black haired Ishida and the tall orange haired Ichigo. The boy for whom Orihime had nurtured a soft spot since she was ten. The first time she'd met him, she had fallen head over heels in love with him. She had been walking in rain, when two older boys suddenly came out of nowhere and started to harass her. They probably wanted to take her sparse jewellery. Scared, Orihime took a step back, eyeing her taller assailants. She had just been wondering what to do when all of a sudden; a blast of orange came into her vision. A boy of her age was beating the two boys with a stick, screaming at them to get lost. The boys had fled as fast as they could.

"You ok?" the boy had looked at her with a scowl. And that was all it had taken for Orihime to fall head over heels in love with him.

"H-ha-happy birthday Uryuu." she muttered, her eyes stealing a look at Ichigo who stood behind him completely oblivious to the attention he was receiving as he was having an argument with Renji.

"Thanks Inoue, Tatsuki and Rukia."

Ichigo's head snapped up at Ishida's voice. "Hey girls!" he said enthusiastically.

"I-I-Ichigo," she whispered, her cheeks colouring slightly. Ichigo had a mind numbing effect on her. All she had to do was look at him, and she would become a simpering mess. He made her fingers go cold; her breath went fast, her heart erratic. He had been there with her whenever she had needed help. He had always been there as her anchor. Her support whenever she needed it. He had protected her from all the troubles. The bullies at the school, the people at the street- everything.

The seven teens sat in the diner merrily chatting with each other. Tatsuki was narrating an interesting event at the school. She was a leading member of the Karate club.

"..And then all I needed to do was give one firm kick in his you-know-what. He just went limp with a humph!"

Everyone except Orihime was laughing, wiping tears off their face.

"Oh God Tatsuki!" Renji said laughing "I need to be careful around you, for the sake of my future gene..." he stopped suddenly, his face bereft of all smile. Ichigo had kicked him firmly from under the table. He glared at the red head and flicked his eyes at Orihime.

Orihime instinctively knew what Ichigo had just done. He had protected her yet again from something that he deemed unsuitable for her ears. She smiled internally, knowing that she could always rely on Ichigo for saving her from everything. Those shoulders which took her burdens from her and shouldered them for her.

If only he knew! She thought, and then scolded herself mentally, those were forbidden grounds. She was not to think in those terms. Somethings were never supposed to be known.

"Hey Inoue," Rukia said, suddenly, as though she'd just thought of something "I am thinking of a sleep-over at my place. Tatsuki's coming, as is Chizuru and my two other friends from the apartment, Rangiku and Momo. You know them right? Join us, it will be fun!"

"Oh Rukia," she said, her smile genuine "I could get some red bean paste and mashed sweet potatoes with lots of cream and celery. Oh and I will get some fruits to go with it too."

"Err.."

"That's ok," Tatsuki jumped in hurriedly "You don't have to get food, just tell us you will come."

"I wish," she said with large puppy dog eyes "But you know I cannot. My..My uncle won't allow it."

"Can you atleast ask him?" Rukia pleaded. "You never go out with us."

"That's not true," she said in a high pitched voice "I am here."

"Yes, but that's because it's in broad daylight." Renji interjected.

"You know my uncle doesn't want me stepping out of the house after sunset."

"He's crazy." Rukia muttered under her breath.

"Hey, cut it out guys." Ichigo said, "She can't come because her uncle won't allow it. Now you all don't go forcing her, she'll feel bad."

"Ic-ic-Ichigo, th-th-thanks."

She remained silent throughout the meal, stealing glances at Ichigo, who was busy chatting with Rukia.

Later Renji and Sado walked her to her house. Calling the thing a house would be an understatement, it was a mansion, with huge sprawling grounds and an imposing facade. The Sosuke mansion- Las Noches. Orihime paused before the large ornate gates and turned to her two friends. She smiled and said,

"Thank you so much."

"Never mind, as it is the streets aren't safe these days."

She smiled wider and said "I am so glad I have you all. See you all later."

She enthusiastically waved at them till they had vanished from the line of sight, then turned and pressed the buzzer next to the gates.

"Who's it?" An annoyed voice came over the speaker situated next to the button.

"Orihime Inoue."

"Come in." The gates opened almost noiselessly.

The gates closed behind her.

My home she thought my prison.

"Miss Inoue." A voice came from her side as she was making her way to the mansion.

She turned around to the servant, letting him know that he had her attention.

"Lord Aizen requests your presence."

She nodded, her fists clenched. Requests? Was that a joke? Aizen never requested, he commanded. Sighing she walked over to his chambers. He had converted a huge room of his chambers into his office, where he held all his meetings. She knocked on the door, waited for a reply. When none came after several knocks she did not get a reply, she pushed open the door only to find the room empty.

Huh? That's weird. Where could he possibly be?

"Miss inoue?" It was another servant who had walked in with some papers.

"Where is he?"

"You mean Lord Aizen?"

"Who else would I be looking for here?"

"He's in the conference hall."

"Conference hall? Ok, thanks."

That was very weird, why was he in the conference room? Well, she told herself philosophically,I'll find out soon.

She knocked the door of the conference room and a silky voice replied

"Enter."

She pushed the massive doors opened and was immediately taken by how dark the room was. She blinked the lights dancing in front of her, looked at the occupants of the room and gasped.

The Espada? What are they doing here? She wondered, feeling all the twelve pairs of eyes on her. She felt like she was in a very bright and very uncomfortable spotlight.

"I could come by later if you are busy."

"Aah no no Miss Inoue. I am never too busy for you. Come, sit here." He said, pointing at a seat next to him near the head of the table.

The last thing she wanted was to be a part of an Espada meeting. The Espada were the elite group of ten mercenaries who were under Aizen's command. While she was used to seeing one or two of the lower ranking Espadas once in a while, all the ten of them under one roof was not good news. Definitely not! Feeling extremely uncomfortable she walked the length of the room, wishing that the occupants of the room would look elsewhere. She knew it was not a very nice thought, but she was secretly glad that Tousen was blind. That meant at least one less pair of eyes. Not that twelve pairs were any better than thirteen pairs, but it still made her feel better. After what felt like an eternity, she sat down on the seat, only to realise; it was the worst possible seat she could have had the misfortune of sitting in. She was sitting at the corner of a long rectangular table, sandwiched between Aizen Souske and Ulquiorra Schiffer.

"So, what's this all about?" She asked.

"Would you like something to drink, cousin?" Aizen asked politely, smirking at her.

"No, thank you." she declined with equal politeness, thinking that two could play the same game.

Aizen's eyes narrowed fractionally that promised retribution for her cheek. She didn't care. She'd just scored one point.

"So, what is this all about?" She repeated herself in the general direction, avoiding looking to her left and meeting the eyes of the Espada she hated the most.

"Gin." Aizen looked at his right hand man.

Gin cleared his throat and said "As you know, Lord Aizen's moved into politics recently. But you see, there are people who do not like his increasing popularity. We have just received a death threat for Haruki."

"Haruki?" Orihime was puzzled. Haruki was Aizen's four year old daughter. While she was a perfect brat and spoiled to the core, she was still innocent of Aizen's crimes and political ambitions. She hated it that a small child was now the target of some insane political/criminal vendetta.

"Yes, sad as it is, this is the truth." Gin said.

"So the Espada are here for Haruki's protection?" She knew Aizen was over-protective of his daughter, but this time she couldn't blame him. With the Espada watching over the child's back, Aizen would definitely sleep better at night.

"In a nutshell, yes." Aizen said. He then nodded at the Espada who understood that the meeting was over and filed out of the room quietly.

"Ulquiorra." Aizen called out.

The Espada turned around, "Yes my lord?"

"Remember my instructions. They begin as soon as Ms Inoue steps out of this room."

"Yes my Lord." Saying so, the man bowed and left.

"What starts as soon as I leave?" She demanded as soon as Gin and Tousen too had taken their leave.

"Aah cousin..." Aizen said smoothly.

"Oh please! Cut it out. Let's not continue the charade within a closed room where it's just the two of us, Father!" She spat out the last word.

He chuckled and said "Really Orihime, you have grown to be a feisty young woman. Who would have thought the poor little helpless sapling that Aiko brought with her..."

"You will NOT take my mother's name with your filthy tongue." her voice was glacial, her eyes embers of fire.

"Tch-Tch! That's no way to talk to your father, step-father, yes, but I am still your father. It's my duty to look after you."

"Yes, and you have done the duty splendidly," she said "I could cry tears of gratitude, only I am not given to theatrics."

Aizen chuckled.

"So, what exactly begins as soon as I step out?"

"You see," Aizen said smiling "You are Haruki's governess after all. Anyone who's researched Haruki, would know that you are one of the closest people to the child. So your protection becomes one of my top priorities. So I have assigned Ulquiorra as your personal body guard."

"What is the real reason?"

"I knew you wouldn't buy that, you are much too smart for that, but Gin thought it was worth a try."

"I repeat, what is the real reason?"

"Ulquiorra is going to keep an eye on you."

"So that I don't poison Haruki or strangle her in her sleep?"

"I suppose you could say so."

"Don't worry. If I wanted to kill anyone, I'd have done so long time ago and it wouldn't have been Haruki. Still by all means, have me spied on. Let him be my shadow till you are satisfied I am blameless, at least in this regard. I'll be damned if I let that bother me. If you have nothing more to say, there are other places I'd rather be."

Aizen dismissed her with a wave of his hand. She walked away without any salutation.

Outside, the man stood with his hands in his pockets. As soon as she stepped out, he turned around and started to follow her, almost intruding in her personal space. Why couldn't it have been Tia or Szayel? They were at least some sort of a company. They would even talk once a while. But the man following her was a wall. Quiet, expressionless and a tad creepy.

"Why don't you at least walk by my side? That way I won't feel like I am being stalked by a crazed serial killer."

The man took a couple of long strides and joined by her side. He didn't bother to look at her as they continued to walk.

"Orihime Inoue. Call me Orihime."

He didn't reply.

"How long do you think you would be following me around?"

Silence.

She sighed. The following days were going to be really long and exhausting.