Bleach fanfic, The Bride of the Death God 22 (progress)
title: The Bride of the Death God chapter 22: progress
author: caledon (the_tower_room)
pairing: Ichigo/Orihime, Renji/Rukia, various
rating: M
summary: AU. A plague descended upon the village, and to appease the God of Death, they offered him a bride as a sacrifice.
words: 3152
Messenger of the Sun God, Orihime repeated inside her head numbly, unable to keep her eyes from wandering to the four legs that pawed at the ground. She shook herself. Having seen such a similar form with the Death God, this really shouldn't be any different. But still, she couldn't help feeling disconcerted and curious, and wondered how it felt to have the lower half of the body to be much heavier and consisted of four legs instead of two. Do her legs ever tangle up? she thought. Although she had to admit that having four feet would cover a greater distance when one was trying to get somewhere fast.
And then she realized she had stayed silent for too long. She looked up, feeling sheepish over the thoughts that had just gone through her mind, and met the goddess's eyes. "It's very nice to meet you. My name is Orihime."
The visitor straightened, a huge smile stretching her lips, and shook both of her hands. "Congratulations on your marriage and godhood, Orihime. I hope the transition into this new life is going well for you?"
Although her heart felt heavy, she put on a happy countenance. "Thank you very much, goddess. If it's not rude, may I ask what brings you here?"
Neliel shook her head, chuckling. "It's not rude at all. I bear a message: You are cordially invited to appear before the grace and eminence of the Sun God, the Spirit King."
Orihime felt her heart sink. Already? she thought. She knew this day was coming, based on what she had been told, but she hadn't expected it to be this soon. She didn't want to leave knowing that she and the Death God weren't on good terms.
On seeing her expression, the Goddess of Time waved her hands and said in a comforting voice, "Not this minute. I have a number of tasks to perform here in the gods' realm, some arrangements to make and other gods to see."
"Oh." A sigh of relief issued from her chest, and she couldn't help clapping her hands together.
"It may take a few days."
"I see."
Neliel laughed, turning away. "I am not just going to whisk you off from your husband, you know. Formalities must be made and all. Although, for my purposes, I'm glad three out of the four gods of seasons are already here within the house of the God of Life, which means I just need to track one other."
"The gods of the seasons?"
"Yes. The God of Spring, the God of Winter, and the God of Summer are all convened here by the invitation of the God of Life to celebrate your marriage to the God of Death. The Goddess of Autumn, however, isn't invited, although I know where she is from my vantage point in the sky. All that's left is to visit her."
She faced Orihime, seeing many unspoken questions in her expression. Taking the bride of the Death God by the hand, she pointed to the south-eastern sky. "See that patch of darkness there? That's where my constellation was; it's where I usually stand in the night, and from there, I have a clear view of the realm of gods and know where everyone is. Down here, on the other hand, I have to rely on sensing spiritual energy to be able to locate anyone, just like everyone else." She sighed, releasing Orihime's hand. "Rest assured that I can only see, not hear. The dimension of the sky is too far even for the speed of sound. If there's one thing that I miss from here, it's hearing how everyone has been doing." She pursed her lips. "You can only interpret so much from watching."
Neliel cupped her cheeks and blew a raspberry. "Listen to me! Talking and talking. I'm sorry. It's just it's been a while since I've spoken to someone other than the dwellers of the sky. And I'm sure, since you're new to godhood, there are many things you don't know and are just curious about. If there's anything you'd like to know, please feel free to ask me."
"Thank you so much." Yet more questions arose in Orihime's mind at the goddess's invitation, and they all fought to be asked at once. She tried to curb them down and made an attempt at propriety, gesturing back to her chamber. "Would you like to take a seat and have something to eat or drink?"
"How kind of you! Yes, I'd like that."
Sensing the wishes foremost in Orihime's mind, the house of the God of Life complied, and two chairs and a table with refreshments materialized in front of the fireplace with its fire still unmoving in this strange dimension of timelessness. She tried not to stare at how Neliel folded all four of her legs so that she could sit in the chair, and just proceeded to pour tea for the both of them.
The visitor clapped her hands in delight as she gazed down at the fresh sliced fruits and the bowl of chocolate sauce, waiting until Orihime had sat down across from her before diving in to the feast.
"Mmm," she moaned. "I tell you, covering the distance between the sky and here really gives you an appetite."
Orihime laughed. She now lived in a place where impossible things could happen, and did occur regularly, but they still surprised her. She couldn't help wondering what it would be like to make such a journey.
"The next few days are going to be so busy for me," continued the goddess. "I need clouds, you see."
A dipped strawberry stopped halfway to her mouth. "Clouds?"
"Yes. Rain clouds to be exact." Neliel pursed her lips as she chewed thoughtfully. "And I need to speak to all of the season gods since they're the ones who schedule weather phenomena to see if they can spare me some for you to be able to go beyond."
"I see." There was that phrase again. Go beyond. If she should leave before she had a chance to speak with the Death God, she truly hoped the visit to the beyond wouldn't take too long. She couldn't bear the thought of being parted from Ichigo for a long time; their present situation was unbearable enough.
"I could take you up there myself, but...again, formalities to meet," said the goddess wryly. "Everyone's a stickler for it. And then I have to herd the clouds around to where they need to be. Ah, too much work for me." Her eyes widened, and she slammed her hands on the table as she rose, making Orihime jump. "Oh! I almost forgot my other tasks. I'm sorry to cut this visit short, Orihime." She walked over to where Orihime still sat and gave her hands a squeeze. "Thank you very much for the kindness and welcome, and it's very nice to meet you. We'll definitely see each other again soon."
She waved to her, and then snapped her fingers.
Orihime blinked and looked around. The fire in the hearth moved as normal, no longer frozen in time, providing warmth and dancing shadows once again. She was alone. Did she dream all that? She bit her lip and leaned back against the chair.
She quite liked Neliel; she might be a bit abrupt, but she was rather nice and jovial, and there was an air of youthfulness about her.
But her presence here brought about a sense of inevitability that Orihime wanted to keep at bay for as long as she possibly could. She really must find a way to get to the Death God, and it was one wish that the house of the God of Life wouldn't be able to fulfill. Maybe tomorrow, on the trip with the Goddess of Love and Fertility and the Goddess of Snow to the mortal world, she'd be able to find him. He was bound to be fulfilling his duty like usual, and she hoped that he'd find work near the goddess's temple.
She almost couldn't bear the way her heart burned with yearning for him.
With her mission in mind, the next day Orihime walked with an excited Rangiku toward the dock, the goddess dragging her along by the arm in a skipping gait. She couldn't help but be infected by Rangiku's enthusiasm; there was much about the world of gods that she still had yet to learn, and she had to admit that her curiosity was piqued as to how Rangiku performed her duties as the Goddess of Love and Fertility.
As they neared, they found that the Goddess of Snow and her husband were already waiting by the staircase that descended into the river.
"I'll be needing my easel, pigments, various-sized brushes, some parchments, and a roll of canvas," Rukia was saying to Renji as she listed the items with her fingers.
He frowned at her. "Why do you need all that? I thought you're just going to paint a wall?"
"I need to do some practice tests first before I try the final draft on the wall. Now go on." She shooed him off, and he sighed, rolling his neck as he went back to the house, giving them a nod as he passed them by.
They stopped beside Rukia, exchanging morning pleasantries and plans for the journey. As Orihime listened to the goddesses' chatter, she cocked her head to the side, wonder in her tone. "Oh, what will you be painting, Rukia?"
"Me, of course," replied Rangiku in her stead, a hand on her chest and a giddy smile on her lips.
"Oh, so that's why you're so happy. It must be wonderful to have the Goddess of the Arts to paint a picture of you. It sounds like an amazing gift."
"It's actually my payment for the trade made between her and me," answered Rukia.
"A trade?" Oh, that's right, she thought. That's how gods work with other gods, by giving of each other what ever is in their skills or power. "What did you want to get for the trade?"
Rangiku piped up once more. "I supplied her with a mead that acts as a contraceptive, negating the power of the God of Life over her body while she is in his house. And in return, she gets to paint a picture of me in my temple, for all my followers to see."
Orihime thought about the goddess's answer, laying a hand against her still-flat belly. So the Goddess of Love also had the power to render someone infertile-at least, temporarily. She couldn't begrudge her friend in not wanting to get pregnant, but all the same, she couldn't help the mixed feeling in her chest when the same person's power caused her to become one.
Startled from her thoughts, Rangiku held her hand in both of hers. "And you'll be in the picture with me, won't you, Orihime?"
"Er..."
"It will be wonderful. The God of Beauty will be meeting us at my temple, and he will be beautifying us for the picture."
"But you're already beautiful-aah!"
The Goddess of Love and Fertility had pulled her into a tight hug, their breasts squeezed together. "Bless you, Orihime! You are so adorable!"
Rukia only shook her head with a smile, watching the other goddess's antics.
"And this will be the first time the rest of the world will find out about you!" continued Rangiku. "And it will be because of this that people will think that it is I, the Goddess of Love and Fertility, who caused the God of Death to fall in love and brought you two together."
"Rangiku," admonished a deep voice from above them, and the black cat from yesterday jumped down from the awning it had been standing in.
"What?"
"You know you shouldn't make up stories like that. Leave that to the Scribes."
"But isn't it a better story? And of course, it shows my absolute power over love-"
"Your love is physical love, erotic love," pointed out the cat.
"It's still love," dismissed Rangiku with a wave of her hand, wiggling her eyebrows with a smirk. "And we all know just how much those two have been exercising the physical aspect of it."
At that, Orihime couldn't help the crimson from shading up her cheeks.
"Oh, don't mind her," said the cat, landing on her shoulders and making itself comfortable.
She just nodded at it, a frown furrowing her brow on how familiar it seemed to act around them, although she couldn't remember if she had met it formally. It wasn't everyday that she met cats that talk.
"Um, if it's not too much trouble," Orihime began, "who are you again?"
All three looked at her incredulously, and she shrank back from the weight of their stares.
"I'm sorry! I just-"
"No need," said the cat, jumping down from her shoulder. "I suppose it's understandable that you've never seen me in this form before, until yesterday that is." The cat's form blurred, elongating, its spine curving up and out. The fur on its head lengthened and flared out into thick dark hair, and from where the cat used to stand there now knelt the dark-skinned Goddess of Cats. Naked, she straightened up to her full height, spreading her arms out. "Recognize me now?"
Orihime covered her mouth with her hands. "Yoruichi! I'm sorry, I-"
"No, I said it's okay. I know my voice also sounds different when I'm in that form, but it's easier to travel around in it." She began to transform once again, taking up her spot back on Orihime's shoulder once she finished.
The auburn-haired couldn't help wondering about the shapes that gods took. The Goddess of Cats obviously took on the form of a cat, but what about the God of Death and the Goddess of Time? Part of them still retained their human figures-was it because Neliel wasn't the goddess of four-legged creatures with horns and the Death God wasn't the god of creatures with claws? What was it about their power that made them take such a shape? Would the God of Knowledge and Invention know the reason, if there was one, behind this? Or should she just leave it as one of the ineffable mysteries of godhood?
"I hope the boat will be here soon," commented Yoruichi.
"So you are coming," said Rukia.
"Of course."
"What about Kisuke?"
"He's on his way."
"Oh, this boat ride will be such a wonderful party," exclaimed Rangiku, waving to several figures making their way towards them.
"Party, you say?" said Kyouraku with a delighted smile, his arm around the Goddess of Time. A scowling Goddess of Order walked behind them, followed by the God of Winter and the God of Spring. "Wonderful! There will be lots of drinking involved."
A growl of disapproval issued from Nanao's throat as she pushed her glasses up, the other gods greeting each other around her.
Orihime looked at Neliel's form, frowning. Some things are missing, she thought. She remembered meeting the goddess last night, but maybe being out of time changed a part of her memory. Concerned, she placed a hand on the goddess's shoulder. "What happened? Are you alright?"
"Hmm? Yes?" asked Neliel, puzzled.
"Your legs..." Orihime gestured behind Neliel, leaning close to whisper, "didn't you have four?"
Despite her low tone, she was still heard because the other gods-with the exception of Byakuya, Toushiro, and Nanao-erupted into guffaws.
Neliel looked behind her, an understanding smile stretching her lips. "Oh, it's for formalities. I have a number of transformations." She winked. "Besides, having two legs instead of four will leave more room in the boat."
Orihime couldn't help being surprised as she looked at everyone. "You're all coming with us to the mortal world?"
"No," the Goddess of Time shook her head. "We're just hitching a ride. I'm to hold a congregation with the gods of the seasons, and since Rangiku and Rukia were speaking of their trip last night, they kindly offered to take us to our destination along the way. I tell you, if I didn't have control over time, it would've taken me longer to make all the necessary arrangements for this assembly. I'm glad I was also able to find and speak with the Goddess of Autumn last night; we'll be picking her up en route to the meeting place."
At the mention of the Goddess of Autumn, Orihime couldn't help the apprehension that filled her. Senna-she who used to be her husband's lover, and who seemed to hate her and caused the plague to descend upon her village... She couldn't help the scenarios the played in her mind on how their first ever meeting would go.
Her worried gaze wandered, landing on a very annoyed Nanao, who watched the god with the pink, flamboyant flowered coat nuzzling the Goddess of Time's ear. She sidled up to her and peered at the display.
"Will you be joining us to the mortal world, Nanao?"
The bespectacled goddess glanced at Orihime, her eyes softening a bit. "No, I'm just here to make sure the God of Summer will actually be attending the meeting somewhat sober."
"Nanao, that's mean," whined Kyouraku, fixing her with a distressed stare. "I take my duties seriously, whether at the behest of the Spirit King through his Messenger or not. Isn't that right, Neliel?" He leaned his head on her shoulder, an exaggerated look of sadness on his face, and she patted him on the head.
Nanao just rolled her eyes at him and pointed to the river. "The sail barge is here."
It was a boat larger than the ones that Orihime had used before, obviously made for a group of passengers. It was grand, with plenty of seating areas and comfortable cushions lining them, and the gods immediately boarded and settled themselves as soon as it docked.
Two figures were already in it, the Scribe Hisagi, and another young man with blond hair and a somber expression who introduced himself as Izuru Kira. They held trays of goblets and wine bottles, going around and offering drinks to the passengers, with only Rangiku and Kyouraku heartily taking the offer with exclamations of happiness.
Just as the two gods' merriment began underway, Kisuke and Renji arrived, the latter carrying an armload of Rukia's art paraphernalia and looking rather put-upon, settling himself beside her but carefully setting aside the burden.
"I take it that this is everyone?" The God of Invention and Knowledge asked as he fanned himself. On seeing everyone's affirmation, he stomped twice on the boat's floor and it began to embark, and all the passengers waved to the lone figure of the Goddess of Order left on the dock.
Orihime's second journey back to the mortal world had begun.
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previous chapter | next chapter
author: caledon (the_tower_room)
pairing: Ichigo/Orihime, Renji/Rukia, various
rating: M
summary: AU. A plague descended upon the village, and to appease the God of Death, they offered him a bride as a sacrifice.
words: 3152
Messenger of the Sun God, Orihime repeated inside her head numbly, unable to keep her eyes from wandering to the four legs that pawed at the ground. She shook herself. Having seen such a similar form with the Death God, this really shouldn't be any different. But still, she couldn't help feeling disconcerted and curious, and wondered how it felt to have the lower half of the body to be much heavier and consisted of four legs instead of two. Do her legs ever tangle up? she thought. Although she had to admit that having four feet would cover a greater distance when one was trying to get somewhere fast.
And then she realized she had stayed silent for too long. She looked up, feeling sheepish over the thoughts that had just gone through her mind, and met the goddess's eyes. "It's very nice to meet you. My name is Orihime."
The visitor straightened, a huge smile stretching her lips, and shook both of her hands. "Congratulations on your marriage and godhood, Orihime. I hope the transition into this new life is going well for you?"
Although her heart felt heavy, she put on a happy countenance. "Thank you very much, goddess. If it's not rude, may I ask what brings you here?"
Neliel shook her head, chuckling. "It's not rude at all. I bear a message: You are cordially invited to appear before the grace and eminence of the Sun God, the Spirit King."
Orihime felt her heart sink. Already? she thought. She knew this day was coming, based on what she had been told, but she hadn't expected it to be this soon. She didn't want to leave knowing that she and the Death God weren't on good terms.
On seeing her expression, the Goddess of Time waved her hands and said in a comforting voice, "Not this minute. I have a number of tasks to perform here in the gods' realm, some arrangements to make and other gods to see."
"Oh." A sigh of relief issued from her chest, and she couldn't help clapping her hands together.
"It may take a few days."
"I see."
Neliel laughed, turning away. "I am not just going to whisk you off from your husband, you know. Formalities must be made and all. Although, for my purposes, I'm glad three out of the four gods of seasons are already here within the house of the God of Life, which means I just need to track one other."
"The gods of the seasons?"
"Yes. The God of Spring, the God of Winter, and the God of Summer are all convened here by the invitation of the God of Life to celebrate your marriage to the God of Death. The Goddess of Autumn, however, isn't invited, although I know where she is from my vantage point in the sky. All that's left is to visit her."
She faced Orihime, seeing many unspoken questions in her expression. Taking the bride of the Death God by the hand, she pointed to the south-eastern sky. "See that patch of darkness there? That's where my constellation was; it's where I usually stand in the night, and from there, I have a clear view of the realm of gods and know where everyone is. Down here, on the other hand, I have to rely on sensing spiritual energy to be able to locate anyone, just like everyone else." She sighed, releasing Orihime's hand. "Rest assured that I can only see, not hear. The dimension of the sky is too far even for the speed of sound. If there's one thing that I miss from here, it's hearing how everyone has been doing." She pursed her lips. "You can only interpret so much from watching."
Neliel cupped her cheeks and blew a raspberry. "Listen to me! Talking and talking. I'm sorry. It's just it's been a while since I've spoken to someone other than the dwellers of the sky. And I'm sure, since you're new to godhood, there are many things you don't know and are just curious about. If there's anything you'd like to know, please feel free to ask me."
"Thank you so much." Yet more questions arose in Orihime's mind at the goddess's invitation, and they all fought to be asked at once. She tried to curb them down and made an attempt at propriety, gesturing back to her chamber. "Would you like to take a seat and have something to eat or drink?"
"How kind of you! Yes, I'd like that."
Sensing the wishes foremost in Orihime's mind, the house of the God of Life complied, and two chairs and a table with refreshments materialized in front of the fireplace with its fire still unmoving in this strange dimension of timelessness. She tried not to stare at how Neliel folded all four of her legs so that she could sit in the chair, and just proceeded to pour tea for the both of them.
The visitor clapped her hands in delight as she gazed down at the fresh sliced fruits and the bowl of chocolate sauce, waiting until Orihime had sat down across from her before diving in to the feast.
"Mmm," she moaned. "I tell you, covering the distance between the sky and here really gives you an appetite."
Orihime laughed. She now lived in a place where impossible things could happen, and did occur regularly, but they still surprised her. She couldn't help wondering what it would be like to make such a journey.
"The next few days are going to be so busy for me," continued the goddess. "I need clouds, you see."
A dipped strawberry stopped halfway to her mouth. "Clouds?"
"Yes. Rain clouds to be exact." Neliel pursed her lips as she chewed thoughtfully. "And I need to speak to all of the season gods since they're the ones who schedule weather phenomena to see if they can spare me some for you to be able to go beyond."
"I see." There was that phrase again. Go beyond. If she should leave before she had a chance to speak with the Death God, she truly hoped the visit to the beyond wouldn't take too long. She couldn't bear the thought of being parted from Ichigo for a long time; their present situation was unbearable enough.
"I could take you up there myself, but...again, formalities to meet," said the goddess wryly. "Everyone's a stickler for it. And then I have to herd the clouds around to where they need to be. Ah, too much work for me." Her eyes widened, and she slammed her hands on the table as she rose, making Orihime jump. "Oh! I almost forgot my other tasks. I'm sorry to cut this visit short, Orihime." She walked over to where Orihime still sat and gave her hands a squeeze. "Thank you very much for the kindness and welcome, and it's very nice to meet you. We'll definitely see each other again soon."
She waved to her, and then snapped her fingers.
Orihime blinked and looked around. The fire in the hearth moved as normal, no longer frozen in time, providing warmth and dancing shadows once again. She was alone. Did she dream all that? She bit her lip and leaned back against the chair.
She quite liked Neliel; she might be a bit abrupt, but she was rather nice and jovial, and there was an air of youthfulness about her.
But her presence here brought about a sense of inevitability that Orihime wanted to keep at bay for as long as she possibly could. She really must find a way to get to the Death God, and it was one wish that the house of the God of Life wouldn't be able to fulfill. Maybe tomorrow, on the trip with the Goddess of Love and Fertility and the Goddess of Snow to the mortal world, she'd be able to find him. He was bound to be fulfilling his duty like usual, and she hoped that he'd find work near the goddess's temple.
She almost couldn't bear the way her heart burned with yearning for him.
With her mission in mind, the next day Orihime walked with an excited Rangiku toward the dock, the goddess dragging her along by the arm in a skipping gait. She couldn't help but be infected by Rangiku's enthusiasm; there was much about the world of gods that she still had yet to learn, and she had to admit that her curiosity was piqued as to how Rangiku performed her duties as the Goddess of Love and Fertility.
As they neared, they found that the Goddess of Snow and her husband were already waiting by the staircase that descended into the river.
"I'll be needing my easel, pigments, various-sized brushes, some parchments, and a roll of canvas," Rukia was saying to Renji as she listed the items with her fingers.
He frowned at her. "Why do you need all that? I thought you're just going to paint a wall?"
"I need to do some practice tests first before I try the final draft on the wall. Now go on." She shooed him off, and he sighed, rolling his neck as he went back to the house, giving them a nod as he passed them by.
They stopped beside Rukia, exchanging morning pleasantries and plans for the journey. As Orihime listened to the goddesses' chatter, she cocked her head to the side, wonder in her tone. "Oh, what will you be painting, Rukia?"
"Me, of course," replied Rangiku in her stead, a hand on her chest and a giddy smile on her lips.
"Oh, so that's why you're so happy. It must be wonderful to have the Goddess of the Arts to paint a picture of you. It sounds like an amazing gift."
"It's actually my payment for the trade made between her and me," answered Rukia.
"A trade?" Oh, that's right, she thought. That's how gods work with other gods, by giving of each other what ever is in their skills or power. "What did you want to get for the trade?"
Rangiku piped up once more. "I supplied her with a mead that acts as a contraceptive, negating the power of the God of Life over her body while she is in his house. And in return, she gets to paint a picture of me in my temple, for all my followers to see."
Orihime thought about the goddess's answer, laying a hand against her still-flat belly. So the Goddess of Love also had the power to render someone infertile-at least, temporarily. She couldn't begrudge her friend in not wanting to get pregnant, but all the same, she couldn't help the mixed feeling in her chest when the same person's power caused her to become one.
Startled from her thoughts, Rangiku held her hand in both of hers. "And you'll be in the picture with me, won't you, Orihime?"
"Er..."
"It will be wonderful. The God of Beauty will be meeting us at my temple, and he will be beautifying us for the picture."
"But you're already beautiful-aah!"
The Goddess of Love and Fertility had pulled her into a tight hug, their breasts squeezed together. "Bless you, Orihime! You are so adorable!"
Rukia only shook her head with a smile, watching the other goddess's antics.
"And this will be the first time the rest of the world will find out about you!" continued Rangiku. "And it will be because of this that people will think that it is I, the Goddess of Love and Fertility, who caused the God of Death to fall in love and brought you two together."
"Rangiku," admonished a deep voice from above them, and the black cat from yesterday jumped down from the awning it had been standing in.
"What?"
"You know you shouldn't make up stories like that. Leave that to the Scribes."
"But isn't it a better story? And of course, it shows my absolute power over love-"
"Your love is physical love, erotic love," pointed out the cat.
"It's still love," dismissed Rangiku with a wave of her hand, wiggling her eyebrows with a smirk. "And we all know just how much those two have been exercising the physical aspect of it."
At that, Orihime couldn't help the crimson from shading up her cheeks.
"Oh, don't mind her," said the cat, landing on her shoulders and making itself comfortable.
She just nodded at it, a frown furrowing her brow on how familiar it seemed to act around them, although she couldn't remember if she had met it formally. It wasn't everyday that she met cats that talk.
"Um, if it's not too much trouble," Orihime began, "who are you again?"
All three looked at her incredulously, and she shrank back from the weight of their stares.
"I'm sorry! I just-"
"No need," said the cat, jumping down from her shoulder. "I suppose it's understandable that you've never seen me in this form before, until yesterday that is." The cat's form blurred, elongating, its spine curving up and out. The fur on its head lengthened and flared out into thick dark hair, and from where the cat used to stand there now knelt the dark-skinned Goddess of Cats. Naked, she straightened up to her full height, spreading her arms out. "Recognize me now?"
Orihime covered her mouth with her hands. "Yoruichi! I'm sorry, I-"
"No, I said it's okay. I know my voice also sounds different when I'm in that form, but it's easier to travel around in it." She began to transform once again, taking up her spot back on Orihime's shoulder once she finished.
The auburn-haired couldn't help wondering about the shapes that gods took. The Goddess of Cats obviously took on the form of a cat, but what about the God of Death and the Goddess of Time? Part of them still retained their human figures-was it because Neliel wasn't the goddess of four-legged creatures with horns and the Death God wasn't the god of creatures with claws? What was it about their power that made them take such a shape? Would the God of Knowledge and Invention know the reason, if there was one, behind this? Or should she just leave it as one of the ineffable mysteries of godhood?
"I hope the boat will be here soon," commented Yoruichi.
"So you are coming," said Rukia.
"Of course."
"What about Kisuke?"
"He's on his way."
"Oh, this boat ride will be such a wonderful party," exclaimed Rangiku, waving to several figures making their way towards them.
"Party, you say?" said Kyouraku with a delighted smile, his arm around the Goddess of Time. A scowling Goddess of Order walked behind them, followed by the God of Winter and the God of Spring. "Wonderful! There will be lots of drinking involved."
A growl of disapproval issued from Nanao's throat as she pushed her glasses up, the other gods greeting each other around her.
Orihime looked at Neliel's form, frowning. Some things are missing, she thought. She remembered meeting the goddess last night, but maybe being out of time changed a part of her memory. Concerned, she placed a hand on the goddess's shoulder. "What happened? Are you alright?"
"Hmm? Yes?" asked Neliel, puzzled.
"Your legs..." Orihime gestured behind Neliel, leaning close to whisper, "didn't you have four?"
Despite her low tone, she was still heard because the other gods-with the exception of Byakuya, Toushiro, and Nanao-erupted into guffaws.
Neliel looked behind her, an understanding smile stretching her lips. "Oh, it's for formalities. I have a number of transformations." She winked. "Besides, having two legs instead of four will leave more room in the boat."
Orihime couldn't help being surprised as she looked at everyone. "You're all coming with us to the mortal world?"
"No," the Goddess of Time shook her head. "We're just hitching a ride. I'm to hold a congregation with the gods of the seasons, and since Rangiku and Rukia were speaking of their trip last night, they kindly offered to take us to our destination along the way. I tell you, if I didn't have control over time, it would've taken me longer to make all the necessary arrangements for this assembly. I'm glad I was also able to find and speak with the Goddess of Autumn last night; we'll be picking her up en route to the meeting place."
At the mention of the Goddess of Autumn, Orihime couldn't help the apprehension that filled her. Senna-she who used to be her husband's lover, and who seemed to hate her and caused the plague to descend upon her village... She couldn't help the scenarios the played in her mind on how their first ever meeting would go.
Her worried gaze wandered, landing on a very annoyed Nanao, who watched the god with the pink, flamboyant flowered coat nuzzling the Goddess of Time's ear. She sidled up to her and peered at the display.
"Will you be joining us to the mortal world, Nanao?"
The bespectacled goddess glanced at Orihime, her eyes softening a bit. "No, I'm just here to make sure the God of Summer will actually be attending the meeting somewhat sober."
"Nanao, that's mean," whined Kyouraku, fixing her with a distressed stare. "I take my duties seriously, whether at the behest of the Spirit King through his Messenger or not. Isn't that right, Neliel?" He leaned his head on her shoulder, an exaggerated look of sadness on his face, and she patted him on the head.
Nanao just rolled her eyes at him and pointed to the river. "The sail barge is here."
It was a boat larger than the ones that Orihime had used before, obviously made for a group of passengers. It was grand, with plenty of seating areas and comfortable cushions lining them, and the gods immediately boarded and settled themselves as soon as it docked.
Two figures were already in it, the Scribe Hisagi, and another young man with blond hair and a somber expression who introduced himself as Izuru Kira. They held trays of goblets and wine bottles, going around and offering drinks to the passengers, with only Rangiku and Kyouraku heartily taking the offer with exclamations of happiness.
Just as the two gods' merriment began underway, Kisuke and Renji arrived, the latter carrying an armload of Rukia's art paraphernalia and looking rather put-upon, settling himself beside her but carefully setting aside the burden.
"I take it that this is everyone?" The God of Invention and Knowledge asked as he fanned himself. On seeing everyone's affirmation, he stomped twice on the boat's floor and it began to embark, and all the passengers waved to the lone figure of the Goddess of Order left on the dock.
Orihime's second journey back to the mortal world had begun.
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