29. Goodbye
TORN SKIES OF TOKYO
ORIHIME:
The battle has been a disaster. I look down at an unrecognisable burning metropolis. Many have probably died and I doubt even my power can restore this city.
Meanwhile I tend to the injured. Chad and Rukia are almost healed and Karin is stable as I reject her wounds. But now we face a strong enemy and I'm pessimistic about our side's chances of victory.
"Let me take the injured for you." Retsu Unohana glides past me and her strange zanpakuto swallows Rukia, Chad and Karin.
"Thank you Unohana." But the vicious Maria tries to attack Unohana from behind.
"NO! SOTEN KASSHUN I REJECT!" My shield has saved her but now I fear that I'm a target.
She flash steps till she touches my chest. "You know I would love you, but I think I love your power even more."
"AAAGGHHH!"
-----
"How dare you lay a hand on Orihime! I'll make you pay." I smile as my saviour arrives. He cut a few of Maria's tentacles. She licks her blood which makes me wretch.
"You should be careful boy, if you interfere you will be my next target."
"You are already my target." Ichigo fires up his Bankai ready to use... "GETSUGA...TENSHOU." At this range she could not have dodged that.
"Ulquiorra!" The Espada blocked the strike and saved Maria.
"Dammit get outta the way Ulquiorra." Ichigo barks as his nemesis hinders his progress.
"She is my master and I will serve her till I die."
"Ulquiorra you don't understand." It's Tatsuke. She rushes over to my side.
"Oh and you would? Young Shinigami."
I rest my hands on her cheek when I notice they're stained with blood. She continues. "She'll kill you unless you join us."
"Humph."
"I'm serious Ulquiorra-"
"Stop it." Ichigo interrupts. "Why are you trying to save him!?"
I cry out to Ichigo as Maria attacks. I shield him with my power but it shatters. I am helpless now.
But now Ulquiorra protects me. He uses his body to shield me and takes the full brunt of her blades.
"ULQUIORRA!" I embrace him as he grunts in pain. He's bleeding severely. I remember he said he could regenerate but not heal internal organs.
"Orihime...are you hurt?" He speaks softly and for the first time I feel safe being in his arms. When I shake my head, he smiles a little.
"What is the meaning of this Ulquiorra...she is mine...I love her." I would have felt happy if it was Ichigo who said that but instead it seems Maria is competing for my heart.
"Sorry Maria, I will serve you as my master and do your bidding at your call, but there is one exception to that rule...NO-ONE HURTS THIS GIRL."
"Ulquiorra?" Ichigo surprisingly doesn't snap. Perhaps Ulquiorra's deed has shown a change of heart.
Maria chuckles in a demonic nature. "Well, of all my Espada I thought you would be the most loyal. I gave you number two instead of Aoi because of that...but now it seems you have betrayed me and gotten in the way of my ambitions. You're just Aizen's pet in the end of the day...and so is the girl." She charges towards me and Ulquiorra with her blades aimed. Ulquiorra throws me to Ichigo.
"Take care of her...Shinigami boy..." His final words to Ichigo before he fought the girl who overthrew Aizen.
"ULQUIORRA!!!"
*****
MASANE:
We don't have much time left. Rihoko's still under the spell of the Witchblade. Whilst Maria was distracted we had one last chance to reject the blade from her.
"You're daughter is strong." Shunsui lightly comments as he blocks with his two swords.
I wish I could laugh but the situation is very serious. Rihoko glares at me as she attacks. I block but each time I lose more and more morale. I never pictured myself in such a battle. And I cannot think about what the outcome may be.
"I'm afraid we're running out of time Masane." Reina urges me as we continue trying to find an opening.
I'm worried her little body might not be able to handle the power of a Witchblade. Cracks begin to appear in her armour.
"RIHOKO!" But I'm hit through that brief distraction.
"Masane?" Shunsui checks I'm okay but gets impaled by my daughter as a result. Now only two of us can fight.
Reina takes my side. "Masane...There's only one option left."
"No." I cry. "I can't take her life."
"Did you know the soul of Witchblade bearer dissolves after the body dies."
"Huh?"
"If we didn't remove the Witchblade now then Rihoko will not be able to live in the afterlife.
"Then if I do this, she can live on. An afterlife free of the Witchblade."
"Yes...I know this is tough for me too, but think about poor Rihoko in there, her heart is still crying."
"MAMA!"
"RIHOKO I WILL SAVE YOU." I cry out to her and hope she will heed my call as we both charge towards each other for the final attack.
"GRAAAAGGGHHH!!!"
"HHUUUURRRGGGGAAAAGGHHHH!!!"
-----
Have I failed? Everything's numb.
"MAMA! I'm so happy to see you again."
"Oh Rihoko...I'm so happy to see you're okay...we have so much to catch up."
"I'll make you a nice dinner sometime."
"That'd be great."
"Mama..."
"Yes Riko."
"Do you have to leave for work again?"
"No..." I sniff. "I won't have to work ever again."
"Will the monsters still get us?"
"No...not anymore...I've killed 'em all for you little princess."
"Wow! You're so good at your job."
"Oh thanks."
"And Mama."
"Yes sweetheart."
"Thanks for watching over me and keeping me safe."
"So you knew all along."
"Of course I did..."
"Goodbye Rihoko."
"Where are you going?"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The 30th and final chapter will be published soon. Don't miss the final chapter...
