Chapter two: Ready? Fight!
Disclaimer: Bleach and LadyHawke and other related entities are owned, (TM) and © by Tite Kubo and Paramount respectively.
Ichigo stood in the forest clearing with sword in hand raised above his head ready to strike. With a grunt he brought the double edged sword with silver hilt wrapped in leather, down on top of the flimsy piece of wood splitting it in two. He walked over to another piece of wood to place on his make shift cutting board. He grabbed it and tossed it down then walked to his original spot. He hefted the blade up once more focused on the wood raised the sword over his head and started to bring the blade down over the wood, except he didn't get that far. A force kept the blade behind his head.
"Hey-"He began to protest only to stop at the glare he was met with as he stared into cool grey eyes. Suì-Fēng looked up at the young man who had dared use her precious family sword for such a mundane task as cutting wood. She had the blunted end, located near the hilt, of her blade firmly in gloved hand and gave a tug to remove it from the idiot's grasp.
"This sword has been in my family for five generations." She gently began to wipe at the dirt on the flat side of the blade. "It has not known defeat…until know." She growled up at the young man, who had the decency to look sheepish. She pointed to the end of the hilt's hand guard on the left. "You see here, this jewel here represents my family name," She then pointed to the other end of the hand guard, "This one here represents our alliance with the Kingdom of Seireitei." She then pointed to the middle of the hilt "This one is from my…father during the Crusades." She turned the sword over to show Ichigo the other side where an empty space sat. "…this one…"
"Whoa you don't think I stole it do you?" Ichigo said with a nervous stutter. Suì-Fēng looked up at him sharply.
"No! This one here was supposed to be filled by my brother." Suì-Fēng ran her finger over the empty piece sadly. "But he passed away due to the plague when he was but a child…the sword was then passed onto me…it is now mine to fill, for you see each generation is called upon to fulfill a quest." Suì-Fēng Walked passed him to stare out over the clearing leaving Ichigo to watch her back.
"What is your guest ma'am?" He asked as he scratched at the back of his head. Suì-Fēng's answer was instantaneous.
"I must kill a man…" Ichigo frowned at the response, but he was curious to know more.
"So…does this walking corpse have a name?" He asked hesitantly. Suì-Fēng turned back to him and grinned.
"His Lordship the King of the Seireitei" She said as she walked over to a rock and sat down on it the sword resting in her lap. Ichigo's brows raised and he released a tense chuckle.
"The King…I see." Ichigo looked everywhere except at the woman sitting before him. He was sure she was insane now, and he really needed to get out of there…and quick. "Well then, you have much to do, and I've imposed upon you enough so I'll just be on my way now. I do hope our paths cross again." He gave her a wave and started to walk away.
"I need you to guide me into the city." Suì-Fēng said with finality never taking her eyes off the boy. Ichigo stopped in his tracks and pivoted quickly.
"Nuh uh…no way!" Ichigo exclaimed and crossed his arms in an X shape in front of him. Suì-Fēng just gave him a nonchalant stare.
"You are the only one who has ever escaped from there." She said and ran her hand over the blade fondly. Ichigo lowered his hands and sighed.
"Look Captain what happened to me was pure chance. A miracle! I fell down a hole and followed my nose." Ichigo tried to make her understand. He really didn't want to get any more involved then he already was.
"…Ichigo I've waited a long time for a sign from God. When I heard those bells ringing the morning of your escape, I knew, just knew the time had come for me to fulfill my destiny…you are to be my guiding angel." Suì-Fēng spoke in a disarming way. Ichigo looked away lest he look into her eyes and find himself agreeing with her.
"No offense Ma'am, but I've always talked to God, and he's never mentioned you or your quest to me." Ichigo said with his head bowed.
"Really…never" Suì-Fēng said with feigned surprise. Ichigo took a step towards the woman and spoke firmly.
"There are strange forces that surround your life Captain…magical ones. I don't understand them, and frankly I don't want to," Ichigo stiffened his shoulders with determination, "You have saved my life, but the truth is I'll never be able to repay you…I'm a thief, I have no honor and I don't think I ever will. I don't think you'd kill me for being what I am, but better that then returning to Seireitei…Goodbye Captain." Ichigo turned away from her and started to walk away. He was parallel from a tree trunk when he heard the 'whish' of something flying through the air. Next thing he knew the double edged sword he had been chopping wood with was swinging back and forth imbedded in the trunk barely a foot away from his head. He turned back to the Captain in stunned disbelieve. Her petite form still standing behind him, now though she had her arms crossed.
'How the hell does such a small woman have the strength to do that!' His mind cried out. Suì-Fēng raised an eyebrow and Ichigo slumped his shoulders in defeat.
"I'll go gather some wood for the fire then." He placed his hand on the still swinging blade to hault its movements ignoring the smug grin Suì-Fēng gave him.
It was an hour after night fall the moon hanging low over head. The forest was alive with the sounds of insects and other nocturnal animals making a cacophony of noise. Yoruichi was crouched low in a high branch watching and waiting for her pray. She had been keeping track of the little bunny for several minutes now waiting for it to slip up and make a mistake. She tensed her muscular legs, kept warm under skin tight black leggings with her feet protected with fine leather shoes, and prepared to jump on top of it. It was so close now just a little more…a sneeze sounded throughout the clearing and the little bunny bolted from its spot and ran for the bush farthest from Yoruichi's hiding spot. She cursed and jumped from the tree, the orange jacket she wore flared out behind her to show off a sleeveless shirt underneath she landed and gave chase. She almost had the rabbit within her reach, but it pivoted back and under her legs.
"Shit!" She cursed as she watched the little fluff ball disappear under the roots of a tree. She continued to curse her luck and tossed her dagger to the ground. She turned to Suzumebachi, who had watched the whole affair, and Yoruichi could swear she saw the amusement in his eyes. Yoruichi huffed at the stallion and started to walk over to him in the hopes that Suì-Fēng had something to eat within the pack resting on the floor.
"Ahem… excuse me miss," Yoruichi looked towards where the voice had come from and saw nothing. She lifted a brow in confusion. "Up here milady." The voice spoke again. She walked over to the tree the voice was coming from and looked up into one of the low hanging branches. Both her thin eyebrows rose into her hairline as she saw the boy from the night before sitting on the branch tied to the tree. Ichigo gave the dark skinned beauty a sheepish smile.
"…Hi there do you remember me. We met at the farm…the wolf…you told me I was dreaming." Ichigo started to ramble. Yoruichi cocked her head to the side and looked at him strangely.
"What in the name of all that is good are you doing up there?" She asked him curious, though she didn't move to help him down. Ichigo tilted his head up and looked thoughtful for a moment as he tried to come up with a reason he was tied up. A candle lit up as he came up with an idea.
"Well you see I was in a terrible fight with a dozen of the King's guards…" Yoruichi looked up at the strange ginger headed boy with a smirk.
"A dozen guards huh…why didn't they just kill you then?" She asked while cocking her hip to the right and crossing her arms. She lifted her left hand up in front of her to examine her perfectly filed nails.
"Why didn't they you ask…um…" Ichigo tried to come up with a plausible excuse. He banged the back of his head against the tree trunk before finally coming up with something. "Well I had asked them the same thing, and they told me that honor would belong to the King and only to the King…they said they'd be back."
"So let me get this straight. You were in a fight with a dozen well armed men, none of which cut you down? Then they tie you to a tree not ten paces away from our camp site and leave you here with the promise of coming back?" Yoruichi's grin turned feral when she noted the young man cringe at her words.
"Ok fine there were no guards, but I still beg of you let me down…there was this giant owl examining me not even a minute ago. I think he thinks I'm dinner." Ichigo looked over his shoulder as best he could to look at the woman he still hadn't had the pleasure of being properly introduced to and gave her his most charming smile. When she just continued to look at him without the slightest hint of sympathy, he decided it was time for the big guns. He pouted his lips and gave her his best puppy dog look. "Please milady…" Yoruichi looked amused at his attempts to charm her into letting him go. "please." Yoruichi sighed and went back to her fallen dagger. She walked back over to the tree and climbed a top of one of its protruding roots. She rose to her toes and began to cut the ropes. The last one came undone and Ichigo immediately brought his hands to the forefront and began to rub at them.
"Thank you milady you are very kind." Ichigo said as he smiled down at the woman. She was about to reply when a far off howl drew her attention. She turned away from the young man to try and pinpoint where it had come from. When she could not locate where it had come from she turned back to the tree while speaking.
"Listen-"She stopped and stared in shock at the now empty branch. A voice from far off spoke up.
"Thank you milady, when you get the chance please tell the Captain she ties a wicked knot!" Then there was nothing but the chirping of the crickets. Yoruichi brought up a hand to her head and groaned.
"Crap… Suì is not going to be happy about this one." She shook her head and headed back towards Suzumebachi. She was still hungry and wanted to eat something.
Suì-Fēng smiled up at the circling hawk, whose feathers were gleaming in the morning light, as it let out a cry and started to head for her. She let out a small laugh when the hawk landed on her outstretched arm. It almost looked like it was giving her a guilty look.
"Good morning my love." Suì-Fēng said softly and scratched the hawk under its beak, the hawk tilted her head up and enjoyed the attention she was receiving. Suì-Fēng laughed and removed her hand from under the bird's beak. "Come on then let's go find Ichigo." She lightly kicked at Suzumebachi's sides and the horse took off at a steady pace.
Ichigo hid behind an outcropping of rocks and watched the guards out in the distance. He figured if he stayed alert and out of their sight he could sneak right under their noses. He turned to go but bumped into two sturdy legs. He looked up from the black trousers to the light chain and crisp tunic of the King's guard. The man pointed a sword at his neck and motioned for Ichigo to move in the direction of their camp. With a curse Ichigo began to march to his doom.
They reached the camp where a man stepped out from a tent, and from the nods of respect from the other soldiers Ichigo figured he was their leader.
"Well, well…if it isn't our little lost lamb, finally returned to us." The leader grinned at the young man in their custody. "Where is Suì-Fēng boy?" He demanded and grabbed at Ichigo's frayed tunic.
"Suì-Fēng… Suì-Fēng…ah yes short woman with a black horse. Last I saw of her she was heading north towards Seireitei." Ichigo said with an easy smile. The guard behind him snorted.
"Then we should ride south sir."Ichigo gave them man behind him an indigent look.
"You know it's not nice to call a person a liar when you've just met." He crossed his arms. The leader let out a short bark of laughter and turned to the rest of his men.
"We ride north." He walked away, Ichigo was shoved from behind and forced to follow.
Thunder rumbled and Ichigo looked up at the sky in a huff.
"I told the truth Lord… I don't get what you're getting all grumpy about? I mean what kind of moral lesson are you trying to teach me here?" Ichigo bemoaned. The guard rolled his eyes at the boy and shoved a little harder.
Suì-Fēng rode down the path that led through a freshly harvested hay field; her beautiful hawk was soaring overhead and then came in for a landing upon Suì-Fēng's arm. They had been traveling for the better part of the day in search of Ichigo, but the stubborn boy had eluded her. She had hoped that the brat would be on his way to a small village that they had passed the day before. She passed a farmer who was sitting under the shade his haystacks provided him. She noticed he was tense and avoiding eye contact. She put his strangeness to fear, her sword was in plain sight strapped to Suzumebachi in a specially made harness. So she continued to ride on.
Ichigo watched as the Captain rode into the field none the wiser of the trap that had been set up for her. He groaned as he watched the soldiers ready their weapons and tried to come up with a way to worn the woman that she was in danger. Only he couldn't really do anything with a gag stuffed into his mouth and his arms tied behind his back.
The only idea he had could potentially end his life but he figured he was dead either way, so he brought his arms up and over his head, he was never more grateful to be double jointed then he was at that moment and ripped out the gag. The soldier he was seated behind noticed the movement a little too late and was unable to stop the young man from letting out a warning shout. Suì-Fēng heard the noise and lifted her arm up signaling the hawk to take flight. The soldier knocked Ichigo off his horse and kicked his horse off, along with several others in his party. They rode out of their hiding places from behind the hay stacks. Two of the soldiers had crossbows out and took aim at Suzumebachi who had reared up on her hind legs. One of the men let off a shot, which missed Suì-Fēng and hit the sturdy leather saddle of her horse. She quickly reached over the bolt and removed her own double shot crossbow and fired back at him. Unlike his missed shot Suì-Fēng hit him dead center in the chest. He fell dead with nary a sound. She fired the next bolt into a soldier who was coming at her from behind. He too fell to the ground. She turned Suzumebachi in a circle to find her next foe. The king's man came at her from around another haystack to her right with his sword held high ready to strike. She let out a grunt at the man's stupidity and ducked under the sword swing while simultaneously swinging her own crossbow into his gut knocking him off his horse and landing to the hard dirt head first. Suì-Fēng lost her grip on her weapon and dropped it to the ground. She turned Suzumebachi to the last two soldiers. Both had crossbows aimed at her. The one on the left of his companion had already taken aim and was pulling the trigger. Ichigo, who had only a moment ago gotten out of his restraints, chucked a large rock he had picked up at the soldier. It hit home between the man's neck and shoulder. His aim rocked upward while his finger pulled the trigger. Suì-Fēng and Ichigo watched the deadly bolt let loose and sore upward, and as if time had slowed down Suì watched as it entered her beloved near the wing, the hawk let out a pained screech and plummeted to the earth.
The second soldier fired off his crossbow and hit Suì-Fēng through the small gap of her leather armor. She let out a pained grunt, but could not take her gaze off her falling lover.
At the last moment the hawk spread out her wings and was able to catch a weak current that brought her to a safe landing in the grassy field. Suì-Fēng glared at the last fool she had to deal with. With an angered growl Suì-Fēng grabbed at the bolt stuck in her shoulder and pulled ripping out the bolt and charging Suzumebachi at the shocked man. He tried to pull his sword out but it was too late. Suzumebachi was upon him, and Suì-Fēng was already jabbing the bolt he had fired at her into his gut. Ichigo watched as all of their assailants were laid out by a single warrior who was already riding away towards the wounded hawk. Ichigo hurried after her and caught up just as she was wrapping the bird up in a piece of cloth.
"Shh it's ok… you'll be ok…" Ichigo watched as Suì-Fēng picked up the hawk with extreme care. She rubbed at its head and continued to mummer to it. "You'll be fine…You'll live." She lifted her gaze from the bundle in her arms and pierced him with a glare. "Come here." She snapped at him. He quickly did as told. "Take her and find help." She ordered him while setting the bird in his arms. The fight had lasted to long and she had just noticed how close it was to nightfall it was. Plus she too was hurt and tired and she could not let Ichigo run off again. Best let him get the hawk to help then let the troublesome boy out of her sight again.
"Me…but ma'am." Ichigo was interrupted as Suì-Fēng spoke up.
"Ichigo you're my only hope…I need you to take the hawk and find help."
"But… ma'am…the hawk is done for." Ichigo flinched away when Suì-Fēng raised her fist as if to strike him down.
"DON'T! Don't you ever say that again!" She turned and looked westward.
"If you take that road over there and ride towards those mountains you'll find a ruined castle, where a man named Urahara lives." Ichigo couldn't help a shiver run down his spine at the venom with which that name was said. "You give him the hawk…he'll know what to do."
"But Captain…I don't think-"
"Shut up and get on my horse already…he'll get you there before sunset." Suì-Fēng said and motioned for him to get on Suzumebachi. Ichigo gapped at the small woman.
"But he doesn't like me…he doesn't even let me on him!" Ichigo tried to protest, this time he couldn't even flinch as Suì's palm connected with his face at an untraceable speed.
"Get on damn it! He'll do as I say." Ichigo didn't argue anymore and did as he was told. He gingerly climbed upon Suzumebachi's back, careful not to hurt the precious cargo within his grasp. Once settled he took hold of the reins Suì-Fēng had presented him with. She looked up at the hawk in his arms sadly.
"…Ichigo don't screw this up." She turned from the hawk to look up at him next.
"If you fail…just know I will hunt you down and I will kill you." Ichigo gulped as he noticed the seriousness behind those words.
"Now go." She snapped. Ichigo said nothing as he looked away from the former captain and started Suzumebachi on the path Suì-Fēng had pointed to. She watched them go, her heart falling to pieces the farther they went, but she offered a small prayer in the hopes that her creator would finally hear at least one of them.
Well there you have it another chapter up…
I had planned to have this out the other day, but tragic news hit our family heck our entire community… you see those hikers at Yosemite who fell off the water fall were part of the Assyrian youth group I was a part of a while back (I was in the AZ division). One of the men was a family friend's nephew and my mom knew the girl's family, so when we were told of what had happened... well the church held a candle light vigil and prayers for the family…it's so sad to hear them all talking about making funeral arrangements already, but I pray that they are found alive…
Anyway thank you all for reading.
XIII