I know this is barely cutting the deadline, what with it being 14 minutes to midnight and all, but I was gone all day and this was the first chance I had to post it. (I wrote it on the road. :p Not fun.) I'm sorry it's so short, too, but I figure that everyone can deal with that... sorry. (Oh, and I will be repying to reviews tomorrow since it's late and I need to go to sleep.)

Oh! We hit 400 reviews. You. Guys. I love you all to death. You have no idea how happy this made me. :D Congradulations to Whalefriend, who had incredibally good timing and just so happened to win the 400th reviewer prize in addition to her 300 reviewer prize. Her prize for wining 30th is up and read-able now, a one shot called Rain if anyone wants to read it. Sort of angst-y, but you know. *shrugs* Anywho, enjoy the chapter! Sorry again for it's shortness!

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Soul Society was not, in fact, in an uproar. People were, however, very nervous. Captain Soi Fon, second division, had been deployed for a mission. And one day later she had not come back with her target. This was virtually unheard of- the stealth force was well known for completing missions in minimal time.

A captain's meeting was called, of course. Head Captain Yammamoto demanded someone find the missing captain and find out what it was that was holding her back. Of course, he would need two people to go in case the captain required assistance while the other would come back for the report. And since it had Soi Fon herself held up, they would need two people around captain level. Captain and lieutenant, perhaps. Though it wasn't wise to send the captain and lieutenant of the same squad, because then if the Soul Society were to suddenly be attacked they would have one squad that would be without leadership.

Automatically a couple of choices were cut. Squad twelve, because it was likely that the scientist would stray from orders and take his time in picking up specimens from the deserts of Hueco Mundo. That also cut his second in command, as she was his personal bodyguard. It also cut squad two, since they needed to lieutenant to lead them. Additionally, it cut the third squad which was still shaky in leadership. Fourth squad was cut out for healing and always needed where it was. Fifth was actually pretty stable in it's current leadership, though the members were still very heavily dependent on Momo Hinumori instead of their captain.

It was brought to the head commander's attention that perhaps now was an opportune moment to let the captain of fifth squad lead his squad on his own. Momo Hinumori was selected as the lieutenant, to her surprise. It would do her some good to get out and go on a mission anyway.

To select a captain was the only task left. Of course, squad six was out of the question- the nobble captain Kuchiki had much better things to do than go chase down missing persons. Squad seven was not chosen simply because the wolf like man did not believe he was ready to face an espada again anytime soon. Admittedly, the captain of squad eight had an awful hangover and was unfit to go. Nine was also still shaky in it's leadership, and needed it's captain to stay. Ten- captain Hitsugia Toshiro. Not only was he free, but he was clam and cool headed- he wouldn't get distracted fro his mission.

And so it was decided. "Captain Hitsugia Toshiro of squad ten and Lieutenant Hinumori Momo of squad five will both depart to Hueco Mundo in search of Captain Soi Fon- squad two. Mission initiated; immediately. We wish the best to the both of you."

The two said individuals nodded in affirmation. "Hia, Tachio."

And they were off.

~)o0o(~

Ulquiorra brought Orihime through the empty doorway of his room and out into the hall. They proceeded to the meeting hall, Orihime clutching Ulquiorra's hand all the way there. She messaged patterns onto the back of his hand with her thumb in her nervousness, her teeth delicately musing her bottom lip.

Orihime halted before the doors of the meeting room, her eyes flicking over the huge entry way in slight anxiety.

"If you do not want to go," Ulquiorra murmured, "Then you do not have to. We may simply go out to the front of the palace as we did yesterday."

Orihime looked determined then, her whole body putting forth her expectations of non-cowardice that she held herself to. "Let's go."

Ulquiorra dropped his head once, untangling their hands so that he could place his right palm against the door and give a push. It swung open immediately, revealing Ichigo pacing around the room while Rukia sat and chatted idly with Halibel, who was- oddly enough- wearing a jacket that covered her stomach as well as her top for once. Nel was marching along behind Ichigo, scowling as she imitated him, still in her child form. Lillenet and Stark were nowhere to be found, but from the feel of the reatsu in there air one could tell the two had gone out to shoot down any enimies that might come crawling back to the palace any time soon. So far, however, none had.

When the duo entered the room the activities of the occupants ceased for a moment while everyone drank in their presence. Finally, after a great time, Halibel spoke.

"You are looking well this morning, Inoue-san. Have the two of you had breakfast? The kitchen was done being constructed yesterday afternoon."

Orihime blinked, looking around with a slight blush as Ichigo and Rukia looked at her like she had grown another head. Timidly, she answered. "Uh, not yet, Halibel-san." She smiled suddenly, the radiant beam bright and cheery as Orihime's usual self. "But I'm so happy to hear we have a kitchen now!"

Ichigo narrowed his eyes at her words, though why Orihime didn't know. "Ioue." He said, turning to stomp over to her. "We came to bring you back. Are you ready to go home?"

Orihime was gratefull that it seemed he didn't care about her turning into an arrancar, as he didn't even spare the bone growth on the sides of her head a second glance. But… he was asking her to leave? He wasn't even asking, really, he was telling her it was time to leave. He was shooting Ulquiorra a death glare, like it was the man's fault she wasn't home and safely tucked up in her bed. Orihime found a frown bubble to the surface of her features, mostly because she couldn't stand to think that Ichigo though ill of Ulquiorra. She, after all, wouldn't be standing anywhere if it wasn't for him. Se would be dead, her soul floating around in Soul Society without any clue as to what was going on. It was thanks to him she was living. Or some version of the word, anyhow.

Before she could say anything about going home, two spiritual pressures- both identifiable as shinigami- bleeped into existence not too far away from the palace. At the same time, both Grimmjow and Soi Fon appeared in the room, the former of the pair missing his shirt and the latter wearing said clothing.

"Oh, great, what now?!" Grimmjow growled. "Again?!"

Ulquiorra sighed, mostly to himself, and looked at Orihime out of the corner of his eye. "I knew that you were well liked, Onna, but this is beginning to become tedious"

Ichigo watched the couple, not really caring that more shinigami had showed up. He would have to talk to Rukia to get his thoughts all sortd out, since he wasn't really sure what to make of anything at that point, but one thought was stuck in his mind. When Orihime had mentioned the kitchen, she hadn't said, "it's cool that there's a kitchen now." Or "It's cool that you got a kitchen!" No. She had said " I'm happy to hear wehave a kitchen now."

When had she started counting herself among them?