Heidi
It was a beautiful day. The sun is shining. The sky is a clear robin's egg blue. Everything seem to point towards a peaceful morn-
"What kind of crap is this?! The newspapers are saying there's a ghost in Karakura Town?!" a brash feminine voice split the air, rending the calm within their underground bunker/hideout.
"Hiyori! It's ten in the morning. Could you please save your ranting until later?" a male disgruntled voice called from his place on the sofa. In answer, there was a familiar series of smacking sounds, which sounded exceptionally painful, if the unintelligible yelps of a streak of swear words were any indication.
Five minutes later, a short girl with spiky blonde pigtails wearing a red track suit dropped her sandal to the ground before casually slipping it back on her foot. Baka hage Shinji! She glared at her right arm, which was encased in a sling, and winced at the sudden tightness around her torso, currently heavily banded from where Ichimaru Gin's sword had pierced her like a kebab through one side, out the other.
Had she been fully recovered, she wouldn't have stopped giving Shinji a beating until he begged for mercy like the good ol' days. Except, nowadays, in the aftermath of the Winter War which didn't even take place in Winter for God's sake! the Vizards no longer had to live in fear from Aizen or the Seireitei.
While there is still no love lost between the half Shinigami, half Hollows and the rest of Soul Society, the Soutaichou had acknowledged the exiled hybrids for their contribution to the success of the war against Aizen and in congratulations please note the sarcasm, reinstated Shinji, Kensei and Rose as captains in the void posts left by the traitors Aizen, Gin and Kaname Tousen.
Congratulations, my butt! The Old Man is probably doing this just to fill the shortage of captains and shinigami the War left him with.
Huffing and crossing her arms as best as she could with one of them in an annoying sling, Hiyori glared into the distance of their training facility.
Hirako Shinji bit back his normal retort as he took in the sulking mini Vizard. An uncharacteristic sigh escaped him as he leaned back against the sofa. He was fully aware of her sentiments regarding his return to Soul Society, to his old position as Captain of the Fifth Division.
Hiyori may not show it, and given her spitfire, brash attitude, you probably won't even guess it, but she can be easily hurt emotionally. Even after a century, her feelings of hurt and betrayal from Soul Society still stung. Nothing could budge or tempt her to return back to that place of nightmares, painful memories, and accusations of being called "freak", "Hollow" and "monster". And she is still reeling from Shinji's decision to accept moving back into Soul Society.
In his own way, Shinji is internally questioning his decision. He knew the rapport between him and the shinigamis in general would prove tense in the coming months, perhaps years, to come. But he couldn't deny that he yearned for a life of more action, more combat, which the Human World with all its jazz, technological and amazing distractions, not to mention beautiful women – one particular image of a well-endowed human healer with the sunset in her hair and stardust in her eyes comes to mind – simply couldn't provide.
So yes, he was going back for better or worse, and he's going to miss Hiyori as corny and unbelievable it may sound, given how much torture and abuse he suffered from her sandals and loud voice. But yes, he's gonna miss the squirt. Soul Society wouldn't be the same without all the Vizards back together, but Shinji has to respect the fact that some wounds remain deep and his comrades what an odd bunch they all make up together! still stood apart in their attitudes to a former home with their former captains and peers who had once shunned them in fear because of Aizen's meddling in Hollowfication.
"Hiyori…" he began.
"So who do you think this 'ghost' is?" her voice cut across his attempt at explanation. They both had never been comfortable with this kind of I-forgive-you-because-I-understand-even-though-you're-a-complete-idiot interaction.
"Che, probably just a rogue spirit or some kid playing dress up," Kensei's voice joined in gruffly as he sipped at coffee. He was definitely a morning person.
"How can you be sure, Kensei?" chimed in Mashiro, whose intent to annoy him was clear as mud. Lisa's, Love's and Hachi's voices entered the fray of morning dialogue as breakfast was served and eventually cleared away.
And as Hachi suggested a final get-together between all the Vizards to discover the runaway spirit or simply to give it a soul burial – Oi Hachi, Halloween's over! – across town, a much more different mood and scene was occurring inside an apartment.
"It's okay. Everything will be alright." Gray-amethyst eyes leaking tears took in the rearranged furniture in her living room. "It's okay. Everything will be alright. I will be alright." Orihime whispered this mantra frantically as she heaved and pushed her furniture back into their normal positions.
Gazing into the mirror, it was an amazing transformation to see the young girl's face draw up into a near-genuine smile, a feat accomplished through sheer mental strength alone. She refuses to be a burden to her nakama, who have saved her from Hueco Mundo. The skeletons and ghosts of her experiences, she will lay them to rest herself.
Later that evening, an unusual group of individuals exited from a garage though no one except the black crows were witnesses to their departure for their final excursion as a group.
"So where do we begin?" Hiyori grumbled, rubbing her casted arm in an effort to keep warm. It's only now that Winter is actually coming.
"I certainly don't sense any stray spirits floating around," observed Rose casually as he tilted his nose into the air and sniffed.
Suddenly, Lisa muttered audibly, "Why is she out so late?"
"Who?" demanded Mashiro as she jumped around in impatience.
"Use your senses, baka!" Kensei rumbled as he too sent his spirit senses out for scrutiny. His brows wrinkle from confusion and a mild curiosity. "What is she doing out so late?"
Hirako flicked back his schoolboy cap, testing the air. His eyes widened in surprise. What was Orihime-chan doing wandering about at this time of night?
"She's not heading in any particular direction," noted Hachi with a small frown as worry clouded his eyes. He considered her family because of the resemblance of their powers, though Hachi is certain she has much more potential than him and still has a while to grow yet.
"Che," Hiyori sniffed. That chick with that rack and glossy hair? The one who Shinji called his 'first love'? not that Hiyori was jealous or anything…
"Let's go then."
"Huh?"
Hiyori looks up as Shinji takes to the air effortlessly. Narrowing her eyes, she follows suit. Hiyori feels rather than hear the rest of the Vizards speeding behind her. Eyes roaming, she finally locks onto her prey. There!
And that chick was barefoot, wandering in her nightgown?! What the hell…
"Orihime-chan?" Shinji approaches the girl, who has gone still from his voice. He watches her turn around and they all know something's wrong.
Her eyes, normally so alert and twinkling with some hidden mirth, were glazed like a mirror or the slick surface of a black pool of water.
She wasn't seeing them. She was looking through them.
"Orihime-chan?" Shinji tried again. Now was really not the time for him to note that underneath her white nightgown, she wasn't wearing a bra. Thank god, she's wearing panties…No, must not go there. No thinking things like that, Shinji!
"Hirako-kun?" the soft call came. But her voice too was different than its normal timbre. Right now, it's slightly muted as though she's not really seeing Shinji or the rest of the Vizards. There was a confused quality to it, as well as a slight lethargic tinge.
"Oi Onna, what are you doing?" Kensei asked, his gruffness belied by the red tinge of embarrassment on his cheeks as he took in her sparse state of dress.
The human girl's posture changes. It stiffens slightly.
"The door. I'm trying to find the door. Help me, Hirako-kun. Please let me go, Ulquiorra-kun."
It was the last statement which drew everyone's attention cutting their breaths to the quick.
Shinji's widen in recognition before he starts forward, trying not to show his panic as Orihime turns to continue walking down the sidewalk towards the river. Stop her before she hurts herself!
"Orihime-chan." He reaches out and puts a steady, firm grip on her shoulder, preventing her from going forward. Gently turning the girl around to face him, he is shocked by her eyes. Their proximity enhances the glazed quality within them, and Hirako Shinji doesn't like not one bit.
"Orihime-chan," he gives her a gentle shake. "You need to wake up, Orihime-chan!" His last violent shake draws a shuddering exhale from the girl as her hands come up in reflex to defend herself.
"…Hi…rako-kun?"
The voice is clearer now. Her eyes thank God! are now getting back to normal the fog is clearing away from them.
"Heya Orihime-chan." He smiles down at her.
Confusion fills her eyes as the human girl takes in her surroundings.
"But what are you doing here, Hirako-kun? Why is everyone here?" Orihime catches sight of the other Vizards. "Why am I here–"
She gasps in realization as tears silently leak from her eyes, trailing down her cheeks, falling silently, silently to the pavement in quiet drops like rain.
Orihime pales in understanding before she buries her face in embarrassment, in shame in her hands, as she tries to hide from the blonde man in front of her.
"I was sleepwalking again, wasn't I?" Orihime chokes out, while still refusing to look at Shinji. She doesn't need confirmation. She doesn't need to look at the surprised looks on the other Vizards' faces.
Curling in on herself hunching her shoulders she cries silently, silently, silently.
She has known about her symptom since returning from Hueco Mundo. Night after night of searching within her dreams through the empty corridors of Las Noches for a way home back to the Human World, to her nakama, to Tatsuki-chan, to Sora-nii-chan's photo, to school, to red bean paste, her kitchen, her bedroom with her butter yellow walls and flower-patterned curtains. She was always alone in her dreams forever walking in those empty corridors of blinding white, trying door after door in the never-ending maze and passages filled with a thousand doors.
Her dreams lacked the nightmarish quality that would have turned them into an Alice-in-Wonderland escapade. No one was there to harm her. There was no Aizen, no Ulquiorra or Grimmjow, no Loly or Menoly, no Ichimaru-san. Just her and a thousand doors, behind which one of them would lead her home…
No, her dreams are not nightmares. But she was lost. Still lost and not found.
She feels more like Heidi, the mountain girl Heidi, who yearns for home.
But the fundamental difference between her and that little girl is: Orihime is still searching for home even after arriving back Home. She is still trying to find the goodnight-sunset-mountains, and the free wind rustling through the grass, disturbing the red dragonflies hiding among the green blades and shoots.
Home but not home.
She is back in the human world, and at the same time, she isn't.
There is a surreal quality to her daily life now, an observation that this calm world of high school, homework and preparation for exams is so far removed so peaceful, so sheltered, so…artificial from the tragedy and the suffering which she endured in a different hellish plane of existence.
How long do I need to keep searching?
When shall I be found?
When shall I finally be 'at home'?
It wasn't until this point that Orihime registers herself being hugged, a hand carding through her hair in soothing motions.
"It's alright now, Orihime-chan. It's okay. Just let it out. Just let it out. I promise – we promise not to tell."
Hirako-kun's voice caresses her from his chest.
Feeling the empathy and sympathy in his reiatsu, in all their reiatsus, Orihime finally sobs out her grief and tears. She is unaware, after she is emotionally spent and falls into an exhausted slumber, that she is wrapped in Shinji's long coat to protect her from the cold and for propriety's sake (the slightly lecherous Vizard did not even snatch a peek) and brought back to the Vizards' base.
She is unaware of being placed gently on the couch and covered with a blanket, courtesy of Hachi.
She is unaware of Hiyori's rather atypical gentle gaze on her a look which spoke of understanding, understanding of the hurt and the horror which lingers long after the threat is disposed of.
She is unaware of the whole group settling down around the couch, near the breakfast table, leaning against the upturned crates and boxes, taking turns to watch over her. And they continue to guard her against her sleepwalking and dreams as the sky lightens, and the moon gives way to the Sun, announcing the start of another day a brand new day of opportunities and new beginnings.
She is family.
She shares similar powers to them and the Vizards are nothing if not family and sticking up for each other, despite their rather peculiar individual traits.
So they will watch over her and wait. They will continue to monitor her at night in the coming days to make sure she does not continue to sleepwalk, and possibly hurt herself.
They will make her realise that she is safe now.
Having gone through what Orihime is going through now, they will help her adjust back to this Different World, the Time from Before.
They will make sure she lives and laughs again.
"Tadaima."
"Okaeri, Orihime-chan."
A/N I haven't forgotten about Fairy Tale Gone Wrong; I've just been busy. (I actually should be working on an assignment which is due soon, but oh well…the things I do for you, dear readers. :3 )
Again, just thought I would explore one aspect of the plot hole which Kubo didn't expand upon – Orihime's recovery from her days in Hueco Mundo. It's rather unrealistic that Kubo only uses Orihime for comic relief when she is so much more than that and can be so much more than that. (But then again, he's being unrealistic in his current manga chapters – how much more disgustingly overpowered will Ichigo be? He's now a Quincy as well, able to use Quincy abilities?!)
Forgive my ramblings, but I just realised that one of the possible reasons, fans like Rukia more than Orihime is based on the assumption that Rukia monopolizes moments of emotional suffering. The anime producers are slightly guilty in this too since they so clearly favour Ichiruki, and change significant parts of the manga when Orihime is shown to be actually quite mature and emotionally vulnerable for rather legitimate reasons!
It would be wonderful if people could just see that Orihime has gone through the same amount, if not more, suffering than Rukia. In her position, with no parents and no brother anymore, and with limited financial grants from a distant aunt, Orihime has actually toughed it out quite well, without ending up embittered or socially closed off, like Rukia was at the beginning of the manga. There is one scene when she considers friendship and love as troublesome and burdensome – which is quite telling about Rukia's mental and emotional strength (or lack thereof).
Anyways, I've got more ideas for future chapters. Just please bear with me if they take some time to get uploaded.
Many thanks!
Ja ne,
Checkmate
PS. I'm sure all of you already know, but Tadaima and Okaeri are the Japanese formulaic greetings for "I'm home" and "Welcome back". :3 Just a happy ending (much deserved) for our dear Weaving Princess.