I've been asked some questions, by a number of different people, that I haven't been able to answer because the answers would've been spoilery. Well, you're getting one of those answers here!
Also, credit where credit is due. Some time ago I read a fic called "A Protector's Pride", and some of the ideas for this fic, essentially the basis for this chapter, and some of Orihime's new attitude, come from that fic. If you'd like to read a fic where Ichigo faced the fact that he had an Inner Hollow with the same courage, instinct and wild abandon as everything else, rather than with self-doubt and fear you should really go read that fic. While it's not Ichiruki, that's a minor fact, the story's absolutely awesome!
Having said that, have you noticed we're now on the second half of this fic (at least where chapters are concerned?) Yay! Now, on with the chapter!
Chapter 26. Trust
It was absolute mayhem, had been for a few hours by that point, ever since the sky had opened on several different spots and hordes of hollows had swarmed Karakura's sky. The Nakama didn't think things had been that bad for months, since that day Ichigo ended up overcharging his back-then nameless zanpakutou to defeat a Menos, since that day Rukia somehow did a miracle by earning Ishida Ryuuken's respect.
There were so many hollows in that moment…thankfully most of them weren't too powerful, barely any Menos and no Arrancars, it had allowed the Nakama to split so they could more effectively cover the town. There were so many enemies and yet, on the brighter side, none had been strong enough thus far to make any bankais necessary.
The Shinigami were using shikai freely, as they fought on the air to make sure not to destroy anything, Uryuu had his arrows, Chad his armored arm, Tatsuki her own zanpakutou, Yuzu her kidou and Keeva her own abilities; even the members of the Urahara Shouten were doing their part, though most still relatively close to their own turf.
Hours had passed, and finally it looked like the battle would end, when something else went terribly wrong.
"Ichigo, behind you!" Rukia yelled at him from several feet away.
She had just finished her last opponents and turned in time to see a Menos, the last one actually, attempt a swipe at her husband at the same time it opened a black hole in the space to the side, similar to what the Arrancars had used…
Ichigo reacted instinctively to his wife and partner's warning, he ducked slightly sideways and half spun around, hoping to evade the attack and at the same time turn around to face his attacker. He managed to dodge, mostly, however, as he was forced to raise an arm to keep his balance with the sudden movement his shoulder was hit.
"Cero!" Ichigo attacked just as instinctively.
Shiro had begun helping him halfway through the battle, since it became obvious it wouldn't be ending any time soon and it might be a good idea for his hollow side to begin absorbing all the reishi in the air to keep his own reiatsu at top levels; that and Shiro just loved a good fight, even if he did little more than use some powers through Ichigo, and give him suggestions every now and then.
The Cero wasn't as well-measured as the few he'd used before had been, and while it was enough to vanquish the Menos with little trouble, it also had the undesired effect of half-burning a nearby tree, causing some tension and mild-panic to the nearby humans (who had remained unaware of the happenings throughout the whole fight) and calling every nearby Nakama's attention to him.
"Ichigo!" Karin cried out in a scolding tone.
"What?!" Ichigo demanded as he spun around yet again.
Her intention was to scold him for using such volatile powers so carelessly, and he knew that, just like Karin knew he'd only done it because he wanted to end the battle already, they were all pretty stressed out and the battle had lasted long enough. However, moving so fast, so suddenly, while using an only-half-controlled attack, and when already in a precarious position, as his balance had been compromised, first with his first spin, and then further when the Menos managed to half-hit him; it had consequences.
Ichigo lost what little focus he'd left for his air-walking technique and then, as his body was already a bit sideways, he proceeded to fall to a side…and straight through the black hole the Menos had summoned before being destroyed and which had yet to disappear. It did so almost immediately afterwards.
It had all happened in a handful of seconds, from Ichigo hearing Rukia's warning and turning to face a last, surprising opponent, to disappearing into the now-closed unknown hole that had been in the sky. The react from the Nakama was almost instantaneous.
"What the hell just happened?!"
xXx
"Aibou, wake up!"
The shrill scream coming from his 'twin' very effectively woke Ichigo up, and right on time for him to roll to a side, avoiding the pincer-like limb from the masked entity attacking him.
"Ossan!" Ichigo called, his hand shooting to the side.
The connection between shinigami and zanpakutou was so tight that the orangehead didn't need to look for his weapon, it was always in his hand when he needed it. So the moment he called and shot his hand to the side, the hilt was immediately in his hand.
He didn't even voice an attack, just slashing at the air, at the space between him and his attacker, which he suddenly realized was a hollow; just the ken'atsu caused by Zangetsu in shikai (it had unsealed automatically the moment Ichigo called him) had been enough to destroy the hollow.
Looking around, making sure there was no one else trying to stab him, cut him, or something else, Ichigo took a moment to focus inward.
"Now, what the hell is going on?!" He demanded, not caring to not speak out-loud, it wasn't like there was anyone around to hear and call him crazy, or something.
*What's the last thing you remember, Ichigo?* Zangetsu questioned calmly.
"Hundreds of hollows…all Nakama fighting…Rukia yelled something at me…a Menos…" Suddenly he remembered. "I used a Cero to kill the Menos, then one of my sisters screamed, Karin I think…I fell…into the damned black-hole the fucking hollow made?!" he growled to himself, some people were going to have his hide for his idiocy. "That still doesn't answer the question, where are we exactly?"
*In the place where that hollow came from.* Zangetsu answered calmly. *The place all hollows come from.*
"*Hueco Mundo?!*" Ichigo and Shiro yelled/bellowed at the same time. "*We're in freaking Hueco Mundo?!*"
*The black-hole you went through,* Zangetsu explained patiently. *It's what all high-level hollows use to go from one world to another; very much like a shinigami Senkaimon.*
Ichigo nodded, it made sense, and he did remember seeing Ulquiorra use one when leaving with the other Arrancar after the stand off in front of Karakura High.
Ichigo became aware of another hollow moving in his direction right then, he waited biding his time until the creature was right behind him, then he spun around on one foot and slashed with Zangetsu, cutting the hollow in two instantly.
However, that was just the beginning, as suddenly more hollows came at him, one after the other, none too powerful, but still too many for him to handle with ease. For a few minutes, the orange-haired focused only on the fight, leaving finding out the details of his situation, for later.
"Shiro!" Ichigo called as he shifted Zangetsu to hold the blade with just one hand, freeing his left one and holding it before him.
*What's mine is yours, Aibou.* Shiro reminded him, thrilled at his power being used so openly. *Destroy the fuckers!*
"Cero! Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo shot both attacks at once.
It wasn't easy, manipulating his zanpakutou with just one hand, with enough precision to send his signature attack, but he managed, particularly since he had both Zangetsu and Shiro helping him through it.
It took a while, since the enemies kept coming and coming, but eventually Ichigo managed to destroy enough hollows to shunpo away and hide; while running away from a fight went against everything he believed in, he knew there was no way he could ever win that fight, not when he was in the hollows' own world.
The orange-head got to a small outcropping of rocks that formed what almost seemed like a cave, there he resealed Zangetsu and focused on suppressing as much of his reiatsu as he could, it wasn't as hard as it should have been…something understandable considering how depleted his reserves were after the two rather hard and difficult battles in the same day.
"That was…bad…" Ichigo muttered, mostly to himself. "We need to do something, before we end up as hollow-food…"
*Ichigo…* Zangetsu called in a low, solemn tone.
Ichigo could sense that whatever his zanpakutou wanted to say it was bad, and he most likely wasn't going to like it. And yet…the old man had never lead him astray, so whatever it was, it had to be important, and right…
"You know what I must do, don't you Ossan?" Ichigo guessed with a deep breath. "Tell me, you've never lead me wrong. I trust you."
In Ichigo's Inner World, Zangetsu smiled, he truly enjoyed being the orange-haired's zanpakutou, the trust he put not just in him, the spirit of his zanpakutou, but even on his 'darker' half.
*Ichigo, we're in a world of hollows.* Zangetsu explained. *They go after you because you're a shinigami, and they will continue doing so for as long as you are a shinigami…*
"For as long…" Ichigo broke off. "You don't want me to be a shinigami anymore, but how…?" suddenly, he understood. "Shiro…"
*I know you probably don't like the idea Aibou but…* Shiro began a bit nervously.
"How do we do this?" Ichigo asked, no hesitation in his voice. "Because something tells me this won't be like the times I've let him trash some gang or another, or even the battle against the freaky Bount's spider-woman doll…"
*No, it won't be like that.* Zangetsu admitted. *Those times you let Shiro make choices, you let him into your head, but the body was still yours, you still felt what he did, saw what he saw, all your senses were still active, and you could have gotten control back in an instant. For this to work you will need to surrender absolute control. Let yourself become hollow…*
That, there, was the problem of the whole thing. While Ichigo didn't really hate hollows on principle (specific ones like Grand Fisher and Shrieker notwithstanding, with those it had been personal), he knew what a hollow was about: humans who had lost their hearts, and because of that they always preyed on their families and loved ones first…that was the part he wouldn't be able to endure, if he were to become a hollow and then hurt those he loved: his nakama, his sisters, his Rukia…
*I swear to you Aibou, I will never hurt anyone you love, I…I love them too…* Shiro admitted in a quiet voice.
Ichigo remembered then: he remembered when he'd first met that 'white twin' of his around the time he turned ten; when he'd bared his soul to Rukia in his Inner World; when he'd revealed everything to his Nakama, and they'd accepted him, both sides of him; when his sister had embraced his hollow self, calling him 'nii-san'…
"I trust you." Ichigo announced strongly.
He didn't give Shiro a chance to hesitate any longer, or for Zangetsu to say anything at all; suddenly Ichigo knew exactly what to do. It was like taking a step back, not physically, but mentally. His own instincts fought him, even as his body spasmed in response to the change. Ichigo didn't let it stop him, he stepped back, giving a small mental push to Shiro to take the 'front-seat', fully and totally for the first time ever. Then, even as he heard the surprised yelp of Shiro as he was sent forward, Ichigo blacked out.
xXx
When Ichigo woke up he had to blink a few times to realize what he was seeing. He was laying on the roof of one of the skyscrapers in his Inner World; Zangetsu was at a distance… fighting against a Menos Grande?!
In that very moment the Menos shot a huge Cero, it hit Zangetsu on the side, burning him slightly and forcing him to twist to evade most of the blast; the problem being that the cero blast went on…straight in Ichigo's direction! Having very little time to do anything at all, the orange-haired's reaction was instinctive:
"Hado 33, Soukatsui!" He yelled.
The blue fire-like blast exploded from his hand with uncontrolled reiatsu and enough force to blow right through the Cero and then even injure the Menos.
Ichigo was still pretty atrocious at kidou, though Rukia, and even the twins kept trying their best to teach him. It'd been eventually decided that he should leave all Hadou and most Bakudou for emergencies only, and never with allies close, as they were as likely to explode as they were to work. He was beginning to be able to make half-decent work with his wife's favorite ones: Soukatsui and Shakkahou, but still nothing like her, or Karin (Yuzu was a prodigy and way over his level, even the other girls'); at least he was better than Renji…
Following the same instinct that made him attack, and deciding explanations could wait until the unexpected enemy was dealt with, Ichigo took his zanpakutou, shifted into shikai and cut through the Menos's mask in a fluid motion.
"There." Ichigo declared with satisfaction before turning to Zangetsu. "Now please tell me what the hell I just woke up to. And why did I need to wake up exactly?"
"Calm down Ichigo." Zangetsu instructed calmly. "Calm down and I'll explain everything."
Ichigo took a deep breath, following the old-man to yet another roof where the two got comfortable as the teen waited for the much needed explanation.
"Now then, to answer your last question first." Zangetsu told him. "Shiro taking over your body had some unexpected side-effects."
"What kind of side-effects?" Ichigo asked, doing his best to stay calm.
"We knew already your body would have to change to accommodate a hollow form." The zanpakutou spirit pointed out. "Apparently the shock of the change hit you instead of Shiro, which is what knocked you out; on the flipside, it also allowed Shiro to retain all his control and rationality, something unheard of in 'newly born' hollows." He made a pause before adding. "About you being unconscious, you were like that for twenty-four hours."
Ichigo's eyes widened, he'd been unconscious for a while, not as long as he'd been after his battle with Kenpachi, or with Aizen, but still. At least Shiro had benefited from the whole thing, and in the end that meant they should be alright.
"What of the hollow just now?" The shinigami asked, still confused about that.
"Regardless of the fact that the body we inhabit was originally yours, or how willing you were to put Shiro in power, that doesn't change the fact that he is a hollow; part of your soul, yes, but still a hollow." Zangetsu elaborated.
"Yeah, I get that Ossan." Ichigo really hated when Zangetsu got all cryptic and went on roundabout ways before saying something. "Just get to the point."
"Hollows feed on reishi." Zangetsu deadpanned. "Powerful hollows feed on each other, and Shiro, as could be expected being a part of your own soul, is particularly powerful, an Arrancar in fact, and a particularly powerful one…"
Ichigo blinked once, twice, and then he flipped out.
"WHAT?!"
xXx
Ichigo spent the next three days fighting alongside Zangetsu the hollows Shiro was forced to consume to survive; though the orange-haired tried very hard not to think much about the last part. He understood and accepted that Shiro was a hollow, and what that meant, didn't mean he had to like all the details. On the positive side, no hollow dare attack them since they had changed places, other than when they tried, uselessly, to defend themselves when Shiro himself was hunting them down.
The only problem was that in the strange forest they found themselves in most of the hollows were too weak to do or even mean much. The most powerful ones were Gillians, and even those didn't satisfy Shiro's hunger for too long. It was like Zangetsu had said, Shiro was an Arrancar, a mid or high-level Adjuchas; he was very powerful, and that power required reiatsu to sustain him, which meant he had to eat, a lot. Ichigo had been surprised at first that Shiro could be such a powerful hollow from the very beginning, him being an Arrancar was understandable, he got shinigami powers from Ichigo, just like Ichigo himself got hollow ones from him. And according to Zangetsu, this too was Ichigo's fault, because Ichigo was so powerful, and because of the trust all three parts of the soul shared, it made Shiro be just as powerful. He had begun straight as an Adjuchas which shouldn't have been possible, yet somehow was (which really, was pretty much the norm for them); however, on the flipside, the hollows in the forest around them weren't enough to hold him, and unless they solved that problem soon, Shiro's sanity would be at risk…
"We need to get out of here." Ichigo declared on the morning of the fifth day.
"Ichigo?" Zangetsu was a bit confused by his wielder's sudden declaration.
"This forest…" Ichigo elaborated, signaling up, to the real world. "We're supposed to be in the world of hollows, but this forest cannot be all there is to it. We need to find what else there is to this world; hopefully a place with more powerful hollows."
"You think that's a good idea?" Zangetsu asked, curious rather than doubtful.
"Well Gillian aren't satisfying Shiro anymore, are they?" Ichigo said rhetorically. "And we have no trouble getting rid of them when they get here either." He chuckled slightly. "At least this little trip is good as a hell of a training session."
Even if he hadn't been awake all the time since their abrupt arrival to Hueco Mundo, Ichigo had spent at least half of that time either fighting the hollows Shiro ate (to prevent them from trying to overtake the body) or training all-out with Zangetsu; the rest of the time had been spent training and learning more about Zangetsu, and in a way about himself.
He was growing, even in that short time, learning how to control his own power, to make his Getsuga Tenshou more powerful; he was also learning other ways of using that same technique, or his blade. And being in a place that could be destroyed and rebuilt with just a thought, he was also trying to practice some kidou. He hadn't managed much on that front, but at least he was able to use several hadou and a few bakudou without them blowing up when he focused enough.
"Hey King!" Ichigo hollered at the Sky. "We need to talk!"
A second later, Ichigo's twin materialized in front of him, he looked oddly pissed off…
"What the fuck is it with calling me King?!" He demanded hotly.
"It's what you say I am usually, right?" Ichigo said with a smirk. "Because I'm the one in control, then I'm the King; and since you're the one in control right now…"
"Not exactly my idea, remember?" Shiro grumbled with a pout.
Ichigo just shrugged, it's not like it changed anything, whoever's idea the whole thing had been, it was their reality in that moment.
For all answer, Shiro blew his opposite a raspberry.
Ichigo couldn't help it, he dropped to the floor, laughing very hard. Even Zangetsu began chuckling slightly, though he tried his best to hide it.
"What the hell, Aibou, Ossan?!" Shiro demanded.
"It's just that…what you just did…it was just…just so fucking hilarious!" Ichigo answered amidst more laughing.
Shiro rolled his eyes, yes, he was acting like a petulant child, he knew that, but hunger and him did not mix. It had been so strange at first, being hungry, since Ichigo had always been ultimately in charge, even when Shiro was allowed to 'deal with' punks or even an opponent. But with him totally in control, he'd actually become a hollow, a real one, for the first time ever, and while that made his own powers all the easier, it also had its drawbacks, like the damn hunger that just didn't seem to be satisfied!
After a while longer Ichigo calmed down. In few words he explained to his twin what he had been telling Zangetsu, and they all decided it was a good idea.
It took a while, and a handful more hollows consumed on the way, but eventually Shiro found a path that seemed to have been carved on the stone wall that limited the forest, it went straight up, through the 'roof'.
On the way they found their first Adjuchas, Shiro didn't even think about it and immediately went against the hollow, killing it and devouring it as fast as possible. It was more powerful than a Gillian, though not by much, Ichigo guessed it probably hadn't been Adjuchas for long, and it was no arrancar…
They kept walking, eventually reaching what looked like the exit of a cave, white, almost bleached white sand, covering the rock at the entrance, showing how different the other side, what was above the forest, actually was.
It was until that very moment, reflected on the shiny surface of what looked like some crystallized sand by that very entrance, that Shiro was able to look at him, at his hollow body, completely, for the first time.
In the Inner World Ichigo and Zangetsu were able to see the same, thanks to Shiro allowing it. It was almost creepy just how much he looked like Ichigo, only with the palest skin-tone, white hair and eyes that were yellow on black instead of Ichigo's brown on white. He was still wearing the shihakusho, though the clothes looked a bit worse for wear, a leg half-tattered, and the kosode opened and a bit ripped also; something expected considering what had happened in the four days since their arrival to that world.
Shiro was a bit more at ease by that point, while the Adjuchas they had consumed hadn't been at that level for long, it still had had the kind of power needed for his hunger to be abated, finally…at least for a while.
Once outside the cave Shiro looked around, allowing those inside him to do the same.
"Urg…" Shiro complained out-loud. "So much white…wonder if people around here even know what color is…"
*Well, I very much doubt there's any actual people around here.* Ichigo deadpanned mentally. *Except maybe…*
Truth hit the two younger parts of the soul at the same time:
"*Aizen!*" They both cried out at the same time.
Zangetsu rolled his eyes, not quite believing that they hadn't realized it earlier. It was so obvious. And they were all seeing that odd, gigantic construction in the distance…even if Ichigo and Shiro didn't seem to be fully aware of it yet.
*This could pose a problem.* Ichigo contemplated.
"Why? it's not like I'm going to join the psychotic bastard and his freaking cult." Shiro retorted in a defensive tone.
*Precisely because of that.* Ichigo replied as if it should be obvious. *If they sense us…you… our power, they will want to recruit us, when you say no…it will complicate things, especially if they notice our likeness…"
Shiro cursed loudly and colorfully, knowing his twin was right.
"What me to return control to you, then?" Shiro asked hesitantly.
The hollow half of the teen didn't want to ask the question, it was the first time ever he'd been in full control, and even if he wasn't doing much he was enjoying the freedom immensely. It wasn't like he hated Ichigo for having control all the time, Shiro had never fought him for dominance of the body after all, it was just…he knew it was unlikely he would get such a chance again and wanted to enjoy it for as long as possible.
*Of course not!* Ichigo answered instantly. *Even if there don't seem to be as many hollows up here, we're still in Hueco Mundo. It's better if you stay in charge. I trust you to keep us alive. Besides, me taking over would just make our presence even more obvious to Aizen and his minions…* he sighed. *You just be careful, okay?*
Shiro nodded.
Before anything else could be said suddenly there was a rumble in the distance, followed by what sounded like a shrill scream. Shiro spun around, one hand on Zangetsu's hilt, the other charging a cero; however, what he saw, made his stagger. There was a huge hollow in the distance, pursuing what looked like two smaller hollows and…
*They're going after a child?!* Ichigo yelled, furious at the whole thing.
"How are there even other humans here?!" Shiro didn't understand what could have happened, and for a child to be there…
*Less talking, more action.* Ichigo demanded of his twin.
Shiro nodded, seeing the cloaked child running from the hollows, some even looked like arrancars, had hit too close to home, reminding them of Karin, Yuzu, and all the children, human and spiritual, they had seen in their lifetime…
Shiro began moving at great speeds, the hollow equivalent of shunpo, though it made sound, Ichigo had told him it was like he'd broken the sound barrier or something like that.
Considering that the potential enemies were three, and he couldn't exactly use kidou, Shiro chose to use a mid-level cero to at least call the hollows attention upon himself, he shot it with great precision, in the space between the fleeing child and the pursuing hollows.
And while Shiro considered the cero to be about mid-level, it was still very powerful, enough to make all three hollows freeze in place, turning to look at him in absolute silence; even the child turned back.
"What the hell is going on here?!" Shiro demanded hotly, already charging another cero. "Trying to hurt a child, really?"
"Huh?" The hollows didn't seem to be able to understand him.
"What do you want?" The small child demanded in a shrill tone. "You a b-bully? What did we ever do ta you?"
At some point during the tirade, the cloak finally fell, allowing Shiro to see that the child in question was actually a female, straight sea-green hair to her chin, big, bright hazel eyes, an odd red mark that went across her face, and a somewhat big scar that went from the top of her forehead to nearly the tip of her nose; also, a most noticeable detail was the piece of mask, which looked like the upper half of a skull, which rested over her head.
"*Arrancar?!*" Ichigo and Shiro cried out in unison.
"Hey!" The girl complained childishly. "Whadever do you 'ave againsh Arrancars? Yar one yarself mishter!"
It was true, and the only difference between Shiro in the Inner World and when in control of the body, he had a quarter of a mask going from a point on his hair to his eyebrow, it was white with the same red tribal-like designs of the mask he'd materialized several times to protect Ichigo during the 'adventures' in Seireitei.
"I know what I am." Shiro drawled. "And you still haven't answered my question: what the hell is going on here? The only reason I even interfered was because I thought you" he pointed at the child. "Were being chased…"
"Nel was!" The girl announced brightly. "Tis a game!"
"A…a game…" Shiro sputtered along with Ichigo in the Inner World. "But you were screaming, and crying…"
"Yes!" The girl nodded, still smiling. "Nel is a huge maso-kiss! It no fun if I don' cry a lil…"
*This is totally twisted…* Ichigo muttered with a sigh.*What kind of things are the others teaching this kid?*
"You said your name was Nel?" Shiro asked suddenly.
"Yes!" She smiled at him. "Nel Tu, the Arrancar." She turned to the other hollows. "An' those are my brothers: Pesche, Dondochakka, and our pet Bawabawa!"
"Hello!" The other hollows chorused.
*I didn't even know there could be a child arrancar?* Ichigo commented thoughtfully. *And she doesn't feel anything like the ones that attacked us in Karakura…*
*Haven't either of you noticed the scar on her forehead? Or the way her mask is cracked?* Zangetsu pointed out.
Instantly all the attention of the teen's halves turned to those details.
*You think there's a relation…?* This time Shiro focused on speaking only in his mind.
*Maybe…* Ichigo pondered the mystery for a short time. *We know that Arrancars are powerful hollows that break their masks, which allows them to gain some shinigami powers… but there must be a limit to how much that mask can be broken before they risk losing their hollow ones…right?*
*It's an interesting theory.* Zangetsu agreed.
*So you think she was a normal Arrancar, her mask broke further and she ended up like this?* Shiro summarized.
*It's the only thing I can think of.* Ichigo told him.
*Note to self: never, ever, allow my mask to be broken.* Shiro declared seriously.
Ichigo and Zangetsu both heartily agreed.
"Hey!" Nel yelled, suddenly right in his face. "Nel's talkin ta you!"
"I was thinking." Shiro answered dismissively. "What were you saying?"
"I's askin who you are." Nel declared with a pout.
"My name is Shiro…saki, Shirosaki Kamen." Shiro announced after some consideration.
Ichigo mentally approved the name, it seemed somehow fitting, he knew that the syllables added to the name made it sound very much like Kurosaki, something he thanked his hollow counterpart for, and Kamen…Mask, definitely fitting.
"Shiro!" Nel cried out brightly.
"How long have you been here?" Pesche asked in a veiled tone. "I do not remember seeing you before today…"
"I'm kinda new." Shiro admitted calmly. "Spent a few days on that awful quartz-like forest before I got bored and found my way here…"
"You do not look like a normal Arrancar, even with that mask fragment on your face." Pesche pointed out, in the same tone.
"Tha's right!" Nel agreed, still smiling. "The clodes you wearin, you look like a…like a…" her eyes grew wide in sudden terror. "SHINIGAMI?!"
Shiro cringed at the loud volume of the shrill scream, Ichigo wincing sympathetically himself, the hollow had very sensitive hearing.
"I am not a shinigami!" He said as he rolled his eyes *Technically, I'm not.*
"You're not?" Nel asked, confused. "But dose black clothes…"
"I've been wearing them since I 'woke up', so to speak." Shiro tried to explain.
"You're an Arrancar, and a very powerful one…" Pesche muttered suddenly, his own eyes widening. "Are you an Espada?!"
The reaction that followed that question was one Shiro certainly hadn't been expecting. In an instant Pesche was in front of him, on-guard, while Dondochakka took hold of Nel, trying to pull her away and Bawabawa began yelling some nonsense.
"What the hell…?" Shiro was shocked at the intense reaction.
*Why do they fear so much the possibility of us…you, being an Espada?* Ichigo asked, doubtful and just as surprised.
*They're Arrancar, yet they are obviously not allied with Aizen.* Zangetsu declared.
*What makes you reach that conclusion?* Shiro and Ichigo both inquired at once.
*The child.* Zangetsu answered simply.
*True.* Ichigo agreed. *I mean, Shiro, can you imagine Aizen accepting a child, particularly one as, well…childish, as Nel, as part of his army?*
*So, in that case, me being an Espada would put them in danger…* Shiro understood, then turned his focus outwards again. "I am not an Espada."
"Really?" Nel smiled brightly as she got away from Dondochakka and rushed back to Shiro. "That makes Nel very happy!"
It was obvious by the stance that Nel's 'brothers' still didn't trust him. Shiro didn't care much for that. While they were obviously Adjuchas, they were nowhere near as powerful as him, they were no threat; and Nel, she was a child, Shiro just couldn't see her as an enemy, and regarding her possible power…he had no idea…
xXx
Hours passed, Shiro had chosen to hang around with Nel and her so-called brothers, not like he had anything better to do. In the time with them he'd learnt: he learnt that the world he was in was called Hueco Mundo, that the speed-technique he was able to do instinctively was called sonido; he also learnt that the huge building in the distance was called Las Noches and it was Aizen's fortress, it was also a place Nel's brothers avoided like the plague. In all that time one thing came particularly clear to Shiro and the other spirits inside him, even though nothing had been said about it: Nel was someone, someone important, and the other hollows were trying to keep that fact, along with the child herself, hidden.
Ichigo for his part kept practicing kidou, it was slow going, particularly since there was no one to help guide him; at least Zangetsu had nearly eidetic memory and could dictate to him the full incantation of the kidou he (they) had witnessed either Rukia or Tessai teaching Yuzu. As well as those Rukia used the most.
By the night Shiro had to admit to himself to being surprised that he had felt no more hunger yet. Zangetsu commented that his exaggerate hunger was probably his lack of reiatsu, since he had stabilized it would no longer be as bad. That was good; especially in case they ever needed to shift control while allies were nearby.
That night, or what they guessed was night, it was unclear since the sky never really changed much, the group was searching for a spot to rest some, without being easily found, as the last thing they wanted was to be hunted by other hollows that may find them with their guard down. When, abruptly, they were found.
The attack was totally unexpected, Shiro's instincts just warning him in the very last second; his response was also instinctive, as he scooped Nel into his arms and then threw himself to a side, rolling several feet to get away from the attacker.
The whole move took less than two seconds, and just as instantly Shiro was back on his feet, with Nel behind him, Zangetsu already in hand. The child looking at him with absolute awe and worship for having saved her.
"What the heck just happened?!" Shiro demanded as he looked warily at the attacker.
He looked a bit plain for a hollow, dressed in a body suit and what could pass for boots, a hood covering his head and a full mask on his face. However, what called even more attention were the three dog-wolf-monster like creatures, all black, with masks and mouths that seemed to be filled with only fangs, growling from around him, and straight at him.
*They look like the wargs from Lord of the Rings.* Ichigo commented, remembering the movie his friends had insisted on going seeing years before. *Except worse…*
The creatures all looked straight at Shiro, before letting out what seemed like a shrill whistle, one sharp enough to make even Ichigo's ears ring painfully; Shiro wanted nothing more than to hold his head and groan in pain, but there was no way he was letting his guard down with the unknown enemies before him.
"Pesche!" Shiro demanded sharply. "Explain!"
"Cazador!" Pesche answered as he tried to go around the creatures. "The hollow is called Cazador, and the other are his Hounds. They are trackers, and hunters, they work for Aizen and the Espada…"
"What the fuck are they doing here?!" Shiro demanded, before turning inwards. *They cannot know already I'm here right? It's not been that long…*
*Didn't you notice?* Zangetsu said seriously. *That Cazador…wasn't looking at you just now, he was looking at the child you just saved. The first attack itself wasn't directed at you at all, you just moved his target…*
*Nel?!* Ichigo and Shiro cried out mentally at the same time. *They're after Nel?!*
Shiro had no idea what has going on, but he knew one thing for sure, the Cazador couldn't be allowed to get what he'd gone there for, whether that was Nel or Shiro himself was a minor and mostly unimportant detail.
"Cero!" Shiro blasted his attack full-power at the Cazador and his hounds.
He managed to kill one of the hounds, seriously injured another one and dealt a minor injury to the last one and to the Cazador himself. It seemed like a huge victory for the first attack, and it was, until three more Cazadores arrived…
"*Shit!*" All parts of the teenagers cursed at the same time.
"Cero!" Shiro attacked again, the first thing he could think of doing.
He didn't manage to injure anyone or anything that time, as they sonidoed fast enough to evade it completely, to his anger.
Shiro cursed again, they had dodged, and he couldn't keep wasting reiatsu like that, not unless he wanted to risk getting too-hungry again.
*We gotta do something!* Ichigo snapped, growing nervous in the Inner World, he turned to the zanpakutou spirit. *Isn't there some way for him to power-up or something, like I do with bankai or with his power?*
*He's already using his power, that's what makes him an Arrancar.* Zangetsu replied. *And bankai is a shinigami art, he does not have access to it, same as with kidou…*
*So Bankai's out of the question…* Suddenly Ichigo remembered something. *What about Resurreccion?*
"I like the idea." Shiro declared as he kept dodging and parrying two Cazadores. "How do I call on that power exactly?"
Silence, they had no idea, or so it seemed at first.
*I am your zanpakutou Shiro, just like I'm Ichigo's, because the two of you are one.* Zangetsu reminded the teens.
"I know that already Ossan!" Shiro snapped, she really didn't like not being able to just trash all his enemies.
"Focus Shiro." Zangetsu admonished. "Just like Ichigo must summon my power in a certain way when it is sealed, you need to do the same."
"Summon…a certain way…?" Shiro couldn't focus on what the old-man was trying to teach and on fighting at the same time, particularly not when he also had to keep Nel safe.
*The shikai-release command.*Ichigo understood right then.
*The release command, are not just random words or phrases.* Zangetsu pointed out. *They are connected to what you expect me, as your zanpakutou spirit, to be able to do, and what you expect to be able to do with me…*
*Like I somehow expect to pierce the skies to reach True Heaven…* Ichigo commented, still not fully comprehending what that was supposed to mean.
*Yes.* Zangetsu nodded, not giving any more detail.
"What I expect to do…to achieve…" Shiro muttered to himself.
He fired another Cero when the Cazadores got too close to him, and suddenly he somehow knew exactly what to say and do.
"Tear the skies asunder, Zangetsu!" Shiro cried out as he held his sealed zanpakutou, tip against his chest, with both hands.
It was a strange, yet somehow compelling sight, the blade seemed to pierce into his chest on its own, before seemingly melting away, on the spot where it had stabbed Shiro a hole began to appear and then…an explosion of reiatsu.
Three hounds end up being caught by the storm of reiatsu Shiro's sudden transformation had caused, being destroyed instantly by it, while one Cazador lost an arm.
When the reiatsu cleared again, a very different Shiro was standing in place. He no longer had a kosode, as it had been blown off in the explosion, and one of his hakama legs was torn and missing the lower half; at the same time almost every visible part of Shiro's body had been covered by a white substance, one that seemed to be the same material the mask was made of; the mask itself had doubled and lowered, making it so half of his face was covered in it, the same half that was covered in red tribal-like marks, the same kind of marks that also decorated the rest of the 'armor'; also, his feet were suddenly bare and his hands resembled claws. However, even with all those changes, perhaps the most disconcerting part was the thick white black-tipped tail that he could feel shaking behind him; Shiro could feel how the appendage worked, and moved and answered to his thoughts, despite the fact that he'd never had a tail before, it just felt somehow…natural.
"Nice." Shiro nodded approvingly, then he noticed he had no blade. "Now I'm only missing…" With just a thought a blade made of completely black energy formed in his hand, in the same form as Zangetsu's shikai, mostly… "Zangetsu no Anbu…" Shiro smirked, a bloodthirsty chuckle escaping his lips. "Now it's perfect."
*Yes it is.* Ichigo agreed from his spot in the Inner World. *Though…that tail…* he shook his head, not liking that part.
After that, the fight ended quite quickly. Shiro was familiar enough with Zangetsu and the Getsuga Tenshou that he had no trouble handling three of the Cazadores and half of the Hounds by himself, Nel's brothers dealt with the rest of the enemies.
As soon as the confrontation was over, the group decided to find a different place to rest for the night, it wouldn't do for more Cazadores to follow the first ones and find them already tired and resting from the first fight.
In all their hurry to get away, no one seemed to notice the Naga-like hollow with a broken mask who had watched the entire thing from behind a dune.
xXx
Shiro waited until the next morning, a while after they'd begun moving, to begin asking questions. Since he'd fought to defend Nel, and by extension all of them, the group of Arrancars who called themselves family seemed to be more at ease with Shiro, particularly since the white-haired one had even use his Ressurección to aid them…never mind that he'd gotten in halfway through the battle itself.
"So…" Shiro began, trying to sound casual.
It didn't work.
"I got what those Cazadores were supposed to be, what I'm not sure I understand is who exactly they were after…" Shiro commented, purposefully leaving the statement open.
"They were probably just after you, don't-cha know?" Dondochakka commented quickly, too-quickly actually.
"Please, no one aside from you and the hollows I ate in the damn forest know I even exist!" Shiro snapped slightly.
His tone was enough to stop Nel's childish games (as she'd been jumping and twirling around them), she turned to look at the group arguing.
"You sound like you know the answer already…" Pesche commented, already on edge.
"I have my suspicions." Shiro admitted. "But I want to hear you say it. Tell me who the Cazadores were after exactly."
"Yes, Nel wanna know too…" Nel declared unexpectedly.
That caught them all totally by surprise; though, to Shiro, Pesche's panicked expression in and of itself was enough of an answer.
*But why?* Shiro wondered internally. *If they know she's being pursued, by such powerful hollows, why not say anything…?*
*It's actually quite obvious Shiro.* Ichigo declared from the Inner World.
The moment Ichigo gave the answer, Shiro realized it was, indeed, quite obvious, and he wasn't sure if he ought to congratulate the three hollows or laugh at their naivety…no, not naivety, their sheer idiocy, for thinking it would be enough…
"You're trying to protect her." Shiro blurted out. "I was right, it is She they are after, and you're trying to protect her, so much you even hide that she's being pursued. Hide whatever it is that is making her be pursued…whatever she did, or was…" his mouth suddenly felt very dry, as realization came *It cannot be, can it?*
*I would say it should be impossible…but you know our track record on that area.* Ichigo deadpanned drily.
Yes, they had quite a track record where it came to impossible happenings, and their current situation was probably no different, which meant that Nel was being pursued for who she'd once been, and that was…
"Nel was an Ethpada once, wasn't Nel?" A low voice said slowly.
The phrase, said in such a low, childish, yet surprisingly serious voice send everyone into shock at the same time; a reaction that, coming from Nel's brothers, once again seemed as a confirmation on its own. Shiro also realized that it would explain why Pesche had been so weary when believing Shiro might be an Espada…
Silence reigned for the longest time.
"Answer her Pesche." Shiro pretty much ordered.
"But…" It was quite obvious neither of the 'brothers' wanted to do that.
"You may want to protect her, but what you're doing right now only puts her in even more danger." Shiro pointed out stoically. "If she doesn't know she's in danger, or even why, how do you expect to even be ready to keep herself safe. Nel needs to know the truth, and she needs to try and recover her memories, and her true form and power, only then will she stand a chance at truly being safe."
"True form, you know…?" Dondochakka's words were more statement than question.
"An educated guess." Shiro admitted. "I had never seen a child arrancar, and it just didn't seem logical. And if she truly was an Espada…"
"Nel wanna know who she is!" Nel demanded shrilly.
Silence lasted for a few seconds longer, before Pesche finally gave up.
"You are a very special person Nel-sama, have always been." Pesche informed her. "You were always so strong, even before being an Espada. You did not like fighting, it made you sad when you had to do it, and when life was lost needlessly. Someone took advantage of your compassionate nature. You were betrayed, your mask cracked, your power depleted, and then you were abandoned outside Las Noches, left to die or go insane…" he shook his head, half in sadness, half in anger. "Yet neither of those happened. Somehow you shifted into this child-form you are in now, all memory of your past forgotten, and most of your old power gone as well. We knew things wouldn't go well for you if anyone from Las Noches found you, so Dondochakka and I got you out. And we've been wandering the desert ever since…"
"You were her Fraccion, weren't you?" Shiro guessed.
Pesche nodded, no longer surprised that Shiro's guesses were so accurate.
"What is Nel's real name?" The girl wanted to know. "Who was I really?"
Somehow, even just in the lapse of those two short questions, something seemed to change, like some kind of switch inside her had flipped; she knew she was someone, someone different from who she'd believed herself to be for so long…and even if she didn't remember anything about the individual she'd been yet; what little knowledge she had gained (or regained) already was enough to compel her to change.
"You are you, Nel-sama." Dondochakka said, somewhat seriously.
"Yes." Pesche agreed, just as seriously. "Though your full name was Nelliel Tu Odelschwank, former Espada Tres…"
Shiro could only gape in astonishment.
*It's official.* Ichigo declared from the Inner World. *Nothing is impossible.*
xXx
The quintet spent the rest of that day wandering around the desert as Dondochakka and Pesche told Nel about who she'd been before her attack, before her memory was lost. Ichigo couldn't help but marvel as he listened.
*I had always thought that Shiro was an anomaly, different from any and every hollow I had seen before.* Ichigo commented thoughtfully. *He was rational, and…well, good. He helped me, he didn't hurt me, and the same can be said in relation to our nakama. I never imagined other hollows could also be like that…care. And yet Nel…she cares, so much she ended up like this. And Aizen didn't care…obviously for the very same reason.* he sighed. *And it's not just Nel, Pesche and Dondochakka, they could have just left her, served someone else, and yet they chose to stay with her, protect her…* he contemplated the facts for a moment. *Is it because they are arrancar, does having shinigami powers make them slightly like shinigami. Or maybe since they're only one soul, since they no longer have to be constantly fighting for dominance, it allows them to be more rational; or is it just a matter of experience?*
*Who knows?* Zangetsu asked in turn. *No one has ever cared to know before you Ichigo. For most Shinigami hollows are nothing more than corrupted souls that need to be purified. And, to be honest, that's the case with most.*
Ichigo nodded in acquiescence; it didn't make the mystery that was Nel, or anything related to her, any easier to understand.
xXx
It was near the end of the next day, the third since Shiro had met the other hollows and the seventh since his arrival to Hueco Mundo, that things truly went south. The group was still wandering around, no destination in mind when, unexpectedly, they were surrounded by four Cazadores and a dozen hounds; all looking even more dangerous than the ones from before…
"Cero!" Shiro sent a wide-spread attack to get a chance to call on his resurreccion, knowing he better go all-out from the very beginning. "Tear the skies asunder, Zangetsu!"
Like the battle before that one, Shiro did his best to destroy his enemies as fast as possible, however, when he was halfway through, someone else joined the party. A male, with dark skin, small yellow eyes and dressed in white…an Espada.
"So you're the one who has been destroying the Cazadores…" The Espada commented as he watched the lizard-like hollow. "Name is Zommari Rureaux, Septima Espada in the service of Aizen-sama, who might you be?"
"Shirosaki Kamen, what do you want?" Shiro replied stoically. "What do you want?"
He knew he was in a precarious situation, with Nel right behind him, Bawabawa, Pesche and Dondochakka surrounding her protectively; they were also all being surrounded by the remaining Cazadores and hounds and, of course, the Espada.
"You obviously are a strong Arrancar, to have been able to fight off so many Cazadores." Zommari commented. "Even if you came out of nowhere, Aizen-sama will be interested in you. You should come to Las Noches, join us."
Shiro's eyes narrowed, he knew that even though the words sounded like an invitation they were anything but; things wouldn't be pretty if he responded with anything but yet. And still, he would never join Aizen. Who would be crazy enough to join a madman who had already betrayed one world, particularly one that respected him as much as the Soul Society had?!
Behind him, Shiro could hear Pesche mutter, the former Fraccion probably thought Shiro was going to betray them, leave them to their luck…had Shiro been anyone else, had he 'grown up' in any other way, he might have…but he wasn't, and he hadn't, he was Shirosaki Kamen, he was a Nakama, and too damn stubborn to do follow anyone but his own will…and maybe Ichigo's…sometimes…
In the Inner World Ichigo could just chuckle at his twin's rant. It was just like him, and it only proved how right the orange-haired had been to place his trust in his counterpart, now they only needed to find a way to get out of Hueco Mundo, back to the Human World, to Karakura, the Nakama and…Rukia…he missed his wife so much…
"It's an interesting offer…" Shiro commented as he began mentally preparing for what was to come. "Very interesting indeed…but I'm afraid I'll have to decline…"
He didn't even give the chance for the Espada, or anyone to react, he just spun around, yelling at the others to get down in the last moment, before slashing the air with Zangetsu in a wide arc, sending the most powerful Getsuga Tenshou he could in an instant. The remaining Cazadores and hounds fell.
"Run!" He growled at Pesche and Dondochakka.
They didn't need anything else to be said; Pesche took Nel and ran off, followed closely by the other two; they used Sonido to get as far away as they could, as fast as they could.
Shiro for his part finished the spin and then attacked at where Zommari still stood, firing a half-powered Cero.
"How…?" Zommari seemed to be shocked. "I'm the fastest among the Espada…my gemelos sonido is the fastest there is…and yet you…just now…"
"Speed, is my specialty." Shiro declared with a smirk. "Now, let's get this show on the road." he charged another attack, firing it at point blank. "Getsuga Tenshou!"
The battle was crazy, and very fast paced. Shiro managed to mostly keep up with Zommari; and yet that wasn't enough, not when his enemy was an Espada.
"Insect!" Zommari yelled, angry. "You cannot possibly believe you'll ever be enough to defeat an Espada! One of the elite!"
Suddenly, his hand was on the hilt of his zanpakutou, Shiro didn't notice, but Ichigo did.
*Shiro!* He yelled with all the strength. *He's gonna use Resureccion!*
Neither of them had the slightest idea what his Resurreccion might be, however, they knew it wouldn't be good, and that was enough.
It was an instinct, knowledge that had always been there, in a corner of his mind, just like the knowledge of how to use Cero, or Resurreccion, or any other hollow power…in an instant, he opened a black hole, a Garganta, as was explained to him, jumped in…and he was gone.
xXx
"Shiro! SHIRO!" Nel kept screaming the name over and over.
Pesche, doing his best to ignore the screaming, kept going as fast as he could, never letting go of Nel; Dondochakka and Bawabawa following.
They didn't stop until they found another hollow standing on a dune, looking straight at them. It was tall, but had no feet, instead there was a thick, dark tail, his mask was broken, but what was left of it was bigger than any fragment any of them had seen before on an Arrancar.
"Who…Who are you?" Dondochakka asked.
"We won't let you hurt Nel-sama!" Pesche added instantly.
They were still on edge after what had just happened, and the fact that Shiro hadn't joined them; they didn't want to really think about it, but a part of them knew there might be a chance he wouldn't be.
"I'm not here to hurt you, or your charge." The hollow, who looked pretty much like a Naga, declared stoically. "My Master sent me to get you."
"Master…you work for Aizen?!" Pesche was nearly hyperventilating by that point.
"I do not." The hollow said. "My Master is connected to him, true; however, I assure you this is related in no way to him…My Master just wants to help you, but mainly, to help her…"
"Why would you want to help us, help Nel-sama?" Dondochakka inquired.
"No." Pesche thought there was another, more important question. "Who is your Master?"
When the answer was given, it was to the former fraccion's satisfaction.
"Very well." Pesche nodded. "We'll go with you."
And cut!
So... anyone wanna guess what's coming next?
See ya next week!