Chapter Twenty-Four

~Hueco Mundo~

Aizen waited patiently for Ulquiorra to return—he knew it was a risk sending him into the world of the living when Soul Society would be on guard from what occurred just hours ago. But she was well worth the risk. Orihime was the first step in the plan, he knew that Hoshiko would rather risk her own life before she let her friends especially Ichigo come and rescue her. How easily she falls in love, he thought as he knew by now she was in love with the young substitute. Perhaps in time she could…..his thoughts were interrupted when Ulquiorra entered the room.

"Welcome back, Ulquiorra." Aizen greeted, "How did she take the offer?"

"Like you expected Aizen-Sama, she will most likely agree to the offer in return for releasing Inoue Orihime." Ulquiorra replied as Aizen smiled.

"Good, everything is working out well. So well that we can move forward with the next step," Aizen commented as he snapped his fingers. Ulquiorra watched as the doors to the throne room opened and a young woman stepped through. Ulquiorra's eyes widened, he had only seen the woman once in a meeting. She was the latest Hollow to be transferred and enter Hueco Mundo. She had yet to receive a rank; he believed Aizen had other purposes for her.

"You summoned me, Aizen-Sama?" her voice was soft and unsure. Similar to her appearance, Ulquiorra watched as her long white hair flowed down to her midsection, her eyes were ghostly white, skin only having a hint of color, the her Hollow hole above her left shoulder and her small mask covering the right side of her head. Her uniform was a sleeveless dress with a hood attached to it, the dress cascaded down to her feet, she wore white cloves and for some strange reason preferred to be barefoot.

"Yes, Kiyomi, I would like to speak with you about a task that will be presented to you in the coming days." Aizen replied

"About the woman….." she stated as Ulquiorra watched her eyes glow, he had been told that she had special abilities that Aizen saw necessary. He had never seen her do it, but she was said to be able to see things and do things to someone's mind. Many of the Espada believed that she was a psychic and saw her powers as something weird. But most of them didn't understand her and it didn't help that she was kept in a separate part Hueco Mundo than the rest of them.

"You already know what I need you to do," Aizen smiled

"I always do," She replied, "But the task will be difficult, she will have to be weakened physically and mentally order for it to work."

"I will make her ready for it. After all her mind is already fragile it just needs to be structured properly," Aizen stated, "Ulquiorra I will need your assistance when morning comes for the world of the living."

"Yes, Aizen-Sama," Ulquiorra said

"You will retrieve Hoshiko at dawn, I know Soul Society has already made their own preparations for the transaction but I have my own plans as well." Aizen stated

~Urahara's Shop~

Urahara wasn't in a joking mood when Hoshiko walked into his shop; she explained her discoveries on Orihime and what Ulquiorra offered her. He didn't want to be right about Orihime, but he had already suspected this was the case. But the offer Ulquiorra gave to her was the furthest thing from his mind.

"I sure didn't see that one coming. I already figured that he had Orihime, but why you? It can't be your abilities, having you in Hueco Mundo is like putting a child in a candy store. With so many Hollows there you would be on an unlimited supply. Why would he take that risk?" Urahara sighed

"I don't know. I thought about that too, but who understands what Aizen does. Apparently I'm entitled to make my own personal decision, but we know by now Soul Society has been informed and probably has already signed my ass over." Hoshiko said

"We don't know that; you were assigned to protect Ichigo, I at least hope they would honor that and allow you to do what you were sent here to do." He commented

"I'm expendable, that's what you do with expendable assets you expend on them. Besides my original plan was to go in and rescue her. Aizen just gave me an easier way in." She said

"You know this is probably a trap, nothing with Aizen is ever this simple." Urahara sighed, "How long do you have?"

"Until sun up, at that time Ulquiorra will come me or else they'll keep Orihime." Hoshiko replied

"No offense, but I would think Orihime is more valuable because of her abilities. She heals and you….."

"Destroy….no offense taken." She interrupted

"Should I ask if you have even come close to making a decision?" he asked

"I have….there really is no choice in the matter. Either I go willingly or Soul Society will hand me over by force. At least if I go willingly I can plan ahead." Urahara knew that Hoshiko would come up with a plan to retrieve Orihime from Aizen or at least guarantee her safety, he just wished it didn't have to be this way. But there was no use convincing her otherwise, so the best thing to do was help her.

"I'm not okay with this, but I would rather you go in there prepared for anything than just hand yourself over." He said

"I only have a few hours before dawn, so if you have a trick up your hat I suggest it's a quick one." Hoshiko commented

"Well that depends are you going to be nice when you go to Hueco Mundo?" Urahara asked

"You know I don't play well with others." She replied

"Then I suggest that you go in there prepared to die; Aizen is not someone you should attack head on. Even a Captain had trouble fighting him face to face." He stated

"I don't intend on fight Aizen, by then I may already be on my last breath. However I do plan on taking out as many of his pets before then. I know when word gets out what happened, Renji, Ichigo and the others would have wanted to save Orihime and I can't take that risk." Hoshiko said

"So you think Ichigo and Renji wouldn't be gun ho to save you? When they both wake up and you're nowhere in sight, they will try to rescue you." she sighed at his statement

"I'm aware of that….but hey may be I'll make the war easier on them. Never know, "she said

"I think now is the time to get Izanami on the same page as you; you'll need her help with this, only she can get you in there and possibly out." He commented

"I know….and I have some things I would like to do before morning." Hoshiko replied as she stood up

"A few goodbyes." He guessed

"Yeah, you could say that." She stated, he only watched as she walked out the room and headed next door. Soon he too stood up and started working on a plan to help her. Morning was in a few hours, so he had to be quick about it.

Hoshiko decided to tell Renji goodbye first, he was still sleeping in one of the side rooms of the shop. Kneeling down beside him, she saw that he was looking better than earlier. His breathing returned to normal and the bandages weren't spotted with blood.

"Renji…."Hoshiko sighed, she knew he would be mad at her when he woke up and she was gone, "I'm sorry Renji but I have to do this. I know there is a good chance I may not return, but you know better than anyone, if someone needs to be sacrificed who better than me? I'm expendable so I decided to take advantage of my expendability." She watched how he murmured unrecognizable words in his sleep. Hoshiko reached her hand out and caressed his face, "This reminds me of when you used to comfort me at night or rather I would barge into your room and sleep there after I kicked you out the bed. You really took a lot of beatings for me Renji; both physical and mental. You're a great man and hopefully you find a great woman. In the back of my mind, I wished you didn't let him win my heart first. Then maybe things would have been different. Maybe back then I could have fallen in love with you." with a smile she leaned down and placed a small kiss on his cheek, "Take care of yourself Renji, don't do anything stupid, I'm a big girl I can take care of myself now. I'm happy knowing you'll be okay and won't be hurt trying to protect me. There will always be a place in my heart that only you have Renji. So this is my goodbye." Hoshiko pulled the sheets over his body and stood up with a sigh. The next person to say goodbye to would be the most difficult for her.

~Ichigo's House~

The room was exactly the same when she left except Orihime was gone and Ichigo's wounds were healed completely. Hoshiko figured Orihime would heal him one last time before she left. Sitting against the nightstand, she looked at him closely. Funny how just last night she declared her love to him and he accepted all the things she had done in her past. Right now she would give anything to have that moment again; to be in his arms and know that nothing else mattered at the moment. But once again, fate toyed with her after finding love again. Perhaps Izanami was right, happiness and love just didn't belong in her life. A sound from Ichigo's throat snapped her out of her thoughts,

"I might as well face this," Hoshiko paused as she reached out and grabbed his hand, "I hope you don't think I abandoned you, I'm doing this for the opposite actually. I know if you wake up and hear Orihime is missing you're going to charge in and want to save her, even if it means blindly going to Hueco Mundo by yourself. I can't let you risk that, there are too many Espada and Arrancar in Aizen's corner, going there would be your death. No one has to tell me how strong you are, but sometimes even the strongest men need to be saved. I care about you too much to let you be vulnerable at Aizen's feet. I'll get Orihime back, even if I don't come back. At least she'll be here for you, she loves you a lot; I know how loving you feels and now I couldn't imagine not being able to love you. But you should be with a girl like her—smart, funny, beautiful, just an almost normal girl. More normal than I'll ever be." She didn't know when she started crying but tears were falling on Ichigo's hand, "I won't let Grimmjow or anyone hurt you, I love you too much to sit back and watch you be hurt like this again. Please don't do anything stupid and trust me." She stood and leaned down to kiss him. More tears fell on him when she pulled away, "I love you Ichigo…. goodbye." Hoshiko released her hand but Ichigo's grip seemed to hold on to her. Her eyes widened, checking him she found he was still asleep.

Natural instincts, he really does love you. Izanami whispered. Hoshiko had never heard her voice sound so soft, I hate to break you too up, but it will be dawn soon. She was right; she had to meet with Urahara and then head to the meeting spot. Using both hands, Hoshiko released Ichigo's grip and stood up. Heading to the window she looked at Ichigo one last time before disappearing through it.

~A few hours later~

The sun rose Hoshiko stood up from the roof of Ichigo's house, after having a last meeting with Urahara, she returned to his house and stayed on the roof until it was time. She shunpoed off the roof and headed across town. Now standing in the middle of the same park where Ulquiorra and Yami had first appeared, she looked around for anyone.

"Hoshiko….." Hoshiko turned to find the voice that called her, surprised she found Ikkaku, Yumichika, Hitsugaya and Masumoto standing in the distance.

"What are you doing here?" she asked confused

"We're here to go through with the deal, Genryūsai Yamamoto Shigekuni ordered us to make sure everything goes as arranged." Hitsugaya replied

"How sweet of him," Hoshiko commented

"You're crazy for doing this Wairudo," Ikkaku stated as she smirked

"What have I told you about calling me that?" Hoshiko said

"If don't want to do this…."

"Thanks Ikkaku, but that's not necessary." she knew if she changed her mind Ikkaku and Yumichika had no problem interfering, but that would make things worse. Hoshiko knew there was no way she could defeat Aizen or the other ex-captains, but she knew with Izanami's cooperation she could put a "dent" in his plans and allow Urahara to get a better understanding of what they were up against.

"What no baldy?" Ikkaku asked

"You should be grateful I remembered your name,….baldy." she replied as he smirked,

This is taking too long….

"Patience is a virtue." Hoshiko whispered

Virtue… Not familiar with the word. Despite her words, Izanami sounded almost nervous, You're positive about this right? You should know once you give your mind completely to me, there is a possibility you can't regain your consciousness.

"I know….but it has to be done." She replied

Hoshiko, make sure you want to do this. I wouldn't want to….be the cause of your death like this. Don't make sacrifices you may regret, Hoshiko was so focused she didn't catch the hidden meanings of her words. But even if she did it was too late now, a black hole was forming in front of them. Slowly Ulquiorra stepped out and looked at her closely.

"You've followed orders well." He stated still looking at her, Hoshiko watched as Orihime stepped out of the hole behind him and looked around the park. The look in her eyes was painful. She looked as if she was waiting to wake up from a bad dream, "Come, Aizen-Sama is waiting to speak with you." He took his hand out his pocket and placed it out in front of him. Hoshiko looked at it for a few moments,

"First let Orihime go." She stated

"As you wish," Ulquiorra replied, Orihime slowly walked away from him and stood to the side.

"Orihime!" Masumoto yelled as she shunpoed in front of her and grabbed her shoulders

Hoshiko slowly stepped forward and then followed Ulquiorra into the hole. Standing inside of it she took one last glance at Ikkaku and the others. When she turned around her eyes widened and her heart stopped,

"Surprise you're not going through this without a fight," Hoshiko couldn't belief what she was seeing. Gin stood in front of her with Orihime standing next to him. She was wearing a dress similar to the Arrancar/Espada clothing.

"No….Orihime?" she stuttered as she looked back at the Orihime standing outside of the hole.

"Return Loly," Ulquiorra stated as the Orihime in Masumoto's embrace suddenly changed into a female Arrancar. Ikkaku and the others watched wide eyed as they realized it was a trick. Before they could react, Loly shoved Masumoto away causing her to fly into a nearby tree.

"Masumoto!" Hitsugaya groaned as he pulled his Zanpaktou out, Ikkaku and the others were ready to fight, but Loly had already returned to the hole and it started to close with Hoshiko trapped on the other side.

"Damnit!" Ikkaku yelled as he couldn't believe what just happened, "Now he not only has Orihime but also Hoshiko. And we fell for it!"

"Calm down Ikkaku, this won't solve anything." Yumichika stated

"We have to inform Soul Society about this. Now we have new situation." Hitsugaya commented as he sheathed his Zanpaktou.