A bit of a short chapter for your Saturday update. Enjoy!

"I need to speak to Urahara-san." Ichigo said as he stared down at Ururu hopefully. "Is he here?"

Ururu nodded. "He's here but he's very busy. Would you mind coming back another time?"

"I would if it wasn't an emergency. It's very important." Ichigo replied. "Please."

Ururu looked up at the almost desperate expression on Ichigo's face before letting out a sigh and turning back into the shop. "Alright. But wait outside. I'm under strict orders that I can't allow anyone into the shop right now."

Ichigo watched as Ururu disappeared into Urahara Shop and waited patiently outside for anyone to reemerge. It seemed to take forever but in reality it was only a few minutes before Kisuke Urahara popped his head outside.

"Kurosaki-san, I've been informed that you have an emergency situation." Kisuke stepped completely out of the shop and closed the door behind him. "What's happened?"

"I have a few questions for you." Ichigo said, turning to face Kisuke apprehensively. "Is it possible for more than one soul to inhabit a body at the same time?"

Kisuke stared at Ichigo knowingly, a small smile coming to his face. "Of course it's possible. Though it's incredibly rare and I myself have only seen it a small number of times."

Ichigo nodded in understanding and continued. "So, in a situation like that where there's more than one soul inhabiting a body, is it possible to remove one of the souls without damaging the other?"

"Now that is a question I can not answer. Of the few cases I observed where there were multiple souls inhabiting one form there was never any cause to remove the secondary soul. Typically, it occurred for a reason and was never detrimental to the host soul or vessel." Kisuke replied calmly. "Why do you ask? Does this have to do with the secondary soul residing within Orihime Inoue?"

Ichigo's face fell to a look of shock as he stared at Kisuke. "You... knew about it?"

Kisuke nodded quickly. "When the whole ordeal with Aizen was over I noticed that there was something distinctly different in Inoue-san. She had changed, though I believed it to be for the better. She seemed stronger and more determined than she was previously and although I first credited the change to her experiences in Hueco Mundo, upon closer examination I discovered that she was harboring a reiatsu not her own. It was subtle but it was certainly there." He looked Ichigo's face over in curiosity. "Has something happened with Inoue-san?"

"The soul within Inoue has taken her over completely. We don't really know why but she's been injured already and I'm worried he might want to kill her." Ichigo stared a Kisuke expectantly. "Tell me you know how to help."

"He?" Kisuke asked as he cocked an eyebrow at Ichigo. "You know who the soul inhabiting Inoue-san's body is?"

"Not for certain but I have a good idea. Ishida and I both reached the conclusion that Ulquiorra Cifer has taken over Inoue's body." Ichigo replied. "And before you ask, yes, I'm certain I killed him."

Kisuke nodded calmly. "Whether or not you killed him was never of question. Of course you killed him, otherwise he wouldn't be where he is now. Unfortunately, knowing who is within Inoue-san only makes it all the more difficult."

Ichigo's brow furrowed in concern at Kisuke's words. "Why is that?"

"Because now you have to accept the fact that Inoue-san willingly allowed Ulquiorra Cifer's soul into her being. A soul can only inhabit the vessel of another when it is welcomed. That is why this situation occurs so rarely and why it will be so difficult to help her." Kisuke answered. "If a soul must be welcomed for it to enter another's body, the contrary must also be true. To remove a soul the host must desire its removal."

Ichigo blinked at Kisuke in disbelief. "But I'm sure Inoue would-"

"Inoue is no longer in control, is she? That makes it even more difficult." Kisuke continued. "If she is no longer the primary soul she can no longer govern over her own body. This soul residing in her, assuming it is indeed Ulquiorra Cifer; if he decides to take Inoue-san's body and remove her from it completely he will be able to do so with little difficulty. The only way for you to help her is to bring her consciousness back to the surface. Then and only then will she be able to remove any unwanted guests from her body."

"Right. I got it." Ichigo nodded in understanding and turned away from Kisuke but the other man's words stopped him.

"Kurosaki-san, unwanted is the key word. You can do nothing to help Inoue-san if she does not want to be helped." Kisuke added gravely. "Keep that in mind."