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 Pain was a by-product of the loss of a child's Innocence. It was brought about by an understanding that the world they lived in was not as perfect as they had thought.
(XXI)
The humongous hollow in front of her called her Other Half Ulquiorra. Orihime memorized the name, keeping her eyes trained on him, hoping to catch his gaze again Look at me. You. know who I am. Why won't you look at me?
She looked even when Tatsuki collapsed in her arms. She looked even when Chad lay in front of her in a mess of flesh and bones.
She activated her Shun Shun Rikka.
He finally looked at her.
Her ugly, hopeless treacherous and most of all Complete heart gave an ecstatic leap.
(XXII)
The world around her disappeared, reduced to simply the two of them.
She held his gaze even when Ichigo was beaten bloody. She held his gaze even when the other hollow hit her so hard, she was sent flying. Even after she was left with a broken arm and a concussion, she fought to keep herself awake, in case he looked at her again.
Despite the situation of her injured friends, she couldn't stop the tears when Urahara and Yoruichi appeared.
He didn't look back Don't leave. Please don't leave. I just found you as he left and the Emptiness returned.
(XXIII)
When she was bandaged up and healed good enough, Orihime once again took to wandering the streets of the Living World. However, this time, she didn't search for anyone and instead retreated to her daydreams and musings.
She realized soon enough that her Other Half was an enemy. It took days for the truth to settle in, and even longer for her to exhaust her tears.
She lost count of the nights she went to sleep with his name on her lips.
"Ulquiorra."
(XXIV)
When she had composed herself, she stared at her bedroom ceiling, wondering what to do. There were whispers of a war slithering around every corner and it put her on edge.
She hated violence by default; her hatred only increased with the realization that she would be fighting against her Other Half.
(XXV)
Of all the people she could go to, she went to Urahara. He greeted her cheerily, then paused when he noted her glassy expression. He invited her inside and offered her tea. When she took the cup, she noticed her hand trembling.
"I would like to sit out the war, Urahara-san."
He almost dropped his cup in surprise. Orihime thought she had shed all her tears. And yet, when the older man asked why, Inoue-san? she broke all over again.
(XXVI)
She fell asleep on the Urahara shop after sobbing out her discovery. Urahara had simply listened in muted horror, while Yoruichi in her cat form, comforted her.
Much to her relief, the candy shop owner agreed to her request, followed by a comforting pat to her head. Yoruichi licked away her tears, letting her press her face into her soft fur.
As soon as that had been dealt with, Orihime was out like light.
(XXVII)
The others came to visit her often, bringing along flowers and comforting words. They hoarded around Kisuke, shouting countless threats and curses at him. Apparently, he had told them that she was unfit to be in the front lines. He said it as if it had been his idea to put her on the side lines.
For hiding her cowardice and preserving her dignity and so much more, Urahara-san, Orihime would always be thankful to the older man.
(XXVIII)
Rukia came to visit again, comforting her, whispering kind and encouraging words to her. Rukia cursed the candy shop owner, and Orihime winced.
The female reaper saw the guilt on her features, and misunderstood its cause.
"You don't have to listen to Kisuke, Orihime. He doesn't know a thing about you. Don't let him make you think you are weak. Because you're not."
She could not be further away from the truth.
(XXIX)
Then, the guilt became too much for her to bear. The hysterical laugh that bubbled out Orihime's throat gave her away, along with the tears that had began to fall again. On Rukia's questions, Orihime simply shook her head.
"It's just that I feel lonely. I've felt lonely for years and I wasn't even aware. That's why, with the way things are, I feel kind of envious of you. And others."
Rukia didn't understand what she was talking about. Her eyebrows furrowed and she took a step back, as if looking at her for the first time.
Orihime waited for her to take in the dark bags beneath her puffy eyes, the clothes that hung off her now-thin shoulders, her pale skin.
"What happened, Orihime?"
She gave a watery smile.
"The time froze, Rukia."
They didn't talk about it again.
(XXX)
Rukia insisted they train. Too kind to refuse, Orihime followed along. She took Orihime to the Soul Society, where she met even more people.
Aizen's betrayal was still showing its effects. Looking at Momo made her sick, because she could easily be in the petite Shinigami's shoes.
Matsumoto Rangiku babbled when she was drunk, and Orihime was there when she began sobbing about Ichimaru Gin.
The pitiful, sorrowful, nauseous, pathetic, revolting sight made the aching in her heart grow into a gaping hole, much like the one she would one day see on her Soulmate's chest.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! Be sure to tell me what you think!