Here's chapter 10. I can't believe this sotry actually got this far...
Thank you for your patience!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach
Note: A big thanks to gmsephiroth for editing this chapter. Thank you!
Aizen sat in the chair, his stern eyes staring at the window from where he sat. The outcome of the battle at Rukongai had not completely played out the way he wished. In the end, he had lost over half the troops that were sent, Gin was missing, and the Seireitei had managed to interfere at the last moment. On the upside, Gin sent him a hostage to interrogate. That would help alleviate the fact that Gin had probably defected.
That bastard is too arrogant for his own good, Aizen frowned.
His eyes adverted back to his guest. Hitsugaya was staring nonchalantly at the floor, blood trickled from the end of his broken nose. Of course, the guards stood on either side of the captain, awaiting further orders from Aizen. After getting bored with torturing his former co-worker, Aizen had taken to just letting the boy hang from the ceiling.
Hitsugaya Toushirou was one of those bothersome types. Out of all the men in existence, he was one of the few that was actually decent. If Aizen heard Toushirou refuse to tell him what he wanted, then the young man would not say anything.
"I'd rather you kill me then let me hang here while all the blood rushes to my head." Hitsugaya glared at him, "You know I won't talk."
"How is Momo these days?"
Small talk.
"Hinamori is none of your damn business."
"I should say that she is." Aizen smirked; he knew there was one weakness that the genius had. Momo Hinamori was the only side of Hitsugaya that Aizen knew he could rattle, "I am told that she makes a very good captain."
Toushirou glared at him, and then looked away.
"You're in love with her." Aizen brushed a piece of dark hair behind his ear, "I'm surprised that you didn't make a move on her by now."
"Hinamori doesn't love me."
The young man said it like an afterthought, like he had resigned to some fate long ago. Aizen could not help but pity the boy a little bit. He had known Hitsugaya since the ice-captain came to the Soul Society, and he had always been in love with Momo. Aizen took the topic of Momo Hinamori and put it in the back of his mind. It would probably be more effective later then to use some sort of physical torture.
Aizen stood and walked towards him.
"I'm sending an attack force to Karakura."
The captain frowned, "What?"
"I'm growing tired of the meager rebellious forces that are driving me back." he said, "Kurosaki Ichigo and his Vizard associates have been a headache for quite some time."
Vizard?, Hitsugaya gave him a confused look, "What is-"
He gasped as a strong hand shot out and closed around his neck.
"You're going to tell me what I want to know." Aizen murmured, "I will break a bone for every question you do not answer."
"Then I guess we're both losers here." Hitsugaya Toushirou could not help but chuckle, "Because I'm not going to tell you anything."
Momo sat up, staring at the dark wall in her room. What was that? It sounded like there was someone screaming in her mind. It was a familiar voice that she knew she had heard before.
Looking back at the window, it was raining outside and it was dark.
There it was again.
The scream that she heard was so familiar that she almost felt a tug in her chest. Was it Aizen-sama? Was he hurt and dying somewhere? There was a knock at her door, and she went to go answer it, pulling a robe around herself.
"Yes?"
"Hinamori-taicho." the messenger told her, "There's been a development. You've been ordered to the main chambers right away."
"What's wrong?"
"The raid to Rukongai." he said, "Vice-Captain Matsumoto is missing and Captain Hitsugaya has been captured by the Arancar."
Ishida woke that next morning, and found himself gazing out of the window at the city outside. Kurosaki had already left that morning to school, it was last the day of the term and he was determined to have as much time as possible to kick the butts of his students before they all left for summer vacation.
Getting up, he took a shower, dressed, and wandered downstairs. Yuzu had left breakfast out for him, and he heated it up before sitting at the table to eat it. Both of the girls were gone at school, but Ishida knew that Isshin was still home. He could sense the man's reiatsu as he came upstairs.
"Yo." Isshin looked at him, "You're a doctor, right?"
"Yes."
"You wanna lend a hand?" he said, "The shipment came in today and I can't be in two places at once."
Ishida nodded, finished his breakfast, and headed to the basement to help. On the train, Ichigo had informed him that his father had been a Shinigami. For some reason Ishida knew he should be surprised, even though he was not. It explained why Ichigo was so ungodly powerful.
He spent a few hours checking supplies and counting equipment. Ishida could understand how working at a small local clinic could be favorable over the district hospital. Once in a while someone would come in, but not any critical cases that needed surgery or anything extreme. At one point he found himself checking a young child for an ear infection as Isshin continued with the inventory.
Around the afternoon, he left. Ishida strolled down the street, not exactly sure why he was wandering around aimlessly on the streets in the first place. His feet seemed to carry him through the town to the old temple, where he took a seat on a stone bench in the courtyard.
He had no purpose in his life.
Letting out a sigh, he began debating with the idea of going to go see his father, and then decided against it. His father already knew he was back in town and would contact him if he felt like it. Leaning his head back, he stared at the sky.
God, he was pathetic.
Rubbing his eyes, he stood up again, and glanced around the courtyard. He could not sense any reiatsu signatures in the block, and when he was sure that no one was around, he unzipped his jacket and unhooked two of the white swords that were strapped to his chest on a holster.
Zeele Scheinder. It was the only reason why he ever learned to use a sword. As a Quincy, he was an archer by nature and generally stuck with what he was best suited for. However, the Scheinder swords offered a certain sort of agility that he never got with the spirit arrows. He would never mention it to Kurosaki's face that he was probably more experienced and talented with a blade then the Shinigami substitute was.
He hooked the blades on his fingers, and gracefully preformed the katas that he had so painstakingly learned from his father and grandfather. They had pounded the moves in his mind so much that he could not forget them even if he wanted to.
"Such a talented soul." a soft voice floated through his ears, "If you had been born a Shinigami instead, you would already be a captain."
He froze, turning around to see the familiar figure behind him. She sat on top of one of the tree branches in the courtyard, her head tilted slightly to the side. Ishida had no idea she was there, then again, she had always had a talent of masking her reiatsu.
Leaping down from the branch, she slowly walked over to him.
"Uryuu." she said, a soft smile touching her lips.
Ishida opened his mouth and then shut it. He felt a soft hand gently touch his face and turn him back to face her. The mere sound of her voice had it's own ability to stop his heart, but when she touched him all the memories that he had spent the last few years trying to forget flooded back into his mind. He could not stop himself from lifting a hand and laying it over hers.
"Nemu."
Ichigo tapped his pencil on the desk as the last student turned in their final. Staking all the finals together, he slipped them under his arm and headed towards the door. Ochi-sensei chuckled,
"You look like someone put your dog in a blender."
Ichigo smirked at his old teacher, swinging his bag on his shoulder, "I guess you could say that."
"Anything to do with why you won't be teaching summer classes this year?"
He shrugged, "Maybe."
"Always the mystery man." she said, "Even when I was still your teacher."
Ichigo chuckled, "You are always my teacher."
"So polite." the older woman laughed, "Careful, Kurosaki-sensei, you know chicks dig that sort of thing."
He could not help but to laugh at her again as he head back to his office. The middle-aged woman put her hands on her hips,
"So."
"So?"
"So, where are you going this summer that means you're not going to be here slaving away like the rest of us?"
"I never take any vacation time and I need to take it before they cut the budget?"
"Nice try."
Ichigo slumped into his desk chair, "I need to tie up some loose ends that have been hanging over my head. I don't think I'll be able to move ahead in life till it's solved."
"Ah," she nodded, "It's a 'find yourself' sort of thing."
"I guess." he clipped his bag shut after shoving the papers in it. Standing, he began to head out of the doorway, locking his office behind him. Ochi-sensei watched as he walked nonchalantly down the hallway. She frowned,
"You'd better kick ass, Ichigo."
He stopped, and turned to her. Giving her a thumbs-up, she laughed and watched him disappear down the hall.
Tomorrow, he would be heading for the meeting with Hirako and the Seireitei.
Shinji was already waiting for the detective outside the station. Hansei yawned, scratching his head and not even trying to make an attempt to fix his appearance.
"Damn it, Hansei." Shinji gave him a look of disdain, "You look like you slept in your office again."
"That's cuz I did." he gave another big yawn, "Some dumb case from Tokyo was sent here because there may be some link. Personally, I don't give a shit. Especially if they're just trying to dump their extra workload on me."
"Well, I guess life is tough all over." Shinji chuckled.
"Screw you." he righted his bent collar, "What's the deal, Hirako? I got work."
"I'm leaving tomorrow for the Soul Society. While I'm gone, there won't be anyone to watch the shop except for Hiyori."
"Hiyori-san is a big girl." Hansei snorted, "She's more powerful then I am anyway."
"True enough, but I just have a nagging feeling in the back of my head." he ruffled his blond hair, "Like something is going to happen when I'm not here. Hiyori says that I'm just paranoid, but I've learned that sometimes paranoid is safer."
"True enough. I've got your back, man."
"Thanks, my friend." Shinji clamped a hand on his shoulder, "I'll be back tomorrow even-"
"Muruguma-san!"
Both men turned to see Tatsuki Arisawa. She was dressed in regular clothes, having changed out of her karate uniform, and was waving at Hansei.
"Arisawa." the tall detective turned.
"I just got off work and figured that you slept in your office again. Want to grab a bite? I'll treat you."
He smiled, "In that case, how can I turn down such a generous offer?"
"Cool." she smiled.
"Wait here." he said, turning back to Shinji, who was now giving him a large smirk. A feeling of dread washed through Muruguma's mind, "What?"
Shinji elbowed him in the side, "She looks like a nice girl, Hansei."
"Shut up."
With a quick laugh, Shinji gave a brief wave, and headed back towards the bar. Tatsuki watched him curiously, one of her eyebrows rose in the air.
"He's quite the character."
"You have no idea."
Orihime sat at the dressing table, brushing her long hair. She had just emerged from the shower, and was getting ready for bed. They were finally giving her a few extra hours on her break, to make up for the long hours. More and more Arancar had been coming into her care lately, and her brief nights of rest were quickly shrinking down. Not only was this a severe dent on her spirit energy, but Tsubaki was complaining more about her not taking care of herself.
The door promptly opened, and she let out an irritated sigh. At least she was done getting dressed.
"Don't you ever knock?"
"I live here too." Grimmjaw folded his arms and shut the door, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Going to sleep. I'm tired. You should try it. It would do wonders for your disposition."
"The guards tell me that you've been visiting that Shinigami bastard every day."
Here it goes.
She made it a duty to visit Hitsugaya Toushirou every day. The young man was alive, but not doing well in the environment of Hueco Mundo. The daily torturing probably had something to do with it. By healing him every day just to be tortured and wounded again, she knew that it was degrading to Hitsugaya's mind. In Shinigami years, he was not much younger then she was in human years, and she had no doubt that he would not forget this whole ordeal quickly.
"What's it to you?" she retorted.
Grimmjaw opened his mouth as if he meant to say something, and then shut it. Standing up from the table, she pulled back the covers of her large white bed, and climbed it. It was soft and warm and felt wonderful after a day of hard work. He strolled across the room and went to stare out the balcony window. She sighed, leaning against the pillows that were stacked against the headboard.
"There is going to be a raid tomorrow."
Orihime opened her eyes, "Is that right?"
"In Karakura."
She immediately sat up, looking at him in shock.
"That is all I can tell you." he said, "If I tell you any more, then Aizen-sama will kill me for disobeying him."
Looking at the floor, her hands clenched the sheets in her lap.
"Wh-What..." she shook her head, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I felt like it." he said, "If I see Kurosaki, I will kill him."
"I know."
"If I fight him, either I will die or he will."
She gritted her teeth, "I said I know-"
He moved across the room before she had a chance to finish her sentence. His lips moved over hers, tilted her head back gently in his arms. It was different then the sort of kiss he usually gave her. As he pulled away, he leaned forward and murmured something into her ear. Her eyes grew wide as he spoke,
"You..." she shook her head, "...wait, Grimmjaw-"
He raised his right hand and promptly knocked her out. Orihime's light form sunk forward into his arms, and he simply held her a moment, her head resting against his shoulder. His fingers ran absently through her hair a moment before he set her on to the pillows and covers her with the sheets.
What he had just told her...he would never repeat to anyone.
Leaving her room without a backwards look, he headed towards the training center. Tomorrow he was being dispatched to Karakura to finally take on the head of the rebel forces. He would fight Kurosaki and he would either live or die, and decide what his fate was supposed to turn into.
The sun was just rising over the edge of the windowsill as Hiyori sat up and stretched her arms. The shower just turned off down the hall, Shinji had gotten up before her for once. Pulling the sheets back, she opened the door as he wandered out of the shower.
"Oh, you're up." he said, "I hope I didn't wake you."
"You should have woken me earlier. I could have had breakfast ready."
"Its fine." he gave her a smile, "I wanted to let you sleep a little more."
"Shinji?"
He let go of the doorknob that he had began to turn. Hiyori walked towards him, and grabbed the sleeve of his robe.
"Careful, Shinji." she said, "Be careful of the Shinigami. You know how they are. Stuck-up, lying, conceited-"
"I know." he nodded, "You know me, though. I'll be able to deal with it."
"But-"
He raised a finger and touched her lips, "You are the one that needs to watch out. I won't be here to protect you. If there's an attack, you'll be alone."
She made a face, "That's a joke, right?"
Hirako chuckled; it was a strange thing to say. Hiyori was one of the most powerful Vizards to ever exist. She could probably take on two or three Shinigami captains at once and still hold her own.
"I'm not some fragile princess." she said, breaking off into the normal tomboyish behavior that she resorted too, "I don't break if someone taps me-"
She yelped as he reached forward and pulled her into his arms. Struggling for a moment, his grip grew tighter around her.
"Hirako-"
He let go of her, "Go make some tea. I'll be down in a moment."
Disappearing into his room, she stared at his door for a second, and then let out a sigh as she headed downstairs.
When he came back downstairs, they sat and ate breakfast in silence. Kurosaki arrived fifteen minutes after that, and she silently watch Shinji tie his shoes, berating him about various things. When he reached in the closet and strapped his zanpakuto around his waist, she did not miss the worried glance he gave her for a moment.
Then he was gone.
Yay! This story hit chapter 10. I honestly didn't think it would get this far, but I'm glad that it's turned out the way it did. I have it pretty much planned out now, but I can't tell you exactly how long it's going to be. My guess it there will be around 20 chapters, give or take one or two.
Thanks for reading. Send me a review and tell me what you think :D
Arigato
Lilith