Inner Conflict — XIV
Rukia moaned as her eyes struggled to open. She could hear utter chaos all around her, and assumed that Shirayuki had only kept her in her mind for her promised ten minutes. But of course, it always felt much longer when she was with Shirayuki.
"Rukia-san?"
Rukia jerked at the familiar voice, her eyes finally remembering how to open themselves. And she found herself looking into Momo's worried face. "You're okay." The brown-haired Shinigami sighed with relief. "I was starting to worry…"
"You worry too much." Rukia muttered as she pushed herself up, rubbing her head. Momo looked alarmed.
"H-Hold it Rukia-san, you're injured—!"
"I've never been better." Rukia waved Momo off as she stood, wobbling slightly. Shirayuki had at least been kind enough to stop the bleeding (though it wouldn't last) but that didn't stop the pain.
"Rukia-san I can't let you — I told Ichigo I'd—"
"Momo-san." Rukia gave Momo a stern look. "Are you coming or not?"
Momo hesitated. "Rukia-san, you can't—"
"Well I am. Now let's go."
She wasn't bothering to hide her spiritual pressure. It was the first thing Ichigo realized when he felt their approach. She wasn't hiding it, making it easy for him to pick it out of the chaos. What was she doing?
"That idiot!" Ichigo raged, whirling to face the direction he sensed her from. "What the fuck does she think she's doing?!"
"Quit yelling moron." And then she was behind him. "They can hear you all the way back in Soul Society."
So he wasn't as good at sensing spiritual pressure as he'd thought. That was nothing new. He whirled around to face her, fuming. "Have you lost what little bit of a mind I thought you had?!"
"Yeah, awhile ago." Something strange flickered in her eyes. Ichigo backed off for a moment. He knew what 'awhile ago' meant.
"Will you explain to me now? Please?"
Rukia looked at the Arrancar surrounding them. They were all looking at her, one of their two supposed leaders, waiting for their new orders. She closed her eyes, sighing. "I don't know what to do anymore." She murmured after a minute. Ichigo could hear the strain in her voice. He rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Quit taking all the responsibility for yourself. You're not strong enough for that. Let me help you, Rukia."
Rukia felt as if someone had let the air out of her. She sighed deeply, her eyes on the ground. No doubt Aizen, with is constant spies watching Rukia, would be hearing every word of this conversation. No doubt the wrong answer would send the Arrancar on a new attack. She almost wished Momo was there, but the brown-haired Shinigami had taken off to find Toushirou. Rukia was alone here.
And without warning, a large, rough hand encased her's. A small, surprised gasp escaped Rukia's lips, and she looked around at Ichigo, shocked violet eyes meeting solemn amber. No. She wasn't alone.
A small smile creased her lips as she looked back at the Arrancar, eyes glowing with defiance. "Tell Aizen," she said, her voice strong and clear, "he can take his deal and shove it. I've had it."
The Arrancar attacked.
"Shirou-chan!"
Toushirou had never been more pleased to hear Momo calling for him — or more horrified.
"What are you doing Hinamori?!" He whirled around to face her, his eyes narrowed in fury. The Arrancar stopped at the sight of her, unsure of what to do in the presence of one of their two leaders. "Why are you here, you were supposed to stay with Kuchiki—" You were supposed to stay out of danger.
"Well she took off to find Ichigo, so I thought I'd go find you."
Toushirou decided not to ask how someone who was sliced up could stand and run off. He focused on the more important matter. "Why are you here?"
Momo looked over at the Arrancar who were still watching them, still waiting for the order to kill. She looked back at Toushirou, who was waiting for his answer. "I don't know…Shirou-chan. I don't know what to do anymore. I think Rukia-san's made her choice…but I don't know if I can make the same one."
Because Momo knew what Rukia's choice was. She knew the raven-haired Shinigami had chosen to turn away from Aizen — she'd confirmed that when she'd gone to fight Ichigo. But Momo didn't know if was strong enough to make the same choice. She wanted to, she really did, but…
"What do I do, Shirou-chan?" She murmured, looking at the ground.
"Trust me." She looked up in time to see him walk past her, putting himself between her and the Arrancar. "Trust me, Hinamori. Please. I want to help you. Let me help you."
Momo wiped hurriedly at the tears filling her eyes. How bothersome, crying at a time like this…
"Shirou-chan—"
"Later, okay? Let me finish off this sorry pack of rats. We can send their bodies back to Aizen as a message." He liked that idea way too much. Momo could hear it in his voice. She took a step back.
"Thank you Shirou-chan."
She could tell he was rolling his eyes when he spoke. "Idiot. What are you thanking me for? I'm just doing my job."
He attacked without another word.
"They're worse than ants!" Ichigo moaned as his Getsuga Tenshou tore through more Arrancar. "They just keep coming and coming!"
"Oh quit complaining." Rukia called as she took out a couple more Arrancar. They were attacking her relentlessly; she happily returned the attacks, imagining that each one of them was Aizen. She looked down at the pure white blade of her Shikai. It felt…different somehow. There was something different. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on…
"Oi, Rukia, quit day-dreaming!" She jumped and whirled around, slicing through an Arrancar that had snuck up on her. "Jeez." Ichigo moaned as he came up next to her. "And you wonder why you're always getting hurt—"
"Shut up." It wasn't the best response she'd ever come up with, but she didn't have time to think of anything clever.
Ichigo opened his mouth to respond…
Better move faster King. You don't have much time left now…
His mouth snapped shut, his eyes widening. The hollow's voice sounded louder than usual…
"Ichigo?" Rukia's voice sounded far away. "Hey, Ichigo, are you okay?"
He shook his head, trying to clear it. And to think, he'd just accused Rukia of zoning out…
"What's wrong?" Rukia demanded, worry tracing her voice.
"Nothing. Get moving or I'm leaving you behind." He took off without another word. Rukia stared for a moment, stuttering before running off after him.
"Damn you Ichigo…"
She's a tough one, isn't she? Think she'll ever give up? Not that I'd mind if she didn't…
Stay the hell away from her, Ichigo growled silently, swinging his Zanpakatou through some Arrancar in his way.
I can only do that if you do that. And I know you're not about to…
Ichigo didn't answer. Damn hollow was right…
"Hey!" Ichigo skidded to a halt and jumped back as Rukia ran in front of him, swinging Shirayuki through an Arrancar in his path. "And you yell at me for day-dreaming? Pay attention moron."
"Oh shut up."
A group of Arrancar appeared suddenly, surrounding them. Rukia made a face. "There's more coming from somewhere." She muttered. Ichigo didn't have time to question what she meant before the Arrancar attacked.
"There's too many." Momo said as she watched Toushirou slice through the last of his opponents. He looked over his shoulder at her.
"What do you mean?"
"We…there were a lot of Arrancar with…us. But between you and Captain Kurosaki and Urahara-san and everyone else that's fighting, they should have all been taken care of by now. There have to be more coming in from somewhere."
"Like somebody turning on a faucet."
Momo nodded silently. Toushirou looked around, stretching his senses out. But all he could sense was the onslaught of Arrancar. They were definitely coming from somewhere — but there was no way to tell where.
"Something's not right here."
The problem with the Arrancar was that they weren't strong; for all intensive purposes they were a bunch of weaklings. But there were so many of them, and they didn't stop coming. The present Shinigami (or former Shinigami, as the case may have been), were strong, but eventually they would tire out.
This fact was weighing heavily on Rukia's mind as she swung Shirayuki again and again and again. More Arrancar were coming in from somewhere. And if they didn't figure out where, they were going to be crushed by the numbers.
So what can I do about it?
Are you afraid? Rukia blinked in surprise. Shirayuki chose the worst times…
Whatever you want to yell at me for, yell later, would you?
You're afraid. I don't believe it. After all the work you put yourself through, your afraid to use the power you've achieved. Honestly Rukia…
Rukia knew arguing was absolutely worthless. Now wasn't the time to get into it with Shirayuki, she needed to stay focused…
Don't be afraid. If you're afraid of the power, it'll eat you alive.
Yeah, that was comforting. Rukia gripped the hilt of her Zanpakatou tightly with both hands, taking a deep breath.
Ichigo jumped forward, taking out two more Arrancar before looking back at Rukia. She seemed amazingly hesitant considering how gung-ho she'd been when she'd first found him.
Better focus less on her and more on yourself, again, the hollow's voice sounded louder than usual. You're almost up King. It's gonna be my turn soon…
Only when I rot in hell.
Ichigo snapped back to reality as yet more Arrancar appeared in front of them. "And then there are more."
"Fine, fine." He heard Rukia mutter. "You win. Happy?"
Ichigo shifted his eyes to look at her. "Sorry, what?"
She sighed, her Zanpakatou gripped tightly in both hands and held it straight up and down in front of her. "Just…take a step back, okay? I'm not exactly sure how this is going to work."
Ichigo stepped back, raising an eyebrow at his companion. "What exactly are you planning on doing?"
"Something incredibly stupid. Just bare with me for a minute." She took a deep breath before uttering a single word: "Bankai."
Ichigo jumped back in surprise as a pillar of white erupted around Rukia, enveloping and hiding her from view.
The hell…did she just say Bankai? Since when can she…?
Momo and Toushirou looked around as the already high spiritual pressure spiked once more. "What's that?"
"Not sure. It's coming from where Kurosaki and Kuchiki are though." Momo bit her lip. "Let's go check it out."
Of course, they had more Arrancar standing in their way. "I don't think we're going anywhere anytime soon…"
Ichigo was still gawking when the pillar of snow and ice died away. He blinked as he looked Rukia over. Sode no Shirayuki was still clutched tightly in her hand, the ribbons on the hilt flowing as if caught in the wind. The blade was mostly unchanged, other than becoming a little thinner and a little longer. And Rukia Shinigami robes…
All Ichigo could do was gape. Her robes were almost exactly like his Bankai robes, except for being white instead of black.
"Whoa. When the hell did you learn to do that?"
The Arrancar didn't seem as impressed. Once they were sure the show was done, they sprang forward to attack. Rukia took a single step backwards.
Don't be afraid. Control the power. Don't let it control you.
One flash-step put Rukia up in the air. The Arrancar swarmed below her like thousands of ants. She raised her Zanpakatou over her head and swung it down. A beam of white shot off the blade, flying ground-ward and slamming right into the middle of the horde of Arrancar, encasing each and every one of them in ice.
All Ichigo could do was stare. In one swing she'd put well over a hundred Arrancar foot-soldiers in the ground — figuratively-speaking. That was something Ichigo had never thought Rukia was capable of.
"Nice." He spoke dryly as Rukia touched ground again. "Why didn't you do that ten minutes ago?"
Rukia looked at the sword in her hands. Her eyes were wide, as if even she couldn't believe what she'd done. "This is all…very new to me."
"Whoa."
They looked around and saw Hitsugaya and Hinamori standing there, both giving Rukia wide-eyed looks. "Rukia-san…"
Rukia looked around, avoiding the gaping gazes. She'd just noticed something odd. "No more Arrancar."
"She's right." Hitsugaya was looking around now too. "We killed a few on the way here, but it seems like what was left all congregated here. I'm going to go check in with Kira, Abarai, and Matsumoto, see what's going on with them—"
Ichigo saw Hitsugaya's mouth moving, but somebody turned off the sound, replacing it with a long buzzing noise. And suddenly the hollow was screaming.
Haha! Feel that? Taste it? Taste amazing…I love it, I love it!
"Ichigo!" Rukia dove for Ichigo as he fell to his knees, gripping his head tightly, his teeth making a sickening metallic noise as they grinded together. "Ichigo, what's wrong? Ichigo!"
Hitsugaya and Hinamori exchanged horrified looks. Rukia knelt down on the ground in front of Ichigo, trying to get his attention. "Hey, this isn't funny, c'mon—"
She was cut off by a silver flash flying up towards her.
Author's Note: Ha! You see, it is possible to type seven pages worth of nothing! /pats herself on the back/ Okay, anyways, sorry for the slow update. This no internet at home thing is becoming a real inconvenience. I'll try to get my next update up faster. Review please, and tell me it's not too terrible — Sam