Just as promised, the second chapter!! ^-^ I r proud!! heh heh, Hope you guys enjoy it!!

Disclaimer:............no, not this time...ohhh no, you know how it is...

A/N: Just a little note, the story in this chapter about Arena was thought of when I looked back on a bit of information that I remembered from a research paper for world geography in school I had to do. In one culture, I believe it was in South America or China, the female's family is what counts in a marriage, not the husband's! Cool right!! Well anyway, just to clear somethings, Urahara believe that Arena could be the child that this story revolves around. Arena is about 17-18 in the story, so it falls about right. Anyway, from what has been shown of Arena so far, Urahara speculates that she is the babe. Also, in the last chapter, Yoruichi told everyone that Arena was a mixture. I'm a big fan of mythology, so I will be adding that into the story. Not don't worry your pretty lil heads!! I'll make a bit believeable so that it doesn't seem to far-fetched m'kay kittens!?! Now that we have that cleared up...ONWARDS!!

The events that took part the day before were still fresh in everyone's minds, replaying when they tried to sleep and echoing in their minds during the day. Hitsugaya and Urahara had silently gone into another room afterwards and held a lengthy discussion on what had transpired with Hitsugaya asking if the other events had been that devastating and extreme. Urahara had sighed and shook his head, stating that the last incident had been nothing compared to this one. He had never experienced pain and panic like he had that moment, as if his very soul was void and yet burning. Hitsugaya nodded in agreement telling of his own feelings on it and how he too had never felt such crushing spiritual energy save for Ichigo's and the Arrancar that they had encountered so far. This brought a new subject to mind. The Winter War was not far ahead, looming over everyone like a thunderstorm. This made everyone worry when this was brought up once the two returned. Speculation that if Aizen got wind of her raw spiritual energy he would waste no effort in obtaining her was passed around and eyes glanced at the figure taking short labored breaths. Orihime's eyes began to burn as she shook her head, hoping to dispel the thoughts floating in her mind. She knew of the fear that Aizen could inflict when he had sent Ulquiorra to fetch her. She was lucky that she had such stubborn and loyal friends who would risk it all for her. She had been saved, but for how much longer? How much longer would any of them be safe? Shaking her head again, she looked down at Arena's small body and continued to stroke her hair gently, trying to comfort her as much as possible.

That day would always stay with Orihime…she would never forget the over-bearing fear that chilled her when Arena had locked up, her pupils dilated, and her body started to shake uncontrollably. Tears threatened to spill when she thought the day over.

A hand brought her out of her musing and she looked up, seeing that everyone was looking at her. Following the hand to its owner, she met concerned bluish eyes as Ishida looked at her. She laughed nervously and quietly asked for him to repeat what he asked. Doing as she requested, Ishida restated what they all wondered.

"What happened in the room before we arrived to your screams, Orihime-chan?" He coolly asked, leaning back and placing his hands into his lap. Orihime, eyes widening and gulping softly, nodded and started to tell what she could.

"When everyone left, the room was quiet. I kept holding Arena-san's hand like I always do and just as I had when you all left. Nothing happened for a few minutes, but then I noticed a sound. It was faint so I couldn't really pinpoint where it was coming from, but as I started to look for it, it stopped. Then I felt Arena-san's hand start to twitch. I thought she was finally starting to respond when she fell backwards and started making choking sounds. I started to worry when she started twitching violently on the futon. I finally called you guys when her eyes rolled back and she was jerking off the bed and clutching her stomach. I was so scared…I….I didn't know what to do. All I could do was watch…I couldn't do anything." She sobbed, tears glistening down her cheeks as she recalled the events leading up to the crushing pressure.

Eyes narrowed as minds digested what had been shared. Urahara broke out his revere first, looking at Orihime and smiling. "Thank you Hime-chan. This has been a great help."

Orihime nodded, and then gasped as she remembered something very important. Eyes snapped back to her and her shocked expression. She connected eyes with Urahara and then slowly scooted towards the still body. Making sure she had everyone's attention, she carefully started to peel back the yukata so that the right shoulder and small part of her chest showed. Drawing in a shuddering breath, she explained while she carefully moved the body to show what she had remembered.

"When Arena-san started to convulse as you saw when you all appeared, I tried to grab her before she landed on the futon. When my hand brushed against her back, I felt something there." Softly speaking, she finished moving the cloth so that nothing important would be shown, but enough so that they could see what she needed to show them. Gasps and indignant cries echoed through the room as eyes landed on what Orihime was showing.

Raised flesh that had obviously been treated not to the best of care was revealed. And from that they saw the numbers printed on her back along with the scarring that traveled farther down her back. None could see that far but they could guess just what was at the end of the scar and where it stopped. Orihime then pushed Arena's hair to the side and showed a small tattoo that had been carved into her flesh. The wound was extremely old and faded, yet it was still shown. The image of a hand with three small daggers, two pointing to either side of her heck and the last towards her hairline was clearly seen.

Yoruichi scooted over and gently traced the image and the scar. Anger as none had seen blazed in her eyes and a deep growl rocked the room. Helping Orihime adjust her clothing, they both laid the slumped figure down and moved back to their original position. Questions blazed along the room until the quick snap of Urahara's fan brought them back to attention. Eyes rested on him and he started.

"We were hoping that we wouldn't be forced to be the ones to tell you all this, but it seems we have no choice." He spoke solemnly, glancing at each person. Sighing he began.

"Arena-san belongs to a clan that has not been seen for decades. It was thought that they had been killed off since many believed that they practiced "wicked" things. For years, many have been searching for them and while there have been signs, no hard evidence has been found to show that they are still out there. About ten years ago, an incident that happened some years ago and was discovered helped this to come to past. Someone stumbled upon the clan in the middle of one of their moon ceremonies as they call them, and was almost detained by them. While running away from the angered warriors of the shadows, as they were called also, the person came across a young woman who had with her a newborn by a small stream. Desperate to escape with his life, he ambushed the woman, snatching the child from her and continued to run. Eventually he stopped at a ledge that dropped to a rapid and deadly river below. Turning around, he came face-to-face to the clan. The young woman was at the front, screaming in their language for him to give her back her child. Knowing that he could use this to his advantage, he bargained with them.

His safety for the child's safe return to its mother.

It is said that something went wrong when the mother went to retrieve her child. Apparently the ledge was not as sound and stable as had been believed and the intruded, mother, and child fell over the cliff into the waters below. It is told that the mother caught her child in the descent and used her body to take the major impact when they fell in the water. Being pulled into the water, she knew only one would survive, and so she fought to get to the surface, trying desperately to get her baby to safety. The water kept pulling her under as the mother had not yet recovered from giving birth, yes Orihime-chan she had only given birth mere hours when he took the child, and the mother's strength was quickly falling. As it was she could only manage to keep the baby atop the water. When she saw a rotten log in the water, she knew that it was the only way. Quickly latching on, she placed and secured the baby and then pulled the log with her. Pulling herself more onto the log, she cried to her baby that she must remain strong and live. For you see, her father had died from a poison seeping into his wounds when he went hunting days before. Bringing the baby close to her, she breathed her last lungful of air into the child, giving it the strength it needed to keep alive. While it wailed, it said that a burst of light was seen and then faded.

The next morning the child and its dead mother were found on the banks close to the clan's resting spot. The members in the clan thought there was nothing for the child with them and when they passed a village on their travels they placed the child near one of the houses. They buried the mother with pride and never looked back. Word got around that they had passed and when the older man that lived at the house came out to see, he found the babe playing with a butterfly that had landed on its basket. Blinking, he stooped down and picked the child up. The first thing that he saw was that the child had brilliant amethyst eyes. It was said that any child born in that clan came out with amethyst eyes when first born and then the eyes would settle into a color of their own accord. This man also happened to be a researcher, so he knew immediately what this child was. He raised the child for awhile, until it was about a year in age, and then sent it to one of his sisters that lived quite a distance from where he lived. It is said that this child was sent from place to place in hopes that no-one would discover just who and what she was. For you see, a marking on her leg and neck proclaimed that she was a noble of the clan. The mother it seemed was the leader's daughter.

Now one thing that must be known. In society, it is the husband's family that dictates where you are in life. It is not the case for this clan. Instead it is the female's family that shows your status in life. As it is, being leader is the highest anyone can hope to achieve and to marry the daughter is the highest honor any male could dream to receive. I tell you all this to say this: I believe that our little Arena-san is that said baby that was shipped everywhere."

Reigning supreme control, silence held the room as every person absorbed the expansive information shared and then slowly, all eyes landed on the figure it all surrounded.

Her shallow gasps had cleared and her chest rose softly as she slumbered, completely unaware of the attention being centered on her. With everything completely absorbed, the group was at a lost.

"So Arena-san…is royalty?" Rukia mumbled, staring down at the subject of all this mess.

"In a sense, yes she could be. But bare in mind that it is only a speculation that I have. From what I have seen and heard, she could very well be that same child. However, let's not dwell on that right now. What needs to be discussed is how we will work out the schedule for watching her and what should be done should something like this happen again or if something triggers her memories and it gets worse." Urahara sighed, grabbing the cup of tea in front of him and taking a sip. Words were mumbled and when Chad cleared his throat, the buzz died down yet again.

"What if one of us walked her to school, all of us make sure that she is okay during the school day and has no difficulties, and another walks her back. We could rotate the shift that way."

Murmurs of approval were voiced and it was decided that this would be the plan of action. When the schedule was written up, everyone was content with it. The plan was as follows: Chad would walk her to the school on the day that she would start, and then request that she be seated near a window since it seemed to calm her as they had observed. With that, the gang would watch her and make sure that she didn't have any problems. When the school day ended Renji would walk her back to the shop. On the next day, Tuesday, Orihime would be the one to walk her and Ishida would walk her back. Wednesday would be Ikkaku's and Matsumoto's turn. Thursday would be placed with Hitsugaya and Yumichika. Finally Friday would go to Rukia and Ichigo. On Saturday and Sunday, Hisagi, Yoruichi, and Urahara would take turns taking her outside to get fresh air. This would be the temporary schedule as of now. The group agreed and just as everyone was getting ready to leave for the night, for it was well past seven in the afternoon and they all had school in the morning, a whimper came from the once still body.

Feeble movements pushed the sheets off her thinning body and her eyes slowly opened. Stifling the small scream that wished to be let loose, Arena slowly sat up, clutching her abdomen and looked around. Her eyes blurrily took in the people and the new additions in the room and when she jerked suddenly, she promptly vomited. Orihime rushed over behind her and softly rubbed her back as gasps and gurgles for air came from her. When she finished upping whatever she had last in her system, she blindly reached around her and pulling the covers completely off attempted to stand up. Two pairs of arms kept her from accomplishing that task and she looked up into two pairs of worried eyes. Lightly gasping, she tiredly pulled her arms, but that only caused them to gently tighten their grips. A small whimper worked itself out and tears began to spill for the first time, the events and happenings starting to catch up.

She couldn't run now and she was left defenseless.

Trying again to make them let go, she tugged her arms away. Grips tightened more and Yoruichi settled herself beside Arena so that she was eye-level with her. This calmed Arena down some and she looked at the hypnotizing golden eyes in front of her. Her vocal chords wouldn't work, the burning and stinging of her vomiting still having hold of her and the discontinued use of her voice and lack of liquids had made her throat extremely dry and rough. She bowed her head and let a low keen out, which made Orihime get to her knees and start to stroke her hair and back. Everyone came back and sat down, knowing that if they didn't take this opportunity now, it could disappear again for a while. Feeling everyone around her and knowing that their eyes were trained solely on her made her start to hyperventilate and panic. Her heart went into overdrive and she twitched minutely. Yoruichi and Orihime immediately tried to calm her down saying that they were not going to hurt her, that she was safe, and that everyone here was not going to do anything to her.

Arena focused on calming her breathing and slowly her heart steadied. Wiping away the tears that had fallen, she took in one shuddering sigh and then looked at Urahara, who smiled at her.

"Ahh, Arena-san thank goodness that you made it! We were starting to worry if you would survive that last little surprise you gave us!" His tone was light, but she sensed the unease underneath.

Taking a moment to understand what he said and meant, Arena blinked slowly and then inclined her head towards her lap. Orihime and Yoruichi place her hands into her lap and sat near her. Her mouth would twitch for a moment, stop, and then begin again for a bit. Everyone waited, on look-out and tensed, watching for any sudden movements that she might make.

After a long silence, she looked up and stared at Urahara. Sighing softly, she opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't make a sound. She tried it again, but nothing came out. Reaching up a hand, she gently tapped her neck and looked sorrowfully at Urahara. He seemed to understand and smiled again. "I don't think I'd be able to talk soon as well, with all the noise you made!" He said, motioning for Yoruichi to go and retrieve some water for Arena. Yoruichi stood and exited, returning a moment later with a small glass of cold water. She sat by the still girl and helped her to drink, holding the cup and tilting the water forward, only pulling back when Arena would drink too fast. When she finished off the glass, she sighed again and smiled lightly at Yoruichi who smiled back and patted her hand, before taking her original position. She stared at Urahara one more time and opened her mouth. The wisps of air that flew through disappointed her, but she was grateful none-the-less.

Arena's POV

"What happened Urahara-san? And who are all these people?" I asked softly, my voice coming in a soft whisper. I grimaced at the flash of pain speaking caused me and kept my gaze on the man in front of me. My head was pounding from sitting up after lying down for so long, but I would endure it for how ever long it took him to answer my questions. The silence was brief, but by the time he started to answer, my eyelids were starting to droop and black was starting to creep into my vision. I could barely make out the words he spoke, only catching small bits of his sentences and words.

"Passed out…..blood……spurted…..serious wounds…..almost lost you….screams…..Orihime had…….everyone was worried…….immense…..crushing energy……Arena-san?!" A burst of color flashed before me and everything went black.

Third POV

Groans of disappointment were let loose as Arena slumped to her side, losing consciousness and Yoruichi reached her before she hit the floor. Her hands slowly came up and grasped Yoruichi's shirt and they watched as she fought the relentless darkness, muttering that she needed to leave and that it would burn if she didn't. Chuckles came when she slurred about stupid nosey people and can't just bleed freely without getting people involved, postures relaxed when she whined and then slumped into Yoruichi's chest, still gripping her shirt. While she was being put back on the futon, her eyes opened briefly and she muttered something that sent the room into chuckles.

"Blood loss sucks eggs." And with that, she was gone.

They all watched to see if she would wake back up, but when it became apparent that she would need more rest and would not be waking anytime soon, the large group silently made their way out of room and Orihime bring up the rear. She smiled when she heard Arena mutter about water and then shut the door.

The group reformed outside of the shop and farewells were said until they next met up the following morning. Ishida and Orihime walked in the same direction, making small talk and Orihime telling him of the new chocolate ice cream, bean paste, and leek creation that she had thought of. The last thing the laughing group saw was Ishida's face turning an interesting shade of green and Orihime asking him if he wanted her to bring some for him tomorrow.

Chad also bid goodnight to everyone, heading off to his own apartment.

Ichigo and Rukia were the last to leave, talking with the group sent from Soul Society and the shop-keeper and crew. Jinta and Ururu were still slightly shaken from yesterday's incident, but they were unharmed other than that. The duo wished everyone goodnight and left for Ichigo's house.

The pair walked in silence until Rukia broke it.

"Ichigo…what are your thoughts on this Arena girl?" She glanced over at the substitute soul reaper and watched as he composed his thoughts. What came from him surprised her a little.

"I think that she's running from something pretty bad…and that something wants her back. I can't put my finger on it, but something is telling me that we should do everything we can to protect her. Think about it Rukia, besides the unexpected events, has she ever done anything to intentionally hurt us? She hasn't even lied to us, only shelled out the truth in bits. I can't explain it, but something in my gut is telling me that she is saying the absolute truth. While I don't trust her fully, I think that she could be a great person if given the chance." He answered honestly…well as honestly as he could at the moment.

A contemplative silence settled over them as he reached his doorstep, Rukia hopping up to his window to avoid his father, and Ichigo opening the door and walking inside. The usual "IIIIICCCHHHHHHGGGGGGGGOO!!!!!!!" resounded through the house, followed by the customary kick that sent his father busting another hole into the living room. Muttering under his breath about 'delusional and unfit fathers', he ascended the stairs to his room for what he knew was going to be a lengthy discussion. He was sure that his answer had made Rukia think and when Rukia thought…it usually wasn't good for him personally.

Once he reached his room, Rukia had already settled herself on his bed and Ichigo sat down in the chair at his desk. The room was quiet until Rukia once again broke it.

"How do you know that she is truthful with her answers hm? For all we know, she could be well adept in that art. And what is with this 'something bad' idea?...Ichigo?...Ichigo…….ICHIGO!!"

That was what caused Ichigo Kurosaki to have a friendly face-to-face with his floor. Growling under his breath and glaring up at Rukia once he righted himself, Ichigo got back in his chair and stared out the window. When he heard Rukia draw in a deep breath, he held up a finger to let her know he needed a minute and continued to look out his window. The stars glinted and cast a twinkling show across the deep black canvas, as if someone dumped a bag full of glitter into space. Breathing deeply, he leaned back in his chair and crossed his hands behind his head. "I can't really give you an answer you would understand, but I feel something deep within that just tells me we know she will tell the truth. It's like…..I don't know….almost like how you know when a thunderstorm is about to come. You smell the rain in the air, but you don't see the clouds yet. Yet you know that it's coming. Think of it like that, I just feel it. That's all I got right now Rukia, now can I please go to sleep?" He twitched and yawned lightly glad he didn't have much homework. Rubbing the back of his head, he looked at the small girl on the object of his current desire.

Rukia still looked doubtful, but sighed in defeat and got up, heading towards his closet. Before she got in, she glanced over her shoulder, one leg already in the comfortable space to her, and spoke one last time for the rest of the night. "Just know Ichigo that not everything that seems innocent is and not everything that seems okay is safe." She spoke and pivoted into the closet, shutting the door and letting Ichigo wonder over her words.

Once he heard her settle down, he stood up and stretched, hearing muscles pop and feeling his body loosen up. Pulling his shirt off and the undershirt beneath that, along with his socks and pants, Ichigo slid underneath his covers in just his boxers. Finding a comfortable position on his side, he looked up at the newly uncovered crescent moon and sighed deeply, turning onto his back and folding his arms under his head. His mind went over the past events and what Rukia had said to him.

Yes, Ichigo knew how dangerous it could be to let someone such as this Arena girl slip underneath his radar, but in all honesty he just could not drudge up any caution towards her. Sure, in the beginning he had, but anyone would if they were worried about a freely bleeding person getting even more blood on them and then wondering if it was going to happen again. Be mindful, Kurosaki Ichigo was no fool. He made sure to put the front that he was wary of her both in front of her and the others, but when he was alone, he couldn't help but think of the girl that had fallen into his life…literally. Sighing again, Ichigo burrowed even more into his covers and banished the thoughts deep into his mind. Sleep came to him and soon he was gone, the scowl sliding off his face and a more peaceful expression taking reign. The very last brief thought he had was, 'And speaking of which….I haven't heard from that damn hollow lately..hmm..'

And blissful darkness cradled him through the night.

.....you know the drill peeps!! Reviews and comments are good!! so leave one! Hope you liked this one, I kinda winged it a bit, soooo *shrug*...LUVES U!! ^-^ ja ne!