15 Chapter 15: A New Threat Arises!

After Orihime disappeared through the strange gate Ichigo, Renji, Uryu, and Chad sent the entire night looking for her, but sadly the usually cheerful and bubbly girl was nowhere to be found. The four of them were currently sitting behind Ichigo's high school going over what they learned so far about all this.

"Damn, I still can't believe we searched all night and still couldn't find a trace of her," Ichigo said in a frustrated voice.

"Yeah, I don't sense her spiritual pressure at all anymore," Chad said from his position to Ichigo's right.

"If only we knew what that strange gate was," Uryu said as he placed his index finger to his chin and began to think.

"To me, it looked like the gate straight into the underworld," Renji said in a grim tone causing Chad and Uryu to look up at him in shock.

"Is there such a thing?" Uryu asked with a voice laced in curiosity.

"You've never heard of it?" Renji asked in a surprised voice. To him, the knowledge of the gates of hell was common knowledge among soul reapers so he was surprised when he heard that someone hadn't heard of it.

"Of course he hasn't heard of it dumbass," Ichigo said causing everyone to look at him. "You're forgetting that you are in the world of the living and he is a Quincy," he added in a deadpan tone.

"Oh right," Renji said with a nervous chuckle causing everyone to sweatdrop. "So, wait does that mean you've heard of it?" Renji asked in a serious voice while looking at Ichigo with a curious look on his face causing Uryu and Chad to look at Ichigo as well.

"I have," he said surprising them. "I've seen it once before in fact," he said causing their eyes to widen. "But that wasn't it," Ichigo added causing Renji to nod his head.

"That's right, there is no way Hell would make off with a living human being," he said causing Uryu to contemplate this new information trying to think up a plan for how they should proceed.

"I sure hope you're right," Ichigo said to Renji. The four of them then fell into silence, all wondering where Orihime could be.

"The thing that worries me is what happens to the girls earlier," Chad said causing the three of them to remember what happened when they first arrive at school this morning. When they arrived they had asked the girl in their homeroom class if they had seen Orihime this morning and the bizarre thing that happened was the fact that none of the girls who Orihime was friends with, including Tatsuki, didn't even know who Orihime was. "It appears as though their memory of her has been completely erased," Chad said causing everyone to nod their heads in agreement slowly.

"The same thing happened to everyone when Rukia disappeared," Uryu said causing Ichigo to nod his head remembering what occurred.

"If anything this proves that Orihime's disappearance was no accident. Someone went through all the trouble of wiping the memories of all these kids because they knew someone would come looking for her," Ichigo said with narrowed eyes.

"We shall make know the what fear looks like, smells like, and taste like," Alucard said in a chilling voice inside Ichigo's inner world causing Ichigo to mentally nod.

"Alright, I think we should go back to Orihime's apartment and take another look," Uryu said causing everyone to nod their head and stood up.

"Right let's go," Ichigo said before the four them began walking towards Orihime's apartment. After leaving school early, the group began walking towards Orihime's apartment. They walked for about five minutes before they arrived at her apartment where the kidnapping took place. When they got to the door, Ichigo decided to play it safe and ring the doorbell just in case someone new had moved into the apartment in order to make it look like Orihime never existed. There was no response to the ringing of the door causing Uryu to try and turn the doorknob to see if it was unlocked, but sadly it was locked and they didn't have a key.

"Guess it's locked," Ichigo observed.

"I'll take care of it," Chad said from behind them while cracking his knuckles.

"You can't break it down Chad," Ichigo said with a sweatdrop on his head.

"There is no need to break down the door, I can handle this," Uryu said as he took out his pocket sewing kit in a dramatic faction before he took out a sewing needle and stepped towards the door causing Ichigo to step aside. Uryu bent the tip of the needle into a right angle before he stuck it into the keyhole of the doorknob and began to move it around trying to pick the lock.

"Hey, I think picking a lock is illegal," Chad said in a cautious tone.

"Oh, and breaking down the door isn't?" Ichigo asked rhetorically before he turned to Uryu and spoke. "You know, you seem to have a knack for sneaky jobs like this, Uryu," Ichigo said in a teasing voice.

"I don't think I like what you are insinuating, Ichigo," Uryu replied as a tick mark formed on his forehead. As he said that the four of them heard a click signaling that the lock had been picked causing Uryu to turn the know and push open the door slowly. The group then entered Orihime's apartment and began looking around. Renji and Ichigo took to the kitchen while Chad and Uryu went into the living room to search for clues. Upon entering the kitchen Renji immediately began to raid the fridge for food causing Ichigo to sweatdrop at his behavior.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ichigo asked Renji who was stuffing his face with Orihime's food.

"I hardly had anything to eat today," Renji replied before he drank some milk right out of the carton. "I'm staring alright," he added. Ichigo was about to respond to the red-haired idiot but before he could Uryu called them into the living room.

"Hey, come take a look at this!" Uryu yelled from the living room causing Ichigo and Renji to hurry over there. When they got there they saw two cups with tea on the coffee table. "Orihime had company, there are two cups of tea out," Uryu added.

"So whoever this is made her feel comfortable enough to let them in or she either knew who it was," Ichigo noted causing everyone to nod their heads in agreement.

"Just who the hell could it have been," Asked Chad as him and everyone else stared at the two cups on the table. Then suddenly the sound of a cellphone ringing filled the air causing everyone to look at Renji.

"You have a cellphone?" Ichigo asked in a surprised tone.

"It's my soul pager," Renji said as he pulled a little flip phone out of his shihakusho.

"Is it a hollow?" Ichigo asked as he stood up.

"No, it looks like someone is calling me," Renji replied before he opened the phone and placed it up to his ears. "Renji here," he said as he answered the phone.

"Hello! Can you hear me okay?" came the voice sounding like a little girl through the phone. Much to Renji's dismay everyone immediately got closer to Renji and placed their ears closer to the phone so they could hear too. "I got your friend! She's here with me right now," the voice said in a playful tone. Upon hearing what the girl said Ichigo narrowed his eyes behind his sunglasses.

"A little girl," Chad noted from the sound of the person's voice. Ichigo then took the phone away from Renji and spoke in an emotionless tone.

"Alright, who is this?" he asked as he held the phone up to his ears.

"Hmm, that question is no fun!" the girl said in a playful tone causing Ichigo to get angry. "I don't think I will tell you that," she added causing Ichigo to growl.

"Why did you kidnap Orihime?" Ichigo asked in an angry voice causing the little girl to giggle on the other side. "Tell me why!" Ichigo yelled.

"Calm down Ichigo," Uryu whispered causing Ichigo to take a deep breath and calm himself down.

"You really shouldn't break into people houses when they're not home you know," the little girl said causing their eyes to widen. "maybe I should call the police," she teased.

"She's watching us," Renji said causing him, Chad and Uryu to run towards the window in order to try and find the person who was watching them. "There is no one around," he noted before he turned back to Ichigo.

"Do you want to see your friend?" the little girl asked in a playful tone.

"Of course we want to see her, tell us where she is!" Ichigo said into the phone.

"Okay, let's play a game," the girl said.

"What game?" Ichigo asked in a frustrated voice.

"You'll see," she said in a teasing voice. "And if you boys win I just might return your friend to you," she added causing Ichigo to growl once more. "All you have to do is get to park down the street in three minutes. If you even one second late there is no telling what might happen to your friend, talk to you later," she said before she hung up causing their eyes to widen.

"Within three minutes?" Uryu asked in a disbelieving voice.

"What do we do?" Chad asked while looking at Ichigo.

"For now we go along with their games," he said before the four of them sprinted out of the apartment and began making their way towards the park. As they were running to the park Ichigo turned to Renji and spoke. "Renji, it was your pager she called, do you have any idea who this person is?" Ichigo asked as they ran towards the park.

"I have no idea," Renji replied between breaths. "It is a standard issued soul pager. Anyone could have gotten that number," he said causing Ichigo to narrow his eye slightly.

"One minute left we better hurry," Chad said from behind Ichigo causing them to pick up the pace. After running for about twenty more seconds the group arrived at the park only to see that it was empty.

"We made it here in time, but I don't see anyone around," Uryu noted as he looked around.

"Yeah, neither do I," Chad added. Everyone kept their guard up as they looked around trying to find the person who was holding Orihime while at the same time preparing to defend themselves in case of an attack. Then suddenly the sound of a telephone ringing filled the air just like back in the apartment. Everyone looked to Reji to see if it was him but he shook his head saying no. Everyone then looked towards the payphone in the park and realized that the ringing was coming from there and immediately rushed over to answer it.

"Hello," Ichigo said as he answered the phone.

"Congratulations, you passed the first test," the little girl said in a cheerful voice.

"What do you mean the first test?" Ichigo asked in a confused voice.

"Are you ready for the next one?" the girl asked ignoring Ichigo's question.

"What?" Ichigo said in surprised. "We did what you said and got here on time, now give us Orihime," Ichigo said in a frustrated voice getting tired of the games that this person was playing.

"Aww that wouldn't be any good, silly," the girl said with a chuckle. "The game can't be any good if it's over so quickly," she said causing Ichigo to growl.

"Fucking brat," Ichigo said into the phone.

"next I want you to go to the supermarket," the girl said. "The one next to the big shopping mall. I'll give you three minutes to get to the phone there, okay," she said causing Ichigo's eyes to widen before he replied back.

"That's miles away, we will never get there in time," he said to the girl through the phone.

"You better...or something bad will happen to your friend," the little girl said causing Ichigo to narrow his eyes before he spoke to the girl in a chilling tone.

"You're playing a dangerous game, brat," Ichigo replied in a cold tone causing his friends to take a step back. "And you're starting to piss me off. So, for your sake you better hope a single strand of hair isn't out of place on Orihime's head...or else," he said in a tone that sent chills down everyone's spine before he hung up the phone on the girl and turned to his friends.

"What di they say?" Chad asked.

"They want us to get to the supermarket near the shopping mall in 3 minutes," he said before he took off running in that direction before anyone of them could reply. Not wanting to be late his first took off after him and began running to the supermarket. Just as they were about to reach the supermarket they heard the sound of a telephone ringing once again.

"We are going to make it," Renji said as the four of them began pushing themselves to the max. Just as they near the phone however one of the supermarket employees picked it up and answered it causing Chad to run even fast and chase the poor man away from the phone.

"Give me that phone!" Chad said as he ran towards the man causing him to drop the phone in fear of getting pummeled by our resident giant.

"Yeah, hello!" Ichigo said as he picked up the phone.

"Aww too bad, you failed the test this time," the little girl said in a disappointed tone.

"What are you talking about?" Ichigo asked between breaths. "We got here within three minutes just like you asked," he said raising his voice slightly.

"Someone else answered the phone. So, you lose," the person said causing Ichigo to growl and tighten the grip on the phone.

"You never said we had to answer the phone first!" Ichigo yelled into the phone.

"Must have forgotten, too bad guess your friend is going to die after all," the girl said before she hung up the phone.

"Hey! Wait!" Ichigo shouted trying to stop her but he was too late. ichigo then slammed the pay phone back onto the booth before he turned to his friends with a murderous look in his eyes. "Now, I'm pissed off," Ichigo said while looking at his friends. Before any of them could reply to Ichigo the payphone began to ring once more causing Ichigo's head to snap back around at it before he picked it up and spoke.

"Haha, fooled you!" the voice of the little girl teased causing Ichigo to growl.

"Keep calm master," came the voice of Alucard from inside Ichigo's inner world. "Do not let trash get you this worked up. You are better than this," Alucard said causing Ichigo to take a few deep breaths and calm himself down.

'Thanks, Alucard,' Ichigo replied in his head.

"Are you ready for the third test?" the girl asked.

"We won't be doing anymore test until we know Orihime is safe," Ichigo said in a calm voice causing his friends to nod their heads in approval.

"I will only let you hear her voice if you pass the third test," the little girl said with a giggle causing Ichigo to sigh before he replied.

"Fin, what do we have to do?" he asked as he adjusted his sunglasses.

"Simple, all you have to do is get to the Urahara Shop in 3 minutes," she said causing Ichigo's eyes to widen before he hung up the phone and spoke to his friend.

"Kisuke's shop lets go!" he said before the four of them took off running towards Kisuke's shop at full speed. After running for about 2 minutes the group finally had Kisuke's shop in view. They could see Jinta and Ururu outside the shop sweeping.

"What the! Are you guys crazy!?" Jinta yelled as the group ran up to him.

"Where is your phone?" Ichigo asked while breathing heavily from running all the way there.

"Yeah, it is a life or death situation!" Renji added from behind Ichigo.

"Well, look who is here," Tessai said from in front of the shop getting everyone's attention. When Ichigo and his friends looked up they saw him standing there with Kisuke.

"Welcome Ichigo and friends, What can I do for all of you?" Kisuke said with his fan in front of his face. "by the way the phone is inside if you need to use it," he added. Just as he said that the phone began to ring causing everyone to rush past him in a hurry.

"Thanks, Kisuke!" Ichigo said as he ran by nearly knocking Kisuke over. The group of friends entered the shop and followed the sound of the ringing in order to find the phone. When the found it Ichigo picked it up and spoke.

"Yeah...hello," Ichigo said between breaths.

"Oh you made it in time!" the little girl said.

"How did you get this number? And where are you calling from?" Ichigo asked as he sat down in front of the phone.

"Can't we trace the call?" Chad asked while Ichigo was listening to the little girl babble on about her game.

"No I think only the police can dot hat," Uryu replied to Chad.

"I can record the call if you like," came the cool voice of Kisuke getting all of their attention. Ichigo nodded his head signaling him to do it. Kisuke then reached out in front of Ichigo and pull open the drawer of the stand that the phone was on and revealed it to be a tape recorder in there. he then pushed two buttons and began recording the call.

"I'll tell you what, try going back to your friend's apartment at 8 you might find her there," the little girl said causing their eyes to widen.

"Why can't you give her back now!?" Ichigo said as he stood up. "At least let us hear her voice,' Ichigo said really wanting to know if his childhood friend was safe.

"My, my you are an impatient boy. Maybe you will hear it tonight. Bye!" the little girl said before he hung up causing Ichigo to growl and hang up the phone.

"Orihime's apartment tonight at 8," Ichigo said to his friend before he walked out of the room and into Kisuke's sitting room. Everyone then followed Ichigo into the sitting room. Kisuke brought the recorder to play back the recorded call. Just as he was about to play it back Yoruichi entered the room in her cat form.

"What's going on here?" she asked as she entered the room. "Are you having a party?" she asked seeing the number of people that were there.

"No, Orihime has been kidnapped," Ichigo said causing her eyes to widen in her cat form.

"Kidnapped? Are you certain?" she asked as she walked over to the group. Ichigo nodded his head and looked to Kisuke to play the recording. Kisuke then pushed the play button and replayed the call between Ichigo and kidnapper. Everyone sat there and listened to the recording to try and figure out something about the kidnapper but sadly they couldn't get much from the phone call.

"Well, it does sound like a kidnapping doesn't it," Kisuke said.

"And the fact that they knew the number to this place means that we are not dealing with any ordinary person," Yoruichi added causing everyone to nod their heads.

"Can you try and find out anything from that call?" Ichigo asked while looking at Kisuke.

"I don't know," Kisuke replied as he folds his fan and placed it against his chin before he spoke again. "I will try, but don't expect much," he said causing Ichigo to smile at him slightly.

"Thanks," he said before he got up and began to leave.

"Where are you going, Ichigo?" Uyru asked as he saw Ichigo was heading for the door.

"Well, we got until 8 so I am going to drop my body home and I'll meet you guys at Orihime's place tonight," Ichigo said causing his friends to nod their heads before they stood up preparing to leave as well. "I am going to teach these fools just what happens to people who mess with my friends. They will be leaving here tonight with quite a few bullets holes in their bodies," Ichigo said in a chilling tone as he left causing Kisuke to become nervous slightly not that anyone notices this.

Ichigo made his way home while Uryu and Chad do the same thing. He walked for about ten minutes before he arrived in front of his house. When he got inside there was no one at home. It was still early, so Karin and Yuzu were still in school and his dad was still at work. Ichigo then walked upstairs to his room, he wanted to get some rest before tonight. As he entered the room he noticed Kon laying on his acting like a stuffed animal.

"It's just me, Kon," Ichigo said causing the little stuffed animal to sit up and let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh thank god," Kon replied with a sigh. "I thought it was that evil little sister of yours," he said causing Ichigo to kick him off the bed.

"Don't call my little sister evil," Ichigo replied before he looked to the clock and saw that it was 2 o'clock. "6 hours to spare," he said with a sigh before he grabbed some clothes from the dresser along with his towel before making his way to the bathroom to wash off all of the sweat from all the running they did. After showering Ichigo came back in the room with his clothes already changed and his sunglasses on. Ichigo then laid down on his bed and stared up at the ceiling.

'Nothing I can do now but wait,' He thought to himself.

"How about a spar in the meantime, master?" Alucard asked inside of Ichigo's head.

'That sounds like a good idea,' Ichigo replied through his thoughts before he closed his eyes and pulled himself into his inner world. When he arrived in there he already had his Shikai out and saw Alucard had two exact pistols like his in both hands. The two of them stared at each other for about ten seconds before both of them disappeared from view and from that point on Ichigo's inner world was filled with the sounds gunshots after gunshots.

*6 Hours Later*

A heavily breathing Ichigo stood in front of Alucard with both pistols pointing at the zanpakuto spirit while Alucard stood there without a scratch pointing his two pistols at Ichigo.

"I think it is time for you to go, master," Alucard said as he lowered his pistols causing to dissipate into black and red spirit particles.

"Has it been 5 hours already?" Ichigo asked and put his guns down.

"Yes, it has," Alucard replied.

"I'll see later then Alucard," Ichigo said while waving at his zanpakuto spirit before he closed his eyes and appeared back in the real world. Ichigo then got up from his bed and grabbed the substitute soul reaper badge from his nightstand before he pressed it against his chest and separated from his body. he then picked up his body from the ground and laid it on his bed before he opened his window and flash stepped out. While flash stepping to Orihime's apartment Ichigo could sense that Renji was already there and Uryu and Chad were making their way there now. It took him about three minutes to get there. Ichigo arrived in front of the gate to Orihime's apartment to see Renji standing there looking up at the building. As he arrived Chad and Uryu and came running in as well. They all stood there with a serious look on their face staring at the building.

"Any signs of life inside?" Uryu asked from next to Ichigo.

"No, nothing yet," Renji replied. Just as he said that a bright yellow right began to shine through Orihime's apartment window getting all of their attention.

"What the hell is that?" Ichigo asked as he stared up at the light. "That's Orihime's window!" he said before he took off running in the direction of the apartment causing everyone to follow after him. When they got to the door Ichigo tried to turn the knob but much to their dismay it was locked. "Damn, it's still locked," Ichigo said as he jiggled the knob.

"Do you want me to pick the lock again?" Uryu asked as he took out a needle.

"No we don't have time for that now," Ichigo said before he turned to Chad. "Come on Chad, break down the door!" he said to Chad.

"Right," Chad replied before he was getting ready to stand in front of Ichigo and break the door down. Before he could the light that was coming from Orihime's apartment stopped and the knob of the door began to turn, causing everyone to put up their guard. Ichigo places his hand on his zanpakuto getting ready to defend himself. The door slowly opened to reveal Orihime looking at the group with a confused look on her face.

"What's going on guys?" she asked while staring at the group.

"Orihime?" Ichigo asked while looking at her.

"Did she bring you back like she said she would?" Chad asked while looking at their now safe friend.

"I'm not sure what you are talking about," Orihime replied.

"You're not hurt are you?" Ichigo asked while looking at her for any signs of injuries.

"Hurt? Hurt from what?" she asked with a confused look on her face causing Ichigo to narrow his eyes.

"Orihime, you were kidnapped last night," Uryu said.

"It seems they erased her memory too," Renji noted as he leaned against the wall.

"Those people who kidnapped her are still out there. So, to be safe we are going to stick around," Ichigo said to his friends causing them to nod their head in agreement. They all then went into Orihime's apartment and just sat there waiting for something to happen. They sat there for about fifteen minutes around Orihime's coffee table waiting for something to happen, but nothing did. Just when they thought nothing was going to happen for the rest of the night Uryu spoke getting all of their attention.

"Something's coming," he said as he looked out the window. Ichigo narrowed his eyes and looked out the window as well. Whatever it was wasn't natural the spirit energy it was giving off was similar to that of the energy the gate that took Orihime gave off. Suddenly all the lights in the house went off and the entire apartment began to shake from heavy winds.

"Everyone stay away from the windows!" Uryu yelled as got up to his feet.

"The door won't open!" Renji shouted as he tried to open the door.

"Hey! What are you doing!?" Uryu yelled causing everyone to look over at him. When they looked in his direction they saw him looking at Chad who was currently being held hostage by Orihime.

"Orihime what are you doing!? Let him go!" Ichigo yelled as he unsheathed his zanpakuto.

"What do you think?" she asked as she looked at them with a crazed look on her face. "I'm killing him," she said in a chilling tone as she began to squeeze harder around Chad's next making it difficult for him to breathe.

"I...cant...breathe," Chad said in a horsed voice. Renji and Ichigo were about to attack but Uryu stopped them.

"Stop, you can't use your zanpakutos," Uryu said stopping them. "That is still Orihime's body they are possessing!" he said causing them to grit their teeth at the fact that their hands were tied. It was then Ichigo got an idea.

"Then I guess I will have to use something else," Ichigo said with a smirk as Orihime let Chad go causing him to fall over on all fours and gasp for air. Just as Ichigo was about to launch his attack Orihime began to transform into a man causing him to pause for a bit and stare at the man.

"So nice to finally meet you," Ichigo said confusing everyone in the room. "Allow me to greet you properly," he said before he pointed his index finger at the man and spoke with a smirk.

"Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō (Six Rods Prison of Light)!" He said causing six beams of light to fire out of his finger and slam into the man's midsection binding him in place.

"What the hell!" the man yelled as he tried to break free.

"Don't bother, you won't be able to move any part of your body while trapped under that kido," Ichigo said with a smirk before he looked to Renji and Uryu and spoke. "Get Chad away from him and the window," he said causing to run over and help Chad up and away from the kidnapper. "Now," Ichigo said as he looked back at the strange man. "Just who are you and where the hell is Orihime," Ichigo said as he slit his thumb and dropped a few drops of blood on the flat side of his zanpakuto.

"I am Kurōdo," the man said with a cocky smirk. "but I am not alone, there is someone else," he said. As he said that a black portal opened on the ceiling and a man wearing a fur coat and a zippered mask, descended down.

"Feast on their fear, Alucard!" Ichigo causing a small tower of spirit energy to appear and disappear quickly leaving Ichigo standing there holding his two pistols in his had with his new attire as he looked at the captured man and the new arrival with a cold look in his eyes.

"I am sorry to say this," Ichigo said while looking at the man who just descended from the ceiling. "But you only came here to die," he said in a cold tone as he pointed the Jackal at the man and blood lust filled the room causing everyone to sweat slightly.

*BANG!*

**CHAPTER END**