A Black Heart
Thanks for the support everyone. Not going to say much just yet, other than, enjoy today's chapter
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
"Normal speech"
'Inner speech/thoughts'
"Kido/Zanpakuto Attacks/Quincy Techniques"
"Zanpakuto speech/Inner Power"
"Hollow speech"
XXX
Chapter 15:
"Well that was fucking fantastic," Ichigo growled, dusting himself of dust after their chaotic entrance into the Soul Society. The run through what was called the Precipice World was certainly interesting, if you discounted the bones scattered about the ground, the walls that tried to suck you into them and a freight train called 'The Cleaner' that nearly killed them. Not to mention the damn hundred foot drop they faced when they finally got flung out of the tunnel. Looking over at his companions, he had to smirk as the Quincy lamented the loss of his cloak. Well it had almost been worth it when the Quincy had nearly been swallowed by the walls because of it. Of course Chad just had to save him, the damn idiot and his hero-complex.
"Well at least we made it through safely," Orihime chimed in, her expression cheerful. She did have a reason to be though since it was her quick thinking that had saved them.
"You idiot!" Yoruichi screeched, head-butting said girl and causing her to cry out in pain.
"Ow, ow, ow Yoruichi-san!" she whined, rubbing the point of impact.
"Do you know what you did?! If just one of your hairclips had touched the Cleaner, they'd have been destroyed, and that's ignoring the effect it would have had on you!"
Ignoring the cat as it continued to rant at her, Ichigo instead turned to look at their surroundings. They seemed to have landed right in the middle a main road by the looks of it. What bothered him though was that it was entirely made of dirt and not paved or cobbled like he expected. The buildings were even less impressive, as they seemed to be nothing more than a collection of wooden hovels. Frowning as he reached out with his senses, he could feel multiple signatures belonging to other souls around them, but for some reason they chose to stay hidden from them.
"Hey Yoruichi…is this shithole really the Soul Society?" he asked, his expectations of heaven sinking by the second. Hearing his question, the cat in question stopped her rant.
"It is," she answered. "This is the first district of West Rukongai, the home of most souls of the afterlife. It may not look like much, but the districts get worse the further out you get."
"This is the best?!" he asked, appalled at the living conditions he saw around him. "This place looks like a dump from back in the 1600's. I sort of expected it to be old-fashioned, but more like a paradise where every need is catered to. It's supposed to be a place of peace and relaxation. This…this isn't…this just isn't right."
"Well that place looks more like what you were thinking of Kurosaki-kun," Orihime spoke up, as she pointed in the direction behind them. Turning, the teen's eyes widened as they took in the startling white towers and buildings of the Seireitei.
"That is the Seireitei, the home of the Soul Reapers," Yoruichi explained. "They live an opulent life that many out here will never get to experience."
"And that's the place we need to sneak into," Ichigo said with a scowl, his hands clenching into fists in anger at the difference in living conditions between the two. "There's not even a wall surrounding it, why don't these people just storm the place?"
"Because there is a wall protecting it, just not one we can see," Yoruichi explained. "The second anyone comes near the paved area, an immense wall will drop down, crushing anyone under it. It can't even be circumvented by climbing, or tunnelling under it. And while they may be more numerous, even the weakest soul reaper is more than a match for a dozen normal souls."
"So this is an extreme example of the haves and the have-nots," Uryu commented, a scowl on his own face to match Ichigo's. "Except that the have-nots don't even have the option to rebel when their martial might is worthless."
"It's not an ideal situation, but we're not here to debate the unfairness of the afterlife," Yoruichi said, trying to end the debate before it started. "You three, Chad, Inoue and Ishida, you're with me. We're going to visit an old friend of mine for help."
"Hey, hey, what about me? What the hell am I supposed to do in the meantime?" Ichigo spoke up as the three began to follow after Yoruichi as she headed away from the Seireitei.
"Stay out of trouble and be prepared to move when you see our signal!" she yelled back at him.
"How will I know it's yours?!"
"Oh don't worry. You won't be able to miss it!"
"Not very helpful!" he shouted after them. Not that it did him any good though. "So now what," he grumbled, scratching his head as he looked around. To his surprise, the souls that had remained hidden when they'd arrived began to creep out now that his 'friends' had left. "Ah shit…"
XXX
"Was it really okay for us to leave Kurosaki-kun by himself Yoruichi-san?" Orihime asked after they had been walking for a few hours, biting her lip in worry for her crush.
"He'll be fine. He's dressed like a soul reaper and despite those few that resent the Gotei 13, the majority of souls are liable to just ignore him and stay out of his way," Yoruichi explained as they walked.
"And where exactly are we going?" Uryu asked as they left the numerous buildings that made up the living area of the First District behind and headed deeper into the countryside.
"Oh we're going to visit my friend Kukaku Shiba. If there's anyone that'll be able to help us break into the Seireitei, Kukaku's the one to talk to."
"You just said that it was impossible to climb or dig under, so how are we supposed to get around it?" he asked, his irritation at this entire mission growing.
"Again that's why we need Kukaku. I haven't been here in a while, but the Shiba's have a way to get us in. We just need to find their home now. I remember it being somewhere around here."
"I think I see it," Chad rumbled, speaking for the first time since they'd arrived.
"Where?" Uryu and Orihime asked, looking in the direction that the giant teen had pointed out. As they spotted it though, they both had wildly different reactions to it.
"Wow. It's amazing!" Orihime cried out in joy, hands clasped as she gushed out compliments about the house. Uryu on the other hand…
'It's a house with two giant arms on either side, holding up a banner,' he thought, a twitch developing in his right eye as he stared at the abode.
"The Shiba's? How strange, normally it's only Kukaku's name up on the sign."
'You're only surprised by the name? I don't even…you know what, I agree with Kurosaki, this place is an eyesore,' the Quincy grumbled, almost wishing that he was back with Ichigo instead. Actually never mind that thought, they'd probably end up killing one another in a heartbeat.
"Ishida-kun you're being left behind!" Orihime called out, shaking Uryu out of his funk and causing the teen to sputter and rush off after them.
After a brief confrontation with the twin gate guards, Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko, they were escorted down a long staircase to a spacious room decked out with several seating cushions and an old wooden cabinet.
"Please wait here, Kukaku-sama will be with you shortly," Shiroganehiko told them, before bowing and sliding the door shut behind him.
"This Kukaku Shiba's got to be pretty well off if their home is this large, despite being completely underground," Uryu commented as they waited. "Is our plan to bribe our way in to the Seireitei?"
"Nothing of the sort Ishida," Yoruichi replied. "The Shiba's may have been immensely wealthy in the past, but no amount of bribery would get us into the most secure stronghold in the afterlife."
"Then what are they…" he tried to ask, only to cut himself off as the door slid open and a middle-aged man with spiky black hair and light stubble, ambled into the room with a yawn. The man though seemed completely oblivious to their presence and calmly strode towards a cupboard on the opposite side of the room. Watching as he rummaged through it, pulling out a saucer and grumbled something to himself about sake, Orihime finally piped up.
"Ah Kukaku-san?" she asked hesitantly, startling the man as he turned to face them, a surprised expression on his face.
"Who…who are you?" he asked, staring at the teens one at a time, before his gaze finally settled on Yoruichi and his shoulders slumped slightly. "It's been a while Yoruichi," he mumbled out.
"Isshin Shiba…I think that's my line," she calmly replied, despite the fact that her tone was cold enough to send a shiver down the teen's spines.
XXX
"Man this sucks," Ichigo complained, from a rooftop, as he stared down at the souls go about their daily lives with a bored expression under his mask. When the others had left and the souls left their hiding places, they had largely ignored him, apart from a few fearful glances now and then in his direction. With nothing better to do, he walked around the district observing them. Other than running their own meagre stores and gossiping, they seemed to have nothing better to do. "If this is what I have to look forward to when I die, I might just prefer Hell," he'd mumbled, dodging a group of kids as they sprinted past him. So far the only entertainment he'd had was lifting a coin purse from an overweight soul reaper, decked out in gaudy looking jewellery. He couldn't say he felt bad for the bastard though, as he certainly had money to spare.
"Now what to do with it," he mused, tossing it up and down in his hand casually. Hearing his stomach growl, he chuckled slightly. "You're kidding me. You would think that souls wouldn't need to eat considering the fact that they're dead. Ah well, it's dinner time anyway." Jumping down from the roof, he made his way back the way he'd come, watching as people began to light lanterns now that the sun had disappeared. When he finally reached the restaurant, he was surprised to find a waiter walking right up to him and ushering him to a table. Seeing nothing he was familiar with, he asked the waiter for his recommendation and sent him on his way. Ten minutes later, a steaming bowl of soupy noodles with vegetables, bits of meat and a fried egg was placed in front of him. Inhaling its delicious scent, he thanked the waiter and eagerly dug in, relishing the meal.
"Oi Yamada-san!" a loud boisterous voice spoke, drawing his attention away from the food for a moment as he looked for the source. Most of the souls seemed to be the quiet sort and very rarely raised their voices, other than to shout out the price of their wares from their stall, so this guy must've been an exception. Turning back to his food, he slurped down a bit of the soup.
"Ganju please keep it down," a man that he assumed was the owner , begged the loudmouth, even as he cast a fearful glance over his shoulder at him.
"Eh, what's with you tonight? Aren't you glad to see some of your most loyal customers?" the man asked with a guffaw, as he finally stepped into Ichigo's line of sight. He was quite muscular by most standards, but he'd seen better and taken on stronger people. He had black hair that reached down to his neck at the back, while the majority of it was held back by a spotted bandana. Ignoring the man again, he continued to eat relatively quietly, well at least until a particularly loud slurp.
Looking over at the sound, the loudmouth's eyes widened as he took in Ichigo's uniform, before narrowing in anger. "What the hell is a soul reaper doing here?!" he hissed, his nostrils flaring as he glared over in Ichigo's direction.
"Please Ganju I don't want any trouble in here. You know the soul reapers sometimes visit here with it being so close to the Gate."
"Then we'll just have to take this outside then!" Ganju snapped, storming towards the table Ichigo was at. "Hey!" he shouted when he stopped in front of it, annoying Ichigo at his loud voice.
"Can I help you?" he asked, staring up at him with a dubious expression, causing Ganju to fume even more.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here soul reaper? Is the Seireitei not good enough for you tonight?"
"Well, I can't really go back at the moment since I'm needed elsewhere tonight and the food here is quite good," Ichigo replied, taking a particularly loud sip and grinning at how the man seemed to grow even more angry.
"Well I suggest you take a hike soul reaper. My friends and I were looking to relax here tonight."
Frowning at the man, Ichigo glanced around at the rest of the restaurant, spotting several other empty tables. "You know, it's not like there isn't enough free space for you and your friends, why don't you just run along and leave me alone."
"Now see that shit just won't do soul reaper!" Ganju snapped at him, slamming his palms down on the table and forcing Ichigo to quickly pick up his bowl. "Do you even know who the hell I am?!"
"An idiot without manners?" Ichigo asked, slurping on his noodles again with relish.
"NO! My name's Ganju Shiba! Self-Proclaimed Nishirukongai's Crimson Bullet! And Self-Proclaimed Number One Soul Reaper Hater!"
"You know those aren't real titles if you decided to be called by them," Ichigo muttered in a bored tone, much to Ganju's frustration.
"Enough soul reaper!" he spat, knocking the bowl out of Ichigo's hands, spilling its contents everywhere. Smirking up at Ichigo's frozen form; he grabbed him by the front of his uniform, lifting him into the air. "What's the matter soul reaper? What happened to all those lame jokes you were making?" Seeing Ichigo's lips move, he frowned. "What was that? Speak up idiot!"
"I said…" Ichigo spoke up, his tone dripping venom in their ears, "I wasn't done with that," and with little fanfare, he struck his aggressor in his gut with his foot, sending him flying through the wooden wall and out into the street.
"Boss!" Ganju's gang cried out as their leader was sent flying, turning back to the Soul Reaper with glares on their faces. The look on Ichigo's face thought caused them to quail and step out of his way as he pushed past them towards Ganju, his joints cracking as he clenched his fists.
"I'm sorry about the damage old man, I hope this helps at least," he muttered, tossing the coin purse he'd stolen over at the bewildered owner, before jumping out of the hole in the wall. Spotting Ganju spluttering on all fours a few metres away, he snorted and stalked towards him. "Get up asshole; I'm not done with you yet."
"You damn…soul reaper," Ganju wheezed, drawing a broken blade from his back and brandishing it in front of him.
"You're going to fight me with that? Even if I don't use mine, this is far from a fair fight." Staring back at the guy's underlings, he shouted at them, "Oi, if you want your boss to even stand a chance you're going to need to help him!"
"Stay back!" Ganju in turn shouted back at them, causing them to bite their lips in indecision. "This bastard's mine and mine alone!"
"I told you that you'll die for sure if you don't get their help. Are you so eager to die tonight?"
"Tch, as if I'll die to a soul reaper like you!" Ganju roared, before charging forward at Ichigo.
"What an idiot," Ichigo muttered as he leaned back to dodge the clumsy strike, catching the large man in the gut again with a vicious knee, causing him to double over, before following up with an elbow to the base of his neck, dropping him to the ground with ease. Groaning in pain, he was powerless as Ichigo kicked him in his ribs, sending him rolling across the ground. "See what happens when you don't take advantage of an opening when your opponent gives it to you?" he muttered, driving his heel into Ganju's throat, pinning him there. "Go on…call out to them," he muttered, crushing his throat slowly as the man squirmed under him.
He didn't cry out though, or make any sound at all, but the near dead-silent atmosphere was shattered by a shrill ringing from one of the thugs backs. "B-B-Boss, it's time!" one of them screeched and instantly they all, with the exception of Ichigo, began to sweat in fear.
"It's…9' o clock? Not good…." he wheezed out, using Ichigo's confusion to lift his foot a little, before hollering, "BONNIE-CHAN!"
"Bonnie-chan? Who the hell is Bonnie-chan?" Ichigo asked in confusion, as he stared down at the man. His answer came shortly though, in the form of a stampeding wild boar that knocked him clear of his feet.
"Great timing Bonnie-chan," Ganju croaked as he and his lackeys climbed up onto their giant wild boars. "Now hurry up, we need to get home!" With a high pitched squeal, Bonnie-chan reared up on her rear legs, nearly throwing Ganju off in the process and stampeded over Ichigo, the others following suit.
"Don't think I'm running away from our fight soul reaper. Just you wait, tomorrow I'm going to be back and I'll definitely beat you then!" he shouted over their retreating backs.
Ignoring him though, Ichigo lay on the ground, covered in hoof prints as he stared up at the sky. 'Was I just run over by a bunch of pigs?' he groused, while he could hear his zanpakuto laughing from his inner world.
"I've heard of the 'Running of the Bulls', but I think this is the first time I've ever thought about 'Stampeding with the Swine!" she jeered, rolling on the floor with laughter, even as Ichigo grumbled back at her.
XXX
And we're finally getting to some good stuff. A lot of you have been asking whether he'd meet his family in the Soul Society, well here's a clue to that, but don't expect it to go the way you think it will. We all know how I love twisting the knife. Till next time, bye-bye.