Title: Hand of Sorrow
Pairing: Ichigo x Toshiro
Summary: Despair, sadness and darkness are all what they could see. All the misfortune caused by the hand of sorrow: fate.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH. THIS IS JUST A FANFIC.
Chapter 3: Rivals' Reunion
Ichigo finished his meal, and remembered about last night. He couldn't believe he said all those words in front of Toshiro. But yes, he experienced for two times what Toshiro is going through. First was that he lost his mother when he was a kid, and not more than a few months ago his sister Karin died after being hit by a swerving car.
He and his father was too late to save her who lost a lot of blood. The driver also died from the impact, his head bashed on the car window. Inoue could have healed her, but she already left. But it was better than cheating death, and at least they got to hear her last words. For the rest of the day Yuzu did nothing but cry, and both Ichigo and Isshin were very quiet yet they were grieved.
The next day she was buried and the Kurosaki family, along with Ichigo and Karin's closest friends were there, wearing black. That caused Ichigo to be very distant to his family and friends which was why he moved to a new house and started making his own living all the while studying, no longer relying on them.
Then there was the previous evening; he was acting like his old, straightforward self and it was strange, really strange. Maybe it was just because the boy's pain reminded him of his own. He promised himself since Karin's death to not act like that again, do actions based on his emotions since the only thing it ever did was give pain and loss. Last night was just a one-time thing, that's just it.
Sighing he finished cleaning the kitchen just before he felt a strong presence from afar. There were Hollows again, but this time they were accompanied by another presence, deadly yet familiar. And there were two of them. He quickly used the badge to emerge out of his body in his Shinigami form and he summoned a strong barrier that surrounded the whole house before leaving.
There was nothing but winter in front or his eyes. The dream was familiar somehow. He continued walking, leaving footsteps on the mass of white. Snowflakes were slowly falling down, and no matter how far he walked there was nothing new in his sight. The ring around his finger started to glow, and the light was bright that he covered his eyes. And the gentle snow in front of him became a powerful storm, a large, winged silhouette forming in front of his eyes.
It couldn't be...
He woke up, panted heavily, and looked at the ring. It was still there, and it could never get off him no matter how strong he pulled and twisted. And he thought that Ichigo was there, but it was very quiet. Looking outside he reached out a hand but even though the window was open there was something like a glass.
Even though he could not sense it nor see it, he knew that it was a Kido barrier. "Since when did Kurosaki learn how to use Kido?" But either way this meant that Ichigo was out taking care of some 'business'.
To remove the sleepiness in his eyes, he went to the bathroom and washed his face. He didn't know why he had that dream that he last dreamed a hundred years ago. That dream when the power of his former Zanpakutou started to flow in his veins, to merge with his spirit.
Instead of a simple air gate, it was a large Garganta. He thought that Gillian or possibly Adjuchas would emerge but it was only several Numeros. Without using Shikai, he angled his large sword and slashed down all of them within a few minutes. Despite the number it was not enough to make him break a sweat. Though he finished all of them off the powerful presence did not disappear.
Only when two certain figures stepped out the large dark gate he knew. It was shocking yet he did not show it on his face. He remained calm and composed, not lowering his blade.
The blue hair and eyes, the feral appearance. It was his enemy who he thought was dead, Grimmjow.
And the green hair, the pink tattoo on the face, the mask stuck on the head like a helmet, it was the ex-Espada who he accompanied in Hueco Mundo, Nel or rather, Neliel.
"It's been a long time, Ichigo." he grinned, quickly unsheathing his sword. Nel did the same, and Ichigo saw the look in her eyes. They were different, no emotion or feeling in them at all. They were blank, hazel eyes. Even though she was a friend, she is now an enemy and Ichigo felt no hesitation to fight her.
Seconds pass, they stare into each others eyes, focused on one thing: to defeat each other. No one made a move for a while.
Then finally, without another word the two rivals charged forward and clashed blades, and Ichigo adjusted his blade to block the second attack that was coming from Nel. Fighting two powerful Vasto Lordes was going to be hard, but six months of training to master his powers after the war was not going to be for naught.
He pushed them backwards with his strength Grimmjow was about to slashing his shoulder but the latter was fast enough to flash step himself out of it, at the same time perceptive enough to kick back Nel who was halfway to cutting his head off. Nel fires a Bala while Ichigo was busy crossing swords with the other Espada.
Sensing this the second she released it from her hand he countered the attack by sending the bullet of electricity back at her with a swipe of his sword. She got hit but thanks to her Hierro she got less damage than what a human could have gotten if hit. Suddenly, there was blood. Ichigo was stabbed on the stomach, and he glared at them.
They thought they won, but the image disappeared into thin air. Before they knew it, somebody was behind them and their backs were slashed but at least not too deeply. Then both were kicked back and Grimmjow grinned, ignoring the pain. This was the type of fight he was looking forward to with Ichigo. The female Espada meanwhile looked at Ichigo, sensing danger.
Whoever the man is he is trying to awake something in her head and she does not like the feeling. So she'll stop him and end the torture bringing pain into her mind.
Ichigo looked at them and knew that the town won't be safe if they continue fighting because of the level of his and their powers. But he should not be hasty either. He had to be careful in this fight. Messing up would mean end of Karakura Town.
Toshiro watched the outside view, and sighed. Ichigo was not back yet, but it has been only ten minutes. He didn't have to be so impatient for the raven head to go back. Last night really was shocking, he never heard such words come from anybody else.
"Master." a deep yet smooth voice echoed, and Toshiro looked around to see if there was anybody else besides him but there was no one.
"I might be just hearing things." But he wasn't as the voice called out to him again. "Wait, that voice is..." Getting the idea whose voice might that be he widened his eyes. "It... can't be..."
Even though the place was warm, he felt like he was freezing, and he wrapped his arms around himself. He gave up his powers, he's now completely human so why would he still experience this? Getting a dream that bound him and Hyorinmaru and then hearing the voice of his spirit. "This is very odd."
Several Bala quickly went towards Ichigo, but through his quick slashes none hit him. Nel used Sonido to appear in front of Ichigo and kick him square in the face but the latter caught her leg and threw her aside with such force before grabbing the bluenette's face with his plam and pushing him aside with equal strength.
He looked at the few small cuts and bruises on his pale apricot skin. The injuries may be minor but he knew that the longer he'll battle them, the more major his future wounds will become. "This may be a little early but better sooner than later."
Muttering the Shikai command his blade transformed into a smaller blade that was black from the tip of the blade to the base of the hilt, and even his kimono changed to one that exactly resembled that dark, misty coat that his Zanpakutou spirit wears. When he's going to fight two insanely powerful Espada, he should not just rely on his sealed form. He quickly flash stepped towards Nel and cut deep into her abdomen, and kicked her at the same area as he blocked a strike from the other Vasto Lorde.
Now he really didn't care that he was going to kill someone who helped him before, because now she is an enemy. He angled Zangetsu and slashed the bluenette's torso mercilessly, the look of ruthlessness on his silver-red eyes.
"Dammit, I was so hyped up on having a rematch with you that I was careless. Man, it has been one year it's not like you'd not become stronger but I wasn't expecting this." Ichigo quickly knew what this would lead to, and he won't let it happen.
But Grimmjow already had an unconscious Nel on his shoulder as he descended themselves back into the Garganta. "Next time, Ichigo." he hissed darkly as the gate closed shut. Ichigo glared at where the gate was then he breathed out of annoyance, his body transforming back into his sealed form.
Heading back home he felt something unusual for a moment at the area where his house stands. Cautious he went there faster and entered through the window, going back in his human body. And he ran upstairs, and saw that Toshiro was shivering, trying to keep himself warm with his own body heat yet it wasn't enough. The temperature in his body was really ice cold.
"Freezing..." he stuttered, and his breath was so cold that he could visibly see it. Ichigo thought of a plan to warm him up, so he sat beside the silverette on the bed, wrapping one arm around him as the other channeled Kido energy, green light bathing the prodigy. He didn't care if the kind of contact he did was weird, he just had to keep the teen warm.
From his warming embrace the latter started to shiver less and he wasn't breathing so fast and hasty like before. The heartbeats were slow yet strong, the sound making his own heart race with the same rhythm. "Warm..." he sighed, feeling less colder and more warmer. He felt calmer, and he moved his eyes up to see.
Ichigo was the one sharing his gentle heat with him. Though it was weird he wanted it to continue, because he never felt this comfortable for a whole year. Soon he fell asleep thinking of nothing but Ichigo and the warmth along with the comfort he gave him. When it was enough Ichigo stopped the healing spell and adjusted the teen to the bed, letting him sleep. A small part of him did not want him to let go but he sighed it away and started to study his books in advance, nothing else to do in the house.
