Hey guys heres the latest chapter of the mission hope you enjoy it...sorry for the late update...
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bleach
*btw
~~~ that just indicates setting/scene change...(Transitions)
It wasn't the fact they were practically on top of each other, inches away, leaving a small chasm of space between them. That wasn't the issue, the issue was the emotions that were surfacing—the feelings, but that's not all; to add to that, ikkaku and the rest of the group had just walked in and witnessed them on top of each other.
"Ahem." Renji cleared his throat, embarrassed. Rukia jumped off of him and brushed herself off. Their friends looked on, waiting for an explanation. "Here's your cellphone," Rukia tossed it to him evading his stare. She was embarrassed, the position they were in; how could they explain that to their friends.
Renji sat up, he was equally embarrassed but he hid his better than squeeled, everyone grimaced at the cacophonous sound. Ikkaku walked forward giving Renji a teasing grin, Renji shot him a warning glare but knowing Ikkaku that wouldn't stop him from saying what was on his mind. "So why was she on top of you?" Ikkaku questioned. It was obvious why she was but Renji couldn't find the words to explain this awkward position. Rukia stood in the corner gnawing at the second ligament of her thumb, her heartbeats were so fast they became a soft hum.
"I fell," she finally said, " On top of him, I was feeling a bit unstable and I fell and he caught me and then he fell" Everyone looked at her with a look of doubt but her story seemed more logical than what they were assuming. Rangiku narrowed her eyes, but before urging on her Captain ordered everyone to prepare to leave.
Rukia sighed a sigh of relief, Renji saw her; he wondered why she didn't tell the truth. The truth was merely her jacking his phone and him trying to get it from him; nothing was wrong about that. It wasn't like they were doing anything inappropriate. She meet with his stare and forced out a smile.
Dinner was a close call for Ichigo, to his relief Orihime's feeling wasn't hurt, and his family didn't have to endure the lethal dessert Orihime made. Everyone was now off on their own, Orihime was unpacking some of her things. This was the perfect time for Ichigo to go hunt that Arrancar.
Orihime sat on the floor, she looked around. She still couldn't believe tonight she'd be sleeping in Ichigo's bedroom. His bed a modest size near the window. The shides concealed fragment of the early moon. She pulled herself up from the floor. She walked up to the window to open the shades letting in the remaining fragments of the moon. Indeed, it was a beautiful night, the moon in the center of the sky adorned by the trillions of stars. Orihime sat down and gazed at it for a long time, it was then her eyes caught a moving figure—a moving figure of someone—a soul reaper. She squinted her eyes to see who this person was. It wasn't until the fluorescent moon light caught his orange hair did she know it was Ichigo.
He was in his Soul uniform, and he was sprinting off roofs, he seemed to be in a hurry his speed was barely conceivable for her eyes. She knew whatever it was he would at some point need her help, so without a moment to waste she opened the window enough to jump out. It was a reckless thing for her to do and if Tatsuki was here she'd scold her head off, but when someone she deeply cared about was in the line of danger, she'd do all the reckless thing in the book.
Rukia finished dressing herself, she was out of the store and now walking aimlessly around Kakura town; she would leave here soon after completing her sanctioned mission and once she returned to the Seireitei she would have to confront Renji, she never did properly thank him for saving her life, and that was because her pride got in her way. It got in the way of many things, and she was tired of letting it control her life, and she knew now her biggest enemy weren't hollows, arrancars, or Aizen, in the line of danger her biggest enemy was herself.
She looked up and to her surprise she saw Ichigo running. Whatever it was it seemed urgent, he was in his soul reaping uniform and a determined expression plastered on his face. She knew if she went after him that would only cause him trouble, but she couldn't help but worry. Orihime was now conflicted; her friend was probably going to put himself in harms way and he could eventually need her help but she couldn't help but feel a bit of fear. What happened to her that afternoon left a permanent fear in arrancars. The way the evil creature callously tossed her away like unwanted trash if not for Ichigo she would not be here right now, and that alone was enough to scare her stiff. Ichigo was moving at a fast rate and she assumed with that look on his face he was going after something that posed a threat, but that wasn't all; though his expression marked anger and determination, she couldn't help but think that the anger in his face was more than that, revenge, possibly. If she were right, if he was going after the arrancar to avenge her. She was every bit involved in this fight. She had to be there and aid him.
The air was calm. The moon pitched over a tall building. Bright fluorescent light from the moon glared of the walls of glass. It was quiet, the subtle sound of the breeze whiffing pass the summer leaves. The arrancar—or any hollows around. Ichigo slapped a hand to his face and slid down, annoyed, he knew he should really learn to sense spiritual pressure. It be a game of cat and mouse tonight if he didn't concentrate.
"Ichigo…" Orihime voice yelled, she was running towards him. Her red fiery hair twisting and swishing in the wind. Her face pained but determined.
Ichigo confused said, " Orihime." He said. "What are you doing here?"
Orihime finally reaching him smiled shyly. She knew he'd protest and argue on the idea of her staying, but despite her sweet, docile nature, she would never step aside if it meant she'd lose someone dear to her. Ichigo noticed the affirm stance she took when she reached him, and arguing with her was redundant, she made her mind."You came to help?" A ghost of a smile appeared on his lips. That's as close as a smile he could produce before an imminent battle. A smile appeared on her face, relieved, he didn't force her back to the house.
…
Grabbing her soul cell, which at times of danger can be used also as a communicative device, she dialed the number to Renji's. Three rings until he finally answered with a not amused, almost annoyed tone. Rukia assumed from that tone he'd probably got scolded for doing something wrong during his mission. "Renji…" She hated that her voice came out a bit to excited at his voice. With a different more subtle tone she added, " I called to ask you something." His voice on the other line had also changed to when he realized it was Rukia. "What is it?" He said, from the other line. Rukia lied, she really only called to thank him, but her nerves mangled with her mind and somehow produced that.
Quickly thinking of something she said, "What area did you and Rangiku encounter the arrancar…" Her lie smooth as liquid.
On the other line Renji answered, his tone indifferent. " You were there Rukia…I don't really remember."
"Well you should" She scolded, switching the phone to the other ear. Her eyes shoot up to the sky, as she listens to his rant on how calling him for scolding him only brings down the spiritual rating service down on his expensive new phone.
"Well maybe—" She cuts herself off. So caught up with bickering with him she forgot the real reason why she stopped and called him. She once again was letting her pride get the best of her.
"Renji…" Her tone cooled. Renji who had been ranting on the other line was hushed by her abrupt change of tone.
"I really called to." She paused and squeezed her eyes shut, opening them she finished, " Thank you. Thank you for saving me, twice, and thank you for being there for me when I was at my weaknest." If you asked her that had been the best proclamation of thank you ever said, but, thinking of that would only decrease the sincerity in her voice. So she didn't mention it.
She could tell he was surprised by random thank you through the other line, but before the silence added any more awkward tension he said, "No problem."
"Well…I have a city to clear of hollows so…" She twirled her hair, and quickly released the strand of hair, noting that was too primitive and cliché for a fighter like her.
"I'll leave you too then." Said Renji on the other line. With that the call was ended. Rukia felt a dull feeling after ending their call. She sat on the edge of a building, before her was the dark indigo sky painted with trillions of stars, and the full bright moon moving subtly shedding it's translucent around the town. The streets were empty, almost, few straggles of people walked around, but none to many.
She sighed, boredom overtook her quickly when the sound of crickets danced around in her ear. Solemnly she jumped of the edge, landing gracefully on the latch to the second flat of the building. She pulled out her soul cell, and this time using it as a scanner. No spiritual pressure. The night was practically dead.
Orihime leaned on a wall, all instructions to Ichigo, to stay clear of him to stay safe. She hated the idea of being in the sidelines. She wanted to be by his side, like Rukia is sometimes. She couldn't say she wasn't jealous, and maybe it's because she tried very hard to suppress it all. Very hard.
Ichigo stood In the middle of the street. His back was turned away from Orihime, but in front of him, stood a building with glass obscure enough to reflect with the help of the full moon a vivid display of him, and what stood behind him. A vivid display of Orihime. Her eyes seemed far off, like she was cogitating something, something that troubled her. He couldn't guess what could be so troubling that distorted her lips into a fine line. Maybe she was thinking of how he had forced her into the sidelines, but he meant nothing of it. He didn't want what happened earlier to happen again. He unconsciously winced at the flashback. Her body being thrown so callously, if he didn't catch her…He couldn't think about it anymore. He continued studying her until his soul badge began blinking. Snapping out of his own thoughts he jumped to higher ground. It wasn't a hollow, it was too strong to be a hollow. It was definitely an Arrancar.
Orihime felt the strong spiritual pressure approaching. She felt her heart beat increase, it sunk to her stomach. The air in her lungs escaped into a yell. Warning Ichigo, "Ichigo, It's coming from the North."
Ichigo nodded and headed closer to the North. He pulled Zangestsu from its sheath. The wide long zangpakto caught a gleam of the moon lights. The Arrancar did appear from the north, and it was the same Arrancar.
The arrancar smiled a nasty grin when he noticed Ichigo, Zangestu in hand, ready to battle.
"So we meet again." Said the arrancar with a deep rooted voice. He inclined his head to make a close eye to eye contact with his rival. Ichigo's scowl deepened at the monsters arrogance.
Orihime backed into the wall, her shoulders shaking, her small hands tremble in each other. The monster looked like a giant gargoyle on top of the building. The moon behind him, his body darkened as the light bounced passed him. She could only make out his shape from the angle she stood, she could not identify his face, but she didn't need to. She could tell this monster, coincidentally, was the same arrancar.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter...
Please review. I won't know what you think if you dont
Stay tune for Victor of Pride
-Ichigo has the upper hand in his fight between the arrancar, but will he able to mantain it.
-Orihime fears that she will not be of good use
-Captain meeting...Captain Kurotsuchi has discovered something. The arrancars do have something to do with Aizen
