HI guys! This chapter is somehow a recap or re-tell about what happened. I just wanted to include it. Thanks for the review. Enjoy reading!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Ichigo opened his eyes. It was dark outside and his lamp shade was on. He was sure that Yuzu turned it on when she brought his dinner which was placed in his table. He sighed and tried to get up. A little gasp escaped his mouth when he discovered that the velvet box was still in his hand, same with Orihime's pin. "Orihime…"
He looked at the table. His dinner was neatly placed there, just beside a picture frame. It was a group picture. Even the shinigamis' gigais were there and of course, their group: Chad, Uryuu, him and Orihime. It was taken when they went to the beach. The other shinigamis weren't there but it was okay for him. Orihime was standing beside him in the picture. It was funny to look that both of them were blushing for no reason.
The substitute decided to sleep again. He placed the hairpin and the box at the top of the side table and lied in his bed. Ichigo had no appetite. The confrontation with his hollow was exhausting. His hollow gave his answers though he didn't say it verbally. He wanted to treat it as a consolation for losing Orihime, but it wasn't enough. It wouldn't bring her back.
Ichigo might need another visit to Zangetsu and his hollow. It was said that he would lose his shinigami powers but he was wondering why he was still able to speak with Zangetsu. It was very clear that Zangetsu had been complaining about the rain but he understood what the reason was. He had to say his farewell since he was about to lose his powers. The role being a substitute shinigami gave him happy and tragic experience, and it was enough for him.
The orange-haired teen closed his eyes and thought of nothing. He just wanted to sleep and rest. He would not go to meet Zangetsu yet and he didn't want to think of Orihime. His reiatsu was still weak so he couldn't sense any hollows, souls, or shinigamis. He was exhausted after the confrontation. It made him accept the reality, but it was in a very hard way.
Meanwhile, back at the Urahara Shop…
The room was silent again. They were all looking at the girl in white, long and dirty robe. Chad and Uryuu decided to bring Orihime to the Urahara Shop since they didn't know what to do. They were thankful that the soul came with them though they were considered as strangers to her.
"Uhm… Thank you for bringing me here. I bet I knew you all and you knew me but I don't know what happened that I can't remember anything from my past. I-I felt some things were familiar but it get me more confuse," Orihime broke the silence.
"Yes, you know, er, knew us when you were still alive," Yoruichi started. "These two guys who sent you here were your classmates and comrade."
"C-Comrade?"
"Yes, comrade. You were fighting with them."
"Yoruichi, isn't too soon to tell her about it? Aren't you going to tell her first her life before, you know, the war?" Urahara interrupted.
'War? Am I a soldier or a pilot of a fighting airplane? Or, or a police?" Orihime asked.
The soul's questions made Uryuu smile. Soul or not, she's the same Orihime they knew. "No, Inoue-san. You're too delicate to be a soldier or a pilot or a police."
"We have powers, Orihime," Chad's short comment.
"Powers? Like superheroes? I-Is this my costume or uniform? Did I die saving people?"
The last comment made Uryuu stiffened from his seat. He felt guilty again. His smile became a frown but he wanted to help her. "Yes, Inoue-san. You were killed saving others. That's who you are, selfless and kind. You wanted to help others without thinking for yourself. Y-You saved me, us."
"Really? I save people. That's nice," the healer said. She was wearing her bright smile though it was a sad one. "I'm glad I was able to help, I mean, I died helping others."
"No. I thank you," Uryuu stated. He was bowing as he said it to Orihime. "I tried my best to protect you but I failed." Small sobs escaped from Uryuu as he continued to bow, thank and apologize to the bright-haired girl.
"D-Don't do that. It was my pleasure to help others," Orihime said. She felt embarrassed at Uryuu's gesture. "Please raise your head. Don't apologize. You don't have to. I-If I died saving you and you did try hard to save me as well, then you shouldn't apologize."
"You are indeed the same sweet and kind Orihime," Yoruichi commented.
Orihime blushed at the comment. "Uhmm… You said you were protecting me. If you don't mind, could you please tell me more about myself when I was still a-alive?"
Uryuu raised his head. He looked at Orihime's eyes and turned to Chad and the other people in the room as if he was asking permission. When he saw Yoruichi and Urahara nodded, he sat properly. He cleared his throat and adjusted his eyeglasses. "Uhm, Inoue-san, like what Yoruichi-san said, we are, I mean were your classmates. Yes, we do have some powers. We could see souls and hollows and we could fight them."
"Hollows? Is that the big monsters with masks and hole like mine?"
"Yes," the shop owner replied. "You are a soul that's why you have a hole and a chain but if that chain was removed, you will become a hollow."
Orihime gasped and tremble. "I will become like that ugly masked monster?"
"Hey Kisuke! I thought you wanted to tell her gently. You scared the hell out of her!" the feline said.
"I am fine cat-san. I was just a little surprise. I met a soul and a hollow a while ago, that's why I was running. I also met afro-san. He killed the monster and he helped Akari to pass on."
"Cat-san?" Urahara said and giggled. He received a glare from Yoruichi. "I'm sorry Yoruichi. Anyways, you said afro-san? Is he wearing a black kimono and has a sword?"
"Y-Yes. Akari said that the hollow had been after her when she came here then afro-san helped her. When afro-san killed the monster, he helped Akari-chan to pass on. He was also about to help me pass on but I got scared. I felt like I need or I want to know who I was before I pass on. Afro-san knows me. I got my name from him. Is he also my comrade?"
"Somehow, you could say that. He's a shinigami. Shinigamis cleanse hollows, like freeing their soul. Moreover, they help souls to pass on," Urahara answered.
"Was I shinigami?"
"No. You're an extraordinary human like Uryuu and Chad. You were a human but you can sense souls and hollows and you helped to fight," Yoruichi replied. "Urahara, Tessai, Ururu, Jinta and I were from Soul Society, where shinigamis live. The three of us were high class shinigamis," she paused. "There was a chaos in Soul Society. The perpetrator was also a high class shinigami. He wanted so much power and he needed this town," Yoruichi continued. She then looked at Urahara. The man just looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "Aizen kidnapped you to lure us all."
"A-Aizen? I-I was kidnapped?" Orihime repeated. She trembled and hugged herself to lessen the shaking of her body. She closed her eyes tightly and some flashbacks came to her mind. She was breathing heavily when she opened her eyes and looked at her comrades.
"Y-Yes, he kidnapped you to lure us to where he brought you, in Hueco Mundo, because he was trying to invade this town, our town, but the Soul Society predicted this so it was an all-out-war," Yoruichi said.
"I-I thought I was a superhero? I had powers, right? Then how come he kidnapped me? Was I that weak?" the healer asked with her trembling voice. Tears were starting to appear in her eyes.
"Yours was too powerful, that's why. He was interested in your powers. He asked his subordinate to kidnap you. Ulquiorra threatened to kill us all if you wouldn't come with him. You were trying to protect us," Uryuu answered.
"Ulquiorra?" The name gave her flashbacks again and she had to shake her head to stop it.
"At first we don't care about Aizen, but when he kidnapped you and he planned to destroy our town, we decided to fight against him," Chad stated. "And the Soul Society needed Ichigo since he's the only one who could defeat Aizen."
"I-Ichigo?" Orihime repeated the name. It gave her more flashbacks.
"He's also a human but became a substitute shinigami. He was fighting Ulquiorra when you got killed. H-He turned to a hollow but Ichigo Kurosaki managed to defeat Aizen," Uryuu continued the story.
"Ichigo… Kurosaki… Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime mumbled the name. It was very familiar as she always used. The mere name continued to give her flashbacks. She tried to shake her head again but the flashback continued and it was getting worse. The soul held her head and tightly closed her eyes. Urahara stood up when he heard Orihime moaned in pain and the chain in her chest moved radically.
"What's happening to her?" Uryuu asked. He was already at Orihime's side.
"She's having flashbacks. I think she's getting her memories back," Yoruichi answered. "Kisuke, she needs to rest. Her reiatsu is rising and it will attract hollows. We don't want to deal with hollows right now."
Urahara looked at Tessai's direction and gave him a slight nod. The big man stood up and chanted an incantation. Orihime stopped trembling then fainted.
"What did you o to her?" Uryuu asked.
"It was a minor kidou to calm a soul. She'll be fine," Tessai replied. He gathered Orihime and placed her in futon.
"She'll be up soon. She might lose her chain if she continued to force her mind. We hope her memories are back once she regains her consciousness," Urahara said.
"You two can go home now and rest. We'll look out for her for a mean time. Come back tomorrow," Yoruichi commanded the two teens.
"Ichigo needs to know about this," Chad said.
"Of course, he needs to see her before she passes on. Just get some rest. Come here tomorrow with Ichigo. I know he's awake and I don't care if you need to carry him just to come here, but he has to see her," Urahara stated. The two teens nodded and left the shop.
"Do we have to talk with Isshin-san to consult this?" Yoruichi asked as Chad and Uryuu left.
"Not exactly to consult him, but just to inform him. She needs to pass on or she might become a hollow. She couldn't remember how long she has been wandering and her unique reiatsu attracts hollows. We can't predict her emotions especially once she sees Ichigo and remembers her past. Did you see how her chain moved when she heard Ichigo's name? It would devastate him more if she loses her chain and becomes a hollow. This should be done as soon as possible," Urahara finished. Yoruichi agreed. Her friend was right. She had to pass on and Ichigo must see her.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Dan dan dan! The story is almost finish. Please hold on. Thank you for reading!
