Chapter 9
They weren't fast enough. By the time they reached the gate back to the living world, word had already reached the guards. Ichigo and Toshiro slammed to a halt and stared at the guard preventing them from passing.
"Shit." Ichigo said quietly. "Toshiro, can you open the gate?"
Teal eyes were calmly observing those who were determined to stop them. "It is possible."
'There is an easier way…' a taunting voice drifted through Ichigo's thoughts.
The orange haired teen went still, which didn't go unnoticed by Toshiro. 'You can get us out of here?' Doubt filled his words.
'Possible. Do you trust me?'
"Not particularly, but if it will avoid bloodshed…'
Ichigo blinked back into focus and looked down at the white haired teen who was looking at him out of the corner of his eye in concern, one hand on the hilt of his zanpakuto.
"Toshiro, do you trust me?" Teal eyes widened slightly but then his face hardened and he nodded once. Ichigo felt his hollow take control of his right arm and knew black was encroaching on his right eye.
Toshiro's eyes widened even further, yet he didn't move from his spot beside Ichigo. Ichigo watched his right arm come up and seemed to unzip the air in front of them.
"Captain!" Toshiro's head turned to take in the confused and slightly panicked expression on his former Lieutenant. "What…?" her eyes were wide as she took in Ichigo's face. One eye was black and gold and held the glint of madness, while the other was warm brown and held the fire and determination she remembered. "Captain, get away from there!"
Toshiro turned away from her. "I am no longer a captain, Matsumoto." His voice was cold.
"Wha-?" Her hand strayed to the hilt of her zanpakuto.
He looked over his shoulder at her and she could feel the emotion looked within his teal eyes. "I am going to kill that bastard, Ichimaru. Take care of yourself." With that he followed Ichigo quickly into the void, leaving Matsumoto to fall to her knees in shock.
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Renji, Rukia, Urahara and Isshin rushed out the door of Urahara's shop when they felt Ichigo's presence. They stared in shock when they took in Ichigo's face. Half of it was twisted into a smug smirk, while the other half was scowling darkly. The split face only lasted a few seconds before Ichigo shook his head and the dark scowl overtook his entire face. They were further surprised when Toshiro stepped from behind Ichigo.
"I thought you had a plan!" he glared at the taller teen.
"Plan? When do I ever have a plan? Besides I thought he knew what he was doing…" he muttered as he tapped the side of his head.
Toshiro just shook his head and stalked towards the shop. Renji and Rukia were the only ones that still looked shocked.
"Captain? They sent you? I really didn't think it was going to go that well." Renji stated.
Toshiro glared at him. "Do I have a captain's haori? I am no longer a captain, and no they were not happy with our plans."
Renji blinked in shock. "Oh."
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Ichigo leaned against one of the walls in his darkened room and sighed. Finally alone with some peace and quiet. He could vaguely hear his sisters and Rukia getting ready for bed down the hall.
'Not completely alone.' Reminded a voice in his head.
Ichigo growled half-heartedly but couldn't drudge up any real annoyance. 'No never completely alone.'
'It's a good thing, to not be alone.' Ichigo raised his head slightly as he heard the wistful tone to his hollow's voice.
He found himself nodding. 'You're right.'
'Hey king,' Ichigo buried his head in his arms that were wrapped around his drawn up knees.
'Hmm?'
'You still upset about that girl?' The voice echoing in his head was soft.
Laughing brown eyes danced in front of his face and he could almost hear her excited cries of 'Kurasaki-kun!' or her many air headed explanations. She used to have such innocence, always thinking the best of everyone. And then, that bastard twisted her thoughts and made her believe in his illusions.
'Yeah, I guess I always will be.'
There was silence, as his hollow seemed to mull over that thought. 'We gonna go kill the rest of the ones responsible, right?'
Ichigo felt a slightly feral smirk cross his face. 'When we get done, there won't even be dust left…'
'That's good.'
'Hey, what should I call you? Now that we're on talking terms and all that. I mean, you call me king…but I ain't going to call you 'horse' so…'
'A name?' His hollow sounded confused and slightly dazed. 'I don't know…'
Ichigo felt himself falling asleep. 'Don't worry so much about it…we'll figure out something.'
'Hey, you planning on sleeping on the floor?'
Ichigo eyed his bed and decided it wasn't worth the effort. 'Don't think I can get up…'
"Let me help.' His hollow took control as Ichigo drifted off to sleep. He stood and stretched the kinks out of his back and shoulders. He padded softly across the room and slumped into bed. Stretching one hand out to watch the moonlight play against his skin he murmured. "A name?"
His head turned as the door opened softly. He watched impassively as Rukia slipped inside. She came up short when she saw his black and gold eyes.
"Ichigo?"
He shook his head softly. "He's asleep." She stepped a bit closer, studying his face.
"I won't hurt you, King wouldn't like that." He reassured as he stretched his arms above his head.
"King?" She asked as she took another step towards the bed. She was now within reaching distance.
He nodded and stared at his hands. "Mmmhmm. And I wouldn't want him mad at me now that he's finally letting me out every once in a while."
Rukia nodded in understanding. "Well then I'll just go…" As she turned he reached out and grabbed her wrist. It was a soft grip, one she could have pulled out of if she wished. "What?"
"Stay." He looked slightly confused at his own request.
Brows knotted in confusion, she just stared at him.
"He would want you to stay." He said softly as he pulled her towards the bed. She followed her arm without protest and climbed into the bed next to him. Familiar arms wrapped around her and she buried her head in a familiar chest. He even smelled the same.
But it was a stranger's voice that said sleepily, "He really loves you, ya know that? He doesn't even really know it himself yet… the idiot." She felt him relax into sleep as she contemplated his last words.
AN: hm there was something I was supposed to tell you guys…cant remember. But in a week I'll be going on vacation for a month, sans computer/internet. Hopefully I'll post one more chapter before I go…
