"Yo~ Sado"
"Yo~ Ichigo"
"Oh ho~ You're back?"
"Ah, you're back."
Ichigo arrived at class early in the morning, bumped into Sado, exchanged a punch, and confirmed it was his real body.
So they happily started class. After class, Ichigo, Uryū, and Sado went to find Orihime, only to discover something strange: Orihime hadn't come.
Tatsuki Arisawa greeted them. She, Ichigo, and Orihime were all close friends. Tatsuki had known Ichigo since she was four years old; they went to elementary school, middle school, and high school together, and were as inseparable as brothers.
"Hey! Ichigo! You bastard, where did you take my Orihime?"
Ichigo looked annoyed. "What do you mean, 'Where did I take Orihime?' Why isn't Orihime here?"
"I don't know either"
Did you call her?
I called, but she didn't answer.
How could this be!?
Ichigo looked at Sado, Sado earnestly, "I came back with Orihime yesterday!"
"Huh? She called you out after she got home?" Tatsuki and Orihime are best friends; they often walk home together after school.
Sado nodded. "Her coffee table broke yesterday, and she asked me to help her carry the new one."
"Wow, you're amazing, big guy!"
The three managed to deal with Tatsuki, but they couldn't handle themselves. They exchanged glances, and Ichigo and Sado both swallowed the Mod Soul. Uryū could only watch them leave, feeling frustrated. It was truly painful for Quincy to be unable to use the Mod Soul.
After thinking for a moment, Uryū took out his phone and called the Undead.
"Could you make me a Portable Gigai and a special Mod Soul? I need something that can temporarily take my place in class."
"Understood. Please give us some time to report your matter to Ishida. Ishida immediately."
Thank you.
On the other side, Ichigo, accompanied by Sado, Shunpo to arrive at Orihime's apartment. Both of them had been there before, and now, in their spirit forms, they landed directly on Orihime's window and looked inside.
"Nobody here?"
"It's not in the hall either."
"Could it be in the restroom?"
"Shall we wait a bit?"
The two of them quickly realized that they could just take out their phones and that would solve the problem; the Radar showed that Orihime's room was empty.
"She's not home after all! Where could she be?" Ichigo immediately made a phone call while continuing to spy on the situation inside. He saw Orihime's unfinished homework on the table.
"Sado, come here and take a look. Is that yesterday's homework?"
"Does it have to be this complicated?" Sado activated the "Idle Person Dispel" effect, then smashed the glass with a punch. The two entered the room and found that it was indeed yesterday's homework.
"They didn't touch a single word? That doesn't make sense!"
Sado nodded in agreement. Orihime was indeed an excellent student and not the type to skip homework. The two went to the living room but found nothing. They searched the entire apartment but found no trace of Orihime or any clues.
"Let's go to her house!" Ichigo knew where Orihime's house was. The two used their phones to fix the broken window, Ichigo pulled Sado to continue their journey using Shunpo.
The two quickly arrived at Orihime's house. The Inoue couple were both at work and not home. The two proceeded to violently dismantle the house and searched thoroughly, discovering that Orihime hadn't returned at all, as Orihime room had clearly been unoccupied for a long time.
"Where could Orihime have gone!?" Ichigo was dumbfounded. The two of them repaired the Inoue family's house. "Even if she went somewhere else, why didn't she notify us? Who could do anything to her? Why didn't she come back!?"
Sado answered Ichigo's question by pointing with his fingers, "Someone took her away. She can't contact us, and she can't come back."
The two exchanged a glance; this was likely the truth.
Who is it?!
"Let's call and ask."
"You attack the Fullbring side, I'll attack the Undead side."
The two immediately made a phone call, but before Sado could answer, Ichigo had already received the news.
"What did you say!?"
"It's like this, Kurosaki -san. Miss Inoue is a very important part of Aizen's plan, so she will inevitably be taken away. Please don't be so agitated. We have already prepared Gigai and Mod Soul to take Miss Inoue- san's place at school."
Is that the important point!?
"That's not the point. The point is, even if I told you, you still wouldn't be able to protect Miss Inoue Aizen is determined to have Miss Inoue, so the battlefield will come to the World of the Living. Are you sure that a battle between a few Arrancar and a dozen Captain-level won't destroy Karakura Town?"
This question left Ichigo speechless. Yesterday's battle blew up an entire street, but no one blamed Love Aikawa, because it was unavoidable. They couldn't be forced to sacrifice themselves for the people, could they? If they had that kind of resolve Soul Society would have been a better place long ago.
"Our lord foresaw this, and this problem is unsolvable. Miss Inoue must be taken away, or Karakura Town will be destroyed. You choose one."
Ichigo deflated immediately. "So, what else did your master not anticipate?"
"That's all. Now that Miss Inoue has been taken away, Kurosaki- san, you can go and rescue her. This way, the battlefield will be in Hueco Mundo, where you can fight as you please, which is good for everyone. As for Miss Inoue's personal safety, please don't worry too much. My master guarantees that Miss Inoue's life is in no danger whatsoever."
"Alright, thanks! And thanks to your master too!" Ichigo was so angry he felt terrible, all he wanted was to fight Jun.
"How about it?"
"Ah~! That guy said Orihime is someone Aizen absolutely has to capture! If Orihime isn't captured like this, they'll destroy Orihime Karakura Town if they want to take her. Now that Orihime has been captured, if we go rescue her, we can put the battlefield in Hueco Mundo! I..."
"I can't argue with that," Sado scratched his head, looking equally helpless.
"Let's go! We need to find someone. Even if we're going to rescue Orihime, we're still fighting Aizen. Soul Society has to help a few captains no matter what, otherwise... fxxk!"
The two found the Shopkeeper this time, and then they saw Uryū arrive, followed by Rukia, Renji, Ikkaku, and Yumichika.
"You're not going to school anymore?"
"The Undead sent us replacement Gigai for Orihime and me, and I've come out too. What's going on? Orihime is missing, isn't she?"
"She's not exactly missing. Orihime with Aizen; she was taken away."
"How so!?"
The Shopkeeper was extremely anxious. "I'll contact Soul Society right now. Aizen's purpose in capturing Inoue is very clear: to conduct the Hōgyoku experiment. Whatever his motive, we cannot let Aizen succeed!"
"Then you can contact them. I'm heading to Hueco Mundo now!"
"Ichigo, calm down!" Rukia grabbed Ichigo's hand. "We're not strong enough right now; we have no chance of winning if we go to Hueco Mundo!"
With Ichigo pulling him along, Rukia's burning temper cooled slightly, and he slammed his fist on the door of Urahara Shop.
"How can this be repaired?!"
Rewinding to 9:23 PM the previous night, two figures appeared in Hueco Mundo. Ulquiorra enveloped Orihime with his Spiritual Power, then, carrying Orihime through a dozen consecutive Sonído, arrived at Las Noches.
"Is this the woman Aizen needs?"
An arrogant man suddenly appeared and blocked their way. He pressed his finger against Orihime's chin, scrutinizing Orihime face to face.
"It's Lord Aizen, Grimmjow. You must show Lord Aizen respect."
"Alright, alright, I don't know how you became so obsessed with Aizen. We weren't created by him, and I don't want to be infatuated with him like those useless people."
This person is Grimmjow, a Primal Arrancar born in this timeline. He left the Endless Sea over a hundred years ago and is now under Aizen's command. Fate is truly wondrous.
"Respect!"
"Tsk~", Unlike the original work, Grimmjow and Ulquiorra are acquaintances. Before Aizen, there were only so many Arrancars. After meeting them, it's obvious they came from the Endless Sea. If they had encountered Arrancars who didn't come from the Endless Sea, that would have been a big deal.
Therefore, Grimmjow knew Ulquiorra's personality very well, and arguing with him was pointless. Grimmjow ruffled Orihime's hair and said with a grin...
"Show me what you're capable of. I really hope you're as amazing as Aizen said. Bye-bye~"
Then it disappeared. Orihime looked at Ulquiorra, and Ulquiorra said...
"That's Grimmjow, the Espada. He's a dangerous man. Don't go near him."
"Oh"
The two continued forward, where Felix was waiting for them at the entrance. Accompanying them was another person, a handsome man with towering silver hair tied in a samurai braid, nearly two meters tall, and with a well-proportioned build.
"Felix, I've kept you waiting. Healdos, you're here again? Do you want to join Lord Aizen's ranks?"
"You have truly fallen! How could we, the proud and powerful Arrancar, submit to Arrancar? I will not return."
"Lord Aizen's charm is something you'll feel once you get close to him."
"I share Ulquiorra's opinion."
"Hmph!" Healdos sneered, "If we meet again in the future, I will kill you all!"
After speaking, Healdos vanished, appearing and disappearing without a trace, just like Grimmjow. He was one of the Arrancar who left at the time; his full Hai'erdosi Yinduofalasi, and his symbol was a sea eagle.
Eagles are essentially large hawks, both belonging to the order Falconiformes, and are equally aloof and proud. The reason Healdos didn't stay in the Endless Sea was very simple: he was free.
He traveled to many Hueco Mundo worlds, encountering his predecessors Ulquiorra, Natasha, and Felix, as well as his successors Grimmjow and Cirucci. He had never met the squid Tejuda.
Healdos had a fairly good relationship with these Arrancar had escaped the Endless Sea, but after Aizen appeared, Ulquiorra and Felix were brought under his command. Healdos tried to dissuade them multiple times, but to no avail.
Even Grimmjow had joined, which puzzled Healdos greatly, but in any case, he would not submit to anyone.
Now, Ulquiorra and Felix are truly working for Aizen, becoming his lackeys. They have lost their pride Arrancar Aizen become enemies, enemies!
Should we pay attention to Healdos?
"Never mind, he's an uncertain factor, leave him to me," Ulquiorra glanced back at Orihime, "This is the Fiftieth Espada, Felix. If you can't find her, you can ask her. Let's go, let's go see Lord Aizen."