20 [The Substitute Shinigami Arc] Part 20: Acidwire

I got really excited. Somehow I managed to use Bringer Light…too bad I only got it when it was time to jump and now I was in free fall. I was still too nervous to concentrate on using the skill again so I just closed my eyes and braced myself for the impact with the ground…and landed on a body.

Rukia put herself below me in an attempt to break my fall by realizing that whatever I did I couldn't do it again.

Yato: "Ow…"

I tried to move and my elbow bumped into Rukia... luckily I only touched her arm and to avoid the anime cliché of touching somewhere awkward I got up straight away.

Yato: "I'm sorry, Rukia. Are you okay?" I said as I held my hand out to her.

Rukia: "Don't worry…I've been through worse. By the way, what was it you did?"

Yato: "I…don't know" - I said wanting to hide that information for now.

Rukia: "Whatever it is, you managed to reach the window. Try to concentrate and maybe you'll make it again! We don't have much time!"

To be honest, I've never tried to use Bringer Light since I couldn't manipulate an object's soul very well before. Maybe that changed a bit after I started to understand more about spiritual energy.

Yato: "Okay, hold on to me."

Rukia jumped on my back and right after that I closed my eyes trying to concentrate on the same feeling as before.

Yato: 'Give me a little help…Cheshire'

I jumped towards Ichigo's window and maybe because I was concentrating more or maybe because of Cheshire's influence, I was able to use Bringer Light again.

Lucky for us, the window wasn't locked and Rukia not wanting to waste time opened the window in one swift movement.

Rukia: "Ichigo!!"

Ichigo: "WAAH!!? Y-y-y-you guys!! How did you manage to climb out the window!!?"

Rukia: "Forget about that! It's an order!!"

Yato: "A Hollow will appear here!"

Ichigo: "When!?"

Rukia: "Now!!!"

Rukia quickly put on that red glove and forced Ichigo's soul out of his body. Almost instantly, a giant hand shot through a crack in the room, trying to hit Ichigo.

The Hollow poked half of its body out of the crack it created and Ichigo tried to hit it with his zanpakutou. Just like in the original version, Ichigo made a superficial cut, breaking part of the Hollow's mask and revealing his face. I already knew that Hollow was Orihime's brother so I was much less surprised than Ichigo.

After that attack, the Hollow left, but despite Rukia's haste, Ichigo decided to question her.

Ichigo: "What's going on, Rukia? I saw his face…that guy…was Inoue's older brother…!"

Rukia: "I told you before that the best way to defeat a Hollow would be a surprise attack. Hitting its mask to eliminate it in one hit. But there is also another important reason for this. Killing it in one hit... also prevents you from seeing a Hollow's identity, because all Hollows were once human souls."

Ichigo wanted to continue arguing but I decided to interrupt because I already knew where the Hollow was going next.

Yato: "Rukia, do you happen to have any idea where the Hollow might have gone?"

# Meanwhile - Inoue's apartment #

Tatsuki: "Are you stupid!?"

Orihime: "Don't...be rude! I'm totally not stupid!"

Tatsuki: "Yes, you are! For wasting such a chance!"

Orihime: "...Do you think...?"

Tatsuki: "Of course! At a time like this you just have to grab a chance like this!"

Orihime: "Grab…?

Tatsuki: "Or you could just throw those magnificent boobs in that idiot Ichigo's face. If he attacks you it would still be his fault." - he said in a playful tone.

Orihime: "T-T-T-T-Tatsuki-chan!!!"

Suddenly Tatsuki became serious, as if something wasn't right. Soon after, a strange sound could be heard by both girls.

Tatsuki: "But what…was that sound?"

Orihime: "Oh no! Enraku fell! Talk to me!! Enraku!!" She spoke exaggeratedly while shaking the teddy bear.

Tatsuki approached the girl and they both saw that the teddy bear's face was torn and the most bizarre thing is that the teddy bear seemed to be…bleeding.

Suddenly, a monstrous hand pierces Orihime's chest, causing her to fall seemingly lifeless.

Tatsuki was trembling as she was able to see what had happened to Orihime. She saw that "monster". Trying to overcome her momentary fear, she ran to her fallen friend.

Tatsuki: "Orihime!! Orihime!!! Answer me!" She screamed as she shook her friend.

Orihime: "T-T-Tatsuki-chan…?"

Tatsuki was briefly relieved to hear her friend's voice, but that relief was momentary as the voice didn't come from the girl she was holding, but from the other corner of the room. Tatsuki was even more startled to see apparently another Orihime, with a chain across her chest that extended to the body Tatsuki was holding. That chain was familiar. For some time now she has seen people with these chains...

Hollow: "Girl…although you can see us it seems you still haven't accepted that…right now…she's a spirit."

Filled with a sudden rage, Tatsuki turned towards the Hollow. For a moment the Hollow moved away, not understanding what had happened to the girl, however, in the creature's eyes it was possible to see the image of Tatsuki.

The girl's eyes had changed to a golden color, and her pupils had taken on a slit shape.

Tatsuki: "What the hell did you do to her!!?"