Summary: In a world where opposite ideology clashes
A/N: I'm sure a lot of you cringed when you saw the IchiHime from the previous chapter, and there will be some here as well, I had to put it as it was necessary. Our main characters separated at a young age for a long time and they have been closed from the start so it will take time for them to realize their true feelings, is what I think.
Please note that this is story is more on drama/romance and friendship thing than action.
Disclaimer: All Kubo Tite's
Chapter 4
Major Barragan's scowl is still prominent as he stared at the report his Captain has just handed him when his office phone rang.
"Barragan here." He answered in his usual grumbly tone.
"Major, I hope you've been doing fine." Said by a slick voice on the line.
"Prime Minister." Barragan tried to arrange his voice so it will come out a little respectful albeit grudgingly.
"Do you have any good news for me, Major?" The Prime Minister asked and Barragan knows exactly what he needs to know.
"I have sent my best man for the job. I am sure he will do a great job, he has yet to disappoint me." He answered.
"Ah, that Captain of yours. Are you sure he won't waiver?" The other line asked again.
"The kid have iron-clad code of honor. He had nothing but revenge for his mother. He's been asking to have this mission from the very beginning and I think something happened that made him hate the enemies even more. He's ready now." Barragan said.
"Very well. I hope to receive a good news from you soon. I'm becoming impatient and the plan has been put on hold long enough."
"Yes, Prime Minister. In a few months, West will be accessible."
Barragan put down the phone and slumped in his chair. He couldn't decide whether he really wished for his Captain to deliver this mission successfully or not.
Orihime walked out from the patient room. Her smile is leaving her face. From previous weeks until now, the hospital has been toxic and she's exhausted as hell, but above all, she missed her boyfriend so bad. Ichigo has been away for three months now and she have no idea how he's doing. Well, she couldn't really complain, she had told him she will wait for him always.
She sighed and looked at her watch. She's off duty now. She headed to the staff locker room and changed while thinking what to cook for dinner. When she opened the door to leave, her face lighted, smile returned with a full force, for there in front of her is Ichigo, leaning on the wall. He didn't see her yet thought, he looked like he's deep in thought. She called him and ran to him. She hugged him tightly. Ichigo patted her back.
"How are you, Ichigo? Are you hurt? Do you need a check-up?" She asked non-stop while her eyes are checking for any visible injuries. This has always been her greetings every time he came back from his missions.
"I'm fine, Hime, and no I'm not hurt anywhere. Let's go, I have something to tell you." He told her. Orihime nodded.
In Orihime's living room, she sat there shocked after hearing the news from Ichigo. Ichigo just told her the basics though, he skipped the part that Rukia was almost killed and that he punched her and later on chased her with his bullets. He just told her their friends are members of Lefters Group.
"So, that's where they're always going. That's why they told me I'm safer here, that's probably why they urge me to leave the district so I won't be forced to join as well and I'm sure they were forced. There is no way they would join a group that kills people. Ichigo they have protected me." Orihime said, crying.
Ichigo hoped she assumed right. No, he hoped they both assumed right.
"What are we going to do, Ichigo?" she asked. She felt sad from hearing what had become of their friends.
Ichigo's determined eyes met hers "I will go back there and talk to them. I will save them from whoever is forcing them. And if no one is forcing them then I will try to reason with them even if I have to beat the shit out of their asses."
Ichigo had decided to put it upon himself to know the truth, to still give his friends a chance to redeem their selves. He will make sure his friends will have no choice but to listen to him even if he had to break hundreds of military rules.
Orihime met his determined eyes with her own resolve and asked. "When are we going?"
Ichigo reached for her hand and held it, he looked into her eyes and told her softly. "I want you to stay here, Hime. This mission is going to be bloody. You are safer here and you have your work here. I will come back with our friends. I promise."
Orihime bowed her head. Her heart ached. Ichigo is also doing what their other friends has done to her. He is putting her aside. He wants to leave her behind as well, to be a good girl and wait patiently for their return. She cursed herself for being weak. Why couldn't she be like her friends? All her friends are strong, even Rukia. They were always protecting her. For once, she wants to protect them too. She doesn't want to be left behind again. She wants to stand beside them.
Ichigo knew she's upset, so he gathered her in his arms and told her "I know you want to help, they're precious to you too but they will be angrier with me if they saw that I dragged you to this mess. You know that they want you to be safe, to be far from any danger. That's why they asked you to come here, remember? Have you forgotten? You are our princess." He tilted her head and kissed her cheek.
Orihime finally smiles, then "Why couldn't Rukia be the princess for once? I'm tired being the princess."
Ichigo snorted, he release Orihime and sat back, he rest his head on the sofa. "You know that you have more chances convincing Grimm to play as princess than you'll ever have with Rukia, right?"
Orihime giggled. "That is so true." Then "If only Rukia stops acting like one of you guys and grows her hair long, then she would really look like a real princess. But that is a wishful thinking haha! Karin is even shadowing her, they have the same haircut and Karin acts as one of the boys too."
Ichigo closed his eyes and saw Rukia standing opposite him with scorching fire in between them. Then he remember how pink her lips was, how fair and smooth her skin was. Ichigo assumes her eyes have become even more beautiful as well. He wants to tell Orihime that Rukia's hair is actually very long now, that if she remove her braid and put on a dress then making her a princess couldn't even do her justice.
"Anyway, have I ever told you that when we were in second grade, there was a boy who pursued Rukia relentlessly?" Orihime continued.
Ichigo was surprised to know that, he raised his head and look at her. "Really? What happened? Wait, let me guess, he was pummeled to a pulp, not by Renji or Grimm but by Rukia herself, right?"
Orihime laughed "Yes. Several times actually. But the boy did not stop and still followed Rukia like a dog. He reminds me of Bantay. He said Rukia is the most amazing girl he has ever seen."
Bantay is Rukia's dog. He gave her it when his own dog gave birth to a several puppies. She loved that dog so much. Ichigo wonders if Bantay is still alive.
"Then what happened?" Ichigo's curiosity is piqued. He would have like to see her squirm from that boy. He bet Grimm and Renji had the kicks of their lives watching her.
"Well, he became our friend too." Orihime said.
"What? So that means he stopped pursuing Rukia?" He asked.
"No he didn't. To the point that Renji and Grimm had threatened him as well. In the end, they all gave up and just let him follow her." She continued.
"So he's Rukia's first boyfriend, huh! I never imagined Rukia being lovey dovey!" Ichigo was amused.
"Oh, no! Rukia didn't accept him but she tolerated him and allowed him to be her friend." Orihime clarified, then "Although, I'm not so sure about Kaien."
"Who?" Ichigo's curiosity piqued again.
"Kaien Shiba, he's our economic teacher. He's just a couple of years older that Grimm. He actually looks like you, except he have black hair and green eyes. We have noticed that they were always talking. Sometimes Rukia doesn't go home with us but with him. Renji and Grimm doesn't like it but they couldn't do the usual since he's a teacher. When we asked Rukia about him she said they were just friends. One day though, when we were about to go home, we saw Kaien carrying Rukia in his arms. Renji and Grimm immediately run to them and demanded what he did to Rukia. Renji then took Rukia from his clutch and Grimm punched Kaien. Later we found out that Rukia sprained her ankles from getting down a tree. Grimm almost got expelled because the principal saw the whole scene but Kaien did not allow it. From then on, he became our friend too."
Ichigo was silent. Rukia has never allowed anyone to carry her even if she had to walk limping. This Kaien must be something. So they have gained friends after he left. Well he too have gained friends. But he still couldn't deny the sting in his gut.
"Why did you say that you are not sure of their relationship?" Ichigo asked again. He just couldn't grasp the thought of Rukia with a boyfriend and why does his heart felt like a needle is poking it.
"Well, because even when we graduated, he still comes to our district to see Rukia." Orihime said, then "Wait, could it be that he's also a Lefter?" She asked.
"It's possible." Ichigo grinds his teeth again. He couldn't wait to talk to them. He couldn't wait to beat the shit out of the people who had a hand on turning his friends on him.
"You are tired, Ichigo. Rest here while I prepare our dinner." She then stand and went to the kitchen.
They had their dinner and they were now both in bed. Ichigo's mind is busy planning his next moves when he felt pleasure running in his body.
He felt Orihime's tongue is on his neck and her hand is mapping his chest, tweaking his nipples then went down to his stomach until it rest in his crotch, rousing him.
Her lips travelled up, Ichigo turned his head and Orihime captured his lips. When Orihime felt he is fully awake in all sense, she shifted her body on top of Ichigo and kissed him deeply. She left his lips only to remove her clothes then pulled down Ichigo's pants.
Orihime started kissing Ichigo's neck again and slowly went down to his chest. Ichigo's hands are busy caressing Orihime's body.
Orihime started riding him and Ichigo's in a bliss. Ichigo feast his eyes on his girlfriend's body on top of him. His girlfriend really is sexy as hell. Her body is so curvy and soft. His eyes went to her stomach and all of a sudden a slender white abs flashed in his mind. He stilled for a second. Damn, what was that? He thought.
He knew she's close, so he grabbed her hips and helped her. He met her halfway and after a few more thrust she screamed her release. He on the other hand is still far from being finished so he flipped them, now he's the one doing the work. His girlfriend writhed beneath him. In one of his powerful thrust she arched her back and the slender stomach flashed before his eyes again. Ichigo closed his eyes and this time the image stuck and soon he is reaching his own release. When both subsided he pulled out from Orihime and lay beside her. Orihime laid her head in his chest. Smile in place.
The next day, Ichigo left Orihime's flat and went to rendezvous with his lieutenants. When everything is official, they travelled North.
In the north, they settle in the 50th camp and Ichigo briefed the soldiers. He then sent his father a letter stating where he is and that he will come home in a week.
So now, Ichigo and his two lieutenants are travelling west, to his district. He instructed them to wear civilians and to always keep their guards up. Along the road, Ichigo greeted the people he still know and was glad that they still looked content. Some he met are transporting healthy livestock or crops. When he finally enters their town, he could see a vast improvement. Most of the houses are renovated and built with concrete materials now if not mixed, just like his house. The townspeople lives have improved considerably.
They arrived with no encounters.
Ichigo's father is delighted to see his son from a very long time. Ichigo thought his father did not age much. Yuzu was crying in happiness as well. When he asked where Karin is, he was told that she was in the 53rd as her work place is there and that she will come home soon so he better wait for her. Karin studied automotive and she is now assembling or fixing vehicles. Yuzu lives in the 56th with her husband but came home when she learned that her brother is coming home. She is now a middle school teacher. Karin though is still single. No surprise there, Ichigo thought. For Karin is a lot like Rukia, they think of themselves as boys.
Now that his mind veered to Rukia, he couldn't wait to ask his father about his friends. He deemed he will talk to him when they are alone.
Ichigo introduced his Lieutenants and they chatted while Yuzu went to prepare their dinner.
When Ichigo entered his room, he couldn't help but cringed with what he saw, he almost wanted to go to Karin's room instead. He cursed non-stop. Of course Rukia has not been lying when she had told him in her letter that she painted his room walls a bright pink and put pictures of blasted bunnies all over. Damn you, Rukia, he thought. He took a look again and his eyes stopped to a one particular drawing, he squint his eyes and he guessed it was a pink rabbit with orange hair, an arrow was pointing to a scribble that read Ichi-poo. He scowled and cursed again. But then he saw a smaller scribble at the very corner, he squint his eyes even further as the writing is so small and reads it "come home already, idiot!" He smiled. "I really miss you too, midget." He whispered. His heart suddenly felt warm.
The alone time with his father came in the morning. Ichigo woke up early and headed to their kitchen, and there he found his father having his coffee, deep in thought.
"Good Morning, father." He greeted. Isshin looked up "Good morning, son. Come, have coffee with me." Ichigo prepared his coffee and sat opposite his father.
He thought this is the perfect opportunity, so he asked his father "Father, are my friends around?" Ichigo gauge his father's reaction to his question. And there is his confirmation that his father knows what has become of his friends. Isshin averted his eyes. Ichigo's heart clenched again.
"Grimmjow is around, but Rukia and Renji comes only once in a while. I heard Ju's sickness has gotten worse. They were now staying with Jushiro's healer, Unohana. Ichigo just nodded his head, he knows better.
Isshin looked at him seriously and told him "Son, why were you assigned in the north and west all of a sudden? Are your mission in the east completed yet? Why after ten years, you finally decided to come home?"
Isshin had been briefed by Grimmjow from what happened to Rukia and their encounter with Ichigo. He had been so afraid that Ichigo might kill Rukia or the other way around. He's just thankful nothing happened to them or he's sure either will be beyond broken if they had hurt the other.
Grimmjow had warned him that Ichigo is definitely going to come home soon with questions. He assured Isshin that the group won't harm Ichigo's men upon entering the west, as much as they can. Of course Isshin knows reservation comes with that promise.
Ichigo looked right back. No use with pretenses anymore "Because I failed you, father. I failed my friends. I need to save them." He declared.
Isshin sighed deeply. He rubbed his palm in his face, he looked at the surrounding and told Ichigo in a low voice. "Son, I want you to quit being a Soldier."
"What?" Ichigo asked, taken aback. "Why are you asking me that, father? Are you afraid I won't succeed in getting my friends back? Because I will. I will take them back from those animals. My friends doesn't belong there." He seethed. His fist is tightly balled.
Isshin's face is conflicted. "Please Son, if you don't want to quit then I want you to talk to your superior, ask him to assign you somewhere else. There are a lot of things you don't understand here." His father said.
"I understand enough, father. They were forced to join or they were brainwashed, or whatever. Rukia would never betray me." He told his father with full conviction.
"And they didn't, Ichigo. They remained loyal to you." Isshin said with a heavy breath. Ichigo's eyes widen. He suddenly felt light, like several tons have been lifted from his chest. He knew he shouldn't have doubted his friends. Then he realized something.
"What are you trying to say then, father? Are they a spy? Were Rukia and Renji asked to infiltrate the Lefters? Who asked them to do that? Don't they know that's way too dangerous? They could be find out and I'm sure we won't receive even a finger this time!" Ichigo is beyond angry. He's inside is raging.
Are his friends doing this to help him? Shit, it is highly possible. Of course stupid and stubborn Rukia would do that, and if she will do it then Renji has no choice but to tag along to protect his stupid and stubborn sister. If this was really the case then Grimm is also in on this. He cares for Rukia as much as he and Renji does, not to mention Grimm loves to fight. Dammit!
He stands up and pace the kitchen, his hand running in his hair. 'God damn it Rukia! How stupid and stubborn can you get? Didn't I tell you before I left to stay out of trouble? Is it too hard to follow, you stupid and stubborn midget!? As I told you several times before, why can't you be like Orihime and do as you were told. Dammit!' Ichigo is itching so bad to strangle that delicate creamy neck of hers.
He faced his father and told him with even more determination, fire is burning in his eyes. "This is the more reason for me to fight. I will take my friends back then we will fight those animals together. It will be easier now that I have the armies at my back."
Isshin's eyes were wide and frightened. Ichigo took it as him being afraid they will get hurt. Isshin opened his mouth to respond but they saw Uryuu, his first lieutenant coming out from his room, heading towards them. Isshin closed his mouth with a heavy feeling. The conversation stops there.
When Sado joined them as well, he told his lieutenant they will leave this afternoon. Yuzu got very upset that he is not staying long. But Ichigo's gut is uneasy, he felt like he is wasting time if he is doing nothing. He wanted to save his friends already.
After breakfast, Ichigo went to Rukia's house and knocked even though he knew no one is home. Their house is still the same when he left. He opened the door and inspected the house. The house is clean but no signed of it being used recently. Their kitchen is entirely void of any edible things. No salt, no water stocked, none. Someone might have been cleaning it regularly. He checked Rukia's room and saw that it was almost empty except for her old textbooks, notes, some magazines and few clothes. The same with Renji's room.
When he was about to leave, he saw something that made his heart clenched. There, hanging in the wall, just below a picture of Rukia, Renji and their father, is an old picture of the five of them when they graduated in Elementary. They were all grinning. Rukia is in the center, Orihime in her left and him in her right. His hand is on her shoulder and hers is in his waist. Beside Orihime is Renji and him is Grimmjow.
He touched Rukia's face "I'm gonna get you back." He whispered. The warm feelings enveloped his heart again.
He locked the door and turned to leave when he saw Grimmjow waiting for him. Smirk in place. He mocked saluted him and walked towards Ichigo. The friends hugged and clapped each other's backs.
"So, captain, huh!" Grimmjow said, punching Ichigo in the arm.
"Yeah" he said, rubbing his neck. "How about you? I heard you own your own business now. How's Uncle Gin?"
"Nah, not much. Sora taught me and I picked up a few things. Uncle doesn't come here anymore, I visit him sometimes." Grimmjow told him, eyeing him surreptitiously. Little did he know, Ichigo is doing the same. Both men are gauging each other.
"Visit Hime the next time you go to the capitol, she will be happy to see you." Ichigo said, with a visible blush.
"So you and Hime, huh! How long?" Grimmjow asked happily. Way too happy for Ichigo's taste.
"Two years now, I think. How about you?" He asked back. Grimmjow just smirked and teased him "Wouldn't you like to know."
"Tch!" then "Well, how about Rukia and Renji?" He asked. His face became serious, so is Grimmjow's.
Grimmjow didn't respond.
"Grimm, where's Rukia and Renji?" Ichigo prodded. His voice heavy.
"Ichigo, just…. just let them be, forget about them." Grimmjow said, without looking at him.
Ichigo stands up abruptly. "How can you say that, Grimm? They are our friends!" He shouted. Grimmjow did not respond immediately. After a few moments, he told him "Ichigo, I suggest you leave West alone. Go, focus your missions in the East. The situation there is hundred times worst that here." Grimm said, his face darkening. He stands up and face Ichigo.
The two friends looked at each other. Not one is backing down.
"Captain, a situation arises in the North, we have to go back immediately." His second Lieutenant called out.
Ichigo stared hard at Grimm "I'm not leaving them alone. If you won't help me then I will take them back myself, you can mark my word." He told Grimm and turned to leave.
Grimmjow shook his head sadly. "You don't understand, Ichigo."
A/N: Don't you love me now. Two updates in two days. It's rush so please feel free to point out the mistakes. The next one will be next week (Inshah allah). Hope you enjoy this one too.
Please review, it makes me happy and motivated to write.
