Two Hearts, New Soul: Relevant Battle in the Graveyard
Shikamaru had learned a lot by befriending Tasuki, Ichigo's childhood friend as he continued to keep an eye on the new soul reaper. He mostly thought this mission was a drag, but it had it's perks such as keeping him from listening to Hiyori, watching Ichigo take out Hollows with a oversized butter knife, and fixing things so that Ichigo ended up with a pervy mod soul.
"Wow this hill is so steep." Yuzu commented. "Hey Karin is this hill always this tough to climb?"
"What are you talking about? This is nothing." Karin rolled her eyes at her sister.
"Do your best Yuzu!" The girls' dad yelled from behind them. "Hey look at Daddy! He's climbing this hill on his hands!"
"Just ignore him Yuzu. Encourage people like him and they never stop." Karin told her sister.
"Look out Yuzu!" The third girl with them yelled at the blonde.
"My Daddy slide attack says this way to the top!"
"And I say this way to the bottom!" Karin yelled at him as she kicked him back to the bottom of the hill. "Now we can walk in peace and quiet for a while."
"Man it's hot. Even for the middle of June this is strange." Ichigo commented.
'That day was also June 17, but it was completely different.' Ichigo thought thinking about his mother's death.
"You okay Ichigo?" The third girl was right in his face.
"Yeah why wouldn't I be, Rika?" Ichigo half way smiled at the girl.
"Hey there's someone up there already." Karin pointed out.
"Wow she must have gotten up pretty early to beat us to the top." Yuzu commented.
"Yeah but she looks too happy to be visiting a grave." Karin added.
"Hey Ichigo she's waving like she knows you." Yuzu pointed to the girl. "Or maybe she's waving to both you and Rika."
"No way! I never seen her before in my life!" Ichigo yelled as he shook his head.
"Isn't that Rukia Kuchiki from our class, Ichigo?" Rika asked as she shielded her eyes to look up at the waving girl.
"Nope that can't possibly be her Rika. Maybe you need to get your eyes checked." Ichigo told her as he continued to shake his head.
"If you're going to lie do it when I'm not around Ichigo." Ichigo turned around to find Shikamaru standing behind him yawning.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Ichigo asked him.
"I came to visit an old friend." Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders, "Oh yeah it's June 17th isn't it, but that doesn't explain why Rukia's here. Are you two like going out or something?"
"No way! Why would you think that Shikamaru?!" Ichigo yelled at him as he kicked him.
"An answer like that just means you are in denial of liking that girl, Bro." Karin told him as Rika laughed.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Ichigo glared at her.
"Whatever, how about Rika and I take your sisters up the rest of the way so you can talk to Rukia." Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders again as Rika nodded her head in agreement, "Come on Karin, Yuzu."
"Hey wait!" Ichigo yelled after them as Rukia started towards him.
"What the hell are you doing here following me around, Rukia?" Ichigo asked.
"I thought that was obvious I'm here just in case a Hollow shows up. We both know you can't handle it yourself." Rukia answered him.
"What a way to keep a low profile in front of my family. Why were you waving at me like that anyway?"
"Well I guess I over did it. I can understand Rika being here, but why is Shikamaru here?" Rukia asked, "Anyway Ichigo you told me someone kill your mother right?"
"Yeah what about it?" Ichigo cocked an eyebrow at her.
"You told me you could see spirits at a young age. Ichigo, your mother could she have been killed by a hollow?" Rukia gave him her theory. "It's possible that a hollow sensed your reiatsu and could have gotten her instead of you."
"Just shut up! Why is it always about Hollows with you! There was no freakin' hollow there that day. You have no idea the pain I have to live with every single day." Ichigo yelled at her, "So sorry to disprove your little theory, but no hollow is to blame. I am." Ichigo told her as he ran passed her.
"Ichigo wait!" Rukia called out to him as he ran away.
Rukia sat looking out on the city thinking about what Ichigo told her, "Ichigo killed his mother…no that's can't be right, but still I can't believe I said that without thinking."
"You can be a bit rough." She looked up to find Shikamaru joining her. "But there's more to Ichigo's story than what he told you. Ichigo blames himself for his mother's death. I didn't really know him yet, but from what Tasuki and Rika told me Ichigo used to be happy until she died. I know how he feels."
Rukia looked over to asked him what he meant by that but he was gone. Suddenly her bag unzipped as a stuff lion paw popped out.
"Hey Rukia! You who!"
"Kon what are you doing? I told you to stay in there till I said you could come out." Rukia scolded him.
"Give me a break Rukia. I could hardly breath in there. I need oxygen stat! So when are we going home it's boring here." Kon whined.
"I told you my duty is to stay as close to Ichigo as I can, so that I can help him if a Hollow shows up." Rukia told him.
"Geez Rukia, Ichigo is right you are like a broken record, Hollow this Hollow that." Kon whined, "You need to get out more and get some new friends. I know how about we…"
"Be quiet Kon." Rukia turned around to the sound of something rustling in the leaves.
"What is that?" Kon asked her.
"Is that Shikamaru?" Rukia mutter as she walked towards the noise. "No it's you."
"Well what good luck I'm having today. So good to see you comrade." The soul reaper smirked as he looked down at Rukia. "I hate to have been the one they sent, but things in the Soul Society have been rather strange lately as has this mission."
Kon gasped from his hiding spot in the grass, "A Soul Reaper, not good! I've gotta go get Ichigo!"
"What type of mission are you on, Sasuke Uchiha." Rukia asked him.
"Oh I think you already know Rukia Kuchiki." Sasuke frowned at the girl.
Ichigo stood by himself just staring at the trees moving in the breeze. 'It was raining that day and at the time I didn't know what I was seeing was spirits. Dad always told me that my name mean number one protector or one who protects. I just wanted to protect my mom, my sisters, and Rika back then, but I knew I need to protect that girl from going into the river that day. Little did I know that my mother would die protecting me from going into the river? I just kept think how was I going to explain this to Karin and Yuzu and Dad after all she was the center of our world. The heart of our family and I had cut it out.'
Karin stood in front of their mother's grave praying. Next to her sat Yuzu who was crying. "Hey you can't keep bursting into tears every time we come here after all we are 11 now." Karin pointed out.
"I know but I miss her so much." Yuzu sniffled. "And this place makes me so sad."
"Don't worry Yuzu! Daddy will cheer you up!" Karin turned around to find that their father had finally made it up the hill.
Rukia bit her lip as she stared Sasuke in the eyes as Urahara's words rang in her head.
"You can't hope to hide it forever Miss Kuchiki."
"Don't worry I'm not here to take you back I just need you to answer a few questions that's all Rukia." Sasuke informed her.
"Oh you and questions!" Rukia huffed.
"Ichigo! Ichigo where are you? Rukia's in trouble!" Kon yelled as he ran around only to find himself falling off a ledge. "Uh-Oh this can't be good."
Kon fell only to land right on Ichigo's back. "I am really not in the mood for you right now, Kon!" Ichigo told the stuffed lion as he pulled him off of his back.
"Rukia's in trouble!" Kon yelled at him.
"Everyone back home just wants to know why you haven't returned from your month long mission." Sasuke shrugged.
"I'm still here because the hollows keep coming." Rukia huffed at him.
"Oh and I suppose you're dress like a high school student to blend in right?" Sasuke asked.
"Hey! I'll wear whatever I want to!" Rukia growled at him.
"Oh I don't mind it after all it looks like our little princess of Rukongai is finally growing up into a woman." Sasuke laughed.
"What the hell is that suppose to mean Uchiha?!" Rukia questioned him.
"Oh I get it that boy with the orange hair you like him right?" Sasuke teased her.
"That's none of you business!" Rukia yelled at him, "Shut your mouth or I'll shut it for you!"
"You should have just gone along with it Rukia otherwise I will have to drag you back with me." Sasuke sighed.
"So that's it huh?" Rukia frowned, "Well Sasuke Uchiha, I have no intention of leaving here till my mission is fully done."
"Is that so? Then you leave me no choice, Rukia Kuchiki." Sasuke sighed again as he drew his sword.
"Rukia!" The two turned to find Ichigo and Kon running towards him.
"Well if it isn't carrot top." Sasuke muttered.
"Who the hell is this Kon?" Ichigo asked the lion.
"Am I really visible to you?" Sasuke asked.
"You lousy fuzz ball you said Rukia was in trouble!" Ichigo yelled at the lion.
"Let me ask you this what do you do?" Sasuke asked him.
"Don't tell him anything Ichigo!" Rukia yelled at him.
"I'm a substitute soul reaper!" Ichigo yelled at Sasuke.
"A soul reaper?! Oh Rukia you didn't!" Sasuke's eyes widen as he looked back and forth between Ichigo and Rukia. "You know better than to give you powers away it's a serious crime. I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you now, Ichigo was it?"
"What?! You can't be serious!" Ichigo asked as he dodged Sasuke's sword. "Cough it up now Kon!"
Ichigo popped out of his body just in time to push Sasuke back, "I'm sorry but I don't plan on letting you kill me here. Get out of the way Kon."
"So be it." Sasuke told him as he charged.
Karin suddenly jumped up from her spot in front of her mother's grave feeling such an evil spiritual pressure. "Yuzu where's dad?"
"I think he left to go to the bathroom." Yuzu answer her sister, "What's wrong Karin?"
"Something's here and dad's not here when we really need him!" Karin yelled at her as she put her hand in front of her. "Yuzu run away go find Ichigo or Dad!"
"Man he's strong." Kon commented as Ichigo and Sasuke fight.
"This is nothing Sasuke is just toying with Ichigo." Rukia inform Kon. "He already figured out that Ichigo has no real tactics in fighting."
Sasuke suddenly put his sword away, "I'm sorry but we will have to finish this later Ichigo."
About that time Rukia's soul pager went off, "Ichigo it's a Hollow and it's near by! Come look at this the Hollow is huge."
"It's a Menos level. Way to strong for you fake." Sasuke commented.
"My family is in danger so just keep out of my way." Ichigo glared at Sasuke.
"Oh no Karin what is it?" Yuzu asked her sister as she fell to the ground.
"Get out of here Yuzu." Karin yelled as Yuzu knelt down next to her.
Suddenly Ichigo's friend, Shikamaru appeared between the girls and the monster that was attacking them.
"Sorry but I'm not Ichigo." Shikamaru smirked at the girls.
"Yuzu be lucky you can't see this thing so take Karin and get out of here." Rika was also there.
"Okay, but what about you?" Yuzu asked her.
"Don't worry about us." Rika told her as Shikamaru stared at the Hollow.
Shikamaru sighed, as he looked straight at the hollow. "It's been awhile hasn't it?"
"That guy back there said that what you did was a serious crime." Ichigo started as they ran toward the hollow.
"Don't worry about that now Ichigo my scan showed the hollow to be right where your sisters and Rika are at!" Rukia shot at him.
"Look Rukia I know you want to ask me about my mother's death."
"I know it's a thorn buried deep within your heart so I'm not going to ask. But when you are ready to talk about it, I promise that I will be there to listen." Rukia told him as she smiled at him.
"This is a big mess, I need to just finish the hollow, kill Ichigo, and take Rukia back." Sasuke muttered as he followed Ichigo, Rukia, and Kon.
"Oh now I remember your smell you are the one that night who sliced a chunk out of my fur!" The hollow bellowed as he tossed Shikamaru aside grabbing onto Rika with his other claw.
"What the?! Kon go find Karin and Yuzu!" Ichigo yelled at his body as he charged for the hollow. "Rika!"
"I've been waiting for you soul reaper. Even though I let the little girls escape. This one hostage was enough to get you here." The hollow laughed at Ichigo.
Suddenly a girl appeared in front of the hollow. Ichigo gasped at the girl it was the same girl he saw six years ago.
"You are the girl I saw six years ago. Down by the river!" Ichigo yelled.
"Six years ago? Does that mean?" Rukia pointed out.
"Yeah she's the one I saw, that I tried to save, but when I finally came to she was gone and my mother, she was dead." Ichigo answered her.
"Six years is a long time, for me to remember every soul I've eaten." The girl said as she began to split.
Ichigo's eyes widen as the girl became one with the hollow.
"Well what do you know its Grand Fisher." Ichigo and Rukia looked to find a cloaked masked human standing on Ichigo's mothers grave.
"Who are you?" Rukia asked.
"Me? I have no name to go by, but if you wish to call me by a name then use Shadow." The masked man informed Rukia.
"I've never seen Grand Fisher actually showing himself." Sasuke muttered. "You said to call you by Shadow right?"
"Yeah, but I haven't seen you around here before, are you here for Miss Rukia?" Shadow asked as he took off his hood revealing a brown ponytail.
"Maybe, but first I'm going to deal with this hollow." Sasuke answered him.
"I'm afraid that I will have to stop you if you try to attack this hollow Soul Reaper." Shadow said as he jumped down next to Rukia.
"Oh and why is that?" Sasuke cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Because there are two types of fights, and this one happens to be one of pride for Ichigo." Shadow told them.
"What the heck are you talking about?" The three asked him.
"By using his lure Grand Fisher has kept himself alive. The Soul Society has been hunting him for decades, but that doesn't matter. You should know that his favorite victims are women." Shadow answered with a sigh.
"So you mean that this hollow killed my mother?!" Ichigo asked him.
"How would this guy know that Ichigo?" Rukia pointed out to him.
"Grand Fisher did indeed kill your mother Ichigo Kurosaki. I would know because I was there and failed to prevent it from happening." Shadow told them as he clinched his fists.
Ichigo charged at Grand Fisher swinging his zanpakuto at him. Grand Fisher easily dodged it and used his fur as a net to capture Ichigo. Ichigo yelled out in pain as Grand Fisher tighten his grip on Ichigo as his claw captured Rukia.
"Just sit tight boy and watch as I eat your little girlfriend here." Grand Fisher laughed.
"Wait!" Ichigo yelled at him.
"Would you rather be eaten first?" Grand Fisher asked.
"Hado 33 Sokatsui." Shadow had attacked Grand Fisher.
"How Dare you interfere!" Grand Fisher bellowed as he hit Shadow with a spear of his fur.
Sasuke used this moment to attack slicing off the claw that held onto Rukia giving Ichigo enough time to cut himself free. Suddenly several of Grand Fisher fur spears went towards Rukia.
"Rukia!" Ichigo yelled at her.
"Damn it! Get out of there, Kuchiki!" Sasuke also yelled.
There was no time for Rukia to react to Grand Fisher's attack. Within a heartbeat Shadow stood in between Rukia and the fur. Ichigo, Rukia, and Sasuke watched as the fur spears stabbed Shadow. Two went into his chest, one in each shoulder, and lastly two in his stomach. Grand Fisher laughed as a young strawberry blonde girl flashed before him. Shadow's eyes widen behind his mask at the flash of the girl. Ichigo jumped down and slashed the fur freeing Shadow. Grand Fisher bellowed in pain as Shadow fell to his knee. Ichigo turned toward Shadow.
"Tell me why did you risk your life for Rukia's?" Ichigo asked him.
"I told you I was there when that monster killed your mother and I wasn't about to let him have another." Shadow reminded Ichigo of his first statement. "After all I used to be a soul reaper."
"Hey! Get up!" Ichigo yelled out to Shadow as he fell the rest of the way to the ground. "He's going to be alright, right Rukia?"
"Even if what he said was true about being a soul reaper and the injuries are bad enough he could die. Even soul reapers are not immortal." Rukia pointed out.
"Wait a minute he's only sleeping!" Ichigo yelled. "Tell him to get up or I really will kill him!"
"You should let him rest after all we have a job to do here." Sasuke told Ichigo pointing towards Grand Fisher. "Or did you forget about me?"
"No I just wanted to make sure that he was okay." Ichigo informed Sasuke.
"Listen up carrot top. I'm going in so stay back and cover me." Sasuke ordered Ichigo as he pulled out his sword.
Ichigo didn't bother to listen as he charge for Grand Fisher. "Hey wait!" Sasuke yelled after him.
"Rukia!" Rukia turned to find Ichigo's body running towards her. "Wo this dude looks like he's leaking!"
"Kon what are you doing here?!" Rukia yelled at Ichigo's body.
"Don't worry Ichigo's sisters are fine and wo that thing is ugly!" Kon looked over at the hollow then back to Rukia. "Hey where did the guy go?"
Rukia looked down to find that Shadow was indeed gone. She looked around for him, but didn't find him all she saw was Rika's body laying where Grand Fisher had dropped her.
"Kon, take Rika and run! I'm going to help Ichigo." Rukia ordered the mod soul.
Kon picked up Rika's body, "Run to where?"
"Anywhere but here you idiot!" Rukia yelled at him.
Meanwhile Ichigo and Sasuke were going at it with Grand Fisher.
"Carrot top I told you to back off and let me handle this!" Sasuke yelled at Ichigo.
"He's right Ichigo you can't defeat Grand Fisher on your own!" Rukia added.
"Just shut up! I'm going to avenge my mother!" Ichigo yelled at them.
"Don't be stupid this hollow has been getting the best of us soul reapers!" Sasuke yelled at him as he started to run towards them only to fall. "What the hell?!"
"I'm sorry to do this to you, but you soul reapers are all the same never listening to a word I say." Shadow jumped down landing next to Rukia. "Continue your fight Ichigo. I will keep these two out of it."
Ichigo and Grand Fisher continued to fight. Ichigo slashed at Grand Fisher only to have him catch the sword with his hand.
"How many times do you think you can last by jumping straight into the lion's den without a plan boy?" Grand Fisher asked him as his claws shot towards Ichigo. "Well today's the day your luck runs out!"
One of his claws stabbed Ichigo in the chest while two more entered his shoulders the last two were above his head. Ichigo stabbed his sword into the ground trying not to fall to his knees.
"Ichigo!" Rukia yelled out to him as she took a step towards him.
"Stay back! I'm going to do this my way even if that kills me I am going to finish this!" Ichigo yelled at her to stay out of the battle.
"Then die for your feelings get in the way of your sword dulling its blade. For this you have no hope in killing me." Grand Fisher told Ichigo. "Your physical strength is not enough to injure me and now I will show you why your mind is not strong enough ether. Behold my true power!" Grand Fisher grabbed the head of its lure and changed it into Ichigo's mother.
"Is that?" Rukia asked.
"Who else would it be?" Shadow answered her. "Grand Fisher uses his lure in order to gain the appearance of the one person his opponent can not attack against. When I saved you from his fur there was a flash of a strawberry blonde haired girl. That girl was someone I lost many years ago till this day I still can't bare to face her picture let alone raise my fists against her."
"You bastard!" Ichigo yelled.
"Even the most cold blooded soul reaper has one person whom they can never kill." Grand Fisher explained. "This is a fact which you can't deny. This is my way of escaping every soul reaper who has ever come after me. This is that one person for you."
"Do you remember me Ichigo?" The lure asked.
"Ichigo! Hado…" Rukia started to attack the hollow but her captain's words stopped her from doing so. "His life will be saved, but what will become of his pride? Please remember this, Rukia. There are two types of fights. Whenever we are in battle we are in one of those types. The fight for our lives or the fight for pride."
'I understand now this is a battle for Ichigo's pride and honor. And one he must fight alone. No matter how much I want to help him or have him live, I won't help him. I must not help him!' Rukia thought as she watched Ichigo continue the battle.
"You ugly bastard! I'm going to cut your heart out!" Ichigo yelled.
"Well he better just go for the mask after all a hollow doesn't have a heart." Shadow muttered.
"Ichigo you mustn't do this. Don't draw your sword on your own mother." The lure caused Ichigo to stop. "Please lower your sword."
Grand Fisher drove one of his fur spears into Ichigo's shoulder. "Out of all the soul reapers I have ever fought against you are by far the weakest and most foolish! Now I will kill you with this next attack!"
"Ichigo watch out!" Rukia yelled as Grand Fisher's claw rush towards Ichigo.
Shadow smiled underneath his mask as a bright light flashed from the lure.
"What is this?" Rukia asked.
"Mom is that you?" Ichigo asked as he gazed into the light.
"That really isn't Ichigo's mother. Her spirit is transmitting her final message through the lure." Shadow explained.
"That means that the lure recorded her thoughts at the very moment she was killed." Rukia added.
"Her dying thoughts were recorded?" Ichigo asked.
"I had a feeling this would happen the moment I saw her…" Shadow's voice trailed off. "Now this battle could go ether way depending on her message."
"Ichigo, my son, I'm very proud of you. You and your father and Karin and Yuzu I'm so very lucky to have had all those years with you. And I know that because of the love we shared you will keep the family together even without me. And be strong my son, live on with your strength and kindness. Never lose your smile that you always wore when you saw me. Ichigo thank you for loving me."
"Mother…" Ichigo whispered as she faded. "Now I know what her last thoughts were. You say feelings dull the blade that might be right. But there is something else you haven't considered, to kill a slim ball like you a dull blade is all that I need!" Ichigo told Grand Fisher as he stabbed his sword into Grand Fisher's shoulder.
"You will pay for this!" Grand Fisher yelled at Ichigo as he left.
"You did it Ichigo!" Rukia told him as she ran towards him. "Put down your sword this battle is over. You won you stop Grand Fisher."
"No it isn't! It won't be over till I've killed him. I have to, I will avenge my mother!" Ichigo informed her as he fell into her.
"I'm glad you didn't die today Ichigo. I'm so thankful." Rukia whispered as she laid Ichigo down.
"Oh I should probably go free Sasuke from that restraint." Shadow muttered turning around to see Sasuke glaring at him. "Or not. Sorry about that pal, but I couldn't have you stomping on Ichigo's pride. You understand don't you?"
"Yeah I do." Sasuke sighed.
"I better be on my way." Shadow started to walk off, "Give my regards to Ichigo for me Rukia."
And just like that he was gone.
"I'll be heading back myself now." Sasuke told Rukia, "You take care now. Just remember the Soul Society will just send someone else to finish my mission. Take care of carrot top."
Later that night, Ichigo found himself in front of his mother's grave. "I'm sorry mom I tried to avenge your death, but I guess I failed you."
"You're mother is proud of you Ichigo." Ichigo looked up to find Shikamaru standing next to him. "I know what it feels like blaming yourself for someone's death and not understanding why everyone else doesn't blame you for it even though it looked like it was your fault."
"How can you say something like that Shikamaru. How could you know about that pain?" Ichigo asked him.
"Because I blamed myself for a death of a close friend of mine. He was like a second father to me and I just couldn't do anything to stop him from dying. But I know that he doesn't want me to live my life blaming myself nor would he forgive anyone who did blame me for his death. But you can't help but to blame yourself for something that seemed like your fault. In the end all we can do is to try and live our life like they would have wanted us to." Shikamaru explained with a sigh.
"You really do surprise me Shikamaru. We are alike in more ways than I can keep up with." Ichigo sighed as Shikamaru started walking away.
"Yeah I guess we are." Shikamaru added as he kicked Ichigo.
"What the hell was that for?" Ichigo asked him.
"I don't need you going all soft on me now, Ichi." Shikamaru laughed. "See you later. You and I are still too young to be carrying such a burden, but we are. Keep that in mind Ichigo stay strong and maybe we both will be able to die with smiles on our faces."
Ichigo watched Shikamaru leave, "Are you listening Rukia? I want you to let me be a soul reaper a little while longer. I want to become stronger so that I can continue to protect the innocent from Hollows. I must become strong enough to defeat any Hollow especially this Grand Fisher. I can't face my mother again till I've killed him!"
"Ichigo…" Rukia smiled at him.
"I wish I could be like the rain. If I were would I have a way to connect two hearts together? The way the rain connects the earth with the sky even though the two never touch. With each day that passes Ichigo, I think I've come to understand you at least a little bit more." Orihime thought as she left Tatsuki's house learning about Ichigo's mother.