Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or anyone or anything from Bleach. It's as simple as that. Everything else, however, is mine. :D
Chapter 10: Idiots Are Always With You
BEEBEEPBEEPBEEEP WHAM!
With a clatter my alarm clock falls to the floor. I sit up, still groggy, and rub my eyes. I glance down at the alarm clock, which miraculously still works. It reads 5:30 am. I guess it's time to get ready for school…
With a sigh I stand and get dressed, my mind occupied with the dream I had been having. As they always are these days, my dream was about Soul Reapers. They've gotten stronger too. No instead of feeling like I'm watching someone's memories, I feel like I'm in them.
This one I'd just had was…weird. I was standing in a nice courtyard, but I have no idea where it was. In front of me a young girl Soul Reaper with pigtails was beating up another Soul Reaper with very long blonde hair. Looking back on it now it makes absolutely no sense, but in the dream it seemed completely normal. Like it happened all the time.
I really don't know what to make of these dreams. I'm starting to wonder about a few things, but they really don't make any sense. The dreams seem to match with everything Urahara has told me about the Soul Society, but how can I be dreaming about that? I've never been there so the memories must be from the presence that I can feel inside me right? Whose memories am I seeing?
I shake my head to rid it of these thoughts. Seriously, thinking about this too much will only give me a headache. I head into the kitchen to make myself some breakfast. However, as I start to eat, my mind drifts off again. Back to the on thing that has occupied most of my waking thoughts for the past week: Ichigo.
I literally cannot stop thinking about him. Never have I acted more like a silly, lovesick schoolgirl and yet I don't really mind. Every time I zone out in class or walking home from school my mind drifts to him and I have some silly little fantasy about him. About him holding my hand. About him putting his arms around me and holding me close. About him kissing me.
Usually where we're kissing is when I shake myself out of it. It's absolutely ridiculous and yet I can't stop myself. At some point that day when our parents went on the date my feelings about him changed. It was probably there by the river, I've realized, after replaying those moments over and over again in my head. I don't know if I love Ichigo: after all I've never been in love before. But I definitely like Ichigo. I definitely like him a lot.
With a frustrated sigh I stand and take my dishes to the sink. I put my shoes on and head out the door to school, pace unconsciously quickening in anticipation of seeing him again.
…
Ichigo couldn't stop thinking about Taylor. As hard has he tried he just couldn't. Whenever he wasn't completely focused on something his mind drifted away and he began to daydream about her. It was quite problematic actually. Ichigo was a teenage boy after all and not all of his fantasies were completely innocent. Ichigo always managed to pull himself back to the present before things got too bad, but there was still a massive risk of embarrassment.
Ichigo wasn't entirely sure what had happened. Something had passed between them by the river and now they were awkward and easily embarrassed around each other. Ichigo was sure now that he liked Taylor. That he really liked Taylor. And her behavior seemed to suggest that she liked him too. His heart beat faster at the thought.
"Hey Ichigo. Are you ok?"
Ichigo's head snapped up and he reddened as he realized he had been caught daydreaming again. He and Rukia were walking to school. She had stopped in front of him on the sidewalk and was watching him with concern.
"Y-yea. I'm fine," Ichigo said, putting his normal frown on to try to cover things up. "Why wouldn't I be ok?"
"If you say so," Rukia replied, clearly not buying it. "Anyways I'm going on ahead. I'll see you at school."
"Yea…" Ichigo replied, his mind already beginning to wander again.
"And try not to walk into anything."
"Hey!" Ichigo shouted, but he was too late. Rukia was already dashing down the sidewalk. "Damn it," Ichigo muttered annoyed. He was really getting tired of Rukia constantly bothering him about spacing out. Well whatever. At least she's gone for now. Ichigo continued walking to school, this time free from worrying about having his daydreams interrupted.
…Karakura 1st High School…Before 1st Period…
I pause before the door to the classroom as I attempt to collect my thoughts. Pushing Ichigo as far back in my mind as I can manage, I reach forward and slide the door open. As soon as I do so I am greeted by a massive 'BWHAHAHA' from Orihime.
I just stand there, blinking at her. What the hell? She stares back at me, just as confused, with her arms crossed over her chest, her hands even with he shoulders. "Um…hi Orihime."
"Hi Taylor!" she exclaims beaming, all traces of confusion gone. I walk past Orihime to my desk, with her close on my heels. "You know what that was from, don't you Taylor?" she asks me conspiratorially.
"Yea. It's from Spirit Hunter, right?" I reply, naming one of the most popular shows on TV at the moment.
"Correct!" Orihime shouts, throwing her hand ups in the air with enthusiasm.
Before she can continue Tatsuki, who has walked up behind her with her hands on her hips, interrupts her. "Orihime, you need to stop doing that to everyone who comes through the door. You're going to give someone a heart attack." Tatsuki is clearly exasperated.
Orihime whirls around, quickly changing gears. Honestly Orihime is a total spazz, but she's so sweet it's impossible not to like her. I've found she's also very empathetic and I can't help but be glad that she has become one of my closest friends.
"I know Tatsuki, but I just can't help it! Last night's episode was so exciting!" Orihime suddenly whirls back around to me. "You watched it didn't you Taylor?" she asks, her eyes shining eagerly.
I feel a pang in my chest and quickly busy myself with unpacking my backpack. "No. I don't have time to watch it anymore. I'm always working. I used to watch it all the time with my mom though." I manage to reply nonchalantly, but I'm unable to completely disguise the sadness in my voice.
Orihime's face falls for a moment, and Tatsuki is watching me with concern from behind her. I mentally cringe. I've told my friends at school bits and pieces about my relationship with my mom and how it's pretty much crap. But, I seriously don't want to be the center of a pity party right now.
Orihime suddenly perks up again. "That's ok! I know how busy you are with work, so I'll just tell you what happened!" I agree gratefully in order to move past the awkwardness of the moment.
Also, I always worry that when I tell someone that I'm at work they'll somehow find out that I don't actually have a job. It's just the excuse I use to cover up training with Urahara all the time. I even tell it to my mom, even though she never notices whether I'm home or not.
"They're filming next week's episode here in Karakura!" Orihime shouts, bubbling with excitement. "Isn't that great?"
Before I can agree, because it really is kind of exciting, the door to the classroom slams open again revealing Rukia with her sickeningly happy grin plastered on her face. "Hello everyone!" she exclaims, her voice unnaturally high in the persona that she uses at school.
"Hi Rukia!" Orihime shouts back before running over to her and 'BWHAHAHA'ing in her face. Rukia stares at her utterly confused, her facade forgotten for the moment.
"Oh come one Rukia, you know what that's from!"
"S-sure I do! But, tell me again anyways?"
"It's from Spirit Hunter!" Orihime answers joyfully. Rukia just looks more confused. "You know the TV show?" Orihime asks, cocking her head to the side as she realizes that Rukia doesn't get it.
As I watch poor Rukia get even more confused, a wonderfully devious idea pops into my head.
"Don't worry about what it is Rukia," I say as I approach them and place my hand on Orihime's shoulder. "All you need to know is that it's the perfect way to irritate Ichigo."
"Oh?" Rukia replies, her ecstatic façade back on. But, now she has a devious glint in her eye that matches my own. Poor Orihime simply looks back and forth between us, her expression absolutely puzzled.
…
Ichigo stood before the door of the classroom, completely unenthused. It was, after all, the beginning of another day at school. But, a little corner of his mind reminded him, you get to see Taylor at school.
Ichigo felt his heart suddenly begin to race and his face start to flush. SHUT UP! he told that little corner of his mind as he fought to get himself under control. Like he had forgotten about that.
Ichigo reached forward and slid the door open and was greeted by a massive 'BWHAHAHA' from Rukia, Orihime, and Taylor. Ichigo's characteristic scowl deepened as his temples began to throb in the beginnings of a headache. Oh how he hated that show!
Orihime smiled up at him innocently. Behind her Rukia had her 'school' smile plastered on her face, but her eyes glinted deviously. And Taylor was straight up smirking at him. Clearly they (being Taylor and Rukia) had done this just to mess with. Orihime did this every week the day after the show aired. A vein in Ichigo's head started to throb.
"You." Ichigo said pointing to Orihime. She blinked in surprised and pointed to herself questioningly. "You do this every week."
"You." Rukia was next. She crossed her arms and cocked and eyebrow at him. "You don't even know what the hell that was I bet." Rukia snorted disdainfully and opened her mouth to speak, but Ichigo didn't let her.
"You." He had turned to Taylor now. "I can't believe you'd be doing that. Don't tell me you actually like that ridiculous show!" Taylor gaped at him for a moment, her expression one of complete surprise. Suddenly, her face contorted into anger.
"You're such a jerk!" Ichigo flinched at Taylor's sudden shout and felt his own anger deflate. "Damn it, I don't know why I even waste my time on an idiot like you!" She snapped and whirled away from him. Before she turned, however, Ichigo would have sworn that he saw tears in the corners of her eyes.
Ichigo gaped at Taylor's retreating back as she stalked to her desk. "What the hell was that about…" he asked the air. He was completely dumbfounded by her reaction.
"You really are an idiot," came from Rukia and was accompanied by her elbow in his stomach.
Ichigo gasped for air and hunched over. "What the hell was that for!"
Rukia, now joined by Tatsuki, was looking at him sternly. Orihime was glancing between him and Taylor with unease. "She used to watch Spirit Hunter with her mom, but she can't anymore because of work." Tatsuki answered.
Aw hell. Ichigo straightened and rubbed the back of his head. He had just screwed up big time.
…
I sit and glare daggers at my desk, blinking back the tears in the corners of my eyes, still too angry to be embarrassed. The way I had just reacted was stupid, really stupid. What he had said really wasn't a big deal, but I couldn't help it. What Ichigo said hurt and my natural reaction was to lash out. Part of my mind wails that he'll hate me now. Also stupid, but again I couldn't not think it.
A pair of shoes stops beside my desk and a throat is awkwardly cleared. I refuse to look up. "Uh…" It's Ichigo of course.
I snap my gaze up to him and give him my best 'Spit it out or get the hell away from me' look. He visibly flinches, swallows nervously, and continues.
"I guess Spirit Hunter isn't that bad…I mean I catch it sometimes because my dad and sisters like it and…" Ichigo babbles for a moment and I just stare at him. What on earth is he talking about?
Then it dawns on me. He is trying to apologize to me, but because he's such an idiot that he can't just say he's sorry. But, still his gesture touches me. My heart begins to pound.
"Ichigo," I begin.
…
"Ichigo," Taylor began. Ichigo instantly stopped talking, unease making his stomach churn uncomfortably. "It's ok…" she said softly.
Her eyes had softened and the corners of her lips had turned up in the faintest of smiles. Ichigo found himself breathless and his heart thundered in his chest.
"Ok…" he said, looking away, his hand instantly going to scratch the back of his head. He knew he was blushing.
"And thank you," she added, now looking at her desk. However, Ichigo didn't miss the blush gracing her own cheeks and the sight of it made him feel giddy. Thankfully the bell rang then and Ichigo was able to go to his seat. The feeling of giddiness stayed with him for the rest of the day, however.
…The Next Week…
It's been a week since the whole 'BWHAHAHA' incident at school. And Ichigo and I have barely spoken to each other since. It has just been really awkward. I want to talk to him, but for some reason I can't seem to get the courage up too.
"Are you alright? You seem a bit…distracted." I look up from untying my shoe to see Urahara giving me that knowing grin of his. I really do hate him sometimes.
"I'm fine," I grumble and kick off my shoes, stepping into the shop.
"Good!" Urahara exclaims, standing. "Because I've got a lovely training session planned for you tonight!"
I manage to suppress my groan and ask him something that's been bothering me. "What about the taping of Spirit Hunter tonight?"
Urahara turns around and blinks at me, confused. "What about it?"
"Well…" I'm not really sure what to say. I actually kind of want to go, but it's probably better if he doesn't know that. "I mean, what if there ends up being a Hollow there or something? Wouldn't it be dangerous with all those people there?"
Urahara merely laughs and waves his hand dismissively. "Don't be silly Taylor! That show is completely fake. Now come on!" He disappears into the back of the shop. I sigh, defeated and disappointed, and follow him.
…
Several hours later finds me seated on a rock in the underground training area. I've managed to convince Urahara to let me take a break. I eye him suspiciously as I take a swig from my water bottle. He seems to be waiting just a little too patiently for me to be finished.
Suddenly Tessai appears out of nowhere behind Urahara. Tessai bends down and whispers in his ear. Urahara's face becomes alarmingly serious as Tessai talks. When he finishes Urahara nods in dismissal and Tessai disappears again.
"Well," Urahara says suddenly cheerful as he claps his hands together. "It turns out we're going to see Spirit Hunter after all!"
"Huh?" I'm seriously confused- and kinda freaked out- now. "Didn't you say before that we weren't going to go?"
Urahara, who is already half way to the ladder, turns back to me. "Didn't you know? Jinta and Ururu are huge fans! There's no way that I could deny them seeing Spirit Hunter right in front of them!"
"Right…" I mutter sarcastically and roll my eyes. A frown pulls the corners of my mouth down. This is awfully suspicious…
…
We arrive at the abandoned hospital where they're filming and my bullshit meter is in the red. Especially since Urahara didn't let me get back in my body before we left. I've also been feeling a really weird presence, as we've gotten closer. It feels like a Hollow, but…not. I'm worried.
But, I'm kind of excited too. We approach the hospital and its pretty much chaos. There are light and camera crews working around a stage and the entrance to the hospital, apparently setting up for the next shot. A massive crowd of people surrounds the hospital and I recognize some people from school. I spot Orihime and Tatsuki and some distance away I can also make out Chad standing a head above the rest of the crowd. I idly wonder of Ichigo is here.
Then I catch a glimpse of Don Kanonji. As cool as I used to think he was on TV he looks kind of like an idiot in person. But, it's still pretty awesome to be here. I try to relax so I can enjoy watching, but suddenly an eerie howl echoes through the night air.
Instantly I reach for my zanpakuto, but before I can draw it Urahara puts a hand on my wrist to stop me. "Hold on," he says calmly. "Does that sounds like a Hollow to you?"
The howl comes again and I listen more closely this time. "No…" I reply looking to him for an explanation.
"Look there" he says, and points through the crowd. Following the line of his hand I see a spiritual figure emerge from the ground in front of the hospital. Chains are attaching him to the hospital. The man is yelling at another man setting up a light who clearly isn't aware of him.
"What is he?"
"A demi-Hollow. He is a soul who is in the process of becoming Hollow." I look again and make note of the half open hole in his chest, his Chain of Fate still attached. "His soul is tied to that hospital, but there isn't really much to worry about from him unless someone physically forces the whole to open completely. It'll probably be another six months before he fully becomes a Hollow." Urahara explains all this calmly and almost scientifically.
I consider all of this carefully. "So it was him that I was sensing? Something that was kind of like a Hollow, but wasn't one?" I ask, looking up at Urahara.
Urahara looks down at me, surprise on his face. Then he tilts his head down, his hat hiding his eyes, and smiles. "Yes it was. Very good Taylor."
Before I can respond the lights flicker on in front of us and a roar of approval rises from the crowd. Clearly the show is about to start again and Urahara and I both face forward to watch.
Don Kanonji (literally) prances out in front of the cameras and begins shouting about 'smelling bad spirits'. I was really excited to see this before, but Don Kanonji really does look like a farce in person. I guess Ichigo was right about Spirit Hunter being stupid.
Once Don Kanonji's spiel is done he walks over to the demi-Hollow. They size each other up for a moment and then Don Kanonji plunges his cane into the demi-Hollow's hole and wrenches it about, forcing the whole to open more. The demi-Hollow screams in agony.
"What the hell is he doing?" I leap forward with every intention to stop him, but someone snags my collar. I look back to see it's Urahara shaking his head at me. "What the hell, Urahara?"
"Wait," he says calmly.
"But-!"
"Just wait."
I turn back around at the sound of more shouting and see that Ichigo has hopped the rope separating the spectators from the taping with Rukia hot on his heels. Did Urahara want me to wait so Ichigo could take care of it? However, both Ichigo and Rukia are quickly tackled by security guards and are dragged away.
"Can I-!" I turn back to yell at Urahara, but stop halfway as he and Tessai have disappeared. Only Jinta and Ururu stand with me now. "Where'd he go?"
"How the hell I am supposed to know?" Jinta asks me, and I fight the urge to pummel him for his attitude. Ururu points and I look forward again as the unmistakable sound of a soul leaving a body rents the air.
Ichigo's body goes rolling across the ground in front of the hospital courtesy of Urahara's cane. Tessai emerges from a gaggle of security guards with Rukia thrown over one shoulder and Ichigo's body over the other. There are too late, however, as the demi-Hollow lets out one last tormented scream and explodes.
The demi-Hollow turning into a full Hollow isn't good, but it should help remove any threat that it might have posed to the crowd. After all when a soul turns into a Hollow it explodes and then reforms as a Hollow somewhere else. That's what Urahara has taught me, but my feeling of unease hasn't abated as Urahara, Rukia, and Tessai rejoin us.
"Taylor!" Rukia exclaims, surprise and relief coloring her tone.
"Are you alright?" I ask her.
"Yes," she replies. "But I'm still worried." She turns and looks back at the hospital.
I nod in agreement and we are all quiet for a moment. Ichigo berates Don Kanonji while the crowd looks on, completely unaware of what has just transpired.
Suddenly my death sense twinges forcefully, the presence of a Hollow filling my senses. My head snaps up as I look to the top of the hospital. "Oh no…" escapes my lips as a whisper as spiritual fragments reform into the shape of a Hollow on the roof of the hospital. The Hollow is not particularly large, its body shaped like a frog with a very wide mouth.
The Hollow throws back its head and roars and everyone in the group around me finally notices it.
"No!" Rukia shouts. Jinta and Ururu make sounds of alarm and Tessai grunts unsurprised. Urahara is oddly silent. The Hollow leaps down from the roof of the building and attacks Ichigo and Kanonji. I reach for my zanpakuto in order to go help them, but again Urahara stops me.
"Damn it, what the hell!" I've really had enough of this!
"Urahara, what is the meaning of this?" Rukia asks, her expression fierce.
"Let's just wait and see how Ichigo handles this shall we?" he replies, strangely neutral. There is a calculating glint in his eye that I don't like. Rukia and I exchange uneasy glances, but I stay put.
The sound of breaking glass draws our attention back to the hospital. Ichigo, Kanonji, and the Hollow have disappeared. Ichigo must have lured the Hollow into the hospital to keep it away from the spectators. It's a good idea.
Unfortunately, however, all I can do now is wait. I can't even watch Ichigo fight with him inside the hospital and I can't help but worry. It seems like it's taking far too long, the Hollow's presence lingering as a low buzz in my mind. My breath comes faster and shallower than it should and I clench and unclench my hands in anxiety.
It's stupid that I'm this worried about Ichigo. He's been a Soul Reaper longer than I have and I've seen him in action enough times to know that he's perfectly capable. But it's absolutely impossible for me not to worry about him and the thought that he could get injured or even killed makes me sick.
There is another sudden explosion out the side of one of the floors of the hospital. Out of the dust the Hollow appears and runs up the side of the building. Embedded in its shoulder is Ichigo's sword, with Ichigo somehow dangling from the hilt.
I manage to close my gaping mouth and turn to Urahara. "Can I go help him now?" I demand.
Urahara, now grinning, flips open his fan to hide his face. "Sure. Be my guest."
Without another word I turn and sprint towards the hospital through the crowd. I pause at the base of the hospital wall and gather as much spiritual pressure as I can muster to the bottom of my feet. As I release it I jump and find myself easily flying up the side of the building, high enough to clear the roof by ten feet or so.
Below me on the roof itself I see Ichigo who has somehow managed to get himself attached to the railing by some sort of gooey substance. The Hollow looks like it's about to pounce on him. I draw my sword and shoot a wave of spiritual pressure off it at the Hollow. The Hollow leaps away in time to avoid being hit and I land in between it and Ichigo.
"Taylor!" Ichigo exclaims in surprise.
"Are you alright?" I ask him, without turning around.
"Yea," he says and I can hear him shifting around within the goo. "Except for this stuff."
I let out a breath in relief that I didn't know I'd been holding. I feel so much better now that I know he's ok.
Unfortunately I don't get much time to enjoy my relief as the Hollow leaps at me growling. I block its first strike and we are off, trading blows across the rooftop. For being newly born this Hollow is pretty canny and it's quick, making it difficult for me to get in close enough to kill it as I dodge flying blobs of goo.
"Hey! Why don't you get me out of this crap so I can help?" I hear Ichigo shouting at me.
"That's a great idea!" I shout back, irritated. "Are you going to distract it while I do that?"
It's then that the door to roof flies open and Don Kanonji steps out. "The hero has arrived!" he shouts, triumphantly.
Everything on the roof freezes for a moment as we all stare in disbelief (including the Hollow). Then the Hollow leaps at Don Kanonji and he leaps to the side with a terrified squeal. With quickness motivated by desperation I manage to get in front of him in time and fend the Hollow off.
"Oh, another one like the boy," Kanonji says, sitting up. "You must be a fan of mine too girl!"
"Errr…something like that," I reply, my focus still on the Hollow which is pacing back forth on the other side of the roof.
"Perfect then!" Kanonji has jumped to his feet now. "Then you go free the boy, while I take care of that monster."
He's joking right? "How about you go free Ichigo and I'll take care of the monster," I reply in a tone that clearly says I'm not in the mood for arguing.
"Eh? But that's not heroic! I'm the hero, girl, I have to defeat the monster!" I look back at him dumbfounded. Kanonji has his chest puffed out and stands with his hands on his hips in what he probably assumes is a heroic posture.
Did I really used to think this guy was cool? He's an idiot! But, clearly yelling at him isn't going to work. I clench my teeth together and prepare to sweet-talk him.
"But, Mr. Kanonji," I begin, in my best imitation of Rukia's 'sweet little schoolgirl' voice, "You're a great hero right? What's more heroic than rescuing another person? Killing monsters isn't so heroic when you compare it to that right?" I can here Ichigo gagging in the background and I shoot him a nasty look before turning back to Kanonji.
Kanonji looks shocked for a moment. Then he closes his eyes and nods a few times, like he's thinking about what I just said. "You're right girl!" he shouts suddenly, and loudly enough that it makes me jump. "Saving that boy takes the top priority! I'll kill that monster once he is safe, so just hold on until a get back!" He gives me a thumbs up and flashes me what is supposed to be a dashing smile before running over to Ichigo.
I turn back to the Hollow, which seems to finally have lost its patience. It charges at me roaring and I lift my zanpakuto into a guard stance, fully prepared to devote my full attention to it.
Suddenly an odd feeling comes over me. I feel light-headed and the edges of my vision begin to blur. The image of the Hollow charging towards me starts to shift and twist, the colors and the light changing. I blink to try and clear my vision and when I open my eyes again I see a completely different scene.
I'm standing in what looks like an office. There is a desk directly in front of me and one to my right, with bookcases lining the opposite wall. The man seated at the desk in front of me has ridiculously long blonde hair and looks completely bored. It takes me a minute, but I recognize him from a dream I had a week ago.
There is the sound of someone talking, though I can't make out the words. My body automatically turns towards the voice and I see another man, holding a stack of papers, coming around the side of the other desk. He has brown, wavy hair, black, square-framed glasses, and is wearing a carefully pleasant expression. However, there is a coldness in his eyes that makes me shiver as my hands reach out to take the papers from him.
The brown-haired man looks familiar too, and there is a feeling of dread in my stomach as I try to figure out where I've seen him before. However, I don't get the chance to think more about it as something collides with my side at high speed. I feel myself go flying, hit the ground hard, and roll several times before coming to a stop. When I open my eyes I see I'm back on the rooftop. The Hollow must have hit me, as my side throbs sharply. There is a clatter as my zanpakuto skids to a stop about ten feet away from me.
Shit, I'm in big trouble now. I try to rise, but the pain in my side makes it difficult. That damn Hollow must have broken some of my ribs. There is the sound of feet pounding against concrete and I look up to see the Hollow bearing down on me, its eyes shining brightly in its mask as drool coats its teeth.
Defenseless and injured, I close my eyes and shout the one word that comes to mind.
"Ichigo!"
…
Ichigo fought against the goo holding him to the railing. Sure Taylor could handle herself, but he still wanted to be able to help her.
Don Kanonji arrived in front of him. "Don't worry boy! I'll have you free in no time!" he declared with way too much enthusiasm. "And then together we can defeat that monster!"
"Whatever, just hurry up," Ichigo replied as Kanonji began to charge a little ball of energy in his hand. The Hollow was charging at Taylor again now and Ichigo watched as she took a guard stance.
All of sudden Taylor's body stiffened and Ichigo got a sinking feeling in his stomach. Her face had gone completely blank, as if she was in a trance, her eyes seeing nothing in front of her. She didn't move a muscle as the Hollow approached her and raised its arm to take a swing.
"Taylor!" Ichigo shouted trying to get her attention. The little ball of energy left Kanonji's hand and slowly made its way towards the goo.
The Hollow swung its arm down hard, catching Taylor in the side and sending her flying across the roof. She lost her grip on her sword and it went flying too. Ichigo's heart stopped as he saw the Hollow charge again. "Taylor!" he shouted, desperation in his voice now.
There was a small explosion from his torso as Don Kanonji's little ball of energy came in contact with the goo. Ichigo leapt forward without hesitation, ignoring Kanonji's call of 'Wait!'. He could see Taylor trying to move now, her weird trance apparently broken.
It was obvious that Taylor couldn't get away. Ichigo willed his legs to run faster, afraid that he wouldn't make it time. That's when Taylor's scream tore through the night air and straight into his heart.
"Ichigo!"
She had called his name. She needed his help. She needed him to save her. And there was no way in hell that he was going to fail.
New determination spurred Ichigo on even faster as he raced side-by-side with the Hollow. His final stride allowed him to get in between Taylor and the hollow and he raised his sword. "Sorry, but it's over for you!" Ichigo shouted, swinging his zanpakuto down and slicing the Hollow's head in two.
Ichigo just stood for a moment, panting, and savored his relief. He had made it in time. He turned to see Taylor trying to stand, her hand wrapped around her right side in a manner that suggested that her ribs were broken.
"Here," Ichigo said, offering his hand.
"Thanks," she murmured taking it, and Ichigo was sure that the 'Thanks' covered more than just him helping her up.
Once Taylor was standing Ichigo didn't let of her hand. He just…couldn't. Or didn't want to anyways. Taylor's cheeks were rather pink and Ichigo felt his warm in response. Taylor turned away to go pick up her zanpakuto and he was sad to feel her hand slide from his grasp.
"So what happened back there? Why did you freeze up like that?" Ichigo asked.
Taylor half-turned to him, alarm in her expression. "N-nothing," she replied, but it was pretty obvious she was lying. "I just…zoned out for a second."
An awkward silence stretched between them, a continuation of the awkwardness that had been surrounding them for the past week. Ichigo had wanted to talk to her more, but he had been afraid of saying the wrong thing. He didn't want to upset her again. And as much as he wanted to ask her more about what I had just happened he knew that pushing her now would only make things worse.
"You did it boy!" Don Kanonji cried, leaping over to Ichigo and twirling around.
"Don't get too excited just yet," Taylor muttered, scorn in her tone, and Ichigo had to fight the urge to smirk.
"Huh? Why not girl? This boy is a hero! He-"
"Look," Taylor interrupted, nodding towards where the Hollow lay. The Hollow had begun to disintegrate, first the Hollow shape disappearing to reveal the human spirit underneath. Slowly the human shape disintegrated too.
"Wh-what?" Don Kanonji was in shock. "But I thought I…" He fell to his knees.
Ichigo began to explain what exactly a Hollow was and how the way in which Kanonji carried out his exorcisms created them. By the time he was done Kanonji was crying. Ichigo felt bad, but he knew that this information had to be passed to him.
"There's point worrying about it now. It's not like you knew right?" Ichigo said.
"But…I was foolish." Kanonji sniffled.
Ichigo leaned over the railing on the edge of the hospital roof and smiled. "Hey hero. Your public is calling for you." It was true. A chant of 'Don Kanonji' was rising up from the crowd, carried to the roof by the wind.
Kanonji had stopped crying and was listening in surprise to the crowd.
"Go on," Ichigo said with an encouraging smile. "They're waiting for you."
Kanonji stood and went over to the edge of the roof. He looked down at the crowd for a long moment then let out an enormous 'BWHAHAHA'. The crowd responded in kind.
Ichigo heard a long-suffering sigh from behind him. He turned around and looked at Taylor. She had her hands propped on her hips and her expression showed how completely fed up she was. "He really is an idiot," she commented. Ichigo allowed himself to grin this time.
*"Boy…Thank you." Ichigo looked back to Kanonji. "I honor you. Your courage, your quick thinking, and your strength." He turned around now and held out his hand for Ichigo to shake. "Please, keep lending me your help."
"Well…maybe sometimes," Ichigo replied, a bit taken a back as he reached out and shook Kanonji's hand.
"Thank you." Kanonji replied. "From this day forth you shall be my number one disciple!"*
…
From the look on Ichigo's face I'm sure it's pretty safe to say that he's in shock. His mouth is hanging open and his eyes are bugged out like a fish. Don Kanonji merely laughs and turns back to the crowd to 'BWHAHAHA' some more.
It begins as little giggles that I can contain behind my hand. It then turns into chuckles and finally full-blown laughter. By the time Ichigo snaps out of it I'm laughing so hard that there are tears in the corners of my eyes.
"What's so funny, damn it?" Ichigo asks me his eyebrow twitching. He is sooo pissed. Unfortunately his attempt at an intimidating stare only makes me laugh harder.
"N-nothing," I mange to squeeze out, as I bend over double to put my hands on my knees. However, my ribs don't seem to like that too much as they twinge in pain hard enough to make me gasp and stop laughing.
Ichigo instantly becomes concerned. "Are you ok?" he asks me, frozen in a position that suggests he was about to grab me.
"Yea, I'm ok." I grit my teeth against the pain and stand.
We stand there for a moment just looking at each other. Then Kanonji shouts and waves from the entrance to the stairs, "Come on, my number one disciple, girl!"
He runs back inside the hospital. I look over at Ichigo and see a vein has popped in his forehead. I do my best to smother a new fit of giggles. Ichigo turns his glare to me. "If you're not careful you're gonna break some more ribs."
I place my hands on my hips and cock an eyebrow at him. "Is that a threat?"
"It might be…" Ichigo mutters as he heads for the staircase.
"Ha!" I scoff. "Like you could beat me!"
"Oh really?" Ichigo replies. We banter the whole way back down the stairs and into the crowd.
As much as this whole night has been utterly ridiculous, and disturbing, the awkwardness between Ichigo and I has finally dissipated. Don Kanonji may be an idiot, but he made that possible at least. Every time I look at Ichigo I get a hopeful feeling in my chest and I want to giggle giddily. I guess that's normal when you like someone though.
Hopefully things will stay normal now.
Author's Note:
Alright so here is Chapter 10. Finally, I know. It's been a really long time since the last chapter and to be honest I have no excuse. All I can say is that I'm sorry and I hope that all of my readers will forgive me.
To be perfectly honest I was actually considering dropping this story for a while. But, then I came back and looked at it. I know there are a lot of people who really like this story and I would feel really bad if I disappointed everyone. So I have decided that I will finish it. Eventually.
Ok so there definitely will not be any more posts til around Christmas. I'm a full time graduate student now and it's the end of the semester so I don't have much free time. Expect there to be a few chapters out around the end of this year and the beginning of next year. During school though I'm not going to be able to post very often, however.
Also this chapter is really, REALLY long. I think that chapter length is part of the reason why I'm so slow to post because I get halfway through and I get tired of it. So I'm thinking my future chapters will be shorter, but hopefully they will be more frequent.
In the section surrounded by the asterisks all the dialogue and the action were quoted directly from the English language version of Bleach, Vol. 4., Ch. 32 published by Viz. And a large part of this chapter is a massive paraphrase of the Bleach plot.
I'm sorry if I didn't do much with Kanonji. I know I made him kind of shallow, but he really wasn't my focus. Some really big things happened in this chapter though and you'll see some of them again.
Finally reviews! The Natural Blonde has 50 now. That really makes super happy! Thank you to anyone who has ever reviewed and thank you especially to the people who have reviewed since the last chapter: bored411, Night-Weaver369, SavageTrickster, Kouyan, Evalyd Yamazaki, kimmay94, Shadow of a Broken Angel, and Kurisetina. Also thank you to xXDiMeXx for the PM.
I really appreciate all the reviews I get! Reviews help motivate me to write so please review again.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for reading!
imagination junkie