WARNING! Chapter 347 SPOILERS!
Prelude (chap.347)
-Can you take me above the dome?
This is what she asked him before he did so. And now, he knew he was right because he was already regretting it...
Everything above the "bubble" was dark and there was a heavy atmosphere due to the powerful reiatsu.
Orihime still managed to perceive two figures by the moonlight. She easily identified the one of Ichigo and, all while rushing to him, she guessed that the other "thing" was the one of Ulquiorra.
She hardly recognized the sad face of the Espada as his form was chaotic... It seemed like a creature coming right from hell. He, who basically was the least impressive of all the Espadas -even if he might look very strange- had completely transformed himself. His body, whose appeared a few minutes earlier so frail, had taken a devil-looking shape... but the most shocking was his spiritual pressure, so thick and painful like a plague swallowing the air and space into an evil darkness where she could hardly breathe.
While the battle between the two was raging, she was stuck a few meters away, immobilized by fear and the overwhelming powers clashing together.
She easily saw that Ichigo was in very bad shape and that Ulquiorra, as usual, didn't seem to put all his strength in his blows despite his 'evolution'. In a fit of panic, she threw her "Souten Kisshun" to protect the Shinigami.
The bat stretched its arms as if to pluck the heart of his opponent with his long black claws. While expecting to tear him up, instead, he felt his hand as if slowed by something, before to finally touch the still warm flesh and blood between his fingers.
- Inoue! Yelled the red-haired.
Concerned, Ulquiorra looked at the impact point and discovered with astonishment that he had pierced the abdomen of Orihime, who thought she could protect the young Shinigami by interposing herself with her shield.
However, this time his blow wasn't blocked. Instead, Ulquiorra broke the shield without even noticing and then, reached the wrong target.
He withdrew his hand, letting escape a significant amount of blood in the process. Ichigo wished to help the girl, but the Espada had no intention to give him the slightest rest. He wasn't in the mood.
The human who didn't stand a chance against him, just happened to see his friend whom he came to rescue, die before his very eyes. Nevertheless, it didn't look like the boy would forfeit anytime. Why?
Why was the Espada feeling so angry inside of him? Was it really because of the Shinigami?
Or was it because of the girl, who once again, had interfered?
The very same girl who once again, had betrayed him?
The one whose existence belonged to Aizen-sama?
In a fit of passion mixed with a lack of reflection, he took the prisoner's body in his arms before disappearring in front of the powerless Shinigami.