What a couple months without an update. I feel terrible, so enjoy this new chapter of DWD. Oh, and be sure to check out my new poll.
Starrk and Lilinette stared in awe at the sight of someone else doing something Ichigo would do. Only Ichigo would give such a ridiculous bow to introduce himself.
"Well then, Cicero. I've been told to bring any living Arrancar level hollows back to Las Noches, so..." said Starrk.
"Is that where you're heroic friend is?!" Cicero suddenly said excitedly.
The duo's eyes went wide in surprise. "Yeah, I'm assuming you wanna meet him?"
"Oh, yes! So dearly so. There's nothing more I want than to meet my savior and serve him for as long as my unworthy life exists." Cicero spoke reverently as if he were speaking of a god.
"I wonder if Ichigo would be humbled or wierded out when he learns he has a worshipper." said Starrk.
"Knowing him, it'll probably be a big stroke to his ego." said Lilinette.
Cicero stood with his foot tapping against the sand anxiously. "Um, excuse me?" he asked, "But, can we hurry this along? I can't wait through this sand survey of yours to meet this Ichigo."
Starrk was ready to give five good reasons not to do so before he realized that none were present. If Ichigo did this, then more than likely Cicero was the only survivor.
"Though I couldn't agree more, I'm not sure Aizen would want me to just skip my duty." Starrk finally said after a long moment of thinking.
Cicero gave a disappointed huff and said, "Fine... Then just give me directions."
Starrk and Lilinette raised a brow in surprise. "What?"
"You heard me, just tell me where to go and I'll find him myself."
Starrk started to reconsider actually taking him back to Las Noches. But he finally sighed and said, "You can feel that collection of spiritual pressures, right?"
"Yes, of course. I'm assuming I'm gonig to have to head there and search for him?" Cicero said with a happy grin.
"You got it."
"Great!" he shouted before excitedly dashing off toward Las Noches.
The two sighed in relief that he was gone.
Meanwhile in Las Noches...
Sparks flew, the silence of the sand was broken by the sound of metal clinging against metal, and Las Noches shuddered under the soundwaves made by Ichigo's Zanpakuto. Both Dordoni and Lisa were pushed back by one powerful swing. Ichigo laughed while he moved his arm around trying to wake it up.
"C'mon people. I expected more from you, especially you, Lisa." he said pointing the tip of his sword at the latter.
"Hey, shut up!" Lisa shouted, "I'm still seeing double here." this reminded Ichigo that she was drunk a few momeents before.
"Oh, well. It'll be sad to have to cause such a disturbance in the World of the Living all alone." he said with sarcastic sorrow when he suddenly felt a piece of metal on his neck. He gasped and looked to see Lisa on the other side.
"Then I guess it's a good thing I'm coming with you." she said with a smile.
Ichigo smiled back, keeping it to himself that he let her do what she just did. Suddenly, Dordoni came flying back with all his speed and slammed his sword into Ichigo's. Before they he knew it, Noucozai came flying in from the other side. Ichigo caught her blade in between his fingers. Cirucci took advantage of his weakness and attacked from above.
She wore a arrogant smile that let him know she knew he couldn't escape. Then, just when her victory seemed inevitable, he was gone. Dordoni and Noucozai fell forward and cracked skulls, while Cirucci caught herself with her free hand. Ichigo howled in laughter, "That was hilarious!" he said, still laughing.
"Better watch out!" a voice came from behind. Ichigo jumped in the air just high enough to dodge Mosquedo. "Damn!"
Ichigo laughed and said, "Well, don't warn me next time!" then the all too familiar sound of a cero charging made Ichigo focus on Noucozai. He looked to the left and, sure enough, she stood with a red cero charged in her hand and it burst forth. Ichigo limboed to dodge the beam. Ichigo stood back up when it passed and he said, "Geez, Noucozai! I said one hit, not an attempted murder!"
"Sorry." Noucozai said with a childish blush.
All of his fraccion worn and tired, Ichigo had the feeling that the match was over. "Alright, then." he said, "Now that we're done here, it seems that Lisa is the only one coming with me on our Mayhem Mission." the Privoran panted from exhaustion and got on their feet. "Come on, back inside, time to rest up."
"Shut up." Cirucci said.
Ichigo rolled his eyes and giggled as he held the door open for the others. Lisa came last and stopped next to Ichigo. She gave him a kind smile, but stared at him with dagger eyes. "Ichigo," she said, sending goosebumps up his arms and making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, "Don't let me win next time, okay." then she went in, leaving a sweaty Ichigo at the door.
When he came back to his senses, he let the door slowly creak closed. Lisa sat in the over-sized chair while the Privoran retired to their rooms.
"I am imagining that it didn't go well for them?" Arturo asked with a smug look on his face.
"Lisa was the only one that actually passed the test."
"Even though you let me." Lisa pointed out.
"Yeeaaah." Ichigo said scratching the back of his head.
"No more denying it. You like me." Lisa said with an embarassed blush. "But I guess I can't deny feeling the same." she added, her face redder than before
Ichigo shot a look of surprise, delight, and embarassment all in one. Lisa giggled at him and looked away.
Noucozai and Arturo spectated from the couch. Noucozai seemed more interested in Lisa's ever-reddening face than what she was talking about. Arturo was prepared to remind them that he and Noucozai were mere feet away, but decided to embarass them some more.
"What exactly do you mean by 'like'?" Ichigo asked, moving closer to the chair.
"I think we both know, Ichigo." she said leaning toward him.
They continued to inch closer and closer until their faces were only a few inches away from each other. Arturo finally decided to stand up, despite his injuries, and say, "Alright you two, I've seen a lot of nightmarish things, but I can't stand to keep watching this. Go to your room or something!"
The almost kissing couple looked at him, exchaged glances and agreed that maybe they should proceed in privacy. Lisa took him to her room and closed the door. Ichigo blushed at what he was sure she had in mind. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew her face close to his. He looked deep into her eyes and saw longing desire that had been locked away for a long time. She could see a heartfelt passion for a certain helpless hollow from a year prior.
She leaned closer and their lips embraced one another. Lisa was caught by surprise when Ichigo lifted her leg with one hand, leaned her back and held her up with the other. After a need of breath was made present, the two parted and Lisa was able to stand back up. Ichigo laughed in embarassment of his surprise move.
Lisa put her hand between them and said, "Ichigo, you have to promise that this won't change anything." Ichigo had to think of exactly what that meant. "Promise that we won't treat each other like we're helpless on the field. That we won't try to keep each other from fighting. And most importantly, that we won't do something stupid."
"Like what? No protection?" Ichigo laughed.
Lisa facepalmed and said, "NO! Like... Like getting yourself killed, or something. Like dying to protect one of us, or me."
Ichigo was surprised, "I don't see how that's counted as stupid."
"If you let yourself die for me, then all you'll do... is break my heart." she said seriously with a tear welling in her eye. "I'd rather be dead than be the reason that you killed yourself."
Ichigo took her hand and embraced her. She burried her face in his chest and let a few tears soak into his coat. "Don't worry, Lisa. I won't do that if it makes you think like that. If anything, I'll get bored to death."
Lisa giggled. "Sorry, Ichigo." she said, "I accidentally imagined you doing that for me, and I imagine hating myself for it."
"Hmm... I'm just wondering when the bed comes into play." he joked again.
"YOU IDIOT!" she shouted, slamming her fist into the top of his head.
"Ooow!" he said rubbing the knot on his head.
"Well it's your fault for making that stupid joke!"
"I can't be serious about anything!" Ichigo whined, balled up and laying on his side on the floor.
The room fell silent for a few moments until the silence was broken when Lisa started cracking up over their petty argument. "Look at us, we just started this and we're already getting into fights."
Ichigo giggled along with her. But for some reason, she looked the same to him. He imagined this over and over, embarassingly enough, and every time, when they parted, she looked even more beautiful than ever. He pondered for a moment, but had no answer to the question. But that wasn't important right now, he was to busy being overjoyed that the both finally got their feelings out, even though they had been somewhat obvious for a while now.
Then a sudden knock on the door sent them in a scramble to straighten themselves out. "Ichigo." said a familiar voice.
"Come in." he said.
Ulquiorra opened the door and saw the dandelion sitting on the bed next to Lisa, "Ichigo, I have an update on our mission."
"Our Mayhem Mission?" Ichigo said excitedly.
"If you're referring to our mission to secure Orihime Inoue, then yes. I need you and anybody you need to accompany you to head to Karakura in three days. Your spirit pressure will be enough to attract the attention of the Soul Society." Ulquiorra said.
"Anything else." Lisa asked.
"I'll inform you of any other changes personally." Ulquiorra almost used a threatening tone to show her her place, but knew that Ichigo would less than appreciate it.
"Good, we don't need Fisher telling me what to do." Ichigo said with a hint of hatred at the mention of Grand.
"You dislike him?" he who cries asked.
"Yeah. I'm not sure why, though. He just seems so... familiar."
Ulquiorra thought about an explaination and said, "Do you think it's possible that you and him had a negative encounter before you became a hollow?"
"Maybe." Ichigo responded when another friendly face came to the door.
Szayel poked his head around the corner and said, "Hate to interrupt your... strategizing, but" he pulled a black haired hollow to view, "this idiot claims to be searching for who he describes as 'The Flame-headed God of Hueco Mundo', and just assumed he was talking about you, given the orange hair."
The hollow's eyes widened as he caught sight of Ichigo. "Oh, praise to the Great and Powerful Ichigo!" he yelled, falling to his knees and putting his hands together.
"Uh, okay." said Ichigo.
"Do you know this man?" Szayel asked Ichigo, who shook his head. "Well, he seems to know you."
"Oh, to be in the presence of such a powerful being... I AM NOT WORTHY!" the hollow shouted.
Ichigo snapped his fingers to get the hollow's attention, "Hey! Who are you, and how do you know me?"
The hollow looked up and said, "I'm so dearly sorry. My name is Cicero Tohis. Don't you remember? You saved my life last night."
Ichigo seemed even more confused than before, because he expected any hollow in Hueco Mundo the night prior to say the he ended their life. "Sorry, I don't remember you in particular."
"I would think you wouldn't, you seemed busy slaying so many hollows, including my worthless leader." Cicero said. "Do you mind that I consumed the hollows that you slayed?"
Ichigo raised a brow. "A little wierd, but whatever."
"Oh, thank you." Cicero looked up and then nervously around the room. "Now to another point. Would it be too much to ask if I could -ahem- join your little, uh... squadron?"
Ichigo sighed and thought on it. He already had quite a few already, and another would just make the need for rooms greater. "Possibly... if you can pass a... test."
"A test? Anything for this honor!" Cicero said bowing once more.
"You have to..." he glanced around the room, trying to come up with a test on-the-dot. "Hm... fight Lisa here."
Cicero looked over to Lisa, who seemed unhappy about Ichigo's choice in initiation. "But, sir... she's a woman."
Lisa was instantly at his throat. "What are you saying? That I won't be able to give you a decent challenge? Is that it?"
"NOOO!" Cicero croaked, "I'm just respectful like that."
"Lisa will tell me if she thinks you qualify." said Ichigo, "Now take it outside."
"Gladly!" Lisa said tossing Cicero out the door. Cicero stood and ran, and Lisa gave chase.
"Oh, the fun of being an Espada." said Ichigo, standing up. "Now, if we're through here, get out."
"Very well." said Ulquiorra, obediantly leaving in a flash.
Szayel was watching him leave when suddenly Ichigo started pushing him out the door. "Wait!" said Szayel, "I have so many more important things to tell you!"
"Too bad, it'll have to wait." Ichigo finished as he pushed him out the door. He slapped his hands together and was ready to walk to the bed when a shining piece of metal gently placed itself on his shoulder. Ichigo looked back and was surprised to see Arturo on the other end.
"I guess I'm going too, then." he said with a grin before falling back on to the couch.
Yeah, short chapter, I know.