Arata was a man of his word. He promised Isshin to guide his son in his own "Arata way" and he promised his father to protect others when he has the strength to. And now he was following through with another promise he made, albeit to himself, but in the benefit of another.
Arata saw this shop one night when he was out on patrol. He took a peak from outside the window and saw a large variety of bakery delights. What better reward could he give to the woman who preserved his facial security?
School had ended for the day and last he checked, Ichigo was working on an elliptical/tread mill machine back at the Visored H.Q.
How that is going to help Ichigo, he had no idea. 'I'm sure they know what they are doing.' Arata conceded when he left the teen.
"This place is so cool!" Orihime gushed. She took a bite out of a double-chocolate glazed donut with strawberry filling. Her body shivered from the sugar rush she felt in that moment. She was so energized she could run a mile in a couple minutes.
Arata's own treat were two donuts. A simple glaze donut and a strawberry frosted donut with rainbow sprinkles. He ate at a slower pace, appreciating the baked goods more intimately. "That we are in agreement."
"They have so many items, too! I just wanna try them all." Orihime gushed as she pondered about what donut she should get next.
"Remember I'm buying so not too much."
Orihime nodded and she took another bite. She spoke despite her mouth being full at the moment. "I still can believe Sakura is actually in our world."
Arata wasn't surprised she wanted to breach the topic even more. After Grimmjow's assault, Arata told the girl his side and to say she was surprised was a gross understatement. "With arrancar powers no less. Quite the surprise." He then went for the glaze donut.
"Aren't you... nervous?"
Arata looked at her. Concern was evident on her face from her eyes to her frown. He understood what brought about this feeling; she was asking if he was nervous about facing his nee-chan in battle.
It did not escape Arata that they were on two opposing sides in a war, and most likely Sakura realized this as well. To say he was not uncomfortable with the situation would be a lie; this war was asking him to fight Sakura, the woman who raised him after his life went to hell. It was very likely he wasn't gonna win that fight either, not with how the both of them were progressing. But at the same time, he wasn't so concerned about that.
"Not really. If we are forced to collide, then we collide." It was as it was. That, and he knew that if Sakura really wanted to fight him, he would oblige her without a second thought. He respects her too much to disappoint her.
Orihime could somewhat agree with his words. The memory of her brother Sora was still in her head after she shook off Rukia's memory wiper device. She did not fight Sora, but she knew what it was like losing a sibling. The pain was even more unbearable if that sibling was the only family you had left. The last thing Orihime wanted was for Arata to feel what she felt.
'I guess we're similar in that regard, huh? Something happened with our parents, we ran away, and were left with someone better." That was the short summarized version of it at least. They differed in a lot of areas, but that was the gist of things.
The hitokiri opposite to her saw her becoming uncomfortable so he changed the topic. "Anyhow, do you want me tell you something else about Healthmoor?" He had been doing that a lot when he revealed his origins to her.
That seemed to brighten Orihime back up as she tapped her chin with her donut. "Hmmmm... OH! Tell me about the capital of the Dawn Empire. Is it like Tokyo? What're the people like? What did you do there? Do they have good food?-"
"Slow your horse there, woman." Arata said. He stopped to think a little. He visited Koto a few times, mostly for missions, but he could remember the imperial capital well. Though The Great Raid was seven years ago, the city still felt the damage done by the vikings. Many of the city's riches were stolen, leaving Koto in a dire state financially. Many were killed, and many were captured and enslaved. The city had regained most of its strength after Empress Ayu came into power, but Koto was a shell of its former glory. But..."The food was exquisite. It gets better the closer you get to the Imperial Palace."
Orihime gasped. "Did you meet the Emperor and Empress of the Dawn Empire?"
"It actually is just an Empress in power." Arata corrected. When he left it was. Maybe Empress Ayu found a husband while he was here, but who know? "And I have not met her. And even if I had not left my world, I most likely would never meet her?"
"Because you're not a noble?"
"No. Word is she does not appreciate freelance warriors like me. From accounts I've heard from people that have actually met her, they say she is a 'by-the-books' kind of woman. Somewhat like Hitsugaya, actually."
Orihime giggled at the comparison. "I'm sure she's a good person. I mean, at the very least she's a capable leader. Why would the people follow her then?"
"She's good at uniting people, I'll give her that." He didn't physically show it, but he was self-respecting at how he saved the conversation from becoming dreary.
Your socializing skills are improving, that's why.
'Hmph. Whatever you say.'
Orihime paused for a second as a new question popped in her mind. "Do you... miss it?"
Arata placed down the donut he was about to eat. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... do you miss the Dawn Empire? The Myre? Healthmoor? Don't you wanna, you know, go back?"
Arata had already decided he would be staying in this world, but the idea of going back to Healthmoor was a concept he hadn't thought too much about. Intentionally or not was not important at the moment. If a way back to Healthmoor was presented in front of him right now, would he take it?
But if he did, what would be waiting for him? A land full of conflict and violence enough to satiate him for a life time. However, with how powerful he has become, it wouldn't even be fun. This world was easy, yet challenging all the same. The hollows provided ample entertainment, and that's not to mention the more human opponents. His strength grew in a way he never predicted, but welcomed it all the same.
And not just that, but... he felt good here. He wasn't depressed or anything similar back in Healthmoor, but here in this reality, he felt even better. He couldn't pin point what it was, but it encouraged him to settle here.
When he looked at Orihime and her curious expression, he felt something swell in him, pushing him to say his next words. "That's an interesting question. If I knew of a way to travel to and from Healthmoor, perhaps I would go back for a visit; but I'm content if I could never return. I have already decided to settle here in Karakura." Arata answered honestly. He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I... like it here."
His answer made Orihime smile, from happiness and relief. She has grown to care about Arata and wanted to continue living with him. "That's awesome, Arata." She suddenly gasped. "Oh my god, how did I not see that?! They have blueberry filled donuts too!" She then got up to order one.
"Get me one too." Arata softly called out.
Unbeknownst to either of them, the college boy whose nose Arata broke saw them from across the street. He fished out a switchblade from his back pocket and moved near the donut shop. Thankfully, for him, the two didn't notice him. He entered an alley way and waited.
Later...
The bell of the donut shop chimed when Orihime and Arata exited. Arata figured he should see to it that Orihime gets back home first before he went back to Ichigo.
His bladder had other plans though. "Wait. I have to use the bathroom."
"No problem. I'll wait here."
Arata went back inside the donut shop as Orihime stood on the sidewalk whistling a catchy tune. She was near an alleyway entrance with her back turned to it.
The college boy struck, grabbing Orihime from behind and placed his blade near her neck. Using his other arm, he wrapped it around her abdomen. Orihime struggled as he promptly pulled her into the alley way.
"What're you-?!"
He cut her off by pressing the switchblade closer to her jugular. "You know that masked freak, don't you? You know what he did to me and my guys? HE BROKE MY FUCKING NOSE! Now the girls can't look at me without feeling disgusted. Not only that, but he busted up one of my guys' dick. He can't even get an erection anymore!" His anger rose with every word as they were filled with such venom for the hitokiri.
The man's colorful description told Orihime all she needed. Eito and his friends weren't exactly silent about the incident involving them and a certain security guard. "From what I heard, you had it coming." Her attempt at talking back, riled him up even further as his unarmed hand squeezed her midsection, forcing breathe to escape her.
"You little bitch. I had this coming, huh?! Well, your boyfriend had this coming too." His unarmed hand began to lower closer to an area Orihime wanted only her future husband to touch. Her eyes widen. "Let's see how-"
Unfortunately for him, she had been trained in self defense thanks to Tatsuki.
She stomped on his foot before he could touch her flower. He yelped and hadn't expect her retaliating as his switchblade hand pulled away from her neck. Using his period of surprise, she then elbowed him in the gut before grabbing his extended switchblade arm and throwing him over her body, putting him closer to the alley way entrance. He was heavier than the two soul reapers she took out back when she and the gang invaded the Soul Society, so it took a lot of her physical strength to perform that last move. She panted as the college boy groaned on the floor.
He soon got back up ready to cut this girl into pieces. Orihime readied herself, but a large shadow loomed over them. She eyes widened again as she saw Arata appear behind the college boy.
It didn't take much to find the two as their confrontation produced enough sound. The college boy noticed the sun wasn't shining on him and he turned around only to find Arata. He stuttered in trepidation as he looked up at his mask.
"Fucking-!" He didn't get to say much else as Arata front kicked him on the chest. Orihime moved away when the college boy was forced to the ground. His blade flew from his hand to somewhere else.
Orihime already had a clear idea of what Arata was about to do. "Arata, let's just go. I'm fine, so lets just forget about him and this whole incident." she implored.
"Stay out of this." he responded simply. It didn't take a genius to figure out this boy's intentions with the girl. The very thought soured his good mood. Now was the time to do what he does best.
The college boy stood back up and tried to engage the giant in hand-to-hand. Key word being tried. Arata caught his feeble fist and responded with a hard fist to the nose, breaking his nose yet again. Again, he was knocked to the floor and clutched his bleeding face.
The faint metallic smell in the air and the sight of his crimson liquid brought a sense of satisfaction to the hitokiri.
"YOU'RE CRAZY! YOU'RE A FUCKING MONSTER! FUCK YOU!" Anger and fear overloaded his system, and for a moment Arata thought he was gonna bust a blood vessel.
Arata casually walked towards the college boy, which caused said boy to back-pedal away from him. Orihime tried to stop him by grabbing his arm, but he pulled away from her. From the outside, he looked as cold and stoic as ever, but on the inside, he was boiling. He gave this boy and his friends a chance last time by allowing them to live, but now he spat in the face of his mercy and decided to mess with him in the baddest way possible. For that, he will pay.
The college boy got up to run, but Arata grabbed the lid of a nearby trash can and threw it. It hit the by on the back of his head, forcing him to the ground again. Arata descended on him and firmly placed his foot on the college boy's lower back, right on his spine. "Oh god... PLEASE, I'M SORRY! PLEASE LET ME GO!"
"Know that the blame falls only on you for crossing this monster." Arata's rigid cold voice resonated with college boy, forcing him squirm in order to get free. Arata only put more pressure on his back.
"ARATA, DON'T-!"
But their pleas fell on deaf ears as he jerked his foot down. A crack was heard. Then came the scream.
His scream lasted for four seconds, but then reduced itself to a whimper. The college boy couldn't feel his legs anymore. He tried to move something - anything - but not even a toe moved. His mind, overloaded with anger, fear, pain, and now the reality that he was crippled, collapsed and he fell unconscious.
Arata moved up and planned to crack his neck, but he was suddenly shoved away. Expecting one of the boy's croonies to be the culprit, he was surprised to find only Orihime.
His mind short-circuited when she knelt beside the college boy and conjured her healing shield. "What are you-?"
"Stop!" Orihime said harshly. "Just-... keep a look out. This should only take a couple minutes."
"I... Why are you..." Arata was so befuddled, he numbly followed her orders; but not without scowling angrily at her all the while.
A couple minutes flew by and Orihime finished healing the college boy's injuries. With any luck, he'll chalk up this whole event as some dream and won't attract any unwanted attention to her or Arata.
"Come on." The orangette quickly grabbed Arata's hand and dragged him away from that alleyway. Arata had tried to stop their walking, but Orihime continued to pull him along.
They finally stopped a few blocks away, near the river beside a bridge. Arata snatched his hand away from the girl, who wasn't expecting the sudden movement. "WHY?"
There was no need for a debrief as to why he felt so heated. "Because you were planning on killing him! Why else?!"
"Woman, did that man hit you over the head during your confrontation? Do you not realize what he planned to do to you, huh?! RAPE! He planned to take your innocence; planned to defile you!" He still couldn't get over the act of mercy she showed the college boy. He committed a crime against her, and she was willing to let him go scot-free?
Arata, don't-
'Shut it.'
"I had it handled! Did you not see how I tossed him over my shoulder?" she argued.
He did see it, actually, and it decently surprised him. It was good to know she knew how to throw hands should the need arise. "That is not the point here!" he exclaimed. He then took a deep breathe. "Look, I know in your eyes, you view my punishment for the boy to be harsh-"
"So you knew it was extreme and you did it anyway?! Arata, what you did and what you were gonna do wasn't just 'harsh', it was-..." Her heart was flaring. Not just from the adrenaline still pumping in her systems, but also from the conflict in her heart. The man that stood in front of her was kind at heart, but he refused to acknowledge it in favor of coldness and killer intent. "You promised me you would stop killing people."
"Listen here, woman: I am a HITOKIRI. Before I am a security guard, before I am a soul reaper, I AM A HITOKIRI. It is my life's purpose slaughter criminals and scum like that boy. I am a killer of the sinful, and don't you ever forget that fact." Arata said, his cold voice holding an edge of annoyance.
"But you're so much more that!" Orihime protested. She refused to see Arata as just a monster of a man with no capacity for mercy and kindness, and refused for Arata to believe that he should see himself as just a man slayer. He's proven he cares for others even he doesn't say it, and proven he's willing to protect them at the cost of his own life. What monster does that? "There's so much more to you than you know, Arata."
"And what do you know, woman?" Arata replied. "Do not delude yourself just because I told you my origins and history. Do not presume to know me when all you know is what happened to me. Now stop this talk of me somehow living up to your mental image of-"
"I refuse." she said simply. Arata narrowed his eyes at her persistence. Usually he liked that aspect in a person, but now it was just grating on his nerves. "You're right: I don't completely know you. Even after all the time we spent together, even after all the times you spoke about your past and Healthmoor, I'm no closer to your heart than when I was when I met you. But I know what I've seen! You're not just a killer, Arata. You're a good person. I'm just... sad that you don't see it too."
Arata didn't know where to comment. He could start on how she was ludicrous in her statement or how wrong she was, but he choose... evasion. "I... need to go."
Orihime reluctantly agreed. She turned in the direction of her apartment as Arata turned to head to Vizard HQ. Orihime paused to look at Arata's moving form. Her face crinkles in sorrow for him.
Perhaps she was a fool for believing in him. For all she knew, Arata would continue with his destructive self image of himself. But she rather stick to her guns and put in the effort to push him, just like he had for her.
She could only hope he would take that first step.
With Arata...
What if she's right?
'She not right.'
Hitokiri scowled. In Arata's inner world she sat on the stairs to the cabin, but when Arata continued to shut down any room for discussion, her patience ran dry and she stood up in defiance.
Why is it that you're open to many possibilities for any situation, but when it comes to this, you have tunnel vision?!
'Because I don't have the aspects she thinks I do, so she's objectively wrong!' Arata's shoulders shuddered from the volatile emotions he felt. He tried to repress them, but they pushed back in return and refused to give any quarter. He thought these passionate feelings died, but they simply slept, just waiting for the right trigger to set them ablaze.
Arata is a hitokiri, and a damn good one at that. He is so good, in fact, that he's convinced he was destined to become one. To hear the girl, say he was more than that was simply ridiculous. By technicality, he was also a soul reaper and school security guard. But at his very core, which was most likely what Orihime meant, he is a hitokiri and nothing else.
And those acts of goodness were just him keeping his promise to his father. Nothing else.
Yeah... keep telling yourself that.
Arata groaned slightly. He was approaching the hideout at a brisk pace, ready to dive into intense training with Ichigo. "Why am I even giving this idea anymore thought?" Hitokiri's matronly yet stern voice then rang forth.
Because you KNOW there is some - even an inkling of truth - to the Orihime's words.
...Perhaps before, but not now. There was a time Arata harbored noble intentions behind becoming a hitokiri, but those times were long gone. The recollection of those times even made him cringe.
He wanted to be... a hero. When he first came to Sakura with the idea to train in the hitokiri arts, Arata had thought being a hitokiri would make him a beacon of hope to the masses and a symbol of fear to criminals and the corrupted. He foolishly believed that he could scrub away the unfavorable image hitokiris currently had and make a new one from scratch.
He was weak in addition to being naïve. He relied upon Shinobu too much, and his drive to look out for others always put him into one too many sticky situations. Combined, these factors almost got him too close to death.
They almost got Shinobu close to death, too.
He continued his way towards the Visored base. It was then he saw Mashiro and Hachi approach in the opposite direction. "Heya, Arata!" the greenette yelled. Hachi opened the barrier door as the three converge. "We got lunch for everyone. You want some?"
Arata merely shook his head no. Now, Hachi wasn't the most perspective man in the world, but he could tell something was off about his fellow visored. "Is something wrong, Arata?"
"No. Let's just get inside already." With that he opened the door to the base and was greeted to the sight of Hiyori and Ichigo trading blows in their loud and verbal argument.
"Lunch is here!" Mashiro chimed. She and Hachi began to hand out bento boxes.
"Why are they arguing?" Arata sighed.
"Well, he doesn't seem to like the Hiyori's Super Trainer." Love said.
"What?!" Mashiro said in disbelief. "He was still on it?"
"Why are you two making that sound like some sort of joke?" Arata asked. He didn't get an answer, but they did chuckle nervously and looked away. Arata groaned again. "Alright, enough!" He grabbed the two squabbling soul reapers by the back of their clothes and pulled them up. "Tell me that machine serves a purpose, or I will-"
"Calm down everyone." Shinji interrupted. "Ichigo, Arata, despite what you two believe, that machine is the foundation of Ichigo's future training."
"Really?" Ichigo and Arata both skeptically questioned.
"We determine the level of your next training program based on how long you can run on the treadmill."
"What exactly do you mean by 'level'?" Ichigo asked.
"I think I get it." Arata said after some thinking. "They want so see how long your spiritual pressure can last by running on the treadmill."
Arata dropped Ichigo and Hiyori down, and as soon as her feet touched the ground, she scooted far away from Arata. "But that's useless! With how much spirit energy I have now, I can go at least five days straight on that thing! Stopping wasting my time and teach me how to control my hollow already!"
"The boy has a point. There must be a way to speed up the process." Arata added.
"Can the both of you just shut up?!" Shinji yelled, his patience running dry. "Stop yelling our ears off when the both of you have no idea about the Hogyoku or anything at all about hollowfication!"
Arata and Ichigo were surprised they knew about Aizen's precious sphere. The blonde revealed more as they also knew about the arrancars and Sosuke Aizen. They have been for a very long time. A bit too vague for Arata's liking, but it did answer his questions about how they gained their hollow powers in the first place. The Hogyoku might also be the reason Sakura has her powers, too.
Shinji stopped his series of revelations when he flash stepped to Ichigo and held a hand to the teen's face. He conceded that Ichigo's level was suitable for the next level of his training. He then used a kido spell and put him to sleep. Arata caught him before he could hit the ground.
"We better hurry. He gonna turn into a hollow soon. We need to get into the training area." Shinji said.
"And then what? What purpose will this serve?" Arata asked.
"To force a confrontation between Ichigo and his hollow. If he wins, he'll be able to summon his hollow mask at will." Shinji answered as the floor opened up.
"And if he loses?"
"The hollow consumes him and he's a hollow for good." Shinji and the rest of the Visoreds started to go down the stair. Arata followed behind. "I think you know what happens next."
That he did. He slung Ichigo over his shoulder, his head on his chest. Arata looked at his head and said, "Do your best."
Sometime later...
When they reached the underground training area, Arata placed Ichigo down and Shinji ordered Hachi to make some barriers to contain Ichigo's hollowfication. He first used Bakudo #75: Gochuutekkan, placing five tall and thick pillars on top of Ichigo, pinning him to the ground. He then placed another barrier around them.
They waited for some time, but it didn't take long for that to change. Ichigo's spiritual pressure exploded, sending dust waves around the barrier.
"Do you think that maybe it would be a good idea if we hid his zanpakuto?" Mashiro asked.
"Wouldn't make any difference. If he couldn't find it, it would just make him more frantic." Love responded.
"Besides, where would be the fun in that?" Arata rhetorically asked. He continued to keep his gaze on the boy, just like everyone else. He transformed when Hollow Ichigo casually stood up, destroying Hachi's pillars in the process. Arata was taught that the strength of a kido spell was determined by the caster and Arata knew Hachi was a kido expert. The fact the hollow was able to break though showed how strong he was.
"Hachigen," Lisa called out. "Open it up, please. I'm the one on duty today, so I'll be going first."
"No. I'm going." Arata opposed.
"Didn't you hear what I just said? Just go second."
"Hachi, open the barrier. I'm going first." Arata ordered. Lisa was about to run in, but Arata had practiced his kido skills lately. Unohana had said he focused too much on offense kido too much, so he decided to change that. "Bakudo #1: Sai."
Lisa yelped as her arms were locked behind her back. Arata walked inside the barrier as Lisa cursed at him. He ignored her as Ichigo, or Hollow Ichigo to be more precise, stood up. He spotted Arata and immediately charged. When Arata heard the barrier finally close, he unsheathed his sword and blocked. Sparks flew as the two soul reapers collided.
Arata's kido spell wore off and Lisa sat back down with a scowl. "I can not believe that man." she said, her irritation evident on her voice.
"Well, what did you expect?" Shinji shrugged. "We all know how Arata gets when ya aim for the face."
Hiyori looked away and gritted her teeth.
Back with the fight, Arata pushed Hollow Ichigo back. Back then, he was too surprised at Ichigo's sudden burst in power, but now he was ready. And he was ready to deliver the pain.
He broke Hollow Ichigo's guard and slashed across the processed teen's chest. The large wound spewed blood, but to everyone's surprise, it quickly closed as a white substance formed over the wound.
"Instant regeneration, huh?" A tricky ability for sure, but one he could work around. Hollow Ichigo screeched as it went back on the offensive. Arata grunted when he felt more power behind his swings, but rolled with it regardless. He pushed him off and then spin-kicked Hollow Ichigo's head. In his stunned state, the hollow failed to counter Arata's blade when it fell and landed in his shoulder.
Hollow Ichigo pushed him and his blade off, which allowed his wound to close. He then held his sword out in front of him and he roared as black reishi flowed around him until it encompassed the rest of his being.
Arata realized he was was about to use his Bankai, so Arata turned it up a notch as well. "Execute my enemies: Hitokiri." His sword glowed white and transformed. At the same time, Hollow Ichigo fully changed into his Bankai attire.
Arata closed the distance, but he then noticed the Hollow's left hand was shaking. It grew in size and muscle as it ripped apart Ichigo's sleeve. Ichigo's fairly tanned skin turned to an unnatural white and red tribal-like marks formed along his arm. His fingers then grew claws just when Arata was within reach.
The axe was not as fast as the hollow's hand as it swiped hard across Arata's chest and drew blood. 'It broke through my hierro.'
The hollow cackled, clearly pleased he finally landed a blow on his opponent. His reiatsu flared as his transformation continued. Ichigo's shoes erupted and his feet and presumably his legs too turned white and monstrous. A hole then opened in the middle of his chest before more of that white substance covered the area around the hole.
Hollow Ichigo charged, enflaming his black blade with a Getsuga Tensho. He and Arata swung at the same time. The hitokiri found the attack quite the move as he was sent skidding back. Arata acted just before the hollow could stab his throat. He deflected the blade with his armored forearm and he palm-striked him in the abdomen, stunning him. Arata stood back up and quickly grabbed the hollowfied teen by the back of the head and slammed his face into his knee. His opponent took no heed of his pain as Arata, with his hand still gripping the back of the hollow's neck, flung him across to the other side of the barrier, landing and creating a large veil of dust.
The barrier door opened and Lisa called out, "Arata, it's time to switch. It's my turn now!" She was surprised to find no response, even more so when Arata refused to move from his spot. "Arata, switch!" she called out again. The result was the same.
Shinji came beside Lisa just when Hollow Ichigo was standing back up. "Arata, if you didn't know, it's ten minutes for each person, and your time's up so get out of there. Right! Now!"
The hollow bellowed a roar of anger. It tore apart its shirt as it grew whiter and more muscly. His other arm then matched the other as it changed in appearance as well.
"Close the door."
"Are you planning to fight him until he reins in his hollow?! Are you FUCKING SERIOUS!?" Shinji roared, irritation and minor panic starting to set in as the hollow's eyes locked its gaze back at Arata. "He actually is a fucking idiot. I'm coming in! We can tag-team him tog-"
He took only a couple steps before a searing white bala connected to his face, knocking Shinji on his back outside the barrier. Lisa backed away in surprise. "Hachi! Close the door! Now!" Arata ordered. In all the excitement, the large man numbly did as he was told.
Mashiro and Kensei converged on Shinji as the blonde cradled he slightly burned face. They helped him up, but he stepped away from them as he banged on the barrier and glared daggers at Arata's fighting form. "You realize you might die, right?! You can't fight him for any longer! He's only gonna get stronger!"
"I DON'T CARE." Arata said aloud as he deflected an attack. He was acting too greedy, he knew this, but he needed this more than anything right now. Isshin had asked him to help in his own way, and this was his preferred way: to fight. To fight until Ichigo gained control, to fight for the fun of it.
To fight to remind him and everyone else what he was.
"This is a fight only for monsters."
Arata flash stepped over to the hollow. He sent an overhead attack to which Hollow Ichigo deflected. The hollow proceeded to then claw across Arata's abdomen, staggering the hitokiri back. The white monster attacked, but Arata flash stepped again, this time behind the monster. With his axe raised above him, he brought it down into the hollow's shoulder again.
Arata then pointed an index finger behind the other shoulder. "Hado #4: Byakurai." A bolt of lightning shot out and through Hollow Ichigo's shoulder. The creature roared, the pain skyrocketing. It greatly pleased Arata as he forced him down on his knees with the axe still embedded in the shoulder.
Suddenly, his ankle was caught in tight restraint and Arata was flung away from the hollow. He landed on his back just when Hollow Ichigo pounced, his sword aiming to impale him. Arata brought his axe up to block. Their weapons sparked. Arata glanced and saw the hollow grew a long white tail.
Ichigo's transformation into a hollow progressed, his hair growing longer and spiked jutting up from his shoulders. His power also increased as Arata's axe was pushed closer to his body.
'Ichigo, you must win. Otherwise, you might be too far gone for anyone to save.' Arata flash stepped to escape the weapon lock. He appeared some distance away, but the hollow refused to let his opponent take a moment of rest. He roared as he sent gigantic, long tendrils with large mouths complete with thick white teeth and pink tongues at him.
He slashed each and every one of them as he dodged them. Arata flash stepped in front of the hollow and upper-cutted him with a bala enhanced fist. He followed up with a diagonal slash across the chest. Sakura's student widen his eyes as he suddenly felt Zangetsu cut him in the same manner. 'He's getting faster.'
Sparks from their weapons buzzed in the air as the two monsters attacked each other in a haze of bloodlust. Arata slashed him, the hollow sliced him, it was a constant cycle of pain and adrenaline. Both combatants felt the fatigue of their battle set in, Arata more so. His shihakusho top was ripped to shreds, and blood dripped like a leaky faucet. In contrast, the hollow was panting like a dog that had run miles with little rest, but his body was in a better position than his.
Forty-three and a half minutes. That was how long Arata and Hollow Ichigo had been fighting. The Visoreds didn't bother holding their surprise. Ten minutes was all they allowed for themselves, and they knew that ten minutes with that beast of a teen would result in a exhausted state. The fact Arata had the stamina to match the hollow was an impressive feat, It must be the hollow mask, they all speculated.
Arata raised his axe to strike, but Hollow Ichigo's tail smacked him in the chest, causing him to drop Hitokiri. The hollow squealed in glee and charged the disarmed otherworlder, but failed to take into account that just because Arata was disarmed didn't mean he was defenseless.
He raised one armored arm after another to block the hollow's attacks. The hollow grew angry with every block, displeased at Arata's living state. His defense wasn't perfect. His wounds and tiredness dulled his reflexes and the hollow sliced him more than a couple times. Just when the hollow was about to decapitate his head, he parried just in time and squared Hollow Ichigo across the face. He did not stop slugging him as he alternated hitting him in the face and stomach. The hollow lurched back some distance until Arata fronted kicked him even further. His opponent was still standing, but was wobbling from all the concussive force Arata delivered upon him. He looked up in time to see Arata running at him. He then jumped and cannon-kicked the hollow to the ground.
Hollow ichigo dropped his sword, which Arata then kicked it away before he grabbed the hollow's swishing tail. The Visoreds dropped their jaw in shock when Arata spun the hollow around prior to flinging him off in some direction. The hollow landed with a screech. He attempted to stand back up, but Arata punched him across the face, forcing him down again. He grabbed his tail again, and while still holding the appendage, slammed him against the ground behind him.
the hitokiri repeated the action. And again. And again. With every repetition, Arata grunted, but it was overshadowed by the hollow's painful screeching. With every heavy smack the hollow's body made with the ground, the craggy ground cracked. Arata slammed him again, and the hollow stilled. Arata paused despite his state of excitement. He slowly released the tail and found even that was limp.
He took notice how his heart was punching his ribs from within. The fighting was the obvious cause, but when Hollow Ichigo continued to stay still, the beating was ranked up a notch. Had he killed him? Perhaps his regeneration extended only to exterior wounds and not his bones, organs, and brain. Did he just knock the hollow out or did he crush his brain in all the smashing?
For a moment, Arata recalled Isshin's words. He had asked him to look after Ichigo, but he didn't just fail, he straight up killed-
Hiyori noticed the tail twitch.
"HEY BALDY, LOOK OUT!"
"Huh?!" The hollow popped back to life, like a puppet suddenly finding a hand up its hole. With a scream that could break all the glass off a skyscraper, he lunged and took a swipe at Arata's side. "Playing dead, huh? You're more clever than I gave you credit for."
A screech was all he got for a reply. The hollow quickly looked in the direction of his discarded weapon. He turned to race in that direction when Arata attempted to hold him back, but the hollow had enough of being manhandled. The beast turned and hastily swiped Arata's chest. The blow enforced him to let go and the hollow scampered off to fetch Tensa Zangetsu.
Seeing that he had to opportunity, he flash stepped to Hitokiri. The hollow pounced before he could grab the axe. Arata raised both his forearms to block. The resulting strike blew a cloud of beige colored dust around them, obscuring them from the Visoreds.
It didn't last as a bright red orb shined away any trace of the dust cloud. Arata was on one knee and stared with wide eyes at the forming cero a few centimeters from his person. He realized he couldn't dodge this, not from his current position, so he placed forth one of his hands and started forming a cero of his own.
The spheres of power grew, nearly up to completion. That is until Lisa flash stepped at Hollow Ichigo's side. She kicked him off and the cero disappeared. "Forty-eight minutes and five seconds. I must admit I'm impressed, despite your self-destructive stubbornness."
Kensei flash stepped beside Arata and against the latter's protest, grabbed him and flash stepped out of the barrier. Arata pushed him off and ran towards the entrance of the barrier. His body ached against the forced action, but Arata persisted, only to have the door slammed closed. He grunted in frustration when his hands came in contact with the invisible wall.
"Please, Arata, you must calm yourself. You look close to death." Hachi urged, his hands ready to heal. His point was further emphasized when Arata dropped to his knees, his hands still on the barrier.
The pinkette began to heal him as Arata continued to watch Lisa and Hollow Ichigo battle. Hollow Ichigo overpowered her in strength, but Lisa demonstrated skill, speed, and flexibility against him, countering every savage sword swing the former dished out. It was a sight to behold.
He felt another presence beside him. "Here to vent your grievances at my actions?"
Shinji looked down at Arata with a neutral expression at first, but it then gave way for a more amused one. "I would, but it seems like you got our ass handed to you enough. I don't need to rip into ya when you're already down." the blonde snickered.
"How generous of you."
Given that he had no other choice, Arata, reluctantly, sat down to rest. His eyes were on the fighting, but his frustrations of being pulled out endured. The fight, despite all the pain, sweat, and blood, felt good. The level of excitement resembled the same level he felt when he fought Kenpachi. It was rare for Arata, even back in Healthmoor, to fight an opponent as beastly as Kenpachi or Ichigo's hollow.
The fighting was therapeutic. He wanted to get back in there to feel that again - he needed to feel that again.
When it was time for Lisa to switch, the door opened. Arata attempted to rush it before the next next opponent could, but Kensei elbowed him, forcing him back to a sitting position. The silver-haired man then entered.
"How long does this process usually take?" he asked to no one specifically.
"With Hiyori, it lasted an hour and nine minutes. We're hoping Ichigo will finish in that period of time, too." Rose answered.
"And you already know what will happen if he doesn't" Lisa then chimed in.
Arata nodded. 'Come on, Ichigo. You have to win, or we'll have to kill you.'
Hitokiri smiled at that. She felt no killing intent from her owner.
Some time later...
Love had entered after Kensei and continued to hold off the hollow. It confused him that they weren't using their masks, but that was probably because they weren't aren't trying to to fight him as long as Arata did. Their masks didn't last long, either, so they probably saw no point considering they intended only on counter-attacking and stalling for time.
By the time Love entered the battle, Hachi had healed Arata up enough where he could go again.
A red orb started to form on the end of Hollow Ichigo's index finger. Love looked like he was gonna summon his mask when the orb suddenly dispersed, its owner screeching to the artificial sky as if he was in pain.
Apprehension filled Arata's being. He thought the boy's body couldn't take anymore punishment and was gonna shut it self down, or turn to dust, or explode. And for a moment, he thought it was his fault. Was he too harsh during their battle? Did he damage his body so much that the later opponents after him were just the icing on the cake?
When his body exploded and filled the barrier with the resulting smoke, he felt his breathe leave him for a moment. The smoke settled, and Arata exhaled without struggle. The hollow skin fell off Ichigo's body, like a butterfly leaving its cocoon, and shattered like porcelain. His mask was complete. Red marking covered the left side of mask. That alone was evidence enough that he won.
And for that, Arata was proud.
Arata got up, but when Ichigo reeled forward he flash stepped to him before he could kiss the ground. The mask feel from his face and descended to the ground.
"So how do you feel?" Arata asked.
He felt the turn of his head. He didn't even need to look down to see the victorious smirk cross his face. "Fine. Not bad at all. You?"
"You were a hollow for a little more than an hour. I fought you for forty-eight minutes. How do you think I feel?"
"You look alright to me."
"Hachi's a good healer."
Shinji was behind Arata and he too grinned at the outcome.
In Hueco Mundo...
Nnoitra, for some reason, felt uneasy. He and Sakura hadn't been training for a long time, but this was the first time she had asked him to their training spot twice in one day.
Tesla accompanied him. He too felt nervous, but even more so than his master. He actually had an idea on what Sakura might be up and the possibility and consequences on such a thing were going to be reflected on his master.
The decimo and his fraccion finally arrived at the spot. Sakura was sitting down, her head dipped down as if she were asleep.
"Nee-chan."
Her head rose up. "Ah, Nnoitra. I'm so glad you arrived."
"Yeah. So, why did you call me here? We training again?" His body still felt sore from earlier, but he was willing to go if she wanted to.
"Possibly, yeah. But I mostly want you to do me a favor." she said.
"And what's that?"
"Show your resurreccion." she said simply. Nnoitra's eyes widen. "When I arrived in this world, I faced Grimmjow's released form. I simply want to see more so I cant draw up expectations of when I go into my resurreccion." she then explained.
"Alright!" Nnoitra agreed. He wanted to show off his released form since the moment she and her began their training together. He never released it before now due to pride at first, but after he came to respect her, it was also because she didn't have hers yet.
He pulled out his sword and raised high to the sky with a grin. "Pray: Santa Teresa!" Spiritual enery gathered and flowed out from the tip of the blade before and eruption of energy is sent forth in a wave, tossing around the sand around them.
The obstruction cleared, and Sakura saw her otouto's released state. He gained an extra set of arms, with all his arms taking on an insect-like white carapace and clawed hands. The white carapace was also on the side of his abdomen, but that was covered by his still intact shirt. Over his face he gained a golden-yellow marking and his hollow fragment also changed, becoming torn and teeth extending over the hole. On the sides of his head were horns resembling a crescent moon.
His weapon changed as well. In each hand were scythe-like bladed weapons akin to praying mantis arms. On the pommel of each was a small yellow tassel.
"Ohhhhh! A mantis motif, huh?" Sakura commented. 'Exemplifies him, doesn't it? Male praying mantises are always killed by the females after mating. He gets beaten down by female opponents. Quite symbolic! I wonder if he caught that on, too.'
"Let me guess: you wanna train with me in this form, right?" Nnoitra asked, his posture ready to charge.
"Yes, but please wait a moment." she replied to his confusion. His confusion only grew when she suddenly chuckled ominously. "It wouldn't be right for you to change when I haven't." She pulled her sword out.
Tesla's fears were realized just when realization was beginning to dawn on the Nnoitra.
Elsewhere...
There was no preamble. No warning that said anything of the incoming events. The ground quaked and debris from the ceiling began to fall. All the lower-powered fell to the ground, the spiritual pressure that came with shaking proving too much for them. The fraccion of the Espada felt nauseous at a drop the hat and braced themselves against whatever surface they could. The Espada themselves had shivers racing down their back, chilling them like cold sweat. They all looked in the direction that sudden burst of power and made their way to investigate.
Aizen and his cohort had been taking a break from their war planning when the shaking began. Gin and Tousen had dropped their tea in shock of this arrival. Aizen nearly did so, but saved his cup of brew. He knew what was happening, and this was why he ordered Espada rank one to four to refrain from unleashing their powers within the fortress. But this energy wasn't Starrk, Baraggan, Harribel, or Ulquiorra. This energy wasn't like most of the Espada. Except one.
"Lord Aizen..." Tousen uttered.
"Come." the brunette commanded. The two nodded and they, the Espada, and the demoted Grimmjow made their way to the source.
There, in the middle of the sands, was Nnoitra. He clearly wasn't the source, but he did lay bloodied and panting on the ground with Tesla convulsing uncontrollably on the ground some distance away.
But the woman standing near him was the source.
Aizen smiled.
1.) Omake: Honored Warriors Illustrated Picture Book
Arata was training at Kisuke's one day when the blonde decided to question him on his transformation method.
"How does your mask work, exactly? Usually a soul reaper have to pop a gikon pill to exit their physical body, but you just press your mask? What's goin' on there, Arata?" He hoped to replicate the technique.
Oh, I can answer that. When I was forging your powers, I noticed your physical body and soul were two different entities. Since I didn't want you to deal with the hassle of hiding your body whenever you need to fight, I used the energy inside us to allow your body to be transported into your inner world through your mask.
Arata relied the information to Kisuke, who diligently wrote it down on a notebook.
'Why didn't you inform me of this sooner?' Arata asked out of curiosity.
It wasn't prudent for you to know. And...
Arata suddenly felt the need to pee, so he turned for the bathroom. Kisuke looked up from his notebook and laughed at what he saw on the back of Arata's head.
A well drawn image of a chibi with Arata's mask twerking.
2.) Omake: Honored Warriors Illustrated Picture Book
In the early days of starting his career at Karakura high, some of the parents of the kids he disciplined usually came in to complain to the school.
"I WANT THAT MAN FIRED FOR SCARRING MY SON! HE CAN'T LOOK AT APPLES THE SAME! APPLES!" one mother screeched at the principal, who awkwardly smiled throughout the exchange.
Arata then entered the room. "ARE YOU-?!" And with just one look, she shut herself up as she stared up the 6'7 buff man with tattoos wearing a scary mask. And he was dressed in a school security guard uniform. "A-A-Are you... Mr. Takahashi?"
"Yeah."
Silence. She then grabbed her son by the wrist and went for the exit. "Let's go. He probably deserved it, and apples are overrated anyway. I mean, it's all about mangos and bananas now, eh?" she nervously chuckled.
"But mom-!"
"LET'S GO, SON!" she screamed in terror. The mother and son duo then raced out of school and never complained again.
The principal happily sighed. "I'm so glad I hired you."