A/N: Hi all, sorry for the long wait. But I am now inspirated from hearing some good news! Please enjoy.
Interview with a Shinigami
Chapter 4: Why do you get in these situations?
Orihime's Diary entry:
I had been escorted to Sereitei and then he came! I told him it was for the peace of the three worlds, that it had to be this way, but he just got so angry at me, I've never seen him so angered because of me before, not even when I had been captured by the Arrancers and Espada. Deep into the depths of my heart I knew that it wasn't right for him to take me from the Gotei 13, but still, I let him take me away. But only because I will convince him to take me back. I have to. He would have never stopped otherwise.
Note to Rukia Kuchiki: Thank you for all that you have done for me. If not for you, I couldn't have saved everyone I cared about, including you. Don't look for us. I have to take Inoue away from all of this. I can't let her die, I won't let her die. I know that you will try to find us, but I can't let you. Don't get caught into this mess because of me. It is because of me that Inoue is being targeted; its because of me, she gained her powers. And although its protected her until now and I'm grateful for that, I have to protect her from here on out. I'll always have to protect her.
The only way you can be protected too, is if you don't come for us. Please, Rukia, I can't worry about you too.
Ichigo
By-Stander from a nearby town, just out of Karakura Town: "It was a sunny day at the beach. A couple came along and ordered something from a vendor near the edge of the ledge above the beach. I remember them because they both have bright orange hair; very unusual. They weren't dressed for the weather. The male wore blue jeans and a long sleeve black top with a white t-shirt over the top. The girl wore jeans and a patterened t-shirt and had two hair pins either side of her face; she also had small pack on her back. Suddenly the girl whispered something in his ear and his face went stern. He said something to the girl and she pulled something out of her pack. It looked like a small toy. He pulled something out of the toy and then he put something in his mouth and his body language changed. The boy started yelling and screaming, but then hugged the girl around her...chest. It was very odd behaviour. The boy tried to drag her away, but she yelled something into thin air next to her and an unknown force seemed to be pulling her in the other direction. The boy yelled at thin air as the girl had done. It was very odd. The boy then dragged the girl away."
"Ichigo you bastard! How could you do this? What the hell is going on? Why did you bring me here?" the boy exclaimed.
Orihime looked from Kon to...Ichigo. "Kurosaki-kun..."
"Stay here Inoue," he said softly, smiling. "Please don't run away. Kon! Look after her, just do as I say for once!" Ichigo then shunpo'd away.
Kon narrowed his eyes. "Fine," he said, folding his arms in a huff. He looked to Orihime and smirked. He dove to Orihime's chest and his face snuggled into her breasts just nicely. Her face went bright red. "Kon-san, please. We're in public."
Kon moved away and saw that a lot of people were looking. He then realised that they were at a beach and the day was very warm, so there were quite a few people. He directed Orihime to a more secluded place, away from the beach area.
"What is going on Hime-chan! Where is Nii-san?" he asked, concern etched onto Ichigo's face.
Orihime looked down sadly. "I-I don't know, I'm sorry Kon-san." She shook her head.
Kon would usually have gone and run away by now with Ichigo's body, but something was holding him back.
"Kon! Look after her, just do as I say for once!"
Ichigo had looked so serious... he thought.
"Well, people are looking at us, I think we should act like a couple so as to not add suspicion," said Kon, smirking.
Orihime's eyes widened and she blushed. "Um...I don't think-gah!" began Orihime, but Kon grabbed Orihime and put his left arm around her shoulder and they began to walk back toward the beach.
The whole time he looked down her top and sniggered. I'm so LUCKY right now! Yippee! he thought, when suddenly he blacked out. When Kon came too, he was much lower to the ground. He was back in his plushy form. Damn you Ichigo...
"What the hell Kon! What did you do while I was gone?" exclaimed the Shinigami, yelling and grabbed Kon by the head.
"Well, when you left people were looking at us, so I thought we better act like a couple..." began Kon, in a matter-of-factly tone.
Ichigo's face was beet red, not only with anger, but of embarrassment. It hadn't been him who had done it, but, still. It was his body.
A soft hand was felt on Ichigo's shoulder. "Its okay, Kurosaki-kun," she said smiling kindly. "He was just trying to help."
Ichigo didn't say anything, and threw the plushing across the beach. Squeaking noises were heard. "Inoue. We better get back."
Inoue sighed. "Kurosaki-kun, you have to take me back. This is-"
"Don't, Inoue," said Ichigo harshly, interrupting and turned to face her. He was stern and angry. He had his hands in his pockets and held his hand out for her to grab.
"Come on," he smiled softer this time.
Orihime nodded with a small smile and grabbed his hand.
"It didn't look like she had been kidnapped at all."
Rukia Kuchiki: I do remember something about a month before the incident. There was a group of arrancer that suddenly appeared in Karakura Town. It was odd to say the least, since we destroyed the Espada numbers zero to ten and the rogue Captains who had fled to Las Noches. I was with Orihime at the time and a garganta opened. We were visiting Kisuke and Yoruichi when they appeared at the shop. Of course Kisuke had a knowing look and told us to go outside.
"If he wanted to kick us out, why didn't he just say he wanted us to go?" exclaimed Rukia.
Orihime smiled. "I-" she began, however, noticed the garganta open with widened eyes. "Kuchiki-san! Look!" The healer pointed to the sky, but Rukia already had her eyes upon the black void which had opened.
"Inoue...get back inside, I'll go find-"
Evil chuckling could be heard from next to Orihime. Rukia turned and her eyes widened frighteningly. "Get away from her!" yelled Rukia, popping something into her mouth. Her body dettached from her gigai form and her body had a new character.
It began to run around wildly, but Rukia didn't care. Her purple orbs were set upon her friend...and the new comer.
Orihime turned slowly to find a man with part of a skull on his neck, arms and one that covered his eyes. He was tall and had long black hair.
"It seems, that I was lucky to come upon this place. I've finally found you...Hina-san," he said softly, before disappearing with sonido. Orihime was no where to be seen.
Rukia screamed, but Orihime couldn't hear. The black haired shinigami unsheathed her zanpakuto and flash stepped toward Orihime; pulling out her phone at the same time.
Answer damn it Ichigo! thought Rukia, but there was no answer.
The wind was cold at this time of night, but her grey orbs studied the man before her. He looked upon her it seemed, but she couldn't see his eyes. He unsheathed his zanpakuto and sonido'd very close to her. His lips almost touched Orihime's ear and her eyes widened in fear.
"Please, Arrancer-san, I-"
"Don't speak, Hina-san. What you have done to me is unforgiveable. And if I kill you again, all will be restored...I will be restored," he whispered, as he brought his sword down to her side.
"Get the hell away from her, you bastard!" yelled a familiar voice.
This stopped the Arrancer and he looked up to find a shinigami with a mask on. His rieatsu was unbelieveable to him, which peaked his curiosity.
"What are you exactly?" asked the Arrancer. "You are nor hollow, nor spirit...are you human?"
Suddenly scowling yellow and black orbs were right in front of him and his eyes widened slightly. The Arrancer stepped back a bit and looked at the sight before him. The human was in front of the woman...was he protecting her? The arrancer lifted the skull away from his eyes which revealed stormy grey irises with red around the outside.
Orihime watched with curiosity as there was something familiar about the Arrancer that she just couldn't understand. "Kurosaki-kun..."
"Get out of here, Inoue," said Ichigo in his hollow voice, due to the mask over his face.
"So, you aren't Hina after all. Inoue...now that's a name I haven't heard for centuries," he smirked.
Ichigo's eyes widened, but he wasn't going to let this Arrancer keep going. "Getsuga Tenshou!"
His move ripped the sky to pieces, the Arrancer along with him and blood filled the air.
"I told you to go, Inoue," said Ichigo.
Orihime nodded and found that Rukia had found them. "C'mon Inoue, lets get you home."
The healer nodded. With one last glance back to her hero, she went back with Rukia. The black haired shinigami grabbed Inoue and flash stepped back down below.
Once Ichigo saw that Orihime was safe, he turned back to his foe. His eyes widened at what he saw. The Arrancer...he'd defeated him? Already?
The Arrancer's wounds looked to be beyond healing, and so Ichigo took off his mask, which crumbled into nothing. The Arrancer coughed and spluttered, but he didn't look upset or angry. He looked...happy?
"Y-you w-would protect t-that b-beast?" spluttered the Arrancer.
Ichigo's scowl deepened. "She's not a beast, you bastard. She's my friend and I'll protect her from anyone," exclaimed Ichigo. "Who the hell are you?"
The Arrancer smiled with a sinister look upon his face. Suddenly a yellow light emanated from his chest, healing all his wounds instantly. He sheathed his sword and looked upon Ichigo with a smirk.
"My name is Yokoshima," said the Arrancer. "You have no idea what you've got yourself into, ryoka. You'll soon learn what she is and that she needs to be destroyed."
And with that, he disappeared in yellow light. The garganta disappeared with him.
Ichigo frowned in confusion. What the hell just happened?
He shunpo'd to Orihime's apartment to find Rukia sitting outside her door in deep thought. She looked up as Ichigo appeared and sighed with relief.
"He's gone?" she asked, walking over to where Ichigo was standing.
Ichigo nodded. He told Rukia what the Arrancer had said and what his name was. Rukia frowned.
Once Ichigo left and I went back to Soul Society to explain what had happened, and I'm afraid that is what started this whole thing. I fear for Inoue, but the clear fact is that Ichigo is right. Inoue could never do what everyone thinks that she will do or become.
[pause]
I don't know where they are at the moment. If you'll excuse me, I have to rendevous with Renji.
Uryuu Ishida (Quincy): Yes, I did hear of their appearance in a town just a few miles away from here. We didn't investigate.
[pause, while he pushed up his glasses]
Obviously Kurosaki knows what he is doing, I just hope that he doesn't get Inoue killed or worse, captured for that damn Kurotsuchi to study. If it comes to that, we will all be there to get her back again.
Why do you ask such questions? But no, I don't believe that they are...together. Kurosaki is too much of an imbecile to be with someone like Inoue. He has always protected those he cares about and for him to go to these lengths for Inoue, I would say that he cares about her very deeply, moreso than any of us. Inoue seems to have a certain quality that causes everyone to care about her a lot. She is kind hearted and pure; even someone such as myself could say that I would die for her and protect her till the end. And I am but a friend.
I do remember something though that may contradict my opinion.
"It is very unusual," began Ishida, but was cut off.
"Really? You don't say," said Ichigo, rolling his eyes.
The four of them walked along toward the sunset by the river. It had been a long day with Sado, Ishida, Renji and Ichigo. They had caught a movie, as Renji was visiting in place of the shinigami with the afro for tonight. Ichigo had already planned to do something with the others, however, Rukia had shoved Renji onto him earlier that day which he was not pleased about. Apparently she was busy that day.
Ishida narrowed his eyes at his rival. "I have to tell you Kurosaki that..." began Ishida again, but, he was again cut off. Ishida sighed loudly but a large hand sat on his shoulder to comfort him. It was Chad, he nodded over to where Ichigo began to run to.
Inoue was standing in the dim sun light of the sunset about thirty metres away.
"Tch. Guess we call it a day then," mumbled Renji.
"It's the day," said Chad quietly.
Renji and Ishida had odd looks upon their faces.
"The day her brother died," explained Chad, looking over at where Ichigo was now standing behind Orihime, who had been looking at the sunset by herself.
Their eyes widened after Chad had revealed a bit of her past to them.
"I see," said Ishida, still staring at the couple ahead of them.
Renji did the same.
"I-Inoue?" asked Ichigo, staring at her from behind. "What are you doing out here by yourself? I thought you were hanging out with Rukia today..."
"K-kurosaki-kun? Oh! Yes, well, we were but she had to go back to Soul Society as requested by her brother, Kuchiki-san," said Orihime, with a small smile. "I thought I'd come and just watch the sunset."
Ichigo nodded and Inoue turned around to look at him, but looked beyond his sillouette to find that Renji, Chad and Uryuu were with him. "Kurosaki-kun, I don't want to keep you from your day out."
"Tch. Them? Oh we were finished anyway," he said, turning his head toward them and then back to Orihime. He rubbed the back of his messy hair with a hand with a goofy smile upon his face.
Ishida rolled his eyes and looked to Renji.
"Well, I obviously our day is finished then, according to Kurosaki," he said, quietly fuming.
"Yeah, jerk," said Renji, narrowing his eyes at the back of the Substitute Shinigami. But his features softened a little at what they were witnessing. "Since when do you ditch friends for a girl? He doesn't even do that with Rukia! Not that I'm his friend anyway..."
"I think we should leave," said the deep voice of Chad.
The other two began to walk away, but Ishida stayed for a moment, just watching.
"Inoue, lets get you home," said Ichigo smiling.
Orihime took one last look at the sunset and turned back toward Ichigo, nodding. "Kurosaki-kun..."
"I know, its the day isn't it?"
She nodded and his smile faded. "But its okay, because you saved me and I know he's in a better place now," she said with a happy smile.
Ichigo nodded, happy that Orihime wasn't sad because of what had happened. After all, he was her friend...his very close friend now. And her happiness was what mattered, and her safety. She always seemed to get herself into bad situations because she was vulnerable and that's why he found her smile comforting that she was safe and happy now. He held out his hand.
"Let's go, Inoue."
She grabbed it and they walked side by side.
Ishida shunpo'd away from a building nearby, back to his home. Keep her safe, Kurosaki.
A/N: Hey, that's it for now. Sorry that there aren't captain interviews in this one, but, I thought I'd show some more flashbacks with a bit of IchxOri in it. Thanks for reading please review.
Bullet2tm