Response to reviews~!
miszxbrii: No it isn't! My middle name is...well, let's say its embarrasing...DX
wolfdragonful: Finally, someone agrees with me! XD
Tiana Misoro: You should know by now how often I listen to my fans...rarely!
Strawberry-Ringo: So do I! XD
WhiteW12-0: Actually, I don't think so. We still don't know what it can do, right? Besides, this fic was started before that ever came out! DX Besides, no one is as good as Tite Kubo...XD
Kobato00: Oh...do we now? ^_^
LittleXCreature: No, you can just pester me! XD
Sasu-Sama' Sarukiji-Sempai: Yup, that's exactly what this is!
That's Riku: Wait...are you a boy or girl? . But yes...this is intense. Angst is all I know when it comes to fics!
CatHartzUlquiorra4: *evil grin widens*
animelover1993: Hey, you wouldn't happen to have a myspace would you? I mean, I used to get on it, but I don't anymore. My name there was Hichigo. I was in charge of sending Bleach pics...DX But please don't damn me...
Angelchan2012: Lol mixed reaction~!
HealingNymph: Maybe~!
Athina Dark-Angel of Death: Tee hee~! Thank you~!
Starkit: O.O...You pity Grimm kitty? You funny! XD Kidding!
Eternal Love's Eclipse: Really? I've seen the movies, but I can't make the connection...oh well. XD
Kidou Corpse: Glad you're enjoying it~! *ignoring odd sign off*
inouehime-chanZero-koNii-sama: Yup...holy shit. *nods*
Avgirl10: I don't need the plot bunnies! I already have another idea for another HichigoXIchigo...as well as another IchigoXOC! DX
wolfnymph1: Yup...shit. XD
Alright, I know Shiro's last little comment is making everyone's heads spin! Don't lie, I can see the funny cricks in your neck from them twisting around! Well...maybe some more will be revealed, if i'm in a generous mood. Well, onwards to Chapter 21! Let's hit that 400 mark everyone~!
Chapter 21: Fighting the Monster
Shiro's POV
3 days ago...
I know what I said to Dion must've been shacking, but it had been true. "Without me within his soul, Ichigo would die. He is only half of who he truly is. know all about Orihime's ability to reject reality itself; however, I do believe there is a limit. It's simple, she can restore things to the way they wer ein the beggining, but what if what she is trying to reject had been there since the begining?" I asked Dion as we now walked on the side of the highway. He was holding Ichigo now that I had my Zangetsu again. Right now, as much as I hate admitting it, I can't carry Ichigo and my zanpakuto at the same time. I could feel my powers returning, slowly, but returning all the same. He still had questions, and I was doing my best to answer them.
"She...wouldn't be able to reject it obviously." He replied. "But Ichigo hasn't had these wounds since...whenever. He-"
"You're right...but then again, in truth, the soul you're holding isn't Ichigo." It hurt saying that, but truth hurts sometimes...
"What the fuck are you saying?" Dion asked, clearly confused.
"Dion...listen. Ichigo and I are part of the same person, the same soul. When I was...seperated by the Hogyoku, I was made whole on my own. But Ichigo isn't 'whole'. He is only half of who he truly is...only half of Ichigo remains. So..."
"Ichigo isn't complete, and he's...in a sense a new being, like you." he answered and I nodded. As odd and complicated as it sounded, it was all true. And every ounce of it burned my very soul.
"This is all my fault..." I whispered. I felt Dion place his hand on my shoulder and flashed me a gentle smile.
"No it isn't Shiro." He even still insisted calling me that. He keeps saying that when Ichigo wakes up, he'll do it anyways. "It isn't your fault that you two got seperated the way you did and it isn't your fault that he's like this."
"You're wrong Dion...it is my fault. If I didn't exist, then he wouldn't be in this shitty situation." I said. He sighed and shook my shoulder.
"If you didn't exist, Ichigo would've never been able to save Orihime, or protect Karakura, or even fight off Grimmjow!" He said. "Don't you see Shiro? Without you...he never would've made it this far; you need each other." I just smiled. He was right, but he got some of it wrong.
You mean...I need him more than he ever needed me...I thought. And that's the way it'll forever be... Suddenly, there was a huge explosion from behind us. I was blown one way and I hit a tree. Dion was flung another way, but he managed to land on his feet, Ichigo in his arms.
"Were you two talking about me?" I froze at the voice; it was Grimmjow Jeagerjaques.
XxxxxX
Normal POV
Grimmjow towered above them in the air, a smirk on his face. "Well? I'm waiting for an answer here~!"
"Why the fuck are you here?" Shiro snapped angrily. Grimmjow glared at him.
"You...you've been sepearted from that useless Soul Reaper, but sadly, not under the Hogyoku's power. Shame; you'd be a fun pawn." he sneered.
"Why are you here?" he snapped again. Grimmjow rolled his eyes.
"Isn't obvious, ya dumbshit? I've come..." He shot a cero where dion was standing. He easliy jumped out of the way, but it left a huge crater where he had been standing. "...to dispose of the trash and take you back home." Shiro glared at him.
"Leave them the fuck alone!" He shouted. Before he could blink, Grimmjow was behind him and back handed him, sending him flying. He hit his head on another tree, leaving him dazed.
"Tsk, wish I could fight you myself, however, you need to stay alive and outta the way." he said. He then turned his attention to Dion. Dion was backed up against a rail, nowhere to go with Ichigo in his hands.
I can't dodge him forever! he thought. Please Shiro...get back up!
"You're too easy a target. Why not run around some for me, eh?" Grimmjow asked. Dion just gave him a hard stare, "No? Fine, suit yourself." He aimed carefully and shot another cero at the two. "Goodbye." Dion tried looking for another spot to Sonido to, but there was too much stuff around him. No room...meant no dodging. But before the cero could get halfway, a black cresent shape of pure spirit energy shot forward, nullifing the cero.
"Back...the fuck...off!" Dion turned to see Shiro with his zanpakuto in one hand, but leaning against a tree with the other. Dion noticed this and cursed.
Damn, his powers aren't fully back yet...he thought. Grimmjow won't hesitate to use force to keep him down...and in this state, he could kill him!
"Shit, you really are annoying." Grimmjow sighed.
"You're...a fucking dick head..." Shiro snapped back. He flung his zanpakuto again. "Getsugatensho!" he called, sending another black crsent towards the 6th Espada. It struck him head on. He tried blocking it with his zanpakuto, but it engulfed him, scaring his entire body, leaving another scar across his chest, now creating an X pattern on his chest. Shiro felt his step falter and he placed Tensa Zangetsu in the ground to steady himself. Vision...fading...he thought. Must...stay...consious!
"Holy shit, that one was tough!" Grimmjow exclaimed. "You're pretty tough, and you ain't even at full strength!" He watched as Dion Sonido'd to Shiro's side once Grimmjow had stopped his attack.
"Shiro, with whatever remains of your strength, take Ichigo and run." he said. Shiro looked at him with weak, confused eyes.
"Wh-what?" he asked quietly.
"You heard me; take Ichigo...and run. Run as fast as you can to Karakura. Don't stop until you reach your destination." he repeated, handing Shiro the unconsious Soul Reaper.
"Wh-what about y-you?" Shiro asked. "I'm n-not leaving you h-here!" Dion gave him a sad smile.
"I'm repaying the debt I created. I had betrayed you...now i'm betrayng the Espada; my own kind, to make sure your safe. If it means buying you some time by allowing you to run...so be it." He placed a hand on the shaking hollow's shoulder. "You trusted me, even when you no longer had a reason to. I'm asking you now to trust me; go! Run!" Without saying a word, Shiro held Ichigo as close as he could and began running, not even glancig behind him.
Thank you Dion...thank you for everything...he thought.
XxxxxX
Dion's POV
He never looked back at me as he ran down the street. Good...it showed that he was still strong and placing trust in me that I didn't deserve. I turned my attention back to Grimmjow. "Now...I can actually get serious and handle you without restraint." I smiled. He just laughed at me, the damned fool.
"You? You think you can beat me? In what fucking universe does that happen in?" he laughed. He tried getting past me, but I just blocked his way. I grinned.
"This one. I'm going to fucking blow you all the way back to your emo lover." I snickered. That pissed him off. He launched a cero straight at me and I shot one back, nullifing it.
"How dare you, you motherfucking dick head!" he roared at me. He held his zanpakuto at his side, his hand placed against it. "Forget showing mercy and all that shit; i'm gonna blow you to fucking kingdom come! Grind, Pantera!" Before my eyes, dust and energy swirled around him as he transformed.
Good, this wouldn't have been worthwhile if he didn't do this...I thought. Shiro...if I get out of this...i'll finally ask fully for your forgiveness... I then held my zanpakuto out and wiped my hand across the blade in one, fluid motion. "Fly Devorar!" In an instant, we were both striking each other, talons and claws macking contact.
"Hmph, nice release there, Novia." he snorted as he backed away.
"Huh, shame I can't say the same for yours." I taunted. He growled lowly at me and I smiled. "Less talking, more slaughtering. That is how you like it, right?" I asked. He laughed in a way that made my skin crawl.
"Oh, you have no idea what i'm going to do to Ichigo when I get to them." I felt my body tense slightly. "But like you said; less talk, more slaughter!" He lunged back at me, claws outstreatched. I managed to block one with my talons, but the other strikes my side. I howl in pain as his claws tear my flesh, blood sent flying. I clutch my side as I pull back. "Tsk, you can't fight anymore than that useless Soul Reaper can!" he laughed.
"So wh-what? I'm still going to kill you b-before I'm dead!" I snapped. "I may n-not be as strong as I-Ichigo...but I will still bring y-you down!" I hollared. He just kept laughing, the arrogant bastard!
"You're as hopeless as he is too." He sneered. He then pointed at his chest, the fresh wound Shiro had caused still bleeding slightly as it bled over another scar. "He did this little number when we first met. I kept it to remind me how badly I wanna tear his limbs from his body and feast on his flesh!" he yelled. I felt the blood in my body boil over. "Now...I'm gonna do that right in front of his hollow lover..." I launched myself at him blindly. Stupid, yes, but could you blame me? I swore to protect Ichigo and Shiro, even at the cost of my life. All these thigs he was saing...it helped me move despite the pain in my chest.
"You bastard!" I snapped. He just smacked me aside as i barely scarred his chest as well with my talons, reopening Ichigo's previous wound.
"Tsk, you're like a damned insect. A nuisance, yet easily swatted away." he scoffed. As I hit a tree, he launeched those small rockets from his arms and they all struck my body at once. Pain exploded throughout my entire damned body. I could barely move for a few minutes, but I just laughed.
So the traitror always dies after all...I thought. But still...it can't end yet...I promised! "Y-you think th-that's enough t-t-to pin m-me down?" I asked as I slowly stood. He just rolled his teal eyes.
"So ya really won't say 'im finished'? God, you're just as bad as he is too."
"I'll-t-take that as a-a compliment..." I chuckled weakly. I was saving my strength. His chest was bleeding heavily from his powerful attack he had just used. Maybe if I could get him to use one more... "You know...you really are a p-p-pussy cat. No w-wonder Ulquiorra's th-the man of the relationship..." Yeah, that was signing my death warrent. He glared at me darkly and lifted his arms into the air.
"Ya know, tearing your body apart sounds like fun as well!" he slashed at the air. "Desgaron!" Blue waves of clawed energy struck my body. To describe the pain...i'd need a dictionary.
But...this still doesn't compare to what they've been through...I told myself. He laughed when I didn't speak or rise from the smoke.
"Guess that's all ya truly had; all squawk, no bite." he laughed. "Now, I guess i'll go on ahead and go tear Ichigo apart. If I do it slowly...and savor his flesh, i'm sure Shiro will break." My blood boiled hotter, forcing my body into action. I shot forward, shoving my hand into his chest.
"Y-you know...you r-r-really are stupid..." I whispered. "y-your armor...is almost impossible t-to...penetrate...yet, b-both Ichigo and Shiro...managed to tear into it..." He just stared at me as my hand remained inside his chest. His entire body was twitching and I grinned. "B-but your moves sh-sjook your whole b-b-body...reopening these w-wounds...so if I d-do th-this..." I dug my other hand into his chest and tore it open, him crying out in pure agony as his blood spattered my face. "Y-you're...as good as d-d-dead..." He howled and threw me to the ground, vanishing into a gargantua.
Like Grendel fleeing to his mother only to die...I thought. But i'm no Beowulf...i'm the betrayer here...My release faded away and i collapsed onto the ground as rain began to pur over my bloddy, shreadded body. I slolwy struggled to my feet, using my zanpakuto as support. I had no idea how far Shiro had made it, but I was bound determined to get to him. But I no longer had the strength or the enrgy to sonido or make a gargantua. All I could do was limp like a wounded animal...
But I had done it...they had escaped and I had bought them time. Even if my fate was to die in a few minutes, or even in a day, I had kept my vow.
XxxxxX
Normal POV
Grimmjow limped out of the gargantua, his body bleeding internally as well as externally. How...how was th-this possible...he thought. Me...killed b-by that useless ar-arrancar? As he fell forwards, Ulquiorra ran up to him, rolling him over gently.
"Grimmjow? Grimmjow, can you hear me?" he asked. Grimmjow smiled weakly, reaching out to brush the 4th Espada's cheek with his bloddy hand.
"Ul-Ulquiorra...I..."
"Shut it. I'm going to get you fixed up, you hear?" he asked. But even as he finished his sentence, Grimmjow's hand fell limply at his side, his head falling back and his teal eyes dimming, the life in them extinguished. "Grimmjow? Grimmjow?" He buried his face in Grimmjow's torn, bloody chest and screamed. "GRIMMJOW!" As he closed his eyes, he could feel the spirit energy flowing from the wounds that had killed the 6th Espada. Fury boiled his blood as he recognized it.
Shiro and Ichigo...they will suffer greatly for this! he swore.
XxxxxX
Shiro's POV
1 day ago...
I have no clue how long i've been running. The rain was falling harder now, the wind strong enough to rip my clothes off of my body. I held my sleeping Ichigo as close to me as I could to protect him from the rain and wind. It was so harsh that it stung like needles. I could barely see ten feet in front of me, and it had been raining for god knows how long now. My limbs felt like lead, I was surprised I could still move them. Lightning crackled high above us...but none of it mattered now. I was in Karakura; I had to reach the shop. I had stopped running awhile ago...all I could manage was a brisk walk. Please...please say it's near...I thought and began coughing. Then I saw it; Urahara Shop. Thank god I had finally made it! I walked a little faster and kicked the door. Orihime opened it.
"AHHHHH!" She screamed. She had every right to; the horrible shape Ichigo was in...not to mention she had never seen me before.
"What is it? What's wrong Orihime?" That was Uryu...the Quincy.
"It...it's..." She was pointing at me and I just stood there, letting them all take in the sight they were about to see; a hollow begging for help.
"H...help him..." My voice was hoarse and I wasn't sure if they had heard me through the wind and rain. "You...need to...h-help him..." I finally fell to my knees. I just couldn't stand anymore...it was too much. I pulled Ichigo close to me as another strong gust of wind blew past. "PLEASE! HELP HIM!"
XxxxxX
Chapter 21 end
Well, we are now officially in the present, and there we shall stay! *nods* And sorry for short, unepic fight scene...DX Well, if you click the little button here, you will gain the best superhero power you can come up with! ^_^