Luppi was giddy, after following the two men for the better part of the week he finally had an opening. Grimmjow had second round match and Ichigo had been asked to meet with his sensei. Ichigo was in the weird blond mans room and Luppi was dancing in his hiding spot down the hall.
"What's up Kisuke?" Ichigo asked sitting down across from his kyoukan.
"There is going to be several exhibition fights and demonstrations at the end of competition. Each dojo is to submit a fighter for a match or demonstration; I would like to submit your name for a demonstration with the uchigatana. You are one of the few people in the country who has any real skill with it."
"That's fine, I guess. As long as I'm not too banged up after the competition."
"Agreed, a sword that large requires you to be in good condition to handle it." Smirked Urahara, "I have been meaning to ask you, how goes things with Shiro and Zangetsu? And have you had any problems with your stalker?"
"I have not seen Luppi at all. The other two are fine; they give me no real problems. Zangetsu seems to be the sane one and he keeps Shiro leashed for the most part. They talk to me and teach me things about myself, things I buried or refuse to see."
"I'm glad that you are adjusted to the situation, I was afraid that you might not be able to handle the voices. Speaking of voices, Rukia –chan made a comment the other day about a song that fits you. She said it was your ring tone and would be a good background to the demonstration. Do you know what she's talking about?"
Ichigo turned red, "Uh, yeah. It's called Voices by Rev Theory. I have it on my iPod; I'll give it to you later."
"Ok, Ichi, no w why don't you go ahead and get downstairs, Grimmjow's match should be about to start."
Ichigo left the room and made his way to the elevator, a small figure slipped up behind him, Ichigo felt the needle pierce his neck and then nothing, his world went black. He could hear Shiro yelling but could not make out the words. Luppi picked up Ichigo's limp body and carried him into the elevator, one floor up he entered his room and tossed the boy on the bed.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Grimmjow returned to his room grumbling to himself the entire way, Ichigo never made it to his match. Damn Urahara even kept him through dinner. When Grimmjow opened the door the room was dark, something didn't feel right. The room was empty; on the bed were Ichigo's cell phone and a piece of paper. Grimmjow's stomach fell as he reached for the paper.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Aizen, Kisuke, Byakuya, and Yamamoto were standing in Grimmjow and Ichigo's room, Grimmjow sat on the edge of the bed with his head hanging low.
"Grimmjow, give the note you found," Aizen said softly, he hated seeing his son hurting. Grimmjow handed over the paper and the four older men gathered around to read it.
Grimmy,
Baby, I am going to take care of the substitute you've been playing with. Soon we can be together again, with no distractions. I'll meet you tonight when I've finished with the orange haired kid. I know that you are as excited as me to finally be able to be together again.
I love you,
Luppi
Aizen pulled out his phone and called Gin, "Gin, get to the security office. Ichigo has been taken by Luppi. I'll get the boys started on a search. We have to hurry, he makes it sound like he's gonna kill him."
Kisuke was busy typing out a text to bring all of his fighters to the room, Byakuya was doing the same. Yamamoto stepped outside on the balcony to call his son to tell him that his only son had been abducted.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
KING! Wake the fuck up, we don't have time for you to lay around on your ass all day! This crazy fucker is gonna kill you. And I will not be a horse to a king that is too weak to die without a fight; I'll kill you first and take your place.
Shiro, be quiet. Ichigo now is the time to rise. Your life is in danger, this man is not stable. MOVE NOW OR YOU WILL DIE!
"What the hell happened? Where am I?" Ichigo asked as he looked around the room.
That little fucker drugged you.
"What? Why can't I move?"
It's the drugs, they have paralyzed you. I can help you, but only if you are strong enough to deserve it.
"What do I have to do?"
What do you want to live for?
"I want to live for the people I love."
Who? Your friends, your family? That love is great but not enough.
"What more do you want?"
You need to admit the truth; until you accept your heart your soul is unstable. The changes that you noticed need to be completed. What are you hiding from yourself? What is the truth in your heart?
"I don't know. I'm not hiding anything that I know of."
Search, and quickly. You are running out of time.
Ichigo frowned and began to think hard, what was he hiding? What would complete the changes to his soul? What had started the changes? Ichigo opened his eyes and hovering above him was Shiro, the light shining through his white hair reflected the bright cyan blue of the sky. Wait, blue, I need to remember, what is it about blue? Ichigo groaned and closed his eyes again.
Zan, I don't think he's gonna be able… Shiro was cut off by a sudden violent tremor that sent shock waves through the increasingly unstable world. Ichigo squeezed his eyes closed even tighter, shit; he needed to figure this crap out now.
Ichigo, we are running out of time. You need to find your reason to live, your reason to fight; you need to find the source of your resolve.
"I'm trying! Damn it, I can't think of anything but the color blue!" The ground shook harder; Ichigo could hear pieces of the buildings falling away. Under his back he could feel cracks forming, but he could do nothing but think, "Why is blue so important? Why can't I remember?"
Ichigo knew that both Shiro and Zangetsu talking to him but he couldn't hear them anymore, he was consumed by blue. Blue, blue, blue eyes suddenly swam across his vision. Blue, blue, blue hair, so soft. He could feel the silken strands running through his fingers. He felt a flash of something, his chest contracted, his breath quickened, he felt pain in the core of his being.
"Zan, why do I hurt?"
I cannot tell you, only you know that answer.
Why do I hurt? Where is this pain coming from? If I die the pain will go away. As soon as that thought crossed his mind a searing pain hit Ichigo, it felt like his heart was being torn to shreds. His inner world crumbled faster. If I die, the pain will be worse. Why? Why should I live? Dad, Yuzu, Karin, Kisuke, ojiisan, all of my friends….there's something, no someone missing. Blue…
Ichigo's eyes shot open and a sudden heat flooded through him, radiating out and blanketing his world. Blue! Grimmjow! Ichigo felt something inside him melt and he was able to move again. Sitting up he looked around and gasped, his world was still on its side, but now it had large patches of jungle growing from the sides of the buildings, deep turquoise water flowed between the buildings, and a large panther sat in front of him, its fur so black it shown blue in the sunlight. Ichigo stared into the big cat's eyes, cyan blue eyes, and reached out a hand to pet the animal regarding him quietly. The cat began to purr as Ichigo ran his hand over the ears, he smirked, "You sound just like Grimmjow."
Have you figured it out yet?
"My heart, I'm afraid to let anyone in, not since mom died. Somehow Grimmjow found his way in without me noticing. Grimmjow is my reason to survive; I never want to cause him the pain I felt."
Very good, Ichigo. Now get up, the time has come to fight.
Shiro cackled madly, dancing around Ichigo and Zangetsu.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Grimmjow and every fighter from Soul Society searched the building while Gin sat in the security office going over security tapes. Gin's phone rang causing the slight man to start; answering it without taking his eyes off of the screens in front of him it took a moment to register the voice on the other end.
"Gin…..Gin…..are you there?"
"Huh, oh, sorry…. (pause this)….Tousen, is that you?"
"Yes, Aizen called me; I was already in Yokohama on another job, so I am pulling up to the hotel now. I was told to meet with you to get the details."
"I'll have someone meet you; I'm in the security office right now."
"No need, I'll be there in a moment." With that the line went dead.
"There is a man coming to meet me, he has long braided hair and is blind, he will most likely make it to this door before you ever see him." A few seconds later a tall dark skinned man wearing dark glasses walked in.
"So Gin, what has happened?"
"Kurosaki Ichigo has been abducted by Luppi. We need to find him fast, or I fear the worst may happen."
Gin looked up but Tousen was already gone. Gin smirked and almost felt sorry for Luppi if Tousen was the one to find him. The man only sought justice and had a very violent way of exacting it.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Grimmjow was getting more frantic as time passed, he had to find Ichigo, he had to tell him the truth, the truth of what was in his heart.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Luppi was sitting in a chair watching Ichigo; he had to wait until he woke up. It wouldn't do to kill a man without telling him why. That touching what didn't belong to him was a crime punishable by death, and a painful death at that. Luppi started laughing as he played with his wakizashi.