Disclaimer: I own nothing. Both Bleach and High School DxD belong to their respective creators.
A/N: And the winner by a grand total of three votes is Nelliel Tu Odelschwank. So without Further ado I bring you Chapter 5 of Devils, Death Gods and Hollows Oh My!
Chapter 5
Beep! Beep! Beep! Blared the cheap digital alarm clock he had purchased at the electronic store as Ichigo thrashed around under the sheets fumbling around looking for the off button. He slammed his hand down on the button as he finally found it, putting far too much force behind It as he felt the plastic splinter and crack beneath his hand, small bits and pieces ricocheting off the wall.
'Damn piece of crap,' thought Ichigo as he rolled out from under his sheets. He put his feet on the carpeted floor and made his way to his closet. Pulling out his uniform he slowly started to get dressed for another fun filled day of learning things he had already learned as a student in Karakura High School.
As he made his way into the kitchen he grabbed the half empty box of generic cereal he had left on the counter the night before and found a clean bowl and poured himself some breakfast. Pouring in the milk and grabbing a spoon he walked over to the window and pulled open the curtains. It was raining outside.
'Rain again,' he thought, 'why does it always seem to rain this time of year?'
Glancing over at the calendar he had posted on the refrigerator he took notice of the day, 'It's Friday and tomorrow is… Damn it. Tomorrow is that day.'
The day he was referring to was the day his mother had died. This would be the first year that he had ever missed going to visit her grave with the rest of his family.
As he finished off the bowl of bland cereal he rinsed out the bowl and set the dirty dishes in the sink to wash when he got back later. Making a mental note to do some grocery shopping this weekend he grabbed his umbrella and walked out the door, locking the door and stuffing the keys in his pocket before heading to school.
Classes had been a nothing short of a snooz-fest for Ichigo, the material was the exact same as what he had gone over in his second year in Karakura, even the world history was almost exactly the same, the differences of the world events were minute at best.
Today he had decided to take his chances on the cafeteria food. Getting a tray he sat down at an empty table and dug in. To his surprise it was actually volumes better than the cafeteria food that he had grown accustomed to. It wasn't long before Toushiro sat down and joined him.
"It seems the problem of finding an advisor for our club will soon be resolved," he informed Ichigo as he too started to eat.
"What do you mean?"
"I had a talk with Urahara yesterday after we parted ways. He will need the weekend to properly resolve the issue but come Monday we should be set to start our club. This will solve the problem of being forced to join a club as well as help cover our movements as I previously stated. I was also able to do something about the problem in infiltrating the Devils that have set up base here on campus," he finished with an air of smugness.
"How did you manage that," questioned Ichigo as he shoveled the last bit of food into his mouth.
The young white haired captain let a small grin form on his face before nodding in the direction behind Ichigo.
Turning to look Ichigo spotted the young blond haired girl that had been tailing them the day before being scolded by the brown haired pervert from his class.
'Now that I think about it,' Ichigo thought to himself, 'she's in my class too.'
Looking more closely he noticed that she was holding a black cat in her arms hugging it closely to her body as if protecting it. A cat that upon closer examination looked a lot like someone he knew.
"Is that who I think it is?"
"Indeed it is," answered Toushiro confirming Ichigo's suspicions.
"I know it should be wrong to pity devils but I almost feel sorry for them."
"You really should spend less time worrying about others and more time worrying about yourself."
"What's that supposed to mean," questioned Ichigo.
"Did you already forget about yesterday?"
Memories of the events that had transpired the day before came rushing back. Rangiku's lips pressed against his own, the feeling of her tongue as it rolled around inside his mouth, the touch of her soft…
Ichigo quickly shook his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts. An attempt that ultimately failed as he could feel himself growing more aroused.
"Your blushing," Toushiro pointed out, "Was it that good?"
Ichigo's face contorted into a scowl as he quickly moved his hands beneath the table in order shift his growing erection around in his pants so that it would be less noticeable.
"Just shut up," he practically shouted causing a few heads to turn in his direction. "And bringing that back up what was it that I agreed to exactly?"
"Sorry, not telling. But a small word of advice, don't bother fighting it, it will only make things worse for you in the long run."
"Geez," grumbled Ichigo sarcastically, "Thanks for the warning."
"Anytime Kurosaki," the captain joked before glancing at his watch, "We should get going, the bell will be ringing soon."
Picking up their trays the Shinigami and the substitute tossed their trash in the appropriate bins and made their way to their respective classes.
After school the Occult Research Club gathered in their club room as usual as Asia recounted what she had been able to observe.
"Then I got this great deal on all of these sweets," she said holding up the bags that were overflowing with candies of every kind as Rias only rubbed her temples in frustration, "And then I found this adorable Kitty," she exclaimed excitedly as she showed off the cat for all to see while Issei just glared at it
"That cat is a menace, since she brought it home last night it has scratched no more than fifteen times and tried to claw my eyes out at least six!"
"That's just because you frightened it. I'm sure Noir will get used to you in no time. Then you'll be the best of friends," the former nun said hopefully.
"So what you're saying is that you were unable to observe anything out of the ordinary and then lost your target," recapped Rias in a disappointed tone.
"I-I'm sorry I…"
"Don't worry Asia," her King reassured her, "It's not your fault. No doubt those two men were associates of his and meant to hold you there in order to keep you from following. I advise all you to stay away from this shop from now on until we are able to determine just what their motives are."
"Yes Buchou," they said in unison.
"And they seemed like such nice people," Asia sighed sadly.
Meanwhile Koneko was crouched over staring at the cat with curiosity.
"Is there something wrong Koneko," asked Rias as Asia fidgeted nervously.
"No," replied Koneko after some time, "The cat is just very clean. I just found that odd is all." The young rook then held out her hands before speaking once more, "Candy please…"
"Of course," Asia responded with a smile as she handed the bags of sweets to Koneko who dumped the contents onto the table and started to rummage through it all picking out the ones that tickled her fancy, which just so happened to be most of them.
"That reminds me," Asia said as she set Noir down so that she could reach into her bag. She pulled out a standard sized notecard, "Mr. Tessai, one of the men from the shop, gave me this tea recipe. I thought Akeno might like to try it out," Asia said as she looked around for the Gremory Queen. "Where is Akeno?"
"I sent her to observe Ichigo Kurosaki today," Rias stated as she clasped her hands together on top of her desk, "Despite being confirmed as human his interaction with Toushiro Hitsugaya makes him a person of interest as well. Here Asia," said Rias as she held out her hand to the bishop, "I will make sure that she gets it."
"Of course," Asia said as she handed the Gremory heiress the recipe card.
"Now then, since there is no further business for today you are all dismissed. Meet back here on Monday so that we can go over the information that we have. That is all."
After everyone left it was just Rias and Koneko left in the room
Getting up from her desk Rias mad her over to her rook and sat down on the couch next to her.
"Is there anything good," she asked in regards to the sweets.
Having now separated the sweets into two bags the rook placed the larger of the two bags at her side so that she sat protectively between Rias and her sweets. She then grabbed the evidently much smaller bag and handed it to Rias, "Here Buchou, you can have these."
"Gee thanks Koneko," said Rias unenthusiastically as she accepted the bag of clearly discarded sweets from the first year.
The rain had let up but the skies were still overcast as Ichigo walked around aimlessly through the streets after school hoping that the random turns through alleys and various streets would be enough to lose his would be stalker
Nearly half an hour later and he had yet to lose his pursuer and the rain had started up once more as a light drizzle. Once more he made his way into an alley this time however he was able to spot a doorway off to the side that would hide him long enough so that he could confront the one following him.
He heard footsteps as they approached and slowed to a halt, no doubt pausing having lost sight of their intended target. The footsteps started once more, slower this time as the owner proceeded with caution now.
'A little closer, just one more step… Now!'
Shooting out his hand Ichigo grabbed the stalker by the shirt and pulled them in close their faces only a couple of inches apart, Ichigo brown eyes boring into their violet orbs, Their breasts now pressed firmly against his chest.
'Wait,' thought Ichigo, 'breasts?'
"My, my," said a seductive female voice, "you certainly are forward. Just please be gentle, It's my first time."
Backing away quickly Ichigo found that his pursuer was a beautiful girl roughly his age wearing the standard Kuoh Academy girl's uniform. And due to the rain and her apparent lack of an umbrella he had a rather nice view of her cleavage as well as her black lacy bra
He heard her giggle lightly, "My eyes are up here," she said pulling Ichigo's gaze back to her lovely face. "And in case you're wondering they do indeed match.
"I'm sorry what," Ichigo asked startled as he blushed at having been caught staring.
"My panties," she said lifting up her skirt giving him a full view of her black lace undergarments, "They match my bra."
"Will you stop that," said Ichigo as pulled her hands away from her skirt so that it fell back in place before promptly releasing her.
"My what a gentleman," she complimented as she giggled once more, "And here I thought that all men were perverts."
"Well I'm not," Ichigo stated loudly.
She smiled slyly as she advanced on him, "You seem so sure. Let's test that proclamation shall we?"
Ichigo took a step away from her but now found his back pressed firmly against the wall of the small doorway with nowhere to go.
She was no pressing her body to his as she brought her face close to his before whispering in his ear, "Are you sure you're not the least bit perverted?"
She brought her leg up between his own and started to rub the inside of his thigh with her own, the contact and motion in such a close proximity to his groin area was causing a reaction that that he was truly wishing was voluntary right now. And to make things worse she had started to nibble lightly on his ear lobe, it was painful but not in bad way. It just made what she was doing all the more arousing.
Ichigo cursed mentally as her thigh was no longer just rubbing against his thigh but his now erect member as well.
Her leg stopped moving now resting against the most unruly portion of his anatomy. She also stopped nibbling his to whisper to him again, "Wow that certainly is impressive Kurosaki-kun. Tell me, what is it about me that arouses you the most?"
Grabbing her by the shoulder he forced her away and pressed her against the opposite wall.
"Now this is more like it," her voice practically a moan as a blush covered her face, "I just love the way you're manhandling me."
"Will you just cut it out already," Ichigo growled out angrily.
"Oh, did you want to be the 'M' and me the 'S'? I'm fine with either really."
"What? Never mind," he said trying to calm himself in more ways than one, "Just who the hell are you and why are you following me?"
"Ah where are my manners? I am Akeno Himejima. And as for why I was following you… Is it really so odd for a girl to follow a boy she has a crush on?"
"That's load of horse shit and you know it," he said angrily.
"Maybe at first," she said with a smile, "But I'm more than just a little interested now. So who's to say I'll ever stop stalking you?"
Ichigo growled in frustration as he released her from his grip, "Just get the hell out here and leave me alone."
"Of course. But just for now okay," she said giving him a wink before turning and walking away.
"Wait," Ichigo called after her exasperated as he walked up to her, removing his blazer as he did so.
As she turned around her handed her the blazer and his umbrella, "Take these."
"Why whatever for," she asked.
"Well for starters it's raining, and secondly your shirt is completely see through."
"How chivalrous of you," she said as she accepted the offered umbrella as he draped his blazer around her shoulder.
"Just give them back to me Monday okay?"
"Of course," she said giving the teenage hybrid a bow of gratitude.
"Don't mention it."
Making their way back onto the main street they parted ways. Ichigo staying behind briefly to make sure she wasn't going to follow. Once he was satisfied that he turned and started to head off towards his apartment as he thought about the girl he had just met. All he could tell was that she wasn't human. He wasn't sure what she was. He hadn't learned to tell the difference between any of them yet. He could still feel her energy from where he was now. She had enough spirit energy to be considered on par with one of the lower seated officers. Honestly it wasn't that impressive when he thought about it but still she had a decent amount of power which made him wonder how powerful the others of her kind were.
"Hollow, hollow, hollow," his substitute badge pulled him from his musings as it alerted him to the presence of a hollow. Spreading out his senses he searched for the hollow's energy. It took him a minute, as bad at sensing as he was. It was in the direction he had just come from.
'That's weird it's almost as if it's following…' realization then dawned on him, "Akeno!"
There wasn't anywhere to stash his body safely at the moment, so pulling his mother's quincy cross off his neck he wrapped the rosary around his wrist and set off as fast as he could using what little he understood of quincy powers to utilize their equivalent of shunpo.
This wasn't an ideal situation but it was precisely why he had been advised to train those powers in the first place. Blowing his cover as a Shinigami was not an option, according to Urahara it was far better to be discovered as a human with special powers. He just hoped he wasn't too late.
Akeno walked through the rain now shielded from the precipitation by Ichigo's umbrella. She was a bit disappointed that she had been caught without being able to gather any real intel on him. She didn't want to let Rias down but things just hadn't worked out the way she had hoped. To be honest he seemed to be completely normal in every way. He was a bit of a prude and clearly a closet pervert to boot. He hadn't exhibited any strange powers nor could she truly detect anything from him.
He might have made for a decent pawn had Rias not used them all on Issei. When she had been pressed up against him she had felt all his muscles. Not muscle built from lifting weights but muscle built from a life of fighting. And even though Issei possessed a powerful sacred gear to make up for what he lacked everywhere else it didn't change the fact that they needed fighters if Rias was going to avoid a marriage to Riser. There was still hope to be sure but to be honest Ichigo didn't seem to fit the role of either a knight or a rook.
"It's such a shame," she said out loud before coming to a halt, both mentally and physically.
Standing in the middle of the street was one of the creatures that had been terrorizing the three factions. This one was roughly fifteen feet tall, its skin pitch black with a small torso and long skinny legs and long lanky arms that ended in nasty looking metallic claws. The trade mark mask and hole in the chest identifying it as one of the creatures that seemed happy to attack devil and angel alike.
What threw her off the most was the fact that she was currently in the middle of a very busy street with dozens of people crowding around her while dozens more walked right past the giant creature as if ignoring it completely. They couldn't have mistaken it for a statue not the way it kept shifting it body and sniffing the air. Then came the earsplitting scream that forced her to cover her ears and still no one seemed to notice it.
Then the creature looked directly at her before giving another shriek and throwing an arm out to the side and into a building sending debris crashing into the street. It was now that people started to scream and run but not from the monster. No they still seemed to ignorant of its presence seeing as people continued to run past it and it in turned ignored them, its attention solely focused on her.
Dropping the umbrella she turned and started to run as fast as she could. She didn't bother turning around, she knew it was following behind her. She could hear it as it crushed concrete underfoot as it lumbered after her, the sound of its footfalls growing closer and closer.
And then they stopped altogether as though its attention had been drawn elsewhere. But that was wrong. She felt it as the creature's sharp claws tore through the fabric of the blazer and her own uniform and raked against her back sending her to ground.
The creature now advanced on her slowly a predator toying with its prey. She got to her feet as quickly as possible and faced the monster. All but the most powerful magic had been proven ineffective against these monsters so she knew her only chance was to escape. But as she was now she couldn't run fast enough and a teleportation spell would take too long. There was but one option.
Taking a look around and find the street now completely abandoned she sprouted her wings and took to the sky. She flew as high as her wounded body would allow before glancing down at the monster below her. It could only stare at her as it now hunkered down on all fours.
'There,' Akeno thought to herself starting to enact the teleportation spell as the familiar red light started to engulf her, 'now I can take my time. There's no way it can get me up… here?'
A look shock and fear crossed her features as the creature appeared before her having jumped into the air to reach its prey. She was unable to dodge as it lashed out at her and sent her careening back to the asphalt. The creature landed next sending up a spray of concrete and dust as it now hunched over her.
She could only watch in horror as the creature brought it claw back to deliver the final blow. Time seemed to move in slow motion for her as her death inched closer and closer. Closing her eyes she accepted her fate allowing one last thought to cross her mind, 'I'm sorry Rias.'
But the end never came. Instead she heard the creature howl in pain as the sound of metal clanging on concrete met her ears. What she saw as she cracked open her eyes astounded her, standing in front of her arm raised in defense was Ichigo Kurosaki. The veins in his arm were bulging a humanly impossible amount as a small amount of blood trickled down it from a cut that barely broke the skin. The creatures claws now lay scattered around them as if broken by the impact.
The mindless beast continued to howl in pain as Ichigo now brought his arm forward, an item that looked strangely like a rosary dangling from it. A burst of black energy tinted with red burst forth in his hand taking the form of what looked like a bow of all things. Using his free hand he appeared to pull back on an invisible bowstring, an arrow of energy now knocked. Not bothering to aim due to the proximity he released the black arrow of energy directly into the beast's head its cries of pain now silenced as its body fell to the ground and crumbled to dust.
He then made his way towards Akeno and bent down to examine her injuries his eyes stopping briefly on her wings.
"We need to get you to a hospital," he said, his voice full with concern.
"No, no hospitals," she begged weakly before unconsciousness finally claimed her.
Ichigo just stared at the unconscious girl in front of him trying to figure out what to do. Her wings were still out so he clearly couldn't take her to a hospital.
'There's always Urahara's shop,' he thought.
That thought was quickly dismissed as his phone started to vibrate. He had received a text saying not to come to his shop, that the devils were on to him.
Taking one last look at Akeno he decided there was only one course of action. Bending down he carefully picked her up bridal style so as to not open her wounds any further and quickly set off towards his apartment.
It was a few hours later that Ichigo had finished giving first aid to the young devil. Years of living with his father had taught him the best thing to have on hand at all times is a first aid kit. And thanks to all the experience he had helping at the clinic cleaning, sterilizing, and stitching up the cuts on her back had been a breeze. The hardest and most awkward part had been getting her undressed so that he could properly treat her. First there had been the issue of the wings but he worked around it and then there was the fact that she was actually naked.
Though apparently he didn't have as big a problem with this as he initially thought, he only had problem when they seemed to flaunt their nudity and tease him about it. But it didn't change the fact he had tried to avert his gaze as often as possible, the key word being tried.
After stitching the cuts he had bandaged them as best he could having tried to avoid her breasts as much as possible but in the end found it simpler to just bind them with wrappings as well. Afterwards he had dressed her in a spare shirt and a pair of gym shorts so that she wouldn't wake up naked and laid her down of his bed before heading to the bathroom for a well-deserved shower.
Akeno awoke to the sound of running water, the memories of what had happened all rushing back at once. Opening her eyes she found herself in a very unfamiliar setting. She was lying in a small bed in an equally small room in what she guessed was an equally small apartment.
As she brought herself to a sitting position, her body screaming in protest while a moan of pleasure escaped her lips. Judging from the pain she felt her cuts had been stitched shut and then wrapped in bandages to prevent possible infection for a time. It was a good thing devils healing was accelerated and thanks to the stitches she would be back to normal in a matter of hours.
Taking a moment to look at her garb she noticed she was now clad in what she could only assume was a teenage boys spare clothing. Noticing her wings were still out she retracted them before getting out of bed and heading in the direction of the running water.
Walking through the apartment she couldn't help but notice just how Spartan it was. It was literally bare bones. Either Ichigo only relied on the necessities or he had just moved in.
When she arrived at what she assumed to be the bathroom the door was ajar, walking into the bathroom she sat down quietly on the counter and simply waited for the Ichigo to finish showering.
The warm relaxing shower was just what he had need after a long day that had just been full of surprises. Turning off the water he opened up the curtains of his shower to find himself now exposed in front of Akeno who very stare seemed as though it were trying to violate him in unspeakable ways.
"W-what the hell are you doing in here," he asked loudly as he drew the curtains shut once more in an attempt to cover himself once more, "you should be in bed resting."
She just giggled before responding, "You probably know by now that I'm not human. I'm actually a devil and I heal at a much faster rate. And thanks to your stitching I should be right as rain in a few hours."
"That's good to know now if you're not going to get out could you at least hand me towel next to you?"
She glanced at the fluffy white towel next to her, "I could but where's the fun in that?"
Ichigo just growled in frustration.
"Oh come on you've got nothing to be embarrassed about, in fact you should be proud of what you got. And besides you clearly saw me naked so it's only fair that I get to see you naked."
"Fine I'm coming out," he said as he took one step out before stepping out completely his back to her and his hands held in front of his privates.
"Now that's cheating," whined Akeno.
"I don't care," said Ichigo as he inched towards the counter where he knew his towel to be, "I'm getting my towel and I'm getting dressed.
Reaching behind him for his towel his hand found purchase on something that was clearly not his towel.
"Oh Ichigo, right there,"Akeno moaned out.
Turning around Ichigo found that she had laid herself on top of the towel so that he would be forced to grab her breast.
"God damn it," not noticing her flinch as he turned around all sense of decency forgotten as pulled her to a sitting position with one hand while grabbing his towel with the other before wrapping it around him and storming out of the bathroom to get dressed.
Akeno waited for him patiently in what could barely pass as a living room sitting on the small sofa. It wasn't long before he came out of his room a flustered look still on his face and a spare set of sheets and pillow under his arm.
"You can have my bed while I will sleep on the couch."
Looking at the couch she sat she responded, "It seems a bit small."
"It folds out into a bed so don't worry about."
"You're not going to let me leave?"
Ichigo raised an eyebrow at her question, "The way you're dressed at this time of night definitely not. Plus you're still injured. I don't care if you will heal in a matter of hours you still need your rest now go to bed."
"Fine," she said getting off the couch and heading towards the bedroom, "you win. But you owe me some answers," she said before shutting the door behind her.
"Why is my life like this," grumbled Ichigo before unfolding the couch bed. After putting on the sheets he promptly lay down and drifted into a deep sleep.
Akeno sat up contemplating what she had seen earlier that day. Ichigo had blocked the creature's claws with his bare arm while only receiving what could barely be considered a scratch. Then he summons up an energy weapon from a strange looking rosary and effortlessly kills the beast.
He was just a human she couldn't any kind of power from him and yet he seemed to have no trouble killing these monsters that even ultimate class devils were having trouble with. It was as if his weapon was designed solely for that purpose.
'Just what the hell are you?'
She then banished these thoughts as she attempted to sleep but to no avail. She had always hated sleeping on her own, but she hadn't had any real trouble with it since she had been little having long outgrown her fears. But after what had happened today she was feeling vulnerable. That creature would have gotten her if not for the intervention of a mere human.
Getting up out of bed she made her way into the living room where she found Ichigo fast asleep on the couch futon.
"Ichigo," said softly getting no response as he continued to breathe slow and steady.
He was fast asleep which meant he wouldn't object to what she was about to do.
Laying down on the futon next to him she snuggled into lean yet muscular frame. It was then that his weight shifted as he rolled over. For a second she was worried that he had woken up. That is until his arm wrapped around her and pulled her in closer to him almost protectively. He was still asleep his breathing and heart rate both slow steady and relaxed. She allowed herself to relax in his warm comforting embrace as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
For some reason she couldn't explain, he made her feel safe.
A/N: Finished. I wanted this to be longer but there was too much stuff to write. I tried to dial back Ichigo's reactions a bit but in my mind he's still a prude who even though he matured a lot still tends to overreact a tad or just the right amount when women make sexual advances on him in public, or in front of others or just simply take him out of his comfort zone. As for Akeno at the end, well she almost died and was saved by Ichigo, I mean you've got things like ptsd and Stockholm Syndrome who's to say there isn't a damsel in distress syndrome. Why devils and others have a hard time killing hollows will be explained slightly in the next chapter. Plus Adult Nel will make an appearance as will Raynare. I'm also hoping the next chapter will be at least 10,000 words long. I will start writing it immediately so I can post it by next Sunday so please bear with me. As for this chapter it took roughly eight hours to write. Also a new poll will be up for the final girl more choices as well a longer voting period. You have until the end of February to vote. As always please read and review. I want your opinions and criticism they do make me better.