Well this chapter is a little shorter than i had hoped but the next one will definitely be longer. Enjoy and remember to REVIEW!

Chapter 6- You Reap What You Sow…

Orihime had so many questions from just being in this new world for one day. Why did the creation of the King's Key not kill her? How did she get to become the leader of the Arrancar? Why are her friends now her enemies and her enemies now her friends? Where was Tatsuki and Ichigo's family? How was it that no one seemed to know who the all powerful and infinitely evil Sosuke Aizen was? Did she really hurt Momo, Renji, and Toshiro? So many questions ran through the young girl's mind but at the moment she saw him all of that seemed temporarily forgotten. At first she didn't know if she was awake or not, which under the circumstances was understandable. Surely her near completely depleted reiatsu could make her hallucinate. At least she hoped it could. The figure standing in her doorway was by far the strangest and most disturbing thing she had seen since she saw Ulquiorra in his true form. It was a child that looked identical to the pictures she had seen of Ichigo as a kid but instead of having his bright orange hair and normal peach skin he had snow white hair and chalky white skin. His eyes were the most frightening feature on his entire body being the same as Ichigo had had during his fight with Grimmjow, black sclera and yellow iris. The boy was dressed in a pristine white Arrancar issued uniform and looked more like a soldier than a boy with his massive zanpakuto on his back resembling Ichigo's in its Shikai form. His face surprisingly showed a little emotion, however it was guilt and sorrow that Orihime saw, nothing like a normal child. Orihime wondered briefly if this is what Ichigo saw when he told her he had a hollow living inside of him just before she was taken by Ulquiorra o Hueco Mundo in her past life. Orihime could feel his dark, evil, and hollow like reiatsu though it seemed tainted by something else.

I wonder what he is…

Either way, she knew he was a powerful being and could probably kill her with ease when she was completely healthy. Unfortunately she wasn't completely healthy and her energy, physically and spiritually, were nearly gone. As if to confirm her worst nightmare, the snow white figure slowly moved closer to Orihime's bed and unsheathed his sword. Though it wasn't exactly important at the moment, Orihime couldn't help but mentally pat herself on the back of her previous assumption that this creature's weapon was like Ichigo's sword the only exception being the colors were inverted, where the sword was normally black it was white and vice-versa. As he reached the bed Orihime was frozen to her spot as she watched him, trying hard not to blink.

What is this?

A dream?

A nightmare?

I don't understand… Is this really happening?

Is thischild about to kill me?

Am I going to die alone in my bed by the hands of a mini albino Ichigo?

Kind of ironic in a morbid kind of way…

Her mind was racing and she didn't notice him set the sword down on a coffee table. She was brought back to reality by his barely audible sad voice,

"I had another bad dream…"

She slowly took in what he said but couldn't reply out of pure shock. His voice wasn't what she was expecting, it was that of a child not a mass murdering hollow. He slowly stripped down to his just his hakama, surprisingly Orihime noticed he didn't have a hollow hole, and crawled onto the bed and under the covers. He curled up next to her and she stiffened out of a mix of fear and the unfamiliar feeling of someone else being in her bed with her. Orihime was completely taken back by his seemingly innocent actions.

When she finally found her lost voice, she said the first thing that came to her,

"B-bad dream? What kind of dream?"

The boy looked up at her and started, "I was walking with a woman by a river in the rain. The lady was smiling at me and was holding an umbrella over me so I wouldn't get wet… She was so beautiful, just like you. She always seems to have a smile on her face. I was holding her hand and was so happy just by being with her. It always starts out happy but…"

He started to cry and Orihime was about to tell him he didn't have to keep going and finish but found herself completely hypnotized by him. Through the tears trickling down his cheeks he continued,

"Then I saw a girl about to fall into the river and I ran after her to save her. I tried so hard to grab her but she just seemed to disappear under my grasp. I got knocked out and everything seemed to go black. I thought the dream was over when I woke up but then I felt something covering my body. I tried to get up to see where I was but found that it was her on top of me and that she was… she was…"

At this he went silent but Orihime already knew the end of the story. She knew what he was about to say because Tatsuki had told it to her once though never in this vivid detail.

So this is really Ichigo? None of this makes sense but…

Even though she was going through her own inner conflict, she did the only thing she knew to do and wrapped her arms around him and comforted him in her best motherly attempt. In a soothing voice she started,

"Shh. It's okay. Don't worry it's just a dream sweetie."

He buried his head in her chest as she petted his hair slowly. After a while of sobbing silently the boy mumbled a question,

"Will you ever leave me?"

Orihime at that moment felt like the worst person in the world for ever thinking that the small child in front of her was a disturbing killer. All she had thought about was all the similarities between him and a hollow when she should've been thinking that he was just a kid, a small frightened child. Although she didn't know all of the answers to the questions she had been thinking of earlier, and she had even more questions now, who this little boy was or what she was to him in this world, she did know without a shred of doubt her answer,

"I will never leave you."

Her voice was soft from her lack of energy but reassuring and firm as well. The boy seemed to relax a little and started to drift off. Orihime kept slowly running her hand through his hair to help him relax when he said in a half asleep voice,

"You promise?"

Orihime involuntarily felt a lump in her throat and tried hard not to cry. Her mind couldn't comprehend the little boys words,

Do I promise? How could anyone say ever say no to this kid.

She thought back to when Sora died and how lonely she felt. Sure Tatsuki had been there for her most of the time and she had a lot of great friends but there had always been a hole in her heart since he died. Like a piece of herself was gone, a part of heart that was gone for all eternity. After a moment of silence she allowed a few silent tears to run down her face as she replied softly,

"I promise."

He snuggled closer into her hold and relaxed into a deep sleep. Something about seeing the small boy so sad and frightened had struck her heart.

The feeling was so enormous she imagined it was how someone might feel if they were hit by a truck.

Or the way the bomb diffuser feels in the movies when he and the world are only seconds away from destruction and he has to choose between the blue and red wire.

Or…

Or…

Or maybe this is how the anxiety of a mother's love for her child feels like…

In that moment of thought she knew that she would fight to the very ends of the earth to keep that promise. She tightened her hold on the boy and slowly drifted back into darkness with absolute certainty that she had a purpose for being in this new world.

-Scene Shift-

"That's absurd. Why would the Shinigami try to invade Hueco Mundo? They have no motivation to do so right now with their wounded ranks and even if they did want to they would know it would be a suicide mission."

Szayel finally finished.

Ichigo scowled, "I'm telling you they're coming and we need to prepare for the worse, damn it!"

The table began to tense up and Nel sighed, "Perhaps you should tell us what gave you this notion. Then maybe we could understand your reasoning."

Hallibel spoke up, "At the very least tell us when you expect this 'invasion' to occur."

The Espada women nodded toward Ichigo,

"Well when we, Orihime and I, met with those Shinigami one of them told me… gave me reason to believe that they might try to kill Orihime. Since an assassination attempt is basically out of the question I figured that they would try to just rush us, you know? Like some kind of way to destroy our leadership or something and hope our ranks would fall apart."

Ichigo received different stares from a few Espada, some skeptical, some worried, and some, just Ulquiorra, annoyed,

"Wars are not powered on nor are critical tactical decision based upon 'hope', as you put it. Your overreacting. There is no possible or conceivable way for the Shinigami to even enter Las Noches undetected and even if they were to somehow get past our security measures then they would have to face a numerous amount of Arrancar before ever being able to reach Inoue-sama as her room is in the middle of Las Noches and all of the Espada's are surrounding it accordingly."

Ichigo seemed to relax a little, until Grimmjow spoke up in an un of character serious voice,

"Yeah, I kind of been feeling like they were going to attack. I think they somehow know of Inoue-sama's weakened condition. It just easier to attack your prey when they are weak and least expect it. I agree with Kurosaki."

At this Zommari narrowed his eyes,

"You speak as if these Shinigami scum have eyes and ears in the heart of Las Noches."

Grimmjow narrowed his piercing blue eyes,

"All I know is when you smell blood you attack. It's what I'd do."

Szayel, seeing the tension between the 6th and 7th Espada members tried to change the subject,

"At the very least perhaps we should have extra guards around Inoue-sama's room for any unforeseen variables. Just in case."

Everyone seemed to agree with this and even Ulquiorra gave a nod. It wasn't as if they were short on troops, in fact that was something of a commodity they had in Las Noches. Ichigo stood up and addressed them,

"Alright then it's settled, we won't prepare for a Shinigami invasion but we will provide extra guards for Orihime until she is fully healed. Agreed?"

Everyone nodded their approval,

"Ok well I guess we need to pick who's going to guard her. Any suggestions?"

Stark for once picked his head off the table and said quickly, "I'll do it."

Everyone seemed to give him an odd look. Halibel was the first to question him,

"Why do you want this so bad?"

Stark grinned, "Are you kiddin' me? Cause it'll allow me to relax and stay in Las Noches instead of having to do missions in the real world that require actual effort."

Nel turned deathly serious,

"You can't be too relaxed Stark, you have to protect Orihime-sama at all cost. And you can't be sleeping on the job, you bum."

Stark frowned slightly but nodded,

"I can't argue that I'm not a bum but I do know the severity of the situation Nel. Don't worry, I don't want anything to happen to Inoue-sama as much as you all do."

Ichigo stared at Stark in an almost threatening stance,

"Are you sure your up to the task Stark? Cause if anything happens…"

Stark gave a small chuckle,

"Ichigo relax, I won't let anything happen to her. I give you my word."

Ichigo nodded knowing that Stark was more than capable of holding his own against just about anything the Soul Society could throw at them,

"Alright, thank you Stark. Everyone will continue their routines and planned missions as normal. Until Orihime is back to 100% I think it's best to have Ulquiorra, Halibel, and Nel lead and plan the missions to the real world or any strategic offensive, Me, Chad, and Uryuu recruit out in Hueco Mundo while the rest of you stay here at Las Noches and maintain our defenses. Sound good?"

Nel looked somewhat surprised, "Your not going to stay her with Orihime-sama?"

Ichigo sighed, "Well I want to but…"

Ulquiorra cut in in his trademark toneless voice,

"It would be foolish to have Grimmjow lead the recruiting party when there is still a handful of Vasto Lorde that we have yet to persuade that could easily kill them."

Grimmjow snorted but made no comment knowing all to well that as much as it hurt his pride to say it, Ulquiorra is right. Szayel started,

"Not to worry Nelliel, I will keep an eye on her and make it a point to be extra careful about her amnesic effects. I'm uncertain that Inoue-sama will even be awake in the next few days so there is a chance that Ichigo will be back before she wakes up."

Nel nodded still unsure if it was a wise choice to leave Orihime with Szayel.

Ulquiorra agreed emotionlessly, "That sounds like the most logical plan in our current situation."

The others seem to agree and nodded.

"Then this meeting is over."

-Scene Shift-

Hisagi couldn't believe it. He had heard of Orihime Inoue's powers, hell he had researched them before he went on this mission, but to see them in person and to experience it was an entirely different matter. In those few seconds between when Rangiku's eyes rolled in the back of her head and when the female Arrancar surrounding him started to close in, he thought they were done. It seemed like it was a blur, he remembered collapsing and turning his head to see Ichigo thrown to the wall then it was like he was encompassed in warmth. As he thought about it he came to the conclusion it couldn't accurately be described what it was like being healed, or better, rejected away. It felt close to death but lacked the bitter pain that normally came with it. In that golden shield it was hard to differentiate between life and death, what was real and not.

It's indescribable, that's all there is to it.

"Uh, where am I?"

Finally shaken out of his train of thought, Hisagi saw Rangiku wake from the opposite end of the couch.

"You, we are in a holding cell but it seems as if we no longer have any restraints, well except for these."

He pointed to his reiatsu collar. She sat up fully and looked down at her hands. She opened them then closed them slowly and repeatedly. Hisagi new what she was experiencing, it had happened to him when he woke up as well.

"Like you're a new person right?"

Rangiku just nodded not taking her eyes away from hand as the other one touched her throat.

"Why?"

Hisagi gave her a curious look, "Why what?"

Rangiku looked up, "Why'd she save us?"

Hisagi sighed unsure of the reason,

"Maybe to try to get information, maybe to use us as bargaining chips, maybe to kill us later who knows."

Rangiku couldn't help but flinch at the last possibility. She knew when she was asked to do this mission that there was a chance she would be killed but the reward had been to high. Rangiku looked at him seriously,

"They won't send a rescue squad."

Hisagi chuckled, "Yeah I know it was a risky mission to begin with and only had a slim chance of success. Why'd we do this again?"

Rangiku's face turned dark and said quietly,

"For Momo, Renji, and Toshiro."

Hisagi mentally punched himself for saying that. He didn't literally mean why they were here, he just wanted to lighten the gloominess. He sighed finally accepting defeat,

"If only we hadn't gotten caught we might have been able to end the war quickly, especially with Inoue in the condition she's in. It was my fault for not being more observant and tripping the alarm. Sorry…"

Rangiku smiled for once and leaned onto Hisagi,

"Baka, I would've hit the alarm if you didn't, it's not like our specialty is stealth."

He just ignored her feeling guilty as sat back and grabbed a pillow from the other side of the couch,

"Besides, it not as if it was a complete failure."

Hisagi looked up from the uninteresting piece of tile he was staring at,

"Oh yeah, how's that?"

Rangiku smiled deviously as she put the pillow in his lap and laid her head down,

"Cause I delivered one of the 'packages' successfully. Hisagi looked stunned and looked down at her,

"What? How? I thought we destroyed them before we were caught?"

Rangiku turned over so her face was against his stomach,

"Except for the one I hid in my mouth."

Realization suddenly dawned on Hisagi and he smiled,

"Clever girl."

"Yeah I get that a lot."

-Chapter End-

I'm excited about this story and hope you all are too. Please wait for next chapter for explanation of mini, albino Ichigo as it will be thoroughly explained. I'm hoping to make this at least 20 chapters long, maybe more. If your wondering about the odd little -Scene Shift-'s it's because for some reason i can't make a line break to differentiate between scenes... Please leave a Review if you see a grammatical error as I'm not all that good at English lol. Well thanks for reading, please REVIEW, and until next time...

PeAcE OuT