Hello all! Sorry for taking so long to write this chapter, I hope it was worth the wait!
Please... Don't kill me for what you read XD I swear... I have a plan *hides behind Ichigo*
Please read, enjoy and review ^_^
Chapter Ten: Starlight:
Ichigo woke with a start, sitting bolt upright in his bed; he looked around and only relaxed once he sensed his lover asleep beside him. He swallowed and hung his head, trying to wipe away the lingering images from his nightmare.
He leaned over suddenly and kissed Stark heatedly, smiling weakly as he felt him wake up at his touch. He pulled back a little and his cheeks flushed, just knowing that the sexy male's heated smoky eyes were slowly opening to look at him.
"Ai... Good morning." He smiled and lifted a hand, running his fingers through Ichigo's silky locks.
"Good morning." He whispered in return and nuzzled his hand instinctively before leaning down and kissing him deeply again.
Stark let out a soft moan as he slipped his tongue into the warm mouth of his love, sliding his arms around his lithe form and pulling him against him gently. He pressed against him and rolled them slowly, groaning gutturally as he felt Ichigo's legs curl around his waist.
The strawberry whined into the kiss and hooked his legs around him tightly, his arms snaking around his neck and holding him closer as he arched up against him.
Stark smiled against his lips, it had been a while since they had made love last and he hadn't quite realised how much he had missed it until now. Deciding that he would take this chance to make Ichigo as happy and relaxed as possible he slid his hand down the body of his lover and prepared to make love to him.
Ishida and Ginjo shared an awkward glance from the kitchen area as they heard loud moaning and wails from Ichigo and Stark's room, the Quincy's cheeks heated up like radioactive light bulbs as he returned to make the tea.
Ginjo cleared his throat and dished the large hearty breakfast up onto plates for everyone, his personal motto being that you couldn't possibly go into battle on an empty stomach.
The two sat at the table, eating in a very embarrassed silence as they reluctantly heard the crest of Ichigo and Stark's... 'Session' before silence fell in the bedroom.
Letting out a small thankful sigh, Ishida took a sip of tea and pushed his glasses up his nose. He looked up ten minutes later when the pair appeared, seeming to have showered and cooled off.
Ichigo was a little flushed as he sat down with a slight wince and murmured his thanks to Ginjo as a plate of food was placed in front of him. He tucked in eagerly, having worked up a hell of an appetite with his boyfriend.
Stark smirked faintly as he saw that Ichigo was eating like he hadn't been fed for a month and thanked Ishida as a plate was set in front of him as well.
Ishida finished his food and put the plate in the sink before returning to the table and sipping his drink, "Kurosaki... If you keep eating like that you will get indigestion..." he scolded.
"I-ca-ep-it. Sak-vore-e-ooot-nd-now-I-m-shooper-hugry." Ichigo said with a mouthful of egg and bacon.
"What?" Ishida asked with a slightly disturbed expression.
The shinigami swallowed the mouthful and swigged his tea, "I said: I can't help it. Stark wore me out and now I am super hungry."
"We heard." Ginjo inserted.
The couple blushed profusely, "S-sorry..." Ichigo stammered out of embarrassment.
"No worries."
The next few moments were spent in silence again, everyone feeling a little out of place and uncomfortable.
When they had finished eating, Ichigo got to his feet and excused himself to get dressed, having remained in jogging bottoms after his shower. He pulled on his shinigami uniform, tying the obi around his waist firmly before he picked up his haori and slid it on. He threw Zangetsu over his back and secured the cords of the swords' sheathe around his chest so that it didn't fall off.
He took a breath and reached up, braiding the longer lengths of hair behind his ear. Ichigo closed his eyes and ran a hand down his face, "I can do this." He said quietly to himself, "I can do this. I have to do this."
He opened his eyes again despite the fact he couldn't see out of them and made his way back out of the bedroom and into the other room where everyone was waiting for him.
"Are you ready Kurosaki?" Ishida asked from up ahead.
"Yeah." He nodded once, "I am."
Stark hesitated before taking Ichigo's hand, "Before we go... I think we should plan who is going to take on who. It is a plausible thought that Shukuro, the rest of the Fullbring and Grimmjow and Ulquiorra will be present, and there is a chance Inoue and the others as well as Yuzu and Karin may show up." He paused, "That is an approximate fourteen against our four."
Ginjo sighed reluctantly, "You're right... We are massively outnumbered. At a push I could handle Jackie, Yukio, Kutsuzawa and Riruka."
"I can handle Inoue and Chad, I doubt Tatsuki, Keigo and Mizuro will show up... They don't have the reiatsu to put up a fight." Ishida reasoned, "The same for Karin and Yuzu."
"Good point," Stark nodded and linked his fingers through Ichigo's, "I can handle Ulquiorra and Grimmjow easily."
Ichigo swallowed, "And I will take on Tsukishima."
"We're agreed then." Ginjo murmured, "Let's go."
The nodded once in agreement and flash-stepped, sonido-ed and hirenkyaku-ed out.
Lead by Ginjo to a large mansion which was mostly hidden from an unseeing eye by a mass of trees and forestry; the sun was now high in the sky above them and there were several large rain clouds in the baby blue atmosphere. A gentle breeze blew through Ichigo's hair and made him shiver slightly.
Ahead of them, the large, dark wood front doors opened, and the brilliant cobalt hair of the former Sexta Espada appeared in their view. Grimmjow stalked down the few stone steps and came to a stop in front of them, blocking their path.
"We've been expectin' you." He said, folding his arms and narrowing his eyes at them.
"You are not required to surrender your weapons before entering." The stoic voice of the former Cuarto Espada suddenly sounded from behind them, startling them all by the silence of his approach, "However we will be accompanying you to ensure you don't try anything... Funny."
The group between the two former Espada shared a look and each nodded; Stark took Ichigo's hand and leaned down, pressing a gently kiss against his lips, he breathed, "When this is over... And you have won again... I have something I need to talk to you about. It is about a good thing so don't be afraid."
Ichigo smiled and kissed him back before nodding, "Alright, I look forward to it." He whispered quietly before releasing Stark's hand.
Stark smiled faintly before looking more serious, he took a breath and vanished in a snap of sonido, instantaneously grabbing Grimmjow, and then Ulquiorra by the arm, engaging them in battle.
Ginjo grasped Ichigo just under his arm and steered him out of the way of danger, hurrying up the steps and into the mansion, Ishida just behind them.
The door shut behind them almost automatically, Ichigo swallowed and relied upon Ginjo's instructions to lead him through the furniture. And towards the grand staircase, Ichigo wondered how many stairs there were, he wondered what the building looked like which contained so much evil and malice.
He stumbled over the first couple of steps before regaining himself and allowing Ginjo to steer him up the ever ascending case. He was dragged to a sudden and unexpected stop at the very top and looked towards the other man in confusion, contemplating inwardly what expression the man might be wearing.
His hair was ruffled by a breeze of reiatsu from up ahead; he faintly recognised it from the other Fullbring members, was it... Jackie? Yes.
Ginjo tensed slightly and his grip on Ichigo's arm receded, he heard a clunk of metal and presumed that he had activated his Fullbring.
The man beside him moved abruptly, shooting towards his former comrade. Ichigo sensed Jackie's reiatsu move off into a side room, he let out a gasp as he sensed the other Fullbring mortals waiting for Ginjo in that room and tried to run after his new found ally.
"No Kurosaki." Ishida grabbed him around the middle and held him in place, "Ginjo can handle this himself. Trust in his power."
Ichigo gritted his teeth for a moment before nodding and stepping back, "Please lead the way Ishida." He said almost silently.
The young Quincy was shocked at first, how easily Ichigo complied to his words. He was uncertain whether this was a good idea now... Ichigo was not at his full strength mentally... Had anyone considered that?! Shit... Stark had considered it and they had all given him an earful about how Ichigo was fine.
Maybe he was wrong. Maybe he just wanted to get it over and done with. He hoped so.
The young Taichou was lead across the corridor which oversaw the foyer towards the master bedroom where they sensed Tsukishima's reiatsu to be waiting for them.
Ichigo reached around and slowly drew his zanpakto from its bandage sheathe, "I can take it from here Ishida. Keep an eye out for the others." He said softly before he flash-stepped out of Ishida's grasp too fast for him to prevent.
Bursting through the door he gripped the hilt of his giant sword and fixed his unseeing eyes directly ahead, to where he sensed his enemy's reiatsu to be.
"Ichigo... You have come at last, I see." The cool, patronizing voice of Tsukishima Shukuro ran through him and turned his blood cold, "I am impressed by your confidence. And your stupidity."
He clenched his teeth, "Stupidity? I don't think so." He lifted Zangetsu and rested his free hand on the forearm of his sword arm, "BANKAI!"
Tsukishima smirked in amusement, the boy's reiatsu had altered slightly but not enough to make him a threat, he wondered if the boy knew just how pathetic he was.
"Very well... If you truly require me to put you in your place once again I shall do so." The black haired male sighed and whipped the bookmark from his book, "Book of End." He whispered and watched the marker transform into its katana form.
Ichigo growled at the taunt and shot forwards as his uniform altered as he activated his bankai, he let out a yell as their swords made contact, feeling the heat of angry sparks brush against his face as the metal clanged upon meeting.
They parted only to come together again after a mere millisecond. Ichigo kept his eyes open, regardless of whether he could see or not he couldn't concentrate with his eyes shut. He grunted as the strikes of his enemy grew harder and harsher, sending prangs up and down his arm.
Their speed increased until they were blurs around the room, their katana meeting with each step and parry, the blows getting more and more bloodthirsty with every passing moment.
Ichigo disengaged after receiving a kick to his chest and panted heavily, keeping a close eye on where Tsukishima's reiatsu was in case the bastard tried any sneaky attacks.
The Fullbring took a step back, gasping gently for breath as he nursed a deep cut on his thigh and hip. He watched Ichigo carefully in case he decided to restart their fight.
Ichigo's head snapped around abruptly as he sensed a fast approaching reiatsu from outside and flinched away as the window beside him shattered, he gasped as he received a firm punch in his side, he was thrown across the room by the force and head butted the far wall.
He sank to his knees and groaned, feeling the warm trickle of sticky blood rolling down the side of his head from the force of the bang. He winced, feeling several ribs had been cracked by the punch he had taken too. He only knew one person capable of a hit like that.
"Chad..." he said quietly as he staggered to his feet, he turned around in the direction of his best friend's reiatsu and bit the inside of his cheek as his anger towards Tsukishima Shukuro increased, "Chad I do not want to fight you."
"Nor do I wish to fight you Ichigo. That... That is not why I became strong." The tall man replied in his deep tones.
"Then stand aside Chad!" he yelled, taking a step forwards before swallowing as he felt another familiar reiatsu enter the room, "Inoue... Not you too... Please..."
The young woman looked solemnly at Ichigo for a moment before she ran over to Tsukishima and held her hands out, "Santen Kisshun! I reject!" she said eagerly, not wanting to see her friend hurt.
The strawberry's eyes widened and he shook his head, "No... No... Inoue s... stop it... Stop... Don't heal him... Inoue!" he ran forwards unthinkingly and received a sharp smack in the face from Chad, he rolled and hit the floor again, coughing weakly and wincing.
'Damn... This can't be happening... Where the fuck is Ishida when I actually fucking well need him... Damn... Please Ishida... I can't fight my friends...' he said inwardly, shaking slightly at the thought of having to hurt Chad or Inoue.
He picked himself up and slowly lifted his katana again, 'Tensa... Shiro... Please help me. I need your support. Now more than ever...'
No reply.
He lifted his sword slowly and squared his shoulders.
He sucked in a slow and steady breath, exhaling it slowly.
He closed his eyes despite his former discomfort.
He lifted his sword into the air and twisted his wrist so that the sharpest edge of the blade was facing the enemy.
He brought the blade down without hesitation and shot forwards as he felt the room shake and explode around its self.
Tsukishima's eyes widened as Ichigo let off a faint blue hue, his reiatsu seeping out in the most tempered and controlled manner. His eyes widened further when the boy brought his sword down, it wasn't aimed at any person in that room... It was aimed at the room itself. And his tactic worked perfectly.
At the exact moment that the floor exploded upwards from the force of the hit, and bomb of dust and dirt and debris impinged everyone's sight. Everyone... Except Ichigo. For he couldn't see in the first place. He had given himself the advantage.
A hand clapped over Tsukishima's face and before he could release a single utterance they had taken off. Ichigo was controlling this game now.
Unable to fight his friends, he had done the only thing he could to give his Quincy friend the time he needed to arrive. He had created a visionary diversion and had removed himself and his target from the room, giving himself more space to fight, and above everything else he had removed himself from the binds that were his friends.
Tsukishima spluttered as he was thrown suddenly, steadying himself using Bringer Light, he straightened and looked back at Ichigo, wiping the last of the dust from his eyes.
"Nice parlour trick." He chided.
"Well what do you expect? You made the first foul move by involving my friends in this." Ichigo snarled in response, "I won't let them get hurt because of your sick mind."
"Sick minded? Me? I told you once... I was not alone Ichigo... You would have done well to heed my words."
He frowned at this, "What... I know you aren't. There are other Fullbrings. Jackie... Yukio... Kutsuzawa... Riruka... Ginjo... I know you aren't alone..."
"Mm..."
Ichigo swallowed his mouth suddenly dry. Had he meant something different?
Shaking his head, Ichigo lifted his sword again and shot forwards, he let out a roar and brought the katana down towards Tsukishima's head, he gritted his teeth as the blow was parried and kept pushing, forcing all his weight behind his sword; he pushed and pushed and pushed.
He half screamed abruptly, startling Tsukishima slightly, pulling his katana back before he smashed it towards the enemy again. He let out a gasp as he felt something give and took a shaky step back.
Without warning, Tsukishima let out a chuckle and appeared in front of Ichigo, he swept his katana around elegantly but strongly.
The young Taichou lifted Tensa Zangetsu to block the attack; he heard the clap of metal on metal, which was followed swiftly by a loud and ominous crack. Ichigo's eyes widened and he reached up to touch the blade, he grasped thin air.
No... This couldn't be happening... It wasn't even remotely possible... Tensa... Tensa couldn't be... He wasn't... No... He couldn't be beaten so easily... He couldn't just break like a twig... It was impossible... It had to be impossible... It was a nightmare... He would wake up in a minute... Everything would be fine... It... It had to be...
Ichigo jumped away from Tsukishima, half cradling his broken zanpakto. He breathed a little quickly in panic. He swallowed and staggered slightly before looking in the direction of Tsukishima's reiatsu, he swallowed hard and wondered inwardly how he would continue to fight with a broken sword.
'Damn it Tensa... Why... Why...' he thought shakily.
"Will you continue to fight with that broken wreckage?" the arrogant tone of his enemy sounded even smugger in the shadow of what had occurred, "Surely you don't want to get yourself killed."
Ichigo looked down in the general direction of the broken sword in his hands, he couldn't head Tensa... He couldn't hear him... He couldn't sense him... Shit... What was happening... Why was this happening? He had gotten strong... He had gotten strong so that he could protect the people he loved... But he was being put down... Put down like an animal... Why... Why couldn't he protect them... Why did he fail?
He swallowed again, he looked towards his enemy again and gritted his teeth, "I won't give up!" he yelled, yanking his Vizard mask on before he shot forwards, he lifted his broken blade and swung it, butting Tsukishima in the side of the head with the hilt before he flipped around and planted a kick under the man's chin and snapped his head back. He turned on his heel and planted his knee in the man's chest, forcing him to fly back.
Ichigo panted gently and staggered, releasing his mask again and brushing his fringe back off his face, he swore abruptly as Tsukishima's reiatsu completely vanished.
He turned slowly on the spot, gulping visibly as he failed to detect the man.
He threw a hand through his sweat drenched hair, "Fuck!" he yelled and balled a fist, inadvertently squeezing the hilt of his zanpakto as well.
"Ichigo!" he voice screamed from below him.
He looked down and sensed Ginjo speeding towards him, "W... What are you doing here?! Did you defeat them?!" he exclaimed.
"No!" he yelled, Ginjo pushed himself harder and faster; trying to make it in time, "BEHIND YOU!" he roared suddenly.
Ichigo spun around, Tsukishima's reiatsu reappearing. He lifted his katana and cried out as their blades met again, he reached out and snagged his opponent's wrist, stopping his sword dead. He winced and struggled with him.
Ginjo breathed a sigh of relief and barged in, knocking Tsukishima's sword aside and knocked Ichigo out of the way.
The berry head yelped as he was knocked and plummeted back towards the ground, making a small crater upon impact. He swallowed and sensed Tsukishima and Ginjo in battle together, their reiatsu was clashing violently.
He knelt on the ground for a moment before looking skyward, he could still feel the sun on his face, it was hotter than earlier so he deduced that it was about midday. He sighed and looked downwards again; he gritted his teeth as his eyes welled up... He was such a mess. He couldn't even fight properly now.
He had overcome so much... So much so many times... He had overcome his mother's death... He had overcome the bullies who took the piss because of his hair colour... He had overcome the hollow who had tried to kill his family the night he met Rukia... He had overcome the loss of his powers to Kuchiki Byakuya with the help of Urahara... He had overcome the whole of Soul Society to save Rukia... He had overcome Zangetsu and learned Bankai... He had discovered and defeated his hollow... He had overcome the Vizard training... He had overcome Hueco Mundo... He had survived... He had to try and survive again... Didn't he?
He pushed himself to his feet, grasping the hilt of his zanpakto. He glanced towards Tsukishima and Ginjo's reiatsu and gritted his teeth; he took a breath and prepared to rejoin the fight.
He took a step but stopped dead as he heard a cry from somewhere behind him. He felt his blood run cold, that voice... Was it...
He turned on his heel and shot as fast as his powers would allow towards the source of that cry. He came to the front of the mansion and sensed Ulquiorra and Grimmjow, both in their resurrection forms. He ignored them and ran straight for the reiatsu of his lover.
Ragged breathing, he as dizzy, he was scared, this day couldn't get any worse could it?
He tripped and fell, his hands landed on something soft, something which smelled familiar. He leaned down slowly and moved his hands up the soft; squishy mound until he felt hair.
His eyes welled up slowly as his gut twisted and he held his breath, running his fingertips through the silky wavy hair, brushing the backs of his knuckles down his jaw line and slightly stubble-covered chin, "S... S... St... Stark..." he whispered, his voice breaking, "Stark... Stark... T... Talk... Talk to me... P... Please... Talk... to me..."
A groan.
"A... Ai?" oh God he sounded so weak... So tired...
"Stark... Stark what happened?!" he asked panicked, "I... I can't see if you have any injuries... I don't know what to do..."
"Shh... Shh..." he reached up with a shaking hand and smoothed his lover's hair tenderly, "I just... Bumped myself... I'll be okay in a moment... I promise..." he lied softly, ignoring the fact that he couldn't move his legs or even feel them.
Ichigo sniffled as his eyes spilled over, "I... I don't know what to do... I can't fight him... He broke my sword..." he wept, resting his head down on his soulmates' chest, curling his fingers around his hair.
"It will be... Okay Ichigo... Never lose faith in... In yourself... And in Tensa and Shirosaki... They will never abandon you." he said, straining to string a sentence together, "And I... Will always be here for you... Too..."
Ichigo smiled weakly and sniffled, "I love you... I love you so much..." he murmured, he shuffled up, no longer caring if they were in the middle of a battlefield.
"And... I love you..." Stark smiled weakly as a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth, "Ichi... Remember I said... I wanted to talk to you... When we got back from the... From the fight?"
Ichigo nodded in response and sniffled, "Yeah?"
"Good..." he whispered, stroking the side of Ichigo's face softly, "I... Wanted to ask you... Ask you something..."
"W... What did you want to ask?" the berry replied softly.
"I..." he closed his eyes and smiled weakly, "Marry me?"
Ichigo's eyes flicked open in surprise and he opened and closed his mouth, "S... Stark..." he bit his lip and he smiled, nodding after a moment, "Of course. Yes!"
The former Primera Espada rested his head down and coughed wetly from his chest, "Thank... Goodness for that..." he said croakily, "Ichigo... Coyote Ichigo... Mm... Kurosaki Stark... Mm... This... This will take some... Consideration I think..."
He giggled and nodded, "I like them both... Maybe we could double-barrel."
"Oh... That sounds like a good idea... I like it." Stark opened his eyes slowly and looked down at his lover, he brushed a loose strand of hair behind his ear and sighed softly, "You are... So kind... And warm... Never lose that... Stay just how... You are... Forever."
The young captain nodded in agreement, "I will... I promise."
"I'm glad..."
Stark let out a shallow breath, his vision blurring slightly, he smiled faintly and combed his fingers through Ichigo's silken hair, panting in short sharp bursts before his breath got stuck in his throat, "A... Ai..." he croaked weakly before his hand fell from Ichigo's head and landed on the dirt beside his lax body.
Ichigo frowned, his eyes opening slowly and unseeingly. He felt his insides twist in horror and he reached up, cupping the side of his lover's face, "S-S-Stark? Stark? S... Stark..." he stammered as his eyes welled up and spilled over, "Stark? Stark?! Y... You said... You said you wouldn't... Wouldn't leave me... You promised... STARK!"
He let out a broken sob and hunched over him protectively as he sensed Grimmjow and Ulquiorra move beside him, he let out wail and gripped his lover's clothes tightly in his shaking hands.
Ginjo looked around as he heard a scream from the ground and his eyes widened as he saw Ichigo clinging to an unmoving body. His mouth went a little dry and he swallowed hard before his attention was snapped back by Tsukishima. He met his sword with his own, now more determined than ever to end this quickly. He had to get Ichigo out of here...
Ishida covered his ears as he heard his friend scream, he hirenkyaku-ed over to the downstairs window and peered out. His eyes went impossibly wide as he saw Stark on the floor, and Ichigo hung over him sobbing uncontrollably. He flinched, Ichigo's reiatsu spiralling out of control abruptly.
Breathing suddenly became difficult under the young man's spirit power and Ishida slowly sank to his knees. He glanced around at the unconscious Chad and Inoue and decided that they would be alright as long as they stayed unconscious.
He crawled to the front door and out into the mud, he glanced up as it started to rain heavily before a particularly strong burst of Ichigo's power nearly sent his face into the dirt. He breathed with a wheeze and continued towards his friend slowly. Ichigo needed a friend... Now more than ever before.
He finally reached Ichigo, ignoring Ulquiorra and Grimmjow for the time being considering they were both on their knees under Ichigo's reiatsu as well.
He reached out and rested a hand on the strawberry's shoulder, "K... Kurosaki..." he panted out, "Kurosaki... It's okay... It is going to be okay... Please... Try to control your reiatsu... So we can talk properly..." he said softly, rubbing his back soothingly.
"Get. Off. Me." Ichigo growled slowly, punctuating each word with venom Ishida had never before heard from the man, "Get... Off..."
He swallowed and slowly retracted his hand as he heard a strange rattle coming from Ichigo's chest, "Kurosaki... What... What is that... Noise?" he asked shakily as the captain's reiatsu began to change.
When Ichigo spoke next, the voice that came from his mouth was by no means his own, "Ya all shoulda listened ta Stark... 'E knew... 'E knew tha' King wouldn't be able ta do this..."
Ishida recoiled abruptly at the sound of his voice, the watery almost snake-like edge to it, the accent... The cold malice echoed in its words... That voice... That voice was...
Ichigo pulled away from Stark slowly, he cupped the man's cheek and leaned down, kissing him softly before he stood up. He swayed on the spot for a moment before he steadied himself, his head bowed.
The young Quincy watched him stand and swallowed, he forced himself to his feet despite the enormous reiatsu crushing down upon him. He reached out and rested his hand on his friend's shoulder, "Ichigo..."
"I said... Get off..." that same watery voice, that same murderous intent... Bloodlust... Instinct... Revenge...
Ichigo raised his head slowly and looked at Ishida, his sunset hair was glowing red with reiatsu, a glow which spread across his body in seconds, like a rash or infection.
His head snapped back without warning and white foam poured from his mouth, within moments it had consumed his entire body and Ichigo's form began to change exponentially.
A mask not overly different to his Vizard one was created, with the addition of long; sharp horns and two vertical black stripes instead of the usual pattern on one side. His uniform was shredded as his body grew larger, only his hakama remaining around his waist, the destruction of his clothing revealed a bone white torso and arms and black markings across his shoulders similar to those on his mask.
His hands were now home to sharp talon like fingers, with red fur blowing around his wrists in the breeze, similar fur could be found sprouting from his collar bones and his ankles as well. His hair had grown longer once again, reached just below the base of his spine in its entirety.
Ishida reached up and snagged something from the air as it blew away from Ichigo. His mouth went dry as he found he was holding the braid which usually sat under Ichigo's right ear. He looked at the man in front of his slowly and his eyes finally came to rest on the fist sized hole in his chest, where his heart should have been.
Ichigo... No... The Hollow let out low and animalistic growl, his arms shooting out to the sides as the broken blade of his bankai shot across from where it had laid hidden and reattached its self to the hilt, mending the zanpakto.
His body glowed red with reiatsu again as he swept the sword to the side, blowing up a torrent gain as the mansion behind them blew up with the force of the swing of the sword.
Ishida was knocked across the ground by the mere strength of the wind but pushed himself up slightly, wishing there was something, ANYTHING he could do to save his friend from... From this...
The Hollow's reiatsu abruptly disappeared from all recognition as he vanished in a crack of sonido and reappeared in front of Ulquiorra and Grimmjow.
The two sprang into action, both shooting to the side to avoid the swing of the deadly sword.
Grimmjow leapt lithely to his feet and ploughed towards the Hollow, he jumped into the air and began slashing and slicing and dicing with the blades on his forearms and legs, his tail also whipping around and smacking the Hollow in the face.
Ulquiorra came up from behind, "Lanza del Relámpago." He drew his hands out to the side, drawing out a long lance of green energy, "Stay where you are... I would prefer not have to set this off near to me."
The Hollow glanced around at Ulquiorra, kicking Grimmjow aside before he lifted his sword again. The former Cuarto Espada drew his arm back and threw the lance at the Hollow mercilessly, his eyes only widening when the Hollow moved slightly to the left and the attack missed him completely, Ulquiorra sighed, "Mm... It truly is difficult to control." He scolded himself and summoned a second lance.
As he prepared to throw it, the Hollow vanished from his line of sight; the former Espada's eyes widened slightly before narrowing as he tried to locate him. He turned suddenly as the Hollow appeared behind him and lifted the lance, his breath snagging in his throat as the claw like fingers of his free hand gripped the tip of the Lanza del Relámpago and squeezed, and squeezed and squeezed until it shattered between them.
Ulquiorra looked up into the face of the Hollow, feeling a little small in comparison. He swallowed slightly and lifted his other hand, striking the Hollow around the face, his eyes went impossibly wide when his wrist was caught in the hand of the Hollow and squeezed just like the lance had been.
Grimmjow flew out of nowhere and booted the Hollow in the gut, making him stagger back a few paces before righting himself again. He let out a growl, steam actually rising from the nostrils of his mask as his anger flared again.
The Hollow shot forwards, swinging a leg around and kicking Grimmjow in the head before he brought his arm down and elbowed Ulquiorra in the back of the neck. He flipped over and kicked them both in the back side before lifting his sword and sweeping it down towards them, carving a deep horizontal line into both of their backs.
Ishida watched from afar, his mouth open and his eyes wide in shock and horror. The strength of the Hollow Ichigo was immense. But in truth not all that different from the strength Ichigo normally possessed. No... The difference was that the Hollow had pure and untendered instinct. The instinct to kill. On top of that... It appeared that in this form the Hollow could see, though it was possible that the reason was Shirosaki wasn't blind, and this was his effect on Ichigo's body.
The Hollow stepped back and hunched slightly, he let out a hollow roar, shaking the ground with the force. Suddenly a swirling red mass formed between the tips of his horns and transformed into a sphere... A cero!
Ulquiorra and Grimmjow shared a look before both raising a hand, Ulquiorra summoned a black and green Cero, Grimmjow a blue one. The three hollows fired at the same time and as the ceros met the woodland beside them was crushed, a humongous tunnel of black, green, blue and blood red shooting up into the sky, casting a shadow over their battlefield.
The Hollow wasted no time in charging a second while the other two were distracted, he fired without warning; without mercy and watched as the two were consumed by it.
Not waiting to see if they were dead or alive the Hollow shot into the sky like a bullet from a gun.
He appeared between Ginjo and Tsukishima. His sword lifted into the air as he went to strike down Tsukishima. He let out a hollow roar and sliced down towards his enemy. His arm stopped in midair as the blade of another sword suddenly pushed through his chest.
The Hollow looked down slowly, lowering his sword and reaching for the blade which was embedded within him.
He looked over his shoulder slowly and looked at the man stood behind him. The man he had trusted.
Ginjo Kugo...
... Had stabbed him...
A/N: remember... I said I had a plan! Don't kill me! *Hides behind Hollow Ichigo*
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, angst and all... Please review :)