Author's Note

Right, chapter 7. The only thing I feel the need to say right now is a self-promotion. Please check out my one shot that will reveal a truth you never knew about Aizen.

Now enjoy the chapter.

I shot up into a sitting position upon waking, ready to face down whatever scary monster had rescued me or was after me. Confusion was the only thing I faced as I found myself in my room.

"It wasn't a dream, was it?" I mused aloud, letting a pondering expression settle on my face. It had all felt so real, there was no way it was just a dream, but I was in my room and the door I had left open was closed. I searched my memories for some other evidence. It was raining and I ran around without shoes and fell to the ground, so I must have dirt and damp spots on my clothes! Feeling I'd find my proof, I pulled back the blankets and found … nothing, I was clean and dry. Aha! I took my umbrella outside and dropped it, so there was no way it could be in my room. I sprung out of my bed to check and … found the umbrella leaning against the dresser, though it did take a little while to find it. Guess I didn't remember correctly where I left it.

Sitting back down on my futon, I scratched my head and racked my brain for any other evidence that could prove that the horrifying, yet undeniably magical events of last night, were real. As scary as it was, I really hoped it wasn't a dream. I mean, it was magic, scary werewolf and demon thing magic, but magic none the less. And if there were scary magical things, who's to say there weren't nice magical things. In fact, now that I was thinking about it, the demon thing saved me and even asked me if I was alright. Maybe he was one of the nice magical things and just looked scary, like that pig-faced, yakuza looking man who was a nursery school teacher and lived in the same apartment building as me.

"Hurry up, Orihime! We're going to be late for school!"

I eeped at the sudden interruption to my thoughts and looked over to Rukia who had slammed my door open and come in.

"Oh, you're awake. Good, now get moving or we really will be late." she brusquely told me.

"Hai!" was my quick response with a smile and she gave me a small smile back before shutting the door behind her.

I got up and gathered my things then darted to the bathroom so I could get ready. Momo had made breakfast to go, but it was kind of strange, everyone had slept in, so we were all running late. With hurried goodbyes to Renji and Rangiku, we left for school and made it in just before the bell.

I was sitting bored in my history class, daydreaming about gnomes and sprites, nekomata and kirin, and all sorts of yokai and fairy tale creatures. I couldn't help myself, not after last night's events, or was it a dream? I frowned, it couldn't have been a dream. It was too real, even if it was in the realms of my wild imagination to have such a dream. I still had no proof though, I had even made a quick check outside for the sledge hammer the werewolf had carried, it wasn't there. I let out a small frustrated groan, I knew it was real! Why couldn't I find my proof?! Then I remembered, there was still one thing left to check. Guardian-kun's shrine. The werewolf had crashed into it! If the shrine was damaged then I'd have my proof!

After coming to this realization, I couldn't wait for school to end so I could check the shrine. I shot out of my seat the moment the bell rang and made a beeline for the door, until I bumped into someone.

"Sorry, sorry." I exclaimed. Oh, how clumsy of me! I was too busy trying to get away that I didn't realize I was on a collision course with someone.

"It's alright, Inoue-san. However, if you don't mind me asking, why are you in such a hurry? You know we have a handicrafts club meeting today, right?" the bespectacled boy gently asks me.

"Oh, I totally forgot. And, um, th-there-there was just something I wanted to check!" I stutter out. "Yeah, and, um, I was just worried about it, not that you need to worry about it, Ishida-kun!" I quickly reassure him, waving my hands quickly before my face.

"Um, right." comes his hesitant answer. "Let's get going then." He turns to take the lead to the room we hold the handicrafts club meetings in. I hesitate for a moment before I give in and follow him. The shrine isn't going anywhere, right?

The handicrafts club couldn't seem to pass by fast enough, but it eventually ended. I was one of the first to leave the room once the meeting was over, which was odd for me because I usually stay to help clean up, but I was so tired of waiting and really wanted to check Guardian-kun's shrine.

I got back to the temple quickly, but was then dragged into work seeing as I needed to tend to the garden the bunnies had wrecked yesterday and set precautions against further damages in the other gardens. I grumbled a bit to myself about being delayed yet again from checking for that last piece of evidence.

I finally finished my work with a little bit of time before dinner and was able to slip away to that old, barely there path. I couldn't help myself and practically flew down it. I skidded to a stop in the clearing and looked at the shrine. It looked exactly like it normally does. I sat down with a thump feeling fairly disappointed, the magic wasn't real, it had just been a dream.

When a warm breeze flowed around me, seemingly laced with concern, I looked up from my moping. "Sorry, Guardian-kun. It's nice to see you. I'm just feeling a little down today because I had this really realistic dream. There was a werewolf and this scary looking monster in it! But don't worry the monster was friendly, I think. And I really wanted it to be real because then magic would be real, and maybe you would be too." I finished the last sentence softly. I don't want him to think poorly of me, but in moments like this it's easy to question if he really did exist or if I was just talking to an inanimate object.

A gentle warmth wrapped around me like a blanket, as if to assure me that he was real. I'd never felt the presence I associated with Guardian-kun so strongly. I felt so safe and cared for, like nothing could go wrong here. "Thank you, Guardian-kun." I softly whisper and I can practically feel a hum of reply from him.

I pick myself up from the ground and head back for dinner. His warmth doesn't leave me until I'm halfway down the path and I truly appreciate the gesture. I may not have the solid proof I was looking for of the existence of the magical, but I have the conviction that it's there because Guardian-kun has shown me he's real, even if I never seen him.

I was so tempted to reveal myself to her when she told me why she was sad. I can't stand to sense her sorrow, it's even worse now that I can see it for myself. But I can't reveal myself, not yet, not when I still know she's safer being left in the dark. There are rules to play by in this stupid, hellish game that I was once a part of, a game I doubt I can escape while still alive, and one of them is to keep from dragging innocent, unknowing people into this world of magic and nightmares. As long as she doesn't know she'll be safe, I hope. The doubts are there though, because the opponents that I once fought against were ruthless and cruel. My belief that that rule would be followed was shattered before, because some bastards decided that breaking me was worth breaking them.

Besides the game, I can't reveal myself to her because the temple guards would definitely come to seal my ass if they found out I was free, screw the fact that I don't currently intend to continue the rampage that got me sealed in the first place. I doubt she'd snitch on me, but considering how open she is with me, I get the feeling she'd accidentally let it slip, try and pass it off as one of her fantasies, and they'd come check anyways because she reminded them that they ought to check up on me. And seriously, that'd be just my damn luck.

Now that she's made her visit though I can confidently leave the shrine box and train a bit to get used to actually being able to do stuff again. So I get to work because it's only a matter of time before trouble comes for me, and probably her too.

I noticed it, but that's to be expected of one with my skills. Okay, in all honesty, the only reason I noticed was because I was looking for it, but still, one with less skill than I would likely have still over looked such a faint and subtle mark as this, even when looking.

I suppose the only reason I looked is that she was acting oddly today and considering where she works, I could come up with some dangerous reasons for her rushed behavior. Most wouldn't have bothered, but it's my sworn duty to protect humans from the living nightmares that so few believe in anymore, and it is a duty I carry out with great pride. Of course, it's also hard to not feel protective of one as kind and innocent as her, so I may be willing to do a bit more than usual for her.

I reach out my senses to try and locate the beast that would dare to target this innocent girl. It barely takes me any time at all and comes from the exact area I expected. Her hunter is near the Daitaiyo temple. It will be tricky to deal with the creature without getting caught by the temple guards, but considering that it's barely on the temple grounds and the incompetent fools seem to have not noticed it, I believe I'm perfectly within my rights to go after it. I'll be cautious, give them a chance to deal with it, but I won't wait until it's too late.

On my honor as a Quincy, I won't let this beastly yokai hurt her.

Secondary Note

For those wondering, Orihime's not dirty because the rain washed her off, at least that's what I'm saying. The umbrella and sledge hammer were picked up by Yoruichi because she knows the value of secrecy. And if you want to know about the man Orihime mentions, look at the omakes in volume 50. I think that covers everything, if anything is confusing you, drop a line and I'll try to clear it up.

Please leave a comment/review and tell me how I did.