Ichigo sat there, stunned at what had just happened. During all that had happened, he just had sat and watched from the sidelines, or wherever he was when that just happened, shocked and, what was this other feeling he was experiencing? Pleasure maybe? But he had no control over what had just happened, and right before his Hollow left, in his mind he said You're welcome for this bye the way, and he was gone without another word. Ichigo tried to get mad at his Hollow, he wanted to shout and even bang his head against the ground, whatever it took to get his Hollow out of him so he could kill him, but, Ichigo just simply couldn't. Honestly, before all this, with the kiss and the training, Ichigo felt like he had some feelings for her; the way she always seems to goof off, yet is super serious when the time comes, she's brave and she is not afraid to share what's on her mind, and she's pretty good looking, you have to admit. Yet, until now, those were merely thoughts, yet after such a crazy kiss out of the blue, those thoughts seemed to have turned into feelings.
Ichigo stood up and started the long descent home, and he shook his head thinking about what a long day tomorrow would be…
Ichigo approached the shop and attempted to open the door, despite the closed sign hanging across the door. It was open. Ichigo went through the trapdoor and started his descent down the stairs, looking down expectantly to see Yoruichi. She was running around, well, it was mostly flash-stepping, but she appeared to be training or something of the sort. Well, she is nicknamed the "Flash Master" so she doesn't really need training, I guess she's just been in that cat form for so long that she just needed to get back into the swing of things. She looked normal, totally unconcerned about the fact Ichigo had just walked in, yet was it just Ichigo or did Yoruichi seem to be blushing? Anyway, after Ichigo had reached ground level, Yoruichi stopped right in front of him, a gust of air blowing against Ichigo.
Yoruichi smiled at him. "Don't think that just because what you did yesterday will make me go any easier on you Ichigo." she said, he arms folded. Now come on, we've got a busy schedule ahead of us." she started walking away towards more open ground.
Ichigo looked at the ground and back up at Yoruichi, not knowing what to say. "Listen Yoruichi, about yesterday… " Ichigo said, not knowing how to finish the sentence.
Yoruichi spun around and flash stepped so far that she ended up right in his face, and she said, "Hey, what did I say. We've got a busy schedule today so lets get going, huh."
Yoruichi walked away, and even though Ichigo couldn't see it, he bet she had a smile on her face. Ichigo walked alongside Yoruichi, and he kept walking, and walking, until Ichigo's legs started to weaken.
"Why are we walking so much Yoruichi." Ichigo asked, sweat lining his brow.
"Because," she said, without turning to face Ichigo, "you need to build more stamina."
"But I thought that in your soul form that you got stamina from your spirit energy."
"Yes, however, you are always outputting your spirit energy at maximum strength, and once that runs out, you'll need to run on will and strength alone. So over the next course of training, we shall work on stamina/strength building exercises. Besides, building physical strength will help your overall attack power and build spirit energy. So enough talk, let's start! I want you to drop and give me 1,000 pushups!" Yoruichi said, pointing towards the ground at her feet.
Ichigo gaped at Yoruichi. "You're crazy if you think that I'm ever going to do that many!" Ichigo said, looking at Yoruichi, and when she glared at him he immediately dropped.
Man, Ichigo thought between pushups, Yoruichi is really pushing me today. After a while Ichigo managed to reach a thousand, thanks to his immense spiritual energy thankfully, but then he had to do 50 laps around the room. It went like this all day, do something strength related, run laps, do something strenght related, run laps, but even though Ichigo had immense spiritual energy, his body couldn't take it and collapsed after who knows how long.
Yoruichi stood over him. "Come on Kurosaki, get up. We still have work to do." Yoruichi said, reaching out her hand.
Ichigo took it and ended up getting pulled into an embrace from Yoruichi. "It's okay Ichigo, I know it may be rough now but trust me, it'll all pay off in the end, you just gotta get back up and try." she said, then she held Ichigo at arms length. "Do it for me."
Then, Yoruichi leaned in and kissed him on the head and held up Ichigo's head. "Now come on, we've still got some training to do."
Yoruichi started walking away and Ichigo sucked in a breath and held out his hand, wanting to say something, wanting Yoruichi to come back, to tell her that the person who kissed her last night wasn't him, well, wasn't really him. To try to tell her his feelings about her, but… He just couldn't. Ichigo sighed and followed Yoruichi, starting the rough training again… After a while of this, Ichigo lied down upstairs on the same cot he had woken up on during his training with Urahara.. What am I going to do, Ichigo thought to himself. He had his inner Hollow to deal with and learning to master him, he had his tough training everyday, and now this whole conflict of emotions with Yoruichi to top it all off.
Ichigo sighed and rolled into a sitting position, looking outside the window on the wall. It was a sunny day out with the sun starting its descent to the west, huh, they must have trained all morning and somewhat into the afternoon. Ichigo got up and went started the walk home, training was over, Yoruichi had said. It was normally only a little walk from the shop to the clinic, but Ichigo took the long way and went around town before heading home. Walking had always seemed to clear his head. Ichigo was casually walking around town, all these thoughts flying through his head, when he saw the bridge where underneath he and Chad had made their promises to each other and had really bonded there.
Ichigo walked down the steps and to the bottom of the ground walking over to the underside of the bridge. There was no longer a couch here, heck, that little gang quit coming here a long time ago after they got their butts' kicked. Ichigo sat down on the ground just admiring the peace and quiet for once. The sun was setting, a light breeze was coming in, and it was one of those days where it was a little on the warm side, however not the type of warm that makes it hot, it was the type of warm that you get when you curl up in you favorite blanket on a nice night. And to top it all of the sun was setting and this was a magnificent view.
"Nice view, huh?" said a familiar voice behind him.
Ichigo turned to see Yoruichi standing behind him, to sit next to him. "Yeah," Ichigo responded, staring at the sunset, "nice sunset tonight." He turned to face her. "Say, have you been following me?"
"Well," Yoruichi said, facing him, "I always watch you, well, that came out wrong. I watch you… Like a how a mother hen looks under her chicks."
Yoruichi leaned on Ichigo's shoulder. "Listen," Ichigo said, slightly uncomfortable yet enjoying this for some reason, "it was just one kiss, yet you're all over me, and I'm not sure if I like you or not, I'm so confused right now."
"Well, does this feel right?" Yoruichi asked.
"Yes." Ichigo said, after a mere moment.
"Then for now, lets just enjoy this moment of, of…"
"Rightfulness, peace?"
"All of the above." Yoruichi said.
That night they sat out and watched the sun set into the night, and right before sleep struck him, Ichigo swore that the purple in the sunset looked exactly like Yoruichi's hair… Ichigo opened his eyes, his vision was blurry. He wiped his eyes and sat up, met with a bright light in the face. He winced and covered his eyes, turning away from the rising sun. Ichigo looked at his surroundings and saw the familiar setting of the bridge he and Chad been before, and down at where he lied to find Yoruichi lying on the ground still sound asleep. He smiled, but then he started to frown. Man, I was out all night, imagine how worried Karin and everyone else is. Ichigo looked a second time at Yoruichi, smiled and bent down and kissed her on the head, then was off, not aware that when he kissed her she had smiled.
Ichigo arrived at his window and slid in quietly into his room, walking down the stairs to eat breakfast. As Ichigo was walking down the stairs, he heard a noise behind him and turned, holding his hand out in the air. He found his dad trying to surprise him with a kick, only to be caught by Ichigo's suspended hand. "Good reflexes, you must have slept well eh?" Isshin said, with a big goofy grin on his face. "Shaddup dad." said a voice behind dad. Suddenly Isshin dropped to the ground with a big bump on his head, to reveal Karin standing behind him with her fist still clenched. Isshin stood up, dusting himself off and went to off to eat, muttering beneath his breath. Ichigo and Karin walked to the table, not saying a word to each other, and they ate in silence as well. Weird, Ichigo thought, dad's being rowdy like usual, but Karin and Yuzu are never this quiet.
Yuzu then put her hands on the table and faced Ichigo. "Where were you last night Ichigo, you scared me!" Yuzu said, concern and sadness in her voice.
Karin stood up too. "Yeah Ichigo, what was that about huh." Karin said, shouting like usual.
Isshin stood up. "Now now kids, I'm sure Ichigo has his reasons, unless they were bad reasons Mr. Stay-out-late-and-worry-his-father-to-DEATH!" Isshin said, glaring at Ichigo for the last part.
Ichigo stood up. "Listen, I'm sorry that I worried you all, I was just, just," Ichigo explained, hesitating to thinking of an excuse, "hanging out with Keigo and Mizuiro, that's all."
Everyone nodded, although Karin looked a little suspicious, a clever girl, she is, however Ichigo doubted that she would find out. Everyone finished their breakfast and started the long walk to school, the previous night's events flying through his head. He reflected on how the beautiful the sunset was, on all the training, however he mostly thought about Yoruichi. Ichigo's face warmed at the thought, and soon Ichigo arrived at school. It was just another normal school day, the usual monotone teachers, the same lessons, the only exciting thing during that school day was the arrival of a new student, Shinji Hirako. He was pretty tall, with shoulder length blonde hair that looked almost like an umbrella coming over his head. He had sat there quietly throughout the day, however it seemed like he had been watching Ichigo, everywhere Ichigo was, Shinji was near, and that smile, he seemed to have the smile of the Koro Sensei from that one manga Assassination Classroom.
Ichigo had faced much worse than just a little stalker, but Ichigo had bumps on his neck and chills down his spine. So, when the school bell rang to end the day, and the school week thank goodness, Ichigo was relieved. As Ichigo walked home little did he realize that Shinji was right above him, grinning as always. The next day, after some vigorous training with Yoruichi, Ichigo and Yoruichi had decided to meet under the bridge for a "relaxing evening together," as Yoruichi had described it. Ichigo, who was starting to warm up more to the idea of him and Yoruichi, had accepted. As he was walking, Ichigo thought to himself, you were right Hollow, thank you. You're welcome… Ichigo wasn't sure if he had imagined that or not, but he continued walking.
Suddenly, there was a sudden rush of air behind him and Ichigo turned around to see none other than Shinji. Ichigo jumped, Shinji's smile and his sudden appearance giving him a jump.
"Have you been following me?" Ichigo asked, getting in a fighting position as he spoke.
"I wouldn't really call it following" Shinji replied, shrugging, "I mean, with all that spiritual energy and none of it being hidden it's more like you're wanting to be found."
"Wait, what are you talking about?" Ichigo asked.
"Listen Ichigo," Shinji said, not even acting like he had heard what Ichigo said, "we need you. You need us, so join us, join the Vizards."
Ichigo blinked, "I have no idea what you are talking about." Ichigo responded.
"You know, that mask you've been wanting to control, well, we can help. In this group we all have mastered our masks, with some training you could too." Shinji said.
Ichigo was happy and creeped, also confused too, for he was just told that he could master his Hollow, nice, but Shinji, something didn't sound right about this whole thing, and of course he was confused cause he had met him just yesterday and he was now revealing that he had an inner Hollow and such.
"Well, I-" Ichigo said, but suddenly he was interrupted by a loud explosion somewhere nearby. He looked back at Shinji and right before he rushed to the scene he said, "Sorry, duty calls."
Ichigo pulled out Kon from his pocket, which he had put in his pocket today just in case he was in this sort of situation, and began running full speed in his Soul Reaper form, not only to get there fast but also to get away from the complaining and whiny Kon behind him. When he arrived upon the scene of the explosion, he saw in the midst of a crater, most likely where the explosion had taken place, two people, or were they people? The first one was enormous and seemed like an elephant almost, with tan skin and nearly no neck and legs, so really he looked like a big ball. Then below him was another person, paler than a sheet of paper and skinny as a stick this person had no emotion in his green eyes or his pale face. Yet Ichigo wasn't sure if they were human because they both had a hole in their bodies and Hollow masks… As well as swords. Now, Ichigo wasn't sure if those swords were necessarily Zanpakutos or not, but one thing for sure was that these people did not look like people to mess with.
Then, after a moments silence and staring at these creatures, the pale one made eye contact with Ichigo and said, "Finally, the test subject arrives."