Chapter 9
A/N: A lot of explaining so try not to get confused :P
The night was young and the streets were bare of activity. A lone clerk counted the money to the register as she was ready to close for the night. She placed the money into a small lock box under the counter for safe keeping and withdrew the keys to the store from the rack and went to the door. What a night. Almost no business and yet she did her shift from nine to midnight. What a harassment. She went up to the door only to have a palm of someone's hand strike the glass of the door. Startled she jumped back to see a young woman leaning on the door in attempts to block the door from being closed.
"Ma'am, are you alright?" said the clerk. The woman only grunted as her fingernails scraped against the glass. The woman forced the door open inching her way in, her long orange colored hair falling, concealing her face. The clerk stared in fear as the sight of blood caught her eye.
"Ma'am? You're hurt. Let me call the-"
"NO!"bellowed the woman as she lifted her hand towards the clerk's throat. The clerk was launched through the air and landed harshly into the freezers with a loud slam signaling she died on impact. Orihime stood strong and let her head fall lazily behind her shoulders as she stared up at the ceiling. Her eyes dark, her arms twitching nervously and a large grin spread about her pale face.
"So, I'm in control now?" she said, her voice deep and wicked. Tremendous power she could feel pulsate within her and it felt good to have it. Two Demi's appeared behind her, their monstrous identities hovering as if waiting for her instructions. Orihime turned to them and lovingly petted them holding her own head against theirs when they bent them.
"Listen, I know you two are still young but I'm going to need you to make more little ones for me. If that proves too difficult find your brethren and ask for assistance. Mommy here, is going to get our home situated before we make a move. I also need to see something for myself." she said as she continued to pet them. She turned into one of the aisles and picked up a small bad of potato chips before saying, "Here they are. Now, I'm off." She continued out popping a chip into her mouth and turning a corner. She wanted to see something. She wanted to make one quick judgment before undertaking her mission. Moments later she appeared several rooftops near Ichigo's home. The night was silent but the sound of her instantly appearing from thin air caught the attention of passing ravens. She hovered, arms crossed and eyes narrow as she peered into Ichigo's bedroom. The blinds were open but the lights were off, she tilted her head to get a better view. As she did she caught glimpse of two individuals sleeping side by side on the bed. Ichigo and that bitch, Rukia. Her hands balled into fists and her teeth slammed against each other in fury, blood soon crept from her lips.
"It's not fair that I have to live alone. That they are the souls that were meant to be together for eternity. I will use these Hollow to break them away. I will destroy both souls. So no one in the next millennium will know of the legend. I will use the Gift of our Father to my advantage and once and for all vanquish both of you. I'm done playing games. I'm done being nice. It's personal now." she hissed violently. Suddenly the man appeared looking rather confused by the situation.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked.
"Getting what I want." she said.
"What you want? Miss Congeniality I hope you realize it was me who gave you that power. I can easily take it away. After all I only need a human host and I'm sure there are other hu-"
The man stood silent. His gaze continued onward and his eyes large. Orihime only chuckled as she turned in his direction watching his head fall from his shoulders and nosily down into the nearest alleyway. Blood rocketed into the sky which was her cue to kick the corpse away to prevent anyone from noticing. She began to laugh under her breath.
"Who's the bitch now?" she said in a sinister tone. She looked down at her hand which had been covered in blood. She hadn't expected herself to move so fast. Then again, she loved surprises. She turned back towards Ichigo's window and frowned.
"Just a little more time and I will happily escort you straight to hell along with that bitch you're holding." she said and with that she disappeared.
Ichigo awoke slowly, his eyes looking up at the ceiling. He had only been asleep for an hour or so but he kept dreaming he was hearing voices. Unsure what to make of it he slowly got up hoping to not wake Rukia who slept cozily beside him. He needed something to drink. He descended the stairs and approached the living room. He took several steps before realizing there was a middle aged man sitting over on the couch, a pair of visor-like glasses glinting in the darkness.
"Ichigo..." said the man.
"Zangetsu? What's going on?" he asked feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"No need to get alarmed... yet. I think this is a good time to discuss something with you." he said, his voice resonating deeply within Ichigo.
"What is it? If it's about those Demi things then I am all ears." he said opening the refrigerator. \"We will come to that but first I must talk with you about Kuchiki." said Zangetsu. Ichigo suddenly felt his body shoot upright and his head collided with the ceiling of the fridge. He cursed before saying, "Rukia? What about her? Don't tell me your going to criticize my performance."
"I have no time for your jokes, Ichigo. This is about your past and hers." he said.
"What? Oh, we shouldn't see each other because we're co-workers or something?" Ichigo couldn't help but say.
"No, you've known her before." he said.
"Yeah, I know. I met her nearly a year ago when she made me substitute shinigami."
"No, you both have know each other much longer than that." he continued. Ichigo thought for a moment. He couldn't remember seeing her anytime before then. What was this old man talking about?
"I don't know what you're getting at but I'm off to bed."
"You've known her ever since the beginning of time. You two were born the exact same time and ever since you made it your goal to protect each other." he said. Ichigo stopped dead in his tracks. He couldn't understand what he meant. €
"What you talkin about old man?"
Zangetsu stood holding Ichigo's Zanpaktou in one hand and in the other he held Rukia's. This image startled Ichigo as all he could do was stare. The old man walked over to him holding both blades. As he watched them something else caught his eye. He turned and could see another figure in the darkness approaching the two of them.
"Ichigo, this is Beira, the Queen of Winter or also known by others as Sode no Shirayuki in these parts, she is Kuchiki's Zanpaktou guardian. Like me, she is the one who channels her power. We need to discuss something with you." he said. Ichigo was about to answer before the figure halted him and said, "We are waiting for one more." Sure enough, Ichigo could hear the steps behind him rock and there was Rukia, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and looking quite confused about what was happening.
"What the hell is going on?" questioned the small shinigami. It wasn't until she caught sight of the figure that she immediately went on her knees in guilt.
"Oh stand up!" Beira snapped. She did so but only to have a red tint on her cheeks. Ichigo and Rukia couldn't understand what was going on. They never knew two Zanpaktou's could interact with each in such a way. But as plain as day there they stood being confronted by their own katanas.
"We both need to discuss an urgent matter. Both your past and ours and how that is to act with the future." said Zangetsu.
"Yes, you two need to awaken and see who you truly are and that's when the safety of the human world and the spirit world can be assured. Or else it will fade into nothing." said Beira.
"I have no idea what you two are talking about." said Ichigo. Rukia nodded in agreement. Zangetsu lifted both swords into the air and left them floating before them. The swords hovered for a moment before scattering into millions of pieces in every direction however all of the particles remained suspended in mid air. Where the swords used to be hovered two glowing clouds of light. One blue and one pink. Both Ichigo and Rukia stared in awe as words couldn't explain they're amazement.
"These souls are yours." said Zangetsu, "As you probably know your soul is a part of us."
"At the beginning of time there had been the creation of souls. Each soul was different and each wanted room to grow and experience. Each and every soul wanted that chance to be independent." began Beira, "However, two souls out of zillions upon zillions of souls decided to stay together." The two small clouds of light hovered closely to each other making small circles with their movements as Beira spoke.
"They decided they wanted to stay and keep each other company. Like two children meeting for the first time. They played and danced and talked and eventually they fell in love as they aged."
The small orbs of light created a heart symbol before them causing Rukia and Ichigo to blush.
"As time passed these two souls took the shape of many things. From birds to fish, to dolphins to bears and even plants. They always found one another and continued to love and protect both themselves and the things around them. However, as time passed other souls grew jealous of them and began to plot against them. Souls that have been in existence since the beginning of time used their experience to create monsters and eventually Hollows began to exist. Then like clockwork Shinigami's began to exist to counteract it. These two souls took the form of countless Shinigami and they always prevailed in the fight. Then the Demi-Hollows came. These Hollow were made from the original Hollow which were actually organic beings that could reproduce unlike the Hollow of today. These Hollow have the blood of the Originals and are stronger than anything that existed to this day. Now, these two souls have met their partner and it's time we finish this fight."
Ichigo stood dumbfounded as Rukia nodded.
"I guess it makes sense." says Rukia. Ichigo spun to her and quickly said, "WHAT? I didn't get a word of that!"