AN: Happy summer vacation everyone! I've been guilty of working on another project… Shame on me, I know… I have not forgotten about OTWTA… I lost my notes on it I made during the move last year and have recently started reworking the plot. There will be an update on it soon…

Thank you for your reviews, alerts and your time in reading. I am honored and I will thank you even if you find this one turns out to be "annoying junk" like Dreamscape…

And if anyone wants to draw an image for this story... That would be waaay cool since I can't draw myself out of a paper bag... (I see we can add images as a cover for the stories now - cool addition!)

Chapter 12

Ulquiorra led Orihime up a flight of stairs that led to the chamber cells Aizen wanted her locked in.

"Aizen got you a new plaything, I see." Nnoitora said grinning as he came around the corner. He leaned in to touch her when Ulquiorra pushed her out of the way. He positioned himself between them. "And you're defensive already. Impressive for one who cares about nothing."

"What do you want?"

Nnoitora's eyes reluctantly left Orihime's chest. "Just looking for some fun. Seeing as how you have something new to play with, you wouldn't mind if I went after the other, would you? There's got to be something in that small package worth while."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh come on. Everyone noticed the change in you when she finished transforming. From the moment you saw her in the arena."

Ulquiorra frowned.

"What if I went after her?"

"Zero will not give you the time of day."

He laughed. "Maybe, maybe not… but if I asked Aizen for a key to her cell I can change that. What do you think? I hear her brain is all fucked up anyway. It's not like she would remember anything if I take her to Granz afterwards."

Ulquiorra reached his hand out and grabbed Nnoitora by his throat. Orihime let out a yelp as she was pushed back towards the wall, away from them. Silently they stared each other down.

"You are not as indestructible as you think. If you touch Zero and she does not kill you, I will." He let go and took Orihime's hand in his and continued up the stairs. He heard Nnoitora's laughter follow.

He jammed the key into the lock, turned and threw open the door. It crashed outside with a loud bang that echoed down the stairwell and hallway. Orihime jumped. She took a few steps into the cell and put her hands together against her chest. She had so many questions. Since she was taken they had basically ignored her. A female Arrancar with bone across her mouth gave her a change of clothes, a wash basin and she had returned to bring food, but today was the first time she had seen Aizen or had someone to really talk to. She didn't want him to leave. She turned to him, finding her voice. "Will Kuchiki-san be ok?" When he didn't answer she frowned. "That guy we just met… He isn't going to hurt…her?"

She saw anger flash in his eyes albeit briefly. "He will not hurt her. Zero is quite capable of killing him."

Her eyes were round as saucers. "Oh." She looked at him, her eyes lingering on the hole in his neck and thought of her brother. "Does…does it hurt?"

"No."

"I don't know if my powers can fix Kuchiki-san," she said as she turned towards the window.

"Fixing her is not why we brought you here."

"Then why? Why did you bring me here?"

Ulquiorra took a step back and closed the door.

"Please! Please tell me! Talk to me! Just don't…" he could hear her start to cry, "don't leave me here alone."

"Will you help me?" asked a soft voice in the dark.

Toshiro stood, trying to get his bearings. Everything was dark. He didn't know where he was.

"Please," the voice said again.

Toshiro tried to find where the voice came from. "Where are you?"

"Help me."

"How can I find you?" He put his hands out in front of him and stumbled a few steps; too dark to see, too dark to move.

"I needed you…"

"I can't find you!"

Toshiro frantically searched the dark, looking for a wall, a door, a blade of grass, anything that would help tell him where he was and where he needed to go.

"Don't leave me…"

"I won't!" he promised the voice. "Just tell me how to get to you!"

"It hurts…"

"I can't help you if I can't get to you!" he cried desperately.

"It hurts so much…"

Toshiro was ready to pull his hair out in frustration. "Rukia!" He yelled as he realized who the voice belonged to. "Rukiaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Toshiro opened his eyes and saw blurry images. As his vision cleared he was able to make out he was on a futon in Inoue's apartment. He shook his head and sat up. Pain shot through his shoulder as he remembered what happened. He'd lost her. Again.

"Taicho!" Matsumoto ran over to him and placed her hand on his bare chest and gently pushed him back down. "You shouldn't get up yet. Your wounds are – "

"I don't care," he said as he pushed her aside. He sat up and saw he was wearing shorts and his thigh was bandaged. His left arm was taped to his side to lessen the movement of his shoulder. He focused and looked around the apartment. "Where are the others?"

"Training, patrolling, sleeping," she replied.

"Where's Hinamori?"

"She's at the warehouse. We were going to turn her in if you didn't wake up soon."

"Soon?" He asked as his head snapped. "How long was I out?"

"Three days. Renji made a small report to Soul Society, told them we were caught off guard by the numbers of the last attack, but didn't tell them anything about Zero or Momo. We all felt you should decide how to proceed."

Toshiro scowled and nodded. "Kurosaki?"

"Is training and gathering his friends. Kisuke said he should be able to open the gate soon. He's going after the human girl. I have a feeling Renji is going too, but he hasn't told me anything."

Toshiro looked at the nearby chair. His uniform was carefully draped over it. He looked at the kanji symbol for his division. Several minutes went by.

"If he wants to go, I am not going to stop him."

Matsumoto opened her eyes. "What?" Toshiro stood and looked at her.

"I'm going to do what I should have done when they took her."

Matsumoto's heart pounded. "You're going after Zero?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm – "

"No," he watched as her face scrunched up. "There is still a war to prepare for, humans to protect. Ikkaku and Yumichika are still here. I'm putting you in charge until the old man figures out what to do here."

Her eyes widened more.

"You're defying orders!"

"Yes." He said.

"But – "

"I'm bringing her back, she doesn't belong there!"

"She doesn't belong in Soul Society either!" Matsumoto shouted. "You know the order they issued!" She shrank back a little when she saw the look in his eyes.

"I won't let that happen. I will not let her be used as a weapon by either side. Rukia is still in there, a part of Zero and I will do anything and everything I can for her…that includes resigning if need be."

She stared at him, shocked. Tears were in her eyes. Toshiro pulled on his uniform and left the apartment.

"I'm sorry…"

Rukia opened her eyes. She was in her room, on her bed. She received a treatment from Ichimaru-sama that put her to sleep. She had no idea how long she was out. Time meant nothing.

She tiled her head. No pain.

She sat with her back to the wall and thought about her capture. That first night Ichigo had called her his Nakama.

She frowned. The term was foreign to her. She would have to ask Ulquiorra what it meant.

She stopped.

Her mind was clear. Usually the treatments kept her from thinking about anything.

Curious.

Was this the Shinigami's doing? Was Aizen-sama aware? Did the treatments not work anymore?

"Let us help you…"

"I'll do everything I can to keep you safe."

"I will protect you."

"Protect me," she whispered out loud. The sound of her voice shocked her. She sat straighter. Aizen-sama would not be pleased. She would go back under Granz's knife. She didn't want that. She didn't want him touching her. Her fists clenched.

Ulquiorra.

Rukia stood and looked at her door. They always locked it.

Prisoner.

She touched the handle. It wouldn't move. She blinked. She never thought about it before; never had a reason to; her mind never clear enough to think this far.

She frowned as she froze the lock. She pushed the door and watched as it opened.

She made her way down a long flight of stairs and turned the corner. She was familiar with Lord Aizen's throne room, Ichimaru-sama's lab, Granz's lab, the meeting room and, of course, the arena.

Ulquiorra.

She came to a point where there were three other hallways. Avoiding the ones she knew led to the throne room and the labs, she took the third. After walking for a while, the hallway opened up to a small room and another flight of stairs.

Rukia drew her sword and turned in one fluid motion blocking a hand that was intent on impaling her.

Wonderweiss.

"Ehhhh…?"

Rukia backed away and cocked her head. He lifted his hand, pointed it at her and came at her again. Rukia grabbed it and spun him around and threw him into the wall.

He smiled as his head hit the white brick behind him. In an instant, he again lifted his hand and pointed it at her. She watched as it glowed bright pink.

Bala.

"Ahhhhhhh…" he breathed.

Rukia threw her hands in front of her and erected a thick wall of snow, ice and reiatsu, blocking the blast. He ran forward, breaking through the barrier and lunged at her. He grabbed her neck and squeezed. Rukia grabbed his arm and twisted, the motion separated his fingers from her neck. His other hand latched onto her jacket. He charged another bala.

She pulled on his arm that was attached to her jacked, tearing the material, and pushed him away. He brought his arm up as he stumbled backwards. Rukia spun and kicked his midsection, throwing him back into the wall. She threw shards of ice at him and pinning him in place.

Sword drawn, she narrowed her eyes and pointed it at his neck.

He smiled.

"He is magnificent, isn't he?" Tosen said as he reached the bottom of the stairs and entered the room. Rukia didn't move, her eyes glued on Wonderweiss who was now looking at the new comer, slightly drooling. "He is perfection. While I would love to stay here and watch him destroy you, Zero, we have things to do."

"Fukusuru, Zero," Aizen said as he appeared behind Tosen.

Her eyes glazed as she returned her sword to her hip and took a step away from the wall. Aizen stopped in front of her and cupped her chin in his hand. "Zero," he whispered. Her eyes met his. He placed his lips on her forehead before stepping away. "It is time I put in motion part of my plan. While I originally included you in it, I find that you would be better off staying here."

Rukia watched as he ascended the stairs with Wonderweiss in tow. The corners of her mouth fell as she realized he was leaving Hueco Mundo and was taking the idiot with him. Not her.

Why?

She gasped. She wasn't allowed to question Lord Aizen, not even in thought. Where was this coming from?

The Shinigami…?

"Bah!" she said in frustration. She continued down the hall to continue her search for Ulquiorra.

Toshiro descended the ladder and out of habit, he looked to the area where Rukia was kept. Momo was now in her place. His jaw tightened as his muscles clenched in anger. After a quick search he found who he was looking for.

"Kurosaki…"

Ichigo looked up and saw the small Taicho come forward in full uniform. His eyebrow rose. Official capacity?

"Feeling better?"

Ignoring him Toshiro said, "Matsumoto tells me Urahara will get the gate open soon."

"Yeah."

"I'm coming."

"What?"

"I'm going to bring Zero back." Ichigo nodded. Toshiro looked over to where Momo was kneeling on the futon, her hands between her knees.

"What are you going to do about her? It's not like you can send her back to Soul Society without them knowing about Zero."

"We can keep her here until you get back," Shinji offered. Toshiro thought.

"No," he said. "This is my mission, my problem. I'm going to have Ikkaku take her back."

"And ignore the no travel order?" Shinji said as he crossed his arms against his chest.

"She can't stay here."

"You know they'll come for you," Ichigo stated.

"Which is why I'll make sure Ikkaku takes her after we leave. Once we're over there, there's not much they can do. At least, not until we get back."

"And by that time we'll all have our hands full with Aizen," Ichigo said. "Ok."

"HEY Ichigo!" Lisa yelled from the top of the stairs. "Urahara sent a message…He's ready!" Toshiro looked at him. He took a breath.

"Let's go."

Rukia watched as Ulquiorra emerged from the human girl's cell. He turned to her and cocked his head. "You are not in your room," he stated flatly. What was she doing here of all places?

"I had to…find you. Things are different."

"How?" He looked at her jacket and frowned. Nnoitora? "What happened?"

"I am…confused." She looked at him, not sure how to proceed. She shook her head. "Lord Aizen is leaving."

"Yes."

"We are left behind?"

"I am here to watch over the human and Los Noches. There are humans who have come for her."

"We protect her?"

"I am in charge of her and I do not require your help. What happened to your jacket?"

"Wonderweiss. Aizen-sama and Tosen-sama took him with them."

"They just left you wandering the halls?" This was interesting. She was supposed to remain in her room until she was needed. He looked her over and didn't find anything else out of place. "Return to your room." Rukia looked at him as her eyebrows drew together. She started to doubt her reasoning for wanting to see him. He noticed her hesitation and knew Lord Aizen hadn't stripped her mind again. She was starting to think on her own.

This was a dangerous thing. With Lord Aizen and the others leaving to the human world soon, that left Granz in charge of her if something were to happen. He did not want Granz touching her. He was told not to take the threat of the humans coming lightly but did not want Zero involved.

"Return to your room, Zero." He said again.

She didn't understand. "I am not needed?"

"I do not require your help," he repeated firmly. He was close to using a command but watched as she concentrated. Her eyes were unfocused.

"What am I?" It was Ulquiorra's turn to become confused. "I am Nakama? I am prisoner?"

"Zero…"

"What am I?" she cried out, frustrated.

This was bad. He had received the message that the humans had reached their location and were engaged with the lesser Arrancars. This was not the time for Zero to have a mental breakdown. He held his hand out to her and was surprised she shrunk back.

"Zero…"

There was a crash from down the hall. "Guard the door," he ordered her as he left to go back down the hall.

Rukia stood outside the cell door more confused than when she had left her room. Aizen-sama was taking the idiot. She was not needed. Ulquiorra was in charge of the human. He told her she was not needed. She shook her head.

Sounds of fighting came from the far end of the hall and down the stairs. Ulquiorra was fighting.

Who?

"Humans have come for you," she whispered.

"Kuchiki-san? Is that you?"

Rukia thought back to her first encounter in the human world. Inoue Orihime. The red head who put herself in front of Ichigo, protecting him.

Human.

Ichigo?

"Who is here, human? Who has come for you?"

"Kuchiki-san?"

"Who has come?"

"I…I don't know."

"You lie!" Rukia placed her hand over the doorknob and froze it. As it fell to the ground the door swung open. Rukia looked at the human woman who was now dressed in an Arrancar uniform.

She belongs to Aizen-sama. She shook her head and grabbed the woman's hand. "Who is here for you?"

"K-Kurosaki-kun…But – "

"Come," Rukia tugged on her hand and led her down the hallway. When they reached the top of the stairs they both looked at the chaos below. Ulquiorra and Ichigo were fighting. A small green form was curled up safely in a corner of the room.

Rukia stood at the top of the stairs and released her reiatsu. Immediately the temperature dropped. Ulquiorra was buried under what used to be a pillar. Ichigo was bloody, panting and almost dead.

"Kurosaki-kun!" Inoue yelled as she started towards him. Rukia held onto her. Inoue stopped and looked at her. "Please, I need to help him. I can heal him." Rukia looked to Ulquiorra who was still buried.

"Kuchiki-san, please!"

"Zero!" Ichigo said as he tried to sit up. "Zero, you're ok." Rukia released the woman's hand and watched as she ran over to him and erected the orange shield. The same one Rukia had seen her do with Grimmjow's arm.

I will protect you.

Rukia shook her head and went to the pillar. She pulled Ulquiorra up out of the rubble. As he opened his green eyes he narrowed them.

"Why is she out?"

"Ichigo came for her. She does not belong here."

"She belongs to Lord Aizen."

"Why?"

"Because that is his will, Zero. We are here to serve him."

"He does not wish for me to serve him. He has that fool, I am not needed." She stood and backed away. "Not needed with him...not needed with you…"

"You are needed with me!" A cero blast came out of nowhere and blew the room apart. Everyone was thrown in separate directions.

Out of the dust and debris, Grimmjow walked in and smiled at Orihime. He leaned down, picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. "I'm gonna need you to fix this one so I can finish killing him," he said as he looked at Ichigo who was trying to stand. "If you want her, come find me," he said as he took off.

"Nel!" Ichigo said as he dug his small companion out from a small stack of rocks she was hiding behind. With her safe he scanned the area looking for Zero, but her and Ulquiorra were gone. "Come on, we need to find Grimmjow!"