Chapter 10
Arisawa Tatsuki sprinted to Ichigo's house. For the past three days, Ichigo, Rukia, Renji and even Chad haven't gone to school. Orihime was still missing.
Tatsuki bit her lip. The metallic taste of blood hit her mouth. What the hell was going on? Why did Ichigo say that knowing would be dangerous?
Tatsuki knocked on Ichigo's door. Yuzu opened it. "Tatsuki-chan, are you here to see Ichi-nii? I'm sorry but he's not home."
"Do you know where he is?"
Yuzu shrugged. "Three days ago, Ichi-nii told me to make a bunch of rice balls. After he got them, he just left."
Karin appeared behind Yuzu. "Nii-san is with that Rukia girl. I know he is!"
Tatsuki nodded. "Rukia hasn't been at school either. He's definitely with her."
"I don't like Rukia," Karin said. "There's something suspicious about her. For the past month, she was sleeping in nii-san's closet!"
"She…was sleeping in Ichigo's closet?" Tatsuki was surprised. Ichigo was always shy around girls. Did Ichigo really change that much?
"She was disowned by her parents and had nowhere to live," Yuzu explained.
Karin rolled her eyes. "I can't believe you and father actually fell for that."
"I…I have to go now. Thanks," Tatsuki said. She ran home. Anger flared through her. What was Ichigo doing?
Out of the corner of her eye, Tatsuki saw a small child get hit by a car. Tatsuki didn't stop running. She knew it was a ghost.
Hayate bursted into laughter. "What did you just ask, Ulquiorra?"
"The woman has been locked inside without a single ray of sunlight. May I take her out on a walk? We won't go far and the woman will never be able to escape from me."
"Ulquiorra Cifer cares about someone? What a knee-slapper."
"I do not care about that foolish girl. It just seems immoral to restrict a person so much."
"What would YOU know about morality? You are an Espada, a demon. Demons do not think the same way as humans. Demons are heartless creatures that can never feel the storm of emotions that thunder in humans!" Hayate sighed. "If you want to take Orihime out, go ahead. Make sure you come back with her."
Ulquiorra bowed. "Arigato, Master."
As he walked to her room, Ulquiorra contemplated Master's words. Demons are heartless creatures that can never feel the storm of emotions that thunder in humans.
Master was correct. Ulquiorra had no Heart. Why did Orihime think he did?
Ulquiorra opened her door. "Woman, you have been granted permission to walk outside though, I must accompany you."
Orihime didn't smile, but something glowed in her eyes.
Orihime hummed with her hands behind her back. She swayed a little as she walked. Ulquiorra found this strange. "Woman, we are simply going on a walk. Your friends are not here and soon you will be back in your lonely prison cell. Why are you so content?"
"I haven't been outside in over a week. It's nice to finally hear the birds chirping, see the sun shining, and breath fresh air."
"Fresh air? It's not like the air inside is tainted."
"Yeah but it smells like dust. Outside, I can taste the grass and the flowers."
Orihime suddenly stopped. "Ulquiorra, you stepped on a flower! Can you be more careful next time?"
Ulquiorra looked back. Behind his feet was a crushed, tiny blue flower. Orihime kneeled down next to it. Yellow light glowed from her hands. She was healing it.
"Woman, why would you waste your powers on a flower?" Ulquiorra asked.
"I can't just let it die! Imagine how tall it can grow to be." Orihime beamed as the flower began to stand once more. She stood up and touched the blue flower pin in her hair. For a moment, Orihime seemed upset, as if a she had just remembered something painful. The Emotion disappeared quickly. "Shall we keep going?"
"Woman, why are you wearing that pin? Isn't that something for a child to wear?"
"I-I guess it is, but this pin is very important to me."
Ulquiorra wondered how a pin could be so significant. "Does it strengthen your powers?"
"No, my brother gave it to me."
"You have a brother?"
"I did," Orihime murmured. "My parents were drunks. When my brother, Sora, was old enough to live alone, he and I moved to Karakura. Sora was like the father I never had. He took care of me and protected me. He gave me this flower pin one day. I didn't like it at first because you're right, it is for children. I refused to wear it and I hurt my brother's feelings. The next day, he died in a car accident. Now I'm alone living off the money my relatives send me. They stop sending if my grades slip though." Orihime touched her flower pin. "I wear this pin every day in memory of Sora."
Shining crystals of sadness rolled down her cheeks. Tears they were called. Ulquiorra didn't understand why. A tear was a rip, a bloody wound. Drops of water weren't bloody wounds. Was crying the eyes' version of bleeding? What was the cause of crying? The Heart?
Ulquiorra cupped Orihime's cheeks and wiped her tears away with his thumbs. Orihime's cheeks reddened.
"What is a Heart?" Ulquiorra asked.
Orihime stared into Ulquiorra's eyes. "A heart is something that makes people love."
"What is Love?"
Orihime thought hard. "When a person is willing to sacrifice something for another, that is love."
"I risk my life to aid Master carry out his plans. Would that be considered Love?"
"Does your master make you smile? If not, then that is loyalty, not love."
"I don't smile for anyone."
"Why not? Smiling is a wonderful thing to do. It makes you feel better. Laughing does too."
Ulquiorra let go of Orihime. "Woman, I will never understand you. Now, let's go back." He walked back to the cave. Orihime noticed Ulquiorra avoid the flower he had stepped on.
Orihime smiled.
"Hey, Renji, that box doesn't go over there," Jinta said. The Urahara Shop was being restocked and Urahara had asked Renji to help Jinta and Ururu move the boxes in.
"Like hell I care," Renji mumbled. Nevertheless, he picked up the box and followed Jinta inside.
Once the last box was brought in, Urahara said, "Renji, I know you're frustrated, but have faith in Ichigo."
"I should be the one helping Rukia!" Renji snapped. He punched the wall. "Urahara please tell me, do you have any idea what's going on?"
Urahara sat down beside Renji and whispered, "The Captain Commander wanted it to be confidential…"
"Wanted what to be confidential?"
"The reason why Tessai and I were banished."
The Hollow screeched and clawed at Ichigo. Ichigo dodged and slashed the Hollow's arm off with his shikai. Before the Hollow could react, Ichigo slashed down on its head. He watched as the Hollow burst.
"Now that that's over, we can resume our journey," Ichigo said.
Rukia frowned. Ichigo was the only one who fought the Hollow. She and Chad could do nothing but stand there and watch. Rukia hated feeling useless.
"Rukia, is there something wrong?" Ichigo asked.
Rukia quickly smiled. "No, just disappointed that I couldn't join in on the action."
Chad grunted in agreement.
"Don't be disappointed. You'll have plenty of opportunities to fight.
Rukia thought about her deteriorating spiritual pressure. I hope I do.
Ichigo, Chad, and Rukia began running again. This time, Ichigo slowed down so that Rukia wouldn't fall behind.
As they ran, Rukia couldn't help but glance at Ichigo. His brown eyes flickered with glee. Kaien used to have that same expression when he ran.
"You're too hesitant with your attacks. You're lucky that this is just training. If you do that in battle, you could get yourself killed. However, being too impulsive is just as dangerous," Kaien said.
Rukia nodded and charged at Kaien. Her Sode no Shirayuki, clashed with Kaien's Nejibana. Quickly, Rukia drew back and stabbed the ground. "Juhaku!"
Kaien's feet were frozen solid. Rukia pointed Sode no Shirayuki at him. "Better?" She asked.
"Better. Now can you unfreeze me? I want to run."
Rukia obeyed Kaien. Once the ice thawed out, Kaien and Rukia raced into the forrest.
Rukia glanced at Kaien. Euphoria glittered in his eyes like stars in the night sky. Rukia was so mesmerized that she didn't notice the tree until it was too late.
"As you know, I was the captain of the 12th division and Tessai was captain of the Kido Corps. We were good friends back then. We still are. We're willing to risk everything for each other. Tessai was banished because he tried to help me."
"Help you with what?" Renji asked.
"I founded the Soul Reaper Research and Development Institute with Captain Kurotsuchi and a Soul Reaper named Koriyama Hayate. Hayate and I wondered if it was possible to bring back the dead."
"Bring back the dead? Isn't that illegal?"
"It is illegal. Hayate and I were aware of that, but we foolishly believed that we were invincible and good will come out of our research. Of course, the Gotei 13 found out. The captains were ordered to apprehend us. Hayate and I ran. Tessai defended me."
"And you were caught and banished," Renji said.
Urahara nodded. "We were all banished to the World of the Living. Tessai and I stayed together and opened this shop. Hayate, however, left. I never saw him again. I assumed he was dead."
"And now he's sucking our spiritual pressure like leeches," Renji spat.
"Yes he is. I believe that he's figured out how to revive people. I don't know how and I don't know what his motives are. I think he wants revenge on the Gotei 13."
Renji stood up. A battle was coming and he needed to be ready even if he lost all of his spiritual pressure. Before he walked out, he asked, "Urahara, why did Yoruichi leave Seireitei?"
"She left because she no longer wanted to be a Soul Reaper." Urahara grinned. "And I guess she just couldn't bear the idea of not seeing my handsome face everyday."
The Espada trained 24/7.
Nnoitra Gilga, a 7 foot tall Espada, stuck his tongue out at his opponent, Nelliel. "Cero."
A yellow light shot from the tip of his tongue. Nelliel opened her mouth and swallowed the attack. She fired the Cero right back at Nnoitra, but at a much stronger force. Nelliel let out an exasperated sigh as Nnoitra dodged clumsily.
"If you can't dodge my Cero Doble without falling, how can you survive in a battle against a Soul Reaper? Do you want me to help you work on that?"
"You know what Nelliel? I'm fucking tired of you acting like you're my superior."
Ulquiorra sighed as the two Espada bickered. All of the Espada didn't get along with each other. Hell, none of them could even agree on the weather.
"Ulquiorra." Grimmjow pointed his zanpakuto at him. "I want to fight you now. I'm ready."
"You've only trained for a few days. What do you mean you're ready?"
"So? I haven't seen you train at all. I think I can beat you."
"Tsk, foolish," Ulquiorra muttered. "My spiritual pressure is too high. Releasing Murcielago could destroy this place."
"Yeah and you wouldn't want all the rubble to come crashing down on that woman." Grimmjow turned around.
"Where are you going?" Ulquiorra asked.
"There's something I'd like to take care of," Grimmjow mumbled and walked away.
A man walked into Orihime's room. He had light blue hair and eyes. Under his eyes were green lines that resembled the eye markings on a Panthera genus of cats.
"Did you enjoy the romantic stroll with Ulquiorra?" The guy sneered.
"Um, who are you?" Orihime asked.
"I am Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. I'm an Espada just like your friend with benefits."
"F-friend with benefits?"
Grimmjow pinned Orihime against the wall. She flinched when her back slammed against the stone and sent jolts up her spine. "Listen very closely, woman. I don't know what you intend to do with Ulquiorra, but if you betray him, betray us, I will kill you without hesitation. "
"I don't plan on doing anything to Ulquiorra," Orihime whimpered. "C-can you please let me go?" Grimmjow's nails were like a cat's claws digging into her shoulders.
"Beg for mercy." Grimmjow sunk his nails into Orihime's skin, drawing out blood. Without thinking, Orihime raised her hands and a glowing yellow shield appeared between Orihime and Grimmjow, causing him to let go and stumble back. Santen Kesshun, the move was called. Yoruichi and Tessai had taught Orihime this defensive technique.
A psychotic grin spread across Grimmjow's face. "Looks like you got some fighting spirit, woman. But do you really think that lousy technique will save you?"
With cat like speed, he slapped Orihime across the face and sent her reeling. The pain blinded Orihime briefly. Grimmjow grabbed her arm and dug something sharp into it. She cried as Grimmjow dragged his zanpakuto down her arm. He didn't use enough force to do serious damage, but it was enough to torture.
"Grimmjow, what are you doing?!"
Orihime beamed when she recognized the voice. "U-ulquiorra!"
Grimmjow immediately released Orihime and sheathed his zanpakuto. "What are you doing here? It's not her dinner time."
"I heard her cries," Ulquiorra said.
"So? Why does it matter to you what happens to this bitch?"
"It doesn't matter to me, but I think it matters to Master."
Grimmjow cursed under his breath and stalked out of Orihime's room.
"Woman, are you alright?" Ulquiorra asked.
Orihime examined the long scratch on her arm. It stung, but it wasn't deep. "I'm fine. Thank you, Ulquiorra. You…saved me again."
"I didn't save you," Ulquiorra corrected her. "Master just wants you to stay alive. I didn't do it for you."
Orihime lowered her head. Ulquiorra's words stung more than the scratch. "W-why do you keep acting like this?" She barely whispered.
"Acting like what?"
Orihime looked up at Ulquiorra. "You act as if you don't care about anything! I know you have a heart Ulquiorra. Why don't you show it?"
"How can I show something I don't have?"
"You do have a heart!"
"Why do you think I have a Heart? I'm not a Human! I'm an Espada. Espadas don't have Hearts!"
That shut Orihime up.
Hayate's eyes narrowed. In front of him stood a Chad look-a-like.
"Huh? I don't remember making you," Hayate said. With a flick of his hand, the Chad doppelgänger faded.
Hayate stretched his arms and yawned. "Time to go to bed," he mumbled sleepily and walked to his bedroom.
As soon as he left, the crystal ball glowed and the Chad doppelgänger appeared.
And another secret was revealed! But it seems as if there are more things that are unknown? Comment your thoughts!