"Nii-san's still not home..."
Its already pass seven. The once buoyant sky is now an opaque blue canvas. Consequently, less and less people populated the streets until finally, none.
"For heaven's sake Yuzu, stop being so anxious." Karin chewed her food carefully before swallowing. "Its not like he doesn't know how to take care of himself."
"But..." Yuzu turned to her dad for support.
Isshin's face is currently buried behind his bowl as he attacked his food at full force. He slammed the bowl loudly onto the table, revealing a satisfied grin that's trimmed with dribbles of rice.
"I swear Yuzu, if your cooking gets any better..."
Yuzu sighed. Maybe she really is just over thinking it. She looked down at her own untouched meal.
"I'm home..."
Yuzu spun around. There's Ichigo walking briskly into the living room. For some reason, he didn't look like his usual self; the usual laid back atmosphere around him seems to be slightly hunched.
"Where have you been?" Yuzu half asked, half demanded.
"Out" Ichigo didn't stop as he headed for upstairs.
"Aren't you going to eat? Dinners going to get cold."
"Not hungry..." The next thing Yuzu heard is his room door shutting close.
"Nii-san..."
"Just ignore him Yuzu..." Karin said calmly, even though she had a frown on her face. She hated it when Ichigo gets like this. Being the tough guy that he is, he rarely asks anyone for help when something goes down. She always hoped that Ichigo would be at least diligent enough to realize that there's nothing wrong with relying on others.
"...More for us to eat."
As soon as Ichigo closed the door, he stepped across the room and jumped on his bed, facing the ceiling. He let out an irritated sigh.
What the hell's wrong with me?
He knew that he shouldn't be worried. Soifon's with Yoruichi, so there shouldn't be a problem, even though...
Ichigo let out another sigh.That's even more of a reason for me to be worried.
He stayed there for awhile, staring fruitlessly at the ceiling, letting his mind wonder. Right now, the issue that's bothering him the most isn't Soifon's absence, but rather that unusual sensation he felt earlier of the day. He knew what it was; ever since his battle with Byakuya at Sokyoku Hill, his Hollow's existence has been a constant presence, like a nagging fragility. But only this time it's different. The way that it suddenly occurred without warning, the way that it almost desperately wanted to consume him, Ichigo can't help but have a haunting feeling in his stomach.
His battle with Byakuya...
Thinking back, his whole adventure through Soul Society felt like a distant dream. Gaining his Shingami powers, invading Soul Society, fighting the captains and saving Rukia; somehow it's hard to believe all of that actually happened. He remembered it as if it's yesterday, the first time that his Hollow took over, that perilous feeling, the Hollow's demented voice.
'Your really are worthless, Ichigo! Just being surrounded by his Reitsu makes your bones shake. Your a disgrace! Watch me, let me show you the correct way of using Bankai!'
"Tch"
He wasn't worthless. He defeated countless of enemies in Soul Society. Ikkaku, Renji, Kenpachi and Byakuya; one by one he managed to overcome them through seemingly impossible odds, so there's no way that he's worthless.
But was it really him?
During his encounter with Kenpachi, The only reason he won was because he managed to tap power from his own Zanpukto. Zangetsu said it's only natural for a Zanpukto to lend its owner strength, but Ichigo couldn't help but feel he cheated himself a win.
Byakuya was no different. While the Captain himself gave him the match, Ichigo knew that he shouldn't have won, or even lived for that matter. Byakuya had him cornered; he was completely at the captain's mercy till his hollow took over and turned the tide of the battle, so by all rights, he shouldn't have won...
And lastly, there was Aizen.
'For a human, you are quite interesting'
Those were his last words before he disappeared into the sky. Ichigo turned to his side in distaste. The way that man stopped his sword with a single finger, the way he slashed through his waist so effortlessly, it was as if he's from a whole different world, so unreachable.
"Damnit." Ichigo muttered silently.
"What's up with you?"
"What th..." Ichigo sat up instantly, nearly falling off his bed. There, on his open window, perched Soifon. Her hair flowed lightly along the night breeze as her skin glowed pale blue under the moonlight.
"How long long have you been there?" Ichigo demanded, pointing a finger at her.
Soifon smiled smugly. "Ever since you came in."
Ichigo stared at her dumbly. He knew that sensing Reitsu isn't exactly his forte, but to have no awareness of someone sitting a few feet away, he must be losing it.
"Well don't sneak up on people like that." Ichigo retorted gruffly. He laid back down and turned to his side, facing away from her.
Soifon studied him silently. A whole minute passed before she finally spoke.
"What's wrong?" She asked. She didn't sound worried, or even concerned. It's simply something she wanted to know.
Ichigo didn't answer her. He wasn't even sure if he heard her.
"Hey, Soifon?"
"Hm?"
He shifted a little, now facing the ceiling. "Do you think..." He began awkwardly before pausing.
"Do you think that I'm strong?"
Ichigo regretted asking almost immediately; he can almost feel Soifon's brows arching. It's a stupid question no matter how you look at it. Hell, why is he even asking her when he barely even know her? Ichigo didn't know, but there and then, asking Soifon seemed like the right thing to do.
"Why do you ask?" Soifon questioned slowly.
"No reason." Ichigo lied quickly. Truth to be told, he's feeling quite outclassed at the moment.
"You beat Kenpachi and Bayakuya."
"Well, yes... but that wasn't really me." Seeing Soifon's brow arching even higher, Ichigo hastily added "I had help."
Soifon clicked her tongue, but didn't say anything. Ichigo decided that this whole conversation is just plain stupid and tried to cut it off.
"Look, forget that I asked, its stup…"
"How long have you been a Shingami?" Soifon interrupted.
"Wha…?"
"Just answer the question!"
Ichigo stopped to think out it. How long has it been?
"Er… three or four months I guess." He scratched his head. "Maybe even five"
Soifon didn't look impressed.
"And do you know how long it takes for a person to become a Captain?"
Ichigo have a distinct feeling that the two of them are not at the same page.
"Wait, what are you trying to imply here?"
"What I'm trying to say is" Soifon bursted hotly, sounding sour, "It takes hundreds, if not thousands of years to achieve the status of a Captain. We began our education at a very young age and worked vigorously from there just to join the Gotei Thirteen. We train our body everyday and night for hundreds of years to hone our skills and even then, only handfuls of the many are selected. We don't take pride in being a Captain for its title, but for all the efforts we put in to reach where we are today. And you…"
Soifon glared at him, eyes flashing. "…Becoming a Shingami on borrowed powers, spending mere months adapting to your abilities, achieving Bankai in three days. And yet here you are, all depressed because you feel outclassed by people with years of more experience than you.
Ichigo didn't ask her how she knew about his Bankai. He supposed Yoruichi told her. For one thing, he always thought that all the Captains are captains because, well… they all looked like they belonged there. It never occurred to him that each of them worked just as hard as he did, only for a longer period of time. Maybe he's being arrogant with his feelings.
"I'm… sorry" Ichigo apologized, somewhat surprised by his own words.
Soifon stared at him for a while before looking away. "It's quite alright."
She jumped lightly off the window and landed in the middle of the room. "As for your question, it's pointless. Worrying about being strong or not is a waste of time. If you want to beat them without any help, then get better until you can, that's all there is to it."
Ichigo snorted. "Easier said then done."
"But not impossible." Soifon sat down on the desk chair and grinned. "If it makes you feel any better, I personally thought you did quite well on your little rescue mission. I don't think any intruder had given me such a headache."
Ichigo laughed. Feeling a lot better than when he came in, the emptiness in his stomach suddenly became more pronounced.
"I'm going downstairs to grab something to eat. Want anything?"
Soifon shook her head. "One more thing before you go" she said, making Ichigo pause.
"I've been thinking, you gave me a place to stay and I don't really have a way to repay you."
"What the hell are you talking about, you don't have to…"
"I do", Soifon cut him off curtly. "And since it is obvious that I cannot pay rent with human currency, I will take over your job as a Substitute Shingami instead."
Ichigo gapped at her. Is she serious?
"You can take a break and focus on your human life, while I can keep myself in shape. Two birds with one stone no?"
"I guess…but…"
"Then it is decided." Soifon held out a hand.
Ichigo scratched his hair in irritation. He's going to have to get use to her assertive nature. Then regrettably, he handed her his Shingami badge.
He sat there, eyes closed in a serene silence, waiting passively in his throne. A single strand of brown hair fluttered aimlessly in front of him, offsetting his statue-like feature. Giving out a soft sigh, he lazily raised one arm and began gently tapping his armrest with a lone finger.
"That's unlike ya, Aizen-sama, getting all impatient."
Aizen glanced to his right. On top of an erect pillar, not too far from where he's sitting stood Ichimaru Gin. As usual, his prolonged grin dominated his appearance, with slit eyes slightly overshadowed by his silver hair. Out of every individual in Soul Society, or even Hueco Mundo, he alone Aizen cannot fully read. Gin is an empty shell; his mind is impossible to interpret, motives impossible to figure out. Perhaps that's the sole reason why Gin intrigued him to no end.
"Not at all, Gin." Aizen responded easily. A small smile cracked through his lips as he picked up a familiar reitsu steadily approaching. He straitened his posture.
"He is here."
Sure enough, barely a moment passed before the sound of subtle footsteps echoed into the room, gradually growing clearer with each step. Ulquiorra Cifer walked in. The Espada's presence alone seems to diminish the warmth of the room; his messy black hair trailed breezily behind him, emerald eyes slit and unfazed. While his pale skin appeared to be perfectly untouched, his uniform is torn and stained. Walking lightly into the center of the room, he dropped to one knee before facing Aizen
"I've returned, Aizen-sama." His frigid voice washed over the room like ice, lifeless and detached.
"And?"
Ulquiorra inclined his head a little further. "It seems that I underestimated the shingami captain. She managed to get away."
There is a moment of silence.
Aizen leaned back against his chair, eyes never straying from the kneeling Espada. "That is unlike you, Ulquiorra, underestimating your enemy." There is no hint of anger, or much of anything in his tone.
"My deepest apology, Aizen-sama."
"There is no need for an apology." Aizen stated gravely. "I have already ensured that the Second Division Captain is now an enemy of the Gotei Thirteen. Nevertheless, it is a miscalculation on my part that she managed to escape from prison. Your mission, Ulquiorra, was simply an insurance; her survival will not prevent our plan from continuing its course." Aizen removed himself from his seat, now speaking more to himself than anyone else.
Ulquiorra remained silent. Personally, he himself didn't have a full grasp on the procedure, or even its very existence of the plan. But nevertheless, the man before him has managed to elude Soul Society for years, not to mention unifying the Espadas under a common goal. Such feat cannot be achieved through strength alone; you need insight, and this man…
"I find it kind of strange." Gin suddenly piped in.
Aizen and Ulquiorra looked at him, both momentarily forgetting Gin's presence.
Gin shrugged smartly. "Well… it's just that we're taking a lot of awfully big moves just to ensure the elimination of a single captain, don't cha think that's kind of risky?"
"Risky but necessary, Gin." Aizen refuted simply. Taking a step forward, he began descending from his throne, elaborating wisely alone the way. "The Second Division Captain, or rather Soifon-taicho, has a rather troublesome ability. With it, she has the potential to overcome those who are far stronger than herself."
Gin smirked. "Suzumebachi you mean?"
Aizen nodded genuinely. "Yes, the ability to strike down an enemy in two blows is certainly problematic for us. However, the main reason her banishment from Soul Society is necessary is not due to her capabilities, but rather her position."
That is all Gin needed to hear for his grin to widen. "Ya planning to take out the Onmitsukido then?"
Aizen turned to Gin with a cold smile. Truly an intriguing child.
"Your insight never cease to amaze me." Aizen acknowledged, far from sounding amazed. "The Onmitsukido holds a unique position within the heart of Soul Society. While its existence has a substantial role in the protection within Seireitei, The organization itself remains independent from outside influence. If we are to infiltrate, Onmitsukido must be eliminated"
Satisfied with his explanation, Aizen turned his attention back to the kneeling Espada.
"I have another mission for you, Ulquiorra."
Ulquiorra rose to his feet, unblinking.
"There is a certain individual that I would like you meet. I think you might find him to be..." Aizen pulled out a slip of paper from his robe and handed it to him, "...quite interesting."
Ulquiorra accepted the gift, his willow eyes never straying from the Aizen's hazel ones. Slowly, he lowered his gaze and began to study the paper's content. When finished, he looked back up with cold indifference, not hinting the slightest amount of interest.
"And what shall I do with this person, Aizen-sama?" He asked, tone unreadable.
"Nothing." Aizen answered simply "Watch him, observe him, but do not make any contact."
Aizen walked pass the Espada. "You'll know when it is time to report back to me. We're going, Gin!"
And with that, the two men disappeared. For a long moment Ulquiorra just stood there, letting the quietness wash over his skin. He liked it quiet; it makes everything so much simpler, more transparent, and above all, easier to comprehend. As of now, one fact is clear to him. Out of all his fellow Espadas, he alone have knowledge of Aizen's scheme. Perhaps it would be wise to inform them of the plan...
No
Ulquiorra crunched the piece of paper in his hand. His loyalty lies with Aizen, and Aizen alone, that is unquestionable. He will proceed as ordered, that is the right course of action. The only course of action.
"Kurosaki Ichigo..." He mouthed callously before he too vanished without a trace.
Author's Note
Keeping a goldfish alive must be the hardest thing ever. my fourth one just died D: