A/N: I'm back, thanks for all the reviews and alerts. I know I don't say it often, but I do appreciate it even if I don't say it! Please read and review. Also another thing I need to add is that I recently read through what I've posted and realised that I've made a boo boo with something. I said that Hitori Matsuma was put in jail because he tried to steal the Hogyoku and then I go on to say in the next chapter that he was put in jail because he wouldn't stop stealing people's powers. In actual fact, he stole shinigami's powers and was court martialed for it, but then he tried to steal the Hogyoku and then was put in jail for that. Sorry about that, its the downfall of writing on your feet with no plan and also I don't read through my chapters after I've typed them. Sorry about that! Enjoy.

Intervention

Chapter 7: Kidnapped?

What the hell just happened? he thought. Orihime Inoue just fell off his grid. Hitori Matsuma's bright hazel eyes turned cold and there was a flash of anger as he shunpo'd to the very spot where she had been lying moments ago. So obviously the boy had been brought up to speed of where he was from and why he was here.

"Smart move, Kurosaki Ichigo," spat Matsuma, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the crowd below.

The rain didn't affect him, in fact it made him feel better, since his skin began to burn from anger. "Kurosaki Ichigo," he growled as he punched a hole in the cement surface of the roof. A huge crater emerged with large cracks coming from the point of impact. Several people below looked up to see what the noise was, however, saw nothing.

"You have brought this upon yourself."

"That's him?" questioned Ishida, but it was more to himself.

He expected someone different. Someone more rough looking, perhaps someone more evil looking. But as he watched the man shunpo to the very spot Orihime had been lying in Ichigo's arms mere seconds before, he realised that you just couldn't pick who was evil and who was not.

The man standing on the roof punched a hole in the ground and his size was not proportionate to his power. Did that mean something? Perhaps that meant that he had something boosting his strength.

"Yes. Obviously," snapped his father coldly. "Are you ready?"

The young Quincy nodded. "Be ready, I will not coddle you. You chose the Quincy path and therefore you and you alone can only walk it," said Ryuuken, not looking at his son once.

Ishida didn't respond. He was used to his father's cold demeanor and lack of care toward him.

"Come. We'll meet him on the roof."

"Be ready. We need to be vigilant in this matter of Hitori Matsuma. No one has seen him since his escape from prison and no one knows what powers he may possess after his capture."

"Captain Commander...just what is he? And what does he want, if I may ask?" asked Ukitake hesitantly.

The commander didn't answer straight away, his face stern as always. "A ryoka."

Gasps followed soon after from many of the captains in the room and then whispers echo'd around the room as they began to talk amongst each other in panicked voices. Many of their opinions were about the same. A former soul reaper, now stamped a criminal, broken loose out of their prison and now he's after a Ryoka. It was uncommon and usually not the first thing you do when you escape. It had been years since his escape but only now had it become an issue.

"One of Kurosaki Ichigo's friends?" asked Toushiro bluntly, his face showed disbelief.

The Captain Commander nodded once. "Inoue Orihime."

Suddenly the room went stagnant and all the Captain's faces turned to their leader with shock and confusion. Most of their thoughts were much the same, again.

Just what is so important about that girl?

There was only one person who didn't ask that question, and that was Unohona Retsu. She had seen first hand at what potential Orihime's powers had - she knew what they truly were.

The power to control time would be something anyone and everyone would think about having and would want to have at some point or another. With the loss and hardship everyone would go through in their life, what fool wouldn't want it? It would also have an adverse effect if one would want to use it for evil. And that scared Unohona like nothing else.

Her eyes turned downward in deep thought and dread at what was coming. She knew what had to happen now, it was the only way until they captured or defeated this Hitori Matsuma.

Where was she? She opened her eye lids to find that her retinas wouldn't focus. She blinked a couple of times and gradually her vision was coming back. How long had she been asleep?

Damn those little blue men, she thought with a smile. Her eyes were looking up at the ceiling and she realised she was lying down. She turned around to take in where she was, forgetting how and when she fell asleep. She felt something heavy on her head and felt around her head a bit to find out what it was.

Her hands came across two round objects which were attached to her temples. Just what were those contraptions? Had she really been captured by the little blue men this time?

"Inoue," said a soft voice from a dark part of the room.

Orihime squinted a little so she could focus in on the familiar voice and a small smile formed as Ichigo stepped into the dim light of the decrepit looking room. He was in his black and white shinigami form, with his Zengetsu sheathed on his back.

"K-kurosaki-kun?" she asked.

Sudden realisation and fear gripped her, realising the situation she was in. Hitori Matsuma would appear soon, she was sure of it, and he wouldn't like that she defied him.

"N-no. What have you done, Kurosaki-kun?" she gasped in terror, burying her face in her hands as tears began to form quickly.

Ichigo walked over to her and put a gentle hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up into his eyes. "You don't have to worry-"

"Y-yes, I do, Kurosaki-kun," interrupted Orihime.

Suddenly she got up off the bed that she had been lying on and ran for the door. She tried the handle, however, it was locked. A jingling sound made Orihime stop trying the handle and caused her to turn and look at Ichigo.

He was sitting on the bed now, with a set of keys in his hand and a sly smirk upon his face. "There's no running now, Inoue. I knew you would try and escape, I just don't understand why you can't let me protect you, I did promise to after all."

He expected the new Orihime to yell at him or say something mean in a cold voice, but she didn't. Instead, she looked solemnly down at the floor, her eyes shiny with new tears yet to be shed. She folded some strands of hair behind her ear and leant back onto the door facing Ichigo; sliding down it slowly until her bottom met the ground. She folded her arms together around her knees, continuing to look at the ground in defeat. And finally the tears fell down her cheeks like a waterfall.

"You have no idea what you have done...Kurosaki-kun. He will find me, he always finds me. I could move around the globe, hoping to never be seen, but he will always be waiting. I always dreamed that we were back at school, fighting Hollow or eating lunch together with Rukia-san and Tatsuki-chan. You would always hit Keigo and Tatsuki-chan would always kick Chizuru-san in the face for trying to hug me, and I would laugh. Then somehow, after you all start to go to class, he would hold me back, not letting me go. He would look at me with those cold eyes, reminding me that he would always be there...threatening me, threatening my friends and you, Kurosaki-kun," said Orihime, though her eyes never met his.

Ichigo watched and realised as she was explaining her dream, just how broken Orihime was. Just how sad and lonely she was; how much she had lost since she met him. But even though she looked sad and lonely, a thought crossed his mind at how beautiful she was - on screen or in person.

No, not in a romantic way, just... he began to think, but then he realised that no matter what he was trying to reason with himself, he couldn't hide that there was something about her that made him feel different.

Maybe it was because he had heard Hitori Matsuma say what she truly felt about him. It had woken up a feeling which he didn't know he had. He shook his head.

How can I be thinking of something like this right now? he asked himself, mentally reprimanding himself. I've already been a dumbass about this whole thing, I can't get distracted.

"Inoue, he can't hurt you anymore, I'll make sure of it. I promise," smiled Ichigo, getting up from the bed with a squeak.

He made his way toward her slowly, taking each step with caution. He kneeled down and put his hands on Orihime's shoulders. "You believe in me, don't you?"

Orihime looked up into Ichigo's chocolate orbs and could see determination. She knew that she could trust him and she couldn't help but believe in him.

He could beat him, but at what cost? The last time... thought Orihime, but shook her head slightly just thinking about Las Noches and Aizen. No, I won't let you, Kurosaki-kun.

Orihime smiled up at Ichigo. "W-would it be okay if I had a drink?" asked the young healer.

Ichigo nodded with a smile. Their faces were quite close to each other, however, Ichigo was trying to avoid the question that had been on his mind since first encountering Hitori Matsuma in Orihime's kitchen. He could feel his face heating up and pulled away. "I'll get you a drink."

Orihime nodded and proceeded to get up from her permission, to find a hand held out for her to take. She looked up to find his eyes piercing hers again, with that warm, caring expression. It was making it harder and harder for her to make this decision. She took his hand softly as Ichigo used his arm to pull her up.

"Stay here, okay?" asked Ichigo.

Orihime nodded, as he let go of her hand and used the key to unlock the door. As he walked out and shut the door behind him, she heard a click and realised he'd locked it behind him.

I can't let Kurosaki-kun get hurt, or anyone else. No. Not this time, not for me, she thought.

"Koten Zanshun, I reject," said Orihime softly, causing Tsubaki to appear and race toward the door, smashing the lock open.

Tsubaki returned to her head pins and she raced through the door.

As she raced through the halls, she realised where she was and began to panic.

Ten minutes later, she reached two double doors and her eyes widened as she opened them up as light beamed through them, causing her to cover her eyes. She was outside and surrounded.

"Inoue," said a voice from behind her, to reveal violet orbs staring at her - not with anger or disappointment, but pity.

"Kuchiki-san?" asked Orihime.

The small shinigami sighed as Orihime began to observe her surroundings. She turned in a full circle, realising her predicament. The ninja of the 2nd division surrounded her with their Captain standing behind Rukia. Foot steps were heard from behind her, coming to a halt about a metre away. Orihime looked up and saw that it was Ichigo, with a glass of water in his hand and a stern look upon his face.

"Inoue, I asked you to trust me, to believe in me. Is it really that hard? You used to do it so well..." said Ichigo, trailing off at the end with disappointment.

Orihime didn't know what to say, were they really going to go this far? For her? She shook her head, trying to ignore the fact that she could just believe in her friends; that she could just believe in him.

"The thing is, Kurosaki-kun," began Orihime, placing her hands together at her chest with a kind smile, the one that Ichigo was used to. "I really do believe in you. But I don't want everyone to get hurt because of me, can't you understand that? Please, you have to let me go."

Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "No, Orihime. I can't let you go and I understand what you're saying, but the answer is no. I won't let him have you, and that's it."

Orihime's eyes widened and tears began to form at the bottom of her eyes. How could she refuse? Should she put her faith in him again?

Yes, you always had believed in him, its just that you wanted to believe you could save him from getting hurt this time, she thought to herself.

The orange haired woman sighed with a 'giving in' smile. "You always know what to say, Kurosaki-kun."

Ichigo nodded with a small smile. Something had finally gone his way.

He looked to Rukia and as she walked by to show Orihime back to her quarters, she placed a reassuring hand upon his forearm. "Good work. She put up quite a fight, I guess she has changed a little; before, she didn't know how."

Ichigo nodded. And as Rukia walked away with Orihime in tow, he watched the actress intently, his eyes following each step she took, each strand of hair she pulled behind her ear and every expression she made.

And he realised, she really had changed, but not just inside...on the outside.

Just when had she become so beautiful? The more I look at her...he shook his head, trying not to think about it and his scowl was back.

"That was close. However, this ruse won't last for long, Substitute Shinigami," said the serious voice of Soi Fon.

She had directed her men away for now. "Just what do you plan to do now that she is in Soul Society? Granted, it is a smart move since Matsuma will not come here...yet. But if he gets that power, he will be invincible and he won't hesitate to come here and wipe us out."

Ichigo's brown orbs watched Orihime leave his view through the door she had just run through earlier and turned his head toward Yoruichi's former student with a stern scowl upon his features.

"I won't let it happen," said Ichigo, as he began to walk toward the door his friends had just disappeared through.

Soi Fon scoffed as she proceeded to follow.

"You idiot. Do you think you're up against some amateur Kurosaki? The Ryoka was right to stay away-" began Soi Fon in her usual know it all tone, when Ichigo's rieatsu began to spike to unbelievable heights.

He turned around, with his zanpaku-to held to her neck. "Don't ever say that again," he said in a venomous tone, his eyes reduced to mere slits.

Soi Fon wasn't alarmed and instead smirked at his actions. "Don't think for a second that the Gotei 13 won't kill the Inoue girl if it comes to it, its the Captain Commanders orders. Why do you think that he agreed to her immigration to Soul Society so quickly?"

Ichigo's eyes widened in realisation. "In fact, its so that we can keep an eye on her and ensure the safety of both worlds. We don't just look at the situation, we take into account the whole picture and if one small ryoka is all that needs to be sacrificed for the greater good, then that is what we must do. It doesn't mean we like it any more than we have to, it just is a means to an end."

The orange haired Substitute Shinigami shook and pulled his zanpaku-to away from the Captain's neck and sheathed it onto his back. Instead, he punched her in the face, causing her to fly backwards a couple of metres. When she stopped sliding across the ground, she placed her hand onto her lips to find blood and elicit pain.

"Do you think that I could ever forgive Soul Society for what they did to Rukia? Their black and white judgement is so frickin' stupid...the only reason I fight is to protect the people I care about, not for Soul Society. And if they killed Inoue, I would never help you again. If you think that killing an innocent girl is a simple end to things, you're dead wrong. Matsuma will just find another power to take and another person's life to destroy. And I will protect Inoue, even if it means going against Soul Society, just like I did when they were going to kill Rukia. All I can promise is that I will kill Hitori Matsuma and that's all Soul Society needs to know," yelled Ichigo, pointing his sword at Soi Fon, his arm unwavering and his fierce look of justice and determination visible through his eyes.

Soi Fon widened in disbelieve at Ichigo, but then again, Yoruichi seemed to have faith in him...maybe she should too.

He was losing his mind. What had they done to her? He couldn't hear her thoughts or feel her rieatsu anywhere in the Real world. He walked down the street away from Inoue Orihime's house with anger. He roared and pulled out a nearby street light out of the cement path as if it were simply a cardboard box or a match stick, and threw it across the street. It hit the nearby power line, causing a large electric explosion.

He caused havoc and pain to those nearby, but he didn't care. He clenched his fist in front of him, imagining Ichigo's neck was in between it.

Well, if you aren't here, Orihime, then you must be up there, thought Hitori with a smirk as he looked up at the sky with a knowing gaze.

So, she got help from you Ichigo. I guess it can't be helped. It was smart, but idiotic at the same time. And somehow you're blocking my telepathic abilities. It just means that when I find her, which I will, I will make sure you watch her die in the most painful way possible, and when she takes her last breath after I steal her power, I will kill you with the same abilities that have healed you for so long.

Things were starting to look up. Hitori Matsuma whistled as he walked down the street; behind him fire cascaded throughout some buildings and a few dead bodies lay across the ground, some with debre wounds, others simply burnt or crushed to death from Matsuma's destruction. But he walked calmly down the street as emergency sirens reached his ears in the distance.

Her eyes widened as she watched the chilling man walk down the street a few houses down. She would have to inform Kisuke about his whereabouts and fast.

I don't know what he's thinking, I just hope he hasn't figured out Orihime's whereabouts yet, thought a very worried cat, named Yoroichi.

The black cat jumped about the roof tops, avoiding the destruction area Hitori Matsuma had caused. All that commotion over frustration, Yoroichi couldn't understand it.

A/N: Alright that's it for now, please don't forget to read and review. Sorry for the wait and everything.

Bullet2tm