Ichigo blearily opened his eyes to face a new day…Great. He felt a small weight lying across his chest and stomach. He gently picked her up by her waist, not feeling her wake, he set her one the bed where he was not a moment ago. He thought about last night. Crap…last night was great.
He quickly and routinely popped two small, yet intimidating, pills from the Fourth into his mouth, no water necessary. They were supposed to stop the headaches that were now starting to interfere with his actions and speech, but instead they probably made it worse. He didn't want to have to rely on drugs to get out of this.
He swiftly changed into his shinigami robes, and ran out the door. Quietly, of course. As he ran to the Squad 14 barracks, he slipped on his haori, the familiar symbols etched onto the fabric, black staining white. He had the familiar weight of Zangetsu, constantly remaining in its shikai state, strapped across his shoulders and back. The short trip to the Fourteenth's barracks was roughly fifteen to twenty minutes without shunpo, and he would take his time. It was too early to rush to work. He slowed his jog down to a walk, and he took time to look around. Around at the now too familiar white buildings and walls surrounding him. Sometimes it felt as though he was suffocating in blankness, but not today. He didn't have time for such trivial matters.
He continued his stroll down through the Seireitei, calmly taking small and short detours. His eyes were growing heavy, he hadn't had much sleep in the past week. Paperwork, admissions, certifications…that whole load of crap seemed to pile itself up on him each day. His lieutenant had fallen in battle not too long ago, and they weren't close. But still…
They hadn't found a replacement for him, probably not for a while longer. They will probably take an officer from another squad who shows promising abilities. He had been so busy lately, (and he had to admit he was forgetful to even the most important of matters) he hadn't eaten in a few days…but with familiarity came ignorance. He didn't care right now, he had other priorities. As he acknowledged those facts…many feelings gnawed at his stomach. Guilt. Worry. Stress. Liabilities. Work. Feelings. Women…well that one was at least pleasant. Hunger…one of the least pleasant of all. The only painful one really… And the list could go on and on…anger, necessity, recollections. They all took their toll and then he ended up like he was now. Dark circles under his eyes, losing weight, stressed to the point of occasional tears (which mind you wasn't very frequent). Hell, how he would have loved to resign.
His mind turned to Rukia…the only one he loved. She had done so many things for him…since she came back. Couple of months ago, they were holding each other in the middle of the Seireitei, reunited at last. She had helped him when he was sick, treated his wounds after battles, helped with the huge stacks of papers almost piled to the ceiling after he collapsed, exhausted. She had taken care of him, and for the first time in months. Maybe even years…he was genuinely happy. She was like a mother…cared for him like one, yet he loved her like any man and woman would.
He managed to suppress a wince as hunger took another stab at him. He was a bit lightheaded…but maybe he was just overdosing. He took four to five pills per day, probably more than he should. He got a bit dizzy, if he was unlucky, but he was able to just pass it off.
He leaned against a blank, white wall, struggling to keep consciousness. He would have loved to take a couple of hours…The world was fading in an out of focus, it was familiar and uncomfortable. Something he would never get used to.
He quickly stood up, not in the mood for being yelled at for an hour for dozing off somewhere in the middle of the Seireitei.
For the past few months, he realized, he had been getting the crap. He had been getting sick, hurt, scolded over and over again. It was a non-stop cycle. And every single time, Rukia would worry her ass over him, almost in tears. He didn't want to worry her anymore…thanks to him and his careless attitude, that was pretty much impossible.
He began to hurry to the barracks now, the sun peaking and casting a dim glow over the Soukyoku Hill.
"…urosaki" A voice called. He had just noticed it as it called for perhaps the fourth time. He turned his head in the direction of the voice, to his left, and saw a familiar face.
Captain Hitsugaya.
The small figure walked to the orange-haired shinigami with haste, not wasting any time.
Ichigo only vaguely noticed movements and words. Eyes closing unwillingly, he snapped the back open and shook his head.
The small captain narrowed his eyes at him, inspecting him and scanning him. He gave him an inquisitive glance, uncomfortable on its victim. "Is something wrong, Kurosaki?" Hitsugaya broke the silence, a sudden statement that didn't leave Ichigo time to think. Hitsugaya didn't even leave him time to answer the question. "You are needed at the Senkaimon. There is a task at your hands, you and Abarai will travel to the world of the living. There is an issue that requires your attendance. No briefing will be necessary," The captain continued as Ichigo opened his mouth to intervene. "The situation will be clear when you arrive."
Ichigo merely nodded. He had been itching for a small challenge, something to do other than work.
He began his light jog, which transcended into a run to the main Senkaimon. Minutes passed before he was there, excitement seemingly cutting the time between his arrival and departure. He met the lieutenant at the gate, hell butterflies fluttering before the doors.
A quiet look passed between the two shinigami, personalities so similar they were one step ahead of each other.
The doors burst open, a pale white light engulfed them, an unfamiliar light to them both. They hadn't been to the world of the living since…well they had both lost track.
They stepped through the doors, hell butterflies guiding them along the path, running quickly to get a start on the task ahead.
They dropped out of the Senkaimon and lightly landed on the path running along the river. Where Ichigo's mother had died…
Ichigo had gone silent, staring into the water…remembering the bloodstained grass and the flooded river. The girl…the mockery of a human being. How she had died for him…
He cleared his head of those thoughts, now wasn't the time. He was here for a reason.
He could sense no spiritual pressure, whether it was because the problem was to come, or it was hiding itself…it was unknown.
Ichigo felt a twinge in the back of his head…a sudden presence, but disappeared almost as soon as he noticed it.
"Renji…don't let your guard down," Ichigo pointed out the obvious, again. Renji simply gave him the look that said: You don't need to tell me, dumb-ass.
A foreboding tension in the air caught Ichigo's attention. He was getting restless…knowing something was in the area but so helpless as to where it is.
Renji shot him a wry smile. "What is it…bit worried are ya? Bit out of shape?"
"You want to say that again?" Ichigo flashed back, annoyance evident in his tone.
The continued along the streets, by the banks, and through the fields. Nothing had happened.
Ichigo slumped against a tree, bored. "We were sent here to kill something and it doesn't even bother to show up?" He complained. "Hell…We should just go back," Ichigo continued on, pretty uninspired to do much else.
"Ichigo, try using your head a little!" Renji began to raise his voice. "The Head Captain will have our heads if we don't finish the job!"
He had a point…
~Late into the night~
Still…all was quiet. The streets were empty, the lights buzzing along the sides. Stores were dark, nothing was open. Everything was asleep. But not the two Soul Reapers. They had been walking around in circles around town for hours and hours, their unfinished task still…well, incomplete. Then there was that twinge in Ichigo's senses. Something was there….and it was closer than before. Then everything became clear…it was hiding itself all along. Ichigo's eyes widened and fear flooded his senses. An enemy similar to a hollow that could hide its spiritual pressure like that…
"Renji! Get down!" Ichigo yelled, drawing out Zangetsu to block the oncoming onslaught. Adrenaline pumped itself through his veins, giving him an extra boost of energy. He jumped backwards, distancing himself from his now visible enemy. Looked like a hollow, except it had no mask and no hole, and its zanpakuto seemed to be connected to one of its arms, and he was assuming there was something up with its other limbs too.
Gathering all his energy together, he placed his left hand over his right arm, the reiatsu flying around him in torrents. "Bankai!" The familiar word was stated, allowing the captain to go into his second released state. "Tensa Zangetsu…" The name of his sword echoed around the field, leaving Ichigo in his changed shihakusho, torn at the ends and tighter around him. The long black blade glinted in the moonlight, leaving an ominous glow around the shinigami.
Renji stood at the sidelines, watching the captain battle. It was remarkable how much he had grown since he had arrived in Soul Society. But….there was still the matter of his inner hollow to attend to. Renji would come back to that later, if he lived, and joined in the fray. Exploding into his large serpent-like bankai, he had most ground covered with no effort.
Crap this thing is fast, Ichigo thought, trying to keep his focus on his enemy. They hadn't made much progress with each other. Ichigo sustained minor cuts and bruises while the hollow-like creature harbored a few nicks and scratches. Minute after minute, hour after hour, they fought…even after all that time remained in the same position. How much longer can this go on?
Ichigo and Renji had lost track of time, too engulfed in the battle to care. Ichigo began to wonder if it was even possible to kill this thing.
The orange-haired shinigami slammed hard into the ground on his left shoulder, skidding to a halt near to a tree. Swearing under his breath, Ichigo hastily stood up again, wiping blood out of his eyes. He began to swing with his left arm when pain shot into his shoulder, blurring his vision for a moment. Crap…He grimaced.
Careful not to disturb his arm much, he closed in for the attack again. His bankai was starting to feel heavy in his hands, his swings in slow motion.
I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing…
By protecting…
Ichigo turned his head only to see his partner, Renji, fall unconscious; bankai rendered useless and returning to its unreleased state. He had the long and deep gashes down his back, staining the grass around him. Oh, now you've done it you bastard! Ichigo felt a cold rage enter his being…uncontrolled and twisted, blinding him. His reiatsu churned around him, heavily draped over him…suffocating him.
No matter how experienced a fighter is, after he is stripped of light, he can't help but fear the darkness. No matter how slight that fear is, the fighter's movements will be slowed down.
Ichigo shuddered at those words. Why had they come to him now? What was the point? He didn't have any time to waste…
Taking a deep breath, he began to take the offense on his enemy. But succeeding the action, everything happened quickly.
Ichigo had been returning to the ground from a failed attack when the hunger, fatigue and over exertion overcame him. His legs buckled underneath him, refusing to hold his weight. He supported himself on the tip of his sword, trying to make his legs move. He needed them to… Move…move! Move damn-it!
Before he could register what had just happened, a searing pain burst out below his chest. A coppery taste rose to his tongue, and blood trailed down the sides of his mouth. Did he dare to look down?
He slowly averted his eyes to the pain, and what he saw made him want to be sick.
His abdomen was a mass of bloody and torn flesh. How could I have been so stupid! His body protested the movements…he turned around, trying to search for Zangetsu. Crap…crap, crap, crap, crap!
He heard a scream, distant and cold. But no one else was here…He realized it was himself. His back exploded in pain and he was fighting the urge to sink into unconsciousness. Just one…He had picked up his sword, hissing as he managed to stand up, defying the bone-deep pain that pounded in time with his racing heart. "Getsuga…Tenshou!" A familiar black light, rimmed with red flew towards the odd creature, splitting it between its mask. He sunk to his knees and tried to remain conscious, but his vision was preceding into a narrow black tunnel. Breathing coming in shivering gasps, he lay down, thinking about anything else but the pain. Blood lay in a pool around him, thick and warm. Just take me…
Take me and leave me…
A/N yeah..long one lolls the theme for this one is…
Take It All Away by Red