Wow. This got more attention than I thought it would. In response to that I have decided on continuing this. I haven't figured out a set day of when I'll be updating, but I'll try and get one out every week or two, that way I can have time on writing more chapters while also dealing with life.
It's rather ironic though. For those of you who are familiar with my works, usually the first chapter is shorter than the rest, however this time around the first is longer then the second.
I should go back and review this chapter and make sure things are right, but I'm too lazy at the moment. It's almost 3am here, I'm tired, and I just want to get this up. I've had a horrible week and figured reading all of your reviews would help me to feel better. It usually does. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go pass out.
Hope you enjoy!
Bleaches Wings chapter 2
Life couldn't be better. He was finally free of his prison and his tormentors. He looked over his shoulder to see his friend. Not far to his right flew Max and her flock. Not only had he escaped but he managed to help break out his friend and Max's flock with minimal issues. Now the only problem lay in trying to find a place to land where they won't be found that was far enough away while still being close.
His mind went back to what happened no more than a half hour ago.
Not only had they escaped, but he successfully manifested his thought to be lost zanpakutō with no issues as well as used flash step with no side effects. Many of the children managed to escape much to his relief.
However, they saw his hollow in all of his not so wonderful bankai, mask and all.
He ignored the protest from his inner world.
Now they were weary of him which he didn't need right now.
Max suddenly went into a dive. Not knowing anything else to do he followed. After a short dove they all pulled up to land in a grassy field. Those that have had wings longer landed smoothly. Unfortunately for Ichigo, because this is both the furthest and longest he had ever flown until now, he stumbled when he landed in a run ending up nearly face planting it weren't for him flaring his wings. Standing on legs shaking slightly he pulls in his heavy wings close to his body, not bothering to cross them to keep them from dragging along the ground.
Max turns to him and crosses her arms over her chest and glared at him. "Alright, we've waited long enough, now start talking," she demanded.
Ichigo ran a hand through his hair and sighed. Where to start…
"What was that sword you were using?" Ari asks curiously. Looks like his mind was made up.
"That was Zangetsu, my zanpakutō."
Max frowns. "A what?"
"A zanpakutō. It translates into soul cutter in English." Ichigo explains.
"Soul cutter? You mean that thing cuts through souls?!" Nudge squeaks.
"No," Ichigo immediately said. "Only the evil ones and they're called hollows."
"A hollow?" Nudge shivers. "Sounds scary."
"Yeah, they're spirits that shinigami, soul reapers, weren't able to get to in time to send on to Soul Society, the afterlife. Hollows have a hole where their heart is supposed to be. They eat souls to try and fill that void, however they're not able to."
"Why not?" his friend asks.
"Because once a soul becomes a Hollow, it is driven by an eternal and insatiable hunger to devour other souls, living or dead, to fill the void caused by its descent." Their eyes widen. "That's where soul reapers come in. With their zanpakutō they're able to purify hollows and send them onto the cycle of rebirth where they will be reborn.
"So soul reapers don't take souls out of people?" Ari asks. Once Ichigo shakes his head no, Ari releases a sigh of relief.
"How do they purify a hollow?" Max asks.
"By cutting through their mask."
"Mask?"
He nods. "A hollow's heart becomes their mask."
"What about Soul Society?" Angel speaks up.
"Like I said it's the afterlife. Once a plus passes on, either on their own or with the help of a soul reaper they will go to a place called Rukongai. I can't tell you exactly that goes on there since I'm not entirely sure."
"Alright…" Max drawls. "What about soul reapers?
"What about them?"
Max sat down on the grass, the others following suit except Ichigo, who remained standing. "How do they help souls who haven't become a hollow?"
"They perform a konso, a soul burial." He explained as he held his fist up as if he were holding Zangetsu and pointed to where the bottom of the grip would be. "Once that happens they're sent to the Rukongai.
"Can we see it?" Nudge asks suddenly, interrupting any further questions making him chuckle.
Without a word he reached a hand out to his side and willed his spirit particles into forming his blade. First the grip was brought into existence and as soon as he was able he gripped it as the chain and blade were formed until he was holding the familiar wait of Zangetsu's cleaver form. He couldn't help the smile that came. It felt great to hold a part of his soul he thought he had lost forever.
Angel, Nudge, and Ari oohed and awed at his blade while Max and her clone looked on with wide eyes.
"Compensating for much?" Total remarks.
"The hell is that supposed to mean, mutt?" Ichigo shouted in irritation.
"Mutt?" Total shouted, obviously insulted. "I'll have you know I'm a purebred."
"Yeah, because other dogs can talk, that's perfectly normal."
"As far as you know," Total snapped. "There could be other talking dogs out there thanks to the School."
Ichigo snorted as he let Zangetsu disappear into blue spirit particles for a second time that night. "Doubtful. Last time I checked, talking dogs don't contribute to society."
"That's because I'm the only one!"
"But you just said there might be more. Now you're saying there aren't, make up your mind, mutt."
Nudge and Angel giggle earning a glare from the dog. Even Max and his friend were smirking. The only one not paying attention was Ari, and if her glances were anything to go by, Max also knew something was up with the Eraser. He suddenly looks up from his hands where they were in his lap, fear crossing his features.
"What about…" he paused, hesitant to continue. "What about that thing?"
Ichigo frowned in confusion. "Thing?"
Ari paused before nodding. "That thing in the mask?"
Ichigo stiffened including the others, though for different reasons. They all turned to him, expecting an answer. He ran a hand through his hair, hoping not to have to explain this, but who was he kidding? Of course his hollow would come up in conversation.
Suddenly his hollow let out a vicious growl from the confines of Ichigo's inner world, startling him. Across from him Angel flinched slightly. Ichigo frowned and sent his hollow a silent question.
"Little Blonde over there tried ta read yer mind," came a growled response causing Ichigo to freeze.
She what?
There came a grunt. "Exactly as I said."
By now Max was also watching Angel who turned to look back at her flock leader with a frown.
Of course she can read minds. It wouldn't be me if things were ever easy.
By now Max was standing up and glaring daggers at him. "You better start explain right now," she hisses.
A heavy sigh escapes him. "Fine, but you're going to want to sit. It's a bit of a long story." She didn't move until he himself sat down. Only then did she return to her place between Ari and Nudge.
"What you saw was something called an inner hollow." At this everyone except for Ichigo stiffen. After all, they were just told that hollows eat both the living and dead. "Don't worry, so long as you don't pose a threat or invade his space, he won't hurt you.," He was quick to say, trying to ease the tension. Little good it did. Both Max's were glaring at him while Ari, Angel, Nudge, and Total were staring at him with wide, fear filled eyes.
How he hated that look. The same look he got from the soul reapers when they first learned of his hollow, only their eyes were quick to fill with hate and mistrust, the latter or which were in both the original and clone's eyes. If he hadn't known any better, he would have mistaken them for twins with how similar their looks were.
"And that's supposed to make us feel better?" Max demanded.
"No, but it's supposed to calm you down so I can explain." He said with his ever present scowl.
"Oh I'm calm. As calm as a hurricane," Max retorted.
"Just let me explain and try not to hold anything against me. I wasn't exactly willing when he was more or less forced into my soul.
Max crosses her arms over her chest while still glaring at him. "Fine, you have five minutes."
He mentally sighed. It was better than nothing he supposed. He would have to give the really condensed version of the Winter War then.
"Alright, when I was fifteen I was given my soul reaper powers by a soul reaper who went by the name of Rukia Kuchiki. Not long after she was taken back to the Soul Society because giving one's powers to a living soul was one of the worst crimes a soul reaper could commit. However, she did it so I could save my family so I owed it to her and couldn't let her die. Unfortunately, her older brother, Byakuya Kuchiki, forcibly took my powers so I was forced to go through some… tests in order to get them back."
"What'd you have to do?" Nudge asks.
Ichigo scratched his cheek, shifting so he wasn't sitting so much on a tail feather. "Well, my soul got ejected out of my body and then I was chased by a little girl who was trying to kill me. After that my Chain of Fate was cut, technically killing me I guess, then dropped into a huge hole called the Shattered Shaft. Then I had to climb out while my arms were restrained behind my back, all at the same time while my chains were eating each other. It took three days for me to lose my chains and then I started turning into a hollow. Luckily I managed to become a soul reaper before I could actually become said hollow." He rubbed the back of his head. "After that I've always had my inner hollow."
Nudge gasps. "That's horrible! How could someone do that?"
Ichigo's scowl returns full force. "Because I needed the power to save Rukia from being executed for a crime she didn't commit."
"Wait," his still unnamed friend spoke up. "But you said transferring powers was illegal in Soul Society. Isn't that what she did?"
He shook his head. "No, she awakened my own soul reaper powers that had been dormant up until then."
"I'm confused…" Ari said.
"My dad was actually a soul reaper, that's where I got my powers from. I just needed something that would wake them up and that's what Rukia did. Anyways, after I got my powers back and learned Zangetsu's name I left with some friends for Soul Society where we uncovered a traitor who had been planning his treason for centuries I think it was. He disappeared into the Hueco Mundo, a place where hollows live. Before that though I had a fight with Byakuya and that's when I first learned of my inner hollow. After the traitor disappeared me and my friends returned back to the World of the Living." His scowl deepened. "Not long after that my hollow tried to take over my body and sabotaged me in fights so I would lose. I was forced to get help from a group of people who had a similar issue as me, only they had it far longer and had their hollows under control."
"There's more people who have inner hollows?" Max asks.
Ichigo nodded. "Yeah, but according to them, their hollows are mindless while mine can think for himself. I had to fight him in my inner world, a place everyone has, it's just a matter if you're powerful enough to access it. I managed to win and from then on I could use his power, however I had to learn to control it. While I was training, my friend was kidnapped by the traitor so I went after her. There I fought his top fighters and came out on top while saving my friend."
There was no way he was going to tell them he died and his hollow controlled his body while he recovered. There was already trust issues, and if they realized his hollow could still take control of him now, even if he knew his hollow would never unless his life was in danger, then it would take forever to earn their trust, something he didn't want to do. Mostly because they went through something similar to him and a part of him didn't want to give up someone who knew what he went through.
"After that I went back to the living world where I fought one of the traitors -there were three total-, but I was too weak. The traitors then went to Soul Society where they would complete their plan of destroying my hometown and all its residents. However, in order to get there, they had to go through something called a Dangai, a place where time flows differently. In there I spent three months training to learn a final move of Zangetsu that would kill the traitor.
"Three months? Wouldn't that be plenty time for these traitors to proceed with their plan?" his friend asked with a frown.
"Normally yeah, but like I said, time flows different. Outside of the Dangai only three hours passed. At this point no one was strong enough to beat the traitor so he took his time. By the end of the three months I had learned what I needed to defeat him. I confronted him and was able to defeat him."
Nudge raised her hand. "What did you learn?"
Ichigo was silent for a moment before speaking. "The move is called Final Getsuga Tensho, it puts all my power into one single attack. Not only is it the attack that ended the Winter War, but it was also the last time I would get to wield Zangetsu. After that my powers disappeared as well as my spiritual pressure leaving me just a plain human. A year later I was kidnapped by the school. A few months after the first experiments started I heard my hollow, but not my zanpakto. Why, I still haven't figured out yet." He took a breath and let it out slowly through his nose. Hopefully he wouldn't have to explain all that again.
There was a scoff from his hollow but nothing else.
Maya frowns. "They way you talk about it, you sound like your sword is alive."
"Zanpakutō," he corrected. "And Zangetsu is. He's a part of my soul."
The area grew quite except some chirping of crickets and night animals scurrying in the underbrush. Then finally Max spoke up, breaking the silence.
"That was more than five minutes, but I'll accept it."
Ichigo blinked, surprised. Just like that she was accepting his story?
"However, don't think this makes us friends. We'll continue this in the morning. Right now we need to sleep and then come up with a plan on getting back inside Itex." With that said she stood up and herded her flock towards the trees.
He could only stare after them in silence. Now that he told a part of his story, what would happen now?
He was about to get up when his friend moved and sat next to him. "Maya," she says after a moment of silence. "My name is Maya. Originally Max was, but I don't like having so much in common with her that I decided to change it."
Ichigo smiled and held a hand out to her. "It's nice to meet you, Maya. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki."
BW - B/MR
Ichigo awoke with a crick in his neck, a sore back, and in a bad mood. Let it be known that he hates sleeping in trees. They are worse than the ground, but he could see why it was necessary. If someone were to come along in the middle of the night and stumble upon them then he could see a problem arising. Of course being used to sleeping in a bed and cage, he was used to being able to roll over. In a tree? You can't do that unless you plan on falling out of said tree and hitting the ground thirty feet below.
Which he did at some point much to the amusement of everyone present, hollow included. Of course not before slamming into a branch or two on his way down.
Oh yes, Ichigo's night had been a great night.
Climbing down from his bed, Ichigo stretched, working out the pain in the light of the rising sun.
Much to the displeasure of Max, Angel moved closer to the orange head as he finishes his stretches. She smiled at him and took his hand when he dropped them at his side when he was done.
"You're not so different then us you know." She says. He blinked down at her, not sure what she meant. "Max hears a voice, Nudge can hack, Ari is an Eraser and Max's little brother, and I can read minds."
He deadpans. "Yeah, I got that much last night. The mind reading part." Ichigo clarifies on a second thought. "Also the Eraser part too."
She grins. "My brother, Gasman, can mimic voices, Iggy is blind, and Fang can hide in the shadows and practically become invisible."
"There's more of you?"
Angle nods excitedly but then frowns. "Yeah. We had to split up though and go different ways since they don't like Ari…"
"Can't say as I blame them…"
Angel got a saddened look as she looks down at her feet. "Ari is gonna expire soon. He and Max say that he was just a little boy when he was turned into an Eraser."
Ichigo grunted in surprise. He might not be around the School for as long as the others but he still knew that all Erasers get an expiration date of sorts and die. He looked to where he was grinning at Max, who was smiling. If he really did have an expiration, then how long until it takes effect? Maybe… Just maybe he could get him to Orihime where she could reverse the damage… If he really was Max's brother then as a sibling himself, he knew she would probably do anything to keep him alive.
"I'm going to go talk to Max real quick," he told Angel. Angel let go of his hand and ran to Ari where she tugged on his hand and led him away.
"Max," Ichigo called as he approached her. "Can I talk to you for a moment?" He asked once he got her attention. She frowns but follows him off to the side. "Angel told me, about Ari," he said once they were away from the others.
Max scowled. Obviously she would need to have a talk with the flock's youngest…
"I know someone who can possibly reverse what the School did to him." At this he had Max's full attention.
"How?"
"Remember my friend that was kidnapped by the traitor?" When she nodded he continued. "She was taken because of the power she possessed. She can repel events from happening which means she can turn Ari back into a kid before he was made an Eraser."
"That's impossible," Max snaps. "There's no way someone could reverse what happened to Ari."
"She can. I've seen her heal a sound that was supposed to kill Rukia within minutes. I would have died many times over during the invasion if it weren't for her. He's your brother, right?"
Max crosses her arms over her chest and leans her weight on one leg. "Yeah, so what of it?"
"Would you do anything you possibly can, even if it seems impossible, to keep him safe or to save him?"
Her scowl disappeared, replaced by just a frown. "Yeah, but I would do the same for my entire flock."
"Then come with me to Japan. We can find Orihime and she can turn him back."
"What's to say she will? What if she sees him and decides not to? Hm?"
"She won't," he promised with a stern look. "Orihime will help anyone in need, it doesn't matter if they're an enemy. She's a pacifist and only thinks about the wellbeing of others before herself. I know she'll help."
Max looked away, her from deepening. "Say we do go with you, what will happen? You stick out like a traffic cone with that hair of yours."
Ichigo deadpans. "Oh haha, haven't heard that one before."
She looks back at him with a smirk. "What about your wings and tail? Those will stick out even more than your hair."
He scratched the back of his head while thinking. "I figured we hide during the day and find her at night."
Max put a hand on her chin and hummed. "They are black so they would blend… The only problem would be the distance and the fact that half my flock is in the US. After we get more information about Itex I planned on heading straight back."
"I could take Ari with me while you go back," he suggested.
"No," was her immediate response. "I want to be there if anything happens to him."
Ichigo nodded, understanding. "Then we better get moving. It would probably be best if we leave for Japan now and come back at a later time to gather more information."
Her frown was back. Max desperately wanted to get more information on Itex now so she could bring it down that much sooner, however, she also wanted Ari to be safe and if she could turn him back into a little boy then she will definitely do that. Ari at least deserves to finish his childhood while he still can.
"Fine, but it better not take long. Also I need get a hold of the rest of my flock."
Ichigo again nodded, this time in consent. She was technically in charge since, even though she was younger, she has been a bird for far longer which meant she had more experience than him.
After catching some small animals for breakfast that barely filled them up they left for France. There had been a vote on where to go and everyone except Max and Ichigo chose Paris. Max wanting to go somewhere nearby, while Ichigo not really having much choice in the matter. He figured he was basically along for the ride until they reached Japan.
Ichigo marveled at how smooth everyone took off. It was like they were born to fly, and from the stories Maya told him, they really were born to fly. Except for Ari who had wings grafted into him so he was a bit less graceful with his huge wings. Also there was total who couldn't fly at all so he flew with Angel. But compared to him, who only got to fly in an enclosed space for a short amount of time, even Ari was graceful.
After a half hour Ichigo began to grow tired and they were forced to rest or else risk him falling out of the sky. Since none of them wanted that to happen, they landed in a forested area still in Germany. As soon as he landed, Ichigo sat down with a grunt and kept his wings spread to cool them down and to rest them.
All the while Nudge was gushing about how cute his wings were and wanting to pet them much to his amusement, Angel soon joining in and the both of them were now giggling up a storm. In a way they both reminded him of his sisters, Though more Yuzu than Karin. A pang of sadness hit him.
"We'll see 'em again, King. We just gotta wait a bit longer." His hollow comforted him. It was still odd to Ichigo that his hollow would do that, but maybe that's because Zangetsu was still sleeping and didn't look to be waking up anytime soon so his hollow took up the job of comforting his king? It all confused him. It confused him even more when he found his hollow was also amused by Nudge's and Angle's antics.
Since they were each resting, Max decided to tell everyone the new plan. Upon finding out that Ichigo's friend could heal him, Ari couldn't stop smiling. He would get to keep living with his big sister and her flock now. Gone was his depressed mood and in came with overjoyed happiness that nothing could get rid of.
Ichigo kept a small smile on. If for some reason he had to leave his home or couldn't stay, Max had promised him a place in her flock, something that saddened, but at least he knew with them he would be accepted and would be with those similar to him. Who knows, if he wasn't able to stay in Karakura then he would become the flock's protector.
That thought made his smile grow a little more. They were nothing but children who were trying to stop an evil in the world. Of course with it being him, he won't be able to sit by idly while they were off potentially getting hurt. The thought made his stomach turn. No, there was no way he could do that. Even if he was accepted back home, which he was certain he would be, he would probably still end up joining the flock in helping them.
Once rested enough Ichigo was no longer shaking when trying to stand, they once again resumed their flight, this time Ichigo managing to make the last forty-five minutes of the flight, but just barely. Luckily for him there was an air current he was able to ride that helped him make it.
On the air current, Ichigo absentmindedly flicked his tail feathers. Of course he was used to going at slower speeds where that little flick would help turn him slightly, however he failed to realize that at higher speeds that flick would send him completely off course with a dignified squawk of surprise and amusing look of surprise on his face.
The others slowed down, grinning in amusement while Maya giggled and flew off to help him get back on course which took him a bit of work because of having to fly into a crosswind.
Ichigo and his hollow quickly agreed that for now it would be best to focus on stamina before any fancy moves. Once he got his stamina up he would practice flying while wielding Zangetsu so he doesn't accidentally take off a wing in the process.
After that small incident, Ichigo kept his tail still other than to keep him stable.
Upon reaching Paris, they once again touched down in a forest not far away where Ichigo, Maya, and Ari stayed behind while the others went into town to facetime the other flock members. For a good hour no one spoke as they all hid in the highest branches of a tree. Ichigo and Maya sat next to each other on different branches with Ari on the other side of the trunk. They were in a comfortable silence when Ari spoke up.
"Thank you," he says quietly.
"Hmm?" Ichigo asks, only catching the last word.
"Thank you," Ari says a bit louder so the orange head could hear.
This confused Ichigo. What had he done to deserve thanks? "For what?"
"For letting me live."
Ah, now it made sense. "It's no problem."
They lapsed back into silence with Maya smiling. It took a while to understand the relationship she had with Ichigo, but she was happy when she did because he was the first one she ever had.
A friend. She was certain of it with how he explained how he and his friends interacted. And if she were to ask him then she was certain he viewed her as a friend as well. Why else would he help her escape? She figured the only reason why he helped her copy and her miniflock was because of Angel and Nudge. At least that's her guess.
She couldn't help but feel like she made a good choice in a first friend.
The sun was starting to go down by the time the others returned, each carrying a backpack, or in Max's case three, one on her chest with one in each hand. Nudge also carried one extra. The three landed, four if you include Total, as the other three in the tree climb down.
The three who stayed behind were each given one. Upon opening they found cans of food and boxes of snacks. Ichigo was tempted to have something right now if Nudge hadn't handed out some pastries between the three who gladly ate after a day of having nothing.
After putting down Total and her backpack, Angel walked up to Ichigo and handed him a piece of clothing of some kind. Taking it he saw it was a black trench coat that nearly reached his feet. His mouth fell. How had they afforded this? He voiced his question.
"Dr. Martinez gave me a bank account last time I saw her and we stashed some of our things not too far from here last time we were here. Just a hunch I had."
"Thanks."
"We didn't know what size to do so we had to guess." Nudge says as he puts the coat on.
Having a little trouble getting it over his wings. Maya walks up to help him. Once it's on he immediately notices the extra space. A little too big, but that was fine he supposed. It helped to hide his wings better.
Much to Ichigo's displeasure they spent the night in trees again and in the mornings they were off to Japan.
BW – B/MR
Surprisingly enough, nothing happened on their way to Japan. Ichigo's stamina increased, surprising everyone when a few days into the trip he could already fly for several hours without getting tired. Ichigo assumed it was because of his powers, but the others thought it was something else. By the end of the first week he was able to keep up just fine, if not better.
Before he went to sleep each night he would fight his hollow, who also acquired a set of wings and a tail, except as per usual the colors were reversed making them mostly white with a black strip. Apparently even the hollow needed to practice not cutting off his wings. There had been times when one of them lost a wing, but thankfully his hollow was quick enough to get to healing it before the injury became real on his physical body.
The first time he trained with is hollow he forgot to tell the others that his injuries he received in his inner world would become real on his physical body. That was a fun talk…
At least he got to know everyone better.
A week and a half after leaving France they arrived in Japan where Ichigo took the lead. From there it only took a few hours to get to Karakura Town. It was still the middle of the day when they arrived so they were forced to land on the hill outside of town where they were able to sit and relax.
"So when are we meeting with the others again?" Nudge asks from where she lay on her front in a patch of grass.
"Not for another few days. They chose to go up through Alaska, remember?" Max tell her.
"Oh yeah."
"How would they know where to look?" asks Ari.
Making sure he wasn't on any feathers, Ichigo leaned back on his hands. "We'll be able to use the Wi-Fi at my house and let them know assuming they're on. It shouldn't take long for Orihime to help Ari so we might be able to meet them tonight."
Tonight.
He was so close now, he could almost hear his sisters and dad.
Worries surfaced. What would happen? Did they really think he was dead? How would they respond to seeing him after a year and a half? More importantly, would they accept him?
"'Course they will, King. They're yer family."
You've been more comforting than usual. What'd you do?
"What? I can't cheer my king up?"
No.
"I'm hurt."
Good.
Soon enough the sun was below the horizon causing his heart to skip. This would be the first time since everything happened that he would get to see Orihime. Ichigo likes to think of himself as patient, however right now he could throw patience out the window. He just wanted to take flight and find his family and never leave their side again. Finally when his home began to show signs of slowing down they took flight, Ichigo taking the lead.
It took him longer then he wanted to find Orihime's new apartment but when he did he froze just as his hand was raised to knock. Why couldn't he move? All he had to de was reach forward to knock. It wasn't that hard. He took a deep breath and let it out, trying to calm his racing heart. Finally he reached forward and knocked lightly. He was afraid he knocked too lightly when there was no response until,
"Coming!" came a sing-song voice that had his heart skipping a beat and breath catching in his throat. The door opened to reveal another orange head except slightly darker girl with grey eyes and a rather ample bosom. She froze upon seeing who it was. They both stared at each other for what felt like minutes but was really only a few seconds.
"Hey," Ichigo finally said with a small smile.
"K-Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime squeaked before tears formed in her eyes. She reached a hand out to him but froze. "Is it- Is it really you?"
"Yeah… it's me," he says gently.
Tears spilled as Orihime lurched forward to hug Ichigo with all she could, fists clenching the back of his coat. Ichigo brought his own arms around the crying girl to comfort her and reassure her it was really him. He sent a silent thanks to whoever was listening -besides his hollow- that the flock stayed quite through this.
They stayed like that until Orihime finally pulled away, but not letting go of him. "I'm so happy you're okay. I- Everyone thought that-" she stopped herself, bottom lip quivering for a moment before she perked up, a huge grin plastered on her face. "Yuzu-chan and Karin-chan will be so happy Kurosaki-kun is okay. Oh," she now looks at him with a curious look, "Why is Kurosaki-kun here instead if at home with his sisters?"
He let out a silent sigh. "That's actually why I'm here. Can you help me with something?"
"Of course!" she says with a smile.
Ichigo lets go of her and turns to the flock where they stood awkwardly.
"Oh! Come in!" She motions for all seven of them, including Total, to enter. Once everyone is in and the door clicks shut Orihime begins to speak rapid Japanese, confusing all but one of her guests. "I'm sorry for not having anything made, I wasn't expecting to have any guests. I can make something real quick if you want. How does wasabi and bean paste sound? Oh! I can even add some chocolate if you want!"
Ichigo went pale at her suggestions, glad none of the others could understand her. He suppressed a shiver.
"Ah, Orihime?" She looks at him with a wide smile. "We're not that hungry and they only understand English."
Orihime blushes at this before switching to English, rubbing the back of her neck. "Sorry about that."
Ichigo chuckles. "Guys, this is Orihime Inoue. Orihime, this is Max, Maya, Nudge, Angel, Ari, and Total." Each gave a wave when introduced. Well in Total's case he bound forward and began demanding attention making Ichigo scowl and kick the dog. Which in turn made Angel start shouting at him about hurting him when Total yelped. After rolling his eyes, Ichigo turns back to the other orange head. "Anyways, can you use your powers to reverse what happened to Ari?"
With a confused look, Orihime looks at Ari, who was fidgeting by now. Her eyes widen as she fully takes in his looks, clearly seeing what was wrong. She motioned for him to sit and the others to move back.
"Sōten Kisshun." Almost immediately an orange dome appeared over Ari, Orihime holding her hands up to maintain the shield.
Max stiffened and made to move closer but was stopped when Ichigo held up an arm in front of her. Everyone but Ichigo and Orihime gasped when Ari's grafted on wings began to disappear right before their very eyes. Ari could only look on in amazement as his wings disappeared and his pain vanished.
"Kurosaki-kun! Your hair grew!" Orihime cries out when she was finally able to place what was so different about him.
Said orange head takes a chair and sits on it backwards. "Yeah, that's not the only thing. I got my powers back."
Her eyes widen as she indeed can sense his powers and it wasn't raging like before. It was calmer now than ever before. "But… How? Kisuke-san said your powers wouldn't ever comeback."
"About that…" He glanced to the flock where they all had decided to sit on the floor. Max's eyes were starting to narrow at him, as if to tell him to say nothing. He of course ignored her.
Over the next few hours, with the help of Ichigo who loaned some of his powers to her when hers were starting to get low, he was filling in his friend on what had happened. At the end of the few hours, Orihime was crying slightly for the pain her friend went through that no one knew about.
If only she knew then she would have been there to help him escape instead of force him to go through all that and escape all on his own. She was a horrible friend for not doing anything.
She looked up when she felt a hand on her shoulder to see a slightly smiling Ichigo looking down at her.
"I don't blame you, Orihime. What happened, happened and I wouldn't change it if I could," he tells her.
Orihime looks back to the dome under her hand. Inside the dome lay a sleeping Ari, who looked like a normal seven-year-old with blond hair. All that was left for her to fix was under his skin that only she could see. What could she say to that? Nothing. She couldn't say anything without upsetting him and that was the last thing she wanted to do.
She turns back to him with closed eyes and a smile. "I'm just happy Kurosaki-kun is back and safe." She looks back to her task as she feels some of his power flow into her from his hand where it still lay on her shoulder, refilling her reserves. After a moment he pulled away. "Uryū missed you," she says quietly.
"Really?" Ichigo says in mild surprise. "Four-Eyes missed me? That's a surprise."
Orihime giggles and the room falls silent.
By now it was late into the night and only Ichigo, Orihime, and Max were still awake, the others having fallen asleep once Ichigo finished his tale. Max was only still awake because she wanted to keep any eye on Air in case anything happened to him under that mysterious dome. Also to glare daggers at Ichigo for inadvertently revealing their own wings as well.
By the time she was done with healing Ari, the sun was coming up to signal a new day. Almost as soon as she was done Orihime climbed into her bed and fell asleep, but not before telling everyone they were free to stay there as long as they needed. Ichigo decided it was best if he too got some sleep and promptly passed out on the floor, not bothering with a pillow or blanket, near where Nudge and Angel curled up together, Maya having had taken the couch.
As soon as his eyes closed, Ichigo fell asleep.
BW – B/MR
Ichigo awoke some time later to birds chirping outside the window. He lay there on his front with his eyes still closed and listened to the flock talk amongst themselves, sounding excited about something. That something being Ari if the sound of children laughing was anything to go by. Rolling onto his side he was able to see the three youngest and Total whispering about something in a corner.
"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," Maya calls over to him from where she sat at the table.
"Shut up," he grunts as rubs sleep from his eyes and stands up. As he's about to move to the table he's suddenly hit from the side. He shifts his footing so he doesn't go sprawling on the floor and looks down to see Ari hugging him.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," he chanted, squeezing harder and harder for every thanks he said. Ichigo places a hand on Ari's head who in turn looks up with happy blue eyes and a huge grin.
Ichigo smiles a bit, happy that Ari would now get to continue living as a normal human. Well, as normal as you can get having spent who knows how long as an Eraser. Ari runs back to the other three where they start whispering and laughing again.
He heard pots clanking together in the kitchen earning his curiosity. Entering the kitchen space he paled at Orihime pulling food that should never be put together out of he fridge and cupboards.
"Ah, Orihime," he calls wearily in his native tongue.
Said girl looks up and grins. "Good morning, Kurosaki-kun."
"Why don't I make something while you go relax. You worked hard yesterday," he suggests as he steps into the kitchen.
"Oh, no, I'm fine! I got so much sleep last night I feel like I could run a marathon!" Ichifgo could see through her lie. He could see she was still exhausted after healing Ari for so long. He couldn't blame her. He was still tired of having to be careful with transferring his power to her and that was tiring enough.
He chose not to comment on her small lie instead grabbing what was in her hands and put it on the counter. Moving behind her he grabbed her shoulders and guided her out of the kitchen much to her surprise. "I'm going to cook so don't worry yourself." With that said Ichigo disappeared into the kitchen.
Max brought out the laptop at seeing what time it was. "What's the Wi-Fi password?"
From the kitchen Ichigo listened in as the others facetimed the other half of the flock. From the sound of it they were only another day out from Karakura Town. Ichigo had mixed feelings about meeting the rest of the flock. From what he was told about them, Fang had a tendency of holding grudges just as bad as him, Iggy like to make things explode even if he couldn't see it, and Gasman liked to mimic people and sounds as well as make explosives with Iggy. While he was happy to meet others sort of like him, he was also resigned on how they would react to his story.
Max had told him that if he wanted to be a part of her flock then that meant everyone would have to know about him. Of course he was going to keep some things to himself unless absolutely necessary. Nothing would change that.
As everyone was finishing with their meal -more like buffet- there came a knock on the front door. Already standing, Ichigo put on his coat and answered it.
On the other side of the door stood a black haired teenager the same age as Ichigo. The teen's blue eyes widened behind glasses at the sight of the one who answered the door.
"Oh hey, Ishida," Ichigo said as if he only saw the other just yesterday.
This snapped Uryū out of his shock who then promptly cocked back a fist and threw it into Ichigo's jaw. Ichigo saw it coming but did nothing to stop it and let the hit collide, sending him to the floor. He rolled slightly so he was no longer on his wings and tail while rubbing his jaw. That actually hurt more then he thought. His hair covered his face, hiding his features, as Uryū started shouting at him, everyone else in the room going ignored by the two.
"'Oh hey'? What the hell is wrong with you, Kurosaki? You've been missing for a year and a half and all you have to say is 'oh hey'? Everyone thought you were dead so show a little respect!" He shouts, grinding his teeth.
"Has it really been that long?" Ichigo retorts as he gets up, keeping both wings and feathers as close to his self as he can, not wanting his friend to see them just yet.
Uryū growls, lurching forward to punch Ichigo in the stomach. He was surprised that Ichigo took it with no fight, but was even more surprised when all he did was bend forward slightly from the force behind it. That didn't make any sense. Ichigo was just a human and he had put a little power into the punch without thinking and that should have sent him flying. So why...? Ah, now he saw it, but there was something off about it… Did it have something to do with what his father told him?
He pulled back. "Care explaining how did you get your soul reaper powers back?"
"Maybe later when everyone is together," he says as he turns around to clean up from dinner. "It's a long story that I'd rather not repeat again."
It was then that Uryū noticed the others in the room, a light blush of embarrassment covered his cheeks as he noticed unfamiliar faces staring at him, two of them, twins by the looks of it, were glaring at him. A small shiver passed down his spine. The two looked no older then fourteen, possibly fifteen, but he got the sense they could hold their own in a fight.
"Oh hi, Uryū," Orihime greets. "You should have said you were coming over so some more food could be made." - A bead of sweat ran down his cheek. Had they all really just eaten her food? - "We just had dinner and unfortunately there's no more. I can make you something though," she offers.
"I made the food," Ichigo calls from the kitchen where a little blonde girl and boy went to most likely help clean.
That explains it. "No thank you, Orihime. I actually just ate."
"Okay…" She looks downtrodden until she perks up. "Let me introduce you to Kurosaki-kun's flock!" One of the twins began glaring at Orihime now. She was about to say something when the boisterous woman hugged her. "This is Max, leader of the flock. I think." She points to the other twin. "They look a lot alike. Oh! But they're not twins, they're clones."
"Clones?" He asks, confused. Last time he checked, clones were only in science-fiction.
"I'll explain later," Ichigo interjects before anymore could be said on the matter
Uryū turns back to Orihime to see her looking between the two now identified clones with confusion.
"I'm Maya," one of them tell him, the one currently not being hugged by Orihime, looking slightly amused.
"I'm Nudge!" A dark haired girl says from the floor where they had been eating, raising her hand high above her head. Her arm fell back to her lap. "Angel and Ari are in the kitchen with Ichigo." Her brow scrunches. "How do you know Ichigo?"
"We're, uh, friends," was his response.
"Oh, is that what we are?" Ichigo questions coming out of the kitchen. Ichigo ignored the halfhearted glare. "This is Ari," he points at a blond little boy of about seven who was moving to sit with Nudge. "And this," he drops a hand on the blond girl's head and ruffles her hair a bit, "Is Angel." Angel swats his hand away with a pout. There was a cough near the floor. "Oh yeah, and that's Total." Ichigo adds as a second thought. "Guys, this is Uryū Ishida, the bane of my existence."
This time Uryū really did glare. He couldn't really blame him for saying that when their entire friendship was practically planned by their parents from the beginning.
Uryū pushed his glasses up. Ichigo would most likely find out soon enough.
BW – B/MR
Explanations:
Ichigo's powers: Okay, I should say that no, Ichigo will not be gaining any new abilities like fish gills or mind reading or whatever James Patterson did to the flock. That's the flock. This is Ichigo. Two different series. The only thing I would do is change up Ichigo's powers, more specifically add a thing or two. I don't want to veer off from the Bleach canon too much, but it will be hard with the Thousand Year Blood War most likely not ending anytime soon and no one but Tite Kubo knowing what exactly Ichigo is capable of doing. So I won't mess with him and since I am planning on continuing this, you won't see them for quite some time. Just something to look forward to right now.
Ari: I love this kid too much to not keep him alive. Expect Ari to become OOC. I mean c'mon, Orihime turned him back into a kid and his DNA is back to that of a normal human.
Orihime: People call me ditzy sometimes, but for the life of me I can't write a ditzy character. I tried, I really did. When I actually start getting her character down I'll come back through and fix her.
Ichigo and Uryū's relationship: The way I'm going to have things is that Ichigo and Uryū were once friends as babies and into toddlers when they had to stop because of family issues. They of course forgot each other over time. For those of you who have read the Bleach manga and are caught up, hopefully you know what I'm talking about.
Thousand Year Blood War: Okay, so I'll have some things mentioning the War, but I won't actually go into it. Not until it's done.
Terribly sorry if I messed any Japanese things up. I'm trying to learn the language and the culture, but it's a slow go when I can't afford any proper learning material and am stuck to Google.
I just realized I forgot the disclaimer…
I OWN NOTHING AND NEVER WILL! I only own the ideas I come up with and both series belong to their respective owners.
Next chapter will be Ichigo meeting up with his family.
Please review and tell me what you thought. If there is anything you would like cleared up, don't be afraid to ask. All flames will be fed to Natsu.