Let's cut the BS and continue shall we
The chances I'll ever own Bleach is the chances I'll become a Red Sox fan. Not going to happen in either case.
Bleach Copyrighted by Kubo Tite
Anyways...
Chapter 9:
Intertwined Fate
"HA!"
Ichigo barely had enough time to block Tatsuki's latest attack, pushing his body weight forward he forced Tatsuki to back off from their deadlock allowing him to attack.
Tatsuki however saw it coming and parried two thrusts from his blade.
"Oh come on! My old man can put up a better fight!" she taunted, blocking another swing from Ichigo.
Seeing that direct attacks weren't working Ichigo furthered his distance from Tatsuki and shifted to a defensive position.
"I see, he wants me to go the offensive and strike when I'm open, heh! Ichigo don't tell me that's your only plan!"
It only took four seconds, than Tatsuki rushed towards her opponet, Ichigo ready to block her attack.
Soon the two wooden swords meet, Ichigo parrying Tatsuki's attacks, suddenly while blocking an attack Ichigo quickly readjusted the grip on his Bokken and made a swipe towards Tatsuki's neck. However, Tatsuki anticipated it and ducked underneath his swing
"Gotcha!" She smiled to herself, Ichigo's defense was now open, quickly she thrusted her blade, intending to strike his chest. Surely the match would be hers.
In one sudden movement Ichigo stopped in mid swing and leaned his body sharply to the right, Tatsuki's Bokken merely grazing his shoulder. Before she had time to counter Ichigo had his blade touching Tatsuki's neck.
A brief look of surprise glazed her eyes, than she sighed to herself, acknowledging her defeat.
"Okay, so this makes it the third time I've beaten you"
"Second, you know my blade got to your neck before yours that time."
"Whatever, like that issue will ever be settled in this life." After he said that, the two couldn't help but laugh a little
Ichigo put his hands behind his head and continued "Anyways, How's Keigo and Mizuiro doing?"
"After that last incident in the noodle bar I had doubted they'll be ticking off any samurai for awhile. But knowing them it's impossible"
"So I guees we'll have to back them up again for their screw-ups?"
"Just as long as they stay away from the bathhouse." Upon saying this Tatsuki couldn't help but shudder from the memory, the memory of seeing sword waving, half-naked samurai chasing Keigo and Mizuiro down the city streets.
"I didn't even know that samurai shaved their chests, now I hope to remain bliss for my life's remaining time." Ichigo's voice had a touch of dread coloring it, and rightfully so.
"Anyways, my mother needs me to collect some rice for winter, before I go, how's Orihime?"
"You don't want to know, but I'll tell you that some of the guards haven't been leaving her peace, if you understand" she remarked, her tone one of disgust
Ichigo sighed once again, this time in frustration "Someone should tell Aizen to keep his soldiers hands to themselves"
"It certainly wouldn't be you, you would need me dragging you to Las Noches." "Oh really?"
Tatsuki merely snickered of her jab at Ichigo, finally the two shook hands congratulating each other for the match.
"Next week sounds okay for a rematch?" "You can bet on it! No way that same trick will work twice on me!"
"Guess will find out then. be seeing ya."
Waving goodbye, Ichigo once more set off for the Markets.
Kyoto, Central District
In this area of the city more samurai could be seen, many of them answering Aizen's call to arms for the Kyushu Campaign.
The monk, his face unoticable underneath his cloak, sees the many banners of different clans and provinces, once upon a time these clans had been free to pursue their own path, now they had become dogs serving the will of a more powerful master.
"So this is want many a samurai has become these days, pitiful." The Quincy thought in pity of the loss of their freedom.
He notices a scuffle, about three men to his left are shouting about something or the other. His hearing focuses on the scuffle.
"You know, we've come quite aways to get ready for this damn war, we're dead tired and hungry, so if you don't mind, we feel the need for some 'pleasurable company"
Judging by their tone of voice, the men were quite drunk. Now his eyes observe the situation
A young woman holding a bale of rice was backing away from the drunken soldiers, her orange hair tied into a ponytail.
"Hey! Didn't you listen to me!"
"Forgive me, I know it must have been exhausting traveling all the way here, but my family is expecting me to rerturn soon, so I can't help you today."
"Don't worry, I'll bring the food to your folks, but first..." The man attempted to grab the girls arm, but ended up receiving a slap to face in reply.
"Ohh, You just made the wrong decision bitch!"
One of the soldiers grabbed the girls hair, while their leader unsheathed his sword.
"Look closely everyone, this peasant! Thought it would be wise to step out of place, this should remind you exactly why you shouldn't!" The girl struggled desperately to escape the man's grasp but to no avail.
Analyzing the situation, the Quincy was a bit surprised, for the most part, the common people lived in fear of the Sosuke's army, never before had he seen one stand up to them, much less a peasant girl.
He knows what he intends to do is violating the Code he swore to follow. The Quincy's philosophy was to encourage self-reliance in others to create a harmonious society. Otherwise if one cannot stand for their own merit, the Quincy does nothing to aid their plight. Such was the Code.
Ishida Uryuu however, was not so susceptible to this today.
"So, it appears that the great Sosuke army have reduced themselves to bullying the weak. I suppose you three consider it an honor." Ishida spoke clear enough for the others to listen.
"What?! This wench your girlfriend or something?! Get lost punk!"
"You remove your hands from that girl and I will." "You looking for a fight pal?!" The leader was just about to make promise his threat, before one of his men restrained him
"What are you doing? Let go of me!"
"Toyori, do you recognize that man's clothing, he's a Quincy monk! The Emperor himself blesses their temple! We can't fight him!"
Toyori wasn't in the mood for lecturing and shoved his compatriot off.
"Bah! All these monks do is sit around and chant, how's he supposed to fight me anyway? All he has is a bow and arrow!"
Ishida adjusted the rim of his glasses and readied an arrow from his quiver.
"Judging by your stance, tone of voice, and the way your holding your sword, your completely drunk and therefore disoreintated, I can very well shoot an arrow from this distance and bleed your face, without killing you."
"HA! I'd like to see you-" Toyori quickly shut up after he felt something graze his face and applied his hand to his right cheek, fresh blood seeping through his fingers. The arrow that Ishida fired laid ten feet back, still quivering from impacting the ground.
Seeing this spectacle lay before her, the girl was quite amazed at his accuracy.
Toyori stepped back from the monk and motioned to his two men, without saying a word the three left.
The few pedestrians let off a small cheer to the man who stood up to the soldiers. Ignoring their applause Ishida went towards to speak with the girl.
"Are you hurt?" "No, thank you very much your help."
She took a closer look at her savior "You are monk of the Quincy temple as those men said, right?"
"Correct."
"Why did you help me, I thought the Quincy do not interfere with the problems of others."
"Our Code is to guide people towards self-reliance, Seeing you face those samurai and resisting them, I aided you so that perhaps you could better stand to your own merit in the future."
"I see, but still, I am grateful for your aid." She knelt down to pick up the rice bale she dropped in the scuffle "If you don't mind though, I'd like to know your name."
Ishida was about to walk off, but decided to answer her request
"Ishida Uryuu, and you...?"
"Inoue Orihime"
"Very well then, Orihime, may the gods grant you and your family fortune, farewell."
With those words, Ishida continued on his way.
Market District
"Thanks." Ichigo payed the soldier for two bags of rice, lifting over his shoulder Ichigo proceeded to the main road leading to his village.
On the way though, Ichigo could feel his stomach fighting back hunger. He hadn't eaten since breakfast and the spar with Tatsuki took a bit out of his stamina.
Fortunetly for him, he noticed a noodle bar to his left, with the midday activity waning the shop wasn't busy, perfect time for a bite to eat.
Leaving the rice to the side of the building he walked in. Right at the front of the bar he saw a familiar persona.
"Hey Chad!"
"Nice to see you too Ichigo" replied the heavy-set Sado Yasutora, better known as Chad. How that name came up, Ichigo never knew, but for a reason Chad only wanted to be replied as such, so the name stuck.
"So how are things treating you?"
"For many whom are starving in these times, I myself seem well off."
"You don't need to remind me twice" For the second time thoughts of the people's plight once more entered Ichigo's mind
"I see what the samurai have and what the people don't, if Aizen is honor-bound as a samurai to aid the people, why hasn't he?"
His thoughts of the matter were interrupted when he heard a woman's voice shout in frustration.
"Something wrong my lady?" Asked the cook up front
"Damnit! Someone must have picked the money out of my pocket." The woman spoke, her teeth clenching in anger.
"Well, I suppose I can help her out at least""Here," Ichigo offered her the few gold coins from his pocket.
"I don't have the money to pay you back" "It's no problem, just take it." With the matter of repayment cleared the girl took the money from his hand.
Before speaking her order she turned to Ichigo
"Don't mind this, but it is a custom of my family to know the name of someone who aids you."
"It's not a problem, Mashiba Ichigo" he said.
Gathering a response, so not to compromise her surname, she spoke
"Yamana Rukia"
And such, their destiny was intertwined.
The path they must take, is open.
Where it goes, they shall see for themselves
Post Battle Report: Ichigo does not know his heritage just yet and his surname is meant to prevent Aizen from finding his family obviously. And since the Kuchiki are a powerful and therefore well-known clan in my story, similar situation for Rukia's last name.
Personally I don't know if this is exactly my best at creating the foundation for the story's pairings but that's up for debate.
Hope you like this chapter, more on the way as Thanksgiving vacation approaches
Before I go a message from the Shogun
Review or I'll lock you in a room with Ichimaru
That is all.
Kagekatsu