Disclaimer - I do not own Bleach
Chapter Eleven - Lost Soul
As soon as he arrived in Hueco Mundo Ichigo set his gaze upon a large building that occupied the horizon. This was Aizen's palace of Las Noches and it was where Ichigo was headed. That bastard would pay dearly for what he'd attempted to have done to his family.
"Well, well," a silky voice spoke from behind the Substitute Shinigami. "I'm shocked Ichigo. I didn't think that you'd fall for my trap so easily."
Ichigo whirled around and his gaze fell upon Aizen. The former Shinigami Captain was dressed in white and there was a cold expression in his brown eyes. "You bastard. You were going to have those guys kill my sisters." There was hatred blazing bright in Ichigo's eyes as he spat out this accusation.
"Actually that was just a way to get you here," Aizen said in a calm voice. "And now that you're here it's time for you to die."
"I don't think so," Ichigo snarled as he reached back and grabbed the hilt of Zangetsu. The Substitute Shinigami drew his zanpaktou in one fluid motion. "Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu!"
Aizen watched with an almost bored expression on his face as Ichigo assumed his Bankai form. This wouldn't change the outcome of the battle, it would only increase and prolong the boy's suffering. "You should have forgotten about Soul Society," Aizen said as he faced Ichigo, not even bothering to draw the sword that he wore at his side. "Why would you fight for people who would gladly sacrifice your life for their own? It makes no sense to me."
"Idiot," Ichigo snapped as he held his right hand up in front of his face. The faces of his dad, his sisters, and Rukia flashed briefly through his mind. "I fight for those I love and no one else!"
As these words escaped the boy's lips a mask began to form in front of his face. The boy's eyes glowed an eerie yellow as he gazed at Aizen, the hatred plainly visible. "You're going to die!" he screamed out in a distorted voice as he launched himself toward Aizen.
The leader of the Espada watched calmly as Ichigo flew toward him and then, at the last possible moment, he threw out his right hand. A burst of energy flew from Aizen's palm, striking Ichigo and knocking him off balance. The teen was forced to do a back flip in mid air to prevent himself from falling to the ground in a heap. As it was he slid back several feet before he managed to pull himself to a stop. Growling low in his throat he swung the blade of Zangetsu. "Getsuga Tenshou!"
Aizen laughed as he easily dodged the attack, having deemed it unworthy of a counter attack, and the sound was wholly without humor. There was a smirk on the man's face as he launched yet another kidou attack in Ichigo's direction.
Ichigo made an attempt to dodge the attack however he misjudged by a tiny degree and as a result was struck by the blast. The Substitute Shinigami sucked in his breath sharply as he felt the flesh of his right shoulder burn. The cloth of his shihakusho had been disintegrated in the spot where the kidou blast had struck and angry red blisters appeared on his flesh.
Pushing the pain of the wound to the farthest reaches of his mind Ichigo focused his full attention on his opponent. He was determined to end this no matter the cost. Aizen had threatened his family and Ichigo knew that he could not allow the man to live.
"Head Captain Ukitake!" Kin called out as she barged into the Squad One office. Now under normal circumstances she would have at least knocked on the door to announce her arrival however the message that she had to relay simply could not wait.
Ukitake instantly picked up on the slightly panicked expression in the young girl's pale blue eyes. "What is it Kin?"
"Captain Hitsugaya sent me to tell you that the Espada are attempting to breech the protective barrier around Soul Society," Kin relayed at a breathless pace. "Out in District Five of the Rukongai. He and Vice-captain Matsumoto are working to evacuate the area as we speak."
Ukitake was immediately on his feet, a concerned expression in his kind eyes. "We have to gather the other Squads and get out to the Rukongai before the barrier is breeched."
Kin nodded her head in understanding.
"You should go back to District Five and meet up with Captain Hitsugaya," Ukitake told the young girl. "Tell him that reinforcements are on the way."
"Yes sir," Kin said, quickly turning to leave the office. As she made her way toward the door she was practically ran over by a couple of Shinigami who were attempting to enter the office at the same time that she was attempting to leave it.
"Sorry," Rukia said as she came to a sudden stop a split second before running into the young girl.
"S'okay," Kin mumbled as she dodged around the two new arrivals and left the office.
Once the girl had disappeared around a corner Rukia and Renji made their way across the office over to the spot where Head Captain Ukitake stood. "What's happened?" Ukitake asked as Renji and Rukia came to a stop in front of him. Whatever it was he knew that it had to be bad to make them leave their post in the world of the living.
"Ichigo's sisters were attacked by a couple of Espada," Rukia explained, forcing her concern for Ichigo to the back of her mind. "So of course Mr. Hothead had to travel to Hueco Mundo in pursuit of Aizen. We were hoping that maybe we could take some reinforcements and go after him."
"Damn," Ukitake muttered, placing a hand to the side of his head. This news couldn't have come at a worse time. "I'd love to send someone to help the Substitute Shinigami but the Espada are attempting to breech the barrier over District Five as we speak. They're on the attack."
"I'm on it sir," Renji said, immediately turning to leave the office. Rukia hesitated for a brief moment, her thoughts focused squarely on Ichigo, but then she too made a move to leave the office. If Soul Society was under attack then it was her duty to defend it, no matter how loudly her heart was screaming for her to go to Hueco Mundo and help Ichigo.
"Please be okay," she whispered as she dashed toward the gate that separated the Seireitei from the Rukongai.
"Captain Hitsugaya," Kin called out as she appeared at his side. "I delivered the message to Head Captain Ukitake as ordered and he said that reinforcements are on the way."
Hitsugaya nodded, pleased that she had relayed the news so quickly. "I think you should go back to the Seireitei with the refugees from District Five. . ."
"Like hell I will," Kin burst out angrily. She knew that Captain Hitsugaya was just thinking of her safety but his words angered her none the less. It was true that she was new to the Thirteen Court Guard Squads but that didn't mean that she was incapable of battle. "I've been training for this and I refuse to abandon my friends and colleagues. I'm going to fight."
Hitsugaya stared into the girl's ice blue eyes and saw the determination within. He nodded his head respectfully. "We should prepare. It's only a matter of time before they breech the barrier."
Kin nodded and turned to walk away.
Hitsugaya's gaze remained focused on Kin as she walked away from him and the young captain slowly pulled a small box from the folds of his shihakusho. "Kin," he called out in an uncertain voice.
"Captain?" Kin said as she turned back to face him.
"Matsumoto told me that your birthday is today," Hitsugaya said gruffly, hiding the small box from her questioning gaze.
"Yea," Kin said quietly. "But it's no big deal."
Hitsugaya walked over to the spot where Kin was standing. "Here," he said, holding out the small box.
Kin's eyes widened in surprise as she accepted the small box that he held out to her. "Um thank you," she said in a quiet voice.
Hitsugaya merely shrugged and walked away.
Kin unwrapped the tiny box and pulled off the lid, revealing a small pendant in the shape of a snowflake nestled on a bed of light blue satin. Kin gasped as she gazed down at the snowflake, which looked as though it were made of real ice. The girl knew that only a powerful kidou could have created this and she was shocked that Captain Hitsugaya had actually made her a gift for her birthday. With a trembling hand she gently lifted the pendant and secured it around her neck.
A soft smile on her face Kin walked over to the spot where Hitsugaya was standing underneath a tree. His eyes were closed and he looked as though he were meditating however his eyes snapped open as Kin threw her arms around him.
"Thank you so much," she said in a quiet voice. "It's gorgeous."
"It's no big deal," Hitsugaya said gruffly.
"Ohhh!" a voice suddenly exploded out of the silence. "How adorable!"
Both Kin and Hitsugaya jumped in surprise, quickly distancing themselves from one another.
Matsumoto couldn't help but laugh at the blushes that colored both of their faces. The two of them really did make the most adorable couple and she knew that her captain saw a little bit of himself in the young girl, who was also a prodigy and somewhat of a loner because of this fact. Captain Hitsugaya understood the girl and that was another reason why Matsumoto thought that they were made for each other. And the fact that Hitsugaya had actually made her a birthday gift gave Matsumoto hope for their future. A broad smile spread across her face as she gazed back and forth between Kin and Captain Hitsugaya.
"They're coming," Hitsugaya said suddenly, his voice calm despite the dire situation. The group instantly sobered, awaiting the arrival of the Espada.
Aizen was proving to be more than a match for Ichigo and the Substitute Shinigami growled in frustration as the Hollow mast that covered his face exploded in a spray of white. The fight had dragged on for too long and now Ichigo has lost the ability to use his Hollow form.
"Black coffin," Aizen said in a maddeningly calm tone of voice, watching as Ichigo was enveloped by the powerful kidou. Unlike the last time he'd used the kidou, on Captain Komamura back in the Seireitei, the kidou actually worked the way it was supposed to this time around and Aizen watched in satisfaction as Ichigo completely disappeared, enveloped by the darkness.
Within moments the black box containing Ichigo exploded and the young man dropped to the ground, not even making an attempt to break his fall. Covered in blood and still clutching Zangetsu in his hand, Ichigo hit the ground with a thud and did not move.
Aizen slowly walked over to the spot where his defeated opponent was lying and stared down into his partially open eyes. The boy was still technically alive although he was hanging on by the tiniest of threads and Aizen decided in that moment that the battle was over. The orange haired Substitute Shinigami had only minutes to live and simply wasn't worth the final blow. He would be dead soon enough.
"And now I'm off to Soul Society," Aizen said in his velvety smooth voice. "Before the day is over I will stand in Heaven."
And with those words Aizen vanished.
TBC. . .
A/N- cliffhanger! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, feel free to review and let me know what you thought. Til next time this is Hitsu-taichou signing out.