*Leaves this here and runs away*

But seriously... Is it even possible to have writers block for 2 years? Ergghhh it sucks... It seriously does.

"If you drink much from a bottle marked 'poison' it is certain to disagree with you sooner or later."
― Lewis Carroll

Orihime could only stare at the Cheshire Cat as she swung her tail back and forth on the tree branch, "What do you want me to do?" she asked uncertainly.

"The Absolem wants you to go out and practise your magic with the Shun Shun Rikka" Yoruichi explained casually, her large yellow eyes unblinking in the dappled sunlight. "I'll keep an eye on you, so it won't worry Rukia and Nel if you go away for a little while."

"Rukia is still devastated about Ichigo," Orihime said quietly, looking back towards the House. "I really should stay and be with her in case she tries to do anything stupid."

"You really don't have to do that!" Yoruichi exclaimed loudly, her large yellow gaze looking into the shadows of the trees before back to the red head girl, "Rukia can take care of herself, and she has been through a lot before. We will get Ichigo back, I am sure of it. But to help in every way, each Outlander has to build upon their skills for the upcoming War. That also means you Orihime."

Orihime looked away shamefully, she knew she was nothing but a hindrance to the other Outlander's with her crippling weakness, maybe this was the only chance she was going to get to improve her skills before the War started.

She wanted to show the others that she was not as useless as previously thought and she was going to help save Ichigo from the clutches of Aizen and his ruthless Espada.

"Fine" she acquiesced, "I'll go with you Yoruichi, I want to save Ichigo! I want everybody to be happy again and make sure that they won't ever be sad again!" She clamped her hands into fists trying to look determined, but on the inside, her fear began to tremble and her courage slipped from her grasp.

From the tree branch, Yoruichi looked on guiltily. She didn't want to lead Orihime into danger, especially after Ichigo went to such lengths to protect her from the enemy. What was she going to do after this?

She wouldn't be able to face the Outlanders knowing that she had been the cause of Orihime being captured. She wasn't like Kisuke, she wasn't as strong as he was and her feelings still got in the way.

Yoruichi led Orihime out into the trees, the trail quickly turned into a small dirt path and soon, the path disappeared as well and that is when Orihime was overcome with the foreboding feeling that she was being led away from the Outlanders on purpose.

"U-Um Yoruichi?" she asked hesitantly, jerking her arm away as a sharp twig scraped her. She looked up to the dark canopy and realised that there wasn't a Cat anywhere to be seen among the branches.

The Cheshire Cat had abandoned her, she was alone in the middle of a pitch-black forest and she had no idea where she was or what she was going to do. She spun around in a frantic circle and tried to backtrack her steps so she can get out of the dark place, but to no avail.

"It was a trap" she whispered desperately, "She led me into a trap! Why would she do this to me? There has to be a reason…"

Tears of desperation filled her eyes and she raced back through the trees only to freeze to the spot as she saw a dark figure manifest in front of her. She had the worst luck in all of Underland, maybe she was better off going back up to the Uplands or even dying. Anything would have been better.

Her heart dropped to the soles of her feet when she saw the familiar and dreaded form of the Espada Ulquiorra.

He seemed to manifest through the shadows, his body appearing out of the dappled sunlight. His face solemn and expressionless, his dead eyes seemed to bore a hole right through Orihime.

As if in slow motion, he raised his hand, pointing a finger right at her and his flat, monotonous voice sluicing through the forest darkness.

"Don't think you can escape me woman" he started, his finger curling and letting it drop to his side, "I have grown quite tired in your little endeavours trying to evade me. Now, without the Hatter. You were quite easy to obtain."

Orihime drew back, her trembling fingers covering her mouth as she tried to fight back tears of terror. Ulquiorra's words registered in her mind and her voice came out wavering.

"What have you done to Ichigo?" she tried to sound demanding, but had failed and Ulquiorra didn't eve bat an eyelid, his flat gaze never leaving Orihime's face.

"That is none of your concern" he said, "It is not in your place to even consider what had happened with the Hatter. You are coming with me and there is no point in trying to run away again."

Orihime sent a wide eyes glance to the trees surrounding them, lowering her hand from her mouth and raising her other hand. She placed them either side of her temple and then with all her inner strength and will, she tried to summon her Shun Shun Rikka.

She felt a thrill of relief when she saw a spark of gold and the tiny figure of Tsubaki appeared in front of her. His arms out either side of him, his stance all focused on the enemy in front of them.

"Don't worry" Tsubaki seemed to disregard Orihime, "Have trust in me and we'll be able to do some damage. Just don't be an idiot and stuff things up alright?"

Ulquiorra's regarded the small person in front of Orihime, his eyes holding no emotion whatsoever. He simply stood there, half in the shadows and half in the light. His hands didn't even move down to the Zanpakuto sheathed at his hip.

Instead, as Tsubaki went to make his attack, launching himself forward in a blaze of golden light, Ulquiorra raised his hand in front of his face.

Orihime watched with wide eyes as Tsubaki flew forward with amazing speed and just as he reached the Espada standing in the trees. Ulquiorra simply flicked his hand. Orihime felt a stab of pain at her temples as the golden light was violently knocked to the side. The tiny form of Tsubaki hit the trunk of the neighbouring tree without a sound, before he hit the forest floor he dissipated in a sparkle of gold.

Orihime openly gaped for a second, before her voice came out barely above a squeak. "Tsubaki!"

"Now enough with your futile attempts at stopping me" Ulquiorra stated. His foot moved in front of the other one, he made no noise whatsoever as he made his way towards Orihime. His sandals didn't even make noise as they dragged across the dirt.

Orihime was out of options now, she was weak compared to the members of the Espada, she didn't even hope to stand a chance against Ulquiorra. She was like a rabbit, cornered by a fox.

As her last resort, Orihime did the one thing that Ulquiorra had told her not to do.

She ran.

She dashed into the trees, the black kimono fluttering about her and her long red hair streaming out at the back of her head as she made her desperate dash away from Ulquiorra. As she ran, she could only hear the sounds of her own harried breathing and uncoordinated footsteps of her own sandals.

She didn't even hear Ulquiorra come up behind her, he was as silent as a shadow and he was lethal. He clearly had the upper hand and Orihime had no chance of outrunning him without the help of the Outlanders.

She was hopeless.

She let a yelp escape her, the birds in the trees surrounding them taking flight in alarm at the sudden noise. Ulquiorra had a death grip on her arm, yanking her back violently and making her almost tumble backwards.

"What did I say?" he seemed to monotonously scold her, "By yourself, you have no chance of fighting or outrunning me. I was given the mission to retrieve you and I am not going back to Lord Aizen without you this time."

He had a freezing cold grip on her arm and Orihime tried to valiantly fight against the hold of the Espada but she was failing and she knew that Ulquiorra had the upper hand and whether she liked it or not, she was going to be kidnapped.

"I can't have you fighting all the way" Ulquiorra said, restraining her arms and holding them down with grip like steel, "I cannot have you hurting yourself before I get you back to Lord Aizen, otherwise he will be most displeased."

Without any effort at all, Ulquiorra was able to restrain Orihime, lifting her up and hoisting her over his shoulder. Orihime struggled, trying to kick or hit him with her hands.

The one hit she got in with her fist was like punching a brick wall and it made her hand throb painfully.

Ulquiorra pulled his own hand free and waved it across the clearing of trees, a zipping noise was heard and straining to glance over her shoulder, Orihime saw a large black line pull apart the dimension.

Ulquiorra stepped towards it and Orihime let loose one last desperate scream. It echoed throughout the silent forest, birds scattered in alarm and from a silent branch, a black butterfly took to the sky.

On another tree, with her tail swinging back and forth and golden eyes watching the scene sullenly. The Cheshire Cat allowed Orihime to be taken.

She blinked her feline eyes once and as the pair disappeared, Yoruichi got to her feet and began to make her way back to Uruhara.

Rukia stood in the doorway of Ichigo's bedroom. The door remained closed in front of her and the March Hare simply stood there, staring at the wood with tears running down her cheeks.

She wanted to hear noises from inside; she wanted Ichigo to be in the bedroom and come to open the door. She believed that it was all a dream and everything was fine, she wanted to believe that Ichigo hadn't left her.

A large heaving sob escaped her and Rukia finally lifted a sleeve to wipe her wet cheeks. It didn't stop the tears falling from her eyes and Rukia let another sob escape her.

Everything was falling apart around her, the Outlanders were on the brink of disbanding, her brother had a fathead about being made in charge of them and Ichigo had been captured and tortured in Hueco Mundo.

What could she do?

With a trembling hand, Rukia reached out and grasped the golden door handle leading to the Hatter's room. She pushed down on it and the large wooden door opened without a sound, it revealed the room within and what was inside shocked Rukia down to the bone.

Ichigo had always been a very secretive person and his bedroom was completely off limits, even to Rukia and Nel.

Rukia hadn't even seen the Hatter's bedroom, ever.

The bedroom was white, empty and white.

A single bed sat in the middle of the bedroom and a large mirror was situated at the end of the room. A large ornate mirror with mist swirling around inside of it.

Rukia stared at the room in horror, her hand trembling on the door handle and another tear sliding down her face.

Along the wooden walls, there were scratch marks.

Gouges were ripped from the wall and blood, new and old were spattered along the white paint.

What had Rukia frightened was that claws had created the gouges, as if an animal had been caught in the bedroom and was left to create havoc.

"I-Ichigo…" Rukia stammered into the empty bedroom, "W-Why?"

She let go of the door handle and let the door swing all the way open, she stood in the doorway frozen in shock at the scene before her, unable to tear her eyes away from the carnage within.

After a moment, Rukia fought with her inner conscience before whispering in defeat, "I'm sorry Ichigo, I'm so sorry."

She stepped into the white bedroom, her eyes falling on the large ornate mirror at the end of the room. Her bare feet scraped along the rough wood and bitter cold seemed to bite at her skin, despite it being warm outside.

She reached the mirror and stood in front of it, her large violet eyes searching the mist within. It just seemed to swirl endlessly and Rukia was able to make out the outline of her reflection. She watched the mirror with a heavy heart a moment more before her reflection began to move.

Rukia watched with wide eyes as the mist started to ease up and she was able to see an image of herself move towards the glass. The reflections arm raised, her fingertips touching the glass on the other end of the mirror.

Rukia stepped forward on impulse, her own hand reaching up to her reflection, her fingertips touching the cold glass pressing up against the fingertips of the Rukia within.

Reflection Rukia looked up at her; her face was sullen and gaunt. Her eyes were drawn and so full of sadness. Large rings looped her dull violet eyes and she looked eternally tired, the opposite of the Rukia standing on the outside.

More figures began to manifest behind the reflection Rukia, the shadowy images of rabbits bouncing around behind her and two humanoid figures emerging from the mist, walking up to the glass themselves.

The first one to appear was Orihime, her long red hair streaming out behind her. Her own face was bruised, bloody and full of fear and sadness, her hands were bound in chains and her kimono was ripped in several places.

The second one to appear was Ichigo.

But Rukia balked in fear, when his reflection appeared. His face was fully tattooed and his teeth were drawn up into a malicious grin.

Both of his eyes were glinting gold, they were the eyes of a monster, the eyes of Shiro.

Ichigo was gone; he had lost himself to the Hollow within. Not a shred of humanity was left in that reflection of Ichigo.

Reflection Rukia let another tear fall down her cheek; Rukia found herself doing the same thing on the other side.

Orihime only stood there with a mournful look on her face before the mist began to build up again.

This time, Rukia let a gasp escape her. She dropped her hand from the cold mirror and stepped back fast, her eyes widened in horror as the scene changed in front of her. Her hands flew to her mouth and the March Hare dashed from the bedroom in a clatter of footsteps.

Then the mirror rocked back and forth violently and the roar of a hollow was heard throughout the small house.

"What do you propose we do?"

"We aren't even at half strength without Ichigo."

"It's a suicide mission, we can't risk ourselves like this."

"Either way, no matter what we do, it is a suicide mission. We are stuck in the middle here, if you ask me, I'd rather go to Hueco Mundo and kick some hollow ass."

The long table for the Outlanders was only half filled, it was empty of all food or drink and Outlanders were scattered up and down the table.

Toshiro sat back in his chair, his face icy and sullen, hands folded across his chest.

Renji sat beside him, his head bowed and resting his forehead on his clamped hands. The red head closed his eyes for a second before reopening them and looking at the other people sitting at the table.

"Ichigo would help us if we were in trouble" he finally said, "Look at how much he has helped us and we are sitting back like cowards, Ichigo is suffering out there, suffering for us and what are we doing? Nothing!"

"He's right" Kenpachi growled, "We have to stop pussyfooting around in a time like this. We are on the brink of War, either way; we are going to have to fight! Wouldn't we rather have Ichigo on our side to fight alongside us when the time comes?"

Yumichika and Ikkaku nodded from either side of Kenpachi and from across the table, a couple of chairs down, Shuuhei and Kira looked up at the other Outlanders.

"He raises a valid point," Kira said from behind his veil of golden hair, "And we seem to be forgetting the point that Aizen has the Princess! Only the Heavens know what strings he can be pulling."

"The Squad forces won't do squat!" Shuuhei demanded, "I bet the old man already knows the situation and he is sitting back waiting for the first move to be played! In a game of War, we need to make the first move."

"We don't have Ichigo" Toshiro stated bluntly, "He is the point of our assault, we need his power. But we also seem to miss the point that we also have the somewhat cooperation of the Absolem."

"He's a tricky bastard" Kenpachi scoffed, "I never know what that fool wants. Why would Kurosaki put his faith in that idiot?"

"He's a tactician…" Toshiro said, his eyes narrowing dangerously, "He knows of everything going on in Underland. He is Underland and that's why Aizen fears him, because if Uruhara wants… he can implode the entire land with a flick of his wrist."

"He won't do that," Renji stated, lifting his head and looking up and down the table.

"He sees it all as a game, he doesn't care who wins or loses. I wouldn't be surprised if he is the one pulling all the strings to this stupid War because he wants to satisfy his boredom."

There was a brief silence, before Kenpachi leant back in his seat, his one eye narrowed dangerously.

"Abarai is right; the fool sees this as a game. I bet he knows that Kurosaki has been captured and he's sitting back rocking back and forth clapping his hands like the brainless idiot he is. He's been bored and this is what he does to amuse himself."

"Watching others suffer?" Toshiro suddenly shouted his eyes icy and narrowed with hatred. "Ichigo trusted that man, not only with the lives of everyone in the Outlanders, but with the fate of Underland!"

"But you forget that Kurosaki also left high and mighty Kuchiki in charge" Kenapchi roared over the table, clenching his massive fist and slamming it down onto the wood with a loud 'slam.'

"Look where that left us! We aren't better off. Kuchiki is up there with his thumb up his ass and anticipating our next moves like that hatted idiot! He is probably going to hand us in the Squad Forces and we'll have our heads lopped from our shoulders for treason!"

Gritting his teeth together, Kenpachi looked at everyone at the table. He didn't elicit a reasonable response and with a heavy exhale from his nostrils and small jingle of bells, he pushed his chair back.

"I dun' know what you pussies are doing," he growled, "But I'm going to Heuco Mundo and getting that ginger idiot back. We won't stand a chance against Aizen without him; it's almost as if you guys have already given up."

There was another silence, so Kenpachi sneered, "So that's it then? You people have already bent over and ready to receive it up the ass? Heh, typical."

Lopping his Zanpakuto over his shoulder, the Squad Leader went to leave the table before there was a scream from beyond the trees.

The Outlander's looked around bewildered at the sudden break out of hysterical screams. It was full moment before Rukia came running through the trees, tears rolling down her cheeks as she rushed blindly towards the table.

She stumbled over her feet and as a result, the March Hare crumpled in a heap covering her tear stained face in her hands sobbing hysterically.

"Rukia!"

Yachiru and Nel jumped from the table and rushing towards her and all the raven-haired woman could choke out between sobs was.

"He's got them both! Both of them."

It took a solid minute before realisation hit and Renji banged his head against the table, "Ulquiorra must have stolen her! We were supposed to be protecting her! Now Aizen has Ichigo, Rangiku and Orihime!"

Kenpachi let a low growl escape him before clearing his throat and spitting on the earth beside his feet, "Fuckin' gingers" was all he sneered.