Author Note: Normally I would apologize for taking so long to upload the next chapter but since there was no reviews for the last one and very little followers I didn't feel the urge to work on it. I might get back into it soon.

Couldn't think of a good chapter title for this one. Would appreciate it if someone shares an idea with me.

Disclaimer: Bleach and its characters belong to Tite Kubo.

Chapter 3: Kidnapped

Past:

Days passed by peacefully with only a couple of hollows trying to devour us. Normally it was easy for me to keep them at bay but one day there was a swarm of them and I found myself struggling to defeat them all.

I whirled around, slashing and stabbing at those closest to me, noting but disregarding the fact that I was quickly being surrounded. I froze momentarily when I felt a change in my beloved's spiritual pressure. Focusing on him, I sensed three other energies near him. Fueled by my anger and desire to protect him, I managed to dispose of those annoying hollows.

I made my way back to him as quickly as possible, ignoring my injuries that felt like mere scratches in the wake of my overwhelming emotions. The sight of him outside of his sanctuary on his hands and knees in front of three soul reapers made my insides burn with an uncontrollable rage.

I let out a mighty, animalistic roar as I jumped towards them, causing the branches and ground around us to tremble and shake slightly. I landed protectively in front of him. I towered slightly over the three soul reapers but they weren't at all intimidated.

I felt those captivating eyes staring at my back but I ignored them in order to focus on the threat before me. I stood there silently, sizing them up and waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

"My…what a fierce protector he has." One of them said with an unsettling smile that looked far too stretched to be genuine.

"It even looks like a knight." It was hard to tell whether he was genuinely amused or just insulting me.

"Indeed," another said, stoically with a hint of false friendliness. He was looking past me so I shifted slightly into his line of sight, trying to block his view of the one behind me.

"Should I dispose of it?" The last one asked, hand moving to his zanpakuto.

"No…it would be such a waste." The one with the stoic voice replied, whom I assumed was the leader. "My offer still stands." He said, addressing my charge.

I heard movement behind me as my fellow hollow stood up. He suddenly walked out from behind me and made his way towards the soul reaper. He spoke before I could step in front of him once more.

"I'll follow you." He said in a voice that made a different kind of heat erupt in me. I stood there, confused and concerned. The leader looked my way with barely concealed smugness.

"I'll offer you the same chance…join my army and fight for me."

I wanted to snarl and strike him down right there. I hated this soul reaper. I hated his arrogance, his subtle manipulation and his interference in our peace. I still accepted the offer though.

I'll follow him anywhere, I thought, staring at the beautiful creature I had sworn to protect. He stared back at me with puzzled, curious eyes.

The soul reapers started leading us in a certain direction. I desperately missed those easy, peaceful days the moment I took my first step to follow.

Present:

"You just had to go traveling to an alternate timeline without a definite plan didn't you?" I quietly ranted to myself.

The sun had gone done and I was still at a lost of what to do exactly. I had walked through the park and out onto the streets, contemplating my plan of action.

I could go to Kisuke and tell him about Orihime's upcoming kidnapping but there was no question that Ichigo's time in Hueco Mundo made him stronger.

There was very little chance that they would believe me anyway and I didn't want to subject myself to their suspicions and questions about how I knew about it. However, I also didn't want to just let Orihime get kidnapped.

I found myself outside Orihime's apartment as I thought about the days I had to stare into the girl's haunted, hollow gray eyes during her captivity in my timeline. I was often able to brighten those eyes but there was always a sad resignation in them that I couldn't banish.

I stood outside and stared up at the apartment windows, easily picturing Orihime cheerfully puttering about with a bright smile on her face. I scowled fiercely as that imagined smile turned into a dead, blank look that took many months of healing to completely banish. I swore that I would never let her go through that again. However, that still raised the question of what I should do next.

I turned away from the building and wandered back the way I came. I also had no place to stay so I decided to spend that night at the park then maybe I would go to the small shrine on the mountain side. People rarely go there unless there was a big festival so it was an ideal place to hide. I decided on the park for the night as I was honestly too tired to make the climb up to the shrine. Traveling from one timeline to another can really tire a person out.

I closed my eyes and let out a loud yawn as I made my way through the trees. I rubbed the small tears from the yawn from my eyes before opening them once more. I froze when I saw that not only did I end up back where the fight from earlier was but that I wasn't alone.

Ulquiorra was kneeling on one knee with a hand on the ground right where Orihime had used her shield. I recognized the look on his face as the one he got when he was analyzing something. I lost my chance to escape by standing there staring at him instead of turning to leave.

He lifted his head, locking eyes with me once more. That gaze held me in place even as he got up from his kneeled position and slowly walked my way. My breath caught in my chest when he stopped so close to me that I could reach out and touch him. He was the one reaching out though.

I watched with shuddering breaths as his hand came up towards my face. He noticed my reaction to his proximity but probably just assumed it was due to the now severe difference in our spiritual pressure. He never touched me though, despite being so close to doing so. It was scary how desperately I longed for his touch. Thankfully, I was too overwhelmed by the feelings that came with his proximity to make a real move towards him.

It wasn't until I sensed his spiritual pressure gathering at the palm he held an inch from my face that I realized that he was now analyzing me. He was judging my spiritual pressure, my worth and whether I was a threat to Aizen. That realization snapped me from my trance and I managed to step back away from him though I knew it was too late.

His eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion as he brought his hand back to his side. I didn't know whether I should be reassured or disappointed that there was no sign of recognition on his face. I jumped slightly as a garganta opened up behind him. He stared straight into my eyes as he spoke.

"Come with me, woman," was all he said but the threat and demand for obedience behind the words was clearly heard. I felt my face twist slightly into a wry smirk.

It seems I won't have to worry about warning anyone, I thought as I walked forward to step through the garganta.

I noticed the slight puzzlement on Ulquiorra's face as I passed him and knew that my reaction had confused him. He didn't speak any of his questions though but that didn't surprise me.

We arrived right in the middle of Aizen's throne room. My eyes were instantly drawn to the figure sitting arrogantly on the throne. I had to fight to keep the disgust, anger and hatred from my face as we silently stared at each other. I felt many eyes on me and knew that the other espada were there as well. Finally the silence was broken as Aizen spoke.

"Welcome to Las Noches."

Author Note: I really don't have anything witty or positive to say as I'm pretty disappointed with the lack of love for my story.

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