Chapter Four: Sanguine Blood
IchigoXOrihime

A.N.: Just a little warning: if you're not okay with anything bad happening to Orihime, you might not like what happens in this chapter. Originally this was supposed to be one chapter but it became so long I split in into two to even the pace.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Meanwhile….
Kurosaki House

Orihime groaned as the hunger set in once more, straining against the Kidô ropes keeping her restrained. "Ichigo…" she whimpered , her head rolling back and taking deep breaths. "Please be safe."

As minutes ticked by, the air in the room suddenly became colder, even for Orihime who was ice-cold. Looking up, she saw frost on the window. Feeling a sinister presence near, she turned her head and screamed when she saw a dark, malicious cloud moving in on her.

"Time to play, Orihime."

"NOOOOOOOO!"

Back to Ichigo & Co….
Karakura Cathedral

'A vampire hollow hiding out in a church. The irony is about as twisted as he is," Ichigo thought as the group slowly made their way into the church. Ichigo kept his grip on Zangetsu tight, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow.

But there was no need. He immediately saw a slim, black form in front of the pulpit, looking almost like it was praying to God. Just when Ichigo was about to make a sneak attack, the hollow stood up. Floating off the ground, he turned around. Sanguine stared at the group with burning red eyes. Somehow, Ichigo could tell that he was smiling behind his mask.

"Come to confess your sins?"

Ichigo drew Zangetsu and scowled. "You first."

"Ahahahah…" Sanguine laughed as he floated a few feet towards them. "Ichigo Kurosaki, the Substitute Soul Reaper. How amusing." The dark hollow's head turned to his companions. "And I see you've brought company." His red eyes locked with Yoruichi and the air seemed to get colder. "Hello, Yoruichi. It has been so long since we were last acquainted."

Yoruichi's golden eyes narrowed in anger, remembering her poor subordinates who fell victim to the Vasto Lorde's wrath. "Yes. I remember you, Sanguine." Her hands balled into fists as she stepped up next to Ichigo. "You'll pay for what you've done. To my subordinates. And to Orihime."

Tipping his head back, Sanguine leered at the group of Soul Reapers and smiled behind his mask. "Ah yes, the lovely Orihime. It has been so long since I met someone with such exquisite blood as her."

Every word from Sanguine made Ichigo burn with rage. "You'll pay for what you did to Orihime!" he yelled.

Laughter filled the cathedral. "Why are you so anguished, Ichigo Kurosaki? I've blessed your beautiful friend with the gift of immortality. There are many who would kill for that blessing."

Ichigo bristled, wanting nothing more than to kill this Hollow. "Your "blessing" causes her to feed off of others! It's inhumane!"

Byakuya Kuchiki put a hand on his shoulder, knowing that Sanguine was trying to rile up Ichigo on purpose to throw him off balance. "Ichigo, calm yourself." He turned his gaze at Sanguine and felt a rare shiver run down his spine. "This isn't the time to debate ethics with a hollow."

Sanguine continued to float in midair and cocked his head, making him look like a huge, floating owl. "Ethics? You remind me so much of your contemporary, Byakuya Kuchiki."

Rukia and Renji blinked. "Contemporary?" Renji repeated.

"Wait," Rukia drew her zanpakuto and readied herself, "You don't mean-"

"Yes. Your former comrade, Souske Aizen." His head righted itself and he floated up until he was ten feet in the air. "I watched as he assembled his little cabal of Arrancars. Hmph!" He looked down at the Soul Reapers with all the scorn Hollows were known for. "What a fool. It was obvious to me that his so called army was ludicrous." His black cape unfolding and spread out, creating black wings that suspended him in the air. His body was thin and limber, only his pointy feet and his arms visible from his cloak, looking like a wraith coming from the dead of night. His arms were covered in white armor, his hands equipped with white gauntlets. "That was all his Espada were: a joke. Aizen's army was nothing but a dark parody of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. It doesn't take numbers to destroy Soul Reapers." His body began to glow with blood-red spirit energy.

"It takes power."

Ichigo scoffed at the hollow's words. "A joke, huh? If that's the case you and Aizen would've been perfect for each other."

That made Sanguine laugh again. "Oh, you're even more audacious then the gossip led me to believe, Ichigo Kurosaki." The Soul Reapers braced themselves when Sanguine flexed his covered claws. "But that is enough of the past. Let's converse of the present." He stared down at the Soul Reapers and prepared himself. "My powers are far greater than anything you can conceive. It is time that I showed you my power. The power of blood!"

All at once, the battle began. Sanguine's black cape exploded into a swarm of bats and attacked the Soul Reapers, Sanguine landing on the ground, standing tall in front of his attackers. The group braced themselves as the swarm attacked them. Ichigo and Renji swatted in vain at the cloud of bats, the flying rodents biting on their arms and necks, drawing blood; their large blades useless against the swarm. Likewise Yoruichi, Rukia and Toshiro had trouble slaying the creatures, even with their abilities.

"Scatter: Senbonzakura."

Byakuya released his sword and met the swarm with his rain of blades. The group watched as the swarm was slashed to bits, leaving Sanguine wide open. Yoruichi dashed forward and prepared her special technique, ready to destroy the hollow.

"Shunko!"

Yoruichi's orange jacket was blasted off her shoulders as she unleashed her technique. Sanguine narrowed its eyes as the Flash Goddess charged at him, ready to take his head off with a single punch.

"RAAAAAAAH!" Yoruichi threw a punch at Sanguine's mask, her fist crackling with energy… only for Sanguine to catch her fist with little effort. The impact made the cathedral shook, the pulpit and glass windows behind him shattering from the force. Yoruichi gaped in shock, having never been stopped this easily before. "Impossible! You're not even an-"

Sanguine's eyes gleamed with ruby fury as he stared at Yoruichi, keeping her suspended in midair while his cape reformed around him. "I am no paltry Arrancar. They foolishly abandoned themselves in pursuit of greater power. In the end, their so called evolution failed them when they lost to you miserably. I lack no such weakness. I am a Hollow. I have been so for five centuries. Let me show you what a true Hollow can do." He held up a hand and put it in front of Yoruichi's chest. Yoruichi's eyes widened in horror as a blood-red cero formed in his hand. She attempted to break free from Sanguine but his grip was absolute, leaving her condemned to her fate.

"YORUICHI!" Ichigo, Renji and Rukia screamed as their friend was blasted by the cero, the werecat atomized. "NO!" Ichigo shouted.

"Yoruichi!" Rukia screamed in horror, unable to believe that the fearsome Flash Goddess could be killed with such ease.

Sanguine stepped forward and looked at the horrified Soul Reapers. "Such pain you must be feeling. I sympathize for your loss. Allow me to relieve you from your torment." He held up his hand and unleashed another Cero.

Fighting back tears from the sudden death of his mentor, Ichigo held out his arms and released his signature move. Knowing it wouldn't be enough, Toshiro and Rukia released their powers as well.

"Getsuga Tensho!"

"Tsugi no Mai: Hakuren!

"Reign over the Frosted Heavens: Hyorinmaru!"

The three attacks collided with Sanguine's and countered it, the four attacks dissipating with a violet gaze. "Dammit!" Ichigo cursed through clenched teeth. "It took the three of us to counter just one attack! And he…he killed Yoruichi like it was nothing." This time he couldn't fight back the tear as it trailed down his face. "Yoruichi…."

"Is still alive."

The remaining four Soul Reapers turned and saw Byakuya holding Yoruichi in his arms. The werecat looked worse for wear, her body burned by the attack. "Sorry," she coughed as Byakuya set her down, her clothes in tatters. "Even with my Flashstep, I barely escaped with my life. If it weren't for Byakuya I really would be dead." But it was clear to everyone that Yoruichi was out of this fight by her injured state, leaving the remaining five to face Sanguine.

Sanguine cocked his head owl-like again when he saw Yoruichi was still alive. "Hmm, most unexpected, but impressive nonetheless. No matter. Let us continue our little play." It was then that Sanguine went on the attack, his body disappearing into a black mist. The mist moved with all the speed of a thunderbolt and before the Soul Reapers could gain their wits Sanguine appeared behind them. Toshiro spun around and slashed at Sanguine but the Vasto Lorde dodged his strike while catching Renji's Zabimaru with his hand. Renji cried out in pain as Sanguine hurled him into Toshiro, sending them both flying into the pews.

Byakuya was the next to attack Sanguine, suddenly flashstepping behind him. Both Ichigo and Rukia held their breaths in anticipation as Byakuya performed his signature Senka, spinning around to pierce Sanguine's back. But all Byakuya's blade pierced was the black mist as Sanguine vanished again, dodging the deathblow. Byakuya scowled and held up his hand. "Bakudo #61: Riku Jokoro!"

The captain expected Sanguine's phasing to end when the six pillars of light surrounded his black, incorporeal form. Sadly that planned failed when the bars collided with each other and faded as Sanguine's shadowy form slipped out of it. Sanguine laughed mirthlessly as he reformed, holding up another hand. Byakuya braced himself as a Cero formed but Sanguine had another trick up his sleeve.

"Cero Murciélago."

The cero erupted in a swarm of red bat-like creatures which attacked Byakuya. The man merely scoffed at the technique while holding his sword up. "Same trick, different form. Scatter…" he said, releasing his zanpakuto once more. The pink flurry of Senbonzakura once again clashed with Sanguine's bats. Each time a pink blade hit a cero, the bat-creature exploded into small balls of light. But Byakuya realized immediately the folly of his counterattack when the small balls formed into bats. He held up a hand to say a protective spell only for the small bats to attack him at a faster velocity.

"BROTHER!" Rukia screamed as the bats exploded when they touched Byakuya, injuring the man and forcing him down onto his knees.

"Your hearing is deficient, Byakuya Kuchiki," Sanguine mocked. "Did you not hear me when I stated that numbers alone meant nothing?"

"Get away from him!" Rukia shouted. She flashstepped behind Sanguine and spun around. "Tsukishiro!"

Sanguine stood still as Rukia trapped him in a pillar of ice, Renji pulling his captain away before he could be frozen along with him. "Are you alright, Captain?" he asked as he helped the man up.

"No," Byakuya reluctantly admitted. "His attack did more damage than I expected." He kept a hand on his side, which was bleeding badly. "He is too strong. How can this be? Even for a Vasto Lorde, six Captain-class Soul Reapers should be more than adequate to destroy him."

A voice broke through the ice encasing the vampiric hollow. "Tradition has turned against you, Byakuya Kuchiki." The hollow glowed red again as the ice began to crack from the force of his unholy power, freeing Sanguine once it shattered. "You have become far too accustomed to simple battles of spirit energy where you conquered your opponents through superior might. Here, you face an enemy whose power is foreign to you. In warfare, facing off against an opponent whose abilities are foreign to you is a fatal mistake. A truth I understood even when I was still alive."

"Enough!" Toshiro shouted as he jumped up into the air, having recovered from his tumble with Renji. "If Shikai isn't enough to stop you, then how about this: Bankai!" Toshiro was engulfed in spirit energy as he released his strongest zanpakuto release. "Daiguren Hyorinmaru!"

Sanguine extended his cape and flapped his wings to meet the captain in aerial combat. "Shall I put you to bed, young one?" the hollow mocked. Bats emerge from his cap and spat out blood taken from Ichigo and Renji, which formed a bloody spear in his clawed hand.

"I'm not the one whose about to go to sleep!" Toshiro retorted before attacking, charging at the Hollow despite Yoruichi's previous failed attempt. "Ryusenka!" The ice-captain sent a wave of ice at Sanguine, who merely destroyed it with a flick of his spear. Gritting his teeth, Toshiro was undeterred. "Guncho Tsurara!" A massive storm of icicles shot at the hollow. Sanguine huffed in annoyance and blocked the attack with his wings. When he unfurled them he found Toshiro to be gone. "Haaaaaaaah!" Toshiro shouted as he charged at Sanguine from above, his sword pointed at Sanguine's mask. "It's all over!" Sanguine held up a hand but if he had a counterattack it came too late as Toshiro's sword reached Sanguine's mask

And then stopped as if Toshiro had been frozen in time.

"WHAT?!" the boy gaped.

"Child's play," Sanguine said before squeezing his fist. Toshiro and the Soul Reapers below him all stared in horror as the ice surrounding Toshiro turned blood-red. "Truly a splendid Bankai. And it might have been triumphant…provided it wasn't a weapon that utilized water as a weapon." Sanguine clenched his fist again and the red ice suddenly turned on itself, the wings wrapping around Toshiro and constricting him.

"What is happening?!" Toshiro shouted, unable to comprehend how this was being done.

"I am not an ignoramus, Toshiro Hitsugaya. I am fully aware of your zanpakuto's power over snow and ice. When Byakuya Kuchiki destroyed my Abrigo de Medianoche the bats dispersed into a bloody mist. I recalled the mist to me to reform my wings. Sadly for you, I didn't recall all of the blood, which you so generously incorporated into your Bankai when you froze the air around you." He saw Toshiro strain against his own corrupted Bankai and leaned forward.

"Time to go to sleep, my child."

"TOSHIRO!" Ichigo screamed as Sanguine impaled Toshiro with his spear, stabbing him in the chest with it. As Toshiro's Bankai disintegrated Sanguine slung the impaled Toshiro across the room, nailing him to the cross on the cathedral wall.

"Amen," Sanguine said ironically

Turning away from the dying Hitsugaya, Sanguine turned his attention to the Substitute Soul Reaper. Floating down until he was on the ground, Sanguine calmly stalked his way to the boy, who kept his guard up. "Ichigo Kurosaki. Tell me, you are here in some vain attempt to reverse my gift to Orihime, are you not?" he asked, standing about twelve feet away from Ichigo in the middle of the wrecked cathedral.

"Of course. When you're gone, Orihime will turn back to normal."

Silence filled the room as Sanguine stared down Ichigo. "And, pray tell, what will you do if you're wrong?"

Ichigo blinked. "What do you mean?"

"You believe my death to be Orihime's salvation. You are mistaken. There is no way to reverse what has been done, Ichigo. But I am, if nothing else, a Hollow who understands compassion…" the dark Hollow said. It held up a hand and gave offered it to Ichigo. "Take my hand, Ichigo Kurosaki. Become a vampire. Become like Orihime and you may spend eternity in everlasting bliss. You have seen it, have you not? You know of the bliss that Orihime felt when she fed on you. Oh yes…" he said with a lowered voice, his mask almost seeming to smile despite its fixed visage. "I am connected with all who I turn into a vampire. I know you allowed her to feed off of you and I even know of what transpired afterward. Such romance should not be allowed to be die so tragically. Even should I die, Orihime will remain as she is. She will continue to feed off of others until the end of time. Join her, Ichigo, and she need not suffer eternity alone. Join her, and you can share your love with her until this world is naught but dust."

The others stared at Ichigo, wondering just how much he was finding Sanguine's words tempting. "Ichigo!" Rukia insisted when she saw the flicker of doubt in Ichigo's eyes. "Don't listen to him!"

"What is your answer, Ichigo?" Sanguine asked, continuing to hold his hand out. "Will you choose your love for Orihime? Or will you choose damnation for her?"

Ichigo looked at his sword, seeing his reflection. He knew of how pained Orihime was when she was consumed by her hunger for blood. It was an awful thing for her to endure that alone. And he considered the possibility that Sanguine might be telling the truth and that his death would not mean the end to Orihime's curse.

But as tempting as the offer was, he remembered his promise to Orihime to do the right thing, even if the right thing was something Ichigo didn't want to do. He loved Orihime too much to cast aside his humanity. "No," he said with resolution in his eyes.

Sanguine was silent as he stared at Ichigo, knowing from the look in his eyes that the debate was over. "How sad," Sanguine said while shaking his head. "As the person who defeated Aizen, I felt compelled to offer you a chance to be with your beloved Orihime forever. To spurn my offer is a foolish choice, Ichigo Kurosaki." He held out his bloody spear and glared at the boy. "It will be a choice you will regret. I will not kill you. Instead, I shall drag you to your friend and watch as she succumbs to her hunger and bleeds you dry!"

"Keep dreaming!" Ichigo shouted and held his arms out. "BANKAI!" Ichigo's spirit energy became a flurry of black and red, his body shrouded in his Bankai jacket. "Tensa Zangetsu!" He pointed his sword at Sanguine and scowled. "It's over, Sanguine! Your tricks won't work on me!"

Sanguine's eyes showed malice like Ichigo hadn't seen since Aizen. "Is that so? Well then. If you're so critical of my performance…" he said in a low voice, a black mist appearing in front of him. "Then allow me to introduce my supporting cast."

The determination and drive that Ichigo felt evaporated into horror and disbelief when Orihime Inoue suddenly emerged from the mist, floating down until she stood in front of Sanguine. "Orihime! Why are you here?!" he screamed. To his dismay Orihime merely looked straight at him without saying a word, her eyes not showing any life; it was as if she'd become an empty doll.

"I commend your caution by using those Kidô ropes. But as I've said earlier, those who share my power is connected with me. They are mine to do as I wish." He put his hands on Orihime's shoulders and looked at Ichigo with murder in his eyes. "I always loved poetry, Ichigo Kurosaki. And there is nothing more poetic than seeing someone die at the hands of the person they love most."

"Teatro Macabre de Títeres."

Sanguine vanished into black mist again, but he was far from finished. Orihime's head tilted back and she willingly allowed Sanguine's black mist to flow into her mouth. "ORIHIME!" Ichigo called out, praying this was just a bad dream. As the last of the dark hollow entered Orihime, there was nothing.

What happened next would leave Ichigo with nightmares for years to come.

As her skin turned pale grey, Orihime's eyes turned to burning orange and her cheeks became predominant, as if her skin was too tight around her skull, her beautiful burnt-orange hair burning jet black. Her shirt was torn as two large wings sprouted from behind her back and her fangs and claws became predominant. As Orihime's dark transformation became complete at last, her clothes changed to match her new appearance, her shirt and pants becoming a black robe that tightly wrapped around her body.

"Prepare yourself, Ichigo!" Orihime/Sanguine snarled as she extended her claws. "Till death do us part!"

To be continued

A.N.: To clarify a few things: On the subject for Orihime's transformation, I decided to take a note from Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and borrow from the appearance of the Vampire Lord, which seemed like the perfect way for me to show just how much Orihime had been corrupted by Sanguine. Plus, I love screwing with people so it fits my M.O.

Lastly, the names of Sanguine's abilities are:

Cero Murciélago= Cero Bats (duh)
Abrigo de Medianoche= Midnight Cloak
Teatro Macabre de Títeres= Macabre Puppet Theater