Chapter 3:
***Major Manga Spoilers for those who have yet to read it yet. In this chapter I am adding some facts of the Thousand Year Blood Arc but I will not be following it closely. Please ignore the lack of action and more summarized portions of battle and any AUness. There will be drama added to fit into my story ****
It is the final year at Karakura High. The gang has enjoyed relative peace but underneath it all another war is brewing. Ichigo and the gang have been met with the devastating news that Hueco Mundo has been taken over by a new threat, Yhwach and the Wandenreich , who have captured the remaining arrancar. While forming a plan of action Soul Society is attacked resulting in major casualties. Urahara has been contacted by the Soul Society, while Ichigo, Sado, and Orihime are in Hueco Mundo on a rescue mission with Nel and delivers news of the recent events with a devastating new enemy.
*Hueco Mundo*
Gasp. The sound of Orihime's drawn breath is the only sound heard after the shocking announcement is made.
Ichigo's jaw clenches in anger that while he was fighting that Asguiaro Ebern character in Hueco Mundo, the Gotei 1st division was being attacked, and no one had told them before now. He wouldn't have headed to Hueco Mundo to assist rescuing Dondochakka and Tia Halibel had he been told sooner. None of them knew Chōjirō Sasakibe; the first division lieutenant, very well but his death along with the increasing number of casualties described by Akon hits the group hard.
How terrible. After all this time for something like this to happen. Poor poor Sasakibe-San… "Yamamato-Taicho must be so sad," she whispers to herself, "What can we do?"
"Ichigo will go ahead to Soul Society and assist them. We will stay here and investigate our fallen enemy Quincy," Urahara answers.
"W-what? Chad and I will come too. Our friends may need us."
"No, Inoue-san. You two will stay here with me to gather intel while Ichigo goes ahead. I'll go ready the senkaimon now," with that Urahara leaves with a clack of his geta sandals.
"Inoue," Ichigo begins, "this is for the best. That getaboshi and his weird devices may just come in handy in the fighting and until we have them I would feel better with you here with Chad watching over you."
"Watching me? Our friends are more important Kurosaki-kun," Orihime tries to persist.
"They are. More important than arguing and going in unprepared. I've got this Inoue… You believe me, right?"
Orihime blushes as Ichigo locks his determined chocolatey eyes on hers. Slowly she nods, thinking that for now she and Chad would prepare to come to his aid. When Urahara returns with the senkaimon, Ichigo turns to Chad and gives him a nod. Then he turns to Orihime with a small smile which Orihime blushes prettily in response to. Turning, Ichigo leaves for Soul Society.
Chad watches as the bright burn on Orihime's cheeks cools with every stride Ichigo took away from them. He knows she aches to stay at Ichigo's side, but he will stay with her until they all meet again.
"Orihime. Let's go," he murmurs.
"Uhn!"
After this, many battles are fought in Soul Society. Resulting in the loss of Yamamoto Genryusai and the injury of many Shinigami and several Captains. Tetsugo Zangetsu had been broken and Ichigo goes to learn about his past and gain a new zanpakuto. Back in Soul Society Ichigo, Orihime, Sado, and all their Shinigami group gather together before the final battles
*The Final Stand*
"Uryu has betrayed us. I can't believe this. I'll beat some sense into the Quincy idiot!"
Sado and Orihime share a glance as they listen to Ichigo rant on this new development. Neither can believe that Uryu, who decided to remain uninvolved before, has turned up as the right-hand man to Yhwach.
"There must be a reason, Kurosaki-kun. We just have to win this fight and Ishida-kun will see reason." Orihime attempts to calm Ichigo down but he shrugs off her words. Visibly upset Orihime steps back beside Chad as Rukia steps forward towards Ichigo.
"Ichigo. There is no time for this childish behavior, you know this. We must determine our plan going forward." Rukia's words reach Ichigo and he turns to the group, confidence shining in his hardened amber eyes.
Sado watches as the group develops a plan to go forward and confront Yhwach at the Soul King's palace. It is decided that the Shinigami will follow Ichigo, while Chad and Orihime go to the other battle sites and assist with treating and protecting the wounded. Chad had expected them to come up with a plan that removed the humans from the main fight. One that allows the Shun Shun Rikka to assist keep the Shinigami strong, and keep Orihime away from this powerful enemy.
But something surprising happens.
"I am most needed by your side Kurosaki-kun when you confront Yhwach."
At this statement everyone turns and looks at Orihime. Rukia takes a minute step towards Orihime when she spies Ichigo's eyes begin to squint and turn hard. "Orihime. There are many injuries on the field, we assumed you would be able to help out and keep our side on the field," Rukia begins.
"I respect the fact that you all wish to heal the damage done to our friends. But I know that this is just a front for keeping me off the front lines. I must be there. This is about saving our worlds and I should be a part of that to help you all." Orihime states strongly.
"Inoue… of course you should. I-it's just that we wouldn't want Yhwach to realize your power and target you." Ichigo explains.
"And I respect that. But I must be at your side. To protect you, Sado-kun, Rukia-san, and all the others. Take me away and I can't be there for my friends," beseeches Orihime.
"Orihime-san you must see reason. There are people who need your help on the battlefield" Rukia again tries to placate this surprising show of stubbornness in the beauty.
"And you all will certainly be the ones most at risk of injury… m-maybe even d-death. My Shun Shun Rikka and I must be near you to help," Orihime replies.
Ichigo begins to speak, trying to relay the finality of the decision with a firm, "Inoue."
"Kurosaki-kun" interrupts Orihime so uncharacteristically that Ichigo closes his mouth sharply.
"I am either a contributor to you all or a moving triage unit. I refuse to stand by and wait for all of your bleeding bodies to be sent my way when I can potentially shield you from those injuries or treat them before they become life threatening." Orihime makes this statement in as cross a tone as any of them had ever heard. They all feel how worried she gets when they all are on the battlefield and feel sorry for the need to leave her behind.
"Damn it," Ichigo spits. "Inoue… i-it's not that we don't value you… we... no I-I just want you safe."
"I'll never be safe" Orihime says in a flat tone, eyes glinting. Ichigo flinches visibly, as if the softly spoken words were as cutting as Orihime punching him herself. Those words echo in his ears as a slight shiver goes down his spine. "No," he mutters.
"Kurosaki-kun. What is the first thing you aim for in a every MMORPG game ever? You go after the healer first to win a battle. I am already not going to be safe even if you try to tuck me away. But more importantly, I'm a target because of your actions, all of you and your actions. They scream that I'm weak louder than watching me in an upfront battle, and that puts me in danger."
Shock ripples through the group. Every pair of eyes shifts in guilt, then dart towards the orange haired teen as his reiatsu spikes sharply a moment later. Ichigo feels his temper ripple out of him as Orihime's words take root. That's not true. It's not true. I never meant….
"You all undermine my growth. You tell me I need to be "safe", yet I still get hurt on the sidelines. Well, watching you all fight without me is just as cutting as a sword strike."
Orihime's orangish brown eyes shine with determination. After her impassioned speech a marked tension enters the air as everyone monitors Ichigo's large spiritual reaction. Orihime looks towards Ichigo's quiet figure, she can feel his frustration probably better than anyone else. She knows and reads his moods the best, after all. Suddenly, Ichigo whips his head up and meets her stare. Orihime decides this is the time to express herself and endeavors to hold Ichigo's own brown eyes in a silent challenge.
Chad feels his heart squeeze watching their kind friend stand up for herself. As proud as he is of her, and as much as he knows that this moment is important to all of their development, he realizes this isn't the time to address it. Ichigo is his best-friend and Orihime is… more than a normal friend to him. Deciding that this could not go on as it pains him to be a spectator to Orihime in this quasi-confrontation with her crush, Chad takes a step forward and places one heavy yet calming hand on Orihime's shoulder.
"We hear you, and that is not how we see you, Orihime. But we don't have the time to argue. Orihime is capable, and can be an asset against Yhwach's unknown powers," Chad states, the latter portion directed to the group at large.
With those words Orihime stops the staring match between her and an eerily silent Ichigo. She turns to Chad smiling softly. Communicating silently with a nod, she and Chad turn and proceed towards the rest of the group and the daunting stairs leading to their final battle.
Ichigo, who can't help but feel that a weird development has just occurred in his group- especially between him and Inoue, watches the pair walk side by side. They are both my good friends, I couldn't do this without them. No matter what my actions may broadcast. With the faith in his friends reassured in his head, Ichigo shakes those thoughts aside and continues towards the upcoming battle. As he moves to take the lead he bumps shoulders with Orihime, giving her a small, crooked and confident smirk.
He's saying sorry. Orihime instantly recognizes Ichigo's feelings through his expressive brown eyes. I'm sorry I made you worry before, but I am trying, and we have no room for failure. We will win together. She quickly steals a glance at Chad beside her. I'm glad that Chad stood up for me and convinced them so easily.
Orihime bolsters herself for whatever lies ahead. With a silent prayer they begin their final fight.
Author's notes: I am sorry if this chapter feels a bit out there and not as connected to the plot. Maybe I can revise going forward but I felt like the final war was a good insert for the beginning of relationship developments. (I am only revising Tite Kubo's work).