Authors note: This was originally two chapters, but the second one was way to short, so I decided to merge them. To anyone who read the original, nothing has changed, chapter two is now just stapled on to the end.
Chapter One: One Day Too Late
Aizen lazily sipped his tea. "It has come to my attention that we have some intruders here in Los Noches." A small hologram appeared, showing Ichigo and his allies traveling down a massive hall.
Grimmjow immediately stood up, moving towards the door, when an orange barrier flared to life in front of him. "You were not dismissed." Tosen stated calmly.
"It's pretty obvious what our orders are. Aizen, tell your new pet to stand down." Grimmjow glared at the recently seated Septima Espada. Her mask was a solid visor covering the upper half of her face, a number 7 where her left eye would be, and twin red markings on her face in the form of streaks beneath her eyes. She glanced at him for a moment, before turning mutely to Aizen.
"Actually," Aizen began, his usual smirk never leaving his face, "our newest addition has asked that their deaths be avoided if possible, and I have decided to grant this request. I would still like you all to be on your guard, but please, show some restraint."
Grimmjow let out a low growl, before nodding and returning to his seat. The new addition bowed graciously towards Aizen.
"Now then, are there any concerns you would like to voice?" No one spoke up. "Very well. Dismissed."
"As we approach the crucial battleground, believe that our blades will not shatter! Believe that our resolve will not weaken! Though our paths may diverge, our hearts will remain together! Swear that though the land itself may break asunder, we will come back here… ALIVE!"
The group split, taking off down the halls, but what they had no way of preparing for what would come next.
Rukia was the first to find someone. Her path lead into what looked like a courtyard beneath a fair blue sky. There was a small table in the center. Sitting at the table were two female Arrancar, one noticeably shorter than the other. The two of them were drinking tea and… playing cards?
Rukia couldn't help but clear her throat to get their attention. The short one nearly shot out of her seat, and her sword was halfway out of her sheath when the taller one, whose mask prominently displayed the number 7, put a hand on her shoulder. The Arrancar sheathed her sword. "What the hell are you doing here, Soul Reaper?"
"I am Rukia Kuchiki, and I've come to save my friend. Just who are you?"
The Arrancar snorted. "I'm Drenair Higgori, loyal Fraccion to the Septima Espada, the Grieving Princess." Drenair wore a light blouse, with a moderately short skirt. As female Arrancar uniforms went, it was surprisingly modest. Her mas took the form of a large ram horn on the left side of her face. Her pale grey hair was cut short, and her body language was that of one who was just itching for a fight.
The other Arrancar made her very uncomfortable. She wore a modest white dress with black lines at the seams, and her caramel hair reached down to her waist. She hadn't said a word the entire time.
Rukia pointed to the Septima Espada. "So that's your boss, huh? I think I'd prefer to speak with her."
Drenair growled. "Why you upstart little-!" The Grieving Princess calmly looked at her subordinate, and Drenair seemed to compose herself. "Milady does not wish to speak at this moment. She does, however, extend this offer to you: Leave this place, run as far as you can, and you will be safe. She would prefer to avoid a fight."
"I'm sorry, but I'm not leaving here without my friend."
"Well, you're out of luck." Drenair turned to her superior, who nodded somberly. With that approval, Drenair drew her sword. "Just head home before you get hurt, little punk. Orihime is staying here, got it?"
Rukia wasn't really surprised that they knew who she was after. They had obviously prepared for this. She drew her Zanpakto. "Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
Drenair was in front of her in a heartbeat, her arrival heralded by a sound like air being rent apart. Rukia barely blocked in time, leaping back to get some distance between her and Drenair.
Drenair simply smirked. "Weren't expecting that, were you?" and in a flash she was gone, appearing behind Rukia, jabbing out with a quick punch, which Rukia just managed to avoid. "Of all the Arrancar, I'm probably the fastest outside the Espada." Another burst of speed, and she finally landed a hit, driving the pommel of her blade in Rukia's stomach. "Be thankful Milady wants you alive."
But Drenair should have known better than to waste time boasting. She barely dodged Rukia's counterattack, a long gash going across her face. Drenair's eyes went wide with shock. "You… you cut me…" She scowled with an unknowable fury. "You cut my face! I'll make you pay for that!"
But Rukia had already launched her next strike, a circle of white forming beneath Drenair's feet. She caught on quickly, and just managed to avoid being engulfed in the pillar of ice. She sneered at Rukia. "So, we're pulling out our A-game, huh. Fine, guess I'll cut loose. Charge, Martillo de Trituración!" Dreniar was quickly enveloped in what seemed like a localized sandstorm. When the dust cleared, she had taken on a fearsome form.
She had grown a bit, though this barely put her above an average human's height. She was clad in a suit of bone like armor and she now sported a matching pair of ram's horns. Most notable were her fists, which were covered in massive gauntlets made of the same material as her armor, and slightly larger than Rukia's head. "What do you think, Soul Reaper? I was hoping I could avoid this, mostly because Milady would be upset if I were to kill you. I suppose I'll just have to be careful." And with a burst of Sonido, the fight resumed.
Rukia quickly dodged the floor where she had been standing reduced to a crater as Drenair smashed it. "I could have sworn you wanted me alive." Rukia knew she had a small advantage: Drenair was angry, and angry people make mistakes.
"You telling me that's all it would take to kill you?" Drenair snarled. "I thought you Soul Reapers were supposed to be tougher than that." She charged directly this time, at Rukia deftly dodged to the side. Drenair slammed into a wall, destroying a sizeable chuck. "Why you little-"
"Tsugi no mai, Hakuren!" A blast of icy wind leapt forth, and Drenair couldn't dodge in time, finding one fist stuck to the wall by ice. Taking the opportunity to strike, Rukia charged, ready to finish the fight.
Just before she reached her foe, though, an orange barrier sprang to life between the two of them. Rukia immediately felt a powerful presence behind her, and whirled around to find herself face to face with the Septima Espada. "I was hoping you wouldn't have to see me like this." And with that one sentence, Rukia's worst fears were confirmed.
Orihime slid the mask up to her brow, a sad smile on her face. "Hi Rukia. It's good to see you again."
Ichigo charged ahead, oblivious to the events taking place elsewhere in the fortress. He had already received a firm greeting from Nel in the form of a head to the stomach, and was in the midst of some pointless argument when he heard ranting in the distance.
"I can't believe it! The kicked me out! Me! They let the ignorant fool Yammy stay, but not me! Those ungrateful fools!" Ichigo couldn't help himself, and went to go find the source of the noise. "She's only been a hollow for a matter of days! What makes them think she's worthy?"
Passing through an archway, Ichigo found himself in a large, dark chamber, a man at the center who looked eerily like him ranting and raving. "Hey you!" The man froze in place before slowly turning his head, an embarrassed look on his face. "Yeah, you!"
"Uh, you didn't hear any of that, did you?" Ichigo just nodded. "Well then…" Shaking his head, the man regained his composure. "Who are you?"
"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki. I'm here for Orihime." He put a hand on his sword. "Tell me where she is or I'll make you tell me."
Surprise flickered on his face for an instant before quickly turning to joy. "Hey, hey, no need for hostilities. You see a mask here?" He gesture at his face. "I'm a Soul Reaper too. My name's Kaien Shiba." He kept his hands in front of him nonthreateningly as he walked towards Ichigo. "You're here for Orihime? I know where they're keeping her. Just follow me, alright?"
Ichigo's hand left his sword, but he didn't relax. "Alright, lead the way. But try anything and you're toast, clear?"
"Don't worry. I'm on your side. Trust me." And silently, Aaroniero Arruruerie praised his luck.
Rukia was dumbstruck by the sight before her. Orihime looked largely the same, save the red streaks beneath her eyes and the mask fragment. Her usual smile was there, but there was an emptiness to it that made it clear it was largely for Rukia's sake. "What… what happened?"
Orihime's smile faded, replaced by a face that simply looked tired. She reached over towards Drenair, a dome of orange enveloping the Arrancar. "I thought it would be obvious."
There was a brief flare of spiritual pressure, and Rukia could feel that gnawing emptiness at the core, and all doubt was stricken from her mind.
"You're a Hollow." Orihime simply nodded, not meeting Rukia's gaze. "But… how?"
Drenair stood up, most of her injuries healed. She glared at Rukia, but remained silent, letting Orihime speak. "It's actually pretty simple. They gave me a choice. Either serve them, or I would die, and so, most likely, would you. They gave me some time…" Small tears began to form in the corner of her eyes. "In the end… I didn't want to see anyone get hurt because of me. They said they would make me a Hollow, an Arrancar. I thought, with that much more strength, maybe I could change things. Maybe…" She took a deep breath. "Maybe I could save you all for once. I just had to do as they asked, and you would be left alone." She looked at Rukia. "I'm so sorry. I was weak."
Rukai pulled her into a hug. "It's okay. I forgive you. You're my friend. And nothing will ever take that away."
They simply stood there for a minute in silence, Drenair showing some tact for the first time in her life and stay quite. Finally, Orihime spoke. "Thank you so much, Rukia, and please…"
Suddenly, Rukia felt a blinding pain spreading from her stomach. Her vision began to darken, and she heard one last thing before falling to the ground.
"Forgive me."
And then there was nothing but darkness.
Orimime lowered her mask into place as she turned to her loyal Fraccion. "Take her to the holding cells, then gather the other Fraccion and come find me." Drenair nodded, picked up Rukia, and disappeared in a burst of Sonido.
Lightly stroking the hilt of her Zanpakuto, Orihime marched forward. "I'm sorry, my friends. But it's for your own good."
Author's Note: Before anyone complains about Orihime acting out of character, keep in mind that she was recently turned into a Hollow, which tends to mess with a person's head.
