Translations:
Ōbushīrudo – orb shield
Kyohi kabe – rejecting wall
Kakusareta shīrudo – hidden wall.
Lanzador Verde – Spanish: green lancer. Japanese: Jade lance.
Salvaje Verde Atravesar - Savage Jade Pierce.
Midarana sutoraiki – Lustful Strike
Danza de la Muerte Verde – Jade Dance of Death
Ichigo's friends will be more prominent in this chapter, and I'll be alternating between first and last names, and Chad/Sado. If it bothers you guys, leave a comment and I'll do my best to fix it. Also, this chapter will meander a little more to make the transition to Soul Society more natural.
Ichigo woke up in a cold sweat, but was quickly calmed by the presence of his girlfriend, who was currently snuggled in his arms. It was still dark out, and he was sore and exhausted. He was in his body again, and though Kisuke's Bankai had restored the majority of his physical wounds, his whole body still hurt. He snuggled into Nel and fell back asleep. He dreamt of the days when the Soul Society wasn't trying to kill him, the days when he risked his life every other week. He would remedy that particular situation in the near future.
…
Once again, there was an odd lack of a certain old goat trying to kick Ichigo awake. This meant he could sleep two whole extra hours until his body clock and the stirring of Nel woke him again. They both groaned as they sat up, but quickly began to 'congradulate' each other passionately.
Karin walked by the room with her father holding a glass to the door. She immediately kicked him in the side and yelled into Ichigo's room, "Ichigo, our resident perv is listening in again!" She then walked down the stairs.
Moments later, Ichigo, having stopped kissing Nel – to both their disappointments – kicked open the door. "DON'T YOU HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO DO YOU OLD PERV? JUST ACCEPT THAT YOU'RE PAST YOUR PRIME!"
Isshin began to fake-sob and ran down the stairs yelling something like, "MASAKI! OUR CHILDREN ARE SO MEAN!"
"Idiot," Ichigo muttered, "Why can't he just act like a normal human? He's not a captain anymore."
Nel giggled as she wrapped her arms around his waste. "I think it's adorable, Ichi." She kissed his cheek, and they began walking down the stairs.
"Well, we'll be a bit late to school, but at least we'll be there." He grabbed a few waffles that Yuzu had made and walked out with Nel. On the way, Sado turned a corner right behind him.
"Ichigo! Are you okay? I heard from Ishida and Orihime that you were fighting Aizen!" Sado said in his deep, but almost worried voice. Then, in a calmer voice, "Hey Nel."
"Hey Chad. Yeah, we fought him," Ichigo said, grabbing hold of Nel's hand. "The only reason we won was because Kisuke and Hachi put up a barrier to protect Karakura town. I couldn't fight that hard until I knew it was up. Also, Ishida played off Aizen's arrogance and surprised him so I could hit him with a massive Cero. Why are you so late?"
"I slept in. Ichigo, we need to fix your quarrel with Soul Society. Who knows when they will attack again?" Chad looked worried. He almost never looked worried.
"I know," Ichigo said with a pained expression on his face, "I'm going up in a few days. Even though I'd rather you guys not get involved, I know you'll follow me anyway." His friends were damn stubborn. That included Rukia, and Ichigo didn't like being at odds with her. She saved his life, and he saved hers... several times. They couldn't fight forever.
The group of three walked the rest of the way in silence, with Nel and Ichigo holding hands, and Chad a few feet off to the side.
They walked in the door just as a class ended and, as expected, Keigo came rushing at him. "ICHIGOOOO—" just like always, Ichigo stepped to the side and stuck out his arm. Keigo's neck connected with Ichigo's elbow and he fell to the floor. He looked up and opened his eyes wide. "Well hello again—" he was once again knocked to the ground as he attempted to talk to Nel.
"Leave her alone, Keigo," Ichigo said, giving him a dark glare.
"S-sorry Ichigo!" Keigo squeeled, hurrying to class as the five minute bell rang.
Nel giggled and pulled Ichigo to class as well. Chad walked in after them, smiling to himself. It was good to have splashes of normal in the ever changing world the spiritually aware lived in.
…
Class went by smoothly until lunch, at which point Orihime decided to begin talking to him again. She was worried about the fight the day before, for he had a small limp that a precious few noticed – including Nel. But during the whole conversation – unbeknownst to Ichigo – Orihime and Nel were shooting daggers with their eyes at each other.
What Ichigo did notice, was the look of defeat in her eyes. She knew she had lost to the arrancar. "Is something wrong, Orihime?"
"What? Oh! No, I'm fine!" She looked like she was desperately trying not to drown, speaking and waving her arms frantically.
"Um... okay," he said slowly, puzzled.
"Anyway, Ichigo, what are we going to do about Soul Society? We need to get you in their good graces again." Orihime looked genuinely worried.
"I'm going to rest a few days, then we'll go up and walk into some captain meeting," Ichigo stretched nonchalantly. He could handle twelve captains with Nel by his side easily. She wouldn't even have to use Segunda Etapa. He could tell his friends had gotten noticeably stronger as well. They could probably each take multiple lieutenants, and together might stand a chance against a captain.
Ichigo was confident that his little team would be more than enough, and, knowing his luck, Yoruichi would probably end up coming along too. Her advanced Shunko would be very helpful when fighting some of the captains. Just thinking about it was making him feel nostalgic.
The bell shook him out of his reverie, and draped his arm around Nel's shoulders as they walked back to class. They walked in just as the second bell finished ringing. Miss Ochi just sighed as she saw them walk in – she wouldn't stand another detention with the two of them, so she was just going to let it slide.
When all the students finally sat and quieted down, she began her droning, and Ichigo once again spaced out, just staring at Nel beside him.
The day continued on like that, and when finally the bell rang, Ichigo rose from his seat, gave Nel a quick peck on the cheek, and they walked home together, to find a brawl going on in the underground 'cavern.'
Ichigo immediately turned around and went upstairs, not willing to deal with a fight right now. He went up to his room, and he and his beautiful green-haired girlfriend fell on the bed and passed out, finally realizing how tired they still were from the fight with Aizen.
They slept without waking until the morning, at which point they once again woke up and went to school. This cycle repeated for a number of days – go to school, talk about the invasion, go home, fall asleep – until they were finally falling asleep after dinner, instead of before.
They decided they would invade Soul Society after school on Friday. That day, school went relatively normal. Keigo was an idiot, Tatsuki was curious, class was boring, etc. At lunch Ichigo and his friends – Ishida, Chad, and Inoue – discussed plans for that afternoon, and as the final bell rang they all went to meet up at Kisuke's shop.
"Well hello there, and long time no see Ichigo," Kisuke said, making no move to let them in.
"Out of the way, blondie. We have to go clear things up with Soul Society," said Ichigo with a hard look, pushing past Kisuke to his 'basement' where the entrance to the dangai was, with his friends close behind.
They all made their ways down to the gateway and waited for the shopkeeper to open it. Kisuke strolled slowly along behind them, humming the original Bleach opening theme. He walked up to the gateway and tapped a big red button, causing a portal to open.
"Hey Ichigo, couldn't you have just used a garganta?" Kisuke asked.
"… yes." Ichigo said slowly. Every one of his friends face palmed.
"Silly Ichi," Nel giggled as she pecked him on the lips. "Let's go!" She shouted in glee, and they all began running to the portal, and Yoruichi appeared close behind as they reached it.
"This'll be lotsa fun! I wonder what my little bee is doing..." Yoruichi smiled almost like Kenpachi. It was kind of scary.
They all jumped through the portal at the same time and hauled ass to the end. About half way there they saw the cleaner behind them and doubled their efforts.
"Why does Kisuke always send us in when that damn thing is coming?" Ichigo asked no one in particular. "Kyohi kabe," Ichigo said as he threw up a wall of reishi. "That'll give us just enough time... now run!"
They made a mad dash to the end and jumped out right in front of the captains' hall, just as the cleaner would have swallowed them. Nel put her ear up to the door. "It sounds like there are about twelve people in there, and judging by their Reiatsu, all captain class." Nel smiled. "Ready Ichi?" She asked.
"Let's go," Ichigo replied. "You guys, stay here for when the reinforcements show up." He drew Tensa Zangetsu and opened the doors to the meeting, Nel close behind. "Hey everybody, long time no see."
It was at that point that Ichigo heard almost every shikai in the room released, with the exception of Byakuya, Kyoraku, Ukitake, and Yamamoto
"Ichigo Kurosaki! What nerve you have walking in on this meeting, boy." Yamamoto boomed from across the room. "Give me one reason we shouldn't end you right now."
"You can't," Ichigo said simply and was met with silence. After a moment, Yamamoto spoke again.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"I want you guys to stop trying to kill me, and I want to be on the same side again," Ichigo then added a quieter, "Although I never switched," under his breath.
Yamamoto was so genuinely surprised he opened both eyes; he didn't expect this boy to still remain loyal to the place trying to kill him. He always wondered why Ichigo himself hadn't killed and Soul Reapers. "I'm sorry Ichigo, but that is not up to us. Central forty-six is solely responsible for our laws, and we must follow them. Though many of us see you as a friend, Central forty-six has branded you a traitor. Unfortunately we must kill you." Yamamoto had a genuinely sad expression on his face.
So be it, Ichigo thought. "Nel, let's go," Ichigo said as he pulled on his mask.
Nel raised Gamuza horizontally in front of her. "'Declare' Gamuza."
"Remember: Non-lethal attacks only," Ichigo said.
"Got it Ichi," Nel replied.
The first of the captains to attack were the few that were really into it – the others hung back, not really wanting to fight.
The two small teams – invader and defender – saw sparks fly from their clashing Zanpakuto as they collided. Ichigo pushed them back with a weak getsuga tensho until none other than Kenpachi Zaraki arrived and crushed the arc of energy with a single hand.
Ichigo and Kenpachi both spoke at the same time.
"Oh, shit."
"This'll be so fun!"
And with that, the chapter is finished. Sorry about the lack of action, but like I said, I wanted to make the transition more natural, and I felt like being mean and leaving another cliffhanger, just like that damn Tite Kubo. I hope you enjoyed, and I'll get the next one out as soon as possible. *Smiley Face*