Chapter 24 – The Power of the Hogyoku Revealed by the Head Enemy and Saved by One's Lover, while One is Trying to Escape from the Clutches of Head Enemy (Ichigo part), Staying Behind to Fight Hollows, So the Others Can Escape (Grimmjow Part) and Helping Save Grimmjow from Hollows, only to be Saved by *Princess and Returning to the Soul Society, with Everyone Else (Kenpachi part)
(Author's Note – In this Chapter, Aizen is acting odd because he has taken the Hogyoku back and placed it inside him. It is starting to convert his body, making him more powerful than any Hollow or Soul Reaper. *Princess – implies Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, which is the name, Kenpachi uses to tease him.)
Ichigo's P.O.V:
"Do you regret your choice, Ichigo?" Aizen says, suddenly to me and this makes, bring my hand up to slap him, only to have him grab it as he places it against the white wall of the Sleeping chambers that he has.
The memory of arriving here in Heuco Mundo comes flooding back, when he does that.
After the Garganta had opened, another Arrancar had appeared from no-where and wearing glasses, while had pink hair then kneeled in front of him. They had begun to talk, that Grimmjow with the help of Ulquiorra – even though the Arrancar had been badly wounded by Gin Ichimaru – had managed to escape with Renji, my children and my family into the Wastelands of Memories of the Past.
This made me struggle in the grip of Aizen, trying to get free and he had suddenly grab hold of my chin, gripping it so tightly that it ceased my struggles. I had felt so weak, against him and knew it was because he not taken me when I had been in my Soul Reaper form. I had not thought about it.
"YOU, BASTARD?! WHY DO YOU WANT TO KILL MY CHILDREN? THEY'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG." I shout at him, which makes him pull back and still hold my wrist with his hand then his other hand, comes up to my cheek.
The touch of it, makes me flinch away from the sickly touch and he bends down to my neck, making me tremble of his lips against my skin. I try not to think that this happening to me, that he was doing this to me and whimper, when his tongue licks up my neck as I try in vain to get him off me.
"No…get off me…. Stop it…NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!?" I begin to say, only to shout one of the words, when the memory of being raped flashes before my eyes, which makes him pull back from me, slightly as I lower my head, trembling so much that tears begin to fall onto the polished white floor.
How, while the unknown man had hurt me that he lifted me up onto my knees.
How they had placed their lips against my neck, soon licking and trailing their lips up and down in a sickly caress, which made me whimper as I tried to get away from them when they had done it.
"I see. You still have flash-backs of the what happened to you, by that unknown man." He says, letting go of my wrist and this makes me lift my head up, frowning at him as I see that his eyes looked slightly different, a swirling mass mixed with purple.
What is happening to him?
His eyes, look like when Kenpachi was trying to control the Beast inside him
No?!
He couldn't have.
That thing called the Hogyoku.
"Finally, figured it out. Yes, I have it inside me, Ichigo." He whispers, in my ear making me come out of my thoughts and suddenly before I can even escape, grabs hold of my wrists pinning my hands either side of my head as purple ferns spread from his hands, onto mine as he places his body right up against mine.
"Don't touch m…" I begin to say, when suddenly an alarm echoes throughout the whole area of the large Heuco Mundo Palace as he pulls back, eyes wide with shock and I can feel it, coming right through the buildings walls – the Spiritual Pressure of my Lover.
"Kenpachi?!" I whisper, under my breath which makes Aizen, grab hold of me and drag me away from the wall, which makes me twist in his arms then kick him the face hard as it sends him flying backwards into the wall then running out of the room, just keep on running.
As far away from him, that I can get and soon double doors, swing open to reveal when I come running in – a large room, that looked like a Throne room – and look around, trying in vain to find somewhere that was an Exit.
To get out of this place, that I was trapped in, when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and something slams into me, arms wrapping around me, holding me tightly as the scent of Kenpachi's cologne fills my nostrils then I hear an explosion, coming from outside as golden shield covers me and him from the rubble that goes shooting in all directions, one of large chunks destroying the throne in the process.
Unburying my head, from his chest, I look down and see that Orihime, Chad and Ishida are down below then Kenpachi, gripping me tightly with his hands jumps down that we land with muffled thump on the sand below in front of them.
"Shiro, we have to hurry. Grimmjow and Renji, are with my family and the children in the Wastelands of Memories of the Past." I say, which makes his eyes go wide and feel Kenpachi, move me so that almost like I was a small child, being piggy- backed by their Father and gripping his shoulders, tightly he begins to flash-step alongside Shiro, who's face is determined to reach the place, I had mentioned.
Grimmjow's P.O.V:
Running, I never run this fast before over the Wastelands of Memories of the Past – all memories of Hollows, before they had become Hollows and knew that out there in the whipping sands that were being stirred up by a harsh wind that was starting to form, that the enemy was still following us.
I'm holding Yuzu, on my back – the youngest of Ichigo's sisters – and she is gripping me tightly with her hands, while in front of me Isshin – Ichigo's father in his Soul Reaper form, carries Karin – and the Gigai, carries the children, while Ulquiorra – even though weakened by the wound, he has – runs beside me.
Don't die on me, Ulquiorra.
Live to fight another day.
Live, to be here with your new family.
To be with me.
Renji, who is running up ahead of us is having a hard time breathing and knew it was because of the air of Heuco Mundo, which only Arrancars or Hollows, could cope with then keep on running, speeding up the huge sand-dune then stop to take a breather as Yuzu, shifts slightly on my back and look at her as she weakly flutters her eyes open.
She turns her head, looking back and this makes me look back as well then see something in the far distance, speeding towards us at a very fast rate. I can feel my heart pounding against my ribcage, body tensing and soon the dust revealing that we were being followed.
I begin to run, pounding my feet into the sand and suddenly find myself being bowled over as Yuzu, slides off my back, landing with muffled thud as Renji, picks her up as kick the Hollow creature away from me then slash down with my claws, causing the mask to shatter as the Hollow, soon disintegrates into fine particles.
"GO, GET OUT OF HERE. GO, NOW." I shout, at the others and Ulquiorra, looks at me with wide eyes as I turn to face the horde of Hollows, that have begun to appear from where they had been hiding then increase my Spiritual pressure so much that it causes the Hollows to open their mouths – their cries filling the all area, around me.
I can sense, not by looking, that the others had gone and I'm alone with Hollows, that bare their mouths at me, fangs drooling with saliva – due to the everlasting hunger for Souls, which they could not deny – then they all lunge at me, covering me with their bodies and the sky above my head.
Kenpachi's P.O.V:
The crackling of blue energy that shoots up, from one of the large sand-dunes in the far distance, ahead of me, makes me increase my flash-stepping as I recognise the Spiritual pressure of Grimmjow, plus of the reek of freshly carnages – Hollows, their blood spilled onto the ground – then feeling Ichigo, grip my shoulders tightly pull out my sword, unsheathing it as I jump upwards into the air, right above the group of Hollows that have surrounded a badly wounded Grimmjow, who is bleeding heavily from many scratches and bites.
A large Hollow, looking like a snake with hooved legs and horns that curve in front of its head, is below me then gives a screeching death cry, when I slice my sword down, it's face causing the mask to shatter into million fragments. The other Hollows, scream at me and lunge, making me kick one on the face hard that it sends it flying backwards into a stone structure then managing to reach Grimmjow, allow Ichigo to slide of my back.
"You, Big idiot. I was doing fine on my own, before you arrived." Grimmjow, gasps out and turning I grab hold of his chin the turn it to face me, only to move my hand away, placing it on his abdomen – where I sense the Spiritual Pressure of his unborn child.
"And you think, that you can fight. While pregnant, with an unborn child." I said, which makes him blush heavily that I knew he was pregnant and sighs, softly then the Hollows, hissing at us makes me turn to face them and hold my sword, gripping it tightly in my hand.
They lunge at me, when suddenly a Sakura petal speeds past my face, soon destroying the Hollows, all around us and makes me place my sword over my back, turning my head to see Captain Kuchiki, standing there.
"Princess, what took you so long? Did you not read the message, that Urahara sent?" I said, smirking with open mouth grinned, when he grumbles something under his breath, trying to hide the fact he hated me calling him the nickname that Yachiru, had started calling him.
He sheathes his sword, not saying anything and go up to him then see that the blood is staining right through his Haori, which makes me rip one of my black Haori sleeves then before, he can protest wrap it tightly around his waist, covering the wound as he tenses slightly.
"It seems…. uhhh…. you learned to care for others. Have you…uhhh. Do you have to tie it, that tight?" He says, growling those words out, looking down at my hands then pick him up, I place him on my back and can hear him curse me under his breath, that he was being forced to be carried like this.
Shiro, soon appears with others behind him and Renji, blinks at me as his Captain, blushes in embarrassment that he was being seen by his Vice-Captain then Senkaimon, opens to reveal Captain Jushiro Ukitake – Kisuke Urahara's Secret Lover – and next to him, which makes me bow my head is Head Captain, the oldest, wisest and strongest of Soul Reapers in the Seireitei – Captain Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto – then lift my head back up.
"Come. We are leaving, now." Is all the old man, says to me and turning around so fast – that it makes me wonder how, because he was about 1289 years old – and follow him, with others that follow close behind as Hell Butterflies come flying towards us, assigning themselves to each person.
I hitch, Byakuya up some more and he grumbles slightly then brings his lips to my ear to talk, while we follow the clear white path that the Head Captain, was forming.
"You've changed. He's noticed it and has been trying to argue with Central Order 46 that the rules should be changed and the Soul Reapers, should be allowed to love, anyone they choose." He says, taking a breather and can feel that he is weakening, very fast so speed up my walking slightly and he then continues "They want to punish you, Kenpachi. They want you to be executed by the Sokyoku."
I stop, slightly and listen quietly not to those words, instead to something else then look back past everyone else, seeing the blackness behind us, shifting as though it were being distorted by something, which makes me shout at the Head Captain.
"O-JISAN, WE'VE GOT COMPANY."
He turns, fully around and comes up to me, looking straight into the shadows like I was then indicates for us to all move on, which makes me to as he says. I begin to run, heading towards the other half of the Senkaimon, which opens to reveal the large courtyard, where I see that on my left-hand side is Byakuya's Squad and on my right-hand side is my own Squad, who are all blinking with shock that on my back was the Sixth Division Captain – Byakuya Kuchiki.
I lower him down, just a stretcher arrives and help lay him down then standing up, straight feel little arms hug me around as I look down at Yachiru, soon followed by all Squad covering me in a huge group hug, while cries of "Tachoui! Don't leave us alone, again. We've missed you." as I grumble then suddenly their all being flung off me, by Ichigo.
"ALRIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH. GET BACK TO WORK, WE MUST PLAN WHAT TO DO WHEN AIZEN ATTACKS WITH HIS FORCES. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!" He shouts, so loud that immediately my whole Squad is on the knees, bowing their heads and making everyone, including me look at Ichigo, seeing that he is raging with his fists clenched then suddenly, grabs hold of the collar of my white sleeveless Haori, pulling me down.
Lips smash into mine, making me give a muffled protest that we don't have time for this and yet, I knew it was because he was releasing the anger he was feeling inside then hear "Ohhs" and "Ahhs" coming from my men, making a heavy blush soon appear on my cheeks as I hear them.
He pulls back, face flushed and pupils expanded slightly then slaps me across the cheek, which makes me place a hand to it, feeling the sting of it.
"I told you, I will never forgive you, if you come after me. You, Big Brute…." He says, grabbing my collar again and giving me, another heart-stopping kiss like the first one, which causes a moan to ashamedly escape me then bringing my hand up, pull his head backwards by his hair.
"Enough…...We don't have time for this" I say, breathlessly to him then turn to glare at my men, who scream slightly like little girls at it. "FUCK IT. GET BACK TO WORK, YOU LAZY DOGS, NOW" which makes them scramble, disappearing from my sight.
"Sorry, I don't what came over…" He goes to say, when I sense it and soon must pin Ichigo, down on the tiled ground, covering him with body as an explosion causes the large Senkaimon, to shatter into million pieces, which go flying in all directions around us both.
"BAIGON, LILLY AND HINAGIKU. SANTEN KESSHUN! (Three-God Shield) I REJECT!"
I hear, Orihime distantly shouting as she rushes in front of us and forming a huge golden shield that covers all three of us, protecting us from harm as Ichigo, grips me tightly to them then silence, eerie silence soon descends.
I move slightly to allow, Ichigo to move out from underneath me and suddenly, I can't breathe at all. She had managed to save us, yet somehow a black spike that had appeared from nowhere had managed to get through her shield and stab straight into her chest, while a guttural scream of her name comes from Ichigo's friend – Chad.
"ORIHIME!?"
He rushes over to her, grabbing hold of her as she falls backwards in slow motion and her shield, that had protected us soon shatters into million pieces then looks up at Chad, with tearful eyes.
"Chad, don't cry for me. Please, don't cry." She says, tears forming in her eyes, while he picks her up and helping Ichigo up, see that a stretcher with two Healers has appeared and he lays her down the walks off with them, holding out her hand.
"They've destroyed the only way for you to return to the Human World. Aizen, is seems has gotten stronger, if it means that Head Captain has not returned. But how?" I hear Captain Ukitake, say mostly to himself and soon Ichigo's answers it for him.
"He has the Hogyoku in him. He took it from Urahara-san's." He says, which makes the white-haired Captain's eyes go wide, with shock and looks at his Lover, who has collapsed on his knees as his hat slides off his head.
"That's why. It was diversion to distract us from his true purpose. I…. can't believe I'm such an idiot not to put a shield on the shop." Urahara-san says, which makes Ukitake, go up to him then haul him to his feet, slapping him across the face and soon, giving him quick kiss on the lips to apologise.
"You are not." He says to him, soon turning to the rest of us. "Come on, let's go. Ichigo's right, we need to plan for Aizen forces arriving." He says, to all of us, soon walking off and placing my hand around Ichigo's waist, follow the Captain out of the Senkaimon Courtyard.
The others following close behind us.