The Woven Princess

Chapter Ten

The green leaves in Japan were beginning to change colors, from green to yellow; green to red, green to brown…autumn was approaching, and it looked as if everyone was ready to be rid of summer and the heat accompanying it.

Autumn also meant that school would be starting very soon, and the princess of the Inoue Household was well aware of this fact. So as Orihime sat in her room on Monday morning she thought of the many possibilities that a new school, could, would, and may bring her. New friends? Maybe…if she could make herself likeable enough. Clubs? Wrestling! She still wasn't too sure what the sport really was…but it wouldn't hurt to try! Or even…even the cooking club? She could show everyone her original, great-tasting recipes! Orihime didn't yet know all of the activities they offered at Karakura High, but she was anxious to find out!

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts and she straightened, orange hair pooling over her shoulders as she did so. "Come in…!" The door opened without a creek and Orihime immediately felt a smile tug at her lips. The man scratched his brunette head as casually, and lazily, as usual; the goatee on his chin making him look all the more gruff. Yet he still pulled off a professional appearance as he slid his hand back into his pocket.

"Morning."

"Starrk-san!" She stood from her seat and gave a sweet, closed-eye smile. "Good morning!" her eyes slid open again. "Though, this is a bit out of the blue…you don't usually come to see me in the morning…" Because he was usually sleeping himself, even though he was head guard of the Inoue House.

"Yeah, well…" A yawn escaped his lips as he watched the girl, no…woman take a few steps towards the door. After giving up his position some years ago to become Head Guard, it had become an amazing thing to see her – she was growing up. "Ciffer-san had to be somewhere today, so I'll be taking over until he returns."

Orihime was confused, "Where did he go? And is it really okay to abandon your duties, Starrk-san?"

The man gave a nod. "Should be fine, everyone who holds a high position in the house is out for business." He shrugged, "Besides the sensei's. Which reminds me…" he turned towards the door at Orihime's curiously quirked brow. "You're late for your weapons training, Orihime."

Her steps ceased as her eyes grew wide. She had completely forgotten about the weapons lessons her guards had thrust upon her. Rather, she wanted to forget and did. She shook her head; she had to do this, right? To protect herself? To make it so she wasn't completely useless…so Ulquiorra didn't have to do so much…wait, that thought had never crossed her mind…and…

"Orihime."

She blinked a few times before looking at her childhood guard, one who had grown so close to her that he now called her by her first name when not around her parents. He was head guard, the strongest out of all of them. Yet…she couldn't really tell what expression his brown eyes beheld.

"I'm…I'm coming."

"Hold it firmly! It's not going to bite you, just recoil. That won't be so bad if you do it right!"

Orihime jumped at Sarugaki-sensei's loud scolding's, her hand closing tightly around the cold metal in the hold the woman had had her practicing for the last thirty minutes. "Y-Yes ma'am!" She replied, blinking furiously behind safety goggles. Her ears itched and the view was fogging up, but the weapon's trainer wouldn't allow her to remove them for even a second. How did they think they were going to get away with allowing her to carry a gun in school? She was pretty sure not even her status would allow that, and if another student-

Hiyori's voice rang out again, commanding her to look at the target and not out into space, her voice sharp with annoyance. Casting her gaze to Starrk's somewhat encouraging face and then to the woman with the crossed arms, she nodded, spreading her feet the correct distance apart so she was balanced, and took aim at the circular target at the end of the inside range. Nothing they said would make her shoot at a human shaped one. "What now?"

Hiyori's voice took on a firm, but less harsh tone for the next part – the one she'd been preparing to give for a while now. It was stupid to put a firearm into the hands of a girl like the Inoue princess, but if Ciffer and Starrk ordered it, she really didn't have a choice. And she'd be damned if anyone she taught got killed because of not being trained well. Hiyori uncrossed her arms, walking over to straighten the girl's arms and, unable to stand over her shoulder as with most of her students, she stood beside her. "Aim carefully, if the rear's low you'll shoot high, the top low you'll shoot low. Breathe in slowly, exhale and squeeze the trigger before you start you're next breath. Don't jerk i-"

The gun shot rang out, the teenager's arms jerking back as Hiyori ducked down to avoid the flying elbow. "Damn it, woman!" she snapped, straightening so fast it could have given her whiplash. "Listen to everything I say before shooting! You weren't prepared for the recoil, especially since you jerked like I was saying not too!"

She turned on her toe, ignoring Orihime's apologies. She pulled at the target, looking it over closely. "Didn't clip the side even! You closed your eyes right before you pulled the trigger, I knew it! Don't do that, ever!"

"Sarugaki."

Cutting short her tirade, she looked at the head of guard, her expression making it clear she would not coddle the child. "Yes?"

"She shot it, didn't she? That's more than you expected. Let her have another try. She has five more shots."

With narrowed eyes, Hiyori nodded disgruntledly. "I guess, seeing as I'd be losing pay if I didn't."

Orihime slightly narrowed her own eyes at the object in her hand, frustration was something she wasn't quite used to but now she knew full well what it meant. And she hated it. She hated feeling like she was a failure at something...she wanted to prove to herself, to Starrk, to Ulquiorra, that she could do it. And that she wasn't just a little girl anymore…

"Alright, you got five more shots, Inoue-hime. Now listen to what I tell you before you shoot, damn it!" Hiyori shot off into a five minute long explanation, making Orihime tell her what she just said back to her. She would make her learn it, even if it was the last thing she did!

"I got it!" Orihime said enthusiastically, a smile nowhere to be found on this princess. She gave a nod and then turned back towards the target, fixing the gun in her hand as Hiyori gave her a highly quirked brow. She could do this, she could do this!

She tugged on the trigger, her eyes flinching at the recoil.

"Don't close your eyes!"

She fixed her position, taking aim of the target once more.

Bang!

"Pull to the left, you're too high!"

She did as her sensei said, her voice being the only thing to intrude on her focus.

Bang!

Hiyori was silent, looking from the target to Inoue-hime, and then back to the target.

"Shift up."

Bang, bang, bang!

The blonde's eyes widened, not expecting the three-round shot. She walked around the princess, her breaths heavy and uneven. Orihime too, gazed at the target. Out of the five shots, two of them made it onto the grid, while another two hit a grey line. One though…one made it on the red dot right in the middle of the circle.

Bullseye.

"Well," Starrk said, standing up from his seat. "I think that's enough for the day, no? No need to overwhelm the girl."

Hiyori crossed her arms securely over her chest as Orihime let out a sigh of relief. She had to admit, she didn't think she would get a shot on the target today – rather, ever, but she did. That just proved that she was a damn good teacher.

"Fine. I have other things I need to do anyway." The blonde turned back to the princess, pointing her finger commandingly. "And you! Don't even think you've made a lot of progress. You haven't. You've got a long way to go, kid."

The orange-haired girl gave a nod, pulling the goggles from her eyes. She wasn't sure if she was correct or not, but something about Sarugaki-sensei's tone hinted that that was her way of saying…"good job."

Ulquiorra sighed, sitting in the office of the high school he and the princess were soon to attend. Beside him was the annoying sound of shoes being tapped on the chair legs, then the floor, and he glanced over at the man beside him with a quirked brow. "Is something wrong, Jeagerjaques?"

"Yeah, this was supposed to be my day off, remember?"

"I said you had a day off from your usual duties, not this. And I was commenting on how nervous you appear to be."

The spy shot a cold glare at the guard, eyes hardening. "I'm not nervous, idiot." He glared at the wall. "I was just sent here a lot when I went attended. The nurse and the secretary recognized me, that's a good, rendering that-"

"Ciffer-san," an old, rumbling voice came from the door. "Though I understand the Inoue family is paying good money for my school to accept you and their daughter, I cannot accept allowing this...thing back into my establishment."

Grimmjow growled under his breath at the old man, Genryuusai Yamamoto, principal of Karakura High. "Isn't it about time you retired, old man?"

Ulquiorra stood and gave a small bow, his eyes emotionless. "Excuse him; I needed to keep him out of trouble for the day."

"We can let Retsu watch him."

"No! Old man, come on!"

Ulquiorra shot him a look. "You're acting like a child."

Grimmjow sneered at him before leaning back in the chair with his arms crossed over one another. Ulquiorra turned back to the Chairman, watching as he sighed and leaned on his wooden cane. "I do not see a problem with allowing you two to attend, but don't you think this may cause some problems?" Yamamoto asked, referring to the many threats

made on the princess in the past.

Ulquiorra stood straight again and tucked his hands in his pockets; a gust of wind from the open window whipping his raven hair around his face.

"The princess is well protected, sir."

The man raised a brow. "I do not doubt that Ciffer-san, it is the other students I am concerned about. I cannot allow the chance of any of them being harmed."

"You allow Kuchiki to attend." Grimmjow muttered under his breath, glaring up as they stared at him. "What? I just want her out of my hair all the time."

With a sigh Ulquiorra turned away from him, feeling it not worth the waste of breath to point out the man hardly ever saw the princess. "I promise the other students will not come to any harm either, Yamamoto-sensei. The school will have extra protection, and I know many of your staff are trained in combat as well, no matter how deeply you try to hide it." He stared at him, knowing he would be able to grant the princess's wish of attending a normal school. "We will take her away if there is any near-successful attempt at all."

The old man nodded stiffly. "You have done your homework, guard. I cannot see any further reason for me to disagree. I wish to interview this extra protection you speak of, however."

"Consider it done."

"Then be gone, both of you."

As they left the office, Grimmjow growled quietly, "Why the hell did you bring me here anyway, if you just wanted me to sit there like a useless decoration."

The cold green gaze focused on the blunette. "To keep an eye on you. Why else, Jeagerjaques?"

Silence fell as the spy balked before pure anger came over his face and he grabbed the collar of the smaller guard. "You think I'm a double agent? What the hell, Ciffer!"

"I did not say that. I was merely concerned they might have noticed you hanging around too much." His eyes darkened. "It is something to think about though. Be careful where you tread."

Grimmjow made a sound through his teeth, before stuffing his hands in his own pockets. As they began walking through the school gates, a flash of orange caught the blunette's eyes. He turned, only to see Ichigo Kurosaki walking past with his tanned friend by his side. He narrowed his eyes before turning back, letting a sigh pass his lips.

"Let's get out of here, I've done my time."

Orihime stretched her arms up high, taking pleasure in the ripple of her muscles. She'd had a long day, Ulquiorra hadn't said where he was going, but he left not long after the weapon's lesson. Her eyes wilting just thinking about it, and she gazed at her reflection in the pond. How much longer could she expect to be protected by everyone? Thinking about it now, it seemed a little ...oh, she didn't know. But what she did know was that she hated violence. Yet, it seemed as if that was the world she was born into, and the fate brought upon her.

Lifting her head at the sound of footsteps, she smiled up at Ukitake-sensei. "Hello sensei! Come to enjoy the koi ponds as well?" To her own ears her cheerful tone sounded stressed, but he seemed to overlook it as hew kneeled beside her.

"Yes, they are very calming when everything is changing, are they not?" He smiled at her quick nods, but his eyes held the knowledge of a secret that saddened him. Her gaze dulled as she looked away from him. There were many things in her own house she was not aware of, and though this man was kind, she knew he would not share them with her.

Instead, she turned back to him, "I will still be taking the koto lessons after school though! That will not change. In fact, the only person I will no longer see on regular bases is Ise-sensei." She blushed. "Ah, do not tell her, but I do not feel too much sadness over that fact."

Jushiro couldn't help but let a laugh pass his lips. "I will not tell her, but I am sure the teachers at your new school will be strict, if not even more so."

Orihime raised a determined fist. "I've thought long and hard about this...I will do it!"

Her Koto teacher laughed once more. "I like your attitude." A gust of wind blew past, bringing along with them another set of footsteps. Orihime and Jushiro looked back to see Ulquiorra walking down the hall towards them. Her gazed steeled, and she lifted her chin. What was this feeling? It was strange...had he always been that much taller than she?

"Hime-sama," said Ulquiorra. "We will begin school in a few days. Do not forget."

Her eyes widened at the news. The school accepted her? How great! Her lips curled into a smile, and she could hardly hold in her excitement.

After a few moments Ulquiorra turned his gaze over to Jushiro, and the silver-haired man's eyes hardened. "Aizen-sama would like to speak with you. It is...of that matter."

Jushiro's eyes softened by the time he turned to a curious Orihime. "Enjoy the rest of your evening, then." He gently tussled her hair, and she rested her hand on her head as he walked away.

As soon as he was out of sight she whirled to look at her guard. "What did you mean by that? What matter!" Her words were not questions, but demands, her eyes wide and slightly frightened. "Aizen-sama is not going to fire them, is he?"

"That is not my matter to speak of," he replied calmly, sighing as tears welled in her eyes. "But I can say they will not be fired, the families of Ise, Kyoraku, and Ukitake have worked alongside the Inoue's for many years. It will not change simply because you go to school."

Her eyes shone with relief as she stood, but she did not embrace him as she would have only a few days ago. She was growing up; she would learn how to control her emotions, as her brother did during important times. "Thank you for those words, Ulquiorra-san."

She skipped past him, missing the widening of his eyes at the maturity she had shown. Was changing daily life making that much of an impact on her? He shook his head slowly, finding a small smile on his lips as he remembered something she had forgotten. "You are going the wrong way, Hime-sama. Matsumoto has to fit you for your uniform."

She turned, walking back over and hitting his head playfully. "It's Orihime now! You'll have to call me that at school."

He watched her walk down the hallway, regaining control of his expression. No, she was the same as ever.

Please! Forgive us for our very long long long long hiatus from everything! Willow didn't have a computer, Shojo was busy with tests, and then we got started on an original story over the phone which carried us from October's end to the beginning of December. But we're back! And we hope we can make it up to you!

Please, again forgive us and review! ^^

P.S. We are not Gollum.

~NightDreamers