Chapter Ninety Two:
The park was a circular expanse of luscious green grass and benches, a children's play area tucked neatly near a dense line of forest. It seemed so different to when the carnival had been in town, so empty, barren... So grim. The lack of colours and laughter and joy. What a perfect setting for a final showdown with Izanshi.
Ichigo heard sharp intakes of breath from his two companions and felt an uncomfortable twang knowing they could see all of the Hollows in the area. At best, the hairs on his arms were stood on end again. However, what he could see as plain as day, was Orihime, Ishida and Hotaru suspended in the air above some of the children's toys and climbing frames.
The three seemed to be squirming uncomfortably, clearly in the grasp on some kind of tentacle wielding Hollow. And at ground level, beneath them, Ichigo could see a lone figure. His form still resembled a strawberry haired twin of his own, but it was missing several chunks of clothing and flesh in places, revealing twisted bones and spatters of porcelain white flesh.
He was simply pleased to acknowledge that Izanshi was in some form of Gigai.
"How many Hollows?" Ichigo hissed.
"Many." Chad murmured, "I fear... They are clones. I recognise several of the abilities they are displaying from Hueco Mundo. The Hollow restraining them has vast tentacles, like those belonging to the Números Rukia fought, Luppi, for example."
"Shit... This is bad." He breathed, "He took reiatsu from that many of his allies..."
"They're not going to let us through easily." Kaida puffed out.
"Understood." Ichigo began to walk forwards again.
He was forced to stop suddenly, on the very verge where grass and concrete met as the hairs on his arms rose so violently that he was sure they were trying to tear themselves free from his skin. He cast his gaze left and right, scowl as menacing as he could make it. He could only hope he might intimidate a few of the clones to back away. It wasn't likely, but he could hope.
"Izanshi! Let them go." He shouted out, hands at his sides as his fingers twitched.
It was a strange thing, to watch his own body turn to face him. He was used to seeing a monochromatic version, but one with all the same skin tones and brightly coloured strands of hair made his skin crawl. His own face fixed with a haunting smile.
He remembered... Remembered the moment Izanshi had feasted on some of his reiatsu. He'd never given it a second thought. He'd never considered... He thought he'd interrupted the flow quickly enough that he wouldn't be able to take on his form. He'd never imagined the Hollow had taken enough to use his appearance.
"I was beginning to think I'd have to start this alone."
"Start... Start what? What are you doing?" He demanded.
"Ah, and you even brought me the other Quincy... Thank you." Dark chestnut eyes fixed on Kaida's form with a hunger that made Ichigo sick.
"Let my family go!" The girl yelled in response, her voice barely trembled despite the situation.
"Izanshi, what are you planning?" Ichigo asked again.
Head tilting with a slow, clunking movement, the Hollow's skin began to bubble and drip and shift until the strawberry found himself looking at Norio Kuchiki's form instead, "I want to make you suffer... For what you did to Aizen-sama." Came the whispered response.
"Aizen?" He repeated, tutting in annoyance, "All of this... Because I stopped him?!"
"All of this because you hurt him!" It was strange to see the Kuchiki noble shout, unnatural, "I will finish his work! I will make you pay!"
"Finish his work..." Ichigo trailed off, brows furrowing, "You're going to make an Ōken? But... How..."
"There's another way, a secret way. Different from using a town like Karakura." Continuing to speak in a hushed voice, the Hollow began to take small steps forwards, "Top secret, I found it. In the Archives. You don't need 100,000 Souls. You only need a few. Quincy. Two or three of them. Their blood is so potent that you can extract it and mould it. Make an Ōken from it."
Eyes widening sharply as he looked towards where Ishida and Hotaru were being suspended, he felt his mouth fall open in horror, "You're... You're going to sacrifice them... Make an Ōken and return to Soul Society?! You're going to free Aizen!"
"I always knew you were a clever one."
"No... I won't let you do this! Not a chance!" He growled.
"What are you going to do? Appeal to my... Humanity?" Izanshi's jibe was thinly veiled as he sneered.
Ichigo's fingers snagged one of the Seele Schneider from his belt, spinning the small rectangular hilt before he tightened his grip and prayed, "I will do whatever it takes... To protect my friends."
In his peripheral vision he saw Chad's arms change, both taking on their demonic forms as his large fists clenched in preparation of a fight. And on his other side, he watched Kaida's arm stretch out, her father's Quincy Cross dangling around her wrist as a pale blue bow formed in her grasp, first arrow already drawn.
"And I don't fight alone." He breathed, clenching his teeth as he watched the energy blade of the weapon in his hands slowly crackle into life.
"I'll clear a path with my arrows, charge straight towards him Ichi-ji!" Kaida cried out, loosing her first arrow only to immediate draw another, shooting swiftly at creatures Ichigo simply couldn't see, "Sado-san, cover me!"
There was no hesitation in his step as he charged forwards, letting out a yell as he sprinted towards Izanshi's form, lifting the Quincy blade in both hands, he swung, gasping out as he collided with a sword, growling and snarling as he pushed against the Gigai bound Hollow.
It came flooding back. Like a tidal surge. Left. Right. Dodge. Duck. Thrust. Swipe. Strike. Lunge. Step back. The tempo was a dance he knew too well, falling into step like an old friend as he met and blocked every blow Izanshi tried to make. It was only infuriating to find each of his own attacks was met as well.
He could hear Chad's roars as he released explosive energy, and he could hear the sharp whistle of arrows soaring through the air, never missing their target. Chad and Kaida were sticking to the plan. Cutting down the number of Hollows in the area so they could reach the Luppi inspired clone holding the Ishida family captive.
"I've watched you for months..." Izanshi purred as they came close together, "Moping around... Trying to make a life for yourself... It's cruel really. You deserved a warriors death, not a never ending cage."
"Shut up." He snarled, pushing forwards as he kicked the fake Norio in the thigh.
"But it's true... Isn't it? You've been here for almost a year... As a Human. No friends from Soul Society, no friends from Hueco Mundo... No family... Making enough money to survive, trying to distract yourself from the pain of how pitiful your life has become."
"Shut... Up!"
"You should have died. You should have been given that dignity. A warrior who loses their power is a miserable, sad little thing. Never again likely to feel the warmth of battle on their skin." Norio's face drew closer to his between their swords, "Don't you see... I did all of this for you."
"What?" He breathed, scowling as he ducked back a few paces.
"I've seen you struggle. Seen you fight with everything that you've become. The sadness, the grief, the anger, the longing. I thought I could create a scenario for you, where you could have one more heroic battle. I would strike you down, give you the death a warrior deserves." Izanshi's Hollow voice began seeping through Norio's deranged laughter echoing around them both.
"You're sick." Ichigo hissed, "I should have killed you in the Prison."
"Yes, you should." The Hollow laughed again, hand lifting towards Norio's hairline, "Say... Your ability to fight me resides on the fact that you can see me... Right?"
Ichigo's throat tightened suddenly and he lunged, diving forwards as their bodies collided, throwing them both to the grass. He growled, shouted, spat as he tangled. Fists and feet flying everywhere. Blood splattering the ground from injuries he couldn't feel yet. Ichigo found himself on his back, pinned beneath Hinamori's form. The Hollow had shifted so quickly, he hadn't even seen it.
Panting heavily, Ichigo cursed. Where once he could fight for hours with little drain on his energy, he was already feeling the strain. His muscles were burning, his limbs felt heavy. His chest was heaving with each shaking gulp of air he took into his lungs.
"I couldn't believe it at first... When I learned that Aizen-sama had been defeated..." Gold eyes began to shine through the brown, "Aizen-sama, overpowered? By you? Impossible. But I stole myself into Central 46, witnessed his sentencing... Watched as he was locked away. I decided right then that I would avenge him. I would complete his plans. I would make an Ōken. I would rescue him! I would see him ascend!"
"You're insane!" Ichigo snapped.
"No more so than you once were!"
A thud caught both their attention, two sets of eyes moving in time to see Chad scooping Orihime off the floor. She was limp in his arms, skin pale and clammy. Blood seemed to drip free from her like a tap had been turned on.
"Fuck!" The strawberry yelled, struggling harder under Izanshi's grasp, "Let me go!"
Another thud. Hotaru fell free into the large Human's outstretched arms. He didn't seem as badly hurt, but he still seemed swallowed whole by unconsciousness.
Ichigo could feel Izanshi's discord, the tension of his muscles as they moved. And suddenly he sprang, releasing Ichigo in a flash as he tore towards Chad, arms and legs wrapping around the large man, Ichigo's eyes danced in horror as some unseen force tore into the large man's throat, spraying blood high and wide. Had Izanshi partially ripped free from his Gigai to... Bite him?
"Chad!" He rolled, pushing himself to his feet as he grabbed another energy sword from his belt, he ran forwards, barely dodging in time as Ishida fell free from whatever Hollow had held him. A quick glance revealed ugly lacerations across the Quincy's back, he was bleeding almost as badly as his wife.
Blood chilling as he watched his childhood friend collapse, arms reverting to their normal form, Ichigo changed his course, expression tormented as he put himself between Izanshi and Kaida. He grabbed the girl tightly in his arms, holding her still as he watched the barely concealed Hollow begin prowling.
"I-Ichi-ji..."
"Shh, don't speak." He croaked, not wanting her to hear his fear, "You're doing great."
"Where's Sado-san?"
"He's... He's down." Ichigo said honestly, "It's just you and me."
"He's coming for me... Isn't he?"
Gulping, the strawberry felt his hands shake, "Yes."
His horror only grew as he watched Hinamori's body drop to the ground limply, almost as if dead. Dread pooling in his belly as he realised Izanshi had shed his Gigai completely. His breath hitched in his chest as he realised he couldn't see the Hollow. He couldn't trace his movements. He couldn't stop him.
He couldn't think. He couldn't think of a strategy... He was numb... His mind was sharp but his body was letting him down... His stupid Human body. All he could think about was distracting her... Stopping the fear taking a hold of her. It was the kindest thing... The only thing he could do...
"Hey... Remind me..." Ichigo gasped out, trying to keep his voice level, "How good are you at sensing spirit ribbons?"
"I'm really good. Why?" She sounded puzzled.
His hands were shaking more than ever, he prayed she couldn't feel it, that she couldn't sense the fear in whatever aura she could sense from him, "Remind me how you do it. How you sense it. I want to know."
"At a time like this?"
He had to keep her distracted. Had to keep her mind off what was happening around them. He didn't want her to be scared. He didn't want her to know that... He was scared too.
"Yeah. Bad timing I know but... Tell me anyway. Come on. You're a smart kid, a good Quincy... Indulge me." His eyes darted from left to right as he began carefully moving her further away from her family, trying to find somewhere he could feel safer. A corner. A tree. Anything.
"At first... I had to close my eyes and think really hard... I used to get terrible headaches from it... Dad said I was trying too hard. It should come naturally." She said quietly, her voice trembling slightly, "But then... I thought about an ocean... A great sea of white and sometimes red... But you... There's no one like you."
He smiled weakly, "I've heard that before... What about your dad's, what does it look like?"
"It's white." She suddenly dug her heels in, "Ichi-ji."
Ichigo faltered, squeezing his eyes shut as he sucked in a breath. Despite the rain falling around them everything seemed to quiet. So far away. But the blood rushing in his ears was almost deafening.
"And your mum? What is hers like? It bet it's really pretty, just like her."
"Ichi-ji..." Her voice was quaking, she was gasping.
"Tell me. Come on. What does your mum's ribbon look like?"
"White... It's just... White..." There were tears choking her, "Ichi-ji... I can see him..."
"I know." He swallowed, biting down on his lip as he turned, cradling her in his arms as tightly as he could.
"He's coming. Ichi-ji... Ichi-ji... Move! Please move! He's going to hit you!" She was screaming, struggling in his grasp.
"It's alright." He whispered, fingers combing through her burnt orange hair soothingly, "Once he has me... I want you to run. Run as fast as you can. Run for Urahara's store. Don't stop until you see it! Scream bloody murder if you have to, make someone hear you."
"No! Ichi-ji!"
"It's alright." He said again, smiling brightly at her, "I will be alright."
"N-No... No you won't! Please! Move! Ichi-ji! Move! It's me he wants!"
His body arched suddenly, he could feel the ice cold penetration of talons digging into his flesh, cleaving through muscles and tendons and bones. His mouth opened wide to release a wail, but no sound came out. Nothing came out but blood.
"ICHI-JI!"
He couldn't see Izanshi. But he could feel him. The sharpness of those claws. The smell of rancid breath on his face. The raw stench of death. With a roar, he brought his arms up and around. He couldn't see him. But he could feel him. He could remember his anatomy.
As tall as Starrk, only slightly thinner. Shoulder length scarlet hair, slicked back. His Hollow mask remnant was a circlet that ran across his forehead and disappeared into his hair, two small horns pointing up towards the ceiling. Pale skin, blood red eyes.
He found his throat, tightening his arms as hard as he could, nails digging into the pale flesh of his throat, finding the scar he'd left on him from his own mask. He clung on, even as Izanshi began to thrash in an attempt to throw him aside.
Ichigo had realised he couldn't win against him almost the moment Chad had collapsed. But he could stop him reaching Kaida! Throwing his head around, he watched as the Quincy girl ran. Her shoes splashing in the sodden grass. She was wailing, she sounded so frightened. It broke his heart.
"Run, Little Dragon. Run. Don't you dare stop." He breathed.
A howl was torn from his lips as he felt teeth burrow into he shoulder, digging deeply. He was momentarily reminded of Ulquiorra's attack and a burning rage shot through him like liquid fire. He brought one hand back and smashed it forwards, colliding his knuckles with what could have been face, or chest, or skull. He had no idea. But it was hard enough that the bite loosened.
He was swung around, left and right. Izanshi tried again to throw him aside, tried to follow his prey. Ichigo clung on as if his life depended upon it. He could feel how wet his shirt had become. A sluice of rain and blood. Even as his arms began to turn numb, he made sure his fingers dug deep. Kaida had to get away. One of them had to escape.
He felt metal break under him, Izanshi had thrown him up against one of the climbing frames, it has splintered and ripped apart under the force. He was thrown again. And again. His head grew dizzy and his body grew weak.
Tossed away from the playground equipment, he swore aloud as his fingers lost grip and he skidded across the slick grass, mud caking his face and clothes as he landed on his chest, slumping limply as he allowed his eyes to open again. Blades of grass were out of focus against his nose, the feeling of fat raindrops striking the side of his face and the wounds on his back made him groan.
He felt fingers closing around his face, lifting him with ease as he dangled limply in the air. His eyes rolled as darkness threatened to take him, but he forced himself to focus. Staring blankly at the open space in front of him, he knew Izanshi was there. Somewhere.
"You don't... Need Kaida..." He found his words rasping free from crackled and split lips, blood trickling down his throat as he spoke, "Let her go... Y-You don't need her... You've got... Me..."
He felt his hand sinking into his back pocket, withdrawing the scalding hot metal of his mother's Quincy Cross, he lifted it with shaking fingers between him and where he assumed Izanshi's face was.
"I'm..." He felt his grasp on reality slipping as his vision blurred, "I'm... Use... Use me instead... I'm... I'm a Quincy too..."
The feeling of his body hitting the floor without warning was jarring, forcing him back to awareness as he heard a faint but echoing howl of pain. His eyes rolled in his skull and he forced his head up, staring bleakly towards the source.
It began with feet. Bare feet, toes clenched into the wet soil beneath them. Slender legs rose into a well muscled torso. Long built arms covered in fresh dripping blood. And an oddly angelic face framed by a mane of crimson hair. The trim little circlet of bone with two small horn adornments pointing upwards. Blood red eyes were ringed by sleep deprived darkness.
There was a hole in the Hollow's shoulder. Gored by an unseen arrow. Ichigo blinked several times. His brain not entirely catching up with what was happening until he looked down at himself.
A sleek, ebony black bow clasped tightly in his grasp, his mother's Quincy Cross hanging at the centre. It wasn't stable, the form seemed to fluctuate every other minute.
Eyebrows almost disappearing into his hairline as he staggered to his feet, quite unsure of where he found the energy to even do so, Ichigo inspected the bow in disbelief. He wasn't sure if perhaps he had fallen into the pit of unconsciousness and death, and was now dreaming. But the progressive pain across his body seemed to suggest that he was awake.
His eyes shot up as he heard Izanshi's snarls, staring as he truly realised for the first time that he could see the Hollow. He could see him.
Wobbling on his legs, only one thought came to mind as he took in the new situation, "Fuck."