At the Hands of a Hollow

Chapter 3: Her Pain

Previously: She remained in the bathtub for most of the day, only stepping out for one meal, all she would allow herself. Sometimes she did have to stand up and sit on the edge, just to let her water-wrinkled skin breathe for ten minutes.

When she got in again, for the last time, she was starting to feel tranquil, and at peace. It ended very quickly.

"Good afternoon, Queen," a familiar dark voice called. Her eyes widened and she felt herself slowly sink further and further into the water with every second.

The door handle turned slowly and opened. "I hope you didn't miss me too much," the monster with white skin and yellow eyes stepped inside.

"H-how did you get in?" her voice cracked from fear and misuse. Her whole body shook and she covered herself up as best she could.

That same petty smirk lit his face, "Well I thought you'd be happy to see me, after what I did for you last night..."

Her conscience laughed. That was definitely not for her, it was all for his sick, twisted pleasure. New reasons for her hatred of him.

"No...I'm not..." she spat, turning her eyes away from him.

He knelt down at the bathtub, one elbow on the edge and the other outstretched as he touched her cheek. She moved her face away from his reach.

"Oh?" he spoke in the same teasing voice as before, "You think you can stop me?"

Orihime didn't answer as she turned her head fully away.

It snapped right back quickly as he grabbed her arm. "Don't think stupid things like that. You're mine!" The hollow slammed his fist on the surface of the tub.

She stared at him, terrified at his sudden outburst.

"I already claimed you, nobody else can take you away. I can do whatever I want with you..." he looked down.

After a couple of seconds his eyes shot back up, "You know exactly how I like to spend my time with you."

–

Again, he left her. She lay there in the now empty bathtub like an abandoned rag doll. Her arms and legs were bruised, more so than before, and lined with cuts.

It was different this time, she was covered in her own blood. He'd laughed at loud as he hurt her for his own amusement. He would always enjoy watching her pain, without fail.

Orihime just couldn't gather the strength to fight back, and she knew that if she did, she wouldn't be able to stop him. He'd definitely cleared that up for her earlier.

Now she couldn't move again, she didn't want to. Her body felt so heavy that she was sure she was dead, somehow. Maybe her soul just happened to be connected still.

Maybe a hollow would come and eat her, then she'd have nothing to worry about any more. But why would a hollow eat her? There were so many better options out there, souls who would run from them, give them a little 'fun' before their meal.

She hated to think like that.

If she couldn't save herself, it didn't mean she couldn't try to help the other souls. In fact, she felt like killing hollows more than anything right now. That wasn't her, not at all.

She wasn't even herself now.

Her mind had been played with, messed up. She didn't know what to think about anything. She was confused, lost and lonely. But there was nobody there for her.

The thought kept on going around and around her head. If Sora was still here, she'd never know about hollows and she'd never have to face this. He would never have cared to look at her.

That sickening, demented hollow. The only thing she feared. Everything else she'd ever ran from, she would welcome with open arms now.

Worst of all, he'd left with the same words. 'I'll be back for you again soon.' She expected no less, she was his new toy, and he wanted to play with her.

He'd broken in, despite the windows and doors being locked. She'd find out the explanation if she observed the apartment, probably. But that would mean moving.

As curious as she was, the temptation of finding the answer wasn't enough to will her out of the bathroom. She felt disgusted again, maybe enough to bathe until the next morning.

There was no way around it, really, she'd have to attend school. People would come and find her, she'd have to tell them what happened to her. And nobody would believe it.

Perhaps five people in school would partly understand, with the hollow at least. Five people that for that reason, she didn't want to talk to. Not until she had hope of this stopping.

She certainly did not at this moment.

These events would haunt her for a long time, if not forever. It seemed like a routine of pain and despair.

–

Orihime had spent the night cleaning the blood off her body. She'd also made an attempt to hide the bruises and scratches, but it had partly failed. They were everywhere.

Her uniform did cover her arms, and she always wore socks up to her thighs. It was no trouble during the main part of the day, but she had Gym class.

The little outfit would easily show the mess her had left on her.

Despite all of her efforts with the clothing situation, her eyes already gave it all away. Though she was determined to keep it to herself and tell nobody, not even Tatsuki, it was obvious that people would suspect.

Streaks of darkness rested under her eyes, due to missing two days of sleep. She wasn't worried about falling asleep, she'd just have to pay attention. Work would be good, anyway. It would distract her from him.

Not completely him, the noxious hollow.

She set out on her journey, the long walk to school. It was a little earlier than she'd usually set off. For once, there was no bounce in her step, so it could take longer. She was thoroughly drained, and the ice that still lightly covered the pavement was proving to be an obstacle, like always.

As she stomped carefully across the surface, she remembered how much easier it was when she was running. That first night, only two days before, when she was running away from him.

Her mind warned her and shook the thought away.

Eventually, she arrived at school. It was more or less the same time as usual. The few other students that were there stared and whispered, observing the damsel wearily trudging through the corridor.

Perhaps they could have overlooked it, if she was an ordinary girl. But that was one thing she definitely was not. They would stare in envy normally, now they blinked and watched with confusion.

What do you think happened to her?

Maybe she has an abusive boyfriend.

Who?

I don't know, I'm just suggesting a possibility.

Well she could have tripped and fallen, you know how she is.

I doubt it, look at her eyes. She must of witnessed something really awful.

Yes, she had witnessed something that she could never forget, because she was the victim, and she would remain the victim until the cause of her problems grew bored.

If he ever grew bored.

She tried to block out their quiet conversations, hurrying along as fast as she could go.

Orihime reached the classroom at what felt like a safe time, at normal time. It could be argued, though.

"Hime!" Chizuru squealed bounding over to the door, and suddenly stopping in her tracks. She skidded to a halt and pushed her glasses up to focus. "What happened to you?" her expression turned serious, fierce.

The questioned girl watched blankly at her reaction, "I-it's none of your concern," her voice was cold and unforgiving. Before Chizuru could say anything else, Orihime turned and walked to her seat.

Her eyes drifted out of the window, watching the students messing around in the snow, throwing ice and jumping all over the place. She watched a certain orange-haired classmate come through the gate, effortlessly dodging the pointed shards flying around his head.

She held her breath and prepared to shut herself away from him, as much as possible. As she waited for him to arrive inside, she thought more and more about the hollow.

One fact she hadn't anticipated was that he could watch her all day, planning what to do the following night. Ichigo would have no idea at all.

He stepped inside and blocked Keigo's welcome, greeting Mizuiro and moving over to his own chair. It was dangerously close to Orihime's.

She didn't greet him. Not with the usual wave and cheery welcoming. She barely looked at him as he faced her.

Ichigo watched her for the rest of the morning.

After the first three lessons, he was thinking about asking her what was going on. He couldn't see her face, she'd turned away for the whole time. He would know a little more as soon as he saw her properly.

The class was dismissed and they waited. Ichigo looked at her, planning to follow as soon as she stood.

Though she didn't plan to move until he did. She was going to wait for him to leave and exit quickly, and spend her break as far away from him as possible.

She couldn't sense his movement, her head turned just enough for her to catch him looking at her. As she saw his plan, she jumped up and escaped quickly.

Ichigo followed with a confused sigh, slow-paced and unsure where to go. It seemed like she didn't want to talk, in fact, he could see that she definitely didn't want to talk.

Not that he'd been looking, but he noticed a bruise on her leg, just between the gap of her skirt and her long socks. And he couldn't see it given the amount of time she turned for, but there was something different about her face. More than anything now, he wanted to know why.

Somebody snickered in his head.

'What? What's funny?'

The hollow roared with laughter, "She hates you, King!"

'Maybe, she has the freedom to hate me if she wants. I don't care about that right now, do you have any idea what could be wrong with her?'

"...Why would you ask me?"

'You keep calling me stupid in a way that suggests you're smarter. What do you think?'

There was a short silence. "I think I have no idea."

He continued to walk, not daring to venture outside. There would be more idiots throwing ice around, or so he guessed. It was cold, staying somewhere indoors for fifteen minutes felt safer.

–

"Orihime!"

Ichigo called after her. It was the end of the day and he'd ran through half the school to catch up to her. Just like at break, she'd sure been in a hurry to get away from him.

She didn't turn. When she did last lesson, he saw it. He saw the marks on her face and how desperate she looked.

Orihime walked on, her already-fast pace getting quicker and quicker with every few steps. He was gaining on her.

Despite what she was doing, she'd feel really bad if she had to run. No matter what monster there may be beyond his human exterior, he was still Ichigo.

She shook her head at those thoughts and got back to the pavement. Now she started to consider sprinting back to her apartment. It could be risky on the ice, but she didn't want to talk to him.

Her walking stopped altogether. One foot lifted up, and she sprang forwards.

It only took a couple of steps for her to crash down onto the ground.

Nobody even looked at her, it was like she was invisible. They walked right past. Her heart was beating quickly, almost of much as it did when the hollow first made his visit. It slammed against her ribs as he called again.

"Orihime!"

Now, why didn't she just move? It was already too late, he was running up behind her. Ichigo knelt down at her side and placed one hand gently on her shoulder. "O-Orihime," he huffed, recovering from the running, "why...why did you ignore me? All day, what's wrong with you? How...did you get those scars and bruises?".

He'd briefly caught a glimpse of her during Gym. In fact, everybody had. Many rumours were born from that single hour with those uncovered secrets.

"Ichigo..." she whispered, straightening her legs, blushing at how close his face was to hers. "I...I can't..."

"What? What can't you-?"

"Answer."

He studied her face carefully, "What do you mean?"

"If I tell you..." she glanced up at his forehead by instinct, "...they'll know, and I'll be in trouble."

"Who cares," he shrugged, "I'm supposed to protect you. How can I do that if you won't tell me what's going on? Just tell me...why can't you say anything?"

One tear trickled down her cheek, "It's dangerous...h-he's dangerous. It'll be better if I deal with it myself. And that's why..." more tears started to fall down her face, "...I can't talk to you until it's over."

Ichigo didn't say a word, he only helped her up and closed his eyes. He left without even a simple goodbye.

Orihime finished in her head, 'If it's ever over.'

–

Boo!

I bet I scared you, right? I thought so...

So here's number 3! It took a little longer than I thought, I bought the The Hunger Games so I was a little pre-occupied with another obsession. Sorry, I'm trying to balance it.

Hoping for one or two more chapters before next Monday, shouldn't be too much of a problem. ^^

I'll have to point out, a review would REALLY help here. I'm unsure about the quality of the chapter, so I could do with your opinion, to help towards the next chapter. Please? ;)

~HellYus