A little shorter then the last chapter, but here is the Karakura Arc! I took care to fix some of the (many) spelling errors of last chapter, but some might have still gotten away.
Title: Undermining the Mission Pairings: Aizen/Ichigo and others Rating: PG13 Warning: Yaoi, some violence Summary: Not one day into the Soul Society and Ichigo breaks Urahara's plans. Neglecting to tell information has long and strange consequences. Disclaimer: Don't own Bleach or anything affiliated with it Chapter Nine (A complex of Broken Trust)
"What do we want?"
"Free Nemu!" Yachiru led the members of the Shinigami Women's Association as an angry crowd petitioning for the release of the former vice captain. They all knew Nemu and understood that he creep of a 'father' had ordered her to attack Hinamori. The petite girl had even forgiven her attack and waved the picket sign around. It had been a month since the betrayal and she wished she could have joined her Captain in the human world, but Captain Unohana suggested that she relax a bit more and let Matsumoto take her place, along with Ikkaku and Izuru.
"Uh! Glasses, why isn't this working?" Yachiru was close to throwing a hissy fit and going into the newly installed member's room and laying a smack down on each of them.
"Well, the truth is we normally have Rangiku uhh.. Advertise herself a bit. And seeing as she isn't here right now." Yachiru pondered over this for a minute before looking at the line up in front of her. No good with Soi, Kiyone, Hinamori, or herself. Unohana was too mother-like and Nanao wouldn't dare do it.
"You! Isane, go take Ran-chan's place!" The woman blushed and ducked behind her captain.
"That will not be necessary, Kusajishi." Byakuya swept from the SWA and knocked on the forty-sixes' door, completely aware of Soi Fon and Yachiru poking a blushing Ise. It was all her fault for forcing him to take part in their fund-raising. And not as a model either.
Nanao believed it was a curse. Why do captain's enjoy hitting on her for their own amusement?
--
'This...is worse then paperwork.' Sousuke's head thudded onto the desk of the apartment they( He, Madarame, Kira, and Matsumoto) were renting. He'd fallen asleep half way through coloring- critiquing, the essays for his two literature classes and woke up from an odd dream.
Gin had been prancing around Las Noches tapping random things with Shinsou, including the Espada and reverting them. In the dream he wasn't paying attention because he was trying to force a shoe on Kurosaki, who was smacking him in the head, and fending off Hinamori and Tousan.
Peering down at the papers, he couldn't decide which was worse; the dream or the grammar of some students. The Ryoka's papers reflected them almost perfectly. Inoue's was a theory on how Hecate was really Susa-no-o, Yasutora wrote about the symbolism of prediction, and Ishida's as an analyzation of pure fact with a costume critique. As it was becoming obvious, Kurosaki's broke the mold yet again. He knew the boy had some intelligence in him but he was pegged for the 11th division attitude wise.
And before him was an eight page paper analyzing Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and power that was very interesting to read. The eight pages not so much. A quick look at the time and Sousuke cleaned up the papers and started walking to Yasutora's house where Kurosaki was staying, which he still had no idea why. Things had been tense between them and he felt his old captain's reiatsu flare up now and then. The Vizard were obviously going to make a move for Ichigo and he'd deal with that when it came time for it.
'Why was Kurosaki dead set on meeting at this time?'
--
The Kurosaki household was down two members that night, but Karin hated the show anyway.
'But Ichi would have stayed with us anyway.' Yuzu remembered their brother picking them up right after school and explaining to them that he was staying with Chad for a while and not to worry. He also asked them to bring a few things like his clothes out of his room for him since he was against returning to the clinic. She looked over at her father who seemed oblivious to Ichi's absence, but knew he wasn't. He went looking all through the house for him and sat down for breakfast that day disappointed and antsy looking.
"THE SPIRITS ARE ALWAYS WITH YOU!" Oh! It was starting!
"For all my Karakura fans out there, some of you may have notice construction sites through the entire city, in eight different spots. We're bringing this show once again LIVE from beautifully haunted Karakura town!"
"HE'S HERE AND WE'RE MISSING HIM?! YUZU-CHAN?!"
"Karakura City is the most haunted place in the world." Isshin sweat dropped for a minute and wondered how much this Kanoji fellow knew. Apparently he knew Ichigo.
'What is going on with you? Why aren't you coming home.' Isshin tuned his attention back to the TV.
"So tonight we're unveiling the spiritual stones straight from the after life itself. And allow me to introduce my helpers, the righteous deathly trio- Madarame, Kira, and Matsumoto!" The screen showed three people who were obviously shinigami, just from their puzzlement and shock.
"And my own Home Town Helpers the Karakura Superheroes!" The screen then showed three..kids...
"SHE DID NOT?!"
"AHHHHHHHHH WHAAAT?!"
--
Sousuke approached the apartment and saw Kurosaki already standing against the balcony.
"Hey."
"Hello Kurosaki. Why aren't you inside? The weather's far too muggy." It was true. All their clothes were sticking too them and sweat wouldn't dry despite summer being over. He got an pained look on his face and did a silent count down with his hand, pointing at the door.
"Wha"
"BWAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAA!" Sousuke jumped and reached for his soul candy but Kurosaki held his arm and shook his head.
"Don't. And brace yourself for tomorrow. I hate this show. What did you want to tell me?" He didn't know what to say.
"..." Silence passed for a few minutes and Kurosaki paled a little and asked in a shaky breathe.
"...You're not telling me it involves that, are you?!"
"I won't tell you then." The boy smacked his forehead and the door was flung open by a very energetic Yasutora.
"ICHIGO! SHE FINALLY UNDERSTANDS!" The Mexican grabbed them and flung them in front of the TV.
"Home Town Helpers the Karakura Superheroes!" On the screen were the two brats from the Shoten and..
"KARIN?! KARIN! WHERE THE HELL IS THIS TAKING PLACE!" Sousuke helped a little and gave the undercover area, feeling a little sorry. He jetted out of the room and slammed the door.
"What is his issue with this show?" Chad brushed his hair away and gave him a seat before putting a DVD? Into the television.
"THE SPIRITS ARE ALWAYS WITH YOU!" Three episodes in and Sousuke was hooked. It was childish and completely annoying but,
"BWAAAAHAAAAA!"
--
Ichigo walked to the Clinic at twelve AM with Karin hoisted over his shoulder.
"I can't believe you." Karin couldn't say anything. It had always been the two of them against the rest of the city's insanity, and she just betrayed that.
"Ichi-ni.. I thought you didn't want to come home yet?" He put her down when they were about a block away and held her shoulders.
"Karin, my problem is with dad, not you or Yuzu and I will not leave the two of you alone. Especially after that weirdo tried to kidnap Yuzu. Now get to bed before you're too tired to wake up tomorrow. Bet you can't wait for all of your classmates to quiz Karakura Red!" Ichigo struck a ridiculous pose.
'One thing he has in common with Dad- they'd do anything to cheer us up, no matter how ridiculous.' The reached the doors and Ichigo waited across the street until her light was out. In the daze he didn't notice his father standing next to him.
"Ichigo, what's wrong?" Ichigo jumped a little before standing straight and glaring at his father. It took a lot of restraint not to hit him when it always came naturally.
"Were you ever going to tell us? Did you honestly think they would never notice?" His dad looked away and didn't answer for anything he wasn't being accused of yet.
"No idea what your talking about."
"Like hell you don't, Tanimonban." He saw his father wince and turn to face him completely.
"Alright, I was going to tell you when you "
"WHEN I WAS WHAT?! I thought I was crazy and that I was a freak for years. Do you know what its like having to explain to other kids that you see dead people?!"
"I thought it was for the best. When you were old enough to handle it I was going to tell you."
"If I kept waiting for you, we'd all be dead! WHAT KIND OF MORON ARE YOU?! NO! You stay quiet."
"Ichigo! I did it to protect all of you." Isshin was starting to get mad at his son. He was normally more reasonable then this.
"P-protect us?! YOU LET A FUCKING SHINIGAMI LIVE WITH US AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT! You're fucking lucky she didn't know who you were. You'd be turned in and Me, Karin, and Yuzu would be murdered. Mur-der-ed!"
"WELL IT DIDN'T HAPPEN DID IT!"
"So now this is about what did go right! If I had known about this I'd..." Ichigo stopped short and his eyes widened for a minute, all traces of the anger gone. Isshin looked ready to help his son when he started whispering.
"So that's it. That's why you never blamed me. She would be alive if you had said anything." He didn't know what it was, but Ichigo knew that something drastic had changed between him and his father and it wasn't going to be fixed. He turned around back to Chad's house.
"Where are you going?" Isshin had to do something. As much as his own son just hurt him he had to do something.
"I'm going to protect my family. One of us has to." Like a cosmic joke it started raining after Ichigo left Isshin standing in the rain. He was going to call Ryuuken tonight. His son was right. He was going to get them all killed.
--
Aizen was waiting outside of the apartment out of the gigai waiting for Kurosaki to return. It wasn't as if there was anything better to do and Gin wasn't going to send arrancar or else everything might be jeopardized. He saw the bright hair even in the rain.
"Kurosaki, I'm not going to let you off easy if you fall asleep in class tomorrow." He said with a smile and wondered what kind of flip out he'd get for that remark. It was all very amusing.
"You know what Aizen? Piss off."
That wasn't what expected. The smile fell off his face.
"Excuse Kurosaki-san?"
"You heard me. But its alright. I have no idea what the hell you, Ichimaru, and Tousan are planning but you've been the most honest to me. Goood night!" He watched the boy giggle with full body laughs. This didn't end like he had hoped, admittedly he didn't quite know what he was hoping for.
Chapter Ten(The Monarchy and Theocracy)
This was a complete waste of his time! He should be off kicking some hollow ass and getting women, not babysitting a sick brat! Kon looked down from his imposing height at Ichigo who Chad had tied down with a few bungee cords. Early in the morning the big lug had kidnapped (saved) him from Yuzu's room and told him to watch over Ichigo, who alternated between breaking out into a cold sweat and seizing, along with pouring out a strange reiatsu. Every now and then Kon would have to kick Ichigo back into submission and the body repaired itself almost instantly.
"AAHHHH!" The screams were bad too. This one was the worst so far. White clap seeped onto his friend's face and plaster itself on. A raspy voice that wasn't quite Ichigo but not not him started muttering to no one.
"Break them all King. You're gunna watch me break them all!" The struggles got worse and Kon waited for Chad to get back from school. He wished Rukia was here. Hell, he wished the kid in front of him didn't look like a damn hollow.
"ARGGGGGGGGGHHH!"
--
When Sousuke took attendance for his class, he noticed that Kurosaki was absent and knew something was going on. They were doing more Shakespeare today and the boy loved it.
'Well, Hollow transformations do speed up with intense emotional breakdowns.' Last night he swore he saw the edges of Kurosaki start to break away. Laughter and smiles from that spirit were few and far between. Something in him was shaken and he trusted no one to be privy to it.
While the students quietly read some of the materials he watched the sky and mentally counted down the hours til he too would go to Las Noches. The Captain Commander had discovered the plan to make the King's Key out of spiritual pressure and souls from Karakura Town and went to fixing it quickly.
Ikkaku, Kira, and Matsumoto were sent to be guest stars on that excellent spirit hunter show and place Seki-Seki stone all over the city and make it absorb the spirit particles, making the whole plan useless.
'Until I break them all.' Today was when the new Central Forty-Six would give judgment on the actions of Captain's Hitsugaya, Kuchiki, and Vice Captain Ise, as well as dealing with the Ryoka Problem. Some how or another tonight there will be a forced understanding and their lack luster king will begin to fear for his seat. Sousuke looked over at the empty seat of Kurosaki and wondered who would be unfortunate enough to get caught up in the crossfire. Some of his actions, while needed, were pity.
'If Kurosaki was just a little more understandable he'd be perfect. He does not have the time to become a knight, not while I'm moving for the King.'
"BWAAAAAAA" Sousuke smiled and joined in. Then gave the little bug detention for interrupting class.
--
"Captains, the behavior taken by the officers of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, and 13th divisions has been excused, with the notable exception of Kurotsuki Nemu, and Captains Kurotsuki and Ichimaru." Yamamoto couldn't believe the list he just had to announce. Vice Captain Omeada was still in intensive care with negligence of orders, Vice Captain Kira with secrecy, Captain Unohana for assault, her 7th seat for aiding the(an) enemy, Captain Aizen and Vice Captain Hinamori for aiding an enemy, Captain Kuchiki for various assaults, Captain Kommamura for leaving an enemy, Captain Kyouraku and Vice Captain Ise for assault and harboring an enemy, Captain Tousan for leaving the enemy, Captain Hitsugaya for unprovoked assault/ attempted assignation, Former Vice Captain Kurotsuki for attempted murder, and Captain Ukitake for assault and the dropping of Kuchiki's charges. He stared at all the captains and watched Kenpachi's smirked.
Somehow, there were no charges against the 11th Division at all. They were still confused about that one.
"Now, onto more solemn news. Captains Kuchiki and Hitsugaya, you as well as vice Captain Ise, will go to Karakura and assist the others stationed there in the arrests of the following." The entire room was dead silent as the Captain rolled his finger down the list.
"The entire Kurosaki family, headed by Isshin Kurosaki, formerly Tanimonban. Orihime Inoue, Sado Yasutora, and any direct relatives. The Ishidas. Exiles Urahara, Tessai, and Shihouin, along with what or whom ever may be with them. If they do not come peacefully you are permitted to use force and if necessary death. I will not have any arguments!" Several of the Captains looked ready to scream at the arrest list. They were children who helped save them.
Jushiro looked at his old friend and swept right out of the room.
"About your choice, Ukitake..."
"Later!" And the sick man shunpued to the 4th Division. Sneaking past the nurses he crept into Rukia Kuchiki's room and locked everything.
"Captain Ukitake! I am" He shushed her and pulled up a seat.
"Are you well?" Nod.
"Are you ready for the mission?"
"Of course Sir." Rukia threw off the covers to show her Shinigami uniform instead of the hospital gown.
"Remember, you must get Ichigo to me before anyone else finds him. If I make him Vice Captain we might have a chance at letting the others free. Now go!" His unseated officer flew out of the room with his 3rd seats covering her trails. To be honest there really wasn't anything to Kurosaki Ichigo's name besides "wrecker". He smirked while waiting for Unohana to come in and demand her patient back.
Some would think that he'd just going by blood- but it was none of that. Some fifteen year old human travels to the Seireitei safely is amazing, but not Vice Captain worthy. There are rumors of him having Bankai, all unconfirmed. It was on that bridge...he did not quiver for a single second under the spiritual pressure.
"And then I'll corrupt him just to annoy Isshin. Moron didn't even tell me he had a kid!"
--
Ichigo untied himself from the ropes at about one pm. Best to be described as a mental fight with himself, he won as opposed to...himself? All he knew was that Kon had to be sewn up again and he was more tired then he'd ever been in his entire life. A quick collapse on the outside balcony was wonders for cooling off in the light drizzle. It was still rain from last night but it lightened up.
'This feels wrong. Something's going on.'
"So I see that your not a weak constitution." Ichigo whipped his head to where the heard the voice- the skit above him.
"What the hell?!" He scrambled backwards to get a better view. The blonde stranger landed in front of him before adjusting his hat.
"So impolite. My name is Shinji, and you would be Ichigo, wouldn't ya?" The blonde named Shinji walked around a little looking like he wasn't interesting until he felt the side of his face get stomped on by a foot.
"What was that for you jerk?!" Argh. Between him and Hiyori he'd never get moments peace. Better make it quick and save the kid from Aizen. He pulled a business card out of his pocket with the phone number all the vizards shared on it.
"I know about your mask. You're strong now but how long will it last?" The boy looked shocked. 'But at what?'
"How? I never told you or anybody. " Except Aizen and his friends. Shinji knocked his head to the side.
"From Kisuke, duh. What ever you do don't let my little Captain, Aizen, know. Who knows what he'll do to you."
"What do you mean, do to me. Urahara did it all."
"Dipshit, Kisuke's helping us. That god complexed man tried to kill us for experiments. You'd better get in with the program. Its us against the soul society. Call that number when you want to arrange something. I'm outta here. Too many Shinigami creeping around."
--
Rangiku wasn't a lot of things. She wasn't a slut, a whore, or anything like that. As matter of fact only four men to date have seen her naked- Shunsui(her drinking buddy), Captain Hitsugaya( her captain), that poor shinigami in charge of check ups that day, and Gin (her...hers). While waiting in the park with a small bag of something in her hand, she waved down that cute little kid, Kurosaki, and asked him over. Shy little boy refused to look anywhere but her face. So cute.
"Hey Kurosaki, where are you headed to?" He told her school and she went right in for the kill.
"You..ah. In the Seireitei, Gin caught you right? What did you think of him?" He looked confused for minute before flat out answering.
"He was weird. But all you shinigami are. Seemed alright though, why are you his cat?" He seemed to be a little sarcastic at the end but Rangiku couldn't help but hug him to her chest.
"HE told you?!"
"He told me to watch after his cat! LET GO OF ME!" She twirled him around before letting go and watching his face turn bright red. 'He told someone to look after me. He does care!'
"Thanks Kurosaki. Aizen's still in the classroom now." He ran off and she started frowning again. She wasn't a traitor and she wasn't one of Aizen's little fans. But she wasn't about to feel guilty about drugging the other Shinigami. Nanao and Soi fon will understand someday, as will Shunsui. Her captain would probably be glad to be rid of her.
'Gin. I've been missing you.' Aizen was getting another person tonight, whether he liked it or not.
--
"Shinigami. What could possible have needed to talk tot me about at 3 am?" Ryuuken was colder then his son's friend Uryu would ever be. He brought out three papers, one wasn't that necessary though- Ichigo was proving more and more that he was a man now, not a little child that could be coddled and protected. There were scars on him that He wasn't there to see or bandage (not that he even could anymore).
Really the only hope of reconciliation was if they were forced to fight together in years to come.
"This is right up your alley, Ishida. I want you to have custody of my daughters if something happens to me." They lit up their cigarettes plainly ignoring the sign.
"Strangely responsible of you. Why not leave them to your son?"
"As if you don't know that happened. Uryu doesn't have clue about the tabs you keep on him. At least Ichigo came to face me, man to man."
"You mean Man to Fugitive. I'm glad the boy has enough sense to get away from you."
"Does that mean you'll take them?" Ryuuken put out his smoke and walked away.
"If I can Kurosaki. Shinigami have hunted for the living before and they'll do it again. I'm not safe myself. You should just hope your son is a better protector then you." Isshin left as well and headed to the Dojo their brother was a part of when he was young. Against their will he made both of them take classes there, but Karin has been getting the Arisawa to teach her some more.
"Isshin Tanimonban. You are under arrest." He sighed and threw his cigarette to the ground. 'Ichigo what would you do? Would you fight or would you try to get them to let you go?' The shinigami was different. She had on a Captain's haori but it was inverted. The Royal Guard. He put on his best smile.
"Hello! What brings you to this neighborhood? Tea?"
--
Ichigo hesitated before entering the doors to the literature room after hours. He could hear the man in there but didn't want to hear the truth.
'Don't be a liar. You didn't have to lie. Please don't let him lie to me.' He realized that he wasn't in the right state of mind, occasionally tasting the people that walked by on the way here. That woman, Matsumoto, had been very bitter and rich, compared to the students here who were mostly sweet and fragrant. It wasn't normal. It was like a hollow.
"Kurosaki, I'm not sure you're aware of this but school ended an hour ago. Come in, I suppose." He started blankly in the classroom before jolting back to the world- he started seeing that white face again and words weren't forming.
"Aizen-"
"Kurosaki, please join me outside. We can talk there." The hollow screamed again, but it wasn't laughing- it wasn't the predator. As frightened as his soul was, Ichigo felt his stomach drop and the world slow down and lose peripheral vision.
'KING. I'M GOING TO BREAK YOU NOT HIM. ME. ME!' Aizen smiled, completely oblivious to what was going on in Ichigo's head.
"Kurosaki?" He felt his feet move forwards even as the hollow tried to get control. He knew it now. Helping this man in the Soul Society and not telling anyone anything, he was in far too deep to get out of this. He had to -
"Liar." The man was still smiling.
"No need to be afraid Ichigo. I never have nor will I ever have malice towards you, your sisters, or your friends. Now lets head outside." He started walking out of the doors with him and although it was a gigai and the sword was hidden, it didn't take much imagination to see the blade.
'FIGHT KING' He couldn't? They arrived into the empty courtyard.
"It really is a pity Ichigo. You were interesting, for a human." Why Why didn't he mind the fact that this man was about to kill him?!
WHY?!
Chapter Eleven (Team Alpha Squad Ox)
There weren't any people around, save the karate club over on the other side of the school warming up and being almost completely oblivious to the reiastu's flashing from on small corner. Ichigo, still felt completely drained and torn apart from that fight in his head, almost swayed on the spot from exhaustion and Aizen knew this.
"Was any of it true, you royal basterd?" The brunette cocked an eyebrow and 'hmm'ed playfully.
"Well the laws and powers of Shinigami are true. We have talked about a lot since we met, but I assure you all the notes from Macbeth will be on the quiz tomorrow." An inhuman growl escaped his lips and he resisted the urge to go after the man's throat.
"Ah. Well, I did embellish the truth a little. Kisuke Urahara did take the fall for making the Shinigami into vizards, which he did do. Only I forced them to Hollowfiy first. If he let them die like hollows, they'd never have these problems now. Nor would you, for that matter." Ichigo didn't think he could take much more of this. Aizen's reiatsu had the same sort of richness that Matsumoto had, but it was much smoother and almost aged like a wine was supposed to. Without thinking about it Ichigo licked his lips and breathed in more of the man's presence.
'Am I really that bad right now?' All day everything had been muted save for the hollow, Shinji, and now Aizen, who was ingesting a soul candy. The teacher guise dropped to the floor and the Captain appeared. Ichigo, without Rukia or Urahara's help couldn't leave his body and he doubted Aizen would share the soul candy.
"Tonight I'll be destroying the main Seki-Seki and Gin will be taking me to Hueco Mundo. The Shinigami will undoubtly hold an investigation in Karakura and your body will be found." Dramatics. The man good at them since he unsheathed his sword then.
"I honestly like you, Ichigo Kurosaki, but I can't just let you go on like this anymore. Its too dangerous for everybody. The Shinigami will assume that you discovered my plan and tried to stop me only to have me kill you. To them you'll be a hero and your family may be protected because of it. You're soul chain is gone, right? Perhaps I will be seeing you in Hueco Mundo sooner then later." It went black when Ichigo felt the blade drive through his heart and slam downwards breaking bone, muscle, and organ.
--
"Tatsuki, did you feel that?" The dark haired girl called an end to practice and dragged Orihime out towards where they felt Ichigo. Tatsuki had no idea how she it was Ichigo but something felt like him.
"Ichi? Ichigo…AHHH" Tatsuki screamed when she saw her oldest friend mauled on the sidewalk.
"TATSUKI! M-make sure no one comes by here!" She was surprised- why was Orihime so calm. Tatsuki ran over with her as she grabbed the barrettes.
"I reject!" The barrettes went to pieces and some sort of barrier went over Ichigo's chest, healing it. It was slow, but Ichigo was starting to breathe a little easier.
"Orihime…what?"
"Tatsuki… I'll explain." An hour past with the two of them just sitting there and talking while Ichigo's skin mended together seamlessly.
"So he's a Shinigami?" Part of Tatsuki felt very cold inside. Her friends all left each other behind.
"Tatsuki, I would have asked you to come but your arm… I just didn't want you to get more hurt. Please forgive me!" The girl bowed her head so low and quick that her forehead hit the ground cracking it a little. Tatsuki smiled. Orihime would never change. Ichigo was starting to stir and was healed, at least bodily.
"But what happened to him?"
"I don't know. None of the Shinigami would want to do this to him. Not even Captain Ichimaru wanted to." They were interrupted by a little stuffed animal grabbing on to Orihime's chest.
"Oh you wonderful Goddess! Not only is your bosom worthy of praise but you've healed the jerk who ran away from me!" Tatsuki smacked the stuffed animal into the ground.
"You deserved that you lecherous pervert." All their heads whipped to the Ichigo who woke up and was as..pleasant.. As ever.
"What happened Kurosaki-kun?"
"Yeah, what happened Mr. Death God?" he winced and scowled.
"Aizen. Aizen was the one to make the vizard what they are and now he's going to wreck Karakura Town for his own goals." Tatsuki didn't like where this was going. Normally Ichigo would get angry but he was dreadfully calm. She had to ask even if she didn't want the answer.
"What are you going to do now?" Ichigo grabbed the stuffed animal and kissed it?! The doll went lifeless while an un-Ichigo like expression went over his face. Behind them was Ichigo, once again, dressed in a black kimono and a huge sword.
"I think I'm going to go help him. Tatsuki, please will you watch over Karin and Yuzu for me? I mean now. Things are about to get very bad." Ichigo took off running and left the three there.
"Tatsuki, what do you think we should do?"
"I'll tell you two birds should do. We all need to find a nice, safe hiding place with Ichigo's sisters. From what Ichigo said and how he acted before, I wouldn't be surprised if the soul society had him and the rest of you guys on an arrest list. Now Lets go get the Munchkins!"
The girls look at the body strangely. How did this guy pass for Ichigo?
--
"Thank you Vice Captain Matsumoto for this wonderful dinner." Izuru would never forget his manners, even when addressing a fellow Vice Captain. Not unlike Madarame who just kept chatting with the woman while shoveling in food. However for some odd reason she didn't seem to care about that.
"Madarame, why are you being so crass and rude to the Vice Captain?" He made sure to put interest in the ranking, maybe he'd get the hint that he was currently the lowest officer here.
"Oh don't be so silly Kira!" Madarame looked at Matsumoto and shock his head.
"Eh, Why don't you go for a walk? We'll take care of the dishes."
"By taking care of do you mean throw out?" It was true, they were eating on paper plates. The shine of his head sparkled. "Exactly." Without a fight his fellow vice captain left him to the jaws of danger.
"You moron. What are you sayin something like that to her for?" Uhh? He was the on in the wrong?
"You of all people should understand how Matsumoto feels about Captain Ichimaru leavin us all like that. An' besides that, she knows that I don't mean any of it." Madarame continued to eat the food while he took smaller bites. As good as it was there was a sort of strange tang to it, but that was probably because of the location.
"Plus you better get used to me. I'm your new Captain." He shined and grinned at him. Izuru froze in horror at remembering the mission prompt "Mission Headed by Ikkaku Madrame." His orders. His new Captain. An 11th division thug was going to be Captain of his peace loving and respectful divison?!
"Hey… do you notice something…strange with the foo--" He never got that last syllable out as he fell into a dead sleep on the table. Come to think of it, the after taste was like the weed he and Momo used to knocked out Renji and tie him to the teacher's desk.
"whaa" Izuru felt his eyes blur and wondered what was going on." Matsumoto sighed and locked the door with her gigai propped against it.
--
Uryu was very displeased. His, okay he'd admit it, his friends, have been gone and strange all day and now he got a phone call from Ryuuken asking him to visit the hospital.
Strangest of all it involved the Kurosaki family, the patriarch of which he was watching fight another Shinigami, sword to sword.
'Well, this explains some of Ichigo's displeasure.' He had no idea who this Shinigami was but on the Quincy honor he couldn't let his friend's father and his father's friend (Alliteration!) be attacked without helping out. So he shot the arrow to the Shinigami who had no idea he was there.
Yes. He did feel like a sniper. Uryu smirked and kept shootng occasional calling out random animals, whom he assumed her plan formations names.
"Squrriel, Cobra's tail!" Wonder of wonders, Kurosaki answered him.
"Yes Owl, kitty deathtrap!"
The Shinigami just looked confused.
Chapter Twelve (Sake and Bad Taste)
Ichigo knew from day one that Sousuke Aizen wasn't going to be good news, but he went along anyway because Rukia was in danger. It had only been a few weeks ago when that happened but that choice was still shaking him on the inside. There so many twisted lies around that it didn't matter who betrayed who anymore.
'What is wrong with me? He tried to kill me and I'm still going back to him to help him even."
A breath of truth was needed. Ichigo did agree with some(most) of Aizen's thoughts about how backwards the Soul Society was and the horrible leadership of that non-existent king, but it was something else that drew him to the Captain.
It may save your family.
That other Vizard, Shinji, only talked about him. None of the other people that guided him cared to even consider Karin and Yuzu. From the top of a building he could see the main seki-seki stone in the city, and could almost tell that all the reiatsu that he along with the other spiritual people left around was being drained away.
The ghosts were lingering long either, be it a good or bad thing.
"Just got to save Karakura." Aizen was smart and very management oriented. If he could come up with something to get the man to the King without sacrificing the city, he'd do it. He knew he would. The building beneath him started glowing and with a tight somersault he balanced himself on the flag pole below.
Hey, Zangetsu was a great teacher.
"I should not have to tell you why I am here, do I Ryoka?"
Just to make Ichigo's evening complete, Byakuya Kuchiki shows up. Some part of him (the hollow, he thinks) laughs about getting more attention from the man then his own Vice Captain.
"Stupid Baboon" A eyebrow get quirked.
"True, but it does not involve you at all. Scatter, Sebonzakura."
--
'Ryuukin's kid is soo much more fun then he is. Him and Ichigo are like wet blankets." Isshin continued the fight with the Royal Guard, very happy to have any assistance. Even when he was in prime conditions just matching one of these Shinigami would have been hard, never mind all the years he'd been stuck in the gigai.
'The damn Geta Boshi should have just taken the Hyougyoku out of the Kuchiki and put it in me like I offered. It would have been gone by now.'"Disc formation, Beta seal?!" The young Ishida couldn't be found and for a moment worried if the Guard was going after him, until he felt another pressure jump out of now where. Of course, Aizen would still be in the picture. And nether the less the Royal Guard would still be trying to take him dead or alive.
"Bakuda 9. Strike!" The flash of red light defiantly wasn't enough to stop the Guard but it did provide enough distraction to release his sword.
"Disc formation, Beta seal?!" The young Ishida couldn't be found and for a moment worried if the Guard was going after him, until he felt another pressure jump out of now where.
"Leap, Kemuriusagi" and Ishida reappeared somewhere half a field away with rapid fire. His fingers would start to bleed if this kept up. But who was helping them? A sword hitting another sword and the air chilled a minute before the new fighter was thrown carelessly towards them. It was Kuchiki.
"Uhh, Ichigo, you dumbass what did you…do…" The girl looked up at him confused.
"Sorry, Little Lady, but you've found the wrong Kurosaki. But thanks for the heLLLP!" The girl jumped up and smacked him across the face.
"You! YOU SELFISH THING! Does Ichigo know? How am I kidding that's why he's been pissy, isn't it? The grass' dew shakes a still pond. Rock fades to sand in time to come. Hado 19. Raising Tide!" Rukia painted a circle in the air and from the light came out a gushing stream of water. Ishida had moved foreword and shot three more arrows at the Shinigami before falling over onto the grass of the soccer field they were on.
He dove into the chaos and sliced the Guard's head off, quite cleanly. As he turned around her saw Rukia healing the Quincy's hands, giving him a very cold shoulder. So what else was new.
"Kurosaki-san, what was that Shinigami attacking you and Uryu?" Isshin couldn't really take it anymore and started laughing. It was really all he could do. He gave up Shinigami powers to be with his wife, who died in a hollow attack. His only son refuses to listen to him any more and is probably being used by Aizen. His daughters were now on the Seireitei's watch, and he had probably signed the last Quinces over to death as well.
And his son's little "friend" was asking him why a very dead Royal Guard Member was after him.
'At this rate, Mom won't be too happy. The Tanimonbans'll be thrown out of the noble families like the Shibas.'
"I'll tell you what is going on, Rukia Kuchiki. Hello, Captain Tanimonban." Rangiku Matsumoto walked past the dead body and towards the crowd, smiling as if everything were alright in her own world. In one hand there was her sword and in the other was a Soul Pager.
"Don't worry too much Kuchiki-san. I'm positive that yourself and all the Ryoka will be safe. This man I'm not to sure over, but no hard feelings, eh? Captain?"
"Oh all the people I expected to be here, it wasn't my third seat. Matsumoto, when's the Special Ops coming, or will Shunsui or Jushiro come themselves?" He resigned himself to this punishment. Maybe they won't hurt his family since they're living.
"Vice Captain Matsumoto, what are you talking about?" Rukia was starting to lose her cool, like she had so often with Ichigo. Oh he heard their fights- those two were abusive towards each other. Odd taste for a girlfriend. Matsumoto was fingering the pager and smiling.
"You must have been too caught up in the fight to notice. There is a barrier around this town made by hollows. And Ichigo is probably dead now, anyone could have felt that pressure disappear. Speaking of that…" the pager started wailing and a rip in the sky appeared next to the woman.
"HELLO! You must be Ulquiorra! When's everybody else coming?"
Blank green eyes stared at him from under the remnants of his hollow mask.
An arrancar.
--
"He hehe" Gin had gotten terribly bored of all the waiting and the whining of the arrancar, especially the Espada. There had been some deaths and demotions since the had last been here, like Socacchio, Mosqueda, and Thunderwitch. Neliel was alive but no where to be found, and Nnoitra just kept smirking at that. He sent a few of his own servants out into the desert to find her.
Where there were once what walls, were still white, really. Just with accents of Red, Blue, Orange, Pink, and Purple. The purple was a risk- it was for Ichi, who may not go with the plan. After knowing the man for over a hundred years, Gin picked up on what his Captain liked and didn't like.
He certainly liked something about Ichi, that was for sure. Instead of just sneaking in Hueco Mundo he stayed with the boy and taught him.
Gin sighed at his Captain's horribly misguided love life. The man wouldn't be able to handle a crush. He'd give someone a white flower of purity or some corny junk like that.
Suddenly his soul pager (Well, not his. He lost his but Mayuri really didn't need his anymore, did he?) and read the text message his ran sent him.
She was coming tonight!
"OHHH, Staaaarrk. Why don' ya go and get tha pink room ready for Ran? Don't forget the Sake!!" Gin knew his was a little sick when it came to Ran, but he knew he had better sense then Sousuke, really. Forget flowers. He'd give the boy some dead poet who wrote about shit.
--
'…and graceful petals shown with the delight of the moon…'
It wasn't much but Sousuke stopped at local bookstore for a departure gift of sorts for Kurosaki. The poet was fairly dark and not well known, but he wouldn't be surprised if the boy had known it...in life that was.
'I think I'm regretting that choice. He might have been able to help.' He sighed and paid for the book since the shop was closing for the night. He'd leave it at the grave in a week or two once everything died down.
"ACHOO!" Sousuke sneezed and startled a mother and child next to him.
"I'm sworry mister.." There was ice scream on his clothes.
Strawberry Flavored, to be exact.
--
"You're Sora and you're Mimi, got it? And you're my little cousins from over in Kyoto visiting for the week." Kon, in Ichigo's body was hiding out at Tatsuki's house while She and Orihime brought the Kurosaki twins there as well.
"Then will you tell us what's going on, Tatsuki?" She liked Karin- she had the same sort of spirit as Ichigo. A young boy with white hair interrupted their path and held out a blade towards them.
"Hello, Captain Hitsugaya!" Trust Orihime to try and be oblivious at the same time.
"Inoue, I need to bring you and the Kurosaki's to the Seireitei. It would be nice if you came quietly, please?" Respectful. Pah. He had the same sort of respect as she and Ichigo did. Absolutely none. And Yuzu was looking at him kinda crush like.
"Fuck off, you midget." For some reason Orihime whimpered at her side as Karin snickered.
Why was it getting colder?
Chapter Thirteen (We're Going all the Way Tonight)
"Kisuke, where are Kurosaki and the others?!" Out of seemingly no where, hollows ripped through the dimension and targeted only those with powers. Fear started to creep into their veins when they realized what all this meant- Aizen had managed to organize the hollow and arrancar into an army. The shinigami had mostly disappeared too, except Aizen. Surprise surprise.
"That's the last of them." Lisa jerked herself into a more comfortable position and the blood dripped down her sword. It was serious enough for the vizards to come out and fight in the open against enemies they never thought they would see. Arrancar were hollows that acquired shinigami powers and essentially their polar opposites. There was a rustle in the trees that put them all on guard- Yoruichi was out looking for any help.
A small mince meat hollow tried to get them when a blast from the distance blew him to bits and pieces. Whoever its was heading to their trajectory quite fast.
"Shinji, do you think we should head for a different direction?" Kisuke hid his eyes as he said that. They all understood what would happen to them if they were caught now.
"No. Wait!" If their hair would unbind itself and their clothes would change, Lisa and the pursuer would look like sisters.
"L-lisa-sempai?"
"Hey, Nanao. Nice promotion!" A little shaken Ise looked around at the vizards.
"They said you all died that night because of Captain Urahara." Lisa hugged the girl.
"Nanao, you need to know this. It was Kisuke- it was Aizen, Tousan, and Ichimaru. Please believe me." The sky turned bright for a moment and they all looked to the center of the city. Black lashes that blended in with the night sky could be seen along with bright pink petals.
"Ichigo?" Nanao jumped out of her mentor's arms and started shunpuing to the sight.
"BYAKUYA!"
The Vizard were stunned. What was this kid doing? Perhaps for the very first time since he started edging the boy closer to his shinigami roots, Kisuke felt both remorse and fear. How could Aizen destroy even Ichigo's innate goodness? He was the epitome of gentlemanly, save that little language problem. Hiyori came up to him
and kicked him in the shin.
"Stop the moping! We all know that bastard destroyed everything he touches." Mashiro chose then of all times to pipe in her unique insight.
"Wonder how much touching those two did?" Without a word Kensei bopped her on the head while the other others starting looking sickly. Shinji thought for a moment though.
"Kisuke, is that true? Kurosaki did have Aizen's reiatsu all over him when we met."
"Please. Please don't go there." Isshin would be…so pissed.
--
Yoruichi couldn't even get into that fight at this point, let alone save either one of them. Byakuya and Ichigo had sliced each other apart so many times and now they were surrounded by swords from Sebonzakura's petal's and Ichigo's foot (of all places) was hit.
Both of their bankai's were impressive. They were the elite of the elite and if Isshin had any sense, he would have begged back into the Soul Society after his wife died.
'What was he doing?!' Honestly, she wasn't sure who would or who she wanted to win, but Ichigo suddenly slowed down and made for an obvious defense. 'This isn't right. No way would Ichigo be ready to given in. He was hurt worse with Zaraki.' Byakuya moved to strike Ichigo once and he did, right across the left shoulder. She saw him grin and watched the slim bankai slide through and down Byakuya's leg and into the roof ground to pin him there.
Two flash steps later (she was quite proud of all her students) he got to Byakuya's back and pointed?
"Hado 31. Red Flame Cannon." Very badly controlled but power up enough for a huge effect, the fire bomb hit Byakuya directly, followed by Ichigo who pulled Zangetsu out of the charred skin.
"Getsuga Tensho!" And it was over. Byakuya's body arced off of the building and down onto the street below, where Vice Captain Ise and Captain Hitsugaya just met up. Time to step up.
"Ichigo, what on earth are you doing!" Her ignored her and jumped onto the central seki-seki stone. You could feel the reiatsu hum off of him and she knew that all spiritually aware people were seeing and feeling this.
Zangetsu hit the stone, and it all crumpled. All the energy it had stored was set free. Small hollows roared a bit at the taste in the air and the minor set stone quickly crumbled as well. Did he know what he was doing? He'd better, cause Hitsugaya was approaching quickly with sword drawn.
--
The girls were very shaken in Tatsuki's house when Ishida's father pulled up asking for them.
"My name is Ryuuken Ishida and for the time being, your guardian." Karin objected.
"Doubt it. Where's Ichi-ni?" Her mother offered the man tea, which he decline and gestured to the seat. "I will explain things to you. Your father is an idiot, to be begin with."
"Well at least we know he's telling the truth" Yuzu whispered to her sister. They all heard about the Kurosaki-Tanimonban blood, shinigami, hollow, and what happened a few weeks ago. Occasionally Orihime piped in or asked a question, but mostly it was a monologue for Ishida.
"…and I will be the one taking care of you. Your father and brother may be alright if there is leniency, but neither one of them wanted to take those chances with you." Karin just looked stunned while Yuzu cried in Orihime's arms. The man's cell phone rang and he put it on speaker.
"What?" Tatsuki just thought that snobbery was earned, but the Ishida men were born with it.
"Sir, your son was just brought into the hospital by a Mr. Kurosaki." The phone clicked off. "We'll be leaving now. Something's changed." As soon as he sad that, they all felt the wave crash through all of Karakura.
--
Sousuke was marveled. Kurosaki was still alive and for reasons unknown still helping him. He stopped Hitsugaya from attacking out right with a few calm words.
"We don't know what he's planning yet, so wait before we charge in too headstrong." The brat believed him, probably because of Hinamori's ravings about himself. Besides themselves the closest one to Kurosaki was Shihouin, who didn't look like she was going to tempt fate and try to take him down. The reiatsu pouring off of him was visible in blue flames, that even his amber eyes glowed with the color.
"You WILL stay away my family and from Karakura, YOU HEAR ME!" It wasn't directed towards anybody, but for all of them at the same time. "Your time isn't running out."
'Spare Karakura and you'll get help, is that what your thinking Kurosaki?' From behind him the sky clawed open, reveling Gin and two of the Espada, Grimmjow and Hallibel. They were both silent and Gin just smiled at everyone, especially Hitsugaya.
"Lil Shiro! Haven' seen ya in a while. 'sup?" That broke the child's restring and he lunged foreword ready to hit either one of them when a well timed punch and kick knocked him back to Aizen. Matsumoto stood up and took up a place near Gin and kissed him. The other was Sado.
"Chad? What are you doing?" He wanted to snort. That was a loaded question.
"You know that I promised him, but if I don't start something everything will fall apart. That's why you're here too. I'm going to help." No one knew what the two were talking about but they all saw Kurosaki smile-a rarity that was pleasant enough.
"Right then. FUCK OFF AL YOUR SHINIGAMI AND VIZARD!"
"Woohooo!" Gin and Matsumoto wouldn't let go of each other but joined in the
cheering.
"Matsumoto what is the meaning on this!" Hitsugaya finally found words since it all just seemed like a bad dream so far. She frowned and let go of Gin. This was going to be good. (A distant part of him thought about that saying with blonds and fun, but just for a moment)
"Toshiro, you are a little kid from the first district and I doubt you know anything about the higher numbers in the rukongai. Either is naiveté or just apathy it doesn't matter, you simply don't care enough. I did do all my paperwork though, so be happy! I'm sure you'll get a more efficient Vice soon." Kuroskai and Sado looked upset for her and it was obvious why.
Toshiro Hitsugaya feel under the illusion that many of the privileged had. People who faded in six, maybe ten years did not matter as much as those long lived nobles and shinigami.
Rangiku Matsumoto along with Gin Ichimaru got out of it before it destroyed them. Even battle happy Zaraki knew he had to get his daughter out of there and yet not a single person gave a damn.
"And what now Gin?" he finally speaks. He may not be leaving today after all
"Well I'm jus gunna take Ran here and get home. Ichi-berry and his friend are comin too! They'll fit right in." It was true. Grimmjow looked at Ichigo like he looked at the other Espada and their presence wasn't ignored. Ichigo looked as if he wanted to say something to Gin, but Matsumoto stopped him and whistled.
"Ulquiorra! Show them what you've got!" Ulquiorra was here? He hoped that the arrancar didn't subservient to him at this time. That probably why Gin brought those two- they'd both love the chance to ignore him.
The 4th threw the body and head of a Royal Guard member and his and Hitsugaya's feet. There wasn't any faking the gulp. When did they get involved?
"Tootles!" The calm order was gone as they all scrambled into the portal like small children. Kurosaki looked at him before leaving.
"Good-bye." They were all gone then and it was quiet. Like nothing ad happened to change the course of everything. He had to protect the Kurosaki's as he could now. Ichigo did it all for him to have that time.
'Gin, Ichigo, I'll be there soon enough.'
"Captain Hitsugaya, please send out a full alert and get Captain Kuchiki to the Medical Center. I need to go contact the Captain Commander." Brat's eyes lit of with something he'd seen before- admiration. Pathetic.
"One of the guards of the Royal family as been killed now. It's gone to a new level of seriousness."
--
Ichigo cursed his luck sometimes. After pulling that, Amazing plan out of his ass and having it work- he gets stuck in the desert cause there were too many people to safely transport.
Stupid sand.
Drained to the brink of death from the day, he collapsed into the sand while his injuries healed and wished that he managed to tell all of his friends.
'But I know that they'll all be alright now. He has to.'