Cosgrove:
Difficulty: FULL KUBO
Everything is according to KUBO's keikaku.

First, let me explain how dice rolls work here on Bleach Quest. I take the best of three, barring any Critical Successes or Critical Failures. If I have not yet asked for dice, and you roll anyway, your roll will count towards the next time I ask for rolls be it for good or ill. After I get three results for a roll, all others are discarded.

CRITICAL MASTER I

From now on any and all crits within the first ten rolls, good or bad, are stored to be used on the next roll, exponential affecting it if there's more than one.

In the Blood

You've awakened your inherent Quincy blood!

Sixth Sense

Takes the first five rolls when searching for spiritual energy

Now then, last time on BLEACH QUEST…


CHAPTER SUMMARY: In which Ichigo Kurosaki fucks things up so bad that I can't even make a witty description for this.


Bleach Quest

Chapter 9


You nod your head. As you get up, you allow her to wrap and arm around your shoulder as she leans against you. You see your father and sisters staring at you with intensity and shock respectively, but they don't say anything as you help her up the stairs.

When you get upstairs, she stops you. "Kurosaki-kun, you said you'd talk to me about the things I saw later. Can we do it now?"

Seeing no reason to refuse her, you assent and lead her to your room. She sits on your bed, looking around at your room as you sit at your desk's chair, looking at her.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

At your question, her face flushes and she looks slightly ashamed. "Kurosaki-kun… the reason why I... no…"

She trails off, before closing her eyes. After a few moments, she opens them, determination burning in her eyes.

"I want to know more about you. I want to know your likes and dislikes. I want to know what makes you happy and sad. I want to know about the you who fights ghosts. I want to know everything about Kur- Ichigo-kun because…"

She trails off again.

"..Because…"

She stares you in the eyes as she grasps your hands between her own.

"…Because I think… No. I'm sure that I've fallen in love with you."

She quietly stares at you ,waiting for a response.

Staring at her, you search your feelings, but.. You're not entirely sure how you feel. These last few days have turned you life upside down, but you should still be honest with her.

"Alright, that's... wow. I'm flattered, and honestly I think I might... I'm not sure about love but-"

You pause, hanging your head before continuing.

"I'm going to come right out and say it. I think you're great, and I won't pretend you aren't attractive, but the last couple of days started with me getting beaten to death and then getting super-powers. I can't tell you how weird it's been because I don't know a scale that operates on a level that absurd. It's less like getting nudged out of my comfort zone and more 'getting shot into space'.

"I'm not saying no, but... I'm somewhere weird right now. Both personally because of family secrets and... well, you saw the other part earlier."

You awkwardly scratch at the back of your head, trying to force out your feelings while not looking in her direction.

"It's more than just irresponsible, it's downright psychopathic to consider dragging someone into that. Maybe... maybe we can talk and stuff, see if things calm down over he next few weeks.

You look up at her, your face fixed in a serious look. "But I cannot, in good conscience, commit to anything. Especially not when it might endanger someone I care about. Or who cares about me for that matter."

Taking a deep breath, you finish. "And I feel terrible saying this to you right now. It was really brave of you to just come out and say it like that, so promise me you'll hang onto that, alright?"

You slump your shoulders, looking at her. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. You wait for a few uncomfortable moments before she opens her eyes again. You can't tell anything from her emotionally, not yet.

"I won't say that it doesn't hurt, being rejected. Nor that I understand what you're feeling right now. But, as you said, you aren't saying no. So, I'm not going to give up on you."

She raises a hand, cutting you off. "Please, let me finish. Ichigo-kun, you said things might be dangerous, but that's not a good enough reason to give up on you.

"I… I don't want to look back at my life with only regrets. My last words to my brother, before that accident were out of anger. He'd gotten me some hair clips and I'd gotten angry over them for some stupid reason, and when he left it was on bad terms, and I've always regretted that my last words to him were like that.

"So, even if its dangerous and I might be in danger I'm still going to try to reach you. If I don't, and something does happen to you, or when you're ready to let someone in and someone else is there, I'll only be left with more regrets.

"If the problem is I can't defend myself, I'll find someone to teach me. If I can't do that, I'll do it on my own."

She pauses, looking back at you. "And I don't expect you to return my feelings just because I told you of them. All I want is for you to give me a chance. Be friends with me, get to know me. And if, eventually you still don't feel the way I do, I'll at least know that's what you really feel."

She lets go of your hands and stands up.

"Good night Ichigo."

She walks past you and you hear the door open and shut behind you, leaving you alone in your room.

You clench your fists, unaware how to deal with the situation with Inoue. You take deep breaths, trying to calm yourself.

You sit down, and decide to center yourself with feeling out with your sixth sense.

Afterwards, you try to reach that inner world where your Zanpakuto spirit, Zangetsu, resides.

You try to reach out with your sixth sense. In your house you feel your sisters' and Inoue's presences. Faintly, you feel presences that remind you of Chad and Tatsuki.

And, for half a moment, you feel a hollow's Reiatsu…along with a muted presence that reminds you of your mother…

Letting go of your sixth sense, you try to reach the inner world, but as you think you reach it, you hear what sounds like rain before what feels like a barrier is erected, and you feel like you're barred from the place, you feel a strong sense of discontent pointed at you. For amoment you hear his voice.

"Ichigo, What is 'Zangetsu' to you? A toy?"

And, then, silence.

Silence seems to permeate the room even worse than it did when Inoue left. It seems like you've offended Zangetsu somehow. Sitting down in a meditative pose, you try to focus back on the inner world to meet him.

As you try to reach for it, you feel something blocking your way, like an insurmountable barrier.

You don't give a damn if there's a barrier there or not. That inner world is a part of you, and you're going in there no matter what.

With a fierce mental push you find yourself on the side of a skyscraper, in a sideways world. The sky above you is full of clouds that are down pouring.

At the 'top' of the building is Zangetsu, staring down at you as lightning crackles overhead.

"Ichigo"

You look up at him and nod your head. "Zangetsu. "I think there's been a misunderstanding here. I don't know what the hell you are, other than some sort of a magic sword. I mean, clearly more than that. But other than being some sort of representative stand-in for my weapon I'm not entirely sure who you are or why you're angry."

He holds up a sword in his left hand, it's your sword, Zangetsu. In the other, he holds a generic looking katana.

"Ichigo, in my right hand is a nameless blade, known as an Asauchi. It is a blade given to low ranking Shinigami who have not met their Zanpakuto. In my left is 'me.'"

He tosses you the blade in his right hand. "This should be sufficient enough for you."

A scowl crosses his face. "When a shinigami fights, it is alongside their zanpakuto as one supports the other. However, when you went to train, you had the option of visiting me. I do not condemn you for trying to improve yourself, but who knows you better than me?"

He shakes his head. "No, the insulting part is when you fought that hollow. Rather than rely on me, you instead merely used me a supporting tool, preferring to rely on your Quincy abilities.

"Considering after all you've heard about how important a Zanpakuto is to their Shinigami, can you not understand why I am displeased with you?"

Holding up your shikai he tosses it over the edge of the building. "I can not give you this blade."

As it seems to plummet, a white figure grabs it, appearing out of midair. As it lands, it looks like a bleached copy of you, clad in white clothes, white skin, but its eyes are black with yellow irises.

As you look on in shock, you turn to Zangetsu. "Hey, who the hell is this guy, I though only you and I were here?"

Your mirror image smiles sadistically. "Hey now, that's insulting, partner!" You try to focus on him, but the only thing you detect from him is your own overflowing spiritual energy.

Keeping an eye on your double, you look at Zangetsu.

"I'm sorry that you are pissed about me using my Quincy abilities, but they're as natural as breathing to me while you're a sword I barely know how to use. Yes, you're supposed to be my partner, but I fail to see how that means I'm not allowed to use any other advantage I might have. Especially when I'm trying to keep my friends from getting eaten and I'm getting my ass kicked!

"So fine, I'm a shitty partner. You were there when I spoke to Urahara right? Specifically to get training to use my Shinigami powers THAT I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. Because, damn it, I have a super-powerful sword I don't know how to use, and that's stupid."

Zangetsu nods his head. "If you truly mean what you say, take Zangetsu back without using any of your Quincy abilities. Your opponent is yourself."

Goddamn it? What the hell is it with everyone and having some sort of test for you lately? Your double smiles sadistically at you, waiting on an answer.

"Partner? Godamn it I don't want to fight you partner... or... me... WHATEVER! But if that's what it takes to get us square, you're goddamn right I'm going to do it..."

Your duplicate's grin grows bloodthirsty as he charges at you. You see where he plans to descent and step to the side. As the blade slams into the ground, your hand reaches out and grabs the hilt as both Zangetsu and your double stare at you.

"Maybe it was the truth, maybe it was just an excuse. But the truth is I don't know anything about you, Zangetsu, or this mirror image of me. You aren't just a tool, I get that now, but I don't know anything about you. Even if it's just a little bit, can you tell me about yourself?"

You lock eyes with the old man. "I want to know. How to borrow you power, how to fight alongside you."

Your attention shifts to your doppelganger. "Why there's another me, here, too. I can't say I'll do things perfectly, I might mess up and make mistakes, so if I do, please help me correct them."

Your duplicate sighs before letting go of the blade, scratching at the back of his head.

"Damn. Guess he can learn his lesson."

You stare at the blade in your hand before looking up at Zangetsu, who nods at you.

"Ichigo, I hate rain. It rains in here, too."

Zangetsu raises at hand to the sky, which seems to let a drop fall here and there.

"When you're moody, it becomes cloudy. When you're sad, the rain falls. I can't stand being all alone in an empty world while it downpours. So, so long as you keep that from happening, so long as we remain partners, I'll lend you whatever power you need."

Zangetsu and your doppelganger stare at you, silently asking if there's any questions you have for them.

Pointing at your doppelganger, who ask the both of them. "So, if you're Zangetsu, my sword, who is he?"

The copy's eyes seem to glow maliciously. "C'mon now, partner. Do you really think I'm going to answer that so easily?"

Zangetsu looks at you. "Ichigo, if you insist on this course of action, I cannot speak for the safety of you or your loved ones. He is a representative of a different part of your spiritual powers, but if you challenge him, I cannot interfere. He ahs more experience than you with your powers as he IS part of your powers."

You nod towards Zangetsu before looking at your duplicate. "Yeah, not today. Not if it could put those I care about in harm's way."

Your gray-scale duplicate nods his head. "Alright. But, Ichigo, do know that the day will come when you won't be able to put it off."

"Anything else, Ichigo?"

You look up at the clouds, wondering. " "So, when I'm just sort of doing stuff, are you aware of what's happening outside, or do you just get the emotional backlash in the form of weather?"

Your doppelganger snorts. "You're talking about the girl, right? Wondering if what you did was right?"

Zangetsu closes his eyes. "I cannot tell you, Ichigo. But I will tell you that I admire her courage to move forward despite the fact that she might be hurt in doing so."

He opens his eyes again and walks towards you, before putting a hand on your shoulder. "Ichigo, you need to move forward, too. You've been given a lot of information and advice, but now you need to decide what it is you want to do and why you want to do it.

"While you can learn from the past, you shouldn't let yourself drown in it."

Zangetsu's coat seems to engulf you and you find yourself sitting back in your room. Out of the corner of your eye, you see your calendar.

Getting up, you notice that it is early morning now, the dawn coming up out your window. Stretching your stiff back, you look at the calendar. It's Monday morning now.

You then notice the date there, two weeks away. The anniversary of your mother's death.

Looking at the clock, you notice you still have plenty of time to get ready for school. Getting ready early to avoid any awkwardness, you wait downstairs. Your father nods at you as he walks down, but doesn't do anything. When Yuzu and Karin come down, you surprise them with a hug.

At their reactions you can only give them a shrug. A few minutes later Inoue comes downstairs in her uniform and she smiles at you. Breakfast seems rather awkwardly tense at first but it soon passes. When you make your way to the door, she follows.

"Do you mind if I walk with you to school, Ichigo?"

You shake your head. "No, I don't mind."

At her smile, you think of something. "Hey Inoue, want to see if you keep up with me on the way to school?"

She nods her head. "Alright, but if I win you have you call me by my first name from now on, got it?"

Seconds later, the two of you are racing down the streets towards Karakura high school.

As you two make your way towards your school you're tied neck and neck with Inoue.

But, as you reach the last stretch, you notice that in front of you is a black cat, blocking your path. As you try to jump over it, you feel it tug on your pants leg and it sends you tripping face first into the ground. When you get back up, there's no sign of it and Inoue is waving at you from the school gates before she suddenly looks around for something.

After a few seconds she looks relieved and you hear her whisper "Looks like I lucked out, unlike dream me." before she looks up at you.

"Are you alright Ichigo? That looked like a nasty trip. If you want, I could not count this as a win."

Inoue is looking at you concernedly.

"Yeah, you won Orihime."

Hearing you say her first name, she smiles. "Yup, guess so. If you want to race again, just give me the word, Ichigo!"

As she cheers, you mind snaps back to what she said. "Now, what was this about a dream you, 'Hime?"

As you call her that, you see her face flush red as she begins stuttering. "W-well, you see I had I dream where I was racing you, and as I was about to win the boxing champion began to outrun us and then I knocked him out! Then dream me was the world boxing champion, but someone put a hit on her!"

As she embarrassedly retells her story, you two are walking to your classroom. When you open the door, you see Honsho staring murder at you. Tuning her out, you look around only to see a heavily bandaged Chad sitting at his desk, a parakeet in a cage on it.

Even without looking, you know there's something seriously wrong with that bird and Chad.

They both stink of a hollow's Reiatsu.


BLEACH QUEST IX END

TO BE CONTINUED