FireSamurai: Ohayo minna! Hope everyone is having a happy holiday!
DASM: In light of the holidays, our gift to you is a new chapter!
FireSamurai: But before then of course is answering reviews.
DASM: All of them? Some of them were...
FireSamurai: fine...some of them
FireSamurai: Cyberweasel89: first off, we are grateful that you took such an interest in our story and are always looking forward to your reviews, Itachi-chan (blame DASM for that nickname. DASM: hey!) anywhoo, glad you liked the new characters and yes, Hade Hade, is a male love book. Since we based the OCS (well my OCS anyway) on Kakashi from naruto, we thought it would be funny of Fuujin (who is based off him, the other being Ark who is a combination of Kakashi and Shikamaru with twice the laziness!) to have a book just like his but since she was…..well a she, we didn't think Ichi Ichi would fit her. So Hade Hade was born! As for the author…….well that's just self explaintory…
Next Note: We would greatly appreciate it if you would draw our OCs. Obviously we can talk about this later. We are also curious as to what you have been up to seeing as we haven't heard from you in a while……
DASM: Kitsune6: If we just had Ichi/Tats fluff the story wouldn't be as good. We put some in this chapter for you though.
FireSamurai: On another note, I would like to ask that all reviewers to NOT ASK FOR FLUFF! Understand this. Yes, we want them to be together (which was why we started the story in the first place) but it is just not that easy. Ichigo is a stubborn as a mule as is Tatsuki. You can't just have fluff coming out the ying yang. Also try to remember that we are working with the original storyline of the series as well as trying to tweak things here and there. If we can put some nice Ichi/Tats fluff in there we will but it is hard considering we are trying to stay true to the storyline as well as our own story. So I please ask you not to ask us to write fluff for there will most likely not be a lot of it. Sorry for that rant everyone but I just felt I should get it out there.
DASM: (sweatdrops) anyway, Jetflash: As for our Ocs…..you will see how important they are later in the story and Urahara already gave Ichigo his form in the original. It would be redundant if he did that for Tatsuki as well.
FireSamurai: our last review answer goes to Hououza: Just read this chapter and find out
DASM: For the rest of our readers, thank you for your support. We have already broken the 13,400 mark. We hope all of you continue to support us in the future.
FireSamurai: On with the chapter and Happy Xmas, Hanukah, Kwanza and all those other holidays!
Disclaimer: We do not own bleach and if you did you guys would know what we would have done.
Chapter 8 New People, New Rivals
Ichigo sighed as the morning sun crept through his window. Looking over to his clock, he saw that it was already 6 am.
"Another restless night," He thought. So much has changed for the young spirit seeing man in the few months that he has met one Rukia Kuchiki. Never in his wildest dreams would he think of becoming a spirit, much less a shinigami, and fighting off evil spirits to boot. To top it all off, he somehow dragged Tatsuki, his childhood friend, in to this as well.
Tatsuki……..Ichigo could only sigh once more. So much has changed between them. At first, Ichigo didn't like Tatsuki following him into hollow battles. Now, normally, if it was a normal fight between Tatsuki and some other guy, he would easily bet on Tatsuki to win. Hell, she could probably beat him if they went all out. Now it's different. They weren't normal battles they were facing anymore. They were facing monsters from the deepest and darkness nightmares that only little children can imagine. Ichigo could not help but worry about her. True, she has improved, as has he, but there is always that one chance……Ichigo gripped his bed sheets tighter. He didn't want to think of the consequences that would occur if he couldn't protect her.
A thought then occurred to Ichigo. What was Tatsuki to him now? A friend? She was always that, even in their younger days. An ally? Well, of course she was. She was up there with him and Rukia fighting hollows. While all this was true, Ichigo couldn't find the right word for Tatsuki now. She would always be a friend and an ally, but for some reason, those words seemed to mean as if she was less to him then what she really was. Ichigo just sighed once more.
"All of this is to confusing." Ichigo mumbled as he shifted so he was facing the ceiling. Looking over to his clock, he noticed that half an hour had passed since he looked last.
"Better get up or Tats will be mad at me again." Ichigo mumbled as he slowly got up from his bed and did his morning routine. After getting dressed, grabbing something to eat and saying good morning to his family, Ichigo was out the door only to have Tatsuki and Rukia waiting for him.
"We have some manners of business to discuss," Rukia said.
"How are you...never mind. It is something I probably don't want to know." Ichigo replied as he looked at Rukia who held two green pills inside the palm of her hand. "Are those..."
"Yeah, Tatsuki and I both think it would be best to see what you think we should do with the two of them, especially after all the trouble they caused us."
Ichigo could only frown at the small little pills. What were they to do with the mod souls? Granted, they cause a lot of trouble but were Ichigo, Tatsuki or anyone for that matter to disagree with their actions if they were in the two mod soul's places? As Ichigo and Tatsuki contemplated this, his gaze turned to a trashcan off on the corner, two dolls hanging out of the open trash bin. A thought just occurred to Ichigo.
"So, Rukia," Ichigo started, still staring at the two dolls. "How do mod souls work exactly?"
"Well," Rukia started. "You inject the pill into a body without a soul, in other words, a dead body. They then take over the body."
"So in other words," Ichigo asked again. "The bodies just have to be soulless?" Rukia's response to that was a "hmm"
"I suppose so, but what does that have to do with anything?" Rukia asked finally. Ichigo didn't answer as he quickly walked over to the trash bin, took something out, and walked back to the two girls. In his hands were two dolls, a dark grey fox and a yellow lion plushy. The two girls could only raise an eyebrow at this.
"What are you thinking?" Tatsuki asked.
"Well," Ichigo started before taking the two pills in his hand. "Rukia said that the bodies just have to be soulless right?" to which the two nodded.
"Well, what is more soulless than a doll?" with that said, he took the soul candy and popped them into the two dolls' mouths. The three looked on with wonder. A few minutes passed before the dolls "eyes" blink, wondering where they were. Looking up, the two dolls screamed before they decided to attack.
"Give us back those bodies!" The wolf doll said as it attacked Tatsuki.
"Yeah give them back!" the lion doll said as it tried to "bite" Ichigo.
Sighing, both shinigami in training merely flicked them off their bodies, watching the dolls fly a short distance away. Today was going to be a long day for the two……...
Tatsuki groaned from the headache that assaulted her mind as she sat down in her chair. She would have to thank Kai (her mod soul) and Kon (Ichigo's mod soul) for the wonderful headache she had now. The only thing that would be stopping her from destroying the two would be:
A. the guilt she would feel
B. because Rukia said they could be useful to get out of their bodies if they needed to in a flash,
And C: they were good for a laugh, at least Kai is.
Tatsuki chuckled weakly at the thought of those two when she saw three seniors walking over to Fuu, Nina and Comay who were sitting near Ark's desk. Apparently, the white haired smoker hadn't appeared, yet but that wasn't what bothered her. It was those three girls that bothered her for some reason. She didn't know why yet, but she would ask Kai soon, figuring that it was something she did. Feeling something bad was about to happen, she turned to Ichigo and tilted her head in the direction of the girls. Nodding, the two got up and walked closer to the small group.
"So baby," The senior said as he wrapped his arm around Fuu. "Why don't you and I get together eh?" Fuu merely sighed and turned another page.
"What about you hot cakes?" the second senior said as he wrapped an arm around Nina, who was shaking in rage, which caused him to smirk. "I bet you are shaking in happiness that such a hot stud like me chose you to be his girl."
"I'd go and help them, but I'm curious to see where this is going," both Ichigo and Tatsuki said at the same time. As the third senior tried seducing Comay; Rukia, Tatsuki and Ichigo suddenly felt lots of reiatsu heading their way. Looking around, they couldn't exactly pin point it, but they knew something big and powerful was coming. Ready to switch into their shinigami forms, Ichigo and Tatsuki waited, but just as suddenly as it appeared, it disappeared in a flash.
"Yara yara," A voice said from behind them. Turning around, the three shinigami saw Ark sitting on a desk, his eye having a dark glint to it, as Ryu and Rai stood next to him. "Do we have a problem here boys?" the seniors just smirked as they looked at the white haired chain smoker.
"That all depends, Shiro-chan," the first senior mocked, cracking his fists. "Do you have a problem with us hitting on these girls?" Ark just grinned at the senior, which sent chills down their bodies. Jumping off the desk, Ark walked forward until he was face to face with the senior.
"I will say this once, and only once, so listen up." Ark said in a threatening manner, very unlike his usual self. "If you or your friends touch them again, I will make things very troublesome for you, the whole lot of you." After saying that, he turned away, walking back to Rai and Ryu. The lead senior was now shaking with rage.
"You asshole!" He yelled as he charged at Ark, ready to knock his head off.
"Well, that guy just screwed himself." Tatsuki heard Fuu mumble from behind her. Apparently, Nina, Comay and Fuu somehow got around the seniors and over to their small little group. Ark merely sighed and turned around to his assaulter. Tilting his head slightly, Ark merely stared at the upperclassman as his fist stopped mere inches from Ark's face.
"Baka," was all Ark said before flicking his finger against the senior's forehead, which to everyone's shock, shot the senor into the opposing wall. Ark then turned to the other two seniors.
"You two," Ark ordered. "Get him to the nurse. Tell her that some of your friend's pressure points were hit and that he should feel numb for a few days." When the seniors didn't move, in fear of their own health, Ark barked, "Get going, now!" with that said, the two seniors dashed out of room with their friend on their backs. Sighing with a mumble of troublesome, Ark took a cigarette out of his back pocket and lit it. Taking a drag, he looked around and noticed everyone staring at him.
Sweat dropping, he said, "What? Do I have something on my face?" This caused Fuu, Comay and Nina to chuckle slightly as their white haired friend took his seat. Soon, everyone went back to their own seats, though still kept an eye on the white haired student. As the class bell rang, and the traditional "Stand, Bow, Sit." The lesson was soon underway but for one student, the lesson was nothing compared to what happened earlier.
'What just happened there?' Tatsuki thought as she wrote down notes.
'One minute, the senior was going to knock his block off, and the next, he was imbedded in a wall with just a flick of his finger!?!' Tatsuki then took a moment to look back to stare at the white haired student, not noticing the three glares she was receiving. 'Just who is he?'
RING. RING. RING! The bell rang, signaling it was time for lunch. Getting up slowly, Ichigo turned to look for Tatsuki, figuring they could eat lunch together. Surprised to find an empty seat, he turned to Keigo, hoping he had caught where Tatsuki went.
"Tatsuki? I think I saw her following Ark and that group he hangs out with." He answered. Thanking Keigo, he quickly walked out into the hallways, hoping to see where they could have gone. Ichigo caught a flash of black hair out of the corner of his eye. Quickly following it, Ichigo soon came to the roof of the school building. As he was about to open the door, he heard Tatsuki talk.
"Talk," He heard. If he were to guess, he would be thinking Ark would be raising his eyebrow at this point.
"Talk about what exactly?" Ark said.
"You know what." Tatsuki said. "What did you do to that senior?"
"So you are concerned about the senior?" Ichigo heard Fuujin, yeah; he believed that was her name. "I thought you liked that orange haired kid." At this, both Tatsuki and Ichigo blushed.
"Do not worry dear." He believed it was Raijin speaking this time. He then heard a grunt coming from Ark. Ichigo was guessing that Raijin was now glomping ark from behind. "Ark-kun didn't hurt him that bad. Maybe a sore back for a few weeks at the most, but that's all."
"Must you always do this to me?" Ark said, probably from under Rai.
"NO! This has nothing to do with the senior!" Tatsuki yelled. Ichigo could practically feel the glare Tatsuki was giving Ark. "It has to do with you! All of you." Looking in the little door window, Ichigo could see Tatsuki staring Ark down.
"How can you see shinigami and hollows? What is your connection to them? How do you have that freakish strength from back there? Just who the hell are you people?!?" Tatsuki yelled in his face. Ark just merely grinned as he got up.
"We are merely fallen ones, helping the world prepare for what is to come." With that said, Ark and his small group started to head for the door.
"Just answer me one thing." This made the small group stop. "Why did you give me that feather and turn me into a Shinigami?" At the mention of the feather, all but Ark froze at the mention of it. Sighing, Ark turned to Tatsuki with a sad smile.
"Because someone needs to keep that strawberry in line and who better then the girl that loves him?" With that said, the small group continued to the door, leaving Tatsuki to her thoughts, not noticing a concern orange haired that was there mere moments before………
After hearing that, Ichigo was confused about his feelings towards his friend; he definitely considered her one of his nikama, but love? As he headed back to class, he still had conflicting thoughts, and didn't notice when he bumped into a classmate of his.
"Oomph," both said as the dark blue individual caused Ichigo to fall back and onto his tailbone, ruining his ego and pride for only half a second or so before he was back up.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings" Ichigo said as he picked himself off of the floor and dusted himself off.
"It's alright...Kurosaki Ichigo," the other boy said as he brushed himself off.
'How does he know my name?' Ichigo thought to himself as he glared at the other boy.
"You wondering how I knew your name, don't you Kurosaki-kun? It's simple really; I'm in the same class as you and Arisawa-chan are in. Now let's get going before we're late for the remainder of class."
"You don't have to tell me what to do," Ichigo said coldly towards him as he followed this new person towards the classroom with his hands in his pockets and a scowl on his face. 'Who does this bastard think he is?'
They ran softly across the town in the moonlight night. As per the norm, Ichigo, Tatsuki, and Rukia were once again out on a hollow run. However, tonight was a little different then most. Tatsuki would sometimes look over to Ichigo while blushing before turning away. Ichigo would catch glimpses, sometimes blushing as well.
'Damn that white haired chain smoker.' Ichigo thought. 'If he hadn't said those things…….'
Rukia, of course, was obvious to all of this or just didn't care. With a sudden leap, Rukia jumped down with the two shinigami behind her. Looking around, she sighed. Once more, there was no sign of a hollow.
"After all that," Ichigo groined. "There's no hollow."
"Shut up." Rukia said, pulling both their bodies out. "Just get back into your bodies." She then flipped open her phone, checking to make sure she had the right spot.
"You should seriously get that phone checked out." Tatsuki said before going back into her body. "I hate to be woken up in the middle of the night for a false alarm." Ichigo nodded in agreement, as they, both went back into their bodies.
"Are you saying that it's my fault?!" Rukia yelled at the two. "I just tell you two exactly what appears on the command receiver."
"So we are telling you to hurry up and get it fixed." Ichigo said.
"Believe me, I would love to." She responded.
"Dissension in the ranks?" A new voice spoke. The three turned towards the voice to find a young man around their age in a white trench coat like outfit with white pants, the moonlight shining off his glasses, and the face covered by darkness.
"What a disgrace." He said, coming into view. "Good evening, Kurosaki-kun, Kuchiki-san, Arisawa-chan."
"Who are you?" Ichigo said. Tatsuki was also curious as to who this person was, as was Rukia. "How do you know our-"
"Kurosaki-kun," The newcomer said, cutting him off, "You and
Arisawa-chan can see ghosts, can't you?" Their bodies tensed at what he said. Who was this man? How did he know that they could see ghosts?
"What're you talking abo-" Ichigo started, still tensed. Tatsuki was also tense, but ready to fight the guy should he bring up trouble. The man ignored him and turned his head towards a different direction.
"A new Hollow has appeared." He stated.
"What?" Rukia said. It was then that her phone decided to answer her unspoken question as she started to receive orders. Her eyes widen in surprise as she looked down to the phone. "One really has appeared; we have orders."
"Which way?" Both Ichigo and Tatsuki asked. Before either could get an answer, the white man before them pointed in a direction, a weird cross hanging from his wrist showing as he did so.
"That way," He stated, "if you don't even know that much, how can you call yourselves shinigami?" Ichigo and Tatsuki couldn't help but let out a small growl at the man. Who was he? It was then at that moment, the cross on his wrist started to glow. Soon the glow started to get bigger, extending both up and down, forming a bow shape. He then pulled on the string, forming an arrow and letting it fly. The spiritual arrow flew, soaring quickly through the air. Before they knew it, the spirit arrow hit the hollow exactly when it appeared, completely destroying it. So shocked were they, it took Rukia a moment before she realized her phone was beeping once more.
"The signal disappeared…" Rukia said softly.
"What the hell are you?" Tatsuki asked.
"Ishida Uryuu," The white man said. "Quincy." He then stared into the eyes of the three shinigami. "And I hate shinigami."
"What the hell?" Ichigo whispered.
"Don't you understand?" Ishida said. "This is what I mean…….Kurosaki Ichigo, Arisawa Tatsuki. I hate you both." With that said, the white dressed
Quincy turned around and walked off, the night wrapping around him and making him disappear………
Ichigo grumbled as he walked down the hall of the school, Tatsuki right next to him. It was the next day and Ichigo (as well as Tatsuki) were still annoyed that………that……..that……..that jerk stole their marks. Not only that, but he also hurt their pride as shinigami. True, they never asked for it and hate midnight marks but still! Ichigo grumbled in annoyance
"Damn, what's his face?" Ichigo grumbled. "Him and that stupid bow of his."
"Ishida." Tatsuki said. Ichigo just blinked in confusion.
"That's his name baka," Tatsuki said, a tick forming. "He said his name was Ishida Uryuu" Tatsuki then hit her forehead. Baka! How could she forget? Grabbing Ichigo's hand, she quickly dashed off to their classroom, dragging Ichigo behind her.
"Tatsuki! Stop already!" Ichigo yelled. Before he could say something else, Tatsuki placed her hand over his mouth and pointed to inside their classroom. There, sitting before them, was Ishida Uryuu, the Quincy from last night. Looking at each other, they both nodded and made a silent pack. They were going to keep a very close eye on this guy………..
It was late afternoon as the students started to file out of the school. Oneby one, students started to head to their own destinations. Two students, however, were on a mission. That mission being to find out what was the deal with the four-eyed freak. At least……that is what Ichigo said. Tatsuki just shook her head and went along with it, she too wondering what his deal was. They followed their target this way and that, up some streets and then back down some streets. It was then, while he was walking up a flight of stairs, that he stopped, turned around, and faced the duo.
"Are you two going to follow me all the way home, Kurosaki Ichigo, Arisawa Tatsuki?" He asked.
"Tch, so you knew?" Ichigo responded. "When did you notice?"
"I knew since you two were spying on me from the classroom door." Ishida responded coolly.
"Oh?" Tatsuki asked. Now that was interesting. How could he know that they were spying on him when she was sure they hid themselves well?
"Pretty impressive." Ichigo said. "You got skills."
"It's because you always let your spirit power leak out like idiot."
Ishida responded. "You as well Arisawa." Now this got Tatsuki's attention. What is he talking about spirit power? She knew they were shinigami, but what did that have to do with spirit power? "Even a monkey would notice." Ishida said, breaking her from her thoughts. Tatsuki sighed and knew it was about to get ugly. No one insulted Ichigo without getting away unscathed.
"What did you say?!" Ichigo growled.
"Apparently, you two lack the ability to sense other people with high spirit power. As proof, you've never noticed my existence until today." Ishida said.
"Well, excuse me. I'm not good at remembering people's faces and stuff." Ichigo said to which Tatsuki could only giggle and nod. Ishida sighed.
"That's not what I mean." He said. "I noticed…..the day you transferred to our school…...the inordinate height of your spirit power." Ichigo and Tatsuki's eyes widen.
"And the fact that you acquired your shinigami powers around mid may. As well as Kuchiki Rukia's true identity. In addition, the fact that Arisawa acquired her powers a few months after." It was then snow-white strips appeared to surround Ishida, seemingly to bend and twirl when there was no wind.
"Spirit Threads?!" Ichigo and Tatsuki both said, shocked.
"Yes, spirit threads," Ishida said. "Spirit energy in the atmosphere condensed and visualized. And…" Ishida then disappeared and reappeared in front of both shinigami, his fist raised in front of them. It was then that red spirit particles started to form a spirit thread in his fist, the thread forming from both of the shinigami's bodies.
"This is…." Ichigo started.
"It's your spirit threads." Ishida said, holding the two red stripes tightly in his hands. With a twist of his hands, he ripped a portion of the threads off.
"Didn't you know? Death god's spirit threads have a different color." He then released his fist, the portion of the threads in his hands disbursing.
"Interesting," A new voice said from behind Ishida. "I will have to remember that in the future." Ishida smirked slightly at the voice and Tatsuki and Ichigo looked behind Ishida to see Ark and his friends standing behind him.
"Is this a private party or can anyone join?" Fuu asked with her nose still in one of those perverted books of hers.
"Why of course you can join," Ishida said. "But….." Ishida then made the spirit threads appear once more, then disappeared and reappeared in front of the small group, his hand holding five red spirit threads each connected to one of them and a dark crimson one connected to Ark. "Don't you think you want to switch into something more comfortable first?" Sighing, Ark took his lighter and hit his body, expelling his soul out of his body. There Ark stood as a shinigami………otherwise known as Tenkei.
FireSamurai: Alright, I want a show of hands of who knew Ark was Tenkei. (sees tons of hands pop up) (sweatdrops)
DASM: You made it too obvious partner.
FireSamurai: (sighs) Hai hai…….ANYWAY, on to an important part. As you all know this is mainly a Tats/Ichi story. HOWEVER, there will be a side pairing of Ark with someone. That someone will be chosen by you! The readers!
DASM: Go Comay! Go Comay! Go Comay!
FireSamurai: (throws a bucket at his partner) Quiet you! (hides his go Fuujin stuff)
DASM: (coughs) Anyway, the person can be anyone of our OCs, anyone in the shinigami world or……
FireSamurai: If you want to really torture the chain smoker…..give him a harem!
DASM: Also note that if a male character wins, they will be changed into a female character for, while we have nothing against them, we will not write yaois.
Ark: (glares) you wouldn't dare…
DASM: Not up to us my friend…
Ark: Troublesome…
FireSamurai: So remember people! You determine how you want Ark to suffer! The poll will last till the end of the Soul Society Arc! So R&R.
DASM: This is DASM and FireSamurai signing out. Ja ne!
