Welcome back everybody, to another chapter of Ballad of the Strawberry. Time to answer some questions or comments.
Artekha: I'm glad you're enjoying the ride. There's a reason this is called a Ballad my friend.
TheDragonBard: I'm not sure how much I like your radical theories. (If you get the reference then I love you)
Merendinomiliano: Yes, Ichigo's Gamer ability is supplementary.
Mikey Nesser: You'll find out soon enough.
RenegadeForLife: Hell yeah, love the support and let me know if you find more. There are a number of them now, if more subtle.
TheWolf87: Glad to have you reading.
Everybody else, please, comment or PM me if you really want to know something, I may not reveal what you want to know but I'll throw you a bone. Authors live off of feedback so please comment. Now with that all out of the way, onto our feature presentation.
Soft drops landed on the ground darkening the concrete. Ichigo's hair drooping to cover his eyes as a pained smile crossed his face at facing the implications behind the Hollow's words.
"What did you just say?" The Hollow's perpetual grin seemed to impossibly widen at his words. Unable to keep the tramble out of his words it reflected his body. Gripping the handle of his blade so tight that his knuckles went white.
"I'm sure you heard me, son of Kurosaki."
"Ichigo." The Hollow tilted its head at being interrupted. "Stop calling me the 'child of Kurosaki'. My name is Kurosaki Ichigo and I'm going to be the one who kills you." A mirth filled laugh escaped the monster's maw.
"I have evaded Soul Society for over 50 years. What do you think a novice, such as yourself, can do to defeat me? You couldn't save your family then, what makes you think they'll be safer now you have a fancy blade?" Gritting his teeth, Ichigo growled at the Hollow. His whole body shook with anger. Here, in front of him was the killer of his mother. He'd have to apologize to Rukia. Ichigo's head snapped up and if Grand Fisher wasn't busy counting all the spiritually aware people at hand, he would have noticed the blue electric energy that overtook Ichigo's eyes.
One second Ichigo was standing in front of Grand Fisher, the next he was in the air aiming a downward strike. Easily dodging out of the way, Grand Fisher opened his mouth to gloat but had to focus on running away again.
"What is wrong with you Ichigo? Did I strike a nerve when I brought up that little morsel of a mother? How about I mention her by name, I mean she is still in here with me." Ichigo was on Grand Fisher in seconds, hacking and slashing away. Bits of fur floating to the ground. Ichigo intensified in his attacks as he slowly got slightly faster. Just not fast enough.
Grand Fisher reached out with one of his clawed arms to strike at Ichigo while he was preoccupied with the fur, only for Ichigo to twist around and dodge the hand and slice it off. With a shrill shriek, Grand Fisher jumped into the air.
"No matter how long you attack you will fall like all the others Ichigo! Now die!" Grand Fisher sent his fur from all sides to plunge into Ichigo, shoving him to the ground as he struggled to push or slice the fur away from him. Rukia tried to intervene with Kido.
"Rukia! Stop!"
"But he's too strong for you idiot!" She didn't understand what he was getting at. He was going to die at this rate.
"SHUT UP! Rukia," Looking into his eyes she could see hurt and determination that reminded her of her former mentor. "this is my fight." This was just like then it would seem.
"There are two types of fights in this world. The fight to protect life and the fight to protect one's pride. You must be able to tell the difference because you can only aid someone in a fight to protect a life. A fight for pride is personal and you may want to help them and maybe even save their life but what becomes of their pride then. You save their life but permanently kill their pride.."
Rukia relented with hesitation. She wanted to help but she couldn't now. 'This is my fight.' She would respect his wishes.
"Leave this to me Ichigo." Leaving to protect his family with Kon.
Once Ichigo had freed himself it was dodging and attacking. He fell into a rhythm. The dance of the fight now clear to him but it also meant something else. Ichigo pushed away from Grand Fisher and stood, allowing the rain to roll off of him. His hair hiding his face as he spat out his next words.
"You're toying with me aren't you?" Grand Fisher leered at him.
"So you finally notice. Che. A bit too perceptive. It's time to end this Ichigo. Time for me to finish the job I started with dear ol' mom!" Grand Fisher lunged at Ichigo but his hand was blocked by Ichigo's blade. Grand Fisher elongated his fingers and skewered the Shinigami.
Coughing up a large amount of blood onto his shihakusho. Red rolling down from the spots he had been stabbed. This was new. The pain, it flowed through him but he felt numb at the same time. Was this it? Did he really just throw his life away for nothing? No. He could hear Rukia in the background calling out for him. He had to keep moving. Resolve hardened, he barely felt the claws retract from his torso.
"You have fought well, for a Shinigami. You may yet have the gusto to back up making your friend leave but now I must ask. How do you think I've evaded the Soul Society for over 50 years?" Ichigo shook his head. Small talk would not be what prevented him from killing his mother's killer. He grits his teeth as he hefted his blade and sprinted to strike down the unmoving Hollow.
"You didn't even consider my question? You are just like the rest it would seem." Grand Fisher lifted the lure that Ichigo had forgotten about.
Ichigo was about to bifurcate the Hollow when his blade froze. Standing in front of him was the spitting image of his mother. Ichigo dropped his blade. Everything else seemed to fade to black as his focus was solely on his mother.
"M-om." He choked out the single word as a tear threatened to escape the firm hold he had. It took everything he had to not break down. Suddenly pain filled his entire body and he looked down to see 5 long claws buried in his chest. Choking out a cough, blood exploded from his mouth as the claws retracted and his body crumpled. Staring at the shimmering image of his mother Ichigo tried to call out to her and suddenly she was gone, leaving only the rain and the Hollow.
Ichigo lurched forward and attempted to attack Grand Fisher again only for his mother to be shoved in his face.
"Please don't kill me Ichigo, sheath your blade. For me?" Ichigo was torn inside, his body working against his mind as he slowly sheathed the blade against his better judgement. Suddenly a hand went through his torso.
"Can you not see Ichigo, this is why I have been able to kill so many Shinigami in their silly pursuit of me. All I have to do is create something that they would never cut and they're will to fight is broken. Just like you are right now. Die and serve as my food. Or better yet. I'll let you watch as I consume your family and show you just how weak you are Shinigami."
Ichigo hated the rain, it had rained on his mother's death. It was raining now. Was this the day he would die? At the hands of the same Hollow that had killed his mom? Killed his mom.
Grand Fisher starred cockily at the downed Ichigo as the Shinigami's Reiatsu slowly depleted down to nothing. Grinning he slowly walked away from the boy, intent on following through with his promise.
Everything froze for Ichigo as time slowed to a crawl. It was a screen but Ichigo chose to ignore it. Regardless of what it said he wasn't going to let himself die. He shoved everything he had into a Reiatsu Pulse and loosely gripped his blade and used it to push himself up.
Grand Fisher knew when his opponent was defeated and wanted to collect the spoils so he could kill the rest without worry. Suddenly an enormous pressure filled the air as a pulse of Reiatsu came for Ichigo. Then another, and another. Grand Fisher was hard pressed to stay standing as he was. He watched, horrified, as Ichigo used his Zanpakuto to slowly come to a standing position. His eyes burned a bright blue, determination clear in those hazel orbs.
"I will not be defeated by you, Grand Fisher. Today is the day you DIE!" Ichigo suddenly vanished with a boom and appeared behind the Hollow. Before Grand Fisher could run his mask shattered. Pieces of bone falling to the ground as Ichigo leaned in to speak into Grand Fishers horrified ears. The voice reverberated and layered itself in a way Grand Fisher recognized. This was more than some boy with Shinigami powers. This was a predator.
"Die, Grand Fisher." Ichigo cut off the Hollow's head before collapsing to his knees as the body of Grand Fisher dissolved into spirit particles. Rukia rushed over to his side after having returned to watch the end of the fight.
"Ichigo!" She assessed his injuries but they seemed to have healed by the time she got there. It was odd. Ichigo also seemed to have much more reiatsu. Choosing to ignore it in favor of helping him stand up. That when she noticed. Tears. Slowly rolling down his face Ichigo silently sobbed. Carefully she set him back down and leaned him against a small tombstone that had been shattered in the fight.
"I did it." Ichigo grinned widely. His eyes shining bright as he stared up at the sky. The rain mixed with his tears as the drops of water rolled down his face. His voice went low and quiet. "Maybe now you can rest in peace mom. Are you proud of me? I killed the one who killed you. I avenged you." Rukia put a calming hand on his shoulder causing him to look at her with a content expression. Sighing. "Thank you, Rukia."
"No. Thank you, Ichigo." She muttered to herself before turning and smacking him with her notebook.
"Baka! Don't you ever do something reckless like that again!" Ichigo attempted to block the onslaught as they smiled playfully. Their banter slowly let the rain slip from his mind as it slowed to a light sprinkle.
"Alright, alright. Stop beating me up you midget!" The resounding smack echoed throughout the graveyard as they both chuckled. Rukia would never admit it but she enjoyed her time here. Like she had just gotten something she never realized was missing.
Thank you for not dying. She never said it out loud but Ichigo heard just the same. It was in her carefree smile, the relieved look in her eyes. He was happy to know he had her at his side.