Yura's eyes snapped open. Her vision started to clear from the sleep and she sat up. She held her head in her hand for a second before standing. She stretched her arms high above her head and cracked her neck. She sighed in relief and rolled her shoulders back. Her muscles were still sore and her wounds were still healing, but she felt better. She touched the wound on her head. She cringed, pulling her hand away. She didn't even want to know about her other back wound. She yawned as she walked out of the room and down the hall. She tied her hair back into a ponytail before walking into the other room.
"Good morning, Miss Ya-" With her eyes closed, Yura had walked pass Urahara with her arm held out, stable and sturdy. Her arm made contact with Urahara's throat, cutting off his sentence and knocking him down.
She turned and looked down at him, hands on her hips. "Don't say good morning to me so casually. We're not exactly on friendly terms. 'Miss' is bad enough, don't go all out by saying good morning."
Urahara slowly sat up, massaging his throat. "O-of course." He choked out.
"Still dwelling on the past, Yura? I thought you didn't do that." Yura looked up at Yoruichi who just walked in the room in her cat form. She jumped up on the table in which everyone else was sitting at and she sat herself directly in the middle, staring at Yura with her yellow eyes.
"I don't have to look back on the past to not like him." She responded. Yura sat down next to Toshiro and directly in front of Yoruichi. "Any news?" She asked, not pointing the question to anyone in particular.
"No, not yet," Toshiro responded. "We're still waiting for any signs of the Arrancar returning."
"I see…I guess that means we have a small break, right?"
"Don't drop your guard."
"I never planned on it."
"Anyway," Everyone's attention turned toward Ikkaku who sat in-between Yumichika and Matsumoto. "those Arrancar have been giving us hell for awhile now. We need to just get this over with."
"But they're obviously waiting for something bigger. There's no way they're gonna barge in like yesterday again." Yura said.
"No matter how the situation will turn out, we have to be ready at all times." Toshiro said.
"Obviously." Yura said, rolling her eyes.
"Yura…" Toshiro said between gritted teeth.
Yura stood up. "Can we just get out of here already? We should probably get back."
Everyone else stood up. "Sounds like a plan."
Urahara led everyone out and said their goodbyes. The small group of Soul Reapers walked down the quiet streets. With her hands behind her head, Yura looked up at the sky. "It sure is cloudy today. Think it's gonna rain?"
"Don't say that! If you do it really will rain!" Matsumoto complained.
"Jeez, calm down. It was just a question. Though it is pretty nice."
"Do you ever like the sun?" Matsumoto asked.
Yura thought about times when she would watch the sunset. "Yeah, sometimes." Matsumoto studied Yura for awhile. Then she ran up to her and Toshiro, throwing her arms around both Soul Reapers. "Hey!"
"This weather reminds me of both of you." Matsumoto said.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well think about it. When the both of you release your Bankai, you summon dark clouds in the process, creating a storm. You're both so compatible with each other, it's just great!" The two closed their eyes and sighed, releasing themselves from Matsumoto's hold.
They eventually arrived at Orihime's house and walked in. "Orihime!" Matsumoto called, running to the back room.
Yura looked around. "Something's not right. Don't you think it's too quiet in here?" She asked.
"Maybe Orihime went out to get something." Yumichika said. They all went to the backroom where they found Matsumoto looking at something in her hands.
"Rangiku, what is it?" Matsumoto turned around with a grim expression on her face.
Yura narrowed her eyes. "I don't think Orihime is here anymore."
Everyone had gathered in Orihime's room, trying to communicate with Soul Society while Toshiro went to get Ichigo. Yura leaned against the wall, waiting. They had called Rukia and Renji over. Everyone needed to know what happened. They all looked up when Ichigo and Toshiro walked in.
Ichigo looked around the room, obviously confused. "Why is everyone here? Where's Inoue?" He asked.
"She's…" Rukia's sentence faltered.
Toshiro walked over to Matsumoto. "Have you taken care of the spectral interference yet?" He asked.
"Yes. It's all prepared."
"Good. Connect us." The screen then revealed a picture of Ukitake. "Ukitake? Where's the Head Captain?" Toshiro asked.
"I am here instead."
Toshiro narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
The captain of Squad thirteen closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Because I was the last person to see Orihime Inoue before she went through the Senkai gate," Everyone's eyes widened. "Judging by your reaction, it's safe to say that she never made it back."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ichigo asked, stepping forward. "Where did she go? You know something about this, don't you?"
Ukitake closed his eyes again. "I'll give you my opinion," There was the slightest pause before he continued. "The two guards I sent with her through the Senkai gate came back alive and well. According to them, Orihime Inoue was either kidnapped…or murdered by an Arrancar."
Rukia then stepped up. "Captain Ukitake, even if it is just a hypothesis, coming to a conclusion like that-"
"I know. I don't like saying it myself. I'm just listing the possible outcomes. According to what we know so far, she was attacked by an Arrancar, and then disappeared with him."
Ichigo clenched his fist. "You can't be serious! This isn't right! You're jumping around saying that she's dead, without any real facts, just because she suddenly vanished? Don't play around like that! Just look." Ichigo held up his arm. "My hand was seriously injured in that fight yesterday! So serious that no one here could possibly heal. And yet when I woke up this morning, there wasn't a single trace to there ever being an injury! And yet I still feel Inoue's spirit energy! Now do you think that she's dead?"
"I see. What a pity." The Head Captain then stepped forward and Yura couldn't help but to step back and attempt to blend in with what shadows were in the room.
"A pity? What do you mean?" Ichigo asked.
"If what you say about Orihime Inoue is true, then she is indeed still alive. But based on that truth, that also means that she is a traitor."
"A traitor?"
"If she was kidnapped, then she wouldn't have been allowed to see you. As such, healing your injuries and then disappearing means that Orihime Inoue joined forces with the Arrancar of her own free will." Yura narrowed her eyes and bit her tongue to keep herself from speaking.
Ichigo on the other hand could not do so, "You're insane!"
"Stop it!" Renji stopped Ichigo from doing something rash, grabbing his shoulder and holding him back. "Anything else that you say won't make the situation any better. We understand, Head Captain," Renji stepped forward. "I, lieutenant of the sixth squad and member of Captain Hitsugaya's advance group, Renji Abarai seek permission to go to Hueco Mundo and bring the traitor, Orihime Inoue, back to our side."
"Permission denied," Everyone's eyes widened. "Now that it is clear the Arrancar are preparing for battle, all members of Hitsugaya's advance group must return immediately to help fortify Soul Society's defenses."
Yura started to step forward, but stopped when she felt a shock of electricity course through her body. "Are you telling us…to abandon Orihime?" Rukia asked.
"Exactly. The weight of one life cannot compare to that of the entire world."
"Head Captain, I'm afraid I won't be able to obey those orders." Yura looked at Rukia, surprised by her response.
"I expected as much. Fortunately, I anticipated that some of you might say so and made special arrangements."
Everyone turned around when a Senkai gate suddenly opened, revealing both Kenpachi and Byakuya. "You heard him," Kenpachi said. "It's time to go back."
"Do not resist," Byakuya started. "We've been ordered to take you back by force if necessary."
Everyone went silent. Yura looked at Ichigo from the corner of her eye, expecting resistance. But she should've known better. "I understand," He said. "I won't ask Soul Society for any help. But, can you at least tell me how to get into Hueco Mundo?" Ichigo turned and looked at the Head Captain. "Orihime is my friend. I'll save her myself if needed."
Another sign of hesitation. The Head Captain opened his eyes. "Denied!"
Ichigo glared. "What?"
"We will need your strength in the upcoming battle. I won't allow you to act foolishly on your own and end up dying because of your being reckless. You will wait until you receive your orders. That is all."
The transmission cut off, leaving the room to fall into silence. Yura stepped forward and out of the shadows. "Ichigo…" But he didn't budge. He ignored everyone.
The room was quiet until Kenpachi broke the tension, "Let's go." He said, turning around. Yura hesitated before following when Toshiro stared at her and nodded. She looked back at Ichigo one last time before walking through.
Once back in Soul Society, Toshiro, Matsumoto, and Yura went back to the Squad Ten Barracks. They all walked into Toshiro's office and as soon as the door closed, Yura couldn't contain herself any longer. It took all her energy not to let loose a storm throughout all of Seireitei, so she settled with yelling. She pounded her fist on Toshiro's desk. "This is so stupid! How can the Head Captain be so arrogant?"
"Yura! Control yourself."
"No!" Yura turned on Toshiro and his eyes widened when he saw the hurt and concern and even rage in her eyes as well as felt it through the bond. "I'm tired of being told what to do! I don't understand how they could even think that she would betray all of us! Orihime isn't like that!" Yura sat on the floor against the desk, banging the back of her against it. Toshiro and Matsumoto just stared at her, knowing well enough that they shouldn't bother her. The room fell silent for awhile before Yura spoke again. "Didn't any of you see it?" She whispered, but loud enough for the other two to hear.
"See what?"
"Everything. The hurt and sadness in Ichigo's eyes. The carelessness and selfishness in the Head Captain's eyes," Yura looked up with watery eyes. "Didn't you see it? Or am I the only one who really pays attention to what's going on?"
"Yura…"
"What does it matter? We can't change anything about it, can we?" She asked, pulling her knees up to her chest. Matsumoto only sat on the couch and Toshiro sat at his desk.
To keep herself occupied, Yura continually snapped her fingers, forming sparks. She eventually stopped, pausing for a minute before she stood up. Toshiro and Matsumoto watched as she walked toward the door. "Where are you going?" Toshiro asked.
Yura opened the door and didn't look back at the two. "Somewhere where I can be alone." With that, she left for her hill that she discovered. Yura sat at the very top, staring up at the orange sky as the sun set below the horizon. She lay on her back and closed her eyes. She stayed there until the next day.
A/N: I know it's been awhile but the end of the school year is quickly approaching and finals are coming up and i've had major tests and essays and...stuff. So i hope you liked the chapter despite you either reading the manga or watching the episode. :P ok please review!