Chapter 4
MY RAMBLING IS ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT!
(I skip over most Authors intros too, don't worry.)
This chapter…the next chapter…and maybe the one after that are going to be mostly dialogue and normal people stuff…so don't expect any life changing events or major plot twists…
I have somewhat of a plan now (against my will) so there'll be some interesting things in this story…but you have to remember this is my first. I'm just trying to get the hang of actually writing something. NOT making the best story in the world.
So…the next couple chapters will be mostly plot and character development. (Trying unsuccessfully to act like I know what I'm doing.)
Though…I'm pretty sure that's what the whole story's been about so far…Hehehe…
"Hey! Dammit why are you always hiding when I get here!? It's starting to get ridiculous! Hollow!"
"I…I'm right here, King," Hichigo whispered, nervously. Ichigo turned around, looked at Hichigo with wide eyes, and turned back around.
"No you're not. You're too quiet. Where is he?" Hichigo looked down at the ground.
"It's really me, King. I…got somethin' ta ask of ya. Can ya listen?" Ichigo turned back around and crossed his arms.
"I might. If you snap out of your damn mood. What's wrong with you?!" Hichigo flinched a little.
"Nothin'. I jus' need ta talk ta ya."
"Then snap out of it."
"I can'."
"Then I'm off to find the real one. 'Cause you can't be him." He turned back around and started walking off. Hichigo looked wide-eyed after him.
'What the hell's he doin'? I asked him calmly didn' I?'
'Just do what he says. Snap out of it you wanna be excuse for a Hollow! Run!'
'I swear yer gonna die by meh hands. Somehow."
"DAMMIT KING!" Hichigo ran and tackled him to the ground. Ichigo twisted himself trying to pry the Hollow off, but just made it so it was easier for Hichigo to pin him. They were now facing each other. Surprisingly, Ichigo was smirking.
"LISTEN TA ME!! I WANNA ASK YA A DAMN QUESTION!!" Ichigo's smirk grew.
"That's fine. I needed to ask you something anyway."
"Then why-?"
"I don't want any part of me unsure of themselves. That includes you. Got it?" Hichigo looked down at his King, disbelievingly. Then smiled.
"Alright, alright. I'm completely 100 sure that I need ta ask ya this, and I'm no' backin' down. Are ya gonna listen."
"You have my full attention. No stuttering now." Hichigo glared at his King.
"I won'. King, I want a name. And I want ya ta give it ta me."
"A…name?"
"Che. Yes! I want meh own name! Ya never took the time ta figure out tha' I don' got one!? I hate havin' ya call me 'Hollow' all the damn time!"
"So, all that, and that's all you wanted to ask me?"
"Wait…what?"
"Of course I'll figure you a name, you stupid hollow. You should've asked me sooner." Ichigo, playfully, hit him over the head. Hichigo just stared at his King in mild shock.
"Ya mean…ya made me go threw complete mental breakdown for NOTHING?! Fer a "ya should a asked me sooner"?! Yer as bad as tha' other guy!"
"What other guy? Zangetsu?"
"Uh…wait…ZANGETSU!! A COURSE!! I KNEW I WAS TOO GOOD FER A CONSCIENCE!! IT WAS HIM ALL ALONG!! THANK YA SO MUCH KING!! Now I got a reason not ta listen ta the bastard!! My life is GREAT!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh…back in the last chapter I went insane an' started talkin' ta meh conscience, after arguin' with it about the fact that it was there... Ya missed it, King!"
"…"
"Why ya starin' at me like tha'?"
"…"
"Did I say somethin' weird?"
'You really don't listen to yourself talk, do you?'
"There he is again!!"
"Right. We keep the craziness at a minimum for the sake of my sanity, deal?"
"Uh…I guess"
'The first logical three words out of your mouth since you got here.'
"SHUDDAP YA STUPID OLD MAN!!"
"Excuse me?" Ichigo glared at the Hollow.
"Oh…not ya King. My conscience. Err…I mean… Zangetsu."
"Right…"
'He doesn't believe you. Try to convince him more. Your reactions are great.'
"He's doin' a hell a lot more teasin' now tha' he dun have that magical pole a his."
"I think it would be better if you find a corner…sit in it…and think for a little. Come out when you stop talking about non-existing voices and magical poles, alright?"
"Kiiinngg!! I'm not lyin'!! Ya got ta believe me!!"
"Corner. Now." Hichigo huffed and stood up and stalked off muttering something about conspiracies and murder. Somehow he found a corner…we think…
Meanwhile…at Urahara's
"Now, now, no need to get pushy Rukia-chan. I'm sure there's a decent explanation for it." Urahara held his fan in front of his face, hiding his smile. "Come in, sit down, and relax. We can talk about it."
"We don't have time for that! For all we know, Ichigo could be in danger! You should know! I need that device, Urahara!" He sighed. Women are so pushy now-a-days.
"Humor me, Rukia-chan. Even if we found out that he was hiding that Hollow of his, what are we supposed to do about it?"
"Well…kill it of course!"
"And if Kurosaki-kun refuses?" Rukia looked taken aback for a second, but quickly regained her composure and glared at him.
"Why would he do that?!"
"Just raising possibilities, Rukia-chan. What would you do if he refuses?"
"It's a Hollow! It has to be destroyed! Ichigo would just have to understand!"
"So, you would act forcefully toward one of your best friends? Hmm…not very nice. Now why would I give this to you if you were just going to do that?" He held a package out in front of him. "It is my product after all. I'm sure he'll come if he's dissatisfied in any way. We wouldn't want that, now would we?"
"FINE! Then, what would you have me do?! We need to get rid of this problem!"
"Come in, sit down, and relax. We'll talk about this like civilized adults. Now…
"Who wants Pancakes!?" Rukia sighed, but went in anyway.
Back with Hichigo and Ichi…
"Alright, you going to talk normally now?"
"Yup."
"No more voices or magical poles?"
"No more."
"Alright. So, while you were clearing your head, I came up with a name. Hopefully suitable."
"REALLY!?"
"Yup."
"What is it?! What is it?!"
"I'm not going to tell you yet." Hichigo deadpanned.
"What?"
"I'm not going to tell you yet."
"I heard ya the first time!! WHY!?" Ichigo smirked.
"I need something to hold over your head for Orihime's meeting. I need you to behave."
"I will behave!! I'll do more then behave!! I'll be on meh best behavior! I'll serve, I'll do anything!! COME ON KING!!"
"Sorry, but you're going to get it after the meeting. Now, on to my question. Have you figured out how to get you out yet?" Hichigo pouted and looked away. "Is that a no, or a yes?" The Hollow crossed his arms, still pouting. "Well, if you don't tell me, then we can't even have the meeting, how will you get your name then?"
"FINE! I HAVE!"
"That's good. Don't pout; it doesn't look good on you. Cheer up, tomorrow's Saturday and we can bring you out then, alright?"
"Whatever." Ichigo smacked his Hollow. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FER?!"
"I said you shouldn't pout. Cheer up." Ichigo ruffled his hair. Hichigo smacked his hand away.
"LEAVE ME 'LONE!! Ya got what ya came fer!!" He turned around, back facing Ichigo. His King sighed. Then, out of nowhere, he wrapped his arms around Hichigo's waist, pulling them close.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" Ichigo smirked.
"Cheer up."
"Stop tryin'! Jus' go back to yer body!"
"Not until you cheer up."
"Not gonna happen!" Ichigo huffed, and then abruptly sat down, cross legged, pulling Hichigo with him, and onto his lap. "HEY!"
"Yes?"
The Hollow glared at his King, and then looked away, stubbornly refusing to stop pouting.
"Hey." No answer.
"Hey." Still no answer. Ichigo sat in silence for a couple minutes, thinking over on how he would get the Hollow out of his bad mood. He finally came up with the idea when he remembered the obvious fact that he was a Hollow. Ichigo started laughing. Yes, full out laughing.
Hichigo was taken so much by aback that all he could do was stare dumbfounded at his King. After a couple seconds (which seemed like longer in Hichigo's mind) of that, and when his King still didn't stop laughing, he proceeded to furiously shake and yell the answer out of his King.
"WHAT THE HELL 'R YA DOIN'?! SNAP OUT OF IT!!" Etc….etc…
When Ichigo finally calmed down, he opened his eyes to find himself looking at an angry, and still dumbfounded Hollow.
"S-sorry. I just find the situation really funny."
"What's so funny 'bout it?!" His King started snickering again. "NO MORE A THA'!"
"Alright, alright." He took a deep breath. "I just find it really funny that a blood-thirsty, destruction-bent, instinct-based Hollow, of all things, would be pouting this childishly." Hichigo growled.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"You're acting like a fucking child. I used to think you were all about fighting. Nothing but strength and instinct. Almost cool, if you weren't trying to kill me with it. But no, your child nature ruins it all. Way to go!"
"THAT'S IT!" Hichigo turned around and Ichigo jumped out of the way as he tried to hit him.
"Missed! You pathetic excuse for a Hollow!"
"YER PUSHIN' IT!" He jumped after his King again, and he flash-stepped out of the way.
"Hmm? You sure are defending yourself pretty desperately. You sure it isn't true? Admit it; you have the mindscape of a five year old."
"YOU'RE DEAD!!" He immediately drew his Zanpakuto and came straight down on Ichigo's head. Only to be blocked at the last minute. He was thrown off by his King, but it only made him double his efforts.
He was going to die. One way or another, he's going to be ripped to pieces for daring to call Shirosaki Hichigo a child!!
Back at Urahara's…
"Urahara-san."
"Yes Rukia dear?"
"We've gone threw pancakes, tea, coffee, idle chatter, and catching up. It's not lunch time, and I'm not hungry. Can we please get to the more important matter at hand?"
"Aw, but we're just having fun. You and your friends don't stop by often enough."
"You said you hate it when we bug you."
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I can't complain about it." Rukia's eyes suddenly took on a very dangerous glint, and her knuckles grabbing the table were turning white.
"Urahara-san."
"What is it, Rukia-chan?"
"Can I please have that package? If you're not going to give it to me, then let me pay for it like a regular customer. You have no obligation to the product then."
"Oooo! NOW we're getting somewhere, Rukia-chan. Since you've argued your point so nicely, there's no way I could possibly turn down your offer. That would be outright rude of me, now wouldn't it?" Hat-and-clogs just took to the top of her 'To-kill-when-I-finally-crack' list.
"So, I can pay and get out?" Finally!
"Not quite, Rukia-chan." The table broke under her grip. Urahara didn't heed the warning.
"Why not?" How she kept her voice straight was a mystery never solved.
"Dear Rukia, there are instructions! We don't want you going anywhere without those, now do we?"
"Aren't they in the box?"
"Do you really think I would be mindless enough to leave such a powerful device unprotected, with the instructions? Really Rukia-chan, you must think better of me then that!"
She groaned. It's worth it, it's worth it, it's worth it. Think of Ichigo. You're doing a self-less deed here! COMPLETELY worth it!
"Now then, ON WITH THE PRESENTATION!"
It's worth it. Don't kill him, don't kill him, don't kill him.
Again with Hichigo and Ichi…
Both were currently lying on the ground, exhausted and desperately trying to get enough air to their lungs. Neither had very obvious wounds, just a few scratches and bruises. And both…were smiling?
After a couple minutes of this, Ichigo was finally rested enough to get over to Hichigo. He sat next to the Hollow and smirked at him.
"What the hell's tha' 'xpression fer?! Ya find somethin' funny?!"
"You're not pouting anymore." And for what seemed like the millionth time that day, Hichigo didn't know what to say. "Admit it. You're not mad at me anymore."
The Hollow smiled.
"Guess I'm not."
"Good. I hate it when you act like that."
"Pfft. Why would ya care? Just 'cause I'm part of yer soul?"
"I don't think so. Actually, I don't really know why. Guess I act more on instinct then you thought, huh?" Instinct…does that mean…he cares about me?
Worth a try.
Right… The Hollow took a deep breath.
"Actually King, I had somethin' else ta say ta ya. It's real important."
"Alright, shoot." Hichigo sat up and looked into his King's eyes with the most serious expression he's ever worn.
"I've fallen fer ya." Ichigo took on the expression of a deer in headlights.
"Wh-what…?"
"Ya heard right…I love you, Kurosaki Ichigo."
Such a CORNY ending! YAY! Hehehe.
Dunno when I'm gonna post again. This one took longer then expected. School and family and other supposedly important stuff like that.
THANKS FOR READING! JA NE!!