Disclaimer: not myn.

There was a collective silence as everyone held their breath. No one dared to move a muscle. The Spirit King was here. Though the majority couldn't see him thanks to the walls of the maze, they could sense his reiatsu. It was unlike any other in the world. It seemed to demand authority and obedience – not in a forceful way, but more like it was something that just was. As if it were as natural as breathing.

Even Yamamoto-Taichou, who like most people couldn't actually see the Spirit King, felt the need to bow his head in respect and obedience. Even the Espada felt the pull. The only person who the Spirit King hadn't evoked any of those emotions in, was Aizen...and he was standing right in front of him.

*

'Shit!' Ichigo cursed, gritting his teeth in frustration. 'How the hell am I meant to get us out of this maze?' The profanity seemed to snap Orihime out of her shocked state. Ichigo felt her body stop trembling against his chest.

'Inoue?' he asked as gently as he could. 'You okay now?' He looked down at her, trying to find some sort of response. But there was none. For a full minute she was motionless in his arms, her eyes unfocused. His scowl deepened as his concern grew. 'What on earth is wrong with her?'

'Ino-' he tried again but was cut off when she suddenly jumped out of his arms, the same determined look she had before, blazing in her gray orbs.

'I'm going to fix this,' she said passionately in a low, clear voice, facing the ground. 'I'm not sure how quite yet,' her voice took on a slightly shrill tone, 'but I will. I'm going to go to the Spirit King. He's bound to know –right?' She looked up at him then and he could see that the desperation had returned. He felt something tug at his insides at that look. He felt the strangest urge to take her in to his arms and never let her go; to hide her from the world. 'She is so fragile. Like glass,' he thought.

'No Inoue. Look, you stay right here and I'll go ask the Spirit King and while I'm at it I'll try and get a shot at that bastard Aizen.' She clenched her fists and actually glared at him. In the brief second before she replied, he couldn't but register the slight twinge of pain at seeing her glaring at him.

'We're not having this conversation again Kurosaki-kun. Don't you see? Now it's even more important than before that I do whatever I can because it's my fault!' Ichigo opened his mouth to protest, but she beat him to it. 'The fact that I didn't know is irrelevant. The damage's been done and I need to right my own wrong.' Her voice became gentler again, after her heated outburst. 'I couldn't live with myself if I didn't.'

Ichigo opened his mouth but no sound came out. He knew he had an argument – a damn good one at that - but for some reason the words died at the tip of his tongue. I don't want you hurt.

The boom of a loud explosion, followed by distant yells from somewhere on their left, carried through the maze to them. Ichigo turned his head in the general direction of the sound, every fibre in his body itching to go and fight. He looked back down at Orihime, his facial expression clearly torn.

'We can go together,' she pleaded. 'By your own reasoning, it wouldn't make sense to leave me here on my own, does it?' He bit his bottom lip, playing with the hilt of his sword as he deliberated. She has a point. At least if I'm with her I can protect her.

'Let's go,' he said, grabbing her hand to drag her along with him. Under any other circumstance this would have been cause for a lot of blushing but as it were, it bought comfort, warmth and reassurance. She squeezed his hand gently as they ran and he flicked his eyes briefly in her direction. She was smiling, a hopeful, earnest smile, the fire twinkling in her eyes again.

I was wrong. She isn't only fragile like glass. She's strong like it too.

They ran for a few minutes, the only sound surrounding them the pounding of their feet and their laboured breathing. They ran in the general direction of that strange commanding but warm reiatsu. But it was hard. Being trapped in a maze meant that Ichigo couldn't just head straight towards the reiatsu, the way he normally would. They would come closer, only to end up in a dead end and find themselves moving further away to be able to get closer. It was a simple case of trial and error.

I hate mazes, Ichigo thought savagely. The path curved to the right, further away from the reiatsu, but they had no choice, they had to follow it. They went round the bend and once again, Ichigo found himself pinning Orihime on the ground beneath him, as Zabimaru came flying at him.

'Watch where - !' he started to holler at the red headed Shinigami, but the sentence died in his throat, when he saw how engrossed the Shinigami was in his battle with one of the Espada. Renji just managed to dodge a Cero, aimed his way. He was holding his own pretty well, but Ichigo could tell he was growing weary.

'Inoue you okay?' He asked concernedly, looking at the girl in his arms. She nodded quickly, pushing at his forearms, so that he would get off of her. Ichigo complied and they stood for a moment, observing Renji's battle silently, each wrapped in their own thoughts.

'Do I intervine? I know he wouldn't want me to, but he's already banged up pretty bad,' Ichigo thought, watching the precious ruby liquid ooze out of the Shinigami's back.

'Everyone is fighting. I know Renji-kun is strong, but that Espada is really strong too...maybe too strong.' Orihime thought as the Espada, struck Renji forcefully on his shoulder. Renji winced, but refused to cripple under the pain.

'I can't help him fight but I can try to and I will put an end to it.' Orihime murmured firmly to herself. The words carried over to Ichigo, who despite the situation, couldn't help but feel his heart grow warm at the sheer force of her will.

In the end though, the decision was taken out of their hands as the maze began to move. The walls slid fluidly, creating new pathways. A huge formidable looking black wall was moving straight between Ichigo and Orihime. Reflexively, she grabbed the folds in his Haori over his chest and pulled him towards her, stumbling slightly. He gripped her wrists to steady her, as the wall brushed dangerously close against his back.

'Thanks,' Ichigo said, relieved that they hadn't been separated. He couldn't bear losing and chasing her again. Orihime for her part, smiled up at him, glad that for once, she hadn't just stood there helplessly.

Renji and the Espada he fought were now blocked from their view. Ichigo's stomach twisted slightly. I hope that baboon, holds his own.

'My my, what have we hear?' an irritatingly soft, amused voice asked from behind them. They knew that voice only too well and after Aizen's, was the one Ichigo hated most. They spun round, to come face to face with that closed lip, broad, sickening smile, they knew that they would find.

'Gin,' Ichigo spat, automatically moving Orihime behind him, as if he could shield her with his body alone.

A/n: Hope you're not too disappointed. I found this chapter really difficult to write – could be due to the fact that I'm spending more time with my history essay 

Anyways, let me know what you think – criticisms are more than welcome, as like most people here i think, i want to be able to grow as a writer.

Next chap has been planned-and hopefully i'll find time somewhere between all the essays (i hate AS level) to update within the next few weeks.

As always, thanks for reading this chapter and please review!

Missy xxx