Chapter Seven: Mistaken for Enemies

{Dawn's P.O.V.}

The two Arrancars and Orihime looked at Ichigo with wide eyes. He was standing in front of Orihime with the blade of his Zanpakuto pressed against Yammy's oversized hand.

"Just who the hell are you?" Yammy asked.

"Sorry, Ichigo." Orihime apologized, eyes filling with tears.

"It's alright. I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner." Ichigo replied.

Selena placed a hand on Jean's shoulder. "Princess, he's here – when do we advance?"

Jean's eyes narrowed, accessing the scene in front of here. "In a moment… Remember the signal."

Selena nodded and withdrew her hand, watching Ichigo anxiously.

Orihime averted her gaze. "No, I mean… All of this is my fault… If I… If I was stronger I could've stopped this!"

Ichigo lowered his head. "There's no need for you to apologize." He told the other orange-haired teen. "You did everything you could." Ichigo lifted his head once more, and looked at the larger Arrancar. "Now I'm going to deal with these two, and end this!"

Ichigo unleashed his Bankai, making Orihime cover her face to avoid getting smoke and dirt in her eyes. My friends and I also covered our faces, though they were mostly covered.

The substitute Soul Reaper called his Zanpakuto's name, before addressing the girl behind him. "Orihime, stay back."

"A-Alright." Orihime replied, moving away.

Yammy scratched the side of his head. "You got a Bankai, huh?" He looked over his shoulder. "Hey, Ulquiorra! This the guy?"

"Yes. Considering how clumsily you've dealt with the situation, I'm surprised we were able to flush him out at all." Ulquiorra replied. "The orange hair. The black Bankai. No doubt about it – this is our target Yammy. He is the one."

"So, he saved us the trouble of searching for him. Hah!" Yammy brought his fist down towards Ichigo, who simply lifted his sword up and stopped the attack.

"I'm guessing you're the reason Chad's lying on the ground over there." Ichigo mused, looking straight at Yammy, who smirked.

"You going to do something about it?"

Ichigo leapt into the air, and landed behind Yammy. Not even a second later, Yammy's arm fell to the ground. Yammy howled in pain, holding just underneath his shoulder.

"You little runt!" Yammy growled, glaring at the orange-haired Soul Reaper.

I felt a little shock on my shoulder, and looked over at Jean who nodded her head towards the fight.

That was the signal.

My friends and I used shunpo to appear a few miles off to the side of Ichigo and Yammy's fight.

"I'm surprised you can stand there and call me names." Ichigo said. "I guess you're as tough as you are ugly."

Selena chuckled, but quiet enough that no one heard her expect for her friends.

"It seems you're having a tough time." Ulquiorra cut in. "Shall I take over?"

"Stay back!" Yammy snapped, and moved to unsheathe his sword.

"I can't believe you need your Zanpakuto to deal with a runt like this." Ulquiorra mused from his spot.

"Shut up and stay back!"

Ichigo's eyes widened as Yammy slowly pulled his sword from its sheath. "That's a Zanpakuto…" Suddenly, Ichigo clutched his face.

"His Inner Hollow is trying to come out and play…" I mused, smirking lightly. "Shall we help?"

"What would be the point of coming here if we didn't?" Selena asked.

"…I think we should watch a while longer…" Jean spoke up, watching.

Yammy kicked Ichigo in the stomach, sending him flying backwards. Orihime's eyes widened, and she ran towards him. "Ichigo!"

"Stay where you are!" Ichigo shouted, but Orihime continued towards him. Ichigo fell to the ground, and Yammy backhanded Orihime so hard she went flying backwards as well.

Ichigo got up. "Orihime, no!"

"Shut up!" Yammy snapped, raising his only hand left to strike down. He hit Ichigo multiple times.

I looked over at Jean, who nodded to me, granting me permission to follow through with what I had planned.

"Hah, he stopped moving!" Yammy laughed, holding Ichigo up by his head. "Looks like this flea has lost all of its fight!" The large Arrancar threw the substitute Soul Reaper to the ground. "I'm done messing around! Time for you to disappear!" He brought his fist down towards Ichigo, but was suddenly stopped.

Yammy looked over his shoulder to see me standing there. However, all he saw was a figure dressed in white and black with brown eyes holding his elbow and preventing him from beating the living crap out of Ichigo.

"Now now Yammy," I smirked, though he couldn't see it. "I don't think that would be very wise."

"Who the hell are you?" The oversized Arrancar snarled. "And how do you know my name?"

I tightened my gripped on him, shifting my wrist slightly. "That is none of your concern." I threw Yammy a few miles away, and he hit the ground hard.

I looked over my shoulder, at the teal-eyed Arrancar. "What's on your mind, Ulquiorra?" He disappeared from my sight, before reappearing over by Yammy.

I chuckled – he did as expected.

The rest of my friends appeared in a circle around the two Espada members, and I left them to their plans.

I knelt down beside Ichigo. "Do not give up, Kurosaki – you can beat your Inner Hollow."

Ichigo looked up at me with wide eyes. "How did you know…?"

I laughed. "I am not a Visord – if that's what you're thinking."

Ichigo pushed himself onto his knees, and raised his Zanpakuto. "Then… Are you one of them?"

I grabbed the end of Zangetsu before the orange-haired male could to anything stupid. But before I could reply, I heard Jean call out to me.

"Sunshine! We need you – now!"

I inhaled deeply, and used shunpo to reach my friends. "I'm here, Princess. What's going on?" I glanced quickly at the Espada members which stood a little ways away.

"They're taking their leave." Jean replied; eyes narrowed.

"You mean running away." Selena scoffed, arms crossed over her chest.

"Why, are you trying to goad me into a fight?" Ulquiorra asked, turning back to look at us after opening up a Garganta. "Even you must realize the odds are stacked against you. Normally I'd be happy to oblige, but we've completed our mission here. It's time we deliver our report to Lord Aizen. I'll tell him the Soul Reaper he has such interest in has no value what so ever – you're not even worth killing." The two Arrancars stepped into the Garganta and disappeared, on their way back to Hueco Mundo and 'Lord Aizen'.

Brianna sighed. "They got away…"

"The next time I see them I'll –" Selena was cut off when Jean held her arm out.

"Quiet." She demanded. "Bri, we knew they would leave – you should not be upset. And you, Skittles." Our leader turned towards the dark-haired girl, eyes narrowed slightly. "You will do nothing but follow my orders next time."

I looked between the two of my friends, confused. "What happened?"

"Skittles disobeyed an order…" Laura muttered.

Jean nodded and turned to look at me. "Ulquiorra called Skittles trash, and she recklessly attacked him when I specifically told her to ignore him."

Selena hung her head. "I'm sorry, Princess."

Jean sighed. "Don't let it happened again – maybe we would have been able to at least wound them if you hadn't acted out." She turned away from us, so that she was facing Orihime, Chad and Ichigo. "We have to get these three to Urahara. Sunshine and I will bring Ichigo, Skittles, Locket and Bri will bring Chad, and Lil and Kay –"

"We will need Kayla's help." I interrupted. "I think it would be best if Bri helped Lil with Orihime."

Jean nodded. "Alright – let's get going."