A/N: These next few chapters will be lacking in explicit Ichihime which sucks, and they might be boring. I so want to write their first date, but unfortunately, I have to include other aspects of Bleach that I've imagined and set up for this story (some of the things that are made canon from the new novels matched up with my vision, and for that, I'm excited!). And I might've mislead you all. I meant a character from Bleach will be making an appearance; although, Rukia and Renji will be showing up again sooner or later. But no, this character…well let's see if anyone can guess.
Honestly, I should've known. Looking back, it's pretty obvious. But that's hindsight. It's only crystal clear when it's already too late. And somehow, that's always what I am: too late. Especially when it comes to her.
My only excuse is that I was distracted. It's true, anyways. I've been distracted. I had been so busy, so entrapped in relishing the strange new feelings of liking her. So gone in her smiles, so wrapped up in her presence that all I could do was focus on her.
And maybe that's how I know something's wrong. Because even in my dream, in my unconscious state, I can feel something is wrong. But what's interesting, my body knows the cause first. It starts with the rapid drumming of my heart and then the incapability to breathe correctly and then the breaking out in cold sweat. And when I finally wake up from my nightmare, I am left to play catch up with what my body knows.
But I'm still too slow. My mind is foggy, hindered, but my body understands. It understands because I'm suddenly standing, and my hand is grasping my badge that is now a sword. And it's beeping, and it's glowing a bright red color and repeating one word: warning. And I know on some level that I should calm down. Reel in my reiatsu, but I can't. My body is reacting on its own from some unknown reason.
Then, all of a sudden, I know. I know because I've experienced this already. Years ago, I've felt the same confusion, felt the same unexplainable distress. I've felt all of it before.
She's gone. I try to sense her, but I can't. And I hope it's just because my spiritual pressure is too strong that it's interfering, but even I know that's a lie. No, she is gone. Disappeared…Kidnapped.
"That's some dangerous reiatsu you're releasing, Kurosaki-san. You're reaching the limit."
My head snaps toward my opened window. Instead of seeing Toshiro telling me to follow him, it's Urahara-san. And he's not happy.
I glance down at the blade which is now growing hot, and it looks like steam is coming out of the tip, burning me as it curls around my arm.
I try to let the handle go, but it remains firmly in my hand.
"There are two choices right now, Kurosaki-san: either you learn to control yourself or you let your own reiatsu decimate you. Don't worry. I've made it so that when you've reached the threshold, your reiatsu will release in a controlled explosion only affecting you. Of course, the effect is death. So choose. Now!"
He makes it sound so easy. It is anything but. Because she's gone. Again. She's somewhere far away. Somewhere I don't know and can't reach, and here I am. Without her. Powerless, helpless, and lost.
"Killing yourself won't get her back."
Ah. Those are the words that I need to hear. I don't need long explanations. I don't need threats. I need to hear that I can save her and bring her back to where she belongs.
I take a deep breath, taking comfort in the fact that she won't be gone for long. I let the breath go as I picture her smiling face. And finally, the steam retreats and the red color fades and the warning indicator quietens.
"I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. I didn't know you had it in you."
I point the cooled blade at him.
"I won't die until she's here and safe. So tell me where she is."
"Follow me."
He drops from my window, and I follow suit.
It's quiet as we walk to his shop. There are so many questions I want to ask, but the more I think, the more at risk I am to lose control again. And I can't afford that luxury. Right now, I have to be composed.
He leads me to his basement, and he jumps down, walking to stand by Tessai who is holding something in his hand.
I descend down the stairs, and I hear Urahara-san chanting a familiar incantation, and by the time I reach them, Urahara-san is opening a Garganta.
I step closer to it.
"Why is she in Hueco Mundo?"
He doesn't respond, and I turn around.
His hat is blocking his eyes, but his jaw is set like he is grinding his teeth. Even for me, I can tell that he is upset about something. What that something is remains a mystery to me.
"Urahara-san?"
I don't see how it happens exactly. One second I'm looking at him, trying to decipher what's going on. In the next second, I'm in the portal in my Shinigami form, and my body is being held by Tessai on the other side.
The Garganta is slowly starting to close, but I see Urahara glance up at me. His eyes lock with mine, and they are hard, stoic, and made of steel.
"Whatever happens, whatever you hear, don't react. For her sake."
Before I can respond, the opening disappears, and I can't focus on his words for too long because I have a mission. I have to retrieve Inoue from whomever took her. I have to.
But even with my resolve, my reiatsu doesn't pave a smooth path for me. Now that I'm finally in my Shinigami form, I'm releasing much more spiritual pressure than I had been earlier. It's nothing compared to the strength that I had when facing Yhwach. I think he took a great deal of my powers before I defeated him, but still, the reiatsu I have left is enough that Urahara-san decision to put me under certain conditions was and is the right choice.
However, it feels good. To be in this form feels right. And no longer do I feel powerless. I feel that I will be able to face anything, and I feel confident again. I will cut down anything or anyone who gets in my way, and I will protect her. And I guess that's another thing which resembles the last time she was forcefully taken here. My will to save her, to protect her, has not changed. Or if it has, the need has only grown.
I jump from the Garganta.
"Wait for me, Inoue."
"You're always so predictable, Kurosaki!"
"?!"