Part two in my opinion is better. Enjoy!
Through Red Haze
Like his breath had been ripped from still moving lungs, burned from the sudden withdraw of air, was the only explanation given by his body. Nothing could have made him forget that pain. Things were resonating inside him, his instincts were buzzing – he was getting a feeling that something bad was happening. Once, not long ago, he felt this pulse; lifetimes could have passed before he had this sensation again. However his reflexes howled that there were more pressing matters at hand. His wits screamed at him to move out of the way before he got riddled with holes from upcoming shots of a Quincy bow. This time he was lucky enough to dodge.
It was Ishida's turn to acknowledge victory. A grin of satisfaction spread across the Quincy's face, matched with an equally cool glare from his eyes. A cold, indifferent smile devoid of emotion framed Uryuu's visage, sending chills down Ichigo's spine.
Uryuu was not terribly intimidating to Ichigo. Oftentimes Ishida would throw accusing and degrading looks; usually he would retaliate with his own against the Quincy. No malice existed between them, their feuding only a result of equal rivalry. Looking at Ishida now instilled a fear he never knew; could this even been the same person? In an instant he knew the feeling that provoked a sense of dread and panic in him.
Uryuu's reiatsu resolved intent to kill.
Urahara sat, legs folded in front of him, with his eyes closed in the empty room. With all the new commotion around, the need to relax gained priority. Tessai recommended meditation, along with his 'homemade herbal remedy'. Urahara's breath stopped short, remembering the last time Tessai tried to give him one of those. He let the vision of being pent up in the restroom for hours slip away as his breathing resumed, deep inhale, letting his mind relax. It was not often he indulged in clearing his thoughts; the three employees often had a way of keeping the place pretty hectic. Such is the way of retail, he thought. Spiritually he could benefit as well, the calming effect of the meditation let his reiatsu harmonize with the area around him.
Sort of like a peeping tom, if you will.
Kon still being tossed around by the kids. At least they're occupied.
Tessai in the middle of some concoction. Note to stay away from that.
Kurosaki and Ishida in the inner chamber. Now that's more like it.
Normally the chamber was sealed off to outside spiritual pressure, but being the store owner had its quirks. Also leaving the door to the basement wide open helped, but doesn't sound as nice. He focused on the spiritual exchange.
Therefore the pulse that hit Ichigo was just as evident to Urahara as it shook him to his core. A question formed on his brow. Someone's reiatsu suddenly…changed?
"Mhn?" a voice startled him out of the trance. His eyes popped open, and about three inches from his face was the quizzical look of Tessai, complete with medicine.
"AH!" Urahara jumped up and away suddenly, pressing himself against the wall of his office: Less for sake of being frightened, more for the mysterious bottle in his employee's hand. His fan subconsciously flicked to his face. Defense maybe?
"Is something wrong, boss? Just so happens I've got a remedy for that."
"No! Thank you." His tone was light and cheery, hinted with a bit of anxiety. "I'm fine." Smiling his normal smile and his discomfort all but gone, Urahara waved his hand lazily away. "I'm just going to check to see how the match is going downstairs."
He slid sideways, keeping his eye on Tessai until he exited the room.
At full run, Ichigo was having a hard time outpacing the Quincy. Where was this newfound energy coming from? He turned to swat away a few stray missiles heading for his location, just to turn and run some more. What was that malevolent glow about him?
"You have nowhere to run, reaper. Face me!" the tone remained unnerving.
As much as they bickered, Ichigo never felt the want to intentionally hurt Ishida. The reiatsu emanating from the Quincy was definitely the opposite. He turned to face Uryuu head on.
"Look, I don't want to hurt you, you bastard! Just what are you trying to do!?"
"Silence!" More bolts flew. One struck Ichigo in the shoulder. It was superficial, but painful as the spiritual dart flew into and out of the other side of his shinigami form.
Ichigo staggered and fell on one knee. His zanpakuto imbedded the ground, using the hilt as a prop to keep himself upright. That bolt was unbelievably painful, as if each bolt shared the same intent to kill him. Droplets of blood fell to the ground before him.
In an instant Ishida stood over him, barely a yard away. A breeze stirred his hair though no wind existed in the underground cavern. The shine on his glasses prevented Ichigo from looking into his eyes, though he was sure what he would find there. The Quincy's hand rose again, calling upon the named bow just inches above Kurosaki's head.
"Stand, so that you may have an honorable death." Were these words coming from Ishida's mouth?
"I don't know what you're trying to do, but I'm not going to play along." He stood slowly, shifting his body to face Ishida fully, leaving his stance wide open. "Do you want to kill me? I'd like to see you try, I'm not going to let you. As for me, I'm not going to kill you either."
Uryuu's teeth clenched, his brow furrowed in anger and spite, his words filled with viciousness and hate. "Then die." An arrow slid easily back and locked into place.
A telltale spark of blue light burst from Ichigo as the arrow notched, dancing in a fire-like arc around the soul reaper. Looking carefully, one could see a hollow mask staring back, a spiritual representation of Zangetsu's power. He remained motionless, daring the opponent to move first.
The missile would be strong enough to counter the soul reaper's zanpakuto; he knew this. The Quincy raised a smirk again as he drew his finger back to release the arrow. It hesitated, twitching against his command. There was a thought that ran through his head, asking him what he was doing.
He is not my enemy, stop this!
Uryuu tried to dismiss it.
There is no reason for this fight!
As much as he tried, the digit would not move.
I am about to kill Ichigo!
A strained look came across his face as his logic faltered, Ichigo could see the uncertainty trail across Ishida's face.
Ichigo is not my enemy, what the hell am I doing?
A voice punched back as if countering his resolve.
I will kill him. This substitute shinigami needs to die.
Was this his true feeling? To destroy Kurosaki? Why? Hadn't the soul reaper saved him from death?
Yes…and me as well…
His eyes froze in wide terror.
Who –
Why, I'm shocked. After all, our meeting was not that long ago. Especially since you went through all the trouble to make sure you kept me with you.
His mind raced. What the hell was happening to him?
Still don't know? Let me help you remember.
In a flash, Uryuu's spiritual pressure changed density and flared in a burst pattern around him. It was agonizing, the pain ripped through his body in waves, leaving him on his knees in the wake. Upon regaining control of his body, red ethereal flames ebbed around his body. A memory drifted back to him: It almost felt that if he looked down, he would be staring at blood soaked hands. Ache seeped into his bones. Jouten.
What are you doing to me…?
You have very special powers, indeed. Did you think that all a Quincy could do was shoot poorly misshaped spiritual arrows at hollows? There's much more than that, unless you're content with those shoddy capabilities. Observe.
His glance flicked up to Ichigo. The shinigami's look of worry was evident; he seemed to be mouthing words of concern, but no sound came out.
No…
Uryuu's actions were not his; it felt as though someone else pulled the strings of his body. A hand lifted - he was sure it was his own - and extended the palm towards Ichigo.
Stop…
Kurosaki's eyes went wide as a change in the flow of spiritual power shifted to the outstretched hand of Uryuu. The soul reaper readied his stance to defend.
A cry ripped through the air of pain and anguish as the cannon of power fired from Uryuu's palm; instead of impacting into Ichigo, it skittered off into the landscape. A deafening roar consumed the underground chamber, for through the room seemed huge, a spell of that nature was the limit of what the cavernous area could hold.
A sweat drop creased Ichigo's brow. Ishida changed the trajectory?
Now crumpled on the dirt floor, Uryuu gasped uncontrollably. Like he had run a five mile marathon, his breathing would not slow. Sweat beaded his brow as he regained a crouched position, applying his weight to the downed knee. Head bent, unfocused on the world around him he could feel a pressure behind his eyes. It wasn't over.
Suddenly Ichigo was upon him. "What's wrong?" It was almost an exclamation instead of a question. Ichigo forcefully grabbed Uryuu's shoulders and shook him until his attention snapped up to the soul reaper.
Ichigo was so close.
He could almost smell him.
A very appealing scent of a soul reaper.
"Stay back!" Ishida almost screamed. He scooted almost five feet backwards in a hasty retreat.
A very appealing scent indeed.
Another scream. He realized it was his own. He held his head in his hands, trying to drown out his thoughts.
To taste a shinigami's power.
Ichigo was there again. The look of concern deepened into his natural scowl.
"I said back!" With a twist, Lone Sparrow in all its red haze was in hand, poised to strike Ichigo in the temple.
Yes, a very powerful soul. His scent was intoxicating.
Suddenly Uryuu jerked forward. He didn't intend to, was it even his will? Then he had Ichigo by the neck. The soul reaper was very, very close.
Ichigo's reiatsu leaked power. It oozed from every pore of his spiritual being. Uryuu could sense it; it was as palpable as the shinigami in his hands. He could feel this soul, desirable energy flowing from its being. What was it like to possess such strength? Suddenly he wanted to sample it.
Ichigo's eyes were wide from the strength of the grip Uryuu had him in. He tried to pull away, but to no avail. Whatever this was, it wasn't Ishida; he had to believe that. Even the veracious and feral look in his eyes indicated so. There was a flinch, and those blue pools reflected Ichigo's glare. For a moment Uryuu was himself.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered quietly as he leaned forward. Instead of trying to wrestle his grasp or fend the Quincy away with his zanpakuto, he watched as Uryuu slowly slid close to his face, rising slowly to his lips.
He gasped into Uryuu's mouth as their lips pressed.
What do you think so far? I wonder what will happen? Wait, I'm the writer! Please Review!