I'm back~! Did you miss me? I am really, really sorry that I have taken this long to update, but a lot of things have been happening recently, and for a while, I had no inspiration. But now, here is the thirteenth chapter of Western Princess. Yes, this chapter is short, but I needed it to be short in order to set up for the next chapter.

Thanks to my beta for editing this chapter.

Read, enjoy, and review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Orihime wished she knew what she was doing wrong. She tried not to talk too much. She was very careful when she cooked. She cleaned, washed the dishes, did the laundry. So why was Ichigo ignoring her again?

Perhaps, she thought with rising horror, she had not performed her wifely duty well. Oh, she knew that she should have talked to Rangiku about that delicate subject. Now, because she hadn't, Ichigo had withdrawn from her even more during the past three months. The stress of living with him when he only grunted in response and hardly looked at her was making her sick. Literally.

Orihime didn't want to bother him with her troubles, so she remained silent. She could live with the naseau as long as it meant Ichigo wouldn't get mad at her. She became a virtual prisoner in her own home. She was too afraid of snakes and him. Her brother's murderer was still out there. He would find her. If he found her, he would kill her.

A knock on the door startled her. Indecision rose in her mind. Should she answer, or should she ignore the visitor? Crossing over to the window, she cautiously peered out. She noticed a young boy standing there, turning a coin over in his hand. Deciding that the boy seemed harmless enough, she opened the door. "May I help you?"

"You're Mrs. Kurosaki, ain't you?"

"Yes, I am. And you are?" she inquired.

"I'm Tetsu. Some lady asked me to give this to you," he held out a piece of paper.

Orihime took it and thanked him. As he walked away, she shut the door and unfolded the paper.

Orihime,

I need you to meet me at the stream on the east side of Karakura. There's a big oak tree with the initials B.K. + Y.S. Carved into it. I will be there at three this afternoon.

Rangiku

Orihime blinked. What was so important that Rangiku needed to talk to her? She nibbled on her lip. Truth be told, she was terrified to step foot outside the house. But Rangiku was her friend. Something must be terribly wrong with her. Or maybe she had overheard Sora's murderer talking about Orihime. "Okay, I have to be brave. I can do this."

It was only going for noon, so she decided to tell Ichigo her plans when he came to the house for lunch. She did not want to see him more than what was necessary.

She cringed. That sounded cruel, but it was the truth. Orihime hung her head. Answering the ad had seemed like a good idea at the time, but from the moment she had set foot in Karakura, it had been a disaster. If she could turn back time, she would-

She would...

Tears stung her eyes. She couldn't turn back time. She had made her decision, and now she had to stick with it. Even if Ichigo hated her and her life was miserable, she wouldn't give up. She would cook. She would clean. She would smile. With that thought firmly implanted in her mind, she entered the kitchen to prepare lunch.

As it turned out, Ichigo didn't come to the house for lunch. He had been on his way when a man on horseback had ridden up wildly, shouting loudly about his wife and baby. Ichigo had dashed back into his office, grabbed his bag, and taken off on his own horse.

So Orihime had left, looking for the oak tree Rangiku had described. It took her a few minutes to find it. She curiously traced the initials. "B.K. + Y.S. I wonder who they are," she murmured. "Maybe Rangiku knows." With a sigh, Orihime plopped onto the ground. Although she seemed to be at ease, she was on edge, her muscles tensed and ready to spring into action should a stranger intrude. A gentle wind blew by, rustling the leaves. She was tempted to close her eyes and savor the quietness of the woods, but she didn't. She was too afraid of someone sneaking up on her and killing her.

A twig snapped, and Orihime jerked up. Her breath caught in her throat. "R-Rangiku? Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me."

The young woman relaxed as her friend stepped out of the brush. "Oh, okay. Good. What did you-" she froze, seeing her friend's face. "What happened?" she tentatively reached out a hand and touched a bruise marring Rangiku's right cheek.

"Orihime, I am so sorry," Rangiku whispered.

"I...I don't understand. Sorry about what?" Orihime blinked when Rangiku was suddenly shoved aside and fell to the ground. "Rangiku?"

"Finally. After ten months of searching, I finally found you."

All color fled from Orihime's face as she realized with rising horror who was now standing directly in front of her. "No. No! Stay away!" she shrieked, turning on her heel to run away. She only managed to sprint a few feet before he grabbed her, forcing her to face him. Tears filled her eyes as she looked into the eyes of her brother's killer. "You killed Sora," she whispered brokenly.

"Yeah, but don't worry. I'm not going to kill you," he paused. "Yet." His eyes glittered dangerously as he effortlessly picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.

"Rangiku, help me!" Orihime pleaded, stretching out her hand towards her friend.

"Let her go," Rangiku spoke, rising to her feet.

The man stepped over to her, pulling out his gun as he did so. Orihime let out a cry. "I don't take orders from women," he spat out before hitting the older woman with the butt of the pistol.

"Rangiku!" Orihime called out, tears streaming down her cheeks. The woman lying on the ground didn't move. "She's dead. You killed her," she sobbed.

"Oh, quit your crying. So annoying."

Orihime gulped, quivering in fear. Her worst fear had come true. Her brother's murderer had found her. And now, it looked as though she would soon be joining Sora.