A/n. So this was bouncing around my head the entire time I was doing the dishes and I really want to type this up. You see, I was wondering, whatever happened to the Grand Fisher? You know… that huge hollow that Soul Reapers have been trying to kill for fifty years and the hollow that killed Ichigo's mother? He ran away from their fight but whatever happened to him?
So…what if Aizen left a present for Ichigo as he was taken into the yellow light on the way to Hueco Mundo? What if Ichigo, who was gravely injured if you will recall, does something extraordinary and protects the three men that he loves? And what if all the Captains and Lieutenants were watching but unable to help?
Here are the answers to these questions. I'm sorry if perhaps these characters are a little OOC. Better put the disclaimer in here too now that I'm remembering that it is supposed to be here.
Disclaimer: I don't own… unfortunately.
"So long rioka boy. Here is a little gift for you." Aizen said with a smirk as he looked down on Ichigo's fallen form from his position within the yellow light. He locked eyes with the others and his smirk widened. "And don't even think of helping him. I have put a force field up that has temporarily taken away your powers so you cannot help, even if you wanted to."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ichigo yelled painfully, raising himself up on his arms a little bit more.
Aizen only smirked and the Captains and Lieutenants, as well as Ichigo's friends, gasped.
"Hello again, Ichigo. It's been a long time hasn't it." A female voice said sadly.
Ichigo stiffened noticeably and sucked in a sharp breath. "Mother?" he asked slowly. "Am I dead then?"
"It's ok, my son. You were so brave." The female said laying a hand on the back of Ichigo's head and stroking it softly.
"Mother." Ichigo breathed with such longing in his voice that it broke the hearts of all those there, even the ever stoic Byakuya Kuchiki.
"So that's Ichigo's mother? She's really pretty." Captain Ukitake said with a soft smile.
"ICHIGO! You have to snap out of it. You're not dead yet!" Rukia shouted desperately. She remembered this and knew that this would break Ichigo once he fought past the pain.
The hand in Ichigo's hair tightened before loosening and resuming its stroking. "I've missed you so much. Look at how much you've grown."
Ichigo smiled a heartbreaking smile as tears slipped down his face. "It's been six years." He whispered softly.
"Six years? Seems like a long time to go without seeing one's mother." Shunsui commented.
"Come on Ichigo. Think about it for a few minutes! Why haven't you seen your mother for six years?" Orihime yelled. She had caught on to what was happening and as one of the two people (not including Ichigo and his family) who knew that his mother was dead, it was up to her to get her friend to see reason.
Ichigo's face turned thoughtful. He concentrated for a few minutes before replying haltingly. "Six years ago…the river…my fault…she's dead…how?"
The hand tightened painfully. "I knew that you would figure it out eventually. Such a nice boy but too bad you weren't smarter. I always knew you were useless so when Lord Aizen offered me this chance I knew I had to take it. I can't let your worthlessness taint my other meals now can I?" the woman's voice said as she hauled Ichigo to his feet by his hair.
Ichigo felt a spear of agony stab him in the chest. Is own mother was saying all these horrible things to him? A look of absolute pain covered his face before it was blanked out by crushing sorrow. It was agonizing to watch.
"Ichigo please!" Rukia shouted. "Look past her. You have to see what's behind the ruse."
"That stupid girl! I had planned on crushing you a bit more but no matter. I guess this will just have to do." The woman's voice had become a harsh, grating sound by the end that was decidedly evil.
"Do you know what day it is here in the Soul Society today, Ichigo Kurosaki?" the evil voice asked. Ichigo heard the gasps of the others and knew that something bad had a hold of him. His suspicions were confirmed when he finally recognize the voice.
"Grand Fisher!" Ichigo spat. "What the hell do you want? And why the fuck do I care what day it is?" he hissed.
Rukia gasped. It was that day.
"Today is June 17th." Grand Fisher said with relish.
"How the hell is that possible?" Ichigo asked, face drained of color and expression closed off. Every now and then, a spasm of pain would flit across his features from the giant wound he had received from Aizen.
"While you are in the Soul Society, time in the mortal world speeds up. And today just so happens to be June 17th and I'm sure that you remember what happened on that day." Grand Fisher explained maliciously.
"He's lying, Ichigo! Time here is no different than in the living world!" Renji yelled. Squad Four had just finished healing him but he was still weak.
"You bastard!" Ichigo swore. He spat in the hollow's face.
"Now I don't think that was very nice." Grand Fisher taunted. Ichigo found himself inside a giant claw-like hand. The hand squeezed him tightly, threatening to break his already almost severed spine. Ichigo's breathing quickened and he screamed in agony.
Grand Fisher threw him hard and Ichigo skidded across the ground to stop at Rukia's feet.
"ICHIGO!" his friends screamed. Rukia bent down and looked him over worriedly. Ichigo painstakingly sat up. "Ichigo, you shouldn't move. You could die if you don't get some help soon." Rukia said, tears threatening to fall.
"I'm…fine." Ichigo panted harshly as he forced himself to get up, eyes never leaving the hollow. "I won't…die just yet. I will…kill this damn…hollow." He said slowly. "Besides," he said, a glint of mischief sparking in his sorrowful eyes. "You still haven't properly thanked me for saving your ass."
"Ichigo." Rukia sighed. She watched him get to his feet, staggering slightly and leaning heavily on his sword, before closing his eyes. Everyone looked on in surprise as Ichigo began glowing an intense blue color. He took a hand off of his sword and hovered it gently in front of his wound. The glow flared brighter as the others watched in awe as the wound closed enough so that it was only bleeding sluggishly and did not threaten to cut him in half.
"You dare to dishonor my mother's memory again. Not only have you already done it once but you also ran from our last fight. You will not leave this place alive, hollow scum." Ichigo said venomously with his eyes still closed.
His eyes snapped open and they were glowing an eerie blue. The air became heavy and it was hard for the others to breathe. Some even fell to their knees.
"What is this spiritual pressure?" Shuuhei asked in awe. He was still standing but only just.
"It's Ichigo." Byakuya breathed, slightly in awe. This spiritual power was incredible. It was equal to his own and still increasing exponentially!
"What did he mean by dishonoring his mother's memory?" Uryu asked in confusion, trying to distract himself from the heady feeling of Ichigo's spiritual pressure brushing comfortingly against his own.
It was Rukia who answered. "Back when I was first being pursued by the Soul Society, Ichigo met Grand Fisher. He tried the same trick back then; using Ichigo's mother as a weapon against him. It worked last time but this time it worked a whole lot better. When it would have been Ichigo's win, Grand Fisher fled."
"Cowardly bastard!" Kenpachi spat.
"He almost beat Grand Fisher?" Shuuhei asked in awe. He had wondered why these rioka were willing to follow this Ichigo fellow but the more that he heard and saw, the more he understood. Ichigo was the purest hearted person that he had ever seen. He had gone through more than some of the members of the 13 Court Guard Squads and he still managed to selfless and kind. Ichigo Kurosaki made a breathtaking sight and Shuuhei couldn't help but think what it would be like to have such a kind soul as his.
"And the significance of June 17th?" Chad asked.
"That was the day that his mother was killed. Ichigo always acts so much differently on that day and I fear with the words that have been exchanged today, Ichigo may bear even more scars and pain than ever before." Rukia said sadly.
"Hang in there, kid! You're gonna be fine." Shunsui shouted.
Byakuya couldn't take his eyes away from Ichigo's glowing form. The wind had kicked up in a whirlwind around him, blowing his hair every which way, but Byakuya had never seen a more enticing sight. Those eyes, usually kind and warm, were cold and glared unblinkingly at the hollow. Byakuya had never felt more powerless than he did now; injured and lying on the ground watching someone that he had grown to respect and maybe even care for fight against one of his demons. Ichigo's lithe body, toned with muscle, drew his eyes the most and as such, he was one of the first to notice the changes.
"Guys! Look at Ichigo!" Uryu shouted. He had also noticed the changes overtaking Ichigo's body as he had been staring at him too. The brush of Ichigo's soul pressure was like a balm to his soul. He had not felt such peace coming from a soul since his grandfather had taught him.
Ichigo's soul pressure exploded outwards from his body, flying into the air in a giant flaming column of blue energy. Ichigo's hair had lengthened to about the same length as Byakuya's and had black streaks going through it. Ichigo's eyes were a steely gray and pulsed with the blue light of his spiritual energy. The sleeves of his robe from his bankai had been torn off to resemble Shuuhei's, showing off his muscular arms and clinging tightly to his waist, but still flaring out like Zangetsu's at the bottom. But what was possibly the greatest change, was the bow that Ichigo now held in his hands. It was exactly the same as Uryu's and Ichigo was even wearing the glove.
"What happened to Zangetsu? That looks exactly like my bow and glove!" Uryu exclaimed in awe.
"Look Captain! He has your eyes and hair!" Renji exclaimed.
"And that looks similar to your outfit, Shuuhei!" Rangiku pointed out.
Ichigo smiled coldly and everyone had to tamp down a shiver. "Looks like the eyes and hair aren't the only things that he got from Captain." Renji muttered but Byakuya heard him and sent him a glare like that on Ichigo's face. Renji shivered but still muttered, "Point proven."
"Oh? What is this?" Grand Fisher asked.
An arrow flew faster than anyone could see and lodged itself in the hollow's side. "That is enough talking from you. I do not wish to hear anymore words directed at me from something as low as yourself. You are not even important enough to lick the dirt from my shoes." Ichigo hissed in a cold monotone, back straight and head held high.
"Damn! He even got the mannerisms too!" Renji exclaimed, earning himself laughs from the other Squad members and a glare from his captain.
"I have to admit, they are a lot alike right now." Captain Ukitake said thoughtfully.
Byakuya groaned and turned his eyes back to Ichigo. He had to admit though, that Ichigo possessed the grace of a noble and perhaps he did act slightly like himself.
Grand Fisher looked enraged before smirking and throwing his giant hand towards Shuuhei. Ichigo, knowing that he couldn't protect himself right now, flash-stepped in front of Shuuhei and let the hand go through his shoulder, creating a deep gash. "I think not." He said coldly.
Grand Fisher growled and threw a quicker hand at Uryu. Ichigo once again flash-stepped in front and took the blow, this one creating a gash on his other shoulder. Blood started dripping down both his arms and plopped onto the ground. "You can leave him alone." Ichigo said, glaring heavily at the hollow.
Another huge hand was sent out, but this time at the injured Byakuya. He closed his eyes, knowing that he couldn't get out of the way, and waited for the blow to come. When it didn't and he hear a low grunt of pain he opened his eyes to see Ichigo with blood pouring out of his stomach standing in front of him. "You will not touch him either." He said frostily.
"While we are on the subject of people that you will not hurt, I will say this. You cannot touch any of these people here. I will not let you." Ichigo promised in a monotone.
Grand Fisher smirked. "We shall see about that." He threw out attacks at every person there.
"Zangetsu my friend, please turn back into a sword. I think it is time that we put an end to this charade." Ichigo stated calmly.
"Agreed." A gruff voice that seemed to come from nowhere stated. In the next moment, Ichigo was in a stance resembling Shuuhei's and holding a pure black sword that looked like any regular zanpakuto. He held it in front of his face with the sharp edge facing out before turning it sharply.
"Scatter." He breathed.
Byakuya's eyes widened and he barely heard the other's astonishment as he watched Ichigo use his own move to dispatch the attacks. He felt himself blushing faintly as Ichigo shot him a quick roguish grin before the cold mask was back and he was facing the hollow, which was ridiculous because Byakuya Kuchiki does not blush!
"Impossible! Lord Aizen did not inform me of this!" Grand Fisher yelled, bleeding from millions of little cuts all over his body.
"That's because Aizen did not know. I discovered this skill awhile back but was unable to fully develop and refine it until I was training to achieve bankai. This is the first that anyone has seen me use this technique; you should be honored." Ichigo spoke with a cold smile. "Let me explain this to you. I gain characteristics and techniques of the three men I will protect with everything I have. In addition, my power skyrockets and my injuries heal rather quickly since I have so much spiritual pressure flowing through me."
Uryu, Shuuhei, and Byakuya were filled with warmth. Now they understood Ichigo's transformation and the comforting brushes of spiritual energy they have felt since Ichigo began his transformation.
"It's time for you to go now." Ichigo said, kneeling down next to the hollow. "Give the other hollows my regards in hell." Ichigo said before slashing the hollow's mask in half and calling forth the Gates of Hell. Chains lashed around Grand Fisher's wrists and legs and he was dragged, kicking and screaming, into hell.
Ichigo fell to his knees with silent tears running down his face. "Ichigo!" the three men exclaimed. Uryu and Shuuhei ran to his side while Byakuya got up, taking care not to jostle his injuries too much and made his way over to Ichigo as well. He dropped gracefully to his knees by Ichigo's side.
Ichigo chuckled when he saw the state of Squad Six's Captain. "Look at you, Byakuya. Let me help." Ichigo said. He laid a slightly shaking hand gently on Byakuya's wounds and everyone watched it heal in amazement.
"Don't strain yourself." Shuuhei warned, worrying at the tears still sliding down Ichigo's face.
"Pretty cool form. Mind telling us how long you've had it?" Uryu said, pushing his glasses up.
Ichigo mumbled something incoherent.
"What was that, Ichigo? I'm afraid that I don't talk mumble." Uryu said with a slight smile.
"I said since I found out that I had feelings for you three. Don't make me repeat myself." Ichigo warned, looking anywhere but at the three males surrounding him.
Renji chuckled. "Wow he really is like you, Captain. He must like you the most."
Ichigo glared at Renji but a weak chuckle escaped Byakuya. "You really do have a lot of my mannerisms, Ichigo. That must have taken some careful observation."
Ichigo once again mumbled something but Byakuya caught it and decided to have a bit of fun. "What was that? I don't think that I heard you correctly." He said a glint of mischief in his stormy gray eyes.
A pair of equally steely gray eyes shot him a dirty look. "I said since I met you. There…you can laugh at me now." Ichigo said with a defeated sigh. He picked himself up and sheathed Zangetsu. He flash-stepped away before anyone could stop him.
"Well that was certainly interesting." Shunsui remarked mildly.
"We have to find him. He's still in pain and you could practically feel the sorrow emanating from him. It is most important that we find him and soon." Uryu said with a sigh, worry etching itself into his soul. That was so like Ichigo to make a big confession like that then run away before anyone has a chance to say anything.
"Everyone split up. Rioka will be assigned a captain to be paired with so that they will know when we find Ichigo. Send word when you find him and don't let him out of your sight, got it?" Shuuhei asked.
At the agreeing nods, he said, "Good. Uryu, you can come with me. Let's go."
They walked away, leaving the others to sort themselves out. Before they got to the edge of the hill, they felt Byakuya's spiritual pressure moving as he flash-stepped away from the hill to look for their missing lover. And that was what he was…a lover, friend and protector.
A/n. Done! I originally meant for this to be a one shot but if anyone wants me to continue then I will. This would only have one more chapter in it and would tell about their search and the big confessions. I would love to hear your thoughts on this!