Chapter Twenty-Five: Mask Removed
Ichido awoke as herself. That was unusual, and she sat up in bed, the covers concealing her body. Looking around, she saw Ulquiorra at the foot of her bed. His head was inclined, and his hands were in his pockets. "You've been delaying, Ichido."
Ichido raised a hand. "Hey, hey, I told you not to come into my bedroom like that, Ulquiorra! Knock before you come in here!"
"It has been three days since the engagement in the burial grounds." Said Ulquiorra. "When are you going to begin work on the other subjects?"
Ichido pulled herself up and began to get dressed as quickly as she could. Long stockings went onto her legs and a skirt after she donned her underwear. Her hair was probably a mess a the moment. "Chad and Orihime, you mean?"
"Yes." Said Ulquiorra.
"I'm drawing a blank, okay." Said Ichido, putting on her bra and moving toward the mirror. She halted and looked to Ulquiorra. "The whole getting powers thing comes from needing it. So logically, I could try and sic a hollow on them and hope they got powers.
"But that's no good."
"Fight or flight is the most basic of instincts." Said Ulquiorra, not paying any attention to her body.
"Yeah, but Orihime and Chad are real big on self-hatred." Said Ichido, pulling on her shirt and beginning to button it up. "Chad never throws punches for himself; it's his whole thing. And Orihime hates hurting people and has self-esteem issues that won't let her fight for herself.
"She's a blackbelt, but she rolls over and lets people do whatever she wants to them.
"They'll probably get eaten if we just endanger them."
"Then let them." Said Ulquiorra.
Ichido sighed as she finished and began tying on her bow. "Do you want a successful mission or not?"
"Do you have an alternative?" asked Ulquiorra.
Ichido really wished Ulquiorra would pretend to be interested in her. But if he was attracted to her, he would probably regard it as a base instinct to be suppressed or controlled. One not relevant. "Look, my best bet would be to put someone they care about in danger. Then they might unlock their hidden powers or whatever."
"I assume there is a problem?" said Ulquiorra.
"Ichigo might do it for Orihime, but he's not an option." Said Ichido, feeling herself rising to the surface as she walked toward the mirror. "So, I'm going to have to use someone else as a hostage."
"Who?" asked Ulquiorra.
"Isn't it obvious?" said Ichido, as she looked at the reflection of a spiky-haired tomboy in a school uniform. "It's me. Tatsuki." She felt her emotions flowing into her voice.
Ulquiorra approached her in the reflection. "…Your other identity could be useful. However, without Ichido to act as a controller, the situation could easily get out of hand."
"Yeah, and I've been trying to think of how to pull the thing off." Said Tatsuki. "If I sic a hollow on myself and they don't get powers, I'll be dead, and we won't be any better off."
"I see." Said Ulquiorra. "This operation will require intervention on my part.
"What is your plan?"
"The way I see it, I've got to keep my memories when I become Tatsuki this time." Said Ichido. "Either that or I need to put some kind of impulse into myself.
"Get myself to act how I want when I'm not Ichido.
"Any way I can do that?"
'There are methods." Said Ulquiorra. "Are you familiar with the concept of Jinzen?"
'It's a Soul Reaper technique, right?" asked Tatsuki. "Sort of how you commune with your soul."
"Yes." Said Ulquiorra. "I have attempted to use Jinzen as a means to better serve our master. Soul Reapers believe that it is the means by which they can gain greater enlightenment.
"They are, of course, wrong.
"It is merely a means by which one may understand oneself and so better use what resources one has."
"Well, that's a bit cynical." Said Tatsuki. "What makes you so sure the Soul Reapers are wrong?"
"They are atheists." Said Ulquiorra, as if that explained everything.
"That's it?" asked Tatsuki, surprised.
"Spiritual enlightenment implies that there is some greater understanding. That the nature of the universe that can be comprehended." Said Ulquiorra. "However, I have lived hundreds of years and found no rhyme or reason to anything.
"Without purpose or meaning, there is no great order to understand."
"Well, I've always figured you've got to make your own meaning." Said Tatsuki.
"A meaningless effort." Said Ulquiorra. "With no foundation, nothing can be built. There is no greater truth to this meaningless universe. The things reflected in my eyes have no meaning.
"I have considered the possibility that it is merely a figment of my imagination.
"I have been unable to find any evidence for the existence of anything beyond myself. One cannot prove the universe is not one delusion of their own mind."
"Oh, come on, Ulquiorra." Said Tatsuki. "Haven't you ever really wanted something?"
"No," said Ulquiorra flatly.
"Well, I did. I mean, when I was a little kid Ichigo and I were always watching these kung fu movies, and I wanted to be just like them." Said Tatsuki. "So I really worked at my karate classes, and I became a blackbelt.
"I worked at it nonstop, and eventually, I fought to the finals of a tournament." She smiled at the memory. "I nearly won, but I got a broken arm.
"Just because there isn't some old man in the afterlife who's watching doesn't make it have any less meaning."
"There is an old man in the afterlife watching everything." Noted Ulquiorra. "His name is Captain-Commander Yamamoto, and if he became aware of your existence, you will be burned alive."
"That's not the point, Ulquiorra." Said Tatsuki with a sigh. "The point is that you've got to find your own meaning. Maybe that's what these Soul Reapers are trying for."
"The matter is of no present relevance." Said Ulquiorra. "I will teach you the Jinzen technique as best I was able to replicate it."
Tatsuki sighed. Well, it beat getting dropped in the middle of the menos forest. "I wish I was training with Ichigo. He's probably been taught Jinzen already and is learning advanced kido or-"
Ichigo rolled out of the way as Urahara slashed past him. The blade passed within inches of Ichigo's face as he scrambled back, parrying. "You were really trying to kill me that time!" "Yep." Said Urahara. "I'd hate to have you get the wrong idea and think that anyone is going to roll out the red carpet for you. So if you fight one inch beneath your abilities, you're dead-"
"You're a fucking idiot, psycho!" snapped Ichigo. "You don't teach someone martial arts by coming at them with a sword and hoping they pick it up as they go!"
"If you hate my training so much, why haven't you backed out?" asked Urahara, propping his sword on one shoulder.
"Because I don't have a choice." Said Ichigo. He paused within the wasteland and raised his sword. "Also, I'm pretty sure you're bluffing."
"That's pretty gutsy of you to say." Said Urahara.
"Anytime I start getting an advantage, you instantly speed up and turn the tables." Said Ichigo. "I'm pretty sure if you were really trying to kill me I'd be dead."
"Smart kid." Said Urahara, adjusting his hat. "Thing is, I have in my employ a man who is one of the best users of healing kido in the world of the living. So if you don't take this seriously, well…"
And then his blade was inches from Ichigo's eyes. He rolled aside as he passed and parried a series of thrusts. Sliding to a halt, Ichigo struggled to keep Urahara's sword at bay. They were face to face now.
"I'm sure you'll make a full recovery!" said Urahara. "Now, come at me with an intent to kill!"
Ichigo decided not to play alone. "No, thanks!"
Then springing back, he flipped through the air and made a run for it into the crags, dodging and weaving. It was obvious that he couldn't beat Urahara directly in this, not in a straight-up fight. It would be like a newbie beating a blackbelt. But even a newbie could kill a blackbelt if he cracked him over the head from behind.
He needed a strategy.
So what were Ichigo's assets? He had a sword with better reach and a sword beam thing. One that had just about cracked Ichido's mask. And Urahara might be stronger than Ichido.
"Ichigo, whatever occurs, I am behind you. Trust in my power-" began Zangetsu.
"Yeah, great, fine, whatever, not good enough," snapped Ichigo. So the sword beam was a total wash. Urahara was cocky and wasn't taking him seriously, so if he won fast enough, he could kill him.
And if he did kill Urahara, his training was complete.
He was asking for it, after all. Literally. But how was he supposed to kill him with only a big sword and a useless special attack?
"My attack is not useless." Snapped Zangetsu.
"I threw it at Ichido, and it just cracked her mask." Hissed Ichigo, leaning against a wall. "Sounds pretty useless to me. A lot of flash and style but no real attack power."
"Do you truly think I would yield to you my full power when you just learned my name?" asked Zangetsu.
"You tell me, Mr. Undying loyalty," snapped Ichigo. "Okay, those aren't going to be enough. So what can I use in my environment."
What in this region could be used to help? The pit.
"Tiring out, Ichigo." Said Urahara, suddenly beside him.
Ichigo brought around his sword and clashed it against him, even as he leaped back. As he did, he caught sight of the pit. Urahara was right after him, driving him back toward the pit.
How could he use this?
Come to think of it, that sword beam he'd thrown had been pretty loose. In a confined area, it might do more damage. But was that going to be enough?
He came to the edge of a pit and slipped downward. As he fell, Urahara descended after him.
Ichigo had a clear shot. He couldn't dodge in here.
"I told you." Said Urahara. "Attack me like you mean to kill! Or you might just end up dead yourself!"
Ichigo landed and swung his sword, channeling the power. He hadn't used this until now. It flashed outward and missed Urahara complete, slamming against the side of the pit. The ground cracked as Urahara landed and attacked. Ichido parried his thrust, struggling to hold him in place.
"Well, that's pretty impressive. I do believe you've hurt the walls feelings…" said Urahara.
Ichigo channeled another beam at point-blank range. Urahara recoiled and smashed against the wall as it cracked. His hat fell tattered to the ground.
Ichigo leaped upward; he only had one shot at this. He leaped upward, and as he reached the edge of the pit channeled massive amounts of power into his sword beam. Urahara was rising from one kneel unharmed save his clothes.
Wasn't he supposed to yell something at the moment like this? But he didn't have an attack name for it?
"WIND SCAR!" yelled Ichigo.
There was a pulse of blue that shot downward into the pit. The wall gave way, and tons of dirt descended down on top of the trapped Urahara. Ichigo summoned his power again. "WIND SCAR!"
The other side of the pit caved in, and several more beams falling.
It was done.
Urahara had been buried alive.
"Take that you fucking psycho!" snapped Ichigo.
Then he propped his sword over one shoulder and turned to walk away. He had gotten a bit stronger here, a lot stronger actually. And he'd gotten a chance to kill Urahara, so that was a plus. Or, buried him alive and consigned him to a slow death by suffocation. Ichigo felt pretty good about that fact. "Wind scar?" asked Zangetsu, sounding offended.
"Oh come on, your attack is basically just a Wind Scar from Inuyasha." Said Ichigo.
"No, it isn't. Do not use a false name for my attack." Said Zangetsu.
"Well, it doesn't have a name. So I have to call it something." Asked Ichigo. "Would you prefer Generic Sword Beam?"
"No.," said Zangetsu.
"Unoriginal Sword Beam?" asked Ichigo.
"Of course not! It already has a name!" said Zangetsu.
"Fine, what is it?" asked Ichigo.
"Well, that was pretty mean. I do believe you've ruined my outfit." Said Urahara.
Ichigo glanced back to see Urahara emerging from the dirt. His clothes were now rags and covered in dirt, and only a few scuff marks marked the attack.
"Getsuga Tensho." Said Zangetsu.
"All I needed to hear." Said Ichigo. "GETSUGA TENSHO!"
A wave of blue energy shot toward Urahara as he pulled himself out. As he did, he raised his sword and parted the beam as it hit him. Both waves went to either side and smashed into the wall.
Urahara looked at the marks. "If that had hit, I'd have had a-"
"GETSUGA TENSHO!" said Ichigo, hurling another.
"Hey, stop it!" said Urahara, barely blocking it. "GETSUGA TENSHO!" said Ichigo.
"Are you trying to kill me?" snapped Kisuke.
"Yes." Said Ichigo.
Urahara sighed. "I can tell this is going to be a rocky student-teacher relationship."
"Should have thought of that before you killed me." snapped Ichigo.
"Well, I-" began Urahara, lowering his sword.
"GETSUGA TENSHO!" snapped Ichigo, hurling another beam.
Urahara deflected that as well with a sigh. "Why don't we focus on honing that attack instead of sparring for a bit."
Ichigo eyed him suspiciously.
"No sink or swim lessons this time." Said Urahara. "I've had all I can take of those anyway."
Ichigo was glad he'd made his point.
Author's Note:
So one thing I've learned about writing by watching anime is this: When a villains identity is a secret, never build the suspense to the breaking point. I had intended to reveal Tatsuki as Ichigo Yuujin during the Arrancar Arc. But I realized that several people had already guessed her identity. Besides, it would become blatantly obvious for anyone paying attention soon enough.
So I revealed it while it would have some shock value also, before all, suspense had built to a point where the truth would be a disappointment.