The Protector's Temptation

Welcome back one and all, too tired to say much this time, but thanks for your continued support for this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

"Normal speech"

'Thoughts/Inner Speech'

"Kido/Zanpakuto release"

"Zanpakuto speech"

XXX

Chapter 17:

Yawning as he stretched outside his house that morning, Ichigo's eyes drooped a little lower as he waited for Tatsuki to come round the corner for their morning jog. Supressing yet another yawn, he heard Kyoka stir within his inner world.

"You know…you really wouldn't be this tired if you just took a break now and then," she huffed at him, while Ichigo could just imagine her burying her head into her pillow and scowling at him, the image making him chuckle slightly.

'Maybe, but I need to keep up my training. Especially if the Captains return to the Soul Society and leave Karakura Town to me,' he replied, seeing Tatsuki round the corner and fell into step next to her.

"Maybe, but even the greatest masters still took breaks from training," she shot back at him. "All you've done these last few days is attend practice, go for your morning run and then drill for hours on end trying to master new kendo forms, kido or try and feel out people's desires with my powers. Can't you at least spend today having a bit of fun and resting your body before the next battle? You're not going to be able to help anyone if you're dead on your feet."

Uttering a quick reply to Tatsuki's question, Ichigo frowned and mulled over Kyoka's words. True he was a bit sore and stiff after his extensive training, but he had gone through worse in the past and still came out ahead. Not to mention the fact that staying at home at least kept the Gotei 13 out of his hair.

Speaking of the Gotei 13, he still thought back to the day that Nozomi had answered their questions as far as she was willing too, which was not much more than she had told Ichigo. Under his watchful gaze though, they didn't press her much further. Armed with what little information they had, they started to make preparations to leave and probably would be gone by this afternoon or evening, leaving the town to recover. Despite the fact that Mayuri had mentioned that the Gotei 13 would be able to repair the damage they caused to the town once they returned to the Seireitei, that still didn't help the lives that were lost or the families that were left behind.

'I guess I should at least see them off and then decide what to do from there,' he thought as they turned a corner, the sound of their feet pounding on the sidewalk being the only sound this early in the morning.

"And it better not be more training," Kyoka muttered from within his mind, "or else I'm bringing back a few 'friends' for you to see," she finished in a mischievous tone, worrying him slightly.

XXX

"You have your orders then," Toshiro said with a tired sigh as he stood with the other Captains addressing the Lieutenants in front of them. "While we return and attempt to re-establish control, you are to stay here and ensure that there is no reprisal against this town."

"Yes, sir," the Lieutenants answered him, some of them nodding their heads in understanding. Hearing a crunch of dirt near the ladder, they all turned their heads towards it, surprised to see Ichigo visiting them of his own accord.

"So you're leaving behind a rear guard as it were," he commented idly, stopping a few feet away from them with a smirk on his face. "What happens then when you're outnumbered by Kageroza and his army of fakes?"

"Do you really have so little faith in us Kurosaki?" Toshiro asked in a bitter tone, the rest grumbling slightly at the shot to their abilities.

"Believe me Captain Hitsugaya I know that each of you are more than capable of handling a few Lieutenant class enemies," Ichigo replied back, causing Toshiro to wince ever so slightly as his title was now used, but in an almost bitter tone. "But I think you need to remember that even a King can be killed by the most lowly peasant," he said cryptically, while some of the soul reapers stared at him curiously.

"Tch, save your warnings for those that actually need it Ichigo," Kenpachi said with a scoff. "If any of us were weak enough to get our asses handed to us by a bunch of weaklings, then we deserve every little bit of the humiliation that death and defeat will bring us."

"Maybe you're right Kenpachi," Ichigo continued as he watched Mayuri and Kisuke begin to open the gate, "but we all know the impact that a few words can have on a person's will to fight. Consider it a parting shot of wisdom…or contempt, whatever makes you sleep easier at night," he finished with a smirk, while the insane Captain of the Eleventh Division gave him a demented grin.

"You've been talking awfully big lately Ichigo, maybe after I sort out this mess I should come back and see if you can still back it up," he said as he licked his lips, obviously raring for a fight.

"Sadly Kenpachi, after the damage that you inflicted on the town the last time you fought here, I'm afraid that I might just kill you for it," Ichigo replied, his answer not the best possible thing he could've said at the time. Thankfully their verbal sparring was brought to an end as Kisuke clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"Now, now everyone we've just finished the last minute preparations on the senkaimon and we're ready to get a move on," the shopkeeper explained. Watching the Captains step forward, he lowered his head slightly and placed a hand on his hat. "Whilst Mayuri and I managed to pierce through the barrier sealing us off from the Precipice World, I'm afraid that we've only able to keep it open for four minutes at most. After that it's possible that you will either be trapped in the Precipice World for the rest of eternity, or you will be expelled right back into Karakura Town." Seeing their grim expressions, he stepped to the side and looked out at them from under the brim of his hat. "Time's a wasting Captains." Without another word the six Captains leapt into the portal, vanishing with a flash of light.

"Guess we're on our own now then," Ichigo whispered to himself, watching as Rukia walked over to him.

"So what are your plans now Ichigo?" she asked innocently, crossing her arms over her chest as she stared up at him. "I wouldn't mind seeing how you've improved if you're willing?"

Before he could answer her though, a brilliant white loin cloth floated down between them, startling Ichigo. Seeing that she completely ignored it, he could only guess it was an illusion and considering what happened the last time he saw this particular garment, he kept his gaze fixed downwards at her.

"Sorry Rukia, maybe some other time," he uttered quickly, noticing the garment disappear. "I've been training quite a bit these last few days, so maybe I'll take a break today and rest up a bit," he said as he walked over to the ladder and began to climb back up, the petite soul reaper following after him.

"Really? Because the Ichigo I remember would rather train until he collapsed than take a break," she said with a smirk, seeing him turn to scowl at her.

'It's not like I even have a choice here,' he grumbled to himself, about to snap at her, until he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. "Hello?" he asked as he took it out and answered it, his expression brightening slightly. "I've got nothing planned for tonight so…oh…yeah of course I'll come. See you then," he said with a smile, snapping his phone shut and slipping it back into his pocket. Seeing her smirking at him, he raised an eyebrow at her. "What?"

"Oh nothing, just that I've never seen you actually smile after receiving a call that's all," she almost sung. "So…someone's obviously going to be having some fun tonight. You're visiting Michiru aren't you?" Almost immediately she regretted asking that question as his expression darkened slightly and his brow furrowed.

"That's private information Lieutenant Kuchiki," he replied in an even tone, missing the slight sag in her shoulders. "Regardless of whom it was, please stay out of it." Walking out of the store, he headed down the street, just as Renji reached the top of the ladder and saw Rukia's forlorn expression.

"Did he brush you off again?" he asked as he stood next to his childhood friend and stared out at the former substitute, seeing her shake her head from the corner of his eye.

"I was Rukia for a few minutes Renji," she answered in a sombre tone, "but the minute I tried to dig into his private life I became Lieutenant Kuchiki." Sighing to herself, she turned back to the ladder and headed down, debating destroying part of the grounds as a form of stress relief.

XXX

Later that day, Michiru was roused from her position on the couch by the doorbell. Pausing the movie she was watching, she made her way over to it at a sedate pace, a smile spreading across her face as she found Ichigo waiting outside in a pair of black jeans and a light blue tee. She felt her face heat up slightly as his eyes roamed over her body, lingering on her exposed shoulder from her grey oversized shirt and red short-shorts.

"I'm glad you made it," she said as she wrapped her arms around him, reaching up and pecking him on his cheek.

"I said I'd come, so here I am," he replied with another smile, wrapping his arms around her in return. "Could we get inside before we give your neighbours a show though?" he whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her spine, before she nodded and lead him into the house. "Where are your parents?" he asked as the house was eerily silent, his muted footfalls echoing through it.

"They took some time off to go and celebrate their 25th anniversary," she explained as they reached the lounge and sunk into the large sofa. "They had been planning it for a while before the accident and my mother absolutely refused to let her injuries keep them from celebrating it."

"I see, good for them then, but does that mean you're staying here alone?" he asked, while she nodded her head.

"Yeah, it's part of the reason I asked you to come over," she explained as she resumed the movie again. "Well that and I did want to spend some time with you again. Plus I get to treat you to dinner now," she finished with a smile, cuddling up into his side, while he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Heh, happy to be of service then," he replied, placing a quick kiss on her forehead, before his fingers wandered over to her shoulder and danced across her exposed skin.

XXX

Within the Kageroza's secret laboratory, the mad scientist was disturbed from his thoughts by Reigai-Ichigo rushing into the room.

"Forgive the intrusion master, but the Captains have returned to the Soul Society," the clone quickly explained, while his master's brow furrowed.

"Do we know who has returned?" he asked curiously.

"Only the Captains master. It seems that the Lieutenants have been ordered to stay back and defend the town."

"Very well then," Kageroza said as he stood and started towards the door. "Tell your brothers and sisters to deal with the Captains. Meanwhile we will head to Karakura Town and capture Nozomi."

"Of course master right away," the clone responded, vanishing with a whisper as he flash stepped away.

XXX

The hours passed in a blur for Ichigo as he and Michiru entertained themselves. After the movie, she had made her way over to the kitchen, proving beyond a doubt that while she may not be as skilled as Yuzu, she did have a better grasp of gastronomy than he did and wowed him with her own salmon creation. From the first bite, his tongue was teased with equal bits of sweet and spicy, making his eyes almost widen and pop out of his head.

"Is it alright?" she asked after watching his reaction, eagerly awaiting his opinion.

"I think that despite me helping Yuzu out at times, you are hands down a better cook than me," he said with a smile, watching her beam back at him.

After they had both eaten, they had retreated back to the couch to watch another movie, an entertaining comedy that had just hit DVD recently. To make sure they were a little more…comfortable, he helped her unfold the seats of the sofa, turning it into more of a lounger than a couch. Sinking into the soft surface, his fatigue from the last few days, coupled with a meal in his stomach made it difficult for Ichigo to even keep awake. After the second movie finished and he was seriously considering making his way home, she had already started a third movie, some sappy romance about a guy that failed to see the kind and compassionate girl next to him and instead focussed on the drop dead gorgeous bitch that continually brushed him off and treated him with scorn.

Hearing a faint rumble come from his chest, Michiru lifted her head from his chest and stared back at him, chuckling slightly as she could see him dozing with his head resting on the back of the couch. Pursing her lips, she debated whether to wake him up or leave him be. Seeing the peaceful look on his face and relishing the feeling she got resting against him, she gently got up and retrieved the spare blankets from the closet and covered them both with it, snuggling back into his side to watch the rest of the movie and feeling his arm wrap around her small frame unconsciously. 'It could be worse,' she thought to herself as the film reached its end and the credits began to roll. 'He could be a pig and snore.'

XXX

Hearing the faint sounds of sizzling near him, Ichigo jolted awake and looked around sleepily, trying to recall where he was. Seeing the blanket on top of him and the lounger he had slept on, his mind rapidly recalled what he remembered from last night. Groaning at how rude it must've seemed to Michiru, he groggily got to his feet and made his way towards the sound of frying and found said girl putting the finishing touches on breakfast.

"Morning Ichigo," she greeted him with a smile, splitting the food between two plates. "Sleep well?"

"Decently enough," he mumbled, sinking into a chair at the table. "Michiru about last night…" he tried to say, finding himself silenced as she placed a finger to his lips and set a plate in front of him.

"You don't have to explain, I could see that you were exhausted," she said as she took a seat next to him. "I'm just glad that I didn't have to spend the night alone."

"Regardless I shouldn't have done it and…" he tried to say again, only to fall silent on his own and rapidly pale. Fumbling in his pockets for his phone, he looked around wildly when he couldn't find it.

"It's over there on the counter," she pointed out to him, gesturing with her fork at the counter where his phone sat. "Your father called last night to check where you were and I explained it to him as best I could," she said as her face acquired a light blush, while his mind fixated on the part where she spoke to his dad.

"So…what did he say exactly?" he asked hesitantly, groaning inwardly as she blushed, an even deeper shade of red. "I'm sorry for whatever he might've said to you. He's just a bit…eccentric at times."

"I-it's no problem really," she mumbled softly, beginning to calm down somewhat. Hearing his phone ring again, he sighed and made his way over to it, stiffening as he felt several strong signatures appear over Karakura Town. Seeing the caller ID was his home, he answered it with some urgency. "Hello? Yeah I just felt it. What? No Nova just stay put for now. I'm…Nova? Nova?! Shit!" he exclaimed, pulling the phone away from his ear and rapidly redialling the number. Receiving nothing but an engaged tone, he cursed and reached into his pocket for the glove.

"Michiru I know that you know how to use this and I'm going to need you to do it again," he said urgently, dashing back into the dining room and handing her the soul removal glove. Feeling his soul form being ejected from his body, he caught his physical body and laid it out on the couch. "I'm sorry, but it looks like they really have a knack for choosing the worst possible time to attack," he said with a wry smile, cupping her cheeks with his hands. "Just stay here and you'll be safe okay? I'll make sure that they're far away from the town before the fighting actually starts." Pecking her on her lips quickly, he made a mad dash for the door, ripping it open and disappearing in a flash before her mind had even caught up.

XXX

Grunting as the cleaver-like zanpakuto skimmed past him by a hair's breath, Nova rolled backwards and brought up his shield, blocking the follow-up.

"You're pretty impressive for a mod-soul Nova," Reigai-Ichigo commented as he calmly held his zanpakuto in one hand, batting away the mod-soul with ease.

Coughing as he struck the ground, Nova staggered slightly as he stood, rubbing his bruised ribs. When they had felt Kageroza arrive, they had fled the Kurosaki clinic, reluctant to put Ichigo's sisters at risk. Just as they managed to reach a deserted part of the town, they were ambushed by Ichigo's clone. Despite the fact that Nova was adept at redirecting his opponent's attacks back at them, he was only really able to redirect ranged attacks. As such against a melee fighter like Ichigo, he was forced on the defensive constantly.

"Nova!" he heard Nozomi scream at him, vanishing from the spot just as Zangetsu came down on the spot he was standing on.

"Hado no. 33, Sokatsui" Nozomi chanted, trying desperately to aid Nova in any way she could. To her dismay though, Ichigo's clone simply cut through her attack like it was nothing and reappeared in front of her, smashing his knee into her gut.

"Kageroza needs you alive and whole…so stay down and I won't hurt you any more than is necessary," he muttered, growling as she vanished into a wormhole. As his gaze darted around, he found the pair of them recovering on a nearby rooftop and sighed as he leapt up to it. "Stop making this harder than it needs to be!" he shouted at them as he brought his blade down on the building, forcing Nova to teleport them away again. "You're only delaying the inevitable," he growled, flash stepping away and appearing at their location yet again. Slamming his fist into Nova's jaw, he sent the mod soul flying backwards into the nearby wall, his gigai leaving a deep impression in the concrete.

'Dammit, left gasping on the floor after only one attack again,' Nozomi thought to herself, watching as Reigai-Ichigo started to make his way over to Nova. 'Every time they come for me…everything I do to help is useless. I can't bear to tell them who I am and I can't even fight back to help them. Why? Why am I so weak?' Seeing the clone lift Nova by his throat, she shut her eyes and felt tears pool in the corner of them. 'Nova's gotten hurt every time he's tried to help me. Ichigo hides it, but he drives himself to the point of exhaustion to shield me away from both Kageroza and the Gotei 13. What have I done to thank them? What have I done to deserve their help?' Hearing Nova grunt again in pain, she looked up fearfully to see the mod-soul knocked back into the impression he had left earlier, while the clone poised Zangetsu to stab him. 'All I want to do is help them. PLEASE JUST LET ME HELP THEM!' she shouted in her mind, feeling a sudden rush of energy flow through her body, propelling her body forward. Her instincts screaming at her to draw her blade, she dropped her hand to her hip and pulled, causing a blinding explosion of violet light to shroud her from view and forcing Nova and Reigai-Ichigo to turn and face her.

"Oh what now?" the clone grumbled, jolting in surprise as the light slammed into his blade, forcing him backwards slightly. As the light died away, his and Nova's eyes widened considerably as Nozomi stood in front of them completely transformed. Gone was her red dress, cream cardigan and brown flats and in its place was a short shihakusho that stopped several inches above her knees and a pair of knee high white boots. The most notable item though, was the sleek silver katana with a guard in the shape of a cross and a maroon hilt in her hands.

"Leave him alone," she spat at him, forcing him back a bit, before she placed a palm to his stomach and whispered under her breath. Caught unaware, Reigai-Ichigo was thrown back as a point-blank Sokatsui exploded against him, his shihakusho the only part of him that was marked.

"Irritating brat," he growled, flash stepping back to her and bringing his blade down on hers with both hands. "Don't you dare think for one moment that I'm going to be beaten by you. Someone that doesn't even know the name of their zanpakuto…doesn't stand a chance against me!" he shouted at her, grabbing her blade with his bare hand and pulling her towards him and delivering a devastating head-butt to her skull. Clutching her blade as she clung to it desperately and swayed on her feet, he ripped the blade free of her hands and tossed it to the side. "Just because you have a zanpakuto doesn't mean you know how to use it. Now it's time we leave," he said with finality as he reached to pick her up. To his utter surprise though, she disappeared before his very eyes without a trace. Turning to see if Nova was responsible, he found the mod-soul missing as well.

"You won't find them any time soon," a voice said quietly behind him, causing him to spin on the spot, zanpakuto screaming through the air. As his blade crashed against another, he scowled as his original stared back at him with a blank expression. "No matter what you do now, you will not find them."

"Wrong, I just need to kill you first," his clone said with a smirk, leaping backwards as Kyoka Suigetsu sailed through the air, cutting away a few fine strands of his hair.

"You can barely dodge my attacks and you think you're going to kill me?" Ichigo asked in disbelief. "Every time we speak to each other, I can't help but feel that you're even worse than the stupid, brash, impulsive, brat I was all those months ago." Catching his clone's blade on his own, he cartwheeled back, breaking the blade lock and slamming his foot into his clone's jaw, sending the copy flying up. Rushing at his off-balance opponent, Ichigo was forced to tilt his head to the side as Zangetsu gave him a narrow cut to his cheek.

"I'm not as weak as you say I am!" his clone shouted back at him, attacking him again and delivering another minor cut to his forearm. Looking into his clone's eyes, Ichigo's own widened in shock at the hint of black creeping into them.

'He does have a hollow within him and it's finally been let loose,' he thought as he blocked a straight thrust and retaliated with a slice that cut into his clone's chest. 'But why is it that he's growing stronger and not weaker? Is his hollow side really aiding him rather than hindering him?'

"What could be so important that you're zoning out at a time like this?!" his clone yelled at him, slashing at his ribs and forcing Ichigo back as he parried the blow. "What's more important than the next stroke in this fight?" Charging his reiatsu into his blade, he flash stepped up to Ichigo and tried to cleave him in two. As their blades connected, he released the Getsuga Tensho he had been building up in it, causing Ichigo to be engulfed in a blue flaming tornado. As his eyes rapidly scanned the cloud of smoke and fire for his original, he jerked back as Ichigo charged at him unscathed after his attack, gritting his teeth and pushing back as they strove for dominance with one another.

"I'm trying to understand why you follow that mad man," Ichigo shouted at his clone. "I'm trying to understand why you would attack the town we swore on our soul to defend. I'm trying to understand what could honestly be worth it to put our friends and family's lives in danger? And you know what I'm coming up with? NOTHING!" he yelled, throwing his clone back and slamming his heel into his head, sending him crashing into the ground. "Nothing that mad man promised you could possibly be worth breaking our promise to our soul to always protect everything precious to us."

"Are you sure about that Ichigo?" he heard Kageroza ask him, causing him to jerk to a halt as he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. Turning his gaze skyward, he could see Kageroza standing in an open senkaimon, smirking down at him with a contemptuous gaze, but what bothered him most was the woman holding his hand. From her wavy brown hair to her tear-filled brown eyes and the light purple yukata that reminded him of the clothing worn by Rukongai citizens, he felt his limbs begin to shake uncontrollably. Standing there looking at him with a look of fear and disappointment on her face, was Masaki Kurosaki.

XXX

So, my big surprise isn't really a surprise for most of you. You know I think I gave away too many hints this time. Next time I'll make it harder. Anyway we're finally getting down to the action again and I should have the next update out quicker than this one (at least that's the hope). Till we meet again guys and girls, enjoy and have fun.

Insight corner: Nothing today really.