Chapter Two
Kidnapping the Woman
Ichigo made his way to the common room where he found Ulquiorra, Nnoitra, Grimmjow, Starrk, Szayel, and Aaroniero had gathered. He didn't know where the other Espada were, but he didn't care. They'd hear an official report later. This was just for the Espada that were here. He was sure there would be an official meeting later on. He walked through the door and past Nnoitra who was sprawled on a chair. He gasped as Nnoitra grabbed him by the arm and dragged him back to him and pulled him onto his lap.
"There you are. Took you too long to get here," Nnoitra said, licking a stripe up Ichigo's neck.
Ichigo shivered a little and sighed. He supposed he should have expected something like this. Then, Nnoitra slipped a hand through the side of his hakama and under him, thrusting two fingers up into him without warning.
"Whoa, Grimmjow already fucked you?" Nnoitra snickered. "He was quick today."
"I had a moment," Grimmjow said dismissively.
Nnoitra twisted his fingers in him and began to rub insistently against his prostate. Ichigo let out a little moan as blood rushed to his cock.
"Now, what did Aizen have you do?" Nnoitra said into his ear. The others all just stared at him expectantly.
"Can you stop doing that so I can talk?" he asked.
"No, fucking tell it while I've got my fingers knuckle deep in your ass, bitch," Nnoitra growled, rolling his fingers around and causing Ichigo to groan and shiver.
Ichigo swallowed hard. "Ah, okay. Aizen-sama had me go, um, oh… Go to the World of the Living to see who defended uh, Karakura…" He moaned a little again. "Karakura Town."
"Then what happened?" Aaroniero asked, greatly amused by the scene in front of him as he grinned with his stolen face.
"Two Shinigami came out. Rukia Kuchiki and Karin Kurosaki. Um, oh…" Ichigo swallowed. "They were moderately powerful, but they could have been cloaking their reiatsu too. I don't know anything else, that was all."
He squirmed a little because Nnoitra's fingers were deep, but then they were long. Nnoitra chuckled in his ear and the others started talking, but Ichigo couldn't concentrate on that. Something about it being no surprise and that seemed to be what was expected there. Nnoitra didn't give him a break, thrusting his fingers back and forth, then just lazily sliding them around and just brushing his prostate.
"Excuse me," a new voice came from the doorway.
Everyone turned toward the door and there was one of the numerous other Arrancar that lived in Las Noches standing there.
"What is it?" Nnoitra snapped.
"Aizen-sama summons the Espada and Ichigo to a meeting," he said, eyes barely stopping on the position Ichigo was in on Nnoitra's lap. Of course, most the Arrancar were used to such displays around Las Noches.
"Alright, let's go," Grimmjow said, standing up.
"Aw, I wasn't done playing," Nnoitra complained, sliding his fingers out of Ichigo and wiping them on the inside of Ichigo's hakama.
Ichigo, who was left half hard, got off his lap and sighed, straightening his clothes and schooling his cock. He had felt Nnoitra's cock through his pants, so he knew he was in the same state, so at least he wasn't alone in being aroused and interrupted. He got himself under control and followed the others to the meeting room where Aizen and the others had gathered.
As usual, Barragan gave him a look. He was sure the old Arrancar didn't like him for some reason. He didn't know why other than he wasn't fucking him. He had no interest in Barragan that way, never had, and he knew it. Barragan had never said anything, but he had to wonder if that didn't put some of the resentment between them. Or, of course, it could have just been that Ichigo always seemed to be Aizen's favorite among the Espada, and it was bothering him. It was hard to tell with him.
Ichigo waved at Harribel who gave him a curt nod. He liked Harribel. She was always nice to him, if somewhat emotionless around him. He didn't doubt her loyalty, though. Well, at least to her fraccion. Ichigo had to wonder how far her loyalty to Aizen would go if it weren't for them. He saw things with her that Aizen didn't, but that was okay. One thing Ichigo had learned was to keep things to himself, even from Aizen, just as a way to protect himself. Aizen himself had taught him from day one not to truly trust anyone, and that had stuck with him.
Zommari was another enigma to Ichigo. He was never interested in him at all, and Ichigo wasn't sure why. He'd tried at sometimes to get the dark skinned Arrancar's attention, but he just seemed to not care at all. He guessed that was just the way he was, and that was all.
"Sit," Aizen commanded and Ichigo realized he was looking around and hadn't sat down yet.
He went to the end of the table and sat down facing Aizen who sat at the other end. Five Espada sat on each side of the table. Ichigo hoped this went well.
"Ichigo has returned from the World of the Living, having only encountered the Kurosaki girl and Kuchiki Rukia. We will move on to a new mission, now. The woman, Inoue Orihime. I want her brought to me."
The Espada glanced between themselves. It was Grimmjow who spoke. "What do ya want her for? Why does she matter?"
"That is none of your concern. I want her brought here. Ulquiorra, take Yammy and Ichigo and go retrieve her. Grimmjow, take your fraccion and occupy the Kurosaki girl and anyone else you can like Hitsugaya-taichou and Urahara."
Ichigo frowned, not recognizing those names. These people seemed to be threats, but they weren't people he'd seen in Karakura Town, so that meant Aizen already knew who was there. So, he had to wonder why it was Aizen sent him there to start with. He didn't say anything though. That was another lesson he'd learned, not to question Aizen. He knew that Aizen had a lot of plans going, though, so perhaps this was some piece of those things. He knew better than to ask, that was certain.
"Can I kill them?" Grimmjow said with a grin.
"No, leave them alive. I have use of them yet. But ensure they do not interfere in the acquisition of the woman." Aizen stood up. "Return with her as soon as possible. Dismissed."
Everyone stood up and headed out. Ichigo ran over to Ulquiorra and Yammy where they were standing and discussing what they were going to do to get this woman successfully.
"Anyone who gets in the way, we can kill, right?" Yammy said as he came up.
"Aizen-sama did not give permission to kill," Ulquiorra said stoically. "We will do the mission as we were instructed." Ulquiorra turned to Ichigo. "Are you prepared?"
"I'm ready if you are," Ichigo answered, excited to get going on a mission now that his first success had happened.
"Let's get this over with," Yammy said and they headed out.
A little while later, they stood over Karakura waiting until they were noticed. After a bit, a blue arrow came at the, easily dodged, and they went down to the ground where they found a dark-haired man and a woman with light brown hair. Obviously, Ulquiorra knew who he was looking for because he stared at her and nodded.
"Who are you?" the dark-haired man wielding a bow asked.
"Does it matter?" Ulquiorra said with a look. "We came for the woman."
She looked at them, then turned and stared at Ichigo.
"He does look like him, Uryū. Just like him," she said.
Ichigo tipped his head to the side. "What are you talking about?" he asked, curious at that comment. Who would he look like?
"Your name, it's Ichigo," she said, staring at him.
Ichigo blinked, a little surprised, so much so he glanced at Ulquiorra. "What?"
"Doesn't matter, you're coming with us," Yammy said, grinning.
"I don't think so," Uryū said, aiming an arrow at him.
Yammy charged and fired a bala suddenly, forcing Uryū to dodge and fire at him. Ulquiorra didn't do anything as he engaged with Uryū. Ichigo pulled his sword and stepped toward the woman who put her hands at her temples.
"I think you should consider your options carefully," he said.
Ichigo had to jump out of the way of an arrow that exploded at his feet but rolled and stood back up. He knew elsewhere, Grimmjow and his fraccion had engaged the others at various places as he could feel their reiatsu. Uryū was dodging Yammy's bala and Yammy was easily counting Uryū's arrows. Then, there was another man running toward them, a tall, darker skinned man with shaggy dark hair. Ichigo moved toward him, sword raised, only to have it blocked by his arm.
"Another playmate!" Ichigo announced, stepping back and pointing at him. "Ulquie, are you going to play?"
"I'll intervene if I deem it necessary," he said, crossing his arms.
Ichigo snorted, engaging with the new foe. The woman had some sort of small fighting fairy or something she was using that was beginning to annoy Ichigo, but it wasn't too bothersome. After a while, Yammy managed to get a good hit on Uryū, knocking him to the ground hard. The woman yelled and ran to him, throwing some sort of yellow shield over his unconscious body. Yammy came down and engaged with Ichigo on the other guy.
After a time, he too, fell to a bala, leaving the woman the only one standing. Ichigo pointed at her, then the prone forms of her allies. "You either come with us, or they die."
Ichigo could still tell that Grimmjow and his fraccion were busy. He was sure they would be able to handle anyone else that was causing issues in the Town. He hoped everyone came back fine, though he would never voice that thought out loud. The woman sighed and nodded sadly as Ulquiorra walked up and grabbed her by the arm. Yammy and Ichigo followed back through a garganta to Hueco Mundo.
Once they got her back, they put her in a room and Aizen decided she should wear something more appropriate to Las Noches and gave her a set of clothes to wear. At first, she refused, but with some convincing of what would happen if she denied Aizen what he requested, she acquiesced to the demand. Ichigo was fascinated though. This was only his second time meeting a human. And what had she meant about him looking like someone else? And how did she know his name? He waited until everyone left then went to her room and knocked on the door.
"Yes?" she called.
Ichigo opened the door and went in, seeing her staring at him immediately. "Sorry for the accommodations. There's not much in the way of comfort in Las Noches," he said.
She nodded. "You came to see me, Ichigo."
"Yeah, so how did you know my name?" he asked, tilting his head to the side and staring at her.
"Because you're a human, that's why. Your body is in the World of the Living right now, waiting for you to return to it," she explained.
Ichigo frowned. "That's not possible! I'm an Arrancar like the others!"
"Are you though? Karin said you didn't have a hollow hole. And you don't have a mask. She also said you told her you grew up here. You should know that doesn't happen with Arrancar," she said quietly. "Karin gathered us after your visit, her and Rukia, and showed your human body to us. She told us what happened, and she wants to help you. You're her brother."
Ichigo shook his head. "Impossible. That's just impossible."
"Is it?" she asked, sighing and stepping forward. She put a hand against his face. "Is it really impossible?"
Ichigo swallowed, not knowing what to do. She was right about him being different from the rest of the Arrancar, he knew that. She was right that the others didn't grow up like he did. Could she be right about the other stuff? Could that be why he felt so funny around that Karin girl?
"Even if I am who you think I am, what does it matter? Las Noches is my home, and I am this person, not that one," he said dismissively, reaching up and pulling her hand off his face.
The door opened suddenly behind him, and he turned to see Ulquiorra standing there. He let go of the woman's hand because he saw the look cross his face. He stepped forward and grabbed him by the arm.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I was just talking to her," Ichigo said, not known how the emotionless Ulquiorra was going to react to this. No one had told him to talk to her, and Aizen had left his orders rather vague after coming back to Las Noches.
Ulquiorra growled under his breath and reached up and grabbed Ichigo by the hair, pulling him down. "You weren't told to do that. Come on," he said.
Ichigo sighed, seeing the woman staring at them as he dragged him out the door and slammed it. Ichigo noted there was a little window about face height and the woman came nearer. Ulquiorra, though, was fired up, Ichigo realized because he slammed his back into the door and pulled at his obi.
"What, here?" Ichigo gasped, a little shocked that he'd want to fuck right then.
"Here, now," Ulquiorra said simply, face showing no emotion whatsoever.
Ichigo nodded, not able to deny him. It wasn't the first time they'd gone at it in the middle of a room with other people around. It was just normal to him, really. And all the other Arrancar were used to seeing Ichigo around his Arrancar lovers.
Ulquiorra was at his throat sucking hard marks into his neck immediately, and he had to wonder if he wasn't jealous of the woman since she'd touched Ichigo like she had. He certainly was acting like he wanted to show his dominance over him. Then he flipped Ichigo around and he found his face squarely shoved into the little window of the door. The woman was staring at him and he wasn't really sure what to do about that, but then Ulquiorra had shoved two fingers into him and was thrusting them rapidly back and forth.
"You're still loose from earlier," he commented.
Ichigo felt his face warm a little and he closed his eyes as Ulquiorra pulled his fingers out and kicked his legs further apart. Ichigo braced himself against the door with both hands, feeling Ulquiorra's blunt nails digging into his hips as he paused to line himself up. Then, he slammed forward, sheathing his rather large dick in him in one go.
Ichigo couldn't help the moan that escaped his lips and he tried to keep his voice down but he couldn't. His eyes raised to meet the woman's again and he was bounced into the door again. He wondered for a moment if she realized what was happening outside the door, but her eyes were wide and her hand was covering her mouth, so he guessed she knew what was going on. Ulquiorra was rapidly fucking him, and he couldn't help but continue to moan out now and then because it did feel really good right then. Then he started to slow down a bit.
"Ulquie! Keep going, just a little more," he begged, turning his head toward Ulquiorra, hoping he'd let him come.
Ulquiorra snorted and began to speed up, sliding a hand around Ichigo's waist and beginning to stroke him. This was rare; they never usually touched him like this unless they actually wanted him to come. It was obvious that Ulquiorra wanted to show off in front of the woman. Ichigo bit down on his lip, resting his forehead against the door as he continued to fuck him hard and fast, rattling the door on its hinges a little.
"Bitch," Ulquiorra growled out. "Come."
Ichigo didn't have to hear it twice, between his huge dick rubbing against his prostate and his small hand jerking his own cock like it was, he came hard onto his hand. Ulquiorra thrust a few more times, bouncing Ichigo's head into the wall a couple for good measure, then released. Ichigo was weak on his legs, so when he pulled out, Ichigo slid down the door to his knees.
"Go get cleaned up," Ulquiorra said, and Ichigo knew he was doing this for the woman's benefit because he was being unusually load.
Ichigo gathered his hakama, getting up on his feet and glanced through the window at the woman. She was still just staring out of it, and he smiled at her, giving her a wink as he turned and left. He headed to his room and got into a bath, feeling a little on the grimy side since he hadn't been able to bathe after Grimmjow earlier. His mind, though, was on that woman. Her words left him feeling some kind of way he couldn't describe. She said he was human. What if he was?
-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-
"We have to go after her!" Karin said, frowning at the others.
"The Sou-Taichou has said he's not going to dedicate anyone to going to Hueco Mundo after her," Rukia said sadly. "We can't go against him."
"You can't, maybe," she said. "But I can!"
Karin turned and headed for the door. Rukia sighed and looked at Renji. He shrugged and they both followed her. Outside, she met up with Uryū and Chad, both recovered fully from their encounter with the Arrancar that kidnapped Orihime.
It had been a two-prong assault. The three Arrancar went after Orihime while another group distracted the rest of the Shinigami in Karakura Town. Grimmjow had been their leader's name, and he had brought six other Arrancar with him. They hadn't managed to kill any of them, but they did beat back most of them except for Grimmjow, who had fought with Karin specifically. Unfortunately, he overpowered her, leaving her injured and in need of healing from Hachi and Tessai.
Karin considered Orihime like an older sister. During the fighting in Karakura Town with the hollows, she had been there, trying to help. She'd gotten around Rukia and they became fast friends, and then Uryū had been helping with the hollows. Uryū was already dating Orihime so it was no wonder that when she developed powers, it was to help others. She'd seen Uryū do amazing things with his bow to protect them, and their friend Chad had to as well. All three of them were a few years older, and out of school, so they were able to protect the town when Karin had to be at school.
Of course, then there was Kon. Kon was the "defective" mod soul they had gotten from Urahara. Kon loved women, and the first thing he lamented when in Karin's body was that her boobs weren't bigger. She'd have beaten him for that comment, but he was in her body at the time. He loved giving hugs to Orihime though and loved "sister Rukia".
Right now, Kon was in school dealing with Karin's life and trying not to let on he very much wanted to kiss all the girls. Karin knew that there were going to be rumors for years about her being a lesbian after Kon took over her body, but she really didn't mind that. Maybe she was a lesbian; she didn't know just yet. She thought she might like Jinta a little, but she wasn't sure if it was a romantic like, or just a camaraderie like. She was still figuring out the difference.
Now, she had to do what was necessary to get Orihime back from Aizen's hands. And if that meant going alone, she would do that.
"I'm going after her," she informed Uryū and Chad.
Renji and Rukia caught up. "You can't go alone!" Rukia said.
"I'm taking Uryū and Chad, right?" she said, looking at them.
"Of course," Uryū said. "We can't leave her there."
Chad just nodded stoically. And they all knew that they would do exactly that. The three headed to Urahara and asked him to open a portal into Hueco Mundo. Urahara said it would take a few days to prepare it, and to give him some time. Karin was disappointed because she wanted to go right away, but Uryū and Chad both told her she needed to be patient. So, instead, she went to visit Ichigo's body.
Knowing that that Arrancar was probably her brother made the visits different. She told Tomoko to go have a drink and let her have a minute alone, and she sat down in the chair beside the bed.
"Ichigo, you have to come back. Things are kind of crazy right now, and I really need my big brother," she said and took one slack hand in hers. "I'm going to go to Hueco Mundo after Orihime, and I'm going to see you again there, I know it. But you have to realize you're a human, not an Arrancar. And you have to come back to me."
Tomoko returned and Karin got up. She nodded at the nurse and was about to leave.
"Oh, Karin, his heartrate went up for a little while earlier, you know," Tomoko said.
"It did, huh?" Karin said.
"Strangest thing. No changes for years, and suddenly there are random increases in heartrate. Strange," Tomoko said with a shrug.
Karin knew they weren't random, and they weren't strange. Ichigo's body was reacting when his soul was near. His heart was speeding up. That just proved to Karin beyond a doubt that it was Ichigo. And it seemed the Arrancar was named Ichigo, too. So, Aizen hadn't even bothered to give him a new name when he stole his soul.
Karin left and went to her room. Kon came running up, in the stuffed lion they'd found for him.
"Karin, you look sad!" he said.
"Yeah, just want my brother back, that's all. And now Orihime is gone."
"What happened?" he asked.
So, Karin explained what was going on to Kon. He knew some of it, but not what had happened just today. She was sad at the telling but she still gave him what information she knew. He listened, quiet for once, and let her tell it.
"You'll do it, Karin," Kon said, putting one furry paw on her hand. "You'll save him."
She nodded, smiling at him. "Yeah, I'm gonna save my brother no matter what."