BLEACH: SIMPLE AND CLEAN
by Vashkoda
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or its characters.
Author's Note: I wasn't really planning on writing more Bleach fanfic, but I keep finding all these delightful stories, and they've inspired me to explore more creativity demons. So I am dedicating this one to all authors in my favorites lists, and to those who are kind enough to give me reviews and keep me motivated.
The title comes from Utada Hikaru's song of the same name, as any Kingdom Hearts fan knows. It will probably have very little to do with the story, but it seems to fit the main character's innocence.
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Orihime couldn't believe her ears. Shocked, she stood so perfectly still that Ulquiorra had to enter her cage and prod her see if she had been paying attention.
"Woman!" he repeated, his tone now clearly irritated. "I said your friends have arrived to save you. Come, we're going."
"W-what d-did you say?" the girl asked, her voice quavering.
Rather than repeat himself a third time, the Fourth Espada grabbed her roughly by the shoulder and dragged her into the corridor.
Orihime wouldn't have registered the reply even if he had offered one. Her thoughts were all a jumble, as several little voices struggled to make themselves heard.
"All right! Soon we'll be rescued!" cheered Shun'ou, reaching out to hug the nearest person--which happened to be Tsubaki. She managed to twirl him in the air around once before he forced himself free, sputtering at the indignation.
"Gah, get off me, woman! And stop your ridiculous prancing. We're still in great danger!"
His words caused the other Shun Shun Rikka to stop their own impromptu celebrations and look at him worriedly. Although they were still physically in the shape of twin hairpins, the fairy-like creatures could also manifest themselves in the landscape of Orihime's soul any time they chose, as they did now. The place usually took the form of a bright field of flowers, but ever since the girl had been taken to Las Noches, the skies had been overcast and threatening to rain.
"You don't think that Espada is going to hurt Orihime, do you?" asked Baigon, settling his round body on a sturdy sunflower.
"That wouldn't be logical," argued Hinagiku. "If he wanted to kill her, he wouldn't need to take her out of her cell."
"Ooo, I bet he's taking her away so they can escape together!" cried Lily, clapping her hands in excitement. "It's so romantic! I bet he has a secret castle hidden under the desert. And since everything is opposite underground, maybe it's daytime there instead of night!--and there will be lovely things growing in the garden, not to mention the kitch-"
"Stop it!" shouted Tsubaki, on the verge of slapping her. "That's enough out of you! The last thing Orihime needs right now is to be daydreaming about more of your crazy notions."
"Right. Instead, she ought to be scared out of her wits?" asked Shun'ou, arching an eyebrow. "Because with the five of us arguing, Ayame's is the only voice she's going to hear."
They all turned to look at the diminutive female. She actually wasn't saying anything, but the wings tightly wrapped around her shivering body spoke volumes.
"Um...Ulquiorra-san?" asked Orihime fearfully. "What are you doing?"
As usual, the Espada's face was blank and unreadable, but she thought he sounded amused.
"I am following Aizen-sama's orders. Why, you didn't think I was taking you to see your friends, did you?" He continued to pull her after him.
"B-but then where are we going?"
"We can't just let him take Orihime who-knows-where," argued Shun'ou. "We have to do something!"
"That's right--it's time to fight!" cried Tsubaki, slamming his fists together.
"Yes, we already know what you think," drawled Shun'ou, rolling her eyes. "Anyone else agree with him?"
Without any support from the others, they all knew that Tsubaki wouldn't have enough strength to do much damage. Shun'ou did not seem to agree with him this time, despite their alliances in the past. He turned imploringly to Baigon, who only half-lifted his hand. No one else even looked at him. Tsubaki huffed and crossed his arms out in front of him.
"We don't have to fight him, per se," observed Hinagiku, reminding them that they had other options. "If Orihime can manage to escape, she might be lucky enough to run into Ichigo and the others. They must be close by if the Espada is in such a hurry to leave."
"Right, like that's going to work," muttered Tsubaki.
"It can't hurt to try," snapped back Hinagiku.
"I feel sorry for Ichigo," spoke up Ayame, her soft voice startling the others into momentary silence. "He keeps having to risk himself to protect Orihime, and it makes her feel like such a burden."
"She was worried about being useless even before she was captured," added Hinagiku in agreement.
"And what does that say about us?" remarked Baigon with a heavy sigh. "We're the ones who are useless if we can't help Orihime."
"I know!" cried Lily excitedly, hopping up and down. "What if instead of running away to find Ichigo, we ran away to find that weapon of Aizen-sama's and erase it with our powers! Then Orihime would have something to be proud of."
Hinagiku glowered at her. "I thought we had agreed to drop that crazy scheme of yours. Do you honestly think that Aizen-sama is the type of fool to leave his greatest treasure unprotected?"
Tsubaki suddenly showed signs of interest. "So maybe there's a guardian of some kind that we'd have to destroy?"
"Just forget that stupid plan and let's be serious! Protecting Orihime is our main priority, and that means bringing her to Ichigo. Don't you agree, Baigon? Lily?" The one-eyed male looked at his fellow Shun Shun Rika hopefully, only to see that they were now all gathered around Tsubaki, discussing ways to distract the Espada and find the Orb of Distortion.
"Oh. Oh dear."
Orihime knew that she should be afraid, but for some strange reason, she was filled with excitement. Ichigo was here, which meant he had survived, despite all the forces Aizen had pitted against him. She could feel other familiar reiatsu at the edges of her senses--Renji, Rukia, Chad, Uryuu. She would never have forgiven herself if anything had happened to those who had come all this way to rescue her. It was bad enough that she had made them worry, but soon... soon everything would be all right.
But it would be up to her to make sure.
Ulquiorra glanced back at her and gave her an odd look. "The fear has left you, woman. Are you now resolved to your fate?"
"And what fate would that be? You still haven't told me where you're taking me."
The Espada narrowed his eyes slightly and looked away. He resumed guiding her down the halls of Las Noches in silence. As this had become characteristic behavior for her guardian, Orihime allowed herself to led, no longer expecting an answer. Her eyes darted to the white columns and passageways of the enemy's stronghold, trying to keep track of where they were going. She hoped she might recognize the path they had taken the day that Aizen had shown her the Orb.
"Tell me," he said suddenly, startling her out of her thoughts. "What is heaven like?"
Orihime stared blankly at his back until he stopped and again turned to look at her with his bright turquoise eyes. She had gotten to know him well enough that she could now read signs of concern in his face, though whether it was for him, or for her, she couldn't say.
"Um...heaven? I-I'm not sure, Ulquiorra-san. I think there are clouds, a-and these people with wings and gold circles over their heads." It was a strange subject to talk about, but Orihime felt better just hearing herself speaking out loud. During her imprisonment, she had been drowning in silence, with only the voices in her head to keep her company. She kept babbling on, "I think they play harps there, which must sound very pretty, but I don't think I've ever heard one. And everything is white, and the people dress in white-" She paused with a frown, confused by the connection such a cheerful place apparently shared with Las Noches.
"Do not lie to me, woman. I know that you have been to the Soul Society, and that it is not as you describe."
The girl's mouth hung open. "Soul Society? But that's not..."
It was an odd kind of epiphany. On some level, she had recognized that Soul Society was populated by spirits of the dead, yet it hadn't really struck her that that was the real heaven, and that the version she had seen on television was a lie. It saddened her in a way, as the heaven she had visited was a far stretch from the paradise she had always envisioned. She thought it must be very disheartening for souls to find themselves there when they die.
"Why are you asking me this, Ulquiorra-san?"
Rather than answer, he stopped at the end of the hall and motioned her forward. "We are here."
Here? she wondered in a panic. No, she couldn't let herself be trapped anywhere with Ulquiorra. She had to hurry and devise a way to escape him so that she could find the-
The Orb of Distortion sat on a marble pedestal in the middle of the room. Orihime couldn't believe her eyes, or her good fortune. Ulquiorra had taken her straight to it!
"Your friends should be here any moment," he said solemnly.
"Ulquiorra-san," she whispered, wondering if her captor had now suddenly become her savior. Hope blossomed inside Orihime as she estimated how much their chances of success would improve if he joined her side.
That thought was cut short as the Espada quickly drew his blade and pressed it lightly against her throat.
"Remain still."
He reached over with his free hand to pick up the small violet sphere and grasped it firmly. Orihime hadn't dared to move, and watched him with widened eyes as he met her gaze.
"The shinigami have come for the Hougyoku ...and for you. But Aizen-sama will not suffer to let them have both." He turned his head to stare at the darkened corridor behind them, as if he could already see his enemy approaching.
"Ulquiorra-san, y-you don't have to obey him!" she said urgently, hoping he wouldn't punish her for speaking. "You're more than just a hollow--I know because you've been taking care of me, and I've seen how you worry when I don't eat. The others scare me, but I've always felt safe with you. I know you don't want to hurt me!"
The Espada's expression turned grim. "Woman, have I ever done anything to make you think I would betray my master?"
"N-no, but I-"
"Good." The man then surprised her by smiling, revealing sharp white teeth. "I would hate to learn that my trust was misplaced."
She heard the rush of footsteps a mere second before the group materialized in front of them.
"Orihime!" shouted Ichigo, his clothes in tatters and his body caked with blood. The relief in his voice was tempered by caution as he took in their precarious situation. At his sides were the rest of her friends and a handful of people she recognized, and some she did not.
"Your loyalty to me had remained in doubt, although with time, I knew your obedience would be absolute, as it was with my poor Momo," Ulquiorra said, leaning over to speak softly in her ear so that only Orihime could hear him. He then moved aside to study the newcomers, although his eyes never left the blade aimed at her throat.
"Here is another betrayal that was not entirely unexpected."
"Ulquiorra!? You bastard, I thought we'd already killed you!" growled Grimmjow, shaking a bloody fist at him. Orihime gasped in surprise to see the fierce Espada standing alongside her friends. Had he really come to help them? And what did he mean about Ulquiorra being dead?
"I advise you to leash that pet of yours," her captor said, sounding perfectly calm. "I might get distracted and accidentally cut this lovely young lady."
Ulquiorra thought she was lovely? Orihime almost blushed at the thought, except that, of course, the man was currently holding a sword to her neck. Regrettably, that forced her to put things into perspective.
Could she really have been so wrong about her captor? Had she only imagined the kindness she had seen in his eyes? Perhaps he was being deceptive because Aizen was watching from somewhere close by. Maybe this was an act staged for his benefit, and Ulquiorra, like Grimmjow, would change sides at the very last moment.
She watched as it took Ichigo, Chad, and several shinigami to hold back Grimmjow, who looked ready to tear out his fellow Espada's heart. Orihime's attention was then drawn back to Ulquiorra, as he again whispered words in her ear.
"Woman, it's time for you to repay my generous hospitality. You already know what I want from you." Keeping a firm grip on the Orb, he held it out in front of her. Orihime wondered if he was ready to end the charade and hand it over directly, but when she reached out to take it, he tightened his hold on the sword. She hissed in pain as the blade bit ever so slightly into her flesh.
I'm so confused--I don't know who to trust, or what's real any more! she cried mentally.
No, she realized, there is one thing I know for sure. I have to use my Shun Shun Rikka to unmake the Hougyoku!
At last finding her resolve, she summoned her reiatsu. The pins in her hair flashed and were replaced by six fairy-like creatures.
"There will be no tricks, woman. I am watching you closely."
Orihime nodded silently, while she turned her eyes pleadingly towards the small beings hovering over her head. She hoped they had read her thoughts and knew what she intended. To her surprise it was Hinagiku, and not Shun'ou or Tsubaki, who landed on her shoulder to advise her. His single eye locked onto hers, and somehow she was able to hear him in her mind.
"This is not the path I would have chosen, but it seems I am alone in this regard. Very well. To utterly undo the existence of an object--as you are requesting--Tsubaki, Shun'ou and Ayame must combine their abilities to form a destructive field. It is a powerful move which you have not yet learned, so you will have to say its name aloud; 'Santen Kisshun, I reject'. The name sounds very similar to Souten Kisshun, your normal healing technique. I can only hope that the Espada doesn't notice."
"Hai, Ulquiorra-san," she said nervously. All eyes in the room were now on the three Shun Shun Rikka poised over the Hougyoku. Orihime drew a deep breath.
"SANTEN KISSHUN, I REJECT!!"
There was a flash of light and of pain, and Orihime staggered back in surprise. When her vision cleared, she saw that Ulquiorra's sword was no longer at her throat, but lowered in front of him, as if he had just struck a blow. The Orb of Distortion still shimmered intact in his other hand.
There was no trace of the three Shun Shun Rikka who had once hovered over it.
Ulquiorra glared at her furiously. Out of the corner of her eye, Orihime saw Ichigo and the others rush forward. Before they could reach her, and before the girl could recover from her shock and command the other fairies into a defensive shield, the Fourth Espada was on her.
The pain she had just felt from losing three integral parts of her soul could not compare to the horrible sensation she was feeling now, as her captor reached into her body and ripped out what remained of it. As he shook her spirit form like a rag doll, she caught a glimpse of her body dangling from a silver chain connected to her chest. She had seen something similar once before, the night her brother Sora had become a hollow and attacked her.
"You dare!" shouted Ulquiorra, now lifting his sword. Orihime offered no resistance. All she could think about was the fact that she had now lost three of her Shun Shun Rikka, and that without Shun'ou and Ayame, she had no chance of bringing any of them back.
"DON'T TOUCH HER!" shouted Ichigo, at least reaching her side. He raised Zangetsu to deflect the downward stroke of Ulquiorra's blade, but was then unable to block the kick aimed at his side, which launched him straight across the room.
As if there had been no interruption, Ulquiorra then proceeded to severe Orihime's soul chain with his sword. The girl still hung limply in his grasp, and stared down at the broken links with barely a hint of understanding. Ulquiorra smiled--an expression she had once longed to see, and now dreaded.
"If you will not serve me as a human, perhaps you will bend to my will ...as a hollow slave."
As he raised the Hougyoku to her, he was suddenly knocked aside by Grimmjow, forcing him to release her. As she felt herself falling, Orihime was vaguely aware of Uryuu catching her, and Rukia rushing to their side.
"Can't you do something?" she heard the Quincy plead.
Rukia shook her head in frustration. "Her soul chain's been cut--it's already too late to save her."
Orihime had trouble focusing her vision. She was certain that explained why she thought she had just seen Ulquiorra morphing into Aizen, who was simultaneously fighting Ichigo, Grimmjow, and several shinigami captains. She could hear the howls of arrancar and other powerful hollows as they came tearing through the walls. Rukia remained kneeling at Orihime's side, as Uryuu shot arrows in rapid succession at anything that moved in their direction.
"Orihime, I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do to save you," said Rukia, choking back tears. "Maybe Urahara would know, but we can't afford to wait and look for him. As you are, you're vulnerable to the Hougyoku, and we have to get you away from Aizen as quickly as possible."
She was barely aware of Rukia sorrowfully drawing her zanpakuto and pressing the pommel softly against her forehead.
"Orihime, we'll come find you as soon as we take care of things here. When you get to Soul Society, find Jidanbou; he'll be able to help you."
The auburn-haired girl felt herself nod, although she was absorbing very little of what her friend was saying.
Jidanbou... what a funny sounding word.
As Orihime felt her consciousness spiraling into darkness, she caught the briefest glimpse of a black butterfly landing on her outstretched hand.
A.N. - It seems there aren't many Orihime fans out there, so I guess most people would be thrilled if the story ended here. Let me know if you feel otherwise.