Ch 25
The room fell silent as the air was being rippled around them. They could feel a reiatsu approaching, and it was damn strong. Inside the Garganta Karin pecked Ichigo's shoulder.
"Ichigo, you should probably conceal half of your reiatsu, otherwise you risk having your squad pass out," she said. "Oh right," Ichigo answered, and lowered the level of his pressure.
Inside the 11th squad barracks the air stopped rippling, and several shinigami sighed from being relieved of the forcing pressure. They wondered who or what in the world could create such immense pressure, and just as the hall fell silent a ripping like sound chimed between the walls.
They all looked at their captain whom was sitting with his legs crossed on the stand; he made no sign to even bother checking the sound out. As black squares began forming in the air on Kenpachi's side the squad shouted for him to watch out.
Kenpachi however made no emotion and just kept sitting there staring out in the hall. Shortly after his hand lifted to be placed above the slender fingers that were now resting on his shoulder and his lips curled into a slight smile.
"Lieutenant Kurosaki?! The squad shouted.
Ichigo smirked, the squad kept calling him Kurosaki and he liked it, because now that he knew of his origin the sound of that name being called filled him with pride.
Shortly after a young raven haired girl appeared out of the Garganta and stepped up behind Ichigo, locking her hands around him and resting her head on his shoulder. "Hi guy's. Long time no see," Ichigo smiled before removing Karin's hands from his body and pushing her in front of him.
"This is my little sister Karin, she will be a part of our ranks from today on," Ichigo said. "Hai," the squad said, before Ichigo pushed Karin into the middle of the hall.
"Sorry Karin, I said you could rest but I lied," Ichigo said with a smirk. "Wait, what?" Karin squeaked confused as about 30 of the shinigami formed a circle around her.
"Welcome to squad 11," Kenpachi said with a laugh. "Nii-san," Karin shouted in a complaining tone, before catching the wooden katana that was tossed to her.
Ichigo chuckled as he took a few steps back to sit beside his captain, whom laid a heavy arm across his shoulders. Even though they were in the middle of a war, squad 11 couldn't have been more relaxed.
Ichigo was brimming with confidence and it rubbed off onto those around him, and they had faith in their beloved lieutenant.
Ulquiorra and Grimmjow wiped the dust off of their clothes, as they turned their backs on the fallen shinigami. Grimmjow's grin never left his face; he was enjoying this battle to no end.
He loved being able to coat his Pantera with lovely crimson blood, which she yearned for so much. Grimmjow was the arrancar that was bound closest to his old original primitive life style. Battle nourished his adrenaline, and his bloodlust awoke over and over again.
Grimmjow was known to give in to his instincts completely if pressured enough, and when he did he became the beast he had once been. Although not returning to his Adjuchas form, his power was doubled as a last resort to beat his enemy.
As of now this had only happened once in his entire lifetime, and that was when he fought the carrot top that was now his younger brother.
He grinned at the thought, and while he and Ulquiorra broke through the guarding wall of the Seiretei and began walking down the streets within; he let out low snarls and grunts of pleasure as he kept pounding his way through the shinigami drinking the blood spilled onto his hands.
Ulquiorra was smiling on the inside, it had been a long time since he saw his little brother enjoy himself so much, and he began realizing just how much the blue haired hot head enjoyed a good battle.
In a way he and Kenpachi could be called twins. Though Kenpachi had more stamina and strength than Grimmjow, their minds were filled with equal willpower and love for fighting. It had been clear when they sparred against each other, they had been so amped up that he and Ichigo had to force them to stop, before one of them got injured beyond reason.
A couple of blocks away the raven could sense the presence of two distinct characters. She grunted, why did she have to be the one to guide them. The blue haired maniac had punched a hole through her gut once for God's sake.
The memory sent chills down her spine, and she was cold sweating at the thought of meeting that beast again. As she turned a corner, Ulquiorra could feel the presence of someone and told Grimmjow to be on the alert.
Grimmjow grinned thinking it would have to be another shinigami for him to knock out, and when the raven turned the corner he lunged at her without even checking if she was friend or foe.
Before they left Hueco Mundo Ichigo had told them that their allied squads would be wearing some sort of mark to distinguish them from the enemy squads, but Grimmjow had forgotten during the heat of the battle.
He laughed loudly as Pantera clashed with Sode no Shirayuki, still failing to notice the obvious mark on Rukia's uniform. Just as he was ready to break Rukia's zanpakuto a pale fist came flying in from the side, sending him crashing into a nearby house.
"Ulquiorra, what the hell!" Grimmjow snapped as he climbed out of the wall. Ulquiorra gave him the death glare and pointed a white finger at Rukia whom stood there frozen. Grimmjow's eyes followed Ulquiorra's finger, and then he noticed.
The sash that kept her uniform together was red, instead of the usual white. Grimmjow sighed heavily, before attempting to calm himself down and slowed his pulse as he sheathed Pantera.
"Sorry brat, didn' recognize ya," Grimmjow said with regret in his voice.
"It's ok," she laughed nervously before motioning for them to follow her as she began shunpoing in front of them. Grimmjow gave off a grunt as Ulquiorra's fist connected with the back of his head, and he mused a low sorry under an irritated growl.
Rukia didn't care to keep an eye on the two, she was only a guide and she knew they would have no problem keeping up. Soon enough their sonido had brought them up in the raven's back and they followed her path, and soon they arrived at a large building.
The number of 11 was painted all around it, and they instantly knew that this was where Ichigo had gone. The place oozed of his reiatsu, though it was nearly completely concealed.
Hollows had extremely well developed sensor skills, and even just a fragment of Ichigo's reaitsu could be felt easily since it was so powerful. Had it not been for his power, Ichigo would never have been able to take the Alpha seat in the pack residing within Las Noches.
He could still remember when Ichigo's reaitsu had nudged him back to life and they had entered Las Noches. Grimmjow had charged at them, but had stopped in his track when he realized who they were. But the rest of the arrancar had not been so compliant and Ichigo had fought nearly every single one of them ranking from 3 to 20.
But Ichigo had earned himself the title and respect of the Alpha, and he now controlled Hueco Mundo as a whole. There was no one there to match his power, so he was pretty safe. After all, power was everything in the dark dimension. It was either kill or be killed, and packs with cubs rarely founded since it was so hard to survive.
Ulquiorra was quite proud of his little brother, proud that someone finally had the courage to stand up for their family name and bring justice upon the Central 46 that had tarnished their family's name so badly. As they entered the main hall, they saw Ichigo on the stand beside Kenpachi and didn't fail to notice all the eye's glued to his figure.
They were brimming with respect and adoration, and both Ulquiorra and Grimmjow realized just how loved their newfound brother was. They silently waited in the back of the room, knowing Ichigo had noticed them and Rukia sighed in relief when the two arrancar put some distance between her and them.
The shinigami had yet to notice the arrancar in the back of their barrack, and when Ichigo did a small wave they gasped.
Several of them only felt a small gust of air as something flew past them. When two men in white appeared on each of Ichigo's sides all of their hands drew the zanpakuto's from their sheaths.
"Lieutenant Kurosaki!" They shouted ready for action. Ichigo had a hard time trying not to laugh at how skittish they had become, and he casually placed one hand across both Ulquiorra's and Grimmjow's shoulder, leaning forward using them as support.
Grimmjow grinned in amusement, while Ulquiorra remained expressionless, although he couldn't deny that the faces of the squad amused him as well.
"Captain!" The squad now shouted, looking at Kenpachi with confused eyes. Kenpachi laughed loudly before he went up to Grimmjow's side and punched him good in the ribs.
"Urgh, why you little!" Grimmjow snarled and launched at Kenpachi and they ended up wrestling in a friendly manner in front of the entire squad. When all the jaws in the room dropped down Ichigo couldn't hold it and his laughter chimed in the room.
"You should see your faces," he stuttered in between his laughing. He was crouching over his stomach, and his whole body was trembling with laughter. However he pulled it together and coughed, before he went up to the wrestlers. Chuckling he grabbed Grimmjow by the scruff of his neck and forced him away from his mate.
"Ichigo otouto," Grimmjow complained. "That's enough Grimmjow," Ichigo said eyeing the feline. "Why I am the one scolded, he started it!" He nagged pointing at the brute that featured a grin on his face.
"Who started it doesn't matter, just cut it out both of you," Ichigo replied laughing.
Grimmjow made a face at Ichigo and went to Ulquiorra, whom wasn't late smacking his little brother in the head. "Nii-sama, not you too!" Grimmjow complained before him, Ulquiorra, Ichigo and Kenpachi looked out over the squad again.
This time none of them could hold it as the shinigami looked even more puzzled, and all of them fell into laughter. Grimmjow went as far as starting to ram his fist into the wooden boards beneath him when he saw Yumichika and Ikakku's faces.
"Alright, it's about time I explain everything to you," Ichigo said trying to stir his laughter. The squad fell silent as Ichigo rose up and took a deep breath…
Ichigo, Kenpachi, Yumichika, Ikakku and Rukia all fell to their knees as a certain raven entered the squad hall. With grace and fluid motions long black hair rode the ripples in the air created by what little of Ichigo's reiatsu that was leaking out, and they bent their heads down for the beautiful man that stood up in front of them.
Ulquiorra and Grimmjow did no such thing, and they were puzzled over the actions of the captain and the lieutenants, and they shortly after noticed that the whole squad had done the same. Grimmjow and Ulquiorra did not recognize the man at all, and as he waved his hand with approving eyes Ichigo, Kenpachi, Rukia, Yumichika and Ikakku stood up.
"What does the so-taichou need of us?" Ichigo asked staring into calm silver eyes challenging the stoic man. Byakuya had a soft spot for the carrot top deep inside, and he smiled inside at the challenge that brimmed in those warm chocolate eyes.
"I just wanted to inform you of the fact that the enemy squads' have been defeated completely, and that the path to the central 46 is now open," Byakuya said with a small smile on his lips.
Ichigo could easily tell that the noble enjoyed this battle; he enjoyed treading upon those rules that had been hammered so deep into his head. He enjoyed being free to do whatever the hell he wanted, and though he wouldn't admit it, those who knew him well enough could tell what he felt.
"Then I assume we can all rest and prepare to knock the shit out of some old geezers," Grimmjow snarled from the back.
He and Ulquiorra had watched the little séance and conversation and had been listening closely.
"Hold it Grimmjow, it's not like we can just barge in there and snap a couple of necks," Ichigo said. "We will not have the aid of our allied squads in the confrontation of the Central 46," Ichigo continued.
"Furthermore there is a reason for them ruling this dimension. They are far from being helpless old people whom can't defend themselves," he finished. "Indeed," Byakuya said taking over for Ichigo.
"The Central 46 consists of around 30 elders, and 10 of them have power that outmatch the level of a shinigami captain easily," the raven finished. "So what, we can still kick their butt's," Grimmjow hissed.
In the split of a second Ichigo was up in the face of Grimmjow and stared into his eyes. Grimmjow gulped as Ichigo's reaitsu flared up and his eyes inverted, as the carrot top easily pinned him to the wall.
"Now listen up Grimmjow! If you had been paying any attention during our meetings at all back home, you would have known something very important. I specifically told everyone to not attack unless threatened or harmed. So far the enemy squads have charged at us and that is the only reason why we knocked them out," Ichigo began.
"The strategy of this war is not to ruthlessly beat the crap out of any enemy shinigami that crosses our path. The concept of this war is to attack if attacked, and try to talk everything out instead of doing battle. So we are not going to march right in there and execute all the elders," Ichigo snarled, before releasing his grip on Grimmjow's shoulder and returning to the side of his captain.
The squad watched in awe as Grimmjow fell onto his knees shaking. Even Byakuya was amazed over the power Ichigo held over the arrancar. The squad soon began chattering again as their superiors sat down to discuss strategy for confronting the elders.
Whew, another chapter. Even though I don't have much energy and I still have trouble finding inspiration and imagination to write these chapters, I still managed to do this XD Sorry, no real action in this one though guy's. Oh and "Otouto" means little brother
Hope you enjoyed
Reviews are most welcome