Chapter 7: The Calm; the Storm is Brewing
A light breeze blew between the heavens and the earth as, for but one moment, all was silent.
The leaves still danced, the sun still lit the sky, the clouds still lounged in their lofty heights, but not a sound could be heard as the silent confrontation dragged on. No one could muster the strength to move, or even try to think, not when they were caught in a situation like this. Like it or not, the four towering over the earth, being borne up on the air's shoulders, were warriors of immense strength.
That being said, they would all but flounder when faced with a problem they couldn't bash into submission.
This was one such situation.
In hindsight, it was one they could have easily avoided if only the acted with a little more sensitive with regards to the time. The conundrum lay in the fact that they were truly blindsided by such an occurrence, in truth none of them expected that something this disastrous could happen, and that was saying something, considering the Old Emperor could theoretically 'see' everything and so know everything.
None of them could have ever predicted that the one who would discover them would be a little child...
...with the same orange hair Ichigo had.
The instant crimson, gold, black, and amber met curious blue, time seemed to lose meaning as their minds flew into overdrive. Options were running thin by the second, each being cut down by simple logic.
It would have been so much simpler if it was... say... a member of the White Fang who saw them. At least then, they had the option to knock them out before thinking of a more permanent way to ensure their silence. Worst case scenario would require the child to kill, and with as much thought as he put in battle and how he would absolutely avoid ending a life until it was the only method, he would still be fine with it as long as it ensured their safety. Back then, he was willing to kill for his mother, the only thing that actually hindered him from doing so was the fact that the Seals were till online and he was dead tired.
But this was a child, like he was.
He was used to fighting beings much, much, much, much older than he was. Aside from being in possession of immense power and the will to use it, they always had something he didn't; experience. without exception, they all had the time to think, to really ponder on their actions and the motivation driving them. They had years, decades, centuries, and more recently, millennia, to plan, to ponder, to ensure that they had not a sliver of doubt when they acted, when the killed. If he was ever faced with a child with the power to bring ruin to existence, he would defeat them, but spare them all together, simply because there were so many methods to sway a child's mind. There were far too many way to end the conflict without leading to the death of one or the other, no matter how stubborn the child could be.
They, as one being, fought entities with resolve that could rival, or even surpass, their own, and against that only death would prove to be worthy punishment. Discounting the mindless thralls he had massacred through the months he wielded his blade, the truest of Hollows, those who casted their masks aside, were those who were out for blood. They embodied death itself, and had no reservation in spreading destruction until they would reach the King's throne. They needed to be put down, and even as he fought some of the weakest to the mid-ranks among them, he could feel their malice.
They deserved the judgement he raised against them, almost as much as the Monks of Destruction did.
They were beings born from grief, they who hated hollows simply because they did what nature dictated. If was an ironic mirror, that those who fell into despair would be so similar and yet at opposing sides of the battlefield, but that was so. They were human, yes, but they were far gone when they first met. They were the most powerful of their race, and possessed resolve and loyalty for their king that he had to his friends. They wee prepared to die for what they believed in, for who they served, and more than that, they were prepared to kill, to massacre, to obliterate just to achieve their goals.
There was no diplomacy, no words that would convince them that what they were doing was wrong.
They obliterated at least half of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads the first time they struck.
It was only right they were put to the sword themselves.
In hindsight, it was not a total loss, as when their beloved king turned against them, they responded in kind.
But that wasn't the problem here. They were dealing with a child, and that required a touch of gentleness. Something none of them had, in all honesty. One was a child with the mind of a hardened war veteran, a person more used to using everything at his disposal to defeat, not necessarily kill, the enemy before him. He had learned some forms of psychological combat, from one of the most powerful users of the art, he was engaging him in battle at the time, but at this point, none of them were safe enough to use against a child he most definitely did not want to break.
To his left was a perfect liar, a manipulator that had practiced his art for centuries if not millennia but then again, he was more adept at idle manipulation and its subtle intricacies. It was more of use against adults whose minds were not as easily twisted as children's but were far more vulnerable to the grip of cold logic and the fury of reality that came with the maturity of the mind. He was adept at handling those who were less than mentally well to an extent, but that required a more... firm hand and a blade that could not be denied. As desperate as they were, he was not willing to cut down a child for that.
Another with him was one most suited for combat. He was a berserker, a force of nature itself more often than not detached from any rhyme or reason. He lived to fight, and fought to live, a delicate balance that such an unstable individual maintained with the no effort whatsoever. Mercy, defeat, weakness, enough were not concepts that he acknowledged when it came to battle, and even situations that did not involve combat, he would adopt a bloodthirsty mindset. The only thing keeping him from killing the child... was simply because he knew that she would not give him enough of a fight to try.
"Narius!" Ichigo spat with all the fury his little form could muster as the Fullbring did the unthinkable.
The last of them, even with the months they spent together, was an enigma. He had claimed to be Ichigo's humanity, and rightly so considering his power glowed with the golden radiance Ichigo's reiatsu shone with when he was at his most powerful. He had the patience Ichigo lacked, to be true, but the sharp wit and mental agility the boy used unconsciously in every battle, he brought to bear in every situation. He was pragmatic, almost frighteningly so, but he kept his heart about him, never thoughtlessly sacrifice anyone in their little circle, for any reason.
Still, it looked like he retained his ruthlessness, seeing as he vanished in a flash of green before landing a deft strike on the back of the girl's neck. To his credit, he was prepared for the sudden loss of light in her turquoise eyes, and quickly caught her falling form as his hands began shimmering a faint green, the characteristic feel of Kaido spreading across the relatively small area.
The other three found their feet not an instant later, quickly appearing at the child's side, if not to chide their companion in taking such a dangerous action, then to see to her safety.
"Zangetsu." Ignoring the wrathful glare the child gave him, Narius's eyes found the bushes a few meters before them, just as the rest felt a strange tinge in the air.
They were not alone. In that moment, they understood why the Fullbring acted the way he did, taking the lesser of two evils by knocking the child out with a strike to the neck. It was lethal, as a child of a doctor, Ichigo, and so all four of them new how dangerous it was to even take a person's pulse through the neck when carotid sinus reflex could easily cause death, even the death of a child. It was either that, or allow a child to face down a monster, a monster they would no doubt dispose of easily, but in doing so paint themselves as monsters as well.
Ichigo himself knew exactly how the child would react, in the exact same way he did when he saw the purification process the first time around. He was but a child, his mother had just past, when he was confronted by another hollow. He couldn't have know it was weaker than the Grand Fisher, he couldn't have known that it would have been child's play to evade and escape the monster he was faced with, and so he simply stood, frozen in the claws of his own fear.
That was the first time he encountered a Shinigami.
The Hollow was weak, unbelievably so considering a low ranking Shinigami, not even seated if he could remember the feel of his power correctly, but he didn't feel awe or gratitude.
He felt nothing but fear.
The monster was of the same kind that killed his mother, cut from the same cloth as that monster who lured him in and devoured his most precious one when her powers deserted her. This was the monster that blotted out his sun and robbed him of all happiness, and it was dealt with by a man in a black kimono. The gargantuan abomination died after nothing more than a single slash.
Not once did he assume that the Shinigami was there to protect him. He lost all hope that he would live past the encounter, how could he when what killed his mother was in turn dealt with so easily.
He had no doubt that if ever the girl was made to witness something like that, even after hearing stories of Hunters taking care of the Grimm and protecting the people, she would perceive them as something beyond whatever they would slay. They would be made into something to be dreaded in her eyes, and that would make dealing with her, in a nonlethal manner, infinitely more difficult.
He did not have to like it, but knocking her out, the lethal strike could be easily be remedied by Kaido, was the most apt way to deal with the situation.
The Hollow responded in earnest, breaking into a sprint just as the leaves parted to reveal an Ursa. A very, very large Ursa. It was bulkier, taller and more menacing with white plates not only adorning it's visage but protecting its limbs and underbelly. On its back were massive spires of bone, decoration to be sure but they did nothing to hinder it's movement in the least. It's claws were longer, more threatening while the red form its eyes bled out to form strange patterns on its mask, not unlike his own red stripes. It was a picture of a monster, more powerful than any Grimm they had faced.
But it still wasn't enough to make the Hollow yawn.
Even before the beast could open it's jaws to let out a battle cry, Zangetsu's hand was upon it's muzzle, and the red ribbons shot out of his sleeve. The Hollow did not show any mercy, not even waiting to relish the look in the creatures eyes as it was consumed utterly, the fell power that made up the creature absorbed into the Hollow's vast reserves of power. The smile on his face was strange though...
But quickly explained when a familiar power was felt just beyond their position, from the same direction the monster barreled out. It was a power none of them would mistake, not when it had just been a few hours since they last felt it. Immediate, the familiar embrace of inhuman warmth was decimated by pressure fueled by absolute outrage and righteous indignation.
Even Zangetsu had to step away with a burst of sound when Ichigo unconsciously used all three techniques at his disposal to streak towards the unrepentant presence "KAISER!"
The explosion was powerful, far more that what any of them were expecting, but even Zangetsu could smile as the explosion of dust billowed past him. The Kaiser was still standing, his arms against the child's smaller falchion while a cocky smirk that could only be described as glowing played on his lips. The child's anger was not to be trifled with, the very pits of hell visible in his eyes...
...before he vanished from sight entirely.
All three came the same realization the moment the strange drone of the enhanced movement reached their ears. At that point, there was, literally only one place the boy would go. They couldn't really determine if it was inherent in the boy's situation, or it was just the strangeness of it all finally breaking him, but for one reason or another, he didn't have such a firm grasp on his emotions as he should have. It could easily be attributed to his own childish nature, as being stuck in such a form altered, not his consciousness per se, but much of his brain which still governs the biological thought process.
Another explanation would be that, in fact, he finally reached his breaking point and was reacting accordingly to what was left of his broken, and again much reduced, psyche. If that were the case, then they were glad that Zangetsu agreed to keep them separated, or they would very much have to contend with a Hollow on the loose, one with no regard for collateral damage and power that could easily bring countries to their knees. Of course, even with his power reduced, his anger made him dangerous... but also extremely predictable to the point of losing much of his combat effectiveness.
It would always be the case that skill would triumph over raw power, as long as the gap between them was not as expansive as the heavens are from the earth.
"Brennan!" As it was, the desperate cry of the Huntsman was perfectly punctual, the threads of reishi latching on to the boy just as he reappeared behind the brown-haired man, not surprisingly, his leg just about to deliver sweet, sweet revenge on the elder combatant. Kaiser could only sigh in relief as his feet returned to the ground, mere centimeters separating the child's foot from his groin.
He didn't need to face Ichigo to feel the all consuming ire that emanated from the boy, threatening to manifest itself and destroy his very soul that very instant. More specifically, he could feel his back burning as eyes bored into him with such intensity that he could actually feel the power, the sheer pressure of his death glare on him. He knew that dealing with the child the way he did was a stretch, a gamble that involved his life and the very real chance that the boy would exact dreadful revenge on him, but it had to be done if only to ensure that the boy would become whole again.
And now he was facing the consequences, fortunately, for not very long now.
"Ichigo?" A voice commanded the attention of all in the clearing, as all eyes landed on the woman who followed the Huntsman soon after, worry and apprehension in her eyes. She was dressed differently, a strange black cloak on her shoulders as a small bag could be seen peaking under her protective garment. To all, it looked like she was stronger as well, her aura glowing a mixture of red, yellow, and blue, almost in the exact manner Ichigo's shone just before it became a mockery of pale silver and deathly obsidian; destroying everything in its wake without regard.
The boy himself dropped his mask as soon as she spoke, golden eyes and dark scleara returning to its original shade of bright amber and innocent white. A myriad of different expressions danced on his countenance, from confusion, to worry, from anger, to sorrow as he gazed longingly at his mother. No words needed to be said between them, and yet he knew what she was planning to do.
"Mom..." His voice was weaker, laced with helplessness and pleading as he took a slow step forward. The bag couldn't have been for anything else, not when she wore a cloak that was obviously made to protect a traveler on her journey. He was smart enough to put the pieces together, to figure out what she planned to do if not the reason behind her plans. His own mind had no mercy for the boy.
She's leaving you again.
He didn't know why she insisted on meeting with Kaiser soon after, but this just confirmed the worst of his suspicions. She had memories, an impossibly he forgot to account for, and as much as he knew she loved him, it was only natural that there was one part, tucked away at the back of her mind that would demand the knowledge she had lost. As much as he would try to help her, there was only so much he could do, especially as a child with no more knowledge of worth than she does. At one point, it would be inevitable that their paths would stray form each other, and then...
...He knew that he wouldn't be able to do a thing but watch her go.
Again.
Of course, fate had other plans for him, and for once that wasn't such a bad thing.
The mother was not blind, quite the contrary actually, seeing more in her son than he could in her. He was jumping to conclusions, well thought out conclusions, but jumping to them all the same... and was being saddened by it. She knew how she must have looked like, but the cloak just felt right around her shoulders, like a warm embrace of a familiar friend. Still, it wasn't her son's, her eldest's embrace.
A mistake she moved to correct.
In the blink of an eye, he was in her arms, his eyes being dried on her chest while his ears were filled by the calming cadence that was her heartbeat. He could feel her reiatsu, her Aura embracing him in turn, a warm blanket that eased away his pain and sadness, the gentle reminder of the promise she made months ago. Her lips found his crown, and she planted a tender kiss on her son before their eyes met, warm amber meeting bright gold in silence. The smile she had, warm, bright, nurturing, and loving was infectious, and it only grew as her son's apprehension dissipated like mist before the morn.
The message was clear; I will never leave you...
...If only it lasted.
"NORA!"
Heads turned at breakneck speed towards the girl who should have been unconscious, who was now jumping up and down and causing her pink skirt to flare with her. Her blouse was white, and plain as it was, it was not marred by whatever dirt it should have acquired with her wandering the forest, especially with the enthusiasm she exhibited. The awe was gone, but her turquoise eyes still shined with a glow that could only be brought out by pure, glee; innocence Ichigo no doubt lost but still appreciated in his younger sisters. If anything, the grin on her face simply underlined that truth, just as her melodious laughter filled the clearing and dispelled the depressing mood that suddenly came over it.
His mother looked at her patiently, alternating her smile between the energetic little girl and the son she had placed on the ground. She wore the smile only a mother had any right showing, and with the child's laughter, everything just seemed to glow a little bit brighter. Life returned to the clearing, where once a presence of overwhelming death simply consumed everything in it's wake.
Zangetsu didn't know what to think, confusion in his eyes even as his maniac grin fell to more manageable levels. The girl's happiness was infections, he could not deny that, but he was, like the others, tied to the boy. His own joy stemmed from the relief the King felt after renewing his faith in his mother. Even instinct recognized that family was, and would always be, above all else, and for that he felt what he had never felt outside of the most satisfying of battles; joy. For but that moment, he could feel himself change, into a ZanpakutÅ instead of a Hollow.
Brennan couldn't hide the smirk on his lips as the situation calmed considerably. From speaking with the child to stopping him from enacting his revenge, the day had gone from relaxing to downright stressful, and even someone with as much patience as he had grew weary. He was satisfied with the outcome, now that he would start training the boy while he grew, if only to protect him and those he loved. Just like those first Quincy, he would act to protect those he loved, though this time, he would do it in a way that would not endanger his family, or the balance.
Narius smiled with relief, seeing that the child he struck was still breathing, and now laughing. Killing her was a very clear possibility, one he tried to eliminate when he leaped into action soon after with Kaido in his hands. He had confidence that Aki would stay with Ichigo, a fact he was happy to be correct about given how the mother and child were smiling lightly; both of them still in close proximity to each other. He didn't lie when he said he was Ichigo's humanity, so it was no surprise he felt the joy he felt, dare he say, even more so that Ichigo did.
Ichigo was happy, both that his mother would stay and that the girl who saw them was still alive. With everything that happened, it was amazing she could still smile, still jump around like the child she was, though that could easily be attributed to the fact that she was ignorant to just how close to death she was. Just another person to protect, he realized, of course, it was no surprise he was glad for her safety. Embarrassment that he had doubted his mother was there, but he couldn't bring himself to feel it as she smiled over him.
Kaiser was the only odd man out, his face marred with trepidation rather that relief when he saw the young child playing around the clearing, now distracted by a butterfly that glided by. He knew the girl, or rather her parents. They were good folk to be sure, but like their daughter, they tended to be a little more that friendly to the people they come across. Now that wasn't so much of a bad thing as he made it out to be in a regular situation, but now, with the people he found himself surrounded with, it would be a revelation that came with severe consequences.
"BOSTOV!" The voice of a man thundered as silence came over the clearing.
Zangetsu began crackling maniacally, much more than he did on a regular basis.
Narius smiled as he always did, though this time there was a shade of true mirth in the grin of the enigma.
Tensa buried his face in one of his hands in a gesture of resignation, somewhat disappointed in the Huntsman.
Nora was grinning from ear to ear, before she began running to the source of the sound without hesitation.
Ichigo almost dropped his jaw.
Kaiser's expression was priceless.
"Don't even say it." Kaiser said as firmly as possible, struggling and subsequently failing to throw reason to the wind along with another drink back. The only reason why he was being as civil as he was being that the boy's mother continued to sit beside him, her smile as tranquil as ever.
He wasn't a minor anymore, he could still drink in his own office if he wanted to, the boy's obscenely scary mother be damned...
Okay, he didn't mean it that way, but he promised not to get drunk and that seemed to be good enough for her.
Ichigo simply smiled, no doubt hard pressed to keep the laughter in his throat as he eyed the alcoholic Huntsman in a new light. The mirth was short lived, as soon as a striking realization made itself know to the boy. His smile automatically reverted to his trademark scowl as he began glaring holes through the man seated across him. It was a change that did not go unnoticed, by either his mother or Kaiser.
"Suddenly serious, kid?" Kaiser smirked victoriously as Ichigo seemed to react negatively to his show of casualness. "I guess you had to figure it out sooner or later after all, but still..."
"How many?" His tone was icy, sharp enough to cut through whatever he was going to say before he could finish the sentence. In contrast, Ichigo's eyes were blazing with what seemed to be... justice?
No, it was justice, as if the man before him was an uncommon criminal instead of a defender of humanity.
So that's his angle... Kaiser thought with a breath as he showed the boy the back of his hand.
Really, he should have seen something like this coming. With the way he acted all those years ago, of course the first question the Hero of the Winter War and the End of the Thousand Years War, also one of the biggest prudes ever, would pose related to the amount of women he... knew. He couldn't blame the boy, especially because of how he looked in contrast to how he used to look.
It wouldn't be a stretch to call him a handsome young man, just fresh out of the Academies if he ever really studied, and of course there were far too many women he could take advantage of. The only difference between then and now was the fact that they would come to him rather than the other way around, and being who he was, he would capitalize on whatever opportunity he had in a heartbeat.
All the worries the boy had he put to rest by the simple gesture, showing off the glowing golden band encircling one of his fingers. "Just one actually." He said easily, his smirk not receding in the least.
Instead of the reaction he expected, Ichigo simply sighed and glanced around the quaint office. Kaiser himself raised a brow in confusion before brown met warm amber, disappointment glowing behind the latter. He was about to ask what was that look all about before the child shook his head, his voice the furthest thing from humorous. "Really, I should have expected worse, but at least you took responsibility for your mistakes. When can I meet the kid?"
There was silence.
Well played, Ichigo, very well played. Kaiser thought before bringing his hand down with a heavy bang, just enough so that the table wouldn't have a dent in it but the sound it made was still deafening. False outrage masked his face as he raised his voice. "Hey, at least I recognize a person's feelings when I see them, you damn eunuch! I'm fucking married! How many relationships did you have?"
He had to give credit to Aki, the woman knew how to read people no matter where or when she came from. From the knowing glance she shot him, it seemed that she knew he was just kidding around, and that her son would also be participating in their less than playful banter. The concern was still their, a sliver of despair that Ichigo would overreact to such a statement about his past.
He didn't disappoint.
"You know what, you damn pervert? I don't even care anymore, because, you know, the world was about to end. Twice! You think I had time to live and act like a normal person after walking away from something like that? We both know I've never been normal, and that I would never been able to be normal even before my parents were finally married, so get off my case, asshole!" The tone the child used was downright malicious, while if looks could kill, the glare he sent the Huntsman would have decimated more armies than his blade had when he possessed full control of his powers.
"Prude."
"Idiot"
"Crybaby!"
"Trash!"
"Mama's Boy!"
"Cross-dresser!"
"Strawberry!"
"Damn it, I've had it up to here with you!" The child bellowed before making a beeline towards the man behind the desk, only to see a hand hold him back by the head as he swung his hands in vain. He was sent back to his seat with a light push before he met Kaiser's gaze with an arctic glare. "This isn't over yet, idiot. I'll get back at you for everything, you hear me? Everything!"
"And I'll enjoy these peaceful days while it lasts, when I'm finally the one bigger than you, kid." Kaiser retorted with a smirk before offering his hand to the boy. "Either way, it's been a while, Ichigo."
The two were too busy in their little reunion that neither could see the radiant smile of a proud mother.
"Far too long, Kon." He grasp the had gratefully, two old friend reuniting after what seemed like years of separation. "So tell me, who's the goddess who finally decided to take you off the market?"
The modified soul looked at the boy for a moment. He's grown up. Never was a time that Ichigo would ask something like that, either to him, his friends, even those he battled with. He smiled more, he seemed happier even if the situation demanded he give in to despair in a heartbeat. He regained his faith, he believed in a future for once, as well as his hope when he spoke with the soul. He changed.
He had love.
"But before we do that, where's the kid we found? I'm sure Valkyrie wouldn't like it if we left his daughter was wandering around again."
"That's how she got lost the first time right?" Ichigo asked, effectively blindsided. "I'm sure either Tens-Brennan or Zangestu's watching over her"
A beat.
"Fuck."
"Are you sure this is fine, ZZ?" Nora asked, apprehension layering her voice as the wind blew past.
"Call me that one more time and I'll throw you off!" Zangetsu growled back at the girl, before another much louder cry shook the air. "Shut up!"
To say that they got off on the wrong foot would be the understatement of the millennium. Right behind Aizen couldn't be that bad, right? And, for the record, yes, the mad megalomaniac captain that seemed to do no wrong wasn't that bad, he was much worse than any of them, from Quincy to Royal Guard, could have assumed. If all the world's evil was condensed into one being, Aizen would inhale it then probably complain about the quality of air before continuing his perfectly planned, choreographed, measured and remeasured scheme on scheme on scheme to take over reality itself.
All without losing that insufferable smirk of his.
Now as bad as that was, Zangetsu would even argue it wasn't much of a problem considering how many Hollows and Quincy he killed, the girl he was stuck with was something of a different kind.
It was sunshine and rainbows, with her. It was always warm, always happy, always smiles, peace on earth and innocence taken to such an obscene degree that it could probably be weaponized given enough time. She had the energy to back it up too, requiring not a moment to recover from her awed state, even after they had a short exchange of blows. And the talking, oh the damn talking.
For some reason, she didn't shut up. AT. ALL.
At one point, he couldn't hear himself think with the rate words flew from her mouth. He battled Quincies for crying out loud, he knew what it was like to face down a veritable monsoon of arrows raining down to kill him and him alone. That prospect left him undaunted, but to find a girl who didn't seem to need to breathe when she fired words at rates that rivaled several machine guns was unnerving.
No, the proper adjective would be annoying, to an extent that it was beginning to hurt.
The worst of it was that he was ditched in the middle of the babysitting duty thrust upon him. Tensa, or Brennan as he preferred in public, was a known associate of Kaiser, and so when the latter was busy dealing with the King and his mother, that left the Hollow to care for the child. Needless to say, he was informed when he had no other choice but to reply, specifically after the Quincy dumped them alone in the forest, at least a few miles from the village. He would have left, he would have loved to if it wouldn't bring the wrath of a vengeful mother down on the quartet.
The Valkyrie was a threat, he never doubted that for a second, but only to those who would be inevitably caught in his rampage if he found his daughter was left to die, on purpose. An enraged animal tended to lash out indiscriminately, but it was nothing Kaiser and Aki together couldn't handle. When it came right down to it, Ichigo would probably be hard pressed to defeat him alone, simply because he would be adverse to fighting the man in the first place. The other three of them would most likely classify such a fight as a warm up or even less considering their natures. Narius would have the hardest time among the three but it would still be comparatively easy.
The true problem they would encounter would be the wrath of Aki. She was a mother through and through, and as a past Huntress, she had a sense of justice that was almost impeccable. She was forgiving as long the resolution involved no bloodshed but she spared no mercy for the truly guilty. If she ever caught scent of the plan he was brewing, she would make sure he suffered for even thinking about doing such a thing to a child.
He had experienced her wrath before, and that was when no one actually died, even he dreaded what she had in store for those who successfully killed.
So he drew on what little patience he had to try and live with the girl. It wasn't to hard at first, she talked enough for the both of them and was content with having given voice to her thoughts. He simply listened quietly, trying to keep his mouth shut in case anything he didn't want her hearing slipped past his lips. But as seconds ticked by, his task would grow exponentially more difficult.
It would have been fine if what she spoke of made sense. It was happy, and that could have been something he could deal with. He was instinct after all, and taking care of the two younger twins was something he was a proud part of. If it was just the nonsensical mutterings of a little sister, then he would have had the patience to suffer in silence, and maybe even humor the little girl by participating.
But it wasn't
It was pure sound.
Her words were blending with each other, forming one long word that seemed to span minutes at a time when she went full speed. He could barely decipher the more common words, but as it continued, whatever she spewed simply rang out as offensively as nails screeching against the surface of the blackboard or a banshee screaming into the night as death came for his victim.
It made no sense at all, and after a minute, he was convinced that he had died and this was a special Hell, tailor made just for him.
In the silence of the skies, he found himself wondering why he chose to endure two whole hours with that... that thing before making the smart decision. It was perfect, he mused while looking down on the girl who still continued talking as if he was still beside her. She wasn't in any immediate danger, and even if she did encounter something that could potentially hurt her, it wasn't like he couldn't cross the distance in an instant and make sure she doesn't get hurt... too badly. He could enjoy the silence while his conscience remained clear, and best of all, no one could fault him for doing anything wrong.
The exact words of Tensa were "Just keep an eye on her."
Who ever said that the Hollow was stupid?
It was just a bonus that she decided that he was playing hide and seek with her, that gave him the much needed time to think about their next move.
Until that moment when everything was made whole again, their main goal was to restore Ichigo to his old strength. They had accomplished that as soon as they were reunited, merging together just proved that his power had once again exceeded all expectations. But even as they accomplished their goal, they had inadvertently opened another can of worms they would have to deal with as soon as possible. They were in an entirely different dimension, no one truly allowed that fact to sink in while they were busy looking for each other. Now that the dust settled, they found themselves at a crossroads.
They were not of this world, and if they were there, as was Tessai, there was a large possibility that the others would be as well. Being a problem in itself, there were other factors to consider, like the way they would appear or the time and sequence they surfaced in the current world. As far as he knew, Tessai realized his predicament and found a home over three decades ago, while Kaiser had less than a decade of a head start according to Brennan. With that being the case, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to think that the others could have appeared any time from a century to a year before then.
Then there was the future to consider, if by any chance Ichigo managed to surface before any of them.
There was also the apparent age they had to consider.
Ichigo himself looked like child, probably the exact age he was when he lost his beloved mother, and the trio were no different in the fact that they too regressed. Brennan looked like a teen just before puberty struck full force, but then again it was the least distance between his old form as the teenage version of the Quincy King. Zangetsu himself was the closes to Ichigo in apparent age, probably bearing the appearance of a ten year old who was taller than most his age. The cleaver towered over him, the only reason he was able to wield it was the fact that even if it dragged through the earth, he possessed enough strength to tear through the ground with little resistance. Narius was the eldest looking among them, being Ichigo's original age; 15.
It would make perfect sense if Urahara would look like a child or Yoruichi would suddenly look like an old lady if they ever crossed paths again. Whatever allowed them to cross over to the new world apparently changed their ages, but if Tessai was to be considered, there was also the possibility that they would retain their ages. It would save them from confusion if that was the case, rendering it a minor problem at most. In truth, the former case of meeting them at all would be more emotionally taxing to the boy who fought two wars at the tender age of 17.
He would still like it more if they reappeared though, now most especially the rest of his family. There was just a distinct and real possibility that he would have older twin sisters, or his father may not be as old as he used to be. But again, that was a minor inconvenience rather than a real problem.
No, the main problem stemmed from the fact that their enemies could have easily survived and consequently were plotting to take over or destroy this world as well.
More than that, there was a possibility they finished their cycles or reincarnation and returned with a vengeance. Almost all Hollows, save those killed the Quincy, were powerful enough to retain there memories. The Espada, the Bount, revolutionaries, even some of the Tojo could make an appearance and the world seemed chaotic enough as it was to deal with threats even more fearsome than Grimm.
As much as the ZanpakutÅ wanted a worthy opponent, not even he would wish for their enemies to return.
He was a battle maniac after all, living for the thrill of the fight, the possibility of kill or be killed, but more than that he was a protector. He relished the fight, pushing to meet others in combat even if it's not exactly necessary, but if it directly jeopardized those he deemed under his protection, heads would roll faster than the drone of Sonido could reach the victims' ears. Those they fought, from the blasphemous captain to the corrupted child of the Soul King were beings who threatened those around them just by existing. The mere possibility that they were there was troubling to say the least.
At least they had time on their side this time. Time to prepare for any eventuality and form contingency after contingency just in case the worse came to pass and both of them were not only alive, but working together. Their powers were nothing compared to the boy's now, and if he learned control, there would be nothing that could stand in their way. He would have to tell them of the possibilities, he almost laughed at the irony, and kick their training into high gear just to be safe. He was sure they would understand, considering who they would be dealing with.
A clash between a transcended being, a bona fide god, and the King would not end well if they didn't have every odd in their favor.
His musings were cut short when he heard a scream pierce the air below him.
Nora wasn't stupid, no matter how much she showed otherwise.
She was a child, yes, but she possessed the intuition only children had heightened to a degree that was frightening. It was the one that told children when to smile, when their playmates were happy or sad or when they were just tired. For someone her age, she was surprisingly empathetic, hence her attitude towards life in general. As someone who knew no reason for sorrow, she had trouble comprehending why others would find it so hard to smile, and so she would do the only think children like her could. She would try to be happy enough for everyone.
So when she was paired up with what looked like the most emotionally troubled person she ever met, she brought her A-game.
She smiled as hard as she could, a brightening grin that would blind lesser men and ran her mouth faster than the heaviest torrent. She laughed, so much that animals came out to see what all the hullabaloo was all about and she had as much fun as she could possibly have in front of the strange man tasked to watch her as he father dealt with the boring stuff he called 'business'.
It looked like nothing was working.
Her father taught her never to give up though, and so, like a true trooper, she continued on, snowballing as time past until she was, if she said so herself, JOY INCARNATE.
Imagine her surprise when one moment, she was laughing at her babysitter's side, not that she would ever admit that she enjoyed their company, and the next moment there was no one there in the clearing other than her.
Even she would admit that it hurt when he left her all alone, when all she was trying to do was make him smile a bit.
She was empathetic, so much so that it hurt. When a person beside her was happy, she couldn't help but smile with them, even if she didn't know what exactly they were so happy about. But happiness, genuine happiness outside her happy little family was shockingly rare that when she was surrounded by others, her empathy turned into a dagger. Fear stabbed through her heart as sorrow racked her form whenever she felt another was sad, or afraid. Anger burned within her when one was offended while shame and despair consumed her when another just lost the will to hope again.
Spending time with an embodiment of despair itself, yes she could tell he was just that empty, was the most painful thing she ever felt. But she was innocent in the way only children could be, so all she wanted to do was make him feel better. She could have ran away from him, begging to stay in the cramped little office with her father instead of insisting to go out in the forest with the older boy.
She knew he was in pain, that he was never truly happy for any length of time, and her response was to try and make him smile even for a little bit.
So she steeled her resolve and searched for him, it wasn't in her nature to give up anyway.
"Mr. Zangetsu, where are you? Come out, come out, wherever you are!" She yelled as she trudged through the forest alone, treating the way he just abandoned her like a game of hide and seek. He wouldn't leave a child alone. She just felt that even if she wasn't an appreciated presence, he wouldn't just leave her to fend for herself. "Hello!? Mr. Zangestu! Zangzang! Zeezee!"
Every tree truck was circled, every branch was checked and every dip in the path was scoured for the monochrome spirit. It shouldn't have been that hard to find someone who dressed in white in a forest that was mostly brown, black, and green. Every bush was checked while the distance was carefully scrutinized for any sign of her older companion, her will not faltering in the least even as the sun began it's decent. She had faith that he was there, somewhere. She even tried to look up every now and again, the memory of seeing them in the sky pervading her mind even as she knew flying was impossible.
It didn't bother to try, but the disappointment of not seeing him there was closing in on her breaking point.
She had to admit that she was afraid. She was never left alone for any true length of time as she was still a child, living in a world where even she knew that monsters did exist. She knew that her parents weren't there to make everything better if ever it got worse, and that she left her favorite bear somewhere back in the village in her excitement to get the scowling boy to smile. In hindsight, bringing Lord Fluffy the Adorable would have the much needed push she needed to make him smirk even just a little, as well as the only thing that kept her still when she was alone.
When she heard the bushes rustling softly a few paces away, she couldn't describe the relief she felt. "That was mean, ZZ!" She cried out before breaking into a run towards the source of the sound.
She didn't hear the muffled scream that came from above in her joy, but she did trip before reaching her destination, sending her tumbling down the mild incline and into a clearing just in front of the bushes. The laughter just came out as she slowed, her body not hurting as much as it should as her mind was still reeling from the sudden spin. "Let's do that again, right ZZ?" She called out gleefully as the leaves parted.
The scream couldn't even leave her throat as she laid eyes on the biggest... living thing she had ever seen.
She heard the stories. She knew of the Grimm and even after hearing tale after tale where the hero slew swaths of monsters to get to the princess or save the town, this was the first time she stared at the death of Hunters in the face.
The eyes glowed even more terrifyingly that the blood red moon after the white light was consumed by the darkness of the night. It's bone mask shone like unholy light in the middle of earthly gloom, and the spines that grew out it's back grew to heights that towered over her child-like form. It's armor was hard and strong, more than enough to crush her head without any effort and take blows able to do so without fear as its claws were long and sharp, glowing in the twilight and threatening to cut away the light itself. It didn't growl, it didn't roar at her to consume her in terror, no, it was like it could tell that she was already as afraid as she could ever be.
It was here, and she knew that all it wanted at that very moment was to kill her.
It bared its teeth, the mockery of a smile, before powerful legs forced it forward...
She closed her eyes; she had long lost any strength she had to look.
A moment passed...
Sound itself stopped and she was surrounded by pure blackness, two of her senses refusing to continue due to the sheer terror she felt...
And another...
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as she felt the warm breath of the monster seeping through her thin sundress...
Another...
"Hey kid." Her eyes snapped open to see the giant Ursa restrained, the older boy standing nonchalantly beside it. "You alright?"
When sight finally had deigned it fitting to allow her to focus, her own turquoise eyes veiled with unshed tears, she just couldn't help herself anymore.
"WAAAAAH!"
The two found themselves on the ground, the smaller child in a sundress crying with her arms wrapped around the boy in white who as quite confused with the situation. Her tears began falling as her breath turned ragged, sobs erupting sporadically while the tears fell into the white cloth that formed the white robe. She couldn't describe how she felt anymore, having been dragged through a storm of different emotions in such a short time.
"You meanie!" She screamed into his chest, yet the wet cloth muffled her cry to some degree as Zangetsu simply chuckled.
She looked up in outrage, her mouth already open to give the older boy a piece of her mind, but his finger beat her to the punch, lightly landing on her forehead in a flick. "Just keep quiet for now." He said firmly, but there was kindness in his golden eyes, and his pale skin seemed to shine just a little bit brighter. Almost like a sibling would, he ruffled her hair before easing her head against his chest.
The anger, the sadness, the despair she felt from his was suddenly gone, replaced by a warmth she only felt when she was with her parents. In contrast to his abrasive presence when they first met and the instinctual fear she felt for him, there was kindness, and even protectiveness about him that she never felt before. "It's the duty of the elder brother to protect his younger sister, don't you think?"
She looked up at him with eyes filled with bemusement as he smiled, not a strange grin she spied before when he spoke with the other three boys, but one reserved for a kind elder brother. "You really think I would have left you alone? What do you think your father would do to me if I did that?" She couldn't help but giggle at the way he said it so seriously, like he could be afraid of the soft sweetheart that was her father. "Yeah, just laugh it up, little girl. I'm not the one who screamed when I saw a little Ursa."
"Ursa?"She asked, glancing at the monster that was held beside them, kept in place by a myriad of red ribbons that covered most if it's body. It was a wonder that not even it's claws and teeth could cut through the seemingly soft fabric. Even more amazing was its ability to glow against the montser's black fur, just like it's eyes did.
No, that wasn't all of it. The crimson glow that dyed the long winding ribbons shined brighter than the beast's eyes ever could, hiding power that was terrifying to feel and yet beautiful to bear witness to. At least she would say, though they didn't feel very different, she would rather play among the folds of the mysterious cloth than with the giant spiked bear.
"Yeah, that thing." He nodded in its direction nonchalantly before his stoic expression shifted into a mischievous grin. "Hey, do you want to do something fun?"
At that moment, she didn't know what to feel. She succeeded, but all it took was putting her life in danger, and as much as the success itself was good she didn't know how her father would react if he heard what had happened. Of course that was considering if he ever got wind of the true story... She would take what she could get, a bit of fun, with a companion this time, was something she would never turn away.
She nodded enthusiastically, that was until she looked at the horizon.
For a moment she was consumed by the twilight that spread across the sky like a veil being removed to reveal something beautiful. Orange, vermilion and byzantine blended to form a symphony of color that took her breath away as she sat in the middle of a clearing with her new friend. With the leaves swaying in the light breeze, silver clouds painted gold dancing in the sky and the warmth of an elder brother cradling her, everything was just perfect. She wanted it to last as long as possible, or pass just so that she could have proper playtime with her new older bother, but her parent's warning won over her thirst for adventure.
"Nora, you can play, but don't wander off too far and be back before dark, okay?"
"Dad said we can't be out to late, so we can't play anymore." She muttered deflated as she looked at Zangetsu with a hint of sorrow and disappointment before bouncing back. "But we can still play tomorrow, right? I'll be here until daddy is done with his boring buinsessy businesses, so we can play all week, and talk, and eat and explore and runaroundplaygamesdressupandmaybewecanflyagain..."
A hand landed gently, covering her mouth as the grin of the boy before her grew wider. "Oh no, we don't need to wait for tomorrow to have fun."
"Really?" She seemed unsure, her head tilting in confusion, much like a cat would. There was no way she misinterpreted what her father said, right? "But we need to start walking home."
"Who said anything about walking?"
Narius's eye twitched.
"So you two rode an Ursa back here..." He said dejectedly, letting out a sigh, but whether in relief or frustration, no one could tell. "I don't know if I should be proud or angry."
"What did you do?" Zangetsu retorted just as easily as darkness fell.
They were on the outskirts of the village, left there as their companions had dinner and caught up. They slipped away just as the doting parents finally introduced their children, Zangetsu particularity hurried as Nora glanced at him with the innocence and mischievousness only a child could have. Ichigo lost both during the war, a long time ago and looking at them like that was juts plain strange.
Plus, he just didn't want to be there when they finally discovered what he did when they were alone.
It was just strange to do so with someone who wasn't Yuzu or Karin. He didn't even know if they were still here, alive and wondering about them.
Still, finding the hollow so astute was surprising. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Zangetsu."
"Bullshit." There was no malice, but the knowing, the judgement was there as if the hammer itself was brought down on the unknown. "You said you were his humanity, and only you could make me do something like that. Not even the King or the damn Quincy could influence me like that, so I'll ask again, what did you do? Better yet, answer this one, what the hell are you?"
"I'm his humanity." Narius answered levelly before eyeing the Hollow with condescending superiority. "You should know, as instinct, comforting someone younger than you should come naturally. I know you are out of practice, but it's still there. I'm not surprised you did so for someone who looked so much like Ichigo. It's in your nature, Zangestu, and to act on instinct is your nature. I did nothing."
The Bala crossed the distance to explode against a barrier of bright gold. "She looks nothing like him, even if the hair is somewhat the same. She's a girl for god's sake, and she's nothing like the twins either if you even think of saying something like that." Golden eyes narrowed at the golden glow. "Come to think of it, I remember seeing that power before, somewhere no human should ever go..."
"...And come back from." Narius finished easily as crimson eyes glowed bright with satisfaction. "Hell, yes, I do believe that was the first time he ever used himself in his fullness. I assure you, I am not confirmation that Ichigo is cursed with eternal damnation when he finally dies. He was just so blind to his true nature that it was only then, when he truly accepted himself as human and hollow, did I surface. I had to after all, since I am his humanity. Tensa is the proof that he descended from Gods, while you are his corruption. I am simply all that is left, what he was and what he could be."
"I'm a monster, Narius." Zangetsu retorted as easily. "I have not a caring bone in my body, but a while ago I acted like the King does with his siblings. That does not just happen, not when I've threatened, several times, to do unspeakable things to them just to get the King to fight seriously. I couldn't have, not when even now all I can think of is ripping you apart for lying to me."
The blade was on his neck faster than he could blink. "I don't care if you don't tell me, that's your call after all, but if you ever force me to do anything like that ever again, I will consume you. I'm supposed to have killed you even before the King was born, I can easily do it again if you really want to force the issue."
Zangetsu knew there was a blade in his chest, straight through his Hollow Hole and ready to cut him in an instant just as he made his threat. Narius just smiled. "I didn't do anything remember, and I've been telling you again and again what I am, it's your problem if you don't believe me. Really, you're just like Ichigo sometimes, not even believing the truth when it's right in front of you."
The Hollow smiled in response, his teething lengthening to the vicious canines his mask possessed even before he dawned the fears om visage of bone. "You're like that bastard of a Quincy yourself, asshole, always speaking in riddles and hiding the truth in a maze of words. You can't be what you say you are, and even if it was just that simple, there will always be something you're hiding."
He sheathed his sword in obsidian bandages, hiding it from sight against the darkness of night. "I'm not the horse anymore, I'm the sword he wields. Tensa has always been the chains that bind him, though now it's consensual, as disgusting as that sounds. I can tell a bit of what you are, boy, it's part of being the instinct. Just make sure that as his armor, you protect him as you should."
"I thought you didn't care about anything Zangetsu." Narius smirked, withdrawing his own sword from within the chest of the Hollow as it dissipated as well.
Zangetsu simply scoffed. "Self-preservation is as close as you get, even the wildest of beasts posses that instinct."
"We're good then?" Narius asked with his hand outstretched.
"Just dandy." Zangestu replied with a grip that could crush mountains.
The unknown, or the human if he was honest, responded with equally fearsome strength.
"Let's start talking about the next move then." Narius shrugged as he placed his hands at the back of his head.
"I thought it was obvious."
"Brennan?"
"Tensa is fine if we're alone." The Quincy king replied with a smirk as he removed his shades, the tinted glasses not suited for night time.
"What do you mean by obvious, you bastard?" Zangestu asked impatiently.
"I'm sure you've given some thought to it, and if so there is only one true solution at this point. We train him with all we have." A slight gesture stirred the air around them as a void opened into a new dimension. "The enemies are many, either from our dimension or here, and to deal with them, Ichigo would need all the power and skill he can muster. Only that could keep him from falling into despair."
"So you found out as well?" Narius queried, malice dripping from his voice as a vicious smile played on his lips. "I thought it would take longer for anyone to discover that.
"I had a head start after all, not too much evades my eyes." Tensa shrugged off the murmurings of the human as he addressed both before him. "That in itself should have killed any other living Knights but we can't be sure, so we must strengthen the boy until no adversary can triumph against him. Not even us. Only then can we ensure that it would never rain in his world ever again."
"So you want to make him into a god then, Quincy?" Zangestu's grin spread from ear to ear as he nodded, the black sclera returning as he looked to the portal.
"He's already in that league, Zangestu, all we have to do is make sure he continues rising." Narius added, a devilish smirk on his face while crimson glowed brighter that starlight.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
AN:
*DEEP BREATH*
Sorry it's late, I had exams and all that stuff going of in school. I wanted to be an Engineering Student and now it's getting to me.
Well Thanks for the support to everyone who reviewed but at this moment, answering would give some spoilers. As for future plans, you guys will just have to look forward to that and see just how far down the rabbit hole goes.
Canon characters are here and the first is... NORA!
More will come soon and at random so don't expect a proper order to the chaos.
I will have to apologize, but to limit disappointment, here's a warning: I WILL TRY MY BEST TO UPDATE WEEKLY, BUT WORST CASE SCENARIO WILL BE BI-WEEKLY.
*BOW*
That being said, I just made it (8k words in 3 hours is much more tireing than I thought)
Hope you all enjoyed the long awaited canon character, more to come soon.
THIS HAS BEEN PROCCIT
*sigh*
BYE BYE! :)