Iris. Plum. Tulip. Hanagoromo. Peony. Peach. Equinoctial.
Ichigo swipes up with his blade. He adjusts his grip and slashes horizontally from the left. His foot uses his weight to pivot his entire body, spinning in a complete circle.
He side steps to dodge an imaginary enemy, spinning around and swinging his blade left. The imaginary sound of metal hitting metal rings in his ears before he immediately swings his sword towards his right, then quickly upwards. He spins again, dodging an imaginary blade.
His feet dance around each other, never making a sound. He spins and spins and spins, twirling and weaving in the air. Ichigo dances faster and faster, the power behind his elegant swings becoming stronger.
He leans in the air, flipping upside-down. He raises his sword to his left side before swinging towards the ground. The slash twists and curves into the ground, splintering the wood beneath Ichigo as he falls.
Ichigo swings up before swinging left, right, down, diagonally, vertically, horizontally, back up, then down. The slashes weave in on themselves, Ichigo's blade singing in the empty room.
Ichigo flips one more time, raising his sword. He suddenly twists in the air before he hits the ground, spinning upright before stabbing his sword harshly into the ground.
His eyes throb beneath the blindfold attached to his face as he stands up, lifting the sword with him. Ichigo releases a breath before suddenly swiping up.
Iris. Plum. Tulip. Hanagoromo. Peony. Peach. Equinoctial.
Ichigo repeats the forms of his dance, ignoring how the splintered floor slowly cuts up his feet. He ignores the quiet footsteps shuffling outside of his attack radius.
He freezes after the last form as he feels blood start to seep through his blindfold. Ichigo straightens his posture, swiftly swinging his sword to the side before he elegantly sheathes it.
Ichigo reaches up and unties his blindfold, slightly bloodshot eyes blinking open. "I thought you were heading to the dojo today... Tatsuki."
"And leave you to train without supervision? I'd prefer not to end up making sure you stay in your damn bed at the hospital. For the third time," Tatsuki states with her hand on her hip. Ichigo smiles softly as he turns to face his childhood friend, giving her a small look.
"I was close to perfecting it, Tatsuki. A small price to pay for refining a breathing style," Ichigo defends himself with only halfheartedly conviction. Tatsuki snorts loudly before rolling her eyes. She walks forward, carefully stepping over broken off wood panels and sharp splinters.
"What's with you and the transfer student? You both just up and disappeared in the last period," Tatsuki asks, masking her worry with suspicion. Ichigo gently shakes his head with a small chuckle.
"Ara, ara... I keep forgetting how observant you are..." Ichigo sighs quietly and turns around. "Rukia-san is... on a side I didn't know existed. Something happened last night and she was weakened. Until she's fully healed, I will be helping her."
"...is it about demons?" Tatsuki stops before Ichigo's back. She watches for any signs of worried tension in his shoulders or any shaking in his hands.
"I... I don't know. Rukia-san didn't even know about the existence of demons. Never heard anything like it, actually," Ichigo explains quietly. He sighs once more before brushing back strands of his hair that had fallen out of his bun.
"You'll handle it like you always do. Fighting first, questions last. Or questions while you fight." Ichigo laughs softly at Tatsuki's form of reassurance. He turns back around and gives his childhood friend a bright smile.
"Tatsuki, I think you're mixing both of us up," He teases as he walks past her. Tatsuki rolls her eyes with a snort before quickly following after him.
"Go on ahead and tell those yakuza bums that you like to ask questions first before you fight, or while you're fighting. I'm sure they'll be able to agree with you after they finish shitting their pants by just being in your vicinity," Tatsuki quips back with a smile of her own.
Ichigo laughs just a bit louder and glances over his shoulder. "Two peas in a pod then, Tatsuki-chan~!"
"No way! Peas are meant to look alike too and there is no way in hell I'm dyeing my hair that bright of an orange!"
"Ara, ara! You're so mean!"
Rukia stares at the explosion of light in front of her, a weak hand held against her chest. "My powers... he took almost all of them. He... what is he?"
The light slowly flickers out, revealing Ichigo calmly standing. Rukia blinks at the nagamaki he wore across his lower back before she focuses on her own clothing. Pure white. She's next to powerless.
"Rukia-san..." Rukia snaps her head up, watching Ichigo look over his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Rukia stares dumfounded at his kind smile. She opens her mouth before closing it, too shocked to speak. She nods her head instead before glancing at the shrieking Hollow past Ichigo's shoulder.
"That's good! Now... you, the Hollow. You wouldn't happen to be willing to just stand there, would you?" Ichigo faces the Hollow as he questions it. The Hollow howls before it charges, making Ichigo sigh. "Of course you wouldn't."
The Hollow suddenly falls forward, its legs cut completely off from its body and its mask slashed in half. Rukia blinks at how quickly the Hollow was dealt with. What...
Ichigo stands up from behind the Hollow, twirling his zanpakutō before resting it on his shoulder. He turns around with dark eyes and a bright smile. Two silver piercings shine brightly underneath the moonlight. Those two marks... they were holes.
"Demon Slayer Corps, Flower Hashira, Kurosaki Ichigo. It doesn't mean anything to you, Hollow, but as the one to kill you, it's only polite to give you my name!" Ichigo formally introduces himself as the Hollow disappears.
"How... how was he so fast?! He... I couldn't even see him... I... who is he?" Rukia stares at the orange haired teenager, completely gobsmacked. This wasn't... this was so weird...
Ichigo hums before he sheathes his nagamaki. He hides his hands in his slightly longer sleeves before he starts walking towards Rukia. He crouches down, searching for any physical injuries on the Shinigami.
"Rukia-san, if you're strong enough, please take me to the clinic. I'm about to pass out." Ichigo smiles brightly, not even bothered that he had just stated something moderately worrying.
"I-Ichigo?!" Rukia rushes forward and stops Ichigo's head from slamming into the ground. "Ichigo! Jeez, don't say something like that!"
Rukia blinks rapidly, coming back to reality. She gently shakes her head before she looks up.
Ichigo leaps towards the dummy and slashes diagonally at its head. It falls along with Rukia's perfect drawing of a Hollow's mask. Rukia nods her head to herself, silently pleased.
It had only been two days since that unfortunate night and not only is Rukia completely and utterly stuck until her powers come back, but a single human boy is the one thing that completely changes everything Rukia knows of humanity.
Not only was humanity fighting an incredibly bloody war that has lasted over a millennium, but humanity has been fighting a war against a completely new race of beings created directly from humanity. And Soul Society had no fucking idea.
Rukia winces slightly and rubs the center of her chest. She sighs and shakes her head once more. Now's not the time to question what Soul Society truly knows about humanity or not.
"Ichigo, that was a hand, not a head!" Rukia states as she watches Ichigo slice another dummy's head in half, this time of her drawings of a hand being sliced with it.
"Oh. Sorry, Rukia-san! it's just that your drawings are hard to... decipher," Ichigo says with an apologetic smile. Rukia's eyebrow twitches as she smiles tightly at the human.
"Is something wrong with my drawings, Ichigo?"
"Oh no, no! Nothing's wrong with them! It's just... well–I'm glad you are still continuing something that brings you joy, is all," Ichigo says with a wave of his hand. Rukia narrows her eyes at him before she crosses her arms.
"What do you–"
"Hello, Kurosaki-kun!" Ichigo jumps forward with his arms pulled to his chest. He turns around and spots a brightly smiling Orihime behind him with her hand raised.
"Inoue-san... don't scare me like that!" Ichigo sighs in relief, lowering his arms. "What are you doing here?"
"Sorry, sorry, Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime laughs brightly with her hand on the back of her head. She continues smiling and holds up her bag of groceries.
"I had to get some ingredients for dinner!"
Ichigo hums with a smile, sheathing his sword. "Oh! Making one of your... concoctions once again?"
"Yeah! I bought onions and butter and bananas and gelatin! I'll save you some for tomorrow!" Orihime exclaims, waving around one of her green onions. Ichigo hums again with a slight sweatdrop before giving Rukia a side-eyed glance.
"What are you doing here, Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime asks curiously, looking up at the unusually tall teenager with bright eyes.
"Ara, ara. You're quite curious today, hmm?" Ichigo shrugs his shoulders, making his already loose button up shirt fall even farther down his arms. "I'm just practicing. Tatsuki's probably told you how my... dojo can be when I bring outsiders in."
Orihime stares at him with a rare piercing gaze Ichigo hardly ever sees. He continues to smile, hoping Orihime doesn't look too much into his partial lie.
"Kuchiki-san?" Orihime smiles, leaning towards the side to stare at the Shinigami partially standing behind Ichigo.
"Who the hell are you?" Rukia asks bluntly, making Ichigo cough loudly.
"Rukia-san! That's Inoue-san. She's in our class!" Ichigo whispers with a small nudge. Rukia startles and quickly fumbles to give Orihime a curtsey.
"Oh, Inoue-san! Honored to make your acquaintance!" Rukia greets in her sickeningly cheerful voice. Ichigo watches as Orihime clumsily follows after the Shinigami. She really went through with it...
Ichigo blinks when he notices bandages wrapped around Orihime's arm. He steps forward and gently grabs her arm, making her quietly voice her shock.
"K-Kurosaki-kun?!" Orihime exclaims, face turning fire hydrant red. Ichigo doesn't pay attention to how close he was as he inspects the injury.
"When did you get hurt?" Ichigo asks quietly, gently tugging at the bandage. It was wrapped how he always does it. She wrapped it herself then.
"O-oh! It's–it's n-nothing, Kurosaki-kun! I just got hit!" Orihime speaks quickly, her free hand pressed against one of her burning cheeks. Ichigo finally looks up with a sweet smile on his face. Orihime shivers and pales, quickly realizing her mistake.
"Hit...? As in... hit, by a car?" Ichigo asks slowly, making Orihime gulp in fear.
"Y-yeah... I–um... I went to go get me a drink and–and then, bam! There–there aren't any other injuries! Promise! And–anf it was just a-a graze! Yeah!" Orihime explains in a quiet voice. Ichigo stares down at her, still smiling sweetly.
"Orihime... you got hit–by a car... and you didn't come by the clinic to get checked out?"
"Do you get hurt often, Inoue-san?" Orihime sighs heavily in relief and turns to focus on Rukia.
"Yeah... I zone out a lot so..." Orihime laughs quietly, rubbing the back of her head. Ichigo opens his mouth to speak once more before he catches Rukia suddenly tensing up.
"...that mark on your leg. Can I see it?" Rukia asks, her cheerful persona completely gone.
"Oh, this? Sure! Go ahead!" Ichigo looks down as Orihime lifts up her skirt to reveal a horribly bruised leg. "I got it last night too,so I think it must have been when I was hit by the car... Kuchiki-san? What's with the scary face?"
"Huh? Oh no. I was just thinking... it looks painful," Rukia plasters on her cheerful persona, snapping out of her thoughts.
"Wow! You're right! My leg hurts much more than my arm!" Orihime exclaims while pointing at her arm. Ichigo quickly crouches to the ground and grabs the orange haired teenager's leg.
"Inoue Orihime, what do you mean it hurts more than your arm? Did you go numb from the pain? Did you even get yourself checked out?" Ichigo asks sternly.
Orihime laughs nervously, idly checking her watch. "Oh! It's this late!"
"Inoue-san?! Inoue-san, don't run on that leg! Why are you even in a rush?!" Ichigo scolds loudly as he stands up. Orihime continues running, taking steps two at a time to get back on the street.
"Laugh hour is almost on!"
"Inoue-san, your health is more important than a show!" Ichigo sighs softly and crosses his arms.
"At least let me walk you home! You could have broken something!" Ichigo shouts back, frowning in his worry. Orihime startles and turns around, blushing bright red.
"Wh-what?! N-no... I'm okay, Kurosaki-kun, I promise!" Orihime reassures with a bright smile. Ichigo stares up at her for a moment before sighing heavily.
"Call me if it gets worse, okay?" Ichigo eventually gives in, making Orihime smile just a bit more genuinely.
"Y-yeah! I know! See you tomorrow!" Orihime races off and leaves Ichigo to stew in his worry for her.
"Inoue-san, please be careful..." Ichigo huffs quietly before shaking his head. He knows he shouldn't worry so much... Tatsuki's watching after her.
"That Inoue girl... are you close with her?" Rukia asks suddenly. Ichigo sighs softly with a small smile.
"She's best friends with Tatsuki, my childhood friend... we've only started being friends this year, but I knew of her since 8th grade," Ichigo speaks in a daze, recalling the day Tatsuki introduced the two to each other.
"Any family?" The Shinigami continues, unusually calm.
Ichigo's smile disappears as he looks up at the sky. "Yes. Inoue-san had a much older brother..."
"'had'?"
"He died 3 years ago. I was the one to open the door. The poor girl was soaked to the bone with blood, her brother on her back. Goat Face, as always, disappeared somewhere so I called into school to work in the clinic. I couldn't save him and he died before the ambulance could arrive," The orange haired teenager starts quietly.
"Don't leave me! Onīchan! Don't leave me! Don't leave me alone! Onīchan, please!"
Ichigo shakes away the haunting memory while clearing his throat. "I never knew Inoue-san's name at the time. I realized she was the same girl when Tatsuki introduced us."
Ichigo clears his throat again and lifts the corners of his mouth, plastering on a smile. He turns to face Rukia and waves his hand.
"You seem pretty interested in her. She caught your eye?"
"Not really. I'm not interested," Rukia answers bluntly, making Ichigo blink.
"Ara, ara, Rukia-san! If you keep acting so superior, I'll start to think you're compensating for something!" He teases, stifling his smirk when Rukia immediately glares at him.
"Shut it! Now, let's go home too!" Rukia orders with an arrogant huff. Ichigo laughs softly and rests his chin on his curled fingers.
"Now that you mention it... where do you always leave to? You certainly don't have any place to live over here." Ichigo was genuinely curious too.
"Oh? Interested in my personal life, are you? Did I catch your eye?" Rukia retorts with a smirk. Ichigo opens and closes his mouth, heat crawling up his neck and ears.
"I... I'm not interested in that! I–I just... you–" Ichigo attempts to defend himself, only to end up a stuttering mess.
"Then don't ask," Rukia turns around and starts to walk off. Ichigo huffs before crossing his arms with a pout.
"I was just curious..." Ichigo mumbles as he starts walking towards the dummies. He'd rather not leave these out for anyone to see.
Ichigo releases a deep breath as he steps out of the bathroom. He ruffles his hair through the towel before he starts walking up the stairs. His hair curls around his head like a fiery lion's mane, leaving the towel to rest on his shoulders.
"Nīsan, have you seen my dress?!" Yuzu asks from Ichigo's open door. Ichigo smiles slightly when Yuzu turns to face him.
"Yuzu, you know not to just barge into my room without knocking!" Ichigo scolds lightheartedly. Yuzu blinks before noticing the towel around his shoulders.
"Oh! You were taking a bath? No fair! I wanted to go in too!" Yuzu exclaims with a pout. Ichigo smiles softly and pats his little sister on the head.
"Yuzu, you're going to have to learn to go by yourself at some point," Ichigo points out, making Yuzu pout even more.
"Nīsan!" Yuzu whines with her arms crossed. Ichigo laughs softly as he walks into his room.
"No, I haven't seen your dress. Are you sure you haven't misplaced it?" Ichigo answers Yuzu's previous question.
Yuzu still continues to pout with a heavy sigh. "No... I'm also missing a pair of pajamas."
"I don't know everything, Yuzu."
"Nīsan is Nīsan! And Nīsan knows everything!" Yuzu denies vehemently. Ichigo sighs softly and pats Yuzu on the head one more time. She turns her head with a huff and starts walking away.
"Don't stay up too late!" Ichigo calls after his younger sister.
Ichigo continues to smile while he shakes his head. "Silly girl."
He kicks his door closed behind him, pausing when he feels Rukia's snowy presence.
BEEP BEEP BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBE–
"Is that coming from my clo–"
"ICHIGO!" Rukia shouts as she slams Ichigo's closet door open.
Ichigo jumps high in the air in his fright, squeaking loudly. His neck and ears turn tomato red, slowly crawling against his cheeks.
"R-Rukia-san! What–what are you–are those Yuzu's pajamas?!" Ichigo stares at the familiar checkered patterned pajamas.
"Forget about that! There's an order!" Rukia states as she pulls on her fingerless glove.
Ichigo immediately straightens up, looking around with a narrowed gaze. "Where? When?"
"It's here!" Rukia slaps her palm against Ichigo's face, pushing him out of his body. Ichigo quickly uses his momentum to roll backwards, avoiding a large claw from smashing him through the floor.
Ichigo grabs the hilt of his sword and pulls it out, immediately blocking another attack from the Hollow. His suddenly dry hair falls in front of his face, making him curse under his breath.
"Aim for the head!"
"I know, Rukia-san!" Ichigo jumps back to gain some room, using the wall to leap forward. He blindly swings down, wincing when the Hollow screeches right into his ear.
"Not deep enough!" Ichigo heard Rukia hiss as he managed to find the time to blow his hair out of his face. He freezes when he sees familiar brown eyes. Orihime had eyes just like those.
Ichigo breaks out of his frozen state when the Hollow disappears. He stays in his battle stance, hands tightly gripping the hilt of his zanpakutō. That... that was...
"He got away..." Rukia suddenly stands up, sprinting towards the open window. "We're going after him!"
"Okay... Rukia-san," Ichigo answers slowly. He sheathes his sword before brushing back his hair. He glances at his empty body collapsed against the floor before he jumps out of the window.
"Hey! Wai–aaaait!" Rukia screams in fear when Ichigo suddenly lifts her onto his back before he starts sprinting.
"Idiot! Don't do that so suddenly! You could have dropped–"
"Rukia-san, why did that Hollow look like Inoue-san's brother?" Ichigo interrupts softly, expression unusually blank.
Rukia blinks at the interruption before she sighs quietly. "Because he was Inoue's brother. Hollows... they were once the souls of normal humans."
"Orihime! That was your chance and you missed it!" Tatsuki exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air. Orihime fidgets where she sat, blushing bright red.
"I know! I just–I panicked! Kurosaki-kun was so worried and Kuchiki-san was there..."
"Kuchiki-san, the transfer student? I didn't think Ichigo would be friendly with someone so fast. He's so shy..." Tatsuki trails off with a narrowed gaze.
"Oh, they were just at the park together. I think Kuchiki-san wanted to watch Ichigo practice his pretty sword forms!" Orihime reassures brightly. Tatsuki blinks before raising an eyebrow.
"He practiced his sword forms in front of the transfer student? He never even showed Chad until after a year they were friends..." Tatsuki thinks with a surprised huff, the notion almost too unbelievable for her childhood friend.
"Tatsuki-chan? Tatsuki-chan!" The black haired teenager startled out of her thoughts when Orihime waves a hand in front of her eyes.
"Sorry, did you say some–" A bloodcurdling screech makes goosebumps crawl up Tatsuki's back.
DANGER. DANGER.
Tatsuki states behind her best friend, watching a stuffed animal fall from where it sat. Her heart pounds against her ears as her breathing comes out in short pants.
"Oh! Enraku fell down! Are you okay, Enraku?!" Orihime races towards the fallen toy. Tatsuki feels her heartbeat get faster at the distance between her and Orihime.
They... they need to leave. They need to run.
"Ori... Orihime..." Tatsuki struggles to even open her mouth against her terror. She shakily stands up, her knees buckling.
"Demons... and even a few of those... spirits have this aura around them. This presence... it's hard to explain how you'll be able to tell if a demon's around you," Ichigo, back when they were younger–back when they were alone together, had once told Tatsuki.
The tantō, sheathed in the back of her pants, he had gifted her that day gets heavier with each passing second.
"I'm giving this to you in case you can't run, Tatsuki... but if you have any chances to escape, take it. Run. Run as fast as you can."
Tatsuki takes a step towards Orihime, reaching back to wrap her shaky fingers around the purple hilt of her tantō.
"...hime... Orihime," Tatsuki speaks up once more, slowly finding her voice.
"Horrible! Why is he ripped?!" Orihime doesn't notice Tatsuki's terror, or the presence that's starting to suffocate the entire room. Tatsuki takes another step forward.
"Orihime."
Orihime looks down at her hand holding the back of Enraku's head. "What's this? Looks like... blood..."
"Orihime! Look out!" Tatsuki races forward when the presence gets even more terrifying. Orihime suddenly collapses backwards, eyes glazed over.
Tatsuki unsheathes her tantō, holding it parallel to her arm, as she rushes to catch her best friend. She looks around for anything amiss.
Where is it? Where is it?! She needs to get Orihime out of here. She needs to get out of here. She needs–
Tatsuki screams out in terror and pain, being thrown back from the force behind whatever slashes her shoulder. Her back slams against the wall and knocks the breath out of her.
"Invisible. It's invisible. Can demons be invisib–" Tatsuki knocks her head back as she's slammed into the ground by her throat. She gasps for air and claws at the invisible force choking her.
"Demons will think you're just a normal human. Use that to your advantage. You may not be strong enough to slice their neck, but you can fight."
Fight... Fight. Fight!
Tatsuki swings her other hand up towards the air above her. Her ears ring loudly when whatever was choking her howls in pain. She sucked in a wheezing breath when the choking suddenly stopped. Tatsuki turns onto her side before quickly stumbling to her feet.
"–ould have–" A distorted voice cuts through the ringing in Tatsuki's ears. She races towards Orihime's fallen body.
Tatsuki doesn't even scream when she's suddenly hit across her side. Her body flies through the air and smashes through a wall. Pain blossoms across her upper back. She gasps for breath, head hanging back limply. Blood falls up her face from her mouth.
"...hime... Orih–Ori–hime." Tatsuki struggles to speak or even move. She had to get to Orihime. She had to! She promised...
"...tsuki... I'm here. Rest." Tatsuki hears Ichigo's whispers. As her eyes flutter closed, she almost feels a familiar touch to her cheekbone.
Even if it was a hallucination... Tatsuki listens. She passes out.
Ichigo keeps his lips gently against Tatsuki's cheekbone for a moment longer. He senses Tatsuki falling unconscious, making him move back. He wipes some blood from Tatsuki's face, staring at her with dark eyes.
"You interfere... and now you're ignoring me?" The Hollow speaks lowly from behind Ichigo. Ichigo turns around, expression completely blank.
"It is my job, Hollow-san. But don't worry, I'll deal with you soon." He doesn't give the Hollow another glance before he glances at Orihime. His eyes narrow when he notices two Orihime's, one collapsed on the ground and the other leaning against the wall.
"Oh! I thought so! It's Kurosaki-kun and Kuchiki-san!" Orihime exclaims in pure joyful relief. Ichigo's eyes widen before he notices the chain hanging from her chest.
"Inoue-san... you..." Ichigo tightens his grip around his nagamaki before facing the Hollow.
"It's shocking, isn't it? That you came too late to save her. Orihime's already dead!" The Hollow whips its tail towards Ichigo, only for it to be blocked by the way blade.
"...I can't cut through the scales..." Ichigo grunts when he's forced to slide back against the window. It cracks under the pressure before the tail pulls back.
"Don't listen to the Hollow! As long as the chain stays connected, Inoue will still be alive!" Rukia reassures the orange haired teenager, staying crouched next to the unconscious Tatsuki.
Ichigo takes advantage of the Hollow's movement to leap forward, raising his nagamaki on his right side. He swings it horizontally, the Hollow quickly using its tail to flick it away from its body.
The orange haired teenager narrows his eyes, moving his zanpakutō vertically to block a claw from swatting him backwards.
The Hollow growls as he fully faces Ichigo. "Leave us! You and that girl were the ones to take Orihime from me! This isn't your business!"
"Sora-san, Tatsuki and I didn't take Inoue-san from you because she wasn't yours to begin with," Ichigo states coldly. Orihime gasps with her hands covering her mouth.
"...O...Onīchan...?"
"Ever since she met that girl... She started to forget about me! She started to pray less and less... until you. She stopped praying completely!" Sora explodes in his anger. Orihime starts to cry silently, her hands fisting around her skirt.
"Onīchan... Onīchan, I didn't–you don't understand! I–"
"Quiet, Orihime! Let your big brother handle this! We'll be together once more... just let me handle this!" Sora interrupts with a harsh glare.
Orihime flinches back, a sob escaping her mouth. "You hurt Tatsuki-chan! And you're about to hurt Kurosaki-kun... That's–that's not handling it! Onīchan, please sto–"
"IT'S ALWAYS THEM! NEVER YOUR OWN BIG BROTHER!" Sora whips his tail towards Orihime, making her freeze. Ichigo curses under his breath and leaps forward. He uses the dull side of his nagamaki to push Orihime out of the way before the tail slams into him.
"Ichigo!"
"Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime screeches, watching Ichigo get thrown through her wall. She stands to race after him, only to be trapped inside one of Sora's claws.
"I... I was so sad, Orihime. So lonely... now, now we can live together like we used to..." Sora states, lifting Orihime higher when she tries to escape.
Orihime hiccups for breath as she starts to sob harder. She struggles to get out of her brother's hold, kicking at his hand.
"No! No, stop it! This–this isn't my Onīchan! Onīchan would never do things like this!" Orihime screams out in her grief and despair.
"You were the one to make me like this! It's your fault! I'll kill you! I'll kill you first!" Sora tightens his hand, gripping Orihime's throat to the point of bruising.
"Inoue! Let go of her!" Rukia shouts before leaping towards the Hollow. She lifts her feet before Sora could swat her away, landing on his arm. She runs up before she knees the Hollow in the face.
"YOU–" Rukia jumps away, aiming both hands towards the Hollow's arm.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai!"
Lightning quickly discharges from Rukia's hands, slamming into the Hollow's arm. It barely causes a scratch, making Rukia scowl.
"Not enough! I know I'm not healed enough, but I have to do something!" Rukia curses mentally. She lands on the ground, shaking out her hands.
"Do you think that'll make me drop Orihime?! I'll never drop her! She's mine!" Sora booms loudly. Orihime chokes on drool and a whine as she tries to claw Sora's hand away. She couldn't breathe. She needs to breathe!
Orihime's hearing turns to static in a whoosh of oxygen entering her lungs. She coughs up a storm, a hand to her throat.
"Sora-san, it's disheartening to see you as such a monster. Inoue-san is your little sister, and here you are trying to kill her," Ichigo speaks up softly, making Orihime look up.
Her face heats up when she realizes Ichigo was carrying her in a bridal style. Blood drips off of Ichigo's face and lands on her cheek, making her freeze. Blood dropped profusely from his hairline like he had been hit in the head.
"Orihime is mine! It was her fault! We deserve to be together! Even in death!" Ichigo sighs softly, clearly done with the entire conversation. Orihime feels him minutely stumble, making her sit up a little bit more.
"Kurosaki-kun... you can sit me down now..." Orihime whispers, her voice almost completely gone. Ichigo gives her a glance before smiling softly.
"We're pretty similar... Did you know that, Sora-san?" Ichigo faces the Hollow once more, finally smiling. "I had heard what you did for Orihime. You took her away when you turned 18 and raised her where your parents failed to. She's more like your daughter than a sister, hmm?'
"Ichigo..." Rukia trails off, at a loss for words. Ichigo crouches down and gently sets Orihime on the ground.
"That's why I don't understand how you can't see what you are doing to Inoue-san. Demons, they lose their humanity. They lose their memories. From what Rukia-san had told me... Hollows don't lose that, they simply transform from one race to the next," Ichigo continues softly. He stands back up and carefully holds his nagamaki in front of him.
"Big brothers are born first to protect their little siblings. But, there will come a time where they must move on from home. Where they must grow up. None of this was Inoue-san's fault, Sora-san. You know this. So why are you blaming her? Why are you hurting her?" Ichigo stumbles to the side, but quickly catches himself on the broken wall.
"Orihime will always need me! She is mine!"
"Inoue-san is no one's! You do not have the right to harm her!" Ichigo races forward, lifting his zanpakutō above his head.
"No matter the injuries, no matter the war, do what you are born to do. Be a protector." As Ichigo fights, he doesn't notice familiar brown eyes watching next to Rukia.
Ichigo sighs quietly as he flicks the blood of his nichirin sword. He steps over the demon's clothing and casually sheathes his sword.
"First Inoue-san at the beginning of the week... and now Chad-san... why now of all times? Even Karin's sick..." Ichigo sighs again and hides his hands inside his haori.
He thought everything would go back to normal for his friends after that night. Tatsuki and Orihime don't remember what happened, and Orihime's brother was sent peacefully to Soul Society. Ichigo agreed with Rukia on that front. They were normal humans and shouldn't know about this world. Not when they aren't capable of protecting themselves.
Unfortunately, getting Chad to forget is next to impossible. Not only was he helping the spirit for a few days before, but he got hit by a car because he was protecting it.
"...chigo... Ichigo! Hey! I'm talking to you!" Ichigo grunts, lifting his shin when Rukia kicks it. Ichigo looks down and gives the Shinigami a small glare.
"Rukia-san, I told you to stop following me. I can't help you if we run into any trouble with law enforcement," Ichigo states quietly.
Rukia looks up at him with her hands on her hips. "And what if a Hollow appears? You can't fight one without me to get you out of your human body."
"...I hope you can run faster than the police," Ichigo eventually speaks, turning around to continue walking. Rukia smirks triumphantly before catching up with the demon slayer.
"You're worried about something," Rukia changes the subject. Ichigo glances down at her before smiling.
"What do you mean?" He asks, feigning confusion.
"The only times I've seen you not smile are when you're worried, or someone you care about gets hurt," Rukia points out before she glances off to the side when Ichigo's Kasugai Crow flies into view. "You're worried about your friend."
"Moshi, moshi, Eda-kun... you've worked hard tonight," Ichigo greets his crow, gently running his finger against Eda's head. Eda trills loudly, pecking at Ichigo's finger. He flaps his wings, his orange bow fluttering around his neck.
"South! South! Demon spotted in Karakura Town!" Eda exclaims before pecking Ichigo's finger one more time. Ichigo smiles softly and lifts his arm, letting Eda fly away to lead him back home.
"I didn't realize people could read me so well. Yes, I'm worried about Chad-san. First it was Inoue-san, and now he's being chased by a Hollow. And Karin... I hope it's just allergies, but that girl is stubborn," Ichigo answers the Shinigami. He casually starts running south, leaving behind the outskirts of Yokohama.
"We'll handle it once we go back home. Sado-kun, and your sister, will be okay," Rukia reassures calmly. Ichigo stays silent as the Shinigami stares at his back.
"Thank you, Rukia." Ichigo starts to run faster. "This should be my last mission tonight. Eda-kun likes to be spoiled by Yuzu after my missions."
"This demon slaying... how long have you been a part of it?" Rukia asks, making Ichigo look over his shoulder.
He hums in thought, looking up at the cloudy night sky. "You would probably think of it as an exaggeration if I answered ever since I was born, hmm?"
"I told you before that it's been over a millennium since this war between demons and humanity had started. There have been many families that have lasted under the Demon Slayer Corps, many that have gone extinct in the war, and many that have joined the cause. Kochō married into Kurosaki, making it one of those families. My grandmother trained Mama since she could remember. Mama started to train me and the twins ever since we could remember.
"I became a demon slayer around seven years old. Mama wished I was a bit older, but I was too skilled not to go ahead and enter the Final Selection. When I was nine, I became a Hashira," Ichigo recalls softly.
"That's... that's very young..." Rukia states with wide eyes. Ichigo glances back at her before laughing softly.
"Too young, I know. But, don't worry Rukia-san, the girls and I are an uncommon exception!" Ichigo agrees with Rukia. "No matter the side, when it comes to the children becoming soldiers in a war, it's always wrong."
"...what's a Hashira?"
"The highest rank a demon slayer can achieve! There is only one Hashira for every breathing style, but each Hashira can take on as many Tsuguko as they want! If a Hashira dies or is injured to the point of permanent retirement, the Tsuguko will take their place."
"And how many Hashira are there? How many Tsuguko?" Rukia asks in genuine curiosity.
Ichigo hums in thought, slowing to a stop. He gives their surroundings a cursory glance.
"There are eight Hashira active, myself included. But, there are 13 Hashira spots in total. The Tsuguko... there are only seven; Yuzu being the Flower Tsuguko and Karin being the Mist Tsuguko," Ichigo answers before turning around. He smiles down at the Shinigami as he casually grabs the hilt of his nichirin sword.
"Please stay here for a moment." The orange haired teenager unsheathes his sword before he runs towards the forest at the edge of the road. He jumps in, crouching on the ground before using the momentum to leap up into the air.
"Ichigo?!" Rukia shouts loudly, taking a few steps forward. Ichigo lands a single foot on a tree branch before he takes off again.
Ichigo twists in the air, raising his sword to his right. "Flower Breathing. Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo."
A demon whirls around with wide eyes as Ichigo flies towards it. Ichigo swings his sword, twisting the blade. The demon manages to dodge, only getting its arms sliced off.
"Ara, ara! You're quite fast, demon-san!" Ichigo compliments brightly, flipping around before he lands on the ground.
"Damn demon slayer!" The demon curses in anger and terror. It jumps back as its arms regrow.
"Oh, that's not nice, demon-san!" Ichigo states as he turns towards the demon. The demon growls loudly and charges forward.
"Blood Demon Art: Glass Piercers!" The blood dripping from the demon's arms flies off and forms into five red glass spears before they fly towards Ichigo. He hums in interest and twirls to dodge two of the spears.
They suddenly switch directions and fly towards him again. Ichigo's smile widens as he places all of his weight in his feet. He leaps towards the demon, letting the spears get closer.
"Flower Breathing. Sixth Form: Whirling Peach." Ichigo spins in the air, dodging the spears. His foot lands on one of them, Ichigo quickly using it to leap towards the demon.
Ichigo spins once more and swings his sword at the demon. He flips around, avoiding a glass spear that sprouted from the demon's shoulder.
The demon's head falls off as Ichigo lands on a low hanging branch. Ichigo flicks off the blood from his sword before sheathing it back in its scabbard.
"Ichigo?! Ichigo! Where are you?!" Rukia shouts loudly, making Ichigo sigh.
"I told her to stay..." Ichigo turns away from the disintegrating demon, leaping off the tree branch to another. He quickly spots Rukia walking on the forest floor.
"Rukia-san, I told you to stay," The orange haired teenager speaks instead of a greeting, dropping down in front of Rukia.
Rukia shouts in surprise, jumping back like a cat. She scowls as Ichigo laughs loudly and kicks him in the shin in retaliation.
"Don't scare me like that! And you just up and left without an explanation!" Rukia exclaims with her arms crossed. Ichigo laughs again and shakes his head.
"I noticed a shadow back here. It was a demon. We can continue on our way now," Ichigo answers instead, making the Shinigami huff loudly.
"I may not have a sword, but I can still fight," Rukia mutters under her breath. Ichigo blinks before smiling. So that's what's wrong.
"You are a good fighter, Rukia-san. I apologize if I ever made it seem like you weren't. But demons are a completely different ballpark. Even the most experienced demon slayer is in danger of dying in any mission," Ichigo speaks softly.
Rukia sighs and gives him a glare. "You're helping me, so I'm going to help you too. It doesn't look like I need my powers to kill demons."
Ichigo's smile widens in his surprise, his eyes shining. He starts walking back towards the road, footsteps completely silent compared to Rukia's muffled ones.
"...if you think you have the will for it, I'll start training you. I'll warn you now, it's going to be hell."
"Hmph. I am a Kuchiki. It can't be that hard," Rukia states confidently. Ichigo laughs again before he starts running.
"Don't say I didn't warn you~!" Ichigo sings over his shoulder. "Now, let's get home. I want to check on Chad-san after we deal with the demon."
Ichigo stays at the entrance into the clinic, staring at the empty bed. His smile stays frozen on his face as he makes a sharp spin back into the house.
"Rukia-san, we have to leave. Chad-san isn't in the clinic," Ichigo speaks cheerfully, making Rukia blink. She quickly frowns and nods her head, both running out of the house.
"He could be anywhere by now. Did your sisters or your father hear anything?" Rukia asks as they run down the street. Ichigo hums in thought, glancing around for any tall figures.
"Goat Face can sleep through the apocalypse. Yuzu was needed at the Butterfly Estate last evening and probably stayed the night to complete a few missions. Karin... she probably went on a patrol even though she probably should have stayed in bed," Ichigo eventually answers with a frown.
"That stubborn girl... She's so grounded if she even has a hint of a fever!" He slides to a stop when they pass by a smaller street. He backtracks, spotting the tall figure he had noticed.
"Sado Yasutora!" Ichigo shouts loudly, making the figure freeze. Chad whirls around, hunched over the birdcage.
"...Ichigo..." Chad shuffles nervously. Ichigo kicks off his shoe, bending down to grab it.
"Ichigo? What are you doing?" Rukia asks as she watches Ichigo raise his shoe.
"About to retrieve one of my patients after they escaped!" Ichigo states behind clenched teeth. Rukia blinks rapidly when Ichigo throws his shoe towards Chad.
Suddenly, a large Hollow appears right before Chad, making the bird screech loudly. Chad jumps back at the bird's warning, only for the shoe to fly in front of him.
Everyone freezes when Ichigo's shoe slams into the Hollow's head, making it fly away. Ichigo narrows his eyes as Chad takes the time to run.
"Sado Yasutora, don't you dare run! You got hit by a car!" Ichigo breaks into a sprint.
"Wait–did you just beat a Hollow with a shoe?!" Rukia chases after the orange haired teenager, watching the Hollow slowly get up.
"That's not important! My patient's running away!"
"You won't have a patient if you don't deal with that Hollow now–"
"Nī-Nīsan... Nīsan!" Ichigo whirls around, stumbling backwards from his momentum. He pales significantly when he sees Karin barely able to support herself with the stone wall.
"Karin!" Ichigo rushes forward when Karin starts to fall. Ichigo wraps his arms around Karin, falling with her.
"Karin... oh sweetheart, you should have stayed home!" He states worriedly, pressing the back of his hand against Karin's head. She was burning hot.
"Rukia-san–"
"Go on and get her inside. I can handle the Hollow until you get back," Rukia interrupts, already facing where Chad went. Ichigo sighs and nods his head, gently standing up with Karin curled in his arms.
"I'll be quick. Be careful, Rukia-san." Ichigo starts sprinting back home, careful to not jostle his little sister too much.
"N-Nīsan... Nīsan..." Karin clenches her fist around Ichigo's haori. "Nīsan, you have to save that kid... he... I saw his memories... he saw–his mother was murdered right in front of him! Nīsan, you have to help him!"
"Karin... Karin, you stubborn girl. You are in so much trouble once you get better!" Ichigo exclaims with a huff. Karin chuckles through her pain, tears falling from her eyes.
"I–I was trying to find the kid... I... the memories kept coming back. I'm sorry–"
Ichigo slows to a stop in front of their house. "Shh, sweetheart. You did good, but you could have sent Ishi-chan!"
"Sent Ishi to help Y'zu..." Karin's speech starts to slur. Ichigo smiles softly, walking into the house.
"You both take after me too much," Ichigo says to himself before he gently kisses Karin's forehead. He sighs as he starts to walk up the stairs. He needs to hurry, before Chad and Rukia get hurt.
The foreboding doors of Hell snap close in front of Ichigo. He watches as cracks form from the bottom of the doors, travelling up along the skeletons holding them closed and towards the top. They shatter and fall away in black shards.
"I'm glad to know demons are punished for their sins, alive or dead," Ichigo mutters under his breath with a small smile.
"What did you say?" Rukia's question makes Ichigo smile wider. He shakes his head and turns towards her.
Rukia stares up at him in confusion, watching as he walks closer. Ichigo leans down and gently presses his lips against Rukia's pale cheek.
"Thank you, Rukia-san." He stands back up and starts walking towards where Chad stood, leaving Rukia frozen in shock.
"You–did you–did you just–" Rukia stutters, face slowly turning a bright rose red. She turns to watch Ichigo walk away without a single word.
"You, Sado Yasutora, sit and stay there. I'll go get the bird," Ichigo orders the taller teenager in a stern tone, not even pausing in his stride. Chad listens without a moment's hesitation and sits on the sidewalk curb.
"W-wait–Ichigo–you–you just kissed–"
"Rukia-san, sit next to Yasutora-san. I'll check over your injuries when I get back," Ichigo calmly interrupts Rukia before he turns around the corner. Rukia opens and closes her mouth before she slowly raises a hand to touch her cheek.
She turns to face a highly amused Chad, pointing at where Ichigo went. "He–he just ki–he kissed me."
"Inoue's not going to be happy that someone else is joining the competition," Chad voices his thoughts as he stares up at the early morning sky. Dawn's breaking.
"What–what do you mean is–" Rukia rushes over, stumbling on her way closer "–what–why did Ichigo just k-kiss me?!"
"Showing his gratitude. You gave him time to take care of his sister," Chad states as if it was obvious.
Rukia drops down next to Chad, still in utter shock. What the actual fuck.
"W-wait. You can see Ichigo?!" Rukia snaps his head towards Chad. Chad stays silent and still.
"...once you've felt his doctor's fury, or felt his shoe throw, you can never forget it," Chad states with a slight shiver.
"Oh..." Rukia pales in realization.
"Oh." Chad nods in agreement. Oh indeed.
Hey! Hope you all like the new chapter! Sorry for not posting last Sunday! I got really sick (no COVID thankfully) and was really out of it.
No shoes were harmed in the making of this chapter. Also, because the forms were unknown, I created my own first form and third form for flower breathing!
I hope you all like the story so far! Bye.
WhovianWhoudini
