That night, he experienced a nightmare, like he had once when he was younger. A woman that sort of looked like Orihime was covering him. He remembered blood soaked hair and stillness. He could only hear his quick breaths.
When he saw her that day for the last tutoring session that week, he felt that he couldn't turn on the charm. Orihime instantly felt the change. He was quiet and distracted.
Orihime tried to break the ice, "Having girlfriend problems? Hehe!"
He shook his head and pressed ahead on the lesson.
Did I do or say something wrong? She thought best to just keep quiet.
Ichigo made it in time to witness the beginning of a battle. Three hollows near the river, and one of them was an Adjucha.
Aizen sent them. He was there to observe and report.
The Adjucha stayed back to let the Menos attack her first.
There was a group of teenagers that were passed out several feet away, a shield over them.
She had two hollows in front of her. She couldn't retreat back any further because it would be too close to the teens. She didn't want to risk it.
She made her move, calling out for Tsubaki. She knew that they were waiting for her to advance and she did, flash stepping right between them. She sliced cleanly through the one on her right while the other was distracted by Tsubaki.
The distraction gave Orihime an opening to attack from the back. But with her back turned, the Adjucha made its move. Ichigo almost shouted out to her. Orihime called out a command and a huge shield formed behind her and as it lunged, the shield repelling it back with a good amount of force.
Ichigo's eyes widened. The shield repelled an a Adjucha. He would have to tell Aizen about this.
As the shield fell she flash stepped away, every second taking a look back, making sure it would follow her. She needed to be further from the teenagers to keep them safe. She hoped it would come after her. And it did.
They were in the middle of the field now and the Adjucha was about to produce a cero. She ran towards it, and as the cero came she summoned her shield again. It repelled the attack but the cero died as it hit the shield. It didn't counter like it did before.
That technique had taken a lot out of her and it didn't work as she would have liked.
It was close combat now, sword against claws and fists against fists. She got caught, an arm had tightened around her ankle, causing her to fall. She called to to Tsubaki who sliced through its fingers. The Adjucha roared. Orihime was able to roll away, her ankle was bruised but she had to stand up.
Orihime was breathing heavy as she blocked another oncoming strike. She punched its face, in which the Adjucha stepped back a little. It was going to release another cero, but she wasn't going to let that happen. She needed to finish this now. She knew she couldn't keep summoning her shield. She was running out of energy.
She whispered a chant. Tsubaki came out and mutliplied into ten of him, and they started their attack towards the Adjucha. Then Orihime made her move. It was done. She was the victor.
She was disheveled, sweaty, her hair sticking to her neck and face. Ichigo was memorized. She could actually fight. She fell in exhaustion - unconscious - in the grass. Then Tsubaki and the shield protecting the teens disappeared instantly.
Ichigo waited for a few minutes to see if she'd stir. She didn't. But she was breathing. He saw the teens come to and then scurry from afar.
He picked her up and walked towards her apartment.
He settled her onto her front door. She was starting to gain awareness. Her eyes still closed, he noticed her thick, long lashes. His eyes moved down from her face to her torso where her wrapover blouse was loose on her chest. He could see the curves of her breasts that moved in slow rhythm as she breathed in and out. He blushed. He quickly looked away and started down the stairs.
Orihime opened her eyes and slowly stood up. How did she get here? Ichigo?