Chapter 2

Enjoy

Ichigo and Rukia found themselves moments later at the aqueduct. The reiastu was incredibly strong but there wasn't a single entity in the area. A blissful wind rocked the grass under their feet but it only caused his stomach to drop when he suddenly felt the strength of what he was chasing hovering over him. He looked up but all he could see was darkened sky and then a sudden taste of blood between his lips. He hadn't realized he had been hit squarely in the face by an invisible force. He soared through the air and landed heavily on the small of his neck causing him to yell in agony. He quickly managed to get to his feet but the blow to his neck shot his vision causing him to stumble and become disoriented.

"ICHIGO!" Rukia yelled. He looked up wincing and there hovering in mid-air was Rukia frantically hitting an invisible hand clutching her throat. Ichigo looked on as her throat became distorted and misshaped under the monstrous pressure of whatever was holding her.

"I reject." whispered a voice nearby. Ichigo turned and to his surprise stood Orihime holding her fingers over her temples. Two beams of light rocketed from between her fingers and flew through the air. The beams met within inches of Rukia's neck where a sudden loud bellow of pain erupted into the air. The tiny shinigami fell hard toward the ground as she wheezed and coughed forcefully like a child with severe asthma. Her eyes bloodshot and tears streaming down her face. The ground shook heavily as whatever had begun to strangle Rukia was undoubtedly heading in his direction. How could he fight an enemy he could not see? His fear increased with each animal cry in the air as he could not find a solution to fight. He held up his Zanpaktou in defense and with a sudden whip of the wind he could tell the invisible beast had wound up for a forceful blow. However, the blow never came. Orihime stood before him, her arms outstretched and her trademark orange shield hovering over them.

"Inoue, what the hell are you doing?" called Ichigo. Orihime only glanced at him with a nervous smile before centering her palms together. A surge of electricity erupted from a nearby generator causing the town to submit into darkness and the darkness plummeted all three warriors into utter chaos. The beast before Ichigo stood tall, it looked far more sinister than any Hollow he had encountered. The beast resembled that of the devil himself. Horns shaped like that of a bull's and muscular anatomy identical to a humans. However, the hole in its chest is what frightened Ichigo. The hole seemed as if the beast itself had tried to close it, chains, staples, string had all been used but to no avail. The hole was a giant mess of blood and crust filled with aforesaid things used to close it. It's mask which was cracked from every corner. The eye sockets were red with blood as if it were crying the red substance for years on end. That itself wasn't the end of it. Ichigo peered around the monster only to see thousands upon thousands of other hollow like creatures all of them looking more devastating than before.

"I reject." Orihime whispered.

The lights of the town erupted back into existence causing all of the monstrous hollows to fade into nothing. Orihime lowered her arms and looked over to Ichigo who was utterly awestruck. The only thing that snapped him from his bewilderment was the constant coughs that came from several yards away.

"Rukia!" Orihime heard him say as he sped off to tend to her causing a sour frown to hit her face. Rukia was on her back grasping her throat which was laced with large bluish bruises. He could see her struggling for air. She made gasping attempts to clear her throat but her attempts were made with blood that seeped past her lips. Ichigo quickly turned to Orihime and screamed, "Get over here and help me!"

She was reluctant. She didn't want to help but she knew she must. She stood there for a moment trying to weigh her options but was quickly rocked by Ichigo's calls. She darted over to where they were and softly knelt down to Rukia who was clutching painfully to the grass under her. Orihime looked at her and was clearly disturbed by the injuries. She hadn't expected the hollow to use so much force.

Get over it... let her die. Much easier to work with.

"Shut up." she whispered.

Leave her be you weak bitch. She won't be anymore competition for you.

"I said shut up."

You can have him. Let her...go...

"Shut UP!" she yelled.

"What the hell are you talking about? Save Rukia already!" yelled Ichigo. Orihime whipped around and bellowed, "I'M TRYING!"

She turned back to the lying shinigami and hovered her hands over her wielding her power to turn back time for wounds. Rukia's breathing went from agitated wheezing to slow and deep whilst the blood lifted into the air and evaporated. Rukia sat up as she took in long breaths.

"What the hell happened?" she said looking flustered. Ichigo could only look down in disgust as he couldn't figure it out. Whatever it was Orihime managed to scare it off. Speaking of which...

"Inoue, I'm going to assume you felt that ridiculous reiastu." he said. She nodded. Rukia cut in quickly adding, "What were they? Those were not Hollows. Hollows do not swarm the way they do."

"I am not sure but we have to get into contact with Ishida and Chad. They've must've felt that energy even if they're on the other side of town." said Ichigo as he looked around. Orihime looked away and said, "They won't come again." Both Rukia and Ichigo stared at her.

"What do you mean they're not coming?" said Rukia.

"They come at random intervals. I have... uh... been studying them." she said.

You're a regular liar aren't you?

"So your saying we can only fight these things when they choose to appear?"

"You can say that."

You know, I didn't send those Demi-Hollows just so that you can dismiss them so pleasantly.

Ichigo helped Rukia up but had to catch her from falling back onto the ground. She looked up at Ichigo and said, "I can walk."

"Like hell you can." he said. He shifted her onto his back knowing she was cursing under her breath. He looked over to Orihime and said, "Give me a call when you find them. I have to take miss stubborn back home."

Rukia knocked him against his head.

"Shut up."

He said goodbye to Inoue and took off leaving her to stare off in disappointment.

That plan went straight to hell.

"Even if I try to impress him he still goes back to her. Are they together or something?"

I doubt it. A shinigami rarely gives out their emotions freely. This is just the beginning. Just make sure the next time you summon those Demi-Hollows that you try to separate the two.

"Alright. I got it."