Hidden Behind the Blue
Chapter Seven_ Rewind
Ichigo walked into Orihime's house to find her sitting at the kitchen table with her face in her hands, her elbows propped up on the table. "Orihime?" Ichigo walked up to her. He sat down across from her and took her hands. "You've been having those dreams again?" He asked.
"Mm-hmm," Orihime nodded. Tears slipped down her cheeks. "I miss him so much."
"After the way he treated you?" Ichigo arched a brow.
"I know, it's a little unorthodox, but I still love him even though he never loved me." Orihime wiped away her tears, "And I miss Makota."
"I miss her too, but she'll be okay."
"What if she decides to never come back?" Orihime asked.
"Shhh," Ichigo soothed. "She will, I know she will."
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"Me, one of the Espada," She asked.
"That's what I said," Grimmjow told her.
"Cool," Makota said. Grimmjow took hold of her arm and then he took hold of a brander in the shape of the number one. Makota quietly squealed in pain when Grimmjow pressed the hot metal to the side of her shoulder. Makota whined as the hat scorched her flesh. Her tense body relaxed when Grimmjow removed the brander from her arm. Makota saw a one had been branded into her arm.
"Sorry," Grimmjow cupped her cheek and gently wiped away a tear that Makota didn't realize that she had shed. Sorry? He was sorry? Grimmjow couldn't believe that that word had just come out of his mouth. He actually cared about the girl though. He cared about what happened to her. And he actually felt bad about that he had hurt her. He knew it was no excuse, but in order to be an Espada one had to bear the mark of an Espada, it was necessary.
"I'm okay," She told him. She hissed in discomfort when the burn throbbed. She watched Grimmjow rub a cooling salve on her burn.
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(Flash Back)
She laid nude before. She whimpered and curled up to hide herself from him. He chuckled lightly, "Woman, look at me." She did. He caressed her face, "You don't have to be afraid of me," He kissed her neck, "Let me see you." Orihime slowly uncurled her body. "Atta girl," Grimmjow kissed her.
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It had been two days since she abandoned him. He was furious. He went on a killing spree, killing every Gillian in sight to ease the anger…and the pain. No, Grimmjow would feel no such thing. He refused to.
He no longer used her name nor did he ever mention her. He slowly began to hate her. "So, you want to run home to Kurosaki," He snarled, "Fine, go, see if I care, you traitor."
(End Flash Back)
(Flash Back)
"That's right," A boy hollered after Makota, "Keep on running ya freak!"
Makota sobbed as she ran all the way down the street to his house. "Ichigo-sama!" She cried as she ran through the open back door. She found him in the kitchen. She threw her arms around his legs.
"Makota, what are you doing here?" He looked at her surprised, "Why aren't you in school?" Then he remembered what today was. He looked at the child sympathetically. He pried the girl's arms off his legs then took her in his arms, "Shhh-shh-shh," He soothed, "It's ok, Makota, it's ok."
"It's not fair," Her tiny arms were around his neck, "Why can't I have a daddy too?" Ichigo hugged the child to him tightly; he rubbed soothingly circles into her back. "Ichigo-sama, can I ask you something?"
"Yes," He said as he continued to hold her.
"Are you my daddy?" She wondered.
Ichigo's eyes widened. He thought back to his own little girl, Natsumi, and his wife, Tatsuki, who died in a car accident two months before Makota was born, and felt his heart throb. Since the day he started helping Orihime take care of the girl he saw Makota as his own, but he knew she never would be. "No sweetheart," He answered softly, "I'm not."
Makota hugged him tighter with a sob. She looked at him with red and wet eyes, "Where is my daddy?"
He hated himself for what he was about to do, but he had to protect her, that's what he wanted to do more than anything, keep her safe. "Your daddy's dead sweetheart…" Makota started to tear up again. "I'm so sorry Makota." She cried against his shoulder.
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She played in the park away from the other kids, who played on the other side of the huge playground. Makota froze when she felt a great pulse of energy. She saw a huge shadow standing over her. She turned around, "Ichigo-sama?" She screamed at the top of her lungs when she saw a huge creature with a skull like mask. It was like the ones, the Hollows, she overheard Ichigo, Urahara, and the others talk about.
"Shut up ya little flea," It snarled. Makota tried to run away but the Hollow pinned her to the ground with its massive claw. Makota screamed with tears in her eyes when she felt something cut deeply into the span of her entire back.
"Getsuga Tensho!" A voice roared and the Hollow was knocked off of Makota. Despite as much pain she was in Makota got up and ran into the trees. She watched from behind one of the trees. She saw Ichigo in a black Shihakusho with a giant sword. He cut the Hollow down the length of its mask and the Hollow dissolved into nothing. Makota saw him turn around and smile at her, "Makota."
"Ichigo-sama," Makota smiled, she ran to him despite her heavily bleeding back. She ran into his arms and clung to him.
(End Flash Back)
"Makota-sama," Nel ran up to her with her bare feet pattering on the tile floor.
Makota smiled when the child hugged her tightly around her legs. "Hey Nel," Makota took the child in her arms and sat her on her hip. She then noticed that Nel was sobbing. "What's wrong Nel?" Makota asked her. Makota saw Loly and Menoly round the corner and was coming towards them.
"Get back here you little brat," Loly snarled.
Makota sat Nel down, who hid behind her. "That's far enough Loly," She told the Arrancar.
"Stay out of this Half-Breed," Loly snapped.
"Stay out of my face," Makota glared when Loly got up in Makota's face.
"Make me Half-Breed," Loly smirked grabbing Makota's collar. Makota grabbed Loly's wrist and punched her in the face so hard that when she went flying back her arm was ripped off completely. "Aaaah!" She screamed in pain.
"You damn Half-Breed!" Menoly growled.
"Only a coward would pick on a child." Makota dropped Loly's severed arm. Nel gripped the back of Makota's pants leg.
"What are you going to tell Grimmjow-sama, you little daddy's girl?" Loly stood up.
"I don't have to. I can handle you two on my own," Makota told her. Makota stretched out her arm and her hand began to glow. They looked at her in fear and started running like hell. Makota let them go. She looked at Nel, "It's ok Nel. They won't be bothering you anymore."
"Thank you Makota-sama," Nel hugged her. "Oh! Nel almost forgot. Grimmjow-sama wants to see Makota-sama."
"What for Nel?" Makota asked her.
"Grimmjow-sama wants to fight you."
To Be Continued…
