Clock is ticking, time is running out, she is in a rush but her speeding pace is gradually decreasing as soon as he dropped a bomb to her. His serious gaze piercing through her shaken heart and his mellow voice continues to press every word to make sure the contents are delivered in a right manner.

Ulquiorra looking straight into her eyes, sensing her fear inside hidden under her brave mien. She is struggling to maintains her composure but seems soon to be dismayed. Planning to scare her off, he continues exaggerating things while telling the truth.

Ulquiorra: "The man you have had encountered is one of them. When he was in a human form, you might as well have noticed his reiatsu was unstable and chaotic. However, it is still too dangerous to fight in either of their forms especially when you can't measure the extent of their power specifically. So, if you insisting to chase after that things, makes sure you're in full armor, onna."

Grimmjow: "What are you saying Ulquiorra?! You are encouraging her! You should at least preventing her from doing so."

Ulquiorra staring at her and find himself once again charmed by her anxious look shielded with an assertive determination.

Ulquiorra: "She has already made her decision. Such a foolish human. It doesn't matter to me anyway since I have no desire to get involved in human affairs anymore."

Inoue: "Eh.. Why?"

He didn't expects that question is coming from her. Feeling disturbed, he turning away to avoid the eye contact as she looking at him vehemently.

Ulquiorra: "You're the strangest woman I have ever met, onna. You should've known, human and Arrancar are never meant to get along together. You need to get to your senses and go back to your world."

Those words of reminder which coming out from his mellow voice, sounding attractive to her ears and her mind interpreting his words to the opposite meaning. Hence, she chose to rebels silently.

Grimmjow: "He is right! If you plan to come back here again, bring that brat kid Kurosaki Ichigo with you."

Inoue put a straight face then flashing a bitter smile. Resisting the urge to give up, she takes a glance at Ulquiorra and asks a sneaky question trying to ferrets out his true feelings.

Inoue: "Will you come if I am in trouble?"

Ulquiorra flustered and amused at the same time on how his words are not working to this woman. Therefore, he chooses not to answer and opening the Garganta instead. Fail to acquires a good result, she slowly stepping inside the Garganta with a gloomy expression drawn on her face. She know it very well, once she go back to the human world, she might not able to see him again in anytime soon. Right at that moment, she begin to feels a sharp pain in her heart and an uncomfortable feeling of losing something precious starts overwhelming inside.

(Garganta - dimension that used by Arrancar to enabling whoever go to Hueco Mundo, Soul Society and human world.)

Human world

The Garganta is opened right in front of Inoue's apartment, feeling dispirited as she walking with a heavy steps toward the door. Ulquiorra observing her silently and find the bracelet still on her wrist.

Ulquiorra: "The bracelet -"

Inoue: "Can I keep this bracelet? I will not use it again, I just want to keep it. Can I?"

Her sparkling eyes and appealing voice has him trapped in his reserve personality and rationalism. Trying not to think much, he gives in as he ready to take his leave.

Ulquiorra: "Do whatever you like. But I won't come here again. Be safe, onna."

The Garganta is closed. Inoue puffing, breathing out the suffocating feeling she held inside since from Hueco Mundo. She taking off the bracelet from her wrist and pulling it closer to her chest. Feeling blue, she gazing at the sky and all her pensiveness is sweep away by the captivating scenery of the dawning sky.

xxxxx

Another day has passed without any incident, leaving no peace in the town at all for they are being daunted by the past occurence. Due to the unsettled matters happened recently, Kurosaki and his companions are staying at Urahara Shop after school period has ended.

Kurosaki: "Any updates from Soul Society regarding to this recent circumstances Urahara-san?"

Urahara: "There is no significant info or updates from their side for now. We are at the disadvantage for not having any important clues about our enemies. I hope they find something helpful info soonest as possible."

Ishida: "Where are the other Shinigami have gone to?"

Urahara: "They had been asked to attend a meeting at Soul Society and to report their finding pertaining to this current situation in human world. The Soul Society also might want to ensures the safety of every Shinigami sent to this world especially after Renji's case."

Chad: "What happened to Renji?"

Rukia: "He was shot by a poisoned arrow during our investigation one night ago. We believed the attacker was the one of the enemies since his figure is quite similar to Inoue's description before."

Kurosaki: "Now we back to the same question all over again. What exactly are these things?"

Inoue in her mind: "Ulquiorra was right after all. These wraiths are so dangerous in both of their forms. They are powerful as they are and.. possessing different kind of weapons and power, I guess. I should tell them about it."

Ishida: "I really don't have any idea to guess these kind of enemies. All I can think of is the Grim Reaper. But it is still impossible."

Inoue: "I think there is another existence that targeting souls other than the Shinigami and Grim Reaper. Wraiths are the term used to call them and acting as one of the soul takers. They are more into stealing human soul actually."

Astounded by the reasoning she made, the short explanation is quite convincing and made them realize the missing point they have been searching for. Another existence for the same purpose. Soul/death reapers.

Kurosaki: "Wraiths? How did you know about that, Inoue?"

Inoue: "Oh, actually I have a lot of time at home so I did some research on the Internet.. Hehe."

Ishida: "I'm surprised that you've found such info, Inoue-san. You just did remind me about those things. As you see, Quincy may focused on banishing Hollows but there are more or less we know about other spirits that existed in all over the world. The wraiths are wanderer spirits that Quincy don't want to meddle with. I can't really call them as spirits since they have a ghostly or demonic appearance and have a strong mana kind of presence which kinda different from those normal spirits. There are many theories about those wraiths but none of them have been confirmed so far. In our case, I strongly believe that our current enemies are the wraiths."

Kurosaki: "I never know that such things really do exist."

Rukia: "This is my first time hearing such things. I wonder why no one ever told me this before. But I'm not so sure if anyone from Soul Society know about these things though."

Urahara: "Hmm.. As far as I know, these things are not supposed to be in here at the first place. I believed there are more about these enemies that we don't know yet. As for now, this is the best scenario we have to explain the recent occurrences. We have the illustration about our enemies, however we still need to take measurement for the next encounter if there is."

The living room is started becoming busier, crowded and noisy. Everyone want to participate in sharing their opinions rather than the facts. However, they manage to gather the valuable info even though it's only about thirty percent since some parts of the collected information are difficult to solve especially the connection between two different circumstances.

Rukia: "We are still lacking info due to our limited resources and very short time we had to examined the enemies during the confrontation."

Urahara: "It's better than nothing. Kuchiki-san, you might want to bring and review these findings to Soul Society. They may need something to assist them in plotting a better plan."

She nodded and immediately preparing herself back to Soul Society. As soon as Rukia takes her leave, Kurosaki, Chad and Inoue also making their way to home after parting ways with Ishida.

While on their way, they make a sudden halt after walking for about halfway of their journey to home. They say no words and concentrating on sensing the presence of unusual spiritual energy far ahead on the road. About fifty meters away, a man is seen walking towards their standing area guarded with a strong darkness aura staggering all over his body.

The mysterious man: "I found you."

Kurosaki: "Damn! You were the one who attacking us the night before. You will pay for what you've done!"

Kurosaki hardly able to restrains himself from taking a reckless action, worried about the incident before to repeat while Chad and Inoue are with him.

Chad: "Who are you? What is your business in this human world? Are you one of those soul reapers too?"

Chad steps forward boldly and asking him questions to confirming the fact and information they have gathered.

The mysterious man: "Oh.. You seem to know about us already. I don't mean to be rude so let me introduce myself first. I'm Cazador the reaper, a hunter that will hunt down everyone who is trying to get in our way. Hey you orange haired boy, how is my arrow doing?"

Kurosaki is burning with anger and glaring at him instead of answering his question.

Inoue: "So he is the one who owns the poisoned arrow. I'm wondering, if it is okay for him to be out in daylight."

Deliberately saying those words to provoke him and to get some answer through them, Inoue straighten her face and gallantly looking at him. Cazador smirking.

Cazador: "Whoah, I didn't expect you to know about us that much. By the way, you are right. Our nature is tends to very fond with darkness. But with the power that had bestowed to us, we able to change into human form, enhancing our power and abilities so we can go all out even during daylight. You don't really think you able to kill me right, Kurosaki Ichigo."

Surprised to his last remark, they positioning themselves in attack and defense mode. They sensing danger as soon they heard Kurosaki's name is mentioned, not to say it comes from the enemy they do not know.

Kurosaki: "How do you know my name?"

Cazador: "Of course we know you.. A little maybe. You're the main course after all. Your presence itself drawing too much attention in different world and your power naturally inducing the desires of many existence."

Kurosaki: "Hou..That's suprising. I didn't know my power did that far. I don't mind to fight with you right now if that is what you want. But before that, tell me something about you kin, will you? How exactly you wraiths able to transform and disguise into human form? Because that is quite unsightly."

Cazador: "Disguise? What exactly you think we are? Since you are interested in us that much, I will tell you one thing to lessens your curiosity. Kuroi Koureijutsu. That's how we got our lives back. Amusing, right. My Master want to be the one to kill you, Kurosaki Ichigo. My mission is to kill those human beside you. My colleague having a hard time dealing with them last time."

(Kuroi Koureijutsu - Illicit/dark necromancy (dark art power used by the wraiths's Master))

Without waiting for their response, Cazador reaching out his hand and summon his weapon, Arco Y Flecha (bow and arrow).

Cazador: "Step aside Shinigami. You belong to my Master to kill. But I really don't mind if you get hurt a little while interfering my mission. That will be my pleasure."

~to be continue~