We change, We wait.
Ichigo looked over at Kuraku, his Gripon Treinwrek was stronger and he could almost cut him now. Kuraku was panting and sweating he knew he was no match for Ichigo but he could at least put up a decent fight. He was the one who was gonna kill Yamamato and end the soul reapers time.
"You've gotten stronger but not strong enough," Ichigo said as he flash stepped and pointed Zangetsu at his neck. Ichigo bent down and helped Kuraku up, he smirked at him. No words needed to be spoken between the two, they both understood. It was Ichigo's destiny that made him stronger. Clap. Clap. Clap. Ichigo and Kuraku turned to see, Aizen standing in the doorway to there underground training room. They hadn't even noticed him observing them let alone standing there.
"Animaru, it seems you've grown overly strong on Kuraku." Aizen stated
"Yes Sir Aizen captain sir." Ichigo said bowing his head.
"Well since it seems you've gotten all warmed up, how about you battle."
Ichigo looked up and smiled, "It'd be my honor captain Aizen sir."
Aizen walked up to Ichigo, he didn't have to say anything to Kuraku, he knew when to excuse himself. Ichigo readied himself while putting Zangetsu in front of him, not knowing what type of tricks his captain may pull on him. He watched as Aizen pulled his Zanpakuto out of its sheath. Then he started to attack.
Meanwhile in the real world…
"Hey Rukia?" Renji said staring at the girl with ease.
"What is it Renji?" Rukia answered
Rukia was so torn, it was already the middle of the night and no sign of Ichigo. 'But he promised' she said to herself, and Ichigo always keeps his promises no matter what. She stared off into space atop his old high school. She didn't even notice Renji come up for she was too lost in her own thoughts of him.
"Well I was wondering, why you're out here so late?"
"Does it really matter?"
"Yes, my best friend shouldn't suffer alone." Renji said in a as a matter of fact voice.
Rukia quickly turned to him, anger clearly visible on her face.
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Awe- stricken Renji, quickly took his place by Rukia's side. She couldn't be that dumb as to think this new war wasn't affecting anybody but her. Hell it hurt him too to see strawberry on the opposite side of the battle field. He couldn't believe it, but he was forced to; after all he did try and kill his own father.
"You don't seriously think, that you're the only one in pain from this, do you Rukia. You weren't his only friend, he was mine too."
"You weren't acting like he was your friend when they accused him of treachery."
"What the hell else was I supposed to think huh?"
"What else Renji? You were supposed to think everything else."
"Everything else like what Rukia?"
"Like he was forced to do it, like he lost his memories, like he doesn't hate us?" She yelled her chest puffing with anger.
"Then why Rukia, tell me why he tried to kill his father, why he tried to kill you."
"He never tried to kill me."
"He threw you."
"HE SAVED ME."
They were nose to nose now, both adrenaline filled and wishing a hollow would come as of this very second so they could take their anger and frustration out on it. He looked at her then back down and decided to leave. It was the best thing to do right now.
"We'll talk later ay Roo?"
Rukia looked away from him, she could barely stand to be in his presence now.
"Yeah"
Rukia watched as Renji retreated back towards Urahara's shop flash stepping. She looked down at the tree she used to sit in during lunch; Reminiscing on how everything had been so peaceful then. The night was filled with silence and the stars up above shone brightly. The lights of the schools football field made it seem as if it were exposing it's self to the world. The school to her seemed more beautiful at night time then it ever did in the day. During the day it was forever noisy and irritating. Turning back around ,Rukia silently hoped to herself he would come here. This wasn't where they had meant last time but she hoped he could sense her there, so they could talk. Rukia closed her eyes letting the night breeze take her away to her thoughts of him until…
"I saved ya huh? Nice of you to acknowledge me."
Rukia's eyes shot opened, and her heart stopped. She turned around recognizing the voice but hoping it wasn't just her mind. There he was Kurosaki Ichigo in all his glory with a bandage around his arm. He must have been masking his rieatsu if he could sneak up on her like that. Rukia smiled before speaking…
"You came!"
"Yeah I remembered that a Kurosaki always keeps his promises."
"Your dad?"
"Yeah."
Ichigo looked past her at the scenery that surrounded them. He couldn't say he exactly remembered this place, but then again he couldn't say he had fully forgotten it either. There was something about it. It was as if he knew he spent half of his time here during the day. Ichigo couldn't help but wonder why she chose here of all places. Was it important to him, to them. He didn't know but he asked.
"Why here?"
"It's our school."
She watched as he whispered the word school to himself before he started walking around it's roof top. She noticed him smile and stop. Ichigo walked around admiring the view from the fence until a vision flashed in front of him. He smiled as he watched it play over in his head.
They were upon this very roof, in this very spot. He sat seated beside her right in front of the fence which was in full view of the others eating lunch. He was dumbly touching his forehead. He listened to himself speak…
"Dude… There's not even a trace of that burn left." Ichigo watched Rukia answer rather arrogantly.
"Surprised? Well I did have the best grades in my Kido class. Healing that wound was easy."
"Grades? What like a reaper school?"
"Hmm… Something like that. Um by the way Ichigo, how do I drink this?"
"Huh? Just poke the straw in it."
"Straw?"
Ichigo opened his eyes and turned to Rukia with a smirk on his face…
"We used to eat up here."
"Yup," Answered Rukia. "We did."
"You would teach me things about soul society while no one was around, and I would always poke a hole in your juice box."
Rukia blushed if only he knew how perverted that sounded, he would blush too.
"Yeah."
Rukia suddenly noticed that Ichigo's arm was bandaged up meanwhile Ichigo noted to himself that her facial expression change.
"If I ask you what's wrong you're not going to chew me out like you did that Renji guy are you?"
Rukia giggled to herself before answering him.
"No Ichigo, I was just wondering what happened to your arm?"
"Oh," Ichigo said diverting his eye's from her. "I had a spar with Captain Aizen."
Ichigo blanked out as he began to remember the spar.
Ichigo watched as Aizen pulled his Zanpakuto out of its sheath. Then he started to attack. Aizen quickly approached Ichigo releasing his Zanpakuto Kyoka Suigetsu. Aizen's movements were smooth and calm while his were a little more on the rough sides. He threw Tensho's after Tensho's but they were all easily deflected.
Suddenly Aizen disappeared from Ichigo's view, before reappearing and almost cutting his head off. Ichigo quickly block with Zangetsu, he was almost of no use in this form, he had to regain his Bankai and maybe then he could match up with him just a bit.
Ichigo slashed towards him but it was blocked just as Aizen grabbed his arm and threw him into the nearest pillar. "You are Weak." he heard Aizen say to him. "And you are weak. Because you don't know what to fight for." This seriously pissed Ichigo off, he could handle being called carrot top, strawberry and even an orange but weak, that was enough to push him over the edge.
"I am not weak." Ichigo said as his rieatsu began to flare around him. It was like a blue gas began to seap from his body that glowed beautifully around the white sand. Ichigo closed his eye's liking the feeling of this new power, he wasn't prepared for what happened next.
"Then I guess your ready."
Ichigo opened his eye's to find he was in a world that was raining and consisted of all blue buildings. Where am I he asked himself, until he heard the voice again and turned to face it.
"Don't tell me, you've forgotten your home Ichigo"
"Who are you?" Ichigo asked looking at the man before him.
"You know my name so why aren't you calling out to me?"
"Zan-Zangetsu?" Ichigo stuttered.
"Yes."
"But you've never answered me before, why now?"
"Because you are living by the weak."
"I- I don't understand."
"Tell me how could you have forgotten the very one who helped you become strong?"
"I have not, Captain Aizen he…" Ichigo tried to get out but was rudely cut off.
"No, he is not the one but she."
"She? You mean Rukia?"
"Yes, tell me have you forgotten that it was her who you obtained me for, her who you obtained Bankai for, her who keeps it from raining?"
"I" Ichigo stuttered but couldn't get the words out.
"Only by her can you fully obtain the power you need, but only by me can you get your memories back."
"What ? Please give them back."
"No, you are not ready"
"I am, I'm ready to face the truth?"
"How dare you." Zangetsu said raising his voice, which he never did.
"How dare you try and lie to me, I am part of you, so I now what you feel. How can you be ready when you fear, how can you be ready when you cannot trust her."
"I can trust her."
"Then do so."
"I can not fear the truth." Ichigo yelled
"Then do so."
Ichigo's grip tightened on his Zanpakuto as he heard the man speak to him again.
"He's coming at us Ichigo."
"I see." Ichigo answered, no fear in his heart
"Tell me Ichigo do you still trust me?"
"With all my heart!"
Zangetsu could tell he meant it. Ichigo watched as he began to fade away slowly before speaking to him once more.
"Then call out my name, own this piece of you and fight with no fear. Remember we hate the rain Ichigo, reacquaint with her and make it stop."
"Yes Zangetsu" Ichigo answered then he faded and suddenly Ichigo was back in Hueco Mundo.
Ichigo watched as Aizen began flash stepping to him, but Ichigo stood there, feet planted firmly on the ground. He held Zangetsu above his arm letting it howl out with the want of battle before resting it straight ahead of him, pointing out. Then he said Bankai.
Then the rest was history. Ichigo's Bankai form became too much for Aizen until he too had to release his own Bankai. Ichigo was now able to keep up with him and was slightly faster. But in the end Ichigo still lost though he did leave Aizen quite wounded. "You lost only because you know not what you're fighting for." Ichigo remembered him saying. He had been extremely proud of himself. He hadn't even noticed his arm was severely injured…
Ichigo opened his eyes and noticed a very, seriously pissed off midget.
"Ichigo," Rukia said very angrily. "I've been calling you for the last past five minutes."
Ichigo rubbed his head and laughed at that. "Sorry I kinda spaced out."
"I noticed," Rukia said smirking, before she grabbed his hand and began pulling him along. "Come on," She said. "I want to show you something."
"Hai" Ichigo said but stopped himself from being dragged while disconnecting his hands from her. Before he heard the very last thing he wanted to hear appear in his conscious.
"You shouldn't follow her you know."
"Shut up Doubutsu."
"It could be a trap."
"She would never."
"How would you know? You've known her for a week, and you already think she's your soul mate."
"Shut up, I know her from my dreams." Ichigo said trying to get rid of it's scratchy voice.
"You mean like the one you had last night, where she stabbed you through the heart with her Zanpakuto."
"No, the others were different."
"You mean the implanted ones, hmm, your weaker then I thought."
"I am not weak."
"Then why are you letting this pathetic girl into your heart."
"She was already there." Ichigo yelled.
"I see... Well then I must kill her."
"You will not lay one hand on her."
"I WIIL DO AS I SEE FIT."
"Just leave."
"And who are you to command me, such a feeble thing as yourself."
"The one who controls you."
"If you think it was hell holding your Hollow back, just think I'm 100 times stronger."
"So am I."
"I will escape here, and I will kill her, but for now I am the rabbit, and you are the fox."
"If that is true then leave."
"As you so wish… My King."
Ichigo opened his eye's to see Rukia's not terrified but saddened. Rukia had been hurt by the fact that he had jerked his hand from hers. For some reason she wanted him to hold it. But besides that she wanted to know who was this she that was already there, that he had blurted out of nowhere, and where was she?
"Who was already there?"
"No one" Ichigo said turning his head from her.
"Ichigo, I know it may be a little hard right now but, please, please don't lie to me."
Ichigo turned to look at her, he could see, she was hurt by his answer, and the last thing he ever wanted to do for some reason was to hurt her.
"Fine," Ichigo said to himself more to her.
"Ok" Rukia said. "I'm not gonna ask you what just happened because I can tell that you don't wanna talk about it, you don't need to tell me everything right now. Just know that I'm here if you need me."
Ichigo looked over at her and smiled, he seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. He didn't know what this tingling sensation in his heart was, but he liked it and he only got that feeling around her.
"Thanks" Ichigo said.
"Now come on." Rukia said motioning him to follow her.
Ichigo began to follow her until, he began to think of all the things that were said between, him, Zangetsu, and Doubutsu. He still didn't trust her yet and that's why he stopped. This here was the final decision of disconnecting himself from her, which would make his life so much easier, or following her into his forgotten life. Ichigo ran through his heart and mind trying to find the answer as he closed his eyes.
"You shouldn't follow her you know."
"Yes, tell me have you forgotten that it was her who you obtained me, her who you obtained Bankai for, her who keeps it from raining?"
"You mean like the one you had last night, where she stabbed you through the heart with her Zanpakuto."
"Only by her can you fully obtain the power you need, but only by me can you get your memories back."
"Then why are you letting this pathetic girl into your heart."
"How dare you try and lie to me, I am part of you, so I now what you feel. How can you be ready when you fear, how can you be ready when you cannot trust her."
"I will escape here, and I will kill her, but for now I am the rabbit, and you are the fox."
"Then call out my name, own this piece of you and fight with no fear. Remember we hate the rain Ichigo, reacquaint with her and make it stop."
Ichigo's eyes opened he knew what he had to do. He looked over at Rukia who once again had a look of confusion on her face.
"I'm sorry Rukia, but I can't follow you."
"What, why?" Rukia answered, her heart pounding with confusion.
"Before we go anywhere else, before I get in deeper then I should; I need you to be honest with me."
"Ichigo?"
"Don't lie please." Ichigo pleaded.
"Ok Ichigo, what is it?" Rukia asked she answered breaking on the inside a little she knew that if she didn't answer this question honestly or if he even thought she was lying, she would lose him forever and that was enough to kill her.
Rukia watched as Ichigo looked her directly in the eyes like he was searching her soul as he began to speak.
"Rukia, if I follow you right now, If I listen to and take in everything you tell me whole heartedly; if I believe you, please tell me that none of it will be a lie, that you won't set me up.
"Ichigo, I don't understand what your asking."
"I'm asking Rukia, I'm asking if I can put my trust and faith in you."
Rukia smiled at him and her eye's brightened, she didn't need a whole sentence to answer this question she just needed one word.
"Yes."
Ichigo searched her eyes for any sense of doubt, but he could find none whatsoever. He returned her smile and Rukia swore she could see them lighten again. But then she realized something she had already lied once and she needed to tell him the truth.
"Ichigo?"
"Yeah?" he answered
"If your not going to lie to me then I'm not going to lie to you." Rukia stated. She watched as he became a little confused.
"We already agreed to that."
"I know but I've lied once and only once to you." Rukia feared the worst but she didn't get the worst he just stood there prepared to take what she threw at him. He had matured.
A lot.
"Just tell me Rukia, what was it about?"
Rukia could hear a hint of hurt in his voice but she knew he wouldn't think of it as that much of a big deal, when he heard the lie.
"It was when you asked me, exactly what we were before you left."
"You lied about that? That's it?"
"Yeah, that's it."
"Well?" Ichigo asked wanting to hear about their relationship."
"Well What?"
"Well if we weren't nakama… then what were we?"
Rukia blushed before turning her head from him.
"I'm not sure?"
"What? How can you not be sure?"
"Well we never got to talk about what we were. You left right after we…." Rukia dragged on.
"We What?"
Rukia blushed again as she answered, "Right after we kissed." Rukia watched as Ichigo turned his head away and blushed too. Rukia couldn't help but laugh.
"Strawberry, your turning strawberry" (As in Violet your turning violet- Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory)
"Ha, ha very funny, midget"
Rukia stopped laughing then.
"What did you say?"
"Oh nothing, now I thought you were supposed to be taking me some place." Ichigo said.
"Yeah are you coming this time?" She said smirking at him
"Yes ma'am"
"Well come on it's this way." Rukia tried to walk away but was surprised when a hand grabbed hers and entwined their fingers together. Rukia blushed starring at their fingers, she had been waiting for this and god did their hands fit perfectly together.
"Well come on," Ichigo said. "Lead the way!"
Rukia smiled and whispered to herself "I've been waiting, and you've been changing Ichigo for the better good though." Rukia didn't realize he had heard until he answered as they walked down into the school.
"Well Rukia," he said. "We Change, We Wait."
AUTHORS NOTE: I KNOW I KNOW IT'S ALMOST BEEN LIKE A YEAR SINCE I UPDATED I DESERVE TO LOSE ALL MY FANS LOL BUT PLEASE JUST TAKE A MINUTE OF YOUR TIME AND REVIEW IM GOONA PUT UP A CHAP LIKE EVRY MONTH NOW. LOL THANKS
