"I have to find him. I have to find him!"

Those words had been screaming in my ears since I found out that Ulquiorra disappeared. I'd left Soul Society in a hurry and now I was at Urahara-san's shop.

Before leaving Soul Society I asked Kuchiki-san not to tell the others. They would find out soon enough and I didn't have time to meet up and reunite with everyone (even if I wanted to). Ulquiorra was out there, and he could be blaming himself for my death.

I couldn't stop to think about what I was doing, I just had to go.

Kuchiki-san wouldn't let me through the gate without two Shinigami escorts. I tried to explain that I would be fine without them but she wouldn't budge. In the end, I was glad to have them. My mind was in a frenzy and it was hard enough to find the way through the Senkai gate without also having ones thoughts preoccupied by something else, or rather someone else. As we rushed toward the living world I was suddenly reminded of the last time I'd been here. The time when Ulquiorra had come for me…

It was hard to think about it. I tried to focus on something else instead of wishing for a certain, dangerous Arrancar to show up again.

It felt like hours within the dark, gloomy space. I expected to be worn out by the time we reached the living world but my body felt light and full of energy. Just one of the perks to being a spirit, I guessed.

When I stepped out onto the familiar streets of Karakura, the sense of homecoming was overwhelming. I felt a little teary-eyed since the last time I was here I never expected to return…

The friendly shinigami said their goodbyes and headed back to Soul Society. I was alone now.

Despite it being nighttime, I wasn't afraid. This was my town after all!

The sky was full of stars and the streets were empty. It was like I was the only person in the world.

I felt a pang of sadness when I realized Tatsuki-chan's house was only minutes away. It would've been so nice to stop by and say hello, maybe even have dinner and some delicious desert… But I'd made my rule clear. I couldn't drop in suddenly and let them know I was okay because it would be too hard and take up too much time. There was something else I needed to do and so I tried not to think about my friends too much.

Just keep moving Orihime.

With a sigh I turned onto a different street and headed to a familiar place.

When Urahara-san saw me he was surprised, but not as shocked as I'd thought he'd be.

"Urahara-san is prepared for everything isn't he? Even my return from the death…"

I didn't give him to chance to ask me what I was doing at his shop alive, knocking on his door in the middle of the night. I simply bowed and said "Please get me to Hueco Mundo."

He stood and stared at me for a moment before finally answering. "Why do you suddenly want to go there, Inoue-san?"

"I…" It was hard to explain since I wasn't completely sure myself. I slowly straightened up and tried to find the words.

"I just have to. There's someone there that I need to see again… I don't want the others to know about this either; it has to be me alone or he won't…" I balled my hands into fists. "Please help me Urahara-san. It's the only thing I'll ever ask of you, I promise."

He sighed and adjusted his hat.

"Going to Hueco Mundo by yourself… You'll be walking into a death trap Inoue-san. As a spirit, the hollows there will go after you . Do you think you can kill them to save yourself?"

I shrugged unsurely. "I don't know about that." Killing had always been hard for me, even if it was only hollows.

"But if I stay here and do nothing…,"I continued, "I'll never see him again." Tears welled in my eyes as I said words.

"Inoue-san," Urahara-san said softly. "He may regard you as an enemy. Are you prepared for that?"

I didn't have to think about my answer.

"Yes."

It was impossible to understand where this confidence in my decision was coming from. My feelings for Ulquiorra were still hard for me to name, and I would probably die if I chased after him, but at the same time it felt like there wasn't any other option. My only choice was to look for Ulquiorra.

Although I didn't understand it, the need to see him resounded inside of me.

I faced Urahara-san, hoping he would see all of this in my one-word answer.

"Please, Urahara-san."

"Dear oh dear," he muttered, but I could sense acceptance from him. "I've kept the gate ready in case a situation like this came up. It will only take a moment to complete the preparations. If you want to go, please follow me this way."

He disappeared into the store and I hurried after him, everything in me tingling with relief and excitement.

I can't believe he agreed to this!

He paused before the entrance to the underground training area.

"Ururu, please get Inoue-san ready."

The little girl appeared from the shadows and she made me jump.

"Here," she said timidly, and held out what looked like a cape or cloak of some kind.

"Is this to protect me from the sand?" I asked.

"Camalflouge," was all she said in answer. It was white and sure to blend in with the terrain of the hollow world.

She helped me put it on (it was surprisingly light) and we both followed Urahara-san underground.

Urahara-san was in the middle of an incantation that I couldn't hear. He pulled out his soul slayer and stabbed into the air. Then, the air around the sword's end became warped until a line slit through space and ripped apart into a black opening.

"Garganta," I murmered, remembering the way the Arrancar get around. "The gate is ready? That really was fast."

"This way, Inoue-san," Urahara indicated the black space. Ururu-chan held back with Jinta-kun and Tessai-san; all of them were watching me closely.

I walked over and stepped in front of the opening to garganta which hung in space.

Urahara-san began to instruct me.

"Once inside Garganta you must create a path of spirit particles for you to walk on. You must not fall off of that path, understand?"

I nodded, making sure to remember everything he was saying.

"Once inside Hueco Mundo you will not easily be able to return. There is nothing I have for you that can give you a way to reopen Garganta. You'll be stuck in there if you don't find who you're looking for. If you must, find Neliel, the Arrancar that helped Kurosaki-san."

"Nel-san?"

"She is friends with Kurosaki-san isn't she? I'm sure she'll help you. If worse comes to worst, she'll be your only way home.

"Okay, I'll make sure to find her if I have to."

There was a pause where neither I nor Urahara-san spoke, as if neither of us knew what to say.

Then, "This is it Inoue-san," he said from beside me. "Are you sure about this?"

"It's weird, but… I've never been more sure of anything in my life," I said with a faint smile which Urahara-san returned. "Don't die again Inoue-san. If you do I'll be the first one your friends come after," he joked.

I turned to him and bowed. "Thank you for this Urahara-san. I'll…," I swallowed over the lump in my throat, "I'll see you later."

With Urahara-san and the others watching I stepped into the gate and felt it close behind me.