Twenty days! Not too shabby, methinks. Now, I try not to make my opening and author's notes too long, but there are a couple things I need to address before (and after) this chapter. I don't know how many of you read this or the notes at the bottom, but at the very least, please read the two questions/issues I'm addressing and the notes after the chapter.
Okay, so, there are two things that reviewers keep bringing up that I'm going to clear up right here and now. If anyone asks me about them again, I'm just going to point to this chapter because I don't like repeating myself (no offense to anyone):
1. Whenever I say "flash-stepping" I use it as a general term for shunpo and/or sonido. I know sonido is a bit different than shunpo and it isn't exactly flash-stepping, but both of them involve moving very fast from one place to another in a "flash" so to speak, so I use the term flash-stepping. In the earlier chapters I used "shunpoed" and "sonidoed" but honestly, doesn't that look terrible? Not to mention I'm not sure if that's correct or not. Now I try to say "he/she used shunpo/sonido" whenever I can but it's not always possible. So "flashstep" = shunpo OR sonido (or the Quincy Hirenkyaku now that I think about it) depending on who is using it. Perhaps it's not entirely correct, but it's better than saying shunpoed or sonidoed.
2. This is also a reminder. This fic's timeline starts after Chapter 352 in the manga or about halfway through Episode 272 in the anime. Everything that happens after that doesn't count. So all of the stuff about the Final Getsuga Tenshou or Aizen's power-up a la the Hougyoku or even the conclusion of the fights in the Fake Karakura Town AREN'T APPLICABLE. None of that stuff is going to be brought up in this fic because that would totally screw up the timeline. Not to mention it would totally muck up my plot. So no, none of that.
*exhales* Right. Now for shout-outs! Thank you b4ndg33k, oztan, p17oyDONju9n, uzamaki898, Demonbloodfeeder, pretense, Racholasj, Nel, Rachel, TheSnowLady, casey, DarkAngel2098, shadowanime1, oceanabyss, Iceflame55, nypsy, ombre nocturne, BoatsAndBirds, Aline, himelove22, Turtle-chan666, WestAnimeBrigade, T-Biggz, morbidly-funny, and war90. You know that you guys are one of my biggest inspirations to keep writing this and updating, so thanks a bunch. You also make it twice as awesome. Now, it's time for me to shut up and let you read.
Chapter 16
Post-battle blues
When he first woke up, Ichigo had no idea what had happened.
All he registered was a dull headache. It didn't throb nor make his head spin, but the pain was certainly there and Ichigo knew painkillers were in order before the headache became worse.
Then he heard voices. Initially they were indistinct and low, so much that Ichigo couldn't make out anything they were saying. However, after a few minutes of struggling to understand, the sounds became louder and soon he was able to not only make out what they were saying but also who was saying them.
"Still unconscious…" A pause or perhaps a lapse in consciousness on Ichigo's part and then, "No telling when…"
Urahara. Ichigo fought to wake up and tried to push past the murkiness that was still clouding his mind. He still wasn't able to think clearly; he hardly even remembered what he ate for breakfast that morning. All he knew was that he needed to wake up.
After struggling to open his eyes, he finally succeeded in managing to crack open the right one. His vision was a little blurry and everything was brighter than it should be, but within seconds the brightness was already dimming. He could even make out some of the cracks in the ceiling above him.
This just left the question of what ceiling it was.
Suddenly, a head with a mop of choppy brown hair blocked his view. He forced open his other eye and found himself staring back at Tatsuki.
"Ichigo!" She sounded worried, and Ichigo knew that was never a good sign. "Are you all right?"
"Y – Yeah, I think so." He still couldn't remember anything that happened, and now that his mind was clearing up, he began to panic. Forcing the panic down and keeping out of his voice, he quietly asked Tatsuki, "What about you?"
She gave him a quick nod. "I'm fine. Keigo and Mizuiro weren't hurt either."
"Where are we?" Ichigo asked as he began to sit up. He was feeling stronger already and he didn't feel any pain. His wounds must have been healed by-
"Inoue." He shot up and tried getting to his feet as his mind reeled. "Where is-"
"Kurosaki-kun." She offered him a comforting smile. "I'm okay. We're in Urahara's training ground."
His eyes immediately looked over to where her voice was coming from. To Ichigo's relief, she seemed completely unharmed. She was kneeling next to the Soten Kisshun, which was spread out over a few people on the ground.
Panic set back in when Ichigo saw the blood in her hair and on her clothes. "That blood…" His eyes widened.
"It's not mine."
"It's not hers."
Orihime and Tatsuki said it at the same time.
"Good." At least Orihime hadn't been injured. As Ichigo's eyes trailed back towards the Soten Kisshun, he wondered just who had been injured.
He peered closely at the people under the shield's healing glow. His heart skipped a beat when he finally recognized one of them as Shinji. He inhaled sharply as he glanced at the others laying next to Shinji. The seed of fear began to grow as he identified the other victims: Rose, Love, and Hiyori. The latter at least was sitting up, a sure sign that her injuries had been less severe.
Yet what was worrying Ichigo the most was not that they had been injured, but who had injured them. His memory was slowly coming back, and he remembered that they had been in a battle against Ichimaru and Tousen's forces. They had been doing well until the Vasto Lorde showed up.
A flash of memory tore across Ichigo's mind. In it he saw himself standing above the Vasto Lorde, Tensa Zangetsu poised over his neck.
Ichigo tried to suppress the dread that was settling in his stomach. He looked up at the others and found them staring quietly at him. Far away from everyone else he also saw Nel and Grimmjow with Dondochakka and Pesshe.
Grimmjow…That's right, I was fighting him when Tousen and Ichimaru came. He wasn't really injured though. Even now Grimmjow seemed fine, but Nel was keeping a hand pressed to his chest to prevent him from sitting up. Had he been injured, Ichigo thought, and at what point?
Then another memory floated back up. Grimmjow was charging a Cero in his hand. Ichigo was there in front of him, grabbing the Cero and destroying it before it was even fully formed. He saw the surprise in Grimmjow's eyes before he had swung and cut down the Arrancar.
The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to form a coherent picture, but Ichigo was not liking what he was seeing.
"The Vasto Lorde…" He looked up at Orihime and felt his gut clench at the tears he was seeing in the corner of her eyes. "What happened to him?"
"He's dead," she answered quietly.
It was as if Ichigo could hear in her voice and read in her eyes what she didn't, or perhaps couldn't say: You killed him.
He glanced back at Grimmjow. I nearly killed him. Then his eyes rested on the Vizards underneath the Soten Kisshun. I tried to kill them. As he looked at his victims, the memories began to return with each realization. He could still practically feel Tensa Zangetsu in his hand as it tore and sliced through friend and foe. He could remember the blood that spilled from them and its metallic scent filling his nostrils.
Blood… Ichigo suddenly lifted up his hand and found it caked with blood. He stared at it in horror as he clenched and unclenched his fist. What did I do? It coated his entire hand and trailed all the way up to his elbow. He curled his fingers and the feeling of bare bone gripped tightly in his fingers suddenly emerged. Gasping in shock, he yanked his hand out of sight as he tried to come to grips with the sensation he just felt.
God, what the hell did I do?
"Ichigo." Shinji's voice pulled him away from his spiraling thoughts and back to reality. Ichigo's wide, terror-stricken eyes met his calm gaze. "Yer remembering, aren't ya?"
The younger Vizard could only manage a nod.
Shinji sighed. "I was afraid of that. Look-"
"Would someone..." Hitsugaya's stern, if not rather impatient voice cut off Shinji. "please give me an explanation?" He stepped forward from his position near the other shinigami on the other side of the Soten Kisshun. "Now." His tone left no room for argument; the tiny captain was not happy.
Snorting irritably, Shinji sat up, his head nearly bumping up against the Kisshun's dome. "What exactly do ya want to know? We don't know what that form of Ichigo's is. We've been trainin' to figure it out. Couldn't even tell ya why it happened either, not entirely."
"Not entirely?" Hitsugaya's eye twitched in irritation. "You know something about this at least. Why wasn't I or Soul Society informed?"
Out of anger, Hiyori tried jumping to her feet to confront Hitsugaya but was repelled back by the Kisshun. She rubbed her head and resigned herself to just glaring at Hitsugaya from her spot on the floor. "Dumbass! Why do you think? If Soul Society found out about this they'd probably try to seal up Ichigo's power, or worse!"
Orihime turned towards Hitsugaya, her doe brown eyes pleading. "Please, Hitsugaya-taichou. What happened earlier was an accident. Kurosaki-kun was just trying to protect us."
Taking Orihime's lead, Shinji added, "Look, we're workin' on it. None of your shinigami were injured. Hell, none of the humans were injured either. Just us and a Vasto Lorde who was stupid enough to attack Orihime-chan."
Hitsugaya crossed his arms, his ice blue eyes darting back and forth between Orihime, Ichigo, and the Vizards. He then bowed his head, his brow furrowed as he thought over what his decision should be. Rangiku and Momo stood silently by him as he considered what he should do.
Finally, after a tense two minutes, he sighed in resignation. "Fine. I won't report this to Soul Society." He shot Shinji a warning glare. "However, if something happens again because of this form, I'm holding you and the other Vizards responsible."
Speaking for the first time since Hitsugaya had demanded an explanation, Ichigo protested, "W - Wait! It's my fault what happened! I should be-"
"Shut it!" Kensei snapped at Ichigo. "Just go along with it."
"But..."
"Berry-tan." Mashiro scratched the side of her head with a single finger. "I think what Kensei's trying to say is that it was our fault. We let you rampage because we wanted to see what your form was like up close. And we're the ones who keep training you to be able to use that form freely, so..."
"We don't mind." Shinji waved his hand dismissively. "We owe ya, anyway."
From next to Hitsugaya, Momo spoke, "Owe him?" She lifted her head, revealing her shocked expression. "Owe him for what?"
Shinji's eyes narrowed at the vice-captain. "Saving our lives. We'd have been killed by that Ehru guy if it weren't for him."
No one expected to hear what came out of her mouth next. "YOU WERE NEARLY KILLED BY HIM!" Momo pointed an accusing finger at Ichigo. As if surprised at her own outburst, she took a step back. She let her hand drop to her side as she said, "You almost died either way."
"Hinamori," Hitsugaya said in a low warning tone. "That's enough."
Riza glanced uneasily at Kensei, both of them sharing an expression of concern. They didn't like where this conversation was heading. The former then looked back at Momo and in as calm and collected of a tone as she could muster said, "I think that's a matter of perspective. We choose to think of it as Ichigo protecting us and us instigating him in return. We asked for this."
Her anger reemerging, Momo countered, "Riza-san, I can't fathom what you're thinking. All I remember is him turning into a monster and-"
Ichigo winced at the term Momo used, though he couldn't help but agree with her.
"HEY!" Tatsuki leapt to her feet. Unlike Ichigo, she wasn't going to tolerate the insult Momo threw out. "How can you say that? He went into that form to stop that Vasto Lorde! Shinji's right: he saved our lives! And this is how you thank him? By calling him a monster?"
Keigo was of the same mind as Tatsuki. "It's not fair!" he argued. "There were... mitigating circumstances and stuff! He didn't hurt anyone who didn't get in his way!"
"Hinamori-san," Mizuiro said, his frown apologetic. "I know what happened was pretty gruesome, and we're not saying what Ichigo did in that form was right or necessary, but I think we need to look at the big picture here. Everyone was so worried about this Vasto Lorde killing us." He shrugged nonchalantly. "Ichigo stopped him. What more is there to it?"
"You're in no position to speak," Momo reprimanded. "You were down below. You didn't see-"
"We heard about everything we didn't see!" Tatsuki retorted. "You think we didn't ask?" She snorted contemptuously at Hinamori. "Get a clue! Of course we did!" The martial artist clenched her fist tightly. "And don't you dare say we're in no position to talk. You had the captain that tried to wipe out my town and yet you call Ichigo a monster?" Her voice rose to a scream. "Ichigo could never be as monstrous as that Aizen person was!"
Momo's eyes leaked tears as got into a defensive stance. "DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT AIZEN-TAICHOU LIKE THAT!"
"I can talk about him however I want! He tried to kill us all!" She gritted her teeth in frustration, a last ditch attempt to control the rage that was building up inside. "He wasn't trying to protect anyone but his own selfish interests and he had no problem with killing anyone so long as it furthered his plans! That's what makes someone a monster if you ask me!"
"ENOUGH!" Hitsugaya and Urahara's voices rung out at once, silencing the brewing argument.
The shopkeeper shook his head. "You've both gone far enough. We're all shook up from the battle. We need to rest and recharge." He sent sharp looks at Momo and Tatsuki. "I think we're letting our emotions get the best of us."
Tatsuki took a step towards Urahara. "Yeah, but she-"
A strong hand was suddenly clamped on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Ichigo standing behind her, his expression downcast and his gaze dropped to the floor. "Ichigo..."
"Enough, Tatsuki." Before she could argue, he continued, "I appreciate it, but Hinamori's right."
"What?" Rukia stomped over to Ichigo, dropping her head until she could look into his eyes. "No she is not. Don't even think that!"
"She's allowed to have an opinion." Ichigo's eyes hardened as he lifted up his blood-stained arm. "Look at this. Do you think a human could do this?"
Rukia sighed in exasperation, pressing her palm to her forehead. "You weren't in control. Look, it's unfortunate what happened and I know a few people were hurt. But no one on our side was killed and the people who were injured aren't angry at you."
Her words rang true, but Ichigo wasn't hearing them. Not the way he needed to. He stepped around Rukia and began to walk towards the ladder leading out of the training ground. "That doesn't matter. I'm angry and disgusted with myself. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen." He clenched his fist tightly as he continued walking past everyone.
"Kurosaki-kun." Orihime reached her hand out towards him.
Ichigo paused when he felt her fingers touch his arm. He clenched his jaw tightly. He wanted to pull her towards him and hold her close until the anger and dread festering inside went away. The urge to embrace her almost won out until he remembered the blood caked on his arm and the blood he had spilled on her.
She was too good and pure to be touched by him. As much as he wanted her touch, he knew he didn't deserve to be anywhere near her. He stepped out of reach, leaving her fingers to dangle in the air. "Have Tatsuki or someone walk you home, Inoue." With that said, he flash-stepped away from the others and leapt up through the hatch.
The entire room was enveloped in silence minutes after Ichigo left. No one knew what to say or what needed to be said.
Finally, Tatsuki walked up to Orihime and gently placed her hands on her shoulders. The healer looked over at her friend and nodded, understanding her meaning. Orihime dispelled the Soten Kisshun now that the Vizards were all healed.
As the pair began walking towards the exit, Tatsuki aimed a lethal glare at Momo and said, "I hope you're satisfied."
"Tatsuki-chan," Orihime admonished her.
"I don't care." Tatsuki pulled Orihime away from her house guests. "If she's going to go around calling people monsters then I'm not going to consider her feelings."
Momo said nothing in her defense as she stared down at the ground. Hitsugaya made a move towards Tatsuki, but she grabbed his arm to stop him. He looked back at her, waiting for an explanation, but she gave him none. She simply held onto his arm until Tatsuki and Orihime had left the training ground.
Rukia sighed in the heavy silence. "This can't bode well," she murmured so low that only Renji, who had walked over to her after Ichigo had left, could hear her. "We know what Ichigo's like. He's not going to forgive himself for this."
Renji clasped his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "I know. I have a bad feeling we're going to have a rough few days ahead of us."
Unfortunately, Renji was right.
After spending the evening after the battle to rest and recuperate, everyone returned to school the following day. They wanted to keep up appearances and pretend the battle had been of little consequence. Hitsugaya had even told Soul Society that the battle went smoothly and few injuries had been sustained.
However, things were not well beneath the surface, even as much as Rukia wished they were.
She had taken it as a good sign that Ichigo had come to school. On the walk over, she had chatted with him like normal. The conversation was very one-sided though, more so than usual. He had hardly said anything. If he did, he responded with grunts and noises. Rukia was sure he didn't utter a single intelligible word during their trek.
Of course he's upset by what happened, Rukia told herself as they walked into school. He just needs some time, is all.
Or so she had hoped. She watched him closely in class. He wasn't paying attention to the lessons being taught or listening to the sensei. He was in a perpetual staring contest with his desk as he sat still in his seat, not even bothering to pretend to be taking notes.
Once or twice, Shinji made an attempt to cheer Ichigo up.
"Stop mopin'," he said at one point. "Everything's fine. Well, unless ya count that damn quiz we got tomorrow. Then maybe not." He sighed in a dramatic fashion and slumped down in his seat. "I mean, hell, who wants to be tested on Japan post-World War II? It's depressing." He tilted his head towards Ichigo, wearing his usual grin. "Kind of like someone we know."
Well, maybe cheering up wasn't the right term. Unless one counted insulting and instigating someone as cheering them up. Rukia wasn't sure if that was Shinji's intent or not, but whatever his reasoning, his tactics weren't working. Whenever he would try to make Ichigo lighten up, the younger Vizard would either just ignore him or tell him to shut up.
By sixth period Shinji had given up and remained silent for the rest of the day.
What worried Rukia the most was not Ichigo's surly attitude towards Shinji (because really, when wasn't he surly towards him?) or the crestfallen expression he always wore, but the way he was distancing himself from Orihime.
The best example of this was when they were eating lunch together on the roof. Orihime sat next to Ichigo, as per usual. She was digging through her lunch bag when she came across the red bean paste she had brought along that day.
"Ah, Kurosaki-kun!" She brought out the little jar. "I have some red bean paste. Would you like some on bread?"
"No."
Orihime's smile fell instantly as her hand holding the jar lowered to the ground.
"No, thank you," Ichigo corrected himself, refusing to meet Orihime's gaze. "I'm not that hungry." To prove his point, he tossed his lunch to the side, its contents unopened and untouched.
"O – Oh, I see." Orihime swallowed thickly as she turned her attention to the food in her lap.
Rukia sighed quietly and glanced over at Tatsuki. The tough martial artist seemed at a loss as to what to say or do. Though she and Tatsuki weren't that close, Rukia was sure that she was debating whether she should talk sense into Ichigo or punch him for talking to Orihime so rudely.
It was one thing for Ichigo to act like a jerk towards Shinji or anyone else. But for him to act that way towards Orihime, the girl whom he loved so much?
This isn't good at all. Rukia continued to remain sitting even as the bell pealed, signaling that the lunch break was over. She packed up her things, purposely taking her time. From the corner of her eye, she saw Renji standing near the stairwell, waiting for her to finish.
No matter what she said, she knew he would wait until she was done. He never left without her. Odd, she thought as she got to her feet. I never really noticed until now. He's always been like that, I suppose.
Whatever his reasons were, Rukia was grateful for his support. She was sure she would need it in the days to come. As she walked towards him, he straightened up from his perch against the wall. "You all right?" he asked.
There was no use trying to hide it from him. "I'm worried," she admitted. "Ichigo's acting like an ass towards Orihime. That's not a good sign."
"I noticed it, too." Renji scratched the back of his head, looking as equally perturbed as Rukia. "I thought Arisawa was gonna knock him off the roof."
"I'm sure she considered it," Rukia agreed with a snort. "However, she's worried about him, too."
They began walking down the stairs together, letting the silence hang for a moment. As they reached the bottom, Rukia added, "I don't know what to do."
"Isn't this something he should tackle on his own?" Renji said.
He had a point. Rukia wanted Ichigo to stand on his own feet and overcome his troubles without any of their help. However, she also knew what Ichigo was like. He had gotten himself into bad funks before and usually he needed some guidance to get out of them. "I want him to, but he's showing all the signs of going into another one of his funks. This one could be serious, too."
"Yeah." Renji sighed in irritation. "And we can't just throw Inoue at him and have her use her weird voo-doo powers over him to snap him out of it."
Temporarily forgetting about the topic at hand, Rukia shot Renji a bemused glance. "Her voo-doo powers?"
"Uh, you know…" He glanced away sheepishly. "Like how she's always able to calm him down and turn him into a big sap. So, yeah. Voo-doo."
Unable to help herself, Rukia burst out laughing. She kept giggling and snorting until she was red in the face. Renji watched her with wide, confused eyes, all the while keeping her from stumbling and falling over in laughter.
"I – I can't believe you called them her voo-doo powers. I mean, really?" Though her tone was skeptical, Rukia was still chuckling over it. "Regardless of how ridiculous that sounds, I needed that." She wiped away a stray tear. "But you're right, I'm afraid. Orihime's voo-doo powers aren't going to work here. I just wish I knew what would."
"We'll figure it out." Renji tried to come off as assuring, though years of close friendship allowed Rukia to hear the uncertainty that lay beneath it. It was difficult for him to sound completely confident when he didn't have the answers, either.
But she appreciated his effort. "I hope you're right," she murmured. "Things might get worse, though, before they get better."
They did.
Orihime's heart sank when Rukia showed up at school the next day alone. Her friend read her questioning glance, and her only answer was a shrug and an apologetic grimace.
"Okay class!" Ochi-sensei began writing on the board. "We have a quiz today. Take out a sheet of paper and remember to write your name at the top. The date today is December 12th…"
The sensei's voice faded as Orihime's attention turned elsewhere. She went through the usual movements of pulling out her notebook and ripping out a piece of paper. However, her thoughts were elsewhere.
Kurosaki-kun. She thought of her boyfriend, most likely sitting alone in his room with nothing but his self-loathing to keep him company. Orihime wanted to run out of the classroom and go to his side and banish the thoughts that were surely haunting him.
Then she remembered the cold way he had spoken to her yesterday at lunch and winced. I can't take it personally, she thought as she began writing her name on the quiz. He hasn't been acting right towards any of us. Still, she couldn't help but feel hurt. She stubbornly shook her head and willed herself to focus on the task at hand.
Halfway through the quiz, she felt someone's eyes bearing down at her. Glancing to make sure Ochi wasn't looking first, her eyes scanned the room, looking for the owner of the stare.
She found it to be Shinji who was looking at her so intently. Quickly glancing at Ochi, who was staring out the window, Shinji lifted up a piece of paper for Orihime to see. On it was scribbled: Meet me outside after school.
Orihime gave him a quick nod before resuming the quiz. As she began to meticulously detail the Treaty of Peace with Japan, she struggled to keep her mind from wandering. What does Shinji-kun want to meet with me about? she wondered as she finished writing her answer. Most likely it was something to do with Ichigo or the battle two days prior or any combination of the two.
Setting her pencil down, Orihime leaned back in her seat. Normally she would allow herself to relax for a few minutes after finishing a quiz, but given the current circumstances it was next to impossible.
"Sensei," she asked, standing up at her seat. "May I please go to the bathroom? I'm finished with my quiz."
Ochi beckoned for her to bring her quiz. Orihime quickly grabbed the paper and walked up to Ochi's desk. She handed her the paper, and after Ochi gave it a quick glance over, nodded at Orihime. "Go ahead."
Without so much as a glance back, Orihime hurried out of the classroom. At first as she turned down the hall, her pace was slow and even. Her steps were light, and anyone who passed her in the halls wouldn't think that something was wrong. However, the further she traveled from her classroom, the more hurried her strides became. Eventually she was sprinting down the hallways, her footsteps echoing along the corridors as she raced towards the bathroom.
She stumbled inside, her breathing uneven. Orihime checked each stall, making sure no one else was in there with her before standing in front of the mirror above the sink. Her eyes were clear; she had slept well last night, but only due to exhaustion. She was sure there would be slight bags under her eyes tomorrow.
Her fingers threaded through her hair, smoothing it down. As she began readjusting her hairpins, she stopped and wondered why she was even doing this. Why was she even in the bathroom to begin with? She didn't need to use the toilet and she didn't feel sick.
I've been a little more meticulous about my appearance lately. Even though she and Ichigo had only been dating for four days, she already was paying more attention to her looks than normal. She supposed she just wanted to impress him, even though it wasn't necessary.
Four days… it feels longer than that. Orihime sighed heavily, sinking to her knees and leaning her forehead against the sink. Our relationship is only four days old and already it's been put under a lot of strain. What if we don't…
"No!" She slammed her hand against the surface of the sink. "We'll… we'll be all right. We have to be. I can't start thinking about that." Unfortunately, once those thoughts entered her mind, they refused to go away.
Burdened by her existing worries and the new fear that her budding relationship with Ichigo would not survive this ordeal, Orihime couldn't bring herself to return to class. She spent the next four periods in the small, relatively unused bathroom alone with her swirling thoughts and anxiety.
Then during the lunch break, there was a knock on the bathroom door. "Orihime-chan?"
She snapped her head up. "Shinji-kun?" she answered.
"There ya are." Through the crack at the bottom of the door, Orihime could see Shinji shifting his feet. "I'd come in there but I probably shouldn't. You up for comin' out?"
Orihime got to her feet, though she nearly fell back down when they buckled beneath her. Her legs had fallen asleep in the few hours she had spent in the bathroom, kneeling on the floor. She forced her legs to work as she carefully stepped towards the door and opened it.
Shinji was leaning against the wall, both his books and Orihime's in tow. When she glanced down at her books, he explained, "I had a feeling you weren't gonna come back to class. How 'bout you and I skip on out of here? Not doin' any good by being here."
"Ah, I'm sorry!" Orihime bowed her head in apology. "I was still planning on meeting with you afterwards."
"I know." Shinji flapped his hand dismissively. "I was just gonna ask ya if ya wanted to come to the warehouse and train a bit today."
"Oh. Um…" Orihime glanced down at the floor. "I'm not sure if Kurosaki-kun will be up for that."
"Not training for that," Shinji clarified. He scrunched his nose a bit, as if detesting the thought. "No way any of us are ready for that yet. I meant more along the lines of you trainin' with Hachi. Work on your abilities a bit."
Although Orihime felt like a delinquent for skipping out of school like this, she knew that staying here would get nothing accomplished. Training with Hachi would get her mind off of Ichigo for at least a little while, and it would be far more productive. "Y – Yeah, that sounds good."
He offered her a satisfied grin. "Good. Come on, let's get the rest of yer stuff outta yer locker and get the hell outta here."
She let Shinji lead the way and smiled when he rested his hand on the back of her shoulder in reassurance. It was quite a gesture on his part, considering he was very rarely open with his displays of honest affection.
Thank you, Shinji-kun. Orihime walked down the halls of Karakura High with him, grateful that she had such good friends like Shinji. If Ichigo's behavior continued in the following days, she would need their support to get through them.
And with any luck, she would need their strength, too, if they were to bring Ichigo out of the dark place his heart was in.
Somewhere in the deepest reaches of the Seijōtōkyorin, the residences of the Central 46 forbidden to everyone but the Central 46 members themselves, was a well-hidden chamber. This chamber was disguised as one of the resident towers of the Central 46.
There was nothing special about it, not from the outside. Its door was locked, but so were all of the resident tower doors. It had no distinguishing features that set it apart from the others, nothing that told of what it was guarding on the inside.
If one should gain entry, they would have found the tower empty save for a large, amazingly ornate door on the far side of the room. This door was locked by a key that only one man in Soul Society had access to. Should one be so lucky as to get this key, they would have to chant the proper incantation in order to gain access inside.
But once they did, they would be welcome to a whole other world, so similar and yet so different from Soul Society. This world had forests and mountains and rivers, too. Yet it also had a magnificent city with a great palace suspended above it on a floating island in the sky.
The shinigami called this world the Royal Realm. To Yuuki, the Reiou's only daughter, this dimension was home. Right now, her home was being threatened by a plot that could potentially disrupt the order of both the Royal Realm and Soul Society.
Inside the palace, Yuuki was spying on a few of the Royal Guard who had just walked inside the grand hall. Carefully positioned behind one of the columns that supported the arched ceiling, Yuuki watched them from the hallway above, her presence hidden by shadows and a well executed kidou spell.
Her wide brown eyes followed every movement the men made down below. They didn't even bother to check to see if anyone was passing on the second floor, too preoccupied with their conversation.
"Ichimaru and Tousen retreated from the human world," one of the men said as he readjusted his old captain's haori that hung from his shoulder. "Their so-called trump card didn't turn out to be so 'trumping' after all."
The leader of the group nodded. "I see. And the boy who defeated the Vasto Lorde? Is it who we think it is?"
"Yes, Commander Kurou." The first man smiled in satisfaction. "It is. I had sent one of my men to watch the fight. Kurosaki Ichigo, they called him. You were right about this boy. He's exceptionally skilled and powerful."
"Also, sir," the third man, who had been silent up to this point said, "We ran tests on the reiatsu sample I had gotten from him in the human world, when he was in that restaurant that morning. His reiatsu shares half of the same markers as the former commander's."
Kurou chuckled to himself, seemingly pleased by the news. "Excellent. This all is working out perfectly. It seems we finally found them. We no longer need Tousen and Ichimaru." He paused before the grand staircase that led to the second floor, where Yuuki was still spying on them. "Everything is going according to plan. We'll wait to make our next move, though."
The third man frowned at him in puzzlement. "Why? We've finally found him. It's taken us 20 years to track down Isshin and Masaki. We even know for a fact their child is strong enough for our other plan, too."
Kurou shook his head, his expression patient. "We can't yet. It's too early."
"Ryou," the first speaker said, "Commander Kurou is right. Our intelligence tells us that he can't even willingly control that Hollow form yet. He's no good to us as of right now. Once he's had more training and gets closer to attaining it, then we'll proceed. Besides," He scrunched his nose disdainfully. "The shinigami are on high alert right now. We need to move when their guard is down."
"So after Ichimaru and Tousen are captured," the one called Ryou said. "Very well."
"I understand your impatience, Ryou," Kurou said, "but we can't move too quickly. Believe me, I want to grab that boy now and make Isshin and Masaki suffer." His fist clenched at the mention of the two. "We'll be able to kill two birds with one stone with this plan. If we rush now, all of our careful preparation will be for nothing."
The first man nodded in agreement. "Yes. Though I have to say, Commander, your idea about planting that story in the Great Spirit Library was excellent. I think it spurred them to train the former commander's boy faster."
Acting humble, Kurou waved off his praise. "Not necessary, Nori. It was a long shot at best."
"Commander," Ryou said, "what should we do in the meantime while we wait?"
"Sit back and watch the show." The commander of the Royal Guard shrugged, though his eyes glinted with dark pleasure. "It'll be fun to see Tousen and Ichimaru defeated by the squads. It'll be one loose end tied up for us."
Yuuki snorted in disgust as the three guards chuckled at the thought. She waited until they went their separate ways and were out of sight for a few minutes before emerging from the shadows. "This can't bode well," she murmured to herself.
"Your Highness."
The princess nearly jumped out of her skin as she spun around to confront the source of the voice, her hand reaching for the short sword she always carried. Her long, dark blue hair fanned out all around her, obscuring her vision for a moment.
When her hair settled, she was surprised to find a short but sturdy female Royal Guard staring at her. "Hikifune?" Yuuki said.
"Sorry if I scared you." The former twelfth division captain walked up towards Yuuki, her old haori trailing behind her. Unlike Kurou and the other higher ranked Royal Guard, Hikifune still wore her shihakusho. It made her look very compact, which Yuuki supposed was one reason she still donned it.
"It's fine." Yuuki let her hand rest at her side. "I was just afraid it was Kurou or…"
"I know." Hikifune glanced back at where Kurou and his lackeys had been standing. "Trust me, you're not the only one on guard lately."
"Have they said anything to you?"
"No. They haven't tried to recruit me into their little scheme. Most likely because they know it would be of no use."
Yuuki nodded. "I see." Her eyes were riveted on the floor, unsure of what to say next. She couldn't figure out just what Hikifune was doing here or why she was speaking with her.
As if reading her mind, the redheaded guard explained, "You're also not the only one watching them. I don't like what they've been doing, and now I'm worried."
"I'm on the verge of panic." It was taboo to go to the human world without the Reiou's orders or consent. Considering her father had been in meditation for the past few years, Yuuki knew that Kurou had certainly not gained his permission to go. "I mean, good heavens, Hikifune. I don't know what their other plan is that requires a powerful person like this Ichigo child, but this is also for revenge!"
Hikifune shook her head in disdain. "Poor Isshin and Masaki. All they wanted was peace. And Masaki, she…" Yuuki saw a flicker of emotion in the usually stoic guard's eyes, but it passed before she could determine what it was. "I can't allow this to happen."
"Kurou is your superior officer though," Yuuki pointed out.
"I know. I won't act just yet. I'll keep watching their activities and figure out what they're planning." Hikifune turned back to Yuuki. "Not all of the guard is under his thumb. A lot of us are beginning to wonder what it is he's doing, and I have a feeling there will be dissent when the time comes."
The same thing had crossed Yuuki's mind. It would be terrible if a battle broke out amongst the Guard, but it was better than whatever it was Kurou was planning. "I can't imagine what Kurou will try to accomplish by using Kurosaki Ichigo's powers. But I do know that this is a two-pronged plan. He'll also use Ichigo to hurt Isshin and Masaki." She clutched her hands tightly together and winced as she thought about the jovial former commander and his sweetheart. "I love Isshin and Masaki. So does my father. I don't want to see them get hurt."
Hikifune placed her hands on Yuuki's shoulders. "I don't either. Princess, believe me, I'm going to do everything I can to stop Kurou when the time comes."
Yuuki nodded shakily. "I believe you. Should we bring my father out of meditation?"
The older woman frowned and considered it for a moment. "No," she decided. "Not yet. It's not like we have substantial proof anyway. Even you can't act on what you've heard because you have no proof. It would be our word against theirs. So for now, we watch and wait."
"And then?"
Hikifune shrugged. "We stop them, no matter what. I will not let them hurt Masaki's son and bring chaos to the Royal Realm."
Yuuki returned Hikifune's gesture and thought for a minute how strange they must have looked, a princess and her guard acting like they were war buddies. "Right," she said with a more determined nod. "I'll do what I can, too."
She would stop them, too, not just as the princess and acting ruler of the realm, but also as a friend of Isshin and Masaki's. She owed them both for their help in the past. It was time she repaid her debts.
A/N: Oh ho. The villains are revealed at last~
Now, before you go scrambling off, a heads-up: next month is November. And it's more than just the month of Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas season, it's also NaNoWriMo. For those of you who don't know, it stands for National Novel Writing Month. I plan on participating again this year, but since I have to write 50,000 words in one month (that's the whole challenge and premise behind NaNo), I am going to dedicate myself solely to this task next month. That means no writing TBBU or anything else, so the next update won't be until December, I imagine. Sorry, I know I was on a roll with these fast updates, but it can't be helped. So hang in there until December; I'll get back to writing Chapter 17 as soon as I can!