"Ughh! I can't freakin' do it Toushiro!"
"It's because you're not concentrating enough Ichigo!" Tomorrow, my team and I would be leaving for the human world. I've been busy these past four days, doing kido training with Momo and Tamaki, sparring sessions with Kosuke and now this. I asked Toushiro if he would be kind enough to teach me how to control my reiatsu. Toushiro and I have been at it for some time now but I can't seem to do it.
"But I'm doing all I can!"
"Apparently it's not enough. If you can't do it that means you're not focused! Is something bothering you?"
"Huh?! Oh uhh… well there is actually…" I have been thinking about it for some time now…
"Mind telling me what it is?" asked Hitsugaya. He's concerned! Whoa!
"Well you see… I haven't seen Rukia for days now! And she doesn't even call or e-mail me on my cellphone! (A/n: the Japanese use the word "e-mail" to pertain to text message) And I haven't heard from Kisuke-san and Yorouichi-san either!"
"You know how it is to train bankai Ichigo. You'd have to be really focused because the moment you lose focus, you fail."
"I know that but… I just miss her, you know? I just hope she's okay…"
"I'm sure she is. Have a faith in her Ichigo. Rukia is a strong-willed woman, she'll pull through." This guy I'm talking to… Is it really Toushiro?
"Yeah you're right… Thanks Toushiro… So how 'bout we get back to business?"
"Naturally. Do it all over again."
"Aww man!"
(3rd division Headquarters…)
"Tama-chan, Tama-chan!"
"Kos-chan I thought you went back to the 12th squad headquarters? Are you here for more training with taichou?" asked the tall blonde handsome boy, Tamaki.
"Things were slow in the squad so I thought I'd just stay here and hang out. Watcha doin'?"
"Well since Ichigo-san is with Hitsugaya-taichou training, and Ayame-san is out with Renji-san. They dumped all the paperwork on me! Huhuhu!" said Tamaki, dramatically.
"Oh poor Tama-chan! Heehee… Oh guess what?"
"What?"
"Haruhi-chan's been assigned in the gotei 13! Isn't that great Tama-chan?"
"Ha-ha-ha-haruhi?!!! Oh my god this is huge!" exclaimed Tamaki in a panicked voice. Haruhi Fujioka, she was a schoolmate of theirs from the academy. Tamaki had been in love with her since they were freshmen. (a/n: yeah I know, from ouran!)
"Uh-huh! This is you're chance Tamaki! You have got to tell her how you feel once and for all!"
"B-b-b-b-but we don't even know which squad she's going to be assigned to! And I don't want to be turned down you know…"
"You don't know that! She might have the same feelings for you! Well if not tough luck then… Join my club…." Said Kosuke as he suddenly turned silent…
"Kos-chan… Do you still… Like Soi-Fon san?"
"Not like Tamaki… Love… And I still do. I don't think I'll ever move on from her."
"But what about Nana-san?"
"I thought I could move on if I started dating someone… I was wrong…" the usually cheerful Kosuke sat back on a chair, looking really depressed.
"Aren't you still together with Nana-san?"
"Yeah… She calls me everyday… But to tell you the truth Tama-chan I don't feel that way about her..."
"Maybe you should just end things with her. If she ends up falling in love with you, she'll get hurt…"
"I know… I'll tell her when we get to the real world… Sigh… Anyway enough with my problems Tama-chan! Go for gold! Hahaha…" Kosuke was now prancing around happily.
"Kos-chan, it's not healthy changing personalities all of a sudden…"
"Yeah I know! Heehee…"
(Couple of hours later…)
"I'm back!"
"Taichou welcome back! How did your training go?" asked Tamaki, who was still signing papers here and there but with Ayame this time…
"Pretty good I'd have to say! Check it out!" I said as I showed them my zanpakutou.
"WOW! You did it Taichou! You can control you're reiatsu now!" said Ayame
"Yeah! It looks like a regular katana now, but with a black hilt and sheath! Like your zanpakutou's bankai form!"
"I know! Isn't it great! But it's too bad my zanpakutou's not special anymore. Since I have to release it everytime I have to use shikai." I don't really mind though…
"Well at least your zanpakuto doesn't always look like a huge kitchen knife! It looks way more cool this way!"
"Hey what do you mean my zanpakuto looks like a kitchen knife?!"
"I mean! N-nothing Taichou… Heehee…"
"Taichou, you should get ready for tomorrow. We'll be leaving early." Said Ayame as she changed the subject.
"Uh-huh! So Ayame did you inform everyone?"
"Yes sir! Although Ikkaku-san and Yumichika-san said that they'd just follow since Zaraki-taichou needs them in the meantime….
"I see… That's okay then. Tamaki, I hate to do this but… You'll be staying here…"
"Sigh… Well I know you'd do that Taichou… Hehe… It's okay! I'll do my best here in the squad Taichou!"
"You'd better!"
(The next day… Soul Society… gate to the human world…)
"Is everyone here then?" I asked. I looked at him, Byakuya that is… He seems to be staring at me with cold murderous eyes… Gulp…
"Present!"
"Kosuke… this is not a field trip…"
"I know… sorry! Heehee…"
"Ichigo, we should get going now…" said Renji. Ayame then approached the gate, began chanting and the gate soon opened.
"When we get there we'll be splitting up into three teams. Shuuhei, Nemu, Rukia and myself will be the first team. The second team is Renji, Ayame, Kosuke and Soi Fon. To be lead by Renji. And the last team, to be lead by Byakuya will be: Toshirou, Rangiku, Yumichika and Ikkaku. Our meeting point will be Urahara-san's store. Is that clear everyone?" I asked. Byakuya then raised his hand.
"Yes, Byakuya?" I'm trying my best not to show this guy that he freaks me out.
"I wish to be teamed with my sister Kurosaki." Demanded Mr. Cherryblossoms.
"Can't do Byakuya. The teams are final. And I'm the leader here!"I knew he'd say that!
"If that's the case… Then Kurosaki I trust you'll take care of her. Because if you don't, you'll have to answer to my zanpakutou."
"Will do… Okay then let's go everyone!" We all went through the gate and made it to the human world. We split into teams as we patrolled the entire city of Karakura for any signs of hollow activity.
"Ichigo what exactly are we looking for anyway?" asked one of my members, Shuuhei
"Hollows of course! What else! According to Toshiro, hollows have been appearing more than usual, some were strong but most of them were weak. Who knows? Maybe this time a strong one would come out."
"Kurosaki-taichou, what about Kuchiki-san? Is she going to meet us here?" inquired Nemu
"Maybe… dunno. But I did leave her a message. I just hope she joins us soon." Rukia… Please hurry! Suddenly, Shuuhei's, Nemu's and my cellphone started ringing. A hollow near us and it was emitting a very strong aura.
"See I told you they'd appear! This reiatsu… It's a…"
"A menos grande!" shouted Shuuhei as a huge menos appeared before us.
"An adjuchas type! Let's go everyone!" I commanded as we all pulled out our zanpakutous and dashed towards the huge hollow.
"Ichigo! This one's armor is too tough!" shouted Shuuhei amidst all the fighting…
"My zanpakutou doesn't seem to have an effect either." Said Nemu in her usual "no- emotions" tone of voice.
"Come out, Zangetsu!" Oh-oh… I just learned how to manifest my reiatsu sothat my zanpakutou would have a normal form but… Toushiro never did mention how I was supposed to release my zanpakuto's shikai. I remember him saying about a release phrase or something.
"What's wrong?! Don't you know how to release your zanpakutou?!" said Shuuhei as he nearly got hit by the menos' beam attack.
"I don't know the command phrase! Shoot!" The hollow then redirected its attack towards me.
"Great, Just great! Ughh!!" Shuuhei, who had been avoiding the hollow's attacks using shunpo had been hit from behind. By a hollow that looks exactly the same as the one we were currently fighting.
"Shuuhei! Crap there's two of them!"
"Kurosaki-taichou, this one is a doppelganger hollow. It can make copies of itself." Said Nemu as she engaged the other one in battle.
"How are we supposed to defeat these guys!" Although Nemu launched an attack at the other hollow, it evaded her and it attacked me instead I used shunpo to evade but soon realized that the first one was heading towards me as well. I couldn't evade in time so I just closed my eyes and hoped that it wouldn't hurt that much. But the hollow's attack never did came. Wondering what was going on, I opened my eyes and saw the hollow fully covered in ice…
"Ichigo! What are you doing you stupid idiot! You can't even handle this pathetic hollow!" said a very familiar voice. Rukia, she was wearing a pure white robe which was underneath a white sorta overcoat thingy. Don't tell me this is…
"Rukia?! This is your... Bankai??!"
"Of course it is you fool! Do I look great or what?" Boasted Rukia as she turned around gracefully, flaunting her all white bankai outfit.
"Now's not the time! Rukia behind you!" I shouted as I saw the other one heading towards her. She evaded its attack easily and slashed its arms as if it where nothing. Her speed is ten times greater compared to her normal speed.
"So? Whatchathink Ichigo?"
"I think my bankai is way cooler…" I said as I dusted myself off and sheathed my zanpakuto.
"Ha! You wish! Oh! Shuuhei, Nemu, are you guys okay?" asked Rukia who seemed to forget there were others with us.
"Yeah I guess… Nemu you aren't hurt?" asked Shuuhei with a worried face.
"Yes sir I'm fine. You should be more worried about your injury than me taichou." Replied Nemu as she helped Shuuhei to his feet.
"That wound is kinda deep shuuhei. We should get it healed."
"Kurosaki-taichou, I'll take Hisagi-taichou to the Urahara store so he could be looked at."
"Ok then Nemu. Rukia and I need to discuss something. You two go on ahead."
"Yes sir!" said Nemu. The two then headed to Urahara's store, leaving Rukia and I alone in an empty street.
Without saying a word, I grabbed Rukia and pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her deeply. How I missed her… The smell of her hair, the feel of her body close to mine, and the taste of her lips. It feels like we've been apart for years. To my glee, Rukia responded to my actions with equal passion.
"Rukia… I was so worried about you…"
"Sorry Ichi… The training took longer than I expected. Heehee…"
"As long as you're okay that's more than fine for me…"
"Bet you missed me huh?"
"Yeah… I miss your constant nagging…"
"Hey! I don't nag!"
"Of course you do!" I teased.
"The reason I nag at you is because you're too stubborn and pig-headed!"
"Oh! So you admit that you nag?"
"Well I… Urghh! Damn you Strawberries!" It felt really nice. To be arguing with Rukia again like this. It really made my day.
(Somewhere in the Hollow infested city of Karakura)
"You guys… This is a mission. Not a stroll in the park!" said Soi Fon. Renji and Ayame had been walking together hand in hand laughing at a particular topic they had been discussing with each other. They didn't seem to hear Soi Fon calling to them.
"Just let them be Soi Fon-san. There are no signs of hollow for now after all." Said Kosuke
"But this still is a mission! proper decorum should at all times be observed. "
"We're shinigami too you know. We know the rule book by heart. " retorted Kosuke
"Then it's a shame they're still doing something like this even with the fact they know the rules!" Renji and Ayame continued walking. Leaving Kosuke and Soi Fon a few meters behind. The two stopped walking as to further intensify their heated argument.
"Can't you just give them a break?"
"A break?! But this is a mission! Do I need to remind you guys every time?!" said Soi Fon.
"That's the problem with you Soi Fon. You always stick by the rules. Probably the reason why you're so stuck up!"
"Maybe I am stuck up! At least I know my duties very well!"
"I know what my duties are! But it doesn't mean I'd have to be serious all the time! I take a break when I need to! Unlike you! You follow the rules ceremoniously! And that's the reason why you'll never be happy! You let the rules dictate your damn life!
"You think your life's that great? Jumping from one woman to another. You change girlfriends as often as you change clothes!
"The reason I live my life like that is so I could forget about things that I don't ever want to remember!"
"But that does make you happy?!!"
"Of course it doesn't! I'll only be happy if it's you Soi Fon!" said Kosuke. Soi Fon didn't have time to retort since some stupid hollow suddenly appeared.
A/n: Yay an update! Here you go guys! This one has some ichiruki on it! Just like you asked! Hope you guys liked it! Wow this is a first! Kosuke and Soi Fon arguing! Haha… Anyway I'll try to update soon okay! Oh and thanks for the reviews. See yah!
