BLEACH: UNTIL THE DAY I DIE
Summary: Sequel to BLEACH: Listen to Your Heart. Ichigo has escaped death, and lives in hiding. However, while he's in peace with Rukia and the Vaizard…Soul Society's been attacked. Ichigo is once more drawn into action. IchixRuki. M
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This section of 'Until the Day I Die', I dedicate to Hitsugaya and Hinamori. I'm talking about the song, by the way. But still. There will be HITSUxMOMO hinting in this chapter.
Chapter 2
"Until the Day I die (Until the day I die)
I'll spill my heart for you
Until the day I die (Until the day I die)
I'll spill my heart for you.
Should I bite my tongue
Until blood soaks my shirt?
We'll never fall apart
Tell me why this hurts so much
My hands are at your throat and I think I hate you
But still we'll say, 'remember when'
Just like we always do
Just like we always do"
-Until the Day I Die
by Story of the Year
He stood in the doorway, resting casually on the doorframe, watching her. He did this often, without her realizing it. Momo Hinamori. He had known her a long time. He could read her so well, thanks to that time he had known her. Every movement, no matter how small, he could interpret. He didn't know when he had started to feel a warm glow in his chest when he looked at her, but he knew he felt it now.
At first, he had just wanted to protect her because she was like family. She was the only one close to him, the only one who actually knew him. But, it had grown to something more. Now he wanted to protect her…because somewhere along the way he had fallen in love with her. He knew it, and accepted it readily…but he never acted on it. He kept his feelings hidden, hidden behind a scowl or an unthinkingly harsh word.
'Why?' Hitsugaya asked himself. His teal eyes watched Momo as she shuffled papers and put them away in a filing cabinet for future reference. There were two reasons. The first reason, was because of how sensitive he knew she was. She wouldn't get over Aizen in just a few months. Maybe not a few years. But…if he was truly honest with himself…the second reason was the real reason. That second reason was the fact that…he was afraid. He had never liked any other girls before. She was his first, and something told him that she would be his only, love. He was afraid of the rejection, or rather continued rejection. She had rejected him so many times throughout his life, not even realizing it. She had rejected him for Aizen, for the traitor, for the man who tried to kill her. He was afraid that she didn't love him, or at least not in the way he loved her. For the past few years he had known he loved her…he had put her first, and acted like the youngster who wasn't grown up enough for girls…while he watched and loved her secretly. And his fear was the biggest reason he bit hit tongue, and ended up hiding behind harsh words or scowls.
"Shiro-chan!" She gasped, and he snapped back to reality. She had turned around and noticed him, just as he zoned out. He growled.
"It's CAPTAIN HITSUGAYA." He muttered, but not as mean as he usually did. Seeing her eyes light up when she saw it was him, the smile that played at the corner of her lips…sometimes it caught him off guard.
Momo clasped her hands in front of her, and rocked back and forth on her feet. "You scared me. How long have you been there?" She asked.
"Not long." He lied. He had been there at least half an hour. AT LEAST. He loved to watch her, as graceful and beautiful as she was with almost every movement.
"What'd you need, Captain?" She asked teasingly. She knew how much it irritated him to be called 'Shiro-chan'—'Whitey-chan'—and she did her best not to call him that. She only did it when she wasn't thinking. Plus, with her newest position, it was required she call him Captain.
He had personally rescued her from the shambles of Fifth Company, after one night when she showed up at his personal quarters. The news had just reached her that a new Captain had been assigned, and while he was worthy…she didn't want to be under a new Captain she didn't know. Especially since he was in command of the Company she had been with for so long. So, she had been in tears, and he hadn't been able to turn her away. He had let her sleep in his bed, while he stood in his doorway the entire night, staring out at the moon. The next day, he had officially requested Hinamori as his third seat, and it had been granted. For the past few months Hinamori had been Third Seat of Tenth Company, and she was quite adept at keeping the office clean as he liked it, and she helped him with the mountains of paperwork as Matsumoto avoided it like the plague.
"I…" He thought frantically for an excuse. He almost blurted out that he had just wanted to see her, but he bit his tongue hard. "Wanted to reward you for your hard work lately." He said gruffly, and crossed his arms over his chest and looked off to the side. "I was thinking about taking you out to anywhere you want to eat…my treat." He finished, and cast a glance at her from the corner of his eye.
She was smiling brightly, and she laughed, "Thank you, Toshiro! Er…Captain Hitsugaya." She amended, and he fought back a smile.
He turned and swept out of the door, calling over his shoulder, "Well, are you going to tell me where we're going or am I going to have to guess?" She ran after him, giggling. He wondered why it hurt so bad not to tell her the real reason. He wondered why, at times he hated her. No…he didn't hate her. He hated her…her infatuation with Aizen. The traitor, the man who almost killed her…the man who almost tore Hitsugaya's heart apart by killing Hinamori. But, he would prefer to think of before and after the event…the good times, not the bad. It distracted him, soothed him…and when he could remember or see her smile…it killed all the negative emotions.
"I won't be here for too long, Hinamori. I've been assigned to make a check-up on the Humans in Karakura." Hitsugaya said, turning to look at the beautiful girl. Her smile faded ever so slightly, and he said quickly, "But it's just a quick check. I'll be back before you know it…I promise." He said. Her smile returned, and he allowed the tiniest of smiles to play at the corner of his mouth.
"Good. Well, first…let's go!" She giggled, appearing more cheery than she truly felt, and dragged the frumpy Captain along. He grudgingly followed, trying not to appear as if he was enjoying this…when he was.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
"Be careful. We can sense a Captain-level Reiatsu fairly close...and there are a few smaller Reiatsu in the area. Probably the Shinigami who came to help train your friends. I'm sure they can't sense us, but with your hair..."
Ichigo rolled his eyes. The shoppers and people bustling around him paid him and his two 'watchers' no attention. "Lisa, I doubt anyone would see my bright orange hair in THIS crowd. Even if Hitsugaya himself were to be standing above the crowd, I'd bet he wouldn't be able to spot me in this." He said, glaring at the woman.
Lisa smiled playfully. "You never know." She teased. Then, she became serious. "Remember. If they see you, we'll get to them first. We'll give you time to get out, and follow as soon as we kill..." At Ichigo's look, she winced. "Okay...as soon as we 'incapacitate' them, we'll follow." She amended.
"Good. Thanks again, Kensei...Lisa." Ichigo murmured, just loud enough to be heard over the dull roar of the shoppers surrounding him. He glanced at his 'family' members, who were garbed in jeans and a tee-shirt, instead of their regular garb. They blended in almost perfectly...and only Ichigo would be able to spot them.
"No problem. Just enjoy yourself. Take as long as you want." Kensei said gruffly, and then melted away into the crowd. Lisa smirked and followed suit, and left Ichigo and Rukia to find the Kurosaki's in the massive crowd.
Rukia glanced at Ichigo with an amused glance on her face. "How are you going to find them?" She asked. Ichigo looked down at her, frowning.
"Uh..." He said, and glanced around. "I don't know." He admitted, glaring at Rukia's smug expression.
"Follow me." She said, and marched through the crowd. "You're still really horrible at sensing Reiatsu, Ichigo. But, if they couldn't improve you, I doubt anyone could." She said haughtily Ichigo was tempted to call her a midget, but he would rather find his family than be left alone and lost in the maze of shoppers.
"It's not my fault. I kinda suck, regardless, at sensing anything. I blame dad." Ichigo grunted, shouldering his way through the crowd. Today he was wearing a white hoody with green cargo pants...and he put the hood on his head. It helped hide his orange hair from being seen.
"You have no one to blame but yourself. But, I suppose not everyone can be good at sensing Reiatsu." She said, while Ichigo mocked her behind his back.
Suddenly, Ichigo was hit in his kidney. He let out a strangled squawk, until the person grabbed his shoulder and laughed, "Your guard was down, son!"
Ichigo spun, as did Rukia. Ichigo held his side, grimacing, and choked out, "Love you too, dad."
Isshin Kurosaki, wearing black slacks and a white dress shirt with its sleeves rolled up and first button undone, stood between his twin daughters. Yuzu was wearing a yellow sun dress, and Karin was wearing her usual black shorts and white and black striped shirt and red hat. Rukia was immediately at Ichigo's side, smiling. She was wearing a white sundress with a white wide-brimmed hat on, and she curtsied. Isshin laughed boisterously, and then jumped forward and wrapped Ichigo and Rukia up in a monstrous hug. Ichigo choked out, "CAN'T...BREATHE!"
Isshin let them down, ignoring the passerby's strange looks, and laughed again. "Well, we made reservations to a nice private place a few blocks away. Come on. Your friends are invited too...I made separate reservations for them and pre-paid myself." Isshin said, loud enough to be heard. "Whether or not they decide to fulfill the reservation is up to them, of course." He added, glancing around at the crowd.
"Well...regardless, let's go!" Isshin whooped, and grabbed Rukia's arm and pulled her into the crowd. Ichigo shook his head and sighed. He followed Isshin, and his sisters immediately stepped to his side and matched his pace. Karin on his right, Yuzu on his left.
"Sorry old goat chin is so energetic. He didn't even sleep last night. I don't know how he does it." Karin said, looking up at her older brother. Ichigo shrugged and sighed.
"Oh well. Might as well let him have his fun." He muttered, and grimaced. "Though, if he takes it too far I might have to beat him in public."
"Ichigo!" Yuzu scolded, and Ichigo grinned down at the blond little girl.
"Relax. I'll only make a little scene." He joked, and Yuzu smiled.
She wrapped him in a hug, making him stagger slightly as he continued to walk forward. "I missed you, Ichigo." Yuzu said, and Ichigo's face fell slightly.
"I know. I missed you guys too." He said, and then grabbed an uncooperative Karin up in a hug too. He half-carried the twins as he hugged them, and followed the energetic Isshin.
"Come on! Last one there's a rotten egg!" Isshin hollered, and bolted through the crowd with Rukia in tow. Rukia looked disgruntled, and Ichigo laughed. He swept the twins up under his arms and half-jogged after Rukia and Isshin. He ignored the twins' protests about how he was holding them, and bolted after his father.
********************
Ichigo patted his belly, and grinned at his father. "I have to say...that's one of the best meals I've had in a while. Hachi probably couldn't even beat this." He said, and sighed. They sat in a back room, where four other groups of people sat so spaced out that no one could listen to each other's conversations. Ichigo barely gave Kensei and Lisa a glance, preferring to keep his attention on his family.
"Well, I've been wanting to try this place for a while. I'm glad that it's so satisfactory." Isshin said, and set his napkin on the table. Everyone was done eating, and the little bit of small talk they had dwindled away after a while.
"It was very delicious. I'm glad you chose this place." Rukia said. "Thank you."
Isshin inclined his head. "No problem. It serves several purposes." He said, and held up his index finger. "Purpose one...was to feed me." Isshin said, chuckling. He flipped up his second finger. "Purpose two was to keep Ichigo in a place where he wouldn't be spotted and he could be easily guarded." Then he flipped up a third finger. "And the third purpose was to go to a place where we could talk a bit easier without people eavesdropping."
"Talk about what?" Karin asked, raising an eyebrow at her father.
He looked mildly surprised. "What? Don't you want to hear about what your brother's been doing? I do. I want to hear everything!"
"Yeah...I guess I'd like that." Karin admitted, and sent a hopeful glance at Ichigo. He frowned.
"I can't tell you EVERYTHING. But...I can tell you alot. What do you want to know?" He asked. Rukia smiled at him softly, though he didn't see it. She could tell how much he truly wanted to tell them. It had been hard on him, the entire time he had been unable to tell his family of his being a Shinigami...but now he could finally tell them most of what they wanted to know.
"Well...what do the other Vaizard look like?" Yuzu asked. "Are they scary? The one in the red, the one we saw beating you up yesterday on the TV...she seemed scary."
Ichigo almost laughed. He cast a glance at Kensei and Lisa, making sure Yuzu saw where he was looking. "Well, what do you think? Do they look scary?" He asked her.
Yuzu turned in her seat and spotted Kensei and Lisa, and whispered, "THEY'RE Vaizards?"
"Yup. They wear Gigai, fake bodies, just like Rukia does. But, they can do all of their Soul Reaper powers in those bodies, because Urahara made them himself. They're just like me. They're 'human', and not very scary. Well, actually...the one in red is the scariest. She has a temper." Ichigo laughed. "But...they're really nice. They're strong, tough, fast...but they're just like us. They're not Hollows completely, though we all use Hollow powers, so they're not evil. They're just like any other person with thoughts, feelings, and weird little quirks."
"Wow..." Yuzu whispered, staring at the Vaizard across the room. Kensei looked at her, gave her an awkward little smile, and then muttered to Lisa. Lisa glanced over, cocked her head slightly, and then smiled and wiggled her fingers at Yuzu. Yuzu waved shyly back, and Lisa went back to hers and Kensei's meal, and Ichigo read her lips well enough to know she said, "She's so cute!"
"I'd like to know something." Isshin said, and he scratched his head. "I heard from Urahara that during your fight, while you attempted to escape Soul Society, several of the Discipline/Punishment agents tried to use offensive and restraining Kidos on you. But...Urahara said the Kido's seemed to rebound on the user. How'd you do it?" He asked.
Ichigo laughed, "Yeah, Rukia wanted to know that too. Byakuya tried to put me in a binding spell back in Soul Society, to teach me a lesson about being arrogant, but it rebounded on him. Eventually, Rukia wanted to know how I did it." He grabbed the neck of his hoody and the shirt underneath it and pulled them down roughly to expose his tattoo.
"You've got a tattoo?!" Karin gasped, her eyes wide. Ichigo winced. Oops. He shouldn't give the younger ones any ideas.
"Yeah...each of us Vaizards have one. I have this number nine, because I'm the ninth Vaizard. Hachigen, Hachi as we call him, is a genius. He did some kind of advanced Kido binding spell while putting the Tattoo on, so it reflects most Kido. All it does is draw on my spiritual power a bit. I have to watch out, though, for the high-level Kido's. My tattoo won't reflect those." He said, and let go of his hoody and tee-shirt neck. He re-situated his clothing, and then settled back comfortably in his chair.
"So what do you guys do all day?" Karin asked, glancing at the Vaizard across the room.
"Train, goof off, eat..." Ichigo said, casually shrugging his shoulders. "We sleep too. Sometimes we get to make raids on Hueco Mundo, the Hollow World, to kill Arrancar. We had a raid the other day, actually, where we killed two Arrancar in less than a minute." He said, grinning as he remembered the fight.
"We do whatever we please, basically." He added, shrugging.
"How do you pay for food?" Yuzu asked, and Ichigo laughed.
"It's not that hard. The Vaizard had small fortunes when they left Soul Society. AND, everything is cheaper here than it was in Soul Society, so they've had enough to last them for decades. And, Lisa's a stock-market genius and so is Hachi...so they help out with keeping up the fortune." He said.
"Ichigo..." Karin asked, and he could almost tell what her question was going to be. She had the tomboy look in her eye...like she was going to ask a question a girl never would. "Can you beat a lot of the Soul Reapers now?"
"Yep. They aren't a problem. Renji would be whipped, and I'm sure I could beat Byakuya without breaking a sweat. Hitsugaya, Kenpachi, and maybe if I'm lucky…I could beat Yamamoto. Of course, it'd be really hard, but I'm sure I could," Ichigo was saying, when someone interrupted him.
"I wouldn't be boasting about which one of us you could beat, when you could be dead…Ichigo Kurosaki." A soft voice whispered in his left ear, as their hand touched his right shoulder. Ichigo didn't even think. He flash-stepped, using Shunpo to flip behind the Shinigami who had snuck up on him. Before he could even see who it was, or before they could react, he placed them in a chokehold. He wasn't alone. Rukia separated from her body, and had her sword out and at the person's throat, the flat of her blade resting on Ichigo's forearm and the edge of the blade touching the Shinigami's throat. The short stature, spiky white hair…just from this, Ichigo recognized the person.
"Toshiro." Ichigo said evenly, casting a glance at his Vaizard companions to tell them to stay still. They both looked up, and acted surprised, just like the two other groups of people. Everyone was silent, until Rukia spoke.
Her face was emotionless, and her voice was ice-cold. "You made a big mistake in coming alone, Captain Hitsugaya." She said, her Shihakusho fluttering slightly from the residue spiritual energy from her separation with her Gigai.
"I…didn't come to kill you." Hitsugaya choked out. Ichigo loosened his hold, only enough so Hitsugaya could breath and speak. He ignored the murmuring from all the other people in the room. Hitsugaya gasped out, "If I wanted you dead…you'd be dead." Hitsugaya growled.
"Wrong. You'd be dead. You chose to sneak up on a person whose power level could knock you on your face." Rukia said, and Hitsugaya glared at her.
"Will you let me go? I came to talk…not fight." Hitsugaya said. Ichigo looked to Rukia, and behind the emotionless mask, he saw a flicker of interest…as well as concern. But, she nodded ever so slightly, so he let Hitsugaya go. A waiter approached them, looking confused.
Hitsugaya brushed himself off and straightened his clothing as the waiter asked, "Is everything all right?" He looked hard at Hitsugaya, clearly knowing that he had started the whole thing. After all, he had just strode in and ignored any protests of having a reservation first. Hitsugaya ignored the waiter.
Isshin stood. "Ahem…" He said, clearing his throat. "Yes, everything is fine. My son and his friend were playing around." He said, chuckling. "I swear, I'm going to have to teach them both to behave in public." Isshin scratched his head in embarrassment. Rukia synched back into her body, and giggled in her sickeningly fake voice.
"Oh, Ichigo, you and Hitsu-kun really need to stop playing around. You're going to get your father in trouble!" She laughed, and the waiter was disarmed and he smiled dimly.
"Well, I do apologize then. Please, enjoy your meal." The waiter said, and walked away, smiling at images of a cute Rukia in his head…and Ichigo had the strong urge to find a plate and throw it at him.
Isshin sat down, his eyes wary and examining Hitsugaya. Ichigo grudgingly pulled out a chair from another table, and sat it between his and Rukia's. Hitsugaya nodded and mumbled, "Thanks." Then, he sat down.
Everyone sat, but no one touched their food. Karin was the first one to break the silence. "So, since you obviously don't seem surprised that we know Ichigo is alive…I take it you know?" She asked, her eyes boring into Hitsugaya.
Hitsugaya examined her, and then nodded. "Yes. I know a surprising amount of things." He speared Isshin with an icy glare. "For instance…I found something in the Archives that surprised me. Apparently, there is an ex-Captain of Third Company named Isshin Kurosaki…rumored to be killed by two Gillian-class Menos Grande."
Isshin paled, and Ichigo's hand balled into a fist. 'Shit.' Ichigo thought. 'He knows about dad. Will he try to take him back, or bring him in for punishment? Will he try to kill him?'
"Apparently, he had the strongest wind-type Zanpakuto in Soul Society History, known as Suzushikaze. A devastating loss to Soul Society." Hitsugaya said. "And, even more surprising now that we know he's not dead…we know his son is a pure blood." Hitsugaya transferred his glare to Ichigo.
"Purebloods are rare. Extremely rare. Even in Gigai, most Shinigami cannot impregnate a human or become impregnated if they're female. But, every once in a while in history, offspring has occurred. We have records of those offspring, and we've been able to find out that due to the union of Shinigami and Human in one being…the child has a large amount of spiritual energy. But, that's not all. The power is large, for a human, until they reach the age of 15 or 16. That's when it literally quadruples in power. So, now we have: A runaway Captain, A pureblood…or rather, a hybrid. Half pureblood Shinigami now corrupted with the essence of a Hollow." Hitsugaya turned to Rukia now.
"And we have a runaway noble, a Kuchiki. One who has deserted Soul Society for this Hybrid." Hitsugaya murmured. His teal eyes seemed to blaze. Suddenly, he shrugged. "But, somehow I managed to misplace your file, Captain Kurosaki. It might have been absorbed by the Spiritual Current in the Dangai Precipice."
Everyone was silent, until Ichigo murmured, "Why are you here, Toshiro?"
A vein throbbed in Hitsugaya's forehead. "It's Captain Hitsugaya. I earned the rank, and I think I deserve to be called 'Captain'." Hitsugaya growled.
"Fine then, Captain Hitsugaya…why are you here?" Isshin said, breaking in. The twins were silent, watching the exchange with wide-eyes. A single thought was running through their minds. They were purebloods?
Hitsugaya looked at Isshin, then back at Ichigo. "I'm not a fool. I know what Yamamoto did was wrong…on many different levels. Never have you shown you were a threat, though when I first realized it was you under the Hollow mask…I wasn't sure if you were still yourself. You did whatever you had to in order to protect the things you value in life. Yamamoto was out of line in banishing you, especially with the restrictive cuffs on, and he was wrong to order you killed on sight. I'll say it, and I know I speak for almost every Captain when I say this: I'm sorry for what's happened." Hitsugaya looked down at the table. He frowned, and continued to talk, but didn't look up at Ichigo.
"Captain Kuchiki, Captain Unohana, Captain Soi Fon, Captain Kyouraku, Captain Ukitake, Captain Zaraki, and I are all in agreement. We believe we'll need you in the upcoming battle against Aizen. We're doing all we can to prepare, but I personally don't believe we'll be enough." Hitsugaya looked up at Ichigo now, his eyes blazing with sincerity. "We'll need you."
Ichigo frowned. "I can't help you. Not in the way you want me to." He said. He pursed his lips and looked hard into Hitsugaya's eyes. "The Vaizard and I have our own agenda…and I can't risk my life by going on the front lines for Soul Society when I've been banished." He said.
Hitsugaya frowned as well. "All we need is to convince two of the new Captain's that you're not a threat…and then we can overturn Captain General Yamamoto's decision on that, Ichigo."
Ichigo shrugged. "Who's to say I'll even come back?" He bluffed.
Hitsugaya's eyes hardened, and he said his next words slow and clear. "Because if you don't…Soul Society will fall. If Soul Society falls, so do all of your friends. Renji, Byakuya, Hanataro, Ikkaku, Yumichika…everyone will die."
Ichigo looked away. "I'm not going to come back, or even think about it, until I'm not outlawed…with the rest of the Vaizard. And, on top of that, All the hunters looking for Rukia and I have to be called off, and Rukia has to be welcomed back." He said.
Hitsugaya gritted his teeth. "I trust you, Ichigo, only because I've seen how trustworthy you are. I don't know any of the Vaizard. You're asking us to let in eight Hollow-based entities, that we don't know if we can trust?"
Ichigo turned on Hitsugaya faster than the Captain could react. Ichigo fisted his hands in Hitsugaya's shirt, and got in his face. "You don't know if you can trust them? You spout that crap that you trust me, but you won't trust my decisions? On top of that…do you even know who the Vaizard are? Ex-Captain's and Lieutenants…all experimented on by Aizen." Hitsugaya paled. "All of them were betrayed by Aizen, long ago. Their only goal is to kill him. OUR only goal is to kill him, and to keep each other safe. If you can't trust your enemy's enemy…you can't trust me." Ichigo snarled, and then let go of Hitsugaya.
Hitsugaya appeared shocked, to say the least, and he stared at Ichigo, his eyes wide. "Ichigo…I have a bad feeling…" Yuzu said suddenly. Ichigo's head snapped in her direction, and his eyes narrowed. She looked pale. Isshin pulled her into a hug.
"What do you mean, sweety?" He asked. Yuzu looked up at her father, trembling. Ichigo cast a glance at Rukia. He started to get a prickly feeling at the back of his neck.
Yuzu whispered, her eyes wide. "Like something bad is coming." She said, and Ichigo stood. He cast a glance at Rukia, and then nodded in the direction of Lisa and Kensei. He was getting that feeling too.
"We have to go. Hitsugaya…" He started to say, but then a familiar reiatsu hit him like a fist to the gut. It was strong…very strong. It was the dark energy of a Hollow, but from the strength, Ichigo knew what it was.
"Arrancar!" He hissed, and Rukia bolted to her feet. Ichigo turned to Hitsugaya.
"I'll help this time…but only because it's here in my hometown." Ichigo said. Hitsugaya was on his feet, preparing to swallow a Mod Soul. "I'll hold them off until you get reinforcements. Go!" Ichigo said, and then he turned to his family.
"Girls, dad, get home. Stay there until I come to get you." He said. Isshin frowned.
"Are you sure you don't want me to help?" He asked. Ichigo shook his head.
"No, dad. You need to protect the girls. That, and when the Shinigami get here, we can't risk them seeing you. So, hurry up and get the girls home." Ichigo said. He used Shunpo, as did Rukia, and he flew from the restaurant and towards the Arrancar Reiatsu.
Hitsugaya saw four people blur away, two of them were fellow diners, and his blood ran cold. 'The Vaizard were here.' He thought. He shook his head, and cast a glance at the Kurosaki family, who were gathering their things and laying down money for the check. 'And I'll bet they knew it.'
"I'll be back with reinforcements." Hitsugaya promised Isshin. "We'll make sure Ichigo gets away safely." He said.
Isshin grinned. "I think it'll be harder to get him to get away, rather than to get away safely." He laughed, and then he grabbed his girls and led them from the restaurant. Hitsugaya separated from his body, and barked an order to his Mod Soul.
"Escort the Kurosaki's home and guard them." He ordered, and his mod soul nodded. It ran after the Kurosaki's, leaving him to activate a gate to Soul Society. As soon as the gate opened, nearly blinding him with the white light, he sprang through. He needed to move fast…before Ichigo got in too deep with the Arrancar.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Ichigo and Rukia Shunpo'd side by side, Ichigo keeping a pace that Rukia could easily follow, and Ichigo decided to break the silence. They had been silent for only a few moments, but he needed to hear her voice. What had just happened was…disturbing. Hitsugaya had found out about his father, he had located Ichigo, and Ichigo didn't even realize how.
"Rukia." He called, and she looked at him as they continued to Shunpo over Karakura and towards the oppressive Arrancar Reiatsu.
"Yes?" She asked, her eyes locked on him. They sprang at exactly the same moment, blurring towards the recreational section of Karakura. It seemed like the Arrancar were fond of appearing at parks.
Ichigo fought to think of something to say…because all he wanted was her to reassure him. But he didn't want to seem so weak as to ask for her to reassure him. He decided to go with a separate thought than he originally planned. "Be careful. These Spiritual Pressures…I think they're stronger than the last Arrancar. They feel like they're as strong as Grimmjow." He said.
He glanced at her, and saw her nod. He could tell by the set of her jaw, and the hardness in her eyes, that she was going to put up one hell of a fight. He'd have to make sure to watch out for her, though…if they were as strong as Grimmjow. He knew she was dangerously strong, having been trained by Lisa for so many months…but she wasn't at the level to fight an Espada as high as 6. She might have been able to fight Numbers 8, 9, and 10 and win…but any number lower than an 8 would be suicide. So…he would have to take on the lower numbered Numero's.
"You be careful too." She replied, and he smirked.
"Please. I don't need to worry. These are just side-show freaks." He laughed, trying to get her to smile. But, she only rolled her eyes and smirked.
Then, Ichigo saw them. Off in the distance, he could distinguish several Arrancar…and three Shinigami. "Shit!" Ichigo cursed. "I hope all four of those aren't Espada!" He growled.
"Go!" Rukia yelled. "Those Soul Reapers might not be prepared to fight Espada-level Arrancar!"
Ichigo nodded, and grabbed Zangetsu off his back. The bandage wrap that had wrapped the blade unfurled, and he went his max speed using Shunpo. He blurred far away from Rukia, and towards the four Arrancar and three Shinigami. It looked like they hadn't started fighting yet. He appeared between the two groups, his back to the Shinigami. The sight in front of him made his blood run cold.
Of the four Arrancar, two were Espada. He knew this for a fact, due to the Vaizard incursions into Las Noches. They had heard Arrancar talking about the Espada…and now Ichigo gritted his teeth. Yammy was there, looking surprised to see Ichigo, and the biggest threat Ichigo had come across yet was also there. Grimmjow Jeagerjaques. Piercing blue eyes met amber brown, and Ichigo cast a glance at his back…just to make sure the Shinigami behind him wouldn't kill him on sight. After all…he was supposed to be banished.
"Ichigo!"
Ichigo's eyes widened as he recognized the three Shinigami behind him. "Ikkaku, Yumichika, Rangiku!" Ichigo exclaimed.
The three Shinigami had their swords out, and looked ready to fight…but he could tell they were glad to see him.
"Who's this pest?" An Arrancar asked. Ichigo turned to the Arrancar, and nearly laughed. It was a guy, he was definitely sure of that, but the guy dressed like a girl. He had a strange bobbed hair cut, with three diamond shapes above his left eyebrow. He wore a skimpy outfit, that showed a lot of midriff, and his sleeves were so long they covered his hands. Ichigo saw that at his hip, the edge of a black tattoo was visible.
"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki, ex-Shinigami." Ichigo said, and brought Zangetsu up onto his shoulder. "I'm protector of Karakura town." He said, ad-libbing a bit. "What are your numbers…Espada?" He asked them, glancing at each of them.
"Espada?" Rangiku Matsumoto cried behind him. Grimmjow's eyes squinted as he looked at Ichigo, sizing him up.
"Espada Diez…remember me, little bug?" Yammy asked, flexing his biceps. Ichigo smirked.
"Looks like you've got your arm back." He taunted. Then…he cast a glance at Grimmjow.
"What?" He gasped, as he saw that Grimmjow no longer had a left arm. His jacket sleeve fluttered in the wind, as he regarded Ichigo. "Where's your arm?" Ichigo asked.
Grimmjow sneered, "I don't need both arms to kill scum like you."
Ichigo frowned, and turned to the guy who dressed like a girl. "What's your number?" Ichigo asked him.
"I'm Luppi…the Espada Sexta." Luppi said, batting his eyelashes at Ichigo. Ichigo almost vomited.
"Six? But…Grimmjow is Six!" Ichigo said, earning a snarl from Grimmjow and a smirk from Luppi.
"No. Not since he lost his arm. Without his arm, he can't be an Espada." Luppi laughed.
"Shut up!" Grimmjow howled at Luppi. Luppi only shrugged carelessly, and Ichigo clenched his jaw. So now he had two level six class Espada to fight. He was sure no one else here could…
"What about him?" Ichigo asked, jerking his head at the last Arrancar. He was wearing a full long-sleeved jacket, and wore a strange portion of his hollow mask on the top of his blonde head. He looked spaced out, not even paying attention to the Shinigami in front of him.
Yammy looked disgusted as he glanced at his fellow Arrancar. "He's Wonderweiss. He doesn't have any number yet…he's an Espada-in-training." Yammy said.
"Good…then I don't have to worry. You all are small fry." Ichigo said, grinning.
Suddenly, Ikkaku and Yumichika stepped up to his sides. Matsumoto stepped on Ikkaku's right, which was to Ichigo's right, and Rukia shunpo'd to Ichigo's left, right next to Yumichika.
"Ichigo…I'd heard you were still alive." Ikkaku said nonchalantly, keeping his eyes on the Arrancar.
"I have to say…what happened in Soul Society was really rather ugly. Completely not Beautiful." Yumichika murmured.
"What we're trying to say is, we're sorry…Ichigo." Matsumoto said. "You too, Rukia."
Rukia and Ichigo glanced at their friends, and smiled. "No problem. I'm alive and fighting…that's all that matters right now." Ichigo said casually.
"We don't blame any of you. It's the Captain-General's fault…not yours." Rukia said.
"Enough talk!" Grimmjow finally snarled, and his right hand darted to his sword handle.
Ichigo grinned, and he knew that Ikkaku was at the same time. "I've got one of the Sixes." Ichigo said.
"I'll get the ugly man-girl." Ikkaku called, earning a glare from Luppi.
"Then I get Grimmjow." Ichigo said. Grimmjow glared at him, baring his teeth.
"I call dibs on the pretty little one." Yammy laughed. Rukia slid her sword from its sheath as she examined her opponent. Ichigo grinned…this wouldn't be a problem for Rukia.
"I suppose I'll get the weird one." Yumichika said airily, and Matsumoto pouted.
"I don't get to fight?" She whined.
Ichigo cast a glance at her. "If it gets too much for Ikkaku, you can jump in with him." He said wearily.
"What? Why do I get stuck with her?" Ikkaku protested.
Ichigo sighed. "Because I can't deal with her." He said, then, he turned his attention back to the Arrancar.
"Now…you guys ready to go, or what?" Yammy asked, grinning. He cracked his massive knuckles, and Ichigo glared at Grimmjow.
He barked out, "Let's go!" Then, they sprang at the Arrancar.
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The sight that met Hitsugaya's eyes was not the traditional sight he had expected. Usually, a gate guard would welcome him, and he would stand on the green grass for a moment before darting into the Seireitei to do whatever he needed to do. However…this time it was not anything like before.
Flames were bursting from the Seireitei, and screams and cries met his ears. He stood there, shocked for a moment, before noticing the Gillian-class Menos Grande breaching the walls. Jidanbo, the guardian of one gate, was hacking at a Menos twice his size, and in the fray. Hitsugaya could easily spot Renji's Zabimaru Bankai as well, and he spotted several others' Captain's Bankai.
"What's going on?" He cried to himself, before the answer hit him. Aizen was attacking the Soul Society. He grabbed his blade from is sheath, steel ringing as it left its sheath. He Shunpo'd directly towards the Seireitei, spotting low class Hollow invading Soul Society's gates while Jidanbo was occupied. Regular Shinigami were attacking the regular Hollow, and he knew that they would be fine as long as the Adjuchas and Vasto Lorde and Arrancar stayed away.
Hitsugaya sliced through the back of Hollows' heads as he soared towards the horde of Gillian Menos that were blasting Cero at Soul Reapers flying around their heads. He spotted Byakuya using his waves of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi to destroy Gillians easily, while he stood majestically on one of the walls. At his side, Mayuri stood, guiding his Bankai into the midst of the Gillian Horde, while Hihio Zabimaru ploughed through the teeming horde as well.
Hitsugaya flash-stepped directly to Byakuya's side, and Byakuya didn't even twitch in surprise. "Captain Hitsugaya." Byakuya greeted, and Hitsugaya panted and doubled over slightly. The amount of distance he had crossed in such a short time had winded him.
"I came from the World of the Living. Arrancar have appeared in Karakura, and I came for reinforcements. Ichigo is fighting them as we speak." He said.
"Ichigo?" Byakuya asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
"Yes. Rukia as well." Hitsugaya said.
"I see." Byakuya said, as he raised his right hand and sent a flying column of his Cherry Blossom Petals at the Gillian.
Byakuya turned to Renji, who had just sprang to Hitsugaya's side. "Renji…what news?" Byakuya asked.
Renji nodded a greeting at Hitsugaya, and then spoke to his Captain. "Captain General Yamamoto, as well as Captain Komamura, Captain Ukitake, and Captain Shunsui are all ordering for everyone to not use Bankai unless it becomes completely necessary. We need to save our energy in case Arrancar start invading." Renji said.
"Very well. Then I have a mission for you." Byakuya said. Renji nodded, waiting for his orders, as the chaos around them seemed to increase.
"You are to go with Captain Hitsugaya, and find a few available Lieutenants and at least one other Captain to take to Karakura. It's currently under attack by Arrancar." Byakuya ordered him. "Find only those who are sympathetic to Ichigo. Ichigo and Rukia are holding off the Arrancar until we get there. Now go."
Renji's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, but then he nodded. "Yes, Captain!" He barked, and then turned to Hitsugaya. "Come on." He said. His Bankai dissipated, and turned back to its Shikai form, and Renji jumped off the wall of the Seireitei. Hitsugaya followed him easily, seeing as Renji hadn't mastered Shunpo yet.
"I know where several people are." Renji said, looking off to the left at Hitsugaya.
"Good. Who do you have in mind?" Hitsugaya asked.
Renji looked forward as they sprang from rooftop to rooftop. "I think that Captain Soto or Captain Haruko aren't fighting at the moment, and we can grab Kira and even Shuhei." He said.
"That sounds good enough…but we're also going to get Hinamori." Hitsugaya said, and Renji nodded. "Now, how long ago did the attack start?" He asked.
"Just about ten minutes ago! A rip in the sky was spotted, and all of a sudden Menos came pouring out. We've been fighting them nonstop, but no Arrancar or higher class Menos have come out." Renji yelled.
Hitsugaya frowned and asked Renji a question, though it was mainly for his own benefit. "Why would Aizen send Arrancar to Karakura, but not Soul Society?" He asked, and Renji frowned as well.
"I don't know…but it can't be good." Renji admitted.
"You're right. Which is why we need to hurry." Hitsugaya barked, and Renji nodded. He put on an extra burst of speed as they jumped from roof to roof, searching for the others.
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Author's Note: I apologize for interrupting the story, but I decided I needed to explain how this was going to go. You see, the rest of this chapter will be one character's POV. The next, will be another Character's POV that is happening at the same time of the first character's, and then maybe even a third chapter for a third POV that will happen at the same time as the other two. Get it? Good. That's all I had to say, just to clarify. Now, back to the story!
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Ichigo didn't attempt to cut Grimmjow as soon as he sprang at the Arrancar group. He knew right off that it would be foolish, because the moment he did, Grimmjow would unleash a stronger attack. In order to keep the others from getting hurt, he'd have to separate Grimmjow from the group. Two powerhouses like him and Grimmjow were bound to hurt others if they all fought in close quarters, and Ichigo was damn sure that Grimmjow wouldn't care. But, Ichigo couldn't have Rukia and the others getting hit by an attack from the former Espada Sexta. So, he simply Flash Stepped at half speed directly in front of Grimmjow, and punched at the blue-haired Arrancar.
Ichigo blinked in surprise as Grimmjow caught his left fist casually, and Ichigo winced when Grimmjow applied pressure that made his fist pop. "Boring, Shinigami." Grimmjow said. Then, his eyes narrowed and he bared his teeth. "Bring on your Bankai…that's the only way you'll even scratch me!" Grimmjow growled.
Ichigo glared at the Arrancar as the sound of steel clashing on steel met his ears. The others had begun their fight. "Really? Then what would you call this?" Ichigo asked. He slashed Zangetsu, and Grimmjow took a single step back before the blade even finished its slash. Ichigo roared the name of his attack the moment Grimmjow took the single step back. "Getsuga Tenshou!"
With a blast of bluish-white energy, the reiatsu discharge attack hit Grimmjow point blank, and Ichigo brought Zangetsu into a casual guard position. The smoke from the attack was massive, and Ichigo knew that he had scored a direct hit on the Arrancar. He hadn't gone full power…but he was reasonably sure that he didn't need to in order to beat the Sixth Espada.
The smoke cleared, and Ichigo grinned. Grimmjow was standing a good forty yards away now, his arm brought up in a guard. Dark scuff marks, and some blood, was in a diagonal scar across Grimmjow's chest, his arm, and part of his head. Grimmjow's eyes were wide, and he was breathing heavily. Ichigo hoisted Zangetsu onto his shoulder, and casually began to walk towards Grimmjow.
"I don't know what you're doing here." Ichigo began. Grimmjow's arm lowered, and he glared at Ichigo, as blood dripped from his forehead and down the left side of his face. "I don't know what you're planning to do, or if you're planning to attack anyone." He continued, and he continued to take slow, measured steps towards the Arrancar. "But I don't care." He said, and stopped.
He glared at Grimmjow and then raised Zangetsu off his shoulder. He held Zangetsu single-handedly, and pointed it at Grimmjow. "You being here threatens my friends…my family…everyone precious to me. And I won't have that!" Ichigo yelled. "I'll remove that threat with my own hands, and make it safe again!"
Suddenly, he used Shunpo and moved at his maximum speed. He crossed the 40 or so yard gap as if he had just taken one single step forward, he had been so fast. He swung Zangetsu in a horizontal arc, watching as Grimmjow's eyes widened in surprise and he ducked underneath the slash. He attempted to punch Ichigo, but Ichigo kicked at Grimmjow with his right foot. His foot connected with Grimmjow's face, and Grimmjow stumbled backwards.
Ichigo pressed his advantage, and swung Zangetsu down, prepared to cleave Grimmjow in half. But, suddenly Grimmjow's right hand grabbed the blade of Zangetsu, and stopped it hardly an inch from his head. Ichigo strained to cut the Arrancar, but Grimmjow's hand didn't even waver. Ichigo put both hands on the hilt of his Zanpakuto, and pressed harder…but Grimmjow didn't even budge. Then, Grimmjow's head snapped up, and his blue eyes seemed to blaze with anger as he looked at Ichigo.
"Spare me that stupid, righteous bullshit!" Grimmjow growled. He pushed Ichigo back, sending the boy a good ten yards backwards. "You're still too fucking weak to beat me!" Grimmjow roared.
With the deep thrum of Sonido, Grimmjow disappeared. Acting on instinct, Ichigo spun and brought Zangetsu up. The shining silver blade of Grimmjow's sword was stopped a scant inch from Ichigo's face by Zangetsu, and Ichigo strained to push the Arrancar back. But, the blue-haired demon glared at Ichigo with a face contorted by hate. "You can't beat me! Wanna know why?"
Grimmjow kicked at Ichigo's hands, and knocked his own sword, as well as Zangetsu, into the air. The shining black and white blade, and Grimmjow's silver blade, twirled up high and Ichigo's eyes automatically followed their ascent. A red glow appeared from in front of him, and Ichigo's eyes darted back down to Grimmjow. Grimmjow's face was filled with contempt, red in the glow of the Cero in his extended hand. "Because you're too fucking weak." Grimmjow spat. Then, with a massive explosion of Reiatsu, Grimmjow fired the Cero point blank.
The massive explosion kicked up a massive cloud of smoke, obscuring everything around Grimmjow. Grimmjow looked around, grinning, but then extended his right hand into the air. With a soft smack, his sword fell perfectly into his open and waiting hand. Grimmjow felt out for his opponent's reiatsu, and smirked. "Weak." He said, and turned to walk away.
Something sharp poked into his throat, and he froze. He looked down slightly, and saw a thick black shape. He followed the shape, and saw that the orange-haired Shinigami was standing in front of him and holding his massive black sword at Grimmjow's throat. Ichigo smirked at the surprised look on Grimmjow's face. "I'm weak?" He asked.
It had been simple to Shunpo up into the air, grab his sword, and then Shunpo back behind Grimmjow. He was much faster than he had been two months ago…and even then he had been fast. The Cero that Grimmjow had fired hadn't even come close to touching him. But, now Ichigo was serious. Grimmjow was cocky, arrogant…and even if he was skilled, his ego was his downfall. But, Ichigo could also tell that Grimmjow was less powerful without his other arm. There was one way to make Grimmjow realize just how serious he had better get if he wished to even put up a real challenge for Ichigo.
Ichigo glared at Grimmjow, and then uncloaked his Reiatsu that he had been hiding and keeping in check. He directed it solely at Grimmjow, so he wouldn't affect his allies or their battles. Grimmjow gasped, and immediately, his legs trembled in the effort to keep himself standing. Ichigo regarded Grimmjow carefully, and withdrew his sword from Grimmjow's throat. He raised his sword, and intoned, "Getsuga…" He paused and watched as Grimmjow attempted to move, but Ichigo's reiatsu was too strong for him. "TENSHOU!" Ichigo cried, and unleashed his reiatsu discharging attack for the second time.
At point blank range, and with the power Ichigo put into it…he knew exactly what would happen. Even as the smoke erupted, he stood there patiently, looking down in the direction he had seen Grimmjow's body plummet. He cloaked his reiatsu once more, and as the smoke cleared…he slowly walked down through the air and towards the direction Grimmjow had fallen.
Laying in a crater, in the middle of the park beneath them, Grimmjow was struggling to his feet. His body was soaked in blood this time, and Ichigo shook his head. The white Uniform of the Arrancar was stained red and brown and black from blood and dirt and heat damage from Ichigo's attacks. But there was hardly any uniform left at all anymore.
"Damn…" Grimmjow coughed out, and he struggled to his feet. Ichigo leapt the remaining hundred or so yards down through the air, and landed gently on the ground outside of Grimmjow's crater. He set Zangetsu on his back, freeing both of his hands, and he looked pityingly down at Grimmjow. The Arrancar was handicapped, and even with both of his arms he would be outclassed. Ichigo didn't know what possessed him to do it, but he walked down into the crater, to where Grimmjow stood, his eyes wide as Ichigo approached him.
Grimmjow sprang forward, and tried to punch at Ichigo, but Ichigo easily caught his fist. He punched Grimmjow in the stomach, right above his hollow hole, and then in the chin. Grimmjow took a step back, but Ichigo swept his feet out from under him, and then Grimmjow fell onto his back. Ichigo looked down at Grimmjow and frowned. "You're not strong enough, Arrancar." He said. "Come back when you're stronger." Then, he turned his back on Grimmjow and walked away. He made it halfway up the wall of the crater, before he sensed Grimmjow's movement.
He ducked, sensing Grimmjow's intention as the former Sexta Espada dove at him from behind. Ichigo ducked, and rolled backwards, avoiding the shining silver blade that Grimmjow swung in an attempt to decapitate him. It missed him, but not by much. Ichigo saw Grimmjow fly over him, and land on the inner edge of the crater. Grimmjow stuck there for a split second in the air, before he sprang back at Ichigo. Ichigo narrowed his eyes as he focused, and he struck just as Grimmjow swung his sword. He used his left hand to block Grimmjow's sword with the flat of his palm against the flat of the blade, and then reached out with his right arm in an attempt to clothesline Grimmjow. But, Grimmjow hurtled past Ichigo, and Ichigo's arm broke with a sickening snap. Ichigo screamed in pain, and he fell forward, his forehead resting in the dirt and broken asphalt pieces that made up the crater.
Grimmjow landed easily behind Ichigo, glaring down at the Shinigami boy. Ichigo was stifling his cries, and cradling his arm that was bent awkwardly in the middle of his arm. There was dark flesh coloring, and a large bump...showing where the bone almost broke through the skin. "Our Hierro, our Iron Skin, can't be affected by a weak arm. Only a blade can truly hurt us. We Espada especially, have thick Hierro. Regular arrancar, you might be able to hurt...but not me." Grimmjow jeered. He dove at Ichigo, thrusting his blade to stab through the teen's heart.
Ichigo used Shunpo, flying to the lip of the crater, still crouching and holding his arm. Grimmjow spun, snarling and looking up at Ichigo. "Well at least you can run." Grimmjow growled, and then raised his blade to attack again.
"Jokyu Koten Zanshun!" A voice cried, and Grimmjow just barely had time to react. Grimmjow jerked his head back, right as a blaze of red energy blasted where he had been a second before. Three blue hairs floated down to the earth...showing just how close the attack had gotten.
Grimmjow spun, as Ichigo choked out, "No! Inoue, run!"
Orihime stood on the edge of the crater, her shield already in front of her, and a fierce glare on her face. "Soten Kishun!" She yelled, and two glowing gold fairies blasted towards Ichigo. They hovered over his arm, and a golden dome covered it.
"Bitch!" Grimmjow roared, and he sonido'd. He appeared behind Orihime, his arm cocked back and his eyes blazing...his sword raised in preparation to cleave her in half.
"NO!" Ichigo yelled, but then a high-pitched screech made him wince. Grimmjow flew backwards, eyes wide and blood flying from his mouth, as a red trail of energy showed where it had come from.
Grimmjow flew backwards, tumbling rapidly down the street, and Tsubaki appeared on Orihime's shoulder, panting. "Damn, woman...I couldn't even pierce him." Tsubaki panted. Ichigo stared, and then looked down as the golden dome around his arm dissapeared. His arm was perfect again, and the two Shunshunrikka floated back to Orihime's barrettes.
Ichigo spotted Grimmjow emerging from the dust all the way down the street, blood dripping from his chest from a small slash. His eyes were wide, and his white teeth were bared. "You bitch! You'll pay for interfereing with my prey!" He roared, and Ichigo jogged to Orihime's side.
"Hey, thanks." Ichigo said, and Orihime looked at him with a tender gaze. He pursed his lips and looked down at her, knowing full well what was behind her gaze. She still loved him. He felt a pang of guilt, but buried it as Grimmjow bolted down the street towards them.
"Inoue..." Ichigo said, and unslung Zangetsu from his back. "Get behind your shield. Don't come out until this guy is dead." He commanded, and Orihime paused. Grimmjow dissapeared with the deep thrum of Sonido, and Ichigo barked, "NOW!"
Orihime darted backwards and activated her shield, right as Ichigo disappeared with the high-pitched swish of Shunpo. In the middle of the air, down the street, Ichigo and Grimmjow appeared, blades locked and sparks flying.
"Bastard!" Ichigo growled, as he pushed against the one armed Espada. "Leave her alone!" He yelled, and pushed the Espada backwards through the air, blasting the unfortunate former Espada backwards a good twenty feet.
"You...!" Grimmjow started to yell, but then he froze for a moment. His eyes grew wide, and a sick smile decorated his scuffed, dirtied jaw. Then, he blasted forwards, towards Ichigo.
Ichigo glared and closed his eyes. "Getsuga..." He intoned, but then Grimmjow raised his free hand. An explosion of faint red reiatsu blasted towards Ichigo, faster than he could react to, and he felt like he had been hit with a metal bat right in the gut. But, it blasted him backwards, sending him crashing into Orihime's orange shield. It cracked behind him, and he staggered off of it.
"What...was...that?" He coughed out, holding his stomach with his free left hand.
"That's what we call Bala. It's a hardened projectile of spirit energy, much weaker than Cero." Grimmjow called. Then his pupils seemed to shrink as his eyes widened and he laughed, "But it's about twenty times faster!" He acted like he was punching the air, but Ichigo saw the faint glow of red reiatsu as Grimmjow threw his Bala.
"Shit." Ichigo said, one instant before he plunged Zangetsu tip-first into the black asphalt. He crouched and hid behind Zangetsu, right as the Bala impacted with his blade. The explosion whipped smoke, dust, and debris all around him, ruffling his hair and Shihakusho...but it didn't touch him. Two more explosions, mere milliseconds apart, erupted, and Ichigo stayed crouched mostly behind his blade...ignoring the debris that hit his exposed shins.
Ichigo looked forward, watching as the smoke cleared to reveal his opponent, and he smirked.
Grimmjow's mouth was hanging slightly open as he stared at Ichigo still standing after three consecutive Bala blasts...completely unscathed. "How?" Grimmjow asked, and Ichigo pulled Zangetsu up from the asphalt.
"I found this little fact out when I went to rescue Rukia from being executed in Soul Society." Ichigo called out, figuring he might as well give away a little information to Grimmjow. "The Soukyouku, the weapon that was going to be used to kill Rukia, had the destructive power of one million Zanpakuto's."
"Who gives a fuck?" Grimmjow yelled, clearly trying to piece together everything for himself.
"I stopped that Soukyouku with this blade." Ichigo said, not yelling or really raising his voice. Grimmjow froze as Ichigo's words registered in his brain, and Ichigo raised his blade into the air to show Grimmjow. There wasn't even a scratch on the gleaming black blade with the shining silver edge.
"My Zanpakuto, has the defensive power of one million Zanpakuto's...at the least." Ichigo declared, and Grimmjow shivered. He licked his lips, and Ichigo saw the look in his eyes give away the fact that he was trying to come up with a plan.
"Sorry, Arrancar...you're no match for me." Ichigo said firmly. Then, he dashed forward. He swung his blade as he Shunpo'd, appearing in front of Grimmjow. Grimmjow grunted as he blocked Ichigo's attack, but he was instantly flung backwards from the impact. Ichigo pressed his attack, however, and followed the Arrancar while hammering away with his blade. Ichigo knocked Grimmjow into the air with a slash, and Ichigo let him fly until he caught himself. Once he had…they were extremely far apart.
Ichigo could see Grimmjow panting heavily, even from this distance, and smirked. He had gotten strong enough to take on a former 6th Espada with just his Shikai, and he hadn't been wounded that much at all. Grimmjow was fast, he could tell that easily…and had Ichigo taken Grimmjow on two months ago, he might not have been able to keep up with that speed. Sure he had gained immense power, but power meant nothing if you weren't fast enough to be able to use that power on someone. With Ichigo training non-stop the past two months with the Vaizard, he had finally gained speed without having to rely on his Bankai…though when he used his Bankai he became even faster than he had previously been.
"You…you Bastard!" Grimmjow roared. "Don't look down on me!" Grimmjow re-sheathed his sword, and then glared down at Ichigo.
"GRIND, PAN-" Grimmjow howled, but then, someone appeared behind him and prevented him from drawing his Zanpakuto.
Ichigo instantly raised his guard, as he recognized the new arrival. Ulquiorra Schiffer, the Quatro Espada…and a Vasto Lorde Arrancar. Ichigo strained to hear what the pale-skinned Espada had to say.
"Grimmjow, stay your blade. We're finished." Ulquiorra said emotionlessly, casting a side-ways glance at Ichigo.
"The hell we are! I'm not going to be finished until I claw that pitying look off his face!" Grimmjow screamed, attempting to pull his blade from Ulquiorra's firm grasp.
"You will come back…now." Ulquiorra said, not budging even an inch as Grimmjow struggled. Ulquiorra's voice was faint, but Ichigo could still hear it from this distance. It was cold, harsh…and uncompromising.
"Fuck you! I'm gonna kill him!" Grimmjow snarled, and attempted to move again.
"Come now. I'm finished with your foolishness, Jeagerjacques." Ulquiorra said, and let go of Grimmjow's blade. He turned his back on Grimmjow and Ichigo both.
Ichigo paused. If he could take out both the Fourth and the Sixth Espada right here…right now…he could put a major dent in Aizen's forces. He would also lower the amount of fighting that would have to be done by the Vaizard to get to Aizen…and then that would mean more energy to fight the Ex-Soul Society Captain.
"Getsuga…" He intoned, and he saw Grimmjow's eyes widen as he stared at Ichigo pulling his blade back. Ulquiorra stopped as well, and glanced at Ichigo from over his shoulder, narrowing his eyes slightly. "TENSHOU!" He roared, and poured as much power into it as he could. The blast of blue and white energy roared towards the two Arrancar, burning up the air as it went. Ichigo panted, drained momentarily from the amount of power he had used, and watched his attack fly at the two Arrancar.
Grimmjow looked like he was going to attempt to block it, but Ulquiorra surprised Ichigo and Grimmjow both by stepping in front of the blue-haired Arrancar and raising his right hand casually. The Getsuga Tenshou hit his outstretched hand, but then Ichigo saw Ulquiorra's eyes widen. The Arrancar drew his second hand from his pockets, and held it up against the Getsuga. Ulquiorra skidded backwards, forcing Grimmjow to spring further behind, as the Getsuga pushed against him. Ichigo grinned wearily as he watched Ulquiorra's eyes widen even further…right before he was overwhelmed by the Getsuga.
The blaze of blue and white energy exploded, blasting smoke and energy everywhere, and Ichigo brought Zangetsu up into a better guard position. He waited as the smoke and energy cleared, and on impulse, looked behind him at Orihime. He froze as he saw her face. She looked…terrified. Not just terrified though, but conflicted and worried. She was looking towards him, but not at him. Almost like…she was looking through him.
"Orihime?" He called, and she jerked as she heard his voice. She blinked, and looked at him. "Are you okay?" He asked. She attempted to smile, but he could see how fake it was.
"I-I'm fine!" She called, and he frowned. Her smile faltered when she saw his look, but then her eyes widened.
"ICHIGO!" She cried, and Ichigo instinctively ducked and rolled backwards. He heard air whoosh as he rolled backwards, and he looked up and to where he had just been. Ulquiorra, scuffed and with his uniform torn in places, stood where Ichigo had just been…his hand extended like a knife.
"Remember my words." Ulquiorra said calmly, and Ichigo brought Zangetsu up to guard.
"What the hell are you saying?" Ichigo demanded, tensing as he prepared to fight the Quatro Espada.
Ulquiorra disregarded him, and then a blazing yellow light suddenly erupted around the pale-skinned Espada. Ichigo relaxed, but spat, "NEGACCION!"
He cast a glance around the skies, and saw several other columns of light. He could see 'Luppi', who had tentacles hanging off his back but several were chopped off at the base. He spotted 'Wonderweiss', who looked as spaced out as ever, but unharmed. And then…he saw no Yammy. Which meant…
"Rukia!" He whispered, grinning. She had won!
He holstered Zangetsu, and turned to Orihime, ready to run to Rukia's side. He faltered, however, when he saw Orihime's face. It was still uncertain, conflicted…afraid. He stepped towards her, reaching a hand out to touch the glowing orange shield between them.
"I…Ichigo…" Orihime whispered, tears gathering in her eyes, "W-will you ever forgive me…for what I said and did?"
Ichigo pressed his hand against the orange membrane that acted as a shield, and felt the familiarity of Orihime's reiatsu. His brows drew together, not in a frown but in a fierce and honest look. "Orihime…I forgave you almost as soon as it happened." He murmured. "Rukia did too."
A tear rolled down Orihime's face, and she smiled. The barrier between them broke, the orange shimmering pieces disintegrating and the ShunShunRikka flying back to Orihime's barrettes. Ichigo acted on impulse, knowing that he was doing the right thing, stepping forward and opening his arms. She lunged across the tiny distance between them, and into his open arms. He embraced her, holding her tight against him as she sobbed into his Shihakusho.
"Orihime…" He murmured, wincing. He hated how he hurt her…he was a protector, and he wasn't meant to inflict pain on the ones he was supposed to protect.
"Ichigo…I…I…" Orihime stammered, burying her face into his chest. He held her tight, as if he could protect her, heal her, make her whole again. "I love you!" She whispered fiercely, and he screwed his eyes shut. "I know it won't do any good, and I know I can't take you from Rukia…but I have to say it! I kept it inside for so long, ever since I met you!" She sobbed.
He held her tight, listening to her confession. "I've loved you for so long, wishing, dreaming, hoping, that somehow we'd end up together! You're the only one I have, and ever will love!" She cried into his chest, muffling her voice. He felt an aching pain in his heart, knowing how much pain he had inflicted on her.
"I know I can't change anything…and that you're happy with Rukia…but I'll always love you. Always." Orihime whispered, and she looked up at him. Her eyes were red, slightly puffy, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
He opened his eyes and looked down into hers…and murmured softly. "Orihime…no matter what happens, no matter where you are, and no matter who gets in my way…I'll protect you. You're precious to me, and I'm sorry…so, so sorry it's not the way you wish it was. But, you're still precious to me, and I'll always protect you." He said, and she nodded. She buried her head in his chest once more, and he closed his eyes. He let her stay like that for a few more moments, before gently removing her and stepping back.
"Let's go see how everyone else did. You may need to heal some of them." Ichigo said, and Orihime nodded eagerly.
He grabbed her by the waist, and then used Shunpo, and Orihime flung her arms around his shoulders tightly. He located Rukia's spiritual pressure, in the midst of the other Shinigami's, and flew to that spot. They were all in the air, so he couldn't let go of Orihime as he stopped and appeared next to the Shinigami.
Ikkaku was bleeding from a head wound, though it was shallow, and he had a vicious grin on his face. Yumichika appeared unscathed, and quite proud about it too. Rangiku was pouting, and Ichigo knew that she hadn't gotten a chance to fight. And last, was Rukia, completely unscathed, and holding her Shikai loosely in her hand. All of them reacted with surprise when they saw Ichigo appear, holding Orihime.
"Hey guys." He greeted, grinning.
"Ah, you missed a great fight, Ichigo!" Ikkaku laughed, and Yumichika shrugged.
"The spacey one didn't want to fight, so we didn't. He just stared at the birds." Yumichika said airily, tossing his hair. Ichigo shook his head.
"Ikkaku, the giant light bulb, wouldn't let me fight!" Rangiku whined, earning a glare from Yumichika.
"DON'T call me a light bulb!" Ikkaku yelled, brandishing his Shikai Houzukimaru threateningly.
Ichigo ignored them as they started to bicker and argue, and looked at Rukia. She walked to him, smiling softly. "Well?" Ichigo asked, and Rukia smirked.
"I killed the Espada Diez." She said simply, and he grinned.
"I knew you would. Did you even have to Bankai?" He asked her, and she shrugged.
"I chose to use it so I could kill him faster, then help Ikkaku. He looked like he wouldn't accept it from Rangiku, and he was being thoroughly smacked around." Rukia said, and with a flourish, turned Sode no Shirayuki back into its normal pre-released state. She sheathed her katana, and gave Ichigo a questioning look.
"Oh. Orihime popped up out of nowhere and helped me out a lot. I got my arm broken…she healed me and kept Grimmjow at bay for a bit." Ichigo said, jerking his head at Orihime. "I wouldn't have made it without her." He said, smiling down at the redhead.
Orihime blushed, but gave Rukia a hesitant smile. "Rukia…" She said softly.
"Hello, Orihime." Rukia said warmly, and stepped forward and embraced both Orihime and Ichigo. "Thank you." She said.
"N-no! It was my pleasure. I knew Ichigo would be out, getting beaten up, so I decided I'd find him and heal him!" Orihime said, giggling. Rukia released the two, and smirked.
"Yes, he has a tendency to get beaten up quite a bit." She laughed, and Ichigo rolled his eyes.
"No fair, tag-teaming me." Ichigo muttered. He frowned, though. "You know…shouldn't Hitsugaya be back by now?" He asked.
Right on cue, Ichigo felt several new Shinigami reiatsu. He looked down at Orihime. "I should let you down…just in case." He murmured.
Rukia nodded in agreement, and pulled her sword out. "I'll cover you." She said, and turned towards the direction the reiatsu came from. Ichigo flew down towards the earth, barely hearing Orihime's muffled squeal, and landed gently in a clearing in the park below. He set her down, and smirked.
"I'll see you around, and thanks…you saved my life." He said, and Orihime blushed.
"I-It was my pleasure." Orihime said, and he grinned.
"See ya." He said, and then, he blasted back into the sky. He stopped once he made it to Rukia's side, and unslung Zangetsu. Just because he had trusted Hitsugaya a little, didn't mean that Yamamoto hadn't found out. Yamamoto could have sent a task force to capture him, and Hitsugaya could have been detained.
Yumichika, Ikkaku, and Rangiku walked over to them, and Ikkaku's eyes narrowed. "It's Hitsugaya, Ichigo. Relax." He said.
Ichigo relaxed slightly, but still held Zangetsu unslung in his hand. Rukia lowered her guard as well. Suddenly, the Shinigami appeared in front of him, and Ichigo blinked. Hitsugaya, Hinamori, Renji, Shuhei, and two men wearing Captain's coats. One man had long black hair covering his left eye in the front, similar to Izuru Kira's hair. He wore his Captain's uniform a lot like Ukitake, but had his Shihakusho closed up to his neck. His sheathed sword was in his right hand, and Ichigo knew he had come expecting Arrancar.
The next Captain, besides Hitsugaya, was a blond with unruly hair. He looked similar to Urahara, except his was a sleeveless captain's coat, and his eyes were a piercing blue. The new Shinigami blinked in surprise, and Ichigo regarded them calmly.
"My name is…" he started to say, when Shuhei stepped forward.
"So you're still alive." He said, and Ichigo shrugged.
"Apparently." He said, trying to keep his tone from starting a fight.
"We know who you are, Ichigo Kurosaki." The blond Captain spoke. "My name is Soto Hitashi, Captain of Third Company. It's a pleasure to meet you." The Captain said, inclining his head.
"My name is Haruko Arazashi, Captain of Fifth Company." The uptight-looking Captain said, bowing as well.
"Hinamori, Hitsugaya." Ichigo said, inclining his head. Then, he turned to the redhead, who seemed to be struggling to say something.
"Hey, Renji…nice to see your hair still looks like a red pineapple." Ichigo joked. Renji glared, and exploded.
"Damnit! I was going to say something really cool, and you totally ruined the mood!" Renji yelled, and Ichigo glared and yelled right back.
"Oh yeah? Well, I was just saying how glad I was to see you!" He yelled back.
Rukia sighed, stepped forward, and then punched both of the men in the gut…getting silence instantaneously. The men nursed their stomachs, while Hitsugaya and Rukia both rolled their eyes.
"Where are the Arrancar?" Hitsugaya asked finally, looking to Ichigo for the answer.
"Gone. There were five total." Ichigo said, and Rukia blinked in surprise.
"Five? I counted four." She said. Ichigo shook his head.
"Ulquiorra appeared at the end of mine and Grimmjow's battle." Ichigo said, and Rukia looked him over for wounds. She knew how strong Ulquiorra was, or at least was rumored to be. "Regardless, they all just left in the middle of our fights. They were saved by Negaccion." Ichigo reported.
"I see…" Hitsugaya murmured. He frowned. "Soul Society was attacked at the same time the Arrancar appeared. We're still counting the dead." He said, and Rukia paled.
"Menos just suddenly tore open they sky and poured out." Renji said, and shrugged. "Right before we came here, they just retreated…and closed the sky behind them."
Ichigo frowned, and felt something nagging in the back of his head, a memory or a thought of some sort. But, he lost whatever it was when Rukia gently laid a hand on his arm. "We need to go." She murmured. Ichigo nodded, and glanced at the Shinigami.
"We're leaving now. Don't try to track us." Ichigo said firmly. Hitsugaya looked like he was about to say something, but Ichigo cut him off. "I'll be seeing you guys around." Then, he grabbed Rukia and flash-stepped away.
He hated being so rude to his former friends, but he had to get out of there before Yamamoto figured out he was here. That, and he had to talk to Shinji. Something was bothering him.
He appeared in the Vaizard Hideout, having come through an open window near the top floor, and set Rukia down. Sitting in front of the TV, Shinji was conversing with Isshin using the device Urahara had given to Vaizard and the Kurosaki's.
"So she could see you in spirit form?" Shinji murmured. Ichigo frowned, surprised at how Shinji didn't seem to sense him.
"Yes." Isshin confirmed, and Rukia and Ichigo both looked at each other. They were both confused.
"So Ichigo's not just any pureblood." Shinji murmured.
Isshin laughed. "No. He's not just any pureblood. Aizen should have done his research a bit better, before calling Ichigo just a 'human' before he left for Hueco Mundo. Ichigo's got the blood of a Shinigami in his veins, and I learned that Masaki had a strange bloodline. Her family passed down the story, that their family line was started by a woman falling in love with an Angel. That angel gave her a son and a daughter…and as a blessing, anyone belonging to the family could sense and see spirits. Though the males of the bloodline had much more potent abilities…it's continued to this day…and Ichigo and the girls are currently carrying that bloodline still."
"So Ichigo's…" Shinji murmured, and Isshin finished it for him.
"Almost pure spirit. I sensed that the moment he was born. He never had difficult seeing spirits, and he often mistook them for real people. The reason for that, was because he had the blood of two Shinigami's in him. Masaki had the potential, seeing as she was descended from a Shinigami, but I didn't want her to be pulled into that world any more than she already was." Isshin said.
Ichigo froze. He was almost pure spirit? Why hadn't he been told any of this by his father? His father was still keeping secrets from him? He almost didn't register Rukia's hand caressing his arm soothingly, but then he became aware of Rukia trembling. He felt her reiatsu flicker, and he snapped his head to the side to look at her. She looked pale, sick…and she swayed on her feet. She buckled, and he grabbed her before she hit the floor.
"Shinji!" He barked, and Shinji spun, eyes wide in surprise.
"Get Hachi, now!" Ichigo yelled, as Rukia's eyes rolled into the back of her head, and blood trickled from her nose. He picked her up into his arms, as Shinji flash stepped out of the room. He Shunpo'd as well, ignoring Isshin's yell from the television, and appeared in his room. He laid Rukia down gently on the middle of his bed.
"C'mon, Rukia…stay with me." He choked, and held her hand…and prayed.
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FINALLY! You have NO idea how may re-writes that took me to get it to the point where I was even slightly satisfied with it! I've been re-writing this chapter like crazy! Lol. Sorry for the long wait, guys! Next chapter…something long-awaited will be revealed: RUKIA'S BANKAI! And THEN we'll focus on Rukia's sudden illness. :) So, review and lemme know what you thought!