Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Hollow Charm ❯ Past the Surface ( Chapter 19 )

Tite Kubo owns Bleach. I just borrowed the characters.

 

Past The Surface

 

“Hurumph. It's about time you asked that. I thought you might have it worked out earlier, that you could help,” looking at Baigon, Orihime could tell he was slightly displeased with her. The possibility made her feel a need to apologise, but she was unsure to whom the apology should be offered.

 

“Don't be too harsh on the girl. You complained earlier that you were a little worried about the new powers even though you wanted them,” Hinagiku's kind tone made Orihime feel slightly better. “We know how scary this can be,” he told her and then nodded at Tsubaki. “At least you don't share that one's impatience, or we would be in trouble.”

 

“But what can I do?” Orihime asked again. An internal struggle was just that: inside another person. How did she interfere and wouldn't it be better if Ichigo defeated his Hollow by himself? Admittedly he'd had little success until now. Or, he thought he had but when she was near him it seemed to rouse the Hollow and the struggle would commence anew. She had only witnessed this before, when she had face Ulquiorra and Yammy for the first time, but it hadn't lasted as long as this. Even as she thought that she knew that she hadn't known how long it had taken.

 

“What can't you do?” Tsubaki growled at her. “You really don't get it, do you?”

 

Vaguely she recalled something about examining the bond that held Ichigo and his Hollow together. It seemed apparent that fighting the Hollow wasn't working because every time he thought he'd subdued it, it re-emerged and he was again forced to battle it. There had to be another way, a method to reconcile the two so that this recurring tussle would finally be over. Instinctively she reached out her hands as she did when she was preparing to heal someone and then stopped. This felt wrong. If her healing powers could have helped, they would have done so by now.

 

“You've got the right idea but the wrong action. Instead of trying to heal what you don't understand why don't you try to comprehend before you act?” Hinagiku prompted her.

 

“How can I understand?” She didn't have a Hollow within her so trying to appreciate the problems facing Ichigo seemed impossible.

 

“How did Ichigo gain the Hollow?” Shuno was the one to ask the question.

 

Shaking her head Orihime wondered. It had never been explained. She knew there'd been some problem; that Ichigo had lost his Shinigami powers, but he'd regained them. Rukia had said something about Mr Urahara and that Ichigo should ask him, but Orihime hadn't wished to pry into that conversation.

 

“He risked his life and gained his powers and the Hollow. It was a cost he hadn't been warned of, but he was prepared to die,” Lily said quietly. The words rang in Orihime's memory and a momentary bitterness coloured her mood.

 

“To die, for Rukia,” Orihime added her voice as quiet as Lily's. Finally the words had been said and could not be taken back or denied.

 

“For friendship, fool,” Tsubaki yelled in her ear causing her to jump at the sudden noise. She clutched at the side of her head. That yell had hurt, but it had also impressed her that she had sounded just a little sorry for herself.

 

“Think. If another Hollow had come after you, after his family or friends he wouldn't have been able to do anything,” Baigon reminded her and she nodded. Ashamed of her moment of self pity she looked at Ichigo again and noticed he was more hunched over than before. Pain was evident on his face and she feared he was not faring well.

 

“Look past the surface. There's more to see if you know how to look,” a new voice spoke to her and it didn't seem completely unfamiliar. Where the voice came from she didn't question as she tried to look further. The voice was slightly harsh but warm and strong.

 

Following the advice she refocused her eyes and tried. Nothing happened. All she could see was Ichigo struggling, panting as he fought the invisible enemy. A fine sheen of perspiration was on his face and she longed to move closer and wipe his face, but remembering she still had the charm she decided not to get any closer. It made her breast hurt to see him like this, shut off from her and his friends, being unable to move or speak.

 

Guilt consuming her, she glanced away and beheld Chad reeling back from a blow that caused a cut to open on his cheek. Yammy laughed harshly but it sounded forced to her ears and the sight of the Espada showed that he was even more damaged than previously. The bones of his foot were now visible through ribbons of flesh and the arm that Yoruichi had damaged in her fight with him lay useless by his side. Cirruci was watching with a cynical smile on her lips, obviously itching to take over the fight and prove how inferior Yammy was to her and the rest of the Arrancar.

 

Knowing she could not interfere and feeling nervous about her forthcoming battle against Ulquiorra she focused again on Ichigo. Once more she only saw the man she loved lost to her as he continued to try to beat the being who was trying to take over.

 

Baigon's voice was close to her ear. “You have more than 5 senses. Don't use your eyes; use us to help you see.”

 

That made no sense to her. “How do I do that?” she was caught between anger and tears as she spoke feeling that she was of no help to anyone. Why had her friends come to rescue her when she failed at everything she attempted?

 

“Reverse the shield,” Hinagiku said slowly.

 

That made even less sense. Reverse the wounds, she knew how to do that, but how could she reverse her shield? Even the thought of using the shield again scared her as her control had failed so badly the last time she used it.

 

“What words do I use?” she requested. There were always words.

 

“No words. Think it; use your mind because words only shape thoughts. In this case you have to use your thoughts to shape the reverse.” Ayame was very serious. The usual twinkle in her eyes was absent and the sadness that suffused her face made Orihime feel even worse. Ayame believed she had no chance of success either. A lump formed in her throat.

 

Searching her mind she tried to find a key to the problem. Her powers couldn't help her with this and it was essential that Ichigo receive her help. Seeing him immovable by the inner fight caught at her and made it imperative that she do whatever she could now she knew there was something she could to assist.

 

Under the increasing pressure her thoughts scattered and she tried to gather the fragments that might form an answer. Some of her thoughts were lost but others could still be reached and one by one she collected them together and found there were more questions. Answers were what she lacked.

 

What was a reverse shield, anyway?

 

There was no such thing as a reverse shield.

 

But her powers said there was a reverse shield.

 

It didn't matter what her powers said. The thing didn't exist.

 

Was a reverse shield a weapon?

 

A reverse shield could shield the enemy. Is that what was meant?

 

But why would her powers want to shield the enemy. They'd found it funny when her shield had hurt Loly and Menoly and it still seemed to amuse them.

 

Would simply turning it around reverse a shield?

 

That was silly. Her shields didn't have a front or a back or a top or bottom. They were simply things meant to protect her.

 

Gulping she came to an answer she found daunting. Could a reverse shield be used to harm her?

 

Precious minutes passed as she frantically tried one idea then another with no result.

 

Speaking aloud she said very slowly, “A shield blocks attacks and also other things.”

 

“About time you started to catch on,” was the snapped out reply from Tsubaki. “I was thinking we might need to explain it through interpretive dance.”

 

Strangely Ayame laughed and said through giggles, “That's mean, but funny.”

 

Slightly hurt by the laughter Orihime tried to shrug it off and concentrate. Something was a bit odd and slowly she asked, “Do I have a shield up now?”

 

“It's about time you noticed,” Baigon teased. “When you changed you unconsciously shielded yourself. Otherwise you would have been hurt when you escaped.” She hadn't seen him this frivolous before and knew he was amused by her.

 

Feeling her mouth gape wide she shook her head in denial. She would have noticed something like that and she wouldn't have needed to shield herself from Loly and Menoly.

 

“Yes, it did partially trigger that attack,” Lily had joined in Ayame's giggles.

 

Now all her powers seemed to be amused by her. Cheeks flushing she turned away, wishing to be removed from their mocking gaze. Her supporters thought she was a joke and that rankled deeply. Instinctively her hands went to her hair to remove the pins but remembering that her brother had given them to her and the contact with Ichigo had infused them with his power made her pause.

 

“We're laughing with delight.” The words made her look around at Hinagiku. He nodded at her and then continued, “You're nearly there. Make the final connection.”

 

At least those words provided some comfort but what did he mean by the final connection? One day she might take the time to explain that speaking in riddles didn't help in solving problems.

 

“The shield is blocking me from seeing below the surface,” the words were slow in coming but they sounded correct.

 

Trying to refocus her eyes again she perceived a slight haze which surrounded her body. No one else would be able to see it. Seeing it made it real but how did she dismiss it? Reverse shield? Instead of allowing the shield to be outside her, she should withdraw the shield. While she worked it out, she thought she heard a click just behind her left ear and her eyes focused on Ichigo again. Her shield had been reversed and she now had clear vision.

 

What she saw made her feel ill. Within Ichigo wrapped around him tightly was the Hollow. It was hard to tell where the Hollow ended and Ichigo began and at every point of contact they struggled against each other, trying to part, but the struggle drew them ever closer. White overlaid the gold of his hair. His Shinigami uniform was white in parts and black in others and it constantly shifted showing the internal struggle. It seemed there was more white than black, then for a brief time the black consumed the white only to be driven back again. The contact of one against the other seemed to cause pain for both but neither seemed prepared to compromise. Both faces grimaced with pain and hate from the struggle.

 

“If they keep fighting they will die. There can be no victory for either because the victory will also mean defeat. Look further,” the new voice urged.

 

Following the sound of the voice was instinctive after that click near her ear. Without knowing precisely how it happened, she was in a strange world where she could see Ichigo fighting his Hollow. Blue sky, buildings lying on their sides made her wonder if she had stumbled into a place that had more to do with fantasy than reality. An extraordinary dark haired man was observing the fighters while standing on what appeared to be a pole. He wore glasses and his clothing seemed to be flowing around him and then leaking into the distance, but constantly renewing itself.

 

Ichigo was bleeding from a gash in his forehead while his chest heaved as he fought for breath while wielding his zanpakuto. The Hollow held the same blade and was smiling widely, his white face and black eyes scaring her. That creature, so white seemed to gleam with evil and she feared him. He scared Ichigo, though he'd never admit it to anyone. From the little she knew of the creature he was violent and unprincipled without the sense of honour that Ichigo seemed to hold so strongly. She could not imagine him wishing to protect or save anyone. Kill and destroy until no trace of his prey would remain seemed more of a possibility within that creature.

 

The Hollow seemed to sense her presence. He sniffed the air and his jet black eyes flickered over her hungrily and he grinned as an obscenely thick tongue snaked over his lips. For the moment his attention was distracted from Ichigo. It made her shudder in disgust.

 

The man flicked his fingers at the Hollow who suddenly seemed to forget all about her and focus on the brave person facing him. Ichigo hadn't noticed the momentary absence of attention as he was shaking his head as if trying to clear it.

 

“Come closer. They must not sense you again but do not shield,” the voice she'd heard earlier urged her. The person speaking to her was the man watching the fight. He did not look at her, but the voice compelled her to move near.

 

“Who are you?” she whispered as she crept closer, moving slowly in order not to distract the two combatants. For some reason the man seemed familiar and very disturbing. He was the second most attractive male she had encountered, the first of course being Ichigo. As she drew nearer she noticed he had a similar scent to her love which was disquieting but oddly comforting. The calm attitude, the relaxed stance and unwavering gaze was a distinct contrast to the fierce combat he was watching with the appearance of interest.

 

“Again you look only at the surface, Orihime Inoue,” he reproved her kindly as he turned his regard from the fight to her.

 

She was now two arms lengths away and decided to stop, in case he was an enemy who appeared as a friend. Blushing slightly at his intent stare she tried to look at him closely to try to find some indication of whom he could be. If she worked it out she might even discover where she was and how she could help Ichigo. He must have some reason for being there and he wasn't trying to stop the fight. Was he on Ichigo's side, or did he want the Hollow to win? The glasses strangely seemed to conceal his eyes and she could only see the right eye clearly for a few minutes at a time.

 

“Do I know you?” He hadn't answered the earlier question, but she hoped he might respond to this one.

 

Tsubaki shot into her field of vision and seemed prepared to tell her something. His eyes glittered feverishly and he opened his mouth wide, obviously preparing to yell at her once more.

 

The man's voice stopped him. “You are too eager. Let your Custodian work it out for herself.”

 

Without even thinking the words to summon her powers, all five of her them appeared and flew to the strange man. They appeared to converse rapidly and quietly, most of them showing a deference she had not seen before, even Tsubaki to a lesser degree than the others. She saw Lily put a shocked hand in front of her mouth as her eyes widened at something he said but soon she seemed to sigh with relief and smiled.

 

The discussion had an additional effect. While she watched, unwilling to witness Ichigo being bested by his Hollow self, her powers again changed. Perhaps they grew slightly larger, but it wasn't only that. Power, power like she'd never seen them show before was now unmistakably increasing. Being within a small radius of the man was the trigger for this power increase; it had to be as there was no other explanation that would fit the facts. As their power increased she was flooded with a new confidence and thinking about the situation she worked out who the man might be.

 

“Are you Zangetsu?” she asked hesitatingly, wondering if he would be insulted if she guessed incorrectly.

 

“Of course he is,” Shuno smiled at her, her face showing her approval at her correct guess. “He is partly why we are here.”

 

The others nodded gravely in agreement, even Tsubaki.

 

What could she say to him? She knew that Ichigo valued everything the spirit had told him and also she could sense the strength and will power of the man who continued to stand unmoving on his pole, sharing his attention between her and the continuing fight.

 

“You have answered one of your questions. It is now time to find the solutions to the others,” Zangetsu said as his gaze was locked on the white figure of the Hollow.

 

Despair flooded her at the statement. The spirit was making it clear that she had to work out how to assist Ichigo. He would provide no assistance and would not permit her powers to help either. She felt like groaning. Tests were things that happened at school. But she wasn't at school; she wasn't even in her world. A feeling of panic overcame her as she wondered where she was and briefly she longed to be back in the familiar classroom, watching Keigo fool around and listen to the teacher droning on about whatever subject they had to study. At least she knew how to prepare for tests in school. The tried and true method of study, plan and learn what she needed to know. If she failed, not that she did, it didn't mean another person would be hurt. This time it could injure or even kill the person she had loved for so long.

 

Briefly a strange image of eating a meal in Mr Urahara's shop floated in the back of her mind. Accompanying the mental picture was a feeling of fear but the moment passed as quickly as it had arrived.

 

It was replaced with the memory of Ichigo looking down at her after she had been injured by the Hollow when she had disobeyed his instructions while using the charm. He had worried about her, as she was worrying about him now. But he had no control over his Hollow and that made the situation different.

 

There was little in her past to prepare her for this. Even when she first used the charm someone had explained a few of the rules she needed to know, not all of them, but she had some help there. With this, which was so much more important she had to try to guess. Flicking a look at Zangetsu's face she tried to gauge whether he would help her if she pleaded for help. His expression was set and stern and it seemed unlikely that he would be prepared to even give her a hint.

 

“If you learn through your own efforts you grow in strength,” his voice was kind, but she still felt the tears prick at her eyes as a result of the gentle tones. Now she had the chance to help someone who had protected her and proven to be so important in her life and she didn't know what to do or even how to begin.

 

The man sighed gently as he glanced at her. He seemed disappointed and her face flushed with embarrassment as she felt even more foolish and inadequate than before. Even the spirit of Ichigo's zanpakuto was disillusioned with her and her mind wove in every decreasing circles as she tried to think of a way to help but mixed with those thoughts were concerns about how she appeared to those observing her. Zangetsu and Tsubaki must be laughing at her incompetence and the Hollow would be rejoicing at his ability to overcome his rival. What was the point of trying? There was nothing she could do to help Ichigo, no matter what anyone said.

 

Tears dripped from her eyes as overcome by self pity she sank to her knees. In a place that was as foreign to her as Hueco Mundo, as alien as Las Noches, Orihime wept. The bravado she had displayed when confronting Ulquiorra deserted her and those plans she had made which had seemed so brave and clever were now revealed to be badly flawed, impertinent and probably futile. Aizen would recapture her, find the charm, destroy her town and claim the key. Because of her incapacity the world would meet a bitter and abrupt end and her friends, all the people she knew, would die.

 

Closing her eyes, she shut out the images of Ichigo fighting his Hollow, her powers looking at her mournfully and the serene Zangetsu. It shamed her how quickly the joy her powers had shown was dampened by her inability to do anything. How could she look at any of them now? The despised her and so they should. If she hadn't been so vain she would not have gone to the Seireitei with Rukia and then Ulquiorra would not have hurt her two escorts and given her that ultimatum. If she had kept away from Ichigo then he would have managed to overcome his Hollow and would be preparing to fight the Arrancar instead of being locked in this painful, ongoing struggle for supremacy.

 

Her stomach churned and she felt her throat closing. For a moment as her stomach clenched, a gush of saliva in her mouth made her conscious that she was close to being violently ill. Her heart was beating erratically and her breathing bore no resemblance to her normal steady intake of air. Her skin prickled as her nerve ending seemed to react to the increased stress of her emotions and her clothes felt restrictive and alien. If she could she would have removed them, but the alternate hot and cold feelings persuaded her it might be the wrong move. Hating this feeling she knew it made her think that she had no control over the normal functioning of her system.

 

She wondered if this was how Ichigo felt when faced with his Hollow. Did he feel this sense of panic and fear of loss? No matter the answer, she had to help him because she feared that if she didn't he would suffer defeat and be lost to her. After so recently finding that her love was returned, she couldn't let him fail. It was now her battle as much as it was his.

 

Taking a deep breath, she swallowed hard and tried to moderate her breathing. Her stomach still reacted but it could be overlooked. Occasionally, after eating one of her more unusual creations she had felt like this, but she ignored it, assured that it was her mind, not her stomach that was affected. Sometimes it worked, except the time she had mixed leeks with strawberry jam, ham, wasabi, olives and hokkein noodles. It had seemed like a reasonable mix when they were the only ingredients she could find in her kitchen, but an hour later she was made too aware of the mistake in the combination.

 

That was in the past and it was important that she focused on the present and the things that were being asked of her now. A further deep breath and she forced her shoulders to relax. “I don't feel sick. I feel strong,” she muttered quietly, trying to reassure herself that she could control it. Her stomach quivered momentarily in contradiction.

 

Despite that, for once the words provided some encouragement. Of course she felt strong. She had powers that knocked out two Arrancar when she wasn't even trying. When Ulquiorra had dismissed her as if she was beneath his notice, she had not meekly permitted him to ignore her. Fighting him would prove to both of them that she was not the weak human he assumed her to be.

 

Slowly the revolt within abated and the threat of being sick receded. Now she had conquered the erratic reactions of her body she had to work out what was the answer. How could she help Ichigo and his Hollow because to help Ichigo meant she had to help his Hollow, no matter how unpalatable the thought. There was no point in assessing possibilities; she had to find the right answer. Guessing would only make her more anxious and prone to mistakes. Rising, she stood proudly and then looked at Ichigo fighting his Hollow. Instead of trying to hide from the fighting, she watched and forced her mind to accept what she saw before her as being true. Now she was pushing at the fear she noticed a number of important things.

 

Ichigo and his Hollow hated each other. Each wished the other would die and to be the cause of death. Neither understood that the death of one would ultimately mean the death of the other. That didn't seem so strange to Orihime when she considered the matter further. They were opposites and opposites did not always attract. Each of them saw in the other something they despised. Ichigo hated the Hollow's lust for blood and lack of morals and the Hollow saw Ichigo as being repressed and no fun.

 

In reality, though she loved Ichigo dearly, she felt there was something missing. During the time she'd used the charm and come to know him better, his control had amazed her. Placed in some of those situations she was uncertain if she could have reacted the way he did. He'd always rally when confronted with a further peculiar situation, but often didn't question how they got there. That didn't seem normal. He had always seemed at war with himself, fighting against the way he needed to react.

 

A brief flicker or memory again surfaced of Ichigo and Uryu scowling at each other over ice cream. When had that happened? But her mind flitted to some arbitrary reflection about how wonderful it would be to share an ice-cream with Ichigo and the memory faded quickly. Uryu had hated Ichigo, loathed him completely when they first met, but that hatred had matured into a wary friendship which included a grudging respect. Renji and Ichigo had also hated each other on their first meeting, or so she had been told. At least they had fought and desperately tried to kill each other. The second time they'd met they tried to kill each other again.

 

A shudder ran through her as this memory seemed false, that they had met earlier. Frustration rose in her as she tried to work out why she had these beliefs without any proof. She didn't see anything, it was something more like her mind was trying to contradict her thoughts but couldn't provide the basis for the contradiction. If she could identify that, then it might be the commencement of her discovery of a solution.

 

But did she have time? As she turned her gaze to the combatants it was obvious that Ichigo was not faring well and it might be a matter of minutes before he was forced to acknowledge defeat, or fall by the hand of his Hollow.

 

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Author's Note:

 

The Zangetsu incident was not planned but my muse finally provided some inspiration. (Finally, you thank me. Wait a minute. That's not a thank you. I want a proper thank you.) Okay, thank you for finally helping. It's about time.

 

Please review.

 

MS