Chapter Twenty Five:
Coughing hard, Byakuya groaned as he lifted his head, eyes rolling slightly as he shook off the remnants of unconsciousness, flinching as a spike of pain shot through his body. Everything hurt. His memories were a little cloudy but he remembered crashing through the window of the tavern and falling into the abyss beyond. The recollection of Shiro's hand grabbing hold of his own made him glanced around his new location in search of the Hollow, feeling oddly lonely without his company.
Pushing himself onto his knees, he swallowed back bile as the pavement swirled in front of him, blackness tingeing the edges of his vision which had nothing to do with Shiro's potential influence. His arms shook and he almost fell flat on his face again, frowning faintly as he saw specks of blood strike the concrete under his palms.
A quivering hand lifted and pressed against his forehead, rocking back onto his knees as he felt a deep gash above his eyebrow. Just how hard had he hit the floor? He hadn't taken any form of damage from falling through Ichigo's Inner World up until now, what had changed?
"Holy shit! There ya are!"
Relief zapped through him like an electric current as Shiro came into sight, the Hollow rushed towards him and dropped at his side, checking the head wound over with cold hands.
"Where were you?" He asked, frowning faintly.
"Got separated durin' the fall. Couldn't find ya for a while, couldn't even sense ya reiatsu. Were ya knocked out?" The pale version of Ichigo was fussing over him, much how he imagined his sunset version would do in the same circumstances.
"Mm, I think so." He winced as his wound was touched around the edges, "What happened? How did I get injured?"
The Hollow glanced skywards, taking in the thick cloud cover above them, it was threatening to rain, "Probably an outside influence. King might have had a blip or somethin'... Maybe his condition got worse?"
"Then we don't have a lot of time left to finish this." Forcing himself to stand, he grabbed the Hollow's arm to steady himself and shook his head harshly, "Ugh, we need to get to Ichigo and get him out of here."
"Well, on the subject of findin' King... Ya might wanna turn around."
Spinning on the spot, Byakuya cast an eager gaze across the city landscape, briefly taking notice of the blue and black skyscrapers which surrounded them before his eyes fell on the shock of orange hair which pinpointed Ichigo.
He felt like the breath had been knocked from his lungs, finally able to cast his eyes over the familiar form of the person he'd come so far to find. The noble felt a smile tug at the corners of his lips as the world seemed to slow down around him, even if it was only for a moment.
"He seems... Frozen. What's going on?" He asked.
Shiro seemed disinterested in his question as he started walking towards the strawberry, he only stopped when Byakuya grabbed his arm, "Look, ya don't need to worry, ya don't have to fight either of us. Ya don't really need to do anythin' now."
"What do you mean? I just want to see if he's alright. What's going on?" The noble pressed, frowning softly as his smile faded.
Shiro stared at him, his expression changing slowly from contentment to mania, there was a dark glint in his eyes which seemed to spit danger, "He ain't your concern anymore. Back off."
"Who's side are you on?" He asked quietly, fresh concern rising from his gut.
"Who's side?" The Hollow repeated, laughing loudly, "I'm on my side of course! Where else would I be?"
"Are you... Did you accompany me just so you could reach him?"
"Yes and no. I couldn't have found my way back without yer help. But now I'm back, and I'll take what's mine."
Tension seeped into Byakuya's stance, "I trusted you!"
"More fool ya! Byakuya Kuchiki!" Shiro's eyes were empty of the former affection they'd held, instead they contained only the raw desire to devour.
"You bastard." He hissed, clenching a fist, "Were you playing me all along? Or has your true instinct returned only now that you see your meal before you?"
"Does it really matter?"
"No." He breathed, "No it does not."
He kicked off the floor with all his might, using Shunpo to shoot past the Hollow with outstretched hands, reaching for Ichigo in a desperate attempt to snag him out of the line of on coming danger; his body arched as a bone breaking kick connected with his abdomen, making him spit blood as he impacted with one of the skyscrapers, sliding down to the floor with a jolt.
Lifting his head again, he looked towards the still form of his heart's desire. Ichigo remained stood in the middle of the street, his head tilted upwards as if he was observing the storming sky above, his expression was slack and yet there was a worrisome crease at the corners of his eyes, as if he was seeing or feeling something which was making him anxious. Byakuya wondered just how much Ichigo was currently aware of in that state, he didn't seem disturbed by the violent crash his body had made, nor the overwhelmingly dark reiatsu approaching.
Snarling, Byakuya lifted his right hand, "Ye Lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the South! Hadō 31: Shakkahō!" As the red orb charged in his palm, he lifted his left hand, barely taking a breath as he chanted again, "Ye Lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! On the wall of blue flame, inscribe a twin lotus. In the abyss of conflagration, wait at the far heavens! Hadō 73: Sōren Sōkatsui!"
The red and blue energy intermingled as they were fired together, engulfing the entire block in powerful waves, wiping out three buildings as it passed through them. He heard a roar of anger from the Hollow, knowing at least some damage had been dealt by his Kidō.
Pushing up onto his feet, he staggered, his bones creaking from the impact he'd taken, he shook it off and lifted his left hand again, aiming it at Ichigo's prone form; his expression darkened slightly at his decision to use such a tactic, "Hadō 1: Shō!"
The kinetic energy which pulsed from his fingertips connected with Ichigo's back, flinging him forwards just in time to miss an enraged Shiro who had been swinging Zangetsu towards his head.
"Bakudō 9: Geki!" Red energy seeped across his entire body as his nimble fingers drew symbols in the air in front of him, clenching his teeth at the draw on his reiatsu as he shot forwards, hand wrapping around Shiro's wrist rightly, engulfing him in the scarlet light, watching as the Hollow became paralysed.
"Ya think yer pathetic Kidō can stop me? I'll break this, and then I'll break ya... I will become the King, ya can't stop me!" Shiro hissed, quivering as he fought the energy which held him in place.
"If I have to contain you here for a thousand years, I will do so." Byakuya breathed, "But we are running out of time, if he dies, so do you."
"If he dies I can take control! He won't be around to stop me anymore!"
"Then I will have to stop you for him." He lifted his free hand and narrowed his eyes, "Hadō 33: Sōkatsui!"
At such close range, the burn of blue flames tore through his fingerless tekkō, the force throwing them away from each other. He winced through the pain, feeling blood dripping down his fingertips as he watched crimson seep over the white shihakusho the Hollow was wearing.
His second impact with a building left him just as dazed as the first time and he almost blacked out, the only thing stopping him was the faint glimmer of sunset orange he could see in his peripheral vision. If he passed out, no one would protect Ichigo, and if Shiro took control... Division Four would be in danger.
Unohana, Urahara, Yoruichi, Renji... Rukia. They were all out there waiting. He couldn't allow them to come to harm. He wouldn't allow it.
"Gotta hand it to ya, not many people would have the guts to face me like this. Weaponless, defenceless, at a disadvantage... Is that what it means to be a Taichou, or is yer death wish unique to ya?"
Eyes widening, his gaze snapped up as the Hollow appeared beside him, blood red Cero already fully charged in his outstretched fist, he would be able to dodge it in time.
"Bakudō 81: Dankū!" He regretted that his voice was barely more than a whisper, and was thrown some distance as the Cero erupted through the defensive wall he'd managed to create within seconds of on coming death.
His body skidded across the tarmac of the road he'd been tossed into, blood seeping from between his lips and down the side of his face as he rolled to a stop. He was on his back, staring up at the sky which had grown thunderous during their clash. Flashes of lightening did nothing to illuminate the dark canopy of sky, fat drops of rain beginning to splash the buildings and floor.
He gasped, panting for breath as he felt the water strike him. Was this why Ichigo hated the rain? Was it always raining in his Inner World? He was sure he too would loath it if that was the case. His own Inner World was usually as calm and tranquil as his stoic front. Senbonzakura would likely be horrified if storms like this struck his home, the Zanpakutō so despised change.
Carefully turning onto his front, the noble dug his hands into the floor as he tried to rise, refusing to be beaten while laying down. He wavered dangerously as blood filled his mouth and he doubled over as it erupted from him without permission, splashing down the front of his shihakusho and over his hands.
Was he dying? Was Ichigo dying?
He felt cold. There was an uncomfortable chill settling around his shoulders, one which couldn't be accounted for by the torrential rains. It was getting so hard to keep his eyes open, his lids were so heavy, so tired. Was Ichigo's body failing again? Was that why he was suddenly finding it so hard to get up? Or had he taken more damage than he'd realised?
He stumbled, falling back down and landing against something soft. He peered around uncertainly, faltering as his gaze fell upon Ichigo's face.
He looked like he was sleeping soundly, but there was a frown on his face which wouldn't relax, he looked like he was in pain. A scowl formed on the noble's face in response and he gingerly reached down, allowing his fingers to brush the soft skin of Ichigo's cheek, he felt so much warmer than his actual body, or maybe it was because his hands were cold. He wasn't sure.
"How ridiculous... To find myself in such a position." He muttered, chuckling humourlessly as he heard approaching footsteps, glancing up to see Shiro prowling towards them both, "Whatever it takes... I did say that. Whatever it takes..."
Lurching to his feet, the noble limped forwards, his shoulders slumped as he fixed the Hollow with a deathly glare. He had promised to do whatever it took to bring Ichigo back. Yoruichi was waiting for their game of tag. Rukia and Renji were waiting for their best friend to scowl at them and complain about them being too sentimental. Urahara was waiting for the guilt of Māji's previous failure to be lifted by a success. Soul Society was waiting.
Raising his left hand slowly, he watched his fingers shake from the damage inflicted by his earlier Kidō, his right hand twisted behind him, aiming at Ichigo as he began chanting under his breath, his skill with Nijū Eishō allowing him to mix the incantations of two very different spells, his breathing laboured as he forced himself to keep going.
Behind him, Ichigo was engulfed within a pale blue barrier, completely entrapping his body. He saw Shiro speed up, clearly displeased with the obstacle between him and his prize, the Hollow's temper was to his advantage as he shot straight towards him, apparently deciding he would cut him down and finish things fast, no longer enjoying the game of cat and mouse.
Preparing himself for the on coming pain, Byakuya gritted his teeth as the huge blade of Zangetsu buried itself in his stomach, fresh blood bubbled up from between his teeth as he completed his chant, outstretched left hand fisting in white locks of hair.
"Hadō 96: Ittō Kasō."
The pain was immense. He'd read about it, of course, but experiencing it was something utterly different. Both Shiro and he watched the brilliant red cracks which appeared in his skin, crawling and creeping up his arm, disappearing under the tattered sleeve of his shihakusho as they began to glow with force.
Shiro's eyes turned to his and there was a distinctive expression of terror etched on his face, "YOU'RE INSANE!"
"Look who's talking." He allowed a dark smile to uplift his lips as the ground beneath them was torn open by a pillar of scarlet light which took the form of a giant katana tip, there was a second of silence before the world roared around them, as the beam of energy exploded with devastating effect, levelling countless skyscrapers within the vicinity.
Zangetsu drew in a breath. The destruction was far beyond anything he had expected. To think the Hollow would fight so hard to claim what was his, to the ignorance of everything else which moved in the shadows. The creature really was more trouble than he was worth. Utterly intolerable. And yet necessary.
Closing his eyes, he felt a change in the breeze and the pressure which had been building during the thunderstorm began to fade, allowing warm rays of sunshine to break through the cover of cloud. A soft sigh of relief escaped his lips as he stepped down from the thin black post he usually resided upon.
Long black coat fluttering out around him as he dropped off the side of the building, his eyes opened to the scene before him. It would take some time for the Inner World to recover from such a battle, it was far worse than anything he had come to see so far.
Landing lightly on his feet, Zangetsu glanced at the three bodies scattered across the street, expression unchanged as he checked each one, eyes lingering only a little longer on Ichigo than the others.
The grim spirit strode forwards, easily tearing down the pale blue barrier which stood between him and his Shinigami partner, he crouched and carefully assessed the damage that had been afflicted, subtly surprised to find barely a scratch on his body.
"Can you hear me now, Ichigo?" He asked, long locks of dark hair tumbling down around his face.
"Old Man? Z-Zangetsu?" Chestnut eyes winced as they opened.
"Welcome back." The Zanpakutō spirit mused, offering a hand out to assist his partner in standing.
Groaning as he was pulled to his feet, Ichigo peered around slowly at the devastation, "What the fuck happened?"
"Your pale counterpart decided to entertain himself with the Shinigami who came here to retrieve you." A bespectacled glare looked out over the debris until it came to rest upon a crumpled, white form.
Ichigo paused for thought, following his gaze before anger etched over his expression, "You."
Stalking forwards, the strawberry clambered over a broken railing, jumped over a large section of crumbling wall and stomped a furious foot onto the chest of the Hollow, refusing to relent even as he heard a weak cry of pain from his albino double.
"You son-of-a-bitch. I give you control for all of half an hour and suddenly I can't get out of my Inner World? What the fuck have you been doing out there?" The strawberry snarled, twisting his heel sharply.
"Ack!" The Hollow arched, trying to squirm away from the blossoming pain in his gut, blood dripping down the side of his face and chest from the Kidō, "F-Fuck when did ya get so mad?"
"I'm asking the questions, bastard! What did you do?!" He hissed.
It was startling to see just how alike they looked, like inverted versions of each other. And yet where there was warmth in his own being, there was only coldness and malice coming from the other. It was terrifying, and yet oddly familiar, borderline comforting.
"I didn't trap ya in here, I swear! Ow! I didn't! King, I swear on our life!" The Hollow was digging his fingers into Ichigo's heel in an effort to alleviate the pressure, "When that blue haired freak broke our mask I got stuck outside of yer Inner World, in like... A limbo, I ain't been able to get back in until now!"
"Why the hell would I believe you?"
"Zangetsu, tell him!"
Two pairs of eyes fixed on the Zanpakutō spirit, he blinked and tucked his hands in the pockets of his long coat, "As much as it pains me to help him given the destruction he has caused, the Hollow speaks the truth. When you gave him control, the Cero which broke his mask tore the pair of you apart by force, trapping you in here, and him... In the void between the real world and the Inner World."
"Fuck." Ichigo breathed, looking down at his doppelgänger, "How did you get back in?"
"Yer little playmate broke in." The Hollow muttered, looking away in annoyance as he remained pinned down, "Seems like yer body ain't doing too great on the outside, he came in to get ya."
"My playmate?" He paused, his eyes widened, "You mean Byakuya?"
"Yeah." There was a pout forming, "I tried to help him... Acted like a guide... But things went to shit when we got back here."
"What do you mean?"
Shiro hesitated, hissing as the heel on his chest twisted again, "So mean," he winced, "I was different. Out there, in the limbo... I was better. I wanted to help, wanted to be good. And I was good. Until we managed to reach this fuckin' place. It was like being reunited with a bad habit."
"I don't understand." The strawberry gently loosened the pressure he was pinning the other man with.
"Hollows are instinctual. The most basic of needs, the simplest of urges. We're fuelled by 'em." Shiro sighed deeply as he was allowed to breathe a little easier, "I crave power, yer power. I don't mean to, it's just what I am. While we were apart I could breathe, I could concentrate, I could be better. But the moment I got back it crashed around me. The need returned. And I tried to take what I wanted."
Ichigo removed his foot completely and stepped back, frowning faintly at the Hollow, he could understand those urges, for the longest time it was almost all he knew as well. He couldn't help but feel a swell of pity rising in his chest.
"You seem in control now." He shrugged, holding a hand out, "Come on."
"What?" The pale figure frowned deeply, "Yer... Forgivin' me?"
"No, I'm pissed that you want to take over but I owe you for helping me save Rukia and Byakuya. I don't forget the people I owe." He returned the frown with one of his own, "Come on."
A pale hand reached up and accepted the help, staggering a little before he rolled his shoulders, "Man yer a sap."
"Fuck you too."
"Should probably go help yer playmate... The Kidō he used was..." He trailed off, "Hadō 96."
Ichigo's eyes widened sharply, "The spell of sacrifice? What was he thinking?"
The strawberry turned on the spot and ran across the street, he could see a slumped form up ahead and nearly tripped in his effort to get closer as fast as possible.
The crater was shallow but wide, with a searing slash engraved deeply into the tarmac road, smoke tendrils were still trickling skywards from the scorch marks and the embers which clung so desperately to life on every surface.
Byakuya was on his back, blood spilling laboriously from the large stab wound in his abdomen, staining his black uniform with crimson; his left sleeve was torn and smouldering as if it had been burnt away to reveal the charred skin of his arm and hand. His face was covered in a sheen of sweat and blood was leaked from parted lips.
He looked like death.
"Byakuya?" He gulped, dropping down at his side, his hands twitching in his lap as he struggled to know whether he should touch him or not, "Can you hear me?"
He heard footsteps growing closer and a brief glance around showed him Zangetsu and Shiro were stood together, far enough to give him privacy but close enough that they could help if it was needed. There was a swell of gratitude in his gut, despite the mess his Hollow had created, he couldn't bring himself to blame him.
The noble was in a bad way, he could tell at a glance, and while he wasn't sure if it was possible to die inside someone else's Inner World he didn't really want to test it. They had to leave, and soon. If Shiro and Zangetsu were telling the truth and his body was failing, there was really no telling how long he had.
"Can you help me?" He glanced towards his two companions.
"Sure."
"Of course, Ichigo."
His gratitude only grew as the pair worked together, helping him heft Byakuya onto his back, draping his arms around his neck to keep him balanced. The malice he'd seen in Shiro's face had died down, apparently he truly was capable of remorse.
"You like him, don't you?" The strawberry felt a small tug at the corner of his mouth.
"I like him because you like him." The Hollow looked away awkwardly, "But it works both ways. Remember that."
Ichigo nodded once and looked around at the nightmare state of his Inner World, "Man, this place needs a break from my shit."
"It would not be the same without being redecorated every few months." The usually grim Zanpakutō soul seemed to smirk.
"Screw you, Old Man." He shook his head and paused, "How do I get out?"
"This is your world, Ichigo. You need only desire to leave."
"Oh... Right."
He closed his eyes and let out a long breath, gritting his teeth with concentration as he tried to focus on drawing himself and his lover out of the entrapment of his own head.
"Oi," Shiro's voice interrupted him briefly, "I'll only say this once. I'm not gonna have it, Ichigo, I dunno about Zangetsu, but I refuse to carry a king who's weaker than me, and get cut to ribbons with him. If yer weaker than me, I'll destroy ya, and take yer crown for myself."
Ichigo shot him a glare, that hunger was back already, "Is that your best attempt and wishing me good luck?"
"Maybe. But I ain't going anywhere, Aibou. If ya don't wanna end up with me in charge make sure ya don't die again."
'Aibou?' The strawberry frowned faintly, it was fitting in a sense, they were partners in crime regardless of whether or not the Hollow wanted his power.
Ichigo sucked in a deep breath, eyes fluttering in a wince as he was momentarily blinded by the warm sunlight filtering through the window above his bed. The world looked oddly tricoloured compared to the blue and black theme of his Inner World, he'd grown so used to it during his imprisonment.
Fingers twitching at his sides, he allowed his gaze to roam the room, surprised to see so many confused and happy faces greeting him from around his bedside.
Closest to him was Unohana, she looked tired and yet overwhelmingly relieved; beside her was her Fukutaichou Isane who also looked ready for a fortnight long sleep; Renji and Rukia were side by side at the bottom of the bed, he was sure he could see Rukia's hand being held tightly in one of the redhead's larger ones, she looked like she had been crying. Shifting to the right of his best friends he was surprised to see the unflappable grin on Urahara's face, hat tilted down to shield his eyes, one of the blond's hands was resting on the head of a sleeping black cat that was curled up on his lap.
His throat was sore, too sore to speak, but as he suddenly remembered the state Byakuya had been in while inside his head, his eyes instantly searched for him, feeling a weight at his side, he saw the man stretched out beside him, face slightly flushed and sheened with sweat. His breathing was ragged and a small frown puckered his brow. He was still sleeping soundly.
What drew him in, with concern, was the sight of thick bandages which were wrapped around his lover's bare torso and left arm. Raising a shaky hand of his own, he touched the noble's cheek, feeling how clammy he was, he forced his voice out.
"He looks... Like shit." He muttered, earning a small snort from Renji.
"Indeed, it would appear Byakuya-san encountered a lot of resistance in that head of yours." Urahara murmured from his seated position.
"I don't understand."
"Bakudō 101: Māji, was a Kidō of my own making, something to allow a soul to enter the Inner World of another. It is as powerful as it is dangerous." The blond lifted the sleeping cat off his legs and rested it on the chair as he stood, "It not only intermingles your Inner Worlds, but your Souls as well."
"So... Any damage you take in the Inner World is reflected on your body?" He asked.
"Correct, Kurosaki-san." The fan was flourished for effect.
"But..." His mouth went dry and his gaze settled on the bandaged arm hanging limply on the bed.
Unohana reached out, resting her hand gently on his orange tresses of hair, "Kuchiki Taichou was very insistent upon helping you, saving you. Anything he did or didn't do within your Inner World was done because he felt it needed to happen. Do not blame yourself, Kurosaki-san."
He glanced up at her, feeling incredibly tired all of a sudden, he slumped back and let out a long breath, "He's an idiot."
"Says you, idiot!" Rukia muttered, free hand clenched in a fist, "What were you thinking?! Letting your Hollow out like that! You could have died!"
Ichigo smiled faintly at her rebuke, accepting her scolding willingly, he only dared speak when it became apparent she genuinely wanted an answer, "Rukia Kuchiki it's taken me a long time to realise it... But dying for my friends is the least I am willing to do."
Her eyes widened at his admission, mouth falling open slightly, "You... You idiot."
His lips merely twitched again and he glanced down at his Taichou, his lover, "I still have a lot of things to make amends for."
