Ichigo barely managed to block the Hollow's attack.
Yet the Hollow did not take the opportunity to press forward.
Instead, a black void suddenly opened behind it, and it slowly retreated into the darkness.
Seeing the Hollow leave, Ichigo turned toward Orihime and Tatsuki, who was lying on the floor. His heart burned with rage and self-blame.
'Damn it! Tatsuki got dragged into this fight too…'
Orihime looked fearfully at everything happening in front of her and asked in a small voice.
"Kurosaki-kun… is that you?"
Ichigo's heart jumped.
"Inoue, how can you see me?"
Orihime shook her head, indicating that she did not know either.
"I don't know. I can see you, and I can see that monster too."
Only then did Ichigo notice the chain on Orihime's chest. He followed the chain with his eyes and finally saw Orihime's body lying nearby.
Rukia's words suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Only spirit bodies could see Shinigami, though humans born with high concentrations of reishi could also possess that ability.
'Does that mean Inoue is already dead?'
The conclusion shocked Ichigo so badly that he could not speak.
Just then, the Hollow reappeared from somewhere and laughed smugly.
"That's right. Orihime is already dead."
Ichigo tightened his grip around his Zanpakutō, rage burning in his eyes.
He absolutely could not let Orihime die like this!
He raised his head, faced the Hollow directly, and roared, "I don't care who you are! I won't let you take her away!"
The Hollow's abyss-like eyes flashed with disdain and contempt.
"With you? A little Shinigami? How laughable."
Ichigo ignored its mockery.
He gripped his Zanpakutō tightly and swung the blade forward without hesitation, attacking with all his strength.
But the Hollow feinted cunningly.
It suddenly turned, seized Orihime's Chain of Fate, and gripped her tightly in its hand.
Orihime screamed in terror, while Ichigo, furious beyond words, slashed hard at the Hollow's tail.
Sparks flew.
Ichigo's Zanpakutō collided with the Hollow's tail, but to his surprise, the attack failed to injure the powerful Hollow at all.
Instead, the Hollow's tail swept lightly, and a powerful force instantly sent Ichigo flying.
"Stay still, Shinigami! Don't move around... otherwise, I won't be so polite. I'll eat her right here!"
The Hollow's voice was full of malice.
Ichigo's heart clenched, and his movements froze for an instant.
At that moment, the Hollow launched a sneak attack.
Its tail slammed heavily into Ichigo and smashed him to the ground. Ichigo's vision went black, and he immediately lost consciousness.
Rukia, who had arrived a step too late, saw Ichigo get sent flying and collapse to the floor.
Her heart tightened.
"Kurosaki-kun! Are you okay?"
Even though Orihime was still trapped in the Hollow's hand, she was worried about Ichigo's safety.
She struggled desperately, trying to break free from the Hollow's grip.
"Orihime, have you really forgotten me?"
The Hollow spoke again.
Orihime stopped struggling.
She raised her eyes and looked at the monster holding her.
Slowly, she calmed down.
Her heart trembled, and she asked uncertainly, "Brother…?"
A cruel light flashed in the Hollow's eyes.
"That's right. It's me. Your brother, Sora Inoue! I didn't expect you to still remember me. I thought you had already forgotten."
"That's impossible! My brother would never do something like this! He was a very gentle person! He wouldn't hurt Tatsuki, and he definitely wouldn't hurt me! You're lying!"
Orihime shouted back.
"Orihime… I was so lonely. After I died, you prayed for me every day. Back then, I felt so warm. But not long after that, you met that girl, and you stopped praying for me as often. And now, you no longer pray for me at all."
Sora Inoue's voice was cold.
"I hate it. I'm so lonely. Today, I'm going to take you away so you can stay with me forever!"
"No, Brother. That's not true."
Orihime explained through tears.
"It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, how would I have become a Hollow?!"
He roared in anger, preparing to kill Orihime.
Nearby, Rukia was shaking the unconscious Ichigo and shouting loudly, "Ichigo! Wake up!"
Ichigo slowly lifted his head and answered weakly, "I… I'm fine, Rukia."
Rukia looked at the blood trickling down Ichigo's forehead and asked worriedly, "Are you really sure you're fine?"
"I'm fine!"
Ichigo forced himself to sit up, though the pain on his face was impossible to hide.
"I think I heard that Hollow say it's Inoue's brother…" Rukia frowned, unable to understand.
At that moment, just as Sora Inoue was about to strangle Orihime to death, Ichigo threw himself into the room without caring about anything else and blocked the fatal blow with his own body.
He glared at the Hollow and questioned it furiously.
"As her brother, how can you lay a hand on your own sister? You don't deserve to call yourself her brother!"
"It's all because of her! If not for her, how would I have become a Hollow?!"
Sora Inoue completely lost control. Still holding Orihime, he attacked Ichigo in a frenzy.
"No! Brother, don't hurt Ichigo!"
Orihime cried out helplessly.
Then Sora Inoue noticed the blue hairpins in Orihime's hair and suddenly fell into his memories.
Those were the hairpins he had given her when she was younger.
Back then, she had said she did not like them.
Yet now, she was still wearing them in her hair.
Ichigo seized that chance and landed a slash on Sora Inoue.
With a howl, Sora released Orihime from his grip. He decided to kill Ichigo first before dealing with Orihime.
"Shinigami! If you want to die that badly, I'll grant your wish!"
Sora Inoue clashed with Ichigo again.
After several exchanges, Ichigo was still no match for him and was sent flying once more.
Sora roared and charged toward Ichigo, ready to deliver the killing blow.
At that moment, Orihime somehow miraculously rushed out of the room and stood in front of Ichigo.
"Brother! If my happiness made you lonely, then kill me!"
Tears streamed down Orihime's face as she spoke the feelings in her heart.
Sora Inoue looked at Orihime, whom he had wounded with his own bite, and suddenly felt an intense pain tear through his head.
He clutched his skull tightly and screamed.
At the same time, the mask on his face began flickering unsteadily, as though he were fighting against some unseen force. His expression twisted in extreme agony.
"Ichigo, it looks like he didn't become a Hollow willingly. He must have been swallowed by one and ended up like this. We have to take this chance to destroy him as quickly as possible," Rukia urged anxiously from the side.
"Ichigo, please… don't hurt my brother, okay?" Orihime pleaded, looking at him with desperate eyes.
"Inoue…"
Ichigo did not know what to do.
"It was my fault. When I saw you living happily, as your brother, I should have been happy for you. Wasn't that what I always wanted?"
Sora Inoue's voice was full of self-reproach.
As soon as he finished speaking, Sora struggled to bend down and picked up Ichigo's fallen Zanpakutō.
Without hesitation, he pointed the blade toward his own head and thrust it in with all his strength.
As his body gradually turned to ash, he murmured softly, "Orihime… please, you must live happily forever."
"Brother…"
Orihime cried out in heartbreak, tears blurring her vision.