Waiting with decorum he watched her. Graceful even in sleep, she lay unaware of his arrival. Her eyes remained hidden under cloth as her easy breathing played through her button nose. On the walls surface her head tilted against her bundled russet hair.

He crouched only to kneel at her side, nearly touching the small blankets bundled beneath her.

Ambivalent fingers outstretch as he spoke, "Princess?" With no reply his hand graced her heated cheek, "Princess Inoue?"

With one heavy breath she returned to her motionless stature. His hand moved the free hair from her forehead placing his lips against the warmth of her forehead. Priding his actions, he watched as she shifted and muffled a groan only to blindly turn her head. "Who?"

"You're safe now."

He questioned his own appearance. Now wearing a filth chalked white collared shirt bunched to his elbows, his blazer cast aside to a place unknown. He was quite the wreck, feeling undefeated none-the-less.

Her heart pounded against the admirable sound of his voice, "Mr. Kurosaki?"

"Yes," He reassured her in his confidence, pausing briefly before stealing his first kiss with her. An overwhelming and forsaken kiss he knew should have taken place weeks ago, "I'm sorry."

This must have been a dream, she thought. Shy and careful she backed away with a faint blush.

"H-How did you find me? What happened?"

Once he removed the cloth her eyes adjusted to see his lips pulled into a smirk, "I always seem to find you," Ichigo kept his smile as he stabled himself so he could use his hands to pull the rope from her arms. Balancing her weight on her side, her arms soon fell free. Her shoulders ached as her head loudly pounded beneath her palm, "Are you okay?"

Orihime was extremely flattered. The man she had so desperately hoped to see again come for her. Her grey eyes sparkled at the thought. She still had so many questions that need to be answered yet she could not care less. Just looking at him had a deep effect on her, but she could tell that the moment was over.

She shifted discretely and replied with a muffled, "Yes."

"The men got away but I promise you that we'll catch them."

Her heated mind began to boil over, "Did you find out who took me?"

Ichigo's eyes turned from the door to eye her, "You mean you don't know?"

"No," She began to stutter with a hushed voice, slightly embarrassed, "I never saw their faces except for one. Um, Sushigawara."

"Sushigawara?"

Orihime found herself discretely ogle the bit of tanned skin he was now revealing beneath his open collar. She was surprised how easily she had been taken in by his appeal while he appeared deep in thought, "Don't worry, alright?"

Orihime snapped from her thoughts when he rose, "Your ride will be here soon."

"Wait," She croaked, "Please! Don't leave."

Her back slid against the wall in his direction. As if her subconscious ruled, her decision to stop him wasn't entirely her own; It was intuition.

He waited solemnly, "What is it?"

"I've been waiting to explain myself. Not knowing how you've felt," She fumbled with words, her dress in her hands, "I, I want you to understand that this was not what I chose," She hoped he wouldn't look at her to save her embarrassment, "I never signed the marriage papers. That is why they were forcing me to sign."

"That's why they took you," He huffed in dark his tone, "This makes no sense."

"I'm sorry," She wallowed in guilt more than self-pity, "I promised to meet you."

His fists tightened and loosened repeatedly in an off and uninviting silence, "It wasn't your fault. I know that now."

"I want to make it up to you-"

"-I'll get Renji for you," Ichigo asserted as he prepared to leave.

"Please," Orihime uttered again, "Will you meet with me again?"

"Your fiance has a planned a ball within the next few days where you should make your appearance. I'm sure that Mrs. Arisawa will explain everything once you get back."

Ichigo's worry was obvious. Orihime knew she would be forced by family once again to pretend to be a happily engaged woman but her heart was screaming out, telling her that her engagement was moving too quickly, "What?"

"I'm sorry," Ichigo spoke sincerely, "I'll get Renji for you."

Stopping him again she turned assertive, "Will you go?"

With attentive eyes he stepped forward, "I'll be there."

He knew that sneaking in to the Schiffer house now would be extremely tricky. Luckily enough for him, he would be able to hide behind a mask.

Tsukushima had been known for his scrutiny. In the Schiffer house he was listed to hold a dark demeanor by everyone that surrounded him in his work. They all gathered inside this histrionic room, unfamiliar of his crimes committed. Beneath my needed intricate mask I watched joyous cavorting figures, attempting to distinguish their differences. Deviating faces it made the task all the more difficult, yet the dances were enjoyable to witness.

"Sir Abarai?" The Kuchiki girl gracefully slipped into view. Her arrival feared me into thinking I could be easily recognized, and bowed under slight pressure.

"Uh-," Her violet eyes became piercing through her mask, causing me to fumble words, "P-Princess."

She smiled, "So, are you both close to Ulquiorra?"

Her question made me slightly confused, "Both?"

"Ichigo and yourself."

"Uh, no." Becoming aware of the Rukia was going with this conversation I had to make something up. I disagreed with lying but I had to avoid letting anyone know about Ichigo's arrival to make everything go smoothly, "Ichigo himself hasn't arrived."

"Ah," Her mouth gaped open only to give me an inquiring smile, "Well you're here, which means you must be close with Orihime then?"

Why the hell would she assume that, or even say anything? The girl seemed very forward. "Um yes?"

She pried again, "Are you happy about the engagement?"

"I'm sorry? Engagement?"

"Yeah, I'm sure things have been finalized by now," She began to mutter her words as if she didn't want me to hear them; She always had to go ahead and make things awkward.

"If Orihime likes the guy then I see nothing wrong with it," I spoke pridefully, hoping that would kill her sence of guilt.

She gave me a surprising smile, holding her hands nervously,"I've decided to stay in town for the upcoming wedding. I'm sure it will be beautiful."

I gulped, "Wedding?" I began to understand Orihime's claim of feeling forced, and tried to cover up my concern, "Y-Ya, I'm sure it will."

Rukia then peered out into the crowd that swarmed inside the Kingdom. Her eyes lighting up with excitement and eagerness towards the movement. It was so obvious that I should have seen it coming.

"Would you like to dance?"