Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Hollow Charm ❯ Not Enthralled ( Chapter 15 )

Tite Kubo owns Bleach. I just borrowed the characters.

 

Not Enthralled

 

As she thought, trying to sift the lies from the truth, she remembered the terror his proximity had woken in her. What had he been suggesting? Rule by his side? What about the other Captain's. Weren't they meant to be the people who would be sharing his power? The sightless eyes of ex Captain Tosen did not scare her in the brief glimpse she had of the man, but the perpetual grin, ex Captain Ichimaru, disconcerted her. He smiled when nothing funny was happening; why was that? She did not wish to spend time with any of the former captains, or the Arrancar, but knew that she did not have the ability to choose. Her freedom to choose was now limited to two things.

 

The realisation that she had the power to reverse any event was the idea she clung to; that and the knowledge that Ichigo was attempting to rescue her. But why was she remaining here, in this room? She had the power to reverse events, and the power to destroy the Hyogyoku. Why remain a prisoner when only her word was keeping her. Did a promise made under duress hold?

 

While she thought she changed, her school clothes were not warm enough for Las Noches and if she wore the hated and slightly ludicrous uniform, she might blend in better. Briefly she wondered who had designed them. Their taste was questionable, especially after seeing the uniforms some of the female Arrancar wore. These designs could only be created by a man. The clothes she now wore were warmer but they felt strange against her skin. She did not like them but would wear them, for now.

 

What had Aizen actually said: that he was not responsible? She sat down, her hands gripping her knees as she examined the comment. He had made claims about his integrity and now was the time to think about them. If she could prove to herself that he was lying, then she would act. Instead of accepting that her power was limited, or the conventional methods to use it, she would explore its limits. Until now she had only used it to heal or protect, but there might be the possibility that she could find other uses. No one in the Seireitei or among the Vizards could understand her power or show her how to harness its' full potential.

 

First he had offered her a share of power, which she already doubted, and then he had told her that her friends were inconsequential and she knew he was wrong. Compliments to deflect her attention from his other words. The offer to allow her friends to leave, if they wished to do so. Orihime shook her head in denial. She knew how stubborn they were and they would not accept or trust an offer from the man unless he allowed her to return also.

 

The discussion about the key: that was the primary argument, that he would not destroy a town to obtain a key, that he was not the amoral person believed him to be.

 

Yet this was the man who had plotted for years within the Seireitei and formed an alliance with Hollows. He had engineered the near execution of Rukia, nearly killed Ichigo and broke the uneasy peace between the Divisions. When he had been thwarted of the execution he had almost murdered Rukia when extracting the Hyogyoku. The longer she thought, the more she distrusted his words and considered his regular reference to the charm. He wanted the charm for some reason. If he wanted the charm then she would make certain that he would never be able to gain possession of it. She must warn Ichigo, he must learn of this additional fact.

 

Suddenly and resolutely her mind was made up. She would not be obedient any longer, her agreement was fulfilled. She had come to Hueco Mundo and since she had arrived she found she could not trust any of the people she had met. In the future she would now be as honest with these people as they were with her. Lying did not come easily to her, but with all the examples of talented liars before her, she believed she could tell half truths, salving her conscience. These people wished to use her powers. If she healed, could she possibly change the healing to add an additional factor?

 

Before she made her escape attempt she would wait and plan and hope that Ichigo contacted her once more. If he did and her ideas were formed, then she would act, not before. The longer she delayed, the more likely it was that they believed that she was ready to agree to all their demands. That belief was essential in order for the scheme she was beginning to formulate.

 

The one matter that she had not pondered was how much she had loathed it when he touched her. Her instinctive reaction was to pull away from his hands, to ask that he not touch her, but she felt that he would like that response and it would not stop him. When he touched her she recalled the frisson of excitement she always felt when Ichigo was close to her. Maybe the man did hold a genuine liking for her, but doubt soured that belief. He had made it clear that her powers were useful to him, and from that he might decide that he would try a number of methods to keep her. It would not surprise her if he placed her in a situation where he would appear as her saviour in order to gain her gratitude, or at least use one of the Arrancar for that role. For him to take that role might be too obvious.

 

It was possible that he had been testing her reactions to his proximity and contact for him to decide which way he wished to use the situation. She closed her eyes and thought back to her initial interview with Aizen. She had healed Grimmjow, the Arrancar who had fought Ichigo and then he had killed the Arrancar who had been threatening her. He had done it out of revenge, but she could interpret the action as a form of protection. Was that Aizen's aim?

 

Ulquiorra was her guard. She felt no trust for him, as he had coerced her to accompany him. The threats had sounded real and it was hard not to believe that he would kill anyone who opposed him. If her ideas were correct then she…..

 

Again she saw a flickering at the side of the room and went over quickly, hoping it was Ichigo. Faintly she heard his voice and concentrated hard on his words.

 

“Rukia and Renji are here. This charm, Rukia tells me it's dangerous and I shouldn't use it. I had to talk to you.” Ichigo's voice was faint and his image blurred and distorted.

 

“Ichigo, Aizen wants the charm. Don't let him get it. I'm going to try to escape.”

 

Before she could say anything more the image vanished but not before she saw a look of pleased shock spread across Ichigo's face and a nod of approval. For a moment she wondered if this was Ichigo. Would he really encourage her to escape? Or did he believe in her ability to take action instead of waiting patiently for rescue? Waiting patiently was something she had done before and it had accomplished nothing. When she had finally taken action by using the charm instead of continually waiting for Ichigo to notice her it had hurt at first. He had rejected her, but then it had all worked out, hadn't it? Except for being abducted and held prisoner, it had worked.

 

Shaking her head she almost laughed. She knew Ichigo cared about her but he had cared before she was abducted.

 

Yet again she moved around the room, testing the wall, gauging the height of the window, noting that the room was a cell. The only way to escape was through the door, which was as she expected it to be. She summoned her powers.

 

“Can I reject the locking of the door?” she questioned them.

 

They looked at each other and shrugged. “Woman, what the frig are you talking about?” Tsubaki's harsh question did not surprise him. It was hard to believe he actually liked her the way he spoke to her, but she hoped that all his words were a screen to hide his kindness. It was hard to retain this belief sometimes.

 

“We can reject attacks and form a shield,” Lily said scratching her little chin. Orihime thought she looked cute, frowning as she considered the matter.

 

“We can reject damage behind the shield, but that's usually on flesh. I didn't like healing that Arrancar; he felt bad,” Shuno shuddered slightly as she spoke. “If we stay here you'll be forced to use us again on those beings to heal them. I'm sure the others would feel as bad, if not worse. You must escape.”

 

“But you know the powers you have. Can't you combine them in some way to make the shield force backwards? Or undo the lock?” The ideas that Orihime had hoped would free her seemed to be of no use.

 

“You are asking us to be something else. We are what we are; what you are or wished to be. For us to change, you have to change also,” Ayame said after hesitating.

 

“She won't change. She's a coward who can't even throw straight,” Tsubaki flew at Orihime who ducked fearing he was going to attack her. “See what I mean? A coward.”

 

“Tsubaki, be quiet. You are to stop insulting Orihime,” Baigon commanded.

 

“We will all co-operate. If you wish to be crushed again, Tsubaki, I am sure that we can arrange that. One more warning, ” there was a grim certainty to Hinagiku's voice that made Orihime believe that he would enforce his will to the disadvantage of the one complaining.

 

Tsubaki opened his mouth but facing the implacable expressions of the others he shut it quickly and glared. The other powers returned his glare until Lily started to laugh. Orihime looked at her confused. There was nothing funny happening.

 

“You sulk better than any of us Tsubaki. Now come on, you've been complaining until now that you wanted to more powerful, that Orihime was too weak and that was holding you back.”

 

This statement hurt Orihime slightly. She knew Tsubaki was rude to her, but underneath it she had not thought he resented her.

 

“The woman did all that training and she didn't improve much. Oh, yeah she got better at healing, but that doesn't help me. She got me crushed because she's so hopeless.”

 

The tears started from Orihime's eyes and she saw all the other powers round on Tsubaki as they yelled at him.

 

“Enough.”

 

“Stop it.”

 

“Behave.”

 

“Last warning,” reminded Hinagiku.

 

“Anyway, we remember how upset you were when Orihime was hurt by that Hollow,” Ayame said loudly.

 

Tsubaki was now completely encircled. He had his arms crossed and his forehead was creased in a deep frown. His foot was tapping impatiently while the other faced him, all with their arms crossed. None of them were frowning; instead they were all staring at him with determination. Orihime felt briefly happy that these looks were not directed at her otherwise she would be feeling very nervous.

 

“Okay. I'm impatient. Get off my case.” Tsubaki eventually said. “Sorry, woman.”

 

Orihime smiled and dried her tears. “How do I get stronger?”

 

“Learn to throw,” sniped Tsubaki, “or even better, learn to fight.”

 

“Don't listen to him. You've got to recognise your strengths. While you were training with Rukia you were going through the motions, but you forgot one thing about your powers,” Baigon had assumed a schoolmasterly tone which clashed badly with his appearance. Orihime had to control the corners of her mouth as they insisted on twisting into a smile.

 

“You think you're weak, therefore you are weak. If you think you are strong you have more chance of being strong.” Baigon continued.

 

“And if you think you're actually getting through to her, you're fooling yourself,” muttered Tsubaki who was flipped under the nose by Lily.

 

`You're not helping,' she informed him.

 

“He's right. I'm not strong,” Orihime felt all the hope slip out of her and her shoulders slumped. She may as well sit on the couch acting like a delicate princess, while she waited for someone to rescue her.

 

“Fool, of course you're strong. You survived your brother's death, living by yourself while still young; you saved Tatsuki and helped save Rukia. With my help you did some of that. If you say that you're weak, that means I'm weak,” raged Tsubaki who fluttered angrily in front of her face. “I'm not weak. I'm tough, a real fighter,” he asserted.

 

“Changed your mind, have you? Decided that she can be helped” Shuno said rasing her tiny eyebrow in amusement. “Orihime, we can do this. Remember, you are not alone; with us you are never alone.”

 

The words seemed to touch a part of her and Orihime nodded. “I think I can believe I am strong if I pretend I'm like Tatsuki,” she said.

 

“Fatal. You have to believe that you're Orihime and you can do this. Pretending to be someone else won't work. When you tried to get strong last time you were doing it for someone else,” Lily said, her sweet smile softening the words.

 

“That's what I've said all the time, woman. You have to want to be stronger for yourself, not for that orange haired Hollow lover. What you see in him….” Tsubaki's words were shut off as Baigon placed his, relative to size, large hand over his mouth.

 

“We are not here to talk about the Shinigami. Remember, Tsubaki, without him you would not exist,” he turned to Orihime. “However, he is correct. You have to want to be strong for yourself, not for another person, not for a noble cause, but because it is your aspiration.” he spoke heavily as Tsubaki tried to squirm out of his grip.

 

“But you can't pretend. You have to really want this,” Ayame warned her, fluttering in front of her, her eyes level with her. Her gaze was compassionate.

 

“Once you make this change you can't go back. Well, you can if a whole set of events happen, but they won't, and once you make the change you won't want to go back.” The warning from Hinagiku was firm and made her think.

 

“Does that mean I won't be able to heal anymore, or protect?” Her voice quavered as she asked the question.

 

Shuno smiled at her sweetly. “Your power to heal will still exist and may even be improved, but you will become more of a fighter. It's possible you may even come to enjoy fighting.”

 

Orihime found that hard to believe. Fighting was something she had never enjoyed and again she remembered that last fight she had with her brother before he died. Thinking about him helped make up her mind. Her brother had always told her she should be the best she could and if she had these powers she may as well improve them. Ichigo had changed, as had Chad. Maybe Uryu had changed too if he was able to come on this mission. Why should she be the one left behind?

 

Determination filled her. She would not remain a prisoner with these violent, deceitful people. She was certain now that all the assurances given her by Sosuke Aizen were lies. None of her friends liked the man. He was trying to obscure what he wanted but she recognised that if she agreed to help him he would eventually demand more from her until she had nothing left to give. Eventually he would require her complete obedience and possibly, from his earlier actions, he would try to seduce her. That last idea made her gag with revulsion. Then she felt shocked. She had allowed the man to touch her for the simple reason she had been scared to fight back. She would not allow that to happen again.

 

Looking around at the bright faces of her powers she could sense their excitement. Well, Tsubaki was still scowling and his face wasn't bright, but that was normal, for him. They were waiting her decision and it was easy to sense their hope for her choice.

 

“What do I have to do? You're not going to throw me down a pit and make me get out; or fight you for days; or wrestle a crocodile; or go through some weird training montage like they do in movies?” she asked. In some respects the idea of a training montage appealed to her, but she recognised there would be a lot of work in that. “Or will it be something really silly like clicking my heels together three times, or saying some words while I bind a rose with herbs, or do you want to expose me to Kryptonite, or make me drink a potion; or do I have to have an operation?” Her already overheated imagination was running havoc.

 

“Where did you get those crazy ideas?” Lily seemed stymied for a minute as she interrupted Orihime.

 

“Your way will consist of none of those. What do you think we are?” Ayame seemed shocked by the ideas.

 

“I don't know. I don't know who I am. I thought I was just an ordinary schoolgirl,” the words spilled out as Orihime reflected on her life. “I'm not sorry about the changes because it makes my life seem worthwhile. I know I have to change because life if about change, but it still scares me,” she briefly remembered the drawing of the future she had done for school. Maybe she was evolving into that Orihime in the picture without the robot part.

 

“Fear is natural. You know as much as we can tell you. It's for you to decide and do it quickly. I'm bored waiting for you to make up your mind.” This time Tsubaki spoke. Even though he was standing in mid air, he gave the impression that he was leaning on something. Orihime felt shocked that he had admitted fear was natural. It could not be more obvious that he wanted her to change unless he began writing the message over the walls.

 

It was hard to decide. No, that was not quite true. She had already made the decision, she wanted to change and no longer act like a princess, unless it was a warrior princess. For a few seconds she imagined she was clad in a leather bustier and skirt with long leather boots and a sword strapped to her back as she sneered at the enemies surrounding her. She could defeat this mishmash of humanity without even breathing hard and then she would return to her orange haired companion who would be watching admiringly as she protected him. Then they'd camp out for the night after swimming naked together in a nearby river. Under the stars they'd……

 

Blushing furiously, hoping that her powers could not read her thoughts, she banished the daydream. Fantasy was all very well but this was not the time. Later, before she fell asleep she could follow that idea through.

 

“I'll do it,” she said, her voice sounding breathless as the excitement within her grew. She felt the need for change, she wanted to change. The feeling flooded through her, increasing her determination to do whatever it took to make this transformation. If she could escape from here, then she could find the others and provide them with information and help. This was exhilarating.

 

“About time, woman,” Tsubaki snarled, but she thought he was pleased.

 

“Is it fast?” That was the one question Orihime needed to have answered.

 

“It's already happened,” Ayame said quietly, with undisguised joy in her tone.

 

“How can it have happened?” This made no sense to Orihime.

 

“You had done all the training and preparation prior to agreeing to come here. When you were helping to rescue Rukia your powers increased and your skill improved. You tried to fight the Arrancar, trained with Rukia, learnt from the Vizards, all this was the necessary preparation. The final ingredient was the right type of spirit energy which abounds here. The only thing missing was your commitment. When you made the decision and really believed you could change, you did.” The long speech both scared and impressed Orihime.

 

Then she looked at her powers and noticed that they had changed, noticeably changed. A subtle shift in their faces made then appear less restrained, more alien. Tsubaki now looked wild and he was wielding a lethal looking weapon. Each of them was now larger and stronger and they glowed with power.

 

“You've all changed,” she exclaimed.

 

“So have you, Orihime.” Lily told her, flying up to pat her on the cheek.

 

“But there's no mirror to see,” Shuno reminded her. “Appearance is unimportant. It's the power to change that we need to see.”

 

The speed of the change, the events that had brought her here, everything was so confusing. Orihime sat on the couch and clasped her hands together to hide their shaking.

 

“Are you going to sit there all day? Come on, let's get doing. I want to take down an Arrancar,” fidgeted Tsubaki.

 

“You'll need to learn the new words to invoke our new powers, but I agree with Tsubaki, let's get out of here. Do you wish to exit through the window, the wall, the door, the floor or the ceiling?” Baigon asked.

 

Orihime gazed at him, knowing her mouth had dropped open. “The ceiling? The floor?” It was not possible to keep the incredulity out of her voice.

 

“It depends on which new skill you wish to use,” Hinagiku explained.

 

“Outside. Let's go outside. I'm not sure if the door is guarded and if I walk around people will notice I've escaped,” Orihime decided, hoping that she had made the right choice.

 

“They'll notice as soon as they come for you. You won't have long, I believe,” Ayame told her.

 

Baigon, Lily and Hinagiku led her to the wall. “Hold out your hands and say `Relenquio' and imagine the wall breaking.”

 

“Can't we do something quieter?” The sound of a wall breaking might draw attention and Orihime did not want to be captured before she escaped.

 

“We'll try to keep it as quiet as we can,” there was a slight edge to Baigon's voice.

 

Swallowing hard, Orihime pushed out her hands and said, “Relenquio,” in an unsteady voice.

 

With a muffled thump the wall collapsed and the outside was revealed. Desert faced her, a cold night time desert that seemed to have no end. Away in the distance she could discern a cloud of dust. “Maybe that's Ichigo,” she said, hopefully.

 

“Stop gawking and start running woman,” Tsubaki ordered her.

 

“Call us when you need us again. That transformation was tiring and I need a rest,” Lily said yawning loudly.

 

Wishing her skirt was a little shorter, Orihime picked it up in her hands and began to run toward the commotion in the distance. The more space between her and Aizen, the more comfortable she would feel. If she ever felt him touch her again, she would not accept. New bravery coursed through her veins. She was stronger and she would fight.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------Author's Note:

 

First off: apologies for the pause between chapters. Serious thought was required to decide how to proceed. The ideas were germinating while writing the last chapter but someone said something in a review which annoyed the hell out of me.

 

The reason why I decided to continue? My muse began to bug me, telling me to grow up and show some maturity, some backbone, some spine, some chocolate and lemonade. She wants to finish this story as she had other plans. (Yeah, I want you to work on original stuff.)

 

The break with canon has now commenced. (About time too.) Let's see what happens next. (Aizen catches chickenpox?)

 

Thank you to the following for reviewing the story:

 

 

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