The light on Hiro's phone lit up as he flashed the picture or a tired but smiling Orihime. Of course, he was going to monopolize the moment of Orihime dressed up better than any model he'd seen before. He could probably sell it to Ichigo for a high amount, he figured. Hiro wasn't one to NOT take advantage of an idiot in love. Even if said idiot had never said it aloud to Hiro.

At the same time the flash went off a piercing cry split the air. Behind Hiro an angry red hollow materialized. It resembled a large poisonous snake. The dense spiritual pressure made Orihime shiver.

Orihime's face betrayed nothing but her mind was in an instant mess. A hollow? Out there in the country? There shouldn't have been anything to draw it. Orihime was a master at suppressing her spiritual energy and while Hiro's might be considered higher than normal it wasn't enough to actually attract a hollow. Not one of this magnitude at least.

If she betrayed that she could see it the hollow would lunge. How she missed it until then was a mystery. Was it her fatigue? Still this hollow was way too strong for even Tatsuki to have overlooked. She didn't have time to berate herself. She needed to get them out of there.

Hiro's face seemed drained and he snapped his head around. "Did you hear something?"

She cursed under her breath, quite unlike her. "N-no of course not Sempai. Ah! It's so late let's hurry and get back. I'm super tired! How silly of me considering you did most of the work!"

She gripped onto his arm tightly and tried to steer him towards the car. Pretend to not hear it. Pretend to not see it. While she could easily defeat it Orihime knew that Hiro's protection came first. She wasn't a Shinigami but she understood their values.

"So you did hear something," Hiro frowned. "It sounded like something in pain-"

"Sempai! I want to go home now."

But his words had done damage. The snake hollow reared it's masked head and prepared to strike. "You can see me can't you? You look tasty, girl! I'm glad I was the one who found you!"

Orihime used her strength to pull Hiro towards her, pivoting around him so she was between the lunging hollow and Hiro. Her hands rose in front of her and with ease she proclaimed: "Santen Kesshun!"

Her golden shield burst forth and the ugly hollow smashed it's head into it. As soon as it touched the mask cracked and the hollow let out a final cry before disintegrating into the night.

Hiro was n the ground- pushed forward when she dragged him out of the way. His eyes were wide. "W-what are you?"

Orihime frowned deeply. "Y-you could see that?"

He swallowed. "I saw the- the gold thing in front of you. And I saw that big snake but- but it was blurry and I don't know- Are you and Angel or..."

Orihime crouched down on her knees in front of him. "We need to leave now before more show up."

"More?"

To her horror, Hiro recoiled from her. He had distrust in his eyes. Orihime couldn't even blame him because she too would be afraid in this situation. An unknown monster and someone you trusted having powers beyond human comprehension.

The hurt on her face must have been apparent because Hiro seemed to relax. "I'm sorry Orihime-chan I just don't know what's going on. I studied magic all my life but that wasn't just sleight of hand or some flashy trick."

"I'm sorry," Orihime stood up and walked over to the truck. She wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "I can make you forget."

She heard nothing as Hiro picked himself up and thought the offer over carefully. Finally, he broke the silence.

"I'm sorry Orihime-chan," He put a hand on her shoulder.

She looked over at him. "It... It's hard to live after you know they exist. You might always b e wondering when one will show up. It- it can make people paranoid."

Orihime had seen it happen in some of her friends. The more delicate ones had their memories erased. For months after the winter war, Tatsuki and Keigo and Mizuro seemed to be on edge. She didn't want Hiro to have to live like that.

"So people can't normally see them? Can Kurosaki?"

Orihime nodded. "It's very rare that a human can. You probably won't see another one in your lifetime. "

He started to walk to the driver's side to get in. "Are you... human?"

Orihime opened the door but didn't get in. A strong wave of spiritual pressure washed over her. She swallowed. "U-um Hiro about never seeing another one..."

"There's more coming?"

Orihime nodded reluctantly. "This is wrong. There aren't supposed to be this many..."

"What's wrong? Hurry get in! We'll just drive away before they get here."

Orihime's eyes turned steely. "Go on ahead. They can go faster than a car and it was my spiritual pressure that attracted them here."

He was climbing out of the car. "Orihime-chan! You can't expect me to leave you."

She smiled softly. "I'm not as weak as I look. I can take care of them. I don't want you to get hurt"

"Idiot!" Hiro yelled. I'm not just going to drive off and leave you! I.. I-"

His words were cut off as his breathing became labored. "What is this?"

"It's spiritual pressure," Orihime explained. "Please Sempai... please you have to promise me one thing. If I tell you to run you have to. You have to get out of here and you don't stop running until you get to a populated area. Even if you think you'll die if you run any longer."

"Orihime-"

"Please, Hiro! I can't fight if I'm worried about you."

He nodded.

Orihime turned towards the spiritual energy approaching from the north. It was strong and there were probably more than three. Tsubaki appeared next to her.

"'bout time I was of some use Princess."

"Sorry Tsubaki. I'll be relying on you."

"It's what we're here for."

Approaching at an unnatural speed were four hollows of varying power. None were at the Gillian rank or above so Orihime doubted she'd have any trouble with them. Her only fear with that many would be Hiro getting in the crossfire.

Her shield appeared wordlessly in front of Hiro. "Stay behind that shield," She commanded.

Hiro was taken aback by this new Orihime. She was so calm and collected despite the danger. Wasn't she afraid? The girl that seemed to jump at shadows was combat ready. Like a soldier.

He got no further time to appreciate the change as the hollows were upon them.

A quick flash of yellow took care of the first one as Orihime split a large frog-like hollow in half. Her fairy didn't even still before speeding on to the second hollow. They disintegrated in a holy white light.

The third hollow had gotten close to her, but she brought Tsubaki back from behind and was able to split the third one in half as easily as the other two.

She turned to the fourth one, which was approaching Hiro. Behind Hiro, the atmosphere seemed to shift. Hiro was staring through squinted eyes trying to tell what was wrong with the air in front of him but Orihime could recognize the telltale signs of A garganta opening.

Orihime was feeling slightly winded at the use of spiritual pressure but at least they'd been easy to deal with. She whipped her phone out and dialed Chad's number.

Where was the residential Shinigami?

A jolt of spiritual energy brought Hiro down to his knees and cause Orihime to drop her phone in surprise.

Her shield had already repositioned in front of him as she ran to him. She grabbed his arm and dragged him back. "Hiro you have to stand! You have to get up!"

He tried. It felt like he was trying to stand up in sand. His chest was heavy and getting a breath was almost impossible. "O-Orihime what is.."

"Hiro you have to try harder, You need to try to run."

But he couldn't do more than stagger back,

The garganta opened completely and the spiritual pressure brought Hiro back down to his knees."T-thank god it's a hu...man..."

Orihime swallowed. The man was taller than a human should be. His body was covered in white- the same as his mask. His body was covered in yellow stripes starting from his head down. He resembled a tiger she might say.

His eyes opened revealing yellow orbs.

"V-Vasto Lorde," Orihime stuttered. "Why are you in the World of the living?"

His voice was deep and seemed layered- much like any hollow she had met. "I knew the hollows I sent would lead me to you eventually. You're a hard girl to find, Queen."

The sarcastic way he said Queen sent shivers down her spine. "So you're loyal to Aizen-sama?"

Hiro picked his head up. He could see the guy a little clearer now and he could tell that this wasn't a normal human. The name Aizen struck a cord with him too. But it was too much for Hiro to put together at the time.

The Vasto Lorde laughed. "Aizen-sama? His control's log gone. Halibell-sama is running things now."

"Did she send you?"

The Vasto Lorde scowled. "That woman could never hope to control me. She gathered all the remaining Arrancar and Vasto Lorde under her protection. She explicitly said to leave you guys alone."

Orihime knew Halibell was in control now but she didn't know much of the woman. She'd only met her briefly in Huecco Mundo. The Hollow never had a bad feeling really. She just seemed kind of sad. She was a lot like Starrk.

So if she didn't send the hollow what was he doing searching for her? Orihime pulled Tsubaki to her side. Vasto Lorde were powerful. If it was a fight Hiro would definitely get caught in the crossfire.

"What do you want with me?"

The Vasto Lorde took a step forward. Orihime stood her ground. If she moved back any further she'd run into where Hiro was on the ground.

"Hiro you need to work through this. Crawl away. Please, Hiro, I'm begging you!"

All the fight Hiro had earlier was gone. He knew how outmatched he was. Orihime needed to buy him enough time to get far enough away. "Who are you and what do you want?"

"I go by Elbat. I was specifically ordered not to attack you and that's why I'm here."

Orihime frowned. "W-what?"

"I don't much care for my athority being challenged, especially not by that woman," Elbat's face began to glow in a red light as energy gathered on his forehead. "And that's reason enough to hunt you down, Queen."

"Santen Kesshun!" her shield was brought up just in time to block the Cero but Elbat was behind her in a Sonido. She didn't have time to turn around before a sharp blow to her side sent her flying through the air towards the truck.

"T-Tsubaki!"

She hit the side of the truck with a loud bang, followed by a large crack that sounded like someone popping their knuckles through a megaphone. It was overpowered by the loud cry of the Vasto Lorde.

"You bitch!" Elbat stomped towards her. He was holding the bloody stump where his right arm should be.

Tsubaki came back to her side. "Stupid girl, You were supposed to slice off his head. Focus! I know you don't like to fight but you need to! How are you going to protect that boy? Stop hesitating already!"

Orihime's eyes wandered over to the retreating form of Hiro,. He was almost out of harms way.

Elbat stood over her with a Cero charging. She readied her shield to deflect the blow again but Elbt took her offguard.

While she was too injured to get back up normally, he turned his entire body and the fully charged cero towards the retreating form of Hiro.

Orihime's blood went cold. There were very few times she could remember her body moving without command. It had happened the first time she ever Shielded Ichigo. It had happened when she went to heal Muramasa. And it was happening now.

Broken bones aside. Gaping wound where the metal of the truck had pierced her aside. Fatigue aside. Orihime lunged, her shield wasn't moving quite fast enough. The half-formed shield took the brunt of the blow while some risidual energy burned almost clear through her arm. The pain was excruciating and she felt it instantly.

Elbat laughed at her misery. "Looks like we're even now, Queen."

She felt herself being lifted by her hair and brought face to face with the enemy. She couldn't stand on her own with the condition of her body. Was this the extent of her power?

"I heard all about you and Aizen-sama, Queen. I'll let you live if you agree to rule over Huecco Mundo with me as your king."

It was getting harder to breathe. She stared defiantly at him through the pain. Blood dribbled out of her mouth as she spoke. "I b-belong to no one now."

"Now," He sneered. "But you did. And you will again. How about it? Come with me and I'll even let that boy live. Anything for my-"

His words were cut off. More specifically his entire head was cut off. "You Bitch-"

There was a moment of registering before Elbat's head rolled to the side and Orihime fell down with nothing left to support her.

A black haired girl with pigtais, dressed in an all to familiar white outfit stood with a sword across her shoulder. "Pathetic scum, defying Halibell-sama."

Orihime clutched her burnt arm. Tsubaki was at her side but his power was also fading. This person was stronger than Elbat. This person also hated her more than Elbat.

"L-Lolly?"

"I can't believe I showed up here just to save your useless ass Queen. If only Aizen-sama was around to see this."

Orihime shivered. Lolly was better at hiding her spiritual energy but she was still a threat. Orihime had no idea if she still held a grudge or not.

"Are you..."

Loly bent down and shover her face into the Orihime's. "Look I didn't come here because I wanted to. I came here because I wanted to settle our debt okay?!"

Orihime blinked. "T-thankyou."

"What did I just say?" Lolly waved her sword around angrilly. "I didn't do it for the thanks! Besides, looks like you were able to decapitate the fucker yourself. My swing was just for show"

Tsubaki hummed next to Orihime before rejoining the other fairies inside her hairpin to conserve Orihime's spiritual pressure. Orihime tried to look where she thought Lolly was standing but her vision was going so blurry it was hard to tell.

"Don't thank me I purposefully showed up late. And you might still die from your wounds," Lolly shrugged. "Anyways try to stay alive, or I won't be able to beat you up again later for stealing Aizen-sama from me!"

Orihime didn't catch the last bit of what Lolly said. She was falling forward painfully slow. She was alive. Hiro was alive.

Lolly turned towards the black haired human and regarded him with disgust. He was running towards Orihime.

Another wave of spiritual pressure hit. Her mouth turned into an instant scowl. "No way in hell am I running into that monster," Lolly shivered. She glared at Hiro. "This is your lucky day human!"

She disappeared back through a Garganta and Hiro was left with Orihime.

It was a lot for Hiro to take in. One moment they'd been joking and taking pictures and the next he was tryiing to run for his life. and all the talk about Lord Aizen?

He figured he could contemplate it later. A spiritual pressure ten times as dense as that Vasto Lorde was approaching. But this one wasn't quite as suffocating- it was just dense. IF this was a fight he was going to be screwed, though.

He tried to focus on saving Orihime for the time being. Her right side was torn open and there was a deep dent in his truck. Her left arm and leg were completely burned. The fabric of her shirt barely clung to her. She was losing blood quickly.

Hr ripped off his shirt while he started to dial the emergency number. But before he hit send his hand hesitated. He had half a dozen missed calls from both Chad and Ichigo. Hiro surveyeed the ground until he saw the crunched form of Orhime's phone. She'd been calling someone before.

He picked up when his phone went off again.

"Chad!" Hiro yelled into it. "It's bad Orihime's hurt I-"

"Ichigo's on his way, we heard most of it through ORihime's phone before the line went dad" Chad assured him. "Try to hold out till he gets there."

"Does he know where we are? We're about two hours away! He won't make it in time."

The line went dead.

"Who the hell won't make it in time?"

"Hiro turned in shock as Ichigo swooped down. He was wearing a black outfit now and Hiro took a moment to realize that the overwhelming spiritual pressure was coming from Ichigo himself.

Ichigo paid him no more mind. He quickly swooped down and picked Orihime up.

Her hands were getting cold while her forehead was beaded with sweat. Luckily she wasn't conscious. He didn't dare to remove the burnt fabric from her arm or do anything that could make her worse.

A flash of purple appeared in front of them a second later.

"Give her here Ichigo I'll get back faster," Yuroichi held out her hands.

Ichigo reluctantly let her go. "How did you know?"

Yuroichi ignored him and looked over to Hiro. "Good work Kid, we'll talk later."

And then as quick as she had come she was gone. Hiro didn't even see what direction she went. Ichigo gave him a small glare and took off after Yuroichi immediately after.

Things were definitely more complicated than Hiro originally gave Ichigo credit for.


"She'll be fine Ichigo, Orihime's not weak," Rukia tried to persuade him.

Ichigo had left his body lying in the living room at Orihime's place and was heading after Yuroichi. The flash goddess was faster than him and he was lagging behind with Rukia. He made a mental note to bring Kon back with him from now on. It was about time he saved the stuffed animal from the wrath of Yuzu.

But that was nether here nor there. He shot Rukia a small glare. "What I want to know is why you weren't there. Isn't that cellphone of yours supposed to to tell you where the hollow is going to appeare BEFORE it appears?"

Rukia's face tightened. "Idiot. She was out in the country. Even if the cellphone allerted me of a hollow all the way out there I wasn't going to get there in time. You didn't get their before the enemy was gone either."

Ichigo's brows pulled together in frustration. "What the hell brought her down?"

"I need to confirm with squad 12-"

"Cut the crap Rukia."

"I don't want to raise any alarms! But the only way a hollow arrives before research and development notifies us is if they come straight through a garganta. The only beings powerful enough to open one of those by themselves- that quickly- are Adjuchas and above. Not even a Menos grande can open a gargantum in under 15 minutes."

Ichigo picked up his speed, leaving Rukia behind. He raced along telephone poles and buildings until the Hat and Clogs' shop came into view. He threw the door open and rushed to the back room.

"Yo! Kurosaki-kun," Urahara waved a fan lazily in front of his face. "Nice of you to finally join us."

Yuroichi didn't bother looking up from her position over Orihime. Ichigo froze.

Orihime was looking worse. He couldn't feel her spiritual pressure. Yuroichi had a dozen rags in front of her and each of them were soaked through with blood.

"Why wasn't I there?" Ichigo demanded. His fists clenched to his side. "If I'd been a little faster none of this would have happened."

"Calm down Ichigo!" Yuroichi spat. "Let me work. I don't need you getting in the way!"

Urahara guided him out of the room and leaned against the wall. "I get that your upset."

"Upset? I'm irate. How did a hollow slip through! Why wasn't Rukia there to save her? What happened? I don't know if what hurt her is still out there! I only heard the first part of the conversation before the blasted cero destroyed her phone."

"I sent Tessai to find that boyfriend of hers," Urahara said to calm the boy.

It had the oppositee effect. "He's not her boyfriend!"

Urahara shot him a look.

"It doesn't matter. I just doubt that kid knows anything."

"He could se you couldn't he?"

Ichigo paced back and forth for a moment. Rukia arrived a second later- out of breath. "How... is... she?"

Ichigo looked for an answer too.

"She isn't out of the danger zone but Yuroichi's good. It's harder to heal a human using Kido but lucky for you, we're all pretty skilled." He waived his fan in front of his face as if trying to look humble.

"Research and development confirmed that it was a Vasto-Lorde and five normal hollows. We don't know why they showed up way out there. There weren't any other spirits around and they showed up with too much precision."

"Tessai is bringing in the human that was with her. From our understanding, he was able to see them."

Rukia left them and entered the room with Orihime to offer her help.

Three hours of pacing back and forth later and Ichigo heard the front door slide open. Tessai walked in with a very confused Hiro and a worried Chad behind him.

"Hiro came back to our apartment," Chad explained. "Tessai picked us up."

Hiro glanced around nervously. "Uh- is she okay?"

"No!" Ichigo growled, rounding on the boy. "And you better tell us exactly what the hell went on and how she ended up like that!"

Hiro put his hands up in defense. "There was nothing I could have done against those monsters. I was useless. I'm upset about it too!"

"Calm down Ichigo," Urahara tried to placate the boy. "This kids human. It isn't his fault the Hollows showed up. Let's just take a seat- Tessai bring some tea."

Ichigo followed them to the table and took a seat. He sat across from Hiro with Kisuke and Chad. Tessai prepared some tea then excused himself to relieve Yuroichi.

The sight of Yuroichi wasn't very reassuring. Her orange top was stained red and she looked exhausted. She washed her hands for about three minutes and then joined them.

"How is she," Ichigo asked hesitantly.

"She should live. But the damage wasn't good. Something burned her entire left side and tore open her side. There was an impact that shattered several bones. Since her lung was pierced by a rib that was the most pressing. But Tessai's better at this healing stuff than me.

Before they began Rukia also excused herself from Orihime's room and joined them. Her face was taught with stress.

"Now that we're all here we can figure this out," Rukia started.

Chad nodded in agreeance.

"Talk," Ichigo said to Hiro,

Hiro licked his lips. "Uh is Orihime... an angel or a demon?"

"Neither," Urahara said. "I'll explain it all after you finish."

Accepting that offer Hiro explained. They filled him in on some details. They explained what a hollow and a Shinigami were and what Hueco Mundo was. Hiro filled them in on every visual detail he could remember.

With very word Ichigo just semed more and more antagonized.

"Thank you, Hiro," Rukia said. "Now I'm going to-"

"Don't erase it!" Hiro put his hands up. "I mean, Orihime offered to erase my memory so if you're going to..."

Rukia's eyes softened. "I was going to say you should get some rest."

"You can stay here," Ururu mumbled from the doorway through tired eyes. "Jinta's asleep but I woke up..."

"Look at my cute little Ururu," Kisuke grinned. "So thoughtful. Let's all get some sleep and meet here in the morning. I doubt Orihime will be awake anytime soon."

They reluctantly agreed. Chad left. Ichigo and Hiro and Rukia stayed leaning against the wall right outside Orihime's room. Her spiritual pressure was still dim and they heard nothing but the occasional splash of water or mutter of a Kido spell.

"What was it like?"

Ichigo turned towards Hiro, questioning him.

"That Huecco Mundo place? It's where all the hollows come from?"

Rukia decided to answer. "It's another dimension. It's hard to explain. The ground is all sand. There's no water or rain or trees or the sun. It's always night and freezing cold. It's a place devoid of life."

"It sounds miserable," Hiro admitted.

"It can drive a Shinigami mad. A human doesn't stand a chance there."

Hiro swallowed the lump in his throat. "How... how long was Orihime-chan there for?"

Sensing where this was going Rukia shut her mouth, shrugging. It wasn't something sh really wanted to think about.

"One week," Ichigo said lowly. "She was there for one week."

Hiro clenched his fists. "And this Aizen guy? Was he A Vasto Lorde"

"He was just like us," Rukia explained. "But he was strong enough to control Huecco Mundo. That guy was just an ant compared to Aizen. He wanted to be god. He probably could have been if he wasn't stopped."

Hiro was staring at Ichigo with distrust. Ichigo said he'd taken care of that Aizen guy but then how strong could Ichigo even be? Hiro laid his head on his knees. "What did he do to her?"

They stiffened. Ichigo didn't have the courage to admit he really didn't know.

Rukia stood up and walked to the door. "I'm going to head back to your house for some sleep. Coming Ichigo, Hiro?"

"Yeah," Hiro stood up. "I need to get the truck back and let our boss know what's going on in the morning. Keep me updated Kurosaki?"

"I'll stay here a little longer," Ichigo said. His eyes wandered to Orihime's door. "Get some rest."

Ichigo didn't know when he'd fallen sleep but quiet arguing interupted his dreams and jolted him awake. He could hear Jinta and Ururu arguing outside. He could feeel Orihime's spiritual pressure had a little more strength but was still unsteady.

He opened the door to Orihime's room and slipped inside. To his surprise, Ishida was leaning against a wall. He had a bag of medical supplies next to him

"When did you get here?"

"While you were sleeping, Kurosaki. They asked for a doctors opinion."

"Then they should have called your dad," Ichigo shot.

"They did. He just left to return to the hospital before you woke up. I stayed to monitor her progress."

His eyes carried to the pale princess in front of them. She looked cleaner now and her entire left side and her middle were bandaged. There were thick wrappings around her chest and her neck and another going around her forehead. He'd never seen her this injured before.

"Is she going to be okay," Ichigo asked. "When she wakes up she can heal herself right?"

"Her powers don't work like that," Ishida cirrected. "She uses her own spiritual energy to heal others. It's harder for her to heal herself that's why she hasn't done it before. And she'd need to be awake to do that."

"When will she wake up?"

Ishida froend. "That's why hey called me. Her wounds were serious but they're treated. But she took a bad blow to the head as well and isn't waking up. There might be permanent damage it's hard to say."

"Ishida, WHEN will she wake up?"

Ishida looked wary. "I don't know Kurosaki. Maybe today. Maybe in a year. We can't rush these things. My dad wants to move her to his hospital tommorow once she's steady enough to be transported."

"Damnit!" The painting of cherry blossoms crashed to the floor beside Ichigo as he slammed his fist against the wall. "Why did I leave her alone!"

"The way you complain just isn't stylish," a new voice called out as the door opened

Ichigo spun around, taken aback at seeing both Rukia and Rose Otoribashi standing there. Rose looked rather disinterested by the whole situation. He flicked some blond hair over his shoulder. "I do hope you won't be leaving her alone again anymore."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Let's not argue in front of this little beauty," Rose turned around. "I'll explain my orders in a more lovely setting."

Such a setting was tea around the dining table. Rose sipped the tea and made no motion for explaining his presence.

"Otoribashi-Taichou," Rukia said, "I understand that the presence of a Vasto Lorde warrants a high ranking officer but from the report I stated that it was nutralized."

"Ma, Ma," Rose rolled his head to the side. "That was just the beginning."

"What? There's more?" Ichigo stood quickly.

"Calm down Kurosaki-kun, nothing's going to come near us here. It would be suicide for them." Rose waved him back down.

Rukia propelled the conversation on. "Vasto Lorde are supposed to be rare?"

"Well it seems the presence of the Sternritters upset the balance in Huecco Mundo. When they made their bastard Arrancar using the last Espada- Halibell as intell states- they were incomplete and weak."

"Then what's the problem?"

"In time, Kurosaki-kun," Rose looked more annoyed than disinterested now. "These Arrancar were weak themselves but they were the perfect prey. Imagine bundles of energy just wrapped up and ripe for the taking. The Adjuchas flocked to Los Noches."

"And when they teamed up and ate the imperfect Arrancar it propelled their growth years past what it should have been?"

"Corect. It's said if an Adjuchas eats 1,000 other Adjuchas it can become a Vasto lorde. But an Adjuchas needs only eat one or two of the imperfect Arrancar before evolving. It's a painful event to overcome so quick and it twists the mind even further than it already was. Of course there is only a small amount of hollows that have the potential to become Vasto Lorde. Even fewer can withstand the change of eating an Arrancar."

"How many are we looking at?" Ichigo clenched his fists. "And why do you think they'll come here?"

"Well we think- based on what that Hollow girl friend of yours said- that the sternritters created about 500 imperfect Arrancar. When the teritory war broke out between Adjuchas, Menos, Arrancar, and Hallibells fraction we can assume there were about 40 Vasto Lorde created."

Rose sat back in the chair. "I can't say for certain, but it's safe to assume most of them are under Halibells control and protection. Of course there will be a faction that has split and desires to lead themselves."

"Like the one Orihime fought," said Rukia. It was no question.

"Exactly."

"What did he want with her," Ichigo demanded.

There was a long silence. Ururu and Jinta were no longer heard arguing outside.

"Some believe whoever captures her will have an advantage."

"Why? Her powers are only good for reversing things. She wouldn't be much of a fighting force. Wouldn't it make more sense to go after me?"

Rose let out a dry laugh. "They aren't that suicidal. Ad it isn't her power they want. It's the tittle."

Ichigo pressed his face into his hand in thought. "Hiro said they kept caling her queen."

"Because thats what Aizen showed her as. She's the only other person asides from Hallibell with real ties to Aizen. There's going to be hollows coming after her in hopes that by dominating the old queen they can convince others to follow them as the new 'king'. It's a political and physcal game right now. Huecco mundo is a complete mess which is why holow sightings have generally decreased in the world of the living."

Ichigo had stood once more. He was walking to Orihime's room. "They can try all they want. They aren't having her."

He rejoined Ishida and briefed him of the situation. He sat on the flor besides orihime and felt her arm. Her body was warm.

It was reassuring to feel her. Like the night she cried against him it consoled him that he was fine. She was safe. She was alive. Even if she was hurting she would survive.

"Do you ever wonder if it's worth waking up," whispered Ishida.

Ichigo snapped his head towards him. "What?"

"I just mean... do you wonder what she'd chose?"

Ichigo didn't even consider it. "Orihime's strong."

Ishida shrugged, like the topic didn't matter at all. "I don't know if she wants to wake up. Maybe that's why she's still sleeping. These things aren't always medical. The person survives if they want to."

The melancholy was unlike Ishida, who realized just that and cleared his throat. "I'm going to head back. We'll try to move her in the morning."

Ichigo listen to the door shut. He felt that they were finally alone. Rose and Rukia had dissapeared, he could feel Tessai and Urahara beneith them. Nobody knew where Yuroichi went off to. Jinta and Ururu were out in the yard.

Everyone was safe.

Ichigo turned back to Orihime, removing a small crystal gem off her cheek and wondering where it had come from. His hand had moved down to her own. "You want to wake up right?"

The moment he doubted it himself dealt a blow to his pride. Maybe Ishida was right. He cleared his throat.

She didn't stir. Ichigo pressed her hand against his lips, holding it tightly and closing his eyes. Something in his voice broke. "I want you to wake up."


It's basically gonna be very Ichigo/Orihime centric for a lonnnnng bit now 3... /3.