Hollows still attack Karakura town and Soul Society still sends a shinigami to patrol the streets. It's known as a dull post though, as the many talented humans who still live in the area tend to reach hollow threats before the designated Shinigami can get a crack at them. Depending on the Shinigami, some take it better than others.
The current shinigami is an ambitious sort and has complained of the lack of practice. So when Orihime rises from bed in the middle of the night, sensing an approaching hollow, Ichigo tries to convince her not to go.
"Give the kid a chance for once," he mumbles, sleepy, but also worried. Orihime's been quiet since returning from Soul Society earlier today.
"Kazui's crying," says Orihime, and indeed he's been gurgling on the baby monitor since the hollow appearance woke them both up. "I'll take care of it."
Kazui isn't really crying when she finds him in his crib – not the way he does when he's hungry or he needs a change. He's whining and not for the first time, Orihime wonders if this is a reaction to a strong spiritual pressure. Picking him up, she remembers Aizen's words from earlier – your son will always be a target. She holds him close.
Outside, the hollow is roaming the streets, unchecked. The ambitious Shinigami has yet to react. No doubt he's let his guard down. Looking down at Kazui, she's reminded of a conversation she has with Isshin when she was pregnant.
"There's no point hiding who you are –who they are – from them," he'd said, "your kids figure it out eventually. Masaki and I tried to hide that part of ourselves from Ichigo and the girls, and look where that lead us."
Orihime had giggled then, but now she considers Isshin's advice seriously. Kazui won't escape his fate –it's better that he know how to face it.
Carrying her baby, she quietly steps out of the house and together, she and Kazui travel onwards in search of the hollow.
They find the hollow near Orihime's old apartment. Somehow, this seems right. She remembers how lonely she felt living there –both before and after her time Las Noches. She remembers jumping at the opportunity to move in with Ichigo, earlier than she would have planned, so that she could escape that place and its unhappy memories.
Just as Kazui will have to face who he is, she must face her past. She cannot keep running in fear from a past that has happened if she wants to protect her new family from the future that is yet to come.
The hollow notices them then – humans with strong spiritual pressures. It cannot help but attack. Quickly, Orihime calls upon her Shun Shun Rika.
"I reject!" she calls out, hands still wrapped tightly around Kazui. Her familiar orange dome entraps the hollow, eating away at its form until there is only a sad spirit, trembling alone in the street.
"It's okay," says Orihime, going towards the spirit. It's a young boy –she feels a familiar pang of fear upon seeing him, but she lets it pass. Her son is here, safe, with her. It is this spirit who needs help. "It's okay," she says again, staying with him until the ambitious Shinigami shows up to help him pass.
Orihime watches him go, and waves as he passes on to Soul Society. Kazui, who's been quiet throughout their adventure, starts to cry again, probably because of the drop in spiritual pressure.
"It's okay," she tells him, "it's okay, it's okay."
And then, to herself:
"It's okay."
END.
And when they get home, Ichigo is waiting for them and tells Orihime "we could have at least waited till he was walking."