Fairy Tale Gone Wrong
Sleeping Beauty
He found himself walking down a familiar flight of stairs again, ignoring the usual glances of curiosity, confusion and - occasionally - sympathy that he garnered when he descended into one of the chilly crypts or 'laboratories' of the Twelfth Division Research Bureau.
He gave a tip of the head at Akon's silent nod of greeting, as he was scanned and almost automatically allowed into the more confidential and labyrinthine section of the building. The temperature dropped, although he could not tell whether it was from the descent into the earth or of his own doing.
But then again, ever since that day, everyone in the Seireitei appeared to have the cheer and casual happiness sucked out of them. His hand clenched from the memory as his heart hah! His heart gave an aching sting.
He had done what he had to do. Duty called. He had done what he had done to protect her in the only way that he knows. He had done this because he could not bear the thought of her being executed.
Seeing fluorescent green light in front of him, he knew he had arrived. Stepping through the doorway – there was no door, but only a fool would think there was no danger or trap installed in the only entry and exit into AG 015 –, he felt the particles within the barrier sluggishly like the jello she had introduced to him in the Human World, almost reluctantly, give way, rearranging themselves to allow him passage.
He entered the 'Anti-God Chamber' as it was now known.
He is no fool. He knows Kurosutchi openly disapproves of his weekly visits to this particularly room. Well, that's only to be expected as he had deprived the man of, using the latter's words, "one of the most fascinating specimens".
He couldn't care less. The memory of the Twelfth Division's captain glaring at him for not having his way brought a grim smile to his young visage. He didn't care for that one's particular opinions, nor of many other individuals' really if he was being frank.
The hollow, pathetic attempt at a smile shattered when he brought his gaze to the only object within the room. He stops when he realise that he is not alone.
The other person was kneeling, head bent over the black table, shoulders hunched and a hand resting on ice.
He takes in the orange hair and the familiar kitchen knife-shaped zanpakutou. The other's back stiffened as he recognised his presence. He had always sucked at detecting reiatsu… though never hers.
Amber eyes furiously met cold, blank teal ones.
"Toushirou."
"…Kurosaki."
Hitsugaya Toushirou honestly wished he could say that his lack of correcting the substitute shinigami's form of addressing him was due to their familiarity and camaraderie between each other. Far from it, at least on the second point. Kurosaki Ichigo had not forgiven him or the rest of Soul Society for what they've done to his nakama.
A nakama who had risked her life to protect his by leaving to a hellish alternative plane of existence. A nakama who had been not only beautiful, but so full of life, laughter, and Imagination. A nakama whom the Substitute had been genuinely protective and fond of though whether his feelings extended beyond those of friendship had never been known. And now, no one will ever know.
Inoue Orihime has become a permanent 'what if' possibility to Kurosaki Ichigo.
And Hitsugaya knew that she had loved the Substitute truly, making his own actions another crime to add to his growing list of sins and offences of killing Hollows, betraying friends, and being a soldier Captain to Soul Society.
The white-haired captain approached the obsidian table in the centre of the room.
No, Hitsugaya Toushirou did not correct Kurosaki's less-than-respectful address of his person because Hitsugaya was ashamed of himself, and had no right to ask for respect. And the Reason for his shame and guilt was lying in a kido-induced sleep on the black marble counter before him.
Inoue Orihime is wearing a white yukata as she lies beneath Hitsugaya's shield of transparent ice, unconscious, perhaps though Toushirou would like to think otherwise unaware of the people and souls who came by to visit and stand over her. Unaware of two lonely boys watching over her, silently desperate and yearning for her forgiveness. One for failing to keep his promise of protecting her, the other for placing duty over friendship.
Despite her healing of the Shinigami during the Winter War and her partial rejection of the Hogyouku within Aizen, which was completed by Kurosaki and Urahara Kisuke, Orihime had been harshly been sentenced to death by the newer, stricter Central 46. It had only been the plea bargaining on her behalf by Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, Zaraki and members of the Eleventh Squad, Unohana-taichou, and surprisingly Kuchiki Byakuya and the Captain Commander who were able to soften the punishment. Instead of execution, she'll be placed in Eternal Sleep and preserved under the Twelfth Division through Hitsugaya's freezing of both Orihime's human body and attached soul.
Kurosaki had spat and cursed at all of them, shouting out as he was confined during the process of rendering Inoue unconscious, "Who are the real traitors now?" Both the Quincy and Yasutora had attempted all they could to attack and break free of their restraints. It was only through Yamamoto Genryuusai's issue of amnesty and pardon to the three of them that the remainders of the Golden Quartet were able to return to the World of the Living.
Kurosaki would have torn down Soul Society and shaken the Royal Realm to personally demand to see the Soul King on behalf of Inoue had the latter not gently asked him, promised him to swear to her to never do that. I could not bear it if you would be killed because of me, Kurosaki-kun. I … care for you too much to … for that… please don't die, Kurosaki-kun. Promise me that you will live a full, happy life… even if it means you must forget me…
And to Hitsugaya himself, Orihime had never, not even in her final moments, expressed an ounce of hatred or blame, merely exhausted acceptance of her sentence. I trust you Toushirou-kun. So please don't be upset anymore. I still think of you as my D.L.F.
The abbreviation stands for 'Dear Little Friend'.
Clenching his jaw, Hitsugaya forced himself to see. Orihime looked like she was simply sleeping, with her unusual sunset hair spilling like a halo around her head. But something, something which Hitsugaya could not pin down – was it the lack of a smile, the seeming detachedness from the lack of expression on her face? – hinted of the unnatural, the artificial in this situation. That something wasn't right.
He remembers her parting words. Do you remember the tale of Sleeping Beauty which I showed you, Toushirou-kun? Think of it this way. I will be the girl – she did not use the word 'princess', the small captain remembered, - who is placed under a hundred year sleep…waiting for her prince to wake up her with a kiss…true love.
It was too painful.
And Hitsugaya was sorry that he had to be the one to impose the crystalline ice walls to surround the afterwards slumbering human girl, who had been nothing but welcoming, friendly and comforting during his reconnaissance mission in Karakura, who was – is, he corrects himself – his first true human friend.
Sometimes, he might bring news, awkwardly telling her about events in the Seireitei. Generally he is silent during his visits. He forces himself with each visit to remember that he is guilty, that he does not deserve much happiness for what he has done or achieved since the Winter War. And Hitsugaya knows that she will disagree with him, wearing that cute angry pout on her lips which had about the harm degree of a hamster, if she knows his inner thoughts and his inner demons.
Later he will regain the surface. Face the light, and take on the mantle of the icy emotionless Tenth Squad Captain.
But for now, he'll stay for awhile. To Remind. To Remember.
But sincerely he hopes, sincerely hopes, though the voice of Hyourinmaru disagrees with him, that She will never forgive him.
A/N Oh goodness, I didn't expect it to be so angsty but given the circumstances had they happened, I'm sure the atmosphere between Toushirou and Ichigo would have been very strained.
My image of Orihime was inspired by kara-lija's image of Orihime in .Bells For Her. Here is the link. .com/gallery/?offset=192#/do4gme
She is an amazing illustrator, and not just for Bleach pics. Doesn't Orihime look so serene and yet slightly in pain or detached at the same time?
D.L.F is taken from the movie Prince Caspian. Oh Narnia Chronicles!
Don't leave without reviewing or Hyourinmaru would freeze you into an ice sculpture. XD
As always, all things Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo.