Hello everyone! It's been a while, but thankfully not years like last time. This story, hopefully, should get regular updates now that things are working right for me again. You've no idea what it's like to lose your creative soul for years, but it's like there's something missing from my life until I'm able to write and draw again. Luckily, it's back and I am grabbing it and keeping it for as long as I can. My other story, The Way We Were, should be updated Monday or Tuesday, depending on how much I get written tomorrow before and after work. Normally, I'll aim for Mondays with that one, as they are usually my day off, and Sundays for this one, because I only work one a month.

So, we're going to see some slight action in this chapter, and the next one if my writing doesn't go away with itself and give my rubbish. Enjoy and feel free to give me a buzz if you have any comments!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or anything related to that manga/anime. I only borrow the characters and terms for the purposes of fanfiction, which doesn't pay a thing back in return. Yohlis and all things associated are mine, so don't use unless you want to wind up with your head on backwards. ^-^

Resonating Souls

Chapter 4: Strength

Ulquiorra looked to the dark forest by the mountains when a horrendous screeching sound echoed in the air. The other two had halted their steps when they heard that noise, but the boy was now trying to pull the high-school girl along with him to get to the shelter. Ulquiorra was only a couple of steps behind the pair, but he was curious to see just what a 'Paraxian' was. Were they this world's equivalent of a Hollow? The screech sounded to his ears like a low level Gillian class Hollow, but he wouldn't be able to judge if this was true until he saw with his own two eyes. A difficult trick in the near-total darkness that was now covering the land. If I had my true form, these eyes would be able to track even the smallest detail. As I am now, however…

Ulquiorra was effectively blind, just like the two humans he was running with. If they were attacked, he would not be able to see the foes that assaulted him. The only light source was coming from the tiny pin-pricks of stars in the sky and the glowing embers of a fire inside the largest, whole building that they were headed for. Clearly whoever had been fighting here had done a poor job of wiping out all resistance. If he had been in charge, nothing would have remained to prove that someone lived here at all.

The screeching was now accompanied by a rumbling, like thunder that had no end. Most likely footsteps from those 'monsters', Ulquiorra calculated with his quick mind, with numbers somewhere in the thousands. Unless they are large beasts, in which case that would make it only hundreds, not thousands. None of those numbers sounded like good odds to the former Arrancar and he felt a shiver run down his spine from an unfamiliar emotion. I cannot be experiencing fear, can I? He hoped not, but it wouldn't be the first out of character emotion to grace his being since his ordeal in this world began. Humanity was not something that Ulquiorra wished to revisit once he was returned to his rightful form.

The sounds of battle cries and screeches had grown to impossible heights and Ulquiorra placed his hand over the hilt of Murcielago, his Zanpaku-tou that he had somehow retained even after losing everything that made him an Arrancar. There was no comforting 'hum' when he gripped the sword tightly, nor did he feel renewed energy when he drew it forth from its sheath. The blade was as powerless as Ulquiorra now was, but at least it was sharp and would cut what he needed it to. The boy, he noted, had also drawn his larger broadsword out and brought it to be level with the ground as he ran next to the girl. She was unarmed, which came as no surprise to Ulquiorra, for her only weapons were currently inaccessible.

She will only be a burden if we must fight, which I think that we will do before we reach that building.

At their current speed, they were nearly upon the village gates – which stood as little more than charcoal pillars and were evidently non-functioning. The once-doors were crushed into the dirt and mud, leaving nothing to bar the village's only entrance. The stone beams that had at one time supported the doors when they were closed, now lay forgotten in a ditch just outside the village itself. The wooden fence that was pitched around the outer rim of the village was in desperate need of repair, too. Whole slats were entirely gone in places, blackened remnants littering the floor. Ulquiorra could now garner true details of the remaining buildings left over in the wake of some unknown battle, and what he saw was a disappointment. Barely one stone structure remained – the main hall that they were making for in search of shelter and safety. The other homes and stalls were shells of their past lives and not a one had a roof or four walls to even class it as habitable.

What a pathetic place this is.

Ulquiorra was curious to see just how bad the damage to the settlement was in daylight, but he pushed his curiosity to the farthest corner of his mind, for the boy had just entered the threshold of the supposed 'safe place'. At some point he must have released his hold on Inoue, who had slowed her steps to almost run in line with Ulquiorra, almost like she intended to make sure that the former Arrancar made it inside too. A foolish thing to do, the ivory-skinned man thought, if those things catch us, then she would not be able to protect herself. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself without some weak girl looking out for me.

"Come on you two!" The boy – Tsanoku, Ulquiorra's memory supplied – called out to them, his free-hand outstretched and ready to pull in whoever was closest.

There was perhaps only five metres between the open doorway and Ulquiorra, with the girl running in sync with his steps too. They would make it. The odds of being attacked seemed almost non-existent, so Ulquiorra relaxed his grip on Murcielago. That was his first mistake.

A hulking force slammed into Ulquiorra's side and knocked him clean off of his feet. He was sent twisting and tumbling even further away from the building – and relative safety – before he skidded to a stop on the charred and debris-ridden ground. His bones felt like they were vibrating underneath his flesh from the force of the impact and his side had already begun to ache violently because of the attack. No doubt I shall have broken bones if I survive this night, he grimly acknowledged. Ulquiorra turned his head back towards the light and saw just what had attacked him.

From the flickering yellow glow emanating out of the windows and door of the village hall, Ulquiorra's keen emerald eyes perceived a not so terrible sight. It wasn't as monstrous or savage as the local boy had implied. Many Hollows would probably have made this creature flee in fright. The former Arrancar was himself a being to be feared long before he had joined Aizen's forces. This thing looked reptilian to his eyes, yet there was a humanoid bearing about it. If this was a Paraxian, then Ulquiorra was disappointed. It was hunched over on two legs by the exact spot that Ulquiorra had previously been standing on. It was large, possibly the same size as Yammy, but it wasn't built like a brick wall like he was. The face was clearly a lizard's, all scaled like the body was. There were a series of spiked ridges along it's back, where the spine presumably was, that ended at the tip of a long and powerful looking tail.

All these things Ulquiorra knew to be simple observations. What truly interested the Quattro Espada were the obvious signs of intelligence that the creature possessed. It had hands, not claws, that were tipped with deadly nails and holding a finely crafted metal spear comfortably in them. It held the weapon like a seasoned warrior would. And it's eyes were clearly alive with some kind of intelligence. Especially when they flicked over to the girl who had foolishly remained rooted in place from the moment that Ulquiorra had been attacked.

Move woman!

The beast raised it's spear, a grin splitting across it's lizard-like face, but the stupid girl did not move. She turned much too quickly and slipped to the ground and Ulquiorra had a brief thought that if he ever escaped from this world he would be returning without this foolish woman, for clearly she couldn't prevent her own demise. The spear plunged down towards her huddled and sodden form, aiming straight for Orihime's heart…

Orihime heard - it was too dark to actually see much - as something rammed into the Arrancar's side and sent him careening off into the darkness beyond the glowing torchlight. He hit the ground with a soft 'crunch' followed by a scrambling and a scratching sound as his body began to slow and – she assumed – stop at last. It was so surprising that at first Inoue thought she must have imagined it. Her brain certainly came up with odd things to occupy itself when things were quiet, so it wasn't exactly a leap for her to think this. It was only as she watched Tsanoku's face transform into one of pure terror, staring over her shoulder at something she had yet to see, that Orihime even suspected something was amiss. The thing that truly let her know that what had happened, happened, was the hot, pungent – someone needs to use some mouthwash, badly – breath that ghosted over her neck after Tsanoku's look of fear had settled into place.

Orihime whipped around to find the source of the stink, but as she did so she slipped in the mud-soaked ground and fell on her bottom. On any other day she would have been embarrassed, but her only feeling was that of dread. Looming over her petrified body was a beast of monstrous proportions, with a glinting spear aimed directly at her heart. At least I know where the bad breath was coming from. Almost instinctively Orihime brought up her hands to call forth a shield of protection, "Santen Kesshun, I reject!" When nothing happened, Inoue clenched her eyes shut and waited for the inevitable.

I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun. I couldn't help you after all.

Tsanoku froze as the hulking form of the Paraxian bulldozed the dark-haired stranger out of the way to get to Orihime. The malicious grin stretched across it's maw as it sized up it's prey and Tsanoku felt powerless to help. The monster was too fast and much stronger than the stories gave credit. He wouldn't last a second against it, never mind all the other's that were surely just behind it. It was a selfish desire to protect his own hide that kept him within the Mayor house's threshold and he knew he would never forgive himself after this night. When the Paraxian raised it's spear for the killing blow, Tsanoku closed his eyes in shame.

I'm so sorry Orihime, but I can't risk my life for total strangers when my little sister still needs me. Please forgive me.

A sudden jolt of energy shot through Ulquiorra and he felt strength returning to his broken limbs and battered body. The former Arrancar pushed his body to stand, with no trouble at all, and then he willed his legs to get him to the orange-haired girl's side. What should have been a futile rescue attempt – for at a normal human pace, Orihime Inoue would have been long dead before he arrived – turned into an instantaneous leap that placed him directly between monster and maiden. How did I..?

The beast was equally shocked, but not deterred, and the business end of it's spear drove down with the intent to skewer both humans. Ulquiorra withdrew his Zanpaku-tou from the scabbard and with lightning-fast reflexes he deflected the spear. The Paraxian was temporarily thrown off balance from the force of the collision, so the Quattro took full advantage of the moment and stabbed the beast clean through the throat. It gargled and hissed, spitting out blood and mucous for a few seconds, but the fight had left it and moments afterwards the Paraxian collapsed to the sodden ground – dead.

Ulquiorra hastily stepped around the corpse and withdrew Murcielago from the reptile's neck, wiping the blood onto the grass to clean his blade as he did so. The heavy pounding of feet and loud roars alerted the sable-haired former Arrancar to more enemies encroaching on their location, so he snagged the girl's arm and bodily dragged her into the warm light of the manor they had been seeking since this ordeal began. The boy and a few others were in the doorway as they entered, but they shifted to let Ulquiorra and Orihime enter the sanctuary. The door was immediately shut tight and bolted with a heavy wooden beam to keep it that way.

Orihime was now walking without the need to be carted about lack a sack of potatoes, and Ulquiorra was never more relieved. It meant he could release her and move to the farthest corner of the main hall that they had entered, out of sight and out of mind of everyone else in the room. He needed time to think about just what had happened. Already, he could feel the effects of whatever had come over him fading fast. His legs felt like jelly and his hands nearly lost their grip on his Zanpaku-tou. Not wanting to drop his sword at any moment, he carefully sheathed the blade and then he slid against the wall until he met with the cold stone floor, allowing his legs to rest and hopefully cease their incessant shaking.

I must have temporarily gained my abilities back, he concluded at length, which means that I can do so again. Only next time, I will ensure that I do not lose them afterwards. Now what triggered my powers?

He tried to cast his mind backwards to what he had just been thinking before he felt the energy surge, but all he could recall thinking about was the girl, Orihime. He had refused to watch the girl die before he'd had a chance to complete his mission and something dormant had unleashed in his soul from that thought, but it had only been a temporary thing in the end. He was powerless once more, but at least he'd kept the girl from perishing…this time.

I knew there was a link between that woman and my current state of being. Does she know what she has done, I wonder?

The girl looked to be in shock, still, and she was huddled under what appeared to be a mountain of blankets to stave off the cold. That strange boy was hovering nearby and an old, haggard and withering woman held the girl's hands. Ulquiorra couldn't really hear what was being said, but the old crone shut her eyes and a bright green glow enveloped the high schooler's body and a healthy colour soon reappeared on the girl's cheeks. What abilities do these people possess? Are they even human?

Orihime felt her body return to its normal temperature and she gave the kind old woman her most grateful smile, "Thank you for taking us in and sharing your warmth with us. I didn't really want to end up as a snowman…or is it snow-lady…" The orange-haired girl trailed off in thought and left her two spectators momentarily confused.

The elder cleared her throat, bringing Orihime out of her unique thoughts, and then gestured to Tsanoku who was standing off to the side, "Young Tsanoku has vouched for you both, so we would not turn you away from this place without good cause. Now, I am the Mayor of this little village, Asca Hehréa. You already know Tsanoku, and the people you meet in this building are the rest of the villagers. I'm afraid you both arrived here at a terrible time, for we have recently been devastated by the Krutessan Empire. We have little shelter and even less food, but we will share with you what we can until you are able to leave."

Asca started to move away from Orihime and Tsanoku, so the high school girl timidly asked before she lost her nerve, "Have you ever heard of Soul Reapers, Hehréa-san? Or Hollows, maybe?"

The old lady blinked her grey eyes, "You use such strange words, child. And no, I have not heard of these things. Are they something from your country?"

"Er, yes, they are. F-from my country."

"Are you alright, young lady? You've gone pale all of a sudden. You're not sick are you, for we cannot cure that if you are."

Inoue swallowed past her nerves, aware that she and her captor were most definitely not in their own world now, and tried to explain as reasonably as she could, "I think that my…friend and I come from a different world entirely to this one."

The old woman looked doubtful, but Tsanoku piped up from his silent spot, "She's telling the truth, Mayor. It was as I fought one of the Krutessan's, a bright light surrounded the field and both Orihime and her companion fell from the sky and landed on me. When I came to, I could see the confusion on their faces – they were obviously lost. And then he asked me lots of questions about where we were, so I figured that wherever they came from, it definitely wasn't this world. Look at their clothes if you still don't believe her."

Asca scrutinised both newcomers, making Orihime feel suddenly like she was being examined under a microscope – I always wondered what that would be like. After a moment, she must have decided that they weren't lying or trying to trick her, because she nodded her head in agreement and then resumed exiting the hall, presumably to see to the other villagers in the building.

The only other door in the room, apart from the large entrance that was still firmly sealed, was immediately to Orihime's right. The entrance they had come through was directly opposite from her seated position and the hall itself sported a large deep green carpet that filled the centre. The only furniture, aside from the wooden chair the girl was sat on, was an old bookcase set against the wall near the Arrancar's slumped form, to the left of the entrance. Wall sconces decorated the edges of the room, casting the bricks and people in a soft glow and giving a little heat for warmth.

Inoue was curious about the rest of the building, but she was far too exhausted to even try exploring tonight. I hope they won't kick us out when it's morning. I don't even know where the next town is or if they even take our money.

Tsanoku shifted until he was sat on the partially carpeted floor by her chair, attempting to get comfortable, Orihime suspected. She removed a layer of the blankets around her, finding that four was plenty more than she would need and suddenly realising that she wasn't as cold as she was at first, and handed the blanket over to the dark-haired boy.

"You need this way more than I do, Tsanoku-san. Please take it." He did so, gratefully, and Orihime rose shakily to her feet, lifting the burden of blankets with her as she did so. She shuffled across the large room until she reached the sullen man on the other side, before removing yet another thick blanket from her pile, "Here, you must be cold too."

The green-eyed man glared at Orihime, but she wasn't going to be scared off from her mission of good-will. She'd be lizard-lunch if it weren't for his help. Although, she still had no idea how he performed that miracle when he looked so exhausted at the moment. Ignoring the warning bells screaming in her head, like always, the carrot-top stepped closer to the former Arrancar and tried to drape the blanket over his body. Before she could even raise it over his prone form, a pale hand shot forth and gripped her left wrist, stilling her movements instantly.

Slate met emerald and Orihime shivered, but it wasn't from the cold. His gaze was so intense, so captivating, that time may as well have stopped and frozen her in place; so certain was she that she would never be able to break his gaze. Nobody had ever stopped Orihime with just a look before. He's bit like Medusa. Oh no! I hope I don't turn into stone!

Assured that she wouldn't be covering him in a fluffy monstrosity anytime soon, the pale-faced Espada released his iron grip on Inoue and closed his eyes shut to block out her face. He relaxed more fully against the stone wall and floor, completely blanking the girl from existence. Orihime blushed in shame - a little annoyed and also slightly embarrassed - and shuffled dejectedly back to her spot in the chair.

Tsanoku blinked up at her from his dosing spot on the ground, "You alright, Orihime?"

She snuggled under the fuzzy warmth of the blankets and tried to settle in the hard chair, but managed to smile politely at her strange new acquaintance, "I'm fine, Tsanoku-san. Just a little tired," she forced a yawn to convince him, "I'm going to try to get some sleep now. I'll see you in the morning."

"Okay, if you're sure." Tsanoku curled back under the deep umber blanket she'd given him and instantly fell asleep. He didn't seem to snore, thankfully.

I just hope that my snoring doesn't disturb anyone!

She chanced a quick look back at the brooding Arrancar on the far side of the room, but he was either already asleep or very good at faking it. She couldn't understand what his problem was, but maybe he just felt afraid. He's lost his superpowers just like me, but he's not used to being normal like I am. It must be scary. I should try to be nice to him more, starting from tomorrow. Maybe then he won't be so angry. 'Operation Be Nice To The Arrancar' was already forming in the girl's mind, before she recalled that she had already been nice to him, but he was still so cold and hateful towards her.

What is it going to take?

Honestly, Orihime had no clue. Just like she had no idea where they were, how they'd gotten here, or even how they would get back home. Somehow, someway, she had to figure it out. Before her friends died back in her world.