Title: Dysfunctional Camaraderie
Rating: T+
Pairings: IchiHichi (Possible side pairings later)
Disclaimer: KivaEmber doesn't own BLEACH™ nor is she making any profit off this.
Warning: Cussing, Slash, shonen ai, yaoi (whatever), violence, blood, dying, innuendos, mediocre writing skills…list goes on…
Summary: IchiHichi. Their relationship was dysfunctional at best, but Zangetsu was going to make them comrades even if it killed them.
MUST READ MUST READ!
A/N: My computer is the shittiest thing next to poorly done Mary-sues. My computer is not working properly again, but be glad that Dad's giving me a laptop soon with Internet access. I updated this in school between exams (ugh, History) so I hope you enjoy it. Fight scene sucks by the way, my planning sheet got tango'd. And I decided to change the title too. :P
This is after the Soul Society thingy, involving the Vaizards and Bount would be too much trouble at this point (ignore the mention of Grimmjow in the first chapter kiddies) and the first meeting with Vaizards is essential for the IchiHichi. I forgot to add that in the last chapter, sorry.
The fight scene was originally three pages long and very detailed, but the compooper struck again. My planning sheet got tango'd and four times this has been deleted. So I to make the part where they go from school to the battle…non existent. I gave up writing it after the fourth time of it being deleted so please forgive me! After Christmas I'll be having a BETTER compooper and it'll be updated quicker and longer chapters then. I'll probably come back and rewrite it at some later date. But I decided to do it in the style of the second episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion with the whole battle scene in flashbacks, a different writing style I'm working on. If you haven't watched Evangelion, SHAME ON YOU! Oh, a Beta position is open to anyone interested by the way.
The beginning mini-drabbles before the chapter title are background stories I wasn't able to slot in to give Ichigo and Hichigo more depth by the way, enjoy peeps!
Chapter Summary: Ichigo and his Hollow sort some things out…
I like to thank:
saurian: (Flails and falls down plot-bunny hole) MY NOTES! SO YOU HAD THEM!
Lady Geuna: Thankies!
hollow kenpachi 13: Stupid…fucking…COMPUTER!!!! Eh? Just let me kick the shit out of this before I can think of reviewing within a week…pass me the harpoon scallywags!
YaoiHeartless123: I'll try, my compooper is being temperamental.
jayanx: Hichigo thinks he's awesome, and we let him think that coz he is cool. And plenty of chaos will ensue, uwehehehehehehee! (Gets clubbed)
Stoic-Genius: Well, I'm trying to keep the stalking trio in character; they're going to be suspicious of Ichigo's inner Hollow since he tried to kinda…carve Byakuya up like a Christmas Turkey. They're being cautious. But I'm glad you like my story so far!
crystal cerberus: Thanks!
Afrieal: Thankies! I will!
SoraXNamine: Coursework is an evil bitch, especially History. (Tango's history paper) Ah, shit.
xxkiokoxx: It was hard going, Hichigo wasn't behaving for that chapter and he's being even more rebellious in this one. (Smacks Hichigo-Muse with chapter notes) Follow the script! The SCRIIIIIPT!!!
Hichigo: CERO!
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!
Kougyoku: Whoa. Calm down. The Hardcore Yaoi won't be for a while yet, and as what Ichigo's been doing…wait and see ;) (is evil that way)
MissFlesh: Hichigo is a bad actor. Everyone's found out within the hour. Thanks for the review! Trying to keep it realistic and not outlandish…
Invader-Nehima: School work eats up IchiHichi planning time, and my rebellious compooper ain't helping (glares at crappy machinery), this one was late coz of GCSE exam thingys – I've failed Law, hands down TTTT – and the damn compooper. I'm a terrible procrastinator :P
Barranca: Isshin is very suspicious, but Ichigo doesn't know he's an ex-Shinigami so…(shrugs), Isshin's a wild card at the moment, and I'm not sure what he's going to do. And as for the Vasto Lorde…Hichigo's bitten off more than he can chew is all I'm saying.
bleachrules1314: Unfortunately the Hardcore IchiHichi won't be for…5-ish chapters, my notes are vague on that, but plenty of hints will be dropped to sate your thirst. Just hang tight! Plot before pleasure.
narakunohime
FieryFreedom
phantomschmerz
Eos-hime
Shandul-kun
Anonymous
PFT
Glue Project
Thanks a lot for reviewing guys! You made my day:D I have 23 readers! W00T! (ish happy)
WORD COUNT: 3, 827
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"The only thing Harry could think of was how strange it was that Lord Voldemort was scared of radios."
--- How I learned to stop worrying and love Lord V, Harry Potter fanfic
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The blood was thick on his hands, Mother looked pretty but the blood staining his hands and her cardigan were out of place, he could only cry.
But there was a harsh comfort, crooning poisonous purrs whispering in his ears, soft gentle caresses that left razor thin welts down covered skin and damp cheeks as his soul screamed for Mother. He vaguely heard something crack under the cacophony of sobs and rain.
'Poor little King.' The voice crooned maliciously yet comfortingly. 'I'll get rid of all that blood, hm? I'll take care of ya.' And the world, the sprawled lifeless figure fell away and the sharp agonising caresses turned soft, molten golden eyes in a sea of black winking out of existence as the blood vanished and he fell away from the world and Mother.
'I'll make it all better, Little King.' The voice crooned, no longer poisonous. 'I'll protect ya and soon you'll protect me.' Soft purrs. Warm comforting caresses. Mother is dead. But he'll join after.
'Your mine to break. Not hers.'
Perhaps that was true.
EPISODE #3: HAZARD
Hichigo snarled, the cracked mask disintegrating rapidly as the Vasto Lorde swiped faster than he could block, serrated razor claws tearing his shoulder and ripping muscle and splintering bone. He shrugged it off, the black pulsing Hollow reiatsu regenerating the wound instantaneously.
The mask was breaking faster then he could fix it, King's shouts and struggling to seize control isolating his concentration from the brawl; the seven foot insect Hollow, thick black carapace unscathed despite powerful strikes from Bankai Zangetsu, was blemished darker in places where the albino Hollow's blood splattered.
'Dammit King stop it!'
Concise lull in blows, he never saw it coming.
The bipedal ant like Hollow struck faster than Hichigo could blink, King's shouts of warning deafened by the sickening snap of splintering bones and flesh and muscle torn savagely as the Vasto Lorde's clawed hand buried deep into the stunned albino Hollow's chest and exploded out of the other side in a cascade of crimson.
Screams, from him or King or perhaps the other Shinigami idiots who knew? But raw tumultuous agony and emotions scrabbled sadistically at his mind and body as the Vasto Lorde wrenched its arm out, taking some fragmented pieces of bones and tissue and he fell backwards.
"ICHIGO!"
"You crazy Hollow. We almost died."
"Thanks to ya."
The inner world was overshadowed by storm clouds, the occasional rumbling of thunder the only thing giving away the orange haired substitute Shinigami's anger. "You should've let me take control." He growled, a flash of lightning striking an overhead skyscraper. It went ignored. "You panicked my friends with that stunt. They probably think of me as some vicious Hollow thing now!"
"Ain't that true though? I mean, I'm a part of ya, King." The albino Hollow didn't seem all that regretful, but neither did he look happy. "S'yer own damn fault, King. If ya didn't distract me…"
"Distract you!? You waltzed out of my body in your-" Ichigo gestured violently at this emotionless Hollow, "-bleached self and almost made Hitsugaya kill us! Then you had to leap into battle with everyone thinking I've been possessed and trying to 'exorcise' me!"
Anger flashed in the Hollow's eyes briefly. "Yer a fuckin' idiot, King! I'm far more powerful than ya! I was the only one who could've fuckin' killed that bastard, but ya had to go and distract me!"
"I want to defeat my enemies myself!" The substitute Shinigami roared. "It wasn't any of your business!" The whole world was lit up in blinding lightning bolts.
"I AM YOU!" The Hollow snarled, his distinctive accent lost in his fury. Marching forwards he gripped the front of the brown eyes teen's shihaksho and shook him, as if that would help the substitute Shinigami see sense. "YOUR ENEMIES ARE MINE, IDIOT! I'M SUPPOSED TO PROTECT YOU FROM THEM BECAUSE YOU'RE MY KING!"
Ichigo growled and swatted the black nailed alabaster hands from his shihaksho. "I don't remember belonging to anyone!" The orange haired teen spat. A booming roar of thunder almost drowned out the Hollow's next words.
"You do belong to me King!" His golden eyes burned in molten rage. "You're mine to hate. You're mine to kill. You're mine to break." The albino Hollow laughed mirthlessly. "The same way I belong to you."
The two glared at each other as the sideways sky howled and snapped with thunder and lightning. Zangetsu sighed heavily as Ichigo opened his mouth to snap back a reply. This incident would either draw them closer by somehow clearing the air or estrange the Hollow further, causing complications. Right now, the best thing to do was to let them release some steam on each other.
"I'm King." The teen growled roughly. "You said that if any of them found out you would've switched control to me."
"Well," The Hichigo drawled maliciously. "The Hollow trying to eat your friends demanded more attention, King." The albino Hollow stepped away from Ichigo and paced erratically. "I thought that your friends' souls were more important than control."
"Don't give me that crap!" Ichigo spat. "You don't give a flying rat's ass about them! You just wanted to fight and an excuse to kill my friends!" He exhaled harshly and ran a shaking hand through orange locks. "Why the Hell do you exist!?"
Silence engulfed the inner world, the thunder rumbling to nothing as droplets of rain splattered onto the three occupants of the inner world. The albino Hollow paused in his pacing, dulled gold eyes flickering to the trembling substitute Shinigami.
"…I've existed since your mother died." Hichigo murmured. "You've just never noticed me before." Ichigo didn't reply. "…Fine." The Hollow suddenly hissed venomously, startling the redhead. "Fine! You don't want me! No matter what I did! No matter how many times I helped you!"
Ichigo looked bewildered for a split second before regaining his earlier anger. "I was fine without you! I was perfectly sane! But you-" He gave a strangled laugh. "-the fuck is wrong with me!?"
"You made the deal."
Ichigo chuckled hysterically. "Yes. Yes I did. I'm insane to think- they're probably thinking you've killed me." The non sequitur threw Hichigo off-kilter. "They're probably wondering what the Hell is going on."
"Hell, I'm wonderin' what the Hell's goin' on." The albino Hollow muttered. The heavens split open and unburdened itself, the harsh ice cold rain soaking the three occupants instantly. "And dammit King, stop bein' pathetic. Yer not makin' this situation any better."
Ichigo just laughed quietly, gripping his orange locks as if to try and keep a stronger hold on his dwindling sanity. "First with the non stop Hollow attacks, making a deal with you and now…" He giggled hysterically.
Hichigo sighed, mentally shaking his head at the irony. "Seems like I'm the only sane one 'ere." He grumbled, shooting a poisonous look at the stoic Zangetsu. He swiftly stepped in front of the substitute Shinigami caught in his mental breakdown and slapped him.
Ichigo jerked, the sting of the cold slap jolting him out of his little meltdown. Taking a couple of deep steadying breaths, the rain lessened to a drizzle and the inane urge to just laugh vanished. "Thanks…" He muttered hoarsely, rubbing his reddened cheek gingerly. Hichigo certainly didn't hold back.
"I'm the insane one, King." The albino Hollow drawled. "Can't have you takin' my spot." He waved an alabaster hand towards the unmoving Zangetsu. "The livin' rock is also insane. It's always the quiet ones." Golden eyes narrowed at Ichigo. "And yer ain't quiet."
Ichigo snorted weakly, quickly regaining his composure. "And we always need one sane person." He took several more breaths. "Right…right, need to tell my friends that I haven't lost my sanity or soul yet."
Hichigo made an unidentifiable noise in the back of his throat. "Sanity was a close call." The albino Hollow swiped at the white sopping bangs hindering his eyesight. "Not sure at the condition of the body, King, so be ready for some pain."
Ichigo nodded distractively, either oblivious or ignoring the abnormality of the situation. "Yeah. I'm definitely going on a proper vacation after this."
Zangestu released a sigh of relief as Ichigo dematerialised from the Inner World.
Rukia looked nervously as the white haired captain, Hitsugaya, entered the hastily made temporary bedroom in Kisuke's shop for the unconscious Ichigo with a pensive expression. He paused next to Rukia, staring down emotionlessly at the orange haired teen's face before turning to the female Shinigami. "Mind explaining what happened?"
Rukia chewed her lip and glanced at the oddly silent redhead girl kneeling next to Ichigo's head. "We…knew that Ichigo had an inner Hollow…Nii-sama knew as well…"
"He mentioned something about Ichigo having a sudden change of personalities during their battle but didn't elaborate." The captain interrupted.
Rukia's gaze flickered to the unconscious substitute Shinigami. "Ichigo had it under control so we didn't tell anyone…but today…" Rukia looked up at the solemn captain. "The Hollow was in possession of his body though it didn't do anything. It acted like Ichigo would act, though a little more…" She made a vague gesture. "So we didn't do anything."
Hitsugaya ruffled his white hair, the only sign of his agitation. "…I should tell Yamamoto-sou-taichou." He stated monotonously. Orihime looked up. "…But I won't."
Rukia looked startled, but before either of the girls could question the captain on his uncharacteristic decision, he swept out of the room leaving an ominous silence.
Orihime fidgeted nervously, eyes flickering from the door to Rukia and finally on the catatonic teen. "W-What do you think…happened to Ichigo?" Her gaze settled on his chest, the blanket covering the healing wound in his chest with black contaminated Shinigami reiatsu pulsing over and in it. Unnerved, the Shinigami decided that covering it with bandages was the best course of action. "He's still…Ichigo…right?"
Rukia sighed and ran a hand through frazzled static hair. "I don't know." She stared at Ichigo's paler than usual skin and lighter orange hair. "But something happened."
"ICHIGO!"
The Hollow possessed substitute Shinigami looked stunned as his body fell backwards, gore splattering onto the cracked pavement. Time seemed to slow as his body crumpled to the ground, dark crimson blood pooling beneath the albino Hollow at an alarming pace, looking much worse against the previous colourless shihaksho.
The Hollow possessed substitute Shinigami convulsed in both pain and terror as the pool of crimson liquid grew larger and viscous sludge like white substance oozed from the gaping hole in his chest, the mask shattering into a million pieces before reforming on his face, covering everything but his right eye wide with horror.
The Shinigami and Vasto Lorde could only watch in morbid fascination as the jaw of the mask opened and an unearthly screech, two voices at once, one eerily human and the other Hollow, made the humans and Shinigami cringe as the white sludge pumping out of the substitute Shinigami's chest wound began creeping up his body. The convulsions became more violent, the screams increasing in intensity and pitch.
Orihime cried out and began to run towards the tormented substitute Shinigami but Rangiku grasped the redhead's arm in an iron grip and jerked her back as the screams died down into bestial growls, nails elongating into claws and the Shinigami reiatsu being devoured by the Hollow reiatsu.
"What…the Hell?" Renji gasped.
Ichigo – if it even was Ichigo anymore – jerked itself onto its now three clawed ivory feet, hunched over and the growls mounting into screams again as a tail ruptured out from the small of his back, the tip of the tail swiping into the pool of blood and tainting the end in red.
The Vasto Lorde seemed to shake itself out of its shocked stupor and lunged forward, clawed hand ready to slash the mask off the half transformed substitute Shinigami. Hollow-Ichigo gave a feral growl and pounced forwards, knocking the four armoured legs from beneath the Vasto Lorde, tail thrashing round and thwacking the Hollow's mandibles violently.
Hollow-Ichigo landed on the ground and violently twisted in convulsions again as spikes protruded from his now white shoulders, vivid crimson patterns slicing themselves down his arms, around his shoulders and on the left side of his mask. Another horrific scream ripped itself from the creature.
Hollow-Ichigo's hair turned back to the bright orange that the substitute Shinigami was well-known for, lengthening down to mid-waist, but still as chaotic as ever. The screams strangled to a halt, tail lashing riotously about as the beast pushed itself onto its clawed aviator feet.
The beast somehow managed to keep a hold on Bankai-Zangetsu, now black and pulsating crimson tipped ebony reiatsu in the Hollow's tight clawed grip. Another low growl rumbled in the albino Hollow's chest as its malevolent molten gold eyes narrowed at the now cautious Vasto Lorde anxiously clicking its mandibles together.
Hollow-Ichigo raised its left hand, both index and middle clawed fingers pointing directly at the insect like Vasto Lorde's white insect mask. A small compressed orb of reiatsu exploded out of the albino hollow's fingertips, causing both Vasto Lordes and Shinigami to step back in surprise and alarm as the sheer amount of power caused the air to forcefully leave their lungs.
Deeming the situation unsalvageable and precarious, the Vasto Lorde's back opened up, revealing sinewy membrane wings, sparkling in dark red and black hues. A droning din picked up as it vibrated its wings in preparation to flee via air.
It was too late.
The orb shot out in a thin streak of tainted light, shooting out like quicksilver and penetrating the centre of the Hollow's mask effortlessly. The mask splintered and dissolved, the body following after instantly. Steam hissed from the superheated air and the albino Hollow turned to the frozen group watching the spectacle in growing horror.
Golden eyes widened then the body began convulsing again, another shriek jolting the Shinigami out of their daze and made their hands clutch their Zanpaktou's hilts firmly.
The mask shattered, the white crimson patterned carapace dissolving with it.
A cataleptic redheaded Ichigo collapsed onto the cracked pavement.
Rukia was pulled out of her reminiscing by a soft groan from the rousing substitute Shinigami. Orihime leaned over to see bronze eyes flutter open wearily and stare at the girl in puzzlement. "What…" Ichigo coughed, wheezily. "What happened?"
The female Shinigami fussed with the blanket. "…We were wondering that ourselves."
The redhead's gaze despondently travelled from Orihime to Rukia and back again. "……The Hollow got pissed off." He mumbled throatily; this statement elicited another bout of wet sounding coughs and a groan of pain. "My chest hurts."
"Well," Rukia drawled sarcastically, voice higher pitched than usual. "You did have a Vasto Lorde punch a hole through your chest." She released a ragged breath. "We thought that you'd turned into a Hollow for good…or the Hollow did something…Hitsugaya-taichou was going to inform Yamamoto-sou-taichou about it…but he didn't."
Ichigo chuckled feebly. "An oneway trip to the creep in charge of Squad 12."
Rukia nodded. "I'm…glad that you're fine, Ichigo. You scared us."
"Sorry." The redhead rasped softly. "…Where's my body?"
Orihime piped up. "Mr. Urahara put Kon in it, so don't worry."
Ichigo snorted, then coughed. "'Don't worry'? I wouldn't put past anything with that man and damned Gikongan." Ichigo's eyes slipped close. "I'm going to sleep…Hollow's bein'…" They never knew what the Hollow was being like since he went back to being unconscious. Rukia sighed.
"Well…at least he's fine."
Orihime nodded, a relieved smile curling her lips upwards. "Now, we have to give an excuse why we ran out of school!"
Rukia groaned, slapping a palm to her forehead. "Renji's 'distraction' of dumping potatoes over the teacher and Ichigo's crazy Hollow cackling didn't help matters." She rubbed her eyes. "As long as Ishida doesn't give an excuse we'll be fine."
Orihime laughed, the tension slipping away from their bodies and mind.
Hichigo waited 'til his King had fully dematerialized from the Inner World before rounding on the stoic Zangetsu. "You." He hissed, golden eyes flashing dangerously. "Explain. Now."
Zangetsu bowed his head and gracefully stepped from his perch. "I do believe that to prevent your deaths, both you and Ichigo were in control at the same time." The Zanpaktou hummed noncommittedly and glanced upwards to the rumbling grey clouds. "Though what'll happen now is unknown."
The albino Hollow growled and began pacing again. "I just want to fight King at his full strength and defeat him completely." He fussed with snow white bangs. "But noooo, things have to get complicated with King." Anymore comments became inaudible as the Hollow resumed pacing unpredictably, grumbling under his breath. "Damn."
The Zanpaktou sighed and returned to his 'Pole of Ennui' as Hichigo had dubbed it. "In time, Hollow, you'll get your battle with Ichigo at his full strength. But winning isn't certain. He has a lot of potential."
Hichigo scoffed. "I'll believe that when he stops needin' my help." He stomped away, not hearing or ignoring Zangetsu's final words.
"But you don't want him to stop needing your help."
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THINKING CORNER: READREADREAD!
Ishida sulked and vanished in this chapter…and most of Hitsu's squad too…I couldn't fit everyone in unlike in my first draft because of this fricken' computer and lost tango'd sheet. Hichigo wouldn't behave and ran off with the script in this too. As you can see, the battle was abridged, and how they got out of school…use your imagination
Once again, I apologise for the lateness, and this was more or less angsty-ish…and Ichigo suffered a mental breakdown! I tried to branch out on the current relationship Hichigo and Ichigo had so bleh, such a filler chapter. And Hollow-Ichigo is fricken' awesome! He has a tail! And long hair! Why? Who knows! He has a tail!
A Beta position is open to anyone interested! R&R!
PREVIEW: EPISODE #4: INTRINSIC
Rukia: Well, Ichigo turned into a Hollow for a brief moment and Hitsugaya-taichou is being oddly calm about it…but Ichigo's been disappearing a lot lately…
Orihime: Ooooh! Maybe he has a new friend!
Renji: More like girlfriend!
Rukia: We're supposed to be doing the preview, nutwad!
Renji: Jealous, Rukia-chaaan?
Rukia lunges and throttles Renji
Renji: Gccchhhk!
Orihime: Oh…uh…well, stay tuned to the newly titled, Dysfunctional Camaraderie!
KIVAEMBER OUT!