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Escape from Gravity

El3v3n

All characters belong to Tite Kubo.

An Undeserved Torture

Orihime could hardly sit still in her seat as the bus traveled into the approaching evening. The hum of the tires rolling along the pavement did little to calm her excitement as she focused her ash colored eyes out the window. Little by little the scenery was starting to appear familiar to her and in that moment she couldn't remember a time where she had been happier.

She had been looking forward to her visit to Karakura Town for quite some time now. Since her aunt really couldn't afford to fund furthering her education after completing high school (which was miraculous considering all the times she had been absent) she had been lucky enough to earn a scholarship to an out of town university but beyond academic and housing fees that were covered by the allowance money was tight. The auburn-haired beauty had saved every banknote she could from working part time in a local coffee shop in order to finance this little trip back to her home town.

A huge grin plastered itself across her face as she bounced in her seat. Tatsuki would be arriving tonight as well and had graciously offered her parent's home to Orihime to stay for the holiday. Her childhood best friend had also moved to further her education, but academics came secondary to the martial arts scholarship she had been awarded to attend a renowned Jui-Jitsu academy in Brazil. Images of Tatsuki and the possible experiences she'd have to share ran amok in the twenty year-old's brain. Though the two exchanged phone calls and e-mails often she couldn't help but wonder if Tatsuki looked any different than her pictures had shown. Maybe she was really tan now from having spent so much time in the sun. Or maybe she had gotten some sort of super secret tattoo that was exclusive to the members of her martial arts squad! Orihime couldn't help but giggle aloud upon imagining Tatsuki arriving from the airport gates with an adorable monkey on her shoulder.

"What would she name him? Bubbles…that would be a good name for a monkey," She muttered to herself. Upon receiving a glare from a grumpy looking woman seated across the lane, Orihime promptly crushed her lips back together in gesture that she would again be silent. Her spirits were only momentarily dampened as she further daydreamed about what kind of activities she'd be doing over the next week.

Both Chad and Uryū had chosen to attend Karakura University and she couldn't be more excited to see the both of them! Though Chad had already informed her he had to work late tonight Uryū had agreed to meet her at the bus stop when she finally arrived. The plan was to go back to his apartment to leave her luggage and in the mean time while waiting for Tatsuki's flight to arrive she planned on making some welcome home posters to surprise her with at the airport. To be honest, her Quincy friend hadn't seemed all that excited about making posters but he had been agreeable to it nonetheless. Besides, they were all going to go get sushi and maybe some sake if they were feeling up to it after Chad got off his shift.

Biting her thumbnail, Orihime paused to worry about her reunion with Uryū being maybe just a tad bit awkward. During the summer between high school and attending their respective universities she and the bespectacled youth had gone on a few dates. The whole experience was extremely casual, the most daring Uryū had been was to hold her hand once while the two visited a movie theater. So it wasn't all that surprising that it hadn't really been a big deal or anything to talk about when she left town. Though he had never brought it up, deep down Orihime had her suspicions as to why Uryū hadn't attempted to initiate a more serious relationship. It was something that he had recognized though the young woman had never explicitly explained her feelings. Uryū knew it, and perhaps, so did everyone else.

Wringing her hands together a frown flooded across Orihime's face when her thoughts drifted to Ichigo: the man that to this day was the only one to hold all the love of her heart.

Though gaining supernatural powers had changed the lives and to an extent the personality of herself and the others there was no one affected more by it than Ichigo. The fire-haired hero had become devoted to protecting her and his other friends but so much so that it was all he thought about. This attitude had only become more profound once he had regained his Soul Reaper powers again.

She really hadn't been all that surprised when he had given up being human to permanently become a Soul Reaper. Fighting had quickly become his calling purpose, and he could have never lived a normal human's life battling at the extent that he was always willing and ready. She hadn't seen him since the day he left at high school's end with his father's and what he thought to be his friends' blessing.

Orihime closed her eyes tightly in order to successfully ward off the thick liquids threatening to escape. She had wanted so desperately to beg him to stay. If only just to tell him that she would promise to forever love him more than anything. She'd continue becoming stronger so that she could help him fight and perhaps then retaining a human body and life wouldn't be all that much of a burden. Looking back on that day she would have done or said just about anything to get him to stay, and maybe she would have if Rukia hadn't been standing beside him when he announced his decision.

That chronically grumpy face of his took on a whole different appearance when it fell upon Rukia. Ever since she accompanied Ichigo to the Soul Society in order to help him save the Soul Reaper from certain doom it had been something she had failed to ignore. His mysterious chasms spoke their true feelings when they lit up in eagerness at the mention of her name. The sound of her dear friend's voice after a long absence was enough to send Ichigo scrambling up the side of a building if only just to be a little bit nearer to its revered source.

Even at the last opportunity to finally confess her devotion to him (while conscious) she just couldn't bring herself to do it; not to a man who held such a gaze for the woman who had utterly changed his world.

Sucking in a breath, Orihime vigorously shook her head in an effort to physically scatter her thoughts. Forcing a smile forward she reminded herself to not be sad. Though she would have loved to see the spikey-haired youth for the first time in two years she decided it would be a blessing that he wasn't around. After all, if she didn't have to see or talk to him she wouldn't despair over that which wasn't in her power to change.

"Kaaaaarakura Town!" A gruff voice announced over the bus's loudspeaker. Coming out of her trance Orihime suddenly realized that the vehicle had now stopped.

"Oh, t-that's my stop!" She fumbled over her words as she leapt from her seat and threw the strap of her duffle bag over her shoulder. Hurriedly moving toward the exit she bid the driver a thank you just before skipping down the short stairwell. Without having to look around she sensed that Uryū wasn't at the station awaiting her. Upon briefly checking the time she noted that her bus had arrived twenty minutes ahead of schedule.

'Perhaps he's at the library. It isn't far and I know he takes his studies seriously.' She thought. Shuffling the bag to sit more comfortably on her shoulder she brandished to the world a smile and began walking the few blocks toward Karakura Town's main library, but within her first few steps an overwhelming force enveloped her.

Her breath forcefully evacuated her lungs as the rumbling of an incredible reiatsu came crashing down. Gasping for air, Orihime barely caught herself from crumbling to her knees. In her panic she managed somehow to focus. The source was nearby but its signature was one she didn't recognize, in fact, there was something about it that seemed malicious. Perhaps it was an especially powerful Hollow, or maybe-

An Arrancar?

No, no that wasn't possible. Before she could take any longer to consider it the sound of shattering asphalt startled her and the presence of a second reaitsu sent her eyes flying wide.

"Uryū!" She wailed to the empty street and started sprinting in the direction of the disturbance. Her bag was heavy and the cool evening's air raked within her chest as she ran, but Orihime wasn't thinking clearly enough to consider abandoning the additional load. Arriving at the library more quickly than she ever thought possible, her panting breath fell dead as her horrified gaze filled with the sight of Uryū's head being barbarically obliterated by a powerful cero.

"Uryū!" Orihime screeched as she ripped her bag away from her body and raced into death's welcoming jaws. No matter how quickly her feet moved it seemed as if time was slowing her down. Her human body wasn't capable of the speed required to get to her friend before the unfamiliar Arrancar vaporized what was left of Uryū's body with another powerful blast.

"Santen Kesshun, I reject!" She sputtered with tears flooding down her face. The familiar orange-hued barrier shielded her and what little remained of the fallen Quincy. Scraping her bare knees against the pavement, Orihime's dilated pupils stared in disbelief to the ashes which were once a living man. Scooping the morbid dust into her palm, she barely heard the taunts of the Arrancar or felt the consequence of his attacks launching into her defense.

Though it all had transpired in moments something suddenly changed within the brave but tear stricken girl. It started as a feeling within her stomach that traveled through her vasculature like a fire that could never be tamed even if it was attacked by the raging ocean or the winter's endless rain. And when the Arrancar used his sonído to attack from her non-guarded side, the Santen Kesshun barrier grew and trapped Orihime within a four-sided pyramid shaped shield that closed around her.

"Sōten Kisshun, I-I reject!" She ordered and watched as the healing oval spread over the ashes and bits of fabric.

She could do this. She could undo what this monster had done to Uryū.

"Hey! Stupid girl! Fight me if you're not a coward!" The partially masked Arrancar howled but Orihime narrowed her focus and had no reaction when the Hollow's attacks started bouncing off her shield and reflecting back toward him. Concentrating on her regenerative dome she watched the ashes swirl below in random array all the while praying to some higher power that this would work; that it could work. She closed her eyes in an effort to ignore the madness raging beyond her protective shields but forced them back open when a nostalgic voice burst across her ears.

"Getsuga Tenshō!" It roared and before her surprised eyes the Arrancar was reduced to scattered debris upon the huge wave attack making impact. Among the clearing dust Orihime's gray-hued gaze focused on a tall silhouette dawning bright orange hair and an enormous sword slung over his shoulder. Catching his glinting irises, Orihime's mouth fell open just slightly when Ichigo smirked toward her.

"Hey Orihime!" He called, stepping toward her now dissipating shields. "Uryū!" At the sound of the second name she immediately turned her eyes and nearly fell backward as she looked into Uryū's equally flabbergasted gaze. He sat kneeling before her, showing no sign of injury amongst his perfectly ironed clothes and pale skin. The pain of death glittered within his indigo orbs, and perhaps a little fear remained too as he dared not move his eyes away from her own.

"You two alright?"

XxXxXxX

"Well," Kisuke spoke up. He leaned back into his chair whilst thoughtfully waving a fan before his face. "We can't know for sure how the hierarchy works now in Hueco Mundo, but it wouldn't be all that strange for an Arrancar to show up in Karakura considering he might have been hungry and on the lookout for some high quality souls."

"Except he didn't suck out a single soul- he could have done it within seconds of arriving so why hadn't he?" Ichigo countered pointedly from where he sat between Uryū and Chad the latter having hastily arrived to Urahara's shop upon sensing the massive spiritual pressure that had quickly came and went outside the library. Orihime shifted uncomfortably where she knelt beside Uryū who had been abnormally silent concerning the whole encounter, though only she knew the reason why.

"Orihime and I witnessed the Arrancar enter through the garganta," the Quincy spoke up suddenly. "Ichigo was quick to disrupt his plans before anything else could happen." Orihime turned to him and stared in astonishment upon his lie, but Uryū refused to meet her gaze instead focusing his attention to grinding one of his fists into the underside of the table.

"Well if that's the case we really don't have much information to go on." Kisuke responded in his usual lackadaisical tone. "The best we can do is keep our eyes peeled and on the lookout for any more suspicious activity."

"Yeah," Ichigo interjected, "I'll be sure to pass the message along to the Soul Society. That way they can investigate as well."

Though Orihime's world was still spinning she managed to somehow hold a coherent conversation with the towering Chad and Ururu who had become quite the lovely young lady during her two year absence. Truth be told she was doing most of the talking as both were chronically quiet individuals, but she was having difficulty concentrating with the evening's events rolling around in her head and the sound of Ichigo's voice ringing loudly from the other room. He was having a playful argument with Jinta and she couldn't help but feel a tightness constrict in her chest upon imagining the scowl he always wore as he bantered with the younger boy.

"Hey there, Orihime," came the voice of Urahara. Paying the man whose face was always partially hid beneath a bucket hat a small smile, she knew instantly where this conversation was going before it had even begun.

"So, how long are you in town?" He asked once Chad had taken his leave to finish his shift at work and Ururu dispersed to assist Tessai with preparing dinner.

"Just for the week," She responded softly, lifting her gray eyes to meet with his obscured gaze. "But I guess I'll be cutting my trip short this time." The ex-Soul Reaper sighed and lifted the brim of his hat so that she could see his eyes and wry smile clearly.

"There isn't any reason to be alarmed but it would be best to be cautious-"

'Considering what happened last time.' Orihime supplied in her thoughts.

"I realize you were probably looking forward to seeing Tatsuki. I heard she's going to be coming into town tonight." Kisuke continued and suddenly brandished a huge grin. "So I was thinking as soon as you get another free moment we can visit her in Brazil!"

"Really?" Orihime asked between several blinks.

"Yeah! We can all go: you, me, Chad, Uryū- hey Tessai!" Kisuke yelled over his shoulder, "You ever been to Brazil before?"

"No sir, I can't say that I have." The huge man responded from the kitchen.

"Gr-eat, then it'll be perfect," Kisuke laughed. "Here, Orihime. Take my card, I know you have the shop's phone number but my e-mail is on there too." Taking the small white paper from between his fingers Orihime scanned the text of the address.

"Kisuke less than three's Yoru-" A raucous laugh from the blonde interrupted her reading.

"That's the one!" Kisuke confirmed and walked with Orihime toward the door. After stepping into the chilled night, the young collegiate unconsciously tugged at the sleeves of her red sweater upon spotting Uryū leaning against the shop's outer wall. She had thought he had snuck away without saying good-bye; still shaken from what happened.

"Orihime," He called while strolling toward her.

"Uryū, are you alright?" She asked with a tone brimming with concern and in truth she was worried. While she hadn't the desire to be praised for saving his life she was utterly confused as to why he had chosen to conceal what truly had happened to the others.

"Did you tell Urahara or any of the others about what really happened?" Her dark-haired peer asked urgently.

"N-no, Uryū what's going on? What's the point in lying to them?" Uryū's eyes darkened behind their windowed lids as he leaned in closer to place a hand on her shoulder.

"Orihime Inoue," he spoke in a low whisper, "do you remember what happened tonight? What you were able to do?"

"Of course I do," The orange-haired beauty defended, "I used my Shun Shun Rikka to heal your wounds-"

"Heal my wounds?" the Quincy demanded sharply. "Orihime, you brought me back from the dead! You regenerated my body fr-from nothing in mere seconds!"

"B-but, there were ashes-"

"I saw it." He uneasily continued. "My detached soul was so new- so fresh I doubt either you or the Arrancar could sense it, but I watched you regenerate my body and once again bind it to my soul." Silence befell them as the taller youth gestured toward her with a hand over his very alive and breathing chest.

"Your powers have grown immensely, Orihime." Uryū continued. "And though this is something you have every right to take pride in you must keep what happened today a secret." Shaking her head, she narrowed her dampened eyes toward him.

"Uryū! You're not making any sense!"

"I shouldn't have to spell it out for you, but you've heard enough stories to know that any being or race-human or not- with power the Soul Society perceives as threatening sooner or later will end up eliminated." Uryū spoke with a darkness she could almost taste.

"Uryū, what happened to the Quincys - that was a very long time ago." She argued, completely disbelieving that those of the Soul Society, many of whom had become her friends, would ever come to kill her.

"Think about it, the role of a Soul Reaper is to send lost souls and force Hollows into their proper place among the Spirit World. Your power does the exact opposite as you have the ability to bring a soul back into its original living state. You may even have the ability to reconstruct a fallen Hollow if what I perceived today is correct. Just like the Quincys, this could disrupt the balance that the Soul Society's whole goal is to preserve."

"I've often wondered why they haven't attempted to exterminate myself like they had the rest of my kind but when I thought about it more I can see why they wouldn't perceive me as a threat as just one Quincy killing the occasional Hollow to happen upon Karakura Town wouldn't disrupt the balance of souls between worlds that much." Uryū continued to explain when Orihime remained silent. "Your powers on the other hand could be far more dangerous to them, especially if you were to fall into the wrong hands. The Soul Society has a lot of enemies, and even more they wouldn't want to see brought back from the dead."

"I don't think my powers work like that. Your body may have been disintegrated but your remains were still present and you had just died." She countered. Uryū merely shook his head and leaned back from her to push his glasses back on the bridge of his nose.

"Maybe not, Orihime, but I'm warning you to take my advice. Don't tell anyone about what happened today- not Chad, not Urahara, and especially-" Uryū paused to turn to look back toward the shop. Following his line of sight, her heartbeat thumped a little faster when she spotted the tall fiery-haired man in the window carelessly sharing a laugh with Kisuke.

"Especially not Ichigo, he may still be a friend, but never forget, he's one of them now." Uryū spoke coldly.

After Uryū had parted with a somewhat cheerless good-bye, Orihime trudged toward the street with her large duffle in tow. Checking the time on her cell phone she sighed. The last bus leaving for the city her university residence was in would be departing within the hour so she hadn't any more time for visiting. Turning to look back depressively upon the modest "candy" store she debated going back once more to at least bid Ichigo farewell. Between discussing all that had happened and him visiting with everyone who hadn't seen him in a while he had barely spoken two words to her. Running a hand through her long auburn bangs she turned away and began walking with a sad smile. She hadn't expected to see him at all, so perhaps once again watching him walk out of her life was a torture she didn't deserve.

"Hey, Inoue!" A gruff voice shouted behind her. Falling dead in her steps she turned to see none other but Ichigo sprinting toward her, looking almost comical in his Soul Reaper clothing with his huge Zanpakutō strapped across his back. Panting heavily when he reached her, his brown eyes sparkled as he paid her with a typical smirk.

"Where the hell are you going Orihime? It's been two years and you can't even say good-bye?"

XxXxXxX

Orihime's heart was beating a mile a minute as Ichigo walked alongside her toward the bus station. He had attempted to carry her bag for her, but she had quickly pointed out that with the absence of a gigai it might scare someone to see a baby-blue duffle bag floating on its own along the sidewalk.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Ichigo said with a short laugh ringing into the air. "How have you been Orihime? You're at a university now, right? What are you studying?" He asked genuinely. Fighting a blush from her face the petite girl turned to him with a smile.

"Just fine, Ichigo. I'm studying astronautical engineering so I can become an astronaut!" She responded with enthusiasm.

"W-wow! That's pretty impressive. I'm not surprised though, you were always the smartest kid in school." A crooked smile fluttered across his attractive face as he looked upon her and Orihime failed to conceal her blush this time. He didn't look that much different in appearance than the day he had left. Time passed differently in the Spirit Realm compared to the World of the Living. Orihime on the other hand, though she had donned an adult woman's curves from a young age, appeared more mature in her facial features having lost any traces of baby-chub against her now slender and well-structured cheeks.

"T-thanks." She responded while tossing her gaze to the ground. "How are you and Rukia doing?" Orihime screamed at herself internally when the question had shredded across her tongue. She must truly be a masochist to subject herself to wanting to know the answer to such an inquiry.

"-and the others too?" She quickly interjected. Ichigo responded with an arched brow as he looked toward the strangely behaving girl.

"Rukia is doing great, as are all the others." He answered finally, placing a hand on the back of his head. "Things have been pretty quiet in the Seireitei to be honest, but I've had plenty of time to work on my training. I'd like to think I've gotten stronger but I haven't had a real opportunity to test it out yet." Orihime smiled to herself at his idly spoken words. He still had his mind settled on little else but training and fighting, it truly was as if nothing had changed at all. After they had finally reached the bus stop, Orihime almost burst into trembles when he laid a gentle hand against her shoulder.

"Hey, I've been trying to get more assignments to the World of the Living. As soon as I get a break I want to come visit you, alright?" He asked sincerely. "Maybe I can get some of the others to come too, Rangiku has been whining about wanting to see you as has Rukia. Renji doesn't say much but I know for sure he'd like to visit too."

"Really? That would be wonderful, Ichigo." Orihime responded softly. Her heart felt as light as a feather. Though she still desired more from the Soul Reaper than he seemed interesting in giving, the thought of he and her other friends from Spirit World wanting to spend time with her lifted her spirits to an all-time high. In fact, she felt so happy that she managed to keep wearing a genuine smile long after he had taken his leave and she had clambered onto the bus.

An hour into her long journey her glee was starting to wear. She had already called Tatsuki and talked to her for quite some time. Orihime explained what had happened (leaving out the part where she had revived Uryū from his untimely death) and though bummed, Tatsuki immediately perked up when she spoke of Kisuke's promise. Upon hearing this Tatsuki vowed to visit the Urahara shop once a day while she was in town to make sure he knew good and well that he had better be ready to pony up the money to send Orihime to see her when she was ready. The future astronaut had gotten a good laugh out of that but once again being confined within the cramped seat of a bus all memory of the amusement she had drawn from that conversation quickly faded.

Orihime always tried her best to look on the bright side of life but she couldn't help but feel depressed that after just a few short hours of being home she was yet again on the excruciatingly long trip back to her current residence. In fact, she was trying to convince herself that it was indeed this that was bothering her when instead there was something much more troubling gushing through her mind like a poison that hadn't an antidote. Encountering the Arrancar that evening had brought forth a slew of memories she believed she'd never be able to forget even if she lived for a hundred more years.

Though years had gone by without such an incident reoccurring, she would still frequently awake in the middle of the night drenched in cold sweat from the nightmares forcing her to relive the time she had been stolen from her world if for nothing else than to entertain the perversions of monsters.

Her thoughts bitterly rolled back to the conversation at Urahara's shop. They had been careful in the words of their discussion; only vaguely speaking of the Arrancar incident as if it truly was nothing out of the ordinary or something that could be handled with ease. She wasn't sure if they conversed aloud this way for her own benefit or if they talked in code because of their own fear. But being as intelligent as she was, Orihime was quick to read between the lines.

When Kisuke spoke of the hierarchy of Hueco Mundo he was asking why Arrancar were entering the Realm of the Living without his direction. And when Ichigo said the Soul Society would be investigating the matter, what he truly meant was sending someone down into the very depths of hell- to check and make sure he hadn't escaped the prison he was to remain in for well over two hundred lifetimes. And he of course was Sōsuke Aizen: the unfathomably powerful Soul Reaper who had made her a pawn of the pawns in his own little game of conquering all of the existing worlds.

To her credit, Orihime had never truly witnessed the defected Captain's power in the few times she had encountered him within the confines of Las Noches. That is if you chose not to count the absolute fear his very presence instilled within his subordinates who could have squashed her like a helpless bug if allowed the opportunity. But the quiet words of Ichigo and Kisuke meant to share what had happened in battle to those who were absent had been more than enough to remedy this. At the time she was supposed to be concentrating on doing her part to heal the wounded, but the frightening tale was one she couldn't possibly ignore.

Orihime felt a chill right down to her bones as she recalled Ichigo's solemn recount of how Aizen had cut down the Soul Society's strongest with what appeared to be little effort and even less remorse. And that was of course before he had activated his secret weapon of having subjugated the Hōgyoku. Though Ichigo seemed confident in Aizen's defeat there was something about Kisuke's mannerisms that made her feel he felt otherwise. The way he had referred to his arrogance upon becoming drunk with power being his sole downfall seemed to suggest that if he were able to escape his imprisonment there would be no one able to stop him.

The sound of the bus's radio rang softly in her ears as she rubbed the fuzzy arm of her sweater. She really shouldn't be worrying about such things. Especially since the business of the Soul Society was something she was no longer included in. But the eloquent strumming of a Spanish guitar pouring through the speakers haunted her with the memory of his calculative gaze. In some other world or time she might have found the former Lord of Las Noches charming, perhaps even attractive as he was without question a very handsome man. But she knew all too well that the sliver of a smile he wore was never once paid to her for the sake of well-meaning pleasantry.

Of all the things that man had done to her, from orchestrating her kidnap to attempting to decimate her friends and her home, it was the very last time she had heard him speak that bothered her the most. How the Arrancars had treated her had not been as upsetting or surprising, after all, she had been picked on, beaten up and threatened with death ever since she was a little girl. But those cool and callous words ringing smooth and with the utmost civility were the ones she'd never forget.

"I no longer have any use for her."

Having momentarily become a numbed prisoner to her morbid memories, Orihime hadn't noticed the forthcoming of a large reiatsu until it had come so close that its sheer massiveness begun forcing the bolts upward from the steel floorboard below her feet. Before she could even think on how to react, the bus came to such a violent stop that the girl's head went slamming into the seat in front of her. Lucky to have such a hard head, she immediately bounced back from her injury and leapt to her feet. The incredible spiritual pressure was still present but nothing else was happening with exception of those rushing to the front of the bus toward the driver.

"He's injured! Help me get him to the street!" She heard someone announce. Turning worriedly toward the voice she filed behind the others off the vehicle so she could offer assistance. Just as she was pondering how she could manage to use her healing powers without drawing suspicion an out of place and throaty grumble brushed past her ears. Whipping her head to look toward the damaged front of the bus her mouth fell open in heart-stopping shock upon a face that none of the other riders would be able to see. She watched as the Espada yanked his fist from the vehicle to grin at her with a macabre so vicious that it was seemingly one with the fangs that were once a part of his Hollow mask. All the other sounds surrounding her faded with the exception of the crackling bus radio that was still statically screaming the fast paced serenade of a Spaniard's orchestra.

"Hey there, girl," Grimmjow practically laughed as his cyan colored irises passed over her face and curvaceous figure in amusement, "or woman now, I guess I should say!" He corrected with glee just as he sonídod before her and wrapped the left arm she had once regenerated for him around her waist and pulled her against him.

"You'll be coming with me now." He commanded with a glint shining in his maddened stare.

Hi! So, I've got to admit: this is my first Bleach fanfiction and I just felt compelled to write it since I started reading into some of Sariniste's excellent take on Aizen/Orihime shipping! I was kind of sad to learn that there weren't that many fics of this pairing out there (maybe like 100 out of the ~60,000 Bleach fanfics!) and out of those many aren't completed so I thought…what the heck let's see what I can do. ^^'

I have ~3 chapters finished, all around this size and I was hoping I could get some feedback on what you think so far!

A few technical notes: I'm planning on this story being rated "mature" at some point and it will be told from the POV of both Orihime and Aizen and possibly more POV characters but that's not yet decided. I'd urge you not to focus on canon too much since I'm almost 100 % positive that the adventure I'm planning on sending these characters on will not be occurring in the series. I do plan on, to my best ability, keeping these characters *in* character, though.

I'd love to know what you all think- whether it's liking it or bashing the hell out of it. My initial thought is that some of you might have found this chapter boring but I thought it was important to set up what's happening and what is the state of Orihime's current feelings. Was it too long? I feel like I have this tendency to "over-describe" things so if you have any advice on that I'd be happy to hear it.

Thanks,

~Kochou-hime