So a shorter chapter this time, guys! Sorry about that. However though, there is kinda a reason for that, which I will elaborate in the closing message. Hope you guys enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of the characters in this story, except for Ryuichi and Aiko. Jade and Ruby are owned by Kung Man149.
Chapter 3: Trouble Awakens
Ryuichi was still standing at the same spot his father had left him, deep in thought by the recent events. He could not believe that he had shamed himself in front of his father. Damn! Am I such a joke or what?
He lifted his katana in front of his face and stared at the gleaming blade. "What's your name?" He whispered. "Please tell me." Nothing answered him back and he sighed as he lowered the sword back to his side. "How the hell did he do it?"
Suddenly, a voice nearby screamed with joy. Startled, he sharply turned around to face the source of the noise: Ruby. "AHH! WHAT THE FUCK! WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?" She screamed repeatedly.
Hinamori beamed with amusement. "You heard a voice?" Ruby did not say anything but continued to stare at her katana with a shocked expression on her face. "Then you must have learned your Zampakutou's name!" Hinamori said. "Congratulations!"
Hearing this, Ryuichi felt something boil inside of him - something more than rage. What the hell? How could this happen?
Ruby cockily strode up to him. "Guess what, little boy? I learned my Zampakutou's name before you did! Take that you little shithead!" Ryuichi froze.
"So did I," Jade added with a laugh while leaning against a wall.
Ryuichi's rage turned into murderous intent as he tightened his hold on his katana. His irises started to glow an eerie white. "FUCK YOU! I REFUSE TO BE BEATEN BY TWO LOWER CLASS FOOLS LIKE YOU! I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!" He charged towards both siblings with intent to attack them.
However, just when he was about to slash at Ruby, she punched his jaw with enough force to send him sprawling to the floor.
Jade scowled as he stood up from his wall. "So...you wanna attack my sister, huh? I guess I'm gonna have to rip you limb from limb now, won't I...?"
As he flash-stepped towards Ryuichi, who had just stood up, he was met with a violent kick to the stomach which sent him flying backwards into another wall.
"Don't piss me off, you green-haired freak," Ryuichi threatened, his irises still slightly glowing, "I WILL kill you. Actually looking at you now pisses me off already." He stretched out his hands with the palms facing outwards. "Hadou 33: Sokatsui!"
A blue fire ball shot towards Jade, but Ruby flash-stepped in front of her brother and parried off the attack immediately. Jade stood up from the ground immediately. "Let's show him that he can't mess with us," he suggested and Ruby smirked. They both dematerialized immediately.
Ryuichi kept his focus as he waited for the siblings to reappear. Ruby attacked from behind, but the younger Kurosaki was ready. He immediately blocked her sword attack with his own. However, he did not expect Jade to slash him across his back. Blood splashed outwards and Ryuichi grunted in pain. Ruby used this opportunity to knock her opponent down with a kick. The katana that once donned Ryuichi's hands slid across the ground several feet away.
Before Ryuichi could once again grab his sword, Ruby stepped on his hands, causing him to hiss in pain.
An extra, explosive amount of pain hit his chest and Ryuichi screeched. Jade kicked his ribs again, this time harder than ever, earning more yells of pain. He repeated the same act over and over again, and Ruby smirked intently while she taunted her rival. "You thought that you were better than us, huh? Well look again! You're pathetic! It's no wonder the captain is ashamed of you and left early! He doesn't want a weak son! The truth hurts, don't it?" She laughed maliciously. "Give it up! You're hopeless!"
Hinamori, who was watching the whole thing, became horrified by Ryuichi's treatment. She knew something had to be done and immediately. Using flash-step, she arrived at the scene and, with all her strength, pushed Jade out of the way. Then she pulled Ruby off Ryuichi's hand.
Jade and Ruby watched a seething Hinamori standing over a panting Ryuichi. "Have...you...no...SHAME? I don't care what you two have against Ryuichi-kun, but it ends here and right now!"
"He attacked us –" Jade tried to explain, but Hinamori interrupted him.
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! This is NOT what the captain wants with ANY of his subordinates! Do I make myself clear?"
Instead of answering their leader, Jade and Ruby looked at each other for a moment.
"I can't hear you!" Hinamori shouted impatiently. The siblings looked at her.
"Yes, Hinamori-san," Ruby trailed off. Her brother nodded in agreement.
This was enough for Hinamori to hear to be satisfied. "Good. Now leave!" Ruby and Jade complied as they left Hinamori and Ryuichi alone.
Inaudibly, Ruby whispered to her brother, "it's no wonder she loves him so much..." Jade nodded slightly as they left the scene together.
Hinamori turned towards her captain's son and her eyes softened in concern when she saw his broken and sprawled form – blood trickled from his lips and formed in a small puddle next to his back. "Kurosaki-Taichou, I'm so sorry," she whispered to herself as she started to heal Ryuichi, her eyes swimming with tears which she refused to let go.
Ichigo sighed as he pushed open the large doors and walked into the great hall where he would meet up with his wife. Sure enough, he was greeted by the current Gotei 13 as well as his wife.
"Ichigo! You heard the news. Thank goodness," Rukia said and Ichigo nodded as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Did you hear anything else about this?" He asked.
Rukia shook her head. "No, sir. But I have found out that this had to do with Aizen."
"I was told the same thing," Ichigo trailed off.
"Hey Ichigo!" Renji called from a few feet away. Grinning from ear to ear, Yachiru sat perched on her new captain's shoulder. On the other side of him was Tatsuki, a badge wrapped around her right shoulder.
"Hey Renji. Hey Tatsuki." Ichigo replied.
"Hi Ichigo," Tatsuki greeted back. "How's your son doing?"
Ichigo scratched the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. "He's doing well. He's having a hard time figuring out the name of his zampakutou, but that takes time."
Renji smirked. "It depends on the person, I guess. Took me a while to figure out Zabimaru's name."
They were then joined by a new voice. "Hey Kurosaki-san!"
Ichigo turned around and saw Urahara in his old shinigami robes, grinning. Nemu, his lieutenant, stood behind him. "Hey Urahara," Ichigo greeted, "How's Mrs. Kisuke doing with her pregnancy?"
Urahara chuckled excitedly. "Yoruichi is doing very well right now. She is currently 3 months in."
Ichigo laughed. "Just wait until she starts bitching at you." That earned him an elbow to his ribs by a scowling Rukia. "What?" he exclaimed while rubbing the sore spot where his wife hit him.
Urahara chuckled once again. "Haha, I know what you mean. She's already begun that. Before I left for this meeting, she demanded me to get her some ice cream and chicken right away."
Ichigo smirked. "You'll be a great father one day."
Urahara rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yea, I'm sure I will. Speaking of fatherhood, how are your kids doing? Aiko-chan still talking about bunnies and the sort?"
It was Rukia's turn to laugh. "Absolutely. She drew the most adorable picture while her aunts were taking care of her." Ichigo rolled his eyes at the thought of the picture. He must admit that it was very adorable, but too adorable for his tastes.
Urahara nodded his head in understanding. "She's so full of life that one...just like her mother."
Ichigo tightened his grip around his wife's waist as he added, "and almost as beautiful as well."
"Oh you," Rukia said bashfully, a tint of blush forming on her cheeks.
"How's your other one?" Urahara asked.
"He's doing very well," Ichigo replied. "He just graduated from the Academy and is currently my 5th Seat."
Urahara widened his eyes in surprise. "Already? Wow!"
"And also he's trying to learn the name of his zampakutou," Ichigo shrugged. "His first day of training didn't go so well, but I don't blame him."
"Yea, it takes time," Urahara agreed. "He'll get it eventually."
Ichigo nodded. "Yea, I know."
"Rukia!" Another voice joined the fray. "Oh there you are!"
Rukia looked up to see Matsumoto running towards her with Hisagi Shuheii tagging behind. "Hi Matsumoto!" She greeted with a smile.
"I just thought I would let you two know," Matsumoto said happily as she held out her hand. "Hisagi proposed to me!"
Rukia's eyes widened as she saw the beautiful diamond ring on her finger. "Congratulations, you two!"
Matsumoto beamed. "I've never been happier! Finally, I'm about to become Mrs. Rangiku Hisagi!"
Ichigo turned to Hisagi and shook his hand. "Congrats, man."
Hisagi nodded his head with a smile. "Yea, thanks Kurosaki. Looks like you're not gonna be the only captain who's married, huh?"
Ichigo laughed. "Oh yea, you know it."
"Everyone, please go to your places at once so that we can start this meeting!" Yamamoto shouted above the loud conversations in the vast room.
Immediately everyone complied, and when Ichigo took his place beside his wife, a feeling of nervousness rose up within him. If this had something to do with Aizen, then could it be that Aizen is planning to target him as well? That could be the case, and there was no doubt in the captain's mind about that.
"Captains, lieutenants," the old captain-commander's voice echoed throughout the acoustics of the great hall. "This is a serious emergency meeting as you all know. Aizen has finally begun his move."
The captains and lieutenants looked among each other and whispered among themselves until the captain-commander got their attention once again. "He has sent a couple of his remaining espada to invade Karakura Town."
Ichigo froze at the news. What the fuck? Why? What the hell is going on?
Rukia stared at her husband for a moment in concern. She knew how much the small town really meant to him, and she could tell that the news was hitting him quite hard.
Yamamoto continued speaking. "I will need a couple of you to stop them immediately before they do any more damage."
"I'll go," Ichigo blurted out immediately, causing everyone to turn towards him. There was a hard expression of determination in his hands as he clenched his fists tightly.
"Ichigo," Rukia whispered almost inaudibly.
"Very well then," Yamamoto said. "Since you were a native of the town, I don't see why not."
"Aizen might be targeting me again," Ichigo said as Rukia gasped. "I just know it," Ichigo's head snapped back up to face his captain-commander, "but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to protect my town from his fucking plans! My sisters, friends, and father are still down there. I won't let them suffer under his bullshit anymore!"
"Fair enough, Kurosaki-Taichou," Yamamoto agreed. "Anyone else?"
"I will," Tatsuki replied. "I love Karakura Town just as much as Ichigo does. I will accompany him." She looked towards Hisagi for permission, which he granted with a nod.
"Alright, Arisawa-Fukutaichou," Yamamoto said. "Renji and Rukia, I want you two to go with them since you are closer to them. There might be a couple of espada, but chances are that Gin might be with them as well."
Matsumoto shuddered at the name. She hasn't forgotten everything that the former captain had done to her. At the same time, Hitsugaya and Hisagi growled.
"Yes, Genryuu-Sou-Taichou," Rukia and Renji said in unison.
Shunsui shook his head in shame. "Oh man, more trouble, huh? He's finally made his move."
"You will leave immediately," Yamamoto said. "Meeting adjourned!"
The loud conversations picked up again, but Ichigo stood there quiet and fists clenched, a hard glare of determination and vengeance showing in his eyes.
Rukia watched him with concern. What if he was right and Aizen was merely using the invasion on Karakura as a trap to lure him there? Rukia could never let that happen to her husband, and she knew that this would hit their son hard as well. Besides, Ichigo was supposed to train him and help him get stronger. She had to do what she can to talk him out of this.
She worked up the nerve to walk up to him and touch his shoulder. "Ichigo," she softly whispered.
"If you ever tell me to back out of this," Ichigo growled, "then you're sadly mistaken."
Rukia took her hand off his shoulder and sighed. "What if you are right? What if Aizen is actually targeting you and trying to lure you?"
Ichigo turned to glare at her, causing her to back away slightly. "What the hell do you want me to do, Rukia? You want me to back out of this mission? Innocent lives are at stake right now, and I can't abandon them!"
"Yes, but what about Ryuichi?" Rukia shot back. A glare matching her husband's showed on her face. "You need to be there to help him train! What if he finds out that you..."
"Don't you fucking underestimate me, Rukia!" Ichigo argued. "You know me better than that! You know that I will always hold my ground, so you better have better faith in me than that!"
Rukia sighed. She knew that her husband was right, but what if something did happen? She wouldn't forgive herself if anything did happen. 15 years ago, they nearly lost their only son to the evil lord, and the last thing she needed is for her husband to be taken away from her as well. But even still, she did not like to see her husband like this. It was hard on her as well, and she must do whatever she can to support him and have faith him in any way she could.
Renji and Tatsuki joined them. They had overheard some of their argument, and Tatsuki could not help but be concerned for her friend. Even though Renji could not admit it, he was also concerned deep inside as well.
"Ichigo," Tatsuki said as Ichigo turned to face her. "I know your pain. It's bad enough to realize that your family and friends are in danger. That is why Renji and I are going to help you in any way we can."
"And if it makes you feel any better," Renji added, "I can train Ryuichi, should anything happen to you."
Rukia smiled. This was why she had Renji to be her son's godfather. He was like an uncle to the boy after all, and Renji grew very fond of his friends' son. "Thank you, Renji," she said.
"Hey, no problem," Renji replied. "Let's go then, shall we?"
Ichigo smiled as well and nodded. "I appreciate your help, Renji. Let's go, guys."
Simultaneously, they de-materialized and flash-stepped towards the senkaimon to protect the one town that they were sworn to protect.
Ryuichi opened his eyes slowly to see Hinamori smiling back at him. An unconscious blush rose up in his cheeks as he gazed into her gorgeous eyes for a moment. Realizing what he was doing, he sat up and Hinamori moved to give him some space.
"How are you doing, Ryuichi-kun?" Hinamori asked as the orange-haired teen looked around his surroundings to find that he was still on the 5th Division grounds.
"I'm fine, I guess," he replied, thinking about what happened that caused him to be knocked unconscious. The thought of that made him cringe even harder with shame. He remembered what happened when he failed his training with his father, but add the fact that he was beaten by two siblings whom he could not stand, not to mention the notion of those same siblings learning the names of their zampakutou before he could. The thought was too unbearable to apprehend. The shame was just too terrible...too unbearable. Maybe the horrible things that Ruby was shouting at him when he was being beaten were true.
They sat in silence for a few minutes; Hinamori continuously stared at him with concern. She could only imagine what he would be thinking right now – the shame he was feeling – with that defeated look on his face. And she wanted nothing more than to encourage him...even a little.
She smiled warmly and sympathetically. "It will be okay, Ryuichi-kun."
Ryuichi scoffed. "You saw how much of a failure I was. Dad won't look at me anymore. Maybe Ruby was right, maybe..."
"Stop!" Hinamori interrupted as she made Ryuichi look into her pleading eyes. "That was just one training session. It's never easy to hear your zampakutou spirit speak to you...never is! It will take time. You just have to calm your mind and focus! Don't listen to what Ruby said! Pay no attention to her. Your father is a wonderful man and would never abandon you for any reason. He also has this policy that involves not caring what others think and focus on your destiny and dreams." Hinamori took Ryuichi's hand in hers and held onto it tightly. The younger Kurosaki continued to listen to her intently, absorbing every word she was saying. "You're a Kurosaki, Ryuichi-kun. Live up to it! Strive to do your best and never give up! I know you can do this because I believe in you."
Hinamori's words gave Ryuichi new hope, and they also deepened his feelings for her. He wanted to kiss her right there and now – her lips were too tempting and her grip on his hand wasn't helping either. However, he knew it would not be proper, especially to her.
A determined look replaced the defeated one as he looked at her square in the eyes. "You're right, Hinamori-san. Thank you...for everything."
Hinamori beamed. "No problem, Ryuichi-kun."
Ryuichi stood up and smiled at her for a moment, but then he frowned as he remembered something. "You're not going to tell Dad what happened today, are you?"
Hinamori giggled. "Don't worry. Even if I did tell him, however, he would tell you the same thing that I did. In fact, he had always gotten beaten up before – the same way you did actually. But, knowing him, he always got up and pushed forward like it was nothing. Your mother is very lucky to have him."
Ryuichi smiled once again as he sheathed his katana. "Yea, I suppose you're right. Well, I gotta head back home since I know that meeting would be practically finished by now. See you around, Hinamori-san...and thanks again."
"Not a problem at all, Ryuichi-kun. Take care now!"
After one final wave, they walked their separate ways. As Ryuichi walked towards his house, a new light shone within him as he knew what he would do. However, that did not last for long because he sensed his parents' reiatsu, as well as that from his godparents, heading towards the Senkaimon gate.
Next on Inherited Nightmares...
Ichigo glared at Gin Ichimaru, who grinned his eerie grin right back at him. That smile always gave him the creeps, especially when he was planning on something malicious.
"I'm givin' you a choice, Kurosaki-san," Gin said darkly, "either allow us to destroy this wonderful town of yours or allow us to escort you to Aizen-sama."
Ichigo's eyes widened with fury. "NEVER!" He drew his zampakutou and charged towards his adversary head-on.
Hey everyone! I thought that I would do the small showdown at Karakura in this chapter initially, but I figured it would be better to end everything now and do the Karakura fights next chapter. After all, I am wary of my 10-minute time limit for the video versions.
Speaking of which, I have started the trailer and am going to get clips for it. For those of you who are familiar with the show Reboot, it will sort of be in the same format: main character talks a little about himself, theme comes up, main character finishes his speech. I find it pretty cool so I figured I could do this with the trailer. I can't wait to see how it would turn out, hehe.
In the meantime, please let me know what you think! Take care!