Chapter Thirteen: Memories & Return to Karakura
*Two Months Later*
Yoshiro sat in the main living area of the wing, thinking about recent events. It had been some time, and everyone was preparing for the coming fighting against the soul society. While no official date had been given, everyone knew it would be very soon till it all started. Training was an almost everyday thing dramatic improvement of everyone's arrancar powers and abilities increased a great deal.
Not everything revolved around the preparation for the coming war. Now that Yoshiro had regained a mostly human form, he was able to return to his favorite past time. Playing music, mainly playing his guitar. It was a little rough going getting back into the grove of it all, having not played in over a year but after a few days of practice he was back to his old self. Playing the chords and letting the music flow was a feeling of pure bliss to him.
Everyone else had also kept on their practice, they played smoothly as a four piece band. They even started doing some shows in one of the spare section of las noches. They drew a fair sized crowd all things considered when they played, granted they played nothing but covers but no one minded. Everyone had a fun time, 'Gimmie Shelter' by 'The Rolling Stones' became the fan favorite to play.
As Yoshiro sat their contemplating things, he suddenly noticed his mother walk in and take a seat in a chair nearby deep in her own thoughts. Everyone else was out attending to other business leaving them alone together in the wing. A sudden thought he never had before crossed his mind. He wondered if he should really ask it but ultimately decided he needed too otherwise it would constantly nag him.
"hey mom" he suddenly spoke up.
Halibel broken out of her own thoughts suddenly, looked at her son. "yes Yoshiro?" she asked
"What were things like for you and dad and everything?" he replied
Halibel was caught by surprise by the question but decided that he had the right to know. So she started to speak.
"You see" she began "to really explain that well enough I would have to start at the beginning of when we first met and go from there. Your father was on a long term business trip to Honolulu. At the time I was working as a bartender at a high class bar on the island. I remember first seeing him, tall, well built, well, groomed and thick hair, soft in the eyes too. At first it was just simply he would come to the bar when he was done with work and I would serve him. Nothing unusual about it all, one thing that caught me right away was how he treated me. Most men who came to the bar would simply look at me for my beauty and not for the person I was. He however was different from that."
"he treated me as the person I was not just some pretty face behind a bar counter. I suppose that was when I first started to build an interest with him. After, some time we began speaking in conversations as friends whenever he showed up. For me it was all very refreshing to talk to someone like that. We would talk about our interest, our days and such pretty standard things. This continued for a while then the end of the year celebration on the island happened. They day before I mentioned I had the celebration off from work. He just simply in the most nonchalant way just asked me if I would like join him for the celebration."
"that actually worked?" Yoshiro said
"oddly enough yes, I was so immune to other men trying so desperately to ask me out. That having one ask me in such manner came as a surprise to me. Plus I had started to know your father well enough to already know he was different from any other man I had met. So I decided to join him and see where it went. We met up the next day it was the early afternoon. I have to admit, he was nothing short of a gentleman the entire time. He was completely honest and sincere the entire time and always treated me with proper respect. Ultimately the night ended with us in each, other's arms watching the end of the year firework display on the local beach."
"it all built up from there I assume?" he chimed
"essentially yes as cliché as it may sound. I had my work schedule changed so I was off work roughly the same he was. We would spend our afternoons together, one time I got him to join me surfing, it was my favorite activity in life. I remember how many times he comically fell before he got the hang of it. eventually he got the hang of it and we were sharing the waves together. It was a wonderful time; it quickly became our favorite activity to do together."
"when did the major tipping point come?" Yoshiro spoke.
"Four months after the end of year celebration, we had grown very close by then. He had recently finished his business on the island and was preparing to head back to Japan. I thought that was to be end of our time together. We went to the beach together for what I thought was to be the final time. He surprised me with something I wasn't expecting in the slightest bit. He had it already sitting at the beach ready for when we arrived there. It was a brand new surfboard in the style I preferred, it was yellow and white with the image of a shark on top of it. the real surprise of it all was what was sitting on the middle of it. It was engagement ring, a golden band with a simple diamond on top of it. when I turned to him in my shock, he asked me to marry him."
"you clearly said yes, otherwise I wouldn't be here." Yoshiro piped up.
"of course, I made what preparation I needed and left to Japan with him. We married in a ceremony in the spring under blooming Sakura trees. I must admit I was the happiest I had ever been. Our marriage was a happy one, I was able to get a bartending job at a place to similar to what I had before. Thankfully, everyone was kind to me and didn't care I was a foreigner. We did typical marriage life things, vacations together, dinner party's with friends and so on. Of course your father made sure to find a beach to properly surf at for us. Then three years into our marriage we received the best knew ever."
"you found out you were pregnant with me." He stated
"exactly, we were both overjoyed at the news. It was all we could ever talk about with each other. we went over names and such, we repurposed a room in the house all ourselves to be a proper baby room for when you were born. Doctors said the pregnancy was progressing perfectly fine every time we went. A few weeks before I reached my due date your father was sent out on an important job for his work. He argued it but ultimately, I told him it would be fine for him to go. Then a week after he left, I went into labor."
Yoshiro said nothing he just listened more intently.
"I was rushed to the local hospital by an ambulance, when I arrived in the delivery room. Everything seemed to be fine at first but soon complications arose. My body wasn't quite reacting as it should for a proper normal birth. C-section could not be done due to certain surgical risks. So despite dangers we had no choice but to go through the natural birth. I'll spare the details of the specifics, suffice to say while I eventually delivered you successfully. The overexertion and damage done by the process was too much for my body to handle. I was able to hold you in my arms and see you with my eyes for a few moments, I smiled, gave you your name and was able to tell you what I thought would be for the only time. Just how much I loved you. Then as a nurse took you away, the last of my strength faded and I died." she finally finished.
Halibel looked over at her son and noticed he was sitting on the edge of the couch. His face in his hands, she could see the streak marks of tears on him, before she could say anything, she heard him mumble out.
"it's because of me" he was choking up "I'm the reason you died, I killed you that day." On those words he lost any remaining composure, arms dropped to his lap, he hung his head as tears streaked down his face.
Halibel was in mild shock from what she was seeing, her son had always been one to do a good job at keeping his composure most of the time but here he had none whatsoever. As he sat there crying and blaming himself for her death. She realized at that moment just how much her death must have been weighing on him for so much time, how much pain, how much suffering he was throwing on himself and keeping it locked away. Now it was all flooding out in front of her like a tidal wave. All over something that wasn't even his fault at all.
She immediately walked over to him sat next to him and brought him into a caring hug, with his face resting against her shoulder he then gently wrapped his arms around hers and tears continued to fall off from him.
"it's not your fault." She gently said "it has never been your fault, I have never nor will I ever blame my death on you. What happened to me was simply an unfortunate accident. you were not responsible for it, so stop putting such unnecessary pain about it upon yourself. I have no regrets about the sacrifice I made that day. You're my child and I would make that sacrifice for you again without hesitation if I must." She calmly finished.
Yoshiro stopped his tears at his mother's words and started to regain his composure. He looked up at his mother, his eyes still puffy from the crying. He simply gave a soft smile looking as though a great weight had been taken off his shoulders.
"thank you, mom." He said quietly. "that's weighed on me for so long. Thank you for taking it off of me." Suddenly Yoshiro felt exhausted. Noticing this Halibel decided to have him relax on the couch for a bit. He did so and was sleeping soundly in no time. Halibel stood up and took a few steps away and gently said.
"you can come out now Emilou."
Emilou walked out from the hallway leading to the living area with a sheepish look on her face.
"you heard enough of everything I imagine" Halibel said kindly.
"Yes my lady." Emilou replied "I had no idea such things weighed so heavily on him. Sometimes I forget for everything he has been through so far, he's only 17 years old still."
"So do I" Halibel spoke
With that said Emilou walked over and carefully laid herself on top Yoshiro as he slept. He instinctively in his sleep wrapped his arms around her, with her head resting on his chest listening to his steady soft heartbeat. She soon fell asleep herself. Halibel merely watched the scene with a gentle smile hidden behind her mask and walked away. Yoshiro and Emilou would remain that way for the rest of the day.
*Three days later*
A meeting had been called for all the espada to gather for in the main chamber. Yoshiro and his mother walked together towards the meeting place.
"you think this going to be about us finally starting this war with soul society?" he asked his mother.
"more than likely, or atleast a discussion what our initial plans to start it will be." She replied.
They then entered the chamber, only Ulquiorra, and Grimmjow were their. They shared brief nods of acknowledgment and took their seats. Yoshiro sat in between his mom and Ulquiorra, right across from Grimmjow. After a bout ten minutes all the other espada had arrived and took their seats as well. Then Aizen along with his two personal lackeys showed up. Aizen took his seat and the meeting began.
"Welcome my dear espada." Aizen began "I called you here for our first operation that will mark the start of our fight against the soul society. Tosen if you would please."
Tosen just nodded his head and pulled a lever which revealed a large screen which began playing images and video on it. Aizen then spoke up.
"We shall start here in Karakura town. You see there is a person of particular interest I wish to know more about. A human with soul reaper powers by the name of Ichigo Kurosaki. This mission will also serve as our grand reveal to soul society. I have already decided on the two espada to send for this mission. Ulquiorra I have selected you." The emo just nodded his head. "and I have selected you as well Yoshiro, seeing how you had lived in Karakura almost your whole life it makes sense to send you there on this mission."
"Yes Lord Aizen." Yoshiro replied
"you are to leave immediately for this mission. Also keep track of anyone else you may find while your there who may be of any particular interest. That is all for now." He finished.
With that said Ulquiorra and Yoshiro stood up and went to the center of the room, where a garganta was opened up and they walked in. when they emerged, they were in one of Karakura's parks from what Yoshiro could tell. There were lots of people there not that any of them could see the two espada.
"Feels weird being back here after so long, after so much has changed with me. I wonder just how much has changed here?" piped Yoshiro.
"keep focused on the mission Quinta." Spoke the emo.
"yeah, yeah I know. Just let me have my moment of nostalgia dammit!" retorted Yoshiro. "well then I suppose we should make our presence know." With that said Yoshiro let out a massive burst of spirit energy. All the normal humans just fell unconscious from it.
"that should do the trick, anyone with any spiritual awareness will have felt that. From what info we have on him, Ichigo should come running our way soon enough once he feels it." Yoshiro chirped
"indeed, we'll just need to wait is all" replied Ulquiorra.
"you know" spoke Yoshiro 'now that I think about it, I kind of know Ichigo a bit. We weren't buddies really, but we would take the same path to school. We would chat a fair bit, got along well enough. man I wonder if he even remembers me? This will prove to an entertaining time I imagine."
Suddenly a female voice broke out of nowhere. "Yoshiro Abe? Is that you?" Yoshiro and Ulquiorra looked to the source of the voice. The saw a teenage girl, she had black hair and brown eyes, looked tomboyish as well. Yoshiro stared at her for moment trying to remember then it him.
"Tatsuki Arisawa! Is that you!?" he called out
Tatsuki was stunned by who she was seeing. She never knew Yoshiro all that well but it's hard to forget someone who looked as unique as him. "yeah it's me." She said. Next, she knew Yoshiro was approaching her, at that she recognized he looked different. His hair was the exact same as she remembered, his eyes were blue but the pupils were shaped like vertical slits, his teeth were pointed like some predators and what the hell was that thing on his face? Not to mention he was in all white with black trim uniform of sorts and had wakizashi on his back at the waist. Plus why was he giving off energy like one of those hollows?
"I haven't seen you since the dojo days. How's it going?" he casually said.
"pretty good" she replied "everyone heard you went magically missing, we thought you had been killed or something? Just what the hell happened to you?"
"long story" he retorted "I would tell you, but I don't have the time at the moment. Me and my associate are actually looking for Ichigo, know where he is by chance?"
Tatsuki became suspicious all of a sudden. "why do you two want with Ichigo?" she said.
"our boss is interested in him and wants us to test his powers out a bit." He casually said.
Now Tatsuki was alarmed. "you're going to try and hurt Ichigo!?" she accused
"no" piped Yoshiro "well maybe a little but that just comes with testing someone's fighting abilities and power. It's not like I'll do anything permanent."
Next thing he knew another voice rang out and a pair of footsteps were heard.
"Tatsuki! Get back!"
Yoshiro looked to where the voice came from and recognized the two individuals approaching.
"seeing some old faces today alright." He said "if it isn't Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado. Haven't seen you two since those times we would walk to school together on occasion."
As the two human teenagers approached and stood next to Tatsuki. They took good look at the person who addressed them. It took a moment but then the realization hit them.
"It can't be!" said Sado
"what happened to you Yoshiro?" spoke Orihime in mild horror.
"long story in all honesty and no time to really tell it I'm afraid. Perhaps another time? Truth is I'm back in town to find Ichigo, know where he's at by chance?" chimed the arrancar.
"don't say anything to him!" shouted Tatsuki. "he wants to hurt Ichigo as a test for some boss of his."
Orihime and Sado looked shocked by this, only then they start to notice how different he was from how they remembered. Then they felt his aura.
"Why do you feel like a hollow?" asked Orihime.
"long story short" Yoshiro began. "Things happened that forced my hand in certain ways and wound becoming a hollow more or less. Then I had to be transformed into a higher form of hollow known as an arrancar in order to keep surviving."
"That's rather hard to believe." Spoke Sado
Yoshiro said nothing and merely raised up the bottom his jacket to show his hollow hole. The three human teenagers gasped in horror and shock at what they were seeing.
"oh my god he's telling the truth" said Orihime.
"Hold on." Chimed Sado "if this's all true and you're here working for someone else. Then there's only one person that comes to mind who would've sent you here. That Aizen guy, correct?"
"You are correct Lord Aizen is the one who sent me and my associate here." Replied Yoshiro
At this Sado activated his powers and his right arm was completely incased in some sort of black and red covering.
"if you want Ichigo you'll have to fight me first!" spoke Sado.
"Few things here ok" started Yoshiro "firstly, that's a pretty neat trick. Secondly, I'm not here to kidnap or kill Ichigo. I'm just here to test his strength a bit is all. Thirdly, I don't feel like fighting any of you and lastly, I can tell by the strength of your energy. You can't hope to hurt me at all at your current level. So, let's calm down a bit before anyone does anything to rash and stupid. I don't want to hurt you but take a swing at me and I will retaliate accordingly. Just a fair warning."
Sadly that warning was ignored, the next thing he heard was "El Directo". Yoshiro easily dodged the attack and moved right up to Sado in a blink. He grabbed his covered arm with one hand with minimal effort twisted it a full 360 degrees around. Yoshiro could her bones breaking and muscle tearing from it. he then with the one hand tossed Sado clean across the park into a tree. The tree snapped in two on impact and Sado was on the ground unconscious. Orihime and Tatsuki screamed in horror at what happened.
"damn fool" the blond arrancar stated "I gave him fair warning and he still did it anyways. Kami I didn't want things to go like this."
Orihime and Tatsuki ran over to Sado. Orihime said some words he didn't recognize. Next thing he knew an odd barrier appeared over Sado and began to heal him rapidly, Yoshiro noticed. 'now that's very interesting' he thought to himself. Before Sado could be healed too much Yoshiro decided to cut loose with his spiritual pressure on the area. The sheer overwhelmingness of it caused Tatsuki to collapse and Orihime fell to her knees unable to keep the barrier on Sado up. She simply looked at Yoshiro simply terrified for her life.
"relax Orihime." Spoke Yoshiro "I'm not here to hurt you ok, I didn't mean to scare you just now. I noticed you were somehow healing Sado in an interesting and fast way. I didn't want you to heal him too much. I don't wont him getting back up and trying to fight me again. So please just calm down."
He walked up to Orihime and merely offered a hand to help stand her up. Orihime was a little hesitant at first but took it. As she stood up, she meekly said.
"I don't understand how you can be so different but so much the same all at once?"
"just because I'm not human anymore doesn't mean I've completely forgotten or abandoned who I once was you know." He replied.
Orihime stared at Yoshiro for a moment before speaking up.
"you said earlier that things happened that forced you down the path that lead to where you are now. While I don't know the specifics of what it was you had to suffer through. I'm sorry you had to go through it, Yoshiro. I know we never were the closest or anything, but I like to think I knew you well enough to say that."
"Thanks Orihime" he said quietly
"if you don't mind me asking" she began "what started everything that forced you on this path?"
"Soul reapers" was his simple reply.
Orihime's eyes went a bit from his answer. Before either could say or do anything more a new presence made itself know. The one Yoshiro and Ulquiorra had been waiting for.
"the man of the hour has arrived at last it would seem." Yoshiro spoke cheerily.
Next thing anyone knew standing in the park about 15 yards away from them was a certain orange haired soul reaper. He was standing there in a black with red uniform that was tattered at the bottom, holding a black and red katana with an all-black blade. Not to mention a scowl on his face that practically a trademark of his. Yoshiro couldn't help but smile a bit at the sight.
Ichigo came running as fast as he could in bankai form when he felt the massive burst of hollow energy coming from the park. On his way there he felt Sado's energy flare and then suddenly drop to nothing. He became all the more worried when the Hollow energy flared even higher than before. Ichigo almost couldn't even believe it, how hell the could a hollow be so powerful? He didn't think such a thing was even possible.
When he arrived at the park, he was caught by surprise by what he saw, he saw Orihime standing next to someone. He was in an almost all white style clothing, mocha skin, blond hair, blue eyes. Why does this guy seem so familiar? Then it struck him. "Yoshiro Abe" he muttered to himself. He knew the guy a bit from traveling together to school every now again, the also had a few classes together. While they weren't technically all that close. Ichigo had always considered him a friend to a certain degree. Yoshiro had helped him with the initial pain of his mother's death after it happened. Yoshiro had lost his own father a few years before so knew how to handle it. Ichigo had always been grateful for that.
He remembered when Yoshiro had suddenly gone missing over a year ago without a trace. He had been saddened and angry over the fact someone had apparently done something to him. While he was always a little distant and perhaps a little too wrapped up with his music playing. He had been someone always willing to lend a hand and help if the need arose. Ichigo had genuinely always liked him as person. Now here he was suddenly back out of the blue and from nowhere, apparently at the center of what was currently happening. Then Ichigo noticed the differences in his appearance, his pupils, his teeth, and on his face, there was no mistaking it. It was a piece of a hollow mask.
"what the hell happened to you, while you've been away from here?" Ichigo suddenly asked solemnly.
"long story short, I sort of became a partial hollow and had to become what you see in order to survive." Yoshiro casually replied.
Ichigo eyes went wide from the statement. A partial hollow!?, just what the hell exactly happened!? Then Ichigo felt his energy, it was just like what he had felt earlier.
"you're not human, anymore are you?" Ichigo asked.
"no I'm not, I had to give up that part of me up in order to survive. It was kind of my only option." The blond replied.
Ichigo suddenly felt a sense of sadness of that fact. He didn't like someone he had liked to think of as a friend had to have gone through something that forced him to give so much up.
"who's responsible?" the orange haired boy asked.
"blame the soul reapers for kick starting the chain of events that led me to ultimately becoming what I am, when they kidnapped me from Karakura and then I had to escape from soul society. Which forced me to flee to hueco mundo and survive how I had to. Just so I could hope to return to those I care about." Retorted Yoshiro.
Ichigo was shocked by that remark. Soul society was to blame for putting him on this path? He mentioned they had kidnapped him but for what reason. Questions for later Ichigo realized as he began reeling in his emotions to focus at the situation at hand. It was then he noticed the unconscious Tatsuki and Sado, Sado's arm also looked all sorts of messed up. He instantly became all sorts of pissed about what he saw.
"What happened to Tatsuki and Sado!? Did you do that to them!?" Ichigo spoke in anger.
"well yes." Yoshiro spoke honestly "Tatsuki simply passed out from my spiritual energy, she'll be fine. Sado attacked me when I told him I was here looking for you. I warned him not to attack me, but he didn't listen. I didn't want to hurt him, but he didn't leave me choice once he took a swing at me."
Ichigo became even more furious over this news but also mildly confused as well.
"why are you here for me exactly?" he asked in barely restrained anger.
"Lord Aizen has taken an interest in you and wants me to test the full capabilities of your power." The arrancar boy replied
"your working for that bastard!? Why!?" Ichigo yelled back.
"I owe lord Aizen for my survival with all that happened to me. Simple as that. Now as much as I love to keep chatting with you. I have a schedule to keep you know? So let's get to it shall we? Orihime why don't you go over and get behind Ichigo, it'll be safer for you that way." Yoshiro chimed
Orihime merely nodded her head and ran off until she was safely behind Ichigo.
"I'm not sure about any of this but if it's a fight you want, then I'll gladly give it you." Piped up Ichigo.
"then let's do this." Smirked Yoshiro.
Yoshiro decided to reach out with pesquisa in order to read Ichigo's strength. He wasn't all that impressed by it. 'he could give the decimo and novena some trouble with his level but he's nowhere near the levels of 5th and up. Hell Grimmjow could probably kick his ass. Why is Aizen so interested in him I wonder?' he thought to himself.
That was all the time he had to think when Ichigo suddenly appeared before him and tried to slash him, he easily dodged it and countered with a punch to Ichigo's face that sent him flying back. Yoshiro then charged him and delivered a kick to his gut that sent him flying in the air. Before Ichigo could recover Yoshiro appeared above him and delivered an elbow to his back that sent the orange haired flying into the ground hard. Yoshiro landed some distance away and simply watched as Ichigo staggered up on to his feet.
Ichigo was pissed, not just because he was losing the fight badly but because he knew his opponent wasn't even taking him seriously. That annoyed him more than anything. "fight me seriously damn it!" Ichigo roared.
"no point in it Ichigo." Yoshiro retorted "I'm just here to test you, not kill you. Using my full power on you would be massive overkill. Not that I would want to kill you or any of the others here in Karakura anyways. As much as I've changed, I still consider this place my home you know?"
Ichigo was taken aback by the statement but quickly refocused himself and began focusing as much energy as he could into zangetsu. Yoshiro took notice of what he was doing and smirked.
"going to hit me your full strength, are you? Good, show me just what you have to offer Ichigo!" he said with some excitement.
"Let's see how well you handle this!" Roared Ichigo "GETSUGA TENSHO!"
A mass wave of Black and red energy came barreling towards Yoshiro. He merely hardened his heirro and waited for the blast to hit. It connected at his torso and exploded, the shockwave sent dirt, dust and debris everywhere.
Ichigo watched his attacked hit, he was breathing a bit heavily, having put everything he could into the attack. He watched as the dust and dirt began settle, his eyes went wide from shock. Yoshiro stood there not having moved at all. The only evidence of his attack being his now tattered vest that revealed his hollow hole at around his liver. Other then that there wasn't even so much as a scuff mark on his body.
"no, th- that can't be a put everything I had into that attack." Ichigo spoke in shock.
"sorry Ichigo, while that attack wasn't too bad, sadly against me it's no where near enough to do anything to me." Yoshiro replied with mirth.
Before anything else cold be done, two new individuals suddenly appeared. One was a dark skinned woman with black, purple hair in tight body suit wearing a type of orange jacket. The other he knew perfectly well; he'd never forget hat and clogs.
"Urahara, this is certainly a surprise to see you. It's been some time hasn't it?" he politely spoke up.
Kisuke studied the arrancar in front of him trying to figure out how this one knew him. Sadly nothing came to mind. "afraid I don't recall ever knowing an arrancar before." He chimed.
"last you saw me I was still a human." Yoshiro piped up "remember you helped me and Emilou that day over a year ago?"
Kisuke and Yoruichi both had shock hit them when they realized who it was before them.
"I see now" Urahara spoke solemnly "you've changed quite a lot and not in ways I would have expected sadly."
"what happened to him I wonder?" spoke Yoruichi.
"Sorry but I don't recall ever meeting you miss" Yoshiro spoke looking at the dark skinned woman.
"oh you wouldn't" she replied, "you only ever have seen me in my cat form after all."
"wait one second here!" Yoshiro suddenly yelled "you mean you were that black cat at the shop the entire time!?"
"that's correct boy" Yoruichi replied "might I say, you have very skilled hands." She finished a bit playfully.
Yoshiro had the most incredulous look imaginable on his face. Not having any idea where to go from that one. Thankfully for once he was glad to have Ulquiorra around who spoke up.
"Quinta, it's time to leave we've already finished our mission. We're not here to fight everyone who shows up." He spoke in his usual tone as he opened a garganta back to las noches.
"Catch you all later" Yoshiro spoke as he used sonido to the garganta. As he entered alongside Ulquiorra, he turned to Urahara and spoke a bit sadly. "I know were kind of on opposite sides now but for whatever it's worth. I still do appreciate a lot what you did for me and Emilou that day."
He didn't wait to see what the shopkeeper's response was. As the gateway closed on them. Back in Karakura, Urahara stood in very deep thought about had just transpired in front of him, not knowing exactly what to make of it just yet.
"Things just keep getting wilder it seems." He simply said as he turned to Ichigo to talk to him about what had happened.
Yoshiro and Ulquiorra returned to las noches and gave their report to Aizen and the rest of the espada. More or less saying that Ichigo wasn't someone to be worried about at all. There were praised for there work and everyone was dismissed. As Yoshiro began leaving his mother approached him.
"Yoshiro" she spoke softly "are you alright?" Halibel knew her son was physically fine; it was emotionally she was concerned with. She knew he was very good at keeping a face when needed but she could tell every so often when something was bothering him.
"I'm fine for the most part mom." He replied "being back home after such a long time was weird. Especially after all that has happened. I just need time to think about it is all."
She simply nodded her head in acknowledgement, and they walked back together to their section of las noches. Later on Yoshiro was lying in bed with Emilou resting her head on his chest. He was in deep thought about everything that had happened.
"your still unsure about everything from earlier." Emilou spoke with concern.
"yeah I am." He merely replied "it's just while I was never really close friends with anyone from there, they people I ran into today I don't really have any ill feeling for. So the idea of having to fight and potentially kill them isn't something I'm very keen on. Not too mention I'm not really big on turning my hometown into a battleground for us and the soul reapers. I feel like this is all going to push me in ways I'm really not going to enjoy in the slightest bit."
Emilou looked up at her lover with a concerned expression. She understood where he was coming from. She had come to enjoy Karakura a lot as well in here time there. Not to mention his hesitation to fight and maybe kill the people he once knew from then. She honestly wasn't sure what to say, she lifted her head up and put a firm kiss on his lips and softly said.
"I understand your hesitations in all this, just remember if things start to get too hard and you need to get somethings off your chest. You have me, your mother and the rest of us here to help ok? We'll get through all of this together one way or another. We just have to keep strong is all."
Yoshiro wrapped his arms around her and just simply spoke back kindly.
"Thank you, I love you."
"Love you too." She replied
Then they both drifted off to sleep together.
A/N:
Author: sorry about the lateness of this. This have been getting busy on my end recently.
Yoshiro: it happens don't worry so much about it.
Author: anyways I hope you enjoyed this one, the back half gave me a little trouble.
Yoshiro: this one was a bit more on the emotional side of things.
Author: see you all next time!
Ichigo: Please Review!