I do not own Bleach

*Hey readers. I am Frozen In Idaho's co-author of this fanfiction, and I offer my dearest apologies to you. The absence of updates has been completely my fault. Despite the long gap, we are still excited to finish out this arc and hope that you will continue to support us and keep reading to find out how this all ends (: We still have a few surprises up our sleeves for you and hope you hang in there with us. Thank you so much for reading!

Chapter 38 Losing a Friend

Hinata awoke to find that she was still in pain. Sitting up gingerly, she found that she was back in her room. Her Daddy was sleeping with his head leaning against her bed. She gave a small giggle, but stopped when she found it hurt. Looking down, she could see that she was still in her gigai and it was badly damaged. Hinata could see that attempts to heal it had been made, but hadn't been able to fix it completely. She wondered why Uncle Kisuke hadn't just given her a new one. She stopped to take a moment to find her friends. All of the Shinigami, along with Chad where with Uncle Kisuke, and the Vizards where back at their place. They all seemed to have a nervous feeling. Uryu was still training hard with his dad. Ichigo was asleep in his bed; he seemed to be in a lot of pain as well. Yuzu and Karin where also in his room sleeping. What confused Hinata and caused her to get out of bed and walk to his room was the fact that Orihime was in his room as well.

Hinata opened Ichigo's door to see Orihime leaning over Ichigo with her face close to his. "What are you doing, Orihime?"

Orihime jumped back, startled, and lost her balance, falling backwards. Hinata was surprised to see her start to fall through the wall. Hinata ran over and was able to grab her hand just before it passed through the wall and pulled Orihime back into the room. "When did you learn to walk through walls?"

Orihime just stared at her with big eyes. "How can you see me!?"

Hinata tilted her head. "Why wouldn't I be able to see you?"

Orihime just kept shaking her head. "He told me that no one but arrancars would be able to see me."

"Who told you that?"

Orihime went to open her mouth before closing it. Then, in a soft whisper, "I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"He told me I couldn't tell anyone."

"Who?"

"Hinata . . ." Orihime seemed to try and look at anything but Hinata or Ichigo. When she looked back, her eyes went wide. "Hinata, you're hurt!"

Hinata looked down to see that her pajamas were being soaked through with blood around her middle. She had a moment to be thankful that she wasn't wearing her bunny onesie before Orihime was gently herding her towards Ichigo's bed. Once there, Orihime moved Ichigo as much as she could to make room for Hinata. "Lie down, lie down." Orihime carefully maneuvered the room, avoiding the girls as they slept on the floor. In a few short moments, Hinata found herself and Ichigo incased in an orange shield. Hinata felt the hole in her chest start to heal. She felt her eyes growing heavy as she turned to face Ichigo and Orihime. Orihime looked at her with big sad eyes. The light had just vanished when Hinata's eyes slid closed. She was almost asleep when she heard Orihime whisper, "Thank you, Kurosaki-san, Hinata. Goodbye."

Hinata wanted to ask what she meant, but sleep overcame her.

. . .

Ichigo awoke in the morning to find something tightly wrapped around him. He tried to sit up only to find that the weight was holding him down. Opening his eyes, he found that all he could see was orange. It took him a moment to realize his assailant was Hinata. In the next moment he remembered her being pulled into the sky followed by her blood chilling scream before the garganta closed and she came racing back down to earth. Kisuke had been able to catch her, but he couldn't forget the sight of her body covered in blood. Gently, he pulled her off him to look at her. The sight of her being completely fine threw him off. He had been there as he insisted that they heal Hinata before him. They had been able to do very little. Kisuke had been cursing up a storm the whole time saying he hadn't seen this happening. When Ichigo had asked him what he meant, Kisuke had brushed the question off. As Ichigo went to brush Hinata's hair from her face, he saw his own hand. It was completely healed. He remembered distinctly that no one had been able to do anything for either of them. It was then that he felt the familiar spiritual pressure of Inoue.

"It was from Inoue Orihime most likely."

At the sound of the voice Ichigo turned around to see Toshiro standing in his window. Toshiro cast a glance towards the still sleeping Hinata before looking Ichigo in the eyes once again. "Come with me right away, Kurosaki. It's an emergency."

Ichigo cast another glance at Hinata before carefully untangling himself from Hinata and the bed. With a quick search, he found Kuon snuggling with Hinata. With a glare Ichigo pulled Kuon away and quickly pulled out the mod souls pill. Plopping in into his mouth he entered his soul form and glared down at Kuon who still seemed to be trying to figure out what just happened.

"Kuon, I have to go out for a bit protect Hinata while I'm gone."

Kuon's eyes finally focused on the glaring Ichigo then shifted to the still sleeping Hinata. "Don't worry I won't let anything happen to her."

With that Ichigo turned to Toshiro who was still standing in the window watching him. "Let's go." With a nod they both jumped out the window and ran towards Orihime's apartment.

. . .

Kuon sat in the doorway, watching Hinata sleep. Ichigo had left him to watch over her while he ran off to some important soul reaper meeting. As Hinata stirred from her sleep, he struggled to force a smile onto his face. She looked around the room with wide eyes, before she spotted Kuon.

"Where's Ichigo?" she asked.

"Gone," Kuon said with a shrug. "He doesn't tell me where he's going. Just threatens me. How are you feeling?"

Hinata stretched and smiled. "I feel great!"

Kuon gave a weak smile. "That's great."

There was a moment of silence. "I thought you were going to die." Kuon said in almost a whisper.

Hinata move to sit by Kuon, "I was okay."

Kuon shock his head and his shoulders shock, "No Hinata you weren't. When they brought you in yesterday you were covered in blood and they said they couldn't do much more then wrap your wounds. Ichigo was in the same state, but when I woke up this morning both of you where healed –"

A knock came at the door, making Kuon jump. "Hinata!" Isshin called. "Are you in there? How are you feeling?" The knob turned.

Hinata sprung out of bed and threw her arms around Isshin's neck. "I'm all better, daddy!"

He drew back and looked her over in surprise. "So you are . . . so you are . . ." He looked around the room and spotted Kuon (in Ichigo's body) cowering on the bed. "I think you should stay home today. We could watch more Sailor Moon."

Hinata shook her head. "I'm all better, daddy. I want to go to school!"

Isshin frowned, but knew that it would be no use arguing. "Are you sure, Hinata?"

"Yep!" She hurried out of the room to get dressed, while Isshin turned to Kuon.

"Where's Ichigo?"

Kuon gave him a miserable look. "He left for some soul reaper meeting and told me to look after Hinata while he was gone."

"How was she healed?"

Kuon threw his arms in the air. "I don't know! It happened sometime during the night. Ichigo's not happy though, and I'm not either. Something's wrong about what happened to Hinata yesterday. You shouldn't let her go to school. She'll want to help Ichigo, whatever he's doing."

"Breakfast is ready!" Yuzu called from downstairs.

"Coming!" Hinata called back from the other room before bouncing past the door and down the stairs.

Isshin shook his head. "I can't stop her, and neither can you, Kuon. Uruhara had something to do with yesterday's incident, and I have a bad feeling that it was meant to protect her, not hurt her. Whatever happens, it will be her own choice."

Kuon couldn't contain his anger any longer. "She almost died yesterday! Somebody has to protect her! Do you honestly think you can handle another incident like yesterday? I know I can't! She saved me, and it's time that somebody saves her!"

"Kuon," Isshin said softly, "she is dying."

"Don't you – wait, what?!"

"Ichigo's dense, so he hasn't noticed yet. Hinata doesn't know either. She's too young to understand. She's imbalanced, Kuon, and it will eventually kill her. I'm trying to give her the best life that I can, and that means making her happy to the best of my ability. School makes her happy. Fighting alongside Ichigo makes her happy."

Tears trickled down Kuon's cheeks. "What can we do to save her?"

"I don't know," Isshin whispered. "I don't know."

. . .

Something was wrong. Hinata fidgeted in class, watching Ichigo who was slumped in his chair at his desk, head down, and avoiding everyone's gaze. Orihime was missing as well. Across the room, Tatsuki fidgeted nervously and sent angry glares in Ichigo's direction every now and then. Hinata wanted to talk to Ichigo, but he had come to class at the last minute and completely ignored her.

"Kurosaki, Hinata!"

Hinata jumped and turned to look at the teacher.

"Please begin reading from page 67."

"Of course," Hinata said, standing and looking at her textbook.

When the bell rang for break, Ichigo slid out of his chair into the hallway. Hinata followed after him, but Tatsuki got to him first.

"Ichigo! You know where she is, don't you? Orihime . . . she's gone!" Tatsuki huffed.

Ichigo turned, his face blank. "Why would I know that? Maybe you haven't looked hard enough."

Tatsuki rushed forward, her fist connecting with Ichigo's jaw. "Her presence is gone! Yesterday . . . it just faded away! But you know where she is! I know you do!"

Hinata crept closer, holding back tears. Tatsuki's words were true. Hinata couldn't sense Orihime anywhere . . . at least, not in the human world. She followed the thread connected to Orihime. It was faint, but it was there. Orihime was in Hueco Mundo. But what was she doing there? What had she said last night?

". . . I've seen you," Tatsuki sobbed, drawing Hinata's attention back. "Running around in that black kimono. I know everything you're hiding. Just tell me . . ."

"It has nothing to do with you," Ichigo said flatly.

Tatsuki screamed, punching Ichigo again with enough force to break the window behind him.

Hinata screamed in surprise, running now to Ichigo's side. Keigo grabbed Tatsuki from behind. "That's enough!" he yelled, but Tatsuki screamed at Ichigo, "Just what am I to you anyway?! Aren't we friends?!"

Ichigo wiped the blood dripping from his chin and looked to Keigo and Mizuiro. "Look after Tatsuki, will you?" Then he turned to walk away.

"Asshole," Keigo muttered at his back, still holding the now sobbing Tatsuki.

Hinata ran and planted herself in front of Ichigo. "Why are you hurting Tatsuki? That was mean of you, Ichigo."

His face was still blank. "Just leave me alone, Hinata. It's none of your business either." He brushed past her and continued down the hall.

"Orihime's my friend too," Hinata whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks as she watched her brother walk away.

. . .

Hinata followed Ichigo after school. Or at least, that's what she intended to do. He was acting strange. Pausing by the park, she searched for familiar presences. Ichigo was a mile away, still acting weird. Chad was at Uncle Kisuke's, practicing inside the shop. Uryu was . . . leaving the hospital! Hinata perked up and raced to find her friend.

"Uryu!" she cried, racing up behind him. He turned, a look of confusion on his face quickly turning into a smile.

"Hinata! Am I glad to see you!" Uryu gave her a quick hug and then looked her over. "You were hurt. What happened?"

"Nothing happened," Hinata said, looking at him with her head tilted to the side. "I'm all better."

Uryu frowned. "Urahara told me you'd been hurt."

Hinata shook her head. "Uncle Kisuke is mad at me. But I didn't do anything."

"You promise?"

"Yep!"

Uryu knew Hinata wasn't telling him something, but he decided to let it go. "Are you coming to Urahara's shop too then?"

"Is that where you're going?"

Uryu nodded, pushing his glasses up his nose. "He said I needed to help Ichigo."

Hinata smiled. "Then I'm coming too!"

Together they walked to Uncle Kisuke's shop, chatting about Uryu's training. As they rounded the corner, Uryu asked, "Have you been practicing, Hinata?"

"Yes!" she said happily, bouncing into the courtyard. She skidded to a stop, however, when she saw Uncle Kisuke standing in the doorway.

"Go home, Hinata." Uncle Kisuke growled. "Don't make me call Isshin to come get you."

Hinata took Uryu's hand. "I'm going to help Ichigo find Orihime."

"No."

"She's my friend too. It's not fair –"

"I said no, Hinata. It's too dangerous for you."

"What are you talking about?" Uryu asked, looking between Uncle Kisuke and Hinata with a confused expression. "Hinata is a great fighter, so she could come with us."

Hinata stared at Uncle Kisuke, who seemed to be struggling to find words to argue why she shouldn't come. "She can't come because –"

"What's going on?" Chad asked, coming out of the shop.

Uncle Kisuke twitched angrily.

"Where's Ichigo? We should leave soon."

"Yes!" Hinata said. "I want to go!"

Chad smiled at her, but Uncle Kisuke glared furiously at her.

"Ah, hell," Ichigo said from behind, causing Hinata and Uryu to both jump. "Go home, Hinata!"

"No!" Hinata said, feeling trapped between her uncle and her brother. "I want to help! Orihime's my friend too!"

Uryu looked between Uncle Kisuke and Ichigo in confusion. "Will someone please explain what's going on here? I'm missing something."

Hinata cringed under the glares from Uncle Kisuke and Ichigo. Uryu's hand tightened around hers, and she shrunk against his side. Why wouldn't they let her fight?