Chapter 9

Orihime turned her head sideways and opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry but she could still make out her surroundings. She was in her old room in Las Noches again. Why did she always find herself waking up here? No matter where she went, some invisible force always brought her back, a continuous cycle that forever bound her to this place. Dreams and reality started to blend together and she wasn't sure where she was anymore. There was a man standing with his back to her. Ulquiorra? No, not him. Even though he was turned away from her, Orihime felt like she knew him – the familiar frame, the dark hair. As if sensing her looking at him he turned around and smiled at her. Orihime gasped putting her hand over her mouth in shock. Right there standing in front of her was Sora.

"Big brother…" she whispered.

He took a few steady steps and kneeled in front of her. "Welcome back, little princess, you've been asleep for a long time."

Orihime stared at him in disbelief. "How is this possible?"

Sora tilted his head and continued smiling. She studied his face not knowing what to say. What happened to her? She wasn't supposed to be here. The memory of the pain and despair that she suffered under Mayuri's torture was still fresh. But now, she felt nothing. Did it finally happen to her? Was she really dead?

"Don't hurt that pretty head of yours thinking too hard." Sora chuckled.

"Sora nii-chan, what is happening to me? Where am I?"

"Where exactly do you want to be, Orihime?"

"I…" An image of Ulquiorra went through her mind. Oh, no! He is looking for me! He is still looking for me! But I'm not there anymore. What will he do if he can't find me? What will happen to him?

"It looks like I need to scoot over in there." Sora said pointing at her chest.

Orihime opened her mouth to speak, but he interrupted her. "Do not worry, little princess, as long as there is still a place for me, I will not be lonely."

He got up and took a few steps around the room. Orihime's eyes never left him. "Do you remember when your friends came to rescue you from me?" he continued.

She nodded.

"That Kurosaki boy was quite passionate about saving you." Sora turned around looking at her. "And it looks like someone else wants to save you now. But you did not wait for him."

Orihime looked down. Her brother seemed to know a lot. But how could she fight a captain Shinigami? Soul Society strangled her powers once again by diminishing the flow of her riatsu. Even though they did not attempt to take them again, like they did the first time, using Shun Shun Rikka against Mayuri was close to impossible. But now it was too late, wasn't it?

"What could I do nii-chan? They…"

Sora took her hand closing his palm on it. Orihime felt cool metal against her skin. She opened her hand and saw a pair of all too familiar hair pins that he gave her such a long time ago.

"I thought I would never see these again." She smiled.

"This is just a reminder. They are not real. But someone else is." he said pointedly.

Orihime squeezed her hand and brought it to her chest.

"This place…" she whispered.

"…holds a clue to where you belong." Sora answered for her.

"He is searching for me." her voice was close to a whisper. "But I let him down. He wanted to find me so much. Why couldn't I be stronger for him?"

"Are you giving up already?"

"Nii-chan, but what if I am not strong enough? What if I fail? What if this is not enough to protect him?" Orihime asked in a shaky voice clutching the precious hair pins to her chest.

Sora brought his hand to her cheek and caressed it gently. "Your love never failed me, little princess."

Orihime squeezed her eyes shut. She could feel her brother disappearing. And the hairpins were no longer in her hands. But she did not need them anymore. She did not need anything to remind her of who she was and who was important. The memory of Sora and his warmth will stay with her forever. But there was also someone else whom she swore to protect. Neither Mayuri nor the rest of Soul Society will come close to her powers. If she couldn't fight them, she would put up enough defenses for no one to get through. The dream was slowly crumbling and reality was settling in. Orihime could feel the distant smell of acid coming back. She could hear the chatter and people hovering over her. But she was not longer afraid.

Her eyelids were heavy and she felt exhausted. The stabbing pain was back which made it hard to breath. But Orihime brushed it away. She will show them, she will show all of them what she was made of.

"What's this?" Mayuri asked. "Looks like the test subject finally regained her conciseness."

Orihime open her mouth slightly. Santen Kesshun, I reject! Santen Kesshun, I reject! Santen Kesshun, I reject! Santen Kesshun, I reject! Santen Kesshun, I reject! Santen Kesshun, I reject! She did not need to say it out loud. Her Rikka could respond to her thoughts. And she suppressed the urge to unleash it. Just a little bit longer and it will be over.

Mayuri saw her lips move. "What? Even after heavy sedation you can still talk? How wonderful! What is it that you want?"

Orihime moved her lips again, but no words came out. Mayuri grimaced in annoyance and lowered his ear to her mouth.

"Santen Kesshun, I reject." She breathed out.

But before Mayuri could react, he saw a bright glow enveloping her.

Orihime did not pay attention to his enraged screams. Despite her weak state, her shield was strong just like her resolve. That is one thing she will not let go of. In a moment of weakness she almost let herself be crushed again, but now she knew better.

A faint smile lit her face. Even though she could barely move, her Rikka's power was growing. And despite this stabbing pain, she had to hold on until someone came for her, until he came for her.

She exhaled painfully. Baigon, Hinagiku, Lily... I am counting on your guys…do not let me down.

Ulquiorra stopped dead in his tracks. Just for a split second he felt Orihime's riatsu shooting up then disappearing again. He turned his head and searched where it was coming from. Finally his gaze stopped and he frowned. He finally found her but something wasn't right. Orihime's spiritual power was supposed to be suppressed in Soul Society, then why was it fluctuating so much? But right now it did not matter. She was finally within his grasp again and he had to get to her as soon as possible.

The place was a maze, a never ending labyrinth of narrow long corridors. After finding out that Orihime was taken by Mayuri, Ichigo and Rukia gathered up their friends and went to look for her. Rukia was uneasy by the fact that they acted on their own and without any consent from the authorities. But they had no time to wait for Yamamoto's approval. The mountain of bureaucracy was Soul Society's weakness as preserving the law over life always took precedence. Getting inside the Headquarters of Research and Development wasn't easy either. But intimidation does wonders once you know which buttons to push. When Mayuri's subordinates found out that they had an authorized prisoner inside, they stepped down and let them through. Even if their actions angered their superior, being on Yamamoto's good side was always a better deal.

"Ichigo! Can you feel it?"

"Yes! That's where the surge of Inoue's riatsu came from."

They continued running through the corridor until they came to a set of doors.

"She is on the other side and Mayuri is there too."

"Be careful everyone."

The group opened the door and stepped inside.

"You useless twit! Why is the shield still up?" Mayuri yelled.

"My apologies, Mayuri-sama, but the shield seems to be stronger than we've anticipated." Nemu replied casting her eyes down.

"Useless! Useless! Useless!"

Ichigo looked around the room stopping his eyes on the bright orange glow.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Mayuri threw his hands in the air. "How predictable, more uninvited guests came to the rescue. But it looks like my little test subject decided to put up a fight."

"What did you do to Inoue?"

"She did this to herself."

Ichigo drew his sword at Mayuri as they came up to Orihime. Rukia gasped. Ichigo frowned. Ishida looked away.

Orihime was paler than death. She lost a lot of weight. Her robe was torn. There were cuts and bruises all over her body.

"You are not going to get away with this, you bastard." Ichigo glared at Mayuri.

"Oh? Do I sense a challenge from the substitute Shinigami?"

"Captain Mayuri," Rukia said "nobody issued an order to bring Inoue here. This is an absolute violation of the law."

"You are denser than I though. The girl was going to be executed. I was doing everyone a favor by taking advantage of her powers before they went to waste."

But Rukia did not hear him anymore. She touched the shield leaning over the broken body of her friend.

"Inoue, wake up." She whispered.

A few seconds ticked before Orihime moved her eyelids. She slowly opened her eyes staring back at Rukia. Relief washed over her as she looked at her friend's smiling face. Finally! Despite her resolve, she wasn't sure for how much longer she could hold.

"It's ok. We will get you out of here."

Orihime felt sick as Rukia carefully helped her to sit up after the shield disintegrated. Trying to control it and keeping her balance at the same time took a toll on her already weakened body. Her head was hurting and she felt like throwing up.

"Have you seen Ulquiorra?" she asked quietly.

"After we learned that you were brought here, Ichigo…" but Rukia did not finish.

Something very powerful was coming their way. Rukia turned her head towards the door in silent anticipation. It was him.

A moment later, Ulquiorra was standing in the doorway. His eyes widened as he stared directly at Orihime's tattered figure. He expected a lot of things, but not this. Despite the countless exploits of Soul Society against the hollows, he never expected them to stoop this low. They called hollows "animals", but after what they did to the one in front of him, what did it make them? Clutching his fist he felt rage boiling inside. How dare they do this to her?

Orihime slowly extended her arm to him. Despite his rage, his expression softened. The woman was alive and after everything that has happened she still managed a smile. He quickly changed back to his normal form before taking another step. Unleashing riatsu of his 2nd form around her being so weak would surely crush her.

Silently, he approached her, scooped her in his arms and started back towards the door.

"Where are you taking her?" Ichigo asked.

"Away from here." Ulquiorra answered without stopping and left the room.

A moment later he and Orihime were outside.

"Are you feeling any better?" he asked looking down at her.

She nodded. The smell of acid was gone and so was her nausea, but her head was still pounding and her body was aching all over.

Ulquiorra tightened his grip on her before using sonido. He knew he loved her, but seeing her like this only proved how much. When he looked at her bruised face, it took an enormous amount of self control not slaughter that bastard Shinigami who did this to her.

In a few seconds they were in the woods outside of Seireitei.

"Why did you act on your own? Why didn't you tell me anything?" Ulquiorra asked without releasing her.

Orihime noticed the strange tone in his voice again. Despite his calm demeanor, he sounded angry and almost hurt.

"I did not want you to go to Soul Society."

"If that means you live, then I will do it without question. You are bound to me and I protect what is mine."

"So do I. Don't you know that I lo--?"

"Be quiet." Ulquiorra cut her off.

His stare was unnerving which made Orihime cringe. Just by looking in his eyes she knew that he was irritated. At first she thought it was because of what she did, but then she remembered his eyes back in the laboratory. Ulquiorra looked like he wanted to murder someone.

He finally looked away. Orihime studied his profile in silence. He hid his emotions very well, but she already knew how to read him. His rage at what Mayuri did to her made her heart flutter. Without saying another word she put her arms around him.

"I love you." she whispered in his ear.

Ulquiorra exhaled sharply. "I know." His words were barely a whisper as he hugged her closer.

Neither said another word. They kept the silence enjoying the little precious moments they had together. Ulquiorra knew he had to relinquish her again. But he did not plan to go quietly or to let that Shinigami captain get away with his crime.

"I am taking you back."

"What? Why?" Orihime asked in alarm.

"They'll find us soon enough. I have to return you before they do. And those injuries need to be taken care of."

"And what is going to happen to you?"

"I have a few things to settle with Soul Society."

"With more fighting?"

Ulquiorra ignored her last question. "Hold on to me."

And then they were back to Seireitei standing in front Ichigo and the rest of Orihime's friends next to a group of Shinigami.

Ulquiorra noticed that one of the captains was the silver haired Shinigami he fought before. But he ignored everyone and started walking towards Ichigo.

"Make sure she is being properly taken care of." He ordered setting Orihime down in front of him.

Ichigo nodded in surprise catching her by the waist. He did not understand why Ulquiorra came back. Wasn't he supposed to take Inoue and escape?

"Why didn't you go back to Hueco Mundo? Wasn't it your goal to save the girl from execution?" Ukitake asked.

"One of your superiors violated direct orders from the Commander and put her into mortal danger. Soul Society are obligated to start an investigation before they make any plans in regards to Inoue Orihime." Ulquiorra answered calmly. "Otherwise, you are no better than the hollows that you hunt."

Ukitake stared at him in shock. The Arrancar knew exactly what he was doing. A seemingly hopeless situation was completely turned around to his advantage by just one act of insubordination. Mayuri's greed and thirst for power will not go unnoticed by the authority beyond the Captain General, and Ulquiorra knew it. This Arrancar planned to use the influence above Soul Society to buy a way out.