Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ A Continuing Threat ❯ Chapter 2

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

"I know this shield." the Arrancar said as he removed his sword from its surface and turned to find the person who cast it.

Orihime was racing towards Karin-chan. Keeping her shield in place she called Shuno and Ayame to being healing her.

The Arrancar was not making a move to attack them again so she stopped beside Karin-chan to see how bad the damage was. Her skin was already pale, her breathing was erratic and she was taking very short, fast breaths. Blood was trickling from her mouth; he must have hit her in the chest she thought. Karin-chan was obviously in a lot of pain but she wasn't crying.

Her voice was very weak and laced with pain as she tried to call out Orihime's name.

"Don't try to talk Karin-chan." Orihime rushed to silence the girl. She pushed her reiatsu even higher to try and speed the healing process. Normally she healed shinigami or Sado-kun or Ishida-kun who had high reiatsus like she did. Karin-chan had received a blow that looked to be a near deadly one and she didn't know how long it would take to heal. "Just relax and let me heal you."

The Arrancar laughed at Orihime's statement and she whipped her head around to face him. "You won't have time to heal him Inoue Orihime."

She was stunned. "How do you know my name?"

"I'm sure you don't remember me but I saw you often enough at Hueco Mundo." at the mention of that dreadful place Orihime gasped. "What? Just because you and your friends," he sneered the word, "took care of the Espada you thought you were done with us? Aizen did quite a few trials before he began making the caliber of Arrancar he wanted for the Espada. It seems you all never thought to look for the rest of us low ranking Arrancar. No matter. Now that Aizen is gone we can move about freely once again." He began circling her, dragging his sword along the road as he walked.

Orihime tried hard not to show her fear. She had gotten much better at fighting but that was against normal hollows. This Arrancar's reiatsu, though nowhere near the level the Espada had, was much higher than a hollow's and she didn't know how well she would do fighting him. She had to though. If she didn't defeat him Karin-chan's life was in danger. "What do you want? Why did you come here?" she asked.

"Oh I came to scout out the place. I wanted to see how strong you all were now after Aizen's defeat. You wanna know what I find so funny?"

Orihime couldn't help but think his face didn't look like he was amused at all.

"I get here and I can barely feel that bastard Kurosaki's reiatsu. Did he get mortally wounded or something in his fight against Aizen?"

She didn't answer him. She was confused though. Orihime hadn't seen Kurosaki-kun for a few days, they didn't have the same classes anymore, because she had been busy with her studies and clubs but the last time she saw him his reiatsu had still been the same as a normal humans. Meaning he didn't have any. She could never feel him anymore. Why did this Arrancar say he could feel him at all?

"You know it's not nice to ignore someone Orihime-chan." he lashed out at her with his sword and she jumped back, narrowly missing the blade.

He continued to swing away at her and she avoided his attacks while moving away from Karin-chan. She had to move the battle as far away from her as she could. She breifly glanced away to see that they had moved far enough away from the girl and he took advantage of it. When she looked back at him she only had time to move so the blade did not land a mortal blow but she took a hit to her left shoulder.

She cried out in pain and stumbled away from him, clutching her now bleeding shoulder. She couldn't heal herself because Karin-chan was still hurt to badly to remove her Soten Kisshun.

"Feel proud you will die by the hands of Ildefonso, Inoue Orihime. I know you healed some of my breathern so I will be merciful and give you a quick death." With that said he rushed towards her and swung his sword down hard, only to meet her shield once again.

She had been moving away from Karin-chan so she could use her shield. She didn't want him to be so close that he could attack either of them. She could only make one shield after all.

When she used it against him she saw the surprise in his eyes. Then came the rage. He slashed again and again at her shield but it did not break. Her powers had grown a lot over the past year.

"Bitch. You don't want my mercy, fine. Then I'll start by torturing that soft heart of yours." He used his sonido to flash away from her. She searched desperately for him and fear built once again in the pit of her stomach when she saw him in front of Karin-chan with his sword raised for attack.

She ran towards him again. If he attacked her Soten Kisshun it would break. It was not designed to withstand attacks, so Karin-chan was in danger again.

Orihime could feel her own temper igniting. She might be a happy, laid-back person but attacking the people the cared about was something unforgiveable in her mind. She quickly called her Santen Kesshun in front of Karin-chan and while he was distracted for that moment she attacked him. Forgetting all about Tsubaki for the moment she landed a high flying kick to the side of his head. The Arrancar went flying but she didn't stop. She ran after him and continued to land hit after hit while he was momentarily stunned.

"Woman, what are you doing! Calm down and finish this!" she could hear Tsubaki in her mind and with his words, she calmed down enough to drop back and call him forth.

"Tsubaki" he flew from her hairpin and waited in front of her for orders. "Koten Zanshun!"

He raced towards the Arrancar but Ildenfonso swept past him and grabbed Orihime around her throat, lifting her to eye level. She matched his stare but her fear was leaking into her own gaze. He had blood running down the side of his head from her attacks. He squeezed her throat harder and brought her face close to his own.

"I told you I would be merciful but you don't seem to want that." his voice was low and filled with hate as he spoke to her. "Have it your way, human. I warned you." He plunged his sword into her stomach.

Orihime couldn't find the strength to scream as his sword pierced her flesh. Pain unlike any she had ever known before ripped through her body. She couldn't scream, couldn't breath, could do nothing but hang from his hand and let the waves of pain rip her body apart. He wasn't done though. Before he removed the sword his twisted it violently tearing a huge hole into her slim torso. He ripped his sword from her and tossed her aside.

She landed on her back, facing Karin-chan. She thought she could hear her screaming but wasn't able to make out her words. She watched, helpless, as he approached Karin-chan once again.
No. No. This can't happen. I can't watch her die. Kurosaki-kun couldn't handle losing another family member. Orihime tried to move but was completely paralized by the pain and blood loss.

Do something. Think Orihime! I will not watch anyone die, never again. I will not. I will not. I WILL NOT!

Orihime's resolve hardend and even though she couldn't move she could feel her connection with her powers stronger than ever. As the Arrancar raised his sword against Karin-chan, once again she called to her powers.

Hinagiku, Baigon, Lily, trap him. At her orders the shield moved once again but now it slammed Ildenfenso into the ground and held him flat to it.

"What the hell is this!" he screamed and struggled but could not move the golden barrier.

Tsubaki-kun. Kill him.

Tsubaki's power had never been so great. His light was bright and much wider than ever before.
"This is how you should fight all the time woman!" Tsubaki yelled to the girl with a smile behind his mask. He shot into the sky above the trapped Arrancar then raced towards him at a blinding speed. He easily slipped through the shield and pierced through Ildenfenso's skull killing him instantly.

Once he was dead the Shun Shun Rika went to Orihime's side.

"Orihime-san, Orihime-san, can you hear me?" she couldn't tell who was talking to her and she didn't have the strength to answer.

"Don't close your eyes."

"Heal yourself Orihime-san."

"Woman, don't you dare do this shit."

Ah, Tsubaki-kun. How kind you truly are. Sorry everyone. She closed her eyes and let the mind-numbing pain consume her.



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Karin raced to Orihime's side. She still couldn't process what had just happened. She knew from Orihime's stories what the Arrancar were but she had never known they would be so powerful and frightening.

She stilled as she came close to Orihime. There was so much blood everywhere. When she got next to her she could clearly see the hole the Arrancar ripped into her stomach. She felt the bile rise in her throat and she had to make a conscious effort not to vomit at the sight of Orihime's internal organs being open for display.

She didn't even notice when she started crying but she felt the tears rolling down her cheeks anyway.

"Hey, Hey! Listen to me when I'm talking to you girl!" Karin recognized Orihime's power Tsubaki talking to her. She had met all of them one time a few months ago after she had begged Orihime to show her powers.

"What?" Karin replyed meekly.

"She's dying but she's not dead. You've got to hurry and help us if you want to save her. Our power is running out fast. She's somehow holding on to consciousness allowing us to remain here." Ayame said.

"What can I possibly do?"

"Isn't your father a shinigami?" the large one said. She couldn't think of his name at the moment.

Understanding flashed across her brain and she scrambled away to find her bag. She dropped to her knees next to it and frantically dialed her home. The few seconds it took for her father to answer the phone seemed like hours as she watched the blood continue to leak from Orihime's body.

"Kurosaki clini....."

"Dad! Dad!" she screamed into the phone.

"Karin. What's wrong?"

"Get over to Orihime's house now. You have to hurry. Do.....whatever it is you do to become a shinigami and hurry up! She's dying!" Karin closed the phone not giving him a chance to reply.

"We need to get out of the street Karin-chan. Do you think you can get her into the apartment?" Ayame asked.

Karin wiped the tears from her face and bent down to Orihime.

"I've got help coming. Please try to stay with me Orihime-nee." she whispered, her voice cracking with unshed tears, as she scooped the larger girl into her arms. She was glad she was a strong girl and she only faltered a few times under the red-head's weight.



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The scowling young teen glanced behind him again looking for a presence he knew he wouldn't find. Lately he had been feeling what he thought were faint traces of reiatsu but he knew that wasn't possible anymore. Regardless of the strange dreams he had been having.

Kurosaki Ichigo continued on his way home after leaving his job and annoying boss. He enjoyed it though. Being able to have a normal job that is. For too long in his life he had felt and seen ghosts and been able to interact with them. He willingly took the role as a substitute shinigami to protect his family and friends. Now that his powers were gone he was enjoying being a normal teenager.

At least he had been.

He had never been normal. As far back as he could remember he had always been able to see ghosts. He understood why now, seeing as how his father was a shinigami. With the ability gone, he had thrown himself into a normal high school life. He was enjoying school, hanging out with his friends, and saving money for college. However, it didn't take too long for him to grow restless.

He had been training and fighting almost non-stop for a year previously; now that he didn't have to, the inactivity was beginning to get to him. Sometimes at home he would notice Karin say something quietly to no one in particular or roll her eyes at a comment he couldn't hear and he found himself wondering who she was talking to and breifly wishing he could speak to them too.

He had always wished for a normal life and now that he had it he didn't know what to do with it. The mundane pace of a life without hollows was great for the first few months but he soon found himself needing more to do. He missed his sparing with Renji, his verbal banter with the midget Rukia, hell at this point he even kinda missed Kenpachi's crazy ass. He knew there was nothing he could do to get his powers back so he tried hard to push thoughts about his Soul Society companions from his mind.

He opened his front door and tensed for the attack he knew would come.

"Welcome home Ichigo!" his father yelled as he attempted to kick his son in the side. Ichigo retaliated by grabbing his fathers foot and throwing him into the wall.

Kurosaki Isshin pulled himself up while rubbing the soon to be knot forming on the back of his head. "Good job my son. I have nothing left to teach you as your father."

"You say that all the time yet you continue to attack me. Be normal old man!"

"Where's the fun in that?" he replied as he stode off towards the kitchen. Ichigo followed, not bothering to put his bag down yet.

"Where's Yuzu?" Ichigo asked his immature father.

"She's picking up groceries for dinner. She should be home soon. So tell me Ichigo, anything great happen today? Have you got a girl for daddy to meet yet?"

Ichigo averted his eyes from his fathers so he could try to calm his raging temper. "Forget it old man. I wouldn't tell you anything about my life even if there was something to tell."

Isshin sighed dramatically at his only son, "Ichigo my boy. You've got to loosen up. How are you ever gonna meet someone and make me some adorable grandchildren if you are always so mean and uptight?"

Ichigo grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge before answering him. "I'm too damn young to think about that!"

Before Isshin could reply the phone rang. He was closer so he answered. "Kurosaki clini..."

"Dad. Dad!" Ichigo turned to face his father. He could hear Karin's panic stricken voice over the phone from his position across the kitchen.

"Karin. What's wrong?" Isshin asked his daughter. He locked eyes with Ichigo. He had never heard his daughter sound so scared.

Ichigo's fists clenched as he waited to hear from Karin. He had only heard her sound so scared a couple of times in his life and each was when she had been attacked by a hollow. His knuckles were white by the time he finished that thought. If she was being attacked there was nothing he could do about it. He didn't have any power and he would have to rely on his father to do everything.

That was the one thing he had been most scared about when he awoke with his powers gone. He wouldn't be able to protect his family from any hollow attacks. Surprisingly, there had not been any. Or rather, if there had, he assumed his father had taken care of it and just never told him. Whatever the reason he was glad his family had been safe.

Karin's voice brought his focus back. "Get over to Orihime's house now. You have to hurry. Do.....whatever it is you do to become a shinigami and hurry up! She's dying!" Ichigo heard the line go dead. His eyes widened and the fists he had been making tightened even further at her words.

"Inoue." Dying? What was Karin talking about? All he knew was he had to hurry to her now.

He watched his father rush into his office and return with a black bag. He didn't pause in his stride, rather he called back to Ichigo. "Hurry up boy!"

The pair rushed out of the house hell bent towards Orihime's apartment.

You'd better be safe, Inoue.





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Nothing could have prepared him.

He knew no matter how long he lived he would never forget the sight he found when he rushed into Inoue's apartment.

When he opened the door his body tensed as the familiar metallic smell of blood hit his nostrils. Karin's muffled cries hit his ears as he walked further into the house.

He saw her, kneeling by Inoue, blood covering her chest and arms.

He knew it wasn't hers.

He almost couldn't make himself look down at her. He was scared. For the first time in a long time he was scared.

Her bright auburn hair was fanned around her, slightly damp from sweat and tinged with her blood. Her skin was pale, her lips turning a dusky shade. Ichigo could barely see the rise and fall of her chest. When he looked at her stomach, what he saw shocked him so badly his knees gave way.

Karin had finished ripping the material away so her flat stomach was bared. Blood covered her entire abdomen and pooled around her body. What horrified him was the fact that he could see the back of her shirt through the hole in her body. For a brief moment he wondered if this was what he looked like when Ulquiorra blasted him with the cero.

Isshin stopped beside his son and lost the grip on his bag. He saw Orihime's chest rise and was amazed she could still be breathing. He saw his daughter beside her and was taken aback by the blood covering her until he realized all of it belonged to the gentle woman beside her.

"Dad. Please, help her."
































































































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