The air grew cold and tense, the weight of an unknown force pressing down on Orihime and Chizuru. With the vast blue expanse of the sky above, Chizuru tilted her head in confusion, trying to find the source of Orihime's distraction. "What are you looking at?" She asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. But to her, the skies were innocent and clear, not tainted by the spectral monstrosities that only a few, like Orihime, could perceive.
Oh no… This is really bad!, The blood in Orihime's face ran cold as she stared at the monster with a giant hole in its body, and menacing white mask.
"So you can see me, huh?" The creatures eyes narrowed at Orihime with an intense hunger.
Desperation surged through Orihime as the danger became undeniable. The paleness of her face was contrasted by the dark dread that filled her eyes. "Chizuru! Run! Now!" She screamed, her voice echoing in the quiet afternoon.
From the monster, a chilling voice resounded, thick with malevolence. "I won't let you get away!" it crooned, like the whispers of a nightmarish lullaby. The creature's head throbbed grotesquely, and then, with a forceful surge, a viscous liquid spewed in all directions. The world seemed to shatter in tandem as glass from nearby windows exploded outwards.
Chizuru, unaware and unprepared, was hit by the liquid's projectile. A piercing scream escaped her lips as she collapsed to the ground, the impact site on her clothes transforming from lime to a sickly mucous green. Orihime rushed to her friend's side, her heart threatening to burst from the rapid beat of fear and helplessness. Thoughts of Ichigo, Rukia, and their past encounters with these malevolent beings flashed through her mind. She had remembered all the things that they had tried to replace in her memories.
I don't think Ichigo is here! He left with Uryū and Rukia I think, Orihime realized, the fear she felt resonating with her emotions, tears fell down her eyes.
As Chizuru slowly regained consciousness, she caressed Orihime's face, her fingers trailing the tears that had begun to form. "Tears? Oh, Orihime, you're adorable even when crying," she whispered, her voice weak. She attempted to rise, revealing a bleeding wound. Despite her own pain, Chizuru tried to comfort Orihime, "I prefer seeing you laugh though."
Suddenly, Chizuru's grip on Orihime's arm became ironclad, her fingers digging into the flesh. Panic evident in her voice, she cried out, "My hand... I can't control it!"
Orihime winced in pain, "Stop, let go, it hurts!" She screamed out with her eyes closed trying to handle the sting of being gripped on her arm.
The eerie voice of the monster drifted towards them, "I use my seeds to control you humans, making you turn on each other, I usually hate violence, this saves me the trouble."
As Orihime struggled in Chizuru's vice-like grip, the sinister sounds of approaching footsteps sent chills down her spine. She turned to see fellow students, their eyes vacant, marching towards them with a single-minded purpose.
"What's going on?! What did you do to them!" Orihime panicked evident in her voice.
Elsewhere, Tatsuki emerged from the dojo, her mind buzzing with confusion about Orihime's earlier behavior.
I wonder why she was acting like that, Tatsuki wondered, she knows Orihime to, at time act strange and weird but that was a tinge of abnormal to her.
Tatsuki turned the corner and the scene before her dispelled all doubts. She saw the alarming scene in front of her, Orihime and Chizuru surrounded by a floating creature and zombie-like fellow students. Memories surged, reminding her of her own confrontation with such monsters when she was at Orihime's house or when she was saving her neighbor, Hana. The very sight of the squid-like creature sent a shiver of recognition through her. The old flame of resolve ignited in her chest, and with a determination born of a past battle, she dashed forward, leaving her bag behind, to confront the looming danger that threatened her friends.
"Orihime, Chizuru!" Tatsuki shouted in panic, her heart racing in her chest immediately.
The schoolyard had turned into a chaotic battleground. As Tatsuki stormed in, her athletic form moved fluidly with every punch and kick she landed on the entranced students. The sheer force of her martial arts skills was like a tornado, knocking students down in clusters.
"Just what the hell are you people doing!" She shouted as she took another student down with a kick to the gut.
"Tatsuki!" Orihime shouted above the cacophony, her voice laced with surprise and relief. "Can you see that creature too?"
With a fierce determination, Tatsuki's eyes locked onto the hovering monstrosity. "That ugly thing? Is it the reason everyone's acting like this?" Tatsuki's voice dripped with venom as she pointed at the creature, her fiery spirit all but igniting the air around her. "You messed with the wrong one! Anyone who makes Orihime cry has to deal with me!"
The hollow's eyes burned with an intensity that would've set ablaze the very air around it. That sinister smirk, twisted and malevolent, seemed to stretch impossibly wide across its face, as though mocking the very notion of hope. With a gesture as subtle as the flick of a tail, the remaining students—no longer with the spark of humanity but merely puppets on invisible strings—moved in on Tatsuki, their steps synchronized and robotic, an eerie embodiment of predators closing in for the kill.
But Tatsuki, the fierce warrior that she was, stood defiant. Her heart pulsed loudly in her ears, a rhythmic reminder of her undying willpower. The sun's rays gleamed off her sweat-drenched skin, casting her in an ethereal glow as if she had descended from the heavens to face this dark force.
The students lunged at her, their faces devoid of emotion, only a hollowed hunger in their eyes. But to Tatsuki, they seemed to move in slow motion. With the grace and precision of a student of martial artist, she danced around them, her moves poetic in their lethality. Each twist, each turn, each kick, and punch were an artwork of motion, calculated to the millisecond.
A vicious spinning kick here, a flurry of punches there—Tatsuki was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It was as if she had tapped into some reservoir of energy, with each movement she made. The very ground beneath her feet seemed to vibrate, resonating with her indomitable spirit.
Students that dared approach her found themselves flying backward, as if hit by a gust of wind, their bodies crumpling to the ground, incapacitated by her precise strikes. The hollow, watching from a distance, saw not just a girl but a tempest, a force of nature that refused to be tamed. The once mocking smirk on its face now faltered, replaced by a dawning realization that it might have underestimated the human spirit it sought to crush.
"Is that all you've got? Can no one give me a challenge?" Tatsuki taunted, her voice echoing with a power that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it. The challenge hung in the air, a bold declaration of war against the darkness that sought to consume her world.
But the tide turned swiftly when Chizuru, with an uncanny strength, grabbed Tatsuki. The confusion and desperation in Chizuru's eyes were evident, a silent plea for help, even as her hand tightened. "Run, Tatsuki!" she gasped, the veins in her arm bulging with unnatural power. "What's happening to me?" She breathed out with rapid concern.
Before Tatsuki could react, seeds from the hollow's head struck her shoulder. As she fell, her vision swam, and the hollow's voice echoed eerily. "How does it feel? Your body will soon be mine to manipulate do with, what I will!" The hollow floated downward to Tatsuki's level.
Tarsuki slowly got up from her downed form, with a fierce, "Shut up!" Yelling at the creature.
The hollow was confused and shocked, "What" it questioned out loud.
Tatsuki finally stood on her two feet and looked defiantly at the squid hollow, "I said, shut up!"
"Come now, soon your body will be mine, see look" Its tentacle, cold and slimy, brushed her face.
Using every ounce of her remaining strength, Tatsuki bit down on it, her teeth sinking through the squishy flesh, causing the creature to howl in agony. With a swift motion of her head, Tatsuki severed the tentacle violently off of the hollow's body. Blood splattered on Tatsuki's clothes and face, as the hollow shrieked in an otherworldly roar. The air was thick with tension as the hollow retaliated, pelting Tatsuki with more seeds, its voice dripping with malevolence. "I don't need you, now die!"
Tatsuki slowly fell to the ground, with Orihime in her sight. Orihime broke free from the controlled students, her eyes glistening with tears as she raced towards Tatsuki, her heart heavy with fear and frustration.
Please don't cry, Orihime, Tatsuki never liked when Orihime would cry, it made her angry that any one could make her friend cry.
The last thing Tatsuki saw before darkness consumed her was Orihime's face, a picture of anguish and resolve, her friend's tears shining like the most precious of gems in the dwindling sunlight.
The world around Tatsuki swam into focus, each detail sharper, clearer, yet marred by a thick veil of malevolence. Her body no longer felt like her own, each movement dictated by a malefic puppeteer pulling invisible strings. The hollow's dark energy coursed through her veins, turning every inch of her into a weapon, a mere extension of its wicked will. The full weight of her foot drove into Orihime's abdomen, the brutal impact echoing in Tatsuki's ears, her soul screaming in silent protest.
No! No! I… I hurt Orihime, no please, gain control of yourself, Tatsuki screamed within her head, but to no avail.
The gut-wrenching sensation of betraying her dear friend tore at Tatsuki's heart, rendering it raw and vulnerable. Salty tears traced her cheeks, testament to the internal battle waging inside her. The hollow reveled in its dominion, intoxicated by the exquisite pain it elicited from its puppet's consciousness.
Orihime, with her auburn hair cascading like a waterfall, crumpled to her knees, the breath forced out of her. But as she looked up, her gaze, once soft, now blazed with an unyielding spirit. With strength born from the deepest recesses of her soul, she reached out and wrapped her arms around Tatsuki, her embrace as if trying to shield her from the world's cruelty. "Please don't cry," Orihime whispered, each word heavy with emotion, "because this time, Tatsuki, I will be your shield."
Orihime…, Tatsuki felt a rare sense of vulnerability as Orihime put her arms around her.
Suddenly, an arcane energy pulsated within Orihime. It was a power, wild and untamed, roused by her fierce determination to protect. It felt like a dormant volcano coming to life, every molecule in her body vibrating in harmony. Her hair pins, seemingly innocuous, glowed with an otherworldly radiance, splitting apart to herald a force the world had never seen.
The atmosphere grew thick with anticipation. A tempestuous cyclone erupted, its core being the two girls, its winds a protective barrier against the world's darkness. Students were hurled like mere leaves in a storm, and even the hollow, that once-mighty embodiment of malevolence, staggered under the onslaught.
As the maelstrom began to wane, Orihime stood tall, her usually gentle demeanor replaced by an unquenchable fire. Her hair, freed from its confines, fluttered like a battle flag in the wind. Meeting the hollow's malevolent eyes, she declared, "Tatsuki might have warned you, but she didn't go far enough. When you threatened her, you invited your own doom." Her voice, steely and unwavering, echoed throughout the space, "Anyone, ANYONE who dares hurt Tatsuki, will answer to ME!" The hollow, for the first time, felt a flicker of genuine fear, gazing into the icy eyes of the protector it had underestimated.
A dazzling aura, akin to moonlight's soft gleam, surrounded Orihime as diminutive beings, fashioned eerily similar to her hairpins, swirled around her. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the hollow's eyes wide with incredulity, its age-old confidence replaced by stupefaction.
The aura in the area grew more palpable, the hollow's once-menacing air now visibly waning. With a quiver in its voice, a product of its astonishment and fear, it exclaimed, "How? How can this be? You're a mere human! When did you get this power!?"
From the corner of her eye, Orihime observed Tatsuki regaining control, her body less puppet-like, the hollow's puppeteering power weakening. Tatsuki's eyes remained closed and her body limp on the ground at a safe distance. Orihime's gaze then shifted upwards, captivated by the spinning creatures around her, each exuding an enigmatic charm.
"Who are you?" Orihime asked the flying entities.
One of the hairpin entities, its voice dripping with playful sarcasm, chimed in, "Really? After all this time, you finally take notice?" A silvery feminine voice followed, "Of course, she knows we exist! We've always been there, right by her side, haven't we?" This entity floated gracefully, revealing her likeness to Orihime's hairpins, now fashioned as iridescent wings, shimmering with every flutter. She continued, with a sweet smile that radiated warmth, "Hello, Orihime. We are the Shun Shun Rikka - the guardians of your soul, and we are here to protect you."
Orihime, in a bewildered tone, responded, "Fairies? Flying around and talking?"
The female entity chuckled, "That's quite a reaction. To clarify, we're not mere fairies. We are fragments of your very soul, representing the different facets of you. And yes, while you can see us, a few exceptional beings like Ichigo Kurosaki might as well."
"Wait, Ichigo, why him?" Orihime queried, her forehead creasing with confusion. the female entity responded, "Well yeah, it's also because of him that we were born in the-" before the entity could continue, a male counterpart, with a mask concealing his identity, cut in, nudging her aside rather rudely, "She talks way too much." He stared intently at Orihime, asserting, "All you need to know is that we are a part of your power. The origins and stories can wait."
The ethereal backdrop was thick with tension, a convergence of powerful spiritual energies battling for dominance. The hollow, ancient and menacing, eyed Orihime with a mixture of confusion and amusement. Meanwhile, the celestial realm of the Shun Shun Rikka, Orihime's ethereal guardians, was abuzz with activity.
Orihime's cheeky retort resonated in this charged atmosphere, "You seem pretty bossy for someone so small." Against the backdrop of impending doom, the irony was rich.
The small entity huffed indignantly, "Very funny. Enough with the pleasantries. Learn to harness our power. NOW!" His voice echoing an urgency, arms crossed in a stern posture.
Another, more gentle in demeanor but equally assertive, explained, "Our energy can be channeled to form a shield. It's your only defense against spiritual attacks."
Yet another added, "The shield's activation lies in a union of your heart and our kotodama, the spirit chant."
Orihime, lost amidst this flurry of instructions, hesitated, "Ku...kutadama?" As the hollow readied its assault, one of the fairies screamed, "It's launching an attack!"
The hollow descended, its eyes a fiery pit of rage, locking onto Orihime. It taunted, "Conversing with the air, are we?" With a ferocious roar, it released a volley of lethal projectiles, each carrying a promise of devastation.
Amidst this chaos, a brave fairy named Hinagiku soared forth, "Quickly, Orihime! Invoke our names!"
The cacophony of names ensued: "I'm Hinagiku" the pink male fairy shouted, "I'm Baigon!" shouted a robust figure, "And I'm Lily," chirped a delicate one. Beside Orihime, the first fairy reiterated, "Stay calm, call forth Hinagiku, Baigon, and Lily!"
As the barrage neared, Orihime's voice, clear and powerful, rang out, echoing the words of the fairies, "Hinagiku, Baigon, Lily!"
Then the three fairies shouted their next instructions "Saten Kesshun, I reject!", Orihime then repeated the words that seemed to vibrate from her soul, "Saten Kesshun, Saten Kesshun, I reject!"
Almost instantly, a triangular golden barrier, radiant as the sun, sprang to life. It was the manifestation of Orihime's newfound power, and it repelled the onslaught effortlessly.
One of the fairies, her ethereal wings shimmering, explained, "This shield, Orihime, isn't just a barrier. It can negate, reject and reverse any harm within its confines."
Floating gracefully to the wounded Tatsuki, she introduced herself, "I am Shuno," and another chimed in, "And I, Ayame."
With newfound confidence, Orihime invoked their names and chanted, "Soten Kisshun, I reject!" The two fairies conjured a restorative dome around Tatsuki. Within moments, the hurt and pain were reversed, as if time itself had been turned back, and Tatsuki's wounds vanished, leaving her renewed but unconscious still.
A palpable tension saturated the air, as the imposing hollow, still regaining its bearings from the surprise of Orihime's newfound abilities, shifted its malevolent focus. The atmosphere was thick, a heady mix of hope, desperation, and defiance. Each spectral gust of wind whispered tales of battles past and the countless souls that had graced this very ground.
Hovering at Orihime's shoulder was Tsubaki, the feistiest of her ethereal guardians. His energy was electric, crackling with an indomitable spirit that belied his diminutive form. "Enough dawdling!" he barked, "I can do both, I can fly into the enemy and blow a hole in them by generating a shield inside, cutting the enemy in half. My name is Tsubaki! Show that hollow the true force that lies dormant within you! Say my name, and my kotodama and let our combined force be its end!"
Every fiber of Orihime's being resonated with determination. Drawing upon an inner reservoir of strength, she bellowed, her voice a clarion call in the midst of chaos, "Tsubaki! Koten Zanshun, I reject!"
Propelled by Orihime's words and resolve, Tsubaki morphed into a comet of brilliance. His trajectory was singular: straight through the heart of darkness. The golden shield that wrapped around him seemed to concentrate his very essence, honing it to a razor-sharp point. With an earth-shattering impact, he pierced the hollow, splitting it asunder.
The hollow, its once fearsome visage now marred by disbelief, splintered. Its mask, the very embodiment of its sinister spirit, lay in tatters. With a guttural cry that echoed the lament of a fallen titan, it rasped, "Impossible!" Its essence evaporated, dispersed into the winds of time.
As the dust settled and the remnants of the battle began to fade, the weight of her exertion came crashing down on Orihime. With a final, victorious yet exhausted breath, she whispered, "I-I did it," before succumbing to the darkness that beckoned her into its embrace.
Floating around their fallen protector, the fairies exchanged glances of pride and concern. Shuno, the maternal figure among them, remarked, "It was her first time harnessing our power; it's no wonder she's spent." With a collective nod, they began their ascent, gracefully transitioning back to their dormant states as hairpins, always ready to awaken once more when called upon.
High atop the school, ensconced in shadows, a behemoth of a hollow perched like a grotesque gargoyle. The looming structure of the school only amplified its enormity. The setting sun cast long, eerie shadows over its form, turning the grotesque creature into a living silhouette of malevolence. Its mask was an otherworldly white, a stark contrast to the crimson hues of the setting sun, seeming to be chiseled from the very nightmares of children.
Its eyes were pools of malevolent amber, piercing through the twilight, reflecting a malicious glee as they surveyed the scene below. The creature's elongated, spindly arms hung limply, but their very length suggested a reach that could snatch a soul from any corner of the vast school grounds. Their disproportionate nature only enhanced the sense of unease they brought about, hinting at an unnaturalness that defied understanding.
With a gurgling chortle that seemed to echo in the chilly evening air, the hollow mused to itself, its voice dripping with twisted delight. "Ah, what fine luck I have today!" it crooned, voice as rough as gravel, "A veritable feast sprawled before me, each soul juicier than the last. And all thanks to that little morsel down there."
Its laughter was a haunting cacophony, like the clattering of bones and the whispering of lost souls. It echoed eerily, reverberating through the empty school corridors, each note dripping with dark promises and sinister intentions.
Unseen by all, the lurking presence of this monstrosity was an omen of the impending storm, a harbinger of a darkness yet to unfold.
Chapter Japanese Translations to know:
Kotodama: Spirit Chant
(盾舜六花) Shun Shun Rikka: Literal translation - Six Flowers of the Hibiscus Shield; Viz translations - Six Princess Shielding Flowers
(三天結盾) Saten Kesshun: Three Sacred Links Shield
(双天帰盾) Soten Kesshun: Twin Sacred Return Shield
(孤天斬盾) Koten Zanshun: Solitary Sacred Cutting Shield