Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach as much as I wish I did. It belongs to the brilliant Tite Kubo-sama.
Pairings: Shinji Hirako/ Ichigo Kurosaki
Chapter summary: Shinji and Ichigo get together in the most unconventional way. Even with his memories sealed, Shiro should never have come so close to taking over Ichigo, not with him having defeated him at all. The vizards decide to help their youngest regain control, only to be interrupted by a new arrancar that seems a bit too interested in Ichigo then just the whole enemy thing. Hitsugaya must make the ultimate choice, will he follow through with his duty as a captain or will he follow through with his promise to his grandmother and keep his adopted cousin happy? Warning: This chapter does contain a lime, not a full blown lemon.
AN: I said that this chapter would be an interlude, but the real chapter 7, the actual interlude is turning out to be longer than anticipated, so it will take a while. When it's done, I will upload it. Next month should feature 2 chapters, but it may take a while. Anyway, I have another idea for a bleach story, and it really isn't helping that every time I type, it's the prologue for that story instead of this story. After I finish this first part of Protectors Guardian, I will peobably wonk on that. Anyway, I've kept you from reading the next chapter. Another note is on the bottom for those that will bother to read it. P.S. I am very sorry about the late update
'thoughts'
flashback
/Zangetsu/
/hollow/
'Ichigo to Zangetgtsu or Shiro'
Un-betaed
Chapter 6: Grimmjow and Training
All it took was the excuse that he was tired to make the others leave. The moment that they saw him, they immediately started to ask questions, questions that under these circumstances could not be answered till much later. He didn't miss the shrewd way that Renji was glancing at him or the calculating gleam that highlighted Toshiros eyes, and knew what was going to be coming. Besides all of that though, he was relieved that he didn't have to go to school today, it was just best to laze around. The school had closed in response to the mysterious deaths of the karate club. He wasn't in particular very sad about their deaths, he knew that he would be seeing them soon, and Tatsuki would be back among them. In a sad way, he would have to thank them for their deaths; the time he received would allow him to fully corporate his memories into his mind.
It was strange, ever since the seal holding his memories had broken, he found himself smiling more. It freaked just about everyone out, well, his 'new' friends that is. When they saw him smiling yesterday, even with everything that's been happening, of course they would be freaked. It was of no surprise to Kisuke-jiji or Shinji that he would be all smiles. He smiled in front of his friends yesterday before they left. Actually, they weren't the only ones freaked out. To say it to himself truthfully, he himself was freaked out. He knew what happened to him, his child self merged with his teen self, but it was still strange to him. For the past 6 years, he had for all intents and purposes, been an all out brooding guy who to everyone else had a rough but protective and understanding cover. He hardly smiled, and in the past day, he had smiled more than he had ever in 6 months. This abrupt change in personality wasn't just unbalancing his friends, but himself as well. However, he was nothing if not brutally honest with himself, which is why he's adjusting to this change so fast.
Arms wrapped around his waist, bringing his chest to a muscular chest. " 'o ear'y" Shinji muttered, pulling him back to lay on the bed. The vizard had stayed with him last night at his (ichi's) request,
Back when he was a child and he had a nightmare he wouldn't go to his father, nor would he go to his loving mother. He would instead go to Shinji. There was just something about the blonde that at a young age Ichigo had sensed it, embraced it, and loved it. He felt like he and Shinji belonged. Shinji had been his rock. He helped him control his powers and brought him back whenever he had visions of blood and death. For any child to see death, war and mindless destruction of human and soul lives was horrible. The loss of sleep and the emotions he felt in each vision nearly drove him insane.
They were close. He and Shinji. So very close. Not like a family relationship or even that of a nakama, but something more. It was only now that he had grown up that he realized what their strange relationship was…is.
Smiling at the blondes antics as he held the arm around his waist, "time to get up. Jiisan is probably waiting for us and Tessai has most likely made breakfast if the smell leaking through the door is any indication. I would like to eat before the vultures come". The vultures, of course, were his friends.
"Don' wanna" and to emphasize his point, he gripped him tighter around the waist, looping his legs around the younger, still alive body of the soul reaper, locking him in place.
"Shin-chan" he whined in exasperation at the blondes actions. He felt a sleepy smirk on his shoulder, and scowled. The hands around him just got tighter.
Loud, bang like knocks sounded on the door. "Dumbass, Gaki! Get up! And stop molesting one another!" it was Hiyori. She also stayed the night after she had informed the other vizards at the situation they were in.
Ichigo turned a bright red at the molesting comment while Shinji chuckled. It seems all it took was Hiyori to get the lazy blonde up. Ichigo felt pity for his uncle right then and there. It must have been humiliating for him when he was a captain and Hiyori was his vice. "Shall we live up to her expectations?" he moved his hands lower, moving down and stroking the firm, soft, exposed skin of the teen.
Ichigo stifled a gasp at the sensation, blush turning darker at the contrasting skin temperatures that made goose bumps rise where ever the blonde touched. "S-shin-ah-ji" he got out, "y-you per-vert"
-PM me if u want the rest of the chapter-
When Ichigo came too, he became aware of the sticky feeling between his thighs and the uncomfortable feeling of drying cum on his skin as well as Shinjis whispered sweet nothings and him stroking his hair.
"That was-" he searched to find the right word, but Shinji finished the rest. "Intense. Right? You're not the only one who felt that" And Ichigo noticed the dark wet spot visible on the blondes pants and chuckled.
"Not funny. I'm going to have to use another pair, and these were my favorite" That just made Ichigo laugh . "Hmph! Well at least I didn't come so fast like a rookie" he rebuked
Ichigo blushed again, he seemed to be doing an awfully lot of that this morning.
Shinji looked at him for a moment, before smiling widely. "That was your first time wasn't it?" Ichigo shook his head no, but his much deepened blush gave him away. Shinjis eyes gleamed, "that means I'm going to be the only one who touches you in such a manner"
Ichigo, startled, glanced up at him from his previous staring at the bed. "The only one?"
Shinji rubbed the back of his head, a light dusting of red on his cheeks. "Will you go out with me?"
Happiness bubbled inside of Ichigo at the question. He had wanted so desperately to hear that for years now. "Yes"
Shinji swooped down for a kiss, holding his new boyfriend closely.
Ichigo was reminded of the now dry come on his chest and thighs. "We need a bath though. And I'm sure Tessai and Kisuke-jiji are waiting for us"
Shinji frowned for a minute. "And Hiyori too. She never left"
Ichigo blushed again. Shinji leered at him "Did you know you blush all the way to your chest?"
"Shinji!"
Hiyoris haughty face greeted them as they walked out of Shinjis room, hair damp from their shower (At least Ichigos hair was, Shinji refused to let his hair dry on its own and blow-dried it). They both just ignored her.
"I heard you" she didn't need to specify what she had heard.
"Ahh…it seems like our two lovebirds have finally decided to join us" Urahara said, waving his fan in front of his face.
"Ohayoo ero-jiji" Ichigo greeted.
Shiniji just rolled his eyes, plopping down on one of the tatami mats in front of the table. Laid out before him was fried fish, rice, orange slices, green tea and oddly enough, buttered toast.
Urahara just waved off his godsons/nephews comment. He'd heard worst. 'Still' his eyes went to Shinji, who was packing his plate with food, 'now that their relationship is confirmed, we'll need to have a talk, overprotective uncle too soon to be dead boyfriend'
"So what's planned for today?" he wouldn't put it past them to have planned out today's activities. They knew about the school letting the rest of the week off, after all, they were their when he had his vision. But still, Tatsukis death was something that troubled him. He hadn't seen it happen at all. And for some reason, the future had become that much more difficult.
"You need to be retrained in controlling your hollow" taking a bite out of his toast, Shinji peered at the nervous teen and new boyfriend. "Even though your memories were sealed, you should still have been able to retain your control. So you'll be coming back to base with us" the us of course was Hiyori and Shinji.
Urahara nodded in agreement. "Besides, you'll need the extra training to get back to your old skills. It'll be a help later on wont it. Besides, you need to practice your zanjutsu(?). It's not up to snuff"
Ichigo swallowed his fish audibly. When it came down to hollow training, he hadn't actually done it. At least not the way the vizards wanted him to. Instead of fighting his hollow for supremacy, he instead became Shiros friend, and even gave him a name. He didn't even want to think of the trouble that he would get into if they were to find out that not only had he been lying, but that his hollow and him never fought in the first place. He had considered the possibility of talking to the other vizards, that there was another way for them to use their mask, but they were just too set in their ways. In their eyes, he was just a child who didn't know what was going on. And he knew that they would react that way for certain. He had seen it.
/How'll we get outa this?/ Shiro had been listening to the conversation ever since this morning. It was rather surprising to Ichigo that the hollow hadn't teased him about this morning.
/Damn right I am prince! What right do ya have to seal our memories?/ Ahhh, so the questioning begins
'Technically, it was Kisuke-jiji that sealed our memories'
/Ya asked him to/
'That's true' he agreed, 'how are you feeling?'
/Like shit…Why'd ya do it prince?/
'You know why. And don't tell me you don't. We are the same, you and I, just different in the way we see things. I did what had to be done'
/There were other ways/
'With much too great a cost…besides, it's better this way. I'd rather have an uncertain future then a future filled with blood, pain and ultimately death'
/You are a messenger of death ya know. Ya don't have room to be talkin'/
'I take it all has been forgiven?'
/I call the next arrancar/
Ichigo groaned, scowling internally at the laughing Shiro was doing in his head. Damn hollow. Needs a good beating to take him off his arrogance throne. 'Fine, only as long as we are nowhere near the vizards when it happens. And I won't be going down on it' he closed off the link on his end, not before Shiro told him that the old men were creeping him out again.
Shiros anger was understandable, and it was a blessing that he didn't snap more than he had done. Zangetsu had been out and about in his mindscape. The memory seal only affected him and Shiro, not Zanpakuto, but they were restricted from saying anything about the memory. While Zangetsu had company and could look through his eyes to see the outside world, Shiro had been locked to the far corners of his mind, trapped in a cage of never ending darkness.
He was pulled into his mindscape suddenly, without warning. He looked toward a bewildered Shiro to a grinning Zangetsu and realized what happened. Long, elegantly curved fingers brushed through his hair softly, sharp claws gently scratching at the delicate skin in his head. He smiled.
"It's you" and for that moment, he felt complete.
'Tatsuki is dead' Orihime thought mournfully, eyes red, and lacking their usual luster. She had cried all night as her death hit her fully. Tatsuki, her friend since middle school. Tatsuki who chased of bully's from her middle school that cut her hair. Who befriended her. Who introduced her to Ichigo, and in turn who introduced her to all of her friends. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that she would have as many friends as she had now. Ichigo must hate her. Tatsuki was his oldest friend, and she had gotten her killed.
Rangiku went in and checked in on the poor girl. She was still on her fluffy pink bed, staring at a picture on her nightstand, crying. "Orihime-chan" worry raced through her veins. She needed to get Orihime out of this funk. She considered her like a younger sister, what with all the boys going after them because of the upper portions of their body. And Orihime was such a nice girl, if not a little naive. She felt it was her duty to protect her. "Come out of their for a while. Taicho wants you there with his meeting with Yamamoto-sotaicho as a representative to the humans"
The dark, orange haired girl slowly got up from her vantage point. Next to her pillow on her bed, was a silver frame with a singular picture settled inside. From the tear streaks all over it, so similar to the ones present on the human girls face, Rangiku concluded that the black haired female in the photo was this Tatsuki female that apparently died.
"Rangiku-san, I didn't know you were still here" Orihime smiled shakily, mouth stretched wide across her face that made her face twist in a wretched manner at the utterly fake look. The other shinigami that she allowed to stay in her home and went to Urahara Shouten to retrieve some kind of device from squad 12 that would allow them to communicate with the seireitei. She thought everyone would leave, but apparently Rangiku stayed.
She made her way to the door, but was stopped.
"Orihime-chan" Rangiku said her name so softly, so gently, like a mother or sister would do to a younger child, and Orihime closed her eyes. This was how Tatsuki would talk to her. "If you need someone to talk to, know that I'm right here"
Orihime closed her eyes and smiled. "Thank you, Rangiku-san"
It had been very difficult for them to get the screen through the door. Its giant size and large width made the task all of that more difficult. It was not until Yumichika suggested that they use their powers did they manage to get it through. In their gigai, they could still use reitsu. Since reitsu is the energy of the dead, and the dead can literally walk through walls, all they had to do was cover the TV like item with reitsu and they had the screen through the door without any other hassle.
The screen was noisy with the sizzling sound from the TV as it searched for the soul society's sister copy. Ikkaku and Yumichika had left, more than likely either to spar or to search out the area. Renji had left in order to find Ichigo.
"Taicho! Hi!" Rangiku was chipper for some reason. Behind her was a solemn Orihime.
"Rangiku…Inoue-san" he greeted. Rangiku took her place a few paces behind him and to her side, while Orihime was content just to stand against the wall.
The static on the screen began to lessen, and the 2 shinigami in the room stood attentive.
The screen cleared, and on the screen was the soutaicho, looking as stern as usual. With his hidden zanpakuto in his hand, he addressed them. "Hitsugaya-taicho…Matsumoto-fukutaicho" he greeted, ignoring Orihime.
"Sir" the two shinigami greeted. Matsumoto proceeded to be quiet from then on. She knew better then to interrupt the soutaicho, especially since he most likely had news for them.
Toshiro inwardly winced. He was not used to being in a gigai, so his movements were sluggish at best. "Have we found Aizens goal?"
"Hmm…yes, we believe he's after the soken. Ukitaku-taicho and Kyoraku-taicho found records of him looking at papers concerning the creation of one, and where the current one is located" there was no question about it, Aizen was insane. But then again, he had known that about Aizen already.
"The soken…is that not the key to the kings palace? Don't you have the only copy sir?"
The soutaicho opened his wised old eyes in a dark glance as he appraised the young captain. In truth, he had always been wary of the young captain, even more so after this bought with Aizen. In his opinion, Hitsugaya had advanced up the ranks far too quickly, even faster than Ichimaru, and Ichimaru, it appeared, had the help of Aizen. And, he had always felt like this young captain had been hiding something.
"You don't seem surprised to hear this" he accused silently
Toshiro maintained his calm at the accusation.
"Urahara mentioned something like this to me earlier. I was going to inform you"
Yamamoto nodded. "Trend cautiously young Hitsugaya. While Aizens target is the soken, I do not believe that he will come after the one I currently possess. Ukitake-taicho and Kyoraku-taicho went to the central library, and found that Aizen had been looking up information on how to create one"
"Create one"
"Yes. A soken that is not created by the royal family, can only be created by sacrificing 1000 souls in a spiritually enriched area. There are only 2 areas like that. One is the soul society. The other…is the living town of Kurakara"
Orihime gasped. Her home, this place, it was Aizens target? It couldn't be…
"Girl" the soutaicho addressed her. "For this fight, we shall need the help and cooperation of the humans. Please inform you friends of this matter in which I have spoken of" Orihime gave a shaky nod, and quickly ran out of the room. Rangiku looked worriedly at her disappearing form, but stayed put.
The soutaicho looked back at Toshirio."Prepare yourself, Hitsugaya-Taicho. We have reason top believe that the traitor Aizen will strike at the beginning of the winter solstice".
Hitsugaya nodded and waited for the commander to disappear.
"Ah, yes…someone wishes to see you"
Hinamori appeared from behind him.
She looked terrible. Her skin was pale and shallow, her hair a mess with dark black bags under her eyes.
He didn't say any of this to her though, just happy to see her up. "Hinamori…how are you feeling? It's good to see you again"
"I'm feeling fine" she gave a shaky smile, but they both knew it was false.
'You don't look fine you dummy'
"Toshiro" he looked up at her forlorn tone. "I am so sorry-"
"Save it" he cut in, "there's nothing to apologize for. You were under emotional stress"
She smiled. "Thank you" He smiled at her, perhaps she would heal. "Toshiro, there is something that I have to ask of you"
He wondered what it could be. The seriousness of the situation made his skin crawl. She wasn't going to ask for clothes…was she? That was Rangikus department.
"Please…please save Aizen-taicho" his eyes widened at the request gaping at her for a split second, before it disappeared. She wasn't serious was she? She didn't acknowledge his skeptic expression, or the hurt that he couldn't mask on his face. "We know Aizen-taicho Shiro-chan. He would never do something like this, there must be a reason. Yes, I'm sure there's a reason!" her eyes brightened with childish delight as she convinced herself of this, slight insanity creeping into her deep brown eyes. It was at that moment that Toshiro came to a revelation. This being in front of him…wasn't Momo. Hadn't been for a long time. Not since she met Aizen and fell under his spell. And this revelation hurt.
Yamamoto knocked Hinamori out, but Toshiro did not react. It was sad after all, Hinamori was all he had left of his family. His grandmother died 10 years ago, parents died before he could remember them. Hinamori, his dear cousin, was all that he had left the last living member of his family. But now, she too was gone, replaced by this image of false impudicity and remaked as an example of what Aizens manipulations could do, what they were capable of.
Tightening his fist, he didn't feel the sharp sting of blunt nails pierce the skin of his palm or the aching of his jaw as his teeth grounded together. Aizen…that man would pay, for Hinamoris suffering and for his eternal pain. He had made a promise that as of now had been broken. The promise he had made to his grandmother. That he would protect his adopted cousin.
"I am sorry about that captain Hitsugaya. She pleaded with me for a chance to speak with you. I see know that she was not in the right frame of mind" Momo lay limply in the soutaicho's lieutenants arm like a rag doll.
"Will that be all Yamamoto-soutaicho" he needed to blow off some steam.
"No" The first division captain began to stroke his beard at the tenseness in the boys stance. "I want you to find a group of people. They are former shinigami captains and lieutenants that were exiled 100 years ago. Urahara pleaded their case when we found them reeking of hollow reitsu, and proclaimed Aizen, who was a fukutaicho at the time, to be the cause. Going over these cases, Ukitake-taicho, Unohana-taicho, Kyoraku-taicho and I believe that he was telling the truth and would like to request their help. Since Urahara Kisuke is alive, we can infer that they themselves are alive as well. Ask him if he has any information regarding them"
"Is it that incident?"
"Just find them Hitsugaya-taicho", with that, Yamamoto cut off the feed.
The screen started to static again, and Rangiku was quick to turn it off. She glanced worriedly to her captain.
She was shocked at Hinamoris actions, more so then what Aizen planned. The girl was innocent, yes, everyone who knew her knew that, but too ask that of all things, especially since Aizen almost killed Hitsugaya…there really was only so much that she could get away with. Seeing her captain as she was, she knew that there were two things that had to happen. Either Momo would shape up, or she would never allow her to be near her captain ever again.
"Rangiku"
Startled, she snapped to attention. "Yes taicho?"
"Please inform the others of this new development" she didn't argue, didn't wait around for a moment, didn't hesitate to leave. Her captain needed to be alone now.
Toshiro, once sure that Rangiku was gone, slowly covered his face with his hand. "I am so sorry Chiori-san"
After finishing the breakfast that Tessai-san made, Shinji, Ichigo and Hiyori headed to the warehouse. It was in this abandoned place that the Vizards had made their permanent residence. Using Hachis barriers and kido reinforced with their own reitsu, the warehouse was invisible to all without reitsu and made them avoid the area. For those with reitsu, it was as impossible shield to get through.
While the appearance and front room were nothing to look out, a series of doors created a room for each one of them. Each vizard had their own bedroom, a door leading to the kitchen, dining area, and a giant door that lead them to Uraharas, which is the route they were taking.
The blonde really was a genius, creating a dimensional pocket through sub-space keyed in with their zanpakuto that allowed them to travel anywhere they wanted. It was very much like a merger between the shinigamis senkaimon and the arrancars garganta.
As soon as the small group of three walked through the door, Ichigo was assaulted by Mashiro. He fell back into Shinji since Hiyori was quick enough to move to the side.
"Bery-chan! Welcome back!" she chirped around his waist, squeezing him tight. With her face squished into his chest, he didn't see him slowly turning blue. She did however notice when she was picked up and removed by an annoyed Kensei. "Kensei" she whined, "stop! I haven't seen Berry-chan in a long time"
He grunted as she started pounding on his chest. "You just saw him yesterday"
"But that was yesterday. I didn't know him yesterday"
While those two were argued over who was right-which would eventually end with Kensei losing like always- the others were staring with a dubious curiosity at Shinji and Ichigo while Hiyori was just smirking triumphantly.
After Mashiro had been extracted from him, Ichigo found his breath, only for it to be taken away with Shinjis tea grey eyes staring down at him. The arms that kept him steady moments ago tightened around his waist. His face leaned up as Shinjis face loomed down. The both of them were completely obvious to the goggling eyes of their friends. They snapped out of it when Hiyori cleared her throat. Ichigo glanced away with a slight glare and light dusting on his cheeks while Shinji threw an annoyed glance at his long time nakama.
Questions were thrown their way the moment the others regained their bearings with a plunder
"When did this happen?"
"I knew it! There was no other way either one of them were straight!"
"So that's the reason Ichi was so close to Shinji. Or is it the other way around?"
"Does that mean Shinji's a pedophile?"
Shinji glared at Lisa, who was smirking innocently with her glasses gleaming . Ok, so Ichigo was young, compared to him, and even in soul society he was considered young. Good thing they were going by a somewhat human definition then. But wait…Ichigo was still in high school wasn't he? First or second year? And if he did go by that definition, then he was a ped.
Shrugging at the revelation, he just gripped Ichigo tighter, and said nonchalantly to an already amused and snickering crowd that not only did he not mind being one, he embraced it since it meant he could touch his precious strawberry.
He almost avoided the punch a flushed Ichigo threw at him for calling him a strawberry and then endure the lecture nursing his swollen jaw as he told him that his name meant number one guardian, not strawberry regardless of some misconceptions regarding his name.
By this time Kensei had admitted defeat to Mashiro, not even remembering the reason they were fighting while said girl went over to glomp an unsuspecting Ichigo. The air tensed, however, when Hiyori reminded them that Ichigos visit was not a social one.
"Urahara believes that your time in the shattered shaft caused your soul to fragment more, and the part that shattered was eaten by your hollow. The backlash made your hollow more powerful, thus the reason that you were not able to keep it under control" Hiyori may not look it, nor does her attitude show it, but she was smart. There was a reason that while she was the lieutenant of squad 12, she was the 3rd seat of the R&D division.
Ichigo didn't show the unease he felt with all of their attention on that fact. Again, his earlier thoughts popped into his mind, of how they didn't know that he never fought his hollow.
He, in desperation, created a plan that would hopefully work. "Actually, I already beat him" ignoring the now screaming Shiro in his head, he continued, "back when I was regaining my memories, I remembered how I beat him the first time and implemented the same techniques then and defeated him" 'Hush, this is the only way they won't make us fight, and you're not helping!'. Shiro quieted. He knew what the prince said was true, but still, /I never admitted defeat!/
Hiyori rolled her eyes at his antics. Quicker than a flash she was right at him, shoe in hand and hitting him upside down the head. "Moron! That's impossible. Even if you were regaining your memories, you still would have transformed"
"Are you sure" folding his arms, Ichigo inwardly smirked. Hiyori, for all her bravado and intelligence, still went to Urahara for verification for any of her thoughts. "I can prove it" He ignored the throbbing pain on his head from her shoe. At this moment, it was best not to show ant weakness.
The others seemed relieved. If Ichigo could summon his mask, then they wouldn't have to fight him. Hiyori and Shinji narrowed their gaze on him. There was something about this whole ordeal that just…didn't seem right. Everything about this conversation just screamed fake. "Summon your mask then"
Bringing his hand down in a grasping motion, he summoned his red, black and white mask. Everyone could feel the power rolling off of him in waves, when his mask split. He fell to the floor in a dead faint, face pale.
Shinji caught him.
"What happened to him?"
"He took his mask out in his human body" it was times like this that all of them were reminded that he was a human, and that in reality he was an infant when compared to them.
Rose stood up and leaned on Love, his boyfriend/husband for 80 years. "I guess this means that we'll be teaching chibi-chan how to use his powers in his human body"
Aizen received the report from Ulquiorra and Yammy about the former ryoka who were now regaled as heroes. He was very interested in the results that had been shown in that vision. This girl, this Orihime possessed a very strange power. One that was very reminiscent of the gods. The ability to reject reality. That was her power now that he analyzed this and the brief instances that he saw her in the seireitei. What was even more impressive was the fact that she was human.
"I expect the two of you to understand the seriousness of the situation" he told his subordinates, servants, whatever these arrancar were to him. If he could get the girl, then there was a chance that she could completely reawaken the hougyoku to its former glory.
"Hai, Aizen-sama" the fourth and sixth espada muttered.
Grimmjow smirked at this mission
"I can't wait to fight this shinigami"
The shinigami and vizards attention snapped like a rubber band in the direction of Kurakara park. Six arrancar had just appeared.
"What the hell!" Ichigo shouted eyes wide. 'What's going on, they aren't supposed to be here yet!'
With the other shinigami, things were much the same.
Ikkaku and Yumichika stopped sparring. "It's about time" the 3rd seat said, tapping his sword on his shoulder. Yumichika just smirked, his friends exited feeling contagious.
"Captain" Rangiku muttered. Toshiro nodded, "yeah". She shunpoed away.
"Renji". Rukia and Renji were on the Kurosaki family roof. The red head turned to her and smiled a gentle smile that only she was allowed to see. He understood. They had both better come out of this alive.
Orihime looked out the window of her room, having given up on finding Ichigo. It only took her a moment to decide what to do. 'For you Tatsuki…I'll do this for you"
Ishida glanced toward the large energy being released from the road. There was nothing he could do however. His powers were lost. Now though, he needed to talk to his father. It was the only way he could prepare himself for what was to come.
Chad raced toward Ichigos house. There was a good chance these arrancars would go after the shinigamis family to get to him and their spiritual energy would easily draw them there.
Toshiro panted heavily, glaring at the arrancar in front of him. How could this be? He was a captain! And surely these lowly arrancar were no match for someone like him. And yet, they were beating him.
This arrancar had long black hair as well as a long face. What remained of his mask dipped down to cover the left portion of his face with two wholes apparently there for his other eyes, while the rest of his mask shot out in a long thick line to his right. He had small, grayish green eyes, and a mature look about him. He wore a white robe, with white pants, and white boots. He reminded Toshiro of a white eyesore.
"I don't believe I have fully introduced myself" the arrancar said, his braided black hair once again falling onto his shoulders. "My name is Shawlong KÕfang. Undécimo arrancar, and first fracciỏn of the sexta espada, Grimmjow"
Toshiro glared at him. 'Undécimo? Does that not mean 11? So he's the eleventh arrancar in Aizens army' "You must be strong" the arrancar was looking at him with amusement, something that greatly annoyed him. "You're the eleventh arrancar, so you're the eleventh strongest in Aizens army"
Shawlong couldn't help it, he tilted his head back and laughed.
"What's so funny"
"Me being the Undécimo has nothing to do with strength. Only the first ten are rated according to power level, the Espada, but from Undécimo and on, they are ranked from the oldest to the newly created. Our power levels are nothing compared to the espada, and so we are merely ranked by age" he smiled, a malevolent look on his masked face. "You and your underlings should be worried, for with us are two espada. The sexta and the cuatro espada. And their power far out classes my own"
Toshiro grit his teeth together. The two that are not fighting, the ones that they let get away, were Espspa? They had to be. The blue haired one had the number 6 on his back, and that pale black haired one had just stood back as the others had left…oh no. He remembered . 'Inoue-san said, that the arrancar were after Ichigo'
"Tell me" he brought Hyorinmaru infront of him, "why are you here?"
Shawlong quirked a brow at the obvious attack stance the enemy was taking. He slowly brought his own sword in front of him. "To retrieve a person and take them to Aizen-sama, who wishes for this person to be on our side, A person with rather unique powers"
Teal eyes turned steel. 'Ichigo' "I'm sorry to say that you won't be laying a hand on him" reitsu started to gather around him. "Don't worry, I shall make this painless" His sword started to glow an ice blue as cold win was released from it. "Daiguren Hyōrinmaru". Ice flowed from Hyōrinmaru onto Hitsugaya, starting at his right arm where ice formed into in the shape of a dragon's head around his sword hand, encasing the sword up to the hilt; which also changed from the shape of a four-pointed star to that of eight-pointed star. The ice continued forming up over his shoulders where two large wings sprouted from his back and a long tail. The ice forms down his left arm encasing his hand and ended in a claw. Hitsugaya's feet are encased in ice in a similar manner to his left hand which as they to end in claws.
Shawlong looked amazed for a moment at the captain's bankai. He analyzed it a moment later, looking for any weakness. "So this is a shinigamis bankai" his own reitsu started to glow around him. "I believe I shall return the favor of fighting at full strength" his zanpakuto started glowing. "Snip Tijereta"
The reitsu started to cover him, shifting in primal formations around him. Toshiro clenched his teeth. He should have ended this a while ago.
Shawlong's appearance had changed. He grew armor that covered his arms and upper chest, while his hands transformed into long claws and his mask extends down to cover the left side of his face, while the part of his mask fragment, extended out to his right becoming a claw-tipped tail.
"What did you just do?" Toshiro demanded. This arrancar seemed to be forth coming with information.
Shawlong just held up his new, claw/bone hands, showing the sharp talons at the end. "I find that of no importance to tell you. In this form, I can easily kill you, and it is only out of respect to your rank that I assume this form and kill you at full power". He crouched into a stance, arm, and long claws glowing in the evening light.
Their attention was caught, however, when a very large, and powerful reitsu penetrated the air, masking their energy and that of their foes.
Shawlong was distracted, and that was all that Toshiro needed at the moment to finish this. Pushing as much reitsu as he could into his teenaged body, he shunpoed in front of Shawlong.
The arrancars eyes widened, and he quickly brought his claw like arms up to block the attack. It was too late. With a swift thrust, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru broke through his arm, and straight through his body.
"Ryūsenka"
A huge burst of ice erupted from Daiguren Hyōrinmaru's initial point of attack in Shawlongs body. Ice encased the arrancar, whose eyes stared down at the captain in the body of a child. "So this is my end" he whispered, before his head was completely covered.
With a quick pull of his sword, the ice statue shattered into little ice particles.
Toshiros green eyes closed. "Its too bad you were one of Aizen's. You had a lot of potential"
Blood erupted from his body as his bankai broke. Five long gashes appeared on his front, before he fell to the ground. He could hear a muffled scream amidst the ringing of his ears, before everything went black.
Yumichika looked at the scene in front of him, unsure of what to actually think. That this mere arrancar caused Ikkaku to use his bankai was something of concern.
The arrancars name was Edrad Liones. He appeared to be a very large Arrancar, with long red hair; however, half of his hair was shaved and black. The remains of his Hollow mask were the eye holes, which rest on his nose, and resembled unusual glasses. His jacket was left open, revealing the Hollow hole in his chest.
Edrad smirked. For a shinigami, this guy was not half bad. "You fight well shinigami. May I know the name of the warrior I'm about to kill?"
Ikkaku just grunted as the shift from shikai to bankai finalized over his body. "Ryūmon Hōzukimaru" it was three over-sized weapons connected by an equally large chain. The two main weapons are a Chinese Monk's spade and a standard Guan dao. Both have a traditional horsehair tassel at the hilt and a long cylindrical weight for a pommel. The pommels are connected by a heavy chain to the center section, which resembles an axe-like blade with a parallel handle forged into the blunt end and a dragon crest on one side of the blade. Despite all three weapons being of near-ridiculous proportions, he held them easily. Ikkaku held one blade in each hand and let the central portion float behind him. "My name is Ikkaku Madarame. However, who is to say that I will be the one to die?"
He attacked. Edrad grinned. He hadn't had a fight this exciting in a long time. "Bankai is the last stage for a shinigami release is it not?"
Ikkaku's eyes narrowed. "So what if it is?"
Edrad's grin turned malevolent. "Okiro Volcánica" his mask formed into wings on either side of his face and his arms morphed to gigantic proportions while growing large extensions beyond his shoulders. Each of these extensions contained an exhaust.
Ikkaku calculated the significant energy increase that Edrad gained from whatever he did. "That…what you just did, it's similar to a shinigami release"
"Very good. Volcánica is my zanpakuto. Calling out to him released him and transformed my own body. It is the arrancar release"
Keigo, who had been with Yumichika and Ikkaku at the time turned to Yumichika. "Why are you just standing there? Your friend needs help"
Yumichika did not even spare the human a glance. "This is Ikkaku's fight. If I was to interfere, it would go against everything that squad 11 stands for" 'besides, Ikkaku wants to die in battle'. He pulled out a soul pager. "This is Yumichika of the squad sent to the human world. We need a barrior put up at these coordinates"
He knew that Ikkaku would survive this battle. His bankais power crest was almost red.
Flames erupted around Edrad. "Prepare to die" he never saw it coming. Ikkaku saw his moment to strike. With a giant swing of the guan dao portion of his bankai, Edrad was killed. It was what happened next that was unexpected. Flamed erupted from the arancar remains, and Ikkaku was caught up right in the middle of the fire storm. He gave a loud shout as the fire burned through his skin and went right for the muscle.
"Hahahahahahahahaha! Do you think that such a puny attack would def-"Edrad's voice shouted through the area, before a scream of agony erupted from him, as his own fire turned against him.
The burned boy of Ikkaku tumbled to the ground, only to be caught by Yumichika. "Ikkaku?"
His eyes opened slowly. "I got luck-"he fainted
Yumichikas eyes widened. Ikkakus reitsu was draining fast. Orihimes picture zapped across his mind. 'That girl…'
A large wave of reitsu swept across his senses, paralyzing him. 'What?'
It left him a moment later, and he found himself able to move. He gritted his teeth at the blood and scarred tissue that dripped onto him from Ikkaku.
"Hey" Keigo started nervously. "You can come over to my place"
Yumichika did something he never would have done in any other situation. He grunted. "Fool. Ikkaku needs help from a healer". He flash stepped away.
Rangiku smirked as she looked at her opponent. They had just arrived at the place they were going to fight. She had instigated the move, wanting to give more room to her captain for his own Fight.
He was a large, fat Arrancar who took a hunched position with his hands crossed on his back. His face is round and wide and he has small eyes. His hair is dark brown and has a bowl hairstyle. His Arrancar uniform is exactly equal to his the other arracanr, the one that she left fighting her captain, a tight jacket and a belt leading a Zanpakutō in his waist. The remains of his Hollow mask covered exactly half of his face.
"So tell me, who are you?"
"Nakeem Greendina, Catorce" That was all he said before he attacked.
Rangikus eyes widened and she swiftly drew Haineko, the blade of her sword singing as Nakeem's own sword rang with hers. Her arms trembled, the force of the blow much too strong for her own strength, and she quickly flash stepped away.
"You-How did you move so fast?"
He didn't say anything, just continued chasing after her, swinging his sword like a mad man, but with such precision that she was forced onto the defense.
She flash stepped away, and in the moment break that she had, she released her zanpakuto. "Unare Haineko!" Tha blade of her sword turned to ash as she called out.
Nakeem looked on with interest, but continued his assault. Rangiku was once again forced on to the defensive. The ash of her sword turned into a giant shield, and with each strike, both shield and sword rang. Nakeem disappeared. Her eyes widened, and she turned around behind her. She was struck down, Nakeems sword slashing through her back, and she tumbled to the ground.
Nakeems eyes snap to the side where they came from. Shawlongs reitsu had just disappeared.
Rangiku used the distraction to her advantage. "Request removal of limit"
"Permission granted"
Reitsu burst through her skin as the limiter holding her power dissolved.
"Tell me" she said as she jumped in front of Nakeem, "what is your speed technique called?"
"Soindo"
"Oh" she shunpoed in front of him. "Ours is called shunpo" and struck him down.
Nakeem didn't have enough time to scream as he was killed. His body burst into little particles of dust.
"Phew" she sighed. Her eyes sharpened as she felt her captains reitsu go down. "Taicho"
Another reitsu swept across her senses, but she ignored it. She had to help her captain"
Similar battles took place between Rukia and Di Roy along with Renji and Yyldfot. Only exception being that Renji found out about their resurrecciỏn form.
All of them had felt the strange reitsu that was released that did not belong to one of their own. And all of them could not help but wonder:
Who was this new person?
And were they friend of enemy?
Ichigo headed for the stairs, ready to go outside. He was in his shinigami garb, the others wanting him to get reuse to his old powers before they started him on anything new. He was stopped by Hachi though. "I need to go"
Rose shook his head, blonde hair flying loose. "The shinigami will take care of it". The others agreed. There was no reason for the kid to get involved. For arrancar, all but two of them were pathetically weak. "There are two espada out there, and I'm one of their targets. If they don't find me, they'll go after my family instead!"
"And you know that your family is perfectly safe"
"But-"
Mashiro shook her head. "Nooo! I don't want berry-chan to get hurt!"
Shinji clasped his hand on her shoulder. He shook his head. "If you have even a scratch on you, we're doubling your training" Ichigo just smirked. He knew he would survive his battle with Grimmjow. The espada was searching for something, searching for something inside of him. And he was happy to oblige.
When he had left, the others looked toward Shinji. "Are you insane?"
Shinji just shook his head. "Couldn't you feel it? He was beginning to feel smothered. Besides-' a gleam entered his eyes, "I am rather curious as to how his training will pay off"
They knew what he meant. Ichigo still had his instincts from before, but he was not quite as fast and flexible as he once was. Had this been before the memory seal had been removed, he would have lost this battle.
Grimmjow ran/jumped in the sky, looking for the strong reitsu that had clung to Ulquiorra like a sponge. That oh so familiar reitsu that was tinged with both hollow and shinigami energy. Ulquiorra seemed sure that it was him. That damn annoying bastard that he owed his life too, and willingly pledged his loyalty to.
He could feel his faccion releasing their reccion forms and rolled his eyes. The weaklings. Only 3 of them warranted that release, and these shinigami were only at about 20 percent of their overall power. They should have been no problem. 'Bastards probably just wanted to show off'
He landed on a pole with a weird clear thingy attached to the bottom and prepared to make the next leap. No use in wasting his energy just jumping in the sky. Then he felt it. That power consuming reitsu that washed over his senses, blocking out his underlings and their prey's warring reitsu and caught his attention completely. It only lasted a few moments, before fluttering down to normal levels. Almost as if the owner was beckoning him closer. Opening his eyes, not even sure when he closed them, a maniacal smirk twisted onto his handsome face.
He located where the reitsu was at. It was about 20 miles south of his current position.
"Hahahahahahahahaha! I can't believe it! So that's where you were hiding" he jumped off the strange pole, not even glancing down as he headed for the reitsu origination. 'Here I come'. He ignored the other reitsu that washed over his senses, already locked on to his current prey.
Down below the pole, where he didn't look, was a clearing with a certain shop. And also in that clearing, was a perverted, but oddly serious at the moment, shop keeper. Grey eyes watched as the sexta espadas back disappear. He smirk in a half smile, the rest hidden behind his paper fan. 'He hasn't changed'
Another hollow presence was detected, and Urahara glanced sharply in the direction of the citys business sector. It had a familiar hollow pressure with the taint of a dark shinigami.
"Kisuke" Yoruichi said from behind the crack formed in the door.
Kisuke didn't say anything. He just felt the battle raging from his sharpened senses. Another familiar reitsu, shinigami in nature, burst toward the tainted arrancar. This reitsu made him smile. It was much stronger than his own. His happy smile turned into a dark grin.
"It looks like Isshin has made his move"
Grimmjaw arrived at the warehouse district. There, standing in front of a warehouse, was an orange haired shinigami. He blinked once…twice…thrice as the image of another flashed across him mind. This was not the time or place.
Ichigo glanced momentarily at the arrancar, and he came flashing across him mind, only is a different outfit. Only instead of wearing the white arrancar uniform, he was wearing an inverse shinigami shihakusho.
"So you're the shinigami that wounded that fool Yammy!"
"So what if I am. Are you here to avenge him…Grimmjaw Jaegerjaquez?" he couldn't help but smirk at the surprised inhale the espada, who landed in front of him, gave at his name.
Grimmjaw couldn't help the small little inhale he gave as the boy said his name. The looks, attitude, everything reminded the arrancar of him. 'Just one more thing to check'.
He could feel pantera purring in his head. Drawing his sword, he took an offensive position, watching as Ichigo drew his own sword in front of him. "Ichigo Kurosaki. Let's see just how strong you are" and launched himself at the boy.
Zangetsu drawn in front of him, Ichigo drew on his mask and prepared himself to fight.
'For you my prince…'
Isshin, standing in his shinigami grab, glared at the half formed arrancar, Grand Fisher, regardless of the pleasant smile that was formed on his lips. This thing dared to try and order him around. What nerve.
"Where is Ichigo Kurosaki?" the thing boomed in its loud voice, causing windows to shake all around the both of them.
"Sorry" Isshin said coldly in a scarily calm voice, vacant expression drawled upon his face. This was the hollow that dared to kill Maskai. Dared to try and kill Ichigo. "He's not here at the moment, but I'll play with you instead. After all, children should not be playing with adults, at least not in this game of life and death" he drew his zanpakuto.
Grand Fisher laughed. "You think that that tiny thing can beat me?" he pulled down the bottom of his mask. Immediately, a difference was noted. His body started to increase in size and grow to bigger perportions, and he towered over Isshin more so then he did earlier. "I am most surprised shinigami, that you would fight me. Don't you shinigami know your own Lore; that he with the bigger zanpakuto is the stronger fighter?"
Isshin smiled. 'What a stupid thing'
"I don't want to fight weaklings, but killing you should warm me up before I kill Ichigo Kurosaki". He stopped growing, body even taller than the sky scrapers that surrounded them. "Tell me shinigami" he began to draw his oversized zanpakuto, the blade creaking as it went out of its sheath, "what is your name? I want to know the name of the shinigami I kill who had a toothpick for a zanpakuto!"
Isshins eyes glittered with his resolve and cold amusement, mouth forming a thin line on his handsome face. "Isshin…Isshin Kurosaki"
Grand Fishers eyes widened. "KUROSAKI! That means Ichigo Kurosaki is of true blood! No wonder he was so powerful! Now I-" he was cut off when Isshin, tired of him talking, attacked.
With a swipe of his sword, Grand Fisher was sliced in two. A giant door opened behind him, chains breaking the door and the kanji for hell glowing with a malevolent red light before the doors were forced open. The skeleton body to the side skewered him with its long scythe right through him, its un-skinned mouth laughing in a clinking movement.
"Grand Fisher" Isshin began, even through the hollows terrified screaming, "I sentence you to spend the rest of eternity into the lowest pits of Hell, for crimes against my family". The doors closed suddenly, taking Grand Fisher with it, before bursting into tiny little pieces.
"Don't lecture me about shinigami lore. A captain can manipulate the size of his zanpakuto at will. We have to, or they'll be the size of sky scrapers"
"Do you feel any better now?"Isshin frowned, before smiling sadly.
"No. I don't. It was just a meaningless fight"
"No battle is ever meaningless my friend. In that battle, you have just put your soul to rest. That was the meaning of the fight you just won" Urahara quoted.
"If you could call it a battle" Isshin sighed, walking over to him, "but your right"
"We should go before anyone comes" Urahara said. It struck Isshin as odd, since he hadn't seen his nakama without his fan in a while. A long while.
A strong wind blew across the street, messing with the captain coat Isshin had on his shoulder. It unfolded, and there, in the center of a back rhombus, was the kanji for zero.
Orihime glanced nervously at Ulquiorra, who stood not a few feet away from her, hands in his pockets and his unnerving gaze on her.
Was this really happening? Was she really going to be kidnapped before she could even tell Kurosaki-kun the soutaichhos words? Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind, and she steeled herself for this. She would do this, for Tatsuki.
"Yes" she gulped out nervously. She hoped she did not screw this up. "I will go with you"
Ulquiorra opened a garganta and gestured for her to go inside. She did so. The lives of many now depended on her, and on the success of her mission. And her shoulder felt heavy, as this new burden was placed heavily on them.
Rangiku barged into the apartment, not bothering to knock as she toppled down the door. Her captain lied on her back, out cold and bleeding heavily.
"Orihime-chan! Orihime-chan! Help!" she screamed, adjusting her hold on her captain so that she could put him on the carpeted floor, not caring as his blood soaked and turned the carpet red.
She ran throughout the rooms in the apartment, but she could not find Orihime anywhere. Finally, she went back to the living room where her captain was, and for the first time, noticed that on the small wooden table, was a slip of paper.
Feeling cold, she went over and got it. It was a note. From Orihime. She read it, only to crumple it up as she read.
'Orihime-chan…why?'
"Rangiku!" She raced out of the room at Renjis voice, and out the door.
Standing not a few feet away, was an exhausted looking Renji carrying an unconscious Rukia.
"Are you ok?" she asked worriedly. With the amount of blood covering him, granted that not all of it was his own, coming here most likely by spirit jumping probably made him very dizzy
Renji gave a jerky nod. "Yeah, not all of its mine. I'm more worried about Rukia"
Yumichika suddenly appeared to her side, carrying a badly burned Ikkaku. He was scowling, something that he didn't do all that often. "Where's the girl"
Unbidden thoughts filled Rangikus mind, mostly of the note that she had just read. "She's not here"
Yumichika glared at her. "Then where the hell is she!" he must be very worried, or under a lot of stress, because not once in the time that Rangiku knew him, had Yumichika ever raised his voice for something other than yelling at someone for ruining his hair. And as she could plainly see, his hair, and his whole appearance, besides the blood, was very much the same.
"Matsumoto" she turned to her back, shocked to see her captain awake.
"Taicho!"
He wasn't looking at her though. No, he was far more concentrated on what was behind her. Suddenly, she felt it, it was like eyes were watching her each and every move. She flipped around; sweat beginning to form on her face as she looked for the source. The other were put on edge at her and her captains actions, and they too began to look around.
Rangikus eyes widened as she spotted what was staring at them. "Over there" she barked, pointing to another apartment complex a few blocks away.
There, standing in front of the full moon, on a long thin metal bar, was a figure. His clothes ruffled in the wind from being so high, and a long string, most likely some kind of misplaced bandage, fluttered to the side of him. A sword lay at his side.
"Who is that?" Renji asked, adjusting his grip on Rukia so that he would be able to draw Zabimaru more easily. Yumichika did the same.
"I don't know" the 5th seat murmered.
Rnagiku gripped Hainekos hilt, ready to fight. Strangely enough, Toshiro made no move to draw on Hyorinmaru.
The figure gripped his sword, and the others moved. There was no doubt in their minds that this person had a zanpakuto, but for whatever reason it was, they couldn't sense his/her reitsu.
They were to slow though, and the figure sword was drawn completely. They took a defensive position.
"Iyasu" was whispered in the wind as the figures sword glowed a startling emerald green.
That same colored energy surrounded them.
"W-what's happening?"
Rangiku shouted. They all began to feel better, their energy returning, blood disappearing from their clothes and bodies, cuts healing, as well as burns. A few moments later, they were all healed.
The figure disappeared.
"Matte" Rangiku shouted, ready to go after him.
"Stay Rangiku" the calm voice of her captain stopped her.
Rukia, Ikkaku and her captain were all healed, just like they were.
"But Hitsugaya-taicho" Renji started.
"Who ever that was, they obviously did not want to be found. Instead of going after them, I think it would be better if we respected their wishes. We should thank them"
Clenching his fist, Renji nodded, the captain did have a point.
"Still" Yumichika shoved a piece of hair behind his ear, "I do wonder who that was"
Hitsugaya shook his head, and in front of them, a small smile bloomed on his heart shaped face. "Come on" they headed inside.
'I do wonder why you smiled captain…why?'
End chapter 6
AN: I never want to write another chapter this long again, my fingers hurt. How do other authors do it? Anyway, here is the ridiculously long chapter like promised. Chapter 7 is already written and ready to be typed, and I am just so thankful that it really isn't that long. Maybe around 3000 words in total, but I still have to type it. Damn. Anyway, the next chapter is in fact an interlude, so it won't be chapter 7 quite yet.
I finally have an estimate of how many chapters this story should be, and its around 20 give or take. Anyway, I might as well state this now, this story is the first part in a 3 story series that has 2 side stories. So this story should go by pretty fast. I already have outlines to the other series.
Anyway, see you in a couple of weeks!
Later!
Oh, and before I forget, R&R