Chapter 7

I walked into school that day feeling more tried then I had the other day, but I didn't regret not sleeping. I didn't want to sleep, I was afraid something might happen.

I stepped into the building earlier than usual, classes didn't start for ages so I walked into the class room and sat on top of my desk while drinking some orange juice from a carton. It was a dull day, the clouds covered the blue sky like a churning carpet of black. Everything felt cold and depressing or maybe that was just my mood.

It wasn't long till the others joined me.

Ishida Chad and Orihime all walked in together they looked like there were in a deep conversation but seeing me they plastered smiles onto their faces, well Orihime did at least.

I knew there conversation might have been about me, and I wasn't angry, they wanted to help me that's all.

"You're in early" Ishida said looking me up and down as if to check I was actually real.

"Yep"

Orihime came over and looked into my eyes and I stared back wishing I could just explain everything. She seemed to know, she always understood me more then I knew most of the time.

"You need more sleep" She said as she brushed her fingers under my eye. I smiled for the first time in ages, because that was undoubtedly true.

At that moment a hollow decided to make its presence known. I felt its pressure before hearing its shrieking hungry roar.

I got up quickly grabbing my combat pass. I looked to the others.

"We'll take of your body" Ishida looked to Chad and he came over, his arms ready to catch.

"Go Ichigo" He grumbled in that deep voice of his. Chad only spoke a few words but when he did his voice was always deep and clear.

"We'll put you back at my apartment now" Orihime whispered while looking at me, she seemed worried again for some reason, it was only a hollow, that I could deal with.

"Don't worry" I told her, as I plunged the pass to my chest and then pushed one of the windows aside and jumped through. The rush of the air and the fall was always exhilarating. I ran along the air getting higher and higher until I had a good view of everything around me.

The pressure was coming from somewhere close, but somewhere open, that much I could tell, it was too loud and clear to be hiding between buildings.

It didn't take me long to catch sight of the creature.

It was prowling around near a disused area were a warehouse once stood, most of the building had been burnt down from a fire, and the area was empty apart from rubble and metal scatted here and there. Perfect I thought a decent place to deal with it.

I dropped down and the creature turned to stare at me through its white mask.

This hollow looked bull like, its body was bulky and short it had hooves and its mask looked like a dried skull you might find on a desert, it had horns to, large jagged looking things that stuck out over its head.

It grunted turning its bulk of a frame towards me ready to charge.

I laughed and pulled my large sword from my back. I loved how the blade was much larger than most, kitchen knife shaped its gleaming black surface so black you could look at your reflection in it.

The thing pulled back one of its hooves kicking up dirt in anger.

And then it charged. And I was ready.

Its head was pulled down its horns getting closer ready to strike me, but I had a blade, a blade I knew as well as I knew my own soul. This would certainly be too easy.

As I raised my arm with the blade in my hand something happened. My mind went fuzzy, a pulling feeling latched itself into my stomach, and the only thing that crossed my mind at that very moment was, I was going to die.

Its head smacked right into my chest knocking the air out of me and sending my whole body flying. I landed in a tangled heap on the floor dust covering me and making it even harder to breath.

I was pretty sure I had broken a few ribs, the pain was unbelievable, so bad that my vision went in and out of focus as I tried to stay awake, if I lost sight the thing would beat me to death.

It kicked at the dirt once more ready to try again.

I moved pulling myself onto my knees my zanpaktu still firmly placed in my hand. I tried pulling it up but my arm didn't move. I tried using my other arm to at least protect myself but that wouldn't move either. I tried running, but my legs stayed in place.

The nagging feeling in my stomach didn't leave but only got stronger. Was she trying to kill me? But didn't she want to use me? And then I realised she was seeing if I survived it was a test and also a lesson.

I roared in anger as the bull hollow came crashing into me again this time one of its horns hit lucky, it ripped into my shoulder causing this horrible blinding pain to flitter through my arm.

I rolled onto my stomach and face and just lay there bleeding and bruised. I was going to die. How was I meant to survive I couldn't even move, she wouldn't let me.

The more seconds that passed the harder it was for me to breath, maybe I had ruined a lung. But that was the least of my worries.

I tried getting up of the floor but each time I tried to push myself up my arms gave way and I fell back down. That's when I saw her, Akahana, we was standing further away hiding behind a pile of rubble, and she smiled at me then put her finger to her lip telling me to shush.

I closed my eyes not wanting to see the bull as it readied itself to charge once more. This next blow would surly kill me.