Chapter 10

'No... no! This is finally too much! I can't take it!'

'Unfortunately sulking about it won't help.'

'Arisawa-san...'

Upon hearing her voice Uryu turned back sharply from the dark corner inside one of Urahara's store-rooms, where he had been standing alone, immersed in his own thoughts. He never even realized he had been talking aloud. He tried to gather his cool facade back, and gave her a small smile.

'I guess you felt that something was going on...'

Tatsuki smiled back.

'Yes. But it also helped that I accidentally run into Chad on the street, when he was on his way here.'

'I see.' Uryu said, his eyes falling to the ground.

Tatsuki leaned casually against the door-frame, eyeing the quincy carefully.

'I wish I could go with Orihime, but Urahara won't let me... stupid, big-headed shopkeeper! Would so like to acquaint his sandals with his mouth one day...' she fumed half-heartedly. Even she knew that she hadn't got enough spiritual power to cope with the journey.

'So you support her?' Uryu asked, with a little surprise in his voice.

'I don't approve, of course, but what can I do? I do support her... I support them...' Her eyes narrowed as she asked: 'What will YOU do?'

Uryu closed his eyes briefly before giving his answer.

'I wish I knew...'

'Oh come on!' Tatsuki snapped. 'This is not like you!'

He nodded, with a sad smile, then lifted his head to look at the girl directly.

'I shouldn't go.' he stated, trying to sound firm. 'I have no business in Soul Society. I am a quincy! I simply can't help a hollow! And Orihime doesn't listen to me AT ALL. So what's the point?'

Tatsuki sighed.

'Well, if you feel that way... it's ok. I understand.' she wanted to turn, and walk away, but he stopped her.

'Wait. No. That's how I SHOULD feel...'

Tatsuki turned back, and her smile was now a grin.

'I figured it was like that!'

…...

Throughout Seretei, the alarm bells were ringing loudly. Toushiro Hitsugaya rushed forward, closely followed by his lieutenant. They were following the clear trail of destruction: burning and smoking buildings everywhere. Black and white robbed figures were moving among the ruins, like disturbed ants. Far away they saw flashes of light, and heard some explosions, that indicated an ongoing battle.

Toushiro stopped on top of a wall that still stood, and spoke briefly the soul reapers working on collecting their valuables from among all the debris. They told him that the attack was quick, they had no warning, and that all the destruction was the work of a SINGLE hollow.

'… freaked me out of my whits!' one low ranking soul reaper admitted. 'Never saw anything like it! It had human form, yet... it was just so horrible! That mask! I think I'll have nightmares for a month!'

Toushiro sighed impatiently.

'Any victims?' he asked seriously.

'No. Just the buildings.'

Toushiro's brows wrinkled. He didn't understand. What did this hollow want, running-amok Seretei like that? Beckoning Matsumoto to follow, he started going again, even faster than before.

It didn't take long before their well practiced flash-steps took them within seeing range of the fights. Toushiro stopped again, his eyes locked to the figure standing in the middle of a clearing-up smoke-ring.

'Captain! Do you see that?' Rangiku asked.

'I certainly do. An arrancar... And this feeling... I don't really know what is it, but it gives me the creeps. Like it's...'

'Familiar.' Rangiku finished for him.

Toushiro looked at his lieutenant searchingly. That had exactly been the term on his mind. The arrancar before them just showed some troops out of his way with his bare hands, like they were leaves he could sweep with a broom. The poor men flew back, landing being scattered everywhere, with moans of pain. They would have bruises, but nothing worse. The arrancar just stepped over them, not even spearing a second glance.

Toushiro grabbed his sword's handle tightly, and rushed forward.

'Stop!' he cried to the back of the arrancar.

He did. The masked head turned slowly, intense orange eyes shining out form the slits of eyes. Then the monster spoke. His voice was hoarse, reverberating, but quite clear to understand.

'Toushiro.'

The shock of hearing his own name so casually slip out from this monster's mouth made the Captain stop. And before he could even think, the monster vanished from before his eyes, with a sonido so fast his eyes couldn't keep track of it, and the next moment he felt two arms grab him from behind.

Rangiku screamed 'Captain!', and called her zanpakuto into action, but there was nothing she could do. Another sonido made her Captain vanish, along with the monster.

Toushiro landed on the ground, when the monster released him. They were now in an abandoned area, that separated squad 2's and squad 4's barracks. He stood up, being angry at himself. He looked up quickly, but the arrancar just stood above him, not doing anything.

'Toushiro.' he repeated. 'I'm glad we can talk.'

'Who are you? And what do you want?' the Captain asked through barred teeth.

'Don't you recognize me?' the other asked, lifting a hand before his face. To the Captain's utter horror, he slowly lifted the ugly horned mask from his face, setting it on top of his head.

And now he did recognize him. How could he not? His eyes widened for a second, before his mouth pressed together firmly into a bitter line.

'Kurosaki!'

The man before him half-grinned, though it was evident he wasn't really amused.

'Close enough. Now listen closely. I have no intention of fighting you. And neither anybody else for that matter.'

Toushiro scowled.

'Then what do you want? Orihime Inoue is not here... she's in the World of the Living. Or so I've heard...'

'I know that, but it's here that I have business. If you let me pass peacefully, I will hurt no-one. I want you to pass this message along to everybody.'

Toushiro have now stood up again, lifting Hyorimaru, and contemplating his next move.

'You have got to be kidding! You can't expect us to just step aside, when you attack like that! I'll ask again: what is it that you want?'

'Information. And I will have it, no matter what!'

'Information? From where? From whom? Hey! Come back, Kurosaki!' Toushiro cried, but Ichigo was already on his way forward, and didn't even look back.

'Was it really who I think it was?' Rangiku asked, arriving next to her Captain.

Toushiro sighed.

'Yeah. We're in trouble, I guess...'

…...

While Orihime sat on top of her Santen Kesshun shield, that took her conveniently across the dangai, her thoughts were quite disjointed. She choose this method of traveling because being close to the end of the seventh mouth of her pregnancy, she trusted her spiritual power more than her physical...

'It's all right...' she thought, giving her belly a gentle caress. 'Don't worry... Mommy's just a little anxious, that's all.'

She could feel her baby moving inside, giving her generous kicks. The little Darling must have felt her mood-swings form the last hours...

'But everything's going to be all right now... I promise. We'll find your Daddy, and then...'

But unfortunately she had no real idea about what would happen then. Her eyes began stinging, and she had to fight back the coming tears.

'Well, anyway...' she tried to collect herself, quickly brushing her eyes clean, before either Uryu-kun, Rukia-chan or Sado-kun, who were running next to her would notice. '… we've already been through a lot, you and I. I'm sorry about that. I know it's unfair to you, but there was nothing I could do. I'm sure we'll think of something to make everything right! Agreed?'

Another kick right in the middle of her belly answered her, and it made her smile.

'Remember how badly we freaked out poor Isshin-san, when I told her I thought you were on the way?' she mused cheerfully, but then her smile vanished, and another kick (this time to one of her ribs) made her realize, that thinking back to that particular morning, when she woke up unexpectedly in the Kurosaki Clinic instead of Hueco Mundo was a delicate subject, and probably not a very vise thing to do in her current state... If Isshin hadn't been there to console her, she was sure she wouldn't have been able to cope with her misery. After recovering from his shock, the doctor had been able to prove her suspicion right.

'But my dear child! Did you tell him?' Isshin had asked.

'No... I couldn't be sure yet, and didn't want to bother him needlessly. And also... I was a little afraid of what his reaction would be... Oh... what will I do now?'

'One thing's for sure!' Isshin had said firmly, with a scowl. 'I promised I would look after you, and I swear I will! You're staying here!'

So, she had been living in the Kurosaki Clinic ever since her return to the World of the Living. No matter how she had argued that she was a burden, and imposing on them, Isshin wouldn't hear of any other arrangement. He spoke of the coming baby as his grandchild, and considered her his third daughter, and she had been treated with every possible kindness from his part, and also from Yuzu and Karin (even though neither of the twins were acquainted with the full truth about her baby...). She was grateful, for during the months she had so abruptly disappeared to Hueco Mundo, she had lost not only her former job, but also her apartment, which her landlady decided to give to another. Without help, she really didn't know what she would have done... Isshin had given her Ichigo's old room, which was a little weird, but she had been utterly grateful for it. It was now decorated with colorful pictures, a yet-to-be constructed cot was standing in a corner in it's brand new wrappings, and a duffel bag in a corner held the few baby-clothing and stuff Orihime had managed to collect cheaply over the months. When she was alone, she liked to spread the little rompers and shirts out on her bed, and look at them until her eyes filled with happy tears. She continually reminded herself, that she shouldn't feel alone. Even if she couldn't be beside Ichigo now, he had given her a wonderful gift: a new life growing inside her, someone she could look after, someone she was responsible for. She would never be alone again...

Before Neliel had come to her with her warning, she had been on the verge of finally accepting that Ichigo would never come back for her... for them. She tried hard to convince herself that this was the truth of things, because this grim, painful finality was somehow more bearable to her now than insecurity, than not knowing what to believe... With each passing day, her interest in planning the real life she was forced to live was growing stronger. Her motherly hormones were ruling over her wounded heart. Isshin had let her do all the works of a nurse in the Clinic for him that he didn't think was contra-indicated in her condition. That had been a huge factor in helping her keep her morale. Isshin had even suggested that he could get used to this arrangement on a more permanent base, and he expressed his wish, that Orihime would decide to continue living with them after the baby was born. So she now had vague plans about continuing her studies to become a nurse. She enjoyed being able to help others.

But now all of those plans crumbled down, and seemed insignificant, as she could only concentrate on one thing. While they waited for Urahara to open the senkaimon, Rukia had told her everything that she and Ichigo had spoken about. And what she had learned convinced her, that Ichigo didn't forget her over the months... He still needed her, wanted her the same as before. And no matter how he argued that he had lost his heart to feel with, to her this proved that he never ceased to love her. These last months, he had kept himself away from her BECAUSE he loved her, and wanted her safe. She had known this already, deep down, but the doubt had always been there, tearing at her poor heart. Now she had proof to console her, and this brought on a feeling so warm, a feeling so "whole"...

She needed him in her life, no matter how. She was ready to give up everything for him again... She knew that part of the trouble was that her presence in his hollow-life continually made him realize how much he had lost... That must be terrible, and she was devastated by it. But she would find him now, and show him, that while much had been lost, much still remained... Their LOVE prevailed. A love that was so strong, it could bring new life even from death.

She would show him...

They would show him...

Because no-one, not Isshin-san, not Urahara-san, not Sado-kun, not even the strict Uryu-kun could detect the slightest trace of hollowish reiatsu from the little baby inside her womb. This must be a miracle.

Amidst her thoughts, Orihime realized that the senkaimon exit was in sight, so she braced herself for the final steps of the journey, refocusing her attention on her shield. Rukia, Chad and Uryu doubled their pace next to her, and in seconds they were out. Of course the exit was high in the sky again, but this surprised no-one any more. Each of them landed safely, in their own style.

'Oh for kami's sake!' Uryu cursed. 'The whole place is practically reeking of his insane reiatsu!'

Orihime could of course feel Ichigo's spiritual pressure better than anyone.

'I guess he must be a little over-excited...' she tried to defend him.

'Lost his mind more likely... Look over there!'

Uryu pointed to the smoking buildings before them. Rukia sighed.

'Well let's hurry. That's clearly the way we're supposed to go. Let's catch him, before he does even more damage! The Idiot!'

Chad and Rukia started going, but when Orihime wanted to follow, Uryu suddenly caught her arm, and held her back.

'Orihime. Please! One word.'

She dropped her eyes to the ground, to hide the sadness in them.

'Uryu-kun... I know you've come against your better judgment. And... I can't express how grateful I am.'

Uryu lifted a hand to silence her thanks.

'Yes. I did come against my better judgment. But I'm willing to help. Under one condition... I made a promise to your friend, Arisawa-san. That's why... you must promise me to come back. No matter what happens. No matter what you gain, or what you lose. Just come back...'

Orihime's eyes filled with tears of being deeply touched.

'Thank you... I promise I will...'

She only added privately: 'But I can't promise that by "back" we mean the same thing...'

…...

The two guards were in the middle of their daily chess-game. It was something they did to kill the time. Their superior had punished them before for drinking sake on duty, so now this was what they did instead...

'Hey, look! Looks like SOME fortunate chaps got to have some fighting today...' one of the guards, the tall one, with tattoos on his biceps said. 'It must be ages since I last had the chance to release my zanpakuto for anything else than training! I'm bored! Wish they would come this way!'

'Like that's ever gonna happen!' his companion, a sturdy, broad-shouldered man, with his long hair tied back in a ponytail said. 'You know, I'm beginning to think that ours is the most boring job ever! And I thought that joining squad 11 meant some excitement!'

The tattooed man stood up, and his eyes searched the distance.

'Although... the explosions DO seem to get closer... You know, maybe this will be our lucky day after all!' Suddenly the man's face twisted into a broad grin. 'How about I go and do a little peeking around? I want to know what's going on! It wouldn't hurt anyone, if the boss won't know...' He turned back to his companion, but the pony tailed soul reaper only stared off into space, and didn't answer. 'Hey! Kichida! Are you listening?'

'Something's coming...' Kichida answered while his hand began to slowly move towards the handle of his zanpakuto.

His comarade only looked at him dumbly, contemplating whether Kichida was joking. But before he could reach his answer, he suddenly found himself knocked to the ground from the back, by a forceful surprise attack.

'Takeda!' the others frightened voice shouted. But this was all he could manage, before receiving a blast too.

Lying face down in the dirt, they heard a strange voice mutter something, and heard an explosion. When they lifted their heads, they saw that the gate they were supposed to guard was blasted in, and a figure stood before it, raising a rather big, cleaver shaped sword.

'What the...' Kichida said.

The figure payed them no attention, but lowered his sword, and began moving forward.

'Hey! Wait!' Takeda shouted, gathering himself, and standing up again. 'What's the big idea! Can't let you just walk past us like that! And anyway... Are you out of your mind? I... I thought the custom was to break OUT of a prison! Not INTO it! Hey!'

Suddenly the figure turned, and the guard could now see the two chilling orange eyes shine out from under the horrible mask. His tongue became tied at once. He could only gawk.

Under the mask, Ichigo sighed impatiently... But there was also a little sadness mingled in it. He knew from the look on the soul reaper's face, that his mere glance was enough to break the courage in him for the time being, and by the time poor man gathered his balls back, he would be long out of his reach. And anyway... anything thrown at him from a soul reaper of this level would probably only tickle.

He guessed it was pretty ironic, considering whom he was about to confront, that he now had the chance to experience first hand how it felt: to stand on a very different level than others...

...

A/N: If you could review... Please!