SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 5 out, this is Chapter 6 and the final chapter of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Pairings: Ishida/Hasu, minor pairing Hitsugaya/Karin

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.

Chapter 6: Strict Order! The Forbidden Rescue of Inoue Orihime

Back in the basement of Urahara Shop...

Hitsugaya looked on unamused as Karin fired a withering glare at the two 11th Squad officers, both protesting males were muted within one of her recovery bubbles. Then he cast a look over at Urahara who was in hushed discussion with Hasu. Urahara Kisuke, I hardly know anything about this man. He's been thinking about something ever since the Arrancar vanished. Either way, having fought so many Espada, we're lucky that this was all the damage we took. We were careless. They've already finished their preparations. We've got to work harder on our own preparations for the next battle. But just how long will it take us before we're fully prepared? "Matsumoto." he turned to his Lieutenant. "Have you been able to contact Soul Society?"

"Well..." Matsumoto trailed, switching on her Denreishinki and was answered by a fritz tone.

Later that night...

A Reiatsu-concealed Inoue entered Ichigo's room where the orange-haired teen was recuperating. Resting a hand on Ichigo's bandaged hand, she leaned in to kiss him before catching herself. "I can't." she wept. "I can't do it after all. I'm no good. It's the very end, and I'm acting like this. Kurosaki, there were a lot of things I wanted to do." she leaned against the window. I wanted to be a teacher, and an astronaut, and a baker. I wanted to go to a bunch of different donut shops and ask for one of everything. And I wanted to tell the ice-cream man to give me one of everything, too. I wish I could have five lives. Then I could have been born in five different towns and eaten five lifetimes' worth of food and had five different careers, and fallen in love with the same person, five times." thank you, Kurosaki. Goodbye.

"Very touching confession, Orihime." Karin deathpanned, sitting up.

"Karin-chan?" Inoue gawked at the younger girl. "You can... see me?"

Karin nodded and pointed to the Suzaku bracelet on her wrist.

The next morning...

"What the hell.." Ichigo winced, falling out of bed. "Jeez... damn it, that hurt. Falling out of bed while asleep... what am I, a kid?" he suddenly stopped when he saw his wounds had been healed. Who...? this Reiatsu...

"It's Inoue Orihime, most likely." Hitsugaya confirmed, hovering over the windowsill in Shinigami form. "Come with me now, Kurosaki. This is urgent."

In Inoue's room...

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Hitsugaya entered the darkened room with Ichigo.

"Rukia." Ichigo blinked at the assorted Shinigami gathered. "Why are we all meeting here? Where's Inoue?"

"She's..." Rukia started.

"Have you taken care of the spectral interference yet?" Hitsugaya asked Matsumoto.

"Yes," Matsumoto nodded. "It looks like we're good to go."

"Connect us." Hasu instructed, going into Commander-in-Chief mode. "Captain Ukitake." she greeted the long-haired Captain that came online. "Where is Captain-Commander Yamamoto?"

"I'm here, instead." Ukitake stated.

"And the reason?" Tula pressed.

"Because I was the last person to see Inoue Orihime before she went through the Senkai Gate." Ukitake admitted. "Judging by your reaction, it's safe to say that she never made it there." he reasoned, seeing the stunned looks on the relevant Shinigami's faces.

"What do you mean, Ukitake?" Ichigo hissed. "Where did Inoue go? You know something, right?"

"I'll give you my opinion." Ukitake spoke. "The two guards I sent with her through the Senkai Gate came back alive. According to the two of them, Inoue Orihime was either kidnapped or murdered by an Arrancar."

"Captain Ukitake, even if it's just hypothesis, saying something like that...!" Rukia protested.

"I know." Ukitake cut her off. "I don't like saying this, either. I'm just listing the worst case scenarios. According to our information, she was attacked by an Arrancar, and then disappeared along with him."

"Don't screw around!" Ichigo snapped. "This is just wrong! You're saying she's dead, without any real proof, just because she vanished? Don't give me that shit! Take a look at this." he flashed his unblemished arm. "My hand was seriously injured in that fight yesterday. It was something no one here could heal. But when I woke up this morning, there wasn't even a scar. And I could still feel Inoue's Reiatsu. You still think Inoue's dead?"

Tula stifled the urge to curse out-loud; no matter how many times Genbu's Avatar was reincarnated, he always suffers from the typical foot-in-mouth disease. Like all males. She mentally added.

"I see." Yamamoto came onscreen. "What a pity. If what you say is true, then Inoue Orihime is still alive. But at the same time, that means that she's a traitor. If she was kidnapped, then she would not have been able to see you. As such, healing your injuries and then disappearing means that Inoue Orihime joined forces with the Arrancar of her own free will."

"You asshole!" Ichigo roared.

"Stop." Renji pulled him back. "Anything else you say will just make things worse for her. We understand, Captain-Commander Yamamoto. I, Lieutenant of the 6th Squad and member of Captain Hitsugaya's advance guard, Abarai Renji, seek permission to go to Hueco Mundo and bring back the traitor Inoue Orihime back to our side."

"Permission denied." Tula turned back to the redhead. "Now that it is clear the Arrancar are preparing for all-out war, all members of Hitsugaya's advance guard will return immediately to help fortify Soul Society's defenses."

"Are you... asking us to abandon Inoue?" Rukia breathed.

"Exactly." Yamamoto confirmed. "The weight of one life cannot compare to that of the entire world."

"Captain-Commander, Tula-sama, I'm afraid I won't be able to obey those orders." Rukia stood firm.

"As we expected," Yamamoto noted. "Fortunately, I anticipated that some of you might say as much and made special arrangements."

A Senkai Gate opened behind the ground and Captains Zaraki and Kuchiki stepped out.

"You heard him." Zaraki stated. "Time to go back, guys."

"Don't resist." Byakuya advised. "We've been ordered to take you back by force if necessary."

"I understand." Ichigo relented. "I won't ask Soul Society for any help. But, can you at least tell me how to get into Hueco Mundo? Inoue is my friend. I'll go save her on my own."

"No!" Yamamoto barked. "We will need your strength in the upcoming battle. I won't allow you to act foolishly on your own and die like a dog. Wait until your receive your orders. That's all." he cut off the communication.

"Let's go." Zaraki voiced, turning back to the Senkai Gate.

"Tula-sama, I..." Hitsugaya turned to the younger female, ignoring Matsumoto's pitying glance.

"One hour, Captain Hitsugaya." Tula gave him the ultimatum. "She'd probably have something for you."

"Understood." Hitsugaya nodded and Shunpo-ed off.

"Tōshirō." Karin slid the window to her and Yuzu's room open. "You're leaving." she stated flatly, seeing his morose expression.

"Yeah." Hitsugaya nodded.

"Here." Karin handed him a crimson orb. "Pensieve Sphere; I probed Orihime's memories last night and injected the reason why she did what she did in it."

"You mean... Inoue Orihime had a reason to..." Hitsugaya frowned, tucking the vibrant orb into his Shihakushō.

"If the Espada threatened to kill Ichi-nii, Ishida-sensei and Sado if she didn't comply..." Karin prompted.

"Got it." Hitsugaya realized. "Be careful." he gave her a brief hug and vanished via Shunpo.

Omake: Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide

The assorted Shinigami step out of the Senkai Gate.

Renji: Captain, you timed your entrance perfectly. Did you hide somewhere with Captain Zaraki and wait for the right moment to show up?

Rukia: (Twitches) Renji! Don't speak so rudely.

Byakuya: No. it's as he says. That's part of my job.

Rukia: (Sparky-eyed) For us, you...

Byakuya: It's okay. Time flew quickly while I was all alone with Captain Zaraki.

Zaraki: (Maniacal grin)

Tula: (Massive sweatdrop)

SailorStar9: In the first chapter of the next arc, Amagai Shūsuke, a member of a group that hunts down Hollows, is unanimously appointed by the Gotei 13 as the new rd Squad Captain. He appoints Makoto Kibune as his 3rd Seat. Gillians invade the Dangai, and the 3rd Squad is ordered to destroy them. But, while fighting the Hollows, the Kōtotsu somehow gets called in, forcing the 3rd Squad to flee. During their escape, Amagai appears, and with a last minute rescue, destroys the Kōtotsu with ease. Now that's done, read and review.