…
…
Orihime beamed widely.
"Kuchiki-san!" She squealed, hurrying towards the petite Shinigami. Her violet eyes widened when she saw the healer rushing to her, and then the slim arms wrapped around her neck, squeezing tight. Orihime pulled back after a few seconds and beamed brilliantly, "I can't believe you're really here! Your hair changed so much! It's short, but it's cute and I'm sure you wanted it to be this way. I'm so glad you're back, so now we can go see a movie and eat takoyaki with wasabi and stay up all night watching scary movies!" Everyone on the damp roof stared at her with disbelieving gazes, even Ishida, whose shoulder was dripping with blood and Tsubaki who was floating next to Ichigo.
Rukia sweat-dropped, "Y-Yes. I suppose we can."
"Yosh!" Orihime clenched her fist with determination, "We'll have the best girls' night ever~!"
Ichigo blinked, and sighed before redirecting his attention to the levitating captains, "You guys!" He actually smiled, genuinely glad to see all of them, "What're you doing here?"
"We should be asking you that, Ichigo!" Ikkaku called back with a large grin, "You should've finished this already!"
"Or have you gone weak?" Zaraki crowed, and reached for his sword, "I would love to check for you, Kurosaki!"
Ichigo sweat-dropped, and frowned up at the spiky haired male, "That's alright. Maybe another—" When Ginjo roared mightily and clashed his blade with his. Ichigo grunted as he was forced back a few feet, dust flying up along with their fight and sparks aiming everywhere. Orihime prepared to defend her boyfriend, but not before Tsukishima slashed the air beside her, inches from her right shoulder, and he smiled when he saw the widening of her eyes.
"I'm your opponent, Orihime." He taunted lowly, and she bit her bottom lip, taking a step back. Before she could call on Tsubaki, who was already racing towards her, and before Ichigo could call out her name, the blade swung towards her once again, and a hand caught it easily.
Orihime was quite surprised to see Kuchiki Byakuya's robed back in front of her. He regarded Tsukishima with heavy aloof eyes, before he shoved the sword from his hand, and frowned briefly, "I shall fight you." he turned to look at Orihime, "Move away, woman."
She nodded, bowing respectively, before she felt another pair of hands grip her shoulders, halting her movement. Ichigo froze when he saw the familiar blonde male. Orihime raised her eyes and they grew larger on her pretty face, "T-Tamashi-kun!"
"DON'T TOUCH HER!" Tsubaki yelled from her curtain of hair, where he stood on her slim shoulder.
"Good evening," Kouichi greeted casually, ignoring the fairy's shout, but returning his masculine hands to his pockets.
Amaya and Shun'o chose that time to return to Orihime's shoulders, shoving Tsubaki aside, "We have restored their memories. They should wake up in an hour or so."
"Arigato," Orihime nodded, and then concentrated on healing Ishida-kun. The glow instantly surrounded him and his arm began to work again. Ginjo glanced around him; the captains were still levitating, checking if they were needed. He wouldn't win this battle alone. And that's when he heard,
"Oi!" He hopped away from Ichigo, and glanced behind him quickly to see Yukio, Jackie, and Giriko standing below, grinning, "Need help?"
Ginjo could only smirk in response as he thought of his comrades. Riruka was dead, and she had failed to kill Koichi or Orihime; it appeared as if he had to do everything himself. As Ichigo slammed his sword back into his, Orihime finished healing Ishida, and the captains began their decent towards their friends, Yukio took that as a yes, and pressed a couple of buttons.
"I hope you Shinigami are ready," he grinned wide as he pressed the final button.
…
…
Ichigo opened his chocolate eyes, frowning as he took in his surroundings. The buildings, the trees, the giant lake, even his home.
"Karakura?" He muttered to himself, scowling now in confusion.
"No," A familiar voice answered and he turned slightly to see Ishida, bow in hand and body fully healed, "It's not. It's just an illusion. Some kind of power of one of his comrade's."
Ichigo frowned again and then searched. When he didn't find her, he felt the panic stir in his belly. Even though it was impossible, he whipped his head around, "Where's Orihime?"
Ishida knew he would do this, "She's not here. It's just you and me." He looked over towards their enemy, who was grinning widely, Ginjo, "And him."
Ichigo's scowl deepened, "Let's get this over with. I have to get to Orihime."
Ishida repositioned his glasses and sighed, "Don't do anything stupid. Inoue-san can protect herself."
"I know," he replied, "I just don't like the thought of her alone."
The blue arrow glowed between the Quincy's fingertips, "Then we need a strategy."
Ichigo slanted him a lazy glance, "Fuck that!" And he blurred away.
Ishida felt a vein pulse in his temple, "DAMMIT, KUROSAKI!"
…
…
Orihime blinked.
She was in the arms of someone, and she wasn't sure who it was, but they were warm, and strong, and holding her tight. She clenched her small hand in his graphic t-shirt and recognized the scent, "T-Tamashi-kun?" She called gently.
He continued to walk, but tightened his hold, "Oh, you're awake. Finally. You sleep like a log, by the way."
Orihime smiled softly, "Hai. Kurosaki-kun told me that before." He seemed to ignore the comment and continued to walk, his golden eyes tracing the path. Orihime followed his gaze, and grew worried. It was dark, wherever they were, and the path was rough and rocky. It appeared as if some kind of passage through a deep, black tunnel, she could hear water dripping somewhere, and Tamashi-kun's shoes scraping against the rocks.
"W-Where are we?" She asked, her heart rate picking up.
She thought she saw him smirk in the dark, "Don't be afraid. I really have no idea, but I'm guessing this is the work Yukio. He can use his games to change the world, and in his world, we're the players." He dragged his eyes across the weird, damp walls, and could barely see a thing. His arms constricted around the woman. "Don't do anything you would regret. He could kill us whenever he pleas."
Orihime nodded before redirecting her attention to him, "T-Thank you for carrying me." Her hand reached up to cradle her head, "Mou…did I hit my head?"
"I suppose you did. When I found you, you were all the way on the other side of the cave. I think your fairies saved you, because I fell down the rocks and broke my arm." He smiled widely, as if it were nothing.
Orihime blushed and opened her pink lips to reply, but not before Tsubaki suddenly flew from her pins, and screeched, "I'M NOT A DAMN FAIRY!"
"Gomen ne," Kouichi replied with a bright smile, "You're Tsubaki, the attack of her Shun Shun Rikka, ne? Are any of you injured?"
Tsubaki cooled off, frowning, "No, we're fine. It's this onna who is hurt." He knocked on the bump on her hard head, "But she doesn't have a concussion."
"Itai…" She grumbled, "Mou, Tsubaki-kun…"
"Don't speak!" He growled, grasping her pink cheek to tug it hard.
"OOOW! Tsubaki-kuuuun!"
She wiggled in Kouichi's arms, crying out, trying to escape Tsubaki's mean words and pinching fingers. Kouichi had a hard time holding her up straight, much less staying upright himself. And then his eyes landed on the bright light just a few hundred yards away. He could make it.
"Inoue-san," he called down to her, and both the fairy and her paused, her large teary hazel orbs curious, "There's light up ahead. Maybe it's the exit."
Orihime blinked and followed his gaze, "Eh? Are you sure? It might be some kind of trap."
"Yeah," Tsubaki rested on Tamashi's shoulder, "She's right."
Kouichi mulled it over, "Whatever it is. We can handle it." He gave her a bright smile, similar to her own, "Ne?"
"…You're weird." The fairy commented after a few silent seconds.
"Yes, I guess I am! HAHA!"
"Tsubaki-kun! That's mean!"
"SHUT UP, STUPID WOMAN!"
"I-I'm not stupid! I have the top grades in my classes!"
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
Kouichi ignored the two, holding the girl protectively in his arms. He wouldn't allow any harm to come to the healer. He would do it out of gratitude and affection, but also for Kurosaki. He felt a deep respect for the substitute Shinigami, and he would do his part in keeping Orihime safe.
"Ne, Tsubaki-kun?" Orihime called to her fairy when they'd finally stopped squabbling.
Tsubaki leaned heavily against Kouichi's shoulder, lying down casually, "What do you want?"
"Do you think Kurosaki-kun is alright?" She asked, her voice timid.
Instantly, the wild fairy gripped her hair tight, and tugged it with all his might, "BAKA ONNA! Who gives a shit about that stupid orange haired beast that molests you every time he gets? I wouldn't give two fucks if he died!"
Orihime's bottom lip quivered, "Y-You wouldn't? But I thought you and Ichigo-kun were friends!"
"I will MURDER him!"
"Mou…"
Suddenly, they came to a stop.
Orihime frowned briefly, and glanced up at her comrade, "T-Tamashi-kun? Are you alright? Are you angry? Were we making too much noise? G-Gomennasai!"
Kouichi wasn't listening. A shudder passed up his spine as his mind worked through everything. He could hear them now. So this is what Yukio was planning…Kill off the weak links with this. He scowled, akin to Kurosaki's, afraid to turn around.
Orihime gasped when she heard the overwhelming roar, shocking and loud. It waved through the air and made her ears ring. Cautiously, she peeked over Kouichi's shoulder, and her grip tightened in his shirt.
"Tamashi-kun! Look out!"
"Hollows?" Tsubaki flew to Orihime's side as Tamashi dodged out of the way just in time, keeping Orihime close. The hollow was gigantic, and he briefly wondered how the monster could fit in the narrow cave, or gotten into it in the first place. It soulless eyes stared down at the two teenagers, and roared once again, causing Orihime to plug her ears.
In response, there were more roars heard from outside the caves, carrying for miles and miles.
"Dammit," Tamashi breathed into her amber hair.
Orihime's eyes narrowed, "Koten Zanshun!"
…
…
It was dark, wherever he was.
Byakuya was used to his home, bright and warm and beautiful.
This was morbid and dull.
Sighing briefly, he hadn't failed to notice his opponent. Standing across from him was Tsukishima, his sword in his hand, green dancing around his feet. He was only a few feet away, and sporting a wide, polite smile. Byakuya kept his eyes on the crescent moon, and frowned, refusing to reach for his weapon just yet.
"What's wrong?" The man asked, with an easy smile, "I don't think this is the time to be gazing at the moon."
The captain slanted him an apathetic glance before turning back towards the rock, "I was thinking it was a good thing I'm fighting you."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Kurosaki Ichigo is soft. He may be consumed by anger, but I doubt he would be able to for the soul purpose of killing you." Tsukishima walked towards him as he spoke, his sword drew and ready.
"Oh?" He said with curious tone, "It sounds like you would never let me hit you with my sword!" He lunged forward, throwing his arm out, the blade hurrying through the air, only to be blocked inches from Byakuya's neck. The pink petals showered around him, and Tsukishima's eyes widened.
"I despise the way you fight," Byakuya said quietly, "You don't act on your own. You torment your foes by stealing away bonds," he glared at the man from the corner of his slender eyes, "It is truly despicable. An audacity punishable by death. Come at me," he swiftly turned to Tsukishima, drawing his sword outward, the petals moving gently with him, "I shall cut you down before you can swing your sword."
…
…
Kenpachi was bored.
He had demanded Byakuya to switch with him, it would only take a second, but the asshole had completely ignored him. Scowling unhappily, he allowed the blackness to overtake his world, muttering a quiet, "Ch." Yachiru made herself known, wiggling against his back to get comfortable.
"Looks stronger?" The butler – or whoever he was, Kenpachi didn't really care – said, smirking widely, cockily, as Zaraki's scowl deepened. "Think you'll get away with that."
The captain made another grunting noise, "I don't want the weak one." Zaraki allowed the man to go on and on, and watched blandly as the guy evolved into a green pile of muscles and excitement. He flexed his big arms, and crowed,
"Right now, my contract is an exceedingly simple 'increase in power'! Right now, I am more powerful than anyone…" Little did he know, Kenpachi was already done. Boringly, he tilted his head, and heard the monster split in half, blood gushing from the clean wound.
"Impossible…" Giriko croaked as he fell apart.
"See?" The spiky haired captain sighed, "What a bore."
…
…
Moe watched, gaping as the man's eyes popped wide.
W-what the…?
The steely muscles clenched and unclenched unnaturally, and the veins rolled against his skin steadily. Finally, Ikkaku shouted out, spiritual pressure leaking from his shaking frame, and whipped his broken arm from his body. Moe's body broke out in a cold sweat. Ikkaku rolled his head lazily, and wrung out his shoulder, frowning a bit at the small pain.
"W-What…?"
What kind of monster is he?
Ikkaku smiled cockily, the mad look returning to his eyes, "What's wrong? Huh? Are you scared?" His bald head shined brightly, cascading all over the forest.
H-He popped his shoulder back in with his muscles!
Motioning him forward, his grin grew, "C'mon!"
Clenching his fists and his courage, Moe growled, and charged forward. "I'm not scared, bastard!"
…
…
Toshiro jogged through the empty hallways, scowling unhappily when he saw all the same walls and doors. The boy's spiritual pressure was nowhere to be found, and he found himself wishing to get on with the battle so he could return home. He knew Kuchiki was somewhere here – he could sense her – and was probably going through his predicament as well. Sighing, he dodged out of the way just as some kind of torpedo launched over his head, and then threw his sword towards the second when it tried to strike him.
Just as a door had begun to close, he shot out his ice, and froze it where it stood. A television – or so that was what it appeared like to Toshiro – popped up on the ceiling, and he slanted it a lazy gaze. The boy, Yukio, grinned widely, laughing at the captain.
"Haha! Where're you aiming? Are you really trying to find me? You and your friend? Or can neither of you power up? Do I need to injure her to get your attention? Or do you need to hear something like 'the girl will die'?" Giggling again, the video disappeared and Toshiro was left alone once more.
Heaving a sigh, his shoulders slumped, "Looks like I got stuck with the annoying guy…"
…
…
Jackie gasped loudly as Renji caught her foot easily, face apathetic as he took in hers. The force of the kick should've broken every bone in his body, or at least his entire arm, but he had blocked it as if she were a fly. Her lips parted, and she watched with shock as the bolder behind them crumbled into pieces. Renji didn't seem to notice.
Bracing his hand back, he swung forward, knocking his sword and hand into her stomach. She choked out in pain as she was hurtled backwards, the water stretching under her as she landed a few feet away, hard on the ground, mud and water breaking into her mouth and eyes. Renji regarded her with a bland gaze.
"I've been training for seventeen months to defeat Aizen." He murmured, his spiritual pressure leaking around him strongly.
Jackie gasped into the bubbles.
"It doesn't matter if you're a man or woman. All of you aren't good enough for me," his deep voice made her ears hurt.
And the rocks slid into the water.
…
…
Orihime panted as she lowered her arms, and managed to catch herself before she fell to the ground. When they'd left the long tunnel, there wasn't much to see except hollows. Orihime could honestly say there were hundreds of them, and they were large and intelligent, and didn't go down without a fight. There were so many, and she was unable to keep up; the exhaustion from restoring memories and fighting with Tsubaki made it unbearable to keep using her powers.
Her vision blurred.
"Focus, woman!" Tsubaki called into her ear.
"Inoue-san!" Kouichi wrapped an arm around her waist, and dodged out of the way in time, just as a fist sunk into the earth she had been standing on. He cursed lowly, hurrying a few feet from the roaming hollows. He was tiring also, and his FullBring wasn't as strong as the others. He could only damage them, and hope they died after.
Orihime breathed in sharply, "Look!" She raised an aching arm. Tsubaki and Tamashi followed her pointing finger, and locked onto the screen on the dark sky. There was Yukio, a grin on his lips.
"Oh? You're still alive?"
"Please!" Orihime shouted up to him, "Please tell me if Ichigo-kun is okay!"
Yukio's smile widened, "Why don't you see for yourself?"
There was a blur of blue light, and they all gasped, hunching over as a harsh wind blew. Orihime blinked when the air suddenly stopped, and Yuki laughed, vanishing. She hesitantly looked up, and was shocked to see her boyfriend standing a few feet away, right in the middle of the attacking hollows.
"K-Kurosaki-kun!" She cried loudly, anxiety coloring her tone.
He didn't need her sympathy. They all watched, stunned, as he raised his sword, and whipped the blade outwards, a blue power igniting through the air, and the hollows evaporated into nothing, until there were none left.
Orihime smiled big, though she had no idea how he'd done it, and broke away from Kouichi and Tsubaki, hurrying to Ichigo. "Kurosaki-kun!"
Tamashi frowned, dragging his eyes down the familiar teen's form before something ran through his head. Before he could open his mouth and warn Orihime, Tsubaki hollered loudly, "Onna! Don't! He's not—"
Orihime cried out as the hand connected with her cheek, sending her stumbling and falling to her bottom, gasping. She snapped her eyes up to her boyfriend, and she watched, shocked, as a wide, wide grin stretched across his handsome face. His eyes held a mad look, and his body was tensed, as if he were to pounce. Orihime cradled a hand against her stinging cheek, her mouth opening to whisper,
"K…Kurosaki…kun?"
"Get away from him, Inoue!" Kouichi yelled, running towards her. Ichigo slid his gaze to the man, and his grin wide, as he threw up his blade, the powers setting out, digging into the earth, and sent Kouichi yards away, a long, deep wound in his chest.
"T-Tamashi-kun!" Orihime cried worriedly, and then looked back towards her boyfriend, "Y-You're not Ichigo-kun…are you?"
"Looks like you're right, Orihime-chan!" She shivered at the deep, dark voice, scooting back on her bottom.
Definitely not Ichigo.
"Get up, woman! Kill him!" Tsubaki was yelling, only to be batted away by the fake Ichigo's palm. He landed on the ground roughly.
"P-Please…" Orihime gasped, and he took her fragile wrist in his hand, hauling her towards him.
He growled, close to her face. "What? Are you scared?"
Without warning, her other hand struck out and slapped him across the face, sending his head to the side. She jerked her wrist away, and hurried a few inches back, stumbling and gasping for air, her eyes bugging with fear.
He slowly lolled one dark eyes towards her, and smirked again, "How sad. You would hurt your own boyfriend."
"I would never dare to hurt, Ichi…but you're…"
He lunged forward, and she screamed out, "Santen Kesshun!" His familiar black blade slammed against the shield, and it buzzed under his strength.
He's not Kurosaki-kun. He's not Kurosaki-kun. He's not…
She opened her eyes to stare into his.
"Die!" And he lunged towards her once more.
Her scream fell on deaf ears.
…
…
Hope you liked it. I always loved the idea of a fake Ichigo, just to torment Orihime, or maybe a fake Orihime just to mess with Ichigo. I was thinking about it the other day, and decided to throw it in. Now, I can start betaing, now that I have this chapter out. Tell me what you think.
Review for me.
Also, thanks for all that have stuck with me through this. Love you guys.
-Star