Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Tite Kubo does. So don't sue.
Author's Note: The Nell in this story is her grown self (not the little girl she appears as in the comics). Also, I'm aware that Orihime's abilities in this chapter are a bit corny, but it gets better. I'm keeping this a G rated fic tho so some of it will naturally be campy :)
Song Suggestion: Hall Of Fame - The Script
"HEY ICHIGO! OVER HERE!" Rangiku exclaimed as she bounded over to her favorite sparring partner, catching him in a huge bear hug.
"Cut it out already!" Ichigo hollered in embarrassment. He hated being caught between Rangiku's breasts unexpectedly – especially in front of other people. But that is exactly what happened before she noticed his newfound friend.
"And who's this?" Rangiku asked, poking and prodding the poor girl until Ichigo finally called her off.
"Orihime, meet Rangiku Matsumoto – the girliest fighter you'll ever meet.
Honestly Ichigo! You can be so rude sometimes. Just because a woman likes to shop and spar…"
Okay okay….Orihime, meet Rangiku: one of my sparring partners."
"That's better." The buxom beauty conceded.
"Pleased to meet you." Orihime uttered, as quiet as the proverbial mouse that she was.
"There's no need to be so formal." Rangiku laughed. "We're all friends around here."
"We?" Orihime repeated. She looked around but didn't see anyone besides Rangiku and Ichigo. She couldn't help but be suspicious.
After a minute or two, the spiky haired boy opted to clear his throat instead of chuckle. "I see I've kept you waiting long enough. I brought you here because I want you to meet my friends. My real friends."
"But why?" Orihime was beginning to feel incredibly self-conscious. Instead of expressing her feelings eloquently like she wanted, it was all she could do to echo a few simple questions.
"Well aside from the fact that they wanted to meet you, I've had an ulterior motive for quite some time. Simply put, we want to train you." Ichigo answered, saving her the trouble of coming up with anymore words. "I'm tired of those idiots at school always thinking they can pick on whoever they want. And as much as I want to put them in their place, it would mean a lot more coming from you."
"You mean…Rukia…and Renji…and everyone else? You're just pretending?"
"Well of course he is!" Rangiku interjected. "The only reason he puts up with that place is because it's the best fighting school in the district. Of course he's sooooo popular…and up until now he's just been lapping it up."
"Hey!" Ichigo exclaimed in mock anger.
I'm sorry Ichigo, but you used to love being in the spotlight…and now you just look so…..so…."
"Bored." Orihime finished. "You don't say much, but I always figured you were playing it cool."
"It's because nobody ever listens to anything I have to say." The fighter muttered – more to himself than anyone else.
"What do you mean?" Orihime wondered, more confused than ever. "You're the most popular person there! People hang on your every word."
"Not when I tell them off, they don't. I gave up trying to disagree with the in-crowd a long time ago."
"I wish I had the money to go there." Rangiku pouted. "I'd show those jerks a thing or two about respect.
Orihime was frozen to the spot. How was she supposed to teach these people a lesson when she was so clearly unqualified? It wasn't until Rangiku snuck up and threw an arm around her, that she appeared to snap out of it. "Don't worry! We're some of the best fighters around. I promise we won't let you down!"
"That's not what I'm worried about. I'm afraid I'll let you down."
"That's not going to happen. We're here to help."
"You keep saying we…" Orihime intoned curiously.
"Time for test number one, then." Ichigo announced. "We keep saying "we" because there are three other people here. It's up to you to find them."
"How?" The orange haired girl stuttered.
"You may not be aware of this, but I've been watching you." Ichigo admitted, his eyes searching hers. "You seem to know exactly where I am at any given time…not to mention the girls that give you such a hard time. It's how you've been avoiding us so easily. This time, I want you to find your opponent instead of hiding from him."
"I'll try." Orihime promised. Though it was all she could do to keep from shaking with embarrassment.
"You're not used to being put on the spot. I get that. But I want to see what you can do when you really put your mind to it. I know you have it in you. You just have to believe in yourself."
"Back off Ichigo! You sound like a greeting card." Rangiku yawned. "If you'd shut up already, maybe she could concentrate."
"Okay then." He concluded – sticking out his tongue at Rangiku for effect.
Slowly, Orihime closed her eyes. She had no idea who she was looking for…but she knew what she needed to do. To her left were two distinct magnetic pulses. It was like being able to see someone's shadow without the accompanying body to go with it. The energy itself was not quite invisible, but not quite solid. Still, it had a heartbeat. Two in fact.
Given that they were in the park, there were plenty of hiding places if she had wanted to venture a guess as to where these two were, but luckily she just knew. "There." Orihime pointed. "There are two people hiding. One behind the bush – and another up in the tree."
From the treeline emerged the two people she'd sensed. A green haired girl nodded and smiled while her friend grunted hi from behind and flashed a thumbs up.
Ichigo was impressed.
"Orihime, meet Nell and Chad." He acknowledged, congratulating her. "Find the last target, and then we'll make the formal introductions."
Orihime made ready once again, but this time she was at a loss. She could feel the spiritual pressure emanating from right above her head. But that was impossible….
Maybe she should just go with her instincts? Though what would happen if she failed? Would they laugh at her? Scold her? Make fun of her? The only way to know for certain was to act, and deal with the consequences as they came.
"There's a pressure coming from above me, I'm sure of it. But there's no way someone can make themselves invisible – let alone gravitate in mid-air. I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do."
"GUESS AGAIN !" A voice cried as it leaped down on top of a very surprised Orihime. The stunned girl fell backward as another fighter (better known as MoMo) sat atop her chest and stuck out her hand. "Pleased to meet you." She grinned.
Unable to believe the girl on top of her had moments ago been directly above her, blending in with the sky, Orihime took the offered hand and let the invisible woman help her up.
"I told you she was special." Ichigo beamed as Rangiku's face split into a grin.
"I knew she had it in her all along. She just needed the opportunity to prove herself. Maybe, if you hadn't bored us all with that little speech…."
"Shut up!" Ichigo grumbled, blowing a raspberry over his shoulder.
"Actually, I think Orihime found it to be rather helpful." Momo interjected. "She seemed more confident in her abilities after you said something. Otherwise she wouldn't have been able to guess where I was."
"Well I – uh - … I didn't want to look stupid…" Orihime started.
"Nonsense!" Rangiku cried. "You have a natural ability. You should be proud of what you can do!"
"I guess I don't always trust my instincts, so I don't always know what I can do until I actually do it." Orihime ventured, a smile forming across her face.
"And now you know." Nell affirmed, smiling a proud smile.
"Alright you guys, now that we've seen some of Orihime's abilities, I think it's time to show her what we can do. So come on! We have a lot of work to do."
"Work?" Rangiku whined. "How can I work on an empty stomach? HEY! I KNOW! Who wants ice cream? ICHIGO'S TREAT!" Rangiku offered before the guy in question could get a complaint in edgewise.
"I'll say yes to that!" Momo chimed in. And before she knew it, Orihime was getting dragged into a nearby ice cream shop, overlooking the park, so she could get to know her newfound friends.