Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Bleach original Characters; they are all thanks to Kubo for my being able to write about them. Enjoy!
"Santen Kesshun, I reject!"
Orihime's scream pierced the air as her shield shattered right before her eyes, the twisted form of the Hollow looming over her with its spidery legs dug into the ground where her shield had been only moments before. Claws surrounded her, horrible jagged things that grasped and tore at Orihime's unprotected body without mercy. Arms began to wrap around her, slowly constricting around her neck as she desperately cried "Koten Zanshun!" Light burst out of the Shun Shun Rika as Tsubaki shot forward, slicing away all the wreathing limbs until he freed Orihime's body. The Hollow howled in pain with a sound so shrill that Orihime had to cover her ears, flinching away from the creature as it jerked violently to the side and fell against the wall of the alley. She didn't pity it, not exactly, but she couldn't stand hearing that awful shriek any longer, that horrible sound like shattering glass and human screaming... "Koten Zanshun!"she called, watching as Tsubaki flew forward and sliced it in half with his beam of light, silencing it. After a moment of hovering in the air, he quietly returned to his place in her hairclip.
'Is... It over?' she thought numbly, slumping against the nearest wall. Orihime was shaking, staring blankly at the thing that had tried to kill her just a few seconds ago. How had it broken through her shield? It had just smashed right through her protective barrier, yet Tsubaki had killed it so easily.. A quiet sound in front of her jolted her back into reality, its source making her freeze in fear. Right before her eyes the Hollow started to move towards itself, its body piecing together as it stood. It looked as if nothing had happened to it. 'No... That's impossible...' Orihime thought in terror. Turning, it fixed its burning eyes on her, its mask frozen in a demonic grin. She couldn't move, couldn't speak; fear knotted in her stomach, paralyzing her despite her mind screaming for her to run. She only had time to blink before it grabbed her, lifting her up and throwing her against the ground. Sharp spikes of pain jabbed at her dulled senses as the Hollow dug its claws into her, tearing stinging lines across her skin. Crimson blossomed through her clothes as blood slowly began to trickle from her mouth, a dense cold spreading from her fingertips to her chest. Everything was so blurred now, so cold. Orihime was starting to fall unconscious when she noticed something else in front of her, the woman from before. Only, it wasn't a strange woman... It was Orihime.
...
"Orihime.."
".. What could have happened to her?"
"Is she going to be ok?"
Voices... All around her a jumble of voices. Who were they, and why were they talking about her? There were faint sounds all around her, barely making it through the cotton clouding up her brain. With a small groan of pain Orihime slowly sat up, her eyes squinting against the sudden brightness. Why was it so bright? The last thing she remembered was an alley before everything went dark... "Hey! Orihime's awake" a voice called to the others, jolting her out of her thoughts. Tatsuki quickly rushed into the room, hugging Orihime as the other 'voices' came in behind her. Uryu was standing beside her- he must have been the one that had just spoken. As her eyes adjusted she began to see the room more clearly, Ichigo, Chad, and Rukia all appearing from the formerly blurry haze. Orihime looked around at the group in confusion, wondering what they were all doing there "Huh? Where am I?" she asked. Everyone around her looked so worried, but it wasn't that that confused her. They all looked at her like... Like she had done something. Tatsuki looked like something was bothering her, worry clouding her face "Orihime... You've been out for almost a whole day. Someone found you unconscious in an alley a few hours after you had left my house" she said quietly. She hesitated before continuing, looking intensely uncomfortable "Covered in what looked like self-inflicted injuries... And a bloody piece of glass in your hand."
Note: Like the story so far? Leave a review! ... Poor Orihime. I was going to do more with this chapter but I just didn't have it in me, I guess.. :/
I should probably warn you, I'm thinking about making this or something else a dark love story. Not sure how that'll go- or if I'll even actually do it- yet, but just putting it out there. If you have a comments about that or anything else feel free to leave 'em in the reviews section, I'd love to read them!
Posted: 11-23-12
