Chapter 3 you're still as foolish as ever. I've been waiting for you Ichigo.
"Hmm it seems you remember me girl." The phantom looking figure stated as he approached slowly inside the cell which had successfully captured two free and majestic birds. Now deprived of sunlight and civilisation.
"Why? I thought that you were gone for good after your fight with Ichigo?" Orihime replied beginning to become a shield for her quivering almost lookalike friend.
"Yes it seemed as if my life had indeed come to an end after my fight with Ichigo Kurosaki. But it seems that I was destined to serve under a new master. So I can't go dying just yet." Ulquiorra said as he slowly approached the two captives.
"A new master? You mean somebody else revived you after Aizen was taken into custody by the soul society?" Orihime questioned hoping this would prevent him from reverting his focus to the more frightened girl.
"Yes after Lord Aizen was defeated by Kurosaki, I found myself being resurrected by the all-powerful Mundas. He healed my wounds and restored my powers so don't get any ideas of escaping. You won't be getting any royal treatment from me this time. So if you ever attempt to escape or use that attack on me, I won't hesitate to kill you both." Ulquiorra said causing Orihime to call off her thought to be well hidden friend and inhabitant of her hairpin Tsubaki.
Orihime didn't show any fear or worry in her facial expressions which told the former espada exactly what he needed to know.
"I say all of this and you still refuse to show any fear or resentment towards me. Is it because you believe that the substitute soul reaper with the black Bankai will come rescue you and defeat me?" Ulquiorra said making Orihime tense up a bit but her gaze still met with his lifeless green pupils.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but Ichigo Kurosaki will not be able to beat me. Not even with that hollow form of his. Therefore, there won't be any escape." Ulquiorra said making Orihime do the obvious.
"Why must you fight with Ichigo?! Without Aizen to order you to do so, why would you want to hurt him again?" Orihime enquired with her usual gaze.
"Why must I fight him? If you recall, our battle never reached a solid conclusion because he was too weak to finish the job by his hand." Ulquiorra said making Orihime irritated.
"That's not true! Ichigo just didn't want to kill you because he didn't have any reason to finish off a beyond repair wounded opponent! Ichigo would never do something like that!" Orihime said as she continued to protect the frightened Kyrie.
"Which is why you are back here again. In this cage waiting for death once again. Because Ichigo was too foolish not to finish me off, I will kill him before he gets the chance to save you. That battle left a bad conclusion with my pride as an espada. So I will kill him right in front of your eyes. And then we will see what your heart has to say when you see him dead at your feet once again." Ulquiorra said silencing Orihime who was now genuinely worried not about herself, but about Kyrie and Ichigo's safety.
"Here's your food, you remember the deal. If it's not eaten within the next hour, I will force it down your throats." Ulquiorra said in his usual tone as he slammed the door shut.
Kyrie finally broke down after the menacing creature left the room.
"It's okay, everything is going to be alright. Ichigo and Nero will be here to save us very soon." Orihime said as he cuddled her shaking form.
"But how can you be so sure? We have no idea where we are so how will they be able to find us?" Kyrie said with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Because I believe in Ichigo. He's always there for me when I need him. So I refuse to believe that just because he doesn't know where I am, that that would stop him from trying to find us." Orihime said making Kyrie look at her.
"Are you sure?"
"Do you believe in Nero?" Orihime asked with her surprisingly positive attitude given the situation they were in.
"Of course. I love him." Kyrie said as she fiddled with the necklace around her neck.
"Then let's do our best to stay strong and wait for our knights. I bet Ichigo is already making preparations to rescue us." Orihime said as she held her own hand against her chest.
Elsewhere back in the world of the living…
"Damn it! Damn it all! Once again… Once again I couldn't protect her!" The silver haired swordsman said as he repeatedly destroyed the ground underneath him with his demonic fist.
"Pull yourself together! I already told you, getting lost in your anger isn't going to help." Ichigo said as he placed his hand on the man's shoulder.
"Calm down?! How the hell can you be so calm in this situation?! You really are a demon aren't you?!" Nero asked after he slapped away Ichigo's hand and at his face which showed no signs of anger
"I can't speak for this Mundus guy, but I have a feeling that I know who his accomplice is. And the last thing that guy would do, is kill Orihime or Kyrie. He's only using them as bait to draw us there." Ichigo said as he once again offered his hand to the distraught guy.
Nero took his hand and suddenly calmed himself down.
"So, how are we going to find a way to get the underworld Ichigo?" Nero said no longer any hostility in his voice.
"Don't worry about that it will be no trouble at all."
"What do you mean?"
"Let's just say I have a friend who specialises in accomplishing the impossible. And I have a feeling he's already a few steps ahead of us." Ichigo said as he guided his temporary ally towards a certain sweet shop open 24 hours a day.
Night descended upon the swordsmen duo as they travelled the quiet and open streets. Travelling towards the only beacon of hope they had if they hoped to save the damsels in distress.
Elsewhere, we see the masterminds behind the kidnapping discussing their diabolical plan.
"Are our captives being compliant towards us Ulquiorra?" A humungous statue asked his eyes glowing an ominous scarlet.
"Yes master Mundus, they won't be leaving any time soon. But what will we do with them once the devil hunter and soul reaper gets here?"
"Kill them of course. I have no use for them." Mundas replied as he sat in his giant stone chair.
"If I may offer a suggestion sir, I have a much better plan in mind for Orihime Inoue." Ulquiorra said as he pulled a shining octagon item from his sleeve.
"Interesting, then I leave there fate to you." Mundas said giving Ulquiorra full control over the prisoners.
"Thank you master, trust me, this is a much better plan. I see a great potential in that girl." Ulquiorra said as he stared at the sacred treasure in the palm of his hands.
Meanwhile back in Karakura town…
Ichigo and Nero with little effort opened the sliding door.
And in the doorway with his sandals and hat clearly visible, was the esteemed sweet shop owner and former captain of squad 10… Kisuke Uraharra.
"Good evening Ichigo. I've been wondering how long it would take for you to get here." Kisuke said as the two guests entered the shop.
"Then you know why I'm here right Kisuke?" Ichigo said making the hat wearing individual smile.
"Of course, you need to get to the underworld right? Well worry not, I have a way to get there. Come inside and have some tea. We'll discuss our next move." Kisuke said as Ichigo and Nero followed him inside closing the door.
And that's chapter 3 finally done! What dark and devious scheme does Ulquiorra have in store for the captured Orihime and Kyrie? What method will Ichigo and Nero be transported to the underworld by Kisuke? Find out in the next exciting chapter of The piercer of heaven!
