Pandemonium

Ch 5

Desert Run

Thanks to the following awesome reviewers: AvariceOfTheTulips, sweetdesserts, Black Storm Van Pendragon, hitsuzen-hime, SARGE, Vardlynn, Olinek, XDesertXRoseX, xDaRkxRaINx, V, Sever My Sweet Tooth, LuckyV, Lioange, forevereden, S., Tsukasa..rule, DEMONIC BLACKMAGIC, faithNfantasy, and Mesutora.

And thanks a ton Olinek for keeping me on a role with this ~_^ You know what I mean lol.

Thank you all very much for your reviews! Sorry for the horrid late update... I was tied up in Crash Course and then school/summer job kinda sucked out my soul for a while. Thanks for being patient ^^

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Seriously, I really don't... so don't sue me because I can't give you anything... The amazing Tite Kubo does. But I don't recommend suing him either. Lol.

And if I by any chance use the wrong term or gun reference-whatever- please be kind in letting me know so I can change it :) I'm basing all my info on books, movies and what my friends who have/are in the military/marines/etc say.

Chapter outline/warnings: A little sabotage and espionage. Grimmjow likes barking orders and Ichigo is trying to get the hang of things. We also get a look in on his sisters back home.

"What do you mean I'm going with you guys?" Ichigo sputtered out at Grimmjow. "I was just in training! I can't be expected to go-"

"You're in the army now kid- no more piss ass excuses. You do as your told by your commander. In this case that's me!" Grimmjow ran a hand through slick blue hair in frustration. After Urahara enlightened him on his teams next mission, Grimmjow had quickly rallied his men and briefed them on what was going to happen in the next forty-eight hours. Ichigo seemed to question his every order.

Grimmjow had instructed everyone to be ready within the hour. As soon as he left their quarters, the blue haired Lieutenant General was followed by his new soldier. He could see it in the kid's eyes, still clinging on to the innocence that the battlefield had yet to wipe away, yearning for anything but this.

It was utter bullshit, having someone so reluctant to fight being sent on his squad, but who was he to reject another gunner? His men were already dwindling as of the last mission in the Wastelands. Light...

Grimmjow shook his head. He was the one who was to protect them, to ensure their survival along with his own.

"But I haven't even been out in the field yet. You can't expect me to know what to do without any real field experience." Ichigo continued trailing after the other man. His heart was thundering loudly in his chest, squeezing with every pang of worry that flittered across his mind at the thought of going on his first mission to an enemy hideout. What about his sisters back home?

What if he didn't make it back?

What if he died?

Grimmjow whirled around on the shorter man. This was no time for someone to chicken out now. Ichigo should've known what he was signing up for when he signed his name on the line. "What are your orders, soldier?"

Ichigo stiffened and stood ram-rod straight. "To protect and ensure this country's safety. My country's wellbeing before my own."

Nodding, Grimmjow continued. "And in doing so you willingly follow orders received from your commanding officers. Me."

"Yes, Sir."

Grimmjow could see Ichigo's pulse throbbing in his neck. He was utterly terrified. Rolling his eyes, Grimmjow sighed. "At ease." Looking around, Grimmjow pulled Ichigo into one of the alley's between the buildings. "You cannot back out now. The only way you will be truly free is when you are sent home in a wooden box."

Ichigo grimaced. Another nauseous wave of fear flooding his body.

"My job is not to console you, that's for the psychiatrist here. I'm in charge of making sure your ass does what it's supposed to do and make sure you get back in time for more orders. Now, stop your bitching and toughen up."

From his position near the orange haired soldier, Grimmjow could now see the tiny array of freckles that danced across the boy's now tanned skin. They were in close proximity... kind of like when- Grimmjow shook his head, expelling the permanent mental image of a naked Ichigo. Now was not the time to let his libido run amok! "Fuck..."

Brown eyes blinked owlishly. "What?"

Pulling away from Ichigo's personal bubble, Grimmjow turned and began walking away. "Two days time to prepare and do any last minute shit." He turned around, facing Ichigo who was still standing in the alley-way. "Welcome to the front lines, Ichigo."

xxxxxxx

Karin sat at the kitchen table, smashing away at her PSP's buttons. "God... dammit!" Gritting her teeth in frustration, she was so concentrated on the small device that she failed to hear her sister come up behind her.

"What're you doing?"

Letting out a yelp, Karin jumped in her seat and a sorrowful song played from her PSP. "Aahhh no! No, no, no, no!" Glaring at the screen, her character lying dead on the ground, she then turned her seething gaze onto her now chuckling sister. "You did that on purpose."

Yuzu snickered and danced out of the way of a swat. "No I didn't!"

Turning back to her game, Karin frowned. "I was so close too..."

"Karin, Yuzu?" Mrs. Downing called from the front.

"What?" The two Kurosaki sisters replied in unison.

A woman in her late fifties came through the parlor, holding out a white envelope. "This is for you two. Just came in the mail today. It's from Ichigo."

Both sisters scrambled towards the envelope, both hoping to be the one to reach it first and be the one to open it. Karin, being the older, taller of the pair, nabbed the white encased letter from Mrs. Downing's loose grip. Grinning at the two girls, the elder woman continued on to the kitchen and sat down at the table, setting aside the other stack of papers.

"Ohh Karin you cheated! It's not fair!" Yuzu made a grab, trying to ensnare the envelope.

Grinning down, Karin continued dangling the envelope above her little sister's head. "Nope. I got it first so I get to open it and read it!"

Yuzu frowned, eyes widening and sparkling with tears. "B-But... can you at least read it out loud, big sister?"

Karin felt her resolve crumble. Goddammit! Yuzu knew how to get whatever she wanted using those damn big eyes and big sister crap! "... Fine..."

Instantly, Yuzu's once sorrowful look brightened as if she was handed a puppy. "Yay!"

Mrs. Downing laughed out loud, enjoying the two girl's antics. "How about you two come in here and read it?"

Settling down at the kitchen table again, Karin carefully peeled open the envelope. Unfolding the paper, she scanned it once. Her eyebrows knitted together. "Why is it dated from last month?"

Smiling knowingly, Mrs. Downing patted the girl's hand. "It takes a while for letters or anything else to come and go from the military. That's just the way things are."

"So if we write Ichigo today and mail it, he won't get it till next month?" Yuzu pouted.

Nodding, the older brunette smiled sadly. "That's right Yuzu.

"Well that's dumb." Karin spat. "How hard is it to mail letters and stuff?" She rolled her eyes and begun to read Ichigo's scribble.

Hey Karin, Yuzu!

"Ha! He said my name first!" Karin sing-songed.

"Shut up it doesn't mean anything! You're just older!" Yuzu snagged the paper out of Yuzu's grasp and begun to read.

I hope you two aren't giving Mr. and Mrs. Downing a hard time. They were extremely nice in letting you two into their home while I'm away. You two better be keeping their home tidy and not messing things up.

"We aren't Ichigo." Yuzu, then glanced over at her sister. "Well, not me."

"Hey!" The dark haired girl made a grab for the paper again.

Mrs. Downing rolled her blue eyes and plucked the paper from Yuzu's grasp easily. "I'll read it girls."

Things have been going OK here. So far anyways. Training was really hard at first. I honestly didn't expect it to be anything like what I'm doing now.

The heat is unbearable sometimes. I honestly wish I was back home and sitting in the cool air conditioning. Every time I think we will have a break from the heat, it turns out to be that much hotter the next day.

I don't know how the other guys stand it. Especially those who've been here way longer than me.

Speaking of, a while ago there was a battalion that was being evacuated from a fight out in the Wastelands. I can't go into much but it seemed bad.

I ran into a guy from there and he scared me with all the blood and everything just caked on his clothing. He seemed to be kinda messed up in the head some too. But who am I to say anything? He's probably seen more than a lot of us.

I kinda want to get to know him more- or some of the others. Right now my only friend is Renji. Met him on the bus ride over here.

He's really weird but cool. Karin you'd get a kick out of all his tattoos and Yuzu you'd have a lot of fun braiding his hair!

We both train together too.

Pretty soon we will be graduating from our training and assigned onto teams based on our skills. I'm sorry I haven't written to you girls sooner. They always keep us active. Really no down time.

I'm starting to realize that there's a lot more going on than what the news is showing you all. Like I said before, I can't go into it. But if anything happens, you guys need to get out as fast as you can.

Hopefully things will all be sorted out soon so I can come home.

I miss you guys.

Ichigo

Mrs. Downing began folding the paper, sighing and slipping it back into its white confinement. "You girls plan on writing him back now." She smiled sadly, holding each of their hands within her own. "I'm sure Ichigo would love to have a letter from each of you. You're brother loves you both very much."

Yuzu looked down at her hand, trying to hide away the tears she knew were beginning to well up. Over the past weeks without Ichigo around was hard on her. She was so used to seeing him constantly, being their care taker and now father figure... "I miss him Mrs. Downing."

The smaller girl went around the table and embraced her neighbor, smothering her face into the woman's chest. Small shakes wracked her body as she clung to the woman.

Karin continued sitting there, watching after her sister, before glancing away. Pulling her hand out of the grasp Mrs. Downing had on her, the eldest of the Kurosaki sisters stood and walked out of the room. Stuffing her feet into her shoes, Karin exited the house, calling out that she'd be back later.

"I do hope your sister will be alright..." Mrs. Downing said quietly as she ran soothing hand circles up and down Yuzu's back.

"She'll be fine... Karin's always the tough one."

As she walked down the sunlit sidewalk towards the playground, Karin bent down and picked up a rock, tossing it towards the metal trash can. "Stupid... Ichi!"

Walking towards a lone swing, she sat down and swung back and forth slowly, mulling over her brother's words. "Come back big brother..."

xxxxxxx

Two days had come and gone quickly. With Renji gone alongside his other fellow Air Force members, Ichigo was once again alone, without a friend to guard his back. Now he had to rely on his team- Grimmjow.

Just as soon as he thought he was finally kindling some kind of friendship with the other recruits, they were all up and separated. Thrust into different sections of the military based on their own unique skills the commanders saw during their training.

But... FUCK. Why was Ichigo selected to be on the front lines? Didn't that mean that he pretty much sucked? He was basically going to be sent out as mine patrol... Didn't he show enough of his intelligence during training?

He at least expected to be assigned to a medical field! Filed medic or something? Nope. He was attached to the front line's blue devil's team.

Strapping on his black vest and reaching over towards his flash bangs, Ichigo begun suiting up. They were going to be scouting out the enemy's location at night. They were to get in, gather intel and capture the building where Nnoitra was stationed.

Holy shit on a cracker, who would've thought that his very first mission was going to be something of this caliber? Ichigo reached out and picked up his helmet, night vision goggles attached to the front. Clicking the buckle, he hefted up his standard issue rifle and gave himself a check over.

With everything in place, Ichigo headed out to meet the others of Grimmjow's team- his team. These were the people who Ichigo now had to protect and he himself trusted to protect him. They are the ones who will have his back.

There was no time for any more worry to cloud his mind. He couldn't think of his family. He couldn't think of anything else but the mission. Tunnel vision.

Clad in a flexible dark grey and black body armor, Ichigo trudged across the dusty yard towards the rumbling Humvees. The camouflaged trucks waited, ready to carry their fighters to and from the target location. Each heavily steel enforced vehicle came with a mounted gunner, the vehicles only attack besides its surprising speed.

The moon shone brightly overhead, the only form of lighting besides those on the Humvees. As soon as they would get into range, all lights would be off and they would be carrying on by foot. That was a good few miles. Guess it was a good thing that during training they had to run about five miles every morning.

Training... Ichigo started begun reminiscing the continuous days of 'torture.' To him, he felt that the military was basically re-wiring his entire being. He was being moulded into what a soldier was, not a civilian. He couldn't go back to regular life ever again.

I'm hardwired to shoot and kill, Ichigo thought to himself as he pulled up next to another one of his fellow soldiers from training. The shorter man was grinning madly, making gunshot sounds as he pretended to be shooting down enemy soldiers. "Fuck yeah I can't wait to get me some Mundo fuckers. They're not gonna know what hit'em!"

Ichigo chuckled at the other's antics. "Just remember who're friendlies and the enemies, Skidz."

'Skidz' gave an exasperated sigh. "Man I know. I'm not gonna shoot yer ass if you were worrying 'bout it."

Falling into a loose stance, gun arm and machine slung on top of his shoulder, Ichigo shook his head. "Yeah, whatever you say man. No slip ups this time, Skidz, we can't just miraculously repel metal. Keep your stance still and stop moving around all the goddamn time!"

"Shut it, Strawberry." Skidz teased back. "I've been sitting around doing jack shit. I need some action man. I mean, this is what we've been training for."

"If you keep that up you're bound to get yourself killed." Both Ichigo and Skidz turned towards the driver of the closest Humvee where a blond haired man was sitting, arms propped up lazily on the steering wheel. "Names Shinji. You two will be hitching a ride with me in my baby I like to call her Sheila." He patted the rumbling Humvee's dashboard.

"You named the Humvee?" Skidz inquired.

"If you don't like it than I'll strap you to the roof and use you as an extra shield. Or better yet, how about my front bumper?"

"Shinji!" A voice called out from behind the trio causing all the focus to zero in on the approaching blue haired Lieutenant General. "We leave in five. Get your asses in the Humvees and make sure your radios are turned on."

"Sir!"

A flurry of men began to clamber into their designated vehicles. Guns and helmets clanking against the metal Humvee innards while bodies jostled from side to side. It took them four to fully settle in and head out.

Front gates opening their chained links, gun turrets targeted on the dark abyss spread out before them, the line of six Humvees exited the compound in a loud roar. Heavy set wheels churning up the dead sandy earth, the group was soon swallowed up by the night. A few wisps of dust littered the clear night air near the compound where bright stadium lights illuminated the night.

Long range radio transmission to and from the base command to the battalion heading off into the Wastelands would cut out at a certain point due to natural interference. At 0100 hours, Grimmjow's team were to cut out of radioing range, switching to their small collective ones, then.

They were on their own out there until the made it back to the borders.

The same could be said for Aizen's Commander, Nnoitra. Aizen must know of the radio interference... but then why send out a whole militia to be stationed there? Ichigo pondered on that thought. He dared not voice his question.

One thing he learned from Grimmjow was to never question him.

After all, what did Ichigo know about a battlefield?

He was just some hopeful med student, thrust into the life of a killer.

Leaning his head back against the inner body of the dark Humvee, Ichigo tried to calm his mind. Make it clear for what was to come. Maybe get some kind of sleep...

Grimmjow's voice crackled over their individual ear pieces. "Our ETA is 0130. That's about an hour from now. Remember our plan. Stick to it. And for fuck's sakes, don't get yourselves killed. Radios silent till then."

A chorus of 'yes sir's' sounded through the receivers.

Time passed too quickly for Ichigo's liking. The ride was fast and rough; the juggernaut like vehicles tore through the barren land towards their destination. A few larger than normal bumps in the road had Ichigo wondering just what it was that the wheels were flattening underneath them.

A part of him did not want to know, however.

A deathly silence encompassed the group as they breached the radio line. Only the sound of the growling engines was heard in the darkness. Soon, they too were silenced and those sitting in the back were ruthlessly shaken forwards as the line halted.

Grimmjow's voice once again crackled on the radio in Ichigo's ear. It was strange to hear the usually boisterous man speak rather quietly, calmly. Ichigo was forced to focus all his attention on to what his commander was saying.

Their objective was to infiltrate the main communications building and hack the systems there without raising the alarm.

Of all the things to put the two new recruits on... it just had to be an infiltration mission. At night, no less...

Broken off into smaller groups of four, Grimmjow ordered them to set up a perimeter and take out enemy forces silently. Booted feet trudged across the sand quickly, silently. The only sound that was heard was a bit of shuffling- not even their breathing was irregular or misplaced. Training constantly as they did earlier helped them prepare for this.

Ichigo had to hand it to his drill instructors, they really knew how to whip you into shape.

Over the mounds of sand and speckled skeletons of buildings and homes, Ichigo could make out the small flickers of light from a cluster of buildings about a mile away. So close... His stomach was beginning to tighten with knots. It was almost time to take this whole thing to the next level.

Ahead of the group, Grimmjow's large frame acted as a guide in the darkness. He held up his hand in a fist, signaling for the rest to halt and seek shelter behind one of the crumbling walls. Two fingers pointed left and two right.

Ichigo, Shinji and two others darted left while Grimmjow, Rukia and two more of the more elites headed down the middle path towards the main building. His heart was thumping hard against his chest, even in the depths of night, Ichigo could still feel trickles of sweat run down his back, being absorbed by the hem of his shirt.

Senses amplified, every pant of breath, every step taken, every sweat drop, Ichigo could hear, see and feel all around him. Rifle held upwards towards a doorway, Ichigo pushed the wooden barrier open quietly allowing for the others to quickly race in and check the rooms.

Clear.

Next place.

Their group and the other that headed left were to ensure that their left quadrant was secured. Four more buildings proved to be the same. To be completely honest with himself, he was kind of yearning for some kind of action... A few scruffles here and there.

Just something that he could take out some of his adrenaline on. His blood was riddled with the stuff. It was an entirely different kind of fluid that raced through his veins, making him itch to just pull the trigger and-

Someone emerged from the staircase, Ichigo could hear the breath coming in, preparing for a yell. Ichigo saw the gun raise before his own and immediately he froze up.

This was it.

He wasn't paying attention like Grimmjow had constantly told them. This was the end. His very first mission and he was going to be going home in a box. Karin and Yuzu... they would be all alone now!

A milisecond later said enemy was crumbling, blood gushing out from a bullet wound to the head. As the man fell down, Shinji caught the body as to not alert any of the others. The blond glared at Ichgio and the younger man knew he had come this close to dying because of failing to check his corners.

Shinji and another headed up the stairs and a few muffled shots were heard followed by three bodies dropping to the floor.

"Hey... Ichigo you OK man?" Skidz placed a hand on Ichigo's shoulder.

He hadn't realized it, but he was still standing in the same position when the gunner was about to end his life. Ichigo blinked, trying to clear his mind of his impending death. If it weren't for the others... "Y-yeah... Yeah I'm... good."

Ichigo glanced back at the fallen body, the man's body still pumping out blood which oozed from his head. Brain matter and other fluids leaked from both entrance and exit wound as the splatter of blood on the wall behind him dripped down slowly.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Ichigo scurried over towards another side of the small enclosure and emptied whatever he had in his stomach. A few retches later, Ichigo wiped his mouth with the back of his black gloved hand.

This was so different from school! It was one thing to cut into someones body and fix it- you see a paint bucket full of blood and feel around the live humans' organs as you preformed a surgery!- yet seeing the guy's brains literally explode out of his head... Another round of nausea rolled up Ichigo's spine and he found himself retching again. The sickly taste of stomach bile lingered on his tongue as he tried to stop.

Maybe it was a good thing that Grimmjow had sent Ichigo and some of the other less experienced members on their current path. Fuck. And here I was hoping for more excitement and some action, Ichigo chided to himself.

Grimmjow knew what he was doing. Now all Ichigo had to do was ensure that what his commander ordered him to do, he did 110 percent. Grimmjow was counting on him to succeed.

"Move it we, still need to secure this area." Shinji hissed as he and the other soldier silently made their way down the stairs.

They came around a corner and the blond held up his hand. Everyone flung themselves against the nearest wall, using the shadows to hide their forms. Motioning to the roof, Shinji held up four fingers. The group of four all took aim at the four Mundo soldiers standing on each corner of the small rooftop.

One quick pull of the trigger and four bodies crumpled to the floor. Thankfully none fell from the roof, alerting the others most likely sitting inside the building. Ichigo gulped. He had just killed someone in less than ten seconds... His first kill.

Glancing over at Skidz, Ichigo couldn't help but grimace at the satisfied look on the other man's face.

Moving again, the group entered the building and took out the two men stationed on each floor quickly. Next building, there were a handful of more men littering the empty rooms and were more heavily armed. A stray bullet struck Shinji in the arm but the guy continued aiming precise shots at mens' heads. Once that building was taken care of, Ichigo's group met up with the other. Rooftops in their quadrant were cleared, as well as the buildings.

Shinji the ordered the rest to spread out, take a position and await further orders from Grimmjow. Ichigo headed to the back door that opened up into an alleyway. Across the narrow passageway there was another building and a scuffling sound echoed through the thought to be empty space.

Ichigo's heart sped up. He was about to call for someone when he thought that this might be a true test for him. He needed to do this, to prove to the others, to Grimmjow, that he could be a true soldier. Silently slipping in through a hole in the white concrete wall, the orange haired foot soldier scanned the room.

Gotta check my corners, Ichigo told himself as his gun pointed in each direction. The night scope mounted on his rifle aided him greatly. Seeing no one in the bottom room, Ichigo quietly headed up the stairs.

The should be dark room was illuminated by the gaping hole in the flat roof, allowing for streams of white moonlight to shine in. With the light aggitating his night vision scope, Ichigo pulled away and used his own eyesight to try and find anyone- or any thing that was making the noise.

I swear I heard something, Ichigo said to himself as he walked around the room. There was no way to get to the rooftop like there was in other places. Letting his gun drop down to his side, Ichigo sighed. Guess there was no one here. Making his way towards the opening, Ichigo was caught completely unguarded when a man seemed to materialize out of nowhere.

A silent, horriddly aimed gunshot wizzed past Ichigo's face, nicking his cheek. Feeling the warm stream of blood run down his face, Ichigo reacted instinctively. Forgoing his gun, Ichigo grabbed the man's arm and tried wrestling the others' gun free from his grasp.

Ichigo gasped as a punch landed on his side, hitting his ribs instead of his gut. Whoever this soldier was, he was not very good at hand to hand. Ichigo got one of his hands free and jabbed it into the man's neck, breaking his windpipe with a sickening crunch.

The man started gagging, quickly releasing Ichigo and grabbing at his own neck. Watching the man suffocate to death made Ichigo feel deathly sick. He reached for his gun to quickly end the man's misery but another man seemed to have come in to help his partner.

A kick sent Ichigo flying across the cluttered room into a desk. Fuck he lost his gun! Before he could pull his knife from his leg sheath, Ichigo's head was slammed into the desk. Seeing stars burst into his vision, Ichigo fought against the body that was pressing down on him, trying to kill him.

Grunting as the heavier man began squeezing down on his neck, Ichigo gave one quick burst of power and shoved the man off of him. In an instant, Ichigo was once again being assaulted. This time, his very own knife was being used against him.

The man must have snagged it when he was being pushed back!

Lunging forwards with the blade swinging down at Ichigo, the orange haired Karakura soldier instinctively gripped the attacking hand, halting the motion down towards his vulnerable body. Ichigo stepped back to try and strengthen his footing but slipped on a piece of wood. The two tumbled down into the moonlight, bodies contrasting greatly.

The Mundo soldier was dressed in an array of white camouflage- probably so that during the daytime he blended well with the white buildings- while Ichigo himself was nothing but the color of the night. Getting his hand free from Ichigo's grasp, the enemy slammed his fist across the others' temple.

Ichigo let out a cry of pain, momentarily loosening his grip.

That was all the man needed to bring down Ichigo's own blade against him.

TBC

Poor Ichi... He was just trying to prove to everyone that he could be a good soldier!

The next chapter should be up sooner than 5 months LOL. (A week or so give or take).

Thanks a bunch for reading! Hope you enjoyed this.

Review please?

~ChaosGarden