a greedy gulp, she pushed a few sweets into her mouth before getting up, feeling drawn to explore the garden just a bit. Orihime slipped her feet into the sandals set on the wide stone step off the edge of the engawa and eagerly set off on an adventure.

The gardens were so peaceful and wonderfully cared for with neat gravel paths and a river that flowed into a lake filled with brilliant gold koi. A red bridge arched over the water, connecting the two halves of the garden and leading Orihime further from the manor.

The quiet beauty of the grounds almost made her forget that she still had to face her justifiably angry husband later on. Nevertheless, she wouldn't worry about that right now. Her thoughts and prayerswere focused on Rukia and the baby alone. Surely, Ichigo would understand her reasoning and forgive her for leaving so suddenly.

Well, she could dream, couldn't she?

"So that is the inhibitor Kisuke made."

Thinking she was alone, Orihime gasped at the unexpected voice and automatically covered the bracelet circling her wrist with her hand. Her body tensed instinctively, primed for fight or flight, as she cautiously turned on the narrow path to see the owner of this oily singsong voice. Blinking and trying to hide her surprise, Orihime's eyes moved up, over a white haori and garish makeup to meet a pair of piercing golden eyes.

Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the captain of 12th company.

What was he doing here?

Pulling a pale hand from his sleeve, Kurotsuchi extended it in the former ryoka's direction