Chapter 21: Hime
"Welcome to Las Noches . . . our palace." His voice drew out the last part of his speech as his mud brown eyes trailed down at the high school student that was on the lower half of the room. A small smile lingered on his lips while his fist was holding his face up, all the while noticing the irritation that was on Luppi's face.
Tora's gaze looked at the orange haired teen woman that stood there. She recognized the fear that was plastered on the cream face. In a way she didn't blame the woman to feel like that since she was taken from what she was comfortable with and put in a new environment.
"Inoue Orihime." Aizen stated as he watched for anything. "That's your name, isn't it?"
"Yes." It was almost soft, which Tora and the others expected since you were with the enemy that could kill you if you did something wrong. As Tora waited for anything that could come from the teen, her gaze flickered over to Grimmjow who looked like he saw better days.
"He'll be fine." Madoka reassured next to her friend and subordinate. Seeing her look back at her, she smiled. "Trust me."
Tora nodded and went to look back at what was going on in the large room that had other arrancar gathered besides espada that was part of the group that distracted.
"I'm sorry to rush you but . . . Orihime-chan . . ." Aizen's voice trailed off as his eyes sharpened into a slight glare, showing Orihime that he didn't want to be messed with. ". . . will you show me that power of yours?"
Blinking and feeling the spiritual pressure that was bearing down on all of them and not the guest, Tora had that feeling of getting away from it. She couldn't though. She had to stay by Madoka's side in case something happened and she had to guard the woman.
"Y-yes." Orihime's wavered as she staggered back a step. It felt like everything was closing in on her, making the room feel smaller then it was. Was it because of his spiritual pressure? Looking into the eyes that showed a bit of malice to keep the threat alive, she knew it was him.
"There are a few here . . . who aren't completely convinced of the value of your powers." Aizen clarified, seeing the fear shine bright in the brunette eyes of the teenager. Noticing the rest of the arrancar remain unmoved except for a few fracciónes, he turned his attention back to the high school student. "Isn't that right . . . Luppi?"
A growl started to rumble through Tora's chest. If it wasn't for the fact that Tôsen cut off and completely annihilated Grimmjow's arm, then he would still be the sexta espada. At least she was filled in by Gin and Madoka since he popped out of nowhere after they were done sparing. Narrowing her verde eyes at the espada, she had that urge to protect Grimmjow since it was him who needed it.
"Calm down and watch. I don't want to do anything to you later on." Madoka threatened as she grabbed a hold of her subordinate's shoulder, squeezing it to show that she still had control over her friend. Watching the verde eyes flash to him, she narrowed her. She could see the pain, and anger set in them from the news of Grimmjow losing his rank. "Watch."
"That's right. Our battle was just a diversion to get one stupid girl?" Luppi hissed with malice in his own voice. His eyes flickered over to the high school teenager that was standing with him. "How could she be worth it?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd get injured so severely." The ex captain of squad five almost taunted, watching the espada's reaction show the irritation he had toward him. It wouldn't work for his plans if his sexta espada – one of the stronger ones – got hurt so seriously from the reinforcements that were sent to the world of the living. "Ahh . . . what if . . . Orihime-chan . . . would you demonstrate your powers . . ." His voice trailed off, making some wonder what would come from him next. ". . . by healing Grimmjow's left arm?"
Tora barely had time to react to the news when Luppi blurted out, "Yeah right! That's crazy Aizen-sama! Grimmjow's arm? It's gone! Tôsen-sama chopped it off! How can you heal something that's gone? She's not a God!"
"Madoka-hime how can someone heal something that is gone like Luppi-sama says?" Tora inquired even if it left a taste that wasn't a fond thing of her when she said the new espada's name. Narrowing her eyes at the sexta espada, she growled once more.
"I'm not sure. Aizen took an interest in it." Gin pipped in as he stood next to Madoka with his eyes the same way, along with that smile.
"Sôten Kishun." Orihime's soft voice echoed in the room, shutting the murmurs that were going on in the room. "I . . . I reject."
Watching the glass like object spread over the area where his arm once was, Tora squatted down and tilted her head. Whatever the objects that make the shield or whatever it was made her curious. Blinking, the feline arrancar waited to see if the girl was for real or not.
"Hey! Did you hear what I said, girl? If you're trying to save your life with this stupid show, don't!" Luppi yelled as he pointed at the teenager that was so interesting to Aizen. "If it doesn't work, I'll kill you! If your powers are bogus . . . then there's no reason to keep . . . you . . . alive . . ."
As he started to pause, Tora's gaze, along with everyone else's, went to the guest. Seeing small parts that look like dust from where she stood with her master, Tora saw all it gather in the form of his arm. Before long, instead of an empty sleeve that flapped in the wind, it actually had an arm that functioned. The last bits of his hand were gathering, making a smile spread across Tora's face.
"Looks like someone's happy." Gin commented as he saw the feline arrancar shoot up from where she was crouching.
"Wha . . . ?" Luppi's finger started to fall to rest next to the rest of his fingers. It didn't seem possible to him.
Grimmjow's face held his own shock as he brought it up. Forming a fist over and over, feeling it again for the longest time, he just stared at it like it was foreign.
"H. . . How?" The sexta espada shrieked. "This goes . . . way beyond healing! What did you do girl!"
"Good question." Aizen said as his hand fell flat on the arm of the throne. "Ulquiorra believes it's a form of temporal or spatial regression."
"Yes." The cuarto espada answered.
"No way. How can a human possess such a power? It's impossible." Luppi stated with a waver in his voice compared to earlier when he was confident and ready to kill Orihime.
"Indeed. It's neither of those things." Aizen started to explain as his eyes went to look at Orihime who started to walk away from Grimmjow. "It is . . . a rejection of phenomena."
"A what?" Fear started to hit Luppi in waves, making him wonder why Aizen wanted the girl for her unusual powers that were hard to explain.
"Her powers limit, reject, and deny all phenomena that have affected her subject. She can make it as if the damage never happened. This is far more than . . . temporal or spatial regression. In face, it oversteps the limitations set by the Gods." The brunette haired man elucidated with a thin line for a mask. "Her powers . . . violate . . . divine law."
Shock ran through Luppi at the words that told him that she could become a God herself with the powers that she had. It didn't add up though since she was only a human.
Grimmjow didn't seem to bother with the explanation as he tested his arm. Rolling his wrist and forming more fists, his gaze trailed over to the teenager that was in the room. It seemed like the perfect time to get back what was once his. "Hey . . . girl. Heal . . . one more thing."
Orihime jogged over to where he pointed, using the same chant as before. Feeling the sexta espada's gaze on her, she wondered why it felt like a glare but it didn't bother her as she concentrated on what was at hand.
"What do you think you're doing . . . Grimmjow?" Luppi hissed as the six that once belonged to the light blue haired man appeared once more. Seeing the man turn, that same smile that could freeze anyone appeared on his face. Tora knew that smile from anywhere but all she could do was watch what would happen between Luppi and Grimmjow.
"Huh?" Jaegerjaques asked as that smile stretched across his face while his eyes held the look of a wild animal that was out for blood. Rushing up, Grimmjow plunged his left arm – up to the elbow – into the current sexta espada's torso.
"G. . ." Spitting up blood, Luppi glared up at the man that was always out for blood. "Grimmjow . . . you . . ."
"Just this. Bye-bye . . . sexta." The male arrancar said as his right hand was starting to shine bright as a cero gathered. Once it was at the strength he wanted it to be, he fired, destroying the top half of Luppi's body.
When it cleared, only showing the bottom half of the once sexta espada, blood started to fall from the fatal injury. As it fell to the floor, a laugh started to rumble through the area, only to consume the room. Tora knew that it was power hungry since it was the same one that he would use – at times – when they were fighting.
"It's back! My power's back! I am the sexta!" Grimmjow cheered with that laugh still echoing from his body. "The sexta espada! Grimmjow!"
"I kinda liked it when he was moping about it." Madoka commented as the laugh almost drowned her out. Seeing the fear of what she had done, she smirked. "You'll have to learn sooner or later what is going to happen Orihime."
"So that means that he's sexta again?" Tora questioned as she pointed down to the human teenager that was down there with Yammy, Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, and another arrancar. She wasn't sure who the new kid was but she looked down at the fear stricken young woman. "Is that it? It's time, maybe past my nap."
"Go ahead. I'm not stopping you." Madoka stated as she waved to her comrade.
Nodding Tora walked away from the couple and the other arrancars that were gathered for whatever Aizen wanted to showcase. Why would he want her anyway, Tora wondered as she walked down a hallway. "Maybe it's because of her unusual powers. Hell, I don't know. All I know is that he has his rank back. Hopefully he doesn't come after me because of it."
Closing her eyes as the arrancar woman went down another hall, a hum escaped her. "What is going on in that man's head? It's starting to scare me."
Opening the door, she stepped in and shut it behind her. Crossing the room quickly, she flopped down into the circular bed and curled up in a ball. Feeling the softness that made her smile every time, Tora grabbed a hold of a pillow and tucked it under her head. Tossing the covers over her, she smiled a little more.
Closing her eyes, she opened them when she heard the door opening with a slam as it hit the wall. Perking up as the curtain pulled back, she raised an eyebrow at Grimmjow who still had that smile on his face.
I don't own the lines that are with Orihime coming to Las Noches! I told you already that I'm tying Neko Tatakai with the actual Bleach story line. I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't look at the anime and not the manga for this scene, well I don't have the box set for that and I have no internet! It is depressing when I come up with new ones shots and stories actually typed and I can't put them out at that time. *Shows list of what needs to go out* so I have to wait until I can drag my laptop along and go to the library. It's a cliffy again! Please review.
Oh, forgot to mention! If you have a facebook, I made a page for ya'll to like. Its Neko Hoshi Okami Hime/Neko Hoshi. I try to update on it as much as I can with information as to how many chapters I've completed. I hope you like it.