Chapter 6

Bound in Freedom

Shiro looked down. He was wearing the same uniform Ichigo once wore in shikai, the white zangetsu resting on his back.

"Strange. Oh well."

He sonido'd to the source of the power.

Victor... or what was Victor... growled.

"You don't look like a hollow..."

"I don't know what I am! All that matters is killing you!" Shiro smirked. "That should make a nice warm-up."

The hollow, who we will call Snapdragon from now on, roared in defiance, the jaws on his mask opening.

"So that's how ya wanna play eh?" he gripped Zangetsu's "hilt" and the bandages unwrapped.

Shiro charged Snapdragon, laughing maniacally.

Snapdragon countered his first strike by backhanding the blade away.

The vasto then opened his jaws and fired a Cero.

"SHIT!" Shiro barely brought up his sword in defense in time.

When the smoke cleared Shiro raised his arm and gripped his forearm. "BANKAI!"

Nothing happened.

"Dammit! I can't even go Bankai? Ohhh Hat n' clogs is gonna get it from me later!"

He used his sword as a flail, nicking Snapdragon's right shoulder.

Snapdragon grabbed the blade and pulled.

Shiro's eyes went wide as he was pulled to the creature then punched several feet back.

"Ow...This bastard's getting' on my nerves."

Snapdragon began to charge a Cero when...

"Cero Oscuras."

A black and green Cero impacted Snapdragon.

Ulquiorra flapped his wings and landed next to Shiro.

"What're you doin' here? I was just about ta-!"

"Urahara sent me. I'm here to deal with him. Do not interfere; I know all about your...condition." Ulquiorra raised a finger and fired another Cero Oscuras.

Snapdragon stumbled and growled.

Ulquiorra then grabbed Snapdragon with his tail and flew high into the air before throwing him to the ground in a nearby park.

The Espada held his hands near one another and a green spark appeared. He pulled outward and the spark became an energy spear.

"Lanza del Relámpago"

he fired the attack and it detonated, engulfing Snapdragon.

However, the vasto managed to survive the attack and opened a gargantua, escaping to Hueco Mundo.

"That takes care of that problem for the moment." Ulquiorra returned to Shiro and Ichigo.

"He retreated. He probably won't be back for a while with the damage he's sustained."

Shiro blinked, now in his gigai. "Did you just use a contraction?"

"I believe so. This is intriguing." Ulquiorra mused.

Ichigo was confused.

"I'll explain it all on the way home, pardner."

Snapdragon growled. He had been defeated brutally and horribly. He decided he would feed and then heal...

The next day, Shiro dropped by Urahara's shop.

"Ah, Shiro! What brings you here?" asked Urahara cheerfully and mocking innocence.

"Don't give be that crap." Shiro ditched his gigai.

"I wanna know why I can't use Bankai or summon my mask!"

"It's simple. As a failsafe, most of your power has been sealed in your gigai."

"I know that, but I got out!"

"You got out. That power did not."

Shiro growled in frustration before drawing his sword.

He was blocked by a katana.

"I would advise you not to harm Urahara. Doing so could prove fatal to you." Ulquiorra said calmly.

"How do I get that power back?" Asked Shiro angrily.

"Well, I have to know I can trust you with it. Tell you what," Urahara got some paper and a pen and wrote a few things down.

"Complete these tasks and I'll let you get your power back."

Shiro read the list aloud.

"One, get a job and hold it for at least two weeks. Doesn't sound too hard... Two, help your cousins with the house work. I still don't get the point of this... Three, Get a..." Shiro laughed.

"You've gotta be kiddin me! That one's easy."

"No, no. You have to not only get a girlfriend, but start a healthy relationship! Besides, you like outshining Ichigo right?" Urahara said.

"Well the girl I've got a date with later today's not exactly someone who I'd like to spend that long with. Giggly schoolgirls... She's hot though, although not on Orihime's level."

"Figured I'd just keep on with the one night stands. Oh well, one more won't hurt. They just can't resist me."

Shiro sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

"As for a job, Ichigo's old man is paying me to help out around the clinic on busy days, and I do my own laundry and keep my room clean. So all I have to do is find a girlfriend. That'll be tough, I'm picky. I don't want one who's too happy, or one who's too quiet. And this is hard for me; I don't have feelings like humans do remember?"

"If I may make a suggestion?" Said Ulquiorra.

"I don't see why not. It's not like your monotone talkin' ass knows anything about feelings either."

"Your criteria fit Orihime Inoue's friend, Tatsuki."

Shiro laughed. "Dude, ya gotta be kiddin' me! I've been there, tried that as an attempt to piss off Ichigo. She laughed about it!"

"I am not a master of the human heart... although according to Orihime I am making progress...but I have been with Orihime and her friends and upon the mention of your... how should I put it... antics.. she appeared to have an emotional reaction. I believe that is called jealousy." Ulquiorra looked at his hand and flexed his fingers, palm up. "The heart that I hold in my hand... " He muttered after.

Shiro burst into crazed laughter, scaring Urahara a bit. "Yer sayin' she's interested in ME? Yer funnier than I thought, Ulquiorra!" Shiro slapped him on the back, causing a surprised reaction from the Espada.

"Well I better head out. I'll see what I can do Hat n' clogs."

"Actually I must leave as well. Orihime has arranged what is called a 'Picnic" to celebrate Aizen's defeat, a bit delayed due to Ichigo being unconcious for a month. You are invited as well, althought I believe Ichigo just wanted to keep watch over you. Should I inform him you will not be joining us?"

"Yeah, Ichigo and his fan club can go to hell for all I care! I'm going ta get laid, something I doubt Ichigo will ever do. Later."

Ulquiorra stood emotionless as a frisbee hit him in the face.

"Come on now Ulquiorra. You have to catch it!" Said Ichigo.

"I do not see the point in this Ichigo. What is the goal of catching this disk?"

Ichigo sighed. "It's called having fun."

"What is... fun?"

Ichigo paused, disbelief on his face. "Seriously? What did you do in your free time in Los Noches?"

"I observed the human world, of course. I observed their behavioral patterns."

"So you were watching people and you haven't figured out what fun is? You know what? Forget it! You're hopeless!" Ichigo growled and threw his arms into the air.

"Although, the time I speant with Orihime was... interesting, as well as informative to a point."

Ichigo stopped walking. "What?"

"I feel no need to repeat myself, Ichigo. Is there a problem?"

"I don't like what you're implying."

Ulquiorra approached Ichigo. "And what might that be?"

Ichigo motioned him to follow. "We'll discuss this over there." He pointed to the other side of the park.

The two walked over and Ulquiorra looked Ichigo in the eye.

"What is it you have against me? That I tried to kill you? That I did kill you? The past?"

"That, and the fact that the thing that did that to me is trying to put the moves on my friend!" Ichigo retorted.

"I do not understand your terms. I merely said she was an interesting person to be around. And I do not appriciate you calling me a thing." Ulquiorra's hand hovered over the pocket his Pill Dispenser was.

"Yeah, you're a thing! You 're an arrancar, not a human! I'm telling you to quit talking like my friend is someone you've known just as long!" Ichigo shoved Ulquiorra.

"Orihime and I spent considerable amounts of time together in Los Noches." Replied Ulquiorra calmly.

"What does that mean!" Ichigo tackled Ulquiorra to the ground and drew his fist back before punching the Arrancar.

"This isn't good." Said Chad, watching Ichigo shove Ulquiorra.

"Why are they fighting?" Asked Orihime.

Uryuu raised his glasses. "From what I can tell you, Orihime. Your name has come up once or twice."

Tatsuki looked over to Uryuu. "You can read lips?"

"Yes, somewhat."

Then the two were on the ground, Ichigo preparing to beat Ulquiorra senselsess.

"I'm going to break them up." Chad started to sprint over to them.

"Wait," said Uryuu. "Let them sort this thing out themselves. You know how Ichigo is."

Chad stopped and nodded.

X

"You're a monster! You said it yourself, 'True Despair' remember?" Ichigo punched him again... then noticed that the body was limp.

"Shit..." Ichigo looked around, trying to see Ulquiorra, to no avail.

The Espada had split from his body and achieved Segunda Etapa.

He grabbed Ichigo in his tail and the red head gagged and grasped at thin air.

"...you bastard...I'll..." Ichigo choked out.

Ulquiorra threw him aside and returned to his body, noting the pain in his jaw.

"You'll what? You are nothing but a mere human; that is certain now. Perhaps... your actions are driven by this 'heart'... overriding logic with emotion. Are you perhaps jealous?" Ulquiorra inquired, calm as ever.

"W-what?" Ichigo coughed. "No... I just..."

"Silence. Let us return to the others." Ulquiorra said curtly.

That night when Shiro got home he went to the refrigerator. Sure enough, his portion of the food was there, covered in clear plastic wrapping.

He chuckled. Yuzu treated him as if he'd lived there all his life, and he practically ignored her.

He stopped when he felt something in his chest.

'G-guilt? Is that what this is? Impossible! I'm a hollow, I shouldn't be feeling things like guilt!'

He heard a groan and looked over to the couch.

Yuzu was asleep siting up.

'She was waiting for me to come home...'

He had returned a bit later than usual... mostly because the girl he'd been with was really good, so to speak.

Shiro did something that he had never done before; he smiled.

Not a smirk or insane grin, but a genuine, lighthearted smile.

He closed the fridge and carefully picked the girl up in his arms, carrying her to her and Karin's room and placing her in bed.

"...thanks." He whispered somewhat awkwardly, as if the word was alien to him.

He returned downstairs and heated his meal. He swiftly devoured it and went upstairs to go to sleep.

The next day Shiro awoke to a banging on his door.

He growled; today was a Sunday. This meant he was not to be awoken until, at the earliest, noon.

The clock, however, read eight o'clock A.M.

He rolled over and covered his head with the bedsheets.

"Go away..." He mumbled.

"Shiro, the phone's for you!" Said Yuzu from the other side of the door.

"Tell em' I already bought at th' office!"

"It's Tatsuki."

Shiro shot up; pissing off Tatsuki was something he knew was a very, very bad idea.

He stumbled to the door, falling over once and opened it, taking the cordless phone.

"Yo." Shiro mumbled.

"Shiro? Don't tell me you were planning to sleep all day!"

Shiro winced at the volume of her voice.

"Acutually yeah, that is what I was planin' on doing! Ya got a problem? It's either sleep a lot or eat a lot and the former's free!"

"Well fine, I was thinking we could spar again but if you insist on being a vegetable, I suppose you don't have what it takes!"

Shiro growled. "I don't have what it takes? Now you listen here! I've gone toe ta toe with enemies yer puny self couldn't DREAM of standin' a chance against! When do ya want me t' be there?"

"I knew that would work. How about 9:30?"

"Works fer me!"

Shiro hung the phone up and handed it back to Yuzu.

"Shiro... what did you mean? Did you get in a lot of fights?" Asked Yuzu, concerned.

"...I'm not too sure how ta' answer that. Maybe Ichigo, you and I can sit down an' have a talk some time, okay?" Shiro said with a smirk.

She nodded and left him.

Shiro sighed; he'd been shopping and had a decent selection of clothes.

He put on a pair of slightly baggy jeans with a belt and a T-shirt with a band name on it and the band's logo. It was cooling off, so he put on a light zip up hooded jacket.

He gathered a duffel bag with two changes of clothes (one to spar in and one to go home in), stuff for the showers and a bottle of water.

As he passed Ichigo's room, the redhead called him out.

"Where are you going?" Ichigo asked, wary of his ex-hollow's actions and whereabouts.

"Tatsuki dragged me out of bed to spar again." Shiro groaned.

"Mind if I come? It's been a while since I've been to the dojo myself."

"Knock yourself out. Be there by nine; I plan on leaving now."

"Hang on and I'll get dressed." Ichigo closed the door to his room and prepared, while Shiro went and sat down on the couch.

Yuzu was putting away the food.

"Yuzu, Sorry about ya havin' ta keep storin' my portion. I understand ya work hard ta' make th' stuff, and it's good, definitely, but I'm just a bit off the normal schedule. I sp'ose I'll get used ta it eventually." Shiro said.

Yuzu just smiled and said "No, it's fine! Brother used to do that a lot too. I never knew why though..."

"Like I said, Yuzu. Tha three of us'll have ta sit down and have a talk."

Ichigo came down the stairs and nodded. "Alright, let's go."

The two waved farewell and left.

It was about 8:45 when they got to the dojo. Shiro walked in first.. and saw Tatsuki stretching, already in her sparring attire.

"Shiro! Guess we both got the idea to be early, huh?"

"Yeah. Hope you don't mind, but I let Ichigo tag along." Shiro stepped in and Ichigo followed then waved.

"Hey."

Tatsuki shrugged her shoulders. "I don't care," then she smirked. "he can watch me kick your butt!"

Shiro laughed. "In your dreams. I'll go get changed."

When he returned Shiro tossed his bag to Ichigo.

"Hang on to this, pardner."

"Fine." Ichigo replied grudgingly.

Shiro did some stretches himself, although very few compared to Tatsuki.

The two stood an even distance away from each other and bowed.

They then took their fighting stances.

Tatsuki's was a traditional martial arts stance, while Shiro seemed to sort of "jump" around in one spot, more of a rough street fighting stance.

'Similar to Grimmjow,' Ichigo thought.

While it seemed that Shiro had the upper hand with his berserker fighting style at first, Tatsuki surprisingly took control of the fight easily after a while.

Shiro soon found himself lying on his back, staring at the ceiling of the dojo.

Ichigo was laughing his ass off.

"What...just happened?" Shiro asked in amazement.

"You're an amateur compared to me. You have promise, but your fighting skills are unrefined. Once I learned your attack patterns it was easy. Even though you fight berserker, you still lack the basics." Tatsuki chided.

"Che. It's this physical body." He stood up and looked back to Ichigo. "Oi, Ichigo! I'm going to ditch my Gigai."

Shiro popped out of his body and it slowly fell to the floor.

Tatsuki noticed the cleaver on Shiro's back.

"Nice sword you have there." Tatsuki remarked, then added a bit quieter, but loud enough for Shiro and Ichigo to hear, "Looks like someone's compensating."

Ichigo laughed and then stopped, realizing his Zanpakto had been that big too, indirectly making him a victim of the joke as well.

Shiro smirked. "Interested in finding out if there's any truth to that insult?"

Tatsuki turned bright red. "W-what the hell! I'm going to kick your ass for sure now!"

Shiro laughed and removed the sheathed Zangetsu from his back, placing it next to his body.

"This outfit is better for fighting anyway. Come on! Time for round 2!"

To Ichigo it seemed as if she was fighting air. But the battle was very real.

Shiro was still getting his ass kicked.

"Dammit! Fine, I fulfilled two of the three conditions, so let's try this again!" He grabbed his sword and held it horizontally in his right hand. The cloth wrapped around his arm. 'Perfect.'

"BANKAI!" His power erupted outward, knocking Tatsuki off her feet.

He laid Tensa Zangetsu down by his body again.

"Third time's a charm."

This time, Tatsuki was having a difficult time; the sheer speed of his Bankai was overwhelming.

She launched a kick and had her leg grabbed.

"Gotcha." He smirked. "Tell you what, if you can hit me once in the next 3 minutes I'll admit defeat. If you can't however..." he smirked. "...you have to go on a date with me. Feeling lucky?"

She blushed and growled. "That's cheating! You know I can't hit you!"

"Time starts..." He released her leg and sonido'd backward. "NOW!"

Three minutes passed and the end result was a very tired Tatsuki.

"Time's up! Looks like I win." Shiro reverted to Shikai and re entered his body.

"That...isn't...fair..!" Panted Tatsuki. "You...cheating...!" She passed out, exausted.

Ichigo grabbed Shiro by his jacket. "What did you do?"

Shiro smirked. "We played tag. I went Bankai and her frail human body couldn't keep up."

Ichigo released him.

"She's exhausted that's all. Well, that and the fact I was literally running circles around her may have sucked the oxygen out of where she was a little. Come on," Shiro grabbed a bench. "Help me out."

The two put to benches side by side and then Shiro lifted Tatsuki's limp body onto the benches.

"I'm gonna get dressed. Then you're going home." Shiro said.

"Eh? Why?" Ichigo asked.

"I don't need an awkward third wheel cramping my style."

"Third... wait...what?" Ichigo was severely confused.

"We made a bet and she lost; I'm taking her on a date." Shiro responded simply.

"Like hell you are!" Ichigo yelled back.

"I am. And if you have any complaints, you man deliver them to my special 'I don't give a shit' box." Shiro finished, entering the locker room.

Tatsuki woke up and groaned.

"What happened?"

"Apparently Shiro moved so fast he made a vortex or something. That's what he said anyway. He's in the showers now." Ichigo answered.

Tatsuki sat up slowly.

"...I don't like this any more than you do." Ichigo said.

"What?"

"He told me about your bet." Ichigo said. "Don't read it the wrong way; I just don't trust him, that's all. And you're my best friend, since we were kids. I'm just trying to watch your back."

"...I know everything." Said Tatsuki.

"...What do you mean?" Ichigo asked warily.

"About him and you. About how you got your soul reaper powers and how he was born."

"...I see." Ichigo said. "Then you know he tried to take over my body on many occasions, and did so succesfully once, for a short time."

"...Yeah."

"Then you know that every day I worry. I worry if he decides to do what he'd been planning on doing if he got control." Ichigo's expression changed to one of sadness. "And if he does, I- nobody will be able to do anything. He's just that strong."

"Damn right I am." Shiro said, having overheard their conversation while he was getting dressed. "And better looking than you too."

Ichigo scowled at Shiro.

"Yeah, yeah complain all you want, Pardner..." Shiro smirked. "You're just making my day."

Tatsuki got up to go to the Locker Rooms as Shiro laughed.

The ex-Hollow walked over to Ichigo.

"Hey, pardner..."

Shiro placed his hand over his face and made a clawing motion.

"This look familiar?"

Ichigo's eyes widened. "..That's..."

"Yep. I tried it in the locker room. I'm very close to full power. Just this last step, and I'll be at full strength again! Don't worry too much," Shiro dispelled the mask with a wave of his hand. "I know how to show a girl a good time more than you ever will."

Tatsuki soon returned.

"Say, why don't we just leave our bags with Ichigo? He's got nothing better to do than take our stuff, right? I mean, he can just return it later." Shiro said, egging Ichigo on.

Ichigo growled, but smiled, gritting his teeth. "Sure. I don't mind..."

As Shiro and Tatsuki left, Shiro said in a voice so low only Ichigo caught it, "Look who's the horse now?"

"So where are you taking me? A cheap hotel?" Tatsuki asked sarcastically.

"Oh, you have wit! Nice. Sorry to dissapoint, princess,but you'll have to wait." Shiro said with a light laugh.

They soon arrived at a local cinemaplex.

"A movie? Do you know how-!"

"Cliche? Yeah, you try living in the head of a guy with no romantic experience whatsoever." Shiro responded dryly.

"Point taken." Responded Tatsuki.

"Well, I'll leave the movie decision up to you." Shiro figured her for an action/comedy fan with her personality, but her decision surprised him a bit;

A romance movie.

In reality it was Tatsuki's way of getting revenge at Shiro for dragging her out here. She wasn't a huge fan, but she could deal.

Shiro, seeing through her plan, decided to use the movie to his advantage.

'Maybe I can get some more tips on this whole 'dating-relationship' thing.' He thought smugly.

Shiro paid for the tickets and they walked in.

Shiro also ended up paying for consessions; he was appauled at the priciness of the food and drink.

He sighed and they entered the theatre where the movie was showing.

After taking their seats, they settled down and the silent war began.

One and a half hours, 2 large popcorns, 3 large sodas, and a box of candy (… well, that was Shiro's portion. Tatsuki was content with a small drink and small popcorn) later, the two exited the theatre.

"How was the movie?" Asked Tatsuki, eager to get his angered response.

"Aside from the improbable scenario and poor choice in actors, I'd say it was a good enough movie. I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5. Average." Shiro replied, not hiding the calm smirk on his face.

Tatsuki attempted to not act shocked, but it showed.

"G-good. So where to now? Is that it?" Tatsuki asked.

Shiro chuckled a bit. "Not yet. Am I that dull? That aside, I found a nice little family-style resaraunt. I thought we'd hit there for lunch and then... I suppose that's up to you."

On the way there, they were blocked by three thugs.

"Give us your money! Everthing you have on you!" The head one said.

Shiro looked at Tatsuki. "Mind if I take care of this one, Princess?"

"Not at all."

Shiro smiled. "Now, gentlemen, there's got ta' be some way we can talk this over so nobody gets hurt."

"Yeah, start 'talkin' with your wallet!"

Shiro sighed. "Oh well, I tried."

He summoned his mask and the four thugs jumped.

"Where did that mask come from? Never mind, get him!"

The four guards came at him at once.

He dodged the first and delivered a sharp srike to the thug's neck, snapping it.

The second slung a chain at Shiro, who caught it and tore it away... along with the lower part of a man's arm.

He removed the limb and used the chain himself, dispatching the last two easily.

"Che. I warned you." He dispelled his mask and nodded for Tatsuki to move on.

The two continued on their walk.

"I hear you didn't like it when I mentioned being with other women when it came up at school." Shiro said as he walked.

"W-what? OF course I don't! You're a sleazeball! You were taking advantage of other women!" Tatsuki replied.

"Really? Is that all there is to it? The person I learned it from didn't seem to think so." Shiro smirked again. He had her cornered.

"W-wha? Where did you hear it from?"

"A little emo birdie told me." Shiro said.

Tatsuki acted as if she was about to say something, but closed her mouth promptly.

Shiro had her trapped.

'Time to go in for the kill... my favorite part of any hunt.'

"You know this is the only time I've ever done anything like this, right?" Shiro said nonchalantly.

"Right. Next thing you'll be telling me is you're a virgin." Tatsuki replied, rolling her eyes.

Shiro shrugged. "Believe me or don't up to you."

The arrived at the restaurant and Shiro held he door open.

"Please, ladies first." The smug look on his face betrayed his actions.

Shiro had walked Tatsuki home, despite her protests.

When he returned home, he was met with Ichigo.

"Where did you go and what did you do?"

Shiro shoved past Ichigo. "Back of Mister Hero Complex. We went to a movie, had lunch and I walked her home. That's all."

Shiro paused, then walked over to the fridge, grabbing a can of Terror brand energy drink, a favorate of his. He downed it all in one gulp, then walked back to the door.

"Where are you going now?" Ichigo asked.

"Urahara's shop. Get Karin and Yuzu in here," Shiro motioned to the general living room area of the home. "I told Yuzu we'd have a talk, but I think we need to discuss it with Karin as well."

"About what?" Ichigo inquired.

"I'll explain when I get back."

END CHAPTER 6

I decided that, unlike all the other stories, I'd pair up Shiro and Tatsuki.

It's a very unique pairing and funny as hell.

Next time:

The past revealed...the Great Hollow Returns!