I don't own Bleach or any of its characters. They are a property of Kubo Tite and Shonen Jump.
The battle in Hueco Mundo is reaching its climax, but it isn't getting any easier.
Aizen has already left to the World of the Living to create the Oken, while Ichigo, Orihime, Rukia, Chad, Renji, Uryu, Byakuya, Kenpachi, Mayuri, & Unohana remain trapped in the world of Hollows.
Rukia and the others (Chad, Renji, Byakuya, & Kenpachi) have their hands full with Yammy, who recently revealed himself to be the Cero Espada.
But this story isn't about them, it is about one man's decision to save a friend, and how one decision changes the course of his future along with the girl is trying to save.
Ichigo races to the top of Aizen's fortress in Las Noches in order to save Orihime from Ulquiorra.
He makes it to the top to face his enemy as she watches in the distance, praying that he will make it through.
The two warriors stare at one another; one with a look of determination and the other with a look of apathy but also a hint of interest in the Orange haired Shinigami.
"Do you really think you will be able to defeat me Ichigo Kurosaki?" Ulquiorra says with a cold glare,
"We both know how this ended last time."
Ichigo smirks and replies, "It's true that you defeated me last time, but now I'm ready to face you as an equal."
"An equal?" Ulquiorra questions Ichigo's statement but continues, "You could say that. Even though I consider you an enemy worthy of destruction, you are still a lowly human. Your attacks will never reach me."
"Oh yeah? Well, let's test that theory SHALL WE?" Ichigo rushes toward Ulquiorra, zanpaku-to in hand eager to finish the battle they started.
CLANG.
Their swords clash with such blinding speed and powerful force that Orihime can barely keep up. She watches them, her hand on her chest, continuing to put her faith in the man she loves.
Clang. Clink.
The battle grows more ferocious with each slash as Ulquiorra gets in close and blasts Ichigo with his Cero, but Shinigami, telegraphing his adversary's plan, counters with his Getsuga Tensho, lessening the damage.
Clang. Dodge. Block. Clang.
They once again get in close as the hollow begins to indulge his curiosity.
"So, you survived my Cero without resorting to Hollowfication. You have indeed become stronger."
"I wonder how you have amassed such strength so quickly." Ulquiorra says intrigued.
"Is it because of your battle against Grimmjow? Or is it because of your friends fighting below the tower?" He asks Ichigo.
"Or maybe it is because of your desire to save that girl." He says pointing to frightened Orihime.
"She is already under the command of Lord Aizen, which means she is one of us. Even if you manage to take her from this place, that won't change. You are simply wasting your time"
This strikes a chord with Ichigo as he presses his sword forward, causing Ulquiorra to move back.
"Shut up." Ichigo says defiantly, "That isn't your choice to make. Orihime doesn't belong to you, she doesn't belong to Aizen, she doesn't belong to ANYONE! I came here to save her, and that is exactly what I'm going to do." And as if with a renewed sense of vigor, he advances towards the emotionless Arrancar.
Clang. Swish. Slash. Dodge. Clack. Clang.
Their swords clashing once again, each move becoming more rhythmic, the swordplay fused with Shunpos and Sonidos made it seem as if the two were waltzing with their blades.
The boy remembers why he came to Hueco Mundo in the 1st place…her, that's what all the fights since he entered the enemy's stronghold have been for; all of the pain and all of the suffering he had been through; it was all worth it…for her.
Clang. Clack. Swish. Clack. Stab. Parry. Dodge
His opponent however continued to press him, each attack faster and more vicious than the last.
Clang. Clang. Block. Swish. Clack.
But with each passing moment he couldn't help but get a bit more excited; each time their blades met he Ichigo found himself getting more and more elated. He never had an opponent that pushed his limits this far; His lust for battle almost his eclipsed his desire to save his friend.
Or was she something more? He didn't know at this point, nor did he care; he just knew he needed to save her. He couldn't let himself get caught up in the thrill of the battle or his conflicting emotions.
Slash. Clang. Clack. Block. Parry.
The moments continued to dwindle, Ichigo felt the battle would go on forever, but a slight side step out of the sword strike of his opponent changed his mind:
I can see his movements, and can react in time to dodge. Has he gotten slower? No, I must have gotten faster. All I have to do is read his movements and counter attack. Wait for the right time to strike. I can do this, I can win. I will save Orihime and the others.
Just then Ichigo finds himself pinned against a pillar as the Espada draws his sword back for the finishing blow. Time begins to slow down around the two as he sees his opponent's sword move close.
THERE!
Ulquiorra's sword draws closer to his neck. He knows he has one chance at this, or it's over.
"This is the end." Ulquiorra says harshly as his sword approaches his prey's throat.
Suddenly Ichigo grabs Ulquiorra's wrist to stop his attack. A surprised look appears on the Arrancars face as Ichigo slashes Zangetsu downward across his chest, SLASH, revealing the Hollow's number 4 tattoo.
He forcibly releases Ichigo's grip and jumps back to create distance between them.
"So, what was that about my attacks not being able to reach you?" the young shinigami says with a cocky smirk,
"Seems to me like they reached you just fine. I wonder why that is. Is it because I'm becoming more Hollow-like? Or…because you're becoming more human."
At that moment Ulquiorra eyes grew big as he split the ground beneath him in half,
SLASH
Alerting Ichigo and scaring Orihime.
"You say I'm becoming more human? Perhaps I have toyed with you a bit too long…in this state." He says sternly.
"You have forgotten your place, Ichigo Kurosaki." His words stinging in Ichigo's ear like ice.
Ulquiorra begins to raise his spiritual pressure higher, increasing the gravity of the room, causing the hairs on Ichigo's neck stand on end, and Orihime's heart to race with fear.
What is happening? She asked herself as her heart continued to beat harder and faster.
Ichigo felt the fear slowly creeping upon him, but he doesn't let it show.
He tightens his grip on his blade, prepared to face whatever his adversary throws at him.
Suddenly, Ulquiorra point his sword at Ichigo
Wait…is he? He wondered, even though he already knows what was coming.
Ulquiorra then says in a bone chilling tone:
"Enclose…Murcielago"
BOOM!
A green and black light falls over Ichigo and Orihime like rain; showering them with spiritual energy. Each "drop" a concentration of demonic power.
The two humans looked upon the Espada with a look of both shock and horror.
Long, sharp horns that could pierce the hardest stone. Wings as black as the eternal night above Las Noches' canopy. Cloak, bone white as if it were meant to fool those into believing he were an angel.
He looked upon the two humans with a sense of apathy. He could see the fear in their eyes and would be happy at this, but he is incapable of such emotion.
Swish.
Ichigo's eyes grew big in shock.
Where is he?
His opponent had disappeared right before his eyes.
"Dammit!" he exclaims in frustration, "Where are you?!"
Suddenly, he reappeared behind Ichigo
The Shinigami barely had time to turn his head before he was struck,
BAM.
A hard back handed attack sent Ichigo sailing across the room
"Ash!" He cried out in pain as he slid across the floor.
He tried to regain his composure, but was once again assaulted by his opponent.
BWAK.
This time a swift but hard kick that sent him into the air, only to be forced back down by a vicious elbow strike.
POW!
The force he hit the ground would have killed a lesser man, but he had to suffer through it…for her.
He managed to make it to his feet, but before he could regain all of his bearings he felt a hard fist collide with his abdomen.
GASP!
He hunched over coughing up blood, he almost choked on it. The only reason he didn't find himself on the floor once again was 2 fold: One was because he was supported by his opponent whose fist was still lodged in his lower abdomen,
The other was Orihime's faith in him, and the look of terror upon her face when she saw the toll this battle had taken on him.
Ulquiorra removed his fist and took steps back, and allowed the beaten Shinigami to fall to the ground, but somehow he managed to stay upright.
Spitting out the blood dripping from his mouth,
PTOO!
He gave another confident smirk and asked "Is that…all…you…got? I thought you were the 4th Espada."
POW!
This time a swift blow from Ulquiorra's wing sent Ichigo flying back once again.
Ichigo could boast and project false bravado all he wanted; but in his mind he knew he had to find a way to change the tide of battle, or else he and all his friends would die.
Well there is chapter one, what do you guys think? My first full length story, so it may be a bit rough around the edges. Criticism (Constructive) is always welcome lol.