As the sun rose on the third day after Orihime was taken away Ichigo stood on the edge of a hill overlooking yet another part of the Seireitei. They d been searching for the prison ever since they d left the Captain Commander s office. They d kept a distance between themselves and everyone within the Soul Society. The way they saw it is they ve been betrayed by those they once called friends; now they trusted none of them.

I hate to admit it but you were right Ulquiorra. I should have listened to you; Orihime wouldn t be in prison right now. It s all my fault; I should have known Byakuya wouldn t change; wouldn t put others before himself or his damned pride. Ichigo s irritation grew by leaps and bounds with each day they were unsuccessful.

Ishida walked to within a few feet of Ichigo and stared at him. "If you re done daydreaming over there we need to get started." He told Ichigo testily.

"What the hell?" Ichigo thought as he turned toward Ishida." I m tired of getting this I m better then you attitude. first from Byakuya now you? If you think you can find her better and faster then me then go on! "He shouted back.

Ichigo, Ishida nor Chad had any idea of the complete chaos the Soul Society has been going through that began the very night Orihime was imprisoned. It began with spats and disagreements that have grown into enormous battles throughout the Soul Society; from one end to the other. No one was immune to the irritation affect that spread like a disease. All medical personal were placed on alert and running at full strength. But today as the sun rose even they became affected. Arguments, major disputes and battles were being waged over medications, patient treatments, and even who is the better surgeon.

Captain Kuchiki gathered Vice Captain Renji and Rukia " Come. " He quickly made his way through the Seireitei stopping for no one when they called out to him. This of course made some angry enough, boosted by irritation; to give chase.

The voice Ichigo, Ishida and Chad heard next stopped their argument and fuelled a new fire. "Kurosaki Ichigo, should you be fighting among yourselves?"

Ichigo became rigid " Byakuya!" He said with venomously as he turned to face the man he now calls coward.

Before anyone could say a word Ichigo attacked Byakuya. Ichigo nearly took Byakuya s head before Byakuya realized it and moved just in time to escape certain death. It was a maneuver Byakuya hadn t quite expected to be executed as quickly as Ichigo had moved. It was impressive but Byakuya had no time to reflect on that right now.

Ichigo moved in for another attack but this time Byakuya, even though prepared for the extra speed with which Ichigo was moving; again just barely got away. This time Ichigo s sword cut through Byakuya s sleeve. Byakuya turned and moved off with great speed.

What the hell? Ichigo thought as Byakuya moved away as if running away. "You think you re going to get away from me this time you damn coward?" Ichigo then went after him ignoring Ishida s yelling for him to stop.

Ichigo hadn t seen the mass of people already chasing Byakuya when he went after him, Ishida and Chad did though which is why they yelled for Ichigo to stop." Ishida, Chad; follow my brother." Rukia called to them " I ll explain on the way."

Once Rukia explained the situation within the Soul Society Ishida remembering one night in Karakura Town only days ago " Rukia, we ve got to hurry, they re here." With that having been said Ishida moved even faster to catch up to Ichigo.

Ichigo was close to Byakuya but not close enough when he heard Ishida yelling. Byakuya hearing Ishida stopped too and turned to look at him." Who s here?"

Ishida stopped next to Ichigo " The underworld. when they first attacked our world remember? People were killing each other over nothing. That s what s happening here."

Ichigo s eyes widened " Orihime, they re coming for Orihime!"

Byakuya looked at them and said" Then follow me, we re almost there." He turned and continued in the same direction they were already headed.

Ichigo sped up to catch up with Byakuya " You had me chase you on purpose." It wasn t a question; then he looked back noticing the others following." You got them chasing you the same way? You d better hope they d rather fight the enemy then you."

Captain Kuchiki glanced at Ichigo briefly before turning his attention to the new task at hand. Byakuya hadn t felt sick at heart in a very long time but he did now. The thought of the Captain Commander placing not only the Soul Society at risk like this but to place a human at risk!

Byakuya could well guess why; only the captain s and those in the Second Division knew where the prison was, and to prove the Arrancar s claim that Aizen still lived; only Aizen would be able to tell the underworld where the prison was. Although it clears the Arrancars of any wrong doing Inoue Orihime s life is in grave danger. Again Orihime s words came back to haunt him; If this man was sent by the Soul Society to take me there to be safe it is because they believe they can handle the situation. They have been my friends for a while now, and I must believe in my friends.

They arrived to find the prison had already been over run; skeletons were everywhere and most of the guards dead. There was no doubt; someone told the underworld exactly how to get there; no doubt now that someone was Aizen. The fact the minions of the underworld were still there meant they hadn t found Orihime yet; that meant there was still hope.

Captain Kuchiki, Ichigo nor Ishida waited for the others as they dove into the myriad of skeletons swarming over the prison. Ishida began shooting arrows to give cover support to Byakuya and Ichigo as they took them on at close range. It didn t take long for Byakuya to back up and use his Senbonzakura for a wider field attack.

As others began fighting Ichigo began moving as he fought toward the prison cells. Captain Kuchiki moved inward with him as did Ishida and now Rukia joined the ranks as well as Chad.

The skeletons were surprisingly sturdy for being skeletons; but still no real match for the five forcing their way into the prison through what little was left of the outer walls. It was amazing no one had gotten the alarm sounded when those walls were destroyed; or perhaps everyone in the Seireitei were just too busy fighting among themselves to pay attention when the alarms went off.

Ichigo and the four moving inward with him stopped in their tracks when they heard Orihime s blood curdling screams. The first came from below them but the second came from above; they looked up.

Orihime was wrapped from shoulders to her waist in a large thick chain; being dragged upward to a strange looking Senkeimon Gate. The creature on the other end of the massive chain pulling Orihime was no skeleton.

The creature resembled that of a half decayed corps with a combination of skeletal bone and skin in large patches mixed with raw meat in some areas. On it s head sprouted two long thin looking horns on either side. He had raged wings that looked to be half chewed and torn in places. His clothing consisted of blood red rags that merely hung off of his body.

Without hesitation or reservation Captain Kuchiki tore off his Captain s Haori as he raced toward Orihime and her capture; shocking everyone that saw his Haori float to the ground as he moved at lightening speed in pursuit.

As fast as Ichigo is, the creature disappeared with Orihime and Byakuya, who just managing to squeeze through the closing orifice; before it too disappeared in front of Ichigo s face. Ichigo stood staring wide eyed at what is again blue skies in total disbelief.

After several long minutes ichigo looked back to see a shocked Rukia and a stunned Renji who held Byakuya s discarded Haori in his hands. If he didn t see the Haori in Renji s hands Ichigo still wouldn t have believed what he saw. As it is many that were fighting saw what Byakuya had done too, and are standing and looking lost.

Ichigo moved back down to the rest of them " I m going after Orihime; this may be a one way trip so I m not asking anyone to go with me. I m sorry Rukia but I think Byakuya knew that too." He lightly touched the fabric of the Haori " I think Byakuya left this in case he didn t make it back."

Ichigo turned to leave when a deep loud voice rang out of the crowd " You ain t going alone Kurosaki Ichigo. I ain t getting left out of this battle so you can have all of the fun again."

Ichigo chuckled " Kenpachi, as much as I wish I had all of you to watch my back you d better ask old man Yamamoto before making that offer. I m sure the old man s going to want his territory protected no matter what or who else suffers. Following Byakuya and me may get you in serious trouble here."

Kenpachi looked at Ichigo cocking his head slightly to one side." Hey, got any ideas who s behind this?"

Ichigo looked down before looking Kenpachi square in the eyes" Aizen." He simply stated.

That statement made everyone look at one another with fear as they remembered their last battle with Aizen." Aizen huh?" Kenpachi asked looking around at the fear registered on everyone s faces. Kenpachi tore his Haori from his body and threw it at Renji " well kid, what are we waiting for?"

Ichigo chuckled again " Right. " Then as Ichigo turned Ishida, Chad and Rukia joined him. Noticing Rukia Ichigo turned toward her." Rukia..."

Rukia cut him off cold " Don t say it! My brother s out there somewhere and Orihime needs help too. I go with you or I go alone but either way I m going."

Ichigo didn t want to tell her but now he felt he had no choice. "Rukia; if you go without permission from Yamamoto..."

Rukia cut him off again but her tone was kinder this time." Ichigo; life here wouldn t be the same without my brother, and I d never forgive myself if I didn t try to get Orihime back. Now, we re wasting time."