Candice grumbled as she awoke. Her head was throbbing something terrible and all she wanted to do was go back to sleep. She opens an eye to look at the alarm clock and sees that it was six-thirty in the morning. She then sees a glass of water beside the clock and thanks whatever being for the gift.
She sits up as she gulps down the cold drink. Only after she finishes does she realize that she was alone in bed, Arata nowhere in sight. For some reason, that made her sigh in disappointment. She rubs her temples as she tries to remember the prior night. Candice never had much difficulty with hangovers and recollecting memories, but this time was a bit more tricky. As soon as she did so, her eyes widen to the size of saucers.
She had told Arata about her parents.
That fact alone almost made her want to scream out in frustration. She prided herself in being a strong woman in terms of her alcohol but this time, she slipped. And now, a total stranger knew of her parents! She didn't even tell half of the other femritters about her parents. Bambietta was half of the time too loud and bitchy for Candice to hold a simply conversation with and Giselle was too creepy to talk to most of the time. That left Liltotto and Meninas. Liltotto,as much as a sarcastic smart-ass she was, was also level-headed at all times which made it easy to talk to her about certain stuff. Meninas was Candice's go-to girlfriend whenever she wanted to talk, she was that easy to talk to. She relied on her the most out of any of the sternritters.
She was glad however, as from what she could recall, she didn't tell him in detail what came after. If she had, not only her but her whole mission would've been compromised. From what Yhwach told her, she came from a long line of pure-blooded quincies but as time went on, the memory and preservation of quincy skills and knowledge was forgotten from both her family lines. She simply survived because she was so scared of everything around her that she was able to activate her blut vene. Her parents, on the other hand, were not so fortunate. After the crash, she wandered the woods for hours, trying to find her way back home until her king found her, telling her of her buried heritage and taking her to her new home and life with him.
It honestly shook her that she was only able to survive because of luck. That she just so happened to tap into her quincy abilities while her parents didn't. How she just wanted to turn back the clock and scream at them about these powers so that they could've survived.
She thought of Arata and about what he told her about his folks. If she was being entirely truthful, she and her parents got off easy. Arata? His own mom was raped and killed right in front of him and his dad became a depressed drunk soon after. If that wasn't enough, he then ran away, experiencing god-knows-what in this cruel world of theirs and transforming into the man he is today.
She was angry at herself at the fact that she confided in him in a moment of weakness, but at the same time, she felt closer to him. Both of them knew what it's like to lose people who were dear to you and how unfair it was.
The only thing that really differed between them was how both dealt with it now. She could still feel the sting while Arata seemed to have learned how to be unbothered by it. Honestly, it irritated and impressed her at the same time. But also at the same time, she never got the impression that he never cared about his parents, only that he doesn't let their fates hinder him in any way, shape, or form. Sill rubbed her the wrong way, but at least it wasn't such a bad rub.
"Where is that bastard anyway?" she muttered. She gets up from bed and walks downstairs. She finds him in the kitchen eating a plate of toasted waffles with butter and syrup.
"Morning" he greeted.
"Morning" she said in return. She wasn't feeling like cooking so she went for waffles too, putting them in the toaster and waited. She looked down, shuffling her feet awkwardly in place. "Hey," she softly called out. "About... last night..."
"It's fine. Don't worry about" Arata said.
"Sure, I got that, but... just don't go telling people about what I told you alright?"
"Sure"
"I mean it" Candice said more firmly. She walked right next to him and grabbed his head to look at her. "If I even think you snitched on me, I'm gutting you. Got it?"
She lets go of his head and he resumes eating. "I got it" he said simply. "Besides, why would I want to anyway?"
She leans back on the counter top and crosses her arms. "I won't tell anyone about your parents either".
He glances at her and nods. Even though the past no longer bothered him, he didn't want the whole town knowing about it. 'What an annoyance that would be', thought Arata. "Hey" he said. "There is something I want to ask"
"If it's about my parents, I'm not gonna give you the whole-"
"When I tried getting you to talk to me, you refused, saying I wasn't your 'king'. What was that about?"
She twitches when he said that and snaps her head to look at him like a deer in headlights for a second until she relaxes. "I was drunk. People say dumb shit when they're drunk" she dismissed, chuckling.
Arata scrutinizes her. He could tell what he said alarmed her, if only for a second. To be completely honest, he initially thought the "king" comment was nothing but drunk talk too until he brought it up, thinking Candice would feel some embarrassment but no. There was only shock. "Yes," he relented. "I suppose you are right".
Later...
It was lunch time for the students of Karakura High. As such, some students ate at different locations throughout the school. One of which were the classrooms. A student was about to exit one of these classrooms but stops in his tracks when he sees the security guard, Arata Takahashi, peeking inside. He looks down at the boy and without another word, the boy uses the other door.
He shrugs. He looked inside the room, looking at one particular girl. Orihime happily ate her lunch with her other friends, half of which were slightly cringing at the lunch she had made for herself.
C'mon Arata. You gotta ask her right now. Showtime baby!
Nodding at Hitokiri, Arata rolls his shoulders and enters the room. Already his appearance caused all of the students to turn their head at him, excluding Orihime as she was too engrossed with her lunch. It was only when he was in front of her desk did she register his showing. She looks up and flinches as he was staring down at her with intent.
"Ummm... h-hey Arata. How are things?" she asked nervously.
"Peachy. Listen Orihime, want to go out with me this Saturday?"
"EH!?" said everyone around him.
Chizuru shoot up from her desk. "Are you asking Orihime out on a date?!" she outraged. "How dare you do such a thing! You're a security guard and she's just a student! Plus you're probably pushing forty! How can you act in such an immoral way to a fifteen year-old student!?" she then yelled, out of defense of her precious princess. It really riled her jimmies seeing a mysterious stranger try to put the moves on Orihime.
"What's a 'date'?" Arata asked. He asked the same question some nights ago with Yoruichi and Soi Fon but was left unanswered.
"Heh?". Chizuru was not expecting that response. "A-... A date is when a two people go and do stuff together. How do you not know this?"
"That sounds no different to when friends spend time with each other"
"Wha-?! It's when people go out together for romantic reasons! Like, if they're interested in each other!"
Letting out a silent "Ohhh", Arata then said, "You are wrong. I am not trying to court her. I am asking her out because she is my cousin. Don't families eat with one and other?"
"You guys are cousins?" Chizuru questioned Orihime.
"Yeah," she nervously chuckled. "Sorry I didn't say it before. Slipped my mind"
"Wow. The juxtaposition of those two is striking" Mizuiro muttered.
"I know right?! Who would've thought those two were related?" Keigo responded.
"Also, you are very off in assuming I am nearly forty" Arata then said.
"Then how old are you?" Tatsuki asked.
"I'm twenty-five"
A cloud of silence engulfed the room as the student were processing that this man was just in his mid twenties. He was closer to their age than they initially thought. Most of the students, including the staff, assumed he was at least double their age, at least thirty. Apparently not.
"You're ...twenty-five?" Tatsuki asked slowly.
"Yes"
"You're really twenty-five?" Tatsuki repeated.
"Why is this so hard to comprehend?"
"It's just-... just from your voice, we thought you were older" the black-haired girl admitted.
"Yeah," agreed Keigo. "You sound like an asthmatic who spent half of his life smoking".
"Pretty sure that would kill said asthmatic, but an admirable comparison nonetheless" Mizuiro muttered in response to his dull-headed friend.
Arata sighed, irritated. This conversation became to messy way too quick. "Orihime, what will it be?"
"I...". Ever since they came back from the Soul Society, she had been actively avoiding Arata. She couldn't face him after what she saw after Arata and Kenpachi's fight. It was shameful, downright pathetic, and she knew this, but she couldn't help but fear him. Everything she had seen from the moment they met finally caught up with her and now... she couldn't see him as anything other than a hollow who fought the notorious Kenpachi Zaraki.
But she knew she had to face their shared problem as well, and seeing Arata making the effort encouraged her to do the same. "Sure Arata. What time?"
"Maybe five-thirty in the evening I'll pick you up"
She smiles. "Sounds great. I accept"
Arata, satisfied, nods and walks out to patrol the school. She continues to smiles as he left. Then the sound of sniffling behind her turned her attentions and before she knew it, both her breast were grabbed from behind. "Oh my precious Orihime!" Chizuru cried. "Don't let your cousin corrupt your beautiful soul! Please don't fall into the arms of an incestuous relationship- !"
The redhead was promptly hit on the side of the head by an enraged Tatsuki. "Will you cut that out?!"
Saturday evening...
Orihime sat in her apartment fully dressed and watching T.V, awaiting for Arata to pick her up. She was dressed in a short-sleeved white blouse under a red letterman jacket Tatsuki gifted to her on her last birthday. She wore a black skirt with a red belt with red converses on her feet. It was about five-twenty and she was already getting the jitters.
What was she going to do? What was she going to say? All these questions formed inside the young girl's head as she had no clue what to do. Was she just going to apologize to him? Would that be it?
"Hey Arata! I'm sorry I couldn't heal you before. Your eyes were too scary. I hope we can be roommates and friends again!". she muttered.
Like that was going to cut it!
Before she could think on it anymore, a hard knocking at her door stops her. She opens the door to see Arata dressed in a black tank top with white doll faces all over. He wore ripped blue jeans and black sneakers. Over the tank top was a dark gray dress coat, curtsy of Candice Catnipp. The woman pestered Arata about dressing nicely for his make-up outing with his cousin, to the hitokiri's annoyance. After he told her he was just going to wear a t-shirt and shorts, Candice, aghast, took him clothes shopping. In the end, all he got was just the coat.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Mmhm" and the two went out.
As the two walked, Orihime kept her gaze lowered, looking at Arata's face only a handful of times as she walked beside him, following him. Arata sighs, hoping this plan would work out as her avoidance was getting...
Arata couldn't describe it properly. At the beginning, he saw it as a total annoyance, but now? He... he just didn't like it. It was without reason. Why dislike something if you don't have any basis for disliking it? The aura of fear she had around her and avoidance of him just rubbed him off in a bad way. What way you might ask? Arata couldn't say. He was totally used to being looked upon with horror and disdain, and that was why it was so confusing to him seeing Orihime act this way to him and for him to react in any way to it.
They made it to their first stop, which was a movie theater. Arata went to buy their tickets and when Orihime inquired what they were going to watch, Arata showed her the tickets and she paused at what she sees.
"Hell's Children 2: The Return? T-That new horror movie?"
"I watched the first one and saw they were coming out with a sequel". Arata saw how queasy Orihime was getting and then said, "Stop your worrying. It's a horror comedy". Arata had to compromise when it came to what movie to watch. It was either the romantic comedy, Love or Hate Me, or the new horror movie, Satan's Nightmare. He wanted to go for the latter but knew how much the girl disliked horror movies so he settled for this. He didn't like the first movie if he was being entirely honest but today wasn't just about him, it was about her too. "Come on"
"O-Okay..."
Later...
After watching that odd amalgamation of blood, guts, and laughs, the two now sat in Redwood, the restaurant Arata found, in a booth. Akane was eyeing the two from the bar and notices how awkward they were being. "Damn. One of them must have screwed the other pretty badly" she comments.
"Akane!" her brother hissed. "Quit starring at them and take their orders!" he demanded.
His sister wasn't listening and just waved him away, much to his chagrin. "Let me watch some more of this. This is juicy stuff"
At their table, Orihime was having a hard time trying to make conversation. Before, whenever it was the two of them, she would always be the one to start talking with Arata replying when he wants to. But due to her uneasiness, she couldn't find the right words or subjects and resorted to eyeing the condiments and salt and sugar packets as if they were the most entertaining items in the world.
Arata noted this as well and started a conversation by saying, "The movie was... okay I guess".
Orihime chuckled. "Looking back, it was actually a fun movie. The demon baby killer was actually kinda cuter than I thought. They really outdone themselves, huh?"
"I didn't like how the final girl survived. She should've died long before the second half of the movie but the plot couldn't allow that" Arata lightly ranted.
"I liked it actually. Especially how happy of an ending she got. Reunited with her family and boyfriend after experiencing terrible events". She sighs. "I hope my life will have a happy ending. Me, a husband, and children living the comfortable life. What about you Arata? What's your desired happy ending?" she inquired.
Arata mentally scoffed at the idea of "happy endings". A thing only apparent in fairy tales but never in real life. Did his parents have happy endings? What about the numerous soldiers and civilians that died during the faction war? Did then have happy endings?
No. They all ended miserably and only created a cycle of unending violence and despair.
But he humored her, saying, "Living. That's it"
"Not really specific is it" she chuckled. "C'mon. What about having a family?"
"Never thought about it to be honest". Arata never really considered the idea of himself raising a family. His mother sure liked the idea as she talked fondly about seeing her grandchildren one day. Other than that, the idea of marrying, having kids, and maintaining them never crossed his mind before. Did he even want to get married and/or have kids? In the end, Arata mentally shrugs. Whatever happens, happens.
"Well... it not to late to start one. You're in your prime. I'm sure you will find a beautiful girl who would love you and bear your children. I bet you would make a great dad. Just gotta put yourself out there, you know?"
"Umm... thanks?"
Orihime wanted to scream, she was so embarrassed. Telling someone to get married and have kids when they expressed little interest in starting a family? What the hell was she thinking?!
Arata knew Orihime was getting uncomfortable, what with the "wife and kids" comment. He raises a hand and calls for a waiter. Akane walks over to them with a notepad in hand. "What'll it be?"
Orihime scrambles open the menu and point to the item she wanted. "The prime rib steak with mac-n-cheese and fries as sides"
"The karaage burger with seasoned fries. Two glasses of water as well" Arata ordered. He then ordered two orders of gyoza as appetizers. He knew Orihime liked her food and would have loved an order for herself.
"Alright set," she said as she finished writing down their order. "Say... are you two on a date?" she teased.
Orihime and Arata both snap their head at her with the former's face exploding in a blush. "N-No!" Orihime said. "We're cousins. We just-... just came here to eat together" she chuckled.
"Oh yeah" Akane muttered. She forgot that Arata told her and her brother told them who he was bringing. "I'm sorry," she then chuckles. "It's just that I didn't see the resemblance. Did you forget your mask at home or something?" she joked. "I'll get your food in a jiffy. Peace!"
As she leaves, Orihime giggled at Akane's carefree nature. She was somewhat like Yoruichi, she thought.
"Hey Orihime" Arata gently called out.
"Yes?" she yelped, startled that she was whipped out of her musings.
"I'm sure you know by now that I didn't just invite you on this little trip to have fun. Let's talk about the elephant in the room" Arata said seriously.
Orihime gulps, but nods in agreement. Now was the time to talk about their problem. "Look, Arata, before anything else could be said, I just want you to know that I'm deeply sorry I couldn't heal you after your fight. Ever since that moment, I felt so ashamed at myself that I failed you when you most needed me that I... couldn't face you afterwards"
"That's not all is it? There is more to your avoidance than just guilt. It was fear wasn't it?" Arata stated with certainty. Orihime looked down at the beautifully crafted table and slowly nods, clenching her eyes shut tight. Arata leans back on his seat. "What I want to understand was what made you so afraid that you couldn't heal me". She was silent after that. It was evident that, whatever it was, was so complicated that she needed time to form the words or so simple that she was too ashamed to admit. He let her take her time. He was patient after all. When their gyoza orders came along with their glasses of water did Orihime finally find the courage or words to speak.
Arata started eating when she started speaking. "When I got close to you to try and heal you... I-... I looked at your face and... your eyes were so different and dark and empty that I-... just couldn't heal you" she finally confessed. She awaited his response and it came after he finished his first gyoza.
And what he said shook her.
"Are you fucking serious?" he said. In all the time she knew him, she had never, ever, heard him curse. She visibly flinches. She had no doubt that he was more annoyed now than he had ever been in his entire life. "Eyes? You couldn't heal me because of my eyes? Do you realize how pathetic that sounds?".
To be fair to her, your eyes were different throughout your fight with Kenpachi.
'How so'?'
The white of your eyes turned black while your irises turned golden.
'So she was scared of the appearance of my eyes?' he thought, even more annoyed.
Scared of his wounds? Reasonable. His axe? Justifiable. His monstrous strength? Totally fine. The blood? Well founded, but the look of his eyes? That was nothing short of lamentable.
If he didn't care so much about his face, he would have taken his mask off and rubbed his aching head. Instead he audibly lets out a drawn-out groan. "A-Arata, I KNOW how it sounds, but-"
"Forget it. It's fine"
"But Arata-"
"It's FINE" Arata stated more sternly. He tiredly sighs. "Here I thought I actually did something wrong".
The girl tried to find something more to say but what more could she say? Her reaction to his eyes was pitiful. Simple as that. She should have been stronger. Instead, she let him down for a poor reason.
The two sat in silence with Orihime slowly eating while Arata ate watching the T.V. When their food came, the two were glad to see that their outing was getting closer to ending.
Arata pauses as he looks at his food. He did not know what a burger was and the menu provided no pictures whatsoever so he was caught off guard when he saw that his karaage burger.
"Oh" he said.
Akane was taken back at the reaction. "W-What?"
"I thought my food was going to be smaller" he states.
"Is that a problem?" Akane asked.
He had no problem with the food. It was just that he couldn't eat it without taking off his mask, which he did not want to do in front of anybody. Orihime knew that Arata held his mask and face in high regards so she looked for a way out. She looked upwards near their booth to see closeable curtains. "He doesn't like to take off his mask" she explains. "How about I eat at a different table?" she suggested.
Akane stared in shock but agreed, seeing that it wasn't a full house tonight. Probably should've given out more flyers, she thought.
When Orihime went to close the curtains, she looked Arata in the face for a second, only for him to look away. She frowns and closes the curtains.
"What's with the atmosphere? Did you guys have a fight or something?" Akane asked.
Orihime did not answer her and she got the message. The two spent the rest of dinner eating separately.
Later...
Arata outlined in his plans to walk Orihime home and return back to her apartment the next day after they made up but it seems like he will be staying at Candice's place. It was night time and Arata couldn't wait to hit the sack after all the stupid things he had heard.
I cannot believe you...
Arata attempted to ignored his zanpakuto as he continued walking with Orihime at his side, silent.
You were meant to RECONCILE with Orihime! Not make her feel like complete shit! What's wrong with you?!
'She's the one acting weak. She had seen battle, blood, and hollows before yet she trembled at the sight of off-colored eyes?'
She isn't like you Arata! She can't roll with every punch thrown at her like a berserker! She's just a child!
'Not every child on this earth faces soul-eating monsters. Not every child has seen combat before. She should have been better than that. Also, she is a teenager, not a child'
You're not even gonna give her your gift? You're not even gonna do what we both agreed upon?
'If I did, I would only promote poor behavior. She will need to earn the right back'
I seriously cannot believe you right now.
Orihime's inner thoughts were just as messy as Arata's. She already knew beforehand that her reason was pathetic but hearing Arata actually say it really hit her hard. She was so ashamed at herself for acting so weak and useless. Sure Arata made it in the end but that doesn't erase the fact she didn't help him because of his eyes. She let Arata down and now, both of them knew it.
Tears welled up in her gray eyes as she reflected on herself. It was times like these that she wanted to be stronger, or that she was made up of stronger attributes. She wished she was like Ichigo, Chad, Uryu, Urahara, Yoruichi, or anyone else because they had guts while she didn't. They had strength while she didn't. They wouldn't have let something as trivial as black eyes slow them down while she did.
"Hey Arata, I can walk myself back home. You don't-". However, she found that she was only speaking to air. She looks to see Arata in his soul reaper form, his sword perched on his shoulder, heading towards a man peeking through a window into a house.
She was about to stop him until the man turned in time to see Arata right in front of him with his pommel near the man's head. He screams in fear and falls to the ground. It was then she saw the soul chain on his chest and concluded Arata was simply doing his duty as a soul reaper.
The man was dressed like an average salaryman. White dress shirt, black slacks, black shoes, and a black business coat. Judging from his face, he looked about in his mid-forties with a few wrinkles on his forehead. His short hair was cut short yet looked completely disheveled.
"Hold still" Arata told the scrambling man.
"Like hell I am! You're gonna cut me up aren't you?!"
"No. I'm here to help you pass on". He then showed the konso signs on his pommel.
"W-What?" he the man stuttered. That calmed the man down and he got back up. "You're here to bring me to the afterlife?"
"Yes. Now show me your-"
"No"
Arata was taken back a little. "Excuse me?"
"I don't want to leave yet" the man stated before heading back to the window he was peeking at. "My wife and fourteen year-old daughter live here. I died a few weeks ago in a car crash. I died too soon and now I won't physically be there for them. The least I could do is be there in spirit. I owe them that much" he said solemnly.
"That's not how things work" Arata groaned. "Soul reapers pass departed souls to the Soul Society. You can't stay in this realm anymore".
"And like I said, I refuse!" yelled the man. "I can't leave my family!"
"You are making this harder than it should be. Show me your forehead now" Arata said. He was already irked from Orihime. He didn't need anymore bullshit in his life.
As Arata and the soul argued, Orihime endeavored to calm Arata down and give the man more space. Perhaps he would be ready next time. Maybe Ichigo will pacify him down the line but not now. The man clearly wanted to continue living with his family.
Suddenly, a large boom shakes the earth and a wave of thick reiatsu stops the trio in the midst of their argument. They look at the street to find a hollow, bigger than any other Arata has ever faced, staring at them, hungrily. It's body was humanoid with an muscular build. The color of his skin was midnight-blue and his mask looked akin to a crow with bull horns on its head. On its back were large feathered wings that could destroy building with a single flap. It marched towards the three, purring in hunger at the morsels of food in front of him.
"Tasty souls. I will enjoy you all". its voice was deep and its speak was slow.
"W-...W-What is that thing?!" the man stuttered.
"A threat" Arata simply stated. "Orihime. Hang back while I handle this bird".
The girl nods as sticks close to the man as Arata released his zanpakuto. "You dare challenge me puny soul reaper?".
"Has anyone ever told you to never underestimate your opponents?" Arata rhetorically asks. His eyes transform, turning more hollow-like. He shunpos forward and goes for a gut slash. When the strike was made, Arata was shocked to find his attack did nothing more than scratch him, leaving behind a thin, bleeding wound.
"That tickled". The hollow batted him away like he was a fly into a nearby car. "Hungry. Want sad man and girl first". It quickly advances on Orihime and the soul. It attempts to grab the man first but was stopped when Orihime blocked him with her shield. Annoyed, he brings its fist up to break the shield and the girl along with it. "HUNGRY! WANT TO EAT!". The hollow brought its huge fist down on the two. The man screams as Orihime shield rattles from the blow, cracking in the process. The hollow brings its fist down again and again until the hollow completely shattered Orihime's barrier.
Before the hollow could grab at either one of them, Arata comes back with a kick to the hollows head. He grabs the hollow by the horns and throws him up in the sky, away from any buildings and people. Arata darts up in the sky and gathers reishi around his feet to stand in the air.
"You think you can beat me in my element soul reaper? You're dumb" the hollow mocked.
"Maybe that's exactly what I wanted"
Angered that this soul reaper was thinking he could beat it, the hollow dashed forward. They clash in a duel, fist against axe. The hitokiri uses faster movement and agility to slash against the hollow's brute strength and immense size. Arata blocks the hollow's myriad of punches until the hollow became frustrated and used its expansive wings to blow Arata back until he was meters away. The hollow then opened its beak and produced a raging red orb. That orb then shot out in the form of a large energy beam toward Arata. He dodges the red stream by a hair, flash stepping away. The hollow continued firing more ceros at Arata only for him to continue evading them.
"That attack..."
Is the same one we did back in the Soul Society.
"In that case...". Arata then charged his own cero. Focusing most his energy into the white ball of destructive force, he blasts the hollow back from a distance. The attack connects and leaves the hollow severely burned but still battle ready. The arm he was using then fell in strength and feeling, leaving his left arm shaking against his will. "The hell...?" he whispered.
The creature didn't give him any sort of reprieve as it flew at Arata, aiming its large fist at his body. Arata blocks him, but because of his weakened arm, the hollow easily punched him down closer to the ground. When a little feeling was finally returning back to his arm, the hollow came back punching, forcing him closer to the ground until he gave one final punch and slammed Arata into the street.
He tries to get back up but the hollow slammed its foot down Arata, keeping him pinned down. "Can you survive a point blank cero?"
"Huh... so they're called ceros" Arata muttered as a red energy orb began to charge.
"Koten Zanshun, I reject!". A shield suddenly erupts inside the hollow, making it pause in confusion. Arata looks beside him to find Orihime concentrating hard on performing her technique but he saw she was faltering. Because of Orihime's general dislike of combat, Koten Zanshun's effectiveness was greatly diminished. The attack failed to even scratch the hollow.
"Pathetic human" the hollow sneered. It turned its attention to Orihime and fires a low powered cero at her and the poor soul behind her. She brings up her shield and tries to stand her ground against the merciless blast but she was getting pushed back. The man stood up at tries to hold her steady but it did little in the end. As the blast continued hitting Orihime's barrier, it began to crack, to Orihime's horror. Behind her and the man was the man's house and family. She needed to keep on defending because if not, they would surely get caught in the blast. She strained herself as she pushed her barrier's durability and hoped Arata or something would happen.
Fortunately for her, Arata unlocked a new kido spell during his training. "Hado #4: Byakurai". Arata shot a narrow path of lightning through the hollow's belly, stopping its assault on Orihime and roaring in pain.
"You cursed soul reaper!" it cursed. Arata shoots another byakurai through the hollow, forcing it off Arata. Dazed and stumbling, he gets back up to continue facing the giant of a hollow.
He had no idea why, but seeing Orihime in danger brought renewed vigor to Arata. Like seeing her in peril gave him his second wind.
And for some reason, his mood was even more sour than it was before.
He runs at the hollow, jumping up to dodge a heavy right swing. He flips in the air before he lands behind it and slashes the hollow across his back before firing a byakurai inside the newly-made wound. The hollow bellows in pain and turns and slams both its fist against Arata, only for him to block him. With some difficulty, he pushes it off and points an open palm to his mask. "Shakkaho!". A red fire ball connect with its beak. He then points a finger at its chest and fires another path of lighting.
The hollow still stood but its ire was beyond words. It descends on Arata with feral jabs, forcing Arata to go on the defensive.
Throw it back up into the sky! I got an idea.
Mentally nodding, Arata flash steps above the hollow and grabs it by the horn to swing it back into the air. Once the hollow was high above Karakura, he listened for Hitokiri's further instructions.
Blast another cero at it but say "Cero" this time. The attack will be much stronger.
Holding his left palm high, he closes his eyes as he concentrates his spiritual energy. When he feels the hot energy of the white sphere, he snap opens his eyes. "Cero"
The resulting energy beam the was fired was twice the size with twice the power and twice the heat. The hollow held its arms up to block the incoming attack but screamed as it felt its entire body get cooked alive and disintegrate into nothing. By the time Arata let off the energy, the hollow was reduced to nothing. Not even any ashes.
His arm completely falls as all feeling and strength left the limb. He made a mental note to work on that later.
He collapses to the ground with a sigh. Orihime lets out a gasp and rushes to his side. "A-Arata! Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yeah. Just mentally and somewhat physically exhausted. Only slightly in pain but Kenpachi did much worse" he stated. He looks up to see Orihime examining his wounds and quickly puts up her healing barrier. She glances at his face, only to find his mask and hollow eyes staring right back at her. Her barrier wavers. She notices this and relents, dispersing Soten Kisshun, and cries.
"I-... I'm so sorry Arata. I failed you again" she sobbed
The wounds he sustained were not so bad and as much as Arata wanted to dismiss her emotional state as over-dramatic, he didn't. He was tempted to roll his eyes at her inability to heal him but he didn't. Her tears, just like the tears of the little boy he saved, brought him back to a time he could spill tears like rain drops. Before he changed and became the warrior he was today. Back then, he was nothing but an inexperienced little boy living in a cruel, dangerous world. And that was what exactly she was. Orihime wasn't a soldier or even an experienced medic. She just a little girl mixed up in a cruel world. She might have seen things not many humans have seen but that doesn't change who she is in her heart, in her soul.
Hmm. Perhaps he was too harsh in holding her to the same level as a seasoned soldier or even a fighter. At her core, she was a healer and that's what she will forever be.
"Orhime..." Arata said softly.
"You're right. I am pathetic. How can I possibly help people if I can get bent over eyes?..." she continued to self-deprecate.
"Orihime" he tried again.
"I have this power yet it's squandered by me..."
Arata raised his left arm as he felt feeling return back to it and took Orihime by her right shoulder and lightly shook her. "Stop and listen to me woman". he said. When she silenced, he began directing her. "Reform your healing barrier again"
"But-"
"Do it". She hesitates for a few seconds before she brings back Soten Kisshun. "Now concentrate on healing me".
"...But your eyes-"
"Forget about my eyes. What matters now is that you heal me. Your power is the deciding factor on whether one lives or dies. Don't let something as small as eyes distract you from that" Arata stated. In the softest tone he could muster, he said, "Now concentrate on my wounds. Imagine that I am one of your loved ones, like a friend or family member, someone you must save no matter what. Focus on the intention to save that certain someone and only that. Disregard all distractions, all other train of thought, and heal... so that you can save the one you love"
Orihime composed herself as she listened to Arata's words. Sometimes, she would look at his face, his eyes still black and hollow, and faltered, but got back up to try again. It took a few minutes to fully get it down but when she did, she focused solely on healing. To repair. To reject.
It was slow work but his wounds dissipated and Arata felt renewed. He rolls and crack his neck when he sits up. His eyes then return back to normal and he turns to Orihime. "Thanks" he thanked her.
She smiled and bashfully nodded. Arata looked behind her to find the man sitting, leaning on the outside wall of his house, clenching his chest in hopes of calming his heart. Arata got up and walked to him with sword in hand.
"I nearly died again. My family nearly died" the man whispered in disbelief.
"And that is exactly why you can't stay here. If you do not pass on, more of those monsters will come and target you and your family in the crossfire" Arata explained.
The man nods sorrowfully and stands before Arata. "I... I understand". The man then gave a look back at his old house and teared up. "I just-... just wanted to stay with with my family"
A reflection was what Arata saw. "You love them. I get it. I understand, but they won't move on with their lives if you don't. If you continue to stay here, your restless spirit will only put them in danger and prevent them from moving on. Sometimes... the best option is just to walk away".
"But what if I never see them again? What if they forget me?" the man choked.
"You'll see them again in due time. And they won't forget you. Their love for you will make sure of that"
Orihime's eyes grew as she felt something for Arata: Sadness. It was clear from what he said that he was speaking from experience and whatever it was changed him. At the same time, she felt proud of him. He didn't need to comfort the man and could've bopped his head with the konso and called it a day, but no. He was trying to comfort him.
The man turned to his house with tears in his eyes. He muttered a last "I love you" to his family before turning back to Arata. "I think I'm ready to pass on now".
Arata simply nods and plants his pommel into the man's forehead. His eyes shut and his body shifts into that of a black butterfly. The creature flew away to the afterlife.
Orihime walked behind Arata with a smile plastered on her face. "That was a beautiful thing you did Arata"
"What are you talking about?"
"You comforted the man's soul. That was good thing of you to do"
The hitokiri looked at her for a moment before he scoffed. "I only did so because his mental state could have interfered with the konso" he said.
Orihime chuckled. Both of them knew he could have just konsoed him and be done with it. His emotional stability would not have done anything but she accepts it nonetheless.
"If that's done, come on. Let's get you home"
"Wait," Orihime stopped him. "Can we talk for a moment?". When he turned to her, she continued. "About your eyes... now that I thought about it, it wasn't just the way they looked that affected me"
Arata tilts his head, interested. "Explain"
"From the moment I met you, I viewed you as a hulking force of nature with a good heart. I still see you as that now but... that contrasted everything I heard and saw" she said. "You lack sympathy, you kill people, you fought hollows like a professional killer, and when when you figured out your zanpakuto's name, you fought Kenpachi like a monster. I saw EVERYTHING and yet I still viewed you kindly. But when I saw your eyes, they reflected how monstrous you were and how heartless you can be. They contrasted the quiet and reserved Arata with the ruthless and unfeeling Arata and... it set me off. All the pent-up fear I felt for you up to that point just exploded and... I forgot who you were" she finished.
The hitokiri thought for a moment and asked, "Are you still afraid of me?"
"Yeah... I am" Orihime admitted. "But I care about you way more than I fear you"
Arata look at her and once he processed what she said, he nodded. "I understand I am not the most open man nor am I the easiest man to get along with. I respect that you were able to hold on as long as you did". He then sighed. "I suppose I should apologize for being so harsh to you back at the restaurant"
The orange-haired girl shook her head. "No need. I kinda needed the reality check" she chuckled.
"Regardless, it was not constructive what I said". He presses his mask, transforming back into a human and subtlety reached into his coat pocket. "I should have known myself your limits and who you are as a person. I viewed you equal to that of a veteran, which was my mistake. I only want you to do better in the future. You have a great power Orihime, one that can save countless lives once you harden your resolve. I see great potential in you. Don't lose sight of it" Arata said. "Now, onto the real purpose of this outing"
"Real purpose?" Orihime said confused.
"This outing was meant to reveal to you that... I am still human. I can still bleed, I have my secrets, and I possess my share of shortcomings. And considering you have seen me bleed multiple times, I am allowing this to you". His hand leaves his pocket and he hands Orihime a piece of paper.
It said only two words.
"'The truth'?"
Arata nods. "About me and about my place of origin. I am allowing you a good amount of vulnerability"
Immediately Orihime tried to refuse. "You don't need to do this Arata if you don't want to. It's okay"
"You are right. I don't need to. But I want to" he said. "I don't trust many people nor do I do so easily. Even with you, I don't completely trust you. But you're further than anyone else has been in a long time. And that is why I give you this gift"
Orihime could only stare at Arata shocked. He just said that he trusts her. It was limited, but he was trusting her. He was letting her a way inside his soul, just so that she could get to know him better. "I-... I don't know what to say. I'm honored Arata. I promise you, I won't let you down again".
"I'm sure. Now, let us get you home" he said but when Orihime gingerly grabbed his wrist, he stopped again. "What now?" he sighed.
"Just one more thing and then we can go. What you said to me when I was healing you, to envision you as one of my loved one, don't say that". When she saw his confusion, Orihime elaborated. "Because you're one of my loved ones. Like I said, I care about you Arata".
As mentioned before, Arata couldn't remember the last time someone actually cared about him. It was a long time ago and hearing and seeing it again was jarring for the hitokiri. "I understand" he nodded. "Now, let's go"
Orihime smiles sweetly and follows behind him. "By the way, Yoruichi told me you were staying a girls house"
"Oh yeah. I'm not coming home tonight by the way. I'm gonna spend one more night with Candice as thanks for letting me stay there".
"Oh! Can I meet her? I want to thank her for looking after my cousin" she laughed.
He shrugs, but agrees. He turns as well as Orihime to Candice's place. "Aren't you gonna ask any questions?"
"Hmmm... I... don't know what to ask-Oh!". She then thought of something. "You never got to finish telling me about your mentor".
Arata nods and begins telling Orihime about his nee-chan, Sakura. "I met her when I was six-years old and homeless after-"
"You were homeless?! How?"
"Well, that started after..."
A flowing conversation penetrated the silence of the night and for the first time in his stay in Karakura, Arata was the one talking Orihime's ear off.
