Hell On Earth: Extended edition! Enjoy and review!

6: Friends and Enemies

Something heavy banged on the door, catching the attention of the two girls. Tatsuki rose to her feet and tip-toed over to the door. She glanced back at Orihime and smiled reassuringly. You just calm down and I'll ge-"

Tatsuki was cut off by heavy breathing coming from behind the door. She backed away cautiously and hesitantly reached for the handle. An alarming cry made her jump and suddenly desperate pleas for help came from the unknown visitor outside.

"Oh no! He's bleeding again! Help us! Please?"

Tatsuke wrenched the door open and shrieked at the grim sight. She cupped her hands over her mouth and made a choking noise. Her legs trembled so much she could no longer support herself and she fell to her knees.

Orihime ran up to her friend. "Tatsuki what's wr-" She stopped dead in her tracks as her eyes became glued to the bloodied, beaten body of Ichigo.

"Ichi...go?"

The red haired man who carried the boy hurriedly pushed his way inside, dropping Ichigo at Orihime's feet. He stepped back as Inoue threw her arms around him and wept.

"Please heal him!" Renji begged, dropping to one knee.

Tatsuki cocked her head, intrigued by this man's words. She turned to Orihime and frowned. What's he talking about?"

Inoue ignored the question and screamed "Soten Kishun!"

Tatsuki tried to repeat herself but words failed her when Orihime's hair clips glowed with orange light and then flew out and soared over Ichigo, creating an orange barrier around him.

Tatsuke's jaw dropped and she watched on, stunned. "H-h-hime, what...what is that?"

Renji signalled for quiet, lifting his index finger and raising it to his lips. "Be quiet. She needs to concentrate."

Tatsuke studied the man and stared at his black kimono and the sword strapped to his side. She knew she had seen that before, but where? She searched her mind for the answer and found herself gazing at Ichigo. "That's it. The kimono and sword. You're like Ichigo. You're one of them!" She gave a short pause before continuing. "What are you?

The man turned to her with a fierce glare. "For now, I'm a friend. I'll explain later." The conversation ended there. Even if he was an ally he still seemed dangerous. For now they watched Orihime do her job.

Night had fallen and everyone sat around a small wooden table. Orihime had left Ichigo in the corner of the room where he could rest without being disturbed. He was still unconscious, but most of his shattered bones had been re-set and healed. Soon he would be in good health again.

Beside him lay Rukia. Captain Unohana had tended to her wounds earlier but without her zanpakuto's power the healing process was slow. Many of the horrible cuts and bruises remained and it was still a long way on the road to recovery.

The others gathered at the table, sitting in silence, nervously inspecting the strangers sitting with them. The awkward silence stretched on for far too long and eventually Tatsuki ended it.

She looked around at everyone and then slammed her fist on the table making a resonating 'boom'. "Okay...Um, what the fuck just happened? Why did all you people in Kimono's pop up unannounced with our two friends covered in blood and dying?"

Orihime scowled at Rukia after the word 'friends' was uttered.

"Then Inoue brings out two little flying things that heal Ichigo...I feel like I'm hallucinating! I mean is this even real?"

"They're shinigami."

Tatsuki whirled on Orihime. "What?"

"Ichigo and Rukia are shinigami as well." Inoue went on. She explained all she knew about shinigami and their world before explaining about her Shun Shun Rikka.

"They are my power. It's their duty to protect me. See look!" She called out their names and they tiny flying objects hovered around Tatsuki. They formed a little line-up so that she could study them.

Tatsuki's jaw dropped. "They...They're like...Little people!" She picked up one, a scarf wearing man with spiky black hair and a scar over one eye. His small webbed feet thrashed about as Tatsuki grabbed him by his two tiny arms.

"Oh, be careful with him. That's Tsubaki; he um...Has anger problems."

Tatsuke looked up from the little man and was kicked in the face by a tiny foot.

"Oww. What was that for?" She asked, rubbing her sore cheek.

"Because you were staring, I'm not a freak!" The tiny man replied.

Tatsuki giggled innocently. "Yes you are. You're the size of a toy."

Orihime winced in advance as Tsubaki attacked her friend. He showed on signs of stopping so she called them back inside her hair clips.

Another awkward silence ensued as Tatsuki tried to take in all that had happened.

Orihime glanced up at the clock; it was 12:15am. She yawned and stretched her arms wide. It's getting late, why don't we get some sleep?" Before anyone could answer she wandered over to a cupboard and took out a pile of blankets. She smiled warmly and gave a girly laugh. "We can have a sleep-over." For the first time in hours, everyone was smiling. It was a welcome relief.

When everyone was asleep Orihime rose from her bed with a hidden fury in her eyes. She tread softly over to Rukia and glared at her while bunching fists. She turned back to check the others were still asleep. Satisfied that she was alone she scooped Rukia up in her arms and strode over to the window.

Her usually bubbly, happy face shifted to a cruel, morose grin. "I won't let you stay here! We are no longer friends. If you ever come near Kurosaki again I will make you pay!"

She propped Rukia up while she opened the door. She then picked her back up and lifted her onto the windowsill.

"He's all mine. I'll never let you take him from me." She grunted as she threw Rukia out the window, to fall two storeys down onto the pavement. Even in the darkness Orihime could see blood trickle from Rukia's head.

Orihime gave one last glare at her former friend and then shut the window. She saw her menacing smile in the reflection of the cold glass and turned away, walking back to her bed and returned to the blissful world of sleep...

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