Thanks for all the reviews :D keep it up
I do not own any of the rights to bleach, that goes to Tite Kubo.
'Ichigos thoughts'
"Normal Speech"
-Shiro talking in Ichigos head-
* Zangetsu talking in Ichigos head *
"Shiro talking"
"Zangetsu talking"
A forest on the outskirts of the Academy
It was raining. They always hated the rain. It meant only sadness and pain to the hollow and Zanpakuto. Even in materialisation they couldn't escape it. Deciding they should stay outside and keep watch on Ichigo even if it meant standing in the rain at least they wouldn't be alone. Both of them silently settled down next to Ichigo on either side of the tree he'd been propped against.
The rain continued to fall as they sat there waiting for Ichigo to awaken. He had now reached the halfway point of his transformation. The only things left to be hollowfied were the legs and the mask on his face. Drips of rain made their way through the canopy and eventually they were all soaked through but the coldness it brought bothered none of them. The only thing that bothered the spirits was the sense of despair the rain brought with them. They were unsure that Ichigo would break the spell in time, the odds were against him but it had always been that way and he had always broken through the most unlikely situations. This time was different though, before it had been Ichigos friends and family on the line, but this time is was Ichigo himself who was in the way of danger and his self-sacrificing nature could ultimately be his downfall.
"Urghhh," Ichigo groaned as he stirred back into consciousness.
"Finally! Come on kingy get up, ya gotta hurry." Shiro jumped up pulling Ichigo with him and started shaking the half-awake soul reaper.
"I don't think that's a good idea Shiro." Zangetsu warned.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Ichigo attempted to yell at the hollow in a light hearted way but all emotion apart from hate and anger had left him. Acting quickly Zangetsu appeared in front of Ichigo and pulled the hollow away before it caused more damage.
"Ichigo, remember who you are. Don't let these emotions control you or you'll lose everything you fought for." Zangetsu said in an attempt to quell the growing anger that would speed up the transformation.
"I'm okay, thanks old man. We should go end this now shouldn't we, before this gets any worse." The fight for control was evident on his face but Ichigo didn't let the turmoil of emotions control him, "Do you think the Seireitei will send people to help?"
"It is likely, as they would prefer to prevent your hollowfication that could destroy they whole soul society."
"Yeah, but they wanna to eradicate the Oni just like they tried to before. And just like what they did with the Bounts and Qunicys." Shiro sneered, "Are you sure you want their help king? They're gonna wipe them all out! Do you know what that feels like, to be constantly hunted because you can't help what'cha are?"
"I won't let that happen, there has to be another way!" Ichigo vowed, "We should go maybe we can reason with them before the others get there."
"We cannot go yet, I have something we must do. It will only take a second and it will help slow down the hollowfication." Zangetsu indicated for Ichigo to sit, "We shall meditate and by bringing our minds into synchronisation we can act more effectively."
In agreement Ichigo and Shiro sat down on the waterlogged floor and soon Zangetsu joined them as they all closed their eyes and started to meditate.
~/ 15 Minutes Later\~
"We are ready Ichigo, Shiro and I shall return to your mindscape now." At that both Shiro and Zangetsu dematerialised back into his mindscape.
-Ya better not fail kingy, if ya do then I'll be the one in control and I've been wanting to try your friends for a while.-
'Don't worry Shiro I won't fail'.
Meanwhile in the Soul society at a captain meeting
"We have called this emergency captain meeting to discuss the action we should take concerning Kurosaki Ichigo and the reappearance of the Oni." Yamamoto informed the nine captains and three lieutenants who were standing in for the squads who had yet to receive new captains.
"Oh a new specimen, I wasn't around when the Oni appeared the first time. Maybe I can get some experiments done on them." Maryuri Kurosutsuchi grinned as he thought about the many experiments he could do on the Oni.
"Captain Kuchiki, I understand you encountered Kurosaki Ichigo earlier." Yamamoto said ignoring Maryuri.
"Kurosaki was in the 13th division barracks when I caught up with him after I'd run into some soul reapers from the 11th division who had been knocked out by a hollow with his abilities." Byakuya said, "When I got there he was indeed a hollow as the hell butterfly had reported earlier but he still had his rationality. It seemed to me that he was still in the process of becoming a full hollow. Almost half of his body had been hollowfied when I got there and I believe by now he has reached the halfway point in his transformation. Although the transformation seems to be a slow and painful one I believe that the rate of it depends on his emotional state, if he is angered then it speeds up and if he is otherwise I would say it is normal."
"Fascinating, I would love to make him one of my test subjects when this is over." Maryuri said excitement evident on his face.
"Kurosaki Ichigo is not to become a test subject as he is to be destroyed if he becomes a treat to the soul society. Captain Kuchiki continue." Yamamoto said wanting this meeting to be over as soon as possible.
"After the transformation had finished Kurosaki proceeded to faint which is understandable. When this happened his zanpakuto and inner hollow materialised," mummers echoed round the room, "they both gave the warning about the Oni and even gave directions to the hideout which is where they are currently heading to."
"Tell is Captain what was the hollow like?" Toshiro asked curios about the behaviour of a being who was supposed to act on only instinct.
"The hollow seemed to have become more rational according to the Zanpakuto, he even showed some degree of care for those who had helped Ichigo get to the Seireitei." Byakuya replied coldly not wanting to admit that a hollow could have such a thing as rationality.
"Where is the hideout located?" Suì Fēng demanded, "We need to move as quickly as possible if we want to stop this threat to the soul society!"
"They said it was located south-west of the Seireitei and that it would take 2 hours but I believe that he could be there sooner if we leave now." Byakuya answered coldly.
"Then we shall aid the substitute, he has done much for the soul society and we cannot stand and watch him fall into the ways of a hollow." Yamamoto said tapping his stick on the floor as he spoke their command, "all squad captains and lieutenants apart from those of squads 4, 5, 12 and 13 shall take part in the attack on the Oni. You shall leave immediately!"
Everyone sprang into action as they prepared to attack the Oni and prevent Ichigo from turning into a hollow. The captains all went back to their barracks giving orders to those who were left in charge and grabbing their zanpakuto. Within 5 minutes of the captains meeting ending those who had been permitted to go were at the southern gate of the Seireitei.
Unknown to them Kasumi and Akira had snuck away from their teacher and after being given some reiatsu suppressing coats from a man in a green hat and wooden clogs. He'd told them that no matter what Ichigo thought, they were strong enough to help him and he would need their help.
In the world of the living
"It's another hell butterfly." Rukia read the message, tears still in her eyes as she turned to faces a crying Orihime who was being comforted by Tasuki, Chad and Ishida who were to shocked to do anything, "We've been told to remain here while they go and help Ichigo, if it comes down to Ichigo becoming a hollow they're going to send a captain to protect us from Ichigos hunger if he gets out of control."
"Kurosaki-kun…." Orihime murmured wondering how it had come to this. Ichigo had been fine lately, they'd been nothing to suggest that his hollow was taking control again. She would have known, seeing first had what it was capable of had left an imprint on her mind and none of that had been present in Ichigo since that time.
"Don't worry Orihime, Ichigo wont loose. The fool's too stubborn to lose, no matter who the enemy." Rukia said in an attempt to sooth Orihime as well as herself. Judging from what the hell butterfly had said Ichigo was in bad shape, but she wouldn't tell the others it'd make them worry too much and where would be the point in that? Urahara had left to the soul society saying he needed to do something for Ichigo but not what specifically.
Back with Ichigo
He was close, he could feel it. The air was thick with reiatsu similar to that of the Oni he had fought before. As he closed in on the reiatsu the terrain around him changed from lush green forests to rocky hills and uneven ground. Rain still poured down making the ground hard to traverse as it gave the rocks a slight sheen which occasionally cast reflections of Ichigo. The reflections would have scared him but the emotion had left him now so he was left feeling empty unless angered or full of hatred.
He stopped just outside an entrance to a cave from which the reiatsu was coming from. At the entrance of the cave there stood a man who looked similar to the girl he had fought earlier. His face was too carved in anger as he strolled towards Ichigo, his red skinned hand on his sword that hung against his side unsheathed. The blade was thick and seemed to have two handles but it was indistinguishable from afar.
"So you're the one their trying to use." The harsh voice rumbled around the valley of rocks Ichigo had just come through, "I cannot allow you to enter our haven, you would have it destroyed."
"I came here to try and talk it out! You think I want to turn into a monster? I'll kill everyone I care for!" Ichigo tried to reason but he could tell it was futile just from looking at the Oni who had now stopped 10 meters from Ichigo.
"Then you know how it feels, we were once human. Well most of us where, when we were attack by the Oni we unintentionally become one. Since then we were hunted because of the way we live, it is not our fault we need to consume souls! They keep us alive and we would consume those of hollows but then we would become mad with raw instinct only become worse than what we actually are." The angry from the Oni vibrated around the valley causing rocks to shake as if they were connected, "Our loved ones were all killed! Children slaughtered because they couldn't run away fast enough and now it shall happen again because of the mistake of one foolish woman on her quest for revenge!"
"Then just release me from this spell! And I shall be gone!" Ichigo yelled.
'If they don't want the soul society here then why don't they let me go?'
*I think that he is lying about that part, although he is being truthful about everything else, his thirst for revenge is overwhelming.*
"That doesn't matter. I shall end your life here if that's what it takes. Maybe then the process shall be finished and we shall be free." Grabbing his sword from his side he split it in two and charged towards Ichigo red reiatsu surrounding his blades as they curved into twin scimitars.
"I didn't want it to come to this." Ichigos monotone voice did little to convey the sadness he'd lost.
-Some just don't have rationality like me king-
'You forget Shiro you've only just got yours, wont it be gone when I break the spell?'
-I suppose it will, but it's nice while it lasts. You betta not die kingy, you know what I'll do if that happens and no one can stop me.- The threat crawled its way through Ichigos mind as he blocked the Onis attack.
'I told you before, I will not lose!' The resolve is what the hollow had been hoping for it, it would be needed for the battles Ichigo had yet to come.
The battle has started! The fight for Ichigos soul hangs in the balance as he has only 3 hours left until he loses himself to the hollow inside.
Thanks for reading guys, sorry if it's bad been trying to write through the writer's block I'm getting :L
Review
p.s if there are loads of mistakes its probably cause I wrote this while almost falling asleep :P