Dessa's Note: a much quicker update for you, even those it's tiny compared the others, sorry about that. But yesterday was the 1 year birthday of this fic and I wanted to celebrate with an update, unfortunately I had some trouble with the bank and had to stay there for hours to resolve something that didn't even get done. Anyway, I'll be working on nights again soon so don't expect a rapid update, but I'll try my best.. a person can get bored staying awake for 12 hours straight.

Chapter 21

The vision of Mr Kurosaki a foot away from her person was a direct shock to Orihime's already highly frayed nerves. His eyes darkened with concern with one appraisal of her face, which had frozen on its way to an unfinished gasp. However the paralysis was temporary and she flew to pass him and urgently call her Aunt and Uncle. Mr Kurosaki had composed himself hastily and managed to prevent Miss Inoue from escaping him by grasping her arms.

'I must go to my Aunt! Please release me!' cried she, tears cascading from her eyes. Her panicked and distressed state only infected the emotions of the gentleman at a viral speed.

'What is the matter? Are you well?' said he equally frustrated. 'Good God Miss. Inoue please speak!'

'All answers can be postponed, now I must make haste for my Aunt' Orihime cried she with emphatic energy.

'Please Miss Inoue, you look very ill, please sit and I'll send a servant for your Aunt.' Mr Kurosaki persisted and after a hasty discussion, Orihime conceded to the care of the very concerned gentleman, his distress due to hers.

After several minutes of Mr. Kurosaki's calming words, Miss. Inoue had pulled her composure enough to stem her tears and resume a healthy respiratory flow. Mr. Kurosaki chose to sit opposite to her; five feet across the room and had personally sought a glass of water for her. He now stared at her, waiting for her to speak and suppress his own aggressive demands for information on the root of her disturbed disposition. Ten excruciating minutes passed this way for him, which ended when her softly shaking voice spoke.

'Excuse me for my display,' said Orihime quietly, her eyes lowering to the floor in shame.

'Not at all, but please do alert me to any way of which I can be of service to you.'

Orihime favoured him the faintest of smiles, 'You are very kind sir, but I have just received a letter detailing some familial circumstances that have been broken beyond aid or repair.'

'Nothing can be so decidedly bleak, there must be something that can be done? Please oblige me the knowledge of the contents of hat letter?' pleaded he, desperately needing to know the cause of her distress.

Orihime smiled but simultaneously sobbed silently. 'There is not a copious amount to declare. Only that my youngest sister, has either been taken away wickedly against her will, or seduced, beguiled and fooled into an elopement. She has thrown her hopes, dreams and life at the feet of a most despicable deceiving man!' Orihime had raised her intonation at her final sentence, feeling disinhibited by her grief. Mr. Kurosaki had paled but his visage morphed into a stern expression, betraying nothing of his thoughts.

'And the man who has stirred such sadness?' asked he, his voice low and almost cold.

There was silence for a few ignorant moments before Orihime quietly uttered the name, 'He is none other than Mr. Aizen. You know what he is capable of, I am disinclined to believe it, but believe it I must. It is highly possible that Momo has been entrapped into an elopement rather than taken by force.' She paused to asses her listener's reaction, but was only disappointed to note that it had not changed. 'If so, then my entire family will be brought into disrepute, we will all be ruined and she will be banned from all boundaries of respectability!'

At this Mr. Kurosaki rose from his seat and began pacing furiously around the room, his face set into its sombre appearance. 'And what motive would there be to induce such a situation on either side? What has been done to recover her? How long has the news been known?'

'My sister Tatsuki posted the letter four days ago, hence it would be understandable to deduce that news of a marriage might have taken place, there is no mention of Momo's plans in the letter, just a simple plea for my return which will be accomplished as soon as my aunt and uncle arrive.' Orihime paused for breath, drying her consecutive tears. 'As for a motive, I can only vaguely formulate an estimation. My youngest sister has always been bashful and silent, constantly in the shadows of our exuberant mother and the fame of our eldest sister. She was seldom granted attention from members of the opposite sex and it pains me to think she may have felt ousted as a result. A trickle of Mr Aizen's charms would have had, no doubt... a striking effect upon the vulnerable girl.'

'And what is your opinion for Aizen's motions towards your sister?'

'I can hardly think of one! She has no money, no connections and no family of power. The only person who would vouch for her is my mother and owing to her schools and orphanages which she funds, I heavily doubt Lady Matsumoto can indulge to settle a large amount of money on any of her charges...' There was silence while Orihime lined her tumbled thoughts and where Mr. Kurosaki let her think. As a light of understanding shone in Miss. Inoue's eyes, Mr Kurosaki decided to break the silence to persuade her of sharing her enlightenment with him.

However, she was hesitant and betrayed glances of guilt towards him, which spurred him forth more demandingly. 'Some light might be shed as to Mr. Aizen's motives, however it directly relates to Miss. Rukia and her child.' Said she with shielded eyes, looking only at the floor, which screened her from Mr. Kurosaki's highly astonished and confused air, but he hid it hastily and pressed her for more information. 'Very few know that Miss. Rukia spent one of her last days at Livingstone, she had arrived to our home under the blanket of night and woken the household with her pleas for her child to be born with the protection of Lady Matsumoto's hospitality. She had seemed raw with fear that night and was absolutely certain of her impending death. My mother consented as soon as she composed herself from the shock and made a quick diagnosis that Miss. Rukia had already been suffering from the contractions of labour, even during her journey from London. A youth named a Mr. Hitsuguya accompanied her and seemed very defensive of her. After the birth the following day Miss. Rukia had wrote my mother and was one foot out of the house before I stumbled upon the scene. I made the obvious enquiries and despite my insistence that she remain within our safe walls she persevered and was adamant to leave. I never understood her reasons, but one command she gave me was clearly imbibed into my memory; that secrecy of the location and mere existence of her daughter must remain hidden at all costs, particularly from Mr. Aizen. At the time I could not fathom why she would ask for such a strange request, none the less we respected her last wishes and abided by them. It was only when I received your letter,' here she blushed lightly in memory of her mortification, 'where I realised her logical fears for her daughter being in Mr. Aizen's hands. I apologise for not informing you earlier, it was out of respect for Miss. Rukia's wishes.' She looked up from her lap to observe Mr. Kurosaki's visage, but he too had directed it away from her and towards the door.

'And how would your sister's circumstance be involved with those of Rukia?' asked he sternly as though needing to suppress anger.

'I-If it were possible that Mr. Aizen discovered the whereabouts of Miss. Rukia's daughter... he might have concluded the most efficient way to acquire the child was to become closer to my family, or use my sister abominably as a hostage to bribe my mother.' Orihime held her sore head in her hands, 'Of course, this is all just mindless speculation, I pray most fervently to God that I be wrong.'

'And this is all the information you can dispel? There is no other fact of importance to be known?'

'I plead for your forgiveness sir, but there is no other lines of importance to offer.' Replied she, hopelessness settling into her vacant chest.

Mr. Kurosaki suddenly paused in his pacing and turned to face her with a grimly set face, 'I am afraid these sad events will prevent you from dining tonight with my sisters and I?'

'Oh yes! Please do apologise to the Miss. Kurosakis but I am unable to accept the pleasure of their company, as I will probably be half way to Livingstone this evening.' And as she spoke, naked emotion drummed with the beat of her heart, whether they were despair or affection she did not know, but the following lines seared the lacerations she already felt.

'I hope your distress is of short duration. Unfortunately I have stayed long while I am needed elsewhere. Please accept my condolences for you and your family.'

She rose at his words 'I gratefully thank you very much for your aid, it has been of much help. Please keep the sad truth to your own consultation, though I know it cannot be kept secret for long.' She curtseyed as he bowed and swiftly left the room.

Orihime collapsed onto her chair when the door swung closed and gave into the strong power of grief, unable to stem her flooding tears... for she knew that she would never see him again.

Dessa's Note: Now that I've read over what I've written I feel quite sad, but we're roughly four/five chapters away from the end which hopefully should be a happy one. Thank you for Nypsy, Snowfur10, Luvtousall, Chuchootrain, EmmaChan, Alice hattercandy, world of bleach2b, Llyza and MeggzieofHyrule.