Disclaimer I don't own Bleach
Chapter Three
"Are you sure you'll be alright here alone? This doesn't seem like a very good idea," Tatsuki fretted as Orihime walked her to the door. The red head in question waved her off and gestured to the man sleeping in her bed. Somehow, she and Tatsuki had managed to bring both the lame cow and wounded man back to Orihime's home. The latter having woken up long enough for the women to determine that he was indeed alive but not long enough for him to walk back on his own.
The cow in question was penned outside in the remains of Orihime's garden that had gone to ground after the harvest season.
"I won't be alone," Orihime reminded her as the two women stared at the strange pale man. After removing the arrow, she and Tatsuki cleaned him up as best as they could and dressed his wounds before putting him to bed.
Orihime's home was modest with a front room and hearth, separated by a sheet to the backroom that offered privacy to two stacked beds in the corner - one for her and one for her brother. Since his departure, Orihime had kept up the house on her own.
"I don't like the idea of you being alone with a stranger," Tatsuki explained. Orihime smiled and shook her head.
"Don't think anything of it. He's too wounded right now to be a threat to me. Twilight has fallen but tomorrow, I'll have some neighbors help move him to the town hall where the infirm are kept," Orihime promised. Satisfied, Tatsuki nodded.
"Alright. I'll have Uryu come as soon as possible to take a look at our stranger," she added as Orihime handed her a winter wrap to protect against the cold.
"That's alright. He doesn't need to come, I have everything under control here," Orihime nervously snipped before looking away guiltily. Last year, Uryu had become one of the many men rejected by Orihime after he had formerly asked for her hand in marriage. Unlike many of the other men who had been turned down, Uryu had been a good friend of Orihime's. The unfortunate turn of events had put a strain on their friendship and in the aftermath, both had avoided the other. Tatsuki merely rolled her eyes.
"He's the town doctor and he lives two houses down from me," she reminded the red head. When Orihime remained silent, Tatsuki reached out and placed a gentle hand on her friend's arm.
"Would you like me to stay and send word ahead?" she asked seriously, unable to bear the thought of Orihime alone and suffering. Something in her expression however, must have motivated Orihime, because in the next minute Tatsuki was being guided out the door.
"No, no. I'll be fine. Now hurry home. Your husband must be worried after the demon attack." Orihime smiled but her tone was firm and her reasoning sound. Tatsuki found little room to argue and after promising to stop by tomorrow bid farewell.
Orihime watched patiently through the window until her friend was well and truly out of sight. Then she turned her attention to the hearth where a pot of water was currently simmering over the fire. On the off chance that the man in the back woke before dawn, she would have a simple stew waiting for him. A warm meal to cure the hurt and sick was something that every villager in Karakura knew to practice.
Winters were the harshest season for the remote north. Once the snow fell and the Choke Mountains Pass closed, the northern territories had to wait until spring and the snow to melt before they could once again connect with the southern civilization and all their provisions. In the meantime, survival was something everyone in the town understood and banded together to ensure.
Staring morbidly at the fire, Orihime jumped when someone pounded insistently on the door. Frowning, she moved stiffly to the door, hardly believing that Uryu had made it over so quickly. Tatsuki had only left a quarter of an hour ago.
Orihime was further surprised when she answered the door to not find Uryu, but the town priest, Uruhara and his 'disciple' Yoruichi.
"Good evening Ms. Orihime. Do you mind if we come in?" the blond haired man asked mildly. Dressed completely in black robes and wearing some bizair black and white striped hat that all but hid his eyes from onlookers, Urahara was a very odd priest. Rumor had it that the man had been excommunicated from the Church but when Lord Byakuya failed to act when news spread that Urahara had come to take up residence in the north, the villagers had dismissed the claims. It was a unique opportunity to have a religious man in Karakura when the village had had none in the past.
His odd quirks and practices were mostly overlooked in favor of his charity and good deeds to the villagers, though it was rare that he had any sort of interaction with Orihime.
"Yes of course, come in," squeaked Orihime as she made room for the priest and his companion Ms. Yoruichi to come in. Perhaps more strange than Urahara was the lady Yoruichi who once traveled as a witch and with a band of cut throats for hire.
The group had been caught trying to assassinate Lord Byakuya and every one had been executed but Yoruichi who had denounced her magic and sinful ways after Urahara had offered her a chance at redemption. Since then, she had taken up residence with the priest and though tongues wagged at the scandal of it, both she and Urahara had insisted that their relationship was strictly innocent and professional and since the church was so far out of reach and no official religious party could condemned them, the strange pair had been left alone.
"Burr, it's cold out," Yoruichi commented before shrugging off her smock and handing to Orihime with a wink. The red head tried not to stare at the exotic looking woman with her purple hair but it was hard.
"It seems nice and warm in here," Urahara commented and took off his hat to fan his face as he stared curiously around Orihime's home.
"Yes, I try to keep it warm," Orihime commented nervously as she hung up Yoruichi's smock on a hook by the door.
"Something smells nice," Yoruichi added as she spotted the pot over the fire. Orihime gestured to the two seated wooden table along the adjacent wall.
"I'm making stew. Would you like some?" She was helpless to resist the common courtesy that one was expected to give when guests entered another's home.
Her question was barely out before the priest and odd woman were agreeing and sitting down.
"I apologize for the impromptu visit, but I've been making the rounds since the demon attack," Urahara commented once his meal had been served.
"Was it a bad attack?" Orihime asked, unconsciously placing a hand over her heart.
"Over thirty dead," Yoruichi answered as she slurped the bowl of stew directly into her mouth, bypassing the offered spoon entirely. Despite the severity of the news, the strange woman seemed to be to in a lighthearted mood. Orihime in contrast, gasped in shock at the news. Karakura was a small village, with little more than a hundred to boast in population. There was a good chance the slain were friends and neighbors that she had known.
"The Howling Forest is full of monsters but never has the village lost so many in one attack. The town hall is overflowing with wounded," Urahara explained in a solemn tone. Sensing the direness of the situation, Yoruichi paused in meal and turned to Orihime in all seriousness.
"The blacksmith Ichigo has called for an emergency town meeting tomorrow in the market square. Word has been sent to Lord Byakuya but because of the distance, it will take a few days to hear his response to the news of these strange times."
Orihime's eyebrows raised in surprise at the news. It made sense to reach out for help to their local lord, but on a personal level, she couldn't help but think of her brother Sora. Once he heard of what had happened, he would no doubt be worried sick over his sister. Orihime silently promised to write to her brother as soon as possible, so she could allay his fears. It was the first season that they would be apart since they had arrived at Karakura.
For demons to attack now was the epitome of bad luck.
"Speaking of strange times, I heard that you had quite the adventure today in the woods," Urahra commented.
Orihime stared at him strangely before she remembered that the curtain separating the sleeping room from the front room was wide open and the priest happened to be sitting in the seat that offered a clear view to the strange man sleeping in her bed. As the situation sunk in, Orihime felt her face heat as she tried to stammer out a reply. Why did he have to be such a nosey, busy-body?
"Yes-s that's r-right. I mean, how did you - that is, um. Did Tatsuki say something-" Orihime managed to get out, before the priest calmly interjected.
"Yes, we ran into her while we were making the rounds. She mentioned your excursion into the Howling Forest the demon attack."
"I saw the cow out back," Yoruichi interjected before turning her attention back to her meal. Unfortunately, Urahara didn't seem like he was finished with his questions and the way he was staring at Orihime made her feel like she had done something wrong, which was ridiculous. She had nothing to be ashamed about. For a moment, Orihime wanted to be angry with Tatsuki for spreading such gossip, but the moment passed and Orihime was reminded of the promise she made to her friend to relocate the strange, pale man to the town hall in the morning.
"Yes, it's fortunate that you all managed to come out alive. Ms. Tatsuki told me such a strange tale, with demons and Quincy soldiers. It's marvelous that someone came to to your rescue and somehow managed to fight off such evils," the priest commented slowly. Orihime felt like he was staring a hole directly into her soul.
"Fought them off with his bare hands too," Yoruichi added and though Orihime knew that they were fishing for detail she couldn't help but blurt out,
"It wasn't with his bare hands. He had a sword!"
"Really?" Urahara drawled before casually gesturing towards the sleeping room. Orihime had to fight the urge to go stand between her rescuer and the priest.
"That wouldn't be the man back there, would it?" he asked, his tone still light.
Before Orihime could respond, someone else knocked on her door. For the second time that evening, Orihime jumped.
"Th-that must be Uryu!" she exclaimed and before Urahra could respond, she was already racing across the room and opening her front door.
"Uryu! Please come in!" she exclaimed and jerked the poor man into her home by his arm before he could even offer a proper greeting.
"Yes, I'm here to - oomph!" Uryu started only to be interrupted by Orihime forcefully removing his white outer coat in an attempt to cover her nerves. Fortunately for Orihime, Uryu had been a good friend of Orihime's and despite the recent fissure in their friendship, was able to instantly recognize that Orihime was very nervous.
"Ms. Tatsuki sent word. I'm here to examine the injured man that rescued you in the forest," Uryu stated clearly while his eyes zeroed in on Urahara and Yoruichi.
"Mr. Uryu. What a pleasant surprise."
"Indeed," Uryu greeted coolly as he adjusted the spectacles sliding off of his nose. As a doctor, Uryu's practice often ran in contrast to the faith of the church and as a result he and Urahara often gave each other a wide span to avoid interaction.
"Orihime was just telling me about her rescuer and how he managed to fight off a demon and a Quincy soldier by himself," the priest added.
"I didn't say he fought off a demon. Only the -"
"They're called the Wandenreich. The Quincy allied themselves with the true church. The Wandenreich are a rogue organization that have taken matters into their own hands," Uryu rebuked the priest coldly and Orihime only then remembered that Uryu's family had once been a part of that fanatic branch, only to defect and seek shelter in Karakura.
"Now, if you'll excuse us," Uryu continued before turning to Orihime with a much softer gaze.
"Can you show me the patient?" he asked kindly and even though it was just a courtesy as Uryu could have easily walked the few steps into the back room, Orihime smiled gratefully and led the way. She was eager to get out of the line of Urahra's inquiries.
"Tastuki told me that he was stabbed and shot with a sacred arrow?" Uryu asked softly as the two circled the bed. Orihime nodded and pulled back the covers, revealing the wrapped bandages she and Tatsuki had applied to the chest wound.
"Yes, we cleaned and patched it as best as we could, but he's awfully pale."
"It's a miracle that he survived such an arrow. The spiritual power behind it is designed to destroy a target upon impact," Uryu noted as he moved to carefully inspect the bandages around the stranger's head.
As he did so, Orihime couldn't help but stare at her friend's profile. From an unbiased point of view, Uryu was very handsome. He was tall and though he lacked the muscle definition Ichigo had, he was still fit. His dark hair fell loosely around his head and almost passed his ears. His features were sharp but in a pleasant sort of way, but it was his blue eyes that had many of the girls in the village blushing madly and silently wishing for more of his attention whenever he passed them by.
"Perhaps it would be more appropriate if this brave hero was transported to the town hall where the other injured are resting?" Urahara called out from where he stood just shy of entering the sleeping room.
Sighing in irritation, Uryu paused in his ministrations to turn back to Urahara.
"After all, Orihime is a young unmarried woman and without her brother in residence, it would not be right to have a man of no blood relation-"
"Mr. Urahara," Uryu interrupted and Orihime had to fight back a grin as she recognized her friend's irritation at the priest.
"I know you mean well. As a member of the church it is your duty to look out for the spiritual welfare of the villagers of Karakura. I know it is also your duty to protect the villagers from any potential threat of the paranormal. Let me ease your mind - this man is as far from a threat as it comes. The only thing that man is, is in some desperate need of medical help. He is lying wounded in bed after doing a brave deed, rescuing Orihime, who by the way should be above such suspicions and town gossip. Orihime is a devout follower of the faith and good villager who has never hesitated to help any one of us out in our own times of trouble. There's no need to harass her."
By the time Uryu had finished his spiel, his normal complexion was rather purple with wrath. Orihime could tell that her friend had kept a lot of his opinion on the church and the priest to himself for many years and it was just by the chance of the situation that Uryu had gotten the opportunity to stand up to the priest. Still, she was grateful for him defending both her and her rescuer.
"All I was suggesting was that the man be moved to the town hall," Urahara answered back in a meek tone and offered his hands in a complacent gesture. The sight made Orihime twinge slightly in guilt. For all of his inquiries and unusual visit, Urahara was just doing his job. He had never harmed any of the villagers, and in fact had often helped those who had gotten into trouble.
"That's impossible. The town hall can't accept anymore wounded," Uryu snapped back, interrupting Orihime's musings. The two men stared at each other for a moment longer until Ms. Yoruichi unexpectedly slipped her arm into Urahara's and tugged him back forcefully into the front room.
"Time to go," she called and grabbed her own smock before Orihime could remember to grab it for her.
"Thanks for the dinner," the ex-witch called. She winked at Orihime once more and then wrapped the smock around both her AND Urahara.
"Yes thank you," Urahra managed to get before Yoruichi had all but dragged the priest outside and into the night. The sight was so unexpected that Orihime couldn't help but giggle at it.
"Good riddance," Uryu muttered, turning back to the injured man lying on the bed.
"They meant well," Orihime murmured before her attention turned back to the man sleeping on the bed.
"There's some scarring on his face," Uryu noted as he studied the two lines starting at the man's eyes and running all the way down to his cheek bones. There was one on each side. They looked like tears.
"Ulquiorra," Orihime murmured, thinking of the man's green eyes.
"Hmmm," Uryu asked as he once more peeled back the covers to examine the man's chest wound.
"It's the language of my homeland. Ulquiorra means 'the one who cries," Orihime explained as she watched Uryu remove the bandages on his chest.
"This is remarkable. I've never seen a Quincy arrow wound heal so quickly before," Uryu marveled. Orihime's brow furrowed.
"I thought you said that sacred arrows destroy the target on impact?"
"This is true. It's all new to me. Still, the wound looks to have healed remarkably fast. It must not have been a true hit," Uryu reasoned as he continued his examination. Orihime frowned in confusion.
"But I saw the impact. The arrow went into his chest," she argued, noting that Uryu had frozen up with two fingers to the man's neck. The look in her friend's eyes was something Orihime had never seen before. It was a mixture of both fear and disbelief.
"It can't be," Uryu whispered before looking down at the sleeping man and grabbing his wrist.
"What is it?" Orihime asked nervously only to be ignored as her friend continued to hold the pale man's wrist. After a moment of silence, Uryu dropped the man's wrist and looked at Orihime.
"He's breathing clear as day, but he doesn't seem to have a heartbeat," Uryu told her in alarm.
"What!? That's impossible," the red head remarked and watched as Uryu leaned down to listen to the man's chest with his own ear.
"I can hear him breathing but- ack!" Uryu began only for the injured man beneath him to suddenly jerk up from the bed and seize Uryu by his neck before slamming him into the wall behind them with enough force to crack and indent the wood. The violence of it should have frightened her, but all Orihime could think about was rescuing her friend.
"Stop! Stop!" she cried and ran towards the crazed man. It was pure instincts that had her reaching out and grasping at his arm.
"Please stop!" she begged as Uryu's gasps and struggles grew weaker. If she didn't do something he would die. Fortunately, the man seemed to notice her as his gaze strayed from Uryu, but when black and glowing yellow eyes turned their attention to her, Orihime couldn't help but scream.