1A/N: Alright...new chapter...probably littered with mistakes and things that don't make sense. This chapter is a bit jumpy from place to place as it acts as an introduction for some other characters and situations, but overall, it shouldn't be too hard to follow. Tone tends to fluctuate from scene to scene so beware of that. Of course it could just piss you off... Anyways, this chapter is very light on Rukia/Ichigo stuff but I can guarantee they will become heavily prominent in the coming chapters as well as pretty much the rest of the story. Enjoy and take care...and...there was something else...
Perpetual Twilight
Chapter 8: Pained
By: Finalitylife
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Bleach or its characters. That's all I got...
There were days when Shigekuni Yamamoto truly felt his age, felt the many centuries he had lived pulling down on his body and mind without remorse. Ever since that day when Aizen's treachery was revealed, and it was shown just how blind he had allowed himself to be, every day felt just like that...the unending weariness beginning to overwhelm his ancient soul.
War would soon come for all of Soul Society, and as it had always been in the past, the job to protect the balance and the order of existence fell to those of the Gotei 13. Yamamoto was no stranger to battle, having fought more times than the rest of his subordinates combined, yet for the first time for as long as he could remember, he was truly unsettled by the prospect of fighting. He alone knew the true scope of this war, and just what disaster Aizen's ambitions would bring upon them all...Shinigami, Hollow, and Human alike.
Many, many years ago when Yamamoto was only a captain in the Gotei 13, he had fought against what he believed was the greatest threat to Soul Society that could exist...a Vasto Lorde Class Hollow, never thinking anything worse could exist. The dark being's cunning was only matched by its raw power, and on that day, his entire division had been nearly been wiped out by its razor claws.
He himself had fought the beast in one on one battle as the Hollows goal had been to fight someone of his strength. It had been drawn out by Yamamoto's power...it had been all his fault. The battle had been fierce, and Yamamoto still sported scars on his body from it, but in the end he had been victorious, destroying the Vasto Lorde with his flaming blade.
In the end though, not only his body had been permanently scarred by the battle, but also his heart at seeing so many of his comrades slaughtered by a power far beyond their own all because the flaunting of his own vaunted strength had drawn out the enemy. It was that day that Yamamoto's bravado and ego died, and his unwavering desire to protect the order of Soul Society was born. Also on that day, he first envisioned an academy where future shinigami could be trained to reach the highest levels and learn the same ideals of peace and order he strived to protect. That had been his ideal dream, and though it would take him many years to achieve it, it would come to pass.
The old man closed his eyes heavily for a few, brief moments as he balanced on his cane, remembering that the heart of his idealism had been lost somewhere in between the day the two young men he looked upon as son's took their place as his highest captains and the day a calm, glasses-wearing man with an unassuming smile made it clear that the order he had worked for so very long to create was nothing but a flawed illusion that he had been allowed to dwell in for far too long. There were greater enemies than even the Vasto Lorde, and they had come from the highest ranks of the shinigami.
The exhaustion seeped fully into Yamamoto's bones, something he could distinctively feel as he shuffled forward, the heavy click of his staff emphasizing each step. If only he had been younger, more alert, he could have prevented this horrific chain of events from happening. If only he had been more flexible, he wouldn't have been pulled into a battle with his own 'sons' where he had fought them for the simple fact that the maintenance of his 'order' necessitated him to. At what point had the rules grown beyond his humanity...
Yamamoto could feel his hands tighten around his staff as he thought of how easily that bastard Aizen had manipulated everyone, had injured and killed so many of his fellow shinigami for his own madness. Sadly, those days were only the beginning of a greater conflict that would soon come to wash not only Soul Society, but all of existence away in a tidal wave of nothingness.
With the aid of that cursed Orb of Distortion, Yamamoto knew the few Vasto Lorde of Hueco Mondo who would join Aizen would gain even greater strength, but the simple fact was that Aizen was in fact still the greatest threat to Soul Society that had come along in an immeasurable time. The former Captain of the Fifth Division not only had tremendous power and intelligence, but also knew everything about the shinigami's and Soul Society that could be known. He knew every weakness and how to exploit them, and the Gotei 13 knew almost nothing of his agenda, except what his ultimate goal was.
Aizen's goal...to enter into the dimension of the King of Soul Society and take the throne for himself. It was this thought that managed to scare the normally fearless old man where even the prospect of Arrancar armies and enemy shinigami captains could not. Even with all of Aizen's knowledge, even he could not know truly what he desired to do.
Ever since Yamamoto had taken up the mantle as the Commander-General of the Gotei 13, a great secret and responsibility had been passed down to him that went even beyond leading the shinigami in their duties. The rogue Captain of the Fifth Division sought to usurp the power of the highest of all beings, yet the simple fact was that there was no one left to challenge...no one left to step over to reach the top. There had not been anyone on the throne of the World for a very, very long time. All that was left was a locked door that never could be allowed to be open, a single key hidden away, and that madness to sacrifice thousands to create another one. Nothing would remain if that door was opened...
"Commander-General Yamamoto..."
The leader of the Gotei 13's dark thoughts were ended by the gruff yet respectful voice of the Captain of the Seventh Division, Sajin Komamura.
"What is it Captain?"
The large figure stepped better into view, bowing down to his superior.
"I have followed your instructions and sent the specific messages to all the Captains now that Captain Kuchiki has returned from the human world. They should be arriving here shortly.
"Good...you are dismissed Captain."
The yellow, fox eyes looked up from their bow with worry, noticing the weakness in the normally unwavering voice of the Commander-General, yet did not say anything. The Commander-General was strong and wise, and nothing would stop him from leading them in the growing darker hours. Silently, Komamura left the man who had given him purpose alone again with his troubled thoughts.
--
The training ground was littered with dozen's of smoking craters, the walls starting to show signs of crumbling from the massive reaistu emanating off the massive, crazed warrior standing in the middle of it all. His one uncovered eye stared menacingly at the chipped, worn down sword that he held tightly in his massively strong grip.
"Damn you. I want to get stronger, and you won't say a damn thing to me, let alone your name. I want to know your name!"
Zakari Kenpachi bellowed as his gigantic reaistu flared to life around him, beginning to destroy the ground underneath him as if it was some raging inferno...actually, there probably wasn't any different.
As always, there was no response from the zanpakuto, causing the large man to grit his teeth fiercely. All his training had brought him no progress in finding out his zanpakuto's name, had not helped him reach another echelon of power so that he could have his rematch against that human boy...and beat down whatever that bastard Aizen decided to send his way. He really hoped the opponent would be strong...he knew the opponent would be even stronger than Ichigo when they had last fought. Just thinking about it caused his blood to start pulsing harder through his veins, a brief wave of blood lust erupting off of him. He slammed the tip of his sword into the ground, the earth shattering beneath the force.
"Stop being so damned stubborn and tell me what I want to know...give me what I want!"
The sword simply sat there sticking out of the ground as if mocking him, no response to the Captain of the Eleventh Division's harsh demands.
"Damn it all! This is getting me nowhere!"
Zakari's shout matched another flare up in his power, but no amount of yelling or power release seemed to have any affect on the zanpakuto.
"Perhaps if rather than wanting the power, you understood that you needed the power to aid you..."
Had Kenpachi had any ability to sense reaistu, he would have easily noticed the arrival to Eleventh Division's training grounds...what was supposed to be a private training session he internally added. He was not to be disturbed...
His uncovered eye shifted over with irritation to a familiar, but unwelcome sight.
"Screw that...I don't need anyone's help..."
"I believe your quest to discover your zanpakuto's name completely contradicts that statement, now doesn't it."
Kenpachi grunted as he watched her smile that self assured, yet still gentle smile, knowing she was right, though he would definitely never admit that to the Captain of that damn weakling division full of worthless fighters.
"I have come to inform you that Commander Yamamoto has called a meeting for all Captains."
Again Kenpachi glared at the serene form of Restu Unohana with her hands folded gracefully in front her body, his harsh look in no way affecting her as it seemed to everyone else.
"Why the hell did you bring this message?"
"Well for starters, the Hell Butterflies couldn't get past the massive aura of power you are still currently emitting, and also, everyone in your division who was here at the time was too afraid to disturb you during your training to deliver the message due to your very blatant orders to them."
The annoyed Kenpachi cursed under his breath.
"Afraid? I'm not training those guys hard enough. They should never be afraid."
Kenpachi's mind wandered off into thought as he pondered what he would do with his men, though quickly realized his fellow Captain was still here.
"You're still here?"
"Of course Captain. Commander-General Yamamoto specifically asked me to ensure that you showed up to the meeting. It apparently is very important, so I must insist that we leave now."
"I still don't why the old man would send you."
"Well Captain Kenpachi, despite your unnecessary animosity toward my division, you have a tendency to argue less with me than any other Captain for the simple fact you don't challenge me to a fight when you see me. That was why I was sent."
"Yeah well the only reason I don't argue with you is because it ain't worth my time. You can't fight so what's the point of even dealing with ya more than I have to..."
Kenpachi was surprised when Captain Unohana's smile changed just the slightest.
"It is not that I can't fight Captain, but that I chose to heal rather than harm. That is all..."
"I really don't care what your excuse is. Now I'm kinda busy right now, and I really don't feel like standing at any meeting so if ya would just get the hell outta here..."
Kenpachi's harsh words were cut off by the exuberant, high pitched yell of his diminutive Lieutenant.
"Ken-chan!"
The young, pink haired girl suddenly jumped on to Kenpachi's shoulder, something that he was highly accustomed to so that he didn't even flinch despite the suddenness and unexpectedness of it all.
"Hi nice candy lady. What's going on?"
Kenpachi glanced to the best of his ability at Yachiru.
"Nice candy lady?"
"Yep. Every time I visit her, she always gives me candy for being a good girl and not making a fuss when she has to check me for problems."
Kenpachi looked back over at Unohana who only continued to stand there with a strange smile on her face in her seemingly content state of mind.
"Yeah whatever..."
"Can I have candy now nice candy lady?"
Yachiru jumped down from Kenpachi's shoulder, bounding over toward the Captain of the Fourth Division.
"I would love to Yachiru, but I won't be able to get you any candy until after the Captain's meeting we have to attend."
The small girl instantly starting pouting.
"How long is that going to take?"
"Well that depends on how long it takes your Captain to get ready to come with me to it."
Kenpachi's eye widened in surprise at the words, realizing exactly what had just happened. Damn that bitch...
"Ken-chan!!!"
The shrill, high-pitched yell almost caused Kenpachi to cringe, knowing Yachiru was making extra effort to be annoying to get what she wanted. She was a smart little brat after all, and that woman...manipulative bitch. Smart, but still a manipulative bitch.
"Don't worry Yachiru. I'm going now. I'll bring ya back the damn candy when the meeting is over.."
The small girl who was almost on the verge of tears instantly brightened up with a huge smile, jumping up and down in excitement.
"Yay! Thank you Ken-chan."
All Kenpachi did was grumble to himself as he grabbed his sword, walking forward past Yachiru and Unohana.
"Let's get this thing over with. I don't got all day, and I know she won't wait long either before she comes looking for us."
Unohana nodded.
"Of course Captain. Your cooperation is most appreciated."
"Cooperation? You know damn well that I didn't have a choice in the matter after what you did."
"And what did I do Captain?"
Kenpachi glared at the much smaller Captain who only continued to serenely smile, acting as if nothing had actually just happened, paying his glare no attention. He really hated the Fourth Division...
"Never mind...lets just get the hell moving..."
--
Orihime rose from bed, still being able to feel the tear stains on her cheeks, reaching up to rub them away. She didn't want to cry anymore...didn't want anyone to know she had been crying. Her feet moved from the bed, settling on the cold floor as she pushed herself to her feet. Though her heart still ached terribly, her body felt rested, and she knew that should be able to effectively use her powers again. Ichigo...he probably still needed her, and she wouldn't fail him again by being too weak.
She moved quietly across the room and out into the hallway, moving through the slightly dimmed environment quietly. She didn't know what time it was, but she sensed that there were people resting, and she didn't want to disturb them.
At the end of the hall, she could see one room brighter than all others...the room Ichigo was resting in. Entering, she smiled as her eyes settled on Ichigo's sleeping form, simply happy that he was here, happy that he hadn't disappeared. Orihime kneeled beside Ichigo, noticing that some of his bandages had dry blood on them. He did need her healing...he needed her...
Orihime raised her hands in front of her, closing her eyes, getting ready to summon her power, the words starting to come softly out of her mouth. However, she never finished as suddenly someone was gripping on of her hands softly, startling her, her eyes opening in a flash. What she found in front of her was not what she expected. Ichigo was holding her hand, now sitting up, somehow having moved even closer to her. His eyes for some reason remained closed, but he had a soft smile on his face that Orihime had never seen him with. It was so inviting.
"Orihime..."
Orihime found every question she was about to ask caught in her throat at the sound of her first name coming off his lips. He had never called her that before...never...was this some sort of dream?
As if trying to confirm that none of this could really happen, Ichigo pulled her forward, his arms wrapping themselves around her, holding her to his strong chest. She could feel the warmth coming off of him, washing over her entire body, and at that moment, Orihime didn't care if his was just some dream, she was still going to enjoy it. She settled into Ichigo's embrace, taking in his perfect scent as she rested her head against his strong chest, feeling his heart beat rapidly. He must have been as nervous as she was.
So lost in the moment was Orihime, that she didn't hear the gasp of surprise when Ichigo had first taken her into his arms, the half choke to hold back tears as she settled in to his arms, and finally the two feet running away from the scene. Nothing else existed except her and the boy she loved so much who was now holding her.
Though Orihime didn't hear anything, Ichigo certainly did, a twisted smile slowly forming on his face as his eyes slowly opened, blackness creeping into them, the pupils taking on a glowing yellow color.
"Orihime..."
The gentle girl snuggled deeper into his embrace, smiling despite feeling something strange within Ichigo's aura. Nothing else mattered...it was just her and him.
"I love you Ichigo..."
Her heart sped up faster as she said his name, as she told him what she felt so strongly for so very long. This was what she always dreamed of...this was everything she wanted...
"Orihime..." She felt her heart flutter as he again said her name, this time waiting for the reply she had dreamt about in every dream for so very long...just those three little words that would forever grant her happiness...
"I'm going to kill you..."
--
Yoruichi was having one of those moments where she truly thanked the fact that Kisuke somehow fit so many bedroom's into seemingly small shop considering the number currently being occupied by guests. Her unclothed body laid intertwined with Kisuke's, their hearts beating perfectly in synch with each other as they basked in the aftermath of their relaxation. Sometimes a brief, temporary escape was really all you needed.
Kisuke gently rubbed Yoruichi's back as she nuzzled closer to him, both knowing soon enough that Kisuke would return to his lab, and she would have to deal with the rest of residents of the shop.
Yoruichi was sure it had been a few hours since she had put Rukia to bed, though she was unsure. Time tended to gel together as of late, and truthfully she wasn't even sure what day it was anymore. Everything had become so confusing so quickly, far more than when she had been training the children to rescue Rukia from Soul Society. It was sad to think how much easier that had been than the current predicament.
As the two lover's slowly came back to their senses, Yoruichi studied the seemingly blissful face of Kisuke, though as she stared into his eyes, she could see the worry there. She was not surprised that he was troubled considering what he had explained to her after he had come out of his lab to talk to her. Poor Ichigo...poor Rukia. Yoruichi really couldn't even imagine what those two kids had ever done to piss fate off this bad, and it somehow kept findings ways to get worse.
Again Yoruichi stared intently into Kisuke's eyes seeing a flicker of something, giving her a sense he was again hiding something.
"Care to tell me what you're hiding this time Kisuke?"
The man next to her barely moved even as she adjusted so that she was hovering just above his face.
"Hmmm? Oh well its not so much hiding, but rather that I've altered my original theory slightly and haven't said anything yet."
"Should I be bothered that you can think about those things during sex or just impressed?"
A half smile formed on Kisuke's face as he reached up a hand to caress Yoruichi's face.
"Actually, its just come to me this moment. I assure you I think about nothing but you during sex."
The two smiled at each other gently though the moment ended quickly as Yoruichi gave Kisuke a look that told him she wanted to know what was going through his head.
"Its about Rukia actually, and what exactly this unexpected connection might mean to her. I'm thinking that we might be able to use it to add the strength of Rukia's will to Ichigo's and perhaps tip the scale of power in Ichigo's favor."
" I really don't think Rukia is in any condition to help battle that monster right now Kisuke. I know she's trying to be strong, but I get the sense she's about one instance from shattering completely."
"That was my thought as well, but I do have an idea on how to fix that."
Yoruichi noticed something, and rather than ask about his new idea, she asked another question.
"There's something bad going through your head too. What's wrong?"
Kisuke let out a deep sigh.
"I know what I told Byakuya, and I know what I told you, but I'm starting to think Rukia might be even in more danger than I initially thought. That monster that's gotten inside her...I really don't know what its capable of. This could go far beyond simply imbalanced spiritual power. This Hollow could actually obliterate her soul from the inside or rather, conquer her will and turn her into a slave. The real possibilities are really starting to worry me."
His last words were slightly cut off by a kiss from Yoruichi, which left him breathless after a few seconds before he again found himself staring into those golden eyes.
"You'll think of something Kisuke to save both of them. I trust you to do that, and considering I know you have more confidence in yourself than even I have in you..."
Yoruichi gave a mischievous smile as she trailed off as she made a move to initiate things further when she suddenly stopped...they both completely stopped as they sensed the sudden aura in the air.
"Shit." In a flash Yoruichi was gone from on top of him with Kisuke shooting to his feet as well. The dark skinned woman paid no mind to the lack of clothes as she flew out of the room, though Kisuke had other thoughts. Yoruichi was one thing, but there were too many people under his roof that would really have a problem with seeing a full grown man naked. He snagged his pants sliding them on, and headed for the door too, but not before grabbing his cane.
--
The words that Orihime had been expecting never came, but instead Ichigo's voice became distorted as the threat entered her mind. Any warmth from Ichigo's body suddenly disappeared, the gentle embrace growing tighter, quickly becoming painful for Orihime.
"Stupid little bitch. Its time to rid myself of an obstacle in my path. You really did bring this on yourself."
The grip around Orihiime got tighter, robbing her of her breath, barely managing to force out a quiet plea to stop.
"Hahahaha...I do love when you girl's beg. You're no different than Rukia it would seem... no strength at all. Actually, the truth is you're even weaker than Rukia. At least at times she is willing to fight, but all you do is run and cry. Pathetic..."
Orihime could feel something beginning to physically crush inside of her, but even that didn't hurt as much as his horrible words...his twisted laughter. This couldn't be Ichigo...it couldn't...
"Really I'm doing you a favor by killing you. You'd be nothing but an inconvenience when the real battles begin...this is not your world anymore little girl."
Orihime could feel everything going black, her life slipping away as her dream had turned into a nightmare, the embrace she always longed for the one to kill her. However, by the grace of fate, it was not her time. She heard someone else's voice, unable to make out the words being spoken except the word binding, and in an instant the death grip around her was gone.
Acting completely on instinct to survive, Orihime's lungs pulled in air as she fell back away from Ichigo who was now slammed up against the wall held in place by some energy binding spell courtesy of Tessai. The sight before Orihime was still frightening as Ichigo's eyes now were glowing yellow pupils on endless black, his smile and laughter never faltering.
"Oh damn.. I was just about to take little Hime to Heaven. Wouldn't that have been nice?"
His eyes stared right at Orihime who felt sick just by looking at them. What was happening? What was going on?
"If you just give me a few seconds, we can catch up right where we left off Hime."
Orihime felt a massive increase in spiritual energy from Ichigo's form, could somehow sense that the binding spell holding him was beginning to shatter underneath the immense strength, a glance over at Tessai only confirming that as the struggle he was going through was clearly etched on to his face.
Orihime truly had no idea what as going on or what had almost killed her only moments ago, but one thing she was positive about was that it couldn't be Ichigo...wasn't Ichigo. Feeling strength bubbling up inside her, Orihime stood to her feet. This was NOT Ichigo screamed into her mind, screamed from the very core of her being...her power, and for a brief instance, her hairclips flared to life around her and Ichigo. Though it lasted less than a second, the strength of her unwavering belief in the boy she loved seemed to take on a physical effect of its own, and the unnatural eyes of Ichigo immediately became normal again, his power disappearing, and his struggle against the spell stopping. He became blank, unfocused, and unmoving like a puppet whose control had just been cut, his body hanging in the air by some unknown force.
Slowly, one of his arms raised as if reaching out to someone, his eyes clearly focused not on what was in front of him.
"Rukia...I'm sorry Rukia..."
A second later he collapsed to the floor, though no one moved toward his form. All Orihime could do was still listen to his quiet words that continued to escape from his mouth.
"Rukia...where are you Rukia? I need you Rukia...I need you...", his voice gently trailing off into unconsciousness.
A deep cold wrapped itself around Orihime, even more frigid than what she had felt from the monster that had emerged from Ichigo. His words...it was all about her...all about Rukia. It always was. He didn't even see her when she was right in front of him...even when she refused to stop believing in him.
Orihime clenched her eyes tightly shut, forcing the tears to stay inside even as her mind screamed and her heart shattered. She didn't want to hear it, couldn't face it. She tried to run out of the room, only to collapse a few feet later, coughing out blood painfully on the floor. She curled up in a ball, trying to force back the pain that was now coming through clear from her body from that thing's 'attack' on her.
Again she could hear voices with words she couldn't make out, but she really just didn't care. For the moments, the ever bright, optimistic Orihime Inoue wanted nothing more than to fade away completely forever.
This was the sight that Yoruichi came running in to, her heart clenching again at the sight of someone bleeding, and an unconscious Ichigo, the only thought in her head was that if this Hollow wasn't stopped, it just wouldn't consume Ichigo and Rukia, it would break them all.
