The ocean world of eternal night, Los Valles, lay under a sky where vast nebulae shimmered with a pale pink glow. It was a fleeting paradise drifting through the Precipice World, the void between the World of the Living and the Spirit Realm.
It was mid-April. Today, as on many other days, a young human girl was welcomed as a guest into the heart of this paradise: the Hero's Palace, Valaryia.
"...Hah! One more time!"
—Shield of Four Heavenly Resistance!—
An explosion tore through the sand directly in front of her. Biting her lip at the weak output of the blast, the girl—Orihime Inoue—collapsed to her knees, her exhaustion finally reaching its limit.
She was in the Great Canopy, the central facility of Valaryia. Under the heat of a false sun, she had been pouring her soul into the training regimen that had been her daily life for over a year.
"...Your power is barely on the level of a high-ranking Fraccion or a low-level Espada's Cero. Utter trash."
At the sound of the monotone male voice, Orihime looked over her shoulder, looking somewhat ashamed.
He had emerald eyes, white skin like a marble statue, and a frozen, expressionless face. He was the Arrancaryouth who had been her guide and sparring partner ever since the day of their reunion.
"Ulquiorra..."
"Do not make me repeat myself. With your level of strength, you will be nothing but a burden to that man, no matter how much you struggle."
The girl looked away from the harsh dismissal of Ulquiorra Cifer. These words were a daily occurrence, and she no longer let them shake her resolve.
"...I don't want to run away. I want to fight, too."
"I am telling you it is a waste of time."
"It's not a waste! At the very least, I won't let myself be taken away without being able to do anything like last time... and I won't let the people I care about die."
She refused to give up and let history repeat itself. Clenching her fists, she spoke with absolute certainty. Having been forced to act as Sosuke Aizen's "Princess" and forced to betray her friends, Orihime had experienced countless tragedies. She hated her own helplessness from the bottom of her soul.
"Besides..."
But there was another reason for her stubbornness. She stared back into the youth's emerald eyes.
"You're the one helping me, Ulquiorra."
His brow twitched almost imperceptibly, and Orihime offered a faint smile.
"When I said I wanted to fight alongside Ichigo, you were against it. But in the end, you always help me like this. Even when you say it's 'wasteful,' I know it's because you're worried about me."
"...Do not misunderstand. This is neither cooperation nor concern. These are the instructions of Lady Hinamori."
"Even so."
Orihime had only met the ruler of this land a few times before the Great War, but she knew the woman was not the type to force her subordinates to do work they hated.
In that case, that must be it, Orihime thought, blushing slightly at the youth's hidden kindness.
Perhaps annoyed by her expression, Ulquiorra changed the subject, pressing her on another matter.
"How much longer do you intend to keep Ichigo Kurosaki's bracelet?"
Orihime's face instantly darkened, and she looked down.
It had been a year and a half since their reunion, and she still held both of the invitations to Los Valles in her hands.
"I can't. Not yet. I can't give it to him now."
"..."
"But that day will come. Until then, I'll keep it safe."
Orihime stroked the bracelet sparkling on her wrist. This was the proof of her resolve to protect Ichigo's future until he regained his strength. With that determination in her eyes, she faced Ulquiorra again.
"...Do as you wish. But our patience has its limits."
"Hehe, I'm sorry. You're just in a hurry to see Ichigo too, aren't you, Ulquiorra?!"
She gave a bright smile to the man who was currently scowling in annoyance.
Every time she came here, Ulquiorra would get angry at the powerless Ichigo, muttering, "How long does he intend to play around?" He had never been satisfied with the hollow conclusion of their previous battle; his desire for a rematch made him look like a true rival. And Orihime knew Ichigo would likely feel the same.
"Don't worry! If he gets hurt, I'll heal him perfectly! A one-on-one battle is essential for deepening a male friendship, right?!"
"...Don't be ridiculous. Whatever 'emotion' I harbor for you all is merely an interest in you as subjects of Lady Hinamori's attention. Nothing more."
"Oh, you're so stubborn."
Orihime puffed out her cheeks in a pout.
Last time, he had finally admitted, "I'm finally starting to find you all interesting," but then Nelliel had teased him so much that he'd gone back into his shell. Now, he hid his "heart" again, refusing to show any further growth. It was a shame.
(...But then there's Nelliel,) Orihime thought, picturing the woman's face. The former Third Espada had transformed from the child she first met into a stunning, mature beauty who was somewhat difficult to approach. While they weren't on bad terms, Orihime's recent frustrations stemmed from Nelliel's mischievous nature—and her obvious feelings for Ichigo.
"...I-I should be going. My spiritual energy is completely tapped out, and I don't want to be a nuisance to Lady Hinamori if I stay too long."
"It seems Nelliel's sarcasm has finally gotten to you."
"Wh-What?! I don't know what you're talking about..."
Orihime flinched, her secret outed. Originally, Nelliel was supposed to be the one assigned to the guests from the World of the Living, but upon learning Ichigo wasn't coming, she had become completely dejected. Even after the female sovereign relieved her of the duty, she would still occasionally drop thorny comments, leaving Orihime with a persistent sense of unease around her.
It was better to flee before they crossed paths again.
Brushing the sand from her clothes, the two headed toward the gate to the World of the Living located in a corner of Valaryia. After a grueling training session, Orihime didn't mind these quiet walks with her taciturn friend.
"I will wait until five minutes past the designated time tomorrow. If you are late, signal me with your spiritual pressure after the transfer."
"Yes, I will. Thank you for everything."
She responded to the familiar instruction with her usual gratitude, then suddenly looked up at him.
It had been a year and a half since they met. This foul-mouthed Arrancar had pointed out and shoved her weaknesses in her face countless times. And yet, even while calling it a waste of time, he had never once refused her requests.
Though they were only fragments, Ulquiorra—the Hollow youth who had sought to understand the "heart"—was changing. His budding rivalry with Ichigo and his gradual development of human-like traits were as endearing to her as watching a child's emotional growth.
Hiding that somewhat rude thought, Orihime waved goodbye.
"Thanks for today, Ulquiorra. See you tomorrow!"
She might be the only one who considered him a friend. His kindness might only be because of Lady Hinamori's orders. Even so, the time she spent smiling with this Hollow boy—someone she should never have been able to connect with—felt like a happiness too great for her to keep all to herself.
One day, Ichigo will definitely be able to come here. Yammy, Iceringer, Grimmjow, Dordoni, Nelliel, and Ulquiorra... there are so many Arrancars who want to see him. Ichigo will be able to get along with them even better than I do.
Please, let that day come as soon as possible.
With that prayer, Orihime left the alternate world, seen off by Ulquiorra.
...However.
"—Inoue Orihime."
"...Eh?"
Just as the girl returned to the World of the Living and recalled his parting warning, the terrifying hand of an enemy had already seized her.
"Something is moving in the World of the Living."
—You'd best be careful.
†††
Orihime Inoue—the cheerful, beautiful, and talented popular girl—was born under an unlucky star.
Her mother was a prostitute, and her father was a violent alcoholic. They were people who had no right to raise a child, beating her until she stopped crying whenever she made a sound.
Her brother, fifteen years her senior, had been taken in by an aunt and uncle who learned of the family's situation when she was just a baby.
There was no one to protect the newly born, ill-fated infant from her parents' violence.
—I'll be the one to raise her.—
The person who reached out to the young Orihime was Shukuro Tsukishima. He was a kind young man who claimed to be a distant relative.
Despite the difficulties of a single, underage male raising a toddler, he had never wavered through countless hardships for seventeen years. He had protected Orihime alone since she was an infant.
If it hadn't been for Mr. Tsukishima, she might have lost her life due to her parents' neglect. To the great benefactor she loved as both a father and a brother, Orihime—after reaching an age of understanding—...
...fell in love.
+++
"—Big bro... I mean, Mr. Tsukishima!"
Fifteen years had passed.
Tsukishima, who had inserted himself into Orihime Inoue's past as the "great benefactor who saved her from her parents," had joined Ichigo Kurosaki's faction to rescue Rukia Kuchiki. He had once again successfully arrived in the Soul Society.
"I'm glad you're safe, Orihime."
"Th-Thank you. For saving me..."
After getting separated from their companions upon entering the Seireitei, Orihime had been struggling in the Fifth Squad's jurisdiction when Tsukishima rushed to her aid. Ignoring the blushing girl who was thanking him, Tsukishima scanned the area with his spiritual senses.
If "that woman" were going to be anywhere at this stage, it would be around here...
"...So she really is hiding."
He couldn't sense the presence he was looking for. Given the situation, she was likely operating in the shadows under Sosuke Aizen. While it was within his expectations, Tsukishima grit his teeth at the loss of a valuable chance for contact.
"...Something's come up. Orihime, go on ahead and regroup with Uryu."
"W-Wait! I want to be of help to you too, Mr. Tsukishima!"
"Orihime, do as you're told."
"...B-But..."
Did I build up too much favor with her? Tsukishima wondered. After brushing off the persistent Orihime, he sprinted through the Seireitei alone to gather information on the woman.
The Fifth Squad, the Fourth Squad, the Tenth Squad, the Spiritual Arts Academy, the Kido Corps—he applied his Fullbring to the documents of every organization she had been involved with, memorizing their contents in an instant. Having acquired almost all the information the Gotei 13 possessed—detailed relationships, personalities, and combat strength—Tsukishima moved secretly and hid himself in the forest area of the Hill of Sokyoku.
—I shall stand at the top of the heavens.—
Held in Aizen's arms, the woman departed for Hueco Mundo. Looking down, there was no sign of the Shukuro Tsukishima who had been there "last time."
This time, the youth sought a dialogue with her, and he intended to have their first encounter take place under circumstances favorable to him. Not in a place with so many eyes and ears, but in a one-on-one opportunity.
Most likely, she would only respond to him once. And the timing Tsukishima chose was... September 3rd.
The time of the Arrancar army's reconnaissance mission.
"—Don't come any closer, Inoue!"
"—Ichigo!"
One month later.
Just as he had done with Yasutora Sado, Tsukishima—having saved Rukia and returned to the World of the Living—rushed to the eastern park of Karakura Town, where Ichigo and the others were fighting two Espada intruders.
At the scene, Sado was instantly taken out by a massive Arrancar, and Ichigo, who had arrived to help, was immediately put at a disadvantage by the rebellion of his inner Hollow.
In a desperate attempt to save her friends, Orihime deployed her Triple Heavenly Shield, but it was in vain. Annoyed, the giant Arrancar ignored his petite companion's warning and swung his arm carelessly at her.
No further action was needed to shatter Orihime's will to fight.
"Inoueeee!!"
"...Ah, crap. Was she a weakling I wasn't supposed to crush?"
"It seems we'll have to do without that person's cooking for a while, Yammy."
"Dammit! I blew it!!"
Ignoring the bickering Arrancars and his surrogate sister who had been sent flying with a crushed face, Tsukishima hid in the nearby shadows of the trees and waited intently for his moment. Before coming here, he had refused help from Kisuke Urahara and the others, telling them "no backup was needed." He had kept interference to a minimum.
Then, a raging pink spiritual pressure erupted from Ichigo's body, and his inner Hollow was calmed. Thus, the stage for the dialogue with the woman was set.
However.
"I shall report to Lord Aizen. That Soul Reaper pretender you've taken an interest in is..."
The dust kicked up by the aftershocks of the spiritual pressure. Ichigo, standing there stunned by the anomaly that had occurred within his own body. The dying Orihime, using her faint consciousness to heal Sado's wounds. The Arrancars retreating.
Confirming all of this at the edge of his vision, Tsukishima stood still within the cloud of dust.
Why? Why hasn't she come?
Just like last time, Yammy was causing trouble by killing many Karakura citizens. He had even disobeyed the order "not to harm Orihime." The necessity for the woman to collect the Arrancars should have increased.
And yet, why?
Was it because Urahara and the others weren't here?
Because there was no need for backup?
Was there some other reason...?
"—?!"
Suddenly, an intense chill crawled up the youth's spine.
The surrounding sounds faded away, and a sense of wrongness dominated his senses—as if the world now consisted of him and him alone.
He remembered this feeling. On the Hill of Sokyoku when he inserted the past into Sado. When he read the letter delivered to his room. He couldn't sense any spiritual pressure, yet he knew—he could feel that horrifying sensation of being watched.
Slowly, he turned around. The surrounding scenery was hidden by the thick dust. Unnaturally so.
And there, deep behind the veil of sand.
Looking over his shoulder, what Shukuro Tsukishima saw was...
"...!"
A fluttering gray skirt, a white blouse, a red ribbon, and... lips curved into a thin arc.
"She" was there, dressed in the style of a high school girl from the World of the Living.
Tsukishima instinctively put distance between them. But his opponent merely stood there, completely natural. Then, a thick wall of dust suddenly flowed between the two.
"...What?"
A moment after his vision was obscured, the woman had vanished without a trace.
Where is she? Where did she go?
The youth frantically brushed aside the dust and looked around. But there was no sign of her, and his eyes found only empty air.
"!"
Suddenly, Tsukishima's shoe stepped on something hard. It wasn't a stone; it was a flat, man-made object.
He looked down, and there was a book.
"This is..."
It was the size of a standard paperback, the kind he often read himself. The pop-style English title in red and blue at the top of the plain white cover caught his eye.
But as he flipped through the pages while keeping an eye on his surroundings, Tsukishima's brow furrowed.
The pages were blank. An endless series of empty pages.
Is this supposed to be a slight? Or some kind of metaphor using her "Reader" moniker? Between this and the previous letter, she seemed to have quite a taste for elaborate theatrics.
Irritated by his opponent's childish mischief, the youth's eyes were drawn to a single piece of paper that fluttered out.
On that slender pink slip of paper—a bookmark—was a small question written in the same feminine hand as before.
It was the opening for the dialogue Tsukishima had wanted. And yet, it was the worst possible move, a hint of the enemy's true intent...
Hehe...
The eastern park of Karakura Town echoed with the hallucination of mocking laughter, like the tinkling of bells. Tsukishima crushed the woman's bookmark in his hand, his teeth grinding in humiliation.
His "Big Brother," more precious to him than anyone or anything. The pitiable avenger who was the only person in the world who didn't fear or reject him.
That witch was planning to lay a hand on his one and only benefactor.
"...Don't get cocky, Soul Reaper."
Ichigo Kurosaki, Toshiro Hitsugaya, their friends in the Gotei 13, the Arrancars under her command—he had a mountain of weaknesses he could use against her.
She should enjoy her feeling of being a superior being looking down at her dollhouse while she still can.
"In the end, I will be the one who wins."
...Shukuro Tsukishima, his attention entirely consumed by the name of Kugo Ginjo written on the bookmark. But perhaps his loss of interest in "that word" which he truly should have focused on was an act of unconscious escapade.
Six English letters written in that blank book the woman had left behind.
The word that referred to the removal of all colors.
The day when Tsukishima would glimpse the horrifying truth hidden within that word was not in the far-off future.
***
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