"What is with the kids calling me 'cougar hunter'?". He had just heard a couple girls whisper his new nickname as he passed them in the halls. He didn't get it as he never made it a hobby to hunt cougars. Hell, he didn't even know there were any around Karakura. There was one time time he killed and skinned a tiger, but that was in his old world for a weird mission.
Isshin's trust in him lingered, and it bothered Arata more than it should have. He has never had such a duty placed on him before, that being to guide one's son. If it was simply to kill someone, escort someone, or any other clear cut task, he would've been fine with it. But this was a different matter entirely. "'Own Arata way'" he muttered to himself. That statement held a lot of freedom and a lot of constrains at the same time.
He went out side for some air, and to his slight surprise, he saw Ichigo holding Shinji against the railing. From the look on the orangette's face, it would seem Shinji said some rather haunting things.
"What's going on here?" he outright interrogated.
The students look his way and Shinji smiled. "Looky here! Another fellow Visored! Mr. Takahashi, can you please unlatch Ichigo from me?". As soon as those words left his mouth, Ichigo's eyes bulged in disbelief.
As the security guard of Karakura high and not out of Shinji's wishes, he did just that. "Arata..." Ichigo started. Arata looked at him. "Is it true? Are really with them?"
Either he was told before or now, Arata could not say, but he nodded regardless. "I am a Visored until I wringed them out of information and training. That was our deal" Arata said.
The scowl on the teen's face told him he did not like his decision but he said nothing of it. Instead he just turned around and left the two visoreds to themselves. As he left, Arata uttered one last statement. "You should take this door of opportunity, Ichigo, lest you regret it later on"
A small shiver from the boy was his only response
Later...
Orihime and Chad accompanied him as they left school. The two wanted to head somewhere and Arata followed, thinking they were going to get some food. A cloud of worry surrounded the two teenagers, and he asked them what was up.
"It's Ichigo. That's what up" Chad said.
His female friend agreed, nodding. "Yeah. Something's wrong with Ichigo, but we know if we confronted him about it, he'll just say he's fine. That's why..." she then looked ahead.
Arata's eyes follow and he saw Shinji with a scrapped-up forehead and an angered Hiyori. The visoreds saw the three approach and further angered by the fact they were followed, Hiyori headbutted Shinji, questioning the man why he was followed.
"Hey," Arata softly called. Hiyori's shoulders visibly jump at his voice. "You do know carrying a sword around is illegal nowadays right?"
"Shut it Baldy! You think I care about human laws?" Hiyori retorted.
"I knew," Orihime began. "Even if I asked him directly, Ichigo wouldn't tell me what was going on. He would tell me it was nothing to be concerned about, but that's not true. So I thought I asked you Shinji. Who are you, and what do want with Ichigo?"
Arata scoffed. 'So he really is running from his problems. How childish. Unless he has some other avenue to confront his problems, he's wasting a valuable opportunity not seeking the Visoreds help'
Hitokiri though laughed at his hypocrisy but did not point it out.
"Huh. You've got some nerve" Hiyori stepped up. "You think you can just ask and we'll tell you everything you want to know"
One scathing glare from Arata was all it took to crumble most of the hostility between them. The blonde girl gulped. She introduced herself and then demanded the teens to give their names in turn. Arata did not bother as she already knew his name.
"A princess and a tiger, huh? Those are some pretty impressive names. Well our names only mean 'monkey' and 'common'. I have to say we're really jealous. Really!"
"Wait, what about Arata?" Orihime reminded.
"The 'fresh' guy. Eh. Whatever"
When Shinji quietly commented how common she was and how he had more going on for him. That comment though got him a punch to the nose.
"I mean, just look at you. You've got such smooth hair and a really beautiful bod. I could totally despise you now that I think about it"
Shinji then commented how she could make herself more desirable. That comment though got him another punch to the nose.
"Pardon my friend's words. Anyway, I'm afraid that I can't answer any of your questions". She was about to grab her sword, contemplating killing them... until she looked into Arata's eyes again, and she stopped herself.
The hitokiri applauded her self control; she was learning, he thought.
"Well then! If all is said and done, let's move on Hiyori!" Shinji prompted, dragging the girl away against her protest.
As soon as they out of sight, Orihime frowned, sighing sadly. This did nothing but put more questions in her mind.
"Mr. Takahashi, that girl looked scared whenever she looked at you" Chad stated.
"Yeah, and?"
"Have you and her met before?"
Orihime looked up at him, her eyes pleading for answers. He sighed. "Yes, I' have met Shinji and Hiyori before. I left quite the impression on the girl before I left though as you saw". He looked at Orihime. "Listen. You both are right to worry about your friend. He does in fact face a serious problem. Those people are simply interested in helping him solve that problem". He was tempted to outright say he had inner hollows to control, but found that it wasn't his place. The look on Orihime's face though made him spill the basic bones of it.
The vagueness of his words did comfort Chad and Orihime by a little bit. "Will you help Ichigo too?" Orihime asked.
His mind thought back to Isshin when he request Arata that. "Ichigo is strong. He will get through this. However, should he prove to me that he is truly struggling, I will promptly step in"
A happy smile crosses Orihime's face as she hugged Arata, relieved to know he will also help Ichigo. Arata slowly returned it. "Thank you, Arata"
Chad too was glad his friend will get the help he needs, patting Arata in the back. The three stayed like this for a little longer until they decided to go get some ramen together.
That is, until they came.
Out of nowhere, an incredible wave of spiritual pressure bared down on them/ The origin of said pressure wasn't even near them and the fact they were able to feel their presence from here told them this was no regular threat.
Without skipping a beat, Arata transformed and started flash stepping towards this unknown foe, prompting Orihime and Chad to follow. Along the way, regular civilians started dropping dead, their souls completely drained from their bodies. His eyes narrowed. Clearly this was the work of hollows, but regulars hollows weren't this powerful. Were these more of those arrancars by Aizen?
The three neared crash site of the unknown enemy, in the middle of the forest area of a park. Arata spotted two individual, both varying in size and appearance. The first was the biggest, with brown skin and ridges on his head. The other was of average male size with one half of a horned helmet on his head with white marble skin.
From their appearances, Arata quickly deduced these were indeed arrancar but their spiritual pressures were way stronger than the one Isshin fought. 'These were complete arrancers'
He and Chad saw the big man about to kick Tatsuki, who came out for a run only to unfortunately meet the arrancars. Arata flash stepped ahead, shielding Tatsuki from the otherwise lethal blow. Chad jumped from behind Arata, punching the big man in the chest, pushing him back.
Just from the kick, Arata could feel the power this arrancar held. It was strongest he ever felt from a hollow. He glanced at Orihime, quickly concluding she couldn't stand up to this level of power.
"Orihime," Arata addressed. "listen to me carefully: take Tatsuki and get out of here now. Me and Chad will handle these men". To that, Chad nodded in agreement.
"Ulquiorra! Is it one of these guys!?" the big arrancar shouted.
The smaller arrancar, Ulquiorra, responded with a stone face, "Oh Yammy. You really need to work on your investigative power so that you could detect these things on your own. You should be able to tell with one glance this individual..." he looked at Chad. "Is trash... However...". He then looked at Arata, his mask drawing most of Ulquiorra's attention. He was strikingly similar to the new quinto espada, he thought. "This soul reaper may prove more difficult"
"So I see!" Yammy excitedly said.
Chad attempted to strike the bigger man in first with an energy-charged punch... only to be swatted away like a bug.
Arata knew this arrancar was strong, but to have punched Chad, a teen he knew had great power and reflexes, away so easily was shocking. His eyes narrowed, he released his shikai. "Execute my enemies: Hitokiri!". His axe appears, Ulquiorra noting how similar the shape was to Sakura's old axe. His sclera turned black and his irises gold as he stared up at his new opponent.
The dark skinned arrancar didn't think too much about this new soul reaper, tossing him off as trash like the human he just batted away. However, when Arata jumped and kicked him twice in the head before connecting a white burning bala sphere to his face stumbling him, he took a more aggressive stance against the hitokiri.
'A bala? This soul reaper has hollow powers? Is he one of the failed experiments of Lord Aizen?' Ulquiorra thought with slightly wide eyes.
"Orihime. Assist Chad right now" Arata ordered.
"Okay!"
"Who the hell are you anyway!? Are you Ichigo Kurosaki?" Yammy demanded.
"So you're here for Ichigo, huh? Facinating... But to answer your question, no. I am not Ichigo Kurosaki. I am a hitokiri and soul reaper, and my name is Arata Takahashi"
Ulquiorra took note of this mysterious soul reaper as he continued to watch him and his dim-witted colleague quarrel. His green eyes shift over to Orihime and Chad and saw the tremendous healing power demonstrated as Orihime restored Chad's mangled arm. 'No, that's not it' he then revokes. 'This is not a healing technique. She is either reversing time or space. Whatever it is, it's not the power to heal, but it is something I've never seen before'
A menacing grin grows on Yammy's face. "Well then Arata, I guess I don't have to hold back!". A punch rockets to Arata's person. He dodges, closing in on Yammy and cuts his stomach. His skin though did not yield, not a single bit; A scratch wasn't even made. His skin was tough like his, Arata thought.
Yammy attempted to grab him, but Arata flash steps back, gaining some distance from the raging giant. "Hado #4: Byakurai". Lightning discharged from his pint finger, landing on Yammy's shoulder but again did not pierce through his hierro.
"That's tickled" Yammy laughed. He charges Arata, ready slam him into the ground. He raised his arms as he neared him before crashing down where Arata was standing, waiting. Arata dodges and slashes the arrancar's open throat but again did not piece. The attack pained and pissed off the giant man as he roared, punching Arata in the gut. Spit flew out his mouth hole, but he rolled with it. Holding an open palm targeted at Yammy's head, he fired a shakkaho blast, adding more burns to Yammy's face. Yammy tried to punch Arata again, but was blocked using his armor forearm.
'Kisuke really did do good work. I suppose I'll need to thank him later'. He pushed Yammy off him. With more power than before, Arata slashed Yammy across the stomach, this time actually cutting him. The arrancar roared in pain before Arata pained him even more by driving his straightened hand into the open wound, winding and piercing Yammy in the process.
"Bastard!" and he kicked Arata hard away, sending him crashing into a tree.
Dazed, he failed registered Yammy's figure until he was right about to smash him. His boulder for hands connected a couple times but Arata's own tough skin protected him Arata grabbed one of his hands and pushed him off. "Hado #4: Byakurai". His spell hit Yammy right in the eye, staggering him. In his vulnerable state, Arata grabbed his axe with both hands, charging a powerful attack before releasing it, hitting Yammy in the gut, cutting him further. Arata jumped, and using deadly precision, shot his hand at Yammy's struck eye, and pulled it out its socket before crushing the eyeball in a death grip. He then kicked him in the face, sending him backwards to Ulquiorra. The stoic arrancar simply held his hand and stopped the screaming Yammy from crashing into him.
Ulquiorra continued to study Arata, even as Yammy barreled into him. This man had serious power if he was able to cut through Yammy's hierro and take his eye out. What's more, he was an unknown variable. He was given no information nor warning about this new soul reaper so he was left in the dark about him. However, his familiarity may be connected to Sakura, if his mask and axe were anything to go by. 'Lord Aizen will surely want to hear about him'
The brutish arrancar did not take kindly to his barrage of attacks and lost eye, growling at the hitokiri in anger for insulting him in such a manner. He opened his mouth, a red energy beginning to emerge. Knowing that this was a hollow and having fired many before, Arata knew the following signs of a cero. And considering how powerful this arrancar was compared to the typical hollows he has faced, a blast from him could surely decimate a small town. Arata held out his own palm, a cero forming as well.
Orihime was well aware her "cousin's" weaknesses concerning his powers. His cero would repel Yammy's cero, but only for a short time until his arm goes limp and then he would get cooked alive by his opponent's raging blast.
She promised Arata she wouldn't let him down again, and she promised herself to never be a burden for Ichigo and the ones she loved. Without a second thought, she sent tsubaki at Yammy, hoping to cause some damage, but at the very least, stop him from firing his cero. Her goal was met, as Yammy stopped charging to block tsubaki. "What was that thing? A fly? he growled at the fact he was interrupted and that his hand was burned in the process.
"T-Tsubaki! Oh no..."
Arata stopped his cero but nostalgia suddenly filled Arata's stunned mind as he saw Yammy descend on Orihime. He was sent back to his childhood home in flashes, back to the scene where his life took an abrupt turn. His fist clenched around his axe as a result.
"What do you want to do with her, Ulquiorra? Maybe we should take her back to Aizen to show off this new healing power she posses" Yammy asked.
"Wait... Aizen!?" Orihime gasped. Arata though was well aware of the ex-captain's supposed intentions, so he wasn't quite surprised that the hollows serve him.
"No, that won't be necessary. Just kill her" Ulquiorra stated simply.
And with that, Arata stood back up to move, but then an orange-haired substitute appeared, stopping Yammy's killing hand with the tip of Zangetsu.
"Ichigo..." Arata muttered.
Guilt swarmed the girl's senses as she saw the substitute come to her rescue. "I'm sorry. Ichigo" Orihime apologized.
"It's alright. I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner" Ichigo responded.
"No, I mean... all of this is my fault. If I was stronger, I could've stopped-"
"ARGH!". Yammy was then sudden kicked in the head, distancing himself from Ichigo and Orihime. Arata lands right next to them, scowling at Orihime.
"Quit trying to take the blame for all this, woman. As the adult in this group, it was my responsibility to look after you all, yet look at the state we're in. If anything, this lays on my shoulders to carry"
"But Arata-" Orihime tried to argue but Arata immediate shut her down.
"No buts. You did the best you could given the situation. There is no shame in that". He turned to Ichigo. "I don't mind fighting side by side, but if you wish to protect the others while I engage, that is fine as well"
"No," Ichigo denied. His blood was burning when he saw Tatsuki and Chad in their unconscious states. "Let's deal with these two, and end this!"
The ten then grabbed the arm holding his sword. "Bankai!" he shouted. Blue energy erupted around him and shot up into the sky like a tower before disappearing and showing Ichigo in a new form.
His sword was severely reduced in size, turning into a black katana with a cross-shaped guard. At the pommel of the blade was a black chain. His clothes also changed with his top turning into a a slimmer black jacket.
In a way, Arata was let down at the transformation. It was simple, which Arata always appreciated, but he expected a bankai to be more... explosive in terms of appearance. The power Ichigo held though was nothing short of great; his spiritual energy was fierce and violent, and just standing near him was enough to get Arata's blood pumping.
"Orihime, stay back" Ichigo warned. She agreed, getting away from the ensuing fight. Relief, out of nowhere, found it way to Arata in the form a sigh.
"You got a bankai, huh? Hey Ulquiorra. Is this the guy?" Yammy asked
"Yes. Considering how clumsily you've dealt with the situation, I'm surprised we were able to flush him out at all. The orange hair, the black bankai, no doubt about it. This is our target. He is the one"
He turned his attention back to the arrancars, and eyed Ulquiorra curiously. "You take big and stupid. I'll take stoic and quiet"
Ichigo agreed, intending to exact some revenge for friends. "Good luck, Arata"
Arata nodded and flash stepped in front of Ulquiorra, swinging at him full force with his axe, yet found he did not even budge under the heavy force of the swing. Yammy arm would have been severed if Arata swung at him with such force.
Speaking of severing, that was exactly what Ichigo did. In the corner of his eye, Arata took witness to the power and raw potential Ichigo had as he easily moved circles around the brute, overpowering him in both speed and power.
"Who are you?". Arata turned to find the quarto espada who was still holding his arm against his axe. "You are no regular soul reaper. Your spiritual pressure is equivalent to that of an arrancar or visored, yet it is so unclear, like the murkiest water"
"Don't know what to tell you other what I already said". Arata then proceeded to press the man aggressively, though Ulquiorra did not look scared or panicked one bit. He allowed the hitokiri to attack so that he could continue to study him. His attacks were cutting his sleeve but his skin was a no-go unlike they did to Yammy.
Ten strikes. Twenty strikes. Thirty strikes. Thirty strikes was what it took to finally cut him. It was a small, like that from paper, but that was when Ulquiorra decided to end his farce. When Arata was about to land his thirty-oneth strike, the smaller man caught his blade and refused to let go when Arata tried to pull it from his grasp.
"Stop your advances. You should know at this point that your efforts will be for nothing" Ulquiorra said as he talked down on Arata. He looks at Yammy and Ichigo to see his larger partner look down on their target in rage. "it seems like you're having a hard time. Shall I take over?"
"Stay back!" Yammy denied as he reached for his sword.
"Funny how you could talk like that as if you have already won. Don't get so high and mighty just because you have the upper hand now" Arata retorts.
The white arrancar sighed. "Trash no matter what your power may be". Arata barely caught him try and stab him with his hand, but fortunately was able to block it with his palm before it reached his heart. Ulquiorra let his weapon go and Arata stumbled back looking at the hole in his hand for a second before a kick to the gut then sent him skidding back many meters from the arrancar. "Do you now understand the difference of power between you and I?"
Arata did not answer him. Instead he raised his wounded left palm to the man, and began charging a cero. His arm would drop for a few minutes at best and this arrancar wasn't even trying so he could afford using such an attack. A drop of blood from his fingertips dripped in the white sphere just when Arata fired. Because of this. the cero was different from before, both larger and stronger than anything he had fired before. It was so powerful, his arm shook at the power, threatening to tear apart at the seems.
Wide-eyed, Ulquiorra sonidoed out into the air, letting the cero blast through trees before Arata tried to pilot the cero, grabbing his still firing arm and dragging it to Ulqiorra's location. He didn't hit him though as after seconds of firing that immense cero, the muscles in his arm tear violently, the cero stopping and his arm dropping to his side a bloody mess. He fell to his knees, his body feeling heavier with fatigue and blood loss.
Everyone stood in disbelief, but it was the arrancars that were most surprised. This soul reaper just fired a Gran Rey Cero!
"Arata!" Orihime screamed as rushed to his side and began to reverse some of the damage right away.
'Impossible...' Ulqiorra thought. 'This man isn't an Espada, not even an arrancar, yet he was able to form and fire a technique exclusive to the the elite of Lord Aizen's army'. Again, similarities flooded his mind to Sakura as she too was a highly adaptable with skills she had never learned before.
In Ichigo's moment of shock, his mind wavered, and his inner hollow demanded to be let loose 'Switch!' he demanded. 'Just switch with me will ya?! I'll take care of this guy!'
'Go away... Go away!' Ichigo screamed back within his mind.
Even through a clouded mind, Arata saw the struggle on Ichigo's face, his hand grasping his face to keep his inner hollow inside. "Why is he just standing there? He's wide open!" Arata hissed. Yammy as well saw this, taking it and kicking Ichigo in the chest.
"I-Ichigo!" Orihime screamed. It was then she noticed Arata gone, her shield covering no one as the hitokiri flash stepped to Ichigo. He raised his axe above him with his still functioning arm, aiming to behead the brute in one swift slice, but the fatigue impeded him. His eyes fluttered from all the blood loss and he missed Yammy's head.
Beyond pissed that he lost an eye to Arata, he grabbed the man by the head and roared as he repeatedly slammed his head into the ground until he was left unmoving but still breathing. Half his face was one the ground which fortunately covered the broken half of his mask.
"ARATA, NO!" Ichigo screamed out.
"ARATA! ICHIGO!". The teen tried to close the distance and assist at least one of them, but was side punched away like Chad.
"ORIHIME!"
"Shut it!" Yammy screamed as he began to brutally beat the teen to a pulp.
Arata felt his mind wander to darkness, but with his last shred of consciousness, he witness the swift and painful dispatch of his host, and brutalization of the boy he promised to guide. His ire grew, not just from the fact Yammy broke his mask, but because he was too powerless to do something about all this.
History repeated itself for Arata as flashes of his mother's defilement and murder flashed in his mind. 'The parallels... they are quite similar', he thought before his mind succumbed to sweet sleep.
Later...
With a flutter, Arata opened his eyes to find not a grassy area, but Kisuke's shop. His hand groggily goes to his mask, relief filling his system to find it there and in one piece. "What... happened?" he groaned.
"Arata!". Said man looked around him to find Kisuke up and about while Chad and Orihime were bed bound from their injuries, though it Orihime who was exclaimed his name. She immediate went to his side, checking his head. "Are you feeling well? Do you need any food? Kisuke will get it for you if so. Wait, you don't have amnesia, do you? How many fingers am I holding up?-"
"Orihime, I don't think he can answer you if you keep barraging him with question" Urahaha chuckled.
"Other than an the king of all headaches and an empty stomach, I'm fine" sighed Arata.
"If you want food, you can join Yoruichi. I'm sure she won't mind sharing" Urahara said.
Arata nodded and just when Urahara could help him up, stood up by himself. He wobbled for a second before he regained his balance. "I think you should let Kisuke help" Orihime suggested.
"Like I said, I'm fine. I can walk by myself" he replied. Orihime's worried gaze did not falter as she watched Arata leave the room.
He quickly found the room Yoruichi was in. He opened the door, but stood stunned by the sight of numerous empty plates at her side with more food on the other just waiting to be eaten. His bare stomach growled at the sight.
Yoruichi chuckled. "Care for dinner, Arata?"
With a nod, he sat opposite to her and was handed a bowl of fried rice and katsudon. He dug in without hesitation, the flavor enhanced by his hunger. He ate so quick it matched Yoruichi's pace. Once he was done with the bowl he put it to his side, ready to feast again until Yoruichi held to glass in front of him One with water and the other whiskey.
"Pick"
Knowing how well his hangover was before, he took the glass of water. Yoruichi handed him another bowl with fried fish and as he ate, he recalled how he black out in the middle of it. "What happened?" he asked.
Yoruichi promptly filled him in on what happened after. She and Kisuke arrived before Ichigo could've been hurt more, they tussled around with the arrancars for a little bit until the arrancars escaped.
"I see. And I also see your arm is less than well" Arata said after she was done recalling.
"Yeah. That arrancar's hide was thicker than I thought. Just like yours actually"
"My powers are hollow based. I wouldn't be surprised if enhanced skins was also a feature". He then thought for a moment. "What happened after they left?"
"Me and Kisuke started attending to the wounded". The werecat then smiled. "You should've seen Orihime when she pushed to help you"
"Hmm?"
*Flashback*
The garganta closed, leaving the group and letting them breathe another day. Orihime, though injured and hurting, pushed herself up and crawled the blacked-out Arata.
"Orihime, stop. You need to rest" Urahara urged but Orihime persisted.
"I...I promised him... I wouldn't let him down again" she panted as she crawled next to Arata's head and bloody arm. " He believes in my potential, so I don't intend on giving in just yet"
Yoruichi saw how adamant the girl was and decided to help. She gently grabbed Arata's head and started to lift when Orihime stopped her. "Wait" she said and she then took her shirt off.
"W-What're you doing?" questioned the confused flash goddess.
"Arata doesn't like it when people see his face, or even a part of his face. Until he chooses to show us himself, we have to respect his wishes". And with that, she gently wrapped her school shirt around Arata's face and tied it at the back of his head while still exposing his injured top.
'She really is a thoughtful one, isn't she?' Yoruichi smiled as she gently turned Arata. With what little strength she had, Orihime began to heal Arata and then Ichigo before exhaustion took her body.
*Flashback end*
"That was... very kind of her. I suppose I'll need to treat her now. I saw donut shop the other day. Might as well hit two birds with one stone"
"Well, doesn't that sound like a treat" laughed Yoruichi as she took a swig of the whiskey. "You sure you don't want some?"
Arata nodded and started to eat again. His mind though drifted back to the events of today, specifically to when Ichigo froze up. He then noticed how his spiritual pressure was acting odd as he did so, spiking and plummeting without rhythm.
It was then he quickly realized the crux of the problem: his inner hollow. He did not think the problem was this bad until he saw it for himself, and Arata was not pleased. If his inner hollow was causing this much of an issue, that it was practically preventing him from getting powerful or even fight for that matter, why hasn't he dealt with the problem?! To not know how to was one thing, but now that Shinji and him were in the picture, there was no excuse. He was just running away in hope it would disappear, but Arata knew it won't stop until the hollow consumed him.
"That fucking idiot..." Arata cursed under his breathe, the disdain for Ichigo's choice obvious.
"What was that?" Yoruichi asked.
"Nothing..." he denied. "But I would like some that whiskey now though"
Five days later...
"NOOOOOO!" the redhead, Chizuru screamed. "What on earth happened?! Tell me right now!"
Orihime laughed. "I tripped and fell down the stairs"
"You expect me to believe you got those injuries falling down stairs?!". It was then that Arata walked inside the room, his head and left arm sporting white bandage wrapping. Chizuru's eyes narrow up at the masked man in suspicion. "It was you wasn't it?! What did you do to our precious Orihime?! I thought you cared about your cousin!'
""Chizuru, I swear! I just fell down the stairs! Arata had nothing to do with it!"
"Orihime... Arata..."
The two turned to see Ichigo in the doorway, his scowl holding more remorse seeing Arata and Orihime's injuries.
Arata did not respond to him. Instead his eyes narrow at the appearance of the strawberry, his frustration towards him growing at just the sight of him and the feel of his wild spiritual pressure.
Orihime took the opposite view. "Oh. What is it Ichigo?"
He looked like he was about to say something, but gave up in the end. "...Don't worry about it. It's not important". He then went to his seat.
"What's up with Ichigo?" Chizuru muttered.
"Sorry Chizuru. I have to use the restroom!" and she rushed out the classroom with Chizuru following her.
Ichigo watched as they left, wallowing in despair at the fact he failed to help her.
"Hey," Arata softly called as he appeared right next to him. Ichigo slightly jumped, startled. "How... are things?"
The orangette teen raised an eyebrow at the question. "I'm fine. What about you? Out of any of us, you received the most punishment"
Arata frowned underneath his mask, smelling the bullshit from the teen's mouth. "My head is still aching and my left arm is still weak. But I've been through worse. I'll manage" shrugged the hitokiri.
"That's good... I'm glad". Again, he looked like he was about to say something, probably in reference to his injuries, but zipped his thoughts back up.
"... You feel guilty, don't you?"
"Heh?"
Ichigo looked up to see Arata, his eyes like that of a disappointed parent or older sibling. "If you're feeling so weak, why don't you do something about it?"
"I...I don't-"
"Being weak is forgivable, Ichigo. But staying weak isn't. Which do you choose?"
Ichigo frowned. "What the hell kind of question is that? Of course I don't want to stay weak!"
"Really?" Arata said, his tone almost mocking. "I hadn't figured"
Before he could say anything back, the school bell rings. Arata left the confused and aggravated Ichigo to go patrol while Ichigo fumed at Arata's mockery.
Later in the day...
Arata was doing his last patrol when he walked into class 1-3 to find Ichigo wiping the board clean.
"Hey"
"Hey"
Arata leaned near the door while Ichigo finished cleaning. He bored into the side of the teen's skull, unnerving the boy as he near completion at the green board. "What do you want, Arata?" Ichigo sighed.
"What makes you think I want anything from you?"
"Other than the fact that you're staring at me like a stalker?"
Arata scoffed. "Please. Anyone would have a better use of their time than tail you, Mr. Strawberry"
"Don't call me strawberry!" Ichigo snapped.
Arata though looked at him confused. "Is that not what 'Ichigo' means?"
"No. It means 'To protect one thing'. My mom gave me that name, so I would appreciate it if you don't insult it like that"
"But... doesn't Ichigo also mean 'strawberry'?"
"Well... it does," the teen admits. "But-"
"Then you're a strawberry that protects. Get over it. Getting riled up over childish insults like that just shows how immature and childish your own mind is" Arata admonished.
"Don't-!" but the class door slid open, cutting Ichigo off and revealing five familiar faces to Ichigo but only two to Arata. He knew Renji and Ikkaku, but the feminine-looking man, the white-haired child, and the buxom strawberry blonde were unknown to him. Until now that is. They were all dressed in Karakura high uniforms, though from the look of it, they were violating a lot of school regulations like the woman's open shirt and Ikkaku's wooden sword.
"Yo! Ichigo. Arata. What's up?" Renji greeted.
"Wait. Renji, Toshiro-... wait a minute! What're you guys doing here?" Ichigo questioned, confused as to what their purpose here was.
A tick mark appear on the captain's face. "That's Captain Hitsugaya to you!"
"Ikkaku. I see you're here as well" Arata states.
"Well then, it seems this trip just got a lot more interesting" the bald man grinned as he plans to challenge Arata once again.
"I know the identity of two of you, but who are the girls and the child?" Arata demanded.
The feminine man and preteen captain bristled at the hitokiri in anger. "There's only one girl in this group! I'm a man!"
"Oh"
The newly introduced man's expression softens as he calmed down. "I am the fifth seat of squad eleven. I am Yumichika Ayasegawa. It's a pleasure to meet you, Arata Takahashi. If you could allow me to be quite forward, those tattoos of yours look absolutely ravishing. You must tell me who did them and if you're planning on getting more. I could hook you up with the greatest tattoo artist in all the Soul Society, you know"
"Umm... sure?" Arata supposed to which the man brightened.
"And I'm the lieutenant of squad ten and this cute little man,". The woman then hugged her white-haired captain from behind, igniting irritation in the young prodigy. "Rangiku Matsumoto". Arata then recalled it was her shoes Unohana had with her. "And this white-haired bundle of joy is my captain, Captain Toshiro Hitugaya"
"'Bundle of joy'?" Toshiro deadpanned.
"I don't understand" said Ichigo aloud, cutting introductions short. "What're you all doing here?"
"Orders from above" Rengi stated. "Looks like there's a major storm brewing with the arrancars. We were sent her to join forces with the substitute soul reapers and prepare for battle"
"A-Arrancar? What the hell is that?" asked a confused Ichigo.
"The people we fought a few days ago? Those were arrancar. Hollows that tore their masks off to gain soul reaper powers. However, the hollows we faced may have been enhanced by this Aizen character I've been hearing so much about using the Hogyoku" Arata answered.
"Thanks for the info dump, but where on earth did you find that out?" Ichigo asked.
"Urahara"
"Oh... okay". That answered a lot.
"I thank you for explaining the matter to my dummy of a friend, Arata Takahashi" said a new voice from behind. Ichigo and Arata turn to find another soul reaper. standing in the window It was a girl with a short and petite figure. She had shoulder-length black hair with several strands of hair hanging between her purple-colored eyes. Like her colleagues, she too was wearing a school uniform with the purpose to blend in.
"Rukia..." Ichigo whispered.
"It's been awhile Ichigo..." Rukia replied with a smile
1.) Omake: Honored Warriors Illustrated Picture Book
When they were well enough, Orihime and Arata returned back to the apartment. It was around dinner time but with Orihime handicapped at the moment. Arata took the reigns and cooked something up. Fortunately, his time with Sakura taught him how to cook. Getting a few tips from Orihime, Arata was able to make a two sets of a bowl of seasoned rice, a bowl of vegetables, fried tempura, and a glass of water
He brings them to the table but before Arata could turn on the T.V, Orihime requested Arata's assistance. "Hey Arata, can you get the blue cheese in the fridge and cut it up into small pieces"
"...Why?"
"I want to put it in my rice"
Arata stared at her for moment, wondering if she was serious until he realized who he was talking to. With a sigh, he got up and walked to the kitchen. He opened the fridge, about to do what Orihime asked when the teen girl requested again. "Oh! Can you also get the peanut butter and a saucer? I wanna dip my veggies in it"
He nodded, but his thoughts wandered. "I have skin of iron, but that girl's stomach is that of steel" muttered
No kidding...
2.) Omake: Honored Warriors Illustrated Picture Book
A day after Arata and Orihime went back home, Arata went back to patrolling the streets of Karakura for hollow. He took out a couple until a he was suddenly approached by a weirdly-dressed man in a cape, sunglasses, and a moustache.
"Stop right there, restless spirit! Your sorrowful days of wandering how come to end! Move from this plane and lay your head to-... Hold on, you don't happen to know my #1 pupil now, do you?! You dress just like him"
"Heh?" Arata uttered before a hollow crashed down behind him. He turned to face it until the weird man ran up next to him.
"Let me assist you, friendly spirit!" and he then conjured a small ball of energy and threw it at the hollow. Arata and even the hollow watched with a blank expressions as the tiny ball wormed its way to the hollow's face. The creature probably thought the "attack" wouldn't have done any damage so it stood unmoving. That was its mistake as when the ball connected, it exploded in bright light and in a surprising show of power, knocked the hollow back.
His one blank expression gaped but used the distraction to end the hollow. "Who are you?"
The man blinked. "You don't know? I'm the new century's premier spiritualist! The host of Cazh Soul! I'm Don Kanonji!"
Arata's mind began to recall seeing this man once before on the T.V, but he changed the channel for some reason. "Oh... That show"
"So you do know me! It's always a pleasure finding another good spirit! What a day this had been! BOHAHAHAHA!" he laughed as he crossed his arms.
'Oh... That's why... his laugh' internally groaned Arata as he flash stepped away.
