Captain Kuchiki drew his eyebrows together" Since when does the Arrancar care what happens to the humans here?" He asked trying to dispel his growing confusion.

Ichigo became agitated" What the hell do you think you re doing? You can t be serious! You can t take Orihime back to Hueco Mundo." He began to move forward.

Ulquiorra looked pointedly at Captain Kuchiki " We Arrancars don t other then the humans being a means of sustenance for the weaker Arrancars to grow. It would worsen Orihime s condition to have the human s killed because of her. "Ulquiorra turned toward Ichigo " Can you think of any better place to fight Aizen where the humans won t be injured?"

Ichigo stopped as Captain Kuchiki put his arm out in front of him " Stay back Kurosaki Ichigo."

Ichigo looked at Byakuya as if he d lost his mind " Byakuya let me "

Captain Kuchiki held firm and wouldn t let Ichigo pass. " Not your place Kurosaki Ichigo." He commanded without even sparing Ichigo a glance. "The Soul Society will handle this situation Arrancar."

Ulquiorra looked at Captain Kuchiki coldly " If Aizen is after orihimes s powers you will imprison her for a time, just as Urahara tried. To imprison Orihime would be the same as killing her. Aizen may settle for that if he intends to crush her. Tell me you would not kill your own family members if sacrificing them meant saving many others; even if you don t know them. " Ulquiorra looked at each of them in turn.

couldn t deny that which was truth and it was written on their faces. "What are you saying Ulquiorra, earlier you said Aizen wants Orihime s powers; now you re saying Aizen wants to kill her?" Ichigo s voice was incredulous.

They all felt the ground moving more violently as what ever it was moved closer. "Aizen did try to obtain Orihime s powers in Hueco Mundo. using psychological traps to make her one of us. Aizen was unwilling to use his Shikai on Orihime, but the psychological traps didn t work. I can not say without a doubt Orihime s powers are all Aizen wants, but I know for a certainty if he is after Orihime it is either for her powers or to destroy her."

Captain Kuchiki still puzzled by this Arrancar s behavior asked" Why do the Arrancars care or is it just that you care?"

A voice very familiar to Ichigo rang out loud and clear from behind them " That girl did a lot to help some of us and it s a debt that isn t easily repaid. so either help or get the hell out of our way!"

Ichigo turned as he said with irony " Grimmjow"

Grimmjow stood in his resurrection form with his long flowing blue hair fanned out across his back. Of course Captain Kuchiki along with most of the Shinigami as well as some of the Earth team had never seen any of these people in their resurrection forms. All eyes went wide as they are now faced with some very high powered Arrancars. It wasn t until one very soft childish female s voice rang out from behind Grimmjow that all eyes really got big.

In her adult form Nel ran from around Grimmjow" Ithygo Ithygo!" Nel ran right up to Ichigo and gave him one of her big bear hugs nearly chocking him to death.

Grimmjow laughed at the look on Ichigo s face which sounded like someone half crazy." We re running out of time Ulquiorra. If we don t get her out a here now we re going to have to stand and fight here or let that bastard take her." He stated with a deadly serious tone.

A tone Ichigo knew well. "Grimmjow, what s in this for you? "

Grimmjow laughed again " Kid, you just don t get it do ya? Why did you come to Hueco Mundo for kid? I didn t understand it at the time, but after you saved my life back then I ve had time to think about it; all of it. I watched that girl save the lives of those who moments before tried to kill her. I hear she did it more then once." He shook his head sending his hair flying. "She s not afraid to reach out with her heart and mend others, even her enemies because she doesn t see others as an enemy, kid."

Urahara spoke softly remembering Ulquiorra s earlier statements " She can reach out and touch the heart of any man." Then he looked up at Orihime s unconscious form " Get her out of here. We ll join you as soon as we can." He ordered with a deadly tone that brooked no argument causing Captain Kuchiki to look at him.

Before Captain Kuchiki could protest Urahara hurried them through the doorway and out of the apartment. Ichigo wasn t going to be put off so easily and made to follow after them. "No Ichigo, Ishida go with them and guard Inoue Orihime well. " Urahara commanded sternly as he grabbed Ichigo s arm to stop him.

Rukia stepped forward " I ll go too. " Without waiting for an affirmative or her brother to deny her, she was already on Ishida s heels and out the door.

Ichigo was furious " What the hell Urahara; you just going to let them take off with Orihime like that? Maybe she wouldn t have wanted to go with him, did that even occur to you? I had to kill him the last time just to force him to release her!"

Urahara raised his eyebrows at Ichigo s reaction to his decision. "Unless I miss my guess That Ulquiorra is now the reigning King of Hueco Mundo and judging from his attentiveness to Inoue Orihime I doubt he will do anything to make her uncomfortable."

Ichigo rolled his eyes " Attentiveness? Is that what you call his possessiveness? Damn it Urahara, Ulquiorra is a Vasto Lorde! He is the strongest Arrancar in Hueco Mundo."

Captain Kuchiki s eyes widened again as he questioned " Urahara, are you saying this Arrancar wants Inoue Orihime for his queen?"

That question brought Ichigo up short on anything else he would have said as Byakuya s question hit him square in the face " Queen? Orihime isn t even of royal blood lines." Ichigo s thoughts went back to how Orihime looked when she d finished healing him just before his fight with Grimmjow. How regal she appeared to be at the end as she approached him and placed her hand daintily in his own.

Yes Orihime could easily pass for royalty; she certainly has the poise and posturing for it; the looks too if I were to be honest about it. Suddenly the thought of Orihime being so far away made him feel depressed. He had never imagined his life without Orihime in it on a constant basis. They were together in class five days a week. They spent many holidays and lately vacation times together. Orihime was part of the team.

Captain Kuchiki said honestly " I doubt the Arrancars care about such things as royal bloodlines since they can t have children." Just then both Ichigo and Captain Kuchiki looked at one another with wide eyes of surprise as both silently speculate on the accuracy of their knowledge of the Arrancar physiology.

Urahara began laughing but his joy was cut short as the rumbling sway became a nerve shattering jolting. The house rocked in all directions as skeletons filled the room; moving from one to another searching for Orihime. When they saw the Shinigami they paused briefly before continuing on their way.

This time not one human had been hurt and no permanent damage done to any of the structures. Everyone felt the shaking though as it was centered just outside of Karakura Town to the north and felt from one end to the other. Captain Kuchiki got a really good close look at the skeletons that passed through the house.

They were from the underworld; no mistaking that. Could Aizen have survived? Are the Arrancars telling the truth? Those minions were definitely searching for someone or something, but what? They ve never taken living souls before nor have they actually come here to kill a human for their souls; how odd they come here now. Captain Kuchiki thought to himself. Why Inoue Orihime?

After everything settled down Captain Kuchiki made his report to the Captain Commander. "The Arrancars seem to think Aizen wishes Inoue Orihime dead."

" We can not permit Inoue Orihime to remain with our enemies. Her powers are too dangerous to allow them free reign over the girl." The Captain Commander informed.

Captain Kuchiki looked directly at the Captain Commander" Inoue Orihime is not alone. Kuchiki Rukia and Uryur Ishida have accompanied Inoue Orihime as personal guards. It is under some assumption the new King of Hueco Mundo may have a more... personal interest in Inoue Orihime."

The Captain Commander s eyes widened at this news. " A more personal interest? Explain Captain Kuchiki." Captain Kuchiki explained Urahara s quick assessment." Did you see anything that suggested such a preposterous idea?"

Captain Kuchiki spoke honestly "Captain Commander I don t know how Aizen s tampering with the Arrancars may have changed them but I did notice possessiveness in the way the Arrancar called Ulquiorra cared for Inoue Orihime. It is just too soon to tell what his actual motives are."

Captain Commander shook his head " possessiveness could mean anything and is nothing to go on. I want Inoue Orihime brought here where she will be placed in solitary confinement until this business is over. " The Captain Commander stated thumping his cane on the floor loudly as if to say discussion closed.

Captain Kuchiki raised an eyebrow at the pronouncement " Captain Commander perhaps solitary confinement would be..."

The Captain Commander interrupted him with another loud thumping. " This is not up for discussion." He said pointedly " You will personally see the order carried out Captain Kuchiki. "Then the screen went blank leaving Byakuya virtually no choice and totally bewildered.

I haven t heard of any one outside of the Soul Society being confined within; much less constrained to solitary confinement within the Soul Society. What is going on? Why is it that suddenly everyone wants Inoue Orihime? What possible powers can a mere human have to warrant all of this trouble?

Captain Kuchiki turned to find everyone silently looking stunned at the blank screen. Captain Kuchiki leveled a cold look at Urahara " I think it s time you tell me what s going on here Urahara Kisuke, and leave nothing out."