A.N.: This is a request by draxon.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Chapter Eighteen
The Next Day…
Karakura Town
Ichigo sighed as he headed home, his day of school finally over. He'd been itching to get back home to Halibel to make sure she was okay and adjusting to her new environment. The last thing he needed was for his father to tick her off and she pummeled him until there was nothing left.
He hadn't told Tatsuki, Chizuru or Keigo about Halibel, though it pained him to leave his friends in the dark. At the moment, he didn't know how to tell his friends he got a woman pregnant without explaining his double life as a Substitute Soul Reaper. He hated keeping secrets from his friends but for now, he had to keep them in the dark. Not only that, he didn't want to know what Keigo's reaction if he saw Halibel would be…
Hearing a muffled cry from his backpack, Ichigo scowled and opened it up, revealing a tied up Kon. "You be quiet!" he told the animated plushy. "You deserved this for trying to perv on Halibel."
After being introduced to the bombshell Halibel, the Mod Soul was in absolute love for the Halibel, jumping onto her cleavage. Halibel immediately swatted the plushy away but that didn't stop him from continuing to try and perv on the woman. After catching Kon trying to sneak a peek at Halibel while taking a shower, Ichigo tied up the Mod Soul and took him to school with him to make sure he stayed put.
"It's not fair!" Kon pouted as Ichigo removed the gag. "You get such a hottie! How come jerks like you get all the babes?!"
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Kon, for the last time, stop acting like such a letch. You're lucky Halibel didn't rip the stuffing out of you when she caught you looking at her butt."
"I'd have died a happy man!" Kon protested.
"Kon, you-"
The Substitute stopped in his tracks when he felt a shudder in the air. "This is…" He already knew what it was: an Arrancar.
The trees around him went still and all of the birds stopped their singing, as if a pale of dread and despair had fallen up on the town. Ichigo couldn't help but sweat when he felt the strong presence of the intruder. Whoever it was, they were strong.
Grabbing his combat pass, Ichigo pressed it against Kon, the Mod Soul's pill popping out. He put it in his mouth and swallowed, popping out of his Human body. "Get home, Kon!"
"Ichigo, are you sure?" Kon asked, scared by the strong spiritual pressure. "What are you going to do?"
Gripping his sword, Ichigo tensed. "I can already tell what they're here for. I'm going to stop them."
"But Ichigo! Shouldn't you grab Halibel?"
"She can't fight right now!" Ichigo protested, remembering Kisuke's warning from earlier. "Now go home!"
Kon watched Ichigo jump into the air and disappear into the distance, feeling worried for his friend…
It didn't surprise Ichigo where he felt the Arrancar's presence coming from: his and Halibel's training sight. Grabbing Zangetsu tightly, Ichigo made his way up the mountain, wondering who Aizen sent to the World of the Living.
Reaching the training ground, he saw a single man standing amongst the severed stumps. The piercing glare from him set Ichigo on edge. "Who are you?"
The Arrancar was on old man but his appearance said that he was anything but feeble. Wearing a crown-like mask fragment, the Arrancar stared at Ichigo with his one good eye, wearing a thick white coat with a black furry collar and golden bracelets. Ichigo felt shivers run down his spine as he stared down the Arrancar, who remained motionless. Ichigo didn't see a zanpakuto on him but the powerful pressure radiating from this man told him he was very dangerous.
In a gruff voice the man said three words. "Where is she?"
"Who are you?!" Ichigo demanded.
Tilting his head back, the Arrancar scoffed. "I am Barragan Louisenbarn. Where is she, boy?" His head tilted and his one eye scanned the town before him. "I know she's here." Barragan turned back to Ichigo. "Tell me where she is now," he demanded.
Ichigo pointed his zanpakuto at Barragan, ready to fight. "Like hell I'm telling you!"
Barragan's eye narrowed. "That wasn't an request, Soul Reaper," he spat, crossing his arms. "You will tell me where she is."
"And if I refuse?"
The Espada looked at Ichigo's zanpakuto like it was a twig. "Hmph. You are but an ant, boy. Your defiance is pointless."
"Oh yeah?!" Ichigo shouted, tired of this man's arrogance. "We'll see!" he charged at Barragan, sword ready to pierce the man's chest. His advance barely got two feet towards him when shadows lunged out of the forest, barring his path. He skidded to a halt when he saw six more Arrancar, all of them defending their leader. "Those your Fracción?" he asked.
"Hmph! It seems the traitor's told you a bit about our forces." He snapped his fingers and two of his minions brought out a large bag. Ichigo watched in confusion as bones fell out of the bag before they flew up into the air and formed a throne of bones for Barragan. Sitting down in his chair, Barragan pointed his hand at Ichigo. "Break him," he commanded. "The boss wants Ichigo Kurosaki alive but I will make him suffer for his disobedience first. Findor, Abirama," he addressed, talking to the blonde Arrancar whose mask covered his face and the one with an eagle's skull-fragment and war paint. "Search the city and find her. If the boss is telling the truth, she's with child and won't put up a fight. Kill all who stand in your way."
"Yes, sir!" the two shouted in unison. "Your wish is our command, Your Majesty!" The two jumped into the air and darted for the city, only for Ichigo to meet them midair.
"You're going nowhere!" Ichigo shouted, his fears confirmed. Aizen knew Halibel was pregnant. And if these malicious Arrancars found her in his home, they'll kill his father, Yuzu, Karin and Kon. He had to stop them here. Holding his sword out, Ichigo charged his spiritual pressure to the max. "BAN…KAI!"
Barragan watched unimpressed as Ichigo disappeared in a whirl of energy, clad in his black cloak and clutching his black zanpakuto. "A black Bankai?" He scoffed again and sat back in his chair. "So what?" He glanced up at his men in the air. "My orders still stand. Crush him." He held up a hand and balled it into a fist. "Show him how feeble his strength is!"
"Yes, sir!" the Arrancars said, drawing swords.
One of the larger of the men, a brutish man with a helmet-fragment and blonde hair, gripped his sword tightly in his massive hand and grinned. "That's a Bankai? Pathetic!" The brute charged at Ichigo, ready to chop him in two. He was unprepared, though, for when Ichigo swung Tensa Zangetsu, cutting right through his sword. A spray of blood erupted from his chest as he realized that Ichigo had cut not only through his zanpakuto but through his thick Hierro skin. "What? How?" he choked before falling to the ground.
"Whose strength is feeble?" Ichigo taunted, pointing his blade at the rest of them. "Is that all you've got?"
The other five men tensed before Ichigo disappeared from their sight. Using his Bankai's high speed, Ichigo slashed at all five of them. Each of the men managed to block Ichigo's strike but the massive force of the blow sent them all careening down into the mountainside.
The only one of the five to not be knocked down was the biggest of them, a huge hulking Arrancar with massive fists. He blocked Ichigo's attack and was sent skidding backwards but was undeterred. He looked down at the gash on his arm and frowned. "So, the rumors about you are true," he noted. "I guess being trained by an Espada has its perks."
"You don't know anything about me!" Ichigo said.
"We know more than you think, Ichigo Kurosaki," the large man replied.
"Where's your zanpakuto?"
Holding up a fist, the Arrancar merely stared at the black-clad Substitute. "This is the only weapon I need." The Fracción charged at the boy and swung his massive fist. Confident in his strength, he thought that he could pound the boy into the ground before moving on to find Halibel. He was shocked though, when Ichigo blocked his strike with the back of his sword, the impact not even fazing him "What?"
"Was that supposed to be a punch?" Ichigo taunted, getting irritated by the Arrancars. The man threw another punch but Ichigo easily dodged the strike. "Too slow!" With another swing of his black blade, Ichigo carved through the Arrancar's chest.
"Gah!" choked the Arrancar, coughing blood. He threw another slow punch at Ichigo but it only gave the boy the opportunity to amputate his arm. "Too strong!" he choked before falling to the ground like a meteor.
Ichigo swung his sword, wiping the blood off of it, before turning back to the still sitting Barragan. The two men glared at each other before Ichigo heard the thunder-like sound of air footsteps coming towards him. "You've not won yet, Ichigo Kurosaki."
Turning his head, Ichigo saw the blonde masked Arrancar from before, Findor. "You guys don't know when to give up." Ichigo held up his blade and readied for his strike. "I could sense it when I attacked you. You're weaker than the other five."
"Exacta," the man praised. "Your senses are sharper than we gave you credit for. But as you of all people should know, boy…" Findor held a hand to show him the blade on his wrist. "Appearances can be deceiving."
Ichigo stared in confusion as Findor broke his mask with the blade. The left half of his mask fell to the ground before he charged at Ichigo. The boy blocked his attacked but he cringed as the force came a lot harder than he expected. 'His attack…is stronger?!'
"You did well to block it." Jumping back, Findor smashed more of his mask, only his right eye covered now. "How about now?" Findor swung his sword but like his compatriots he was caught off guard when Ichigo appeared suddenly in front of him. He cursed as Ichigo pushed him back, staving off his attacks.
"That's a neat trick," Ichigo admitted. "But it's not-"
"YOOHOO!"
Ichigo turned his head to see the strangest person come charging at him. "What the hell?"
"Beautiful Charlotte Coolhorn's miraculous-sweet-ultra-funky-fantastic-dramatic-romantic-sadistic-erotic-exotic-athletic shining attack!"
The effeminate Arrancar smashed into Ichigo, pushing him away from Findor. Ichigo cursed his carelessness, knowing that he shouldn't have expected them to come at him one-on-one. Pushing the strange Arrancar away, Ichigo put his arms up to cut the Arrancar in half when he felt a shadow loom over him.
"OHHHHHHHH!" screamed Abirama as he chopped at Ichigo, angered from being smashed into a mountainside. "TAKE THISSSS!" His attack missed though when Ichigo Flashstepped away, reappearing behind the crazed warrior.
"I've had enough of you guys!" Ichigo shouted, taking another swing. But he saw something at the edge of his peripheral vision and jumped backwards again as the last one of the bunch appeared, his short sword missing Ichigo's eyes by a hair. "Whoa!
Abirama turned his head to see who saved him. "Ggio!"
The Arrancar, a thin, small man with shaggy black hair and a skull-fragment on top his head, grinned as he pointed his sword at Ichigo. "You didn't think it'd be that easy, did you, Ichigo Kurosaki?"
"For a moment there, yeah. I kinda did." Ichigo braced himself for a four-on-one fight, knowing he couldn't catch them by surprise and swat them aside to get to Barragan. "You should back down. You're no match for me."
Findor stepped forward. "You overestimate yourself, Ichigo Kurosaki," the blonde Arrancar smiled. "Why don't you surrender and tell us where Tier Halibel is?"
"You might have me outnumbered, but not outmatched," Ichigo pointed out.
"Is that so?" The four Arrancars laughed. "Don't get conceited just because you're a little faster than us. Or have you forgotten…" Findor held up his rapier, "that we have zanpakuto releases too?"
Ichigo cursed and charged at the four but was thwarted when he felt the dark call of his Inner Hollow trying to but in. The four used Ichigo's hesitation to transform in front of him.
"Carve upon the water: Pinza Aguda."
"Scrape the summit: Aguila!"
"Bite off: Tigre Estoque!"
"Glitter: Reina De Rosas!"
All four glowed before emerging in their transformed selves. Ichigo grimaced as he felt their spiritual pressures increase tremendously, his chance to end this swiftly over. Ggio's was the more tame of the transformations, wearing a black and gold outfit with fur covering his arms and legs with blades on each wrist, a third one dangling from his braid behind him. Abirama had transformed into a large red eagle, his wings flapping powerfully in the wind as he hovered. Findor now had a huge white pincer claw and padding that covered the right side of his body.
As for Charlotte Coolhorn…Ichigo tried very hard to not throw up in his mouth…
"Surprised?" Findor taunted. "I guess Halibel didn't teach you about how we Arrancars release our zanpakutos."
"So how about now, Soul Reaper?" Ggio sneered, holding up his bladed wrist. "Care to surrender before we rip you to shreds?"
For a second, Ichigo became immobile. Not out of fear but from his Inner Hollow trying to wrest control over his body. 'So…I deny you before…and this is your response?' he thought before tightening his grip on his zanpakuto. 'No. I am stronger than them. And I'm stronger than you!'
The four Arrancar all blinked as Ichigo's spiritual pressure skyrocketed, waves of black and red emanating from his body as he fought for control over his own body. Sitting in his chair, Barragan raised an eyebrow at the spectacle, intrigued by the boy. Soon, Ichigo felt the call of his Inner Hollow fade, pushed back by Ichigo's force of will. With determined eyes, Ichigo stared down the four. "Here I come!"
Despite having raised their powers, the Fracción were still caught off-guard when Ichigo attacked them. Ggio cursed as Ichigo appeared suddenly in front of him. The two engaged in fast and furious combat but Ichigo's blade managed to carve into him, Ggio unable to keep up with him.
"Get back, Ggio!" Findor shouted, attacking Ichigo with his claw. The two collided in midair, the sound of Ichigo's sword slamming into Findor's claw like thunder. "So, I see Halibel taught you well!" Findor praised. "But you're no match for Lord Barragan."
"Anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?" Ichigo taunted. "Grrrrr!"
Findor gasped as Ichigo's sword began to cut through his claw. Before the boy could hack through him, he jumped back and opened it up. "Don't underestimate me, Soul Reaper!" he shouted, shooting a wave of high-pressure water at him.
Ichigo evaded the attack but found his path blocked by Abirama. "Where do you think you're going, boy?" the eagle Arrancar spat. "Have you forgotten there's four of us?" The huge man beat his wings. "Let's see how you handle this! Devorar Pluma!" A barrage of red feathers shot at Ichigo, aiming to turn him into Swiss cheese. He was shocked when Ichigo batted them all away in the blink of an eye. "What? How fast is he?!"
Ichigo's Bankai pulsed with black energy. "Let's see how fast you are! Getsuga Tensho!" he shouted, launching his signature attack at Abirama. The man moved out of the way but not fast enough.
"GAHHHHH!" the man screamed as he felt Ichigo's strike cut through his wing. Blood erupted from the severed appendage and he fell to the ground below.
Ichigo turned to his next opponent, the…unique looking Charlotte. "That was quite the beautiful attack. It certainly fits one as handsome as yourself," the effeminate Arrancar said.
The boy deadpanned. "You know…you remind me a lot of someone I know back in the Soul Society."
"But I'm afraid this dance has to end. Even I can see you're starting to become worn out from fighting all of us. Too bad for you," Charlotte smiled, putting his hands together to make a heart, a ball of pink glowing in the middle. "Special kill! Charlotte Coolhorn's final-holy-wonderful-pretty-super-magnum-sexy-sexy-glamorous Cero!"
The attack made Ichigo want to barf in disgust. "That's just a regular cero!" he shouted as he swung his blade again, launching his attack one more time. "We'll see who's worn out! Getsuga Tensho!"
The black strike hit Charlotte's pink attack. The purple-haired Charlotte was stunned as his attack was pushed aside like it was nothing. "What?!" he gasped before he was hit dead center in the chest by the attack. When the smoke cleared Charlotte fell to the ground, a huge gash in his chest.
Panting, Ichigo turned to remaining two Arrancars, Ggio and Findor. "Now then, time to end this!"
"Indeed."
The blood in Ichigo's body turned cold when he realized the voice came from behind him. Turning his head, he saw Barragan standing right behind him, a look of displeasure all over his old, wrinkled face. "Hmmm…" he growled. Ichigo swung his blade but as it neared him, Ichigo could feel his attack slow down, giving Barragan enough time to dodge. Evading the strike like it was child's play, Barragan grabbed the back of Ichigo's sword. "I've had enough of your insolence, boy." With tremendous strength, Barragan hurled Ichigo towards the ground. Looking back up at his two standing followers, Barragan's eyes gleamed with anger. "Collect the others. You'll be punished when we return to Hueco Mundo…"
The two injured Arrancars gulped, knowing that they were in severe trouble. Regardless, fear of their liege compelled them to comply and they went down below to the mountain to fetch their wounded comrades.
Ichigo picked himself up from the small crater, panting. "How…" he panted. He grabbed Tensa Zangetsu lying next to him but noticed something baffling. Tensa Zangetsu…was rusted?! "What?!" He heard heavy footsteps behind him and saw Barragan approaching him.
"I grow tired of this little show, Soul Reaper. Tell me where the traitor is. Now."
Panting for breath, Ichigo merely scowled at the old man. "Never!" He charged at Barragan with his high-speed, intending on taking Barragan's head off. But once again, his attack slowed down as it neared him and Barragan caught his sword with his bare hand. "What the hell?!"
Gripping the blade tightly, Barragan hurled Ichigo away from him. Ichigo landed on his feet but saw that more of his zanpakuto had rusted, almost to the point where his Bankai was at the point of breaking. "What's going on?!"
"She never told you, did she?" Barragan couldn't help but laugh. "What a pitiful teacher!" Seeing Ichigo's confusion, Barragan reached up and grabbed a leaf that was blown in the wind. "We Espadas each govern a different form of death."
"Death?" Ichigo blinked.
"There are ten reasons for death. Each Espada embodies one of those aspects. They are our thoughts, abilities and our reason to exist. Your master's, for instance, is Sacrifice. And as for mine…" the leaf in his hand withered away until it crumbled in his fingers, "is Senescence. A product of time. You can defeat flesh and blood. But you can never defeat time."
Though his sword was rusty, his spiritual pressure was not. Readying his spirit energy, Ichigo launched another attack. "Getsuga Tensho!" He fired off his attack but was stunned as Barragan caught the crescent-shaped energy blast and crushed it with his bare hands. "What?!"
"Am I to assume that was your best?" Barragan asked, not impressed.
The boy's heart started pounding in his chest. He had no idea a Hollow could have such terrifying abilities. He realized that was what rusted Tensa Zangetsu. Though he didn't want to, he knew he had to run. He was no match against such a power. Turning around, he jumped into the air to escape, only to run headfirst into Barragan! "Wha-"
"Where do you think you're running off to?" Barragan asked. Ichigo raised his arm but Barragan grabbed it. "You cannot run from time any more than you can run from me."
CRACK!
Ichigo screamed in pain as his arm suddenly broke, the bones in his arm aging until they broke apart. Barragan raised a fist and punched Ichigo, sending him flying into a tree. Barragan grabbed him by the throat and slammed the boy up against the tree. He kept his aging powers in check as he gripped Ichigo's neck, knowing how much Aizen wanted the boy.
"Call to her," Barragan demanded. "I'm in no mood to play hide and seek. So you will bring her to me.
"Glckk!" Ichigo choked.
"Raise your spiritual pressure. She will sense it if she hasn't already and come running. Do it…" his eye narrowed as he tightened his grip on Ichigo's throat, "or perish."
"N-never!" Ichigo choked, knowing that he couldn't give in to Barragan's demands. He couldn't let Halibel be captured, even if it meant losing his life. "I won't!"
Barragan merely scowled. "Then die." His grip on Ichigo's throat tightened until Ichigo's face started to turn blue. Just as Ichigo was about to choke to death, Barragan felt a presence behind him.
"Barragan," Halibel addressed, her sword in hand as she faced her comrade. "Put. Him. DOWN!"
To be continued
