Ichigo stared at the blood pooling at his feet, and he couldn't believe what had happened. Ichigo looked up at the person that had caused the pool of blood. Shinji.
"Oi Ichigo," Shinji said, "how long you goin' mope about Orihime?"
Ichigo let his anger show, "I'm goin' to 'mope' until you get out of my way! I AM going to Hueco Mundo and I AM GOING TO SAVE ORIHIME!", with that Ichigo slashed at Shinji in a downward arc. Shinji deflected Zangetsu with a flick of his wrist.
"See, Ichigo? How can you even think you could save Orihime if you can't even push past me?", Shinji glared at Ichigo with uncharacteristic anger marring his usually happy features.
Ichigo could think of one thing to do at this point, "Ban Kai!" a large dust cloud now surrounded them. Thinking he could use this used flash step to get behind Shinji. His mask already on Ichigo slashed at Shinji's legs, or where his legs were supposed to be. Shinji had flash stepped behind Ichigo. Ichigo didn't notice till Shinji's blade pierced through his left shoulder. Ichigo couldn't help giving a little shout of pain as he jumped away.
"Ichigo," Shinji sighed, "why do you so needlessly rush into battles that you cannot win?" Shinji stared at Ichigo waiting for his response. Ichigo stared back at Shinji.
"I can win…I need to.", Ichigo whispered, voice no higher than a whisper.
"Ichigo," Shinji said rubbing his temple, "Aizen won't kill Orihime. He won't even touch her. He needs her powers to awaken the Hogyoku. So he won't do anything that might affect her powers in any way" Shinji paused for a breath, "so will you please allow us to train you to be stronger?"
For the next hour Shinji lectured Ichigo about good tactic in battle, much to Ichigo's dismay.
"But Nii-sama!", Rukia complained to her brother, "why can't we go and save her!"
"Because", her brother Byakuya said, "Yamamoto-taichou declared the red head to be a traitor to Soul Society."
"Nii-sama," Rukia said her voice filled with anger, sadness, and pity. Anger at her brother, sadness for Ichigo, and pity for Orihime. She didn't know what has happened to Orihime and truth be told thinking of where Orihime was she didn't want to know. She made up her mind on her way to Renji's room. She was going to save Orihime with or without the Soul Society's help.
Orihime heard him before he entered. How odd she never heard Ulquiorra unless he knocked. So she turned to face him and her most likely lunch. But to her surprise it wasn't who she believed it would be, instead of Ulquiorra the arrancar that stood in front of her was a woman. The woman had an exotic look to her. She had blonde hair and delicious mocha skin. Orihime looked up and down this beautiful and exotic arrancar with a ping of jealousy. Yes Orihime knew she was good looking by human standards but the dark skinned goddess that stood in front of her put her to shame, in her own mind. The part that really got to Orihime though was the fact that as an arrancar she wouldn't age, so she would stay a goddess for all eternity. Orihime feeling self-conscious looked herself over then hugged herself. The beautiful arrancar, noticing let out a small sigh. Orihime couldn't think of any reason why this exotic arrancar would come to her room. The arrancar looked in the large gray orbs that were Orihime's eyes.
The arrancar then said, "My name is Tia Halibel."
Orihime was surprised at how; she didn't like the word, sultry her voice sounded. Orihime stuttered a little before she could finally say, "i-i-I'm o-Orihime",
Halibel let out a sigh, "I know who you are. You are the burden that is always annoying Ulquiorra."
Orihime was, to say the least, afraid of this woman. Why? Because the way she said Ulquiorra's name. she said it with such warmth that Orihime thought maybe she was Ulquiorra's woman. Why did that bother Orihime to such a degree?