Second chapter of The Future Didn't Look So Bright. Although I only received 1 review for it, I am quite pleased with the favorites and alerts, so I guess it's fine for now. But seriously tell me what you think :). Special thanks to MaN6Al0v3r for my first review. Now on with the show.
I DO NOT OWN BLEACH
The 6 of them headed toward the Urahara Shoten, Ichigo now next to Kisuke with the other four following on in twos. Every now and then Rukia would sneak looks at Nel and wonder how Ichigo came into contact with her. Then Rukia looked forward and continued thinking how he could have met and befriended any of the hollows here. She then looked at Ichigo and wondered when he could have possibly gone through the transition from shinigami to hollow, considering she never left his side for the most part.
Sensing someone's eyes on him, Ichigo looked back and saw Rukia looking at him. She gave a small eep at being caught and looked down with a blush. What sounded like chuckling came from Ichigo's throat. Curious Kisuke turned his head to look at Ichigo, "Something funny?" Ichigo just shook his head and carried on.
As soon as they were a few yards from the shop, the door opened and yoruichi came out with Tessai, Ururu and Jinata. "Kisuke, what took you so l-" Yoruichi started to say, but was cut off when she saw the hollow with orange hair, along with 3 other hollows and Rukia. Now wide eyed, Yoruichi stared at Kisuke, while the others wide eyed, leaped into action. Jinta with his giant bat, Tessai with his Kido and Ururu with her rocket launcher thing. Before Kisuke could say anything, they charge and started firing. Ichigo spun Tensa Zangetsu around blocking the kido and rocket launcher things. With his left arm he raised it and blocked Jinta's hit. As they jumped back to reform, Ichigo shot a low powered bala at their feet. It exploded knocking them back Kisuke started walking toward them as he was saying, "I was trying to tell you, Ichigo and the other hollows are on our side."
With a few grunts the fallen 3 stood up and Jinta replied rubbing his head, "well next time, tell us sooner." Yoruichi looked shocked at Kisuke and said, "wait Ichigo, then that means h-", "yes, Ichigo is the hollow that is standing right there." he said, pointing at the orange haired king. "B-but how is that possible. He wasn't put through hollowification?" Yoruichi stammered. Kisuke looked down, " he wasn't, at least not yet anyway." His hat creating a shadow over his eyes. Rukia had enough of this code and said, "Urahara, what do you mean not yet, and you still haven't a-", "Okay, Okay miss Kuchiki. But first Lets head inside." Kisuke said as he started heading inside, followed by Ichigo, and then Pesche and Dondochakka. The rest went in soon after.
Ururu brought in Tea, as everyone was sitting around the table in the back of Kisuke's shop. Kisuke sat next to Yoruichi(still in cat form), Ichigo sat in between Nel and Rukia; Nel was leaning on him, making Rukia a little angry. On the other side of the table sat Tessai, Jinta, an unconscious Uryu from the battle that just took place with Rukia's brother and Renji, and the now siting Ururu. Pesche and Dondochakka were sitting behind Ichigo. Kisuke started to sip the tea, while Ichigo picked up his, staring at it, opening his mouth with his head tilted back and poured the tea in.
Small tick marks were forming on Yoruichi's and rukia's head. Finally Yoruichi snapped and said to Kisuke, "WELL! are you gonna start talking or what?" Kisuke cleared his throat and turned to Ichigo, "Ichigo I know its been a long time, but do you think you could change back to shinigami form. You seem to be making the others tense." Nodding his head, Ichigo's hollow armor broke off, spun around him and funneled into his hollow hole, sealing it. All that remained was the long hair and the hollow eyes. Everyone in the room relaxed a bit after that, but Rukia couldn't help but stare, his eyes were still hollow and his hair was still long, how could so much change in only a few hours.
Everyone looked at Ichigo, then looked at Kisuke expecting an answer. Kisuke took off his hat, startling Yoruichi and the others living in the shop, since he rarely took it off. Looking at everyone, Kisuke spoke with a deadly calm voice that slightly scared everyone, "Everyone, I'd like too reacquaint you with Ichigo, King of Hueco Mundo, about 4 years from now and 53 years still in the future."
Everyone sat frozen, mouths gaping, staring at Kisuke and then at Ichigo. Well all except the 5 that traveled back in time. Rukia looked to Ichigo, eyes wide, she then stuttered out, "fi-fifty...fifty-three years in the future? King of Hueco Mundo? B-Bu- BUT HOW?", Yoruichi was looking at Kisuke, "How do you know this Kisuke?" Kisuke gave a sad smile and looked her the eyes, then leaned down and gave the cat girl a hug as he whispered, but loud enough for everyone to hear, "Because I came back with him and the other 3." Yoruichi was startled once again, "time travel? Ichigo's king of Hueco Mundo?" Yoruichi didn't get far with her thoughts as she felt her fur get wet slightly. She looked up and saw tears streaming down Kisuke's face even though he was smiling. Looking over she saw Rukia and Nel looking at Ichigo, who although had an emotionless face, had tears streaming down his face too. Looking back to Kisuke She heard him whisper to only her, "I missed you so much, these past 51 years." Yoruichi let him hug her, just as Ichigo let Rukia and Nel hold him.
After a few moments Ichigo and Kisuke wiped their eyes. Kisuke gave a small smile again as he put his hat back on. Ichigo just looked down at the two girls holding onto him. Yoruichi left the room for a minute. but returned in her human form, fully dressed. Rukia noticed the new girl in the room, but didn't comment on it, especially when she sat next to Kisuke. She got her answer though when Kisuke replied to her.
Yoruichi looked at Kisuke and said, "we didn't make it in the future did we?" It was more of a statement than a question. After a few moments a rough voice was heard, "No." Everyone looked at Ichigo shocked that his voice sounded so rough. Ichigo cleared his throat, hey who can blame the guy since he hasn't spoken in over 50 years aside from a few grunts, growls, and purrs here and there. "None of you made it, just Kisuke, Nel, Pesche, Dondochakka, me, and...", And with the most hateful tone they have ever heard, "Aizen." Everyone's eyes went wide, aside from the time travelers. Of course, Rukia's went wide for another reason.
"But Aizen is such a gentle and kind person. he doesn't look like he could hurt a fly. Plus his sword has the ability of mist, how bad could he...", Rukia started to say, but just from the looks she saw around the room, she knew there must of been something more. Kisuke looked at Rukia and said, "Ru- Kuchiki-san, we know he fooled everyone into thinking this, which is why we don't blame you for saying this. But the truth is that Aizen is evil, his kind and gentle personality was all just a cover act. His zanpakuto isn't mist, but an illusion type, which is why you saw mist. that's how he got you, along with everyone else, under the spell of his zanpakuto. he can control all of your senses. He's messed up the lives of so many, through his hollowification experiments. he's also responsible for your execution... both times", the last part was just a whisper, but Rukia heard it. "What do you mean both times, and did he experiment on Ichigo?" This time Ichigo answered her, "When you were being arrested, the moment you were taken back, Central 46, or should I say Aizen, sentenced you to death for giving me your powers. And no he didn't experiment on me. It was a side effect of getting my powers back to save you the first time. And the second time, I was too weak and Aizen preformed the execution himself... in front of me."
*Flash Back*
"ICHIGO", Rukia shouted running to him. Ichigo, in bankai, slowly stood up and said, "n-nn-nnoo Rukia, r..run away" But it was too late Aizen came up from behind and grabbed Rukia by her neck. As he watched her choke, he looked to Ichigo and said, "It's a shame she didn't just leave you. Now she has to die." Looking at Rukia, he continued, "you will not be escaping another execution I'm afraid miss Kuchiki." Using his other hand he plunged his hand into her chest, piercing her lungs. After that he dropped her on the ground and turned, but before disappearing, he said, "let this be a lesson to you Ichigo, now reflect on it." and he disappeared.
Ichigo dragged himself over to Rukia who was coughing up blood. "Rukia, hold on, you'll be okay, we just need to-" Rukia looked up at Ichigo, chest moving very quick and heavy. "Ichigo, we both know this is the end for me, but you need to live on." She coughs up more blood. "I want you to know that these have been the best 3 years of my life. And that I'm happy that i can leave my heart with you." She looked up at Ichigo, life starting to fade from her eyes. "I also want you to know, that I love you, Ichigo." With the last ounce of strength she had, she leaned up and kissed him, he returned the gentle kiss, until he felt her fall back down. Tears streaming down his face, he closed Rukia's eyes and whispered, "I love you too, Rukia." He collapsed next to her after that. As he lost consciousness he heard someone call his name, "Ichigo? Ichigo? Ichigo?"
*Flash Back End*
Kisuke was calling Ichigo's name because he had a far away look in his hollow eyes and he had crushed the tea cup in his hands. His strength has really improved to unbelievable levels, even in his human body. Snapping out of his memory, Ichigo looked down at Rukia and brought her in for a hug. Rukia brought her arms around Ichigo and returned the hug. Ichigo pressed his face into her hair, smelling her sent; it seems she has been using a strawberry scented shampoo. Probably Yuzu's. He then muttered, "don't leave. Don't ever leave me again." Everyone in the room heard this and as Rukia started rubbing Ichigo's back she replied, "I won't Ichigo. I don't know what happened in the future. But this time, i won't die." Everyone was quiet. This moment was just too precious to pass up considering what has been said about the near future.
After a few more minutes, Ichigo and Rukia separated, and Kisuke announced, "Okay everyone, back to business. First of all we need to get the Hogyoku out of Rukia's soul." Rukia wide eyed shouted, "GET WHAT OUT OF WHERE!" Kisuke sweat dropped and brought up his fan, "Um.. yes about that. The past me thought he could hide the Hogyoku in your soul as your gigai slowly turned you human. I truly am sorry miss Kuchiki."
Just then a well aimed fist broke through his fan and hit him straight in the face. "Apology accepted, but you try something like that again and I won't be so easy on you. And you can call me Rukia, I heard you call me it earlier, so it is fine." She answered with a smile at the end. Holding his now bleeding nose, Kisuke replied, "Of course Rukia. With her strength I can see why you like her Ichigo." He said with a smile at the blushing and glaring Ichigo. Rukia blushed too.
Kisuke turned to Yoruichi and said, "Yoruichi, I believe I have an object in storage that allows me to reach into souls, it should be in a box marked H.R.D. or Hogyoku Retrieval Device." Yoruichi nodded and headed into the back. Turning to the rest of the group, Kisuke started to say, "Well all we need to do is-" An arrow of spirit particles zoomed by Kisuke's head. Everyone turned to see a now conscious Uryu with his Quincy cross activated and his bow aimed at them. Uryu looked at all of them, relieved that Rukia was okay, but shocked to see Kisuke with hollows. And when his eyes hit Ichigo his eyes widened.
Uryu spoke slowly and deadly, "Why are there hollows here? Why is no one trying to defeat the hollows? And most importantly, why is Kurosaki's hair so long and why does he have the eyes that of a hollow?"
Review this chapter please and tell me what you think. Typed it all in one day. Also I type these chapters when I have free time at college, so updates can be random, but I will try not to make you wait so long. I hope you enjoy, but please tell me what you think. And thanks to all who favorited this story and added this to their story alert. And a special shout out again to UNTensaZangetsu for adding me to their favorite authors list. Until next time.
