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Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach and any used character!
Succumb to Temptation
Chapter 1:
It was Monday morning, the beginning of a new week. Ichigo would have to attend school, do homework, avoid her father's annoying attacks, take care of her sisters and of course fight a bunch of hollows.
In the last few weeks the enemies' appearances increased drastically and Ichigo's body had nearly no time to recover, so she felt terribly exhausted but at the same time restless, because for days now Kurosaki Ichigo felt haunted. She never got a glimpse on the person, who watched her, but she knew he or she was there, every second on every occasion -being it during free time from school she tried to spend with her friends, staying at home or when she fought battles against weak and strong opponents-.
And being watched, but not knowing who it was and for what reason, made her nervous. Soon she started to jump at every sound that reached her ears and couldn't sleep calmly, though she needed sleep more than anything else lately.
The girl lay with closed eyes in the darkness of her room. The green curtains were drawn so that no light could pass into the room. One glance at her alarm clock told her that she had more than an hour left till her usual wake-up time. She sighed tired, knowing that sleep wouldn't take over her for the time being.
´I'm not paranoid, am I?´ the orange haired girl asked, doubting herself. She turned around in her bed and her aching muscles made her squinch her chocolate brown eyes shut once again.
´Maybe a hot shower will help...`she decided and got out of her bed slowly, pain flashed through the wreck of a body she owned.
She went over to the window and opened the dark coloured fabric. The sun greeted her now and flooded the small room in a bright and warm light.
It took some time for Ichigo's eyes to adjust to the brightness that blinded her at first. A look outside presented her a beautiful sight.
Over the rooftops of Karakura Town the sky had taken an indescribable hue. The last orange sunrays faded into brilliant blue. Here and there dogs barked in delight and their owners, who went to work, laughed, happy about their pets' greetings and promises to keep the houses and other family members secure. The whole scenery in front of her drove a smile over her face.
Suddenly a small bird flew past the open window, chirped loudly and startled the orange haired girl. Hesitant at first, Ichigo bend out of the window and looked around in search for the animal. But it wasn't to be seen anywhere, at least nowhere until she spotted it lying on the ground, seemingly dead and unmoving.
The smile that played on her lips moments before was gone for good now with the view of a feathered body lying in front of her home. With a dark gaze and mood she turned around and left her room.
´What a great morning.` she thought cynically and walked into the bathroom located near her own room. She undressed quickly and went into the shower. When the first spurt of hot water fell against her skin and warmth crawled deep into her body she began to relax.
A content sigh escaped her lips once she started to wash and massage her stiff limbs until the aching seemed to have left. She took her time enjoying the water that ran down her slender figure and drenched her orange hair. With a small amount of shampoo Ichigo washed her soft hair and noticed how long- it fell down to the middle of her back now- it had grown.
After a few more minutes Ichigo left the shower and dried her hair with a big towel which she wrapped around her body afterwards. The girl stood in front of the steamy mirror hanging over the bathroom sink, wiped it clear and let her pair of brown eyes examine her reflection. Her skin had a paler complexion than usual; her eyes seemed dull and made Ichigo appear ill and drained.
´I feel somewhat better but I still look like a freaking ghost!` she grumbled displeased. A loud crashing sound snapped her out of her critical thinking and alarmed her at once. Without any hesitation she ran outside the bathroom and down the stairs, securing the towel with one arm.
"What happened?" she called out frantically when she reached the bottom of the stairs and stood in the hallway.
From there she could see the pudding-headed man she called her father running around the kitchen like a scalded cat, waving a burning shirt, he probably wore moments before, in the air. One curse after another leaving his mouth in yells. The orange haired girl walked over to Isshin, snatched the blazing cloth out of the taller man's hand and threw it into the sink. She opened the tap and let the running liquid put out the flames.
"Did you get burned?" she asked observing her father intently. The taller man didn't dare to look at his oldest daughter, knowing what exactly would come next, and just replied with a short headshaking.
It didn't take long for Ichigo to discern what had happened. She was sure that Isshin had tried to cook breakfast for his daughters, though in his clumsy way he set his shirt on fire. Ichigo's eyes rested on the mess he had caused by letting the frying pan fall to the ground, its content scattered all over the kitchen floor. Annoyed she swung her arm and smacked his head.
"How often do I have to repeat myself." she scolded him. "You can't cook, so leave it to the girls."
She turned towards the stairs and commanded "Clean up the mess you've made." before she left her father and the kitchen behind. His mumbled apology reached her but she didn't comment anything. She knew the only man of the Kurosaki family just wanted to surprise his children and do them a favour, so her cold behaviour was a mere act.
"Let's face it, old man. It's Yuzu and Karin being the good cooks here not us." she said reaching the top floor. It was somehow embarrassing to let the younger family members cook , but unlike her father Ichigo faced reality and took things as they were without putting up much resistance, because allowing the orange haired girl to cook meant wasting a lot of food. The high school student saw the fraternal twins step outside of their room. The two little sisters studied the oldest one with curiosity.
"What's going on down there?" Karin asked yawning. A little hidden behind her black haired sister Ichigo could make Yuzu out, who rubbed her left eye, trying to get rid of the sleep she was yet in.
"Father wanted to cook, and... well you know what happens when he does." Ichigo stated and stretched her arms behind her head, feeling the lessen tension in her shoulder blades between now and half an hour ago.
"Did daddy get hurt?" Yuzus eyes widened out of concern. Not waiting for an answer from her older sister the small girl ran towards the kitchen shouting "Daddyyyy!". Reaching him she threw herself into his arms. "Stop crying sweetheart, daddy's fine!" Isshin assured the panicked girl.
"Geez! These two won't ever change, will they?" Karin groaned, shaking her head in disbelieve about her crazy family and entered the bathroom. Ichigo restrained her laughter from slipping out and went into her own room, it was time to change and leave for school, though it was still early.
´Better leave now and wait at school, than have to listen to Yuzu's worrying over father.` she decided quickly. Fifteen minutes later Ichigo was about to step out of her room. One last glance at her reflection and the orange haired girl thought of herself being presentable to the world. Her school uniform fitted perfectly, the make-up she had used, worked against the current paleness of her face and hid the rings under her eyes. Only Ichigo's spiky hair was in its typical unruly way, tied up in a ponytail with her favourite strawberry-hair band.
Ichigo left the Kurosaki house and found herself immediately in a situation, in which her stomach was churning. A few feet away from the high school student the small bird, -Ichigo had seen almost an hour ago- lay on the ground, a stray cat nudged the feathered animal that fluttered weakly.
´Wait... it's alive?`Ichigo noticed in shock. She leaped forward and drove the cat off.
"I can't let you eat this defenceless creature." she stated. The cat lingered under the nearest car and hissed, but didn't dare to approach the human. Slowly Ichigo bend down and picked the bird up from the ground, horrified it started to chirp.
"Shush little one, everything will be fine again..." she whispered softly and continued her way. The small animal in Ichigo's hands seemed to calm down as time passed by. It twittered now and then, but the tiny tot's heart beat at a normal pace. At least Ichigo hoped that this was the normal heart rate of a bird. The high school student examined the small body she held and found one of its wings looking odd, though Ichigo wasn't a vet she guessed the left wing was slightly... ´-burned?` doubt was written all over her face. ´Why would anybody do something horrible like that to a bird?`
"What am I going to do with you now?" the orange haired girl asked aloud. On the way to Karakura High School was a park, maybe leaving the bird there would work. Said park was nice and one of the best places in town if you needed an oasis of calm. The flowers and trees brought nature within touching distance of people. Occasionally when Ichigo went for a walk –out of boredom or because she wanted some thinking time for herself- she ended up in this park. Ichigo entered the park through the gate, walked a little further into it and sat down on a wooden bench located between two big, old plane trees.
´The burn doesn't look that bad...` she regarded thoughtful ´...but maybe I should try to-` the girl couldn't end her track of thinking. The bird made a high screeching noise, jumped from her hands and fluttered away, with the burned wing though the small animal couldn't find its balance and landed on the gravel path a few feet away from the bench.
Before Ichigo decided to stand up, walk over to the poor thing and pick it up again, the bird started a second attempt to fly, this time releasing an even louder panicked sound. At least the observing girl got up and took a step towards the bird. Brown eyes focused on the moving body on the ground. With every passing moment the noise grew louder and louder. "What's wrong? Is this happening because I wanted to use my power?" she whispered. The thought of her doing not being of any help, but rather upset or –even worse- hurt others depressed the orange haired girl. Regardless of the fact that the one involved here was only a small and unimportant bird. Next time it could be one of her friends or comrades..! For a mere second anger flashed through her, not because the bird made her day more troublesome than her nerves needed it to be, nor was it because the animal didn't know what was best for itself. The only thing Ichigo was angered and frustrated with was her stupid self, her incapability of helping a weak creature drowning in discomfort.
One last step lied between her and the feathered being. "Trust me... I'm going to help you." she spoke softly, hoping her tone would have a soothing effect. She was about to cross what little space separated them, when the bird let out a single high pitched cry and hell took over the calm place.
A thin, green blast -coming from somewhere aloft- hit the spot where the bird was lying. Taken by surprise Ichigo had no time to react to anything around her, only a loud yell escaped her mouth when a strong wave of pressure -released right in front of her- hit her with full force and threw her several feet back until she ended up crashing into a tree. Ichigo's mind couldn't comprehend what had happened in detail; her slender body lay on soft, green grass with her back leaning on the nearly unharmed trunk it slid down sheer moments before. Her vision was gone, replaced by pitch black darkness, thus she couldn't see but feel pieces of earth raining down on her, gracing her skin. And there was one other thing she was, unconsciously, aware of: her brain wanted to shut down before she would have to suffer from the pain that surely was about to reach her disturbed synapses sooner or later.
"That's it? The cero never hit her and she's out, just like that? You are shitting me, right?" a dark, male voice stated frustrated. Ichigo stirred, listening to the words and light steps coming from an unknown person near her. Considering the pause that took place before the same voice mouthed its next thoughts, there must have been another, second person around. Ichigo was sure of it... she just couldn't make out what they were saying. Everything seemed too far away in her clouded mind.
"This brat's supposed to be one of the strongest? Don't make me laugh!" the male spat and approached. ´I- I need to...get up...` she told herself. With a grunt, brown eyes opened and trembling arms pushed the body they belonged to away from hard wood. The daylight was too bright and brought dizziness to the girl, everything around her turned to the left, right. She couldn't separate up from down and with the loss of the supporting trunk against her back she fell to the side. It was in that moment that pain engulfed her whole being and a feeling of sickness joined its two friends on the stage. Ichigo broke out in sweat, her empty stomach churned at first and after a low "Urgh!" nothing but stomach acid came up her gullet and out of her mouth, leaving a bitter taste behind.
"Hey! Watch where you are throwing up, bitch!" could be heard from above Ichigo. A foot kicked more than touched the orange haired girl onto the side, rolling her over on her abused back.
"You're really pathetic." the male spoke in a disgusted manner. His same foot lay now on her stomach pressing down on the poor girl now and then, making her cough and struggle to get away.
Ichigo's chocolate brown eyes slowly adjusted to the brightness around her. The first thing she saw was blue, then white, black and more blue again. ´Focus!` she demanded from herself sternly.
"Com' on." slim lips voiced out loudly. A face was right in front of hers, blue eyes meeting her brown, at least focused ones. "Stand up. This whole thing here is rather depressing!" the blue haired guy said with a sneer on his lips, stepping on her with his full weight and treating her like a doormat.
When air found its way back into her lungs a painful cry escaped Ichigo. The arrogant man had disappeared from her vision but the girl could sense him somewhere around. Biting her bottom lip, so that another groan wouldn't leave her mouth, she managed to sit up. It felt like her back was on fire and the dizziness, though not as strong as before, still turned the world around slightly.
´I have to get up.` she reminded herself. Ichigo felt like it took her for ever to stand on her two wobbling legs. It was hard not to stumble around too much, but at least she didn't fall down, landing on the ground again. Pain reached every single point in the slender body.
´Where is my bag? I need the badge.` she panicked. Her head turned into every direction, searching frantically for the school bag made of beige fabric.
´The bench!` she remembered suddenly. She had left the bag at the bench when she got up to help...! The small bird crossed her mind and made her stop in her movement.
´Is the bird even alive?` Ichigo ran towards the spot she guessed her previous location. The wooden bench was there, covered in dirt but still there. The same applied to her school bag, too. But her searching gaze never found the animal. The place, her mind told the strawberry, where she had seen the bird the last time had, vanished into a large whole.
She froze on the spot. "Trust me..." Ichigo could hear her own words she had said some time ago. "I will help you."
´Trust me, trust me, trust me...I will help you, help you, help you...` the words she had whispered echoed through her head.
Anger spread through her, letting her forget the pain she felt sheer moments before. "Why?" she whispered. "How could you do this to a defenceless creature?" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Uncontainable emotions running berserk inside of her send her human body into trembling-mode.
A snicker was the stranger's answer. The mocking sound evolved to a loud crazy laughter. "What do I care about a stupid bird." the white-clad man spat.
"It was annoying after all." he stated, with a calm manner now. A smirk played on his lips while he took the girl's current shaken form in. ´What a stupid brat.` he surely was mightily amused.
"It was weak and died..." he could see how her brown eyes never left his lips "...and so will you!" his last words hollered, he was coming with high speed at the strawberry.
Although her mind was in a disbelieving state caused by her enemy's words, Ichigo was fast enough to reach her bag. Her hands searching for the substitute Shinigami badge, which would allow her to separate her soul from her body without the need of Rukia or Kon. The blue haired assailant put out his hand, touching and causing a huge cloud of dust to surrender everything within a 10-meter radius. The obscuring cloud subsided after a while, revealing the man, who stood in a knew pit now. He looked up, spotting his target, wearing the black Shinigami attire, standing in the air and holding her real body with one arm. Another smirk emerged on his face. "You are quite fast." he acknowledged "But all cowards are, aren't they?"
"You can taunt me as much as you want. I'm not listening to the words of those, who attack the weak." the girl stated unmoved, vanishing into air. A cool and clear head was what Ichigo needed in this situation and as hard as it seemed, she tried with all her willpower not to jump this blue cockatoo and scratch his eyes out.
The man knew the girl would come back as soon as she hid her human body somewhere save. ´She can't escape anyways.` he thought pleased.
"And here you are again, caring about the weak, though you aren't significantly stronger than them." he shouted rather scornful. Sure enough the girl could hear him. "I'll tell you one thing. It wasn't me who killed your precious little friend. My cero would have blown this whole park up, got that?"
Ichigo was back –without her real body of course- occupying the same spot in the sky like before. "I don't believe you." she countered simply. The man, still looking up to her, shrugged disinterested. The substitute Shinigami unsheathed her oversized elegant cleaver. Her irregular Zanpakuto was pulsing in her hands.
´Such an impatient old man...`
"This conversation is over." The starting signal of their battle.
With a roar Ichigo leaped forward, her sword right in front of her, aiming for the man's chest. The orange haired girl was fast and in mere seconds Zangetsu's tip had an inch of distance between itself and her enemy's body. Awaiting the moment the blade would cleave through human like flesh she put all her strength and the force of her movement into this first thrust. What the substitute Shinigami never expected was the sudden halt that went through her body. Immediately her widened eyes were on Zangetsu, on Zangetsu and a not bloodied hand holding onto it.
´What the fuck? He stopped my attack with his bare hand?` Ichigo was far more than just startled. Never had something like this occurred during hundreds of battles against soul devouring hollows. The man's involved limb hadn't even the smallest scratch on it, the tanned skin was unharmed. The girl put even more pressure on her weapon.
"How...how is this possible?" her thoughts left her through gritted teeth. The strong hold on Zangetsu's sharp blade shifted almost unnoticeably. Without any hint of trouble the blue haired man swung the broad sword with its owner on the other end through the air. The grip was gone and Ichigo turned through her flight, landing elegantly on the ground. She stood there, focused on the unusual hollow, her hold on the hilt intensified. Cold blue eyes, rimmed with green marks, watched the strawberry unfazed.
"You will never get a scrape on me with your toy-knife over there." his words mocked her. In a flash he appeared before her and kicked the orange haired girl in the stomach, sending her crashing into the next benches and waste bins. Ichigo hurt but she knew the importance of getting up fast. Grunts of pain escaped her while she turned around, looking for the man.
"Right here, Shinigami!" came from behind her. Another kick, this time directed at her back, hit her full force. The hollow was quick and got her with a blow under her chin, he played with her like she was a ping pong ball or something. He was there again for the fourth blow in a row when the girl grabbed him by the muscled shoulder and used his pausing as her advantage. She heaved herself over him and with a precise kick against his back, she functioned his body into a leverage which allowed her to bring enough distance between them. She needed a little time to plan a new approach out considering his strength and speed.
The substitute Shinigami stood on the crown of a younger tree, one of her two hands touching her -pain radiating- middle, the other still in hold of Zangetsu in Shikai form; her opponent in the sky, on a higher level though.
"What the hell are you?" she asked the figure aloft. Maybe this too could lead her to a few more minutes of planning before his next attack would start, though she doubted these actions of his were real attacks. In her eyes they seemed more like a game. ´This blue cockatoo guy is playing with me. Although he looks more human than past hollows we confronted, his skin is hard as steel and he's fast not to mention abnormally strong. How am I supposed to handle him?` she asked herself, analyzing the abilities he had shown this far.
Without hesitation or farther thinking he answered her question. "I'm Arrancar No.6 Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez... and this boring game will end now!" he drawled. A hint of excitement lay in his voice, contradicting his own words. In that moment Ichigo had decided about the next steps she would take. ´There is no other way than switching into Bankai mode.`
The release expression left her almost unmoving lips in a sweet hum. A strong wind got up, dancing leafs and broken pieces of earth made the wind visible for blue and brown eyes. A green flow surrounded the strawberry's figure, cutting off the man's vision over his prey. When the blow died down Grimmjow could detect some differences in the Shinigami's look. The orange haired girl wore a long black coat, revealing little more cleavage than before. The coat itself had ragged ends and its inner side was replaced with red silk. The blue haired guy, though spotting the change in her fashion style, found it far more interesting what had happened to her Zanpakuto. The broad blade had turned into a long and rather thin black blade. Even the hilt turned black and Grimmjow recognized a symbol like design where elegant hilt and sharp blade fused into one. The only non black part on this new sword was a relative short, red chain that ended in a small, tulip-shaped lucky charm.
For a split second interest sparkled in blue eyes, before a cocky smirk took over the Arrancar's features. "Well, well. I never imagined a Shinigami would present us a fashion show at first hand."
An orange brow rose in disbelieve of what the girl's ears had listened to. "Really? Are you stupid or something?" Ichigo barked. The man's smirk died away, his small lips pressed in anger. Never would he allow some brat to call him stupid –not even in a questioning way. Grimmjow flung towards the black clad figure, a hateful cry escaping him. He didn't expect the change in power the girl had also gone through while everything else had changed on the outside. The blade of Tensa Zangestu had stopped his attempt of an attack, though he succeeded in pushing her some inches back.
"Such a small change in your power won't save your life." he spoke, baring his white teeth. "Then dabble in this!" she shouted, jumping back. She raised Tensa Zangestu and slashed plumb, a black energy surrounded by red shot out of the blade. Grimmjow didn't move an inch, didn't shield himself. He stood there waiting for the blast to arrive, taking it with his stretched torso head-on.
Kuroi Getsuga had embraced the Arrancar and nothing of him was left behind. At least Ichigo thought so when she let the breath she was holding out, after the man had disappeared. A splitting laughter reached human ears and the girl's hope of an ended battle was crushed by the loud sound.
´That's not possible...` the strawberry couldn't voice her doubt. Brown eyes scanned the area and there not far away Grimmjow stood on fresh grass. The impact of energy and body had left a great wound on his muscled torso. Blood streamed out of the injury and coloured his clothes but also the green ground in a deep red. The flowing liquid wouldn't cease soon that was for sure.
Ichigo's shattered will mirrored in her thoughts. ´Even the enhanced form of Getsuga Tensho didn't work. My physical strength isn't strong enough either.`
Blue eyes scanned the inflicted wound, though seemingly harmed, those eyes hold a glint of surprise and delight in them. The air around them changed and the source of that was Grimmjow. His now cocked head was directed towards the substitute Shinigami. For the umpteenth time this morning an evil grin played on the man's thin lips. "Now, you're worth killing Shinigami!"
His words and upright, former slack, posture and this death promising smile made Ichigo shudder from an inner coldness.
´He's a fucking lunatic!` an immense panic washed over her, worsening her inner tumult. There was no time to overthink or weigh out chances of successful actions. When Grimmjow started to move again –no squinch of eyes or bite down of lips caused by agony- the orange haired girl had decided upon avoiding her enemies near presence, dodge any attack that would be coming. Thanks to Bankai and Ichigo's hyper speed she should be able to achieve this till someone of her comrades and friends found their way to the park, though the girl was already suspicious about why they hadn't come by now.
"Something's off..." she whispered but Grimmjow could hear her none the less. "Why hasn't any of the others come over. The pressure of his reiatsu is disturbingly heavy."
The man took it as his job to explain the happenings to his soon to be dead prey. "There is an almost invisible barrier around us. It hides all reiatsu flowing in its walls and no one can break trough it to enter this space." he allowed a short pause before continuing, his voice soaking of mischievousness "And of course no one can escape through it!" Ichigo expected a sardonic set of laughter but the blue haired man decided against it and chose action. The Arrancar appeared in front of her, hand held high, ready to strike. Luckily Ichigo was fast enough to evade the full blow but his fingers brushed against her side, tearing up black fabric, leaving stinging cuts that draw blood like his bare hands were equipped with claws. Each half-missed assault fetched more tears on clothes and chaps on soft skin. Ichigo had managed to hide behind a group of three or four trees; her back was pressed against one of the trunks, being as still as possible so that the man wouldn't find her as quickly. Her breathing was shallow and that guy had dealt a lot of cuts and slashes on her whole body. The black attire once new and flawless had turned into porous fabric of which most fractions hung limply from her body.
Grimmjow was pissed to say the least. Running after some chick that didn't even try to fight, what was there even more boring? So he thought about a way to get her out of her hole and end this entire ordeal. "I know you are somewhere around, the barrier you know." he began using a high volume. "If you don't want to come out and play, I'll just make you." Was that a giggle that left his lips?
Ichigo clearly just made that sound up. She could hear him leisurely walking around. Oh god! She felt like a mouse hiding from a bad kitty or something. Some time passed by without a significant progress for both of them. That was until the blue haired man spoke up again, this time notably amused and cheerful.
"There you are little girl." he purred very pleased. Ichigo started to look around her, frantically, she needed to know from where his next attack would come.
"Look how peaceful she can sleep in such a situation." he began once more. ´Asleep? What is he talking- no way!` the substitute Shinigami's thoughts came to a sudden halt. She jumped into the open field, whirling around desperately in search for the man. She darted towards the place where she had left her body behind some rose bushes. And there she found Grimmjow, Arrancar No.6, holding her human body in front of him. His sword -Ichigo never noticed till now because of the lack of use it had gone through the last hour- was pointed at her real body's throat.
´Shit. Shit! SHIT!` she screamed inside her otherwise blank head. This encounter, nah! This whole day just went down the drain the longer she kept going on despite her weariness and aching.
"See?" Grimmjow laughed short. "There you are in two parts. The end is here!" he bawled in a deafening and mad way. The orange haired girl never got the chance to take a single step forward, nor did a single sound escape her. The only reaction of hers was the slightly widening of her brown, shocked eyes when his brawny arm, holding his weapon, jerked to the side and in the girl's mind's eye she could see how the blade cut through her in every detail, ending her life.
"Enough."
Picturing Ichigos's current state of mind you could say the girl was stunned. In slow motion picture after picture revealed the previous occurrences. A man, half of Grimmjow's stature, had appeared beside the blue cockatoo. A swift movement with his right arm had send Grimmjow flying till the broad male body crushed loudly into something not visible –the barrier maybe?
"So strong..." the strawberry whispered. Her eyes left the blue haired man's grunting figure and focused on the new person in front of her. He wore similar white and black clothes but otherwise the man looked totally different. Compared to Grimmjow this boyish man was slender, yet Ichigo expected a fairly muscular body hidden under his clothing. It seemed like him and Ichigo had the same height, maybe the guy was a few inches taller than her. His skin was pale, his hair colour was the darkest black –exactly like his upper lip- and in a messy sate and half of it hidden under a broken horned helm; a big contrast to his almost white skin and his wrinkle-free attire. The most capturing part of this person though, was his pair of emerald eyes. Teal lines that reminded the girl of tears descended from those eyes, that held no emotion in them –just like his whole face did- but the vivid green colour wouldn't allow her brain to proceed in its normal working abilities.
That was before her chocolate brown eyes caught the way his arms slung around her form. There, her human body was held bridal style and quite close to his chest and although his jacket was closed so that no skin contact could be made, a warm feeling shot through her, covering her with goose bumps.
´What the hell?` she was utterly confused with herself. The feeling grew warmer and warmer sending a bright blush over her face until the substitute Shinigami felt like a fire would burst through her soul to get out of its cage.
It was strange, unwanted and nigh on the level of painfulness.
"Don't touch me!" she screeched at the top of her lungs. The two Arrancar –yes the shorter one was an Arrancar too with the easiness he had send Grimmjow flying around there was no doubt- watched the human brake out into an uncontrollable tremor. "Stop touching me! Let me be!" Ichigo screamed now, not knowing what else to do to get rid of this... this whatever it really was.
A thick, black brow was raised, leaving a pale forehead furrowed. He didn't directly react to her desperate words but let her body fall to the ground none the less.
He turned around speaking up "Let's go Grimmjow. Our mission is over." It was then and there that the orange haired girl remembered about the blue haired man's existence. He stood where he had landed, sending a bunch of hateful looks towards the black haired man.
"I'm not done yet, Ulquiorra!" he spat, ready to jump his own comrade.
"Aizen-sama's order was to collect data about the human that's sided up with the Shinigamis notkill her. I watched over your fight, she is trash and no threat to Aizen-sama's plans so we are leaving." Ulquiorra's voice was monotone when he put his analysis about the girl in words. The heat inside and Ichigo's trembling subsided slowly. Being called trash offended her but if those guys would disappear she would slug it down.
"If she's trash, why not finish her off anyway?" Grimmjow contradicted.
"Because" Ulquiorra appeared in front of Arrancar No.6 "the barrier shattered moments ago and a strong presence is coming towards us. And Aizen-sama ordered us to not be seen by anyone else beside Kurosaki Ichigo." cold and sharp words left black and white lips. A hand was placed on Grimmjow's shoulder pressing down on him until he was on his knees. "Do you understand?" the rhetorical question was the last thing said before the black haired man walked over to a black rupture tearing the space in front of him. He stopped over there waiting for the other man.
There was a mere exchange of glances between the blue haired man and the substitute Shinigami before a grin was placed on Grimmjow's otherwise darkened face.
"Your lucky day brat."
They went through the portal and the only thing Ichigo realized was that the boyish looking Arrancar never deigned to look at her. Was she really just trash?
"They are gone..." she exhaled, falling to her knees. If the barrier wouldn't have lost its power and moreover the fight had continued with this aggressive Grimmjow-guy Ichigo wasn't sure she would have made it out of it with only a few injuries. This time luck was really on her side and although the substitute Shinigami disliked this type of ending a battle could take, the girl was grateful.
She was still looking over to the spot where those two hollows... no -´He had called themselves Arrancar.` she corrected herself in thought- ...where those two Arrancar had been standing, lost in thought about the whole ordeal. She didn't even notice a familiar presence behind her, not until a hand rested on her shoulder and shook her lightly.
"Oi Kurosaki! Are you alright? What happened here?" concern could be heard in the words of one Toushirou Hitsugaya, who stood now beside Ichigo, wearing their school uniform. His turquoise eyes were scanning the orange haired girl, noting every hidden wound –that was indicated by bloodstained clothing- they could catch. ´Some slashes here and there, but none of them was really grave.` Done with the scrutinizing turquoise met chocolate brown. Nothing more was said by the captain and Ichigo knew well enough not to ignore the Shinigami's questions, because otherwise this silence wouldn't ever end.
She sighed and spoke up "I think two of my ribs are fractured but apart from that..." she looked down on herself, pouting about the fact that she would need a new school uniform "...I'm fine."
Toushirou looked around them and asked right away "I sensed an unknown but strong presence. Is the enemy still somewhere around?"
The orange mop of long hair was shaken, answering no "They left."
In an instant one white, thin eyebrow rose "They?"
"Yes, there were two. But only one of them was fighting me."
"So the other one was hiding his reiatsu." the short captain ended for her.
"Probably." she commented and tried to get slowly up. Pain flashed through her body and made her hiss loudly. The white haired man guided her right arm behind his neck and placed his left arm around her back, resting it on her waist. Their height wasn't equal with Toushirou being short like Ichigo's younger sister Karin; this fact wasn't considered much though. "Let's get you to Inoue. She'll heal you in no time." his soft voice advised her.
"I'll be fine." she started to protest "If Orihime sees me like this, she'll worry too much and cling to me as if I'm going to disappear any possible moment."
From the first moment Orihime Inoue and Ichigo Kurosaki had met, they got along perfectly. It may sound stupid but it's true that their similar hair colour –although Orihime's was a darker shade of orange, a mixture of brown and orange- was the first thing that brought them together. Keigo Asano had told the delinquent of a strawberry how he had seen a girl who had also orange hair. Ichigo didn't believe him at first –Keigo always tended to overstate things he saw and with the words "Yo Ichigo! There is a girl with orange hair like yours, but with way bigger boobs on our school, though I like yours too." coming from her annoying classmate, Ichigo had done the only plausible thing: hit him hard so he found himself lying on the ground and leave for her first lesson as a high school student. When the strawberry entered her new classroom the first thing she saw was another girl, her height and back towards Ichigo with orange hair. In that moment a slight feeling of guilt crossed her. Well apparently Keigo wasn't as hyper and greedy for her attention as she thought. ´Though the comparison of our chests-`she began thinking darkly, till said girl turned around and greeting her new, unknown classmate with a happy "Good morning!" followed by "Oh my! So it's true, there is someone else with this hair colour!" and a growing smile. Ichigos eyes landed first thing on the smiling girl's big breasts, revealing that Keigo was right about this too and Ichigo didn't really liked it when her stupid friend was right, moreover twice a time. Not realizing it her facial expression darkened with her thoughts. The girl in front of her lost her shining smile and looked kind of worried. "I didn't mean to upset you... it's just the first time I meet a person with natural orange hair..." she mumbled apologetic. Ichigo brought back in the present, shook her head, trying to lighten up. "It's fine. I just... I was surprised." The sunny smile was back and it was quite contagious, because chocolate brown eyes laughed back at grey ones. The sides of Ichigo's lips tugged upwards. "My name is Ichigo. Kurosaki Ichigo." her hand was held up between herself and the other student. "I'm Orihime Inoue. Nice to meet you." Orihime answerd, taking the offered hand. The girls shook hands and started talking about how people reacted towards them because of their hair and although the memories were more upsetting then funny they exchanged words and giggles.
"Oh my gosh! Kurosaki is acting like a real girl!" a voice familiar to Ichigo sounded behind her. The strawberry's right leg left the ground and hit Keigo in the middle, sending him flying outside their classroom. "Shut up, idiot!" Ichigo said scowling, before realizing her action had caused the whole room to fall silent. It was Orihimes loud giggling that broke the silence first, the other students following shortly after with their own laughter. Some guys shouted "Keigo will never learn when to speak or just shut up. Hahahaha!" or "Beat'n up by a girl, what a great school start, man!" Ichigo wasn't sure what to say or how to react but she didn't need to because Orihime took the chance to speak up first, again "Wow! That was cool! I bet Tatsuki would like to have a match with you."
"Tatsuki Arisawa?" Ichigo asked surprised. Orihime didn't expect that her classmate knew her best friend. "You know her?" she questioned in return. Ichigo nodded. "That's great!" Orihime beamed very happy. She took Ichigo by hand and walked over to a table the karate fanatic was sitting at. This was how Ichigo and Orihime had met, linked by Tatsuki and their weird hair colour and by many things they discovered later on. Both had experienced a great loss –Orihime by losing her only relative and last family member, her older brother, Sora Inoue; Ichigo being the one who was without a loving mother she knew Masaki Kurosaki was, by little years she had lived with the happiest woman on earth and by listening to (for her painful) stories her father told the younger twins, so that they would have a lively picture of their mother the two small girls never got to know- but somehow managed to live their lives. Ichigo would never admit it towards anyone but she saw and felt her mother's warm and loving sites in Orihime. Taking into account that the auburn haired, gray eyed girl was the only person Ichigo had ever dared to cry and been hold by (even if it was just once!) it was natural that the orange haired girl didn't want her close friend to worry.
Toushirou wanted to change her mind. His lips opened so he could speak up but Ichigo knew what she needed right now and that really wasn't Orihime Inoue using her abilities and at the same time being on the edge of crying and pleading her friend to stop continuing on the destructive path she had chosen. Ichigo's eyes locked with the captains, desperate to shown him another option in which the innocent human girl had no part in. Her full lips motioned a silent "Please!" and all that was left to the white haired man was to shake his head in light disbelief.
´What stubbornness this girl possesses...` he mumbled before taking the first step. "Then we should get you to Uraharas Shop." Both of them knew that Urahara could help with healing her wounds, though it would take longer, coupled with much, much more pain. The girl whispered a simple "Thank you." and silence took over the duo accompanying them temporary. It wasn't of course the captain's nature to simply obey the girl's will. So he demanded to hear the story about how a big part of the towns' park was destroyed. Ichigo wasn't in the mood of talking, trying not to hiss with every step she took was hard enough, but she was glad.
´I owe him at least that much.` she decided and started to report about enemies & why they left, barriers, battles, though leaving out why she ended up in the park anyway. The substitute Shinigami even told him about the possibility of the green eyed Arrancar observing her.
"So you think they are collecting data about you." the man holding her stated. Her eyes were glued to the ground, feeling quite unnerved. "It seems like that, though I can't see the motive behind this all..." she muttered. The young captain glanced over, recognizing the distress showing on the human face. "Don't worry about it. We'll find the missing pieces in Aizen's plan." his voice held a comforting tone, which made the girl look up. Toushirou was quite pleased when a smile played on her full lips. "Thanks a lot, Toushirou!" Ichigo beamed happily. "It's captain Hitsugaya for you!" the white haired man exclaimed, acting angry, what made the girl laugh. Luck was on his side since Ichigo never saw the lightly blushing face.
Thanks to Toushirou's help and surprisingly strong gigai it didn't take them too long to arrive at their set destination. The big and substantial door opened as if they were expected and not long after the ex-captain stood before his guest eying his delivery girl sceptically with a hint of amusement, he always wore, that wasn't appropriate.
"Hey boss..." Ichigo greeted Mr. Hat-and-Clogs "I...uhm... need your help..."
"That, I can see." Urahara responded and stepped aside, allowing them to pass. A short nod was exchanged between the former captain of the and the young captain of the before the latter went inside, still supporting the orange haired girl.
In a room stocked with an amazingly large wooden table in Japanese style –therefore low and meant to sit on your bend knees- Hitsugaya and Urahara sat, now and then sipping in the steaming got tea out of two filled cups, watching each other but not talking at all. The shop owner glanced under his bucket-like hat towards his guest. He took the thing from his head, smiled like nothing was on fire and said "Mind telling me what happened to my employee, captain Hitsugaya?" Teal eyes locked with grey, thinking about the right way to tell Ichigo's Story without forgetting anything. A few moments passed before the white haired captain chose to repeat the exact words the wounded girl had said to him.
Ichigo, being in a small room furnished with a small bed, cupboard and desk with a single chair -she was currently seated in- was waiting for any kind of treatment that could help the state she was in. Particularly said she was waiting for a tall, muscular man named Tessai Tsukabishi who, according to her boss's words, should be coming over. Ichigo was sick of sitting around and waiting. She stood up and examined the room. Hey eyes roamed over different baseball posters on the wall, finally landing on the bed, a little bit small, but big enough for her if she pulled her knees towards her belly. ´Sleeping is always a good idea.` she thought and walked over to the furniture before lying down. The mattress against her back was a bad idea, though lying on her side wasn't an option either because her ribs started to protest immediately. Face down hurt too, so what was she supposed to do? Anger and frustration took over, curse after curse leaving her shameful mouth.
The substitute Shinigami ended up sitting on the soft mattress, though placed in this uncomfy sitting position, Ichigo's eyelids felt heavy, resisting closing until sleep took over her.
The girl never noticed the door being opened or the person stepping inside and watching her. The figure stepped closer to the unmoving body, a hand stretching out to take hers, gently shaking it. Chocolate brown eyes fluttered open, taking Jinta's fiery hair in. Her mind started to process ever so slowly, noticed the boy's bowed stance. "Ichigo, Tessai said he'll be here soon, ok?" the boy announced in a low voice, not knowing why he even bothered to be preferably silent. Her full lips formed a sleepy still thankful smile "Okay Jinta."
Urahara's young employee went to the desk, sitting down on the chair with his flushed face. The high school student watched the child opening a drawer, taking a sheet of paper and pencil out. ´This is really his room.` Ichigo mused with a hint of a smile adoring her face. "I never knew Urahara makes you do homework," she said. "And for you to obediently listen and do it... wow!" she smirked, her amusement clearly visible in voice and mien. "We have to, otherwise Yoruichi gets mad and..." the boy paused, scribbling something on the paper in front of him. "Sounds fun." the strawberry sing-songed. "Not one bit!" Jinta scowled, turning around and showing the orange haired girl his sour expression. Ichigo started to laugh, regretting it when pain shot through her. In no time the boy was in front of her. His eyes showing worry, he asked "Is it bad? I'll go call Tessai right away." He turned around to leave but was stopped by Ichigo's hand grabbing his arm. "It's fine. I just shouldn't laugh." She winked at him, causing him to blush instantly. ´Cute!` she thought.
"Yuzu surely is a lucky one, with you caring this much not only for her but for her sisters too." The blush deepened noticeably. ´Very cute!` she grinned, ruffling through his red hair to distract the embarrassed boy. "Do your stuff over there." Ichigo suggested, pointing her head towards the desk. "The big man will be here soon enough." As if on cue the door opened, revealing a huge tanned man with moustache and glasses on. "At least, old man!" the red haired boy pronounced, taking his earlier position on his desk and continuing his work. The tall man with dark, cornrowed hair looked with a raised eyebrow at the boy and then at Ichigo. The girl just shrugged, greeting her caretaker with a grin. Knowing that the former leader of Kido Corps in Soul Society would treat her injuries, the strawberry was sure less pain would pursue her afterwards. This man had highly proficient skills in healing people, almost as well as Orihime's.
Tessai motioned for Ichigo to lie down. She didn't. "I uhm... it's a bit... uncomfortably..." she muttered lowly, her gaze moving back and forth between the two males. The small boy, Ichigo was certain about it, although not turning around, had heard her. The giant smiled assuring towards his patient, saying "Only for a bit, Miss Ichigo." His big hands patted her shoulders. The strawberry sighed, but lay down none the less. Her back started to itch and burn. She was glad it stopped the moment a warm sensation engulfed her body, the healing effect literally speeding and powering up with every passing second. Blue light vanished, giving the room its natural colour back, Ichigo sat up. No itching, no pain. Everything was almost back to normal. Her ribs felt a little awkward considering the high speed healing they had gone through, but apart from that she felt great. The orange haired girl stood up and without premonition she tugged her shirt up, studying her revealed front, side and back. "Wow! All the cuts are gone. That's awesome, Tessai!" she shouted before jumping at the giant and hugging him happily.
"You are welcome, Miss Ichigo. Would you kindly fix the state of your clothes..." Tessai asked, his head turning everywhere but to the girl itself. "Sure thing." Ichigo answered and straightened her school shirt, not thinking about what Tessai's words exactly implied. She waved before leaving Jinta's room, without saying anything else, heading towards the location she expected both captains to find. Jinta didn't realize the other man's departure neither the thin trickle of blood running from his nose, too stunned about the sight he had caught, silently hoping Yuzu would obtain a similar body like her older sister's in the future.
"In fact this means Aizen sent his stronger-than-normal-hollows"
"Arrancar." the shorter man interjected.
"Yes, Arrancar. To observe Ichigo. The fight was initiated to help them gather more information and faster." the man with messy light blond hair and chin stubble paused. Hitsugaya nodded.
"And the barrier was especially invented and used so that nobody else would rush over, disturbing their accumulation." Urahara ended his summary. Silence filled the room, an unspoken question remaining unreplied-to: Why did Aizen intent to get only data about the substitute Shinigami rather than all of his enemies?
"Whatever it is that he wants, we'll have to wait till he let us know or makes his next move." Toushirou gritted out unpleased. Urahara was about to comment something, but was stopped by the entering girl. She looked refreshed and her quick and swift movement indicated Tessai's successful treatment. The man in green and white greeted his delivery girl with his usual smile. Hitsugaya, too, had noticed her radiating positive aura and knowing the girl was healthy again made him forget his pondering about hateful traitors, Hueco Mundo and some Arrancar.
"Are you feeling well?" the shop owner asked, he stood up and got a fresh cup of tea for Ichigo, positioning the porcelain beside captain Hitsugaya's. The student -with the dirty uniform still on- sat down, nodding vigorous. "Remember that the healing may lose some of its effect. Pain might return, so it is necessary for you to rest. No fights and no work for the next few days." Mr. Hat-and-Clogs advised in a commanding tone.
"Promise." Ichigo smiled delicately.
"That's good." Urahara acknowledged. "Now let's get back to our problem here." he continued, his grey eyes meeting a turquoise and brown pair.
"I think I got a plan, but I would like to discuss this further with captain Hitsugaya." Ichigo coughed slightly, squirming on her knees. The man beside her glanced surprised –using his formal title and not his first name wasn't usually what Ichigo did- towards the girl, though he didn't question her and neither did her boss. Pale lips formed an "Oh.", before the man stood up and left the room, granting his guests privacy like Ichigo had requested.
Hey guys! Sorry for keeping you waiting over 5 months for a single chapter! I feel terrible because this chapter is way toooo long. I don't want to ever, ever, ever write such a long thing again... I need to think more about where the future chapters should end and other stuff...
I'll try my best in updating a lot sooner, promise! XO
Hope you can forgive me and enjoy this story!
Greetings, Joko