(A/N: We return to the Karin-verse again to follow Ichigo again. Last we saw him he and Tatsuki were headed somewhere together. What will happen? Let's find out. FYI, I tell the story from Fandom!Orihime's pov. Because of her Catatonic state the words in italics are the words entering her mind and the words in bold are words that she's saying to herself in her mind.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach
Ichigo's pov
I followed Tatsuki to the park where she wanted us to meet. There was a small wooden bench painted violet red that she had us sit at. I could see the Karakura general hospital from our seat.
"We're going to visit Orihime-chan together today," she said and then reached into her bag for something, "but before that there's something I have to show you." Tatsuki pulled out a sketchbook and flipped open to the last page. It was a picture of me in soul form and a strawberry beneath me that had been drawn with marker and low quality. The page was splashed with tears. "Sorry those are my tears," Tatsuki flushed.
"Who drew this?" I asked.
"Orihime-chan did," Tatsuki said. My eyes widened. Tatsuki then told me about what happened two days ago. "She," she sniffed, "she said your name, she wouldn't stop saying it, to think after six years, she doesn't even know you in this world and your name is the first word she says. So if anyone can help Orihime-chan recover I know it's you." She said. I will still awe struck by the story. She said my name, my name, not Tatsuki's my name. Tatsuki put the sketch away, "Anyway, let's go visit her," she said gathering her composure. She helped me from my seat.
"Yeah," I nodded.
Surprisingly, since Inoue had begun to recover a little, the staff had allowed her time in the flower garden. Tatsuki and I approached Inoue from a distance who was sitting on a concrete bench. She was looking kindly at the robin perched on her finger. Tatsuki was behind me and then elbowed me forward so that Inoue could only see me and not her. Inoue stood up suddenly and the robin flew away. She looked at me, her eyes were still lifeless, but there was something different about her today. She opened her mouth.
"I-chi-go," she sounded out. She walked towards me. It was slow and her left hand was up like a zombie, but her movements weren't clunky at least. I then did what I hoped I'd be able to do, after I knew about Inoue being like this. I walked over to Inoue and held her in my arms. Her body locked into mine as she made herself comfortable in my embrace.
"Hey Inoue, can you hear me?" I asked me.
Orihime's pov
"Inoue-ay-ay-ay-ay,"
Is someone calling out to me?
"hear-ear-ear-ear, Inoue-ay-ay-ay?"
Yes, voice I hear you, who are you?
"Inoue-ay-ay-ay-ay,"
There's a sudden warmth to my back, who's holding me, this touch is unrecognizable. Something wet on my head? Tears maybe? Where's Tatsuki? Where's Ichigo? I must find Ichigo. I don't know why, but that name, this person I see in the back of my mind, I know that that is his name. He will free me.
"Sorry-ory-ory Inoue-ay-ay-ay,"
Sorry for what?
"been there-air-air-air,"
Where should you have been? Who are you? Help me, I cannot see you. All I see is white.
"protected-ected-ected-ected you-u-u-u-u,"
Protected Me? Why?
"wake up,"
Why? The voice it's becoming so clear now.
"Please, I can't bear to see you like this Inoue, please wake up, let me see your smiling face. Tatsuki said you said my name yesterday, she said you would get better if I was here, so please wake up."
Tatsuki? Where is she? Who are you?
"Please……"
No please keep speaking! Don't start crying! Tell me your name! Tell me your name!
Ichigo's pov
Damn it why isn't this working, she's not responding at all.
"Ichigo, where are you?" she says weakly in a craggily voice.
Finally, "I'm right here Inoue, beside you please wake up, please."
3rd Person pov
In that moment a sudden change seem to take hold. Orihime's body tensed, slowly vitality seemed to creep into her skin and then suddenly life sparked into her eyes followed by tears,
"My savoir, you've come at last," Orihime began sobbing into Ichigo's embrace.
"Inoue," he spoke her name calmly.
"Orihime-chan?" Tatsuki walked out from behind the hedges. Hearing Tatsuki call her name Orihime looked up, broke from the embrace she was in and ran over to hug her best friend.
"Tatsuki!" she cried with glee.
"Oh Orihime-chan, you're back, you're finally back," Tatsuki sobbed, her head resting slightly above Orihime's ample bosom.
"Glad to see you back to what I would consider normal." Ichigo said. Orihime turned towards him.
"Are you Ichigo?" she asked. Ichigo nodded.
"Orihime how do you know him?" Tatsuki asked.
"I-I don't know. I just…about a week ago, I had this really weird vision. There was a knight who came to me in my sleep and swept me off my feet. He wore a black kimono, had orange hair, and carried a large sword. That knight's name was Ichigo." She said, "And he was supposed to arrive to save me. And now he's here, and I'm free, free at last." Orihime was smiling. A wave of relief and joy waved over Ichigo. Even though he didn't exist in this world, even though Orihime didn't know him in this world, he still had managed to make a difference in her life. He had managed to make his mark on a world where he didn't originally exist.
"Oh how sickeningly sweet," a dark voice came.
"Who are you?" Ichigo barked. "Show yourself" From out of nowhere a man with bluish skin, black hair and white garb seemed to just materialize on the spot.
"I am Vladimir Elaggod, a member of the Exaltaron, Aizen's greatest attack force." The Arrancar let out a huge surge of reiatsu. Orihime fell to her knees almost gagging.
"Tatsuki get Orihime out of here, we don't need her to go back to the way she was," Ichigo said grabbing his badge, "And if you can," He slammed the badge into his chest "Carry my body while you at it." Orihime was in awe at seeing her supposed hero in the form she envisioned him in. Tatsuki grabbed her hand and slung Ichigo's body over his back.
"Tatsuki what's going on?" Orihime asked "What is that thing?"
"I'll explain everything to you later, right now we need to get out of here!"
"You ladies aren't going anywhere. Cero," a red flash headed toward Tatsuki and Orihime the blast's origin behind Ichigo.
"Tsugi no Mai! Hakuren!"
"Ah, Rukia-san," Tatsuki recognized the raven haired Shinigami who had just saved them using her Zanpakuto.
"Who's she?" Orihime asked.
"I'll explain everything later!" Tatsuki repeated. "Right now we need to get you somewhere safe!"
"Rukia," Ichigo turned to see his friend.
"Looks like you could use some back up." Rukia smirked. Ichigo nodded.
"That's sweet, you two think you can beat me. I am an Exaltaron, I am the elite of the elite. I am stronger than even most of the Espada."
"Is that right?" Ichigo was unfazed by Vladimir's taunt, "If that's the case it's simple, if I can kick your ass, I can easily win the war back in my world." Ichigo's reiatsu flared.
"Your world?" Vladimir questioned. "Are you saying you are from another world?"
"That's right and let me tell you something, you picked the wrong guy's friends to endanger. BANKAI!"
Ichigo's pov
"Tensa Zangetsu!"
"Impossible," Vladimir spat.
Perfect his statement just made everything all the easier, "Don't me let me guess, you recognize my Bankai?" His eyes said it all, "Well then all I have to do is kill you and I can bring Karin back and go back home. And you won't have done a thing!" My reiatsu flared.
Vladamir laughed wildly, "You fool, so you believe that by taking my sword to the research and development lab you can go back home. Too bad for you, my power is divided amongst my brothers and myself. And we sent my brother Dimitri to your world where Karin is, so there's no hope of you returning." He boasted.
"I wouldn't be too sure of that. After all I'm from that world. This Dimitri person will be defeated, just like you're about to be defeated."
"Tough talk Shinigami," Vladamir drew out his Zanpakuto, which turned out to be two swords, "Let's see you back them up." He and I took to the air.
"Back me up Rukia," I ordered before taking off.
"Are you ready Shinigami?" Vladimir asked.
"Yeah," I summoned my mask, "Bring it!"
He came charging forward with a cry. I shunpoed around him and attacked, cutting him wide, but he Sonidoed behind me and attacked with his left sword arm.
"Getsuga Tensho!"
"Cero!" The flash came from both swords. Unfortunately my attack was overpowered by his cero and I had to use Shunpo to dodge. I then went in for several quick strikes taking to the offensive. Annotating each swing with a battle mad cry.
"Hado 33 Sokatsui!" I jumped backwards as Rukia's attack connected into the Arrancar's side.
"Little bitch!" he shouted diving after her.
"Rukia!" I shouted diving after him, when all of a sudden my mask shattered, Shit. Suddenly a large familiar green hawk tore across the sky slamming into Vladimir before scratching him with her talons.
"Yuzu!" Rukia cried.
"Sorry I'm late, but I made a little detour before coming here," she stated as she flapped her wings.
"Detour?" I asked panting as I stood my ground, only to watch as dozens of arrows pelted into Vladamir's body.
"Uryu!"
"I sensed this blasted Arrancar a while ago, sorry I should've told you and Tatsuki about it earlier."
"Don't worry about it," I said.
"Think he's done for?" Rukia asked.
"Doubtful," I said, when suddenly I was stabbed through the upper portion of my chest.
3rd Person pov
"Kurosaki!" Ishida shouted.
"Ichigo-san!" Rukia shouted in horror as Vladamir made a sudden materialization and shook Ichigo off of his sword.
"Pathetic," he spat
"Bastard!" Rukia struck with Sode no Shirayuki, but Vladamir deflected her with his right sword arm kicking her away and severly injured Uryu with his other sword.
Rukia's pov
Ichigo-san, no, I looked over to Ichigo-san who was lying on the ground, bleeding massively. I was panting, standing hunched over and using Sode no Shirayuki as a balance. I watched as Yuzu used her telekinesis to warp Ichigo-san's body to her so she could heal him.
"Ichigo-san!"
Are you that desperate to save him? Sode no Shirayuki asked.
Of course I am, I love him I told her
But he does not return your feelings She reminded me.
That doesn't matter, he has a life to live in his world, he needs to live that life. I watched as Vladimir began to approach Ichigo-san and Yuzu to finish them off.
You do not care that he does not feel for you as you feel for him? She seemed confused.
No, I just, I just want him to be okay, though his heart may not be mine, that doesn't mean I still can't have mine be his I explained.
I see then you are ready Rukia-chan, Let us destroy the creature who wishes to dispose of your precious Ichigo-san Sode no Shirayuki began to bestow her power upon me.
I looked at Vladimir with a fierce gaze and with Sode no Shirayuki still in Shikai, I placed it in its sheathe. "BANKAI!"
3rd Person pov
Vladimir looked in Rukia's direction as she shouted the word that no Arrancar ever wants a Shinigami to shout as though it was a desperate cry for help. Rukia had the appearance as though she had merged with an Ice elemental. Her body was blue and Icy and her hair was white. She held no weapon and the sclera of her eyes were black with white irises. There was a patch of Ice beneath Rukia's position as she seemed to be hovering about an inch off the ground.
"Sode no Shirayuki Megami!" (Sleeved White Snow Goddess) A fierce chilling wind blew from Rukia's position. Yuzu had to warp her and Ichigo to another location to escape it. "I will not forgive you for hurting Ichigo-san." Rukia spoke as though she and Sode no Shirayuki were one being. "You will face my chilling wrath Arrancar!"
"So you've released Bankai," Vladimir turned towards Rukia, "there was no record to say that you could, but no matter. I will not lose." Vladimir charged forward, but Rukia raised her right arm and made a giant wall of ice seem to appear out of nowhere as Vladimir slammed into it. Rukia cupped her hands near her mouth and blew creating a small snowball. She focused her Kido into the snowball as it grew larger and raised it above her head. When it was large enough for her liking she launched it at the Arrancar, smashing him hard.
Rukia converged her hands to her side palms facing into each other, "Hado 63 Soren Sokatsui!" The lightning blast smashed into the already injured arrancar.
Ichigo who was just now regaining consciousness, thanks to Yuzu's healing could see Rukia as she walked forward, creating ice beneath every step. Vladimir was in quite a bit of pain, but he didn't seem to be down and out. He stood up staggering and bleeding.
"Sever and Bleed! Vampiro Caballero!" (Vampire Knight)
When Vladimir's form could be seen again, he had a dark red and black body. He had two spike-like structures emerging from his shoulders. His head was fully masked with his eyes converged into a V-shape. His right arm was a claw like arm and his left arm was a dragon's head with a giant demonic looking blade hovering inches in front of it. He was floating on air. He looked more than ready to crush Rukia where she stood.
"Shinigami bitch, prepare to meet your demise." The blade in his arm shot forward. Rukia put up her Ice wall for defense, but it was penetrated by the swing. The blade trailed along the ground and cut her upwards and then struck down before returning to Vladimir's side. Rukia's body did not bleed, but reiatsu leaked from her wounds instead.
"Rukia," Ichigo coughed.
"Please stay still Onii-chan," Yuzu told Ichigo, "I can't heal you if you move."
"But Rukia…"
"Will be fine, I already sent a telepathic call for help."
Suddenly there was a loud cry of "Seireitora!" (Spirit Tiger) as a giant shockwave in the shape of a tiger's head slammed into Vladimir knocking him off balance. "Nobody!" Tatsuki panted storming onto the scene, "And I mean Nobody," her anger rose, "hurts my friends and gets away with it." She raged.
"Arisawa-san," thanks goodness Rukia sighed before returning to sealed form and collapsing.
"Tatsuki what are you doing, you can't beat him!" Ichigo called out remembering Chad's level of strength compared to his own. "Why would you think Tatsuki would make good backup?" Ichigo asked Yuzu.
"I didn't call Tatsuki, I contacted Soul Society!" she defended as she and Ichigo watched Tatsuki try and face up against Vladimir and failing, "I had been talking to someone telepathically ever since I arrived here and more urgently so after Rukia-chan released her Bankai." Yuzu stated.
"Who?" Ichigo asked.
Suddenly a Senkaimon gate opened behind Ichigo and Yuzu's position as a figure wearing a white captain's Hayori stepped through. He took a look at Rukia passed out on the ground, then to Yuzu who was healing Ichigo and finally to Tatsuki who was getting her clock cleaned. He unsheathed the weapon he was holding took look at the enemy before him and spoke two words:
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
To be continued…
(A/N: OMG Byakuya makes an appearance! LOL I couldn't leave my absolute favorite Bleach character out of this. I just couldn't, especially now when his presence is warranted so much what with Rukia using Bankai and all. Will the captain of Division 6 be enough to take down the mighty Arrancar responsible for the disappearance of Karin Kurosaki? Find out next time on For Want of a Brother. R&R please).