Ichigo was annoyed. As he walked back to his apartment he sent a message to Aizen that he wasn't going to be able to bring Orihime tonight.
Aizen messaged him right away and asked him to wait a few more days, but to closely stick to Orihime. Central 46 was on alert.
When Orihime returned home, she was startled to see Rukia, Rangiku, and Renji sitting in her living room.
Rangiku ran towards Orihime to give her a big crushing hug. Renji cleared his throat loudly and Rangiku released her.
Rukia spoke up, "Rangiku had a key."
Orihime nodded in acknowledgement and greeted Rukia and Renji warmly. It was nice to see old faces from the Academy, especially these three whom Orihime regarded as friends. But she knew it wasn't a social call noticing that they were still in their shinigami robes.
She gestured for them to sit as she got up to make some tea.
Rukia spoke up, "We came to check up on you after you didn't report back in the other night with SRDI lab."
[Note: Shinigami Research and Development Institute's Spiritual Wave Measurement Lab]
Orihime apologized and then explained the events that took place, of what she could remember, from last night. She left out Ichigo though, feeling it was unnecessary and besides, she wasn't sure he brought her home.
Renji put a hand on Orihime's shoulder, "We're glad you're safe."
Rukia gave her a soft smile with a look of admiration, "An Adjucha - I'm impressed, Orihime."
She blushed.
Rukia continued, getting down to business. "The SRDI has been detecting abnormal spiritual pressure fluctuations. There's been a spike of hollows that are being completely extinguished in Kararuka and surrounding vicinities. There's somewhat of a pattern."
As Rukia briefed Orihime, she remembered something. Orihime spoke up, recalling the event that happened a few weeks ago at the local park and Kazu. She couldn't forget the look of terror on his face that night.
Orihime frowned, "I didn't report that either because I had remembered that sometimes hollows absorbed other hollows."
Renji interrupted, "That does happen, but rarely on this plane - you know, they prefer human souls dead or alive."
Orihime's frown deepened. Rukia followed jabbing Renji in the stomach, "Don't worry about it, Orihime."
"Anyway, we're going to be posted around Karakura for awhile to investigate," Rukia continued.
Rangiku smiled at Orihime gleefully, "We can hang out!"
Rukia and Renji sighed loudly.