The Substitute Shinigami
A/N: Ichigo meets his client, but this man brings an aura of suspicion. Meanwhile, Yoruichi returns to Kisuke telling him about unusual presences occurring in the city. Unfortunately, Hollows begin making their appearance after a long time of absence. Chad and Uryu head out to face the Hollows. Can they survive? Can Yoruichi find the disturbances?
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Bleach.
*SC* = Scene Change
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
Chapter 2: The Man Named Ryuu
Ichigo stands in front of a man wearing a blue shirt, yellow pants, and yellow wristbands. Kurosaki raises an eyebrow when he notices the man wearing sunglasses and a white turban on his head.
"Hello, how may I help you?" asked the man.
"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki and I'm here representing Unagiya Shop," replied Ichigo.
"All right," said the man. "My name is Ryuu Toriyama. According to the little ad, the Unagiya Shop is supposed to do almost any job."
"Yeah," said Ichigo.
"Great! You'll going to help me move," said Ryuu.
"My boss told me that," said Ichigo. "What do you need me to move?"
"There are a few tables over there. They are small so get to work," said Ryuu.
Ichigo sighs at the tone of the client. However, he has no choice, but to comply with him. For the next three hours, Ichigo helped Ryuu moved four small tables, a large couch, three lamps, two large chests of drawers, and a few boxes.
"Thanks for the help Ichigo, but there are a few items remaining that I need help with," said Ryuu. "Here is your pay for today's work."
Ryuu hand Ichigo enough money for the day's work. Kurosaki sighs in relief and begins to head towards the door.
"Kurosaki-san," said Ryuu. "You seem to be a good person, if you ever need help, come to me."
Ichigo raises an eyebrow, but he only waves back. Ryuu smiles as he hears Ichigo open and then close the door. He approaches the front window watching Ichigo walk towards the street and head towards the south.
'So this is the boy,' thought Ryuu.
*SC*
Kisuke sits in his room with his eyes closed. He breathes in and out. For the past few hours, Urahara has patiently waited for the return of Yoruichi. His waiting is not in vain. Soon, a cat comes walking into the room. Kisuke opens his eyes looking at the black cat.
"Aren't you going to transform?" asked Kisuke.
"And be naked in front of you," replied Yoruichi. "Actually, that sounds quite tempting. However, I'm sure you and I have more important matters to attend to."
Kisuke nods his head in agreement. Urahara explains to Yoruichi the recent senses he has been receiving. Yoruichi agrees with him stating that see too has been feeling the same thing.
"What do you think it is?" asked Yoruichi.
"Honestly, I don't know," replied Kisuke. "For all we know, it could be a pack of Hollows such as a new group of Espada. However, since the defeat of Aizen, the amount of Hollows attacking us has decreased."
"Not anymore," interrupted Yoruichi.
Urahara stops speaking looking at Yoruichi.
"For the past few days, you have been at the Soul Society, but I've been here," continued Yoruichi. "The amount of Hollows has been increasing. Ichigo's friends have been spending more time handling the Hollows."
Kisuke sighs at this information. Why have the Hollow returned in greater numbers? Is somebody pulling strings again? Are the Hollows acting on their own accord? What is the possible reason for the return of the Hollows?
"How about I start doing such investigation?" asked Yoruichi.
"That should be a good idea, but be careful," said Kisuke. "You and I feel something out there, but it does not feel like reiatsu, yet it is a powerful force."
"I know," said Yoruichi. "I feel it too, but I am unable to find a direct location. It is confusing and frustrating."
Yoruichi heads towards her room to prepare for the search. Kisuke watches the cat leave as he turns to face forward and closes his eyes. He can only hope the new threat is not powerful, but think of such an impossible dream. The odds are, it is powerful.
*SC*
Uryu Ishida and Yasutora Sado continue their walk. They have been spending more time near each other for the past few days due to the fact of a few more Hollows appearing.
"I wonder why there are more Hollows recently?" asked Sado.
"I don't know, but it is not good," replied Uryu. "Something could be drawing them here. It is possible something has forced them here."
Sado nods his head in agreement. The two continue their stroll around the city looking for any Hollows. Night has arrived as they finally decide to head home. However, a scream occurs interrupting their journey home.
Uryu and Sado run towards the source of the scream, but as they turn the corner, their eyes widen at the scene before them. A black creature with red lines throughout its body stands above a young man. The creature looks like a lion. Its red eyes glow towards Uryu and Yasutora. In the lion's mouth is the young man's head.
"W-what is that?" asked Yasutora.
"I don't know," replied Ishida.
The lion growls at Uryu and Sado, as it turns around and runs the other direction.
Sado begins to run after it only for Uryu to stop him.
"What's wrong?" asked Yasutora.
"Most lions travel in packs, though there is a chance this lion does not have a pack, but we cannot take a risk," explained Uryu.
Sado understands Uryu's reasoning. The human and quincy look towards the body on the ground. As they look closer to the body, they immediately realize it is not a soul, but actual human flesh.
"That creature is not a Hollow," said Sado.
"No, it is not," said Uryu. "We need to report this to Kisuke."
Sado agrees with Uryu, but as they are about to run towards Urahara Shop, familiar roars occur nearby the duo.
"Great, now the Hollows decide to appear," said Ishida.
Uryu and Chad run towards the Hollow. As they arrive on the scene, a group of three Hollows rampage the area. The three Hollows include a large ogre-like Hollow, a giant falcon Hollow, and a snake-type Hollow.
The three Hollows immediately begin attacking Uryu and Chad. The human and quincy dodge the attacks as Sado prepares to summon his powers.
"Brazo Derecha de Gigante," said Sado.
His right arm changes as black armor with red marks forms. Uryu grabs his new bow as begins shooting the three Hollows. The three Hollows dodge the attacks, but the snake runs straight into Sado.
"El Directo," said Sado as he punches the Hollow destroying it in an instant.
The falcon Hollow roars as he charges at Uryu. Uryu rolls out of the way, but as he stands up, he turns immediately and shoots hundreds of arrows killing the Hollow instantly.
The last Hollow charges at Sado as it swing its claws at the man. Sado jumps back, but his red collar shirt tears in the front. Luckily, Yasutora manages to avoid any physical contact.
Uryu shoots a single arrow from the distance hitting the Hollow in the eye as Chad uses this chance to finish the Hollow with an 'El Directo' attack.
Uryu stares at the small battlefield. It seemed like an ordinary hunt, but his hopes are shattered as more roars of the Hollows occur nearby. At this rate, it might take a while for Ishida and Sado to reach Kisuke.
*SC*
Ichigo walks into his home. He bends down to take his shoes off, but it was just in time as his Isshin comes flying by and hits the wall.
"Good reflexes Ichigo," said Isshin.
Ichigo ignores his father as he walks towards the kitchen. The Ryuu person took a lot of his time, but the pay was worth it. Of course, he had to give the check to Ikumi, but he should receive his portion later. He notices Karin staring at him with a unusual gaze.
"What's wrong?" asked Ichigo.
"Nothing," replied Karin as she turns her attention to the newspaper in front of her.
Ichigo sighs as Yuzu walks in with a pot of food.
"Ichigo, you made it in time," said Yuzu.
"I guess I did," replied Ichigo.
Ichigo turns his head back to the position it was before only for him to notice Karin staring at him again. Ichigo raises an eyebrow. He looks to his left noticing Yuzu staring at him as well.
The orange hair man's right eye begins to twitch. Is there something he missed? For the past few days, his two sisters have been giving him weird stares. In fact, he believes it has been a month since they began with these stares, but the past few days have been more direct.
"All right, what is it?" asked Ichigo.
Before the two sisters could answer, Ichigo hears a noise to his right. He turns to his right and notices his father staring at him as well.
"What?" shouted Ichigo instead of asking.
"We are tired of it," said the three family members.
A huge question mark appears on Ichigo's head. There has to be something he missed.
"Clarify," said Ichigo.
"You should know," said the three family members.
Ichigo sighs, as none of the three is helping him in any way. How can he answer them? He does not even know what the subject is!
"You have spent a lot of time with Orihime," said Yuzu.
"Unusual amount of time," added Isshin.
Karin simply continues her stare at Ichigo.
At this point, Ichigo still not understand. He has spent more time with Orihime. Why does that matter to any of them?
"We are on this subject, why?" asked Ichigo in a confused manner.
The three Kurosaki members sigh in frustrating. They have seen Orihime stop by to check on Ichigo for nearly seventeen months straight. It is plain obvious that she holds feelings towards the idiot in front of them. How can everyone else see it, but him?
"Are you blind?" asked Isshin.
"Excuse me?" inquired Ichigo.
"How much do you care for her?" asked Isshin.
"I care for her a lot, she is my friend," replied Ichigo.
"Are you sure she is just your friend?" asked Isshin.
"What do you mean?' asked Ichigo.
"Come on Ichigo," interrupted Yuzu. "Doesn't Orihime mean more to you than a friend?"
"Well, I-um," stuttered Ichigo.
'Why am I having a hard time answering that question?' thought Ichigo.
All three Kurosaki stare at Ichigo with raise eyebrows. The amount of time he is taking to answer the question has definitely gained their attention.
"She's just a friend," said Ichigo with uncertainty.
Once again, the three Kurosaki catch Ichigo's tone of voice.
"You don't sound sure," said Karin.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Ichigo.
"You should know," said Karin with a serious tone.
Ichigo's family finally turns their attention away from Ichigo. He continues to stare at them as he enters his deep thoughts. Sure, he has spent more time with Orihime, but that does not mean anything. At least, to his knowledge it does not mean anything. Is there something he missed?
"Next time," said Karin out of nowhere. "When you meet her, pay more attention to her actions."
Ichigo does not reply to Karin and simply stares at the table.
'Orihime,' thought Ichigo.
*SC*
Tatsuki and Orihime have spent the day together. Orihime sighs as she thinks about the conversation she had with Tatsuki earlier in the day.
"Hello, Orihime are you there?" asked Tatsuki.
Orihime snaps out of her trance. She gives Tatsuki a smile as the orange hair woman prepares the dinner. Orihime adds numerous ingredients, some of which cause Tatsuki to cringe.
"You know, something simple is fine with me. You don't have to go all the way," said Tatsuki hoping to convince Orihime.
"Nonsense," said Orihime. "I enjoy cooking."
Tatsuki laughs awkwardly. This is going to be one of those days. Soon, Tatsuki stops her laughing as she watches Orihime continue to cook. For so long, she has protected Inoue from threats, but recently, Orihime has gained powers beyond of Tatsuki. She can only do so much now. If anybody can help Orihime, it is the idiot Ichigo. Unfortunately, he is too stubborn and naïve to see Orihime's affections. However, Orihime is not exactly direct. One needs to open his eyes and the other needs to gather enough courage.
"You should ask him," said Tatsuki out of nowhere.
Orihime turns around with a confused look on her face.
"You need to act first when it comes to Ichigo," continued Tatsuki.
"I can't," said Orihime. "He doesn't like me that way."
"So that's it!" exclaimed Tatsuki. "How are you supposed to know if you don't try?"
Orihime ignores Tatsuki causing the black hair woman to grumble in annoyance. Tatsuki sighs at Orihime's stubbornness. Two orange hair people refuse to make a move. However, the black hair woman will not give up. She will find a way to convince Orihime to make a move. At the same time, she will try to open Ichigo's eyes.
Orihime continues to make her food. She begins to think about any chances to express herself to Ichigo. She sighs, there is no chance Ichigo has any mutual feelings.
*SC*
A/N: This is the end of chapter 2. Once again, it is another slow chapter, but I am simply building up the necessary events. Thanks for reading and please review.