Nature of Power Chapter Seven

Mentor

"Why did you invite me up here?" Uryu asked.

"Because,"Orihimed replied, "you're offically a member of the Hollow Purification Society!"

"...The what?"

Orihime and Uryu were having lunch on the school's roof, along with Rukia and Ichigo and Chad. No one else had been allowed up.

"A superhero group that protects Kanakura town." Orihime said, "I"m the Orange Reaper," She pointed to Uryu, "you're the Blue Archer," then to Chad, "Black Fist, "to Ichigo, "Silver Sword," Finally to Rukia, "Black Mentor."

"Color coded?" Ichigo asked, "Please tell me you haven't made outfits."

"Actually..." Orihime reached behid her neck and giggled nervously.

"I refuse." Uryu said monotone. Before anyone could say a word, he continued, "I already have my own costume."

"Sugoi!" Orihime cheered, "That means one less to make."

"I'm not wearing spandex!" Ichigo protested.

"I'm...too big." Chad said.

"Pwease?" Orihime pouted, sparkles even appeared her head.

Rukia chuckled as she watched the boy's resolve melt, but her mind was drawn to more serious matters. It won't take long for Soul Society to hear about the Menos Grande, and a shinigami had already come to rerieve her. I've over stayed my welcome...She thought, I can't stay here anymore.

That night, she slipped out of the house while Orihime slept. By the time she woke up, the whole mess would be over. Black mentor huh? Rukia thought as she ran. That is rathering fitting...Orihime wounded a menos and has gathered many allies...she no longer needs a mentor to hold her hand...she no longer needs me...A wave of spiritual power almost floored her, and she barely dodged a strike from a zanpaktou.

"Its been a long time..." Said her attacker. His red hair stood out against the night, "Rukia."

"Renji..."

Orihime opened her eyes and sat up in bed. A frightening spiritual power had snapped at her consciousnes, pulling her out of a dream where buildings were made of brocoli and the sky rained ketchup. All such tasty thoughts were driven from her mind when she saw her nightstand: Rukia's soul glove lay on it.

Her eyes darted around the room, but her fictive little sister was nowhere to be found. They settled into a determined stare,f and she used the glove to pull herself out. She ran out the door as fast as she could and on the way she ran into Uryu, who was also sprinting.

"You felt it, too?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Uryu said aloofly, "I simply need more craft supplies and the store closes soon."

"Then you should hurry." Orihime replied, "I'm glad you need more supplies." she added with a smile. Uryu turned slightly pink. "Do you think Ichigo will come too?"

"That idiot?" Uryu drawled, "I doubt he has any idea what's going on."

Ichigo was, in fact, sound asleep.

"I guess you're right." Orihime agreed, "He's not very good at sensing reiatsu." She stopped suddenly, and Uryu did right next to her. "They're here."

"Two of them..." Uryu muttered, "I'll go high, you go low."

Orihime nodded, "Got it!"

While Uryu launched an arrow at the guy with the hair piece, Orihime dashed out to tackle the guy attacking her little sister. Just as she swung her sword, the pineapple head spun around and blocked her strike.

"What are you doing here?" Rukia shrieked.

"I'm here to save you!" Orihime declared. She broke the pushing match and jumped away from Renji. "As for you, pine apple head, "Orihime said gruffly, "You can either leave, or face the Great Bobbing of Justice!"

Renji was so surprised he lowered his sword, "...Great Bobbing of Justice?" He turned to Rukia, "Where did you find this girl?"

"Don't ask..." Rukia groaned.

"Whatever..." Turning to Orihime he said, "I am Renji Arabi, lieutenant of the 6th squad in the Gotei 13. For the crime of remaining in the living world and transfering her powers to a human, we have come to arrest her."

"She was just fullfilling her duities!" Orihime protested, "How is that a crime?"

"It just is." Renji said, "As soul reapers, we have to obey the rules."

"Well its a stupid rule!" Orihime said, "Rukia's been fighting hollows and guiding wholes all this time!"

"If you get in our way then-hey!" Renji struggled as Rukia put him into a half-nelson.

"Orihime you have to get out of here!" Rukia said, "You and Uryu both!"

"I'm not leaving you!" Orihime said, "You're like the little sister I never had..."

Renji's companion twitched at these words.

Renji himeself threw Rukia off and charged Orihime, who was barely able to block in time. Renji pushed forwards,each time coming within inches of a fatal blow. All that kept Orihime alive were the lessons from Tatsuki, but at last experience triumphed and her sword arm was cut. She screamed in pain and grabbed the wound. Her grip weakened and she lowered her sword.

"Why haven't you called your zanpaktuo's name?" Renji demanded, "You'll lose if you don't."

"My zankaptou's...name?" Orihime asked, "It has a name?"

"You mean you haven't even asked it yet?" Renji shouted, "How can you expect to protect anyone if you don't know how you powers work?"

"Oh, you mean kidou?" Orihime asked, "I haven't learned that yet."

Renji howled in frustration, "Like this!" He held up his zanpakuto and held his other hand near its hilt, "Howl, Zabimaru!"

Without lights or sparkes or any ado, the sword shifted into a new shape. No longer a simple katana, but a serrated blade that looked to be segmented. Orihime gasped in amazement. Her own zanpakuto looked tame in comparison.

"Let me give you a demonstration." Renji flung the sword and its length extended as it flew. Orihime ducked under the attack, and then she realized, I'm not his target!

"Uryu wa-" her cry came too late, as the blade reached her ally and tore into him.

The Last Quincy had been firing arrows at Renji's companion, and all of them splattered on his robes like water balloons. In his frustration Uryu didn't see the blade into it was too late. Now he was on his back with a large wound across his front.

Orihime stared in shock, unmoving. Then the weapon zipped back and cut into her leg. She screamed a second time and fell to her knees.

"Now do you see?" Renji asked, "Without knowing your zanpakuto's name, you stand no chance against me. ...I'll be taking Rukia now."

"No, no no no no..." Orihime muttered, clutching her bleeding arm, "I can't let this happen!" A brillant orange glow appeared around, "I CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN!" The glow exploded!

Before Renji's eyes, the badly injuried girl stood up on her bad leg and pointed her sword at him with her disabled arm.

"I REJECT!"

A beam of red/orange light flared down on Renji, who jumped out of the way. Everything else in the beam's path, even the air itself, disapeared, as it had been erased from reality.

"Zabimaru, see your prey and kill!" Renji shouted as he swung his own sword. The razors bounced off Orihime's aura. All they did was get her attention.

"I REJECT!"

Faster this time. Renji felt the terrible power inches from his body before he jumped again to safety. The third beam was faster still; his shades were vaporized right off his head. Finally, Orihime cornered him.

"I RE-"

She broke off mid chant and fell to the ground, a bloody mess. Renji's companion stood behind her, as calm as ever. He walked over to Rukia and said two words.

"We're leaving."

Rukia bowed her head, "I understand, Ni-sama."

She looked at Orihime, now surrounded by a pool of her own blood. I didn't want this to happen to you! she thought in frustration, Why couldn't you have just stayed in bed?

Byakuya walked by Renji and only gave him a parting glance before moving on. Renji stood up shamefully and followed him. Rukia was in the middle.

Renji returned his sword to normal and stabbed the air. Around the blade grew a pillar of light, solidifing into japanese doors. Renji withdrew his sword, and the doors open.

"Onee-chan...wait..."

Rukia gasped. She spun back around to see Orihime, still laying on the ground and still breathing. Names fell from her lips in a deathly whisper, "Sai... Misato... Takashi... Asuna... Watanuki..."

"Rukia," Renji asked, "Are these people her acomplices, or is she guessing her zanpakuto's name? Either way, she's still resisiting."

"No one." Rukia said, as serenly as she could, "They're the names of anime characters, that's all."

"And why does she call you 'little sister' with so familar an honor-fic?" Buyakuya asked.

"Its just a silly nickname." Rukia insisited, ignoring the tears in her eyes, "Because I'm shorter than her."

"...Usagi...Satoshi...Rem..."

"Stop it!" Rukia cried, finally lossing her composure, "Its over! Your powers are gone! Ni-sama destroyed your soul sleeve and your soul chain!" Her body shook, "There's no point in guessing...just enjoy what little life you have left."`

Turning back to her older brother she said, "I'm ready to face my punishment, but she has nothing to do with this, and will die very soon anyways."

Byakuya's expression didn't change. "Very well. I will not strike the final blow." He passed through the door, with Renji following and then Rukia. She looked once more at her fictive big sister, and the doors closed.

No more guesses dropped from Orihime's lips. There was no longer any point. Her 'Hollow Purification Society' had fractured and failed. Rukia was gone, Uryu was dead, and herself about to follow. Two members didn't even show up! Tears came instead.

Soon she no longer had the strength even for that. She slipped into unconsciousness, still thinking about her little sister. Silence.

It was broken by the sound of clogs on pavement.