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Like I said, stuck on this fic...ugh someone shoot me... *is shot by billions of people* NOT LITERALLY! Oh well...so shall we?
Chapter 10
The rain fell lightly outside as Shiro and Ichigo sat in his apartment. "Rain...it s-ucks..." Shiro grumbled.
"Agreed here. Hmm..." Ichigo continued to write in his workbook, every now and then glancing at his Hollow as he stared idly at the rain.
"I...I d-don't...l-l-l-ike..i...it." Shiro admitted. Ichigo looked at him and smirked a bit at the pout on his face.
It's kinda...whoa stop right there. He shook his head. "Well...it may not such a good idea...but..." He watched as Shiro looked over at him expectantly. "There's...somewhere I wanna take you. Me and my family only go once a year, but..."
"Wh-where?"
"I was thinking of a quick trip to the cemetary, while the rains light." Ichigo noticed Shiro's quizzical look and sighed. "So, you wanna go?"
"...Y-yes..." Shiro nodded slowly.
"Alright. Lemme fecth my umbrella and we'll get going. Get a jacket on ok?" He nearly laughed as Shiro bolted off the bed and went to grab a coat. I want to fix what I fucked up... he told himself. And, well...maybe this is the best way.
Shiro was a bit confused as to why Ichigo wanted to go to the cemetary on a rainy day. Surely waiting...would've been better? He thought. "Wh...why are...w-we go-ing?"
"You'll have to wait and see." Ichigo replied, albeit quietly. This alone confused Shiro.
He's never so...so quiet. "O...o-k..." He was used to seeing Ichigo loud, not quiet. They walked on in silence, only their breathing heard as the rain pelted down on them lightly. It's like...tears. Shiro thought as he looked up at the grey sky. Like someone...is crying. He looked over at Ichigo, who had a somber look on his face. Maybe...Ichigo is? As they reached the hill, Ichigo held out a gloved hand. "Wha..."
"It's slick, and I know you have trouble walking still sometimes." Ichigo explained. Shiro nodded and took the other's hand. He gripped it tightly and was a bit surprised that the other gripped his just as much. He could feel faint warmth from Ichigo's hand and he couldn't help but smile.
Warmth... he thought. He wasn't exactly sure why he was so attracted to that fact about Ichigo, but he knew that so long as Ichigo was warm, it was ok. But...but why?
"Ok...we're here." Ichigo said. Shiro looked away from their joined hands and noted all the tombstones lined up around them. "Follow me ok?" Shiro slowly walked behind him, still holding his hand. Ichigo stopped in front of a tombstone and sighed. "Right here."
"W...wh-o is-"
"My mom...she's buried here." Shiro felt his heart hiccup slightly at the sad tone Ichigo's voice carried. Ichigo got down on his knees and moved his free hand from Shiro's and touched the stone. "Hi, mom..." He muttered. "I've...I've brought someone here today. I know we only visit once a year and all but...I felt this might be necessary." He looked at Shiro and motioned for the albino to kneel next to him. Shiro nearly sat down on the wet cobblestone path, staring at Ichigo.
"Y-you are...t-t-tal-king t...to a r...rock..." Shiro said, giving Ichigo a skeptical look. Ichigo laughed at him. "Wh-what?"
"I know you don't understand but...some people think their words reach the ears of their deceased relatives...I like to think that still, despite the fact I know better." Ichigo explained. "My mom...she died when I was little. I was nine and we were walking home from karaste practice. I saw a girl by the river...it was raining really hard and I thought she was gonna jump in. All I can really remember is mom yelling and running for me, then...nothing."
"Ichigo..."
"When I came too, she was dead already. I learned only last year that a Hollow by the name Grand Fisher killed her, trying to get to me." Shiro watched as Ichigo's hand balled up and pounded the ground, slashing mud and water over his tan face. "I couldn't protect her back then...it's my fault she..." Shiro reached down and grabbed Ichigo's hand and ever so slowly brought it up to his lips and pressed the knuckles against them. Ichigo looked up at him and stared. "What are you..." Shiro turned away and placed his own, bare pale hand against the slick, cold headstone.
"Th-thank y-y-ou...for pro-t-t-tecting...him." He spoke quietly and calmly, despite Ichigo's narrowed gaze. "I-if it w-w-weren't...for h-h-him...I'd b...be...dead. H-he h...elped m...me. So...thank you." He turned and laughed at Ichigo's stare. "Wh-what?"
"It's my fault she's dead, and all you can do is laugh?" Ichigo hissed slightly. Shiro flinched and shook his head.
"N-n-o...it's-" Before he could finish speaking, his entire body suddenly felt frozen as an odd presence seemed to appear. "H...Hollow..."
"I feel it too...damnit it's close." Ichigo grumbled. As he made to move, Shiro gripped his wrist. "Stay here this time, ok? I-"
"No." Ichigo's eyes widened, as well as did the albino's beofre he continued. "I...I will...g-g-go with...you."
"Shiro, you can-"
"Please." He stared at Ichigo. "I...want...to...help...you." He spoke slowly, determination flickering in his eyes. Ichigo sighed before allowing his spiritual body to appear and nodded.
"You can help any souls that may be in the area, ok?" Shiro nodded and the two ran further into the cemetary.
I refuse...to be useless... Shiro thought. I...I need to help...
Ichigo glanced around as they went deeper into the cemetary. I think there's someone else here... He thought. A soul maybe?
"Ichigo...I h-h-ear so...ome-one." Shiro whispered. They slid behind two headstones and Ichigo slowly peaked over the edge. Who he saw made him freeze.
Shit and double, quadruple shit... He thought. Standing in front of a stone, holding hands, were Miko and Ami. Not them...
"We're still having lotsa fun!" Ami whispered, although she sounded close to crying as the rain fell.
"Ichigo..." He turned to see Shiro's worried look.
"Ok, you get them out of here and-" Just then, a large, boar like Hollow crashed through the trees. "Shit..." He felt Shiro tense as the two kids looked up and stared directly at the Hollow.
"Monster! Run Ami!" Miko called out. The Hollow charged andthe two kids turned and hid in the hollow of a dead tree.
"They can see it..." Ichigo murmered.
"I will...get them out..." Shiro said. Ichigo nodded and watched as Shiro had started to move, buit froze when the Hollow came into view. He watched as the lavander eyes grew hazy.
"Oh hell no." He grabbed Shiro's shoulders and shook him. "Focus Shiro." He shook harder and smacked tthe albino Hollow's cheek. Surprised eyes turned to him and blinked owlishly.
"Ichigo?"
"Don't look at the Hollow, ok? I have no idea why you do that but...don't ever look ok? Focus on them." He pointed to the kids still huddled as the Hollow sniffed for them. "Focus only on them, understand? Don't look at me, or the Hollow; just them." Shiro nodded shakily and slowly made his way to the kids. Ichigo watched as he coaxed them from hiding and began leading them away from the Hollow. Now...for this guy... The Hollow looked up to the three retreating bodies and began to charge. Ichigo leapt in its path and held Zangetsu out, blocking it.
"Let me through! Their souls smell tasty!" It called in frustration.
"You must be really stupid if you think a Soul Reaper is going to let you harm souls." Ichigo smirked. The Hollow roared angrily and attempted to stomp on the substitute, but Ichigo Flash Stepped out of the way and popped up behind it. "Sayonara, asshole." He said as Zangetsu struck. However, the metal seemed to crash against something hard and shook in his hands. The Hollow swiftly turned around and charged at him, sending him flying into a gravestone.
"My hide's harder than your flimsy zanpakuto, Soul Reaper." The Hollow bellowed.
Ouch...that sucked... He thought as he rose out of the rubble just in time to roll out of the charging Hollow's path. "Shit..." He tried to strike again, only to have it turn briskly around and have his sword collide with it's hide. Damnit...gotta distract it somehow... Just then, he felt Shiro's presence suddenly rush up from behind him and struck at the Hollow's hide. Although he bounced off of it, it turned around and, seeing an oppurtunity, Ichigo took the chance and struck it. He watched as the Hollow faded and saw Shiro standing there, holding his energy-like Zangetsu in his hand.
"Whew..." He heard the Hollow sigh before nearly falling backwards.
"Big brother!" Ichigo ran over and caught him as the two kids called and ran from hiding.
Big brother? "You two ok?" Ichigo asked them.
"Uh-huh! You and big brother beat the nasty monster!" Ami clapped happily.
"You could see the Hollow? And me?" Well that's a dumb question...congrats Ichigo...
"Th-they...wan-t-ted me to...help...and I...wanted to...as w-w-well." Shiro spoke as he tried to sit up, but fell backwards. "Tired..."
"It's ok. Get some rest and I'll get them ho-"
"Nu-uh! Not till big brother Shiro's home!" Miko stomped the ground angrily.
Ugh...kids. "Ok ok. We'll drop him off at my apartment first, ok? Then I'm taking you home." Both of them nodded and looked around as Ichigo slung one of Shiro's arms over his shoulder. "You good Shiro?"
"Y-y-yeah..." Shiro nodded, his lavander eyes glancing weakly at Ichigo. As they walked slowly back, Ichigo turned to look at the kids. Huh, they can see spirits too...imagine that.
Chapter 10 end
Omfg Hady-Chan, a reviewer for this fic, has offered to translate it into spanish! I'm so geeking out right now! This is now my most popular fic cause of that! So...review please and thanks a ton Hady-Chan~! *gives you a billion cookies*