The next chapter is up! The reveals will keep coming!
Previously:
"I don't think I'd be able to handle you dying for me," he admitted lowly.
Risa smiled.
"Well, there's an easy solution to that," she said and he looked at her confused.
Risa grinned.
"Don't die, dummy!" she yelled and a smile broke out onto his face as she tackled him.
End Memory...
Risa opened her eyes slowly and turned slightly to see the man next to her still fast asleep. She slipped out of bed and threw on some clothes, walking downstairs. She had felt his spiritual pressure a few blocks away. She opened the door as he was about to knock and Ichigo stepped back startled.
"Good morning Ichigo. What brings you here at the crack of dawn?" she asked as normally as she could.
Ichigo shuffled slightly and looked down.
"I know Kisuke told us to stay away...but I wanted to see if you were really alright," he murmured and Risa smiled lightly at the boy.
"I'm fine," she replied and realized it was difficult to look at him let alone talk to him.
"Ichigo...I'm sorry for what—"
He waved his hand.
"—there's no need for that," he said silencing her.
"Everyone's always apologizing to me. As if they did something so unforgivable. You…you shouldn't apologize to me I should apologize to you. So many times you've been there for me…protecting me. I always wondered why. Now I know. You're my family," he said lowly and Risa listened with wide eyes.
Ichigo finally looked at her.
"You've always been my family. You looked after me as if I was your own. I know that couldn't have been easy. But it made me better and for that I want to thank you. You saved me," he said and she stared at him through glassy eyes.
"I know everything now. My dad told it all to me. I understand now and I'm sorry I didn't have your back the one time you probably needed me to. Instead I made it about me and ran off like the boy you always call me," he said breaking eye contact.
He was upset with himself for not trusting her, for not defending her.
"That will never happen again," he said firmly and Risa smiled at him.
It was her normal smile.
"Ichigo, you are truly one special…man," she said and he blushed.
She stepped forward and touched his cheek.
"You take too much to heart. I'm fine. No need for apologies. I made you forget a piece of your past. I did the same to myself. And now we remember everything and must face it. It was, and still is, difficult, but I think now it's made us stronger. I forgot my Shiba name because I thought it didn't come with a single good memory. But I was wrong. My memories of you and your family…they connect us and for that, it's worth it," she grinned and he hugged her, shocking her.
The hug was firm and unyielding. He buried his head in the crook of her neck and she returned the hug just as tightly.
"I loved my mom…she was my mom. But...I love you...like I loved her," he admitted and his grip tightened, for fear she'd pull away.
Risa closed her eyes slowly as her heart swelled. She was upset and overjoyed that he had said that. Upset because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to protect him like she couldn't protect Gin. Overjoyed because it had been a while since she felt this love again.
"The Hollow inside me...it's a part of you, right?" he asked, still not moving from her hold.
Risa nodded slowly.
"Yeah, I guess it is a part of me," she admitted uneasily.
"So then...that means I'm a part of you, right?" he whispered almost inaudibly.
Risa smiled warmly and rubbed the back of his head lovingly. He was just looking for somewhere to belong; like her.
"Yes, Ichigo. Yes, that's exactly what it means," she said and didn't see, but felt, a small smile tug at his lips.
Finally, they pulled away and he looked at her. She ruffled his hair.
"There's the Ichigo I know and love," she grinned, seeing him returning back to his old self.
Ichigo grinned.
"I'm going back," he decided right then and there.
Risa smiled at him.
"Going back?" she mused and he nodded.
"I'm ready now," he said confidently.
Risa nodded.
"Then go kick some ass up there," she said laughing and someone appeared from the sky out of nowhere.
"Good, perfect timing! Time to go back!" the woman yelled, grabbing Ichigo and disappearing.
Risa stood in the doorway staring up at the sky.
"Be careful, Ichigo…and good luck," she whispered and stepped back, closing the door behind her.
She turned about to head to the kitchen when she stopped dead in her tracks.
"Am I hallucinating?" she breathed out in a choked whisper.
Her Hollow form stood before her. It was fully transformed like that day so long ago. She looked completely unrecognizable. Not one feature remained. Those black eyes were the only things she was semi-used to seeing. She cautiously stepped forward and the Hollow didn't move from its spot.
"Why are you here? How am I seeing you?" she asked it and it tilted its head.
"Do you understand what I'm saying?" she asked and it turned away from her and began walking into the kitchen.
"Where are you going? Hey!" she snapped and followed it.
The Hollow stopped by the sink and stared out the window. Risa stepped into the kitchen watching it carefully.
"What do you want?" she asked and its clawed hand rose slowly.
Its sharp claw pointed towards the window.
"Outside? You want to go outside?" she asked and it turned to look at her.
Risa's eyes widened as she realized what it wanted.
"Free...you want to be free," she said and it turned to her fully.
"I can't let that happen yet," she whispered and it growled.
She tensed and took a step back.
"I'm sorry. I know you're impatient, but you need to wait," she said and it launched at her.
She screamed and closed her eyes stumbling back and falling. But she never hit the ground. Kisuke had been walking into the kitchen when she fell into him. He managed to steady her and she stared into the kitchen, fear filling her eyes.
"What is it?" he asked quickly, looking around the kitchen for what startled her.
Risa blinked and her eyes scanned the kitchen, but nothing was there. No Hollow stood before her.
"Risa?" Kisuke said catching her attention.
She looked at him and tried to regain her composure.
"I think I was hallucinating," she admitted.
Kisuke furrowed his eyebrows slightly.
"I saw my Hollow. My full Hollow from that night with Isshin and Masaki. It wanted to be free and I said no. It came at me, but now it's gone," she explained honestly.
Kisuke processed the information.
"To be able to communicate with you without your permission..." he trailed off and Risa nodded.
"It's strong, I know," she finished his thought.
"It's really strong," she murmured.
"But we may need it for when the Quincies return," she added and Kisuke shook his head.
"It won't get that far."
"You don't know that."
Silence.
"It didn't even look like me," Risa whispered after a moment.
Kisuke stared at her, listening to her words carefully.
"I think that's what scared me the most. It looked like a monster...I couldn't find one thing that resembled me," she said, her eyes lowering.
Kisuke gently brushed his hand across her cheek and she looked at him.
"Allow me to speak with Juuyaiba," he said suddenly and her eyes widened.
"Why?" she asked and he smiled lightly.
"I have an idea and I need you to trust me," he said and she nodded.
"I do trust you," she said firmly and he grinned, his true feelings masked expertly.
"Then after breakfast," he said as Ururu, Jinta, and Tessai came into the kitchen.
The group finished breakfast and Ururu went to grab the dishes when Risa stopped her.
"No, I'll do them this time around. Why don't you two go to the park?" she suggested and their eyes widened.
They immediately looked at Kisuke, who chuckled.
"We have chores—"
"—I got them covered," Risa cut them off.
Silence.
"I'd take advantage of this if I were you," Kisuke added and Jinta flew out the door excitedly.
Ururu turned to Risa and hugged her.
"Thank you," she whispered and Risa knew it wasn't just for the freedom.
Risa smiled and returned the hug. Then Ururu was gone. Tessai stood up and Risa smiled.
"That goes for you too Tessai. Please go and visit Hachi. I know he's wanted to see you," she said and Tessai nodded.
"Thank you," he said and left.
He knew something was going on, but he kept it to himself.
Risa turned to Kisuke.
"Where should we do this?" she asked and Kisuke stood up.
"Probably best to do it in the training grounds," he said and she nodded, stood, and followed him.
In the Underground Training Area…
They walked downstairs and Risa paused seeing a large tub in the middle of the training grounds.
"Are we going to bathe first?" she joked and looked at him.
Her eyes widened slightly seeing his face. No emotion rested on his features; a blank canvas.
"Kisuke?" she asked and he looked at her slowly.
"In order for this to work…you need to have a…heightened sense of emotion," he said delicately.
Risa nodded.
"Yeah that's about when she stirs," she agreed.
Kisuke looked at the tub.
"I've thought long and hard about how to bring it out of you. This way seemed the most…kind," he tried to put it.
Risa looked into the tub and saw it filled with ice water. Her eyes widened. Kisuke eyed her carefully.
"You can't be there when I speak to it. In order for that to happen I have to enter Juuyaiba's world with you unaware. Because it is your inner world, you will automatically resist me entering without you. To prevent this I need you to be…unable to stop me," he paused.
Risa realized it then.
"You're going to drown me?" she asked slightly nervous.
Kisuke shook his head immediately.
"No, I'm going to paralyze you for a short time," he admitted and Risa backed up.
Kisuke's eyes saddened briefly before retaining the emotionless mask.
"The cold water will numb your body. You won't know when I've entered your inner world. When I'm finished I'll pull you out," he said firmly.
Risa stared at him wide eyed.
Silence.
"Alright…" she whispered and he felt a pang in his heart.
"Don't let me die before my time Kisuke…" she said softly as she stripped from her shihakusho.
He ignored her comment and helped her step into the ice water. She gasped as it touched her skin and the grip on his hand tightened.
"I'll be quick I promise," he tried to reassure her, but she shook her head.
"Be thorough. Get answers. Don't make this for nothing or I'll be s-so mad at y-you," she stuttered and he smiled.
"I'll be thorough," he nodded.
Once she was fully submerged she tried to regulate her breathing. Her eyes lowered as she could no longer feel her limbs.
"I-I f-feel…l-like I'm f-floating…" she mumbled dazed.
Kisuke sat down and closed his eyes.
It was now or never.
The Zanpakuto Realm…
Kisuke opened his eyes and they widened meeting dark blue ones.
"What are you doing here Kisuke? Where's Risa? And why the hell is it suddenly so damn cold in my realm?!" he snapped getting frustrated.
Kisuke stood up and dusted himself off.
"I don't have much time Juuyaiba. I need to speak with the Hollow," he said and Juuyaiba eyed him suspiciously.
"What did you do to Risa?" he asked and Kisuke shook his head.
"Nothing she didn't comply with, I promise," he said firmly and Juuyaiba looked off into the woods.
"The Hollow is in there," he said pointing into the woods of his realm.
Kisuke looked out into the dark forest.
"It doesn't come out often, but when it does…" he trailed off and Kisuke looked at him.
Juuyaiba shook his head slowly.
"No one can stop it, not even me," he finished quietly.
Kisuke nodded in understanding. Juuyaiba stared at the woods.
"I'll walk you to the edge, but I won't go any further. Once you're in its territory you're on your own," he said and Kisuke nodded.
"I wouldn't ask you to compromise your realm or Risa in any way," he spoke calmly and Juuyaiba sighed as they began walking towards the woods.
"I used to try to talk to it from the edge. Try to reason with it. It never answered me. Why do you think it will answer you?" he asked in almost a whisper.
They reached the edge and stopped. Kisuke turned to Juuyaiba.
"Because I will not be giving it a choice," he said sternly and Juuyaiba's eyes widened as Kisuke headed off into the woods.
Kisuke walked for a while through the thick brush, Juuyaiba fading from sight. It was so quiet and the silence was beginning to get to him.
"I know you're around here somewhere. I'll walk these woods for as long as I have too in order to find you," he called out into the woods.
"Liar, liar," a raspy voice cackled behind him and he whirled around.
The Hollow sat in the middle of a hollowed out tree, seeming very relaxed; a Queen on her throne. Kisuke saw it breathing out cold air though. His stunt was working, or so it seemed. It grinned at him and Kisuke took a moment to regain his bearings. The Hollow looked just like Risa, except its hair was white and its eyes were black. Its shihakusho was white too. A holster wrapped around its leg and a weapon rested within it. The Hollow stretched and stood up.
"I know you don't have much time here…you'd never let my Queen freeze to death," she mused.
Kisuke tried to speak calmly, tried to stay in control.
"I have questions."
"And I have answers," it shot back, hopping off the tree onto the ground.
"Do you have a name?" Kisuke asked.
The Hollow eyed him curiously.
"Yes, I believe 'the monster' is appropriate," she joked and Kisuke stared at her.
"What do you want? Why have you come into my woods?" it asked bluntly.
"You've returned Risa's memories. You attempted to escape her body and almost killed people she loves. Why now? After remaining dormant for so long, why the sudden change?" he asked and the Hollow's smirk faded.
"I've grown tired of waiting. For years I have waited. And now he's so close…I will not wait any longer," it said dangerously low.
Kisuke frowned.
"Who's so close?" he asked and it began walking deeper into the woods.
Kisuke followed.
"I have searched this realm for a long time looking for him…my blood runs through his veins…" it said and Kisuke's eyes widened.
"You're looking for Ichigo…" he trailed off suddenly tense.
The Hollow turned to him.
"No…no longer looking. I've found him. It was only until a short time ago that I realized he was not in this realm with me…but in another. No mother should be without her child. So I wanted to go and get him. My Queen would resist and she is quite strong, though I hate to admit it," it paused for a moment.
"Which is why my other side took over; my complete form. When I change into that form…nothing can stop me. My Queen has been feeling desperate lately, making it easier for me to do things. I gave her the memories back because it's getting closer to the time now," it stopped.
Kisuke stared at her wide eyed.
"The time for what?" he asked it.
The Hollow looked out towards the woods and Kisuke followed its eyes. His eyes widened seeing they were emerging from the woods. He could see Juuyaiba standing up by the edge looking nervous.
"Our existence…or the existence of the Quincy will be determined in just nine days," it said and turned to head back into the woods.
"What does that mean?" Kisuke demanded frustrated.
It turned to him slightly and smirked.
"In nine days the world will end for either us…or them…" it said and walked off into the woods.
Kisuke crossed over and out of the woods and Juuyaiba walked beside him.
"Well?! What did it say to you? What did you learn?!" he asked curiously.
Kisuke didn't look at him as he walked quickly.
"It said it's all going to end with this war with the Quincies…one side will win and the other side will die. And our expiration date is nine days from now," he said and exited the realm.
Exit Zanpakuto Realm.
In the Underground Training Area…
Risa felt warmth encompass her body and sighed as feeling returned to her limbs.
"T-That was n-not a pleasant experience..." she mumbled trying to regain some heat.
Kisuke held her close and rubbed her shoulders trying to give her some warmth.
"How'd it go?" she mumbled and Kisuke held her tighter.
Risa sighed.
"That good, huh?" she asked sarcastically and Kisuke didn't respond.
Risa glanced up at him.
Silence.
"How long do we have?" she asked and he finally looked down at her.
His face was unreadable, but his eyes…she saw the uncertainty and fear.
"Nine days."
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