Ichigo and Rukia were standing in front of the temples massive door. It was the only way in, and there seemed to be no way to open it. Ichigo stared at the door.
"Think we should knock?"
"This door is very old," Rukia observed, "It might be possible to break it."
"Why are we still here?" Ichigo asked, "Shouldn't we be getting back to the Seireitei?"
"We should check the place out first," Rukia answered, "The demon leader might still be in here,"
"Kagai's not the type of guy to sit back while his army fights. Trust me, he's going to be on the front line in the fight. There's no way he'd still be in there,"
"Regardless," said Rukia, "We should still look around. The seiryoku might be in there."
"Fine…" Ichigo relented.
"The only problem is this door," Rukia said as she ran her hand across the hard surface of the temple door. It isn't made out of Sekkiseki rock, and…"
"Getsuga Tensho," The door in front of them collapsed. Ichigos blast had blown the rock door in front of them to smithereens. Rukia sweat dropped and looked over at Ichigo.
"I was hoping for something a little more subtle," She scolded. Ichigo shrugged and replaced Zangetsu onto his back. He stepped up beside Rukia.
"So what now?" He asked.
"We take a look around," She answered and stepped into the temple. Ichigo followed.
The inside of the temple was dark. The only source of light were a few torches attached to the wall every couple dozen feet, but even with them Ichigo could barely see five feet in front of him. He started to walk forward. He managed to get a couple of feet before he bumped into something.
"Hey watch where you're going," Rukia said to him, annoyed.
"Sorry, I couldn't see you, I guess you were just under my line of sight."
"Ichigo…"She warned.
"Damn it's dark," Ichigo said quickly.
"Here, give me minute," A couple of seconds later a ball of light appeared on Rukias palm. She looked over at Ichigo.
"Well that's nice but what about me?" Ichigo asked. "You know I can't do stuff like that," Rukia shrugged.
"Well you're a lot of help," Ichigo said sarcastically. He carefully made his way over to one of the torches attached to the wall. He managed to pry it from its place.
"That's convenient," Rukia teased as he walked past her.
"Shut up,"
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Ichigo and Rukia rounded another corner.
"Great, another dead end," Ichigo complained, "This place is like a maze,"
"Lets keep looking," Rukia said as she turned around and started walking.
"I sure hope you know how to get out of this place," Ichigo mumbled as he followed. The two Soul Reapers continued to walk. Eventually, after turning into a few more dead ends, they found a door at the end of a hallway.
"Lets go," Rukia said as she walked toward the door. She stopped when Ichigo grabbed her shoulder. She turned around to look at him.
"Ichigo…?"
"There are Demons in there," He answered as he stepped in front of her, "Stay behind me," Rukia glared at him.
"I can take care of myself!" Rukia shot at him.
"I meant so you could watch my back," He smirked at her. Rukia was taken back for a second. Then after a few seconds she grinned.
"Alright…fine," She said. Ichigo nodded and turned back towards the door. He grabbed the handle and turned it. The door swung open. Ichigo grabbed the handle of his Zanpakuto and stepped inside, with Rukia right behind him. Ichigo couldn't tell how big the room was. It was pitch black. After a few seconds of walking he stopped.
I know there are Demons in here… But where? I can't see anything…
Rukia stepped up beside him.
"Ichigo, what is it?" He didn't answer. Raising his torch he looked around. There was nobody around. Ichigo sighed.
"Maybe you're just getting paranoid," Rukia teased. Ichigo scoffed.
"Shut up, I know I felt some…" Ichigo stopped. He heard it.
Drip…
Drip…
Drip…
Drip…
That sound….
Drip…
Drip…
Drip…
Drip…
Ichigo slowly looked up… and he saw them. Three demons. But they weren't ordinary demons. They were hanging from the ceiling like bats. Instead of tails, these things had wings, and fangs. They were drooling. Bloodlust and hunger was evident in their eyes.
Drip…
Drip…
Drip…
One of the demons smiled.
"Well…You finally noticed us," It said. It's voice was smooth and cold. Rukia gasped when she saw them. This made the Demon smile grow bigger.
"What's the matter? You aren't scared, are you?" The demons left their perch. The three of them floated to the ground. They landed and surrounded the two Soul Reapers. They were easily four feet larger than Ichigo, and twice the size of Rukia.
"We are the Koumori." The largest of them said, "How do you do?" Ichigos grip on his Zanpakuto tightened. There was something strange about these demons, something…terrifying.
"You…you aren't like any of the Demons I've seen before." Ichigo whispered. The demon grinned evilly. Fear shot through Ichigo.
"You're right, we aren't like the others. We, are a special breed," The demon answered.
"Enough talking…" Another demon said, "Lets just eat them already…" Ichigos fear escalated. He glanced over at Rukia, she was shaking. With a start, Ichigo noticed, so was he.
Damn it! Why am I so afraid? They're just more demons. Nothing special…
The demons took a step forward. Ichigo could practically feel the bloodlust and hunger radiating off of them. Ichigo's fear rose even more. He tried to back away, but his legs wouldn't move.
Damn! I… can't move… my legs… they aren't responding. What the hell's happening. Damn it! Why is this happening? Why am I so scared!?
The largest demons smiled coldly at Ichigo.
"You look frightened, Soul Reaper." Ichigo didn't answer, he couldn't.
"What's the matter, can't speak?" Again, Ichigo said nothing.
"Heh heh, the fear in your eyes…. It looks so… delicious…" The demon took a step toward him.
Damn it…I…have to move! Move, Damn it! MOVE!
"Heh, heh, heh, time to eat…" The demon stood before Ichigo. It raised one of its massive claws.
"Ichi…go…." Rukia's hoarse voice whispered. She was trying to move, but her body wasn't responding. She was paralyzed by fear. The demon looked toward Rukia, as if noticing her for the first time. Then it smirked evilly.
"Oh…don't want to see your friend get eaten? Alright, I'll spare you the sight of it…I'll eat you first."
"No, She's mine," Another Demon stepped up to Rukia, "She looks so pretty, so…tasty..." Rukia's body was shaking uncontrollably now. Unfortunately, it was the only movement her body was capable of.
"You look so delicious…." The demon said as he reached for Rukia. Ichigo's eyes widened.
Rukia! Damn it! I have to save her! I have to save her!
The Demons laughed as it noticed Ichigo's reaction.
"Ha, you want to help her? There is nothing you can do, except watch." The demon started to reach for her again. Ichigo was fighting the unseen power that was binding him with all his might.
I...SWORE THAT I WOULD PROTECT HER!
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The demon's hand had almost reached her. She closed her eyes.
Am I… going to die…like this?
"AHHHHHAGAHHHH!" Rukia's eyes shot open. The demon was on fire. The torch that Ichigo had been carrying was lodged in the back of the demons head. The demon jerked around, screaming. Its entire body had gone up in flame. After a few seconds the demon just fell down, dead. It was as if some invisible bond on her had disappeared. She could move again. It took her seconds to figure it out.
They're nentou! They use their psychic powers to induce the fear in a being!
She glanced over at Ichigo.
Somehow… he managed to break their spell.
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Ichigo drew Zangetsu. Fear gone, he turned to face the remaining demons. They looked astonished.
"How…? It's not possible, our power is to strong… You couldn't have broken our spell…"
"Guess I suddenly felt something stronger than fear." He answered. Raising his Zanpakuto over his head he cried out,
"Getsuga Tensho!" He swung his sword down. His Getsuga blast flew at the demons. They jumped out of the way.
They landed a few dozen feet away. One of them took a step forward.
"No!," the other cried out, "This one's mine, you get the girl," The demon nodded and flew into the air. Ichigo suddenly felt a presence behind him.
"Rukia…" He called to her.
"Yeah…"
"Can you handle one of them?"
"Of course,"
"Good…" Ichigo said. He took a step toward his opponent, "Be careful," With that he flash stepped toward the demon.
Appearing behind it, Ichigo swung at the Demon. Blade met claws as the two clashed together.
"Heh, you're pretty good," The demon complimented.
"Heh, I'm just getting warmed up." The demon slashed upward at him. Leaning back, its claws whistled harmlessly past him. Ichigo then swung Zangetsu sideways, intending to cut the demon in half. But the demon jumped into the air, and stayed there.
"Hah, What are you going to do now, Soul Reaper!?" The demon shouted down to him.
"Getsuga Tensho!" The blue attack flew at the demon. It just barely managed to dodge it in time. Regaining its balance the demon looked around for Ichigo, but it couldn't find him.
"Over here," The demon's head shot up. Ichigo was in the air above him, his sword was above his head. The demons eyes widened in panic.
"What the matter, you're not scared, are you?" Ichigo mocked as he swung his sword down. The blade crashed into the demons skull and continued downwards until it had been cut in half. Ichigo landed on the ground.
"So much for your "special breed" Ichigo said. He turned around. Time to check up on Rukia.
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"Good," Ichigo said. Rukia watched him take a step toward the demon.
"Be careful," He said to her and he flash stepped off.
Idiot, always worrying about me.
She didn't have time to think of anything else because at that moment she heard something above her. She looked up. The demon was diving at her. She jumped back, the attack missed her by inches. The demon flew back up into the air.
"You're going to have to be faster than that!" It shouted at her.
Damn, that was close…
Rukia unsheathed her Zanpakuto. Smiling, the demon lunged at her again. She sidestepped the attack and swung her sword at it. The demon caught her blade. It laughed arrogantly.
"Now what, girl?" The demon smirked at her, "You don't have your sword, so what are you going to do?"
"This," Rukia placed her palm in front of the demons head. Her hand was only inches from its face.
"Wha…" the demon said.
"Hado thirty three, So-ka-sui!" By the time the demon realized that it was a Kido spell it was too late. A second later its headless body fell to the ground. Rukia sheathed her Zanpakuto. She stared at the lifeless corpse. She heard somebody step up beside her.
"Damn, that's pretty brutal," Ichigo commented.
"You're one to talk," She replied as she noticed the two halves of one demon. Ichigo smiled, realizing that she was alright.
"Alright," he said, grinning, "we're both pretty brutal,"
"Speak for yourself, don't insult me," Rukia playfully punched him in the shoulder. He laughed.
"Alright fine, I'm rough, and you're as gentle as the ocean breeze. How's that," Ichigo ruffled Rukia's hair. She was surprised by his gesture, but before she could say anything about it Ichigo suddenly whipped around. He stared at a door that Rukia hadn't noticed previously.
"Ichigo what is it?" She asked him. He didn't answer, but he began to walk quickly toward the door. Rukia ran to catch up with him.
What's going on with him?
"Ichigo…?" He still didn't say anything as they took the door. He also didn't say anything when he wandered the temple, taking seemingly random doors as he walked. After a few minutes of this Rukia finally got fed up.
"Ichigo, what's this about? Answer me!" He didn't answer, but he did stop. He stared at the door in front of him. Clenching his fist he took it.
The room they were in was completely dark. Except for one part. Ichigo stared at that one part.
"You…" He whispered. Akane the demon smiled coldly back at him.
"Ah…Ichigo Kurosaki, You've finally arrived."