Disclaimer: I still don't own...
Okay, this is going to be the last chapter before the big fight! I'm going to take my time writing the fight ( I mean because I never usually do that, right?) because I want it to be the best that I can make it. If there's anything you really want to see, please tell me. I hope you enjoy and please, please, review!
Ichigo slowly made his way to where all of the Espada had been told to meet. His gaze was emotionless, a blank slate. It didn't show the thoughts toying in his head.
"Is this what I felt stirring before?" Ichigo questioned to the hogyoku.
"What, are you scared of what you'll have to do?"
"Where did you get that false idea from?" Ichigo replied bluntly an edge to his voice.
"So you're not?"
Ichigo paused a minute before answering, "I think I passed the point of caring about what I'll have to do long ago."
"So you're fine with fighting the Soul Society?"
Ichigo sighed, "Well, I can't seem to care. Does that count?"
The hogyoku didn't answer right away. Ichigo got all the way to the door of the appointed meeting room before it spoke up one last time.
"Either way, I promise to help you fight."
Ichigo paused in confusion, not sure what the hogyoku meant. Help him fight? Ichigo felt something ominous in that thought. A battle field seemed to appear in his mind, one with blood as far as the eye could see. And corpses. Corpses of both Arrancar and Soul Reapers. And standing in the center of it all, face emotionless but splattered with blood, was himself.
Ichigo shook his head to clear the image, but not because it bothered him. Truly he didn't care. The image did nothing more then give some part of him a grim satisfaction. He wouldn't fully admit it, but he felt bitter towards both parties.
Something inside him withered in joy at seeing the carnage. Something that seemed to thirst for the world to pay for its bitterness in blood.
Ichigo chuckled darkly, knowing that he wouldn't really mind seeing both sides burn. Better yet if he was the cause.
Ichigo had been so lost in his thoughts, that he didn't feel the presence creep up behind him until a hand rested on his shoulder. He turned his face slightly, ready to slice off the hand, to see that said hand belonged to none other then Aizen. Something dark inside him coiled at the sight of Aizen, but Ichigo remained passive.
"Yes?" Ichigo asked curtly, bringing a smile to Aizen's face.
"I'm giving you special orders."
Ichigo just stared at him emotionlessly, not saying a word.
Aizen sighed at his lack of enthusiasm but was unable to stop that small smile from reappearing on his own face, "Kurosaki Ichigo," He started slowly, "You are not to participate in the battle until I say it is time. You will wait on the sidelines with Gin, Tousen and myself. Understood?"
Ichigo swallowed his pride as he slightly nodded his head, "Yes Aizen…-sama."
Aizen smiled widely, "Very good. And don't worry," he started as he walked past Ichigo to go into the meeting room, a now menacing smile on his face, "I think that it's going to be very entertaining."
Tousen followed Aizen into the room, Gin not far behind. As Gin brushed by Ichigo he couldn't help but notice the serious gaze on Gin's face, how his eyes were a deep red… and how the smile that plastered his face seemed almost as menacing as Aizen's.
"Yes," Ichigo thought with an amused air as he watched Aizen's back retreating into the room followed by Tousen and Gin, an image of Aizen falling to the bloodied ground, dead, flashing through his mind, "Very entertaining indeed."