(Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters associated with the Anime or Manga. I am writing this short story just for fun and it should be taken as such.)

*My story is rated MA for mature audiences only due to graphic language, graphic violence and some strong sexual situations in later chapters. Reader has been cautioned...

Chapter Ten

Lost & Found

(POV: Ichigo)

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Then what the fuck are we waiting for?

"I was wondering the same thing" Ichigo internally answered his inner hollow.

Turning his back on Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Ichigo took a few steps towards the door before coming to a sudden halt. "I don't expect you to understand where I am coming from old man, but I made a promise to Inoue that I intend on keeping." Looking back towards the elder Shinigami in disgust, Ichigo's brow furrowed,

"Inoue is not just some expendable casualty of war and I refuse to leave her in the hands of someone like Aizen." Pausing, "It's a shame… I would've hoped you'd feel the same way towards one of your own, perhaps someone such as Captain Ukitake for instance."

"Ichigo…" Rukia said with admiration seated deep with her lovely violet eyes.

"Just because you see Inoue and Captain Ukitake as just two people who are expendable, doesn't mean they don't deserve our help or a chance at survival." Ichigo growled out with even more disgust lased deep within his voice.

Not waiting for a response from old man Yamamoto or any of the other Shinigami who were currently present, Ichigo quickly turned back around and continued to make his way towards the exit.

Upon leaving, Ichigo could feel Rukia's gaze burning deep within him with regret and angst. He knew Rukia cared a lot for Inoue and probably wanted to help in obtaining her rescue but this was his fight. Since old man Yamamoto refused to help or let anyone else assist in the matter, it was going to be his fight alone.

However in the process of making a b-line for the exit, a sudden burst of pain ignited deep within Ichigo's chest. For each step Ichigo took, it seemed the more excruciating the pain was becoming. His breathing became rough and very much labored. Clutching his chest, Ichigo cried out and dropped down upon his hands and knees.

"Ichigo!"

Gasping for air, he barely heard Rukia cry out his name.

Soon Rukia and Renji were by Ichigo's side with Captain Hitsugaya hot on their heels. "Ichigo what's wrong?" Rukia said grabbing his shoulder. "Ichigo look at me. What's wrong?"

Abruptly Ichigo let out a cry of agony when his head began to murderously throb with a strangled cry of anguish from his inner hollow. The feeling of vomiting was almost too great for him to control. Grabbing his head, Ichigo began to shake. "Make…it…" Ichigo gasped, "Make it stop..."

King, what…what's happening…? This pain… it's … argh…

Apparently the excruciating pain Ichigo was currently experiencing deep within his chest was also the pain his inner hollow was being forced to endure at that very moment. "The… pain…it's…to…" Ichigo managed to trail off. "It's… too…"

"The pain is what?" Renji asked as he knelt down on the floor beside of Rukia.

"Ichigo, tell us what's going on." Captain Hitsugaya urged.

"It's… the pain…in my… chest…" He quickly gasped, "It's too…" Ichigo tailed off before another sudden wave of anguish consumed his entire body, swallowing up his inner hollow and his sanity. Doubling over in pain, Ichigo let out an immense horror filled scream and a sudden burst of labored spiritual pressure before somehow tucking himself into the fetal position. Holding tightly on to his chest, Ichigo swallowed hard. With one last burst of pain felt by both him and his inner hollow, there was finally nothing but darkness.

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(POV: Rukia)

"Ichigo!" Rukia cried out with concern when she saw the young substitute soul reaper's eyes roll up into the back of his head. Thinking the worst, Rukia quickly pressed her fingers to his carotids and waited. She quickly breathed a sigh of relief.

There it was… a faint pulse drumming against her fingertips. She couldn't help but smile softly to herself. Looking back up, Rukia met the concern gazes of her long childhood friend Renji and Captain Hitsugaya. "It's okay, he's alive. Although his pulse seems to be very weak and his breathing seems to be very shallow."

"What the hell was that?" Kyoraku Shunsui questioned, while coming to stand beside a kneeling Renji. "One moment he was all high and mighty and the next moment… withering in pain poor kid."

"Maybe it has something to do with his inner hollow?" Renji ventured as a guess while sitting back upon his haunches. "Shirosaki has been known to be a quite the handful I hear." Crossing his arms, "It wouldn't surprise me a bit if Shirosaki was trying to take of Ichigo's body for his own."

"Perhaps…" Captain Hitsugaya said looking on with concern. "But it happened so suddenly and the pain seemed to be more localized in his chest cavity, instead of his head."

A deep grumble brought everyone's attention back towards the head Captain's general direction. "Bring him to squad four barracks immediately so we might be able to finish the emergency captains meeting in peace." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto barked.

"Hai Head Captain Yamamoto," Renji and Rukia confirmed at the same time with a bow.

As Renji reached down to pick up the unconscious boy's body, Rukia couldn't help but notice Yamamoto's concerned gaze peeking through his rough exterior. "It seems the head captain is worried about Ichigo after all," Rukia though to herself.

"Captain Unohana, you will see to the boy's needs. You are dismissed." Captain Yamamoto barked once more.

"Hai, of course Head Captain." Captain Unohana confirmed with a bow and a smile.

With their dismissal from the Emergency Captain's Meeting, Rukia, Renji, and Captain Unohana made their way gingerly towards the Squad Four Barracks with an unconscious Ichigo in their care.

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(POV: Ichigo in his unconcious state)

Bracing himself for the pain that was surely to come, Ichigo hesitantly opened his eyes. Much to his surprise nothing hurt, nothing at all. His chest was pain free, his head was pain free and his limbs were working just fine. Sighing in relief Ichigo decided to get some much needed answers. Sitting up, Ichigo decided to start by checking out his current location. Looking around his surroundings Ichigo found himself in what seemed to be familiar territory.

There were rows and rows of beautiful, newly opened cherry blossom trees stretching out as far as he could see. A light summer breeze seemed to be caressing his skin while the sun shined high above him. "This scene, it's familiar somehow." Ichigo said aloud as he was trying to make sense of his surroundings.

King, just what in the hell is going on here? Where the hell did that excruciating pain come from?

"I don't know…" Ichigo milled over in his mind, "I just don't know."

And why the fuck are we back in the orchard? Isn't this where we lost…

"Orihime…" Ichigo finished.

A light banging noise echoed throughout the sea of trees. "No…" Ichigo unconsciously said aloud before taking off in a mad dash towards what he hoped was the frozen pond. The harder he ran the louder the pounds were becoming. He just had to be getting closer. The pond couldn't have been this far into the orchard could it?

Hurry King.

It was a simple statement from his hollow. Simple but true. He needed to make it to the pond in time. He couldn't lose her. Not now… not again. There, a parting in the trees. The moment he saw the opening, Ichigo ran as fast and as hard as he could. His calves were on fire while his hamstrings threatened to burst at any moment. His lungs burned with determination as he ran.

Entering the clearing, the frozen pond came into view. The desperate pounds from beneath the ice's surface seemed to echo deep within his ear drums.

"I'm here Inoue!" Ichigo called out. "Hold on!"

Running out on top of the ice, Ichigo slid to the very spot he had found Inoue's hair pin the last time he was in this retched orchard. Sure enough there was something silver sparkling underneath his foot. It had to be her. Forgetting the barrette, Ichigo just went to work on the ice. Chunk after chunk was cut away until a decent sized hole began to form.

Releasing his Zanpakutou from his grasp, Ichigo knelt down against the cold, hard ice reaching into the frigged water. Feeling something fasten on to his arm, Ichigo began to pull. As his own arm began to clear the icy depths of the pond's surface, he noticed what looked to be Inoue's hand desperately clinging onto his wrist in what seemed like a death grip. With one last good tug, he managed to pull Inoue's pale body from out beneath the frozen pond and back on top of the ice.

Or at least he thought it was Inoue until he saw the woman's wild black mane saturated to her face. Letting go of Ichigo's arm, the woman came up on all fours and began a coughing fit. Coughing and sputtering the woman spit out the water which had been currently residing down with her lungs.

Ichigo took in the site in front of him in a sense of confusion and concern.

What the hell King… where's the queen?

Ichigo couldn't seem to find the words to begin to answer his inner hollow. He just couldn't fathom the scene that had just taken place before him only moments before. When the woman finally stopped coughing, she sat back upon her haunches and lowered her head. She was soaked to the bone. Her white gown clung to her in places Ichigo really needed to stop thinking about, especially in a time like this.

The odd thing about this whole situation was the woman before him had the same busty body figure Inoue had, but it was her black hair that was really throwing him for a loop. If he could only get a better look at her, he might be able to put a name with the face. However the woman's damp hair was currently cascading over her face, successfully hiding her identity from Ichigo's view.

Seeing her shiver from the cold water, Ichigo quietly asked, "Miss, are you okay?"

Silence.

"How did you get underneath this frozen pond begin with?" Ichigo prompted.

The woman still said nothing, not a single syllable. She just sat there as if she didn't hear him or even notice his presence. "Miss?" Ichigo said once more before reaching his hand out towards her. He was slow and steady in his actions, yet when he got to a feather's touch away from the woman's dampened hair, Ichigo froze.

Slowly the woman picked up her head, her damp jet black strands separating from her bluish tinted skin revealing trails of opal tear marks cascading gracefully down her cheeks. Her pale blue lips parted just a little taking in a shallow breath.

That's when it happened; the woman's eyes slowly opened revealing a very familiar yet disturbing site. Orihime's ash colored eyes shined through her outer tortured shell, piercing him deep within the heart. Gasping Ichigo pulled his arm away. "Orihime?"

Orihime blinked twice before acknowledging his presence with a single nod. He knew it! He knew it was her but why was her hair the color of death instead of that sweet auburn? Why was she underneath the frozen pound and just what in the hell happened to her?

While opening her mouth, Ichigo couldn't help but watch diligently as her pale bluish colored lips began to move. Much to his disappointment no sound could be heard from her graceful lips. Nothing came out at all. Not even her famous "Eh…" could be heard.

What's wrong with the queen?

I don't know. Ichigo watched as her lips began to move at a faster pace as if she was in hurry to tell him something when she just stopped in what he considered to be mid-sentence. She stopped talking. She stopped blinking. She stopped breathing. It was almost as if she was frozen in place.

"Orihime?" Ichigo said trying to break her spell.

Reaching out with both hands, Ichigo grabbed a hold of her frail, ice cold shoulders. He couldn't help but gasp the moment his hands made contact with her skin. Her skin was the texture of death. It was rubbery, fake and… lifeless.

King is she…?

"Orihime can you hear me?" Ichigo paused. "Please say something. Anything at all"

One blink, two blinks. Ichigo sighed in relief until a terror filled scream then fell from her lips. Ichigo's eyes widened in horror as a Hollow hole formed in the center of her chest. "What the hell?" Ichigo said in disbelief. "Orihime?" Ichigo questioned.

"Let go of me." Orihime screamed. "Let go."

"Orihime, it's alright, I'm here." Ichigo pleaded for her to calm down. "It's me, Ichigo."

Bringing her hands up Orihime gave Ichigo one good push, jarring him further away from her and out of his grasp. Losing her balance in the process, Ichigo could do nothing but reach back out for her as she tumbled backwards, crashing through the frozen crust of the pond.

King, don't you lose her!

Scrambling to the base of the hole, Ichigo plunged his arm back down into the dark depths in the hopes to pull Orihime back out of the icy watery grave.

Don't you fucking lose her!

Swishing his arm around, Ichigo tried in vain to locate her once again. "Orihime!" Ichigo cried out. "Please Kami, not like this." Something grabbed a hold of his wrist. "Orihime?" Ichigo shouted.

Trying to pull his arm out of the water was something of impossibility. He couldn't seem to gain any ground. "What the hell?"

Suddenly Ichigo found himself being pulled down into the pond. Reaching out for his Zanpakutou, Ichigo was only denied. With one great pull, Ichigo found himself being submerged downward into the icy depths, his hollow cursing in his head.

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(POV: Ulquiorra)

Ulquiorra continued to make his way throughout the lifeless corridors of Las Noches with Lord Aizen's precious package held vigilantly within his embrace. He hadn't paid much attention to the woman in his arms since he left his master.

The truth of the matter was he needed to be focused on making sure he reached his instructed destination without incident. Lord Aizen had been known to be a very ruthless man to all who inhabited Las Noches; a man which Ulquiorra did not want to actively disappoint or put bluntly, piss off.

The farther he traveled; the only noise heard within the confines of the hallway came from the heels of his black boots hitting the pale white tile. The place seemed to be literally desolate with other Arrancars. That fact alone suited Ulquiorra just fine. No one around meant he would be able to complete his assignment without confrontation.

Quickly coming to a halt outside the infirmary door, Ulquiorra smoothly adjust his hold upon the woman's body so he could open the door. With the woman weighing next to nothing, he was able to accomplish this task easy enough.

Once inside, Ulquiorra carried the woman across the room, gently laying her unresponsive body down upon one of the cold, unoccupied metal examination tables. Swiftly turning around he spotted a nurse who seemed to be attending to some paperwork.

"You there, nurse…attend to this woman's wounds immediately." Ulquiorra commanded in his usual monotone laced voice.

She looked over at him as though she was a deer caught in headlights. The Arrancar nurse looked undoubtedly frightened of him. Scared to move, scared to speak, she even seemed to be trembling at the very sound of his unyielding command. This satisfied Ulquiorra immensely.

Looking to the unconscious woman behind him the nurse's eyes widened in dismay, "Hai, of course" she complied with urgency. "Right away sire."

Ulquiorra had continued to keep his back turned while the Arrancar nurse moved post-hast to treat the woman's wounds. He listened intently as she cut the bandages to size, then the sounds of her hurried footsteps clapping against the pure white tile of the infirmary to collect more supplies.

He knew dressing the woman's newly forged hollow hole would be top priority. Although the bleeding had seized on the way to the infirmary, Ulquiorra still worried about possible infection growth. In lieu of recent events, there was still no way to tell what exactly the woman had absorbed from himself as well as Starrk during her transformation.

There was no way to tell if she had indeed gained the power of rapid regeneration without running some tests first. Those tests would just have to wait.

Closing his eyes he couldn't help but replay the transformation process over and over again within the boundaries of his own mind. In truth, he hadn't been the least bit interested in the woman's transformation. Perhaps she did raise some questions concerning his own transformation that he never once before took into consideration, but overall he could have cared less.

Of course that was until Lord Aizen pushed the Hōgyoku up against the woman's chest. It was in that exact moment he felt something. That unexplainable something had burned itself deep within the very pits his being.

The moment the dark energy from the Hōgyoku invaded the woman's body, Ulquiorra remembered having to swallow back the small twitch of vomit. He couldn't help but feel some of the energy bleed into him-self. It was raw, it was sinister…in truth it was skin melting pain. Yet this woman; the woman who currently lay unconsciously behind him had endured the entire process with only a single scream.

Never before had he felt pain such as that, well or at least none of which he could remember anyway. Was that what it felt like for him during his own transformation? "Had my transformation been that painful?" He questioned internally. That thought alone made his brows furrow with disgust.

"Sire?" A timid voice questioned.

Subconsciously grumbling at himself for even giving today's events another thought he brought his thoughts back to the present. Opening his eyes once more, Ulquiorra took in the site of a second Arrancar nurse trembling with a fresh change of clothes in her hands before him.

"Forgive me for interrupting your deep thoughts sire, but I thought you might like a fresh change of clothes since the ones you have on seem to be…" the nurse hesitated as if wondering if she should continue or not. Finally, "spoiled" spilled from her rose colored lips.

Spoiled? Glancing down, Ulquiorra realized he had indeed ruined his jacket with a trail of the woman's blood cascading down the front of his chest and ending around mid-thigh. "Indeed."

Bowing the nurse swiftly handed the clothes over to Ulquiorra and quickly backed away. He watched as she turned around and return promptly back to a patient who was currently resting on the other side of the infirmary.

Funny, he had been so deep in thought when he had first entered the infirmary; he never sensed anyone else was in here. "No matter." He thought to himself and with that Ulquiorra excused himself to change.

Soon after he had changed and properly disposed of his spoiled uniform, Ulquiorra was finally able to escort the woman back to her quarters. Upon reaching their destination, Ulquiorra carefully slipped inside the woman's room without making a single sound as he carried her still spent body over to the bed. With one hand, he reached down and pulled back the white comforter.

Carefully, yet quietly he repositioned her upon the bed while trying his best not to disturb her slumber. Removing his hand from behind her neck, Ulquiorra saw to it that she was as comfortable as possible. However…while in the process of adjusting her pillow, the woman's head lolled towards his general direction revealing her now opal-tear marked stricken face.

Ulquiorra's breath immediately caught as he captured sight of the gentle woman's pale face for the first time since her transformation. The woman now had tear marks just like…

"Impossible…" He stated at barely a whisper's tone.

Brining a single hand up, Ulquiorra unconsciously traced the emerald green tear marks that trickled down his own face, before letting his eyes gazed upon the woman's face once more. "Mine..." he finally continued.

Next Ulquiorra carefully gathered up one of her soft, yet delicate hands within his very own for a more acute, and justified inspection. Sure enough her finger nails had been graced with the same opal sparkle as her tear marks. "How can this be?" Ulquiorra said quietly to himself.

This just wasn't possible… was it? How the hell is this possible? Ulquiorra questioned over and over within the confines of his own mind.

Letting the confusion take over his body, he couldn't help but drop to his knees beside of her bed. Gently releasing the woman's pale ashen hand, he watched as it gracefully fall back down upon the bed.

Taking a calming mental breath, Ulquiorra thought back to what Lord Aizen had said about her taking on some of their more promenade physical features. Of course he had automatically assumed what Aizen meant was the change in her hair color. Ulquiorra had no idea his master had been referring to the present opal tear marks that current graced her cheeks, or the hollow jaw bone that was currently gracing her neck. Oddly it was very similar to Starrk's.

In truth, Ulquiorra really hadn't got the chance to really look upon her until they had arrived back within the confines of her bedroom.

Releasing the breath he didn't realize he had been holding, while letting the curiosity get the best of him, he decided to investigate a little closer.

Ulquiorra carefully brushed away some of her newly blackened strands from her face, tucking them neatly behind her ear. Much to his surprise, the woman's hair had been incredibly soft. With her hair tucked safely behind her ear, Ulquiorra now had an ample view of those opal tear marks. Bringing his hand down, he carefully hovered above the marks, actively tracing them with his fingers.

Unbeknown to his conscious state, Ulquiorra hadn't realized the woman now had a firm hold of his wrist within her grasp. Quickly opening her eyes, Ulquiorra gasped.

He truly had been surprised with her sudden awakening, so much so that when he had tried to move away he was denied the distance. The woman seemed to tighten her death grip upon his wrist the moment he had tried to pull away, successfully holding him in place.

Not moving, Ulquiorra simply pushed back a small twinge of anxiety and just continued to study her face. Seeing that she seemed to be somewhat dazed and confused, he figured he should at least say something. "Woman?" had been the only thing that had come to mind.

She continued to stare at the ceiling for the briefest of seconds before turning her attention to his question. "Ulq…" she paused trying to find her words. "Ulquiorra-kun..." she managed finally.

"Hai?"

"Where…where…" she garbled.

"You are back in your own room." Ulquiorra nonchalantly answered.

She seemed to be just studying him briefly, perhaps even studying his words. Before he knew it she was releasing his wrist. Pulling away and out of her reach, he finally stood up.

"Eh… what… happened?" Orihime questioned while looking around the room.

"You don't remember?" Shaking her head, she returned her gaze back towards his general direction and waited for him to respond.

"You survived the Espada transformation, and your father had requested that I return you back to your room for some much needed rest." She seemed to take in his statement and then simply nodded. "So if that will be all, I will take my leave and return back to my quarters."

"Eh… no wait!" The woman quickly cried out in protest.

Ulquiorra stopped his leave and studied her for the briefest of seconds before she continued, "Please… don't go. I don't desire to be left alone Ulquiorra-kun."

Sighing to himself at the woman's request, he closed his eyes and nodded. "Very well."