New Beginning

(A/N: 300 stones extra chapter! Next one is 600, and 600 will be the first extra chapter each week from now on.)

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The sand stretched endlessly in every direction. There was a single building far, far into the distance. Orihime planned to take weeks to reach it. She never wished to avoid this scenario once it occurred, she just needed to delay.

Firstly, she wanted access to her powers again, otherwise she would be a lamb to the slaughter. Secondly, Orihime was now aware that there were forces in play that ensured certain events. This didn't surprise her though, since Aizen has been planning this for at least twenty years.

Once she arrives at Aizen's stronghold, Las Noches, she would show off her godly powers and be treated as a princess. Well, probably not that well, but at the very least they wouldn't kill her. She would also be safe from the other Arrancar that would otherwise bother her.

During this time, she had to reign in her Reiatsu completely to avoid attracting Hollows. Strong Hollows could naturally still sense it, but at least the small fry would leave her alone. Orihime was upset since she wasn't even able to train her spiritual power because of it.

"I swear, I'm going all out on the first thing that provokes me! Ah... actually I probably shouldn't."

Orihime was both frustrated and glad that she was sent so far from Las Noches. Although, she did wonder if Ulquiorra would try looking for her. Regardless, she would try her best to stall.

"Well, no use thinking too much about it. Hogyoku, lets start with Kido from floor two!"

Orihime walked and memorized all the Kido from ten to eighty. What amazed her was that even unique alterations were included. She wondered what it took for someone's Kido or alteration to appear in the Akashic Records.

[Searching… Makanko:

Category: Kido

Creator: Orihime Inoue

Rank: Unranked]

[Searching… Reikoromo:

Category: Other

Creator: Orihime Inoue

Rank: Unranked]

"It feels weirdly good, being acknowledged by the records. Kind of like… validating my existence."

Although the sky didn't change, except for the subtle shifting of the moon's phase, Orihime was able to use the hogyoku to keep time. She had already been walking for four days. The building in the distance didn't seem any closer and she was in no rush to get there.

In this time, Orihime was able to learn the theoretical knowledge of all the Kido up to eighty. Since she was hiding her Reiatsu, she naturally couldn't practice them. What amazed her was how lucky she had been so far to not encountering a single Hollow.

On the fifth day, she saw a large trail of sand in the distance coming towards her. She found a boulder to hide behind and try to avoid a fight. However, to her surprise, she saw some familiar figures.

She recognized Nel Tu, an ex-Espada who lost in battle, then reverted to child form due to her mask being damaged. Trailing behind her were her subordinates. Orihime considered what to do in this situation. If she engaged with this group and messed with the timeline, Ichigo's group might lose out on this guide and little powerhouse.

Orihime bit her lip and decided to leave the group alone. However, she added Nel to the list of people she would protect in the future. She would be indispensable in the battle against the Quincy. Regrettably, Grimmjow would also need to be looked after, he's a battle junkie but Ichigo would earn his respect later.

After Nel and the group continued off into the horizon, Orihime left her hiding place and continued walking. Since she had been keeping her Reiatsu sealed, there was only a slight loss to maintaining her body.

After another few days went by, she sensed something in the sky. She couldn't see anything but her instinct was telling her someone was watching her. She checked hogyoku and saw there was still nine days left until it finished.

She was filled with regret. However, there was no changing the past. She simply looked on ahead towards Las Noches and continued walking. The fact she was only being watched made her think of many possibilities.

After two whole days of repeating cheesey, Orihime-like lines about friendship, her insides were twisting in embarrassment. Although she did really believe those things, embodying the meek and timid Orihime took a toll.

Ulquiorra had an obsession with human emotions. Being one of, if not the most perceptive Arrancar, he was very practical. Due to this, and being the aspect of loneliness, he shunned the existence of emotions and the human 'heart.'

Because of how unafraid Orihime was during her stay in Las Noches, and how relentless Ichigo was, he became interested in her due to frustration in Ichigo's actions. This will eventually lead to a heart-breaking scene where Ichigo is revived by the power of love, also known as plot armor; And Ulquiorra, after receiving Orihime's empathy, is led to discover the true meaning of the 'heart.'

Finally, Orihime's efforts came to fruition. She could see a white figure floating down towards her. Orihime looked up at him with an expressionless face. However, what he said to her made her almost lose her composure.

"Are you afraid? Your friends will not come to save you. There is no one here to protect you. You will die here all by yourself.

"Even if they do come, they will all die. I have seen their strength, and coming here will be like lambs to a slaughter."

"I know they will come. And when they do, my heart will be with them." Orihime responded almost instinctively.

"Your heart, you say? Humans toss around that word so casually, as if it's something you can hold in the palm of your hand. It's simply a meaningless human delusion."

"That may be true, but when people truly care about each other, their hearts grow so close that you can't tell the difference between them."

This time Orihime was panicking internally. She wasn't in control of herself anymore; Something was forcing the world into order. This conversation shouldn't be happening so early…

"Tell me, what is a heart? If I tore a hole in your chest, will I see it? If I split open your skull, would it be there?

"So, let me ask you again, girl. Are you afraid of me?"

"No, I'm not afraid."

Ulquiorra reached out to her neck, but Orihime did not flinch. His hand moved past her neck and under her arm. Then he effortlessly carried her to Las Noches in only a few hours utilizing his fastest speed.

Orihime didn't resist and was brought into an isolated room with a single, barred window. Control had been returned to her, but the experience left her traumatized. The feeling of one's body being taken over was a nightmare.

'Hogyoku, what happened to me?'

[Accessing Akashic Records… %&2*—]

Hogyoku's neutral and robotic voice stopped abruptly and was instead replaced by a voice that could be described with a single word—powerful.

<>

Orihime knew this voice. She had never heard it in her life or her past life, but she knew it. This was undoubtedly and most definitely the voice of the Soul King. The limbless being sealed in crystal, while maintaining the balance of the three realms, and the father of Yhwach.

Orihime was frightened to the core. This voice penetrated deep into her soul and shook the very fabric of her existence. Her fear began increasing exponentially.

She wanted to be free of his control. She needed power to protect her existence. She wanted power... to fight. Orihime's whole being shook in desire to remove this trespasser.

Hogyoku surged into action. After being isolated by a mysterious power, it could not provide much assistance. However, the isolation was irrelevant to powers that transcended god. Orihime's desires became its desires.

She began to grow stronger from a little spark of intent. This intent grew larger and larger relative to the pressure that the Soul King placed on her. Her Reiatsu exploded in strength, nearly doubling. Orihime was pulled into her inner world for the first time.

...

Inside, she stood in a modern room. It was near-identical to Orihime's room, but she could see a computer in the corner. Sitting on a gaming chair was someone who looked exactly like her. Orihime realized that it was her.

She looked at herself and then back at this duplicate. Her copy walked over to a vase filled with six different flowers: an iris, plum blossom, daisy, lily, hibiscus, and camellia. Orihime tried to speak, but the doppleganger put a finger up to her lips.

The other Orihime pulled out the flowers and walked over to her. She placed the flowers in Orihime's hands and spoke softly.

"Don't feel sad. I wanted to be someone useful to Ichigo and you wanted to be saved. Let's fight together from now on. Hehe, what am I saying? We've always been fighting together. Isn't that right, hogyoku-kun?"

Both Orihimes turned to the side and saw a tall figure with baggy pants and a black windbreaker. His face was completely covered by a purple, featureless mask. He simply nodded and walked forward. All three of them held the flowers and each others' hands.

A bright orange light filled the room and things began to turn to dust. The computer, the decorations, the walls, and the floor. All that remained was a bookshelf with seventy-three books with the title 'Bleach.'

Once the orange light faded, Orihime was by herself holding a Zanpakuto.