Chapter 14 – Red, Black and White
The rain fell from the black sky as Zero stood waiting on a large football field with a running track encircling it, located at Ichigo's university in his black fedora and stylish black outfit. Crossed on his back, under his long blonde braid was his pair of zanpakuto sheathed in black scabbards. Only two stadium light posts vaguely lit up the wide empty space, and were kept on at each end for campus security reasons. The effect it created was ominous and uninviting, especially with the misty rainfall. It formed the perfect battlefield in Zero's mind, and it would settle as that stuck-up prince's graveyard. He was the one thing keeping him from achieving his goal—killing Kurosaki Ichigo and claiming his rightful title. It probably wouldn't even take him long to kill the shinigami...although, he really would like to make him suffer for hacking off his arm.
The tall man in black flexed his fingers on his regenerated left arm. It took many souls and way too much time in hell to regain his full power again. Time wasted. Seriously! Who did they think they were?
Someone appeared in the middle of the partially lit field like a ghost. Zero looked closely a few yards away and saw it was indeed Ichigo's prince. All it took was a simple threat, a ridiculous bluff to coax him here. He scoffed. Somehow this man appeared different this time around. He noted his black and white haori, some kind of head piece in his drenched black hair. He seemed more superior—higher in rank than last time.
"Master! Turn back now! I can't stop him from entering our inner world!" Senbonzakura urged inside of Byakuya's mind, "You know we cannot fight him alone!"
Byakuya was too stubborn to listen.
"It amazes me…" Zero started drearily, "…how a person's heart can take over their mind. That common sense is simply relieved of them over love. Gawd! It's such a waste of time!"
The noble stood there a dark shadow as the rain streaked down his face, watching the enemy solemnly. He held his sword out at his side and tried to sense Ichigo's spirit pressure which was nowhere to be found. And he knew. He swallowed that jagged, bitter pill and knew that he'd walked straight into a trap. This time he did not listen to his instinct at all, could not, when he thought that Zero had done something terrible to Ichigo or in fact has already done so. It was so pathetic that Byakuya couldn't even bother to feel angry anymore, he'd been deluded and probably so had Ichigo. Was this Zero's goal in the first place, to draw him away from Ichigo all in order to be rid of him first? Or had it worked the other way around? Had he lost a second person he fallen for?
The noble was at an uncertain loss.
Zero sneered and reached out his arm, clenching his leather-gloved fist, twisting it, as if he were bending steel.
The Kuchiki heir cringed as pain shot out from in his middle and clawed its way to his head and to his feet like knives. He was brought helplessly to his knees, onto the spongy wet grass. Zero was merciless. His resolute moment of weakness and anger was going to be his undoing. There was no way out of it, Zero would rage inside his inner world and crush him from the inside out. Byakuya could emit his own pressure in hopes of leaving a trail for others to find, but he wasn't sure he wanted to lure them here to be slaughtered by this monster and there probably wasn't enough time.
Byakuya did not fear death. There had been many times he actually wished for it. And right now, in the face of death he felt a strange satisfaction as if the pain cleared his mind, and he understood what that satisfaction was. Ignoring the pain, Byakuya spoke with pride heavily on his voice, "You are mistaken. A waste of time would be living eternally without ever once feeling love, no matter how briefly we got to take pleasure in it…even if that love kills us, Akahoshi Arashi."
Zero growled and he shook his fist. "Argh! Don't you dare say that name! That man is dead!"
The noble could feel his insides tearing. He felt a trickle race down his upper lip from his nose and could taste the metallic tang of his own blood on his lips. Byakuya knew he'd hit a nerve, if he was going to die tonight it wouldn't be without a fight in one form or another. He had another stone to cast. "Daiki Horiuchi loved you. Am I wrong? That is why he couldn't finish you off, and left you to become a Hollow."
The man appeared in a flash right in front of Byakuya. Zero grabbed him by his kosode and scarf, hauling him up to his feet.
"Don't talk shit to me!" Zero spat. He snarled at him face to face.
The captain levelled his icy stare on his adversary's multi-coloured eyes; he saw nothing but hate and madness there. Byakuya showed no fear even as waves of blackness washed across his vision. His words were obviously affecting this man and his unstated theory appeared to hit close to home. It was something that nagged at him from their first fight, Zero had said: 'How could he care for this?' Byakuya wasn't sure what that meant at the time, but after Rukia and Renji's update…it seemed a valid supposition.
Zero unexpectedly growled with frustration.
"I know that stupid shinigami cared about me!" Zero clamoured all of the sudden. "He was so powerful, and it was what drew me to him—I wanted that power, too. I was able to see him. He said I had a strong sense of awareness. I could have been the best soldier the world ever knew. And then Daiki shows up one day saying that his people would execute him if I didn't die! That he'd broken some laws for patronizing with a human. Coward! The only chance I had was to convince him that I loved him back, and to save me by giving me his powers…that we could fight together. Daiki believed me, he fell for it. I knew that I had to kill him first or he would kill me! And he almost did kill me. For a moment I was nothing more than a pathetic human again—Daiki severed my chain. Then as he stood there about to strike me down, he told me that he couldn't bear to finish it, that I broke his heart when I used my new power to strike him. He said he felt sorry for me! He told me that becoming a Hollow was my penance, divine justice. And just left me there for someone else to finish off! He left me there!" Zero was seething with loathing, "I knew other shinigami would come after me, but they never found me. And by the time they did, it was too late. I swore up until the moment I changed into a Hollow that I would get my vengeance on Daiki...and look what I became."
"A monster," Byakuya replied darkly, "a murderer."
"Daiki's power hadn't completely left me. I don't understand how it happened, but I felt even more powerful, perhaps I should have thanked him. His soul was so tasty! I became a true soldier, a warrior…no one can stop me! My power is unique," Zero corrected Byakuya vehemently.
The captain understood now, "Apart from Ichigo."
Zero let go of his clothing and snarled, "There cannot be two of us! I was here first…I'm his replacement!"
Byakuya sniffed with revulsion and held his ground, "You're nothing of the kind. I can't believe you deceived a man into trusting you loved him in return…only to steal his power. Disgusting! Shinigami do not idly break the rules unless they believe in their cause strongly enough, yet your greed led you astray and you stomped all over Horiuchi's honour!"
"What do you know?" cried Zero.
The noble didn't need to answer that.
Zero began to laugh manically, "Daiki was pathetic! How could a soul reaper love a human? I almost wanted to believe him."
"I am talking to a madman," Byakuya said, he was finished with this. If he was going to die, then let it be done already! He did not want to hear another word of this insanity. For a brief moment he sensed it, Zero's tirade had left him painless. Not one to miss an opportunity, Byakuya dropped his sword and called for his bankai, but...
His sword simply stuck into the ground upright with a dull thud. He stared on utterly stupefied, his eyes flashed up to meet Zero guardedly.
A lop-sided grin appeared on Zero's pale face, a handsome face if it weren't made so ugly by his revolting nature. "What's the matter? Are you going to try and attack me with that power of yours again? So sorry," Zero mocked. "My grip on your soul has nullified your power. You got lucky last time. I was too busy with Ichigo to stop you then—spread too thin. I can only do so much!"
As if he were being stabbed by a hundred swords, Byakuya was forced to his knees once more. And this time a whimper escaped him, his dignity but a whisper in his ear. The pain was agonizing.
"Mmm, I can taste your soul already…so much power wasted on another sanctimonious shinigami! You guys are all the same!" Zero shouted and took a breath, then continued softly, "Although, I must admit your world is the most beautiful one I have ever seen in all my years." Arashi broke into a fit of laughter. "Your zanpakuto is a valid combatant! HAHA! Without your bankai's you don't have a chance in hell!"
The zing of metal sang as Zero unsheathed both of his katana and began to raise them up above his head to launch a death blow on Byakuya. When he got half way there, Zero came to an abrupt halt.
"What are you doing?" Zero demanded all of a sudden, and pointed at Byakuya's chest with one sword, "What is that?"
Byakuya felt a brief moment of mercy and noticed a change of expression on Zero's face. He glanced down his front where the other man was looking and saw a pink glow emanating from under his haori near his ribcage. Reaching inside, he produced the protection talisman he still carried. The Gotei Captain could not believe what he saw.
The charm glowed on the palm of Byakuya's hand. How long had it been activated? If it was glowing in his possession then that could only mean…
Just when he needed him the most, Ichigo's reiatsu came to him like a siren's song. It didn't flow around him, but inside of him, he could feel it in his fingertips. That power linked to his own. He instantly felt invigorated as if the wounds inside of him had been healed. Looking up at Zero with fresh resolve, Byakuya rose to his feet steadily and delivered his own warning derisively, "A moment ago, I would have agreed with you that my death was imminent, however…I'm afraid it will be you that perishes tonight, Arashi."
Where was he? What happened?
Ichigo halted his Hollow transformation for a moment and did a complete three-sixty as he scanned the area he stood. All around him were these massive, blossoming cherry trees bursting with fragrance and colour, although the sky overhead was growing heavy with clouds as grey and black as thunderheads. A gusty wind sailed passed his face and ruffled his hair, sending an endless rain of petals to the ground. It was like being caught inside a snowglobe, but with petals instead of snow. It seemed as if a storm was brewing. Ichigo glanced down at his feet at grass that was as green as jade, squishy and soft. He noticed waraji on his feet and quickly realized he was in his soul reaper shihakusho. Immediately, he felt for the hilt of his zanpakuto. Reassured that Zangetsu was with him, he walked out into a clearing between the trees when the first fat raindrops began to fall.
Suddenly out of the quiet came a roar and the ground began to shake. A blue blast of energy tore through the trees and straight at Ichigo's back. Unsure which way to look, Ichigo spun around, grabbing for his sword in the same motion, ready for a battle and balked when he recognized the zanpakuto that appeared in front of him immediately. The tall warrior blocked the attack with his own sword and sheer will, which diverted the lightning bolt pass them.
"Senbonzakura!" Ichigo cried as the sky tore open. Sheets of rain and sharp hail stones fell upon them, "What are you doing here?"
"Ichigo, my master has been led into an ambush! He was led to believe Zero had you and I couldn't stop him, he wouldn't listen!" the sword soul told him angrily, hail ticking off of his armour. "Zero is quickly destroying him, and I can't do anything about it!"
"Dammit!" Ichigo cursed, as a sickening feeling of guilt and rage washed over him. This wasn't the way it was supposed to go. "There has to be a way to stop him!"
A familiar cackling came from overhead. They both looked up to see Zero in his black outfit and hat, his hands holding his pair of katana. The laughing quickly came to a halt.
Zero frowned deeply and howled with fury. "Ugh! What are you doing here? How did you get in here?" he screamed at them.
It couldn't be…
"Don't...don't tell me I'm in Byakuya's inner world?" Ichigo demanded unbelievingly.
Another blast came at them. Senbonzakura grabbed Ichigo and practically threw him behind the trunk of a cherry tree. Ichigo braced himself next to the samurai as the thunder bolt decimated the tree just above their heads and began to collapse on them. They dodged the falling tree, dashing to their right, taking shelter behind another solid trunk.
"Where else do you think you are?" the zanpakuto said as if he should know, "We don't have time to chat! Explain later…right now we need to try and stop Zero before he kills us all!"
"I won't let that happen! I won't let him take Byakuya from me!" the human soul reaper raged.
"Ichigo…" the samurai voiced delicately. "What can we do? This guy holds my very power in his hands while he's in here and out there! Neither my master nor I can produce our bankai… I understand now why you were so easily overcome the first time."
Ichigo began to evaluate the situation. What Senbonzakura just said began to evolve in his mind. He suddenly thought of something. "There's a reason Zero avoided fighting both of us at the same time. Ugh! I'm so stupid to have thought I could take him on alone!" Ichigo stopped and reminded himself now was not the time to dwell on mistakes. "We're too strong for him to take all of us on at once, and I don't think he expected this. This is our only chance; we have to do this together, Senbonzakura—all three of us. And we have to mix things up—lend each other our strength." Ichigo called forth his bankai.
The samurai quickly caught on. He wore a nefarious grin under his mask.
A pair of shouji screens appeared and opened right above the field on which Byakuya and Zero stood.
From the senkaimon gate exited the Tenth Division Captain and Vice-Captain, Toshiro Hitsugaya and Rangiku Matsumoto. They found footing on the wet field close to the end zone a few yards away from Byakuya in a flash of shunpo.
The short, spiky white-haired captain spoke to his taller, strawberry blonde-haired second-in-command already sodden by rain, "It looks like we made it right on time." Though, he had no idea that the Captain of the Sixth had just momentarily been teetering on the precipice of death, and that if Byakuya turned around he'd see a windflower scarf darkened and soaked with blood down its front.
"I'm not sure Kuchiki-taicho needs our assistance by the looks of things..." the busty woman started unsure and trailed off when she noticed Rukia and Renji in shinigami form, and Ichigo's real world friends rush over to them.
"Where's Ichigo?" Rukia questioned the newcomers, her eyes flashing over at her brother who stood alone across from Zero in the middle of the dark field.
"Rukia-san," Rangiku said, "I dunno what you're talking about. I haven't seen Kurosaki-san, we just arrived a moment before you did."
"It seems as if he's holding his own," Toshiro said and thumbed after Byakuya.
Rukia couldn't be sure about that. She knew the details of what happened with Ichigo and her brother when they first fought this guy. Zero could be inside her brother's inner world ripping it apart. She frowned anxiously when she noticed Byakuya's sword sticking out of the ground in front of him.
"There's something wrong here," Renji assured, seeing the same thing Rukia was. "What's that thing glowing in his hand?"
It was faint from this distance but everyone could see the tiny, pink glowing item dangling from Byakuya's clenched right fist by his side.
No one had an answer.
The scene of what appeared a silent standoff, or a cornered captain, suddenly stirred. In a flash Byakuya grabbed his sword and yanked it out of the earth. He thrust it to his side, holding the wet hilt with both hands and charged after the enemy, his feet splashing over the wet grass. Just as his sword came down over Zero's front, Senbonzakura appeared from behind like a demon in the night and slashed his sword across Zero's back.
Metal met flesh and blood spattered. Zero gasped in shock, his eyes wide with terror and surprise. His hold on Byakuya's power was released against his will. But soon his shock subsided into a foolish grin on his diabolical face and a chuckle erupted from his throat.
Byakuya took a step back, staring at his zanpakuto with equal surprise. Behind him he sensed Rukia and Renji, even Ichigo's friends and the Tenth Division Captain and Vice-Captain. But he didn't dare take his eyes off Zero.
"Byakuya? *Sigh* I wonder if he can hear me... You won't believe where I am."
"Ichigo?" spoke Byakuya incredulously. He gripped the charm he held even tighter.
"You can hear me! Remember what you said about us crushing this guy? I'll handle things from in here—you and Senbonzakura take care of Zero out there. This is the only way! He controls only one person at a time…but as long as I'm in here, he can't have you. Alone we're useless against him, but together we can dance all over this asshole!"
"How?" wailed Zero. "How are you guys doing this?" he demanded.
Byakuya regarded Zero blankly. "I have no reason to explain myself to the likes of you."
"Don't think you two got the best of me yet!" Zero raged and laughed maddeningly.
With a belligerent scoff Byakuya explained, "A man that seeks only power is certain to fall…your plan has failed, Arashi. There is nothing left but for me to help you achieve your fate."
Zero growled at him.
Byakuya and Senbonzakura took a few paces back, putting space between them and this cretin who was now trapped. A cornered man was by far the most dangerous.
"You are not the only one with backup," snarled the quasi-shinigami beast.
Pointing with his sword, everyone heard the unique ripping sound of a Garganta tearing open in the dismal night sky. From the throat of Hueco Mundo crawled out three large Adjuchas, the second strongest Hollow in the three classes of Menos. The trio varied in size, although all were as large as a house or bigger. They dropped to the field behind Senbonzakura, and in unison roared so loud it shook the ground they stood on.
Rukia called from behind, "Nii-sama, we'll take care of this!"
Byakuya watched as Rukia, Hitsugaya, Rangiku, Ishida and Chad appeared in front of the three Menos with swords, arrow and fist drawn.
"Your Menos don't stand a chance. It's time we ended this," the noble guaranteed and held his sword up in front of his face.
Senbonzakura followed suit of his master and together they gave the command.
"Scatter."
As if clawing his face apart with his gnarly, clawed fingers Zero produced that ram-horned mask with the blue streak across the front, his blonde hair short and spiky in this form. His tattered clothing and monstrous limbs making him tower over the shinigami. Under the shadows and rain, Zero's new appearance seemed even more deadly and strong than it had before. His reiatsu was thick and heavy, surging off of him in rampant bursts. He was a breathing nightmare, releasing his anger with a horrible shrill.
Ichigo was not thwarted by the image before him.
Never again would he let this guy harm another soul! The very thought that he'd let this man trick him and nearly got Byakuya killed, for a second time, burned in him like the pyres of hell. Letting go of his rational mind, Ichigo permit his own Hollow to take over his bankai, which increased his power even more. He roared with his own fury as he transformed into a menacing beast as daunting as Zero. His body didn't resemble his own anymore, but was greyish and elongated, his shinigami uniform in shreds and his chest bare. His mask was something created as if from the most dismal pits of Hueco Mundo—a dual-horned, sinister creation with skeletal teeth and bony appearance emblazoned with red streaks. His orange hair was no longer short, but long and untamed.
Zero barely gave him a moment to breathe as he rushed at him. The two Hollows clashed in a charged collision of power. Swords clanged together at an infuriating speed and well-timed strikes as they flew above the trees and under the torrent of rain. Lightning streaked across the sky…
"I won't let you be the victor," snarled Zero.
"Says the man that's about to die!" sneered Ichigo's malevolent side.
Ichigo picked up his speed and danced around Zero in such a flurry, dodging his pair of katana that the man couldn't tell which side he was on. Cunningly, Ichigo confused Zero and flew back and pointed his horns at his opponent. A heavy red cero shot out from between the horns and caught the other Hollow in its blast.
Zero was slammed through two trees, taking them down and sending up clouds of petals, dirt and bark into the air.
Ichigo lunged at him with his sword, but Zero dodged it and sliced cleanly through another tree that toppled over.
"Over here," Zero psyched and managed to carve one sword deep across Ichigo's right thigh and claw the bottom half of his mask off.
Ichigo skirted back to regain his balance, but that was short-lived as a bright blue cero came at him, catching him directly in front. Ichigo stood his ground, completely unmoved by the force as it burned over him. All that registered of the attack was the thin trails of smoke that sizzled off his skin and clothes in the aftermath. Zero's power was no longer a match to his own power, a power he was sharing with Byakuya. The vizard fought for honour and for love, his resolve was immense, infinite.
An impassioned Kurosaki Ichigo was unstoppable!
The wound didn't seem to affect Ichigo in the least and he brought his sword down in a chopping motion, releasing a condensed mass of black and red energy. "Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo moved so fast that he was already at the receiving side of his assault and fired off another Getsuga Tensho. He did the same from the east and west side of his target, giving Zero no quarter.
Commands of power could be heard behind Senbonzakura as their backup cleaned up the Menos and worked on closing the Garganta. And in the middle of the football field another battle raged on. As if in sync both Byakuya and Senbonzakura's shikai chased after Zero who dodged endlessly as the blades from all sides, made it impossible for him to stop for even a second.
"For such a valiant warrior you comprise a mastered art of fleeing," claimed the noble shinigami. "A pity, I thought you'd be more of a challenge but clearly you are now outmatched."
"Now you're only bragging!" charged Zero, "I have no intention of running from this battle. You and Ichigo may have found a way to increase your power, but I have not yet shown you my full power. This fight is to the death shinigami!"
Byakuya scoffed, "Then prove it."
Zero was quickly beginning to tire. Even if he wanted to flee, the blades forced him to stop and go the other way. Their speed was much too fast for him, even though he managed to dodge the assault from two sides, and he knew he would soon be overcome. There was no other choice.
"You won't escape this, Prince!" Zero snarled and cried, "Bankai!"
The sky began to streak and crack with thick forks of vibrant, cerulean lightning. It was so bright it blinded Byakuya and Senbonzakura, they couldn't steer the thousands of blades under their control. It gave Zero the perfect opportunity to call his ultimate attack.
Byakuya remained vigilant and wary, noting the streaks of lightning and anticipating the oncoming attack. The air felt heavier than it did a moment before and the smell of ozone was noticeable.
"Naguru: Gobosei Inazuma!"
Ready to use even his most complex shunpo steps, Byakuya wasn't prepared for what was coming. Under his feet a gigantic, intricately designed pentagram began to glow bright red and when he tried to move he found he couldn't. Standing in the middle of some kind of magical seal, he stood, trapped. High up in the sky the lightning continued to crack fiercely. There was no kido to help him out of this one; Byakuya braced himself for the oncoming strike.
It seemed like in the same instant an enormous bolt of lightning struck the middle of the pentagram Byakuya found himself tackled out of the hold, the wind knocked out of him, and sprawled on his back over the wet grass. The flash before him was so bright he had to shield his eyes and quickly cast the defending wall kido spell, Splitting Void just in time.
Darkness prevailed once more and the Gotei captain quickly rose to his feet, blinking the burned spots from his vision. In the place he had been standing on the pentagram now lay an unmoving, mask-less Senbonzakura.
Anger replaced his confusion and he glared at Zero. "It would appear you live up to your name, Akahoshi," Byakuya bit out.
Zero cursed, his swords crackling with electricity. "Why are you people always protecting each other?"
Byakuya knew his zanpakuto was not finished, he could still feel his spirit but it was weak, thin. "A man such as yourself would not understand the meaning of loyalty. Rest assured, I will not go lightly on you this time," he explained in an eerily calm manner and confidently dropped his sword once more.
"Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi"
Arashi Akahoshi was once more witness to the daunting display of swords that rose up from the ground on either side of Byakuya and burst into tiny pink blades.
"Shukei: Hakuteiken"
The petals seemed to be absorbed by Byakuya and a pillar of devastating white light shot up around him. As blindingly bright as Zero's lightning had been, a pair of white wings born of Byakuya's spiritual energy spread from either side of him from his sword enveloping him in an ethereal white light. Arched over his head was an equally white, angelic crescent like that of the moon. The wings surged with vast power, the area around them frightfully charged with Byakuya's reiatsu.
"Tonight, I use this technique for my pride," was the only thing Byakuya had left to say to Zero.
Zero had no reply to that. He knew that this was the moment to end it all. There was no backing down now. He would finish this shinigami! He would finish them both in one shot! He held up his swords towards the heavens as violent streaks of lightning coursed down and struck the tips, engulfing him and the katana in cords of rippling energy that swirled around his body. And when he pointed his swords at Byakuya...
Both men charged.
Blue currents crackled around Zero's swords as he rushed and Byakuya flew towards him with clenched teeth visibly bared. The moment their immense power clashed, it burst into a white explosion tinted with black and red streaks borne of Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho which swallowed up the blue. Inside, Byakuya could hear an echo of Zero's horrid cry of death and Ichigo's Hollow roar of conquest.
They had landed the final blow on Zero at the same time.
The field grew dark and silent once more, and disrupted earth settled. The rain fell gently.
The two halves of Zero's separated body lay still on the ground. Byakuya had cut him clean in half.
In a flash Ichigo appeared beside Byakuya and removed his mask, transforming himself back into bankai soul reaper form. Both wearied men stood looking at the body. The top half of Zero was laying face down in the soppy, wet grass. Zero's reiatsu flowed no more.
Ichigo looked over at Byakuya and was stricken to see blood staining the front of his scarf, but the rain seemed to have cleaned all traces of blood from his face. His eyes dropped to a bleeding wound at the noble's right side, the haori torn and edged darkly with fresh blood. He went to inspect, but Byakuya swatted his hand away crossly.
There was a long moment of tense silence.
"Why, Ichigo?" he demanded coldly, looking him straight in the eye and a frown angrily set on his face. "Why did you lie to me about this?" Byakuya held out the protection charm which was no longer was glowing on his palm.
Ichigo sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Byakuya. I...I thought I could protect you if Zero came back looking for a fight that…that I'd finish him off alone. I had no idea the charm would work this way! I didn't want to involve you in this again!" he cried.
"Fool! You could have gotten yourself killed!" Byakuya flared.
"I know! It was stupid. But I…I did it because... I've fallen in love with you!" Ichigo shouted furiously at him.
Byakuya's eyes flashed.
Ichigo looked away. "I didn't want you to get hurt…I don't want to lose you! I fucked up and you got hurt because of me again anyways," Ichigo expressed sombrely, crumbling to his knees in the wet grass. He felt so pathetic and exhausted, disappointed with his bad judgment and for letting Byakuya down like that. "I'm afraid that if I love you too much that something will take you away from me. And tonight that something almost did…" He spoke from a tightened throat and stared at the ground, too ashamed to look Byakuya in the eye.
The anger Byakuya felt simply vanished as he looked down at his lover on his knees before him, his ginger hair plastered to his head and looking so dismal in the rain. The sound of Ichigo's voice right now suddenly made it hard for him to swallow. He had to take a breath before he knelt down in front of Ichigo on one knee and reached out to him, lifting his face up by his chin gently with one hand. "Ichigo, I'm still here, and I'm not going anywhere. I understand how you must feel and I apologize for getting angry, but I…I don't want to lose you either."
Ichigo lifted his miserable gaze to Byakuya's, droplets of rain coursing down his face.
Byakuya used the pad of his thumb to wipe the water aside; Ichigo looked so enchantingly exposed right now. He smiled softly, "Anyways, it would seem as if your brainless idea proved to benefit the both of us in the end. You're lucky I found the charm on Kon's neck tonight—if you were not there to protect my world then, Zero would have certainly finished me off. It would seem as if a connection was made between us and the charm the day I gave it to you, and it doesn't seem to matter which one of us has it." He paused for a moment and looked over to see that Orihime girl healing his zanpakuto. He looked back to Ichigo and fixed the charm back around his neck where it belonged, "If you love someone you have to trust them, Ichigo."
Curling his fingers around Byakuya's tekkou-covered wrist Ichigo murmured boldly, "Does that mean you trust me?"
"Even though you lied to me…yes, I trust you," Byakuya answered the baited question, knowing full well what he was admitting to. "I'll even overlook the fact that you tainted my inner world with your filthy Hollow."
Ichigo chuckled quietly. Leave it to Byakuya to lighten the mood with an insult. It was exactly what he needed to hear and Ichigo swooped in claiming the man in a genuine embrace.
The older soul reaper grunted gently with pain.
The vizard pulled back immediately, "I'm sorry…you're hurt, I didn't mean to." Ichigo was watching Byakuya and noticed his eyes were looking over his shoulder. He turned to see what he was looking at and was surprised to see Inoue healing Senbonzakura who laid there with his hands over his face.
"I believe he ran out of spares," Byakuya mused when he saw what Ichigo was looking at. "I'll be alright until we get to Soul Society," he assured, "I see you have a wound on your leg. Let's go home."
"Home...?"
"Well...my home," Byakuya said and stood up, holding a hand out for Ichigo to take.
A set of throats being cleared sounded in chorus behind the noble.
The human shinigami took the hand tentatively, realizing that everyone was here and had probably been watching and listening the whole time. Ichigo peered squeamishly over Byakuya's shoulder at them.
Rukia, Renji, Chad, and Ishida were waving at him. Even Toshiro and Rangiku! Rangiku winked at him wickedly.
Ichigo began to fluster.
Byakuya saw the look on Ichigo's face and leaned over, very close to his ear. He said only for him to hear, "What they think of this, matters very little to me."
Those words surprised Ichigo. He returned his gaze to Byakuya's again and was astonished to see nothing in his eyes, but pride.
A/N: Well here it is, the final battle. I always feel bad about torturing the muses, but I also love some drama and fluff lol! You see, it all worked out :) I hope you enjoyed it! As for Zero's bankai, even his name. I did a lot of looking around at Japanese names and did a lot of thinking before making his name, his release command and his bankai ultimate attack name. Naguru: Gobosei Inazuma. Naguru means 'Strike' in Japanese: Gobosei means 'Pentagram' and Inazuma means 'Lightning'. In case anyone was interested in knowing the meanings behind the names and the attack. So...now what happens to our lovebirds? Well, that's what the next three chapters are about. The conclusion. There is a lot of fanservice and fluff and a little drama...not much drama but a lil'. Next chapter is like two chapters in one, it's so long! Thanks guys!
Reviewers:
Toki Mirage: Say thanks for taking a chance to read it!
claudea: Haha! I bet it WOULD hurt to step on those headpieces..omg! That made me laugh! I'm so happy you enjoyed that lemon, hun! Round two is what Ichigo gets for making fun of Byakuya and his bananas lmao! Thanks for your comments :)
HaruHaruGD: The terrible things happened and then there was the end. I hope you enjoyed it! :) Naw thanks hun! Your comments are always so much fun to read! Much love!
Cap'n BlackRose: Hey Captain! Thank you SO much for taking a chance on my fic. I'm thrilled with the comments you gave me! It's nice to hear someone say that the elements of the story are flowing well, and that the chars are in char etc. I'm touched. Not to worry about that happy ending...it will come. -winks-
kestrels: LOL! I'm tickled that you got a good laugh from the silly stuff in the last chapter. I love how humour and drama and action go hand in hand with Bleach...it's probably why I love it so much! Knowing that I was able to creep you out makes me day lol! And yeah, I thought it would be fun to have Renji and Rukia 'stumble' upon Byakuya and Ichigo's new romance. I know I had her accept the idea of her brother and Ichigo together sort of quickly, but I didn't want to her to just start off all fine with it. But I didn't think that she would be able to burst Byakuya's bubble once she saw how happy he was with Ichigo. The hand-holding...I'm such a fluff monster! Your comments are always so lovely. Thanks so much hun! -huggles-
Daxemon: YAY! You are beckoned to read lulz! I love it! Screaming hot..I adore your word choice here :) No kidding! Wasn't Byakuya hot all dolled up and playing pool. Gawd! -drooling fangirl moment- XD! Can't help it. Oh yes! There will be a lemon in the next chapter. Super long chapter..there was just SO much to say! It's a surprise lemon though, you'll see! Someone will scream and scream and scream lulz! There is also a small lemon'ish scene in the last chapter, too! You'll see, again lulz! Thanks muchly for reading, hun!
seasonalscull: Well, I once, like 5 years ago have a reviewer call me queen of the smut lol! But naw...I know the story is reaching the end. I'm sorry -begs for forgiveness- :P Three more chapters after this one. Mostly fanservice with a small plot. I imagine you know what it is, eh? Truly, thanks again for such wonderful comments!
Feregane: Rukia HAD to win that pool game. I got a kick out of the fact someone beat Byakuya at his own game lol! That tickles me endlessly. 'Some details in the previous chapter and Ichigo's bewilderment about Daisuke not having finished his job in this one, make me wonder if it hadn't been some hidden love between Zero and his shinigami… ' Are you insightful or what? You're very keen, hun. Very keen! Wow! Thanks for the encouraging words regarding tension and the way Zero split up the chars. I really needed to hear that! Again, thanks for such a lovely review with thoughtful comments! Not just for this review, but I'm forever grateful to you! -squishes-