Thank you to everyone who reviewed! Reviews help me write faster!
Reminder-When the first letter in a word is bolded, the perspective has changed.
*It starts with Orihime at the moment!*
I think I will start saying who the perspective has changed to each time, to stop any confusion.
To all reviewers who don't do pm, I will review to you at the end of each chapter!
Anajeta~ Thank you for your amazing-ness! For those who don't know, Anajeta answered two questions of mine that really wanted to know: what AU meant, what OC mean, and what OOC meant. (If you don't know what they mean yourself, look it up on my profile) Again, thank you so much for answering my questions, Anajeta! I really appreciate it! :D
I know the title's cheesy, but I had to come up with something, and it actually fits with this chapter!
A Fight At Night
(Orihime's perspective)
A few weeks had pasted and Ichigo and Orihime were getting used to their routine. They no longer tensed when going to bed, and the two were getting closer, much to Orihime's relief. Now, she tended to fall asleep before Ichigo on a daily basis!
On school days, their schedule went like this…
Orihime would get up before Ichigo and make them breakfast. She quickly got dressed and then headed to the kitchen, but of course she would always glance at the calm (and kind of adorable) image of Ichigo in his sleeping state right before closing the door. It made her smile!
Every day was something different, since the auburn haired girl loved to experiment. She also loved when Ichigo came down to find the food ready. He was the first person who actually ate at least a little bit of everything she made! She didn't even mind when he didn't finish it all sometimes and went to get cereal. After eating together, they headed off to school. Some people seemed to be suspicious of the two always coming and leaving school at the same time. It was okay, though! Orihime didn't mind any suspiciousness: She lived with Ichigo! Anyway, when school was finished, they left to go home or hang with friends.
For some reason, when Orihime first started living with the carrot-head, no one asked to hang out or anything! Not Uryu, or Chad, or even Tatsuki! They were still nice and everything, but Orihime had no idea why they hadn't played with her or Ichigo and eventually asked Tatsuki.
*About a week and a half ago:*
"Why won't you or Sado-kun or Ishida-kun play with me and Kurosaki-kun after school?" The auburn haired girl had asked with a pout.
"We haven't? Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't notice!" Tatsuki had said a little too happily. She had seemed like she was trying to suppress a smirk, but Orihime didn't know why. "Maybe, after settling down a little—"
"It's been a week!" Orihime had interrupted. "Of course Kurosaki-kun and I have settled down! What do you expect?"
Tatsuki had been a little surprised, maybe at the fact that Orihime had spoken a bit louder than usual, or maybe it was because she interrupted, which is something that almost never happen with her friend. She opened her mouth to respond, but was interrupted by Chad.
"Do you want to hang out with us after school today, Inoue-san?" Chad had asked. "Tell Ichigo so he can come too. We'll be at the park a few blocks down, the one with the soccer field."
"Yay! I'll tell Kurosaki-kun as soon as I see him! We can both come, since I know Ichigo has no plans today! See you there!" Orihime had practically squealed.
"Bye!" Uryu had said, dragging Tatsuki with him. Chad followed them, a few feet behind.
"Did you hear that? She knows his PLANS!" Tatsuki had whispered to Uryu as they walked down the hall. "My plan worked!"
"I think you were taking too long with it!" Uryu had said. Orihime could barely hear them and she strained her ears to hear it. "Even Orihime noticed!"
"But it's working!" Tatsuki had cheered happily.
Chad had sighed as he trudged along.
Orihime didn't know what she meant by that, and shrugged it off. A few minutes later, when Orihime saw Ichigo, she told him what Chad said.
"Okay! I'll meet you there, Inoue!" The carrot-top smiled and right on cue, the bell rang. Everyone took their seats as the teacher began the lessons.
*End of Flashback*
Orihime sighed. Now that I think about it, where was Ichigo during that time? She thought.
"Are you alright, Inoue?"
A voice shook Orihime out of her thoughts.
"Yeah, I'm fine," She said instinctively.
"You sure? You zoned out for a few minutes," Ichigo asked with concern audible in his voice.
"Totally!" Orihime said cheerfully.
"Okay…" Ichigo trailed off. "Good night, Inoue."
"Good night!"
Ichigo and Orihime were in bed. It was late, and the auburn haired girl was starting to get drowsy. And when she got drowsy, she thought random things until she fell asleep. That's what always happened. Sometimes, she wondered if everyone else fell asleep that way too. Orihime fell asleep shortly after saying 'Good night' to Ichigo, her last conscious thought being something about the Little Blue Men stealing her shoes.
(Ichigo's perspective)
Ichigo knew that Orihime had fallen asleep because her breathing was calm and even. He lay awake, wondering when something exciting would happen. Then he realized that he hadn't seen his mom since they told him the truth and all, and that was two weeks ago! Time to visit Mom! He thought to himself. Ichigo grabbed his Shinigami Badge from the desk next to his bed and pressed it to his arm. His soul separated from his body, and in his Shinigami form now, Ichigo left through the window in search of the 10th squad captain and his mom.
(Toshiro and Rangiku/Masaki's perspective)
Hitsuguya and Rangiku were on the rooftop of a house in Karakura Town.
"The boy is on the move," The 10th squad captain stated.
"My son has a name you know!" Rangiku/Masaki said, a little annoyed. Then she smiled. "I wonder where he's going."
"I don't really care," Hitsuguya yawned.
Rangiku/Masaki gasped. "How dare you! He's quite a darling! Even though he has some temper issues…"
"Who has temper issues?"
10th squad vice-captain turned around. "Oh, hello, Ichigo!"
"Mom!" Ichigo cried and jumped into Masaki's outstretched arms. He buried his head into her shoulder. "I missed you!"
Toshiro watched this happen in amazement. Ichigo without a scowl on his face while hugging someone in public? That was a first! The wonders that can happen when someone meets their mom again after she enters Soul Society…
"I've been looking for you guys!" Ichigo said happily. Well, mostly Mom, he thought.
"So that's where you were going," Ichigo's mom murmured.
"I have to talk to you for a little bit…You know, uh, mother-son time." The carrot-top seemed uncomfortable. Maybe it was because he hadn't been like this in a long time…
"Sure, dear." Masaki smiled.
Right on cue, an arrancar that looked pretty strong popped up in front of the three, closest to Hitsuguya.
"Darn! Sorry, Mom! I guess the chat will have to wait!" Ichigo grabbed the hilt of Zangetsu, ready to fight. He paused, however, when Masaki grabbed his arm. She did it ever so slightly, but with a demanding edge.
"It's okay, my little Ichigo," Masaki said. "Sheath your sword." Then she looked at Hitsuguya. "I'm leaving this to you, taicho." With a smile, Masaki/Rangiku led Ichigo away.
(Hitsuguya's perspective)
The white-haired captain sighed with annoyance as he watched Rangiku/Masaki and Ichigo Kurosaki fled the scene.
"'Taicho', eh?" The arrancar sneered. "Aizen-sama will be pleased to know that I killed a captain!"
Toshiro snorted and studied his opponent.
The arrancar was huge. Oversized mammoth-like hands and feet shook the ground with each movement. Red patterns practically covered the arrancar from head to toe. His mask covered half of his face and it had a jagged outline. Murderous eyes glowed and blood-red symbols resembling fire stained his cheeks and forehead. A small zanpactou was held in its left hand. In size and height, the creature was about twice as wide as the house Toshiro was on and three times as tall!
"How did I not sense it's riatsu?" Hitsuguya said to himself.
"Because I'm awesome like that!" The arrancar replied. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't introduce myself! I'm…the almighty Hlfuki Tokage! It means Fire Breather!"
The captain swung Hyiounimaru down on the arrancar's zanpactou and the two swords clashed.
"I'm Toshiro Hitsuguya, the person who will end you life!" The captain said, his riatsu flowing off him in waves. To his surprise, the arrancar didn't flinch.
"All you Shinigami say that these days! But the thing is… I don't lose!" He did a little dance that crushed all the houses within his range.
I've got to lure him into a more open area! The captain thought, realizing that otherwise a lot of damage would be done. He quickly jumped into the air and shunpoed to a field nearby, making sure that the arrancar could see him.
"Hey! No fair! I have to kill you for Aizen-sama!" Jumping into the air after him, Hlfuki Tokage started to chase Toshiro.
Inwardly, Toshiro smirked. Just as planned. He arrived at the field, and not long after, heard a thud signaling that the big guy had arrived.
"That was too sudden, 'taicho'!" The arrancar pouted.
Hitsuguya turned away: pouts just don't look good on mammoth-arrancars. All of a sudden, the 10th squad captain felt a hint of heat and shunpoed away just in time. He looked at the place where he had just been and watched everything within that space burn to ashes.
"Don't underestimate me!" Blazing fire shot out from the Hlfuki Tokage's hands and would have started a huge fire if Toshiro hadn't used Hyiounimaru to put it to a stop.
Suddenly, the arrancar disappeared. Hitsuguya's eyes widened and he spun around, Hyiounimaru in his hands.
He's fast! The white haired captain thought. Much faster than before! And the intensity of his attacks have gotten stronger too!
Pain interrupted Toshiro's thoughts. Wincing slightly, the captain glanced at his shoulder. A huge cut was now there. Blood dripped on the grass below, staining it red.
"I told you NOT TO UNDERESTIMATE ME!" Laughing devilishly, the mammoth-like creature swung down his sword, missing Hitsuguya by a hair length.
10th squad Captain jumped out of the way, trying to score a hit on Hlfuki Tokage unsuccessfully. Swinging right, then left, then up and then down. This arrancar was teasing him! He dodged the swings with what seemed like ease.
How? How can he be so strong and not be an Espada? Toshiro thought, almost panicking. No one won against this captain! He always made sure of that! Practicing every day as to not get rusty, using almost all of his spare time to secretly train. There were reasons why Hitsuguya didn't drink.
"Is that all you got?" Hlfuki Tokage roared. "It's too bad that you're going to die before your friends do!"
Hitsuguya's eyes widened in shock and confusion. "What…what do you mean?"
"Don't you think it's weird that I was the only one who appeared? Would I really travel to this World alone?" The arrancar circled around him, waiting for the captain's reaction.
And suddenly, it hit him. Toshiro's grip on Hyiounimaru tightened.
"Matsumoto!" He whispered.
"Ah, now you've got it." Hlfuki Tokage sneered. "That wonderfully beautiful woman and the boy…I wonder how long they will be able to go up against all the others. Why, if a captain is getting beat up so easily, would could happen to two regular Soul Reapers?"
Hitsuguya knew that this arrancar was underestimating Matsumoto and Ichigo, but if the others were this strong, could they possibly handle it?
"Ah, but you should know that you won't be able to help them…"
A voice snapped the captain out of his thoughts. He glared at the owner of voice.
"…Because you'll die first!" Hlfuki Tokage grinned madly and placed his sword in front of him. "Scorch, Honoo Ryu!"
So his zanpactou's name is Flame Dragon, Toshiro thought momentarily as he watched the change in Hlfuki Tokage. Then he realized that the arrancar had been so strong in his first form. How could he defeat him as he was now? He also needed to help his litenuent and the Substitute Shinigami.
Hitsuguya needed to go all out. So he did what any Captain would do at this point.
"Ban-Kai!"
(Masaki/Rangiku's perspective)
10th squad vice-captain noticed her captain's rise in riatsu and frowned.
"What are you doing, taicho…" She whispered. "Is that arrancar that difficult?"
"Mom?" Masaki turned her attention to Ichigo.
"Yes, Dear?" She smiled.
Her son got tears in his eyes.
"Hon? Are you okay, my little Ichigo?" She asked, concerned. This only made him cry more.
"Mom, I am so glad that I have found you again!" Ichigo cried out. "I have always wanted to see you afterward, and I promised that if I ever saw you again, I would apologize!" He looked Masaki in the eye. "And I mean it, Mom! I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry! It's all my fault!"
The auburn-haired woman's face softened. "It really isn't, my little Ichigo. I did it of my own free will. You need to stop blaming yourself after all these years! It's okay!"
By now, Ichigo was sobbing uncontrollably. "But still, if I had done something, you would still be alive! I'm so sorry—"
"I forgive you." Masaki smiled a bright smile. "It's okay."
"Y-you forgive me?" Ichigo stopped crying to stare at her. "Th-thank you, M-Mom! I love you!"
"I love you too, my little Ichigo." The busty woman smile as she and her son hugged. In truth, there was nothing to forgive him for, because there was nothing to be sorry for. Ichigo couldn't have ever done anything at his age back then, even if he knew what was going to happen. It was fate. And nothing could stop fate.
Besides, that's how she finally became litenuent of 10th squad. That's how she got her amazing technique.
All of a sudden, arrancars of all kinds surrounded them. Masaki glanced at her son to find that he was just as surprised as she was.
"Do they even have spiritual pressure?" Masaki whispered, mostly to herself.
"I think so." Ichigo said. "They must have cloaked it somehow, like that arrancar that Hitsuguya is fighting right now."
He took out Zangetsu, but stopped after Masaki grabbed his arm yet again.
"Mom!" He finally spoke. "I have to fight! To protect you, especially you! I can't bear to see the same thing happen twice!"
"Watch and learn, dear." Masaki said as she took out her sword. "Let me show you Mama's real power."
Yay! My longest chapter yet! :)
Sorry for the horribly long update! I'll try to go faster!
Did you like it? In the next chapter, Hitsuguya's fight will be continued and Masaki's true power will be revealed!
Amatsukami-The Heavenly God~ Thank you for telling me. I'll try to increase the pressure in each chapter!
PLEASE REVIEW! The more reviews I get, the faster I want to update! Plus, I would like to see how you feel about my story! :D
~Kurosaki~