The day was bright and sunny illuminating the snow that covered everything around in a blinding white sparkling sheen. The birds sang their joyful melody as usual on a day like this but Orihime saw none of it as she made her way to school. They d been back for four weeks now but nothing was the same for her; not that anyone really ever noticed. Orihime had become very good at hiding her real feelings behind a mask of smiles.
Orihime was anxious to get this day over with because it was the last day of school and Winter break begins. Orihime won t have to smile when she doesn t want to and pretend a happiness she doesn t feel. During actual class studies Orihime doesn t have to worry about it so much because she can hide in the studies; it was during recesses and lunch she had to make everyone around her think all was as usual.
The haunting horrified voice of a female Arrancar questions What are you Echoing constantly through Orihime s head followed by you re a monster. Usually what follows that are visions of the monster Ichigo being called forth from the dead by her cries killing every one of their friends. They were merely nightmares at first but now pieces of those nightmares are day visions of a horrid past; a past Orihime can t forget. The worse of them were those sad green eyes staring as though pleading with her for help; yet she could do nothing.
When the bell rang signifying the end of the day Orihime quickly gathered her stuff and left school headed for home; she didn t even wait to walk home with her friends or even say good by to anyone. Orihime has had a feeling of being watched ever since she d returned but something was different this day. The air turned thick and smelled rancid like something dead and rotting; it seemed to be coming from all directions.
Orihime felt dizzy and the street began twisting and turning in strange directions making her unbalanced. She could hear people screaming and yelling but what she saw was skeletons walking around in rags that may have been clothing at some point in time. The skeletons turned and began converging on her when Orihime suddenly felt a huge pressure that was familiar but had no time to think on it as the skeletons reached out for -
skeleton s hand grabbed Orihime s wrist as a huge shadow quickly moved overhead. A black object smashed the skeleton s wrist that held Orihime then she was grabbed and lifted into the air. Orihime was trying to hold onto consciousness as the dizziness overwhelmed her but between the stench, dizziness, spirit pressure and speed with which they were traveling; it was just too much.
In the Soul Society, alarms went off alerting them to unknown trouble in Karakura Town and a confirmed somewhat familiar Spiritual pressure signature they believe may be the cause. This created an even bigger stir because the Spiritual pressure signature in question didn t descend from the sky but actually materialized just outside of the trouble spot and disappeared somewhere on the other end.
Ichigo and Chad walking the same path merely twenty minutes later find s themselves in a one block area of dead humans that littered the street. They stop walking as their eyes widens at the carnage in front of them; the stench of dead rotted corpses fills the air. Before they could even voice their shock they are met by Vice-Captain Renji, Rukia, Captain Hitsugaya and Vice Captain Matsumoto.
Captain Hitsugaya fills them in quickly with the information they have and then together begin walking the length of the block. "An Arrancar Espada Class you say? But this doesn t look like an Arrancar s doing; I don t even see any holes in these people anywhere that Arrancar s give their victims." Ichigo stated looking at the many dead bodies on the ground.
Captain Hitsugaya looks about with a measure of anger" In the past we have encountered soul sucking Hollows and we know of one Arrancar that you -"
Captain Hitsugaya was interrupted by Chad s wide eyes and the emergency tone in his voice" Ichigo look; isn t that Orihime s?"
On the ground not five feet in front of them lay Orihime s book bag and purse. Ichigo retrieved them from the ground looking around to see if her body was among those in the area. His brief relief at not seeing her body among the dead now led to questions. Ichigo quickly began running to Orihime s house.
Uncharacteristically the front door was not locked when Ichigo, Chad and the others arrived; normally Orihime kept her door locked. Ichigo opened the door and yelled her name as he entered.
Orihime opened her eyes upon hearing Ichigo and the others enter and sat up" What s wrong?" She asked rubbing her eyes to see clearer. Upon seeing the others with him Orihime looked puzzled then looked around her surroundings and then shook her head." I had the strangest dream just now" She said before returning her attention to Ichigo and the others.
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