"I don't understand why I'm not getting better." Orihime sighed in frustration as Unohana entered her room with some tea. She'd been asleep for hours, since the incident in Grimmjow's room, and the tea helped her pull herself out of the grogginess.

"I have completed the tests we ran yesterday." Unohana said, taking a seat on the stool next to her bed. Orihime's eyes lifted to meet hers, worry slowly building.

"You are fine, Orihime, don't worry. I have concluded that you did suffer trauma initially, on the spiritual level, but now it is just a matter of time. Your powers are a part of you, so their loss has put you in this state of weakness and fatigue, but as they return, so will your strength."

"And they will return, right?"

"Yes, we have already measured increases in your spiritual pressure since you've arrived. Being here is actually helping you, since this place is entirely made of raiti. You're body will be able to absorb the excess spiritual particles in the air."

"That's great." Orihime smiled. "How long will it take?"

"Weeks, I'm afraid."

"What? That long? But what if Captain Hitsugaya is rescued? I thought I could help him, take his mind back to before he even had the memories put in his head."

While visiting her, Rangiku had been very open with the girl about the situation, hoping to save her Captain from death or permanent memory loss, and since then Orihime had been determined to help.

"If that happens, then alternative measures will have to be taken."

"Like what? A memory wipe like he tried to do before? Or will you let them kill him?"

"Orihime, its not up to me."

"It is, if you can help me heal faster. There must be something! Tell me what I have to do."

Unohana looked at her steadily, trying not to let her own emotions influence her medical decisions. But looking at the girl, she knew there was one option she could give her.

"The healing time could be reduced to a matter of days, maybe even as few as two or three."

"How?"

"You would have to be put in a spiritually and medically induced coma, and healers would tend to you at all times, feeding your body the spirit it needs. It would be painless, but you would have to trust us completely with your life."

"I do. I'll do it."

"You don't have to answer right away, the idea of being unconscious for days is scary, you might want to take some time–"

"No, I've decided. But before we do it, there's one person I need to see."

Grimmjow's head slumped forward in fatigue. It snapped back up in a second, however, when he heard the creak of the bared door opening and he saw a slender figure enter.

"Orihime?" It was dark but as she approached he could see her face more clearly. "Are you alright now?"

"Yes Grimmjow." she said coming to kneel in front of him. She looked sadly up at his hands shackled to the wall above his head.

"Its my own damn fault." he explained. "The Commander kept asking me questions I couldn't answer and I got so frustrated I nearly strangled one of his guards."

"Oh Grimmjow..." her face was sad.

"I can deal with it." But she just remained sitting there, staring at him. "What? What is it?"

"I'm scared that if I leave, things will get worse for you."

"What do you mean? Where are you going?" His heart beat a little faster and he wasn't sure if it was because he might lose the chance of getting his memories back or just because the girl would no longer be close to him.

"Captain Unohana said I could get my powers back a lot faster if I went into a medically induced coma."

"What do you mean? Why would they do that?"

"If my body isn't concentrating on keeping me awake and moving me around, it can focus on absorbing more spiritual particles. And the healers can help with that too."

"Is it dangerous?"

"No, not really."

"Well how long would it take?"

"A few days."

Grimmjow's expression was one of mixed emotions. He was as torn by the thought as she was.

"You know my friend Toshiro that I told you about?"

"Yeah. The kid with Yamamoto's memories."

"Yeah, well, I'm the only one who can restore his mind to where it was right before he absorbed them. Then he wouldn't be in danger anymore and Aizen would never get the information he wants."

"So you're going to do this to save him?"

"And so I can bring back Uryu's memories, and yours, if you still want them."

"Don't. Don't do this for me, I already owe you too much."

"Grimmjow, you don't owe me anything. I do what I do because I care about you. You're...my friend."

He watched her carefully but he really had no idea how to respond. Arrancars didn't really have friends. But was that what he'd been feeling for her these past few days? Friendship? Could that explain why he was so compelled to protect her?

"Why are you telling me all this?" he asked finally, his voice betraying no emotion.

"I just wanted to let you know where I am." She said, withdrawing, and he could see he'd hurt her feelings. But arrancars didn't know how to deal with hurt feelings either.

"Okay..." he said awkwardly as she made her way back to the cell door. He tried to think of something better to say before she left but couldn't so he just watched her disappear.

An uneasiness settled on him as he slumped back against the wall of the first division prison. It was an animalistic feeling that ran all through his body– instincts on high alert. His muscles tensed. Deep down, he knew that something was coming.

"Watch over him and the others. And be careful, I want him in good health, but I do not want him escaping either, he seems to have managed to hang onto a fair bit of power, despite appearances."

Aizen stared down at the sleeping boy, now strapped firmly to his bed as he gave Tossen the instructions. Gin was waiting at his side, fully recovered from the attempts to bring back his memories. They were about to embark on their second trip to the Soul Society since their betrayal to kidnap Orihime.

"I will not fail you, my Lord." Kaname bowed and Aizen strode away. He didn't have to walk past the cells in order to get to where he was going but he went that way just so he could glance in on his two prisoners.

Soifon and Ichigo were each propped up against the walls on opposite ends of the cell, as far away from each other as they could get.

"I see you haven't forgiven her yet, Kurosaki." Aizen chuckled when the boy jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Where is Toshiro?" He blurted out, racing to the bars. Behind him, Soifon stood up warily.

"What are you planning?" She asked, seeing the triumphant look in his eyes.

"Another trip to the Soul Society actually. I just miss Orihime so much that I–"

"YOU LEAVE HER ALONE!" Ichigo roared, his fists clenching white around the bars.

"I'm afraid I can't. She's the only one who can restore all those precious memories in Hitsugaya's mind. I suppose that makes her as much a threat as Hitsugaya now, doesn't it Captain Soifon? Perhaps I will put the women in a cell together once I get her, just to see how things play out? Wouldn't that be interesting?"

Ichigo growled but couldn't help but play into Aizen's game and he looked back over his shoulder to try to read Soifon's face but it was set in a deadly glare.

"Shut up, traitor."

"Oh, is that the best you can do? I'm right, aren't I. You'd kill her in a heartbeat if you thought it would serve the Soul Society." Aizen leaned close to the bars, just centimetres from Ichigo's face. "I'll just leave you to think about that for a while, Ichigo Kurosaki. Be back soon."

He withdrew and a bestial noise of rage escaped Ichigo but nothing more, he was helpless and slumped to the floor in furry, unable to look back at the woman behind him, not wanting to see her face.

Tossen felt the spiritual pressure of his master and Ichimaru disappear and knew he was once again in charge of the realm. But they were not gone for more than ten minutes when another spirit erupted in the palace, flooding it with his dark, uncontrolled aura.

"The fourth espada has return." Tossen said to himself, racing toward the intrusion. He could already hear the destruction and violence that was erupting in corridors nearby. But just as he found the wild espada, traces of two other spirits touched his mind.

"Clever, very clever." But he could not follow them just yet as Uluquiorra unleashed all his power on him.

"How the hell are we supposed to find them in this maze?" Renji called after Rukia who seemed to know where she was going despite the endless, identical corridors.

"I can feel him. If you concentrated you could too."

"You know I'm not good at that stuff."

"Just shut up and follow me." Renji ignored her rudeness and followed. The noise of Uluquiorra was fading, they were getting deeper and deeper into the maze but the distraction seemed to be working, they met no resistence as they went.

Finally they came to the cells. A stunned face met them between the bars.

"No way." Ichigo breathed and Renji clanged his sword against the bars in anger.

"Is that anyway to greet your rescuers? Don't act so surprised that we're alive."

"Abarai, shut up and free us." the voice came out of the shadows at the other end of the cell and the lieutenant jumped, unaware of Soifon's presence. She was the leader of the stealth squad, after all.

"Rukia," Ichigo spoke low, not inviting Soifon into the conversation, "Toshiro is down the hall, they took him to try to get his memories back."

"I can feel his spiritual pressure. I'll go."

"Rukai."

"What is it?"

"He's lost all his memories." She looked at him confused but there was no time, she was running down the corridor before anyone could protest. Renji turned back to fight with the locks.

Rukia felt out through the halls but the room she sought was only two corridors away. She turned and pushed through the heavy doors into the bright white room with many clear, reflective surfaces that gleamed back at her. On a bed, drenched in blood, was Captain Hitsugaya.

"Oh Captain!" she exclaimed but was surprised to find him awake and uninjured when she came to his side. She immediately began to work on the bindings.

He sat up when she finished but his head swam with dizziness and she reached out to steady him. When her hand made contact with his own, however, he felt a flash of something, deep inside him. Not exactly a memory, but a voice, ancient and familiar. She caught his look.

"Are you alright?"

"I..." but as she continued to hold him the flashes of recognition struck harder. The temperature of the air dropped several degrees.

"I know you." he said, finally taking his hand away. They were both surprised to find a thin layer of frost where their hands had been touching. Toshiro's breath puffed out before him.

"Captain Hitsugaya, do you remember something?"

"I don't know...a voice or something."

"Hyorinmaru?"

"I'm not sure." He stood up and she slipped a supportive arms around him. She was barely taller than him, they looked like a pair of children. "What is your name?" He asked, waiting for the room to stop spinning.

"Ruika Kuchki."

"Rukia...there's something about you I know you."

"I'm glad to hear that." she said. He pulled away from her and noticed her zampakuto. She had it drawn, it was slender, snowy white, beautiful.

"You're a water spirit." He said.

"Yes, how did you–"

"I don't know, but some part of me does, because I am too, right? My power is ice and water?

"Yes, it is." she smiled encouragingly but that was all, it was not a real memory, but the resonance of two like spirits. He couldn't help, however, feel the flicker of power inside him, spurred by the similar soul beside him.

The moment ended abruptly however when the two were suddenly flung away from one another. Rukia landed on her feet but Toshiro rolled onto the floor and into one of the tables. Medical supplies rained down on him. When he looked up, he saw Tossen, somewhat battered, but still menacing, towering over the small girl.

"Rukia." he moaned and pulled himself to his feet. The girl dodged several blows but never had time to even attempt her own attack. Eventually she was sent fly back toward Toshiro and he steadied her as she half fell against him.

Tossen was already on them. Toshiro raised an arm protectively, and, inspired by the soul in his arms, a sheen of ice formed in time to protect them. The blow sent shivers up his arm though and he was sure something had broken but he wasted no time, he let out another burst of power. The room's temperature plummeted and ice formed on the smooth tiles, making the surface slick and treacherous. He and Rukia manoeuverer easily on it, naturally, instinctively, and headed toward the door. Tossen struggled briefly before releasing an enormous cero that melted most of the ice away. The blast, however, sent the two miniature soul reapers tumbling out the door for which they had been headed and once they were though, they waste no time in racing back toward their friends.

Rukia pulled her superior behind her as she ran back to the cells but she found the area deserted upon arriving.

"Where did they...?"

"Get down!" Toshiro rammed her into the bars and a ball of energy streaked past them, energy crackling in its wake.

"Captain Hitsugaya, get behind me." She instructed but he didn't move, he held up his bare hands as Tossen approached.

"Get back, Toshiro," Tossen warned, "I have orders not to harm you...but this girl..." He sent another bolt of energy at them and they crashed to the floor as the cell bars shattered above them.

"Shit." Hitsugaya coughed and pushed himself up but found himself face to face with Tossen. He didn't breath but shifted his head just slightly to see Rukia. She held her brilliant blade before her, Tossen's digging into the perfect, silver surface. It was taking all her strength to keep her hold.

"Good bye Rukia Kuchki."

"KANAME!" The unwavering strength of the warrior woman was conveyed in the thunderous roar that escaped her petit form. Though Tossen could not see it as he turned to face Captain Soifon, Suzemebachi back in her grasp, flames danced in her fierce stare. "Time for you to die, Traitor."

Ichigo was at her back, Zangetsu held at the ready, and Renji next to him.

"Go Rukia, take the captain and run!" Renji barked. She hesitated. "Now!" Rukia just managed to pull herself and Toshiro clear before the hallway turned pitch black, Tossen had released his power which deprived the enemy of their sight. There was nothing she could do for them now, they were trapped in his black dome.

"What about them?" Toshiro asked, stumbling behind Rukia.

"No choice, we have to keep running."

"To where?"

"Out in the dessert, close to the Gillion Forest, there's a gate, Urahara set it up–" she realized he would have no idea who that was– "anyway, it will take us back to the world of the living. We have to go now, before Aizen gets back."

Toshiro took one last look back down the hallway at the wall of black, before he was yanked around a corner and toward the open sands.