Back again! Thanks for your patience waiting for this next chapter, I've been trying my best to get them up as quickly as possible! Your encouragements give me great motivation! So thanks to everyone who reviews!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own a Bleach or any of its characters!

lets hop right in!—

The world had always felt heavy to me. Crushing and impossible. It dragged me down, seeming to think I belonged below the surface, to burn in the underworld forever.

And every step I took echoed through my body, mocking my inability to even die properly.

Years and years I had wondered why I was such a target to the Gods, why they felt the need to punish me at every turn. But it had not been the Gods.

Every horror I'd ever faced, every cut on my body, had been a well orchestrated sham. A means to an end.

A father is meant to protect. To encase their children in a life where no horrors can touch them. Yet I'd been given life by the same person who wanted to rip it out of me.

Such a cruel, twisted world.

The marble around me was a beautiful cage. The people the most skilled guards, hiding in plain sight.

None of them looked at me. They all knew I was insignificant, they all knew my days here had always been numbered.

Blood calls to blood. It's a thumping inside us that ties you to a name, a place. And it called Kisuke to me, it was the only explanation I had for him knowing where to find me.

"It is so loud here," He said, looking up at the marble ceiling, "For a city built on secrets, the walls have a way of echoing every word, every step of its people."

I looked at him, and he looked at me. And we saw each other. Saw the eyes of all those who came before us. We were the only two Inoue's left. The last remnants of a proud and strong family. And he was a stranger.

Kisuke sighed, those eyes heavy, "I can still hear your firstcry as you entered this world. I hear it as I did then, all those years ago, echoing off these very walls." He stared at those walls, remembering. "You were born at dawn. The night had been long and cold- quiet. Lainey's screams the only sound in the world. And when you came you brought the sun with you."

I hadn't even known, that I'd been born in the morning. Or that he'd even been here. I'd pictured it dark and evil. Had assumed it to be a secret, shameful experience.

"I had despised you." I glanced at him, not surprised. "Lainey was my favorite thing in the entire world and yet I hated you, her baby. Because you were half of him. I'd warned her, I'd forbidden it… and she chose him over her home. Her family. And now we would have an angry Madoc spawn in our family tree." His voice broke, shoulders slumping, "And then I saw you. Just a tiny little thing, with a full head of hair and skin like velvet. Still I held onto that hate, I wanted to blame you. Blame you for it all. But when you opened your eyes," He looked into those same eyes. "You looked at me clearly, far too clearly for a newborn, and I felt it. You were one of us. And you were ours. Not his. Not theirs. Ours. I felt in my very bones."

I felt nothing as he continued, voice thick, "Everything was right in those first hours. So right that no one noticed Lainey was still bleeding. She was there one moment, and then suddenly gone. I didn't feel her die, didn't feel the last of my family slip away. But I think you did, you started crying as I held you. Screaming and screaming. You tried to tell me, and I didn't know." Nothing at all. "And I handed you to a maid, picked my sister up and went home. I took her body to Bellator and wrapped her in flowers and silk. I buried her in the gardens she'd loved."

The gardens she had left for my father. For me.

I hated her then.

The her I'd never know. The her who had ignored the signs, who had allowed such a thing to happen.

Lainey Inoue.

She'd given herself the gift of death. The only escape any of us had from my father. And she had left me here. And I blamed her for it.

And I blamed him too.

"You never came back for me." There should have been sorrow in those words. But all I felt was numb. When had I taught myself to cut off emotions such as sadness and devastation? I couldn't remember. It had always been the only thing I had to protect myself.

Kisuke turned himself more toward me, shook his head and defended himself, "I was grieving,"

My voice was thick, "And I was left bleeding in the wake of my father's grief."

Yet it hadn't only been my father that had failed me. It had not been Lainey or Kisuke. And it hadn't been any of the faceless people.

I had failed myself. When I allowed them all to tug me and force me and demand of me. I was not a Madoc and I was not an Inoue. I was not a princess or an Heir. I was nothing and no one. I was everything I had ever wanted to be.

"You are not my family." I breathed, with such an overpowering relief. "And I owe you nothing."

I did not owe Kisuke my loyalty, or my name. I did not owe Bellator my love. I did not owe the Golden City my life or my protection. And I did not owe Clark my future simply because he had given me my past.

But I would give it all. I would offer myself up to protect the innocent lives living in the city. I would scream my name until my voice grew hoarse, to remind Bellator that I was still here and I would find my way home to them. And I would put my father into the ground to thank him for all he had ever done to me.

I was not the Enforcer of Law, or the Iron Fist of the West. I was not the Princess of Destruction or Heir to the Golden Throne.

I was only Orihime Inoue and I no longer wished to be remembered by the names given to me by all the people I had stepped on along the way.

I breathed deeply. Evenly. And realized that I had been hiding myself beneath the water I thought I was drowning in. I'd been using it to keep myself smothered; contained.

I wasn't a storm, a hurricane, a mess.

I was a breathing, raging fire. And I wasn't sure how long I could survive within the flames of my soul. It didn't matter as long as I burned the world down with me.

Something was different in the next war council. The room was filled now with Generals, Lords and Heirs. Even Ryley was allowed to witness the yelling and the screaming as we all waited for the arrival of my father.

I felt more secure as I took up my place at the end of the table. Arms crossed I scanned the world laid before me, while the others spoke. I didn't bother to count the men in the room, I did not feel threatened by their numbers, their advantages. Not when I could feel the presence and warmth of Sam at my back.

I knew he had tallied each of them, and had noted every weapon in the room.

The trenches of the inbetween slit our world in two. Dividing the West from the East. And stretching between North and South. A black pit that had never been documented or mapped, yet it's bare structure was… magnificent.

"Congratulations on your pending nuptials," a thick voice said to Ryley, who stood a few feet down the table from me, beside his father and brother. "It has been a very long time since a northern born has been wed into the royal line, you should be honored."

I glanced up from my searching and found Ryley easily. He hadn't found me after I'd had to prove myself to his father. I hadn't gone looking for him, though perhaps I should have. I'd wanted to give him time to let it settle. He wasn't a fool, like I'd thought. And I'm sure he had known long before I'd shattered my protective mask, what I was. That who he is to marry will never be soft or docile, and he would be the one who'd likely need my protecting, when all he wanted was someone to embrace and shield.

I felt sorry for him. He deserved someone who could give themselves completely and freely. Who would not shy from his hands or his eyes.

"I do," he said formally, never moving his attention from the board before him. Still I didn't look away.

Look at me.

"It was the South's honor to present Clark with his late wife," Broke in a voice I'd been hoping would keep quiet. "We felt honored as well. Especially with knowing their Heir would also have the scorching blood of the South." I rolled my eyes away from Ryley's face, who also seemed annoyed.

"How'd that work out for you?" I quipped as I looked at Grimmjow.

He'd already been staring, and his eyes were a flash of steel in the dark as he looked me over from head to toe, and then back up again.

He shrugged a shoulder, "You're definitely better to look at then your brothers were. And I'm sure you keep your army men well entertained."

A slow, dark smile pulled at my lips, but it was Sam who snarled, "Watch your rutting mouth."

The threat made Grimmjow chuckle, and glance at his brother who was stone faced beside him, "And how many times has she taken you into her mouth to make you so loyal, soldier?"

Murmuring rose within the crowd. And Sam moved to step around me, likely to reach across the table and grip Grimmjow by the throat but I lifted a hand and he halted mid step.

"If this is how the South gains loyalty then I wonder how your jaw still has the strength to flop around as you speak." I sent a chuckle up at Sam, "A sore mouth would surely explain why your brother allows you to speak for the both of you."

Ulquiorra didn't seem to mind the jab, merely shrugging a shoulder as his brother exploded, "The West should teach their women how to keep their tongue behind their teeth until a man asks for it."

Cuyler's very distinct voice cut in, "And perhaps the South would do well to remember that they are the only region General Inoue has no ties with, and being silent seems wiser than calling her a common whore in the presence of her allies."

Grimmjow threw an observing eye around the room. And he was met with the beautiful faces of Bellator- my long lost home filled with swords and roses. Then the faces of the North- the home of my betrothed and the capitol that I had promised to protect with my life. And then back to me, to the Western Heir who belonged to all of them and yet none of them. And I stood with an army behind my back and a very large, very pissed warrior at my right.

Though I knew none of them would go to war simply because I was insulted, or would even lift a finger if Grimmjow had tried severing my head from my shoulders, I stood taller. Let him think I had the world.

Grimmjow seemed to rethink his position, with his back to the wall, and said no more. Though his defeat was clear.

It was silent only for a moment, before everyone turned back to their own conversations.

It took all I had not to glance to Cuyler, and even more so to shove his involvement in the Northern massacre out of my mind. I did not want to believe it, didn't want to jump to any conclusions simply because Santos had said it to be true.

Though it did make sense. Enough sense that I was starting to believe I'd been ignoring it all these years. Easier to blame the south and the lord I had butchered.

Sam had been silent when I'd asked him for his opinion. Thinking it thoroughly through. Somehow that made it seem even likelier to me. I knew Sam had never had a trust of Cuyler, and had been all too eager to point it out to me at every turn- so for him to think it over carefully… I shook my head clear of it for now.

The door opened and a hush fell over the room. I glanced over lazily, already tired and ready for this to be over. A feeling of cold shot down my spine at the sight of the woman in black strolling casually into the heart of us all.

She was dressed finely, her hair swept back into a complicated braid down her spine. She held herself with a knowing, confident posture that made her body seem long and thin yet powerful.

And I knew that not one man in this room would be looking back to me anytime soon. Not while she sucked the air out of each of their lungs.

None of them seemed to notice the stench that she pulled in with her.

I straightened and subtly stepped closer to Sam, his finger brushed back of my hand and I let out a breath of relief.

As long as he knew who she was then I did not feel so completely alone.

"So sorry to keep you boys waiting," Her voice rang like soft bells. "Your king sends his regards, and also me in his place." Her eyes searched the room in a way that made her seem at ease, but I felt that flicker in her gaze as it met mine. I felt it clear across the room. "The duties of a leader never seem to slow, as I'm sure you are all well aware."

They murmured together. Just a soft hum of words softly spoken in agreement. I looked at Kisuke, his face turned fully from me. Then to Cuyler and Ryley- both just the same. And when I tore my gaze away, to look again at the silhouette painted in black, she was waiting for my attention.

"Shall we begin?" The woman asked.

The murmuring sounded once more.

She smiled, all teeth. A wolf, starving, with a herd of willing sheep.

Though one sheep spoke out, most unexpectedly, "And who are you?" Ulquiorra stepped up beside his brother, almost seeming to shield his twin with his own body. "And why has the King given you authority to speak on his behalf?"

I gave Ulquiorra the credit he deserved for not shrinking under the weight of her full attention, though I saw the slight twitch in his shoulders, and the sudden clenching of his fists. "Ulquiorra," The witch purred her black eyes glazing, "Interesting." She turned away without any further acknowledgement.

She spoke to me now, "General Inoue can authenticate my position with her father and her king if you should need it. Though I must admit I'm unused to having a face a man does not trust."

Ulquiorra turned his head, waiting. I gave him a nod, "She's who she claims. We will let her speak."

His posture loosened, though he did not step back into the shadows, he kept his feet planted beside his brother- who was unusually quiet. They all were.

"I am here to say but a few things. And you are all but to listen." She cleared her throat dramatically. "The King demands you all to return to your homes and secure any abled soldiers you find within your territories. He will then expect detailed reports of every man," she cut me a clear look. "And woman of fighting age and stature."

Shocked, I waited for the calm to break. Waited for the outrage. Only Bellator had allowed women into their armies and that was fairly new; Kisuke being the only ruler with enough courage to change sexist tradition. The North, I suppose, simply did not have enough woman of fighting age for it have ever been a discussion. Here in the West, I had tried to persuade my father many, many times, and he had not budged- even considering his own General was female, he still believed we didn't belong in battle, belong anywhere really. And the South…

Grimmjow did not say a word, he merely stood there with a soft, gleeful smile on his face. Even Ulquiorra watched him with confusion, his brows pulling together as he frowned.

Drafting women into battle, I was not opposed to it. I would train them all myself if I had to. Perhaps then I would feel well equipped in this war.

"Once you have returned home, you will await your orders and prepare yourselves. The severity of his Majesties expectations can not be overstated. That is all I have the liberty to demand. I will leave you now to discuss your travels amongst yourselves."

We watched one another as she backed out of the room. Each step she took felt like it shuttered down my body. When she cleared the threshold, she paused, her mouth sneaking into a wide smile before the door slammed shut between us.

A leash was broken. Suddenly, the quietness of the room shifted. First it was the shuffling of boots as someone readjusted their weight. Then a ruffle of fabric as someone breathed in deeply.

Finally, the shouting began.

Men all yelling at one another, trying to out match their opponent in volume alone.

I tilted my head to look at Sam and his jaw was a ridged, his mouth a hard line.

So much to consider with so little to go off of.

A hand tugged my arm, and I turned. Ryley was inches away from my face, and even then I struggled to make out his words amongst the chaos, "What the hell is going on?" He demanded. And I wished I had an answer to give him. "That woman, she was the one from before- who is she to your court?"

Another question I could not answer. Not in the way he wanted, or expected. "She is of little concern to us." I tried to soothe him. But the hardening in his onyx eyes told me he did not believe it. Good, it meant he was learning.

I leaned in closer, brushing my cheek against his, and spoke into his ear, "Stay close to your brother, Ryley. I'll find you if I discover the answers you need."

I went to pull back, to turn towards Sam and signal our departure, but suddenly my lips were encased.

Ryleys kiss was quick and curt. Over before it had even fully began. And no one seemed to notice the first intimacy between us, even Sam had looked away. "Find me regardless." His mouth seemed to be saying.

I only nodded before working my way through the room, shoving and ducking through everyone in my path.

I knew where to begin my search for answers. And as I walked through the halls towards my father's wing, I realized I had yet to see my target since he had held me upright during my whipping.

It seemed Devon Westbrook had a lot to look forward to.

.

.

.

Thanks for reading! And for the patience ^.^

Please let me know how you think this story is progressing!

Till next time—