Alright! I've finally buckled down and got a longer chapter out. I hope this isn't too boring for everyone! There's still a lot more to come, this is only the tip of the giant iceburg!
Thank you all for the reviews! You all make me laugh!
Same old disclaimers...not mine, just the story...
Hollows Haunt Us
Chapter 6
Later on that night, Rukia was laying in her closet thinking about the voice that had her agree to something, but she wasn't quite sure what yet. Nothing had happened to Orihime. School had ended as normal and they walked home as normal. In fact, the only odd thing was that there hadn't been any hollows today.
Almost as if on cue, the cell phone began beeping signifying a hollow's appearance. She pushed open the door to find Ichigo already sitting up. A small smile rose to her face, but she quickly wiped it off.
"Hollow at that park again." Rukia said, stepping out towards him, putting her glove on. She smacked him on the head for his soul form then opened the window for them to leave. "Ready?"
Ichigo nodded and they both jumped out. Rukia climbed on his back, and with one good leap, Ichigo was on the neighbor's roof quietly running towards the park.
"They seem to like that place recently, huh?" Ichigo commented. Rukia leaned down.
"It's unlike Hollows to appear in the same place twice in a row, but maybe there's something close to there that they want. We should probably check out the area a little more thoroughly after we're done."
Ichigo nodded and leaped off the last roof, to land in the middle of the park. This time, there was a hollow, turned with his back to them. Rukia got off immediately and Ichigo leapt forward, hoping to catch it off guard.
Unexpectedly, the hollow turned around and swung at Ichigo, landing an arm right in the middle of the boy's stomach. Zangetsu was knocked out of his hands as he flew the opposite direction towards a tree.
In attempts to help Ichigo, Rukia ran towards his sword, which had landed, thankfully, on its side.
Before she could place a finger on it, her guard was let down and the hollow grabbed her around the waist. Her eyes were wide as she was lifted away from it, still trying to reach for the sword, kicking the hollows arm as hard as she could.
"Let-go-of-me!" She kicked it with every syllable.
"RUKIA!" Ichigo shouted. He began to get up, stumbling towards the hollow. "Let her go!"
The hollow only laughed. "You're an interesting shinigami. Never have I seen one so determined to save one little girl, like you are."
"Just let her go!" Ichigo began heading to his sword. The hollow knocked him away like a fly.
"I'll let her go on one condition." The hollow smiled. "I'll give you back the girl, and you get rid of your shinigami powers."
"Don't listen to him, Ichigo!" Rukia shouted, still kicking the hollow, now aiming for his face.
Fed up with Rukia's kicking, the hollow covered her up with both of his hands. Angrily, she bit into the hollows finger. The hollow flinched a little but began to squeeze her tighter, pushing out a slight scream from the tiny girl.
Ichigo felt himself getting frantic. He had to think of something. Seeing his sword only a few feet away from him he looked back at the hollow, who was still preoccupied with trying to subdue Rukia. Acting quickly, he jumped towards his sword, just managing to grab on to the hilt before the hollow swung at him. Using the hollows arm, he jumped off it into the air, bringing the sword down in front of him, burying the tip deep into the skull mask.
The hollow let go of Rukia, shrieking his final words, "THIS ISN'T THE END, SHINIGAMI!"
Wiping the sweat off his brow while sheathing his sword, Ichigo replied, "Yeah, yeah, they all say that."
Rukia was sitting down brushing the dirt off her clothes, when she looked up. "I don't think he was exaggerating."
Ichigo went over, and once again subconsciously, offered his hand for her to get up. "Well, what do you want me to do about it?"
"Keep on your guard, Ichigo." Rukia said quietly before grabbing his hand and letting herself be pulled up.
"I'm always on my guard." He said, letting her climb onto his back again.
He thinks that, but whenever you're near him, his guard drops.
"Not when I'm around." Rukia felt herself say involuntarily.
Ichigo stopped. Rukia wished she could see his face at that point. Quietly, he said, "If anything, I'm more on my guard."
Rukia slapped him on the head. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I didn't mean it like that! Geez, you idiot! Think before you just start hitting people!" This earned him another slap on the head.
"I thought about that!" Rukia smiled. Ichigo just shook his head as he jumped up onto the roof towards home.
Ok, I think it's time to thank all my reviewers!
Seaplue: Hey, thanks, I'm trying to update as fast as I can just for you all! And the ichiruki goodness will be apparent, soon enough! I try to update quickly, cause I know how waiting just tears me apart! I'm glad you think this is a good plot, and I haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet! HA! smiles reviews like yours keep me going!
YL: Yeah, no one really knows that they live together, this is set before the whole soul society arc. Hmm..maybe I should've written that...? I'll get right on it! Thank you for your review!
Akemi: Awe, you love me forever? feels special I updated!
Kuro-Ippikiookami21: I try to make the chapters longer, and then I find myself sitting there at a certain point, thinking, "Maybe I should stop there..." It's kinda like my own way of saying, end of thought! hehe, thank you for that review!
HaibaraShiho: Thanks for thinking this is a great work! blushes I try...
Bakageta: Ha, great name. Any way, I granted your wish, thanks for saying this is good! And I did it, I made this one just a smoogin longer!
ruukii: I can always count on you to review, you are really cool. You totally make me smile!
passerby: Thanks fer...passing...by! Heh, I tried to make them longer, I hope this one kinda satisfied the cravings!
Satan Hat: I'm glad you like it so far! Keep reading, it gets better!
Katratzi: I hope you're still reading, due to popular demand, I made this one longer!
Thanks again! I love you all!
