Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Harry Potter characters mentioned in the story, but I'm still quite dizzy from seeing Kenpachi without a shirt while fighting Yammy, I think I've got a nosebleed
"Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime."
Chapter One
If you hit a child that is in between the age nine and twelve but younger than ten and believe that what you're doing is okay, something is seriously wrong with you. I don't want to hear stupid shit like "Oh, so and so are so bad, they just don't listen.", or "You just don't know how hard it is to raise them!", if it's so hard, if it's so difficult, you shouldn't have laid on your back, keep your legs closed or your penis in your pants.
However, if your child came about as a result of neglect on your parents or guardians part and you were forced, there is a place for that and I have no right to judge you, but taking your anger out on a child for any reason is a big no-no in my book.
Children are born in this world naïve to the everyday problems we elderly and young adults face, they don't know any better, and they look to us to guide them in the right direction. If you're on the streets 'bopping' or 'tricking', whatever the slang is today, or you bring home a boy/girlfriend and you're doing the horizontal tango when your child's room is just next door to yours, there's a pretty good chance that your child is going to mimic what you do when they get older and think it's okay.
But the fact of the matter is, it sure as hell isn't okay. Not to pardon dope dealers, gang members, murderers, etc., but before they got the way they are, something they've seen or heard influenced them to do what they do, though on the flip side, there's plenty of children who've been abused and come out radically different as doctors, lawyers, teachers, people who just want to help others. I suppose it depends on how strong you are as a person, role models and outside influences. Regardless, remember that they too were once innocent children.
I bet people are wondering why the authoress is going on about such a sensitive subject. For the gentle souls, tissues are a must, though I don't blame anyone if they skim over the abuse part because this chapter is going to be sad.
"Nngh. Welcome back, So'wa-niichan…" Sitting up and rubbing her eyes was a young girl, no older than ten but younger than five, she was dressed in a ratty pair of stained shorts and a big t-shirt, her eyes were brown and her burnt orange hair was cut to her neck. A boy, older than fifteen yet younger than twenty whom was a tall, and slim with long brown hair was throwing items into a duffle bag, he seemed to ignore her question. Reaching out to touch him, the girl startled and flinched when he jerked away from her harshly, making her fall on her bum. "So'wa?"
"I'm sorry, Orihime. If you be good so you don't get in trouble, I'll come back to get you, and we'll live together in Karakura Town." Patting her head lightly, a strange smile on his face, the boy, identified as Sora, shrugged the bag on his shoulders.
Although little Orihime didn't truly understand, she smiled and nodded, hugging his leg tightly and waving as he drove away with his friend in the silver car. Assuming that Sora was returning soon, she cleaned up their little house as best she could and then sat by the door, far enough she wouldn't be whacked by it if it was pushed opened forcefully.
Hours past and she couldn't help going back to sleep, she was after all only three. But, she was forcefully awakened by a slap to the face.
"Wake up, you little gaki (brat)!" Her mother, although she was repeatedly told not to call her that, screamed at Orihime who was holding her face which was burning. "Where's Sora, you little shit, his stuff's gone, you fool!"
"H-He went out, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"You stupid fucking gaki, who's going to pay the rent around here, huh, huh, do you think I take care of you for my health?" Orihime wasn't allowed to speak as she was repeatedly slapped and punched, the pain was too much and she blacked out.
Young as Orihime was, she quickly learned that she wasn't really wanted or needed except to plea with their landlord not to turn the water or gas off, she was more like a guest that her parents couldn't get rid of. They never called her by name at home; it was always Useless, Gaki, Retard, if the teachers at school hadn't called on her occasionally in class she would've thought there was some sort of mistake.
Because bad grades weren't tolerated, Orihime was always studying or reading, never answering a question wrong, and while her teachers thought this was great, her classmates were less than thrilled. For Orihime, she didn't know what the greater evil was: being picked on by bullies at school for her hair color and smarts or being mocked and hit by her family at home.
Still, she persevered, in fact, it became a daily mantra. 'Endure it. Endure it just a little longer. You're alright, its okay…' On her seventh birthday, instead of a cake and ice cream, her father had instead come home drunk, screaming for her mother, but the woman wasn't home, so he took his frustrations out on Orihime who was practicing her spelling in her cramped room.
"Retard, where's your mother?" The man slurred, standing in the doorway.
"I don't know, she hasn't come back yet."
"Don't lie to me!" He grabbed her by the hair which was to her shoulders now and dragged her off the bed, ignoring her pain filled cry. "You think you can lie to me just like that bitch? I've got news for you, you won't."
"I'm not lying; I'm not lying, please—!" The pot of tea which was boiling hot and ready for him as she always made when he was hung over was now dangled over her threateningly.
"One last chance: Where. Is. Your. Mother?"
"I-I don't…ARGHHHHH!" Although suffering third degree burns on her back, her parents somehow managed to weasel out of trouble, and only got about a month of community service for "neglect of watching a minor", or something like that. However, although this made them more cautious about what they did to her, the beatings perhaps grew even more brutal and numerous.
Over the course of the next year and a half, Orihime learned to steal if she wanted to eat good food, and how to pick a lock, stealthily sneaking and out of the house before they woke up. But, one day, she was on her way to school when she got jumped by some older kids who beat her up and left her bleeding on the pavement.
(In Orihime's Inner World)
There was a slight breeze, smelling of chrysanthemums, that tickled Orihime's nose and she sneezed a little before she opened her eyes slightly. 'Where am I?' Sitting up slightly and surprised that her wounds didn't hurt, looking around, she noticed that she was in some sort of meadow, the wind blowing gently, and flower petals created a rainbow overhead, it was so peaceful, serene, something she didn't have in her admittedly short life.
Kanashimi no iro o oshiete iru you na
Shizuka na yozora ni
Kizukanu to shitara
Kizukasete hoshii
Shirubeki subete o
As though teaching me the color of sadness
In the peaceful night sky
If you don't understand
I want to make you understand
Everything that you ought to know
'Who's singing that? It…sounds like a man. His voice, it's so lovely, but sad…' Without conscious thought, Orihime stood up, straining her ears to listen, to hear more of the song, the song which spoke to her more deeply than any J-Pop or rap ever could.
Tooku ni mieru nuguenu namida
Mamorikirenai kotoba ga hibiku
Sekai ga owaru nara
Sono toki ni wa wakaru darou ka
Kotae o shiranu mama hitotsu mune o tojita
From far away I can see your unwiped tears
The words that I can't hold on to are ringing out
If the world should end
Surely in that moment you'd understand
That without knowing the answer, my solitary heart closed
Hurrying through the meadows, her little legs were pumping furiously as she tried to see the owner of the voice, but no matter how hard she ran or how far, the meadow seemed to go on and on. But just as she was on the verge of giving up, Orihime had the sudden inspiration to continue on.
Kanashimi no oto ga kikoenai you na
Sewashii sekai ga
Mukiau koto o toozakeru nara
Sukoshi kobameru odayaka na hibi
The hectic world goes on
as though the sound of sadness can't be heard
If meeting face to face is still a distant thought
Then I'll reject just a little this peaceful daily life
Subete o tsuranuite
Tsuyoku arou kokoro midasazu
Saigo no negai sae kanaerarenu yoru ni
Yozora ni azukete wa
Tojita mama no kokoro no kawa wa
Dare ni mo shirarezuni shizuka ni kagayaite
Sekai ga owaru nara
Sono toki ni wa ieru darou ka
Afureru omoide o nazoru you ni tsugeyou
Hitomi ga kasanatte hitotsu mune ni saita
Penetrating through everything
A heart with strong resolve won't be swayed
Even on a night when a last wish can't be granted
Relying on the night sky
The river of my closed heart
Silently shimmered without anyone knowing
If the world should end
In that moment, surely, I'd be able to say it
Like tracing the overflowing memories, I'll tell you that
Reflected in your eyes was the bloom of a solitary heart
'The voice, its closer.' Running over another hilltop, Orihime tripped and was falling at a breakneck speed when strong arms caught her. Heart hammering, wanting to beat of her chest and leap into her throat, she turned her gaze up to her rescuer.
"I've been waiting for such a long time, little one. But to see you now…My, you're quite young." The man was tall and broad-shouldered with a lithe frame. He has long shoulder-length raven black hair, tied into a pony-tail at the base of his skull, with two distinct bangs parted at the top of his forehead. His most distinct feature is his deep lavender eyes, and effeminate appearance. "Well, are you going to speak, sweet child?"
Thrown by the endearment and overall gentle behavior, Orihime couldn't help but blurt out, "You've been waiting for me?" Seeing his frown, she added hastily. "I'm sorry, but no one's ever waited on me before. Do my parents owe you something?"
The man closed his eyes and he seemed to be in pain for a moment. Before she could inquire if he was alright, those lavender eyes were piercing her own with intensity. "Listen carefully to me, sweetling: I will always be with you, have always been with you, and shall always be with you, unless you no longer wish for me to be here. I care for you deeply, and although I know you're hesitant to trust another person with relatives like your own…" he spat the word 'relatives', but didn't seem angry at her.
"You can always trust and depend on me, though I know that will take time. Time we don't have, unfortunately."
"What, why? I want to stay with you!" Orihime didn't care she was being clingy, but she felt connected to the man. He merely smiles gently at her distress and set her on the grass softly. "Please, why can't I stay?"
"I am always with you although I cannot physically touch you. You merely need to concentrate on finding me and I will come to you in your dreams." Wiping away her tears, he kissed her forehead, making her blush brightly and he chuckled. "It's time to wake up, now."
"B-Bu-But, what's your name, you know mine…"
"Eh, that'd be telling, sweetling." The man laughed outright at her sour expression and Orihime felt herself beginning to fade. "Until next time…"
(In the real world)
Orihime gasped, sitting up, only to writhe in pain as her injuries throbbed. "Yarayara (expression of strong emotion or surprise). There's no need to be so hasty, young one. You're safe here, go back to sleep." A strong, masculine hand was placed on her head, gently urging her to lie back again.
Before Orihime went to sleep again, she saw a white and green striped bucket hat and her last thought was 'Why do people keep giving me weird nicknames?'
And that's a wrap. Shall I stop or continue, let me know in a review. Well, there it is. Orihime has made contact with her Zanpakutō, but has not had the privilege of knowing his name yet; the reason for this is simple: I want her to develop a strong relationship with Harry as I don't feel Ichigo and Zangetsu have that, and the stronger the relationship, the more he will teach her, remember guys that he was a Shinigami before becoming a Zanpakutō.
Keep in mind that she's 8, almost 9, and although I want to make her an uber cool prodigy, I want her to be level-headed about it, earn her power and learn a little humility. Kisuke, Yoruichi, and the others at Urahara Shoten play a significant part in the next chapter.
SPOILER!: Why have Urahara find her instead of Isshin? I like the thought of her seeing Ichigo in school and knowing about his heritage, but he doesn't find out she's a Shinigami until the whole 'let's save Rukia' thing seeing as they aren't friends and barely acknowledge each other as classmates.