Ello! Updates time! 3
rating: T, until we get the sexy times.
disclaimer: .....done.
------
If it wasn't for the strong hand of Ichigo holding her shoulder, Orihime's knees would've wobbled to the point of collapse. Soul Society has been..destroyed? How? She glanced at Ichigo, his deep expression of disbelief and anger embedded on his face.
"Brother.." Rukia repeated, the words like a broken record in her mind playing ad infinitum. "How..what..I.." Byakuya looked at his sister with an emotion she had never seen before: defeat. She had seen immense sadness; indifference, of course. But never had she seen the head of the Kuchiki clan have such a defeatist look in his eyes. It was unreal, this was unreal.
"It came out of nowhere," Byakuya strained out, blood streaming down the side of his mouth. He held tightly onto Kenpachi's haori and attempted to right himself, but to no avail. Staggering downward, he was caught by the 11th squad captain.
"It looked like a comet when it hit Soul Society," Kenpachi finished for him, his voice laced with..was it sadness and defeat as well? This must be bad.. Orihime thought fearfully.
"But in reality, it was Hollows, millions of them. They pierced through the shield surrounding Sereitei like it was paper, and when it hit..the shockwave killed thousands of soul reapers instantly." Kenpachi swallowed the large lump in this throat, replaying the images over and over in his mind like a grisly slideshow. Ichigo and Orihime were frozen in place.
"Old man Yama-jii immediately dispersed the 13 squad captains to eliminate them, except Unohana because she would be needed for the injured, but these hollows..they were unlike anything I've ever seen. Their strength and their speed were 10000x of the everyday hollows...unbelievable.." Kenpachi's eyes began to glaze over. So much blood, so much fire..and I usually glorify in all that..but this..this was just unimaginable.
"What happened to the rest of the captains?" Rukia spat out, her words muffled by her hands upon her mouth.
"Hell if I know. Once they battled with the hollows they weren't seen again."
"What about Yachiru-chan?" Orihime asked, fearing the worst.
"She's with Unohana, I wouldn't let that brat fight. Can't.." He trailed off, but everyone knew that he loved that little girl, and would die if something happened to her.
"Brother..I.." Rukia felt the world spin at her feet. This was all too much to process. She wanted to go back to laughing and bean paste sandwiches and milk, but that seemed like eons ago when it was just 5 minutes past.
"I don't believe it.." Renji whispered.
"This is just.." Ichigo couldn't finished if he tried.
"Mr. Kuchiki-san, Mr. Kenpachi-san?" All heads whipped in the direction of Orihime's small but firm voice. "I think you need to get those wounds healed." Ichigo observed her face and knew that look immediately: pure resolve. She was going to come with him and nothing was going to change her mind.
And it scared Ichigo shitless.
"..Yes. Many thanks, Inoue-san." Byakuya gurgled out, a small painful smile on his face.
"Yeah, thanks, woman." Kenpachi smiled, dagger-like teeth protruding. The group was thankful for that small gift of normalcy in a situation of pure chaos.
"Come to my house, I'll get those wounds cleaned up." They nodded and Kenpachi scooped Byakuya up and started to walk. Orihime started to walk along with them when she was stopped by Ichigo. "Kurosaki-kun..?"
"You guys go ahead, we'll be right behind you." They didn't seem to hear him. Rukia was looking over Byakuya with Renji at her side, while Byakuya half-scolded/half-coughed out that brutes don't carry nobles, Kenpachi telling him to shut the hell up.
"What's wrong?" Orihime asked Ichigo. He took her hands and looked into those gray eyes he loved so much.
"You do know what the next words out of my mouth are going to be, right?"
"Of course. It's going to be dangerous, you'll have to go, and you want me to stay back. Am I missing anything else?" Orihime laughed. That sound was going to be his source of strength. "Yes." Orihime frowned. "I love you, more than anything else in this world, Hueco Mundo, and Soul Society, and I need you to promise me that you'll stay back so--"
Orihime put a finger to his lips, stopping him. "Kurosaki-kun..I can't promise that. For two reasons. One, I love you too. and two, I'm not the same girl who needs to depend on you all the time. Now I know you want to protect me, you promised me that, and while I do appreciate it and at times I'll accept it, I do want to fight by your side. We're in this together, and I'm not going to stand by the sidelines while the man I love as well as my friends get hurt. So promise me, Kurosaki-kun, that you'll let me fight by your side to protect you, as you would for me. No matter what." Her eyes began to shine with tears.
"Orihime.." Ichigo gently cupped her cheek. As much as he wanted to be safe, he knew that she could hold her own in battle; he never doubted her for a second, he just knew he couldn't go on if she were to get hurt. "I promise."
"Thank you, Kurosaki-kun. I promise that I won't--mmf.." She was cut off by a hard kiss, which she quickly returned. A small tear ran down the side of her cheek as they held each other tighter.
You're my heart, Orihime..
-------
"Wow, woman, you sure can patch up nicely," Kenpachi remarked. All his wounds were gone, as well as his reiatsu restored. "I feel like I can knock down a thousand of those punk-ass hollows now. As a matter of fact, I think I should try a warm-up. Ichigo, fight me you bastard."
"Oh for God's sake.." Ichigo groaned. Glancing over at Rukia and Renji, he locked eyes with Rukia and smiled, she smiled back in return, signaling that she was okay. She turned back to Renji, holding his hand.
"For the love of all things sane and cordial, could you please not display your barbarian ways right now?" Byakuya grimaced from the living room floor, a vast orange shield enshrouding him in golden light. Orihime was trying not to giggle as she finished up.
"Shut up, Kuchki-hime. You have no problem with me displaying my so-called barbarian ways when i'm on top--"
"That is enough, Kenpachi." Byakuya gritted his teeth, but everyone's jaws were on the floor.
"Brother..you..him.." Rukia was stunned. Never in her lifetimes would she have expected stern, frosty Byakuya Kuchiki to be delving into carnal relations..and with Kenpachi Zaraki of all people?!
"I am a grown man. I can do what I please. And if one of you so much as breathe a word of this to anyone when this is over, Sebonzakura will be on you without hesitation, and that includes you, Rukia. Understood?"
The entire group nodded their heads with Ichigo and Renji stifling their laughs. Almighty Byakuya getting it on, who would've thought..Ichigo mused, his sides beginning to get sore.
"Mr. Kuchiki-san, you're finished." Orihime said, the orange light slowly fading away. Byakuya got up and moved his limbs, one by one. Feeling his head and brushing over the newly repaired kenseikan, a small smile graced his features. "Thank you, Inoue-san." Turning to everyone, he began. "Now it's time to inform you about what you're going to be facing when you reach Soul Society..what's left of it." The mood immediately got solemn again, traces of smiles vanishing from all their faces.
"That is, if you decide to go there. Because quite honestly, I wouldn't blame you if you chose to stay in the world in the living. This really isn't your--"
"Byakuya," Ichigo said, interrupting him. Standing up, he walked to Orihime's side. "This is our battle, you didn't even have to ask. We will fight together.." Looking at Orihime, he took her hand. "All of us." Orihime beamed.
Byakuya's face was unreadable. Then a fleeting smile came across his face. "I see."
"Because Ichigo is no pussy, ain't that right, you bastard?" Kenpachi grinned widely. Ichigo groaned again.
"To be perfectly blunt," Byakuya started, "It is an absolute bloodbath. the hollows have completely decimated the entire area. You need to be alert at ALL times because they are still there, and show no sign of slowing down. I urge you to get rest because when daylight breaks tomorrow, we leave immediately."
"It's fine, brother," Rukia said, standing up, Renji doing so as well. "Ichigo is right, we are in this together." Renji took her hand.
"Very well," Byakuya said. "I'll set up for the Senkai--" A knock on the door cut off his sentence. Orihime glanced at Ichigo before going to answer it.
And there stood Urahara Kisuke and Shihoin Yoruichi.
"What goes on, Orihime?" Urahara asked.
Yay for Urahara!! (Sorry if you don't like him XD) but how's it going to be like when they see the remains of Soul Society and face the Hollow threat? More answers when we come back!!..err i mean update lmaoo 33