Author's Note: Thank you for all the input and everyone's opinions on whether or not I should stick in something M-rated...And because of all the feedback, I decided I would, yay! So I guess you can be "looking forward," if you will, to that coming up in the next few chapters as my treat to my readers! Thanks for all the reviews, too!
Getting through the pathway from the real world to Hueco Mundo had been the easy part. And getting into Las Noches was challenging enough for Ichigo, but the worst was yet to come.
Now that he had infiltrated Aizen's palace, he had no idea how much time he had left. He just knew that there wasn't much.
And it wasn't like he had a way of telling the time, either.
Now, he had to figure out just where the hell Hitsugaya was. Then he had to go find him, save him, and get the hell out of there. That was a lot to do, and who knew how much time he had left to get it done. If only he wasn't being pressured for time, this would be so much easier.
Moments earlier, he had ducked behind a wall to avoid detection, taking care to conceal his reiatsu like Urahara had taught. For someone like him who didn't even know any kido at all, this was quite a challenge.
Slowly, letting out a sigh, he reached into his robes, pulling out the small brooch Urahara had given to him before had left for Hueco Mundo.
Ichigo stared at it fondly for a few moments, turning it in his hands to admire the intricate craftsmanship that had been taken to create the item. Holding it felt nice. He could still feel an icy presence when holding it, and he knew it was because Hitsugaya's reiatsu was still left on it in trace amounts. He knew it was just reiatsu, but holding it made him feel so much closer to the captain of the tenth division, almost like he was holding his hand.
His mind drifted as he tried to visualize the pale, pretty face that he sorely missed. Why did this have to happen? Why would anyone want to take a child like Hitsugaya to a place like this, where he would be trapped? Ichigo knew that Hitsugaya, although not an outdoor person, was not one who would be comfortable enclosed in such a gloomy space like this one. If he couldn't get him out of here, he knew the rest of young captain's life would be ruined.
Standing around wasn't going to help anything. He had to get moving.
He concentrated hard. He hated to admit that he still sucked at sensing reiatsu. But he could feel Hitsugaya's distinctly. He knew that cold, icy, but warm and dignified aura.
He could feel Hyourinmaru inside himself, too.
It felt strange and a little different than it had back in Soul Society. It was weaker, fainter, more frantic, yet it cut deep into him with a strange sadness he had never felt before.
The white-haired captain's soul was sick. That was apparent.
What struck Ichigo was the pained, and almost desperate feel of the reiatsu. It felt almost as if it was calling to him, and him in particular. Trying to draw him closer, trying to send a signal to him, trying to bring him to its source. Begging him to come for him, to save him, to rescue him from this god-awful place and fill him back up with warmth.
Ichigo knew that now was the time that Hitsugaya needed him more than he ever had. He could feel it.
But hadn't Hitsugaya said it himself, that he had no feelings for Ichigo, and no desire to be with him? He remembered his cold words from that day clearly...
I'm afraid to say that I don't feel the same way about you. You're little more to me than a person to chat occasionally with. I have no desire to go anywhere beyond that...
He didn't know why he was here.
Sure, he admitted to himself that he was quite in love with the boy, but wasn't it true that Hitsugaya could care less about him?
But he wouldn't let that thought stop himself.
He didn't care what happened. No matter what, he'd get through this alive and bring Hitsugaya back to Soul Society.
Gently, Ichigo slipped the brooch back into the folds of his robes before carefully stepping out from the safety of behind the wall.
Right. It was time to get serious.
He instantly started on a run, moving as quickly and quietly as he could. He wasn't sure how much time he had left, but in any case, he had to be fast.
Last time he was in Hueco Mundo, it had taken a great deal of energy, since he had been forced to fight so many Arrancar, and even Espada.
But this time, he didn't have time for that. He couldn't afford to waste time and strength fighting.
Normally, Ichigo wasn't a man to run away from a fight, but this time, he knew he would have to.
This decision was reaffirmed in his mind as he stopped abruptly, seeing a figure in front of him. He blinked, pausing only to take a good look at the Arrancar now in front of him.
He knew that face. That broad, smug grin, and the electric blue hair.
It was Grimmjow alright, the sixth Espada. From what Ichigo remembered, he was not a man to mess with. Once they got involved in a scuffle, he wouldn't back down until their was a clear winner.
Of course, that was bound to take a long time. Time that Ichigo didn't have.
"What're you doing here, shinigami?" the grinning Espada spoke, watching Ichigo with a ravenous killer intent shining in his glass blue eyes.
"None of your business."
"I'll make it my business," Grimmjow shot back. "You're here for that kid, aren't you? That little tenth-division captain."
"Shut up," the strawberry growled, "This doesn't concern you."
"Oh, it does. It concerns me, alright," the Arrancar snickered, and Ichigo watched him warily as his hand went to the hilt of Pantera. "You and I still have some business to settle. And besides, if you want to find your little shinigami whore, you're going to have to get past me first…if you even can."
Clenching his fists at Grimmjow's crude reference to Hitsugaya, Ichigo was using all of his willpower to stop himself from lunging at the fucker and hacking him into pieces to make him take back what he had just said.
Instead, he slowly pulled Zangetsu from his back, holding the sword out in front of him.
"Bankai!"
He felt the familiar surge of energy pulsing through him, washing through every pore of his body down to his fingertips. Zangetsu slimmed in his hand, and without hesitation, he brought his hand to his face and materialized his hollow mask in a quick, fluid movement.
"Gonna use bankai on me, huh?" Grimmjow scoffed, unsheathing his own katana.
"Actually, no," Ichigo answered, "I don't plan on fighting you."
"Then what do you need that freakish mask and your bankai for?"
"To increase my speed."
"What the hell are you talking about-"
Before Grimmjow could even finish his sentence, Ichigo bolted, flash-stepping around him and speeding down the gray corridor. He felt stupid, running away from a fight, but he honestly did not have the time to waste there.
"Oi! You shinigami bastard, get your ass back here!"
Of course, Ichigo had no intention on turning back. He had to get as far away as possible from this guy. And by the looks of it, he had to pick up speed. The Espada had begun to give chase.
