CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Showdown Part 1: Ichigo's Fight


Thanks to all those who reviewed! To Lunamet I will definitely read all reviews. Thanks for reviewing.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Bleach, manga or anime.


13:1 - Ichigo's Fight


Ichigo was annoyed, no, he was more than annoyed – he was pissed off. How the hell was he supposed to be part of this pentagon thingy when he had no idea where he was? He couldn't even see anything.

He continued walking until he saw a small light in the darkness. He ran towards it, the light became larger and larger until he was finally engulfed by it.

He blinked his eyes a few times until he could see. His eyes widened, this is…this is the place where mum got killed so many years ago. Why am I here all of a sudden?

"Ichigo" Said a gentle voice behind him. No it couldn't be, she's dead. Ichigo turned around ever so slowly and gasped out loud. There, standing right before him, was his mother. He looked desperately behind her to see if the Grand Fisher was there but he wasn't.

"Okaa…san?" He whispered in disbelief. The figure smiled sweetly at him.

"It can't be…you're…you died…" Ichigo couldn't move, he was stuck there, just staring at her. She started to walk towards him. He still couldn't move, he just continued staring at her. She stood in front of him and slowly lifted her hand up to touch his face. He felt her gentle touch and suddenly he was a little boy again – the boy who didn't care what happened as long as his mother was there with him.

"It's been a long time, my son" she said with tears in her eyes as she continued to caress his face, just like she used to when he was a little boy.

"You died" He whispered in reply, it was neither a statement nor a question, or perhaps both. Then it hit him.

"You're a…"

"Yes" she nodded with a smile, "a spirit." Ichigo's eyes widened in realisation. Why hadn't he thought of it before, his mother would have gone to soul society after she died.

"Why aren't you in soul society, why are you here?" He asked. Masaki looked down sadly for a moment then met his gaze again.

"The victims of the Grand Fisher can't escape. They are trapped in a representation of where they died in the hollow world. They will neither go to soul society nor become a hollow." She smiled a melancholy smile at him.

"You have to go, Ichigo. I will show you the way." Ichigo tensed up.

"Like hell I'm going to leave you here. No matter what, I'm going to get you out."

"Ichigo, you have to go. Its dangerous here!" she pleaded, but Ichigo wasn't listening, instead he was looking around. The Grand Fisher, if I kill him its victims should be set free.

A loud noise erupted from above.

"Ichigo! Go now!" His mother pleaded with him, looking frantically back and forth at her son and the moving sky.

"No." Replied Ichigo, stubborn as ever. He was determined, his decision was adamant. "Stay behind me, Okaasan." He ordered gently as he took out his Zanpakuto. Without warning he released his shikai and sent a surge of energy directly in front of him. A subtle outline moved and reappeared closer to him, slowly revealing itself.

"Finally decided to show your cowardly face huh, Grand Fisher?" He said evenly, his voice dripping with hatred.

"You again. You must either be really brave or really stupid to come after me in my territory." As soon as the words left its mouth, five hair-like tentacles shot out towards him. Ichigo cut them with ease, diverting their direction away from his mother.

Once he was sure that she was out of harm's way, he ran towards him, jumped and took a swipe. The Fisher jumped back in retaliation, shooting out more tentacles at the rather pissed off shinigami. Ichigo dodged left and right then jumped high above him, his sword raised up high. His eyes were wide and his expression ferrel as he brought his sword down at the Fisher's head. The Fisher let out a gasp of surprise then quickly dodged Ichigo's attack. But he wasn't fast enough - Ichigo had anticipated his dodge and foreshadowed the Fisher's steps. The hollow let out a blood-curdling howl as the sword connected with its body. Ichigo continued to scythe the blade through until he could no longer do so. He back flipped and landed steadily a few feet in front of the detested hollow, his sword held loosely by his side as he stared at it, anger boiling his blood inside.

After a moment, Ichigo gripped his sword tightly then ran towards the Fisher. He was about to reach him when the Fisher used his bait and placed it in front of him. Ichigo skidded to a halt, eyes wide.

"Ru…Rukia" And sure enough, there in front of him, stood Kuchiki Rukia.

There was a moment's hesitation. But that was all the Grand Fisher needed. Five hairy tentacles shot out at the still stunned Ichigo.

"ICHIGO!" Ichigo snapped out of his reverie at his mother's scream. He dropped down to the ground, rolling on impact to the right. The tentacles passed him then retreated back to its owner. He got up and ran towards his enemy, hating him more then ever now for using Rukia's image.

The Grand Fisher intercepted his attack by putting the bait masquerading as Rukia in his path. Ichigo stopped again, and looked at it again for a moment. Sure he had seen her sad before, seen her annoyed, angry, frustrated, hurt, but never had he seen such a pitiful expression on her face. The doll looked sadly at him, but the illusion only worked while the victim still believed in it. And he sure as hell wasn't going to fall for this again.

Without warning, he called out his shikai and sent out an energy surge. The torrent ripped through the doll then proceeded to tear the Grand Fisher apart in the middle. The Fisher screamed and thrashed about in pain.

"Don't give such a pathetic expression on the face of the woman I lo…know."

He watched as his enemy, the enemy who had killed his mother, who forced him into hell on earth, dissipated into a million particles. A victorious surge overcame him. He felt free at last, not only had he avenged his mother's death, he had also freed her.

But what was this unfamiliar feeling in him. He recalled his last sentence to the Grand Fisher - he had almost said that he loved her. He scoffed inwardly, that's impossible. I can't have possibly fallen for that rough, ill-mannered girl. But another voice objected and challenged him, reminding him of the pang he had felt in his heart at the sudden appearance of Rukia, of seeing her like that even though it was just a fake.

"Ichigo" called Masaki softly. Ichigo turned to look at her then gasped. She was fading away - her once solid-looking spirit was now translucent.

She walked slowly towards him and pulled him into a tight hug, tears running down her face. Ichigo closed his eyes as he hugged her back. He was no longer fifteen years old now; he had reverted back to the little mother's boy like he was a long time ago. He felt her smile as she said, "I am so proud of you, Ichigo. Of all of you. Tell your sisters and your father that I am so proud of them and that I will always love them."

She stepped back, slowly backing away from him.

"I'm sorry" Ichigo blurted out. "It was my fault that you died." Masaki smiled and shook her head gently.

"It was not your fault, Ichigo, and I have never blamed you for it, not once."

"I love you, my son." For once, Ichigo found that he could smile absolutely freely, and he did so to her.

"I love you, mom." She smiled a sweet smile that made Ichigo content.

She was standing at the exact same spot that they were standing in six years ago, just before Ichigo was tricked into saving the girl. It was ironic, how the whole event started and ended in the exact same place. The image of his mother smiling at him as she faded away burnt itself into his memories. He diverted his gaze from where she used to be and looked at the sky. A bittersweet smile forming on his face. It had finally stopped raining.

The representation of the once dreaded place faded to reveal the real panorama of the hollow's world. The once sun soaked sky Ichigo was staring at a moment early was now pitch black. The ground was made of stones, dirt and pebbles. A reddish yellow light reflected off them from nowhere, creating a western style castle like feeling only without walls. Without anything, as a matter of fact. It was just empty space.

A purple circle appeared on the floor near him. Two lines surged from the circle. The pentagon is forming. It seems that Fukushima was successful after all. I better get into position.


END OF CHAPTER 13 PART ONE


Next Part: Byakuya's Fight

Hitsugaya's Fight is after that. Both should be up soon.

Please read and review