Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Warning: Cursing by characters.
Summary: Rukia, Ichigo, and Renji make a difficult choice, flashback, and more commentary by Hichigo. Karin thinking, a fight, training and a mystery being figured out.
"Hi." Hichigo talking.
/Hello. / Rei and Zangetsu talking
Chapter 2 -The Difficult Choice of Leaders
Rukia briefly looked out her bedroom window. Oh how she hates what she was going to do…but she had no choice. They were just trying to protect Ichigo and the worlds.
Hopefully Ichigo could forgive them…
FLASHBACK
"Kuchiki Rukia, Abarai Renji reporting sir." Both said curious and very confused as to why they were called in with the captains, and they weren't the only ones…
Byakuya and Ukitake were also confused.
What was going on?
"Recent studies made by the twelfth squad have discovered a separate and much more deadly fact about the King's Key." Yamamoto sou-taichou said watching each and every single of the captains. He looked to Rukia and Renji briefly, hoping he was making the right choice. "Mayuri-taichou report."
The freaky looking captain nodded and went into a speech about his squad's discovery.
"Two days ago while researching the current Aizen and King's Key problem, my squad came across some…interesting information regarding how to create it. The first is to find and sacrifice a 200-kilometer piece of spirit enriched land to act as the main force…and the second a sacrificial container with nearly unlimited reiatsu. The container being anything… souls, people, or even person with a huge quantity of spirit power."
Infinite silence met this statement, as everyone pondered this new information.
"Who are the possible people for this container?" The chief-commander said quietly.
"Just one person fits this description… Kurosaki Ichigo."
Rukia's blood froze.
Why Ichigo?
Renji didn't look any better then Rukia, they were worried beyond words.
Then the sou-taichou spoke again breaking the silence.
"Kuchiki Rukia, and Abarai Renji, your mission is to lure Kurosaki Ichigo to Seireitei by any means necessity and to ensure the traitor Aizen cannot take Kurosaki Ichigo. Is that clear?"
"Hai, sou-taichou." They repeated instantly, and even though they knew Ichigo could be better protected at Soul Society something about this situation felt wrong…very wrong.
"You have thirty minutes to prepare for your mission. You are dismissed."
FLASHBACK END
Rukia sighed and walked out of the Kuchiki mansion, running towards the portal to the real world.
After everything they had been though Rukia hoped Ichigo could forgive her for what she was about to do…
~*~
Ichigo sneezed.
Was someone talking about him?
"Hurry up Aibou!"
Ichigo glared, and snapped. "Shut up." He hissed.
"Whatever just get the Hell in here. The faster you get in here the faster I can beat the bastard up."
'Coming,' Ichigo thought, locking his bedroom door and sitting on his bed. Before he entered his inner world once more.
In the two days since meeting Rei, Ichigo and Hichigo had made decent head way in being partners (which meant they stopped trying to kill each other and concentrated on getting stronger instead of each other).
Finally now we can get started Aibo.
Hichigo smirked didn't even wait for Ichigo to draw his sword, not that Ichigo need the warning he too charged.
Their blades are crashed sending huge amounts of spirit energy everywhere in Ichigo's inner world and shattering an even larger number of windows.
You suck Ichigo! The hollow yelled.
Ichigo paid the insult no mind and instead kick the fight up a notch.
"Bankai."
His Hollow copied, and two black katanas took the place of the giant, guard-less swords that were their Shikai.
Both wasted no time and used shunpoed to attack each other in a fury of attacks while dodging the occasional Getsuga Tensho.
"Pathetic, King," the Hollow commented roughly.
Hichigo seemed to like insulting Ichigo continuous, as he often pointed out mistakes and breaks in Ichigo's guard, though he didn't mind so much as long as his Hollow backed up his insults with useful information.
"Your guard's still too open, and spread of attacks was weak. Even out your strength or you're going to get us killed."
Ichigo tonelessly nodded and did as the hollow instructed. Though he may not like his hollow he would put up with his bullshit if it made him stronger in the long run.
"You're one to talk, I've beaten you before and I'll do it again."
"So what? My powers were being limited, but not anymore. I'll kick your ass and take over."
"Sure you will."
"I'll hand your ass to you on a plate starting with your lame excuse for reiatsu control!"
Hichigo slashed his black katana downward sending a pure slash of energy at Ichigo who barely dodged in time.
It wasn't a Getsuga Tensho; the attack was some else entirely. It was on par with shunpoed while being an unknown Kidou.
/ Slow Hichigo-san. /
The three cast their eyes on the new voice who was in fact the mysterious Rei from before.
/ Why are you here? / Zangetsu asked for Ichigo and Hichigo's sake as they were too busy fighting to question Rei.
/ I must advice the King as much as I can before the Battle of Winter. Ichigo-sama to release a wave of reiatsu like Hichigo-san you need to concrete your reiatsu into the blade of Zangetsu and slash at the air. / Rei explained getting a nodded from Ichigo and a glare from Hichigo.
Apparently Hichigo didn't like Rei's way of giving away his secrets, while Ichigo on the other hand accepted the offered knowledge.
"Thanks." Ichigo muttered.
/ There is no need to thank me Ichigo-sama. / Rei said smiling a little.
"'Ichigo,' just call, me Ichigo."
/ No Ichigo-sama. /
Ichigo glared at Rei momentary, but tried out the reiatsu slash.
He closed his eyes and visualized himself doing the attack and when he was sure he had it memorized he released it.
A long thin blue reiatsu wave nearly killed Hichigo as it slammed into the building behind him turning it into rumble.
Zangetsu watched surprised.
So Ichigo's errors were a lack of information?
It made sense now that he though about it.
Ichigo was always being thrown into trouble without information and forced to succeed, it was a wonder he wasn't dead.
Rei could be the help they needed to get stronger.
/ Hichigo. / Zangetsu called.
"What Zangetsu?"
/ Stop this fight. /
"What the hell, I was just beating Aibo's ass-."
/ Now. /
Hichigo grumbled but obeyed banishing his black katana and sitting on the floor.
Hichigo may be the more dominant of them, but Zangetsu could take away Hichigo's ability to fight.
Ichigo watched the slight argument between his sword and hollow but said nothing, confused about the whole affair.
It was strange watching them fight when it was usually Ichigo and Hichigo doing all the real fighting.
Hichigo seemed to be sulking about his missed chance to be King and instead opted to glare at the soul slayer.
/ Ichigo-sama, / Rei said being Ichigo back to the present. / When you release Getsuga Tensho you tend to leave your reiatsu control to Zangetsu control…while that's good you trust your zanpaktou you most also relay on your own power… / He continued on explaining the many faults Ichigo had with his fighting.
Zangetsu watched the pair break down all of Ichigo's faults and let a small shadow of a smile grace his lips.
It was time Ichigo learned to stand on his own.
~*~
Karin Kurosaki glared at the soccer ball sitting innocently in front of her.
Why didn't Ichi-nii just tell her already?
It was so freaking frustrating…and then that jerk had the nerve to deny it.
She growled, and then calms herself.
It was no use getting mad; it wasn't like he was going to tell her soon if she started cursing him.
Sigh… what happened to the carefree Ichi-nii?
Why was she wondering?
She didn't even need to wonder she knew…mom died.
Before their mom died Ichigo always smiled and was carefree, helping their mom look after them and doing numerous chores while both parents worked. Heck, he even made sure she and Yuzu were in bed on time the few times something happened.
He was so gentle and caring; he understood everything and seemed to always know when something bothered his family. Like the time he beat up those kids making fun of Yuzu…
She smiled remembering those bullies running away after Ichigo toasted them, then a few days later it happened.
She died on a walk with Ichigo.
She could clearly see her frail brother dragging the empty shell of his mother trying to get help…but no help came. She passed on after she told him she loved him and her family.
He had held on to her hand, her blood staining his clothes and scaring his heart. He blamed himself for everything, and it was obvious every time he had looked at Yuzu and her.
He would blame himself for it for the rest of his life. He hasn't smiled since that day six years ago…
A tear fell down Karin face, but she quickly wiped it away, she couldn't cry, no wouldn't until Ichigo had become his old smiling self.
No matter what happened she would support her brother, the pillar of strength for their family and the weakest of them.
She steeled her resolve and picked up her soccer ball; she fixed she hat then headed home.
It was nearly time for dinner.
~*~
Rukia took a deep breath and jumped into the portal leading into the real world. By the time she arrived it would be around midnight.
She could have asked for a better time, to kidnap Ichigo. The night provided perfect cover for her and Renji to get everything done before morning, and back to Soul Society.
She gripped Shirayuki and ran trying to stop herself thinking about the road ahead.
~*~
Ichigo fell to the floor (which was actually the side of a building) and let a satisfied smirk appear on his face.
He had learned a great deal of thing from Rei and was now improving and growing at an even faster rate then before. Though this was no small feat, he didn't let it go to his head.
He was still a long way from perfect, but he was on the journey to kick Aizen's butt when he started to move.
/ Ichigo-sama, for our last lesson let's improve reiatsu control. / Rei said smiling at his King.
Ichigo groaned, somehow he knew it was going to comeback to that.
"Fine, let's get started…"
Ichigo banished Zangetsu and listened intently on Rei.
/ The first lesson any Shinagami learns about reiatsu control is to visualize he task at hand, though there is a huge amount of theory involved with this, you and both know you don't needed it. /
Ichigo nodded.
Though the theory did give him some insider information it wasn't really necessary at this point since he had his Shikai and Bankai.
/ For our first task we're going to cloak our spirit energy, do your remember when you were search for the parakeet that contained a human soul? /
"Yes." That memory was very clear in his mind because of the constant running, and Karin crying.
/ To find the parakeet you used the spirit ribbons to track it; cloaking your reiatsu involves the same principal, though instead of locating someone else you're locating your own reiatsu. Do you understand? /
"Yes…" Ichigo said starting on the task.
He blocked out everything around him and searched for his own spirit energy.
"Hey advisers what the hell are ya?" Hichigo asked finally asking when he was sure Ichigo wasn't listening. "Ichigo may suck at sensing reiatsu but you can't fool me."
Rei smiled before answering. / I wasn't trying to fool you Hichigo-san, / he said in a careful voice, but then his whole demeanor changed. / I was only trying to keep Ichigo-sama from receiving any unnecessary pain, my presence was meant to help him, yet I know differently. /
Hichigo rolled his eyes.
"Like I give a flying fuck what happens to the King, as long as he doesn't die I could care less."
/ Hichigo-san your acting is horrible; I and Zangetsu can both tell you care for Ichigo-sama. / Rei said and Zangetsu nodded.
It was obvious to everyone, though how Ichigo didn't notice made Zangetsu wonder.
He couldn't be that dense could he?
"The hell I do. Quit spouting shit!"
/ Whatever Hichigo-san, but if you really want Ichigo to accept you as a part of himself, you're going to need to stop trying to kill him. He distrust you enough as it is, so stop it already. /
Hichigo glared. "You should talk, you still haven't answered me. What the hell are you?"
/ A demon. /
Ichigo finally found what he was searching for.
"Rei, I've found it." He whispered still concreting to be able to see his spirit ribbons.
Hichigo and Zangetsu looked over at Ichigo and nearly gasped.
"What the hell happened to his eyes-?"
/Later, / Rei hissed and spoke to Ichigo. /Great now grab as many of the reiatsu ribbons as you can-.
/ Later, someone is coming. / Zangetsu said suddenly.
Those three words send Ichigo into frenzy, and he hastily said goodbye before disappearing.
~*~
"Ichi-nii dinner's ready." Yuzu said opening Ichigo's bedroom door just as he got back to the real world.
"I'll be right down." Ichigo said waving her off, before sighing, and following her.
Where was Rukia?
~*~
Dinner that night was the usual mess that any meal at the Kurosaki household was accustom, which consist of Isshin trying to get Ichigo's guard down so he could beat him up and Karin and Yuzu skillfully ignoring them.
Yuzu washed dishes and put them away while Ichigo and Karin spent sometime watching TV, and of course Isshin what no where in sight, but who cared…
(Ichigo's POV)
It was only ten minutes into the baseball game me and Karin were watching but I could already feel my mind wondering about Rei's presence in my inner world.
Does that mean I'm not a Vaizard? If I'm not then what the hell am I?
I'm not a full Shinagami, or Hollow and I'm still alive so what does that make me?
Great more questions I didn't need.
"Look Ichi-nii! He made it!" Karin said making me look at her, and the TV.
I nodded and pretended to look excited at the miracle home run one of the batters managed.
And then there was Karin…I knew she wanted answers and I had them, but should I tell her?
There was a good chance she could hurt as it was; I shouldn't chance it…yet.
I'll tell her after this Aizen mess, I thought.
Right now there was too much going on to answer her questions but after the war I tell her what she wants to know…
(Ichigo's POV End)
With that the baseball game soon ended and the Kurosaki family all retreated to their rooms (after a customary attack from Isshin) and Ichigo lay on his bed instead of sleep.
'Rei is another secret…isn't he?' Ichigo thought sitting at his desk and pondering the problem that revolved around Rei Lasca.
~*~
Rukia lightly landed on her feet in front of Urahara Shoten, it was it was time; she nodded at Renji and they shunpoed to their mission destination.
Neither noticed that as they appeared and even as they left two people eye's followed them.
~*~
Back in the lair of the Vaizard a phone rang in the darkness.
"Moshi, moshi, Shinji here." A voice said. "Okay…got it." The phone snapped shut. "Hiyori, duty calls."
The second blond glared at Shinji but nodded anyway, before they both vanished into the night.
~*~
Ichigo left his window open as an invitation for Rukia when she came back and got under the covers going to sleep.
~*~
DarkRemembrence- I try to keep up with all my stories, but I do try to update the three most popular ones. But the real problem is I have so much going on...and I type so slowly. So sorry! Thanks for your review! And yes I will make The Forgotten longer just for my longest review yet! I'm hoping to get it out tomorrow or the next day! Hope you like this chapter!
Mysticerzengel-Hope you like this chapter too! Thanks for your review!
A/N:Here's the next chapter because of the fast reviews I got on this story! This won't happen all the time thought...
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