Chapter 49 – Matter of Time

Despite having observational skills well above his peers, and in his opinion, a pretty good sense of direction, Uryū found himself lost in the labyrinth known as Los Noches. The castle was much, much larger than he could have ever anticipated, and every hallway looked the same. Whoever designed this way must have been either insane or unbelievably arrogant and self-confident in their way to work themselves around the structure.

At least, this time, he had Orihime to guide him. Where they were going was beyond him, but at least he wasn't doing this alone. Plus, it was just pleasant to know that she was safe. Finally...

He thought about simply asking her, but he sort of appreciated the silence. After all the hectic fights that he had gone through, the silence was nice. And it was nice to know that Inoue was safe.

But they had been walking for a long time.

"Ishida-kun," Orihime said, suddenly, snapping Uryū out of his stupor, "We're here." She stepped into the stark white bedroom. Incredibly simple. A bed. A love seat. A table with a chair. And a small window.

It was extremely desolate...

Orihime looked around the table and grabbed a thin book. She quickly shuffled out of the room, and with an apprehensive look on her face, asked, "Where are we going now?"

"Uh, I suppose we can get back with the group. I'm pretty sure they haven't moved yet." Orihime nodded and let Uryū take the lead. And then they walked together, in silence.

There was nothing really to say.

There was security found in the silence, however.


All six of them had perished...Every single one of them.

Barragan sat in his throne, angering boiling. He can feel his skin burn with rage. His six Fracción failed him. Disgusting...

He wanted to avoid this pointless squabble. Save his strength for his real goal. But that was no longer a choice.

"What a hassle. I suppose I'll clean this up."


Los Noches was a maze, but Uryū was sure that he had gotten out of the dome. The sky was it's eerie black color, across an endless white desert.

Uryu never realized how sterile Hueco Mundo felt.

"Ishida-kun," Orihime said, steadily, "Do you feel someone else here?"

"Very perceptive, little girl," Barragan boomed, staring at the two teens, arms folded behind his back, "I thought you two wouldn't be able to detect me." Uryū summoned his bow, staring at the Arrancar. Barragan started to laugh.

"How idiotic, boy! You dare challenge me!?"

"Inoue-san, who is this?" the Quincy asked.

"I...I don't know..." she replied, "I never met him."

"Enough talk! Accept your fate!" Barragan roared, summoned his large, double-sided ax, slashing it downward producing a great purple Cero, crackling with electricity.

Both Orihime and Uryu jumped out of the way. Barragan chose to go after he deemed is weakest.

The Hollow charged Orihime, who noticed at the last possible moment and managed to duck out of the way. Her retreat wasn't very unpredictable, and Barragan decided to end this quickly, raising his ax in retaliation.

"Santen Kesshun!" Oh yes. This barrier shit. He had almost forgotten about this.

His ax bounced harmlessly off the orange shield, not even pushing the girl back. Barragan recovered and swung again, which did not change the outcome. And now this was getting annoying.

Using Sonído, Barragan appeared behind Orihime, and before she could get half of the incantation off, grabbed her by the neck, and lifted her up. Then, with a tiny hesitation before the act, mostly to admire his capture, slammed her onto the ground. Before she could scurry away, The Espada pressed the heel of his right foot down across her chest, to keep her in place, and rose his double-sided ax.

"Inoue-san!" Uryū shouted, using Hirenkyaku to step in front of the girl, bow nocked, and deflected the swing of the ax. Barragan reared back, once again, but this time, Orihime was able to summon her shield in time.

"Enough of this nonsense!" the Hollow shrieked, furious, reiatsu flaring up, "Your shield may protect you from me, but can it withstand time!" Barragan tightened his hold on his ax, as dark red flames of Reiatsu surrounded him. The sand beneath him started to darken as if it was morphing together and becoming bedrock. Orihime took a couple of steps back.

"You will die, you insignificant human! Rot, Arrogante!" Barragan's skin started to melt, as the flames covered him.

"What the hell?" Uryū said, in slight horror. A large, ominous purple haze rose from seemingly nowhere.

"My Respira will burn away at your shields and your life. You have no options here, child."

While Uryū avoided the haze, Orihime stood her ground. Barragan chuckled.

"Do you have a death wish, little girl? You surely can't expect to resist time?" Orihime's expression sharpened, confidence not wavering. After a couple of seconds, when it was clear that nothing was happening, and Barragan was the one who was shaken.

"How...I understand now," he said, raising his ax, "I'm going to need to cut you to pieces. This changes nothing."

"Your words feel empty," Orihime said, voice full of ambient confidence. Barragan's stance slightly widened.

"What!?"

"Your words feel empty. You know what I am. And you know that I will end you."


"She's awakened..." a being, with a voice not clearly defined by logic, said, almost solemnly, "It's almost time to end this reign..." The being stands up, from his throne, and walks over to his library.

"Inoue Orihime...I'm sorry for what has occurred. I did not choose to take this life away from you..."

"How...Of course. That's why she was brought here..." Uryu said, sadly, "I can't do anything. But I know that she can."

Orihime exhaled, summoning Shun'ō to her side. The small fairy sat upon the young girl's shoulder and looked into her eyes, worried.

"Orihime-sama?" she said, softly.

You should not be afraid. You are a God.

You should not be worried. This insignificant speck of dust is nothing to you.

You are the next Soul King. You are a being above creation. Nothing can oppose you.

Orihime found herself unable to move. In fact, she couldn't even tell if she was in some kind of physical plane of existence at all. Her opponent wasn't moving either...

"What's happening?" she asked.

"We are you, and you are I. Inoue Orihime, the successor of the Souls. It has been a long time awaiting you. We have grown impatient."

"W-Who are you?" Orihime asked trepidation strained into her voice.

"Reach back into yourself. We are you. And you are I. And you shall ascend."

"B-But-"

"If are too afraid to move forward, let us reclaim a little control...Let us show you our power. Your power..."

Orihime's naturally hazel eyes flickered on and off, a steely gray color threatening to other take them. Shun'ō gasped, and flew in front of his master's face.

"Orihime-sama, please, get a hold of yourself! It's too early!" Orihime's eyes slammed shut, but when they were opened, they were an iron gray color. The natural softness or compassion in the eyes of the young girl was completely washed away.

"What's happening?" Orihime said, nervously.

"Self-realization. This is only a glimpse of what you are capable of, Inoue Orihime." Despite feeling the rush of strength...The high that came with power, Orihime had never felt more unease in her life.

"Whatever that pest is, it dies with you, little girl," Barragan said, charging forward, ax ready. Orihime narrowed her eyes, and just was the ax was swung forward, she stuck her left arm out, and touched the ax. All sense of momentum ceased , and Barragan could not move.

"Barragan Louisenbairn. That's a name that I haven't heard in a long time. For a Hollow, you have managed to survive for a very long time," Orihime said, voiced uncharacteristically dark and deep. The still Hollow stiffened.

"Who the hell do you think you are speaking to!?" he roared, swinging his ax wildly. Despite the threat, Orihime did not move, instead choosing to nullify each attack before it reached her.

"Still a beast, are we? A hollow is still a hollow indeed."

"Don't mock me!" he screamed, swinging his ax down at the smaller girl. Orihime stopped the attack, as she did the others, before swiping her own hand at Barragan's sword arm's shoulder blade. The arm fell off and disappeared. Barragan screamed out in pain before Orihime cut the Arrancar in half.

"This is what you wrought, Barragan Louisenbairn. A false God, subjugated to a shameful death," Orihime said, calmly, "You should take solace, however. Your sacrifice can lead to the future. A Hollow should feel honored for such a fate. Memento quis vestrae." Barragan, completely livid in what was happening, screamed like a rabid dog caught in a trap. With one final thrust of the palm, Barragan's skull face was cracked, and the body faded away.

As the purple haze faded, Orihime's legs started to drift away from her, as control was being transferred back to her.

"Ishida-kun..." she said, before falling backward, luckily into the arms of Uryū, who was running towards her.

"Inoue-san, what happened?" he asked, gently. Orihime was out, asleep and likely not very easy to awaken at the current moment. Uryū's eyes hardened.

"She doesn't feel any different..." he whispered.

"And is the prince going to kiss his princess?" Hayato said, standing on top of a sand dune, "A quite romantic moment, if I say so myself. Forewarning, son. This princess may not belong to you." Uryu glared at him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. Hayato shrugged.

"I dunno. The girl has come a long way. Maybe everything will work out in the end."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, dear child," the blindfolded Quincy in black said, "Worry about that later."


"Matter of Time" by The Chain Gang of 1974

Honestly, I could weave a long, epic yarn about why this chapter took so long to come out, but I'm not going to do that. I'm just gonna sheepishly admit that I was crazy busy at sometimes, and crazy lazy at some others. But, since this arc is nearly over, motivation will be high!

The White Chapter is nearly 75% done people! Get excited!