The dark side of the Universe
888
People have hope
Because they cannot see Death standing behind them
888
Ichigo groaned, flipping himself onto his back, narrowing his eyes at the ceiling, making him sigh as he shut his eyes. Not again... he thought bitterly. Why don't you stop?
"Still scares ya."
He lifted his right hand, waving it in the air, dismaying the voice with a grunt, shutting his eyes with a breath of relief. All he wanted was to sleep, sleep and forget about everything until that damn mission. Turning to the side so he was facing the window.
Why did this happen? he thought as he listened carefully, hearing his father walk past, stopping and knocking on the door.
"Ichigo, I need to ask you something important,"
"You have three minutes…"
"Well…why are you going to bed earlier than usual?"
The orange haired teenager sat up and opened his eyes with narrowed brown eyes. "I'm just tired, that's all." he groaned, laying back down with a hiss, his shoulder killing him as he shut his eyes again. "I got only nine hours until the mission…" he sighed, frowning deeply, "Geez…I don't think I wanna go now."
XIIIXIIIXIII
"Renji…" Shuuhei said, sitting up from his pushups. Looking at the redhead with his dark half-lidded eyes, completely exhausted. "How long has it been since Ichigo came into the squads?"
"…uh…" He pushed himself off the floor, sweat dripping from his brow. "…maybe…two years ago?"
He let himself fall to the floor, then pushed himself back up with a grunt, doing the same procedure before stopping and looking at Hisagi with narrowed eyes, his shihakusho top off as he stopped in mid-pushup.
"It was quite a sight too. I was impressed when it happened."
XIIIXIIIXIII
Renji sat there with half-lidded eyes as he tilting his head back, letting a breeze ruffle his ponytail behind his head. "What are we doing here, Byakuya-taicho?"
"Waiting to greet our new member," he complied emotionlessly, "he should be here any-"
"Son of a –"
Both males looked in the direction of the voice as Renji snapped into a standing position, staring at a very familiar orange haired teen. Being chased by some thugs he ran in to. "I-Ichigo?!"
"Renji! Hey!" he called, darting past and screeching to a stop, clamping his eyes shut as he spun around, pulling Zangetsu out and pointing it in the direction of the thugs. "Back off!" he hissed, narrowing his eyes. They screamed, scampering away, Ichigo placing his zanpaku-to back onto his back with a deep sigh. "Hey guys, guess…I'm with your squad. This is the sixth unit, right?"
Renji's eyes widened as he frowned.
"This's the new member?! Kurosaki?!" he roared, clenching his fists. "Why's he gonna replace our third?!"
"Third seat?" Ichigo asked, crossing his arms. "If this is what I get for coming all the way here and getting lost…I'm outta here…" He turned and was about to leave before Byakuya sighed, turning his head to the side.
"Ichigo, get back here. I have a mission for you already, and you too, Renji."
"WHAT?!" both screamed.
"Yes, now go to the world of the Living and perform a Konso on a reluctant soul, he's been pestering the Hollows lately, daring them to eat his soul. If we don't send him here, he will surely be eaten."
Both males glared at each other for a moment before heading off to their mission.
XIIIXIIIXIII
"Of course, you had to get Ichigo away from the Hollow that attacked." Hisagi chuckled. "Kinda funny that we've gotten so far with him joining the Soul Society."
Renji sighed, plopping himself down on his bottom, shrugging as he frowned, panting heavily. "I don't think I should do late at night work-outs with you anymore."
Shuuhei chuckled. "But you continue to anyway." He slapped a hand on the redhead's shoulder, grinning as sweat poured from their brows. "Still…I can't help but worry about that third seater in Baykuya-taicho's squad. Ichigo's going to the nest for the first time. Don't you think he'd freak out once he saw what the swarm of Hollows were capable of?"
The red haired Abarai dropped his head, placing his left hand over his face, placing his elbow onto his knee. "I have no idea…but I know one thing's for sure…I don't think Ichigo'll come back in a normal state. The first time I went, I was scared shitless…"
"Don't you think I was when I fought off those Huge Hollows the first time we met?"
The pale form chuckled. "Yeah, but you stood your ground. Been a long time since we spent time together…training," He leaned back, pressing his hands to the ground. "Hey…Hisagi…do you think Ichigo'll come back together, or broken?"
"I don't know…" the dark haired man sighed, shaking his head. Leaning back as well, both in the forest, working out like always. "But…I know he won't break that easily, I'm pretty damn sure."
"Hisagi,"
Hn?" He looked over at his comrade.
"Thanks…for…saving me when I was just starting, and for…dealing with my whimpering ass all these years." Silence consumed them until the dark haired man tackled him down onto the ground, giving the poor tall redhead a noogie. "H-h-hey! That hurts dammit!!"
"But you like it and you know it!" he laughed as Renji had a soft tinge of red on his cheeks from frustration.
"H-Hisagi! Stoppit!"
XIIIXIIIXIII
Ichigo groaned as his cell went off, making him grumble empty threats as he swiped it up off his nightstand, sighing once he saw that it was an hour before they had to go, one in the morning, having to leave at two. Seeing that Byakuya was calling.
Flipping it open, he answered groggily. "What do you want at a time like this?"
"You need to leave now," he demanded, "Renji and Rukia are already here, now hurry up."
