Chapter 4: Behind the Mask
Back at the headquarters for Squad 11, prior to visiting the courtyard, Yumichika and Ikkaku are, again, lost for words.
"Wrestling?" Yumichika asks.
"What the hell is that?" wonders Ikkaku.
In a haphazard fashion, Orihime finds some random supplies at one of the Squad 11 desks, and she starts drawing out a wrestling mask, colouring it in, and with some scissors and string, she is able to fashion a make-shift mask and place it on her face.
Ikkaku and Yumichika stare.
"I still don't get it," says Ikkaku.
"Oh! Well…" Orihime's muffled voice comes from behind the mask, and so she flips it on top of her head and tries to mimic the movements of wrestling.
"Wrestling is a sport from the Human World. It's usually two people grappling with each other, jumping on top of each other, and flipping one another in a ring."
"A ring?" wonders Yumichika, picturing an actual wrestling ring.
"So it's a sport," says Ikkaku.
"Yes!" says Orihime. "And the more that the opponents grapple with each other, the more time they spend close to one another, and then they might be able to express how they're really feeling… I think?"
Ikkaku gives Orihime a look, "You really think that's going to work?"
Orihime puts her mask back on. "Well… Sometimes I think when it's hard to express how we're really feeling, we need something like a good 'one-two' in order to do that. At least, that's what's been happening, so we might as well fight in a controlled environment…"
Yumichika smiles at Orihime with her mask on. "You know, Orihime-chan, you might be onto something. But maybe let's not do away with the zanpakuto. After all, if we're talking about the living language of the Shinigami, let's not forget that zanpakuto are generated from the owner's soul."
"So then…!" starts Orihime.
"Yes, I think we can go ahead with something like what you've proposed. But we'll need your help."
—
"Masks?" wonders the Shinigami of Squad 11 as Orihime distributes the masks.
Orihime, Ikkaku, and Yumichika are now teaching everyone the rules.
"That's right," says Yumichika, from the front. "Those of you who have been wielding your zanpakuto without express permission, you will now be required to participate in our tournament. Ikkaku, if you would."
"The rules are simple!" says Ikakku, patting the cords of their makeshift wrestling ring. "The first who falls out of bounds loses. Moreover, those who upgrade to shikai or above are immediately disqualified. This is a sealed zanpakuto-only tournament, understand?"
"Why are we doing this?" wonders a Shinigami in the crowd.
A few others chime in.
"What do we get if we win?"
"And what are the masks for?"
"Did Captain Zaraki sanction this tournament?"
"That's quite enough," says Yumichika. "As for the reason for this tournament–Orihime-chan, if you would."
"Right," she says.
"You'll all be fighting behind a mask," she explains, "So use that time to make as many silly faces as you want!"
Everyone looks dumbfounded, questioning her, but Orihime stands firm. "Laugh if you want to, cry if you need to–while your zanpakuto is sealed and you can't express yourself in the way that you're used to, you're allowed to express how you really feel behind the mask."
"Um, if I may…" says a person wearing one of the wrestling masks.
"Ah, yes?" wonders Orihime.
"We… We lost Fuyuki in the Wandenreich. He was part of the mass burial rites, but… no one would know how positive a force he was just from his name being said."
"Oh, I see… Maybe you can tell me more about Fuyuki-san?" wonders Orihime.
As the Shinigami speaks up, more people behind the mask appear to want to say something, and Orihime hears them out.
Ikkaku looks at Yumichika, lifting up his mask. "Um, what the hell is going on?" he asks.
"Looks like everyone's just as fed up with the fighting as we are," says Yumichika.
"Now that's a shocker," says Ikkaku.
"Is it?" wonders Yumichika.
Ikkaku looks reflective, saying, "I mean, it's not like we're so heartless that we can't talk things out but…" He puts his mask back on. "This helps."
"As hideous as these things are, I do have to agree," says Yumichika with his mask on too.
Yumichika looks at a smiling Orihime, speaking with the men in masks and without masks who have circulated around her.
"Orihime-chan's presence has been a big help, too."