Kokodesu yo! Let's get this story started! I hope you guys like the story so far. It's gonna get better I'll promise you that!
I don't want to, no I must say it even though it pains me... I don't own Bleach (V.V)
Chapter Seven: With Your Own Eyes
Ichigo's eyes fluttered open as the early morning light danced on his face. It was one of the very few times that Ichigo would ever wake up early. He reluctantly pushed himself off his bed and slowly made his way to his drawer. He grabed three shirts, two pairs of jeans, some socks, and some underwear. He dropped all of his clothing for the trip on his desk, not caring if they became unfolded. Ichigo then walked over to the closet and slid it wide open. Rukia was inside with a semi-tight yellow shirt on and was in the middle of pulling on a semi-short brown skirt. Her white underwear with large red stripes were fully visible. Her face burn bright red as she stared at him frozen in shock. Quickly averting his eyes from the partially dressed girl in his closet, Ichigo continued on what he was doing. Plus being too tired to care about anything, he simply grabed a small duffle bag from the bottom portion of the closet and slid the door close. To Rukia, he seemed either completely oblivious or didn't care.
Rukia quickly pulled up her skirt and sat in the closet holding onto her chest as if her heart was going to beat right out of it. She felt a little stinging sensation as she realized that Ichigo didn't even seem to care about the fact that she wasn't even completely dressed.
That jackass doesn't even see me as a woman!
A small hint of red was visible on Ichigo's face as he dropped some clothing into the bag. After finishing putting all of his clothing into his small duffle bag, Ichigo grabed a black V-neck with the number fifteen in white, some skinny jeans and black shoes, and made his way to the bathroom. As Ichigo walked to the bathroom he recalled what the voice named Death had told him last night.
Eh? Yer still thinkin' about what that jackass said? Yer not even thinkin' about seein' the lil' princess in her underwear?
Shut the hell up. Yes I'm thinking about what that guy said and I'm not a pervert.
But yer a guy aren't ya?
What the hell? Yes I'm a guy, I'm just not a pervert! Get that through your thick skull already!
Ichigo stared at the floor hard as if he was trying to make a hole through the floor.
Rukia opened the closet door a little and peeked out to see if Ichigo was still in the room. Once she was sure that the coast was clear she jumped out and let out a sigh of relief. Rukia grabbed her Chappy backpack from the closet and walked down to the living room suddenly not feeling up to anything. Dropping her Chappy bag on the couch she silently trudged to the kitchen table and sat down across from Karin, waiting for Yuzu to finish making breakfast.
"Hey. What's up Rukia?" Karin asked in a somewhat monotone voice while resting her chin on her palm.
Rukia sigh and also placed her chin on her palm and said, "Your brother is a complete idiot sometimes."
Karin smiled a little and asked, "What'd he do?"
"Nothing."
Karin looked at Rukia confused and raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
Rukia sighed again, this time a little more exagerrated and said, "The thing is that he did nothing."
Karin thought Rukia's words over again before leaning over the table, grinning, and whispered, "So... what happened?"
Rukia glanced over at Karin before looking at nothing again with a light shade of pink on her cheeks. She instantly regreted saying anything, but seeing the look on Karin's face, Rukia knew that she wouldn't be able to back out. Rukia was about to whisper back to Karin when Ichigo walked into the kitchen and dropped his duffle bag down next to one of the seats. Rukia's face turned a hint darker of pink making her quickly turn her head from Ichigo's view. Karin's gaze jumped from an embarressed Rukia to a tired, bored Ichigo. She couldn't figure out anything that could've cause the situation the idiot pair was in. Yuzu broke the awkward atmosphere by placing a plate of bacon, scrambled eggs, and waffles on the table. Rukia, Karin, and Yuzu all grabbed their own little plate and began to serve themselves.
Ichigo was sitting with his eyes closed and resting his cheek on his palm. His eyebrows were furrowed in their usual scowl, "Oi, where'd dad get too?"
Yuzu finished up serving herself what she wanted before looking at Ichigo and answering, "Oh dad left for work early today."
Karing looked down at Ichigo's small plate that sat empty in front of him and asked, "Hey Ichi-nii? Aren't you going to eat anything?"
Ichigo grabbed two pieces of bacon and held them in his mouth while he grabbed a waffle. With two bites he finished the pieces of bacon and stood up. He picked up his small duffle bag and began to walk towards the living room. Ichigo took large bites out of the waffle before calling to the girls, "I'm not that hungry. You guys can continue your girl talk or whatever."
Ichigo dropped the bag next to the love seat and sat down. Right after finishing his waffle he took off his shoes and layed on the love seat taking up the whole thing. His legs bent so that they wouldn't hang off the side. After adjusting himself into the most comfortable postion, Ichigo closed his eyes and dozed off into a light nap. The girls stayed silent for a bit, exchanging looks of concern with each other.
"Rukia-nee, has something happened with Onii-chan?"
Rukia looked over at Yuzu a little confused and tilted her head asking, "I'm not exactly sure. What's wrong?"
"He's been acting really weird lately," Karin said looking down at her plate that had partially eaten food on it.
"What do you mean?"
"For some reason Onii-chan hasn't been eating as much, he's been more tired, and he doesn't seem really... lively, either," Yuzu whispered as tears threatened to form in her eyes.
Rukia's eyes widened in fear, "Since when has this been happening?"
"Since he lost his Shinigami powers. I thought that because he regained his powers that he'd go back to normal, but that didn't happen. I don't get it!" Karin's eyebrows furrowed as she tried to decipher the issue.
"Don't worry this weekend I'll find out what's going on with that blockhead," Rukia smiled reassuringly, giving the two sisters the tumbs up. She smiled happily trying to reassure herself more than anything. The two Kurosaki girls looked at each other before smiling at Rukia and giving her the thumbs up in return. The three girls finished their breakfast, washed their dishes, and then sat back down at the table. After who knows how long of talking, Karin heared Ichigo shifting on the sofa and immediately had a thought run through her mind.
"Rukia?" Karin said as she rested her chin on her palm. Rukia looked up at Karin and tilted her head in response.
"Do you and Ichi-nii have a thing for each other?"
Yuzu giggled as she watched Rukia's face turn bright red. Karin looked up at Rukia, still waiting for an answer.
"N-no we don't have a thing going on..." Rukia's voice trailed off as she looked down to look at the floor. She almost looked disappointed to say that the two didn't have anything going on between them. Karin caught Rukia's disappointment and smiled sympathetically.
Rukia looked up at the clock and saw the little hand hit ten o'clock. She sighed, as she slowly got up, and said, "Well it's about time that Ichigo and I get going. See you two in a few days."
Rukia walked over to the living room to wake Ichigo up. She looked him over for a moment. He looked so relaxed and peaceful sleeping on the love seat, like he didn't have a care in the world. That's what made Rukia love to watch Ichigo as he slept, his sleeping face always gave her a sense of peace and tranquility.
God I seem like a stalker right now! I need to wake him up already.
Rukia bent down placing one hand on her knee for balance and used the other to poke Ichigo in the side. He shifted a little, furrowing his eyebrows, but didn't wake from his nap. Rukia poked his side a little harder to try to get him to wake up.
"Quit it! That's tickling me!" Ichigo mumbled loudly as he waved his arm around and turned over.
Unfortunately for the pair, Ichigo rolled off the sofa and landed right on Rukia, fortunately both of the Kurosaki girls had already gone upstairs. Ichigo was now wide awake as he lifted himself a little bit from the smaller form beneath him. Their foreheads brushed lightly against each other as Ichigo shifted his weight a little. They stared at each other blankly for a few moments. Rukia looked into Ichigo's eyes and realized that his auburn eyes held traces of golden flecks, they were beautiful.
Why do they seem a little... bleak?
Ichigo looked down at Rukia straight in the eyes as well. The light illuminated her solid dark violet eyes making them look even more peircing and exceptional. He felt as if Rukia was looking straight through him, right into his soul.
Why didn't I ever notice how pretty her eyes were?
Ichigo, without thinking, lowered his head a little so that their lips were milimeters apart. Rukia's eyeslids slowly began to cover her violet eyes and Ichigo's began to cover his auburn ones.
"...you don't have much time left anyways. Only a year I'm guessing... give or take."
Ichigo's eyes widened as the words that 'Death' had told him sent a pulse of fear run through his head. Instictively Ichigo jerked himself back, landing on the floor on his back side.
I can't do that to her. I can't hurt Rukia like this.
Rukia laid on the floor in shock, she wasn't able to even lift a finger, her whole body felt numb. She felt this heart clenching pain in her chest as tears threatened to surface.
Why did he stop? Why is he contradicting himself?!
Ichigo stood up and slipped his shoes on, trying not to look down at Rukia's still confused face. Without looking at her in the face, Ichigo llifted Rukia off the ground and placed her on her feet. He placed the strap to his duffle bag on his shoulder and then handed Rukia her Chappy backpack. All she could see was the back of Ichigo's head because he refused to look at Rukia in the face. They walked to the front door in a heart wrenching silence.
As Ichigo opened the the door he slightly looked back at Rukia with a poignant expression and whispered, "I'm so sorry Rukia."
They walked the entire way to Urahara's shop in an absolute, and heartrending silence. Rukia stared at Ichigo's broad back as Ichigo stared straight ahead. When the two got to the shop everyone was already there and the Senkaimon was already open and ready. Orihime noticed the awkward silence between the two new arrivals. Her eyebrows furrowed a little as she saw the disheartened looks on both faces.
"So, um, who's ready to go into the scary floating door that leads to some other dimension?" Keigo asked seeming a little doubtful as he eyed the door.
Mizuiro chuckled and Tatsuki patted Keigo reassuringly. Everyone was smiling except Ichigo, who's mind was somewhere else.
Things are not gonna be the same when we get back, are they?
Not a snowball's chance in hell.
Urahara looked over at Ichigo suspiciously, he was oddly lacking something. The doors of the Senkaimon opened and everyone began to enter, Ichigo was the last to enter. Urahara's eyes widened as he realized what Ichigo was lacking while watching his back grow further and further from the entrance. Once the doors closed he whispered the missing factor.
"Life."
The group walked together, laughing and talking, while Ichigo trailed behind. He felt like a faucet that was turned on all the way with something pluging the entrance. Ichigo felt congested and tired as if he was carring pounds of extra weight.
I'm that extra load that'cha feeling.
You can't weigh that much?
You dumbass! That ain't what I mean.
I'm messing with you idiot.
Yer still a dumbass, anyways it's cause you haborin' two souls' has finally taken toll on yer body. Yer a pretty durable bastard to me fer lastin' eighteen years.
Thanks for the compliment, I think?
Nothing to ya, King.
Would you quit calling me that!
Seeing how yer gettin' pissed off. No.
Jackass.
Yer welcome. Hehehe.
"Listen you freaking blockhead!" Rukia yelled as she smacked Ichigo's stomach rigidly. Ichigo looked at the faces looking at him a bit suprised.
"What?" Ichigo was too busy conversing with his brother that he didn't even notice what was going on around him.
"Dude, we've been calling out your name for a while now," Keigo said while raising an eyebrow.
The look on Ichigo's face became even more perplexed. Orihime, trying to soothe the awkward situation, filled Ichigo in, "Ah! Well we're almost to the other side Kurosaki-kun."
Instead of his usual reaction which would have been him retorting, Ichigo simply looked at the floor and said softly, "Okay, yeah."
Rukia's eyebrows furrowed with concern. Karin and Yuzu were right, he was acting even less like himself than he was a couple of weeks ago. Yes she could tell that he seemed a little out of it. But his reactions were scaring her, this wasn't the Ichigo that she remembered leaving a year and a half ago. The one that always held his head up high, smiled and said everything was going to be alright, the one that always faced the sun. Rukia cringed inside, that Ichigo she knew dissappeared along with his shinigami powers, and wasn't going to come back any time soon.
When the group made it to the other door that was identical to the door they had first entered they were in the center of the Seireitei. They were greeted by Byakuya, Renji, Ikkaku, Yumachika, and Rangiku. Keigo completely flipped out when he saw Rangiku, who sent him flying with a bonk on the head like their first meeting. Everyone had their greetings except two of them, Ichigo and Byakuya. Their conversation was one without words, only stares that emitted horrifying detestment.
Byakuya's scowl stated, 'I'll kill you the moment I get if you dare do anything odd.'
Ichigo's glare replied, 'Try me, I dare you.'
'Someone such as yourself deserves to sleep with dogs.'
'I don't give a damn about what you think.'
This silent arguement continued until Renji got the uncomfortable feeling that the silence would become a battle with clashing swords. "Hey, um, how about we get going. You guys probably want to put down your stuff."
Everyone nodded their heads, seeing as Renji wasn't the only one to notice the competition between Ichigo and Byakuya. They began walking in the direction of the Kuchiki Manor slowly, talking and enjoying themselves. Ichigo lagged behind feeling the painful, congested feeling lurking in his soul.
You're such a pain in the ass. Damn it! It's getting harder and harder to breath!
How 'bout ya go a head of these guys and go to that one place where ya learned bankai. It ain't to nice being in my possition either jackass.
I wonder what'll happen when you leave my body?
Get your ass over there and let's see! Oh an' don't leave yer body.
Why?
'Cause I said so dumbass... 'n' cause yer soul is gonna get crushed if it doesn't have something soild to support it.
It pisses the hell out of me how you know all this.
I don't give a damn.
Ichigo sighed and then said to the group, "Hey I'm going to go ahead and drop my stuff off. I need to... I just need to check something."
Ichigo spoke with caution, he didn't want to suspision about him to rise. Everyone shrugged off Ichigo's statement and turned around to continue walking. Rukia, on the other hand, wasn't so lenient about what Ichigo had just said. Like the others, she had turned around to continue walking, but then turned her head to look back at Ichigo. He was still standing still looking tiredly at the ground. She couldn't comprehend why he was still behind them if he said he was going to go ahead of them. Rukia's already large eyes widened and she came to a complete halt. Ichigo had just disappeared out of view.
Everyone paused to look at Rukia who had just came to a sudden stop. Orihime walked to Rukia's side and asked worriedly, "What's wrong Rukia? Why did you stop?"
Rukia's face twisted with concern, still staring at where Ichigo once stood, and whispered loudly, "Ichigo just vanished."
"So what?" Renji asked not getting how that was dramatic in any way. Rukia looked away from the certain spot and turned her face completely to the bunch, showing her scared and confused face that seemed a bit pale. She then voiced in a quivering voice, "He was still in his Human form and it wan't flashstep. It was Sonido."
Alarm and suprise fell over their faces. It didn't seem possible. She didn't understand what was happening, or maybe it was happening too fast for her to want to understand, but the Ichigo that she would give her life to...
Was changing completely.
Ichigo ended up in the courtyard of the Kuchiki Manor. He staggered towards the house and dropped his bag on some steps. A bead of sweat dripped off Ichigo's chin as he sat down on a step to catch his breath. The clenching pain he felt was beginning to escalate at a rapid pace. Ichigo just had this want to lay himself on the ground and die under the weight of the very power that he used to keep himself and the people he loved alive.
I can't take this goddamn pain anymore.
Come on, Onii-sama. It's time that you let yourself free, though something else will capture you soon.
Those words brought saddness to Ichigo's pained expression. With a new resolution, Ichigo willed himself to stand up, taking a few steps to steady himself from falling.
It's time for you be set free Hollow. I've caged you long enough.
With that Ichigo flashstepped to the place where he had first learned bankai. Standing in the middle of the large hollow area under the Seireitei, Ichigo smiled to himself. Here it was that he worked hard to keep one he cares for, and, now, he was there to work hard to let go of one he cares for.
Isn't that ironic.
You done daydreaming yet sunshine?
Yeah, yeah. I hear you.
Ichigo sat down on the floor and closed his eyes. After a minute of the continuous pain that he'd been feeling, nothing happened.
OKAY, GENIUS! WHY THE HELL ISN'T ANYTHING HAPPENING?!
Shut the fuck up! Yer being to loud. You're not consintrating enough, yer payin' too much attention of how much pain yer in.
Ichigo took a deep breath, flinching in pain. Breathing was getting harder and harder to do. Ichigo felt that if something wasn't done fast enough, he'd stop breathing all together. Closing his eyes again, Ichigo's heart beat slowed and his senses of the outside world began to dull. He was inside of his soul, a world of buildings submerged in water, submerged in saddness and pain. Ichigo waited to be greated by Hollow, but instead Zangetsu appeared before him.
"Look for the chain that bound him to this inner world and sever it," Zangetsu said in his usual deep monotone like voice. Ichigo nodded and turned his back to his zanpakuto before being called out to. "Ichigo," Zangetsu grimaced making Ichigo turn his head. "Be ready for the unleveled path that lies ahead of you for it is one of desicions and consequences. Consequences that will tear you from what you hold dear."
The first thing that went through Ichigo's head was Rukia. His heart cringed and dropped; Consequences that will tear him away from Rukia. Ichigo hurt so much inside being away from her for a year and a half, but being teared apart from her could, to Ichigo, be the end of him. Then what Zangetsu was telling him finally hit. Hollow's freedom would cost him his being with Rukia. He'd finally been reunited with her for two weeks and now he was to give it up for what may be the rest of eternity.
Then don't do it. Stay with Rukia and forget Hollow. He'll understand, he knows how much you've come to love her.
A small gasp came from Ichigo, he was disgusted and baffled at what he had just thought of. Ichigo's mouth opened slightly and then closed as if he was debating whether or not to speak. Swollowing the lump that choked Ichigo from breathing he whispered, "I can't believe how selfish I've become!"
Without a second to mull over what he should do, Ichigo rushed off to find his younger brother and set him free. He ran towards the roof of the tallest building that always seemed to be in the distance. As the the edge came closer and closer so did the reiatsu of his brother. Making to the roof, he found Hollow unconsiously strapped down to the floor with black reiatsu chains. Ichigo opened his palm upward and black reiatsu engulfed Ichigo instantly clothing him in his shinigami attire when in bankai. Hollow slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Ichigo.
"Heh. I didn't think you'd actually come to get me, Onii-chan," Hollow said without his usual mocking tone. He spoke in a more sad and lonely tone. "If you set me completely free, you'll be completely giving up on the little princess."
"Yeah, I know." The pain in his voice was obvious. The pain of admitting you love someone when it's far too late.
"How 'bout you don't completely destroy all the chain attaching my soul to your body," Hollow tried to comfort Ichigo.
"Just enough for you to see the world with your own eyes."
Hollow hated it, his brother was to forever suffer... and nothing could be done.
After all... Death will be yer new source of pain. The pain of watchin' the world pass ya by. I won't be able to stop yer soul from raining, I can't protect you from what you are. I thought I was able to protect ya from everything, I forgot that there was one thing I can't save you from... yourself.
"I'm not that low to just leave you behind after all that you've done for me," Ichigo said smiling down weakly. Right above his palm, that was still out- streched, black reiatsu formed and then solidified into Zangetsu's bankai form. Twirling his zanpakuto in the air, Ichigo grabed the hilt with both hands and slashed one of the black chains that enslaved his twin brother. Four more chains where broken before Hollow was finally able to at least stand.
"That should be enough for me to at least leave yer body for a short period of time," Hollow said with a sad smile. He never thought that being freed would seem so unwanted. Ichigo nodded his head with no emotion.
"Let's see if this works out." With that coming from Hollow, Ichigo closed his eyes and opened them again to find himself in the underground training grounds again. Only difference was that he was in his shinigami attire and a hooded cloak of black reiatsu was draped over his shoulders.
Pull out yer hollow mask 'n'drop it on the floor.
Ichigo stretched his arm out of the cloak and let his reiatsu form a hollow mask in his palm. He watched as the mask slowly dropped from his hand. In coming in contact with the floor, white reiatsu whirled around and then an identical figure in a white hooded cloak formed. Hollow was finally out of Ichigo's body. Even though Ichigo felt lighter with more energy, he felt empty. Life had not even tried to re-enter him.
"Oi. Onii-sama. You should look at yer reflection in the spring before you go out again." Hollow smirked, his mocking, disrespectful tone.
Ichigo's eyes widened and he quickly rushed to the nearby spring. Fear engulfed Ichigo as he looked at his reflection. His human auburn eyes had become crimson blood red. Hollow, seeing the frustration growing in Ichigo, decided it was time that Ichigo loosen up a little. He rushed up behind Ichigo and pushed him into the spring. A howl of maniacal laughter filled the hollow trainning grounds.
Ichigo popped out of the water and yelled, "What the hell was that for you jackass!"
"Haha! You look rediculous from down there!"
"What are you, five?! I'm going to kick your sorry ass!"
"Ya gotta catch me first!" Not less than a second after finishing his sentence, he used sonido to get a head start. Ichigo smirked and followed, but not before taking another look at his reflection and pulling his hood over his head to cover his eyes.
Cliff Hanger!
Woot Woot! I'm finished with Hiccup Seven! I was listening the the Bleach music so I was totally into it... Anyways hope you guys liked it!
Review, onegaishimasu!
Sushi Bear (^.^)
