Hey everybody. Look how fast I'm udpating! Look how long this chapter is! I better get some love for this haha. I don't own Bleach and reviews are loved.
Ikkaku was the first to notice Tousen's spiritual pressure and he stopped, glancing back at the others to see if they could feel it. Their expressions said they had and they all moved in a circle so that no space was open for a back attack. The air seemed to distort for a moment and then Tousen was standing before Zaraki, dressed like an Espada with his well muscled arms free of sleeves.
"Oh long time no see," Zaraki said, a feral grin splitting his lips. "You guys go on ahead. I know how to fight this nut."
"No, we'll need your Captain level strength further on," Hitsugaya interrupted, glaring at Tousen even though the man couldn't see it. Knowing the ex-Captain, he could probably feel the hate.
"Then let me take care of it," Ikkaku said quietly, a grin of his own growing slowly as he caught Zaraki's eye. Things were private enough down here, with just him and Tousen so there would be no problem if he let loose his little secret, and with that there would be no way Tousen would stand a chance. Sure Zaraki didn't know just how strong Ikkaku was but...he knew that Ikkaku could handle himself just the same.
"It is not virtuous to be arrogant," Tousen said quietly.
"Yeah, and it isn't virtuous to be a traitor either," Hitsugaya shot back, turning his back and walking away. If Zaraki thought Ikkaku could handle it, he was willing to go along with that as well.
"And what would that make you, Toshiro? Hm? Aren't you a traitor too, for coming here against orders?" Tousen's words hit Hitsugaya like a cold shot to the stomach and he tried not to let the reaction show, instead stopping and turning around slowly.
"I am saving lives. You are only destroying them."
"My cause is a good one, you just do not see it," Tousen replied.
"Enough of this. Ikkaku says he can handle it, now let's go," Zaraki ordered, for once being the serious one.
Tousen moved to flash step in front of them and block their path but Ikkaku moved quicker, drawing his sword and lunging at the man to keep him occupied while the others beat a hasty exit. The man blocked Ikkaku's attacks with ease but that wasn't his goal so he didn't really care; there would be plenty of time to deal damage later on.
"You don't truly think you can beat me, do you?" Tousen asked, tone incredulous.
Ikkaku snorted, unhooking his katana sheath and flipping it in his hand a few times before looking back at the man. "Zaraki has led the others away. That means I don't have to worry about showing my full strength. We're an even match."
"You can't mean to say you've mastered Bankai?" Tousen said, a hint of mocking in his voice.
"Now who's getting arrogant?"
Ikkaku didn't answer Tousen's question though, instead plunging straight into the battle, attacking first with his katana and then his sheath, beating Tousen back a bit, then giving ground, and effectively chasing him up and down the hallway. He wasn't wasting time pretending to be weaker than he was and he wanted to get nice and warmed up before unleashing his full strength. By sheer luck, for he was sure Tousen was usually not clumsy, he was able to catch the man's shoulder with his blade, slicing open the skin before hitting the man's back with his sheath, sending him stumbling forward a few feet.
"Extend, Hozukimaru!"
The bald man put his sheath and katana next to each other and they merged into the long pole that was the first released form, a sharp edge at the tip. He lunged forward again, only to have Tousen knock his blade aside, followed up by a swift jab which only managed to scrape his side thanks to his quick reflexes. Need to stop wasting time, Ikkaku thought as he split Hozukimaru into it's three segments, getting ready to go the final step.
As he stepped back to release his Bankai, Tousen leapt back as well and before Ikkaku could speak, Tousen had beaten him to it.
"Cry Suzumushi."
Ikkaku fell to his knees as a piercing cry hit his ears, making his head swim and his vision blur. That bastard. I'm losing consciousness. No I can't dammit! Gotta keep fighting, I'm not gonna let some idiot destroy me. Tousen stepped closer, slowly, 'watching' Ikkaku's spiritual pressure waver in and out, showing how the man was fighting losing his conscious.
"You are strong to fight off Suzumushi's cry so well. You won't be able to survive long though. "Bankai."
That one word snapped Ikkaku right back to the real world and he leapt to his feet, stumbling a little as he did so. By the time his vision focused enough for him to look at Tousen, ten silver rings had surrounded the man and the ring that had been on the hilt of his katana had vanished. Tousen sliced downwards with his sword and the rings spread out around them and a deep, penetrating darkness shot up to balloon above them, cutting off all of Ikkaku's senses in one fell swoop. Instead of panicking though, Ikkaku kept his eyes open and thought. Zaraki told me about this when he fought Tousen. All I've got to do is grab the hilt of his sword and then run him through to disband the darkness. Then I can finish this...
Ikkaku clenched his teeth as a cut opened up his back and for the barest of seconds, he could feel blood running down his back before his sense vanished once more. He spread his arms out, ready to intercept any attack-
A flash of pain in his side signaled the attack and he lunged forward, hand seizing Tousen's bicep before sliding down to the hilt of the sword before the ex-Captain could stop him. His sense returned to him in a rush and he quickly used the opportunity, twisting the segmented pieces of Hozukimaru and stabbing into Tousen's side. Keeping his grip on the sword, Ikkaku yanked Tousen closer, flipping the bladed age of his zanpakuto once more and stabbing him once more, making sure to hit his vitals, slashing down to do even more damage.
As the darkness that had encased them began to fade away, Ikkaku dropped the ex-Captain on the ground, watching emotionlessly as the blood leaked into a pool around him.
"So...you do not have a Bankai," Tousen said quietly, coughing as he did so.
"I never said that. You were just too weak for me to have to go any stronger than this," Ikkaku said, taking a little pleasure in mocking the man who had hurt his friends so much in the past. "You know, Hisagi loved you. Did you know that? When you guys were gone, he was hoping you would come back a changed man."
"I am following through with my justice," Tousen argued, rolling onto his side and coughing harder, more blood spilling onto the ground from his mouth. "He should understand that."
"Bullshit. You never explained anything to him," Ikkaku snarled as he crouched down beside the dying man. "Do you know how many nights I had to comfort him? Do you know how many nights I had to drag him away from the bar when he was totally wasted? Do you know? Do you even care?"
"Care?" The man's tone was broken, something Ikkaku hadn't been expecting to hear. "You don't know what we had."
"Yeah I do," Ikkaku said. "He's told me everything and from what I've gathered, you don't care at all." Mercilessly, he stood up and kicked the man in the stomach, grabbing his zanpakuto at the same time and with an anger filled thrust, stabbed the man in the heart, ending his life in one harsh moment.
(INSERTBREAKHERE)
Gin brought his katana up, aiming it at Shinji, then moving it to Ichigo and Chad each in turn as if he were debating who to attack first; he probably was. Abruptly though, he dropped his arm and tilted his head to the side, a look of amusement on his face.
"Do ya feel that? Tousen's spiritual energy is gone. Huh, he didn't last too long," he mused.
"And you don't care? How surprising," Shinji ground out as he summoned his hollow mask. "You'll go down just as fast as he did!"
He lunged before Chad or Ichigo could say or do anything but Gin knocked him aside easily, sending him flying into the wall with a flick of his wrist and a smile. Ichigo stepped towards him but then whipped his sword back in front of him, ready to defend against any attack Gin decided to try.
"Little shit," Shinji growled, getting to his feet, spiritual pressure growing as his anger grew. Ichigo couldn't fathom why Shinji was getting so worked up over the man. He didn't like Gin either but it wasn't like Shinji to fly off the handle like he was now doing. "Ichigo, Chad, get out of here now. Gin and I have something to settle."
"Shinji what are you even talking about?" Ichigo demanded, trying to keep one eye on the grinning man.
"Just go," Shinji ordered. "I'm sure Gin wouldn't mind me letting you go."
Gin bowed mockingly, a display that showed how truly unworried he was about the whole situation. "Off ya go Strawberry. I'll kill ya later, after I finish 'im up."
"Shinji..."
"Ichigo, let's go," Chad said softly. "We need to save Orihime."
Ichigo swallowed thickly and then nodded, flash stepping past Gin as Chad ran after him, taking a wide path around the ex-Captain to be on the safe side. With one last glance, Ichigo disappeared into the hallway, leaving Shinji and Gin alone to battle out their past demons, whatever they were.
"You were there that night," Shinji said quietly. "That night Aizen betrayed us all."
"Yes, I was. What 'bout it?" Gin asked, still smiling.
"I hate you for it. I hate you like I hate Aizen and Tosen. I'm glad Tosen is dead, but I'll be happier once you join him and I myself might just die when Aizen falls," Shinji whispered, stepping forward slowly. "I used to hate Aizen the most but after the way you manipulated Ichigo in that dimension...I want you dead."
"Hatred is a bad motivator, Shinji. Thought cha knew that," Gin said.
"Shut up. Collapse Sakanade."
Shinji felt a slight disorientation as the world inverted itself so that he was standing on the ceiling. He was now at a very distinct advantage, seeing as how he was unaffected by his zanpakuto's inversion of the world as they knew it, but Gin, even once he figured out what had happened, would be unable to fight his instincts once Shinji began to attack him. The battle would be over soon.
Gin tried to flash step closer only to end up farther away, almost halfway up the stairs. Realization dawned on the ex-Captain then and his smile faded away as he realized just what his disadvantage now was. Shinji approached the ex-Captain slowly and then flash stepped to a few feet away from him, holding his katana out before attacking. Gin instinctively began to fight back only to find himself on the ground bleeding from dozens of slashes that covered his chest and arms from his own and Shinji's weapons.
"You understand now, don't cha Gin?" Shinji said mockingly. "It's time for pay back."
"Shoot to kill, Shinso." Gin flipped his katana towards himself, finally getting a slight handle on how every direction was reversed.
The katana shot forward so fast Shinji couldn't even see it and he cried out as the blade ran straight through his gut, narrowly missing his vital organs, but way too close for comfort. The blade withdrew as Shinji stumbled back, hollow mask crumbling away as pain pulsed through him in waves. I have to end this now.
Gin got up and propelled his body backwards, now able to think carefully about his movements seeing as how Shinji couldn't easily move himself. He ended up right before Shinji, a hairsbreadth a way from his face, that insufferable smile once again plastered to his face.
"This is what cha get for being so cocky Shinji," Gin said. "How does it feel with the roles reversed."
Shinji moved his wrist forward discreetly as he raised his sword slowly, feigning total weakness in every movement as he got ready to take the man by complete surprise. "Cero."
The hand free of the sword lit up and a beam of red light shot forward, catching Gin in the stomach and shoving him backwards straight into a wall, continuing to slam into him before finally dying away and letting the ex-Captain collapse to the ground. Panting, Shinji straightened, blocking out the pain he felt as his blood continued to sluggishly pour onto the ground, knowing that he would have to act fast before Gin could have a chance to think again. His control on his bankai was slowly fading and he didn't know how much longer he could hold up the inverted world that gave him such an advantage.
He flash stepped forward, eating up the ground between them before ramming his sword forward only to have Gin deflect and roll to the side.
"Bankai!"
Shinji cried out as he was cut straight down his chest, a shallow cut, but still deep enough to cause some serious damage. He fell to the ground, his world crumbling to pieces until they were once again standing in the real world with Gin above him, chuckling at what he had reduced Shinji too.
"My blade can now travel five hundred times the speed of light. How can ya ever hope to beat that? Ya can't even lift yer sword. How pathetic." Gin knocked him over with a rough kick, sending him flat on his back. "I think I'll just let ya bleed out. That's what ya deserve after all. A slow an' painful death."
"You bastard," Shinji choked out, raising a hand up in a futile attempt to attack the man with one more Cero.
A cry was torn from his lips as the tender muscle of his forearm was sliced open and the arm flopped down to his side, bleeding slowly from a perfectly straight cut from his wrist to elbow. If the cut had gone through bone, his forearm would've been in two equal pieces. Another cut was made on his other arm, then his legs until it was all he could do to keep from passing out on the floor. Above him, Gin chuckled, before crouching down beside him and running a hand through his blond locks.
Shinji jerked away, hating the feel of the disgusting thing touching him. Gin's expression became stern and he grabbed Shinji's chin roughly, forcing him to look the ex-Captain in the eyes. The silver haired man had opened his eyes fully, the crimson gaze piercing Shinji just like the blades that had cut him open.
"Ichigo's gonna be so sad without cha. Can hardly imagine it. But don't worry, he'll join ya soon, dead," Gin told him softly. "Good to know yer finally out of my hair." He let go abruptly and stood, dusting himself off. "Bye, bye."
Ichigo...
(INSERTBREAKHERE)
"Something just doesn't sit right with me about this."
Hiyori looked over at Hachi's looming form, opening her eyes. "I'm trying to nap. But what doesn't?"
"Shinji and Lisa leaving with Ichigo. I don't think they alone are strong enough to take on Aizen and the others," Hachi said. "They were so strong back then and now...they have had time to grow even stronger. I think I should follow after them."
Hiyori sat up so she wasn't leaning up against her rock, hands on the dirt ground as she sunk her nails into it. "Hachi, Shinji's stronger too. They'll be fine."
Hachi looked at her, big eyes showing just how deep his concern ran. "I am going after them. I think they will need my help."
"Ugh fine big guy. I'm going with you," Hiyori grumbled, her tone sounding as if it were all a huge bother that she didn't want to deal with, but Hachi knew better. Hiyori was concerned too, as much as she hated to admit it.
(INSERTBREAKHERE)
Urahara sighed as he watched Hachi and Hiyori disappear through his portal in the basement of his candy shop. More and more people were getting involved in saving Orihime and while it did raise their chances of success with the more people that went, he was beginning to worry about it. With two captains missing from the Soul Society, he would doubtlessly be seeing more Soul Reapers around, Soul Reapers who would be able to trace the spiritual energy to this very basement.
"Oh this is not going to go well," Urahara sighed. "This is going to end up in one big headache that I really don't want to deal with."
But what could he do? Stop people from protecting their friends? The Soul Society hadn't done anything to move agains Aizen when Ichigo and the others had been gone and they probably weren't going to in the near future, so perhaps it truly was better that so many people were working to save Orihime and in the process defeat their enemy. But maybe the ones that were there...maybe they weren't enough. Should he follow after them?
No. They'll be fine...
(INSERTBREAKHERE)
Ichigo froze as Shinji's spiritual pressure flared brightly and then died away, heart hammering in his chest as he searched for it and found the barest flicker of it.
"Shinji!"
He whirled around to head back the way they had come only to have Chad seize his arms, holding him back with a strong, firm grip. "Ichigo! We have to keep going! Gin might catch up and if Shinji died fighting him...we have to go save Orihime Ichigo. She's our first priority. Once we get her maybe we can save him."
"Chad he's not dead! He's just injured!" Ichigo struggled against the big man's grip with no result.
"And what could you do for him?" Chad said quietly.
Ichigo stilled, realizing that Chad was right. Even if he did go to Shinji now there was nothing he could do without anyway to heal the man. They were better off finding Orihime and returning. Chad released him, sensing that Ichigo had calmed down and realized that there was nothing he could do at the moment. As they turned around though, Gin's immense spiritual pressure hit them like a ton of bricks and they stepped back, Ichigo glaring, Chad tense.
"Found ya," Gin said, waving gleefully at them. "Yer lover boy didn't present too much of a challenge."
"So says the blood," Chad commented, gesturing with one hand at the cuts scattered over the man's body.
"Oh these? Pathetic attempt," Gin said dismissively. "He's bleedin' out on the ground as we speak. Don't think he's got much longer to go. Pity fer you."
"You bastard!"
Chad grabbed Ichigo's arm before he could lunge at the silver haired man, knowing that acting with anger would be their downfall, especially now. Ichigo didn't struggle this time, keeping his eyes fixed on Gin as he tried to read what his next actions would be. Gin smirked and attacked then, so fast that Ichigo could barely block. He grunted as Gin attacked so fast he could barely even block, so fast that it appeared that there were multiple swords instead of just one. It didn't take long for him to be backed up to a wall and Gin hummed in delight before lunging forward again.
Ichigo ducked and rolled away at the last second so instead of piercing his chest, Gin's sword only pierced a wall. Chad seized the opportunity this gave him, sending one of the powerful attacks from his fists so that the blue beam of power slammed Gin straight into the wall. Gin's grunt of pain gave Ichigo a little bit of hope; they were doing damage.
He looked back at Chad to see both arms covered in the liquid like armor, one white and streaked with red, and the other like a shield of black with intricate red designs over the front. The man had gotten stronger since the last time they saw each other...a lot stronger. Chad glanced over at him and gave him a quick smile before turning back to Gin, taking a defensive stance with his shield in front of him. Gin turned around slowly, his smile long gone and his eyes open just the barest sliver, showing that play time was now over, far, far over.
"Shoot 'em dead, Shinso."
Chad braced himself as the man's blade suddenly shot forward, so fast it was just a blur and impacted against the shield, pushing Chad back across the room. While Chad was fairly confident nothing could pierce his shield armor, he was now doubting it as it cracked under the pressure and suddenly, the blade went through, straight through into his arm, and then out the other side, still pushing him back. He hit the wall with a thud, arm effectively held to the wall by the long blade that now spanned across the whole room. The pain was harsh but Chad ignored it, grabbing the blade with his other hand and yanking it out with a grunt, getting a small satisfaction out of Gin's surprised look.
Ichigo had gone into Bankai mode when the other two had been distracted and now he attacked, sending out a Getsuga Tensho and hitting Gin full on, propelling him into yet another wall. Chad sprung forward, the tips of his white arm, Brazo Izquierdo del Diablo, crackling with blue energy as he readied one of his strongest attacks. He reached Gin before Ichigo did and he lunged forward, bringing himself a few inches away from Gin before the man could move out of the way. He clenched his left arm into a fist, bringing the energy into himself and then, with a grunt, slammed it into Gin's stomach, forcing a rough cough out of the man. No one moved for several heated seconds, and then, like the thunder after the lightning flash, Gin's body trembled and snapped back into the wall with a sickening crack as Chad's power raced through him.
Ichigo watched in wonder as the wall erupted behind the ex-Captain, showering plaster down upon them and kicking up dust. Once the dust was gone, he could see that the wall now had a skull imprinted on it, and Gin was slumped over Chad's arm, either unconscious or dead. Chad dropped him on the ground, stepping back slowly as Ichigo approached.
"Holy shit Chad," Ichigo muttered. "That...damn."
Gin's arm twitched, just the barest, and then, one word. "Ban...kai."
A silver blur flashed before their eyes and then pain, as if every limb was being cut open. Unable to support themselves, both crumpled to the ground, blood spilling from their arms, legs, and chests from cuts that had nearly pierced even their bones. Fuck. I can't...I can't live through this! Orihime...Shinji!
Ichigo moved his head, just enough to see that Gin's eyes were closed and that his breathing had stopped. So that had killed the traitorous bastards at least. That...that counted for something.
(INSERTBREAKHERE)
"Shinji!"
Hiyori raced across the floor, Hachi moving as fast as he could behind her, knowing then that his gut feeling was right and if he hadn't followed it...well Shinji wouldn't stand a chance. The big pink haired man knelt beside Shinji's almost completely still form, ignoring the blood that was seeping through his green pants.
"Hiyori, calm down," Hachi murmured, trying to keep his own rising panic down as he activated a rejection shield, a soft glow extending over Shinji's mangled and broken body.
"You can help him right Hachi? Right?" Hiyori demanded, eyes wide with a fear he rarely saw in her.
"Yes, I can," Hachi assured her. "But whoever did this is probably still alive. Wherever the others are, I hope that they are alive and well. I don't want to think of just how powerful the enemy was to do this."
"It is Aizen...and Gin and Tousen," Hiyori mumbled. "They're strong. Really strong. They could've done this to Shinji...I'm going to kill all of them."
"Hiyori, being motivated by revenge won't help anyone."
"Screw that! I'm not going to let them just walk away from almost killing Shinji!" she growled, leaping back up to her feet with a stubborn glare in her eyes. "I'm going on ahead Hachi. You two can come join me later when he's all healed up? Okay? I need to find those bastards and teach them a lesson!"
"Hiyori, wait!" Hachi said, but he wasn't able to stop the high spirited woman as she sprinted up the stairs and out of view. It wasn't like he could just leave Shinji as he was, and if he left Shinji and didn't heal him, then the man really would die, bleeding to death from the terrible wounds he had been dealt. If he hadn't left with Hiyori when he did, there was no doubt in his mind that instead of a barely alive man, they would have found a dead man instead.
Tense, he watched the wounds close as his energy was sapped away for the healing. The minutes felt like hours, but finally, the rejection shield faded away, signaling that it had done all that could be done to reverse the wounds and injuries. Another minute passed before Shinji stirred, and as he did, Hiyori came flying down the stairs at full speed, nearly running into Hachi.
"Ichigo and that big guy are bleeding all over the ground," she panted. "Gin's dead. I snapped his neck to be sure but...you have to go help them too! If you can..."
Hachi got to his feet, a little weak from the intense healing he had done. "I am on it."
"Hiyori? What...what are you doing here?" Shinji asked, eyes clearing a little. "Ichigo! Where is he?" He jolted upright, groaning and collapsing back down seconds later as pain raced through him like fire; Hachi could heal but not that well.
"Hachi is going to heal him," Hiyori assured him, putting a hand on his shoulder, half comforting, half restraint. "Gin is dead. I think Ichigo managed to kill him but they didn't look too good Shinji. They looked like you, worse even. But Gin is dead, I snapped his neck just to be sure, and if Hachi could heal you, he can heal them too."
"Gin...he..." Shinji closed his eyes. "I'm glad he's dead."
"Me too," Hiyori muttered, sitting down on the ground with a sigh. "Shinji...you really love Ichigo, don't you?"
"What the fuck is this about, Hiyori?" Shinji demanded, eyes narrowing at the abrupt topic change. "If you're trying to convince me that my memory is just muddled, stop. I don't wanna hear it."
"That's not it Shinji. I just want to know."
Shinji sighed and closed his eyes, draping an arm over his face as he thought of how to best answer the question that had literally come out of nowhere. "Yeah, I do Hiyori. I really love him. I really do. Those things that we did in the other dimension...the times we talked and bonded and let ourselves just be open...they were things we never allowed ourselves to do here. But if we had been here and let ourselves be open and okay with a potential relationship, it would've happened."
"Okay. I can accept it now," Hiyori said with a curt nod. "I didn't know what to think about it. But now that I know how you feel and that it would've happened here eventually...I'm okay with it."
Shinji chuckled and reached a hand up to grab Hiyori's, squeezing it lightly. For all the times they fought and yelled at each other, they were friends, and they were close friends at that. They could talk seriously when they wanted to and sometimes people seemed to forget that; hell even he seemed to forget that sometimes. "I'm glad you're here, Hiyori."
Hiyori snorted, killing the mood instantly. "Yeah, whatever. I'm gonna go check on Hachi. You just stay here. You don't wanna pull anything old man."
As she walked away, Shinji extended his foot, tripping her so she fell flat on her face.
"Mother fucker!" she griped, glaring at him with her small fang sticking out of her mouth, expression indignant.
She continued on her way, heading down the hallway and up several more flights of stairs before coming upon the room that she had found Chad and Ichigo in. Chad was already healed and sitting up, head between his knees as he took several deep breaths. Ichigo was still glowing as Hachi worked, and she glanced at the pink haired man worriedly, for he was sweating profusely from the effort of three major healings, all one right after the other.
"Is he dead?" Chad said quietly, raising his head up to look Hiyori in the eyes.
"Yeah. I snapped his neck. If that assures you any," Hiyori said, smirking a little.
"It does. Is...is Shinji alive?"
Hiyori nodded. "Yeah, he is. Alive and well. He's just resting a bit before coming to join us. He'll probably be back on his feet faster than you. Where's Lisa and that Quincy guy?"
"Szayel, one of the Espada's took them away to fight. I don't know where they are now," Chad admitted, worry showing through in his brown eyes.
"Urahara said a couple captains came through here not too long ago. Maybe they found Lisa," Hiyori said with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Shinji!"
Ichigo's shout caused both of them to turn and look at Ichigo who had sat up and seemed to be dealing with the pain of doing so quite well as he got to his feet, gritting his teeth as he did so. Hiyori got up, strode over and proceeded to kick Ichigo in the shin until he was back down on the ground.
"Calm down! He's fine! I'll go get him! Sit down, relax, and let your muscles heal without you straining them!" Hiyori ordered, turning on her heel and striding away.
Ichigo laid back, panting a little from the pain and effort of standing before he was ready, and of course Hiyori's abuse. Hachi laid down as well, obviously exhausted from so much work. The break wasn't long for Ichigo soon heard Shinji's footsteps and he sat up, eyes meeting Shinji's as relief flooded through him. Sure, Hiyori said he was fine, but feeling that spiritual pressure deplete and knowing that his lover was dying and he couldn't do anything to stop it...he had to see it first.
"Ichigo," Shinji whispered, kneeling down beside him and taking him in his arms, holding him close.
The orange haired teen's arms clung to the older man's shoulders as he brought himself up a little further, kissing him hard on the lips, nearly pushing him back. Shinji returned the kiss just as eagerly, running his hands through the orange locks before Hiyori's cough brought him back to the real world and he pulled away, releasing Ichigo from his grip.
"You're alive," Ichigo muttered.
"More or less," Shinji said with a shrug, standing back up and extending a hand to help Ichigo up.
Chad and Hachi were already standing, and once Ichigo was up, everyone turned their gazes to him expectantly. "What now?" Chad asked. "We're waiting for you."
"We need to keep moving," Ichigo said. "But first, why are you two here?"
"Hachi thought you might need us," Hiyori answered, arms folded across her chest. "And he was right. You'd be dead if it weren't for him."
Ichigo turned to the looming man, a smile on his face. "Thank you. We're really lucky to have you on our side."
"What should we do with Gin's body?" Chad said quietly, gesturing at the limp form.
Shinji looked at it, a sneer on his face. "Leave it. He doesn't deserve any form of respect from us. Let's just keep going after Orihime. Hachi, don't fight. We'll need you to heal us if we end up in a situation like we did last time."
Hachi nodded his understanding.
"Alright then," Ichigo said, rolling his shoulders and giving them all an optimistic smile. "Off we go."
(INSERTBREAKHERE)
"Tousen is gone," Lisa said quietly as they walked.
Ishida glanced over at her. "Yeah, I can feel it too. And Ikkaku is still alive. I guess he was stronger than what I thought."
"Haha, my squad, every seated member is stronger than they look," Zaraki said with a chuckle. "I train them well, and they want to be strong."
"You're also bloodthirsty," Hitsugaya broke in.
"Hey, we're helping you now and I didn't see you going to anyone else," Zaraki shot back.
Hitsugaya held his head higher and walked a little faster to get ahead of the large man, refraining from commenting again. Lisa didn't say anything more either, growing noticeably tense beside Ishida, fists clenching and unclenching rapidly. Ishida didn't know what her issue was, nor did he really care to ask or know but for some odd reason, he really couldn't help but ask.
"What's wrong?"
"I wanted to kill him."
Ishida was surprised at the words, and they all stopped walking to look at the woman, who was now trembling with either suppressed rage or tears; he would guess the former.
"So why didn't you stay instead of Ikkaku?" Zaraki asked, gesturing back the way they had come. "He's not that hard to beat. You probably could've taken him down."
"No. I don't think I could've. Why are we talking about this?" she demanded, eyes still rooted to the ground, refusing to look at any of them. "Let's keep going."
Ishida turned around and Zaraki shrugged, both starting off again, Hitsugaya and Lisa trailing behind slowly. It was odd. He was used to seeing Lisa very calm and collected, and condescending, and she really did infuriate him to know end, but seeing her like this, seeing her actually have emotions...it made him have a bit more respect for her. But only a bit.
"Gin is gone now too," Hitsugaya commented. "I just felt his spiritual pressure flare and die."
"Shinji's was almost gone but now it's back. I can barely feel Chad and Ichigo though," Ishida said, tone bland, though there was a slight undertone of worry. "Do you think we should go check up on them?"
"I'm here to rescue Orihime, not save Kurosaki's ass," Hitsugaya snapped. "They can take care of themselves."
"Especially since Hachi and Hiyori are here now," Lisa spoke up. "But why are they here? I don't know why they would want to follow after Shinji and I. They don't really like Orihime, or at least Hiyori doesn't."
"Don't question it. The more people fighting, the better off we are," Ishida told her. "The higher the chance is of us succeeding in saving her."
"How many Espada have you gotten rid of?" Hitsugaya suddenly asked, changing the subject abruptly. "I want to know how many more we should expect to stand in our way."
"Providing that Chad and Ichigo got rid of the other two, we've taken down three," Ishida answered. "Plus with Tousen and Gin gone, it will be much easier for us to save Orihime. I would say our biggest threat is Aizen himself at this point."
"Oh would you?"
All four whipped around, completely taken by surprise by the suddenly appearing spiritual pressure that had come upon them suddenly. Behind them stood another Espada, arms folded across a rather large chest, held barely in check by her white top, which extended up to cover her mouth. Her skin was a deep tan, her hair a golden blond, and her green eyes boring into them, full of smug arrogance.
"Then you haven't met me," she continued, arms moving to her sides. "You won't get to Aizen because you won't survive your fight against me."
"Oh I like this one," Zaraki said with a chuckle, shoving Toshiro and Lisa aside to stand right before the woman. "You three run along now. I wanna play. I'll send Ikkaku on after you."
"Zaraki, don't be stupid," Ishida hissed. "Look at her number!"
Zaraki's eyes roamed over the woman's body non-chalantly, finally resting on her right breast where tattooed into the skin was the number three. "Yeah, so? She's the third strongest Espada. She won't stand a chance."
"Leave him," Hitsugaya grumbled. "He can handle himself and we should keep moving."
Ishida sighed, shook his head, and began to walk away, Lisa on his heels. A heartbeat later, Hitsugaya followed.
"Well now, shall we begin?" Zaraki asked, grinning as he drew his sword.
"It'd be my pleasure."