What's up ladies and gentlemen? Here is the third chapter of Honour of the StarCross! Thanks again to everyone who reviewed last time :) Please, if you enjoy the story, drop me a review, I appreciate it! Thanks!
Chapter Three
Loading to Live
Ichigo swung out, deflecting the emerald green blast from the edge of Kugo's sword. The attack span off into the sky and detonated, a ball of reiatsu and smoke swallowing up the clouds. Kugo charged, Ichigo bounding backwards to give himself time to whip his great sword downwards, the two blades clashing with an almighty bang. Ichigo forced his weapon towards the gravel road, sparks spurting out between them. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forward and cursed as Kugo roared, a strange, inhuman cry and flung the orange haired boy up into the air. Ichigo flipped over and stuck his foot down, skidding to a halt and thrusting his blade out beside him.
"What the hell is this? Is this some trick?" Ichigo thought to himself, cursing as Ginjou pounced, springing upwards, the fizzing green light propelling him ever higher upwards into the sky. Ichigo flung his sword forwards, Ginjou bounding over him and locking blades with the boy. "What's going on? Who are you?" Ichigo said, gritting his teeth as he pushed swords with his foe. Ginjou opened his mouth and roared again, his hair flying backwards as his spiritual pressure rocketed, an unusual blue aura coating his figure. Ichigo braced himself against it, the force of the power causing his shihakusho to flail and flap about him, his sleeves falling down to reveal his black bands in the shape of an 'X' around his arms.
Ichigo grabbed the hilt of his sword with his other hand and swung in a wide arc towards the houses far below, cutting through the field of reiatsu with a forceful thrust. The air suddenly still, Ginjou darted towards him, batting him aside with his enormous Cross of Scaffold. Ichigo looked up through the flashing green rays of light as Ginjou wielded his sword above his head, spinning it around and around before unleashing a great wave of energy towards the boy. Leering, Ichigo held his zanpakuto out behind him with one hand, the air tightening, sucking and collecting on the edge of his blade.
"All right then, guess it can't be helped...," Ichigo muttered as a wall of blue energy thrashed into life on the sharp of his sword. Whirling it about him, Ichigo launched his blast towards the oncoming green light and they entangled in mid air before collapsing in an explosion that rippled across the town. Bursting through the smoke, Ichigo swiped with his sword only for Ginjou to be above him, a silhouette on the burning sun. Spinning around, Ginjou clipped Ichigo with his foot and sent the boy spiralling down towards the ground. Before he hit a building, Ichigo caught his footing and came to a stop gradually, staring up at Ginjou. All of a sudden, he realised the man was chuckling away to himself, his shoulders jerking up and down before he threw his head back, his black mane of shaggy hair rolling down his neck.
"What's wrong?" The man called out. Ichigo narrowed his eyes. That did not sound like Kugo's voice. "Something creeping you out, Kurosaki?" Ichigo vanished, reappearing on the same level with the man. Raising his sword, he could feel the rattling of the hilt beneath his hands and he tightened his grip. The dust from their last attack continued to spiral daintily around them, forming an arena of sorts. Ginjou was gone. Ichigo's eyes widened, he had only just noticed. Had he been daydreaming? Snapping his neck round sharply, he twisted and pivoted on his heel, hauling Zangetsu over his shoulder to counter Ginjou but his balance was thrown off. Their blades connected and he was flung into a building, his back slamming onto the corner and throwing him off again. Flicking his hair from his eye, Ichigo wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked up, Ginjou standing hunched over, still sniggering.
"Tell me who you are!" Ichigo roared and the man threw up his head, revealing his face fully for the first time. Ichigo gasped. It was Kugo all right, but certain things were different about him. His eyes were blank and a piercing ice blue, trickles of reiatsu drifting from them like licking flames and upon his forehead was a shimmering five pointed blue star. "What on earth...," Ichigo began but Ginjou had already began blistering towards him, his sword out by his side. Ichigo hoisted his own up in time and they clashed weapons once more, Ichigo grunting beneath the weight. Finally he twisted his sword and brought it round, unleashing a blue blast of light into Ginjou's face, the man crying out before disappearing into the energy wave. Ichigo darted backwards.
"I don't know what's going on, but I defeated you once and I can do it again," Ichigo growled, staring into the dust. Finally, the smoke tore away in a twisting whirling, Kugo standing with his jacket ripped apart, burn marks scorching his body. The blue light upon his forehead gleamed and Ichigo covered his eyes, Kugo rocketing towards him. The two of them clashed again and again, golden sparks flying wildly as Ichigo kicked away, attempting to make sense of the situation. "He should be dead...I don't understand. What's that marking on his forehead?" Ichigo ducked as Ginjou swung out, severing a telephone pole in half, sparks of electricity zipping down the wires strung up about the town.
"Graaah!" Ginjou growled, stabbing forwards, Ichigo weaving out of the way, back and forth, his orange hair flicking about in front of his face as he leaned backwards before jabbing with his own weapon. Ginjou grabbed it with his bare hand, warm, red blood running down the metal. Ichigo gawped at him before returning to the battle and cracking his head into Ginjou's chest, the enemy spluttering as Ichigo wrenched his sword from the man's hand. "Heh...you've changed, Kurosaki. You've grown, even since our last battle. You're willing to fight harder, to fight better. But...that won't save you this time!" Ginjou said, his voice strangely echoing.
"You can't win Ginjou. I'm not afraid to strike you down again," Ichigo said simply, the two of staring down at one another in the sky. "Maybe you should just tell me what's going on here?" However, Ginjou lifted his weapon in front of him instead and the blue aura intensified, his blank eyes staring into Ichigo's soul. Droplets of light like rain began to collect around his body and he cried out as his clothes began to distort and morph before he vanished into a pillar of blue reiatsu. Ichigo took a step back and increased his grip.
"Bankai," Ginjou's voice resonated from within the tower and it was suddenly slashed in two revealing the man standing a plume of light, his white hair coiling about his cheeks, his eyes remaining a deathly blue. As before, he bore his prominent exoskeleton and regal rims of rose fur before spreading his lips in a large grin. Ichigo gripped his sword and raised it, his reflection glittering back at him as the pounding wave of light died down. Ichigo readied himself. Studying his opponent, he was fairly certain he would not have to use his own last resort, at least not yet anyway. Suddenly, Ginjou flung himself at the boy and they locked swords, twisting and turning before cutting through the air. Ichigo disappeared with a crackle, skidding into place in the air before lunging at Kugo.
"Ginjou! Ginjou! Why won't you answer me?" Ichigo scowled as Kugo spun over in midair, batting Ichigo aside. The boy tumbled towards earth before ramming his zanpakuto into the side of a building to anchor himself down. As he looked up, Ginjou raised his sword into the air, a pink ball whirring into life atop the tip. Cursing, Ichigo sped towards him, the light coating the once blue sky in a scarlet hue. Holding his sword out behind him, Ichigo roared, his hair streaming around him as a piercing blue light ebbed and flowed into life on his sword. With a hefty plunge, Ginjou fired the cannon of energy towards Ichigo, the boy striking it with his sword. The blue light swallowed Ginjou's blast before jetting off in all directions, Ichigo covering his brow as the sky lit up in a number of explosions.
"Stop this now Ginjou, you'll devastate the town!" Ichigo cried, speeding towards his foe.
"So what?" Ginjou replied, his voice rattling and eerie. Ichigo leapt upwards and brought his sword crashing down in a flurry of sparks and twisted metal, Ginjou casting him aside. Ichigo was panting now and he reached up to his hilt, clasping it with both hands now. Very soon he realised he would have to use his Bankai. Perhaps he could try and draw them away from the civilised area. Then, as his brown eyes fluttered upwards, he realised Ginjou was aiming his sword at him once more. The scarlet light began to swirl inwards and Ichigo opened his mouth to cry when all of a sudden the blue star on Ginjou's forehead pulsed.
"Now what?" Ichigo thought, staring at the man as the light died down before vanishing altogether. Then, in a sudden flash, the blue star disappeared and Ginjou fell from the sky, his Bankai unravelling around him to reveal his original attire. Ichigo sped down and landed heavily on the ground, the man lying on his back, a pained expression on his face. The orange haired boy eyed him suspiciously when, suddenly, Ginjou sat up. The man rubbed his face tiredly before realising where he was.
"Wh...," he stammered, Ichigo's eyes wide as the colour and life returned to Ginjou's own eyes. "Where...?" He caught sight of Ichigo, the boy perplexed and watching him with every ounce of his attention. "I-Ichigo! What are you doing here? W-...what am I doing here?" Folding his arms, Ichigo decided he would help the man up.
"I'm wondering that myself," he said suspiciously, not taking his eyes off of Ginjou. Then, out of nowhere, a man was standing at the end of the road. Ichigo stopped as Kugo climbed to his feet and the two of them turned, watching the figure approach them gradually. The figure was wearing a light blue trench coat that was zipped up and reached his shins. He bore a strange hood on his head that barely revealed any of his face and what little it did was mainly covered in a mess of long strands of bright blonde hair. As he walked towards them, the trees seemed to blow loosely on his passing. The air was quiet and not even a bird whispered a song. Ichigo was staring at him, wondering how he had managed to sneak up on them like that. Finally, a few feet away from them, the strange man came to a halt. His face concealed, he began to talk in a smooth, almost angelic voice that was just as pronounced as it was soft.
"Interesting, so the Erwecken(awaken) was a success," the man muttered, casually gazing at the two of them through cold, heartlessly grey eyes. Ichigo and Ginjou stood shoulder to shoulder, strangely reminiscent of a time past gone and scowled nastily at the individual who was now reaching into his pocket. At last, with spindly fingers he retrieved an alien object, gold and round with a five pronged star on it. It fit into the palm of his hand and he held it up to them, strange scarlet sparks occasionally bursting from it. "Thank you for your Bankai, Ginjou Kugo. We knew you possessed one, but you had to be alive to use it. Luckily, everything proceeded according to plan," the man explained coolly. Ginjou shook his head.
"W-w...just tell me what's going on, who the hell are you?" the former Substitute Shinigami barked angrily, yet his voice was quivering and he himself was stuttering his voices. His fist was clenched and shaking.
"You don't need to know. However," the man's thin eyes found Ichigo at last. The boy stood with his wide blade by his side. A wry grin spread across the hooded man's face. "You are of utmost importance. Please, remain still for the time being. There is no need for you to die. Not yet anyway," the blonde man whispered but Ichigo grabbed his weapon and moved to engage him.
"Just tell us who the hell yo-," Ichigo began only to suddenly find a burning arrow of blue light rammed through his foot, locking him to the ground. Then, he felt the blood and he shrieked in sudden agony, collapsing to one knee and cradling his foot. Ginjou looked down, awestruck. He had not seen the man move, just what had he done. Then, he noticed him put the medallion back in his pocket. Turning away from them, the man began to walk away when he stopped fast and gazed back lazily over his shoulder, Ichigo still cursing, the arrow wedged straight through the ridge of his foot.
"Ginjou," the man breathed, Ginjou staring up at him. "You lost. We demand you pay the ultimate price," the man said. Kugo stopped fast.
"W-...WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Ginjou barked suddenly, his eyes bulging. "When did I lose? What did I lose? I don't understand what's going on!" Suddenly, he cried out as a burning light appeared on his head, the five pronged cross returning, spiralling into life. Squirming in pain, the man grappled with his forehead, the cross of light searing his fingers with every touch. Then, the blonde haired man turned and revealed from within his sleeve a Quincy cross, dangling from a silver chain. Ichigo choked and Ginjou stared at it in horror as the man merely flicked his wrist nonchalantly, blasting Kugo square in the chest with an arrow.
"His Saketsu(Binding Chain) and Hakusui(Soul Sleep)!" Ichigo spluttered but the blonde haired man merely looked on with an amused grin.
"No. His heart," the man said simply. Suddenly, Ginjou's shirt began to glow a dim blue and he whipped it off, revealing a shimmering five pronged star on the centre of his chest. He began to sweat as the light around him shot through the floor, illuminating the surrounding area. His gaze found Ichigo and he tried to move only to discover he was rooted to the spot by an unknown force.
"Hey, Ichigo...," he mumbled, his hand on his heart as the aura intensified. "What's going on? What's happening to me?" As Ichigo watched helplessly, the man began to glow. His eyes, his mouth, his skin, even his bones were being lit up by the blue light. Ichigo stared at him, a strange and terrible feeling reeling around inside of him. This man was once an enemy...but now, to see him with those eyes...Ginjou was pleading with him. "Hey...Ichigo..., I..." Ginjou began but suddenly the light shot upwards and he screamed, blue flames burning from within his throat, his eyes also aflame.
"GINJOU!" Ichigo screamed, attempting to rip his foot free from the arrow. At last, with a sickening splatter and ripping sound, he tore away and went for the former Substitute. However he rebounded off of the blue aura and staggered backwards, wincing every time he moved his foot. "What have you done?" Ichigo roared to the man watching from the sidelines. The intense blue flame flickered and danced on his pale cheeks before finally, it dissipated just as fast as it had appeared and a lifeless Ginjou crumpled to the floor like a rag doll. Ichigo dashed towards him and fell to his knees, holding the man's head from the ground.
"Interesting...you care for him like a comrade, yet he was your enemy," the silky smooth voice was callous and laced with malice. Ichigo stared up at him, the man holding his Quincy cross out. It shimmered blue for just a second before returning to its former state.
"What have you done to him?" Ichigo said foully, staring down at the man. Ginjou was pale, though his heart continued to beat. His eyes were blank, though still human. Now though there was no colour to them at all. His irises were grey and he seemed to be staring at Ichigo. The man towered over them both, pocketing his Quincy cross. Merely sighing, he turned away from the two of them and Ichigo lowered Ginjou's shell to the ground before standing to his feet. "Challenge me now. Face to face. I know you were manipulating Ginjou's movements. You say you have taken his Bankai as well? I don't have any idea what is going on here but I won't just let you walk away!" Ichigo roared, readying himself as he placed his hands on his weapon.
"Oh don't worry, we will meet again. You can count on that, Ichigo Kurosaki," the blonde haired man smirked beneath his hood. Turning, he lifted his Quincy cross once more.
"So...the blue reishi arrow, the pendant and the five pronged star...you really are a Quincy," Ichigo said darkly. The man's eyes fell to him and he dangled the chain in front of him.
"No. I am so much more than a Quincy. I am a member of The Vandenreich. The end is near, Shinigami," and with that, the man threw his Quincy cross to the ground before being surrounded by an immense pillar of blue fire, Ichigo taken aback as it almost torched him completely. He covered Ginjou's withered body as the flames whipped about each other, licking the very air they breathed before finally disappearing into nothingness. Turning, a very worn out Ichigo dropped to the floor, his wrecked foot soaking in crimson. With that, he blacked out just before he hit the pavement.
