a/n: This took me a hell long time to write. I was getting a whole lot of writer's block. But, my beta wanted me to finish this immediately. So, please do not hate me for writing a semi-sucky chapter. I truly apologize. Anyway, this is the last chapter of the fic and I hope that you have enjoyed it in some way. My beta apologizes for her misspellings and typos. Enjoy!
My beta also said this turned out kinda IchiGrimmy. But, Moon-chan assures you that it is not.
Disclaimer: Moon-chan does not own Bleach, but she owns the made-up hollows in this fic.
To caress the rain
To reach the stars
To slit the throat
To say goodbye
Chapter Eight: The Hardest Things to Do
It was going to end like this.
Nothing more could be done about it. Ichigo Kurosaki knew exactly that. Not that he would definitely die in the process but just the fact that he would finish it with his bare hands was enough to conclude one's sentence. Even though he could survive, his irrational actions could lead him to eternal damnation from Soul Society. Not only that, but the very fact that he would appear to the hollows as himself was already a risk that was enough to send him back to hell. Yes, he had nothing to gain by doing such an extraordinary feat, no matter how heroic it might sound.
What was he doing there then if he had nothing to gain?
"Grimmjow," Ichigo said as he saw the steeple of the Hollow's castle. "You can leave now. I will do this by myself. Your bringing me here is already more than enough." He paused. "I can take it from here." He clenched his zanpaktou and began to walk towards the castle. Ichigo Kurosaki was determined to do this on his own. The arrancar should not be involved in his crazy endeavours.
"So, you're still full of yourself even after all of these years?" the 6th espada replied unmoved by the boy's selfless speech. "You honestly believe that carrying the burden all by yourself will make you even a greater hero or are you just plain stupid?" The young boy made no reply. Grimmjow continued. "Now listen, kid. When I say I'll come with you, I will not only join you in your freaky death wish but I'll also turn your stupid wish into reality. I did not go all this way for nothing just to back out. Remember this, kid. I swear on my damned soul that you will come back alive to and return to your chick. Now, shut up and let's get this over with. I'm beginning to sound like you."
"Fine," Ichigo finally replied. "It looks like there's no stopping you."
"But remember, kid, I'm not doing because I admire you or some homo stuff like that." He revealed his canines. "I just want to get even, brat. And maybe after I do that, I'm going to see if I've got stronger, but after that, you can rot in hell for all I care. Did you get my crap talk?"
"Even? What do you mean?" Ichigo did not hesitate to ask.
"Shut up. Let's go. The sooner we get there, the sooner we finish."
Within seconds, the unlikely heroes of soul society arrived a few feet away from the gates of the gigantic castle. There was a futile attempt to open the gates hoping that it would be easily, but then, not even the Great Yamamoto could possible open the gates by himself. The next attempt of the two-man army was a few head scratching and sand kicking, but after a few minutes of such an endeavour, they finally gave up and turned to another option, insulting.
Ichigo Kurosaki screamed at the top of his lungs words that would put Simon Cowell to shame and make Byakuya Kuchiki scream with anger. It barely paid off however, since only low level hollows came heard the boy. Though the original plan was to threaten the hollows to let them it, the shinigami and arrancar unintentionally killed all the hollows that appeared before them. So, finally after an hour of frying little insects, they decided that they should think of another way to get in. That is if they could think of another way in.
This is Ichigo Kurosaki and Grimmjow Jaggerjaques we're talking about, not Toshiro Hitsugiya.
Desperation was proportional with time. Eventually, the shinigami knew that he had no other choice but to hint a relationship the hollow leader. It was the only conceivable way for him to get inside the castle and destroy it from within. The tandem let the number of hollows pile up. In a considerably short period of time, the two were surrounded. And before the death blow from the hollows, Ichigo weaved an intention to meet the hollow leader. It was a half truth; therefore, a lie. So, it would not count as telling the world who he really is. It was risky, but he knew he had to do it.
"I have a message for Lionclaw-sama." Ichigo stated as he dropped his zanpaktou to the ground. "It is something that concerns the plans for taking over Soul Society." The boy knelt down before the hollows. "I assure you that is of top most priority that Lionclaw-sama must be informed immediately."
The hollows whispered amongst each other doubtful of the shinigami's intentions. Ichigo Kurosaki knew he had to be patient. Among these weak hollows is powerful one, mostly likely an adviser to the hollow leader. He needed patient, just this once. Thankfully, his efforts were not in vain. A hollow with a jaguar's head appeared before the boy. And surprisingly for Ichigo, he knew who the hollow was.
"Verhängnis von Schreck-sama," Ichigo said hiding his disgust for his respectfulness. Verhängnis von Schreck used to be third in power after Nightbringer and Lionclaw. Indeed, he was powerful and brilliant, a very worthy adviser. Though this hollow was a competent leader, he reminded Ichigo of Byakuya. And perhaps, Verhängni's only difference with Byakuya was that he treated Nightbriger with utmost respect. "I have a message for Lionclaw-sama."
"Why trust what you say, shinigami?" replied the said hollow. "After all, you maybe a spy sent by soul society to destroy us; you do realize that bringing an arrancar will not give you favour. If you have a message, tell it to me here and now. I will make sure I will deliver the message to Lionclaw. And knowing ours names do not count as being an ally." The hollow smirked believing that he got the better of the boy shinigami.
"But sir," Ichigo grimaced. He needed a good way to convince the hollow that he could be trusted. "This message is only for the ears of the Lionclaw, his advices and direct subordinates. The message is above top secret and of high priority. I was ordered to tell Lionclaw-sama directly."
"Why would I believe crap like that?" replied the hollow. "You are a waste my time. The next attack on Soul Society would be in three days. You have ten seconds to explain why I should not devour your soul and take you and your arrancar to Lionclaw. Start talking or accept your death, insect."
"But sir," Ichigo knew there was no other way to convince him but to mention his name. "I was sent here by Malificent Nightbringer." The boy knelt down as low as possible knowing that he had caught the attention of the hollow 'counterpart of Byakuya'. "I apologize leaving out such information. Nightbringer-sama has ordered me in his last breath never to mention his name unless necessary. The reasons I do not know. I deep apologize." Ichigo made a half-smile. He never knew he was good at acting.
"Under what order did he say?" the hollow replied pretending to be unsurprised with the mention of Nightbringer's name. Furthermore, the hollow knew that if what the boy was saying is true then he would know what Verhängnis would mean by 'under what order.' Yes, it would be fool proof. Only a messenger of Nightbringer would know what that meant. And Verhängnis von Schreck was once the most trusted messenger of Maleficent Nightbringer.
"Under what order?" the boy asked himself. He recalled all that he had done in his entire life. He searched for anything that was connected with his life as a hollow. Damn, he had no clue what he meant. He cursed himself for coming up with that crazy code. No, he didn't have time for that. He needed another option, but the option he had would be riskier. It would be too early for that. He needed to know what the hollow meant. He had no choice.
It's Sapphire Snow.
"What?" the boy heard a whisper in his head. "What do you mean by that? I don't have time to plan riddles."
"What do you mean play riddles?" the Verhängnis von Schreck mistook Ichigo's 'personal talk' with his actual reply. "I asked under what order did Maleficent Nightbringer say this 'important message' is, unless you really are a spy sent by Soul Society. This is the last time. Under what order did Nightbringer say that message was?"
Sapphire Snow; that is the order of your message.
"Isn't that a bit cheesy for a hollow order?" Ichigo Kurosaki asked his other self. "Are you sure you are not kidding with me, other self? Shouldn't it suppose to be like the 'Hades' Wrath' or at least something scary like that? I sound like fairy princess not a hollow dictator. You must have mistaken those words for Rukia's favourite Chappy the Rabbit stuff toy."
"Are you going to believe or not?" Ichigo's other self replied frustrated. "Remember, it's also your fault for calling it like that. Even in the height of lust for power you still manage to include your crappy lovesick obsessions. Now tell him that, otherwise we'd be dead before we even get sent back hell. On second thought, I prefer that over—"
"Sapphire Snow," The boy cut his other self just time to save his neck from being slashed by Verhängnis von Schreck. "I carry a message under an order of Sapphire Snow from Maleficent Nightbringer-sama to Lionclaw-sama. There. Satisfied?"
It was the only nightmare Ichigo Kurosaki had left; the fateful night more than fifty years ago.
The events of that night recurred frequently in his head. It wasn't as dreadful as the dreams that he was in hell, but the fact the he saw himself die every time in the sword of Rukia Kuchiki gave him the shivers down his spine. For him, it was like twilight just before night time, the prelude to hell. It was indeed a perfect one: to be sent to hell by the one who you risked your life for. It couldn't be better.
"But, you know me; you remembered me." She said teary eyed while clenching her sword.
"These are just memories to keep me fighting. I am no longer Ichigo. The Ichigo you seek no longer exists." The orange boy looked at the shinigami lieutenant still weeping. "For the love of God, Rukia, do not prolong my agony anymore! Seeing like you this hurts me like hell. Rukia, just freakin' kill me! Please Rukia! Damn it! You told me you'd keep your promise! I counted on that! Rukia, please! Let's get this over with! Get that sword, stab in the heart. It's that simple. Rukia, I would give anything and everything I have for any possible way. But this is the only way! Let's get this over with so that you can move on with your life. As soon as you kill me, as soon as it will be over."
"I can't, stupid." she shouted back. "If I could, I should have done that a moment ago."
"Listen Rukia," he calmed down. "If you kill me, I will find a way to soul society and look for you. I swear on the grave of my mother, I will look for a path in soul society and I will tell it to your face that 'I told you so.' Just kill me, okay? The hollow is coming back. I can feel him. Don't worry your butt off, okay?"
The path towards the Main Chamber Room was longer than what Ichigo Kurosaki remembered it to be. He followed Verhängnis von Schreck. Who would have expected that he even walked the same way as the Kuchiki noble? (Byakuya sneezed somewhere in Soul Society.) Ichigo took a glimpse of Grimmjow and signalled him to follow his lead. The boy planned that as soon as he and Grimmjow would enter the room, he would call out his hollow mask and hopefully make Lionclaw and the other hollows put their guard down. And hopefully, kill them in a single swift swipe. Ichigo gulped. He hoped that it would be easier than he expected it to be.
"I apologize for being distrustful, shinigami-san." The hollow said taking out his claws. He was distrustful of shinigami and the arrancar from the beginning. He knew it was better safe than sorry, Nightbringer-sama had told him that. Verhängnis knew that Nightbringer would understand. He was very considerate, even as ruthless hollow. Verhängnis von Schreck should kill these intruders before they do any major harm.
Because of Verhängnis von Schreck cautiousness, Ichigo Kurosaki was backed into corner and as he felt he had no other choice but to reveal his hollow identity and increase his chance of being sent to hell long before he could finish his mission. The boy smirked, (part of his newly found talent of acting of course). He summoned his dark reiatsu and materialized not only his hollow mask but his entire hollow body. There was no time to waste.
"Come on," Grimmjow smirked. It was his first time to see the shinigami in his full hollow transformation. "The leader is a lion. I'm a panther, the dude there's a jaguar, and the others are all sorts of beasts, and you're just hugely mutated lizard. Couldn't you be anything more fearsome?"
Ichigo Kurosaki, now Maleficent Nightbringer looked sharply at arrancar. There was no time to kid around.
"Hey, just asking." He replied. He paused. "I apologize, Nightbringer-sama." The teal-haired arrancar played along with the boy. He had deduced from Ichigo's acting he was most probably the Maleficent Nightbringer the hollows talk about. Grimmjow bowed as he asked for an apology. How long must he endure being under the Kurosaki? It was really getting annoying. "But what do you intend to do now, my lord, now that you have revealed your identity?"
The vizard made no reply but gave the arrancar a puzzled look. Ichigo then turned his attention to the surprised hollow. "Nightbringer," Verhängnis stuttered. He was certain that this weak shinigami was indeed Maleficent Nightbringer. "I apologize. I had no idea that you would be visiting us." The hollow bowed to show his reverence. "Follow me then. I shall take you to Lionclaw. He would be more than happy to receive such wonderful news. Quickly now,"
"We do not have petty talk like that, Verhängnis." Ichigo said. "Soul Society is sending two thirds of its army to Hueco Mundo to stop Lionclaw." The Kurosaki bit his lip. What he was doing felt like clear betrayal of Soul Society, but he knew he had only few options to save Soul Society. However, Hueco Mundo had a special place in him. And to be honest with himself, he had already called that wretch hole his third home.
Was he half hearted in destroying the hollows that plan to overthrow Soul Society?
"Nightbringer, we are here." Verhängnis said. "Let me enter first. I shall introduce you to the legion as soon as I explain to them the situation and your arrival." The hollow made a small bow, opened two gigantic doors, and entered the main hall of the castle. "It will only take a while, sir."
"You sound so certain that your plan would work." Grimmjow said as soon as the hollow disappeared. "Or is it that you plan to destroy Soul Society in the first place?" The shinigami did not answer. "Don't worry I won't stop you. I will just follow your lead." The arrancar grinned. It was even more interesting than what he expected.
"I don't know what I'm going to do now." The boy whispered.
Grimmjow Jaggerjacques scratched his head and frowned. "You don't know what you're going to do? Well, you better make up your mind 'coz any minute that Verhängnis guy is going to call you. So, you better decide." The boy did not respond. The sixth espada continued. "Do you want me put Soul Society and Hueco Mundo on a string over a pot of bowling lava and wait for you to decide which you want to rescue? I'm not your babysitter, kid. Now is not the time to get cold feet."
"I am honoured to present to the legion, His Greatness and Excellency, Maleficent Nightbringer." The doors opened. Verhängnis von Schreck stood as he stretched his arm to present the thought-to-be-dead Maleficent Nightbringer. The legion stood up and bowed in veneration except for Lionclaw, who sat with amusement in his eyes. This surprised the rest of the hollows.
"I never expected you to be alive," Lionclaw said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He stood up. He was still heavily wounded from his recent attack on the small shinigami team. "After being injured badly to protect that woman, I thought you would be dead. But I forgot. This is Maleficent Nightbringer we are talking about. There was no way he would die so easily. Isn't that right, Your Greatness?"
Ichigo Kurosaki did not respond. Verhängnis von Schreck looked puzzled with what the leader just said. "What do you mean protected a woman?" asked Verhängnis. "As in a woman shinigami? That is impossible. Nightbringer would never betray us. He has even told us that Soul Society is on its way to attack."
Ichigo Kurosaki clenched his fist. He had almost forgotten of the earlier incident. There was no chance now that the hollows would accept him. Well, at least things would be a bit easier for him to handle from thereon. He signalled Grimmjow to wait for his cue. The Kurosaki made eye contact with the hollow leader. The tension between them was clear between them. Lionclaw finally eased. The crowd relax.
And within a blink of an eye, Lionclaw extended his claw and attempted to slash is former superior. Ichigo Kurosaki responded twice as fast as the other hollow. He took out his zanpaktou and called forth his bankai. There was an exchange of attacks and they paused after a short while. The other hollows stood in disbelief as they saw their two leaders fighting against each other. Grimmjow watched in excitement. He was now very eager to play his part.
"So," the arrancar butted in. "Have you decided what you're going to do? Are you going to overthrow that dude there and become the new leader or are you going to save Soul Society?"
"You know what I'm going to do, Grimmjow."
The teal-haired shinigami grinned. He knew that even if the boy was Ichigo Kurosaki and he was Grimmjow Jaggerjaques, there was a low chance that they'd survive fighting eight vasto lordes and seven adjuchas. They wouldn't last long. After a many exchanges of death blows, a brilliant idea just struck the arrancar. A hero? That would sound really good. He never thought of himself being a hero... and die in the process. But is that he wanted himself, Grimmjow Jaggerjaques, to end?
To force the hollows into stay this room, create the strongest cero he could make, and let Ichigo Kurosaki just walk away as the hero? Could Grimmjow accept his eternal reverence to the shinigami? As out of character as it made sound, these were the thoughts that ran in the arrancar's head. Indeed, it was absurd as it sound. But, to finally be even with Ichigo Kurosaki, it was something that Grimmjow's unusual bushido dictated. And maybe, the shinigami might even owe him something in the end. Yes, it was the perfect way to end. How should he call it?
Ah, the grand finale.
"Ichigo Kurosaki, let me strike you a deal." The sixth espada said. "Correction, this is not a request. Let's just say I'm doing this to owe up for something I owe you. So," Grimmjow Jaggerjaques grabbed the young boy by the collar threw him as far as the espada could. There was slit hesitation in Grimmjow's part but, nevertheless, he was determined to pay back Ichigo. But, Ichigo Kurosaki managed to grab on to the door and stop himself. The boy was now cross and confused. What was the arrancar thinking? And Ichigo thinking that Grimmjow wanted to finish all the hollows himself was absurd. But then again, the espada might just want to test his power.
"Are you insane? This isn't the time to prove you are most powerful creature in the world." Ichigo clenched his sword. "This ain't a game, arrancar. This is life, death, and the future of Soul Society."
The arrancar chuckled. "Since when did that matter to me?" This time, Grimmjow Jaggerjaques directed a cero in the blond boy's direction. Ichigo went flying wall through wall through wall. As soon as he ran out of momentum, Ichigo flash stepped towards the main hall. But, just before he could enter the hall, the arrancar closed the door. Ichigo stood there for awhile vainfully trying to open the door. He banged the door, still useless. He winced. Damn, the hole in his abdomen was killing him.
"Just go, kid." Grimmjow said. "I may not be doing this for the sake of the world but, let me have fun. Kami-sama, I actually sound like you." He coughed. "Now, you have ten seconds to get out of here. I think your chick's waiting for you outside."
Grimmjow Jaggerjaques diverted his attention back to the remaining hollows. He would convert all his remaining reiatsu into cero. It was a suicide mission. It was his death. He wasn't going to die like the rest of the arrancar nor like a hollow, not even like a shinigami. He would die not as a criminal but as a hero, though a silent hero, but nevertheless a hero. It wasn't the death he wanted nor he deserve, still was cool in a way. It was the end of the great Grimmjow Jaggerjaques.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
The Thrirteen Squads of Soul Society stood outside the Grand castle of Hueco Mundo. It was a surprise for them to see the castle to blow up from the inside. They watched in awe as they saw a gigantic mushroom cloud form and blow up the castle. Rukia Kuchiki fell to her knees thinking that Ichigo Kurosaki was inside the palace. The boy took matter into his own hands again. And most probably the boy sacrificed himself for the sake of Soul Society.
"Ichigo, you're such an idiot." She murmured.
"I suppose we have no business here anymore. Ichigo Kurosaki has taken care of everything." The sixth squad captain said. "Let us leave."
The squad retreated to Soul Society as soon as they made sure there were no more hollows in the vicinity. They had nothing left to do after all. Everything was finished. Rukia Kuchiki scanned the empty desert uttering a prayer for Ichigo's soul. "So, it ends like this. This is when I have to finally give up on Ichigo." She wiped a tear and clasped her hands. She was about to leave for Soul Society.
"Taicho-sama," One of the shinigamis said. "A hollow is approaching the area. It appears to be very strong."
As anyone would expect, the life form was none other than he, Kurosaki Ichigo.
Rukia Kuchiki ran towards the being. She caught the man before he collapsed. A smile appeared over her face. "I am relieved that you are still alive. You don't know how much this means to me; seeing you alive that is." She cried heavily now.
"Crying doesn't really suit you, midget." The boy panted as he wiped a tear. "You should know. I did that for you to forgive me for following you earlier!" He shouted and winced again. "You should at least appreciate the effort I'm putting here."
"And here I am thinking nothing can move your world." Rukia smiled. She lifted his shoulders and supported his weight. They were on their way back to Soul Society
"Yeah, you're right." Ichigo replied. "Nothing can move my world, moreover change my world." He sighed. "But no matter how I look at it; no matter how I contradict it, the moment you came into my life, I saw everything differently. Now, I realize. You did not come into my life, you were meant to be there in the first place."
a/n: This is the end. I know the ending was kind of rushed. I apologize fpr that. (So, you can throw rotten tomatoes and pitchfork for all I care. You have the right!) The last parts were not the best. But the flow would go something like that. The epilogue will definitely be uploaded this month. Anyway, I already thought about my next fic after this. So, watch out for that. Yes, Grimmjow died. I love him. But, he had to die in my story. I'm happy that I finished another story.
I hope that all the people who alerted and added this story to their favourites review. I really want to hear from you regarding anything concerning the story. Thank you.
I would like to thank my beta for having patience reading my work. The reviewers, the people who added this to their favourites and those who added it to their alerts, thank you. Thank God for giving me creativity in writing it... and Tite Kubo for the characters and Bleach. And to you reader, thank you for taking your time reading such a fic.
Lots of love from the bottom of her heart,
Moon-chan
