This chapter is short, but it's the lead up to the climax. I didn't feel like I could have this and the climax in the same chapter and there was nothing else that needed happen before that so here it is.

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Chapter Fourteen

Reunion

Abandoned Caves, Hueco Mundo

"Holly!" Artemis called, running towards the path that led into the valley. He could see her running towards him, her chin-length auburn hair blown back by her speed.

"Arty!" she shouted, excitement replacing the question in her voice.

Artemis went down on his knees when they reached each other, allowing Holly to throw her arms around his neck while he wrapped his own around her. She was the only person aside from his mother and brothers that he felt comfortable hugging.

"You stupid Mud Boy! Why did you escape? We could have found you hours ago if you had just stayed put!" Holly's scolding was ruined by the fact that she was still hugging him.

"You didn't expect me to just accept the situation did you? Besides there were other things to consider."

Holly pulled back enough to see his face, but kept her hands on his shoulders, "Like what?"

"Like the fact that one of Koboi's henchmen wanted to dissect my cellmate."

Holly looked over her shoulder at a young man who had hung back behind her. Artemis heard Orihime approaching hesitantly behind him the other boy smiled, looking relieved. "Inoue-chan! Well this was easier than last time. I should leave Kurosaki behind more often." He started to approach Orihime as he spoke. Artemis released Holly and stood, stepping into his path.

"Wait a minute."

"Arty, it's OK. This is Ishida Uryu, he helped me come find you because he wanted to find her." Holly explained.

"I'm not worried about him hurting her. It's just that—" he glanced back at Orihime who nodded slightly then turned back to Ishida, "She doesn't remember you." There was no way to say it gently.

Ishida stopped walking. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm not certain, but I think she may have been mind-wiped."

"What does that mean?" Ishida's fingers twitched as if reaching for a weapon even though he didn't appear to be carrying one.

"It means her memories were erased," Holly told him.

"I don't remember anything before the Techno-crash," Orihime spoke up. She stood apart from the other three, just close enough not to have to shout.

"We weren't even in the World of the Living when that happened! We were in the Soul Society recovering from the war with Aizen, and waiting for the Shinigami to decide what to do with you. We only found out about the crash when they told us not to contact you and sent us back." Ishida's fists clenched at his sides as he spoke, realizing who must be responsible.

"So it was the Shinigami," Orihime whispered.

"Looks like cutting her off from the rest of you wasn't enough for them." Holly muttered.

"But shouldn't coming back here have made her remember?" Ishida asked.

Artemis shook his head, "If it's anything like the technology the People use then only a planted trigger would work," he glanced, guiltily at Orihime, "and I doubt they gave her the chance to prepare one."

"We have to get to Urahara, he'll know what to do," Ishida declared, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"We might have a problem there. You see Fowl needs to come back to our base with us," Kasai approached with the leisurely grace of a predator sure of its catch, the Visoreds close behind her.

"And why would he go with you?" Holly demanded, stepping between the Arrancar and her friend.

"Because he is a Visored. He needs to learn his Zanpakuto's name and how to control his inner Hollow. You are all welcome to come along of course." Kasai revealed a predatory smile to rival Artemis'.

"He can do that at Urahara's," Ishida insisted.

"Who is Urahara?" Artemis asked.

"A friend of Butler's," Holly answered, knowing that would be all he needed to hear, for now at least.

"He is not a Visored. He will not be able to teach you what you need," Kasai frowned, clearly she didn't like the alternative.

"He knows Visoreds. If he can't help you he'll find someone who can," Ishida countered.

Artemis noticed that Kasai was moving closer to Orihime, so he chose his words carefully, "Thank you for your offer, but I think it's best if Orihime and I stay with our friends."

Kasai sighed and drew her sword, "So much for doing this the easy way. Blaze, Moyasu!" there was a burst of reiatsu from her, stirring up the desert sand. When the dust cleared her dress had become black armor, her mask fragment had moved, the dragon shape now raised it's head so that the flames sprouting from it encircled the top of her head like a crown. He sword had shrunk to a double-edged dagger, it's hilt crafted in a spiral. "Let me see if I can change your minds." She brandished the dagger and moved towards Orihime.

Ishida moved faster. In a flash he was next to Orihime, taking hold of her just as Kasai slashed with her dagger. A moment later both Ishida and Orihime were standing next to Artemis and Holly. Ishida's right sleeve was torn and bloody where Kasai had cut him.

"Are you all right?" Holly asked, pulling a glowing blue bow out of thin air.

"It's just a scratch," Ishida assured her, doing the same though his bow was more complex, a cross with a circle around the point where the bars met.

"A scratch is all it takes. You cannot fight if you cannot hold you weapon." Kasai smiled gloatingly and squeezed the hilt of her dagger.

Ishida screamed, clutching his arm with his other hand. His bow dissipated and he collapsed. Holly drew in the particles from her bow and knelt next to him, placing her thumbs at either end of the scratch. "Heal!" she commanded. Sparks danced around the cut but did no good.

"Magic won't work. It won't heal until I want it to. As long as it is there I control how much pain he is in. Why don't you all make it easy for him and agree to come back with us?"

Holly stood and fired an arrow at Kasai. It hit her square in the center of her chest, but did not appear to do any damage. She hadn't even tried to block it.

"Did you think such a weak attack would bring me down? I ruled this world alongside Aizen! I will not be defeated so easily!"

"Well I'm out of ideas," Holly muttered, looking at Artemis. He didn't know what to do either. How could they fight someone who only had to cut them once to bring them down?

Suddenly Koboi's voice spoke from behind them. "I see you found my missing prisoners. You can keep the Quincy if you need a new torture toy. The rest come with me."

Kasai relaxed her grip on her dagger and Ishida went limp. The pain was gone for the moment. "I am here to bring them to the Society of the Evening Star. If you get in my way I will kill you."

"So it was Rowan Long who sent you. I will have to talk to him about this, after I've dealt with you."

Koboi drew her own sword, "Strike, Kobura!"

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All right so Moyasu means "burn" I wanted a fire theme with Kasai becouse of her Zanpkutous power, I can't think of anything that hurts more than being burned, espicially while it is happening. Kobura means "cobra", Koboi was associated with snakes in the Artemis Fowl series and I wanted to keep with that. Anyway we're getting really close to the end here and hopefully I will be able to post on time and get this finished by New Years.

Thanks and prayer,

RAHbooks.