Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Hollow Charm ❯ Deal or No Deal? ( Chapter 18 )

Tite Kubo owns Bleach. I just borrowed the characters.

 

Deal or No Deal?

 

“What the hell are you promising? Orihime, you can't stay here. We came here to rescue you, ignoring all the orders to the contrary,” Rukia burst out, her shock evident.

 

“I didn't ask you to save me,” Orihime said. The news that they had ignored orders didn't surprise her as much as it once might have. It was true she had hoped that her friends would not ignore her and would come for her, but everything had changed. Ichigo wanted to marry her and she wanted the world to be safe for them. When she left Hueco Mundo she didn't want the threat of the coming war to still be there. All this made her consider her options carefully.

 

Knowing that the Arrancar wanted to see her use her new abilities and watch her fight indicated something to her. Had they been watching her, all the time she was locked in the room? Had they seen her conversation with her powers? Would they have heard anything? She had learnt to communicate with her powers mentally so they might have just seen the change.

 

Then the realisation grew within her and she covered her mouth instinctively with her hand. They might have seen her talking to Ichigo and knew that he had brought the charm with him. Now she had the charm, and if she lost would they find it? Could Mr Aizen sense it? How could she hide it? If the charm fell into his hands it would be bad, for all of them. Yet, she needed it to follow her plan through so there was no point in giving it to someone else for safe keeping. As she frantically tried to find a solution to the problem the discussion continued around her. While she knew she sounded ungrateful there was a reason for her seeming rudeness. Time was an important factor in her plan and while she hoped she could win, she knew she must try to lose.

 

“The friendship we share is reason enough to attempt your liberation,” Uryu said. “Did you think we could allow the traitors to gain another victory?” He sighted along his bow as if considering loosing an attack on the Arrancar, but then the bow disappeared from his hands. “Wielding weapons during discussions does not assist,” was his soft explanation.

 

“I have to do this, Rukia. I'm pleased you came after me, but you've put yourself at risk and I'd hate to think of anything bad happening to you because you tried to help me,” if she could stop feeling guilt for this situation it would help, but it wasn't possible. Guilt, relief and frustration were mixed as she again cast a yearning glance at Ichigo. The struggle was still going on, but he seemed to be a little more in control since she had removed the charm.

 

“You don't have to do this. It is your sense of honour that has shaped your decision,” Chad stated firmly. “I respect that, but urge caution.”

 

Nodding at his comment Orihime knew what he meant. He didn't trust the Arrancar. The expression he was wearing as he looked at Yammy indicated that he was determined to fight the person who had insulted him and then injured him without seeming to find it even interesting. His pride demanded that he be given the chance to return the damage. Even if she won against whichever person she had to fight, there was a feeling of doubt that they would be permitted to leave without any further interference. She couldn't' trust them, but it would provide a chance to test her new skills. If the fight was fair, which she doubted it would be, then she could stretch her abilities little by little.

 

From what she understood her protecting and healing powers were now also able to fight, providing more chances to attack. “Who will I be fighting?” was the first question she thought to ask.

 

“As I will be fighting the Quincy, and you have already injured two of the fighters, I believe I should let you battle Yammy,” Ulquiorra said reflectively.

 

“That's not fair,” Rukia protested. “He's so much bigger than her and anyway, Chad wants to fight him.”

 

Yammy smiled and looked at Chad with contempt. It was obvious he remembered his previous easy victory against the wild card power, but then he wouldn't know how hard Chad had been training. Orihime wished that she had been given the same opportunity. It wasn't that she didn't trust Rukia's training, but Chad had been assisted by a former captain and a vice captain. The shopkeeper had trained Chad for days, devoting his attention to improving his skills making her feel that he believed that Chad's ability deserved nurturing. Remembering how disparaging Mr Urahara had been of her powers made her cheeks flame with shame and anger and she dragged her eyes from Chad to again glance at Ichigo. Her love had been assisted by the Vizards who had all spent time trying to assist him in gaining control of the Hollow. Uryu had been trained by his father. Each of them had been encouraged and assisted by people experienced in their particular skills, but no one aside from Rukia had helped her and Orihime suspected it had been due to pity. As she looked at Ichigo she noticed traces of black danced across the whites of his eyes and it was obvious that the internal battle continued. Immediately she felt guilty about her uncharitable thoughts and returned her attention to the conversation.

 

“So now we have three fights. Hey, does that mean I can fight someone too? Do you want to fight someone Rukia?” Renji suddenly seemed very interested in the idea of fighting a new enemy. He surveyed the people facing them, his eyes skipping between Cirruci and Gantenbein as if assessing which he would prefer as a foe. It was noticeable his gaze lingered on Cirruci and he stared at Rukia as if considering how she would look dressed in the same manner.

 

Catching his stare, Rukia cuffed him around the ear. “I'll fight you it you don't shut up. And I wouldn't wear that sort of clothing unless I had a lobotomy first,” she said sternly as she observed their enemies. Her face mirrored her worry and Orihime hoped that she wasn't causing her friend additional concern, but knew that she was. “No, I don't intend to battle unless I have to. Let the big brute fight Chad. Choose someone else for Orihime.” Her hands were fisted on her hips as she fiercely made the demand of the Arrancar.

 

Her words made Orihime hope. She was scared of Yammy, even if her powers were increased; the man had hurt so many people. Even Ms Yoruichi had been hurt when she attacked him and that was something Orihime had not expected. Secretly she blamed both Yammy and Ulquiorra for making Ichigo decide to go and seek assistance from the Vizard's, but she could not blame them for his continuing problem with his Hollow even if she wanted to.

 

“You believe that you can instruct me? How interesting. To humour you I will permit your friend, who failed so spectacularly before, to fight Yammy. As for the woman, I'm not sure,” Ulquiorra gazed at Orihime thoughtfully.

 

Uryu immediately moved into the Espada's line of vision. “Why don't you think about it while you fight me? You indicated that you were interested in seeing my abilities and I'm eager to witness how you fight.” He smiled grimly and his stature seemed to grow as he spoke.

 

“How rude. I didn't know humans would be so arrogant,” Cirruci said her face echoing the shock at Uryu's words.

 

“You're rude too. I don't like you and I'd bet dat Itsygo don't like you either. You look like a nasty person,” Nel said and then popped her thumb into her mouth as she gazed wide eyed at the people facing them. The surprised look on her face indicated that she hadn't expected to draw attention to herself and now regretted that she had spoken.

 

“It's all right Nel,” Pesche reassured her. `I don't like her either. She seems a little flighty.” He posed nonchalantly as if expecting to be admired by Cirruci but she simple lifted a lip and sneered at him, not bothering to answer. Quickly dropping the macho pose he hid behind Dordogne while muttering about strange females who were immune to his charm. Dordogne glanced around and then shrugged as he drew closer, talking softly to Nel.

 

“Don't worry about her don'tcha know. She probably hasn't got any friends like you do don'tcha know. There, there Nelly. It will be all right, don'tcha know.”

 

While she watched the interchange, Orihime wondered why she was allowing anyone to make her choice for her. She didn't want to fight Yammy, Loly or Menoly. The only person she really wanted to fight was Ulquiorra. She stepped next to Uryu, determined to speak on her own behalf and not allow anyone to dictate what would happen to her.

 

“You. I want to fight you,” she said solidly to the green eyed Espada. “You threatened me and made me come to this horrible place with you. I didn't want to leave Ichigo and my friends. I won't let you bully me again.” Unconsciously she mimicked Rukia, putting her hands on her hips and leaning forward. This man made her so angry, assuming a superiority over them all that had not been proven.

 

She heard a gasp from Rukia and protests from her other friends but didn't want to hear what they had to say. This was to be her encounter and it was the right opportunity to let people know that the changes to her were not only in appearance.

 

Ulquiorra's gaze now passed to her and he observed her with little interest. “I do not believe that will be a challenge and I'm meant to be guarding you, not battling you.” Even though his face did not change, the tone dismissed her and her defiance.

 

The insult made Orihime flinch slightly. He spoke to her with such condescension that she wanted to show him that she was a worthy adversary. “I won't fight anyone else. You lied to me, I know you did, so I'd come here and I don't like liars. You've treated me like a thing, not a person, the whole time I've been here.”

 

His eyes widened slightly and Cirruci laughed stridently. “He treats everyone like that, except for his sainted Lord Aizen: the Divine presence amongst us.”

 

Ulquiorra turned a blank gaze on the female and she smiled at him, showing her eye teeth. She didn't appear to display the respect he obviously felt he deserved, so he turned his back on her and glanced briefly at Orihime. “We have been through the changes wrought by the Hyogyoku which have made us more than we could have hoped to become. We are superior,” he told Orihime, his face impassive. “You are of no interest to me except that Lord Aizen entrusted you to me.”

 

The anger she normally suppressed and ignored began to come to the surface. Since she had fought with her brother the day he died she had been unwilling to allow anger to overwhelm her. From the time of his death she had indulged in the emotion only a few times, for example the first time her powers manifested. Yet now, after everything she had experienced after her brother had been killed, her rage was permitted to manifest as anger, not the normal tears which surfaced too readily and were a poor substitute.

 

“I don't care who you think you are or what you think about me. You will fight me, I will win and we will leave.” She tried to keep the assurance in her voice that she didn't feel. It was important that no one guessed what she planned. For the sake of Ichigo and the others it had to be convincing.

 

“I will gladly yield my adversary to you, Orihime,” Uryu said nodding at her in understanding. “I acknowledge that it is wise to challenge those people who have threatened you to overcome your fear.”

 

Smiling tentatively at Uryu she again acknowledged that he often understood so clearly how she was feeling. It was a mark of his friendship that he had never disparaged her powers and was always very supportive of her abilities.

 

“I'm bored with all this talking. Can I fight mine now?” Yammy `asked'. It appeared to be a question, but the inference was that he would fight with or without Ulquiorra's permission.

 

Chad straightened and responded, “I would prefer to have this fight now. Let us begin. We don't need permission.”

 

They moved to one side. The tension between them thickened and Orihime noticed that both of them seemed to be drawing in the spirit particles that abounded in this place. Chad's arm glowed, surrounded by a clear blue light that she hadn't seen before, and it was impressed on her how they had all changed so much since the original mission to Soul Society. For a second a glimpse of memory crossed her mind about a card game. Then some strange flashes about an amusement park. As soon as the memories surfaced, they faded leaving her with an uneasy feeling that there was something missing.

 

“Wait,” Ulquiorra said, but neither of them listened to him. He sighed and said “Very well. Fight if you have to, but I expect you to make this quick Yammy.”

 

“No, I will be the one to make it quick.” Chad stood and Orihime watched as the blue light deepened and his arm transformed. It was different to the last time she had seen it. It seemed larger and more powerful; now it was an even more imposing weapon. For a heartbeat she wished that her power was so obvious or at least, less understated.

 

Yammy seemed confident that his superior size would make him the winner easily. He smiled jeeringly at Chad. “Little human, you will die. Say goodbye to your friends.”

 

“Why don't you say goodbye to your friends,” Chad replied without seeming to worry what the Arrancar was saying. “Assuming these people here are your friends.”

 

“An Espada does not need friends, only followers or Fraccions,” Yammy blustered. He cast a look at Ulquiorra but the Espada was looking at the horizon, appearing disinterested in the forthcoming fight. A momentary expression of disappointment crossed Yammy's face. Orihime guessed that he had been looking for reassurance and possibly and expression of friendship, but had been disappointed by the lack of emotion and support.

 

Chad raised an eyebrow in silence and waited. The wind blew, ruffling Chad's hair and causing a momentary distraction as the atmosphere became more fraught. Wondering who would act first, Orihime looked at Yammy and then at Chad. Yammy was already starting to look impatient.

 

Bellowing the Arrancar ran at Chad, reaching out a large hand to sweep him to one side while the other reached out to grab his head.

 

“Not this time,” Chad said and directed his blast at Yammy, not the arm but the foot. Yammy ignored the attack as easily as if it hadn't happened and kept his forward momentum.

 

“You make even less impact than last time,” he commented as he came closer. “Why do you try? Ulquiorra, should I kill him?”

 

“If you wish to, you may. It makes no difference because the woman is staying and the rubbish can either return to their pitiful world or die here. Lord Aizen has no interest in them and nor do I,” the Espada said as he placed his hands indifferently in his pockets.

 

“I'll be furious if you die now Chad, after I spent all that time training you,” Renji said quickly.

 

“Who said anything about dying?” Chad asked reasonably. He moved out of the way of Yammy's first blow, apparently unconcerned that his first attack hadn't seemed to harm his opponent.

 

“Wenji did, just then. And the one you're fighting said something about killin'. Weren't you listening Chaddy? I was listening and I heard them, but I don't think Itsygo can hear because he seems to be stuck. Can I help him? If I use my magic healing stuff maybe he'll get all better,” Nel said.

 

Orihime had forgotten the little girl was there. She walked over to her and crouched down to talk to her, not wishing to witness the fight between Chad and Yammy. She hoped that Chad would win but she remembered watching the Espada fight and how quickly he had overcome both her, Chad and, and, and Ichigo. She had hesitated admitting that Ichigo had failed when he faced the Espada even though she knew the reason for the failure; it seemed to detract from all the efforts and sacrifices made by her future husband. Realising what she had just thought she couldn't prevent the smile that immediately formed on her lips.

 

“Chad will be fine,” she tried to assure the little girl. “Ichigo is better left to solve his own problem. He has a special problem and I don't think any of us can really help him, even if we want to.” She watched as the hope in the little girl's face faded. “He'll get better soon,” she said trying to infuse her words with belief, but knew that she felt uncertain about the result of this latest struggle between Hollow and Ichigo. She couldn't do anything to help him.

 

“Why aren't you helping him?” Ayame asked curiously.

 

The question stunned Orihime. Help who? She glanced toward the fight and wondered if Ayame meant Chad? He would be insulted if she tried to help him and she couldn't see how it was possible without seeming to interfere.

 

“I don't think it would be fair. He's wanted to fight Yammy; I think that's his name, without any help. If I tried to help it would make him feel that the victory wasn't his own,” Orihime explained.

 

She felt a little disturbed that they didn't seem to understand the etiquette of fighting battles, because they seemed so particular about following most unwritten rules. She looked at Ayame who was hovering in front of her face. Again the difference between this Ayame and the previous one struck her. The wildness of her face only increased her cuteness but also made her feel a little wary. The many events since the change had not permitted her time to examine her new powers or attempt to work with them. The one attempt to use her powers had been a failure. Not a complete failure, but it proved that the control was less certain and she would again need to work on them. Would all the time she had spent on summoning without saying the words aloud be lost? Even if it wasn't she would have to work on learning the new words and forms and remembering the hours she had spent on that made her cringe slightly.

 

Noticing her timid reaction she squared her shoulders and tried to push away her fears. Soon she would have to face Ulquiorra in battle and allowing all the doubts surface now would only make her chances at victory grow less.

 

“Not him. Why aren't you helping Ichigo?” Lily asked this question.

 

“You told me you didn't know anything about Hollows. I thought it was a battle he had to fight by himself but taking away the charm would help him. What else can I do?” Her voice wavered as she eagerly asked the question. If there was anything she could do to help Ichigo she would, immediately, without fearing any problems it might cause for her.

 

“Now the charm is away from him we have been able to examine the nexus that hold both Ichigo and his Hollow within the same body. You are aware that if the Hollow dies, Ichigo will die also,” Lily placed her hand gently on Orihime's cheek as she told her the unwelcome news.

 

The news did not shock her. The struggles she had witnessed between Ichigo and his Hollow and the encounters with the Vizards proved that once this transformation had occurred there was no method to reverse the process. All the time, while she had acknowledged that Ichigo was having problems with his Hollow, she had hoped there would be a solution that would mean that one day Ichigo could return to how he was and no longer share his mind and body with the creature he loathed. It had been a faint hope but it faded. Now she learned that it would not be possible to separate the two and if she loved Ichigo she had to accept the part of him that terrified her.

 

As dread assailed her she was still aware of the fight that was progressing between Yammy and Chad. Instead of being an easy battle, the fight had not been won in the first few moments. She could hear Yammy swearing at Chad, asking why he wasn't dead.

 

“Stupid human. Lie down now. You should be dead,” Yammy ordered loudly. Looking at the Arrancar she could see he had difficulty believing that the fight was not over and he was still facing an enemy he thought inferior.

 

“You could lie down if you're tired,” Chad said as he wiped the blood from his chest. “Then maybe one of your `friends' might remove that unsightly blood that's staining your clothes.”

 

“You're bleeding too, garbage,” Yammy panted. He was not looking well. Sweat beaded his forehead and he was unsteady on his feet.

 

With a start Orihime noticed that the place Chad had first directed his attack had become a mishmash of bone and flesh. The foot was no longer whole; nor was the Arrancar's right arm while Chad only seemed to show superficial wounds to his chest. That Chad was faring better than the Arrancar who had bested him so recently made a spark of hope flare in her.

 

“You speak as big as your body but your actions are small. I was hoping for a challenge but you are more like a training exercise than a real test,” Chad was telling Yammy. “I thought you might even make me sweat, but instead all I feel is disinterest.”

 

Yammy, who had been swaying on his feet until this stood tall and faced Chad squarely. “You won't win. I can tell that you're almost beaten. Give up now.” He was panting between the words and swallowed loudly.

 

“Can I have a turn? This fight is boring me,” Cirruci said as she yawned loudly. She raked Yammy with a scathing glance. A mocking smile on her face she continued, “I thought you were meant to be better than I, but I can see that you're weaker than those you call garbage.”

 

Spinning around Yammy roared at her. “Shut up. This is my fight and you're garbage, just like the rest of them.”

 

Her laugh only angered the large Arrancar more. Fascinated, Orihime watched them as they ignored the human and Shinigami's and began to concentrate on the obvious hatred that they bore for each other.

 

A sharp tug on her hair made her look at Tsubaki whose eyes were glinting with malice as he pulled sharply on her hair again. “Lily was talking to you and ignored her. I thought you supposed to `lurve' this weirdo Shinigami or something and when you have a chance to help him you watch a dull fight between two ugly, stupid Hollows.”

 

His control over his hovering was wavering and he was shooting up and down as he spoke; only tethered by her hair which was yanked each time he reached the end of his swing. It hurt, but the words stung her more as he was speaking the truth. She always thought that Ichigo was the most important person in her life, the whole centre of her existence and yet she was allowing all the events that were happening around her to take her attention from him, even when Lily had told her that there was a chance she could help.

 

“What can I do?” The words were more a whisper. With the way her powers had worked last time she was uncertain how well anything she did would succeed. Did she dare take the risk, or was she still the same scared person she was before she had taken the decision to change? Even as she spoke the words the doubt almost made her add, “And will it work?”

 

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Author's Note:

 

*These tend to get a little crazy. In case you didn't guess my muses comments are in brackets. We might be heading for a trial separation.*

 

Another long delay between chapters. Part of the reason was the completion of Court or Caught? which some of you may know is actually part of this story. It is now the prequel to Orihime's Groundhog Day and this is the sequel to that story. There was the added factor that my muse is no longer talking to me. (Shhh. I'm watching `Heat Guy'. Go away. Find another muse, or you could give me some more lime and vodka.)

 

At least they're the reasons I'm giving for the delay. The other ones are mind numbingly dull and have something to do with reality, so let's avoid them. (Dull? Just like life without chocolate.)

 

Please review.

 

MS