A/N: chapter 4, ready to go! Thanks everyone that gave helpful reviews and messages. You guys are awesome. Without further adieu, Read, Review, Enjoy!
i don't own bleach
Soul Society, First Division Barracks
The foyer of the Soutaichou's meeting room was filled with tension as the gathered captains waited for the large double doors to be opened. Due to the rumors that had spread like wildfire upon their return to Soul Society, all present had at least some idea of what was going on. However, the most noise that was heard was low mumbling from some of the grouped taichous.
Fresh from receiving medical treatment from squad four, Byakuya Kuchiki and Zaraki Kenpachi had heard bits and pieces of the events, however the multiple tellings and embellishing that they had heard created more questions than answers.
What really generated the tension that was being felt was the Soutaichou's urgent message that all captains were to cease whatever they had been doing and to attend an emergency meeting.
Before the tension could grow any thicker, the large doors guarding the entrance to the meeting hall slowly creaked open.
Once the captains had entered and taken their positions on either side of the long room, Soutaichou Yammamoto entered from another door, coming to stand at the head of the two lines. Slamming his cane down, he loudly said, "Silence! This meeting is now called to order."
Looking back and forth between the rows of his faithful captains, Yamamoto was not looking forward to this session. As most present had been witness to the events that had occurred, he knew that they would have already formed their opinions of the situation, and he knew several of them would be in contrast to his own.
Gathering his thoughts, he began, "While many of you were present for the events that have recently occurred, a few were not. For those few who were otherwise engaged, the facts stand that shortly after defeating Aizen, an unknown event occurred in which Ichigo Kurosaki came into possession of the Hogyoku. After demanding that he relinquish it, he refused to comply, forcing me to attack. After wounding him, I approached the substitute with the intention of removing the Hogyoku by force. It was at this moment that he released his shikai, informing us that he is now in possession of Kyoka Suigetsu."
At this, murmurs broke out amongst the captains, many expressing disapproval. After the voices had died down, Byakuya Kuchiki asked, "How can he have obtained Kyoka Suigetsu? Does he now have two zanpakutos? What was his explanation when questioned?"
"He does not have two zanpakutos. He sacrificed his original, as well as his shinigami powers, by merging with it to defeat Aizen. As for how he has both the Hogyoku and Kyoka Suigetsu, it is a mystery. He was not questioned. He was offered an opportunity to relinquish the threat that is the Hogyoku. Upon his refusal, and later release of shikai, questioning was deemed unnecessary," Yamamoto replied.
Before the Soutaichou could continue relaying the events that had occurred, the Kuchiki clan leader spoke again with a mildly surprised expression, "Ichigo Kurosaki-possibly the greatest ally that Soul Society has known-sacrificed his zanpakuto and his powers to defeat possibly the greatest enemy Soul Society has faced...and was not given a chance to explain himself? I understand our laws, so shouldn't the boy who has defeated our enemies-more times than I would care to admit-have been given a chance to speak in his defense? No matter the circumstances, was it truly necessary for him to be immediately treated as a traitor?"
His words were met with several words of agreement from other captains. He was clearly speaking the thoughts of many who had witnessed the events.
Byakuya was obviously not one for questioning the authority of the Soutaichou, nor was he the young substitute's biggest fan, however the situation being described to him was absolutely ludicrous. Yes, the circumstances were certainly suspicious, but this was Ichigo Kurosaki. This young man deserved the respect of each and every one of the members of the Gotei 13, as well as the benefit of the doubt in any situation. He had earned it.
Yamamoto, while surprised at the source of the questioning, had been expecting some measure of displeasure with his decision.
"Mind your words, Kuchiki-taichou. Shortly after defeating Aizen, he comes into possession of the treacherous forces behind an entire war? His service and efforts do not entitle him to such a corruptive power. Before anyone else speaks, I will conclude telling the events that occurred. After releasing shikai, Kurosaki and I clashed a few more times before I was attacked from the side by an Espada. Said Espada then picked up the substitute and escaped through a garganta. This meeting has been called to decide upon a course of action in response to these events."
Stepping forward, Juushiro Ukitake spoke, "Kurosaki should be given a chance to explain himself! He has always acted in Soul Society's best interests, and it would be a travesty if we simply turn our backs on him without a full accounting of the facts. The information that we currently possess is purely circumstantial."
The moment he finished, Mayuri Kurotsuchi stepped forward and responded, "Do you not find it incredibly suspicious that the boy seems to have assumed Aizen's role? He obtains the Hogyoku-a tool of limitless potential-and Kyoka Suigetsu-a zanpakuto that he used that now holds power of the majority of our captains-as well as an apparent alliance with the Espada, and we are supposed to blindly trust that person?"
"Like Juushiro just said," Shunsui Kyoraku began, "all of this is circumstantial. The Hogyoku is an amazing power, granted, but we have very little information on it. Kisuke Urahara doesn't even know it's full potential, and the only other source of information was Aizen, who has lied to us for decades. Obtaining the new zanpakuto is hard to explain, and the Espada's involvement seemed as much a shock to the boy as it was to us."
"Indeed," Retsu Unohana added. "And let us not forget what she said, 'Because you do not deserve the sacrifice he made for you.' Those are not the words of an aggressor. I feel that there is far more to this story than we are aware of."
"And his refusal to relinquish the Hogyoku?", Yamamoto challenged. While he had made a tough decision, it was one he still considered to be the only option that was guaranteed to be safe. Left alone with the Hogyoku, the young shinigami would only become stronger as time passed. Yes, he had served Soul Society well, but Aizen, Tosen, and Ichimaru had been captains! An unattached substitute shinigami was too great of a risk to simply let walk away with such powers.
"He had already mentioned that he couldn't remove it, as it was already bound to his soul", Ukitake said. "I agree that circumstances are not ideal, but we didn't even allow him a chance to explain what had happened before attacking him. I am not foolish enough to assume that we will just let him leave under such uncertainty, however I demand that we obtain more information before attacking him again."
Several captains added angry words and grunts of agreement to Ukitake's words. 'Disgraceful', 'Ludicrous', and more were audible as the gathered taichous made their displeasure known.
Yamamoto held in a growl. This was close to getting out of hand. His oldest, most reliable taichous had all made cases against his course of action, and if he didn't choose his words carefully he knew that he could have a mutiny on his hands. After all that had happened, he could not afford any of his captains turning against him. Soul Society desperately needed a unified front, and he had to find the line on which it could be achieved.
Slamming his cane down, he again shouted, "Enough! Do not forget yourselves. I will concede that more information is needed, however we cannot allow sentiment to cloud our judgment. Ichigo has served well, but he is not immune from our laws or accountability. He is possession of two of the most dangerous powers in the spiritual world, as well as in a presumed alliance with a high ranking Espada, and is under suspicion until proven otherwise."
Pausing for a moment, Yamamoto held in a sigh. The captains were not taking seriously the threat that Ichigo Kurosaki presented. He continued, "Kuchiki-taichou, Hitsugaya-taichou, you will select a team to travel to Hueco Mundo. You will find Ichigo Kurosaki and bring him back to the Seireitei for questioning by any means necessary. You will also eliminate the Espada and any other hollow threat you encounter."
"Eliminate the Espada? You do realize that it is entirely possible, actually likely that Kurosaki has befriended the being that saved his life, and we all know how he feels about his friends being attacked," Hitsugaya said, wide-eyed. The Soutaichou was clearly not backing down from his initial decision, and his orders were effectively guaranteeing a fight.
Speaking for the first time, Soi Fon said, "It is highly probable that Kurosaki will fight to defend those that saved him. All of our intel and experience with him suggests that he will fight as hard as he can to defend those he cares about. If he is indeed friends with the Espada, threatening her will undoubtedly start a fight."
This time, Yamamoto did sigh. "If Kurosaki attacks you, subdue him. Should he continue to resist, you are authorized to eliminate him along with the Espada and her fraccion. If this comes to pass, you will retrieve the Hogyoku from his body. Let us hope that he will be open to reason, and that these measures will be unnecessary."
As he finished, the room erupted into low, but heated discussion. Ukitake, Kyoraku, and Unohana saying that they believed that Ichigo should not be pushed into a corner in such a way, were joined by Byakuya and Toshiro who were talking about how they were shamefully spitting in the face of the man who consistently saved them.
"Silence!", Yamamoto shouted one last time, raising his reiatsu. Addressing Byakuya and Toshiro, he said, "You have your orders. You will leave as soon as your team is ready, and Kurotsuchi-taichou will provide you with access to a garganta. Do not allow sentiment to cause you to underestimate the threat that Kurosaki represents."
Gritting their teeth, both of the addressed captains answered, "Hai, Soutaichou."
"Dismissed," Yamamoto said, ending the meeting. Without another word, he turned and left the room in stunned silence.
XXXXXXX
Nearly an hour later, Soi Fon made her way into her office in the 2nd squad's barracks. While she had expected a meeting concerning what had happened, the session that took place was not exactly what she had in mind. Giving what amounted to an ultimatum to one of their greatest allies that they had treated as a traitor, as well as a kill order out for his rescuer...it was madness.
Sighing, she sat down at her desk. Did she think that the Hogyoku was dangerous? Yes. Was Kyoka Suigetsu a zanpakuto to be wary of? Without a doubt. Did the fact that the wielder of those two items was on friendly terms with a high ranking Espada make her concerned? Of course. However, everything about Ichigo Kurosaki shouted in defiance of the label 'traitor'. The boy was loyal to a fault, protecting those that he loves with literally everything that he is.
The dark-haired taichou was a person of unshakeable resolve. Her moral code and work ethic dictated most, if not all, of her actions. Yet...this situation seemed to push against everything that she personally stood for. Yes, orders were to be obeyed, but Ichigo had literally saved every single one of them. Shouldn't that count for something?
Soi Fon shook her head. These thoughts would get her nowhere. The Soutaichou had given his orders, which were required by law to be carried out. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she jumped out of her chair when she heard a whisper in her ear, "Tough day at the office, little bee?"
Whipping around, she saw a smirking Yoruichi standing behind her chair. "Y-Yoruichi-sama! What are you doing here?!"
"Oh, I was just in the neighborhood," she said, still smirking. However, her smirk faded as she said quietly, "I heard that there was a pretty important meeting today."
Soi Fon nodded. Knowing her mentor's relationship with the boy and his family, she knew that the questions would come sooner or later. "You had better sit down, this could take a minute."
XXXXXXX
Hueco Mundo
Tier stood at the end of the makeshift encampment that her fraccion had organized, looking out at the seemingly glowing expanse of sand. To be accurate, it wasn't so much an encampment, as it was a grouping of the quartz-like tree branches that had been gathered to sit on. Turning back to the encampment, she saw the girls sitting in a group, for once talking quietly amongst themselves.
It had been two days since they had arrived in Hueco Mundo, and the pace was slower than normal as they had made sure not to push the recovering shinigami past the level of his endurance. She had been worried about how he would hold up as she had brought them to a location several days outside of Las Noches. She wanted to allow any straggling or investigating shinigami time to clear out before they arrived.
Even so, she had to admit that she was impressed with Ichigo. Though he was clearly weakened, he never once complained or asked for help.
What bothered Tier about this was not his lack of complaining, rather it was his lack of...anything. After their initial conversations, Ichigo had slipped into a moody silence as they walked. Whenever she would cut her gaze to him, she would only see a scowl upon his lips, with the rest of his face covered by his hood.
Harribel could easily guess the source of his stress. Having recently been betrayed by one she had been so loyal to, she had been slipping into tense silences as well. Now that things had slowed, Ichigo was likely having too much free time to think on what had happened to him, and what he had lost as a result.
Tier had allowed another break for the group, as she did not want her fraccion too tired to defend themselves-should the need arise-and she wanted to provide Ichigo with a chance to begin his training, hoping to break his mood. She also had noticed a steady rise in his reiatsu, and was eager to see him in action.
While Sung-sun and Mila Rose had offered to spar with the young shinigami (Apacci's offer was simply to 'Kick his ass until he learned'), he had informed them that the spirit of his zanpakuto had claimed his initial training regiments. Shifting her gaze, she saw Ichigo several meters away, sitting with his legs crossed and his zanpakuto in his lap.
Her brow raised as she observed a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, as well as a few small cuts and bruises that had not been there before he had sat down. Continuing to watch him, she found herself intrigued at the myriad of expressions that crossed his face.
Frowns, scowls, and winces gave her the impression that Kyoka Suigetsu was quite the taskmaster. Smiling below her collar as she remembered the comments that Ichigo had relayed on Kyoka's behalf, Tier guessed that the feared zanpakuto must have a rather interesting personality.
Thoughts of Ichigo's zanpakuto spirit stirred memories within Harribel, reminding her of the time she had gained her powers and first heard Tiburon's voice.
Flashback
'The time has come, Tier Harribel. You have sworn yourself to my service, yet I need you stronger if you are to follow me. What I offer is a chance to rise beyond what you have become. You are a powerful Vasto Lorde, and we have discussed what your ideal power would be. Are you ready to obtain the strength I promised?', Aizen asked, standing before the kneeling Harribel.
'Hai, Aizen-sama,' she replied. This is what Tier had been waiting on, the entire purpose she had followed him, and she was glad that her patience was being rewarded.
She watched in awe as he held a small, glowing orb to her forehead. Suddenly, Harribel felt a pulse of energy from the orb, followed by a tidal wave of reiatsu coursing through her body. Every fiber of her being sang with an energy so intense that she was unable to distinguish whether it was agony or sheer ecstasy. However, nearly as soon as it had started, the sensation had stopped, and Harribel lost consciousness.
Waking some time later, Tier found herself lying on the cold floor of an unknown room. Looking down to her body, which was still slightly humming from her experience with the glowing orb, her eyes widened in shock as she took in what could only be described as a shocking transformation.
Smooth, tanned, almost uninterrupted skin was visible, with only remnants of her hierro covering her breasts and forearms. She noticed a skirt of the same material, as well as what felt to be boots that came to her knees. Tier had not seen her skin-aside from reflections of that around her eyes-since she had been alive. Feeling her face, she realized that she no longer even had a mask.
Looking at the blade that was once her right hand, she noted that this blade-this much longer and more powerful blade-simply covered her hand, meaning that she actually had two hands now.
Slowly standing, the humming in her body calmed. Harribel felt...strong. While the subtle sensations had stopped, there was no denying the power that flowed through her entirety. Her mind felt deeper, her reflexes sharper, yet she felt a draining fatigue seeping into her consciousness.
'Welcome to your ideal, Tier Harribel.'
Turning, she met the gaze of Aizen, who was sitting on a large white chair in the middle of the room. Though her mind felt deeper, she was confused. She knew that she had become stronger, yet she also was vaguely aware that she was no longer a Vasto Lorde. 'Aizen-sama? What...am I?'
'You are an arrancar, the highest evolution of your kind. Quite a powerful one, I might add. While I am sure that you have many questions, I am aware that you must be quite exhausted, and you will be allowed to rest soon. All that remains for you to do is to seal your powers to avoid destruction within Las Noches.'
'Seal my powers?', the blonde arrancar asked, confusion evident on her face.
'Correct. With your current level of power, you would cause devastation wherever you went, simply by proximity. The other arrancar that are at your level have sealed their powers into swords, much like a shinigami's zanpakuto. While it cannot be sentient, as ours are, it will still allow you to peacefully interact with the world around you. The sword will simply provide you a focus on which to seal and release your powers when needed. All you must do is concentrate on your powers, visualize them into something tangible, then simply force it into existence by pushing them outside of yourself. Do you understand?'
Tier nodded. She could easily understand the necessity, as she currently felt powerful enough to bend steel with only her fingertips. Focusing on her powers, she was able to feel different...pieces? No, that wasn't right. Aspects? She wasn't sure how to describe it, yet she could feel different components of her power. Focusing on them, she began to push them through her right hand.
After a few moments of considerable strain, the blade that she had been holding changed. Opening her now thoroughly fatigued eyes, she noticed a short, hollowed blade. The glistening metal reflected her teal eyes back to her, and the grip felt warm in her hands.
She also noticed that some of the pieces of hierro that had been covering her had changed. While the pieces over her breasts were still there, she felt the mask over her face had returned. What was missing though, was the hierro skirt and boots, leaving her lower half exposed.
'Well done, Tier Harribel. There are clothes behind you. You may go rest now, as there has been a room prepared for you. Do take some time when you awake to name your new blade, to give yourself an easier time in releasing.'
Weakly nodding as she dressed, Tier said, 'Hai. Thank you, Aizen-sama,' leaving the room immediately after.
Tier laid down on the bed in what was now her room within Aizen's fortress, Las Noches. Today had been one of the most inexplicable and exhausting days of her existence, however, she could not complain.
Her entire being had been transformed into a powerful arrancar, yet what she was most pleased with-aside from the fact that she could now protect her fraccion-was that she didn't feel that she had lost any of her 'self'.
'Were you expecting something different?', a voice asked dryly.
'Who is there?', Tier asked, sitting up and whipping her head from side to side. She couldn't detect any reiatsu signatures in the area, but the voice was clear.
'Calm down, Tier. There is no need to panic. You've gone through a lot today, and you don't need to push yourself any harder,' the voice replied gently.
Reaching over to her bedside, she grasped the newly formed blade. 'Who is there? Where are you? I will not ask again.'
'Look down to your hand, do you see what's in it?,' the voice asked. Tier was certain that she heard a sigh.
'My sword? What is your purpose in pointing out my sword?', Harribel asked, confused and still looking around the room.
'I am answering your question. You asked who and where I am. Look to your hand and you will have your answer.'
'How is my sword the answer?' Tier growled. Her exhaustion and confusion were making her quite irritable, and the voice was not helping.
'I will be kind, as you are exhausted and your mind isn't functioning properly. I am your sword, Tier Harribel,' the voice said in a manner that clearly showed its distaste for having to explain itself.
Harribel knew that she must be hallucinating. Aizen-sama had clearly stated that her sword would not be sentient. It seemed that the exhaustion was taking a much heavier toll than she thought.
'Or, it could simply be that Aizen was wrong,' the voice said, reverting back to the initial dry tone.
'What do you mean? How can you be my sword? I simply forced my highest powers outside of my body, sealing them into a sword. How can that be sentient?'
'You speak of your powers as if they are simple accessories that you can add or remove at whim. Do you not realize that I, an external manifestation of your powers, am actually a part of you? You have essentially placed part of your being, your soul into the form of a sword, therefore the question I would ask is: How could I be anything but sentient? Did you expect a piece of metal to simply respond to your call?'
Tier sat in stunned silence. Could this be true? What did it mean? She had to admit that it made a certain amount of sense. Her powers being an extension of her was much more believable than them being arbitrary pieces of her, thus lending credence to the notion of her blade having an awareness of its own.
'Do not think on this too hard, Tier. Though we have two separate identities, we make up a whole. As I am a part of you, it will be nigh impossible for us to not learn each other. Rest now, for we have nothing but time ahead of us.'
Nodding to herself, Tier thought, 'Right, nothing but time ahead of us.' After a moment though, the arrancar frowned.
'One last question,' she said out loud.
'Yes?'
'What do I call you?'
The voice paused, seemingly in thought. After a moment, it responded, 'Tiburon...my name is Tiburon.'
End Flashback
Tier thought fondly on that memory. It had been the beginning of a rather interesting addition to her life. The spirit within her sword had a unique personality-often times acting in the exact opposite manner that Harribel did-as well as a dry, sometimes antagonistic, sense of humor. While she often got onto the blonde Espada's last nerve, Tiburon had quickly become a welcome constant in her life.
Harribel was never one for rash behavior or a visible temper-well, for the most part-, yet she found Tiburon's blunt and forward nature to be helpful from time to time. Whether it was dealing with her fraccion's constant bickering, or being the voice of reason as she was just after Tier had awakened in the fake Karakura town, the less-than-tactful spirit had been a faithful partner.
"I can never really see you as the slave-to-nostalgia type," the subject of her thoughts interrupted. "While I appreciate you recognizing how much you need me, I am curious as to our new obsession's progress."
Narrowing her eyes, Tier replied in her mind, "Enjoying a memory is not being subservient to nostalgia. Ichigo's communion with his zanpakuto spirit simply reminded me of the time that I had first met you. And you are mistaken, as I am not obsessed with him. You are, however, still as irritating now as you were back then."
She could almost feel the spirit of her blade roll her eyes.
"Pretend and deny all you wish, I simply say what is in your mind. Ichigo is quite mysterious, and you are intrigued. He is quite a fine specimen, I will admit, and if his amazing reiatsu growth rate is anything to go by, he will be incredibly powerful very soon."
Tier ignored most of the comments, and simply chose to hum in acknowledgement of Tiburon's last statement. Ichigo was going to become quite powerful again, indeed. While a part of her was glad of the fact that his sacrifice did not cost him as much as it could, the idea of his coming powers gave her a moment of pause.
'What are you going to be when you regain your powers, Ichigo Kurosaki?'
Sighing, she slightly shook her head as she watched him wince again and a streak of blood appear on his chest.
'Only time will tell.'
XXXXXXXXXXX
The sounds of metal repeatedly clashing echoed across the starlit ruins on Ichigo's inner world, often followed by curses and shouts.
Ichigo had learned quickly that Kyoka Suigetsu was not a gentle teacher. When he had questioned her about her shocking intensity, she grabbed the edges of his shihakksho and pulled him close to her, stared into his eyes and stated, "Because I am now within the soul I've always desired. You are my home, Ichigo, and I will protect my home in whatever manner necessary."
While her tutelage was brutal, he had to admit that she was a brilliant teacher. It was her attention to detail that provided the most help. They were currently working on adapting Ichigo's stances to suit her blade...at least, that's what Kyoka was attempting.
As his reiatsu was still replenishing, she decided to cover the basics until they could move onto mastering her powers. Though she could not deny that he was a fast learner, Ichigo had gained several painful welts after multiple failed attempts to follow her instructions.
"Don't spread your feet so far apart! For the thousandth time, my blade is shorter than Zangetsu's and you need to be able to quickly make any shifts or steps your situation requires. Again!", Kyoka shouted, making her wielder grimace and curse loudly as she knocked him on his back yet again.
Watching his moves, Kyoka is simultaneously impressed and disappointed 'He is getting the moves down, it seems, but something isn't fully clicking. His form is getting better and better, and he even looks graceful at some points, but it's disjointed.'
Ichigo growled as he was sent to the ground. He was growing more and more frustrated. For every correction he made, Kyoka seemed to find two more areas that needed improvement. He was informed that his stances were sloppy, his reactions lax, and he didn't pay attention to his opponents moves.
In reality, it was difficult for him to concentrate, seeing those sapphire eyes analyzing him. Every time he prepared to swing, he would recall the shared memories of her pain at the hands of Aizen and lose his resolve. He had promised to protect her, to never allow her to go through such pain again, and while a simple spar was a far cry from Aizen's cruelty, treating her as an opponent and searching for ways to harm her felt wrong.
Getting to his feet, Ichigo decided to try another tactic: defense. Instead of frustrating both himself and Kyoka by his lack of offensive attacking, he could focus on his defense and counter moves. This would help him avoid the distractions of Kyoka's pain, but show her that he was indeed trying. Settling into a stance with his feet slightly wider than his shoulders, Ichigo readied himself for the next attack.
Wasting no time, Kyoka approached Ichigo and brought her blade up to slash at his chest. She watched, pleased as his revised stance allowed him to quickly pivot back, absorbing her strike with his own version of her blade.
Ichigo then surprised her, quickly shifting his weight to one side and drawing her off balance. However, instead of capitalizing on her misstep, Ichigo hopped back a step and readied himself into a stance once more.
'Still a little sloppy, but hopefully he's finally starting to get serious.' Kyoka readied herself again, crouching low with her blade held horizontally in front of her. She was not fighting seriously yet, but if Ichigo kept progressing so quickly, she would be. Springing forward, she raised her blade, only to bring it down at his shoulder. Ichigo barely blocked her attack, shifting his feet and moving just out of striking range.
Pressing forward, Kyoka made a series of small jabs in an effort to get Ichigo off balanced. The tactic seemed to be working, so she changed her footwork, using her body's movements to distract Ichigo from her blade. While she knew her attack was an effective strategy, and that Ichigo was not used to the fighting style required for her sword, she could sense a hesitation in his movements. Looking to his face, she saw concern mixed with the frustration in his eyes.
Narrowing her eyes, Kyoka quickly deduced the reason for his actions. 'He had better pray that I am wrong. I swear, I will beat him within an inch of his life if this is the case.'
Jumping back a few yards and standing up straight, Kyoka decided to test her theory and called out, "Hogyoku! Can you come assist us for a moment?"
A moment later, the white, humanoid spirit stepped into the sparring ground. "I can assist for a moment, then I must return to managing Ichigo's reiatsu intake. How may I help?", he asked in his usual monotone.
"Will you help Ichigo spar for a moment? I wish to observe his movements and stances," Kyoka said, placing her blade into the spirit's hands.
"Very well," Hogyoku said, accepting the blade. "Ichigo, prepare yourself as I will not be lenient on you. I agree with Kyoka's reasoning, and will do anything necessary to protect you, including hurting you in training to make you better. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, I got it," Ichigo said. He tightened his grip on his blade, ready to attack. While he held no animosity against Hogyoku in the least, Ichigo did not feel the same hesitations against him as he did with Kyoka and looked forward to releasing some of his pent up frustration.
Leaping forward, Ichigo slammed his sword onto Hogyoku's. With no hesitation, he raised his blade again and continued through a series of strikes mostly aimed at Hogyoku's sides. Pressing forward, Ichigo finally felt that he was beginning to hold his own until he was too eager to land a hit and left his right side open after a heavy swing. He barely had time to brace himself before he felt a knee slam into his torso, knocking him back several feet.
"Eagerness born of frustration will only bring you injury, Ichigo. Concentrate on your opponent. Refraining from making mistakes and having an awareness of your battle environment will help you to find your opening," Hogyoku said sagely before readying himself to attack again.
Ichigo nodded as he took a deep breath. Pressing forward, Ichigo began a complex series of swings and thrusts that Kyoka had been teaching him. He had noticed that his speed was increasing along with his reiatsu replenishment, and was using it in hopes of catching Hogyoku off guard. After another clash, they separated a few paces before the humanoid spirit attacked again.
Assuming a ready stance, Ichigo caught Hogyoku's descending blade with his own, momentarily locking their swords together. As Ichigo shifted his weight again, the force that Hogyoku was placing behind his blade carried him forward and just slightly off balance.
Recognizing an opportunity, Ichigo returned the earlier strike and kneed Hogyoku sharply in the abdomen. Using his momentum, Ichigo brought his elbow down on the bent back of his opponent, pushing him to the floor. Hogyoku rolled, coming to his feet a few meters away.
"Well done, Ichigo. You are learning quickly."
Jumping back, Ichigo let a small grin spread on his lips. He was glad to know that even though his reiatsu was still not where it should be, his fighting skills were still serving him well. His grin was short lived, though, as he saw Kyoka storming up to him with a murderous look on her face.
Before he could speak, she reared back and punched him in the stomach, doubling him over. Kyoka grabbed two handfuls of his hair as his head came down, and brought her knee up to catch him in the face, flipping him onto his back with a loud huff as the air was forced from his lungs. Straddling his body, she sat on his hips and grabbed the edges of his haori, dragging him up to her face.
"What was that?!", she screamed. "I have been fighting with you for hours, with you giving me nothing but defensive moves and counters, yet when Hogyoku fights you...you..."
Unable to finish her thought, she roughly pushed Ichigo back down to the ground and punched him again.
Dazed, Ichigo shook his head to clear his mind and try to regain his bearings. Opening his eyes, he was looking up into the face of his zanpakuto spirit that was clouded in fury and pain. "Kyoka, I was just trying to..."
"Just trying to what?! Show me that you think I am weak? Prove to me that you don't respect me as your zanpakuto? What, Ichigo? What were you trying to show me?!"
Kyoka was losing her composure, fighting off an overwhelming mixture of panic and fury. Their bond was still too new, too fresh, and the feelings that she was experiencing were far stronger because of it.
Her panic now was because this was far too similar to what had happened with Sosuke. He had pushed her away little by little until she was nothing more than a piece of metal to him, and now Ichigo...the one she had finally found a true home within...was doing the same thing and it absolutely terrified her.
'What?! No!' Ichigo pushed himself up onto his elbows and, speaking almost too fast to be heard, he said, "No! Kyoka, that's not it at all. I just remember what happened to you, what you went through, and the promise that I made to you. I swore I'd protect you! I know you're not weak, and I am proud to have you as my zanpakuto. "
Allowing the breath that she had been holding in to escape, Kyoka's body sagged as the tension drained from it. She brought her head forward, resting her forehead on Ichigo's. "Then why do you not treat me as if you are proud to wield me? You told me you would only accept me if we became partners, yet you seem to see me as some delicate doll that has to be shielded from the world. Ichigo, what happened to me was because I was seen as weak, as unnecessary. I do not need a protector, I need a wielder...I need a partner."
Ichigo's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. He wanted to hit himself too for being such a fool and not realizing that she did not need, nor want to be treated like she was made of glass. Kyoka was a zanpakuto, and one of the most fearsome at that. Recalling the memories she had shown him, he realized that all of her pain was a product of her being cast aside and put into the background.
Acknowledging his thoughts, she asked, "Do you see now, Ichigo? For decades, centuries even, I have had an incredibly different...existence. I cannot tell you the last time that Sosuke had come to simply speak to me. He shut me out of his consciousness, and the times that we actually did speak, he would not even meet my eyes as he relayed orders and manipulated my powers."
Kyoka paused, trying to regain herself. Leaning back slightly, she met his eyes. "You have no idea how much you have changed in just a few days. You talk to me, acknowledging me as important. When we speak, you always meet my eyes, making me feel respected and appreciated. Ichigo, you even allow me to touch you. Do you remember what I told you happens when I touch someone? Their soul...their entire being is an open book to me. The fact that you willingly, if quite shyly, allow me to touch you is an incredibly deep sign of trust and acceptance. It is why I entrusted you with my shikai after only knowing you for a matter of hours. You prove yourself daily to be the wielder I have always desired, but then I see you holding yourself back...treating me as if I were made of glass..."
Closing his eyes, Ichigo took a deep breath. Opening them again, he looked into his zanpakuto's wounded gaze. "Kyoka...I...I'm sorry. I only wanted to protect you, to keep you from harm. I know you are an incredibly strong zanpakuto, and I am so sorry that I made you feel that I do not respect you as my partner. Please forgive me. I promise, I will show you that I truly do respect you and your powers, and that I am proud to be your wielder."
Kyoka stared at him for a long moment. She couldn't deny the truth in his words, as she could sense his thoughts. She knew it was mostly innocence and naïveté that caused his actions, but Kyoka would take no chances when she had finally gained a partner who could give her more than just a subservient existence. She had to admit that it would be interesting to see how their bond developed as they continued to learn each other.
Ichigo's thoughts, his true feelings rang in his words. It helped to quell the fears and intense feelings she had been experiencing recently. Even the jealousy she had been feeling recently had been borne mostly of fear for the newly established bond that they had.
Gently touching his face, she said, "It's ok, Ichigo. Your protective nature is what drew me to you in the first place. Just remember that I am your partner, as is Hogyoku. We are all going to be bound together for quite a long time, and we want to protect you as much as you want to protect us. We are strong, but together we can go much farther than that."
"I won't forget, I promise," he said quietly, relieved to see a small smile appear on her lips. Shifting his weight to get more comfortable, Ichigo quickly realized the position they were in. Feeling Kyoka's warm body against his, Ichigo felt his face rapidly heat up. Starting to stammer and stutter, his face warmed even more when she started lightly laughing.
Noticing the tension in her wielder, Kyoka looked down to see a deep red blush on Ichigo's face. Seeing how she was sitting, she instantly knew why he was blushing and couldn't stop the laughter that burst from her lips.
'This is yet another reason that I know I made the right choice with him. He is too cute. Even after seeing his memories, as good looking as he is, I find it hard to believe that he is so innocent around girls. Still, it's good to know that my wielder is such a good man.'
Placing her palm to his cheek, she started to stand as she said, "Relax, Ichigo. Now come, we have a little more training to do. Very soon, your reiatsu will be high enough to start training with my true powers, but I want you capable with my blade before that."
XXXXXXXX
After another few rounds of training with Kyoka, and several more welts for Ichigo, she let him return to the outer world. She had become much happier, as Ichigo had pushed himself to his limits, fighting her as vigorously as he could. The spirited zanpakuto had still put him on his backside far more than he cared to admit, but he was catching on quickly.
Opening his eyes, Ichigo was surprised to immediately meet Tier's teal gaze. Taking in his surroundings, he realized that they were still at the encampment, and that the blonde Espada was sitting several feet away from him, mirroring his position. Ichigo made sure to keep eye contact, as he did not want to have to explain why he would have been blushing.
"It would appear that you have had quite an interesting training session," she said, breaking the silence and slightly raising her brow.
Harribel had actually been looking forward to his awakening from his resting state for some time now. Between her fraccion's presence, Ichigo's tense silences, and her constant attention to any possible threats around them, there had been no time that seemed appropriate for speaking with him. Though Tier knew that she (presumably Ichigo as well) was not what one would consider loquacious, the blonde Espada was glad of the chance to unravel the enigma that was Ichigo Kurosaki.
Lowering his hood backwards and scratching the back of his head, Ichigo sheepishly replied, "Yeah, turns out that Kyoka can be really...enthusiastic sometimes."
Noticing the scratches and cuts on his skin, Tier understood what he meant. Nodding once, she said, "I can see that. Having a spirit that will push you to your limits can be a good thing. She can help you become stronger."
Ichigo smirked slightly as he nodded in agreement. 'As long as she doesn't kill me for being an idiot first.'
"I would never kill you, dear Ichigo. However, should we encounter more foolishness like you showed today, you'll discover just how much you can actually live through," Kyoka said quietly in his mind.
Turning his focus back to Harribel, Ichigo realized that this was the first time he had gotten a chance to be in a normal conversation with the stoic arrancar. While she was not necessarily saying much, the fact that the reserved Espada was attempting casual conversation with him was something that he assumed was positive.
Actually, Ichigo was quite curious about his rescuer. He had to admit that she was intriguing. Her quiet, stoic nature was paired with an obviously sharp mind and firm will. She quickly and easily kept her fraccion in line, yet it never seemed to be through fear. The three other women in the group looked at Tier with a sense of reverence and awe.
Then there were the...other aspects. Ichigo could not deny, (though of course he'd never admit out loud) that Harribel was an incredibly beautiful woman. He had never been romantically involved with anyone, nor was he searching a relationship out, yet he could not help but be aware of her.
Even with most of her face covered, anyone with sight could see her beauty. The messy blonde hair which seemed perfectly suitable for her. Her large, teal eyes seemed as if they could pierce through to the soul. Her physique, while most definitely feminine, hinted at her strength. The rich, deep alto voice that was soothing to hear. Her clothing-though revealing-created a different, more mysterious presence than someone like Matsumoto, who simply did it for attention. Even her scent, a clean, ocean-like fragrance that filled his senses whenever he was close to her, claimed his attention.
'You do realize, don't you, that while you're simply staring at and gawking over her, she is waiting for you to contribute to the conversation? Snap out of it and talk to the woman who rescued you!", Kyoka shouted. She grimaced as she realized that Ichigo was hopeless in social situations.
Unaware of the young shinigami's internal thoughts and dialogue, Tier sat still and waited for...something. She was not used to 'normal' conversation, yet she thought her last statement was a little more open-ended than what a smirk and stare provided. Did he not wish to speak with her? Before she could think any further, the orange haired man in front of her winced before he finally responded.
Startled out of his thoughts by his zanpakuto's shout, Ichigo quickly realized that he had indeed been gawking at Tier. Trying to find something to say, he simply blurted out the first thing that came to mind, (which he would immediately wish to better planned).
"So...uh...what's it like to be an arrancar?"
The moment he finished speaking, he heard Kyoka's palm smack her face in his inner world, as well as Hogyoku commenting on the importance of thinking before speaking. Still looking at Tier, he saw her eyes slightly widen and her raised brow continue even further upwards. Realizing that he sounded like a complete idiot, he tried to immediately fix it by continuing to speak.
"What I mean is...well, I was wondering...you know, living here in Hueco Mundo...it must be interesting, and..."
"Oh Ichigo, just shut up. You're not helping yourself," Kyoka muttered, her voice slightly muffled as her palm was still over her face.
Tier simply stared for a moment at the tongue-tied man in front of her. 'Why is he having such a difficult time speaking? Is it that hard to have a conversation with me?'
An amused Tiburon decided to help her confused partner. "Haha, oh this is adorable. It's obvious, Tier, that he's not used to talking to women he is attracted to. He's clearly trying to find some way to get a conversation going, so help the poor boy out."
Tier was stunned for a moment. 'Attracted? You are claiming that he is...'
"Stop asking me stupid questions and talk to him!"
Blinking, she turned her attention back to the stammering shinigami in front of her. Seeing the blush on his face made her question what Tiburon had said, however she decided to respond to his convoluted question.
"Interesting is one way to describe life in Hueco Mundo. Much of any hollow's life, whether Gillian or Espada, is based around some form of survival. As you have no doubt discovered on your recent visit to our world, the sands of Hueco Mundo are quite unforgiving. The only thing that can match one's desire to survive is another's desire to attain power."
Ichigo stared for a moment as she spoke. Aside from her mesmerizing voice, she spoke very eloquently. Still, he could definitely understand what she meant. After meeting many different hollows when he came to rescue Orihime, he had seen both the desperate desire to survive as well as the ruthless pursuit of power.
"Well...you really don't seem the power-hungry type, so I am assuming that you are the kind of person that focuses on survival?", Ichigo asked.
Though she was an Espada, he could not see the blonde haired woman in front of him as the same type of creature as Grimmjow or Nnoitra. They had been desperate to prove their strength, eager to throw lives away to gain power, yet Tier had saved his life before they had even met.
"You would be correct," Harribel replied, blinking in surprise. Though she didn't express it, Tier felt an instant rush if gratitude towards Ichigo. Even knowing what she was, he did not immediately assume that she was some mindless monster as was the common response hollows received. He couldn't know anything about her, yet he was giving her a chance to show that she was more then what everyone assumed hollows to be...that she was an actual person.
"So...how did you become an Espada? I know when Aizen came here he pretty much took over, did he recruit you?", he asked. He was curious as to why she had joined a monster like him, particularly since she was so unlike the other arrancar he had encountered.
"In a manner of speaking," Tier replied quietly. Though she did not particularly like recalling that time in her life, she had to admit that it would be nice to talk with someone who was not involved and clearly not judgmental of her. Deciding to keep it basic, only giving broad strokes on what had happened, she continued.
"When I was still a Vasto Lorde, Barragan was king of Hueco Mundo. He had tried multiple times to recruit me, and each time I refused, even injuring some of his subordinates when they tried to force me. Shortly after his last attempt, one of the hollows I had injured tracked my fraccion. His powers had grown exponentially, and he quickly put them down. He was about to kill me when Aizen interfered. He quickly dispatched what he called an arrancar, and then offered me the power to protect my fraccion. I admit that I did not wish to join him, but it was the only way to keep them safe. He later held the Hogyoku to my head, and when I awoke, I was an Espada. After that, I vowed to follow him in payment of that debt."
Ichigo stared at her in awe. He could easily understand her reasoning. How many times had he gotten stronger to protect his friends? While he considered his own past, her last statement replayed in his mind. Did this mean that she had been unable to repay her debt? Had Ichigo interfered with her vow? If so, then why did she save him? Why was she protecting him as he regained his strength?
"Why did you save me? I know what you said before, but I don't understand what you meant," Ichigo asked, looking deeply into her gaze, trying to gauge anything he could to understand the woman in front of him.
Tier was quiet for a moment. It was a valid question. As far as Ichigo knew, the Espada were all unswervingly loyal to Aizen and his enemies.
Returning his gaze, she answered, "As I said before, I am someone who appreciates your sacrifice. After Aizen betrayed me, cutting me down, I followed you as you dragged him by his face. Witnessing most of your battle, I heard your explanation of what you did...of what you forfeited...and felt compelled to honor that sacrifice."
Ichigo did not know what to say. She had seen him giving up his shinigami powers, and wanted to protect him for it? He couldn't say that he understood, but his mind was drawn to the theme that she kept bringing up, sacrifice.
"Why is sacrifice so important to you? I remember when I was in my final fight with Ulquiorra, he continually mentioned the pointlessness of 'heart' and that he wanted to show me true despair. It seemed that the emptiness of being lower than him was his obsession. Is that similar to what sacrifice is to you?"
Harribel's eyes widened. 'He is much more perceptive than I thought. Dare I tell him? It would be a way to find out his true feelings and intentions.'
"Worried he won't like you as much if he knows you have an aspect of death? He knows you're an Espada, yet treats you no differently because of it. He knows you followed Aizen willingly, yet essentially trusts you with his life. What more does he have to do for you to believe him?", Tiburon said.
Deciding to ignore her sword's spirit, Tier made her decision. Looking away and speaking quietly, she said, "Each Espada had an aspect of death. Yes, sacrifice is important to me and is my aspect. I have sacrificed myself for my fraccion, and gained my power for their protection. When I saw what you did, both against Aizen and in your previous time in Hueco Mundo, I could not ignore it. Your actions spoke to my very nature, and I couldn't allow them to go unanswered."
When she finished, Tier stood up and started to walk away. She didn't know what had come over her, as she had never been so open with anyone before, but she did not like the feeling of vulnerability that it generated.
Quickly getting to his feet, Ichigo hurried after her. He didn't know why she had gotten up to leave, but he didn't want her to think he was ungrateful. Also, he wasn't going to give up the chance to talk to someone who seemed to understand a part of him that no one else was able to.
"Wait! Don't go...", he started, about to reach for her shoulder. When he drew close, the blonde Espada stopped, turning to face him. When he finally stopped, he realized that they were standing barely an arm's length apart.
"I didn't mean to offend you or anything," Ichigo began, quickly drawing his hand back. "I just want to know more about you...who you are, and what you're like. I'm sorry if I pushed too far, but I am glad that you told me about yourself. I mean, it's...nice...to have someone who understands. Besides all of that though, I wanted to tell you...thank you. I truly appreciate what you did for me, and I will never forget it."
He knew that he had thanked her before, but after hearing what she had said, what she had felt, he knew that he needed to reiterate his gratitude.
Tier's eyes widened slightly. Ichigo was not only accepting of who she was, but he openly appreciated a connection that they appeared to have? Add that to the fact that he said he wanted to know more about her, but with no specific purpose? She detected no harmful intent or deceit within his words, which served to make her even more concerned.
She felt confused, unused to the feelings that she was experiencing at the moment. There was warmth at the ideas of sharing such a core connection of who she is with someone else, as well as the seemingly unconditional acceptance that he offered. There was also a sense of excitement at the fact that this incredible being was wanting to know more about her...simply to know.
The feelings were enhanced as the proximity to the young shinigami brought his scent into Tier's consciousness. The earthy, spiced scent triggered her memory in a vague manner that made her think of her life prior to her existence as a hollow. Clearing her mind of the confusing thoughts, she turned to where her fraccion were sitting and called out, "We are leaving, follow along."
Turning back, Tier waited until they had both started walking before she responded to his statement of thanks, "You are welcome, Ichigo."
Seeing him smile slightly at her words, Harribel decided that she wasn't ready for her time of talking to Ichigo to be over after all. Wanting to sate her curiosity, she asked, "I understand that you were a human. How did you come to possess shinigami and hollow powers? Not only that, how did you end up as the shinigami's savior?"
Walking in step beside her, Ichigo scratched the back of his head and said, "Ahh, that's a bit of a long story."
"We have plenty of time before we reach Las Noches," was her simple reply.
Chuckling, Ichigo said, "I suppose you're right. Well, I've always been able to see ghosts. One night, the spirit that I saw was a shinigami who had come into my house..."
Tier found herself mesmerized as Ichigo continued his story. His recollections of gaining his shinigami powers, invading Soul Society and facing Aizen for the first time, fighting Bounts, and even his journey into Hueco Mundo showed her just how quickly this boy had been forced to become a man. She could tell that he was not elaborating, or boasting, as the emotions were plain on his face, and the pain she saw as he described things such as his battles with Ulquiorra and the loss of Zangetsu was far too real.
"... then I heard a woman shout 'Cascada!', and after watching the old man get knocked around by the biggest tidal wave I'd ever seen, well you know as much as I do about what happened after that," Ichigo finished a few hours later with a smirk. It had been a lot of talking, but he had found that it was much different-almost cathartic- when it was with someone who understood his mindset.
"It was a rather impressive attack, wasn't it?", Tier said a calmly, smiling under her jacket as Ichigo chuckled again. She was pleased to know that her attempt at humor had been successful.
However, as she thought through what all she had just heard, she was torn between fierce anger and the desire to actually laugh out loud. Fury at the shinigami for their betrayal after their constant need for Ichigo to sort out their own messes, and humor at the stories of Ichigo with his family and shinigami friends.
It was strange, as many parts of his life were incredibly relatable for her, yet others were unbelievably foreign. She understood the stress and strife of being a warrior with a sense of duty to others, yet could only imagine what it was like to have a loving family that you are simply a part of, or to spend time just being silly with friends.
"You have had quite an interesting life, Ichigo Kurosaki. I thank you for sharing with me what you have."
"Of course," he replied while still smiling. He had inexplicably found himself doing that more and more as he talked to her. "I have to admit that I really don't do it very often, but it is good to actually talk to someone who is like me. I've always felt a bit of a disconnect with the people around me because they don't really understand the overwhelming drive to protect others."
"Speaking of which," Tier started, "where did you get your desire to protect? A part of mine came from seeing female hollows being dominated and walked over by male ones, as well as what I have told you about sacrifice. Your drive is quite strong, and must have started some time ago."
Harribel regretted her question the moment she saw Ichigo's face fall. 'It must be something bad. Why did I have to ask that? Everything was going quite well until just now.'
"I apologize, Ichigo, and did not mean to offend. Do not feel obligated to answer..."
"No, it's ok, Harribel-san. You're right, it has been a long time, but it's something that will always be a painful subject," Ichigo replied.
Though he despised talking about 'that day', he had to admit that Tier had been quite open about her own driving forces, and it was only fair that he give his story. He couldn't help his trepidation though, as the piteous responses that were always generated were nearly as bad as reliving the memories themselves.
"Do not worry, Ichigo, she is not the type to show overt pity. Remember, she has much in common with you, and wouldn't use the information against you," Kyoka said in an effort to soothe her wielder.
'Thanks, Kyoka. Wait...how do you all of that?,' Ichigo asked, successfully distracted.
"Do you not remember when you first met her? She was touching my blade," Kyoka replied.
'Ah, I see. Ok. Thank you, Kyoka,' Ichigo thought, with a warming sensation in his chest being her response. Turning his attention to Tier, he noticed that she was looking away.
Gathering up his resolve, he took a deep breath and began, "Harribel-san, my drive to protect reached the level that it did when I was nine years old. One night, my mother and I were walking home in the rain when I saw a young girl standing by a riverbank. Seeing that she was in danger, I quickly rushed to help her. The last thing I remember was my mother screaming my name. When I came to, my mother's bloody body was on top of me, shielding me. See, the little girl was actually the lure of a sadistic hollow named Grand Fisher. I fell for his trap, and my mother died protecting me from my mistake. That was when I swore that, from then on, I would protect any and everyone close to me with every fiber of myself, fighting to keep them from experiencing the pain that my family and I did."
Tier had stopped and was looking at Ichigo with wide eyes. She had never suspected that Ichigo would have gone through such trauma. However, the fact that he not only survived it, but came out with such a desire to protect those around him was incredible. She could hear the pain in his voice, but the strength that accompanied it was evident as well, causing her to feel a wave of sadness for him.
Sensing his discomfort, and (knowing what she did of his personality) most likely a desire to avoid pity, she simply said, "I am sorry that you had to experience that Ichigo, but I am grateful for the way you responded to it, and I appreciate you sharing your story with me."
While Harribel was very pleased with the conversation she had just had with Ichigo, her mind was filled with various thoughts and questions. Attempting to sort through the quagmire that was now her mind, she increased her walking pace in an effort to give herself time and room to think.
Ichigo simply nodded at her words, grateful for the lack of sad glances or overly comforting words. He watched as Tier remained silent and began walking faster, but was too preoccupied with thoughts about the blonde arrancar that he had just shared more of his life with than he had with anyone before.
After a few minutes of walking in silence, Ichigo caught a few traded insults between the fraccion following now closely behind. He couldn't help but look back and chuckle, as they were getting pretty creative in their insults. His laughter was short-lived, though, as he had forgotten what had happened the previous time he had openly laughed at their insults.
"What are you looking at, berry-head?!", Apacci shouted. "Now that you're done harassing and flirting with Mistress Harribel, are you gonna try to make a move on us?"
Ichigo's face quickly flushed at the implication as he shouted, "W-What?! What the hell are you talking about? I didn't...I wasn't harassing or flirting with anyone!"
'Dammit, why did I laugh?!'
Hogyoku made Ichigo want to grit his teeth as he simply said, "Because you have an amusing penchant for speaking before you actually think."
'Shut up! I couldn't help it!'
His blushing and embarrassed reaction drew smirks and raised eyebrows from all three fraccion.
Tier, who was walking several paces ahead of the group, slightly grimaced as she heard him take their bait. Her fraccion, now professionals at insults and teasing, had apparently welcomed him into their group by making him an equal target in their banter.
Though she was finding herself growing fonder of Ichigo's presence, she could not deny the potential humor. His blushing and stammering was becoming more and more endearing, thus she decided to let the girls have their fun.
'Oh Ichigo, you do not know the snare you have just walked into.'
Mila Rose, seeing an easy opportunity to further fluster the young shinigami, decided to have some fun. She donned a scandalized look and said, "But you didn't deny that you were going to try to make a move on us! Why, Ichigo, was this your plan all along? You stayed with us so that you could take advantage of we gentle maidens when you got stronger?"
"Oh my," Sung-sun said with a smirk behind her sleeve, "Is this true, Ichigo? Have you simply been waiting for the right moment to seduce us?"
Ichigo's intensified stuttering and blushing elicited a round of laughter from the fraccion. However, he quickly found his voice after a loudly laughing Apacci piggy-backed off of their statements, "That's what the hood must be for! He found a way to leer at us and to plan how he was going to make his move on us gentle maidens!"
The moment she finished, he flatly replied, "Don't flatter yourself. You're as much of a gentle maiden as Grimmjow was."
The look on Apacci's face sent the other two fraccion into hysterical laughter. In his mind, Kyoka was giggling, and even Harribel released a quiet chuckle. The horned arrancar's shock broke quickly, though, and she was soon yelling at the top of her lungs.
"You bastard! What would you know?! Did you try to make Grimmjow your maiden? With your crazy hair and girly name, I would have guessed that you preferred the other way around!"
Her comment was met with the sound of choking as Mila Rose and Sung-sun covered their mouths. They wanted to laugh, but Ichigo's reaction was not something that they could predict. He had been a good sport thus far, giving as well as he took, but was Apacci crossing the line? They sighed in relief, though, quickly followed by hysterical laughter at the shinigami's reply.
Ichigo's eyes went as wide as saucers. Before he could stammer, Kyoka's quiet voice spoke in his mind, making him blush and smirk.
Looking at the enraged Apacci, he said, "You have one twisted mind! I find it funny that you say that about me, though, when you're the one always commenting on Sung-sun and Mila Rose's figures. Sorry that I've worried you so much that it's interrupted your time staring at Mila's chest."
Apacci stood frozen with her mouth hanging open. Next to her, though laughing nearly uncontrollably, Mila Rose's brow quickly raised as she recognized an opening. Turning her body to the side and striking a flirty pose, she said, "Why Ichigo, you sound disappointed. Could it be that you are wanting to take a glance as well?"
Even Apacci broke into a laugh at the deep crimson hue that quickly filled the solitary male's face. He began stuttering in earnest, looking anywhere but the curvaceous arrancar that was posing. The laughter continued as he seemed rooted to where he was standing.
As Mila Rose stayed back, she changed gears and prodded Apacci and Ichigo into a further tirade of jabs and insults. Taking the opportunity, Sung-Sun quietly slipped away to walk next to the still moving Tier.
As the serpent-like fraccion gazed at her mistress, she noticed the slight crinkling of he skin at the corner of her eye, indicating a smile.
"He is quite a unique character, isn't he?", Sung-sun asked softly.
Briefly cutting her eyes to the fraccion next to her, Tier considered her options. She could ignore the comment and pretend like there was nothing to talk about. As the fraccion had sworn to serve her, they couldn't question her silence. However, she found herself strangely wanting to talk to someone she trusted about the myriad of feelings she had been experiencing recently.
The blonde arrancar carefully replied, "Yes, he is a very interesting individual. He is far more than he appears to be."
"Really? How so?"
Sung-sun was curious to Harribel's thoughts on the boy. She, along with Apacci and Mila Rose, had been keeping an eye on their conversation and were all eager to know what they had talked about. Tier Harribel did not have long conversations...period. Yet, this orange-haired shinigami had gotten her to talk for quite a while, and the girls' imaginations were running wild with what they could have been talking about.
After a short pause, Tier replied, "He is the most selfless being I have ever met. Ichigo has sacrificed all of himself on many occasions for not only those he cares about, but ones he's never met."
Sung-sun figured that something like this would be what drew Harribel to Ichigo. Hearing her statements just before and after they rescued him, it made sense. "Is that what he was speaking to you about?"
"A part of it, yes. He began in quite an awkward fashion, however, the rest of the conversation was much different, and a bit confusing," Tier replied. Though her fraccion was clearly trying to get information about their conversation, she had to admit that she wanted Sung-sun's (by far the calmest of her fraccion) opinion on his behavior.
"Awkward? Confusing? What do you mean?", the fraccion asked, her interest peaked. She was quiet and observant by nature, and had a generally accurate insight into people's emotions. This shinigami was a curious bundle of them, and she was eager to solve the puzzle of Ichigo Kurosaki.
"He stared til he was almost drooling, then tried to play it off by asking dumb questions. Though obvious, I maintain that it was adorable," Tiburon said before Tier could reply, however she seemed to be ignored.
"He stared at me for a moment when I had made a comment about his training, and after blushing, he bluntly asked me what it was like to be an arrancar. A moment later, he stuttered and asked what life was like in Hueco Mundo. Yet, as we talked, he calmed down. He didn't assume that I was a typical power-hungry hollow, but seemed to accept who and what I am. He...he called me a person and said he wanted to know more about me, what I'm like," Harribel finished.
Sung-sun hid a smile behind her sleeve. The obvious confusion in her mistress' voice was quite humorous, as it seemed that she didn't understand that the young shinigami was clearly attracted to her.
From the boy's reactions to the fraccion's taunts and suggestions, Sung-sun knew that it was highly unlikely that Ichigo had the slightest clue that he was more than fascinated by Harribel. Though he was an experienced war veteran, she doubted that his experience with the opposite sex was even measurable.
'This could be fun,' the quiet fraccion thought, pondering ways to create opportunities for her mistress to have uninterrupted time with the shinigami. The two were clearly drawn to one another, and it would be interesting to see what could possibly unfold.
"Harribel-sama, it is clear that Ichigo holds quite a bit of...admiration...for you. It is also clear that he likely had no experience in freely talking to someone he holds such admiration for. If I may be so bold, it seems safe to say that you admire him a little as well."
Tier quickly cut her eyes to Sung-sun, whose grin could be noticed even with her sleeve in front of her face. She was about to retort, informing her fraccion to mind her words, when she heard another outburst as Ichigo and Apacci continued to antagonize one another.
Knowing that the privacy for their conversation was fast evaporating, Harribel struggled for a response. Frowning to herself, she simply said, "He is quite an interesting character."
Her thoughts were jumbled. While she considered herself to be very intelligent, as well as perceptive, she was at a loss to sort or describe the various foreign sensations and feelings that she had encountered since watching Ichigo battle Grimmjow.
'Could simple admiration bring about these foreign feelings that I have been experiencing? Could it be responsible for the level of awareness I seem to have of him? He is kind...sincere...selfless...'
"...has a handsome face, deep brown eyes, amazing scent, body of a god...", Tiburon added teasingly. "I wonder if he is as strong as he looks? I cannot wait to see him in action!", she continued, her voice giving a hint of desire.
'Tiburon! What is wrong with you?!' Tier was thankful for her high collar and the bone piece that covered her face, as she knew that her face would be deep red. In all honesty, she actually had noticed Ichigo's appearance, scent and physique. They had all been...impressive. Quickly, but subtly, shaking her head, Tier tried to clear her mind.
"What? Just because you are too naive to realize that you're beginning to like him doesn't mean that I am! I quite enjoy learning about your obsession. You should keep an eye out, though, as the girls seem to think he's quite interesting. I'm sure they wouldn't at all mind getting to know Ichigo-kun a bit better."
'...'
Tier was speechless. Was she beginning to like Ichigo? She had no way to be sure of her 'feelings', however she knew that Tiburon's implication of the girls finding the shinigami more than interesting was...unpleasant. Sighing internally, The former Espada pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind.
'Feelings are so bothersome! They make little sense, and only serve to confuse me. I have enough to worry about, making sure that we make it to Las Noches safely, making sure Ichigo's recovery and training is sufficient, then thinking of what to do once there...'
"...you're still a jackass! Don't get any ideas, though. Just because we're back up here with them doesn't mean you can just start up again with your flirting with Harribel-sama! She doesn't need you drooling after her like the idiot you are," Apacci was shouting, breaking Tier' strain of thought.
"It sounds like you may be jealous, Apacci," Sung-sun added as the group came together.
"Shut up, you bitch! Why would I be jealous?!", the brash arrancar responded. The two continued to bicker for several moments as Ichigo shifted away from them.
Turning to see the group behind her, Tier saw Ichigo blush brilliantly as their gazes met. She couldn't help the small smile that spread beneath her collar. 'You may be onto something, Tiburon, he can be quite adorable.'
"It seems that they have accepted you," she said in an amused tone to the flushed shinigami.
Scratching the back of his neck, Ichigo chuckled nervously, "Haha. Then I'd hate to see what it would be like if they didn't. Actually, it's not so bad. It's actually kind of similar to how it is with my shinigami friends. The long trip is giving us all a chance to get to know each other a little better. Speaking of which-not that I am complaining- why did we arrive so far from Las Noches?"
Slightly stunned, Tier could not deny that she was pleased with his words. It was good to know that he was not simply biding his time with them, but actually seeming to enjoy their company. She also didn't mind that he pointed out that he was not complaining about the extra time with the group.
"That is good to know. We arrived where we did for a few reasons. The first is that the fortress would be the first place the shinigami would search for us. I wanted them to have the chance to complete their investigations and leave. Also...I wished for you to have the chance to recover. You had gone through a severe trauma, and needed the chance to recuperate and regain your strength. With that in mind, you should know that I plan on testing you...soon. I want to see your style and how you have progressed," Tier said, cutting her eyes to Ichigo.
"I am certain that she will not be disappointed. My wielder will be feared and respected in every realm, and look damn good doing it," Kyoka said smugly, noticing the lingering gaze from the blonde. Though she knew that the arrancar meant something else when she said 'style', Kyoka couldn't help but think of the way she looks in Ichigo's hands when he fights.
Part of the reason for her design choice on Ichigo's new outfit was to accentuate the power and grace that would come from him mastering her blade, as well as to show how both she and Hogyoku were extensions of him. Was she a little vain? Maybe. Did she care? Not even slightly. She knew that both she and her wielder looked quite fine indeed, and she was quite pleased with that fact.
These thoughts surfaced now, because she noticed how the blonde arrancar kept stealing glances at Ichigo, yet she found that she wasn't really bothered by it. The pink-haired zanpakuto spirit knew that Tier was fascinated by her wielder, and she had to admit, 'I kind of like her.'
"Tell her that she may test you before we begin training with my powers. We will begin tomorrow. You had best be prepared, Ichigo, for this will not be an entirely pleasant experience."
"Also, once you have a grasp on Kyoka's powers, it will be my turn," Hogyoku added ominously.
After relaying the message to Harribel, the arrancar raised a brow and said, "Very well. On our next break, I will see how well you do. Be ready, for I am not a lenient sparring partner."
Tier, and Tiburon (as she could feel), were quite excited as the former Espada walked along. Both had been looking forward to this for some time now, and were glad that the wait was nearly over.
'We finally get to see Ichigo fight up close. This should be very interesting.'