Finally! Another update! I know I am so sorry, but I've taken up dancing and music and real life sucks up a lot of time. Anyway, I hope this chapter isn't too confusing, as there's a lot of background to establish for the next part of the story, but I frankly didn't want to bore people, so I cut out a lot that was originally there. Otherwise, you might have waited another year for an update. Anyway, the important parts are here. And if they're not, I'll deal with it later. A heartfelt thank you to eleventy7, my beta. I loved her work so much and will miss it tremendously! I also dearly acknowledge Tite Kubo for his compelling characters.
Month One
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE CAN'T GET THROUGH?!"
Bile practically spat out of Ichigo Kurosaki's mouth. At the precipice dividing the human and spirit worlds, he stood in his spirit form. His right hand, wrapped around Zangetsu, turned white at the knuckles. He snapped his left hand up to grab at the fabric of Urahara Kisuke's shirt, whose face was growing as white as Ichigo's hand. Behind Ichigo were Chad and Ishida, their faces shaded with worry and scowls.
"Someone tampered with the dimensions between the worlds," Yoruichi Shihouin declared, slapping Ichigo's hand away from Kisuke. "We're doing what we can!"
Ichigo growled at Yoruichi and then turned to Urahara. "This is YOUR fault! You told her she had to stay away from the war!"
Kisuke smoothed the fabric at his neck. "I have never encountered this situation," he replied, his eyes wandering along the dimensional rift. He extended his hand again to breach the barrier, but he was again shocked by a devastating force of spiritual electricity. Those observing the spectacle shielded their eyes at the light.
"That's enough, Kisuke," Yoruichi gruffed, staying his hand. She turned to Ichigo. "It is no one's fault that the arrancar kidnapped Inoue-san. I repeat, we are going to do what we can to breach the barrier." She cursed after glancing over at Kisuke's blackened hand. "Who do you think did this?"
"It's probably Hueco Mundo…they don't want us going in after Inoue-san." Then Urahara narrowed his eyes. "Or…"
"Or what?" said Ishida, his tone implying that he already knew what Kisuke was about to say.
"There's a possibility…it could be…"
Ishida narrowed his eyes.
"Soul Society."
"Those bastards!" Ishida shouted. "You shinigami are going to let her DIE, aren't you?!"
The air grew tense among the crowd gathered at the inter-dimensional gate. There was no immediate pathway to get into Hueco Mundo to retrieve Orihime. Who knew how long she would survive among the arrancar?
"How long is it going to take?" Chad finally asked.
"I…" Kisuke started, still glazing his eyes over the expanse before him. "If this is the work of a captain…we will face some difficulty. It could take at least two months to just analyze—"
"TWO MONTHS?!" Ishida and Ichigo bellowed in unison.
Kisuke rubbed the back of his neck in slow strokes, keeping his eyes fixed on the invisible barrier. He took a small vial from his pocket and placed his hand along the invisible barrier once more, with just enough time to cause a small flash of light and just enough time to collect some of the energy into his vial. He quickly placed his thumb over the vial opening, then capped it with its respective cover. Kisuke held it in the light at the bridge of his nose, his eyes fixed on the energy dancing in the glass.
"This is definitely the work of Soul Society," he muttered.
.oOo.
One Day Earlier
Far from the human world, past the Dangai, and deep inside the nether-realm of Soul Society, a lone, black butterfly disappeared beneath the night sky, with whispers of an urgent meeting dying on the air. A lazy death god sat on the ground with his back to the wall, gazing upwards at the stars. Rumors of an unprovoked strike from Aizen permeated through the Gotei 13.
The shinigami chewed on a piece of grass and cursed aloud about having to be on duty on a beautiful night such as this. But then his ears twitched at a familiar jingling of bells, followed by a boisterous, girlish giggle.
"That Captain!" he whispered, shooting to his feet and saluting.
As the footsteps drew near, a young girl's machine-gun verbosity grew louder.
"I'm going to play marbles with the bells on your head, Ken-chan!"
"Oi, leave those alone," boomed Zaraki Kenpachi. "I have a meeting to get to, so get off."
Yachiru bounced off Kenpachi's shoulders, snapping one of the bells off as she made her escape.
"Ha ha ha!"
Kenpachi grunted and rolled his eyes, ignoring the trembling death god to his left. "I should just get rid of these things." He headed towards the First Squad edifices, toward the usual spot the captains gathered for meetings.
Some of the other captains filed in after Kenpachi, chattering about the late hour of the meeting. Soon all the captains stepped into their places as Yamamoto's crackly voice called the room to order. "I have called everyone here tonight for a grave matter recently brought to my attention. It is unprecedented. We have evidence that a human has trespassed into Hueco Mundo."
A hush fell.
"That human is Orihime Inoue. According to our observations, she willingly left for Hueco Mundo, and so I am officially declaring her to be a traitor to Soul Society."
Some people in the room raised their eyebrows, but most only looked around, meeting the eyes of their peers.
"In order to prevent any more mishaps," the Captain Commander continued, "I have requested that Captain Kurotsuchi develop barriers to prevent any more travel between the human world and Hueco Mundo."
Everyone shifted their eyes to Mayuri Kurotsuchi. He stood blank-faced, keeping steady eyes on the Captain Commander before he glossed his pupils over everyone in the room.
"Yes," he hissed, "We cannot afford another mishap." He paused. "I have discovered a method of preventing any more direct movement between dimensions. This includes paths between Hueco Mundo and the human world. It should buy us time to make preparations for the war."
"You've discovered how to nullify a Garganta?" Soi Fon asked with a raised eyebrow.
"For Karakura Town and surrounding cities."
"And how does this affect our travels?" asked Retsu Unohana, a little too sweetly.
Mayuri glared at her before replying, "My research is not so careless—we will be able to come and go as we please, mainly through the Dangai. For anywhere outside Karakura Town, headquarters will be instantaneously alerted should there be another breach between the human world, Hueco Mundo, and Soul Society. For Karakura Town, we have sealed all barriers so that no shinigami or human can pass through."
The room was silent for a beat before Shunsui Kyoraku asked, "And what about the Espada?"
Mayuri narrowed his eyes a bit before he answered, "Shinigami, humans, and hollows up to the gillian level cannot pass. I have discovered a way to negate hollow spirit particles by applying their reiatsu to our alert system. We have not yet captured anything higher than that, and as such, cannot negate Espada-level reiatsu, but my squad and I are working on a stronger barricade as time allows. Any time any of the shinigami, humans, and gillian-level hollows attempt to breach the barrier without the permission of Soul Society…well, let's just say it won't be long before they discover they can't cross the dimensional rift."
Another long silence followed. Finally Ukitake questioned, "But, the human girl…we aren't going to rescue her?"
"She is a traitor to Soul Society," the Captain Commander rasped.
"But…Yama-jii—"
The Captain Commander cut off Ukitake with a tap of his cane. "I'll not have Seireitei be made a fool of."
Ukitake said nothing in response but exchanged glances with Shunsui.
An uncomfortable stillness hung in the air.
.oOo.
Rangiku Matsumoto, after hearing of the news of Orihime's capture, spent a long while in her captain's office trying to pry more details out of him.
"There isn't something we can do?"
"I've already given you the relevant details. You know my authority only extends so far."
"You can't be serious, Taicho!"
"Don't you have paperwork to get to?"
But Toshiro Hitsugaya did not look her in the eye. Instead, he scribbled some notes on the paperwork in front of him.
After several moments, Matsumoto sighed. "She's my friend, Taicho. You know as well as I do that Orihime would never do anything like that."
"She willingly went to Aizen."
"You don't seriously believe that! Orihime doesn't have a violent bone in her body. Do you really think it's fair to abandon her after she's been kidnapped?"
"As far as the Captain Commander is concerned, she is a traitor and a liability to Seireitei."
Matsumoto stamped her foot. "Tai-cho!"
His eyes finally met hers, but they softened a little. "You know we can't afford to waste resources retrieving her from Hueco Mundo, Matsumoto."
She made two fists and considered whining even more, but then an idea struck her.
"But what if someone else does? Someone on the other side?"
Hitsugaya never stopped scribbling as he responded, "What Urahara Kisuke does is none of my concern."
"And if someone from Soul Society were to help him?"
Hitsugaya closed his eyes after giving her an annoyed look. He wrote something on a small piece of paper and held it out to her between two fingers, waving it slowly. She snatched it from his hand, read it, and squealed in delight.
"I expect you to work double time. I don't want anything to interfere with your work. Especially since double time for you is slow work for everybody else! Now get busy."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Matsumoto answered, staring at the note in glee while flapping her hand. "You'll need to help me get assignments into Karakura, though," she whispered.
He grunted, settling back to his work.
Matsumoto ripped up the note he had given her after taking another glance at it and smiling to herself. The message was but a few words:
Don't get caught.
.oOo.
"I'm only going to tell you one last time, Ichigo Kurosaki," Tatsuki hissed. Her voice was treacherously soft, menacing. "Tell me where she is. I saw you yesterday with that guy who owns that candy shop!"
This would be the second conversation that week of this nature. The first time, Tatsuki had punched Ichigo in the face, sending him crashing through a window. Now he clenched his fists, words lost to the guilt festering inside him.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he answered her.
Tatsuki took several more steps towards him, and a vein throbbed in her temple. She grabbed at his collar, and repeated the question she had asked him at least five times already.
"Where is she?"
"I told you already. This doesn't concern you or anyone else."
She moved to strike him in the face again. "I'm not going to stop until you tell me where she is, you son of a—"
Ichigo caught her hand and pushed himself away, but not in anger. "You wouldn't believe it."
Tatskuki's face burned red, and Ichigo realized that he couldn't remember the last time he had seen her cry.
"Try me," she said. "I already told you that I've seen you in your black robes. I see you with those weird people. I know it has something to do with all of them!"
"I can't."
Tatsuki shook her head, the wrath on her face making Ichigo sick with guilt. She stepped away from him and looked at him as though she was seeing him with new eyes.
"We're done, Kurosaki."
"That's not fair," he whispered, his voice tight.
She wrenched her hand from Ichigo's fist and pushed him away from her, disgust evident in her eyes.
"We're done."
.oOo.
Months Later
Daily, Ichigo visited Kisuke's shop. Daily, he—and everyone else, perhaps especially Kisuke—were all left bitterly disappointed. It wasn't that Kisuke couldn't find another way in–he was good at finding those. At discovering solutions. But each time a new path opened before them, the same horrid, electric power—spiritual in nature—halted them in their tracks, singed their skin, forced them out. As though someone was purposely watching for any attempts to breach a barrier to stop them.
"Is there any way we could at least…find out if she's still alive?"
It was Tessai who had asked that question one night, as they were all recovering from another failed attempt. The light from the Garganta barrier flickered as they stared into it, taunting all of them. It had been five months to the day since Orihime's disappearance.
Silence met Tessai's ears. What other answer could there be? Aizen had been quiet since her capture, as though Orihime had served as some sacrifice to satiate the beast.
Urahara's eyes met Tessai's. Worry had tainted the usual mischief in the shopkeeper's eyes for some months now. "There might be a way. But it's risky."
"What is it?" asked Ichigo.
"Libélula," was all Urahara said. Tessai's eyes widened.
"The hell is that?" Kurosaki squawked.
"It could kill her," Yoruichi cautioned.
"I said it was risky," Urahara conceded.
"What the hell is it?!" Ichigo yipped again.
"Something I invented a long time ago, when Aizen was still in Soul Society. It was…sort of a really early precursor to the Hogyoku. I wanted to see if, maybe, by taking reiatsu from someone, you could transplant it to someone else…my attempt at forging different souls together, to see if there was a way to combine hollow and shinigami."
"What's that gonna do to her?" Ichigo groused.
"Exactly why it's so risky. I've never tested it out on humans. Too dangerous. But if there's a way to snatch her reiatsu for a little bit, I could put a communication device on it. I know how to make it completely undetectable. I've tested it out on Captain-level shinigami in the past, Aizen included. Actually, it was a really fun prank, now that I think about it…" A remnant of the old mischief briefly returned to his eyes before he continued, "The creature is small…it could go in and out completely undetected. I could design it so that it only preys…" he paused as his eyes met Tessai's. "On humans. We would at least know she's alive. If I could open the dimension long enough to get it through the gate…it could find her. Track her. The only problem is…"
"What?"
"It could devour her soul."
"Kill her?" Ichigo swallowed.
"If she isn't already dead," Tessai added in a grim whisper.
"I don't like it," said Ichigo.
"Do you have any other ideas?" Yoruichi chimed in, though there was no mockery in her voice.
"Could you at least…weaken it? Alter it, so that it doesn't kill her?" Tessai asked.
"Yes. These creatures were designed to keep feeding until they are full. To redesign one would take months that we don't have. But I could breed it so that it…slows down the process considerably. Make sure that she has enough time that someone might…save her."
Yoruichi rubbed the back of her neck. "Save Inoue-san? In Hueco Mundo? Have we really gotten to a point that desperate?"
"Hueco Mundo or not, they understand leverage. Leverage might be keeping her alive," Tessai remarked.
"How long will it take to make one?" Ichigo asked.
"A month, probably. If I work at it all day."
With no other options, the group conceded and left Urahara to begin his work.
.oOo.
Tatsuki looked up at the river in front of her as she sat on her favorite tuft of grass. It was a spot she and Orihime had frequented. The tranquility of the water normally would have calmed her, but today it did nothing but mock her. Five months had passed since Orihime had been abducted – killed? Still no news. Tatsuki had done most of the logistical grunt work in the time of Orihime's disappearance—putting notifications in the papers, contacting authorities, even hiring a private detective in case there was any chance she was wrong about Ichigo being involved somehow. There were whispers, rumors, speculation. But no solid evidence ever reached her ears. Tatsuki had abandoned Ichigo long ago, having lost all trust in him.
Bastard.
She had protected Orihime since they were small. So naturally, she blamed herself most of all.
Various blurbs about Orihime dotted the newspaper Tatsuki held in her hands. Orihime had recently been declared officially dead by the authorities, and the paper posted pictures of her life and little anecdotes as a tribute. Orihime had a way of bringing joy into the lives of those who knew her, and Tatsuki was pleasantly surprised with the number of people who had helped in the project. An inconspicuous blurb, just one among many, was the only bit that caught Tatsuki's attention—the one she had written herself. She stared at the blurb and the pictures of Orihime for a long while.
Tatsuki wept for her friend.
.oOo.
"Kisuke said he almost has it ready," Rangiku said in a hushed tone. Before her stood Rukia, Renji, Ikkaku, and Yumichika.
"Any minute now we should get the message from him. We should know if she's alive or dead."
"And if she's alive? How long will it take before he can figure out how to get us through?" Renji asked.
"I don't know. But if she's still alive and well, then it's likely she'll stay that way until we can rescue her."
"We're still trying to get Nii-sama to agree to a rescue mission. It's been, what, six months since she disappeared?"
The room grew quiet.
"We need to be realistic. Since no one's come after her, they might not see any value in keeping her as leverage," Ikkaku remarked.
Rukia tightened her fists. "That doesn't mean we still shouldn't try."
All murmured in agreement, but Rangiku noticed the doubt in Ikkaku's eyes. She wondered if he was right.
Rangiku hoped they weren't too late.
.oOo.
Silence enveloped Kisuke's underground laboratory like a cemetery at midnight. Tessai was sweating, and Yoruichi's hand hadn't left her mouth for several minutes. Urahara kept staring at the same spot on his desk where the libélula had disappeared, as though he was expecting something to happen.
Suddenly, Ichigo stormed into the room and shouted at Kisuke, "What the hell is going on?!"
"We don't know for sure...but she might still be alive."
"MIGHT?!"
Kisuke rubbed his forehead. "We know the libélula got in. We know it bit her, because the tracking mechanism pulsated. We also know that…it pulsated for a really long time."
"And then it stopped," Tessai added.
"What does that mean," said Ichigo, swallowing hard.
"It could mean either one of two things," Yoruichi answered when Urahara did not. "The first is that someone found her and killed it. She was probably knocked out by the bite. A broken connection only means that the creature is no longer sucking on reiatsu." Yoruichi paused. "And the other possibility is that the libélula completed its deed…and that Orihime…"
"We need to be positive!" Urahara chirped, in a stunning mood reversal.
"Kisuke—" Yoruichi started, but Urahara cut her off.
"Tsk, tsk! Yoruichi-san. If Inoue-san has been kept alive for this long, then she probably has someone looking after her. My guess is that whoever that may be is probably smart enough to know what this thing is and kill it off before it does any more damage. We need to be positive! We are going to rescue Inoue-san." He flashed everyone in the room one of his characteristic smiles.
But the faces looking back at him did not look convinced.
.oOo.
Byakuya Kuchiki stood in his usual silence, gazing out his office window. The landscaping in the courtyard was nothing short of impeccable. Just as he liked it. And ordered. At this time of month, he would normally be finishing up the key summary points of his squad's progress report to deliver to the Captain Commander, but there were more pressing matters at hand. A knock at his doorway broke the stillness of the room, but he had been expecting the interruption for some minutes now.
"Enter."
He had summoned his adopted sister earlier that day, so he did not bother turning to face her.
"You asked to see me, sir?"
He waited for her to walk in and stop a few meters behind him before he finally spoke. "I am aware of your escapades linked to Karakura."
He still did not need to turn to know that she had choked on her spit. When enough silence had passed, he continued. "I have been aware for a while now."
More silence.
Still with his back turned to her, he stated, "I am aware that you are to leave tonight."
"I…Nii-sama…"
Byakuya finally faced her, but he was surprised to see that Rukia showed no sign of fear. Interesting.
"Sir, I beg your forgiveness, but I believe Orihime Inoue is innocent! It has already been too long, and I cannot act against my conscience any longer. We have had evidence that she is alive for some time now, but it has been torture sitting here and doing nothing! Forgive me, Nii-sama, but I cannot allow a dear friend of mine to die!"
He realized nothing he could do would change her mind. He briefly calculated the trouble it would take him to stop the plans, and he was about to command her not to go, but something in her face compelled him to consider another alternative. It seems she has grown since her time in prison.
"I am prepared to face the consequences, sir," Rukia continued, "but I will not back down from this."
Byakuya let her stew in silence for a good minute before he said at last, "Since it seems I cannot stop you, it would not do to send you off to Hueco Mundo unprotected from the elements. It is a wasteland of dust and filth."
He noticed Rukia's eyes widening, but they stayed glued to the ground.
"In my private training quarters, you will find a number of cloaks in the supply room. I'll not have my kin returning to Seireitei looking like a beggar. And see to it that my vice captain doesn't come back looking like riffraff, either."
"Nii-sama…"
Before she could respond any further, he turned around to face the window once again.
"Dismissed."
He heard a ruffle from her, probably a bow, and he heard her linger in the doorway before she breathed out a sigh and finally disappeared. If he was the type of man who easily smiled, he might have.
.oOo.
"There's no turning back," Kisuke instructed.
After many months of obstruction, Kisuke finally discovered a way to pierce through the Garganta. The previous night, he had made a successful opening that lasted about a minute—plenty of time for anyone to get through.
"As if I was ever going to turn back! I've been waiting for this!" Ichigo shouted.
"Very well. The stone bridging both worlds finally lies in my right hand, the sword securing reality in my left. It took me long enough, but…" he paused. "Black-haired shepherd, chair of hanged men, with the arrival of the stratus, we strike the Ibis!"
That fast, a massive, shining rift ripped open before Ichigo, Chad, Ishida, and Kisuke. Kisuke delivered his characteristic grin as the former three stared in awe at Kisuke's handiwork.
"This is the portal the arrancar can pass through, which you know as the 'Garganta.' Within, no road exists, and spirits spiral around with great turbulence. Keep your footing by traversing the spirits, and continue onwards. Head toward the darkness, and you will eventually reach Hueco Mundo."
Ichigo took one step forward. "Got it, Urahara-san."
.oOo.
Author's Note: If you would be interested in being a beta for this story, and potentially other Ulquihimes, please send me a PM. Preferably if you have solid grammar and know the Bleach plot at least up until the Karakura Town arc...thanks.
