" I will. " Urahara said. He knew he needed to act fast to get there, also having developed a kido spell to return from there. He remembered that the barrier had components of a few kido barriers and figured he could do the same to deactivate it.

" I found a few things out from some of the residents that might help the investigation. " Tetsu said when Captain Hitsugaya arrived. Tetsu hoped he was allowed to return home soon, not sure how much more he could help.

"What did they say?" Toushiro asked out of curiosity. He had heard about several orphans disappearing recently, but other than the stories, he didn't get much information from the people he talked to.

"Thanks," Ichigo replied, hoping that Nel was okay. As they got up to leave, Tatsuki asked who Nel was. "Why? Jealous?" he asked teasingly as the others left to run errands in the case of Chad and Orihime or train as the case of Rukia and Ishida.

Hoshi wondered also who Nel was, and hoped Ichigo's friend was alright. She kept her guard up as she walked toward home.


" They said some people have seem a man in white that they said has a mask. He's only been seen at night. "Tetsu said, feeling uncomfortable. To him it sounded like an Arrancar.

"That sounds a lot like an Arrancar...I thought we got rid of them after the Winter War was over," Toushiro complained sighing lightly. He hated dealing with Arrancar honestly, especially if they released their zanpakuto.

" I thought so too. Unless there were those that survived the war. " Tetsu said. " I also was told about the disappearances of orphans, but most of the residents seemed afraid to say anything else ." He added, having the feeling there was more to what was really going on.

"Ichigo told me about a female Arrancar that helped him during his times in Hueco Mundo, which is why we spared her, but other than that we thought we got all of them. If there is an Arrancar running around loose..." Toushiro said, letting Tetsu get the meaning. "I don't think we're going to be seeing Hoshi-san anytime soon at this rate."

Tetsu nodded, knowing that finding the Arrancar was top priority. " Where should we start looking?" He asked not wanting anymore people to go missing.

Hoshi knew her dad wasn't back yet, though hoped it would be soon." Would either of you like to come in?" Hoshi asked once they had arrived home. She knew there was still a few more hours of daylight before she had to get ready for school tomorrow.

It seems to like places like this, areas in the Rukongai that wouldn't miss an orphan or two. I say we should stay around the Orphanage around here and see if the Arrancar shows up or not. That's all I've got, but I'm willing to hear any ideas that you may have," Toushiro replied.

"If you don't mind," Ichigo said, knowing that their was still some daylight left to kill. Seeing Tatsuki nodding as well, he thought that he made the right decision.

" Sounds like a good idea to me." Tetsu said not having any ideas himself. If it was orphans the Arrancar was after then waiting there was the best option.

Hoshi unlocked the front door let Ichigo and Tatsuki inside before she locked the door again." What would you both like to do?" Hoshi asked .

"Alright then, let's go," Toushiro said.

"I'm up for anything," Ichigo replied to Hoshi's question.

Tetsu followed Captain Hitsugaya toward the orphanage , keeping his guard up.

" How about a game? " Hoshi asked.

"Board game or video game?" Tatsuki asked.

Toushiro kept his guard up as well as they headed towards the orphanage. He was annoyed that an Arrancar was kidnapping the orphans, especially since he was an orphan once himself.

" Board game. That way we all can play. " Hoshi said.


Urahara had finally been able to open the way to Heucho Mundo and had his senses high. He sensed a fight nearby and went toward it. He hoped he could find Nel and get some information.

Nel was just starting to breathe without pain lacing through her body when she sensed a gate opening. She just hoped that it wasn't another arrancar that wanted to finish the job.

"Alright," Tatsuki said, seeing Hoshi go upstairs to get one of her board games. While she was gone, she turned to Ichigo. "So..who is Nel?" She asked.

Urahara saw someone injured as he got closer, and then saw it was Nel. " Dont worry I'm here to help and I'm a friend of Ichigo's ." He said not sure if Nel knew who he was. Urahara knew if he said that he was a friend of Ichigo , she might trust him more.

Hoshi went her room and opened up her closet. She picked out a couple of games not sure what they would want to play. She felt sad when she realized it had been a week since she konsoed Elva, but smiled knowing her friend was safe now. Hoshi grabbed the boxes and headed back down the stairs.

Nel heard a man's voice but wasn't sure where it was coming from or who he was. Hearing that he was a friend of Ichigo's, her body finally shut down on itself so that it could focus on healing.

Ichigo told Tatsuki that he would tell them both once she came back downstairs so that he wouldn't have to explain himself twice.

" Urahara wasn't sure what had happened , but would stay in case someone tried to attack her again. He kept his guard up, so he wouldn't be detected here.

Hoshi came down the stairs with the games and set them on the table. " I hope these are alright. Is there anything I can get you before we start?"

"I'm fine," Tatsuki said as Ichigo nodded as well, to both the question and the set of games she brought down from upstairs. Before they started playing, Ichigo explained who Nel was and how he came to meet her.

Hoshi listened as Ichigo told her and Tatsuki about Nel. Hoshi was glad that Nel helped Ichigo when he was in Hueco Mundo. She hoped Nel was alright, not wanting Ichigo to lose a friend.

Nel slowly woke up. She still felt the bruises from her fight with that Arrancar who wanted to kill her for past transgressions. Seeing a man with blonde hair in the distance, she slowly made her way to her feet...or tried to. The faint shout of pain told her that she was still healing.

" Take it easy you need the rest." Urahara said when he was coming toward Nel. " Can you tell me what happened." He was concerned that she had been attacked , and wondered if it was because she had helped Ichigo. This made him wonder if things were worse than he thought they were at first.

"Nel went on guard for a few seconds before she remembered that he said he was a friend of Ichigo's. She hoped that he wasn't lying to her just to get her to trust him. "Before I do that...are you really a friend of Ichigo?" she asked, wanting to make sure he was telling the truth.

"I am. I told Ichigo that I would come here to see if you were alright." He said , remembering the concerned look that Ichigo had earlier in the day. He also hoped he could find out what was going on here.

Nel looked at him for a few seconds and saw that he was telling the truth. "Alright, I believe you. While making my rounds to make sure that there weren't any Hollows trying to escape into the Human World, one of the Arrancar ambushed me, striking me from my right shoulder. Luckily his weapon didn't do anymore damage from that strike, but it allowed his partner to escape. Whether into the Human World or Soul Society I do not know."

Even though Ichigo was losing at the moment, he was having fun with his friends.

" I'm glad also. Did you get a look at the Arrancars by any chance?" Urahara asked, knowing that it wouldn't be good if there was an Arrancar loose in the Human World or Soul Society.

Hoshi was having fun with her friends and glad to get her mind of missing her dad . She also didn't want to remember about what happened at breakfast. She hoped she wasn't being watched again, not wanting to be a burden to anyone.