Chapter 4

She realized the moment she opened her eyes, the moment she caught his gaze that there was nothing he or she could do about this situation. He was in front of her now, panting as he struggled for breath, his head drenched in sweat and his sword clutched tightly in his hand. She wanted to cry out to him but she couldn't seem to find her voice, her throat and her head hurt so much, she could feel something sticky and warm pooling beside her and she knew she was bleeding, even as her powers yelled in her head for her to cast an incantation and heal herself. She couldn't find the strength to do so. She couldn't take her eyes away from Ichigo, what was happening?

Would this be it?

After things had just started to be what they'd both wanted?

They'd been walking home from school together when a burst of Reiatsu came down from the sky, separating them and casting Orihime into a near corner, fire exploding in her stomach as she bled through her school sweater. He didn't know how but he could hear her scream even through the ringing in his ears. There was a heavy weight on his chest and he struggled to straighten himself up, what on Earth was happening?

"Kurosaki Ichigo." A deep voice called to him from above and Ichigo's eyes darted up to find a man in his late thirties standing in the middle of the air, his lips pulled back into a toothy grin over perfect pearl teeth. "You are the legendary Kurosaki Ichigo are you not?" He asked tilting his head to the side a bit, almost confused, his long pink hair falling over his slim shoulders.

"Who the hell are you?" Ichigo grunted, struggling to pull his substitute Shinigami badge from his pocket before he slapped it to his chest, transforming into a Shinigami with an almost eerie howl as he darted forward, Zangetsu ready to pierce through this man, and instead met with said mans fingertips as he caught it mid blow.

"I ask the questions here boy," The man said, suddenly reappearing beside Orihime's still form and looking down at her, seemingly interested. "I know she mean's a lot to you, your last venture into Huecoo Mundo proved so, perhaps she'll serve as leverage."

"Stay the hell away from her!" Ichigo shouted rushing him once more, he had to get Orihime to his father's clinic, the amount of blood coming from her would have her in critical condition for at least a month if he didn't do something now; damn it, things had been so good why was this happening now!

The man blocked his attack with his arm once more and stared at Ichigo as if he were analyzing every detail on his face, and maybe even his soul forcing him to pull away.

"I am Lepe, and I've come to ask for your assistance in a most urgent matter Kurosaki Ichigo." He said calmly, using Sonido to return to Orihime's side, the tips of his long fingers grazing her forehead, and Ichigo's eyes widened when hers opened, frightened grey eyes looking over at him.

Lepe turned to him with a smile that seemed more like a toothy grin before he turned around and pulled at the air behind him, opening a garganta.

"I will await for you in Hueco Mundo Kurosaki Ichigo, for now I will take your woman with me," He smiled. "You will come to me alone, or she will die." His smile widened.

"Bastard." Ichigo grunted, his hold on Zangetsu tightening. "Why don't you stay here and fight me like a man."

"Because I do not want you to die." Lepe's smile widened. Ichigo's rage burned at those words and he shot forward, he'd make him swallow those words. Lepe smiled as if this was exactly what he'd wanted and he shot his hand forward in a sweeping motion.

"Getsuga Tensho!" He said simply, and Ichigo's eyes widened as his attack shot towards him from the man's sleeve. Crimson red shot towards him rapidly ad Ichigo could barely jump away in time. How the hell was this possible? What the hell was this man! Who was he?

Ichigo's eyes shot down to where the man had been sitting and his breath caught in his throat at what he saw.

Blood.

A puddle of blood where Orihime had been, and nothing more.

A/N: AAAAAAAA And cliff hanger! Yeah, hate me if you want to but this is how it ends... for now. Love you guys don't hate me! I HAD to write this, it was begging to come out, and this was kinda where I wanted to put it soooooo here you go! I'll get back to you guys soon, I have more energy to write these days than I really thought I could have! Tell me what you thought!