Title: The Pain That Binds Us
Author: disnaly
Main Pairing: Inoue Orihime x Cifer Ulquiorra.
Minor Pairings: Mentions of Kuchiki Rukia x Kurosaki Ichigo, Matsumoto Rangiku x Ichimaru Gin, Urahara Kisuke x Shihoun Yoruichi, Aizen Sosuke x Hinamori Momo.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original Bleach characters or the Bleach franchise.
Warning: Mentions and mild descriptions of violence. Hints at mature themes.
A/N: Each chapter will contain ten snippets, all in varying lengths. These take place before and throughout Orihime's captivity. The events are written in chronological order and do not follow the events of the anime.
Summary: In a world where Soulmates can feel each other's pain, Orihime was born with a Numb heart.
The Pain That Binds Us
Snippet Story
The most painful thing in the Three Worlds was watching a dead Soulmate die again. The Pain at that moment was felt by all hearts, Numb and Alive, alike.
(CXXXI)
Cradling Kuchiki Rukia's body, Kurosaki Ichigo turned into a hollow.
Ulquiorra didn't know whether to be surprised to annoyed. Even more so, hollow Ichigo's strength was devastating.
It cracked the pavement below his feet, creating craters as his reitsu went haywire. He--no, it. Whatever Kurosaki Ichigo has turned into is no human--threw its head back and screamed, a full-fledged Vaste Lorde, before hurtling towards Nnoitora.
Despite hollow Ichigo's strength and Rukia's alarmingly small distance from it, not a scratch landed on the petite shinigami.
(CXXXII)
The battle between Nnoitora and hollow Ichigo was embarrassingly quick; even quicker than the beating the Quinta had received from Ulquiorra days ago.
Apparently, Ulquiorra was next on his list, because the Vaste Lorde turned to him.
A few hits in and Ulquiorra had realized he was outmatched in his current state. Not only could the other hollow use sonido and high speed regeneration, but even techniques like cero were a part of his assault.
Ulquiorra realized soon enough what had to be done.He took a few steps back, pulling his zanpaktou in front of him. The clouds above thundered in response as he faced the hollow.
"Segunda Etapa."
(CXXXIII)
It was raining reishi. Ulquiorra could faintly hear the surprised yelps of soul reapers and hollows alike when the reishi dripped onto their skin, burning them.
Ulquiorra couldn't help but think of the one person who would have been unscathed in the face of his power.
No one had ever seen a hollow's second release. All eyes turn to him, horrified as they took in his new form. Even Aizen looked faintly surprised.
In his second release, his power was on another level, but hollow Ichigo didn't seem to take the hint. It continued its ruthless attacks, no intent behind its hits whatsoever safe for the intent to kill.
It wasn't strategizing, wasn't analyzing and wasn't thinking. Ulquiorra could use that to his advantage.
(CXXXIV)
Ulquiorra was careful in making his way towards Aizen, who was currently fighting Hirako Shinji and Kuchiki Byakuya. Despite his weakened state from the removal of the hokyokou and his injury, he seemed to be putting up a pretty good fight.
Ulquiorra allowed himself to be pushed back, watching as the hollow followed.
He watched as it leaned its head forward.
He watched as it powered up its cero.
He watched as it released it, the red sphere of pure reishi shooting towards him.
Then the time was right and the wait was over.
(CXXXV)
A burst of sonido and Ulquiorra was a few metres behind the hollow.
A flash of green and he had his lance ready.
A well-aimed throw and it was making its way to its target.
A thundering shake as it collided with the cero from behind.
An ear-splitting screech as both attacks absorbed each other, fighting for control.
A brown eye looked up at the noise, widening with surprise.
A lightening fast sonido, packed with all of Ulquiorra's hatred how ironic. Just when did I begin to feel? and resolve. He reached Aizen before the attack did, crouching low and clasping his claws around the Shinigami's sword.
(It seemed like a dumb thing to do but Ichimaru Gin had grabbed Aizen's sword before attacking, and Ichimaru was many things but dumb was not one of them.)
His other hand went to clamp around the hilt, where Aizen's own hands were holding onto his sword. The Shinigami was now rooted in place.
Hollow Ichigo shrieked again just as the sky lit up--green, red and black--and the lance pierced Sosuke Aizen's head.
The world exploded. The battlefield held its breath as the colours faded away, revealing nothing but a mess of blood, bones and white.
Somewhere in the distance, Hinamori Momo passed out.
(CXXXVI)
Ulquiorra straightened up, not caring for the blood that trailed down his face and other various wounds and burns on his chest. His horn was gone and one of his wings was smoking. He did nothing to stop the incoming attack from Hollow Ichigo.
He didn't even flinch as the sword pierced him, blood leaking down and dripping onto the ground.
He had high speed regeneration, but some wounds even he could not survive.
(CXXXVII)
Deep in the stomach of the underground prisons, Orihime screamed.
Pain was constricting her chest, bad enough to make her believe she might cough up blood. However, nothing but bile came out and she panted, sobbed and choked all at once.
Her wrists were raw, but she didn't care. She struggled against them, not noticing when they began to bleed.
Another scream tore from her throat, a sound so filled agony and heartache, it summoned her fairies. They didn't need to be told anything and immediately took to rejecting the handcuffs at her hands.
It wasn't long before the refined metal was nothing but pieces of impure aluminium at her feet.
(CXXXVIII)
Orihime ran faster than she ever had, moving closer and closer to the dissipating presence of her Soulmate. There were tears trailing down her face but she didn't care enough to wipe them away.
The scene was even worse than she had imagined. The boy she had once loved had his sword through the hollow she now loved.
When she screamed at him to stop, Ichigo, please please stop someone make him stop please, Ichigo's mask broke. He was pale and his eyes fluttered open, looking at her in surprise then horror as he realized just what have you done, Ichigo?
"Orihime?"
She didn't even hear him. She stumbled closer to her Other Half, her hands shaking as she tried to summon her fairies.
Ulquiorra was looking at her, his eyes cold and she knew he was angry in a way that said just look what you have done, Orihime. You could have stayed put and both of us would have been safe.
He was feeling angry and betrayed and so very selfish, she wasn't surprised when he gripped his sword tighter.
(CXXXIX)
"Would you be the one to kill me?"
"Who else has the right, but me?"
(CXXXX)
His free arm came around her before he flapped his wings and they both took to the air. Orihime could faintly hear the others shout but she couldn't be bothered to pay them any mind. This moment was for them and them only.
She didn't let go, even when they had landed, even when she felt his skin beneath her fingers begin crumbling into ash. The Pain was still there, vibrating beneath her own skin. Orihime felt his hand shift as he raised his sword.
"I'll be waiting for you." He murmured against her ear. Her hands tightened.
The sword cut clean through her stomach, blood spraying all around them. Orihime leaned her head against his chest, closed her eyes and smiled.
It was a long time before Urahara found her body. By then, Ulquiorra had turned completely to ash and Orihime's soul was long gone.
A/N 1: This chapter was quite difficult to write!! The worst thing about getting your characters stuck in a difficult situation is that your have to get them out of that situation too. Plus any fight Aizen is in, just makes things more complicated. I was forever thinking about how to off him, when he can just use his Kyoka Suigetsu to win. After all that time, this is what I came up with ,-)
A/N 2: Thank you so much for reading!! It means so much for me! Sorry again for the late update. On the bright side, we have only one chapter to go and I already have that written out! How do you think things will end up?