Chapter 10 – Facing the Enemy Within Itself and Return of the One's Lover
(Author's Note – Not Fake Lovers in this, because I'm not cruel like that. They need to see them so this is both Renji and Kenpachi returning for real. No Arrancar pretending to be them.)
Shiro's P.O.V:
"You okay?" Ichigo, asks me, making me lift my head from the bowl of noodle soup I'm eating as we sit on the veranda in the front of the shop then lift my head from the bowl, seeing that he is looking at me with concern.
"Maybe. I miss him and I'm concerned about the little one." I replied, while he looks at me and getting up, I head back inside to the kitchen area.
Tessai, is making something else when we come in and the children are helping him - Kieo, Rye and Li-Li – or more like trying to as I pick her up then wipe her clean as Ichigo, stands there watching quietly.
"What have you been doing, Li-Li? Making something?" I said, while she looks at her brothers and nods in reply, while wonder where is Grimmjow, now as usually he was with her.
"Ichigo, could you take Li-Li? I going to look for Grimmjow, alright." I said, while he takes her and smiles as she nuzzles against him then heading out, quickly flash-step upwards into the air soon running across the sky.
The humans down below can't see me and are oblivious to what is going on above their heads then I come to a halt, standing still as I close my eyes summoning the ribbons to find Grimmjow as different one's fly towards to me.
I see a blue one among them and grab hold it, feeling the trace of a Spiritual Pressure from one person that Ichigo, had sworn to kill when they next met then suddenly my own Spiritual pressure rises, shooting up into the air as I feel the mask forming on my face.
I bring my hands up and try to rip it off, but I can feel it fully cover me then suddenly like falling through water, I'm dragged by chains that wrap around my body. They are pulling me down and there is nothing I can do to stop it.
Shiro's Inner World:
I had not expected to see Zangestu, again after all this time and look up at him as he floats towards me then places a hand on the chains wrapped around me. He soon pulls his hand back, when I see that an energy barrier has been placed around it and is stopping him letting me go then he brings out a sword then places the tip on the chains near covering my chest.
He stabs down hard, right through the chains and straight through my chest as I cry out, oxygen bubbles rising in a silent scream then my Spiritual Pressure, explodes outwards sending pieces of chain flying in all directions as I feel myself being pulled upwards.
I land on a building and get up, using the new sword I been given as a crutch then see My true Vaste Lorde form, standing there and bringing the sword up, grip the handle tightly as it rushes towards me.
I block the sword, feeling myself being pushed back as sparks fly in all directions, while I feel myself being pushed down by the other sword then with my strength push it off, making a metallic ring echo around us both in this world.
"You are afraid. Your letting your fear overrule you." I hear, Zangestu saying and his hand slide over mine then lower my sword, letting go of it as he pulls away from me.
It rushes towards me and spreading my arms out as though I'm going to hug someone, I feel it slam into my chest then wrap my arms around it. Blood soon seeps through the white haori staining it crimson, while I bring one hand up to take hold of the back of its head and just hold it.
"I'm not afraid of your anymore." I whisper, quietly and feel it stiffen in my grip at the words then it starts to dissolve away into fine particles which float up into the air as I watch quietly, soon feeling my Inner World start to change.
Picking up the sword, I sheathe it and turn to look at Zangestu, who stands there on his cane then saying goodbye to him, head towards the archway that had formed for me to return to the Human World.
End of Shiro's Inner World
When I come around, I lay there and see through the eyeholes of the mask that I'm in the basement. Meaning that Urahara-san, must have found me in the suspended state and brought me back here then bring my hand up, pull the mask off like Venetian mask then sit up, sighing softly as I look at it.
"I see that you have sorted the Enemy within yourself." I hear, the man saying and lift my head to look at him, while he looks down at me with hat covering the lower half of his face.
"Grimmjow, alright. I tried to find him, but when I checked for his Spiritual Ribbon, it had traces of Aizen on it." I said, which makes Urahara-san give small "hmm" at this new information that I have just given him.
"He is fine, for now. But, I would like you to mentor him." He says, while I get up and head to the ladder that leads upstairs then stop to look at him.
He wanted me to train Grimmjow - like Genos in the manga One Punch Man, who asked to become Saitama's sidekick or disciple. I guess I could do it, so he didn't rush into fights or battles to end up badly injured or worse bleeding to death.
"Fine, I do it. But, you keep this from Ichigo." I said, clambering up the ladder and reaching the top to see suddenly Renji, standing in the main area of the Urahara-san's Shop.
My heart skips a beat, while I almost forget how to breathe and soon rush over to him then grab hold of him, hugging him close to me.
"Renji!? You come back." I choked out, voice breaking with emotion and take hold of cheeks as he looks at me then kiss him on the lips, gently.
"I couldn't stay there. I needed to see you, be with you and have the baby here." He says, while I hug him again and just hold him close to me.
Glad that we had been both reunited again and that we were having the little one here.