Out of reach
Chapter 3: How long is forever?
Ichigo's POV
I opened my eyes and froze. Hotaru's face was less than an inch away from mine, so close I felt her breath on my face. I quickly sat up blushing; it was 9 in the morning. I stood up and walked over to the window and opened it, warm air washing over my face.
The sharp knocking downstairs reminded me of the night before.
"Ichigo! You have company"
"Coming" I shouted back to my dad. Ran down the stairs ducking to avoid my father as he flew toward me.
"Ichigo, I never knew you had so many friends I'm so proud of" I cut him of by stomping on his head and walked into the kitchen.
"Hey" he greeted the crowed with the simple gesture and hear Rukia give an exaggerated sigh.
"Where's Hotaru?" she asked
"She's upstairs sleeping"
"Is she going to be ok?" Rangiku asked worried.
"Do you really think I'd be here talking to you like this right now is she wasn't?"
"Ichigo did you notice anything unusual about her?" Toshiro asked out of nowhere. I frowned.
"No, what makes you ask" I was confused at the sudden question. Toshiro shock his head.
"Ichigo you got any food I'm starving" Renji broke the silence with his whine. I sighed and got up to make some food.
Hotaru's POV
I sighed and turned staring at the ceiling, thinking. I wandered if anything had changed, since exactly 4 years ago. It was on this day that Grimm had died.
My side was still hurt from the cut and it felt nice to just lay there in the warm room. But I could ignore my growling stomach no more. Getting up I opened the door and the smell of eggs cooking filled my nose. Fully awake now I ran downstairs but jumped back as a white blur flew millimeters in front of me and crashed into the wall.
"You have fast reflexes but" he paused and pointed at me "Hotaru?"
"Dad whet the hell are you doing she's still injured are you trying to kill her!!" Ichigo had run from the kitchen and was furiously stomping on his father's head.
"I'm sorry I thought it was you" I looked up to see everyone coming to see what was happening.
"But now that you're here I can-" he didn't finish as Ichigo threw a punch at his face. It just went downhill from there as the two started to fight. I laughed at the seen and sighed and walked past them and into the kitchen to make sure that nothing got burned.
"Oh Hotaru, I just came down to make sure Ichigo didn't burn anything" Yuzu said standing at the doorway.
"Its ok you can take a break I'll handle breakfast' she looked unsure "don't worry I'm fine" I reassured her. She nodded and sat down at the table. By the time Ichigo managed to stop his father's crazy assaults I had everything cooked and ready to serve.
"Hey Ichigo breakfast is ready you can come eat anytime now" I said sarcastically setting the plats down on the table. I hear footsteps as Ichigo rushed into the kitchen dragging his father. I smiled at him and gestured for him to get a move on.
It took awhile to fit everyone in but we got it to work, extending the table and gathering chairs.
"Wow Hotaru did you make all this" Rukia asked amazed at the huge arrangement of food in front of her.
"Um ya" I answered a bit embarrassed.
"Sorry about that" Ichigo apologized.
"Don't apologize it was nothing" I quickly said. Everyone started to eat and talk. I mostly listened and answered when needed. The conversation went on to talk about the carnival downtown.
"Hey Ichigo, are you and Hotaru coming" I looked up at Keigo then at Ichigo who was deep in thought. 'The carnival?!?!'
"You think your well enough for it Hotaru?" he finally asked me.
"Um I don't think it a good idea I should really get home and um" I tried desperately to think of an excuse. 'This day'
"Oh come on what do you have too do, we can help get it done before we go" Rangiku pleaded. I looked around everyone was waiting for an answer I looked down.
"I really don't think I should"
"WHY?"
"Well I just-"
"Come on you should go there's no point in just sitting around all day" Ichigo's father had joined the conversation. I looked away.
"Ya it's be fun your not aloud to leave until you're completely better and I wouldn't want to sit around my dad all day" Ichigo finally added "what do you have to lose". They don't understand they didn't know there was everything to lose. Everything I didn't want to lose again. But I knew I couldn't tell them the truth. I sighed in defeat. There were cheers. Only I caught the look on Isshin's face before he smiled and left. I knew his secret and it looked like he roughly knew mine.
When breakfast was finished we all agreed to meat in the park at 1 and left to get ready.
"So you want to go back to your house and get some clothes for your stay here?" Ichigo asked sitting down beside me.
"Alright let's go"
I opened to door to my house and walked in, Ichigo right behind me.
"So what do I need other than clothes?" I asked Ichigo while walking up the stairs to my room.
"No that's all you really need" I nodded while picking up clothed and throwing them into a bag.
"Hey did you make this?" I looked up to see what he was talking about. I walked over and took the necklace in my hand turning it over gently with my fingers.
"I made this for my friend, but………..." I trailed off.
"Sorry I didn't know…" he started to apologize but I stopped him. Folding the silver string around the stone I picked up the case and placed it inside. Not really thinking I threw it into my bag.
"That's everything" I said zipping up the bag and picking up my school bag too. The walk back was quiet, neither of us were the very talkative type. I thought about later on in afternoon was it a good idea to agree.
"Hey, you coming?" I looked up realizing we had arrived and hurried over to where Ichigo was waiting at the top of the steppes, tripping on my way. He caught me as I fell back.
"Sorry" he only smiled at me put a hand on my back and guided me inside.
"Do you want lunch?" Yuzu asked happily bouncing over.
"Um no thanks I'm not that hungry right now"
"Ok just come ask me anytime you want something" she smiled and bounced away.
"So did you study for that math test that's on Monday" I watch in amusement as he froze and paled.
"I'll take that as a no"
"I don't even remember what's about" I laughed at him.
"It's on fractions and decimals"
"Damn I suck at those" I looked thought his backpack and finally pulled out a text book and paper.
"Come on we can study together"
Ichigo's head was thicker than I originally thought. It had been about 10 minutes and he was still on the first question on the blank work sheet. I looked at the clock it was now 11. 'He wasn't kidding when he said he didn't get this. Looks like I'll actually have to explain it to him'
"So Ichigo what is it that you don't get?" I asked. Setting down the pen to run a hand through my hair.
"Adding mixed fractions are really confusing I don't get them at all" I sighed
"Well you did miss all the classes when they were teaching it" I stated 'ya that's about the time of Rukia's execution' I thought.
"Ok then converting the mixed fraction into an improper fraction is the first step", I paused "wait you know how to add fraction don't you?" I felt relieved when he nodded. "Ok well to go from mixed to improper first have your denominator then how ever many whole numbers you have then times that number by your denominator and finally add it to your nominator." I took a deep breath and looked at him "You get all that" he thought it over and nodded putting it to the test.
"Like this?" he asked I leaned over to look at his work.
"That's right you got it" I congratulated him with a pat on the head. "Now just get the rest done soon so we can leave. He nodded and got to work. I sat down in the chair on the opposite end of the desk and watched him work, resting my head on my arms. Just listening to his breathing, the inhales and exhales in time to the silent seconds. Aizen's word echoed dimly in my mind "he said forever" I never thought about it before but... Here I sat with Ichigo so close I could reach out and touch him. The question occurred to me… "How long is forever?"
Ichigo's POV
I set my pen down and leaned back in my chair stretching. 'Done at last and only 11:40' I thought happily looking over at Hotaru. The sighed and pointed at the paper.
"Number 8 is wrong; you're missing a 3 in your answer." She tapped the paper with her pen.
"Damn" I cured seeing she was right and quickly fixed it. "Anything else" I questioned her praying silently to the gods. I watched her eyes skim over the paper 'wow she's fast'.
"Nope you're good" she said looking up. I let out a sigh of relief, and got up to sit on the bed leaning my back against the backboard.
"So when we leaving?" she asked sitting down at the edge of the bed.
"Around 12:30's good" I answered sitting up. Then not really thinking I reached out and wrapped my arm around her shoulders from behind. I felt her freeze, then sigh and lean back. I was kind of surprised at her reaction, but was quite pleased. So I slipped an arm under her arm and lifted her up, moving back to my position against the backboard. With Hotaru on my lap, I thought I heard her laugh lightly. Finally my mind caught up with my body and I felt my face burn red. She must have felt the heat radiating of my face because she turned around and looked at me with amused eyes.
"Your name suits you well right now Ichigo" she taunted putting emphases on the last word. I pouted and buried my face in her hair, nose brushing the back of her neck. This was more like the Hotaru I knew when we were little.
"Ichigo you seem like such a girl right now" her voice was filled with laughter. I pouted some more before answering.
"I could prove to you I'm a boy if you don't believe me" I suggested evilly sifting her so that she was sitting between my legs.
"Um… Ichigo…" she seemed a bit uncomfortable at the position. I sighed and pushed my face back into her hair.
"Ichigo it's time to leave" she nodded toward the clock. I grunted in annoyance.
And pouted but still let go of her, getting up to go to the washroom.
Hotaru's POV
I smiled at him walking to the washroom, and sat down on the chair to wait. After about a minute he can out with a scowl on his features.
"What's wrong Ichigo?" I asked tiling my head to the side in a questioning manner. He looked up at me as though in deep thought.
"Are you really that innocent or is it just an act?" he finally relied eyeing me suspiciously. I was confused.
"What do you mean by innocent?" he sighed and grabbed my bag tossing it to me before telling me to hurry up.
We were going to be late.
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I let him put his arm around my shoulder as we walked down the streets on our way to the carnival. Maybe it was ok to relax a little, I trusted Ichigo enough to let my guard down him. But every action in this world has a consequence, then again I should have known not to let anyone see his arm around me shoulder. Rukia was now drowning me in questions, Rangiku giggling as some unknown thought came to her mind. 'I'm never going to hear the end of this'.
"Where exactly are we going?" the voice caught my attention, and I looked over to see if it was just my imagination.
"Mizora?!" I pointed speechless. What was she doing here?
"Oh hey Hotaru good to see your ok" she said waving.
"You too know each other" Ichigo asked surprised, Mizora nodded.
"Yup I meet while I was on a mission" she frowned "Hokage-sama asked me to guard an area where nothing ever happens, I wandered a bit and it seemed Hotaru was having a little trouble with a couple of punks so I helped her out and been friends ever since, although we don't see each other much" I frowned deep in thought why was she here.
"You're a long ways from home Mizora" I pointed out casually tilting my head to the right.
"I was invited to come"
"By who?"
"Toshiro" she replied poking him in the head
"Captain Hitsugaya, and don't poked me." He mumbled
'Poke'
"Mizora"
'Poke' and he snapped
"DAMN IT MIZORA" much to my amusement I noted that the two were the same height.
"Hey why do you think taichou's putting up with this?" asked Orihime confused "I'm sure if that were me I'd be frozen" I smirked
"Come on Orihime it's so obvious." Rangiku answered, walking away form the conversation I wandered back to Ichigo and tagged at his shirt to get his attention.
"Ichigo are we going"
"What do you guys want to do first?" Rangiku exclaimed jumping up and down. I looked around spotting my target right away. And was about to speak, but Rukia beat me to it.
"That one, that one" she exclaimed tugging at Renji's arm and pulling him with her. I followed her finger and laughed nervously at the sight. It was probably the biggest ride in the place, its' sturdy metal frame towering over the rest of the park. Ok by biggest I meant scariest, fastest or what ever you want to call it.
"I'm not sure Toshiro or Mizora are tall enough" Ichigo stated I mentally sighed he doesn't think through what he says does he. I watched as Mizora drop kicked him on the head while Toshiro came up to elbow him in the stomach.
"Who's short now?" Mizora said with a small smirk across her face.
"Ok are we going, or what?" I said for the second time that day.
"Fine" Ichigo replied as I helped him of the ground.
"Alright let's go!" Mizora said while throwing one fist in the air and used her other hand to drag Toshiro along to the roller coaster, A smirk appeared upon his face as if he expected that.
I sighed and then started to walk with Ichigo to the coaster. I looked up at the coaster, it was rather high and I looked around at the people around me and they all seemed to take notice as well. Well except for Mizora because she didn't really care and Ichigo who would do anything. I didn't seem too intimated by this because despite my rather innocent image I was quite adventurous.
After an eternity of waiting in line, we finally got in our seats. I was in a seat with Mizora, Toshiro and Ichigo with Mizora and Ichigo by my sides. I sat back and closed my eyes, and remembered the time Grimmjow had taken me here, well more like dragged. 'Grimmjow'… I glanced at Ichigo and the words wandered into m mind again 'how long is forever?' Then suddenly without any warning the roller costar started dropping down what seemed to be 90degree slop.
I was a bit woozy stepping onto the platform after the ride it probably wasn't the best idea to go on the ride with my injury.
For the next 4 hours I was dragged form ride to ride by either Rangiku or Rukia and sometimes going on one ride multiple times.
"Hey is anyone hungry?" Renji asked as we sat on the benches cooling off, it was 6pm and so far we only been on about half the rides at the park.
"Food sound good" Tastuki jumped up form her position and dragged Orihime with her. "Let's go" we all decided on a restaurant and were now I was sitting across from Ichigo watching him put fries into him mouth.
I felt someone nudge my leg.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Renji asked smirking. I glared at him and kicked his leg, but picked up a fry myself and started eating.
"Mizora you want a donut"
"NO DON'T GIVE IT TO HER" Toshiro yelled but it was too late… 'Oh no' I thought, remembering back to the last time Mizora had eat a sugar powdered donut, 'this wasn't going to end well'.
"C-can I hav-ve another donut?" Sputtered Mizora, her eyes not leaving her know empty hands.
"Um…..yah sure, are you ok?" Renji replied as we handed Mizora another donut.
"Don't" Toshiro started but just gave up. Renji had already given Mizora the donut.
"Why does no one listen to me!!!!?" Toshiro screamed in angry, "well if you die it's not my problem." Toshiro cursed under his breath.
"!!!!!!" in a second it was over. I don't think anyone else knew what happened but could see the results clearly. Every chair in the room was knocked over, food scattered across the floor the table that had been standing in front of me a moment ago was on the other side of the room. Everyone stared wide eyed at the scene before them. Mizora had stopped, standing in the middle of everything looking utterly confused.
"Well it was better than the last time" I said after a long silence. Everybody turned to stare at me in horror.
"You don't want to know" I smiled.
We spent the next hour or so help clean up the mess, and paying the damage fees. By the time we finished it was dark outside. I stared at the last streaks of light as they faded away, feeling worry starting to settle in.
"Hey the fireworks are going to start soon so hurry up!!!!" I turned and followed the rest of the group as we made our way over to a grassy area and sat down. And waited just like last time, but I kept a close eye on everybody as they chatted. At first it didn't catch my attention, but the atmosphere around me had suddenly tensed. Toshiro stood up and looked around pulling something out of his pocket that I recognized as a soul candy.
"What's wrong Shiro-" Mizora cut off, standing too.
It hit me like a strike of lightening. 'Impossible' I looked up to see Ichigo getting up to leave with the others. I shot up following him. 'Impossible there was no way' I thought but I had to see to make sure.
"Hotaru you stay here we're just going….ah...to" Ichigo searched for a good excuse. That's right they all think I'm just a human, and didn't know everything. The people still sitting on the ground were Orihime, she knew. Tastuki I'm guessing by now she knew everything that was going on and Keigo and Mizuiro and by the look on they're face they knew too. I looked back at Ichigo and caught the end of a look he gave Orihime and Tastuki.
"Have to what Ichigo?" I asked playing along. Tastuki cut in and put a hand on my shoulder.
"It's a surprise" she said winking at me before getting up and whispering something in his ear then giving him a push. Ichigo gave her a thankful smile before running off smiling at me over his shoulder.
"I'll be right back" I watch the group push their way through a crowd of people waiting for the fire works disappearing form sight.
"I wander what they're going to do" Orihime chirped up trying to break the tense atmosphere. My eyes were closed in concentration, digging my nails into the soft earth beneath me as I tried to since what was going to at the battle. And winced as an especially strong burst of rejeust exploded in the distance. Something was wrong, I knew this spiritual pressure……….. But it wasn't possible. Right?
I had to know.
I was running in the direction where I knew the fight was taking place, ignoring the calls behind me.
Ichigo's POV
Why did this have to happen now, this was the worst timing ever. I hissed in anger at the Menos as they poured out of the sky. It would have been great to kick a hollow ass some time during school but now was not the time. And but the look on Hotaru's face she wasn't going to let it pass without question either. I sighed and pulled out my badge as a seconded gash tore through the sky, narrowing my eyes as several arrancar and a hooded figure stepped out. Among them were Ulquiorra, Stark, Grimmjow, Nnorita and the hooded person or thing.
"Damn Espada!?!? Looks like there's no holding back today"
Third Persons POV
'What were Espada doing here? Was this a full out battle?'
"Damn" Ichigo looked at the sky and was about to engage a battle was he noticed what they were doing, and almost fell over. 4 Espada were gathered around the hooded figure waving their arms around in the middle of what looked like a fierce argument. "You've got to be fucking kidding me……."
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"Why can't damn shimigami just leave thing to us for once" Nnoitra complained waving his giant sword at the people below in annoyance. "I mean we were doing fine rounding up the Menos"
"That's probably because we aren't doing anything" Ulquiorra pointed out emotionlessly. Everyone was silent and looked at each other.
"Sooooooooo, what do you suggest we do!?!?" Kes chirped happily form under the hood.
"I say we leave the fucking Menos be and just go kill all the damn shimigami" Grimmjow growled pulling out his sword.
"Ummmm….I don't think that would work." Kes denied
"And why's that" Nnorita countered.
"Because then we would have about 500 Menos walking around the world of the living doing hell knows what". Everybody fell back into silence.
"They seem to be drawn toward something, perhaps a strong spiritual pressure?" Ulquiorra suggested
"No it would have to be more than that; I mean every Meno in Los Noaches is here"
"You know she has a point, maybe one of us should go look for this person for thing and kill him or something and the other's stay and help get the Menos under control" everyone jumped looking around to see that the primer was indeed alive and had been listening.
"Alright it's a plan I call staying here and fighting" Grimmjow had already turned around to face Ichigo standing a few feet below him smirking.
"Hey, it's been awhile hasn't it shimigami ready to get your ass kicked". Ichigo laughed back up at him.
"Took you long enough, what were you guy doing saying your last goodbyes"
"Na we were making a plan" he dived down holding his sword in front of him, aiming for the boy's head.
"Really and what did you come up with" Ichigo raised his sword to block the up coming hit.
"I don't really remember, I think it had something to do with killing someone at that fair over there" metal clashed and Ichigo was pushed back a few feet digging lines in to the dirt beneath him. Grimmjow jerked his head toward the bright lights of the city. The first people that came to mind was Orihime, Chad or maybe Uryu. But why all of a sudden they've meet each other tons of time in battle. A name flashed at the back of his mind. 'But they have no reason to be after Hotaru, they don't even know she exits'. He threw Grimmjow off firing a black gestuga tenseo at his legs.
Grimmjow easily avoided the attempt but stopped. There's this feeling that he was missing something. Something about this place seemed familiar but he couldn't put his finger on it.
Something caught the edge of his vision. A figure had stopped staring at the fight with wide eyes. There was something about this girl the air around her was different. And the way her eye's seemed to see through his every thought, it seemed so familiar. 'Do I know this person? Impossible'. He smirked 'This must be one of Ichigo's friends' he looked at the boy above him.
"Hey Ichigo who's your friend over there?" Ichigo followed his gaze confused until his eye's landed on her figure standing on the edge of the hill. 'Hotaru!?!' she was staring at Grimmjow, her eye's were wide but from this distance he wasn't able to tell what emotion they held. He guessed it was shock. A second thought crossed my mind 'she can see them!!? That means she must have a high spiritual presence too.'
"Hotaru what are you doing here!?" he stared back over to her, when a blur of blue shot past him. 'Shit'
"Hotaru run!!!!"
Hotaru's POV
Ichigo's cry echoed in my ear but my brain didn't respond and I stared blankly as he charged toward me, sword raised.
'Grimmjow is dead. I had watched him fall to the ground taking my hit. I remember Aizen's words, I remember my promise' I said forever. He had stopped hid face mere inches from mine. The cold blade of his sword rested on my neck. The question popped into my mind again. 'So how long is forever?'
"Grimmjow" the name slipped from my lips before I could stop it. He had the same blue hair; the same figure excepted the piece of mask on the side of his face and the hole in his stomach. 'From where Aizen had stabbed him' I realized. He lowered his sword and stepped back a frown etched deep in his face as he looked at me.
I had built up my world so well around Aizen words. I had already accepted that Grimm was dead. And now that world was falling. Crumbling down around me as I stared into his eyes. Just like 3 years ago on this same day, when I watch him die. I stood staring at him as he stood before me.
'Is this forever?!?!'