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Ichigo shot daggers at the man in front of him, but instead of cowering in fear, the look only seemed to amuse him.

'I see you've made your way to Orihime once again,' he smiled. Ichigo gritted his teeth, furiously.

'Don't you dare call her that like you know her,' he spat, moving to hide said girl further from view.

'Touchy are we? I see among friends you insist on formalities Kurosaki-kun, but amongst us...traitors we're not so uptight. Isn't that right Orihime?' His voice was venom. Ichigo's blood boiled not only at the familiarity (which he himself hadn't even got to) but also at the fact that Gin was insinuating that Orihime was a traitor. And that was one thing he knew, she definitely wasn't. He tightened his grip on Zangetsu and stepped forward.

'Shut up,' he growled his voice deadly calm. Gin's face never lost its sickening smirk but nonetheless, he moved in to a fighting stance, his Zanpakto held out firmly in front of him.

'Inoue, stay back,' he murmured to the frozen girl behind him. He took a step forward, his hand raising to his face before he paused.

'I'm sorry Inoue,' he says his voice slightly pained, back firmly facing her. 'I know – I know you're scared of me like this.' That said, he willed his hollow mask in to place and focused all his attention to the Shinigami in front of him.

'How touching,' Gin smirked. Ichigo growled before jumping forward, his Zanpakto rushing to pierce the traitor's chest. Gin blocked the blow easily, still smiling that infuriating smile. Ichigo growled deep in his chest and went on the offensive again.

Orihime stood frozen in her spot, eyes diligently following the fight in front of her. The feeling of dread, of fear and helplessness that gathered inside her, was even worse now than it had been when she was watching Renji fight.

'Kurosaki-kun...please don't die. You just managed to beat Ulquiorra but Gin...he's so much stronger.' She felt her eyes sting uncomfortably but she shook them away, furious at herself. 'Get a grip on yourself!' she scolded herself. 'All you ever do is stand uselessly in the side lines, crying his name. Not anymore. You're going to go find the Spirit King and hopefully – no you will put an end to this.'

She closed her eyes, trying to focus on the Spirit King's reiatsu. To the right. She ran towards the passageway on her right, hoping that Kurosaki-kun wouldn't see her.

'Inoue!' No such luck there. She turned to face the creepy hollow-like masked boy, who was both trying to fight Gin as well as talk to her. Taking advantage of his distraction, Gin stabbed at Ichigo who just managed to dodge the fatal blow. Gin's Zanpakto skimmed Ichigo's shoulder though and Ichigo winced at the contact.

This was why I didn't want him to see me, she thought desperately.

'Kurosaki-kun I'm going on my own, I'm no help to you here!' She shouted to him.

'Wha-No!' Gin once again tried to take advantage of Ichigo's distraction, this time skimming his other shoulder.

'Bastard. Getsuga Tenshou!' Ichigo watched his attack race towards Gin, who just managed to move away in time. They were neck and neck.

'Kurosaki-kun please. We all have to do what we can and I can't do anything here. I can't always depend on you for everything. I need to do things for myself.' Ichigo spun out of the way of one of Gin's attacks, bringing himself a meter away from Orihime.

'Inoue,' he breathed her name, his voice pained. It's dangerous for her here – but I can't just let her go on her own either! Gin attacked him again, the shock waves of it reaching behind him to Orihime, bringing her to her knees. This can't go on.

With a heavy heart, Ichigo looked over to her only for a second - but took in everything about her. Her stormy eyes. Her lips set in a defiant expression. Her hair blowing round her face.

'Go. Be safe,' he whispered gently, his voice carrying over to her. Then turning his complete attention to the fight at hand, he said in a harder voice, 'I'll be right behind you. I just need to take care of this bastard.' From the corner of his eye he could see her run out of sight as she turned in to another pathway.

'I can't always depend on you for everything. I need to do things for myself.' He wasn't sure why, but her words cut him deeper than he thought possible. I want her to rely on me. To be able to depend on me, he realized. He could already feel his chest pang uncomfortably as she moved further away from him.

'Useless,' Gin drawled. ' There's nothing she can do. It's a pure suicide mission.' Ichigo's anger flared once more.

'Let's get this over with,' he growled.

The only thing on Ichigo's mind was how soon he could start chasing after Orihime for a third time.

A/n: so what dyu think?

Sorry if its a bit short but my mum's nagging me to get my priorities straight-namely homework then fanfiction and not the other way round the way i did today.

Please review and let me know what you think-it means alot.

Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter and I hope you liked it.

Missy

xxx