16 Universe Correction

For the rest of the week Rukia and Orihime followed a similar pattern. Once the group was ready to go back to the world of the living, Rukia and Orihime went to say bye. Before Ichigo went through, Orihime pulled him aside to tell him something.

"Ichigo I want to let you know something. Just remember that you control your power, your power doesn't control you."

Ichigo didn't quite understand what she meant, but Orihime hoped he would figure it out when his Hollow powers started to take over his mood. The giant world gate opened with a blinding light and the group left. Orihime sighed, knowing it would be a long time before she saw them again.

Once everyone was gone, Captain Ukitake took the chance to talk with Orihime.

"Captain Ukitake, it's an honor to meet you."

"Cough, cough, no need to be so formal, you're a friend of Rukia. You may not know this but there's a lot of competition for who will get you in their squad. Your talent and unique abilities are a marvel."

Ukitake left after saying his peace. Orihime stood there confused. She didn't understand her true worth. Seven out of the ten remaining captains were all vying to pull Orihime into their squads, and as soon as possible for that matter!

Orihime had to start academy tomorrow so she didn't have the energy to think about that. She went outside Seireitei with Rukia to let her apologize to the Shiba family. Rukia had convinced herself that because of her weakness, she let Kaien Shiba die. However, this was just her regret spiraling out of control.

Kukaku naturally forgave her. She already knew what transpired that day as Ukitake had explained it to her. Rukia cried in Orihime's arms and they returned after exchanging a few more words. She sighed at the emotionally heavy scene.

Orihime knew that this would not be the last time Rukia is confronted by this demon in her heart. This was because of a certain Arrancar that had absorbed Kaien Shiba's appearance and Zanpakuto. Fortunately, the events of the Hueco Mundo arc will play out a lot differently this time around.

…

Orihime followed the large crowd of students entering school for the first time. She was really excited because this was the Spiritual Arts academy. This was one of her dreams since she first read about it. Fortunately, she wasn't out of place. There were many others with excited looks.

'12-a' was written on the slip of paper Orihime was holding. It did not take long for her to figure out where the classroom was since the building was set up in a logical way. Soon she was part of a group of four that were all going the same way.

The group entered in before her since she was a step behind. Just as she passed through the door, she collided with a familiar looking person.

"Oh, it's Orihime. What are you doing here, this is a Sixth-year lecture?"

"Hello senpai, the administration told me this is where I'll be learning…"

"That is correct, Miss Inoue. Due to various reasons, you were placed in the current Sixth-year class. Welcome to Advanced Kido, please take your seats."

The professor had come from the hallway and saw the scene in the door, so he quickly ushered them inside. Normally, he would be very upset when one of the four clans bypassed the school's rules for a student. However, he saw Orihime as a prodigy.

During her entrance exam, he had accidently seen her performing Kido and was amazed. Such magnificent control was something his students the year before could not even do. The school was already planning on a special program for her, so when the requests came in from various squads to accelerate her training, they immediately put their plans into play.

Orihime sat in the lecture room with a neutral face, but inside she was extremely upset. Her plan to make a huge impression on various captains for safety reasons backfired. Although she expected to graduate a bit early, jumping straight into sixth-year made her uncomfortable.

The main issue was that all of these squads were looking at her mainly because of her unique abilities. If they wanted to investigate their composition or have her demonstrate, she would be in trouble. Orihime began to formulate her excuses and lies to make sure everything was in order.

After the lesson was over, Hitsuraku followed her out. It seemed their next class was identical as well. Orihime discovered another issue with her current predicament. Rather, it could be considered an opportunity. She had not accessed the fifth- and sixth-year's curriculum with the hogyoku yet.

"… what do you think?"

"Hm? Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts."

"A senior told me last year that sixth-years do practical training after the first week, would you be in my team?"

"Thanks! Please take care of me, senpai."

Orihime saw no reason to refuse. It was better than being picked last. She was worried that skipping straight to sixth-year would make the others upset and she would end up being isolated.

"I should be the one asking you to take care of me, haha."

Someone seemed to have overheard their conversation and walked over. He had an air of intelligence about him. Orihime didn't know anyone at the school especially since most of these people didn't show up in the series.

"I heard you are forming a team. The highest-ranking team in next weeks practical training gets to lead the juniors for their practical training next month. This is a great accomplishment for applying to the court squads. I wish to join your team."

"Hitsuraku-senpai, what do you think?"

"Oshino Yuchiro, finally give up competing with me? I guess I will allow you to join the team."

"This is just the most logical formation. Don't get too cocky, or I might pass you!"

After that, the one called Oshino left to a different class. Orihime blinked confusedly at Hitsuraku. She didn't really understand what just happened.

"Oshino and I have been ranked first and second since we joined the academy. I've held the lead for the last two years and he would naturally be sensitive about the topic."

Orihime was distracted listening to his explanation and accidently bumped into someone turning the corner. The impact caused him to drop his inkstone and calligraphy brush. He got extremely angry and started cursing at her.

However, before Hitsuraku took action, a heavily built man came around the corner too and put his hand on the shoulder of the guy who was shouting. He gripped causing the shouting to stop.

"It was an accident."

"R-right. Sorry."

"Hey! Saioko, good to see you pal."

"Hm. Hello miss."

Orihime stood there baffled at this scene. Her mind worked differently than the normal person. The first thing that this scene made her think was… balance! There is the leader, the intellect, the strong nice guy, and the support…

'What the hell, hogyoku, is the universe messing with me? As soon as I separate from Ichigo and the others, I get their Spiritual Arts academy versions?'

[Accessing Akashic Records… Denied.]

'Wait, the fact that the answer is higher than my access tells me more than a simple response…'

"Thank you, Saioko-senpai."

"We should get going so that we aren't late."

The rest of the day didn't have any major surprises. We were told about the practical training happening the week after and to consider who to team up with. Orihime received many requests but was fortunately able to refuse them.

Over the next few days, before the practical training, Orihime had been inspired by a class called Kido Theory. In her room at the Kuchiki residence she had several sheets of paper laid out. The incantations for the various Kido she learned were written in a circle.

Orihime had been staring at these incantations for a few days now, until it struck her. She was inspired by Shinji Hirako, a former captain made Visored. He often wrote things backwards. By applying a backwards way of thinking to her theory, she was able to form a new kind of Kido. But she realized that it was extremely unstable.

However, her enhanced perception had revealed something to her. Although unstable, it showed signs of exceeding the power of the basic Red Flame Cannon this was based off. Orihime wondered why no one else realized this when it dawned on her.

"This is bad. Unstable doesn't nearly describe this."

She quickly used Shunpo to get onto her roof, then threw the Red Flame Cannon ball, which had shrunk by ten times, as high as it would go. When it exploded, the heat waves were felt from where she was standing. However, she smiled up into the sky having figured it out.

'Hogyoku, can you confirm my theory?'

[Accessing Akashic Records… Denied]

'Hehe, that's good enough. That means my theory is a high order knowledge…'

Orihime was then surrounded by several shadow guards wearing purple. She looked at them awkwardly, with a nervous smile. They had their weapons drawn on her and she could only apologize.

"S-sorry... It was an accident."