Hai again. Enjoy this faster update. :] Someone commented on how I always leave you on 'cliffhangers'. Well, they'd be right. It's fun to do that. XD
Lost Heart
The fight is lost. It ends today.
All hope is gone, and will never more exist.
Goodbye.
"This is nothing personal, as a matter of fact, we're grateful to you for what you've done. But orders are orders. We cannot go against Central 46."
"We're sorry…"
"Just give up."
"You can't win…you're already a dead man…"
"No escape…"
"We don't have a choice…"
"Die…"
"Too powerful…"
"We killed them…"
"YOU MURDERERS!"
"It's just you…"
"Vizard…"
"You can't run…"
"Please don't struggle…"
"SHINJI!"
"Hollow…."
"It'll be quick…"
"You can't keep on fighting…"
"You've lost."
"JUST GET GOING ICHIGO! RUN! JUST RUN AND DON'T LOOK BACK!"
"Ichigo Kurosaki…
"You're already dead…why do you still fight?"
"You're making this worse…"
"Die already…"
Alone…everyone died…he was next…so alone…
It felt like something had smashed into his brain; his hands flew to his head automatically, gripping it tightly as if their forceful pressure would ease the throbbing. Ichigo grunted in annoyance. Why? Why was it when he tried to remember it hurt so much?
"Ichigo, calm down… Your spirit force is going wacky…focus on me…"
Nel's voice seemed to come from very far away, but Ichigo focused on it all the same. His vision was clearing, the jumbled memories fading into the back of his brain.
He blinked, looking at her, easing his spirit force so that everyone could move again. Nel stared back, understanding dawning on her features. She drew her sword and slashed at the air beside them.
A garganta appeared where the sword had passed over. The two last Espada entered.
Ichigo turned back to the small raven haired Soul Reaper.
"Rukia, thank you... I found a bit of what I've lost. Now—" He spoke to everyone at large, 'don't bother following. Don't even think about. You will all forever be locked from Hueco Mundo." He stretched out his hand. It was glowing.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then golden chains appeared from nothing, millions of links, rattling as if they were being pulled by some unseen force. They began to bar themselves, constructing a barrier across the garganta.
Through all the clanking, the Soul Reapers could make out Ichigo's voice, floating down to them above the sounds of the chains.
"None of you have enough power to put up much of a fight except for the old man, I won't return. I'm sorry for alarming you."
The garganta snapped shut and all was silent. It seemed that the whole world was holding its breath. Waiting…
For some reason, all heads turned towards Rukia's older brother; Byakuya. He stared coldly back at them all, daring someone to blame him.
"You told us he was dead, Kuchiki," said Shunsui, the captain that had ripped off Ichigo's cloak. "What really happened? You saw him…"
"Brother…"
Byakuya looked down at Rukia. She was seething with anger, barely able to contain her emotions.
"Take Renji and the Quincy if you want…" he spoke quietly. Rukia was taken aback at the sudden gesture, but nodded. She flash stepped away to her friends and they disappeared into the distance, running in the direction of Karakura.
Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of the sixth squad, turned to face his fellow officers.
"I do not understand it either. I saw him bleed to death near the river. That is what I told you because that is what I saw."
"However," said the Head Captain, opening one piercing eye, "that does not explain why he is alive right now. You were sent to verify. Tell us, what else did you see? Why did you fail to give a full report?"
Byakuya stiffened.
"That was the full report. When we came back to give the boy a proper funeral, there was no body. There were traces of spirit particles so we assumed he already passed on. His soul was cleansed so it was impossible for him to reincarnate as a Hollow…"
There was a long pause after this statement.
"Something must have happened," stated Komamura, his yellow eyes glaring at Byakuya.
"Head Captain," said Ukitake, his voice trembling from fatigue (too much sun). "I think it would be—well more prudent if we didn't report this to Central 46. We don't know what's going on, and it would be better not to make assumptions. We don't know if that really was Ichigo Kurosaki or not."
"Very well," agreed the Head Captain, "we will keep these events to ourselves until we know more about the situation. In the meantime, I am assuming Captain Kuchiki has sent a group to invade Hueco Mundo to gather information on the new Cero Espada."
Byakuya nodded.
"Then everyone will return to their squads until further notice."
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
The old beaten door slid open reveling Kisuke Urahara, looking as if he had just woken up from a nap.
"Ah, Miss Kuchiki, Moocher, Uryu, come in."
"Moocher?" Renji spluttered, hating being addressed with that particular name. But Rukia gave him a swift kick on the shins and they all went inside.
Sado and Orihime were sitting at the round table when they entered and both looked up.
"You're back so soon?" Orihime asked, surprised. "What happened?"
A grunt from Sado confirmed that he was interested too.
"Oh…" Rukia began, not knowing where to start. "Well—"
"Kisuke," interrupted Uryu, "That really strong Vasto Lord…it was…we were…well, the Captains started fighting the weaker one at first, but then the other was talked into fighting. The cloaks…"
His voice trailed away; no longer able to continue.
"It was Ichigo. Ichigo's the powerful Vasto Lord," said Renji.
Orihime's eyes widened. Sado jumped to his feet. Kisuke hid his face behind his fan. Yoruichi let out a gleeful chuckle.
"My my, so Ichigo has returned has he?" said Urahara, smiling largely, "Well, that would explain a few things…"
"Returned and gone back," corrected Rukia, frowning in turn, "and what do you mean by 'explain a few things'?"
Kisuke let out a nervous laugh.
"It's only a theory mind you, and what I meant was the reason why his power skyrocketed."
"Is it something to do with his inner hollow?" asked Uryu.
"Perhaps…" admitted Kisuke, "we all know Ichigo's inner hollow possessed enough power to take down Ulquiorra, another Vasto Lord. But there has to be more to it than that. There has to be something that caused this sudden power growth…unless…unless…"
"Kisuke, it was destroyed," said Yoruichi calmly, knowing where this was headed. "Ichigo himself destroyed it. There's no way…"
"It's just that, Yoruichi," Urahara said, snapping his fan shut and turning to face his feline friend. "He destroyed it. Therefore, it's highly possible that—"
"What are you talking about?" asked Rukia who was at a loss as to what the two former captains were talking about.
Yoruichi rolled her eyes.
"Kisuke is under the impression that Ichigo's newfound 'power source' is the hogyuku."
