Chapter Six
Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that. - Michael Leunig
Ichigo didn't get around to reading the second letter until the next day. Too many things were whirling in his mind already. He could see the same concern in Urahara's expression, for although he was trying to keep his expression under his hat blank his jaw was tensed, hard to miss. Tessai he did not see whilst they remained at the Shoten through to the evening, although both Ichigo and Grimmjow wanted to see him. His unprecedented outburst warranted a thanks. Yoruichi vanished for a little while only to reappear as her feline self, the baritone of the cat-voice much harder to read than her normal one.
Grimmjow was worrying too; though to an onlooker he was the hardest to judge, Ichigo knew him well enough to be able to see that flicker in his eyes that meant he was thinking hard.
That flicker made him think all the more about what was to be done.
It wasn't until Ichigo woke up the next morning and saw the envelope that he thought about what Ukitake might have to say. With slight trepidation he ripped it open, sat on the edge of his bed whilst Grimmjow rested his head on Ichigo's shoulder and demanded to have the letter read aloud so he knew what was going on.
~ From the desk of Captain Ukitake ~
Kurosaki-kun
Forgive the haste and informality of this letter, but I have only just been made aware of my subordinate's plan to visit you in Karakura tonight. I do not know if you are aware that I was the Captain chosen to oversee the developments made by your town following the aftermath of the War- Ichigo blinked at this, not being aware that there had even been any such procedure to monitor the town in place. Do not fear, we did not plan this with any thought of hideous after affects of the shift of the town, we simply wanted to monitor it to make sure it settled back into the living world without too much fuss, which I can assure you it has!
However, we do have some concerns raised by the levels of spirit power in the town over the last few months, and were wondering if you had any idea about the causes of such irregularities.
Ichigo could imagine Ukitake there, pausing over that last word, wondering if it was quite appropriate to describe the singular oddity that was Karakura.
We have always been aware that Karakura was more prone to Hollow attacks than most places, as it has a number of residents with slightly elevated powers and unusual origins.
"Is that his way of saying that the place is full of people the Gotei are trying really hard to pretend aren't here, d'you reckon?" Grimmjow asked him with a smirk.
Recently these attacks have escalated. One popular theory is that, as the protection of the town has also become much more effective, Hollows are now seeing it as a, well, a particular challenge, you might say. What views do you have on this? You must inform me if these attacks are becoming tiresome, we would be more than happy to send a couple of Shinigami to lighten the load. I know that the three of you were adamant that you could handle it alone, but if that has changed, please do not let pride stop you from changing your mind!
Another point of interest is that spikes of a much more advanced kind of spiritual power have been traced to Karakura. Our scanners were not quite sure what to make of it, and some think that perhaps your own power, being so unique as it is, might spike in ways that our scanners have difficulty in evaluating. Or else, has anything come to you or your colleagues attention that has been out of the ordinary recently?
At this Ichigo paused, not sure what to make of that last one. It was true- the power could have been his own, though he would have thought with all the time he had spent fighting the Shinigami, that they might have been able to recognise his powers by now, unless they really were trying to ignore the obvious traces of hollow in them.
Otherwise, this 'complex' power would logically have to have been Grimmjow.
"What d'you think?"
He could see that the same thoughts were running through Grimmjow's mind. In the end his companion simply shrugged.
"I guess we let 'em keep thinking it's you for as long as we can. Go on, what else has he got to say?"
Finally, I would like to ask a question that I trust you will use your digression towards. I am obviously in control of these scanners, and it is only I and my two acting Lieutenants that see the readings before they are passed on to Kurotsuchi of the Twelfth Division for proper analysis. However, I am not afraid to admit that my age- and the amount of times my division has been placed in charge of the town scanners- means that I have a better knowledge than most about what the readings mean. There is one that I have kept back from being sent, out of curiosity and, a little, because of my own concern. This reading details the presence of an Espada in Karakura, on the night of the Tenth of this month, on the edge of town in the Ho Sai district. Our machinery seems to indicate that it is of a high rank, certainly above five, and is injured. Please contact me quickly about any knowledge you or your friends have of this creature. I am aware that there are some in Karakura whose eyes and ears are sharp, and who do not report to the Soul Society, and I would ask that you inquire with them, as well. Have my assurances that knowledge of them will not be passed on to higher authorities.
I do apologise if this message seems to you to be a bearer of bad news; dark times calls for dark writing, it seems!
Give my regards to Ishida-kun and Sado-kun, and if you can pass on the message to our mutual, hat-wearing acquaintance that Kyouraku will be visiting on the twenty fifth, it would be most appreciated.
Regards,
Jyuushiro Ukitake
Captain of the Thirteenth Division of the Gotei 13
"Another Espada? Or do you think they mean you? No, it can't be: you were in Urahara's on the tenth, it was right in the middle of that week you spent there. Didn't you say that you didn't leave the training grounds at all? That means no one would have been able to sense you, regardless of what you did."
Grimmjow's eyes had gone dark, almost murderous, staring into space in a way that Ichigo had not seen in a very long time. They only cleared a little when Ichigo turned and took his shoulder, squeezing it tightly. The same thoughts were running through both of their minds. Which of the Espada had survived the fall of Las Noches and the battle for Karakura? Which of the Espada had found their way back here, and, perhaps most importantly, did it mean them any harm?
And how could they find out?
Three hours later, Ichigo opened his front door to see Ishida and Inoue, who had obviously arrived together. He raised his eyebrows at that- when did Ishida ever accompany anyone?- but didn't comment on it, only ushered them inside, glad not for the first time today that his father had been called in to assist at the understaffed hospital. It kept him out of the way and being at Ishida's dad's hospital always cheered his old man up. Ichigo reckoned it was just the reaction that the Quincy had from the sight of his large, bumbling father.
"So, why the hurry to get us here, Kurosaki?"
Ichigo was already half way up the stairs, and didn't respond. The two looked at each other and Orihime smiled a little awkwardly, clearly bemused. They followed him anyway.
He was waiting for them on the landing. Ichigo had paused in the doorway to his room. Behind him they could see Chad's long legs stretched out across the carpet, clearly having already arrived and taken up most of the floor space. To their surprise, Ichigo was blushing, looking almost flustered.
"Guys, don't... panic, or anything."
They looked at him, unsure what to make of that. It was Ishida who clicked on to what Ichigo meant first but he said nothing, just clenched his jaw and slid his glasses up his nose to hide the expression of displeasure that he was already wearing at being in a Shinigami household, but that had just been made worse.
"Inoue, Ishida... This is Grimmjow."
Ichigo stepped into the room, and there he was. He had been hidden by Ichigo's body in the doorway before now, sat cross-legged on the bed. Ishida said nothing, but Orihime gasped as she looked at him. He appeared just the same to her as he had done in Las Noches, that terrible place that still haunted her nightmares. But when he looked up at her, caught her eyes, she saw something there that she did not expect. It was nothing so obvious as remorse, or softness, but it was as if the rage inside him burnt with a little less fervour, and was no longer directed at her. He seemed to look at her the same way that any stranger would look at another, as if it were a different man that had dragged her by the hair to heal Ichigo's body only so he could try to destroy it again.
But then his lips moved a little, and she saw those pointed canines, and knew that this was the same man, just as capable of such cruelty and just as able to commit atrocities as he ever had been. The same man, he could still do the same things... but now, perhaps, the sort of man that might chose not to, at the touch of a steady, reliable hand.
The room was silent, until Ishida spoke with exasperation.
"What the hell is this, Kurosaki, bring your pet to school day?"
Grimmjow scowled at that but at a warning glance from Ichigo he did nothing but fold his arms. Orihime found herself entranced. The hair was the same impossible shade of blue, his skin the same tan but missing scars now, as if he had completely regenerated his entire body. Which, she supposed, he had.
"Ishida, leave it. We've got something important to talk about. Something big. It's gonna be a problem for all of us, so we thought it fair that you all know. I've got some bad news and, well... I've got some other bad news."
Grimmjow exhaled sharply at that, making Orihime, who was still stood by the door, jump.
"Come in, would ya girl, and shut the door."
She blinked at him for a moment before she realised that he had been talking to her, and all but slammed the door shut behind her before sinking to the floor. Realising he was trapped for the moment, Ishida removed his coat and took the desk chair.
"Basically, Renji and Rukia found out about Grimmjow."
Ishida raised an eyebrow delicately.
"And how did they take this news?"
Ichigo ran his hands through his tousled hair and sank down on the bed next to Grimmjow.
"They freaked out a bit. But in the end Rukia promised to keep it a secret. She said she'd trust him, because Urahara and Yoruichi and I did. But Renji... he said he was obligated to inform them. He's given us some time before we do, though I don't know how long."
This news caused even Chad to stir. He looked up at Ichigo through the veil of his hair with sympathy in his deep, brown eyes. Ichigo glanced back, and smiled just a little, as if he had received this silent message.
"So we're gonna have to figure something out about that. Urahara said he'd stop by today some time, says he's got something that might work, but he's not sure if we'll want it." He shrugged, clearly out of ideas.
Ishida stroked his chin.
"We're all implicated in this. As much as I think this-" he gestured to the two of them on the bed- "was a foolish idea, we are obligated to help you, if just to cover our own backs."
Orihime broke her gaze away from Grimmjow, who was starting to feel a little weirded out by it. She was torn, but at the same time she knew exactly where she stood on this situation. As much as it broke her heart to realise that Ichigo was never going to be hers, that did not mean that she could not be happy for him, and try to help him.
"That's not why I'll help you, Kurosaki-kun. You're my friend, but most of all, when I was in a hopeless situation, you never gave up on helping me."
Ishida looked startled.
"Inoue, it's hardly the same thing-"
"It is though!" She turned to Grimmjow, who seemed just as thrown as everyone else by this girl's sudden outburst. "Jaegerjaques-san, Ichigo never gave up on me. He saved my life. And you can make him happier and more upset than I have ever seen him, and from what I know, I think that means that you must be very important to him. And because he is very important to me, that means I'll do whatever it takes to keep you in his life."
The other four stared at her, a little shell shocked at this declaration of loyalty.
After an awkward silence, Grimmjow cleared his throat and tore his eyes away from the baffling girl in the corner.
"Our other problem is just as bad. Some Captain wrote to Ichigo, couple of days ago. Apparently the shinigami have been monitoring the town, and on the tenth they registered an Espada on the outskirts, the bit where all the warehouses are. We know it wasn't me- I was training with the Hat guy at the time. It's injured, but it's fifth or above."
"It was Captain Ukitake, you know, the one with the white hair who is Rukia's Captain, who is always ill? He wants to know if any of us have seen anything odd."
There was a brief, tense silence, and the Ishida cleared his throat.
"I have seen nothing of that nature... but I have been observing some irregularities, recently. Hollows that look normal, but that have strange looking masks."
Grimmjow looked up at that, interested.
"Sort of like they've been broken?"
Ishida nodded, trying to hide his surprise.
"Yeah, I've seen that as well. It's something that sprang up in Hueco Mundo when the Bastard starting making arrancar. He learnt the knack soon enough, but his earlier attempts were a little less pretty. Started off just ripping whole masks off to see what was underneath, you know? You used to see them skulking around the walls some times, all scar tissue and terror. Pathetic things."
He stretched out his legs, sticking them off the bed, and Orihime watched, fascinated, as a thin stream of white sand fell from his hakama to the carpet.
"I was there today, looking around, trying to find answers. Fucking useless though, everything scatters when I get close. But there is something going on, I can feel it. Some big group of hollows, but they feel strange. I never knew what ripping the mask of you entirely can do; the ones Aizen kept as pets had the life whipped out of 'em."
Orihime shuddered, involuntarily. Grimmjow caught the movement out of the corner of his mouth and lowered his tone. Ichigo would only get pissy if he freaked out the girl. Although, he had to credit her, she had done a hell of a lot better faced with the full reality of Grimmjow in front of her. He had figured she'd scream, or at least collapse to her knees. The kid was braver than her fragility made her appear. And that speech, that declaration of loyalty... like Tessai's, it had been surprising. That people could care so much about others and it not be about revenge was something he was struggling to come to terms with. His feelings for Ichigo were something else, something he could barely understand to begin with but knew to be different. And now this girl was looking at him with something bordering forgiveness.
It was impossible to explain. Even worse to accept.
"But anyway, I found out something else. It might not mean anything, but I managed to grab hold of a little runt of an Adjuchas and he started squeaking when I showed him my six-"
"Why on earth would you do that?" cut in Ishida. Ichigo glanced at Grimmjow's frown. The former Espada clearly didn't understand what Ishida was asking, why he didn't understand this concept, so natural to him. So Ichigo answered, hoping he could make sense of it for Grimmjow.
"It's... a way to prove who you are. Like you in your blue and white. Something to prove your status and that you're something important."
The Quincy nodded, and Grimmjow continued. His eyes were animated, his expression far away, as if back there.
"It was terrified of me. I could feel it through its skin. And then it started mumbling something about numbers, and sharks, and passed out right there."
"Sharks?"
"I think it was talking about resurrections. They often have... animalistic qualities, that was what Aizen called it. Qualities. But I have no idea what anyone higher than Jiruga's looked like, and I only saw his once. The stronger you were, the less likely you were to have to do it. The less likely you were to be challenged, for that matter."
"What was Nnoitra's?"
Grimmjow looked at Ichigo, baffled.
"You fought him, didn't ya?"
"Well, yeah, but I wasn't really paying attention to that. Kenpachi barged in pretty soon afterwards anyway, after Nel had tried. You'd cut me up pretty bad as well, you bastard. I was still a bit woozy."
Grimmjow rolled his eyes, as if to say, you're never gonna let that one go, are you? But he carried on none the less.
"Jiruga's was odd. Some sort of insect thing, I think. Doesn't make a difference, anyway. It's not a shark." He paused, rolling his shoulders. "It's the moment I think I should'a paid attention when Aizen was wittering on about everyone's powers. Probably could have found out that way..." he trailed off, frowning.
"What did you do with it? The hollow that told you this, I mean?"
He turned to Orihime, whose eyes were wide and innocent. He contemplated lying, to please Ichigo, but the big bad wolf in him got the better. He grinned, showing his fangs.
"I ate it, of course."
Ichigo walked the well-known streets to the warehouse with a slow tread, weighed down by concern of what was to come. He had been avoiding the Vizards recently, and he knew that they would have noted this. No doubt Urahara would have made many jokes around the topic of Ichigo's love life as well, so he would probably be met with cat calls and questions. Those, no doubt, would die out as soon as he mentioned what he was there for.
But that was not the only thing plaguing his mind. Though he was happy enough that Ishida, Inoue and Rukia had agreed to help them, as well as Chad's unwavering loyalty, he was still worried about what Renji might do. Not intentionally, of course- he trusted Renji with his secret the same way he would trust the shinigami to take his back in battle- but more because, as good a man as he was, he could be very transparent about his feelings. People would be bound to notice his worry and concern, and when finally he reported Grimmjow people might join the dots. More than anything, he didn't want Renji to get into a tight spot because of him.
And if no one noticed Renji being concerned, or made the link between the two?
Well, then he had a no doubt charming communications from the Soul Society to look forward to, requiring, no doubt, his immediate presence. Who would it be from, what would it consist of? A kindly letter from Ukitake asking him to come in for a consultation? A contingent from the Fourth arriving to 'cure' him of this psychological problem that he clearly must have, in their opinion, to fall for the enemy? An official summons from Central46 detailing the necessity of his presence in a court case to decide the fate of the former Espada? Or perhaps something far more simple than any of that: an armed unit to take him away in chains to a prison cell where he would be locked away for a long, long time.
"Well, look who it is!"
"It's been a while since we've seen him, hasn't it Hiyori?"
"It has indeed. What have you been up to, Ichigo?"
"Cavorting with other young things is what I hear, Lisa."
"Oh, to be young and in-"
"Guys, shut up. This is serious." They stopped, smiles falling from their faces as they took in his frown and his tight jaw. This clearly was something of importance then, if Ichigo would not even entertain their banter with blushes and angry rebuttals of their jokes. If he wasn't being any fun when baited, they knew that there must be a problem. Hiyori whistled over to a couple of them who were on the other side of their expansive, underground home, and they came over quickly.
Shinji folded his arms, raising an eyebrow.
"So, what can we help you with?"
Ichigo shuffled his feet a little, not sure how to begin. Or where to begin, for that matter. He felt heavy, as if there were too much of himself being dragged around.
"I need to ask you guys something. About the war. Something I don't remember, you guys are the most likely to."
The Vizards looked at each other, a little confused.
"And there is news from Captain Ukitake."
He was gratified to notice that there were nods and smiles and the mention of the Captain's name. As Ichigo had thought, he was clearly one sympathetic to their cause, the same way he had tried to rescue Rukia. He was clearly a man of great standing and respect amongst the Vizards, who reacted to the names of many shinigami with expressions of distaste.
"He's been monitoring the town, and apparently on the tenth the scanners picked up signs of an Espada on the outskirts of town. It was injured, and he reckons above fifth. How well do you all remember the battle for Karakura, when you joined in?"
To his surprise, it was Hiyori that responded.
"As sharply as if it were this moment. It was our return."
She turned away, hands on hips, as if contemplating something, and spoke over her shoulder to him.
"It was what we had be waiting for, for all those years."
"So you remember which Espada were there?"
Shinji nodded, scratching his chin.
"The Primera, called... shit, what was it?"
"Starrk," Lisa filled in for him, "He was fighting Captain Kyouraku. He had some wolves, or dogs, or something like that. Then there was some big old guy who turned into a skeleton and could rot away flesh. Then the third, as well, who that Hitsugaya kid was fighting when we got there. It was definitely the top three."
Ichigo nodded. He knew for a fact that Ulquiorra was the fourth Espada, and his release had been something akin to a bat. And then Nnoitra made five, with his insect. So it would have to be one of the top three, unless Ukitake's sensors were right out. He asked them if any of those three resembled or had the characteristics of a shark, and was met with a clear and unanimous agreement: the third.
"Which one was that?"
He responded to their looks of bemusement and exasperation defensively.
"Hey, they were not high on my list of priorities at the time! That was all under control by the time I got there. I was focused on other things!"
Shinji shook his head, slowly.
"It was the female Espada. She never showed her mouth; it was all bone, like a skeleton. She had three followers, they were taken out by the Captain Commander when he got pissy at some of the Lieutenants not being able to do it properly. But it wasn't us who cut her down; in the end it was Aizen. She wasn't worthy, clearly, so he cast her aside. He had a... habit, of doing that."
Silence fell around them, and Ichigo struggled with the other thing that he had come here to tell them. Out of anyone, he thought it was the most difficult breaking the news to these people that he had come to think of as friends. In a lot of ways Ichigo did not know where his allegiance truly lay anymore; but one thing he did know was that if the Vizards were ever in need of an ally, he would join them instantly.
"Another Espada survived."
It was as if he had shot them. They turned to him quicker than he could see, eyes wide and with more surprise than he could deal with. This wasn't rumours of the results of the notoriously faulty scanners. This was Ichigo, one of them, telling them. Ichigo swallowed.
"He's here. With me. He's... changed now, he's different."
Rose was the first to move. With a deep, weary sigh he turned his back on Ichigo, and walked off. After a moment Love followed him, clearly lost for words. Kensei was gaping at him, clearly speechless. Mashiro's expression was bemused, but full of grief at the same time, as if Ichigo had told her that the world was due to explode and there was nothing that they could do about it.
Lisa shook her head.
"It's just like in a manga," she turned, and walked off, though in a different direction to the others, "only this is hurting more people."
This seemed to be a trigger for Hiyori, who flitted away, zanpakuto drawn, and began destroying boulders, screaming as she did so in rage. He could just about make out words over the sound of smashing rock, something about 'how could he' and 'one of them', and 'they never change'.
He looked to Hachi, as if appealing for reason, but all he did was sit on the ground, head bowed so that Ichigo could not see his expression, and began to craft some form of complex kido. He hadn't said a word to Ichigo. Kensei had recovered his shock but was silent, cheeks pink with rage as his hands ghosted over the hilt of his zanpakuto.
That just left one, the one that Ichigo was perhaps most afraid to see the reaction of.
He understood their feelings, at least, he thought that he did. He had heard them talk about the Espada before, he knew their feelings. They had been changed, their lives destroyed, simply as a precursory experiment to the creation of the Arrancar. Looking at them made them feel used, and he suspected, in a small way, inferior. Ichigo had never voiced to them what he always thought when they spoke of this: that it was hardly the fault of the Arrancar that Aizen was such a twisted bastard. That there were hollows just as tortured as they had been. That, really, the Vizards and the Arrancar were just the same, but in reversal. Yin and Yang. Shinigami with hollow thrown in; hollow with shinigami.
Shinji was simply staring at him. It was a long, hard look, as if he were trying to find the answers to something that he didn't explain, but it was enough to know that he thought Ichigo had betrayed them, helping the enemy. It was not a stare full of malevolence though, more confusion and, and the heart of it, disappointment.
Ichigo turned, without saying a word, and left.
By the time he returned to his own home Urahara was sat in his room, perched merrily on Ichigo's desk and having great fun baiting Grimmjow. To Ichigo's surprise, Ishida was there as well, though he had left when Ichigo had. He seemed quite relaxed, though Grimmjow was scowling. He threw his coat on the floor and took a seat on the bed, turning tired but quizzical eyes on Urahara.
"Well, what have you got for us?"
Urahara steepled his fingers, resting his chin on them.
"This option... it is drastic, irreversible. I do not expect that you will chose it, but you should know that it is there. It is something I started developing for MOD souls. Something experimental that I tried to use on Rukia, but..." he trailed off, frowning. He removed his hat, and Ichigo saw that, though he sounded the same, there were deep shadows of fatigue under his eyes.
"It is a gigai. You know I make gigai, don't you? Grimmjow, I heard that Aizen had made some for Arrancar to slip into the human world?"
Grimmjow nodded, shrugged, and cracked his knuckles.
"Anyway, this particular gigai type. I noticed a while back that a defective gigai had the properties to turn a spiritual being human. I started making them safer, hoping to be able to give bodies to the MOD souls. It's really not fair, them being trapped in plushie bodies all the time. But my thought was, and I stress that this is irreversible, we might give one to Grimmjow."
"What?"
"It would make him human, Ichigo."
