Brief: With his Soul Reaper powers restored, and his hollow finally subdued once and for all, Ichigo Kurosaki thinks his life can finally go back to normal. However, a visit to Seireitei soon changes that theory for the young Substitute. Can Ichigo adjust to his new life, or will he give in and return to how it was before?
Warnings: Contains some aggressive language, possible violence and romance throughout. Reader discretion is advised if any of the above offend you.
Pairings: IchiRuki, may contain smaller pairings such as ByaHis or HitsuHina
SPOILERS from the Fullbring Arc and previous
Disclaimer: Bleach is the property of Tite Kubo, not me. If I owned Bleach, Ichigo would already be with Rukia ;)
A/N: I'm dropping some of the wording in exchange for their English dubbed equivalents for comfort. I hope you understand.
Bleach: Bonds Beyond Dimensions
Chapter 5: Hollow Eyes, Human Mind
The months passed quickly for Ichigo; it still seemed like it was only last week he had become a fully-fledged member of the 13 Court Guard Squad, and yet three months had already passed. It had been going well too; with Rukia and Momo's aid, he had successfully made himself more proficient at combat with Kido, and had an adept skill with it. True, he was not as skilled as Rukia or Momo, but he was enough so that he need not worry about most opponents. His time in Squad Five had also allowed him to observe and reorganise the officers somewhat, allowing a more effective group to be formed.
It was a warm afternoon, and Ichigo was in his office with Momo, taking care of the built-up paperwork from the war with Aizen, wondering how the trainees were enjoying their afternoon off, when a familiar face appeared.
"Ichigo, Momo," Rukia greeted as she arrived.
"Hey, Rukia," Ichigo smiled. ""What's going on?"
"Captain Ukitake asked if I could inspect the outer districts of the Rukon District," Rukia explained. "I don't think you've been to the Rukon District much, have you, Ichigo?"
"Well, once," Ichigo nodded, recalling his raid on the Soul Society so many years ago. "But not for a long time."
"Well, would you like to join me?" Rukia asked. "It's nothing too difficult, just some hollow activity reported."
"Well..." Ichigo looked to Momo, who smiled and nodded. "Sure, why not?" He went to get his Haori, but Rukia stopped him.
"Leave it here," she said. "You have to look like a regular Soul Reaper; many residents in the outer districts do not like the Soul Society, or Seireitei, and might pick a fight."
Ichigo nodded, noting that her badge was not on her arm; she was serious about it. He stood, placed Zangetsu's slender sealed form onto his back and headed out with the shorter Lieutenant. They travelled through the streets of the Seireitei in silence and passed through the gates into the first Rukon district. As they travelled through the streets, heading further out, Ichigo looked around and took in the sights; as they got further from the gates of the Seireitei, the districts became more and more run down and in further disarray and squalor. He looked to Rukia.
"It seems worse than when I was last here," he said with a sad tone. Rukia nodded grimly.
"Sadly, the war with Aizen caused great damage to the Soul Society," she explained. "The Rukon districts were also hurt in the fighting; you would be surprised how much damage your fight with Aizen caused by itself." Ichigo's gaze fell on the distant, flattened mountain and he grimaced, surprised to see it once more. "But we have been working to rebuild what we can. Unfortunately, this has left the outer districts, the ones which most needed help to recover, unattended for some time. We're only just getting back to monitoring it properly."
"So many souls here," Ichigo noted. "Is it not a worry they might become targets of hollows?"
"Hollows rarely get further than the sixtieth district," Rukia replied. "And they tend to be wayward spirits without purpose rather than powerful hollows, so we simply send out Soul Reapers to look over the area and deal with the hollows as they come."
"So that's what we are doing?" Ichigo asked. Rukia's nod was all the answer he needed. "Well then, we should-"
He stopped as four men stood in their way ahead, crude weapons in hand. He stopped in his tracks with Rukia.
"Heh, looky what we 'ave 'ere," one of the men drawled in a fickle voice. "Soul Reapers. What are ya doin' in Hanging Dog? Don'cha know it's off limits to your kind?"
"We're conducting a follow up to a reported hollow sighting," Rukia replied authoritatively. "Please step aside and allow us to do our job, for your safety."
"Wha'cha think, boys?" the man asked. "Should we let 'em go?" There came chuckles and Ichigo glanced around, counting the men; another six were behind, and two more had joined the four in front, totalling twelve of them, all ready to attack. He grimaced. "Nah, I don' think we will." He stepped forward. "Hand over yer swords and yer valuables, and maybe we'll let you live." His gaze fell on Ichigo's medallion. "The medallion too."
Ichigo glanced to Rukia and she back to him. Without words, they nodded; their eyes shared the only words needed. He lifted his sheath and Zanpakuto from his back, murmuring a few words, and lowered himself to place down the weapon. As his hand made contact with the ground, a loud shout came;
"Bakudo 21: Sekienton!" Ichigo shouted, causing a great plume of red smoke to shroud the area.
"Bakudo 4: Hainawa!" Rukia shouted a short moment later. The yellow threads darted out and bound around the thugs, immobilising the front six. She went to repeat the action, but Ichigo had acted first, striking the other six in the head with his sheathed blade, knocking them out as the smoke cleared. "Well done, Ichigo," she commended, before turning to the conscious group. "Consider this a warning; impeding Soul Reapers will not be tolerated, especially when their duty is one of your safety." She paused and looked to Ichigo. "Let's go."
He nodded and followed Rukia away. When they reached the outskirts of the district, they found themselves in a meadow, walking down a dirt track.
"You handled yourself well," Rukia said finally. "It seems your training has paid off."
"What can I say; I've got a great pair of teachers," Ichigo replied, hands behind his head as he walked casually. Rukia smiled a little at this comment.
"Regardless, your skills have improved, even if you did use the incantation to aid Sekienton," Rukia replied. She looked at the direction they had come from, sighing sadly. "It really has gotten worse."
"Hm?" Ichigo asked. "You mean Hanging Dog?" Rukia nodded. "Worse how?"
"When I lived there, the people disliked the Soul Reapers and Seireitei," Rukia explained. "But they would not stand up to them so recklessly." She paused. "Maybe we should leave them alone..."
"Nonsense," Ichigo replied. "Just because they hate us doesn't mean we should stop. The police don't stop just because someone hates them, and this is no different. They may resent us, but we cannot leave the souls of Soul Society to their fates."
Rukia blinked, looking at Ichigo; his words had shocked her a little, but they had also caused her to feel more convinced to do what was right. She smiled softly and nodded.
"You're right," she said, a touched hint to her voice. Ichigo detected this much and looked to Rukia, but she had hidden it once more. "We're here; this is where the hollow was reported to be."
They had stopped outside a small, run down village, which looked as though it had been practically torn apart, but there was no sign of anyone, or any hollows either. Even the traces of reiatsu from the assailant had dispersed by now. Ichigo looked around and sighed.
"We're too late," he grimaced.
"Well, let's search the area, in case anything is left," Rukia replied, stepping forward. "Be on guard, Ichigo."
"Right," Ichigo nodded, stepping forward to search the area too.
The buildings they searched were deserted and damaged, but no one was around at all. Rukia was at one end of the village, reporting the matter to Captain Ukitake, and Ichigo was at the far end, looking around for any survivors, but there was nothing.
"There's not even a trace of the hollow," he noted, looking around.
"That's because I killed it already," a voice came. Ichigo turned and looked to the speaker, eyes widening as he did so; the brown cloak and slitted hollow mask covering piercing blue irises could only be one person. He drew his blade, recognising the Knight of Hueco Mundo, Tieran Alrask himself. "Please, do not be alarmed, Kurosaki; I am not here to cause trouble."
"Then why are you here?" Ichigo asked coolly.
"The hollow which attacked this village was an escapee from the courts of justice," Tieran replied. "I was dispatched to retrieve it, but when I arrived and discovered its actions here, I destroyed it instead." He shifted a little. "I apologise that this had to happen."
"Hollows have no place in Soul Society," Ichigo replied. "But I appreciate your help." He did not move to sheath his Zanpakuto. "However, why are you still here?"
"Well, I could sense your presence approaching, and I thought I would talk with you," Tieran shrugged. "Is that a problem?"
"It is when you are near innocent souls," Ichigo replied.
"Well, that's too bad," Tieran sighed, looking Ichigo over. "You're different to them, you know."
"Excuse me?" Ichigo asked.
"The Soul Reapers," Tieran explained. "They are just Soul Reapers, but you... Well, you may be a spirit body, but you are human in mind, yet your eyes are like that of a hollow." Ichigo scowled at this; Tieran's words reminded him a little of a more controlled Grimmjow or Ulquiorra, making his skin crawl. "You would perhaps fit in better with us."
Ichigo raised his sword.
"I've already told you," he said loudly and commandingly. "I'm not going to join you! If that is all you are here for, you had best leave!"
Tieran laughed once, then turned and opened a garganta. He stepped inside and looked to Ichigo once more.
"You will understand our cause in time, Kurosaki," he said. "And when you do, I hope you join us."
And with that, the garganta slid shut, leaving Ichigo there with his weapon drawn. He sheathed Zangetsu once more and turned around, spotting Rukia. She looked like she had been watching from afar.
"How much did you see?" Ichigo asked; he was not angered, just finding out.
"Enough," Rukia replied. "Was that the hollow you saw in Karakura?"
"Yeah, that was him," Ichigo nodded, walking over. "He apparently dealt with the hollow."
"That would explain the absence of hollow reiatsu," Rukia nodded. "I have sent for the clean up crew to repair this place so it can be repopulated. We should return to the Seireitei and file a report." Ichigo nodded. Rukia looked to him and paused. "I will not mention that hollow if you do not want me to."
Ichigo looked to Rukia, smiling at the sentiment, then shook his head.
"It's only right we report it," he replied. "If hollows of that level are able to enter the outskirts of the Rukon district, it could mean trouble for the Soul Society." Rukia nodded. Ichigo looked to her. "So, have you finished your orders from Captain Ukitake?"
"I think so," Rukia nodded. "It was only to check in on the situation out here. Why do you ask?"
"Well, there's nothing going on tonight," Ichigo replied. "I feel like we haven't had a chance to catch up properly in a while."
"We see each other nearly everyday, you fool," Rukia pointed out with a perplexed look. Ichigo furrowed his brow.
"It's not the same thing," he said with a soft huff. Rukia smiled a little.
"I know," she said simply. They walked in silence for a few further minutes, then Rukia spoke up again. "So, what are you proposing?"
"Well, I'm proposing that we go have a drink or something," Ichigo replied, trying to appear nonchalant, scratching his head and looking away. From her place, Rukia did not see the red tinge to his cheeks. "So, are you okay with that?"
Rukia was quiet a while as she thought, feeling her heart beat faster, but she remained composed.
"I'll think about it," she smirked, teasing the Captain. Ichigo scowled.
"That's not funny," he said, unamused. Rukia giggled lightly.
"I need to check in with Captain Ukitake," she said. "And I also need to ensure that my brother does not need me tonight." Ichigo felt himself grimace. "I'll let you know by Hell Butterfly, Ichigo."
"Alright," Ichigo nodded. "I guess I should help Momo with the paperwork anyway. I'll wait for your answer."
Rukia nodded as they parted ways, each using flash step to head to their respective barracks. Back at her barracks, she pulled on her Lieutenant's arm band and went to report to Captain Ukitake. She moved with purpose to the resting room where Captain Ukitake spent his time and bowed respectfully before the screen door.
"Captain Ukitake," she said. "Myself and Captain Kurosaki have returned from the Rukon District."
"Excellent," Ukitake replied, a slight cough escaping the older Soul Reaper's throat as he responded. "What did you discover?"
"The village nearest the hollow signature has been left desolate," Rukia replied. "The hollow was also destroyed." She paused, biting her lip, then, remembering Ichigo's words, added, "The hollow which Ichigo mentioned at his promotion ceremony was there. It claimed to have killed the hollow for being an escapee and killing souls." There was a thick silence for a few moments, then another splutter, this one rougher and more course. "Captain Ukitake!" Rukia went to step in to help, but the door slid open, Ukitake looking bedraggled and pale, but composed. "Are you ok, Captain?"
"Yes, do not worry, Rukia," the elderly Captain replied. "You say the hollow which called itself a knight is here, in Soul Society?"
"He was," Rukia corrected. "But he left through the Garganta."
"I see," Ukitake nodded. "Thank you, Rukia." There was a pause. "Is there something else I can do for you, Rukia?"
"I wanted to ask a favour, Captain," she replied. Ukitake nodded for her to go on. "May I speak off the record, sir?"
Captain Ukitake chuckled lightly.
"Of course," he replied, understanding the question.
"Ichigo asked me if I would like to go for a drink tonight," Rukia explained. "I wondered if you would be ok with this." There was a light smile on Ukitake's face, making Rukia blush. "Um, d-did I say something amusing, sir?"
"Oh, no no," Ukitake shook his head. "It's just nice to see you relaxing from time to time, Rukia." Rukia blushed a little more, looking surprised by the comment. "I give you permission; enjoy yourself. And don't worry if you are late tomorrow; Kiyone and Sentaro will be able to handle the squad."
"Thank you, Captain," Rukia bowed. "Permission to leave for the Kuchiki Manor?"
"Granted," Ukitake nodded. "Dismissed."
"Thank you, sir," Rukia bowed once more before disappearing in a blur of flash step. Ukitake's face fell a little as he called forth a Hell Butterfly, relaying a message to Head Captain Yamamoto. As the butterfly flew off, he let out a sad sigh, hopeful that this was not a repeat of the past.
Ichigo was sat in his office, working on a couple of further pieces of paperwork; Momo had disappeared off, her work finished. She had tried to stay and help Ichigo, but he insisted that she enjoy her afternoon and thanked her for the offer. He sighed softly, looking out the window; it looked like the day was beginning to end, a light staining of orange to the skies and clouds above. He finished his last piece of work for the day and stood, stretching slightly. Just as he was about to turn to leave, he noticed a small black butterfly flit inside through the window. He instinctually held out a finger, and the butterfly landed upon it to relay its message.
"Ichigo," he heard Rukia's voice. "I have received permission to go out tonight, but on one condition." Ichigo frowned at this; that did not sound good. "Get ready and come to the Kuchiki Manor in an hour; my brother would like to speak to you before we go."
And as the butterfly flew away, Ichigo felt as though it had left with his strength. A talk with Byakuya meant only one thing...
"I'm screwed," he muttered, before heading to his room to dress for the night.
Again, I'm so sorry for the delay to this chapter, but things are hectic, and I couldn't help it.
So, how will Ichigo fair with Byakuya? And what does the esteemed noble want of him? Find out next time!