"Why. Weren't. You. With. Her." Toshiro growled, glaring daggers at his lieutenant, who was looking properly ashamed and terrified, as well as still having a flush from her drinking earlier that evening. "ORIHIME IS GONE, MATSUMOTO. GONE. AS IN, SHE ISN'T EVEN IN THE LIVING WORLD."
He had answered Rangiku's frantic call earlier, her asking if Orihime was with him. Of course she wasn't, he was at Urahara's making a report to Soul Society. He heard her make a panicked noise, and soon he was touching down at the girl's house, walking in to find Orihime's human friend slumped against the wall, and Rangiku clutching at what seemed to be a hand-written note from Orihime to the girl, saying something about how she was suddenly called away on urgent family matters. Which Toshiro knew was complete bull. What he didn't know was what had possessed his lieutenant to leave the girl alone, and why she was out drinking with the other two soul reapers.
He cursed, smacking a hand to his forehead. This was a mess. A snicker behind him made him whirl around, and suddenly he was pointing his zanpakuto at Ikkaku's throat. "I-I didn't-" the third seat paled, eyes wide. The blush on his face was even brighter than Rangiku's and Yumichika looked almost green.
"AND YOU TWO. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! WHAT WERE ALL OF YOU THINKING, DRINKING ON THE JOB?!" he sucked in a harsh breath in between his teeth and lowered the sword slowly. "You three are in so much trouble it's not funny." Yumichika sunk lower in his seat, and he heard Rangiku sobbing behind him. "Thank kami that Abarai has more sense than you three, otherwise Ishida might be gone as well." He swung his attention back around to the third seat. "You're just lucky that Chad was with Ishida or else you would be in even more trouble, Ikkaku." The bald man winced, breaking eye contact.
The red-haired shinigami huffed, leaning against the doorway. "Hitsugaya-taicho, shouldn't we be more worried about finding her right now? You can lecture these idiots later."
The tenth captain sighed and sheathed his zanpakuto. "I am worried about finding her, I just-"
The sharp spiritual pressures flared at the edge of his senses, moving about the town at an almost leisurely pace. They weren't friendly. They felt too much like a Hollow to be friendly. And they were strong. "I believe we have company." He glanced at his team, who had stiffened in alarm, and he knew they had felt it too. "Split up. Be careful." The three sobered up immediately, and Renji just nodded. And, in an instant, they were gone, leaving Toshiro standing alone in the small dining room of Urahara's shop.
"My, my, you certainly seem to have your hands full." Toshiro looked up as the former captain entered the room, hat pulled down low over his eyes. "There are more of them than there are of you, what are you going to do?"
He narrowed his eyes, certain that the shopkeeper had his own agenda in mind. "If you're offering your assistance, we'll take it. These intruders feel strong, I don't think any one of us could handle more than one of them."
"I had a feeling you would see it that way."
Toshiro rolled his eyes, "Then let's go." He flash-stepped away, heading towards the nearest enemy.
Urahara tapped his cane against the floor slowly, before calling into the other room, "Tessai, watch the kids and the brats. I'm going out."
This should be interesting. Finally, a chance to see an arrancar in person. Maybe he could even talk to Isshin's son. Kisuke smiled darkly, he would almost certainly get to test his limits tonight. Should he have warned the others of their power?
Nah.
xxx
The Espada shuffled his feet, looking around the fake landscape uncertainly. "So...you want me to do what?"
Shinji sighed, casting a glance towards Hiyori, who was obviously getting tired of having to repeat herself to the arrancar. She was tapping her foot, arms crossed over her chest. It wouldn't take much more to push her past the edge. He looked back at Ichigo, who looked utterly confused, even after the second explanation. He guessed he would just have to put it it in terms the kid could understand. "Ichigo-kun." the orange-haired teen looked up at him, yellow eyes looking somewhat dazed. "This isn't hard to do, in practice. It's just that the theory is going over your head. Maybe you should just sit down and try it, ne?" Fortunately, Ichigo didn't argue, and sat down on the dirt, crossing his legs. He breathed in slowly, closing his eyes.
"Empty your mind," Hiyori murmured, pacing back and forth. "Let everything go. All your thoughts, feelings, goals, everything. Just focus on breathing for now."
One yellow eye blinked open, "But I thought-" he cut himself short, seeing Shinji's head shaking 'no' frantically over the short girl's shoulder. "Nevermind." he shut his eyes tightly, breathing in and out.
Sometime later Shinji noticed the shift. He could see it in the way Ichigo's shoulders relaxed, the way that the breathing had steadied into an easy rhythm, but most importantly, the way that the sharp reiatsu had calmed, feeling more like his own in nature. He walked over to the Espada, kneeling in front of him. Yes, his face was much more serene, and the red marks under his left eye were faded in color. "Ichigo, can you hear me?" he asked quietly. A hum was given in response, and Shinji nodded. "Ichigo, I want you to keep doing what you're doing, and slowly open your eyes, ok? Whenever you feel like you can hold it." Another hum, this one accompanied by a slight nod, and the Visored sat himself in front of the arrancar. Around him, he could feel his team's stares, but he ignored them, focusing his senses on Ichigo. He sat patiently, closing his own eyes and waiting, til he felt another subtle change.
He opened his eyes slowly, holding his breath, and stared into brown eyes, vibrant and full of life. The red markings were gone from the arrancar's skin, and Shinji felt a rush go through him. If Ichigo could get this far in just a few hours, then what could the kid achieve in a matter of days?
"So, am I doing it right?"
xxx
She was terrified. Who wouldn't be, in this world of unfamiliar darkness and threatening people? She flinched, gripping tighter to her kidnapper's arm as he walked her past the other arrancar and up to what looked to be a throne, with someone sitting on it. Ulquiorra bowed before the throne, shooting a glance her way and she followed suit, dipping into a bow herself. Then he pulled his arm from her, and pushed her lightly forward.
"Aizen-sama, I have retreived the girl known as Inoue Orihime. She is yours to do with as you see fit." That didn't sound promising. She gulped, before looking at the brown-haired man again. Wait...
"Aizen-sama? But..weren't you the one who hurt Kuchiki-kun?" the man just smirked, and the silver-haired man to the left chuckled darkly. A sharp grip on her shoulder made her flinch and she turned to Ulquiorra, eyes wide.
"You shouldn't speak so freely-"
"No, it's quite alright." the man on the throne spoke, and Ulquiorra released her, bowing once again. "Orihime-chan. Welcome to my kingdom, Las Noches. I hope you enjoy your stay. How is Kuchiki then?" he smirked down at her, and she felt a chill run through her bones. "Ulquiorra, escort her to your palace and keep her there until I have use of her. The rest of you, dismissed."
"Of course, Aizen-sama," more bows were made, and then she was taken away from the throne room, actually glad to be with Ulquiorra instead of being left alone with that man. He gave her the creeps. And that silver guy next to him was just as bad. She shuddered. They stopped in front of a spacious room, and she walked inside, looking around. Ulquiorra stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets. "This will be your room. In the morning I will send more appropriate clothing for you." she nodded, turning to look out the window. "Do not try to escape. Do not expect a rescue. You belong to us now." Orihime turned her head, opening her mouth to protest, but stopped at the look in those emerald eyes. Then the Espada was gone, and she was left alone, wondering why any of this had happened.
She wasn't aware when the tears began to fall.
XXX
Alright, another one down! Maybe next chapter we'll see some action, and not just character development. Oh and if you were wondering, if this seems rather fast, it's because I combined the arrancar attack (by Grimmjow and the fracciones) with Orihime's capture, when in the canon she isn't captured until later. Thank you so much guys for all the favs/follows/reviews, and please let me know what you think of the plotline/characters/writing style so far!