Author's Note: Hey Guys, I hope you enjoy Chapter 11. It's a bit intense. Special thanks to darkboy18 for his contribution :)
Read and leave me an honest review.
~xoxo~
Captain Hitsugaya's Office, Seireitei.
"That Soi Fon is some piece of work." Kenpachi said to break the awkward silence that the staunchly loyal Captain of squad 2 had left the room in.
"Um, isn't someone going to stop her?" Orihime asked as she looked around the room.
Everybody just stood in place and Kenpachi shrugged… just shrugged.
"What's the point?" Hitsugaya said, "If what Urahara has told us is true then I believe we have bigger things to worry about."
Orihime just had to join the others in their thoughts and beliefs. If they were not worried then she would also try not to.
What she did worry about however, was Ichigo. The last time she had seen him, he seemed not himself.
"We have to start thinking about how to help Ichigo." Uryu said. "We are still not sure how the man in the shadow plans on giving him the spirit particles."
"Yes," Kisuke said, "but first I need a change of clothes." He smiled as everyone gave him a confused look.
Orihime only had her mind on Ichigo and nothing else.
The sooner they could figure out where he had wandered off to, the better.
"Now, since we are all up to date, can you all get out of my office?" Hitsugaya said as everyone felt a chill in the air.
Misaki couldn't have gotten up and left quicker if her Hakama was on fire.
~xoxo~
Somewhere in the department of research and development.
When Kurotsuchi had left Ichigo tied up in his lab, the captured former substitute soul reaper had screamed and shouted until the drugs had taken effect and he passed out again.
When he woke up at first light, it had taken Ichigo 2 hours of struggling, screaming and cursing before his spiritual pressure had seeped out of his body with so much force that the restraints that bound him had finally broken off. He was so tired of being treated like an animal.
Kurotsuchi was going to get it, if Ichigo had anything to do about it.
Ichigo heard footsteps approaching from outside the lab he was in and he tiptoed away from the bed and hid behind the stasis container housing the humanoid specimen.
The door opened and Kurotsuchi entered. The grin he had been wearing on his face dropped and a frown formed.
"My…my, however did he escape?" Kurotsuchi looked at the now empty bed. "That stupid girl!"
The mad scientist thought of how he was going to make Nemu pay for letting his latest test subject escape. Of course
"No matter, he couldn't have gotten far. I just have to activate the drug I injected him with and I will know his location." Kurotsuchi said.
Unknown to Ichigo, the bangle Misaki had given him was able to suppress his powers and hide his presence but Kurotsuchi had figured that out and relieved him of it. When the scientist had taken it off of Ichigo and then proceeded to injecting him with a drug, he had actually injected him with a drug that could not only do the same job as the bangle, but could also act as a tracker if the specimen had somehow managed to escape.
It was genius. He was, after all, Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
"Surprise motherfu-" Ichigo said behind the unsuspecting scientist but before he could finish his words, the crazy Captain of squad 12 spun around, grabbed a drug filled syringe from his left sleeve and aimed it at Ichigo's arm.
Ichigo retracted his punch and threw the left one instead.
"Not this time!" The determined lad smacked the scientist's hand away and the syringe was sent flying. He raised his long, strong legs and threw a kick that hit the scientist straight in his painted face.
Kurotsuchi was sent flying back, his body crashing into the giant monitor on the wall. The glass shattered and sparks flew all around the room. The Captain fell to the ground and broken glass rained after him.
He raised his body from the floor; his headdress had fallen off in his collision with the giant screen. Kurotsuchi touched his head when it felt lighter.
"This just won't do." Kurotsuchi said. He had a confused stare colouring his face as he faced Ichigo.
"I do hate it when my test subjects fight back." The Captain commented.
"Stop talking to me like I am some kind of guinea pig!" Ichigo ran towards the annoyed Captain. His fists were ready to pound the scientist's face in.
"This is most irritating. I hate it even more when they cannot keep quiet." Kurotsuchi said, "The screaming I can get used to. The aimless chatter, however, I cannot stand." He reached into his Hakama and threw a small vial at Ichigo's feet.
When the vial hit the ground and shattered, a purple vapour emanated and engulfed Ichigo. As soon as Ichigo breathed in and the vapour entered his lungs, he screamed out in pain. The vapour made him feel like someone had not only sprayed him with gasoline and then lit a match but had also poured a gallon of acid down his windpipe.
"You brought this on yourself Specimen Zero. All I wanted was to study you."
"I-wi-will-" Ichigo could barely speak because all he felt was excruciating pain.
The cloud of purple dissipated and Kurotsuchi started walking towards Ichigo.
"Now, do be quiet!" Kurotsuchi said as he bent down to pick up the syringe that Ichigo had thrown away, "I will make this quick."
Kurotsuchi stood above a writhing Ichigo and prepared to inject him with the paralyzing drug.
Ichigo screamed out as he was shrouded by a mixture of red and black fog. A giant cleaver appeared in his right hand and Ichigo swung viciously at Kurotsuchi's syringe-holding arm. The limb was cut clean off and it dropped to the ground in a bloody pool- the syringe still in the severed hand.
"Now…now, Specimen Zero, that wasn't so nice." Kurotsuchi said as he looked at where his arm used to be and then down at the orange haired test subject.
"My name…is…Ichigo!" Ichigo shouted and swung his blade lower.
Both of Kurotsuchi's legs were amputated and his body fell to the ground. He dragged his body backwards until he reached the wall and his back rested against it.
Ichigo got up-his naked chest rising and falling as he took in the air that his lungs desperately required. One giant cleaver was held in his right hand, a chain wound the whole expanse of his manly arm. His left hand was clenched in a fist so tight that Ichigo almost drew blood.
Ichigo heard approaching footsteps but could not concern himself with that at the moment.
"You are more trouble than you are worth, it seems." Kurotsuchi looked up at the fuming Ichigo. Using his left hand he reached in his sleeves and removed two small vials with needles at their ends. Wasting no time at all, he plunged the two simultaneously into his chest.
The drugs entered his system and the lost limbs grew back again. Kurotsuchi grinned maniacally at Ichigo and then he exploded, blowing up the wall that he had been resting against.
The aftershock blew Ichigo back. When Ichigo recovered and got back up, his weapon and the chains had disappeared. He now stood in the room wearing nothing but ripped and bloody faded jeans that hung low on his waist. He looked at the blown up wall and could not see the scientist. All that was left of Kurotsuchi was a green puddle of goo below the fallen rubble.
Ichigo smiled when the puddle started moving from left to right. The puddle moved around the room and then made its way past the feet that stood by the door.
"How is it that every time we meet, it has to be after a giant explosion." The blue haired soul reaper said from the doorway she stood in.
~xoxo~
Kuchiki Estate, Soul Society.
Orihime was feeling uneasy as she sat in Rukia's room. She had hardly slept all through the night.
How come none of them could pick up on his spiritual presence? Had the condition escalated so much since the last time she saw him that it had driven him insane? If she had stayed with him instead of just leaving him down there alone, would he be with them now?
Was it her fault?
The thought brought a shiver down her body. She hoped he was okay.
"Orihime?" Rukia's voice finally broke through.
"Oh…sorry Rukia, what were you saying?" she asked in a low voice.
"Stop worrying yourself too much. I am sure he is fine." Rukia assured her friend but deep down she was also just as worried.
"But Rukia, we can't even sense him. Where could he be?" her eyes watered. She had promised herself to be stronger but her resolve was slowly crumbling around her.
Should she tell Rukia about it? Orihime wasn't sure what to think herself. She was still not sure what exactly had happened.
"Hey, aren't you feeling a bit hot?" Rukia asked the busty girl in the coat and scarf, "We are indoors, you can take those off."
Orihime tightened the scarf around her neck and then fidgeted with her fingers. An alarmed look could easily be seen on her beautiful face.
"Um, no…I'm okay." She gave Rukia one of her signature smiles but in her eyes, Rukia could see that the smile was far from genuine.
"That idiot!" Rukia said, "I swear when we find him, I will give him a piece of my mind for worrying us…you, like this."
Orihime smiled. So she wasn't the only one who was worried.
She got off from the bed and ran into Rukia's arms and hugged her. They both needed the comfort.
Rukia froze for a second and then awkwardly raised her arms and hugged back.
"That damn Ichigo!" the short soul reaper said and Orihime couldn't stop the tears that fell down her face.
~xoxo~
Kurotsuchi's lab, Department of Research and Development.
"What are you doing here?" A shirtless Ichigo looked at the blue haired Shinigami.
"I came to ask the scientist you just beat up if he had a way of tracking you. What are you doing here?" Misaki spoke, "Please don't tell me you disappeared from your hideout just so you could come and chop off Captain Scientist's limbs."
"Of course not dammit, that sick bastard pumped me full of paralyzing drugs and brought me down here. He said I was to be his test subject." Ichigo explained.
"Oh. Did he mention why?"
"No, he didn't explain a thing. I still don't know why everyone is so interested in me. First it was the execution and now this." Ichigo ran his hands through his hair. "It's so frustrating."
"Stop acting like a giant vagina, strawberry." She attempted to punch him on his shoulder but Ichigo stopped her fist before it touched him.
"And stop trying to hit me; I get enough of that from Rukia." Ichigo said as he let go of her clenched fist. "Let's get out of here, I'm sure everyone heard that blast and they will be coming here soon."
They headed for the door.
Ichigo had to find a new hiding place, he was certain that the order to have him killed was still standing and the last thing he needed was to be captured. Whatever it is they thought he was guilty of, Ichigo didn't care. He just had to find the hooded man and make some progress in this situation.
He wanted to ask about Orihime, for some reason he felt compelled to know if she was okay. Her powers were probably keeping her safe but still he needed to hear how she was doing.
"Hey, have you see-" Ichigo started.
"Jugs?" a teasing grin formed on Misaki's face, "Of course I have seen her. She is okay."
"That's good." Ichigo tried to act cool about it. He felt relieved.
"Why don't you just tell her already?" Misaki asked.
"Tell her what?" the orange haired boy looked confused. Was there something he was missing? What was the tease getting at?
"You are hopeless you know that right? Poor Jugs." She shook her head in disbelief.
There it was again. He was just worried about her. Yes, that was all it was, wasn't it? Yes, that was all it was, he told himself. No point overthinking it.
"I thought we said no weird nicknames." Ichigo remembered their conversation in Urahara's store.
"You asked me to stop calling her boobs, and I did. What, I have to call her Orihime now? No, thank you…names are too personal. Forces people to be attached and attachments are weakness." She said in a serious voice. Something Ichigo had rarely seen from her except when she was fighting.
"You are a difficult one to read." Ichigo commented. "I would like to get to know you…the real you."
"Even though you look good shirtless…" Misaki started as she looked at his bare chest, "…the day you get to know the real me is the day you get to die." She gave him a crazy smile.
Ichigo just shook his head, something did not sit right with him but maybe he was just over analyzing things.
A cough was heard from somewhere in the room.
"Well…well, we really need to stop meeting like this." Ichigo heard a voice behind him and a cold feeling washed over him.
He spun around and looked past the hole in the wall where Mayuri had blown up just some moments ago. From the darkness walked out the person Ichigo was meaning to impale his sword into. The skeletal scythe his enemy held looked ready to do some damage.
"Then I am gonna have to make sure that this is the last time we meet!" Ichigo said as he took a battle stance.
Without any hesitation, Ichigo was engulfed by red and black and in seconds his attire changed to the black sleeveless Hakama that he was getting used to. The chains appeared around his arms and the giant cleavers made their way into his welcoming hands where they belonged. This time however, Ichigo felt no pain. His body did not burn. There was no torturous hellish feeling.
He felt…powerful.
"I see you managed to get your powers in check…impressive." Ichigo's enemy said. He sounded genuine.
"I don't need that from you…I just want to defeat you!"
The hooded man bent one knee as he held the scythe in both his hands. He put the blade at an angle such that one swing could chop an enemy's head clean off.
"If it's a fight you want Ichigo, then it's a fight you will get."
"Bring it!" Ichigo threatened.
Ichigo dashed towards the man with no warning, jumped in the air and swung his right hand war cleaver. The man with the scythe crouched down a bit and used the shaft of his scythe to defend. He used his leg muscles to push his body from the ground and threw Ichigo off of him.
Ichigo's body hit the ceiling. Concrete and plaster started raining down as Ichigo fell to the ground.
~xoxo~
Squad 6 barracks, Seireitei.
"Why aren't we out there looking for Ichigo?" Uryu asked the two people walking beside him in the barracks of squad 6.
All the captains and their lieutenants had returned to their barracks and offices after the meeting last night. Yoruichi had left for Karakura town to scope out if the hollow problem was still under control.
"I believe Ichigo will show up in due time Uryu. As you are well aware, none of us can pick up his presence at the moment." The blonde haired former squad 12 captain said.
Kisuke was wearing a black Hakama. His hair was let loose as he had packed his trusty stripped hat away. In its place he wore a black bandana secured around his forehead much like the red haired soul reaper by his side.
Renji looked at the blonde haired shop owner and felt the need to say something.
"It's so weird seeing you without your clogs." The red head said.
"Well, I am trying to be incognito…so for now I will just be dressed like the good old days." Kisuke smiled. But of course in the good old days he would also be donning a captain's haori.
"I have been meaning to ask," Uryu started, "you mentioned that Ichigo is missing a piece before he becomes the key, how can this be administered to him? Can something like an injection be used?"
"Good question." Kisuke answered as they walked, "Ichigo just needs to be exposed to the spirit particles from that realm and his transformation will be complete. So yes, an injection can be used."
Uryu got lost in his thoughts as he tried to piece the puzzle together. Kisuke had assured them that Ichigo was not the key yet, but Uryu wasn't so sure. Something didn't sit well with him.
If an injection can work then so can a…
A voice sounded in the whole Seireitei and interrupted Uryu's Voice.
"Attention…Attention, all able bodied members of the Court Guard Squads report to Lab 8 at the Department of Research and Development. The Fugitive has been spotted. I repeat…Report to Lab 8 at the Department of Research and Development. The fugitive has been spotted."
The three men looked at each other.
"Goddammit Ichigo!" Renji swore. "Now you've done it!"
When the members of Squad 6 started running out of the barracks and towards said lab, Uryu, Renji and Kisuke just had to follow suit.
"Yare, yare." Kisuke said as he made his way to save the Orange haired boy.
~xoxo~
A trashed lab, Seireitei.
Misaki looked at the scene before her from her place in a corner.
Ichigo was really taking a beating. He was lying on the floor, surrounded by plaster and dirt. He had hit his head on the ceiling and now blood was dripping down his left face.
"Damn it!" Ichigo swore.
The hooded man rushed towards the bleeding Ichigo and aimed his blade straight for the orange haired boy's face. Ichigo rolled away from harm and the scythe's blade dug into the floor. A dent formed in the concrete and Ichigo thanked his lucky stars.
Ichigo willed his body to get up and once he was standing, he faced his opponent head on.
"That hurt, you bastard!" Ichigo said before he charged forward, cleavers at the ready.
"I don't want to kill you Ichigo; I need you alive, so, stop fighting and just come with me!"
"Shut…up!" Ichigo first swung his right hand blade, the cleaver hit the hooded man's blade then he swung the cleaver in his left but it was also blocked.
Ichigo jumped back a bit then charged forward again. His cleavers kept hitting the hooded man's blade and each time, sparks flew.
The sound of metal hitting metal echoed in the dimly lit, trashed lab. A bulb was flicking on and off in the corner and electrical sparks could still be seen from the broken screen in the far north wall.
Their weapons connected again and the two fought for power.
Ichigo's face looked bloody and his brown eyes tried to look in the darkness of the hood but he saw nothing. His opponent started exerting more force and almost over powered Ichigo.
"Back off!" Ichigo voiced, pushing the man with the scythe away from him and then raising his long leg for a swift kick to the ribs.
As soon as Ichigo's foot made contact, the attacked man lost his footing momentarily and Ichigo charged forward. The hooded man saw him coming. Just as the blade of the cleaver was about to make contact with the villain's shoulder, he disappeared. Ichigo's weapon hit the ground hard, it dug deep and the floor gave way. Concrete flew everywhere and his blade was stuck for a second.
"Damn it!" Ichigo said as he looked around the room. He saw the hooded man reappear in a corner behind Misaki. The man gripped Misaki's arm roughly and his blade was aimed right at the blue haired soul reapers neck.
Ichigo pulled his blade out of the ground and faced the duo in the corner.
"Let her go!" Ichigo warned.
"That all depends on you Ichigo. Come with me and she lives. Continue to fight and this lovely girl joins the headless horseman in Sleepy Hollow."
"Um…Carrot-top, I really like the fact that my head is attached to my neck so please don't be a dick and just do what Hood says." Misaki looked seriously at Ichigo.
"Smart girl. Hood huh? I like that," Misaki's captor said, "Well Ichigo, what do you say?"
Ichigo was conflicted. Misaki's life was in the balance but he also needed to defeat this crazy man. In that moment, however, all he saw was that blade against Misaki's throat and his decision was obvious. He wiped the blood from his forehead and dropped his arms. The cleavers disappeared from his hands and he stood like a man defeated.
"Fine, now let her go!"
"Good, don't you feel better?" The man teased. "All that pent up anger is not good for a young lad." He laughed.
"Screw you!" Ichigo retorted.
This wasn't over.
"Damn Misaki, of all the times to be docile you choose this moment?" Ichigo looked the captured soul reaper in the eye and hoped she understood the underlying message.
If she could only hit the man in his stomach with her elbow, bash his nose in with the back of her head and then dodge the blade of his scythe Ichigo would have all he needed to deliver the final blow.
Misaki looked back at him and her smirk told him that she understood.
"Try having a blade to your throat Orange and then let's have this conversation again." She said.
Ichigo switched his attention to the cloaked man.
"Let her go. I won't fight anymore!" Ichigo said.
As soon as the man loosened his grip on Misaki's arm and started moving the scythe's blade away from her neck, Misaki elbowed him. The second his staggered for a bit she fought her way out of his grip and ducked down to avoid his blade.
Ichigo was already in motion. In an instant, his cleavers reappeared and were gripped tightly in his expert hands. He dove for the man.
"Not so fast." The hooded man said. He pointed a finger at Ichigo. "Bakudou number 61: Rikujou Kourou."
Ichigo was thrown back as the 6 bar seal bound him. The sealed fighter tried to fight against it but to no avail.
"Damn it!" This was seriously not going well for Ichigo.
He looked at Misaki who had stepped away from the hooded man and he felt relieved. At least she was safe…for now.
He was not going to let this seal keep him from winning this fight. A burst of black and red erupted from Ichigo's body and he the seal was broken.
"You are stubborn." The hooded man said in exasperation, "Why do you keep fighting?"
Ichigo thought of his family and his friends. He thought of Orihime and a smile formed on his face. Her sometimes airhead personality pleased him.
"Because I have something worth fighting for and it's something a crazy bastard like you can never understand!"
"Enough of this! I will snuff out your flame. I will destroy your spirit!"
The hooded man quickly disappeared; Ichigo anticipated this move and he also flash stepped towards Misaki.
"Misaki! Move!" Ichigo warned.
When the man's scythe started materializing in front of Misaki's neck, Ichigo put his own blade between the two. Misaki side stepped away and took a stand behind Ichigo. When the man's whole body appeared, Ichigo raised his other cleaver and swiped at the man's shoulder. This grazed the man but not enough to dismember him. Blood sprayed and splashed on Ichigo's face. The wounded villain was not fazed.
"You will pay for that!"
Hood kneed Ichigo in the stomach. Ichigo doubled over and was then hit on the back with the butt of the man's scythe. Ichigo coughed out blood. The man then spun his scythe once above Ichigo and then all Ichigo saw was light and a feeling of nausea overwhelmed him.
~xoxo~
Head captains office, Seireitei. (Right before the alarm alerting every one of Ichigo's whereabouts had gone off.)
"Outrageous! This kind of behavior will not be tolerated!" The Head Captain pounded his staff on the floor.
Hearing Soi Fon report that Captain Hitsugaya had known all this time where Ichigo had been hiding came as a shock. He had suspected that the human was getting help, but he did not expect it to have been from a capable and strong captain such as Toshiro Hitsugaya.
"All those who disregard the rules will not go unpunished. The law is clear. Bring me Captain Hitsugaya!"
"Yes, Head Captain." The ever serious Soi Fon responded.
She understood, probably more than anyone, that orders once issued, are to be followed. No matter your personal views.
She did not care that the head captain had known of the true reason for the execution order and hadn't explained it to any of the captains. All she cared about was following orders. All orders were to be carried out without question or personal thought. There had to be genuine reasons for harsh orders. This situation was a perfect example.
She bowed her head and prepared to leave when the alarm sounded.
"Attention…Attention, all able bodied members of the Court Guard Squads report to Lab 8 at the Department of Research and Development. The Fugitive has been spotted. I repeat…Report to Lab 8 at the Department of Research and Development. The fugitive has been spotted."
Soi Fon froze as she listened to the message.
"What are you waiting for, Captain Soi Fon?" The Head Captain's voice echoed in the large room. "The Human must be captured. Do not fail me."
The corner of her lips lifted.
She had him now.
This time she would not fail.
Soi Fon flash stepped out of the large room and prepared to capture the fugitive.
~xoxo~
Somewhere above Karakura town
Ichigo was falling from the sky and as he failed to gain control of his body he fell, back first, to the ground. A large crater formed where his body hit. The giant cleavers were by his side, connected to his body by the chains that coiled around his toned arms.
He felt like his body had been turned inside out.
He wanted to retch.
He felt knackered.
But he needed to get up. He needed to push on.
Before he could get up, he felt boots dig into his stomach as Hood stomped on him. Ichigo spat out more blood and as he winced, he could have sworn he had heard a rib crack.
The searing pain overwhelmed him.
"Get-off-ME!" Ichigo demanded.
He reached for his weapons and swung savagely at the man on top of him. Hoodman somersaulted off of Ichigo and jumped on to a nearby wall.
"Just stop fighting! Why can't you understand I am trying to help all of us?" He spoke from his high vantage point.
"Idiot! I never…give up! I won't…stop until…I win this!" Ichigo coughed. "I will stop you!"
Ichigo then got up and saw Misaki passed out on the ground a distance from where he stood.
"Misaki!" he called out and almost fell to the ground. His feet still felt wobbly. He looked around. He saw the familiar buildings and the even familiar walls of the alley she was in. he saw it all and recognized that he was in Karakura town.
But how?
"Confused?" The man on the wall laughed, "Don't be; my scythe can do more than just beheadings."
Was his weapon capable of moving bodies and souls between worlds in just seconds? Was that how he disappeared and reappeared during fights?
Ichigo pondered.
This opponent was more formidable than Ichigo had initially thought. But to what end?
"Why are you doing this?" Ichigo shouted out in frustration.
Unlike the rest of his friends, Ichigo still had no idea that he was the key to opening an ancient gateway to the land of the leviathans. He did not know that his power was the only thing that could bring about the end of the worlds.
"Come with me and I will tell you." The man reached out his right hand while his left gripped the scythe.
"You are seriously starting to piss me off!" Ichigo bit out.
His body had gotten over his little inter-realm travel.
Ichigo pushed off from the ground and dove for the man atop the wall. Hood did not even jump away. He just moved his scythe to his right hand while his left gripped the lower part and thrust the blade in Ichigo's stomach.
Ichigo spat and spurted out warm crimson liquid. Hood then retracted the blade as he kicked Ichigo in the chest. Ichigo dropped to the ground, flinching in pain.
He was not going to take this lying down. He would fight through the pain. He slowly willed his body off of the dirty ground and stood up-cleavers in both hands, his clothes clinging to his stomach.
"Ichigo, don't make me laugh." The man pointed his razor sharp- now bloody- scythe at the young man below, "You need a thousand more years before you can take me on. Against me…you will ALWAYS lose!"
"Shut up! This ends now!" more blood seeped out of the wound inflicted by the sharp scythe.
Not letting what the shrouded man was saying get to him; the cut up teen leapt in the air and prepared to swing his cleavers once more.
Scythe-man stood his ground and raised his weapon just as one of Ichigo's blades was about to cut his head off. Both of Ichigo's cleavers now made contact with the man's scythe. Ichigo pushed with all his strength and the man with the scythe still held on. Neither one was letting the other overpower him.
While still hovering in the air, Ichigo maneuvered out of this useless position and also stood on the wall. He roundhouse-kicked the man on the wall, who then lost his balance and dropped to the ground.
Hood fell gracefully and as his legs hit the ground, Ichigo followed him down. The cleavers were ready to do damage but the hooded man still defended with his scythe.
This was not working.
Ichigo drew his head back and propelled it forward with so much force that when he made contact with the head of his opponent, the hooded man staggered back. This was the only advantage Ichigo needed as he lifted his leg to kick the man straight in the gut.
The hooded man was pushed back and flew straight into the far wall. The wall collapsed and rubble fell on top of him.
A panting Ichigo tried to stand up straight but the pain from his wound on his stomach was making it hard. His blood soaked clothes clung to his body. He speared one of his giant blades in the ground and used it for support. He was barely standing up.
Ichigo closed his left eye as the blood dripping down made it hard for him to see. He waited for some movement from the fallen ruins of the wall but all he saw was dust and stone.
Was it over?
The sharp blade of a bloody scythe materialized right in front of Ichigo as he panted and gasped for more air. The ginger's reflexes were getting sharper and before the blade could cut off his head, Ichigo ducked and only got nicked on his cheek. Blood dripped from Ichigo's cheek.
"Damn you!" Ichigo said. He felt frustration with each second that passed.
The hooded man's whole body finally appeared out of nowhere and Ichigo didn't give him a chance to attack. The former substitute soul reaper swung the blade in his right hand and aimed it straight for the hooded man's neck. The man with the scythe dodged this attack by turning his head back and arching his back.
He planted the bottom of the scythe firmly into the ground and used it for balance. With his back arched and Ichigo's blades carefully evaded, the man raised his left leg and kicked Ichigo's jaw. Hood spun and somersaulted, grabbing the scythe with him and landing in a low crouch a distance away
The kick he dealt Ichigo sent the orange haired fighter flying and as he spun in the air, the man who dealt the kick straightened up before Ichigo could land.
While Ichigo was still in the air spinning and failing to find control, scythe-man dove off from the ground and with super speed was able to find his way above Ichigo in the air. He swung his right leg with the force of a man determined and hit Ichigo in the stomach.
Ichigo flinched as the pain hit him. The kick to his gut sent him falling to the ground like a rock and a crater formed on the ground as his beaten up body landed. He coughed up some blood and closed his eyes shut. The dust and dirt were going into his eyes and the stones in the ground were digging into his already bruised back.
"Damn…it!" he said through bloody, clenched teeth.
He felt overpowered, but he was not going to give up. There was too much on the line.
"Are you going to come with me now?" Ichigo's opponent asked. He dropped to the ground swiftly and landed with one knee bent.
"Never!" Ichigo struggled to get up, willing his body to respond. "This…isn't over!"
"I will commend you on your tenacity, you have willpower, that I can see, but it isn't enough in this wretched world." The hooded man said as he walked over to Ichigo's bloody frame. "You need more weapons in your arsenal to withstand and fight the cruelty of this world…this existence."
Ichigo winced as the man towering him proceeded to stepping on his wounded body.
"Get off me, you cowardly bastard!" he cursed. "I will kill you!" he flinched again when the man exerted more pressure.
"More empty threats…" the man moved his foot off of Ichigo, "…pathetic. Just stop fighting and let me show you my plan. This is what the worlds need…I am doing all of us a favour."
"A favour? Do you know how many people have died? The only person enjoying this is you, you psychotic freak!"
"You fight me and yet all I am doing is trying to better this hell we call our existence."
Ichigo had gone through too much to be called pathetic now. He needed to be stronger. As he wasn't in his spiritual body, he knew anymore damage would kill him.
He wasn't going to let that happen.
He felt the familiar warmth wash over his body and a powerful surge of black and red exuded from deep within him. The energy hit the man looking down on him and threw him back spinning. It kept on going and leveled the walls within a hundred meter radius.
Ichigo felt his body start to slowly patch itself up. It wasn't major but it was enough for him to stand now. He raised his body from the ground and looked around him. He had caused more damage than he had intended.
He looked to where the hooded man had fallen and when the dust settled, Ichigo saw the man in black slowly start to get up.
He was covered by his hood no longer.
His face could easily be seen.
Ichigo saw his face and he felt his knees weaken. Where his eyes playing tricks on him?
"Y-you-you are-" Ichigo couldn't say anything intelligent at that point. The shock had been too much.
The face staring back at Ichigo smirked and it unnerved the wounded human even more.
It was uncanny.
"This is most unfortunate." The man said, "I had intended to keep this little surprise secret for longer. No matter…my plan is still flawless."
"How-how is this-" Ichigo stepped back a bit, planted his blade in the dugout soil and supported himself with it.
"Ichigo!" Misaki's voice came from behind him. She was finally awake and she didn't call him by some ridiculous nickname. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the face of the man in front of them.
Ichigo was not going to let this little discovery deter him. He was so close.
The uncloaked man looked Misaki's way and smirked.
"Misaki stay back! I will finish this." Ichigo said to the Soul reaper now standing next to him.
"Sorry about this, strawberry." She said flatly.
Misaki wasted no time and quickly moved towards Ichigo. She pressed her fingers on his pressure points and knocked him out before he could even realize that she had been playing him like a flute all along.
He had no idea that she had inserted herself in his life from the beginning for this same reason. Offering him the one thing he did not need in the guise of pain killers. Priming him for the moment when he would eventually become the key.
She looked at the orange haired boy on the floor and then at Hood a distance from her. A smile formed on her face.
"Excellent performance Misaki," the scythe man said. He would have clapped if he wasn't gripping the skeletal scythe, "you had them all fooled."
~xoxo~
Author's Note: I know I am late with this chapter but I was struggling with the fight scene.
Please tell me what you think of this chapter. Being a "Lurker" is cool and all but you know Author's love Reviews and Feedback, so yeah leave me your comments.
I think I am talking to myself now…
Next chapter we get to see the Gateway to the Land of the Leviathans open. #excited.
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