Fine Line
A Bleach fanfic by Rabid Lola
A/N: Set during the time Ichigo was training for bankai.
...---…
It is a time of rest, after a full day of battling with Ichigo. Zangetsu sits in his sideways world, thinking, meditating, assessing. It might be possible. Ichigo might attain bankai. Might. Zangetsu doesn't want to be certain yet. He has confidence in Ichigo, for he knows well the boy's abilities. But he knows that it is best…not to hope too much.
An alien wind stirs his hair and his cloak. Zangetsu gives a barely perceptible frown, before looking up in resignation.
He is there. White and mocking, arrogant and cocky—not cocky the way Ichigo is. Ichigo's attitude is tolerable, maybe even likeable. But this creature, this thing…
Black and yellow eyes focus in an unsettling stare on the zanpakutou spirit. "He's getting very, very strong."
Zangetsu says nothing.
The hollow that looks like Ichigo curls its lips back in a jeer. "You will keep to the deal, won't you, old man?"
Zangetsu looks up this time and glares, dangerous and sharp.
But the hollow just laughs. It steps to the side, blurs, and then it is perched on a window beside Zangetsu, leering at him. "Feel like a dirty little traitor now, don't ya?"
Zangetsu stands suddenly, and the hollow looks up with that wide grin on its face. The grin fades a little at the expression of the other being, at the sudden steely glint in his eye.
"If you want to be most technical about it," Zangetsu says cuttingly. "I have not yet completely agreed to this…deal."
The hollow snarls, and its hands twitch. "What are 'ya implying, old man? You gonna get in my way?"
Zangetsu's face is unreadable, his stance neutral.
The hollow in Ichigo smiles suddenly, full of spite and wicked glee. "You don't know what to say, do you, Zangetsu?" His eyes gleam unpleasantly. "Ya know ya still owe me."
Zangetsu turns away. "Leave."
The hollow laughs its tittering, eerie laugh, like a hundred malicious demons enjoying some private joke. "Just remember…I'm gonna make that power mine.
"Oh yeah…and Zangetsu, I'm going to make you teach me one of those bankai attacks." The malevolence in the hollow's voice seemed to grow. "If Ichigo fouls up with his, someone's gotta save his ass."
Zangetsu whirls, but the creature has disappeared.
Zangetsu walks the fine line between one side and another, between the shinigami and the hollow. He is not a traitor, but not completely faithful.
He knows he will have to choose, eventually. He cannot afford to push it away and deal with it later; he is running out of time.
In Soul Society, Kurosaki Ichigo wakes up, determined to make it this time.
...-EnD-…
A/N2: Written because during that scene that happens after Ichigo and his inner hollow battle, when the hollow talks to Zangetsu and dissolves away afterwards, I got the idea that the hollow and Zangetsu have some agreement that Ichigo doesn't know about, and Zangetsu doesn't like it.