A Little Setback
Night had fallen. Ulquiorra looked out at the expanse of desert that stretched out before him in the moonlight. He could not sense any undead or demons within the area. He stood there a moment longer before unfurling his wings, taking flight. Times like this afford him time to think, to reflect on the day or whatever was on his mind.
Sachiel had only been gone with Ichigo for several hours but he knew that her time in her other dimension passed much differently. Three weeks had already passed in the three hours they had been gone. They would be back in twenty one more hours, fulfilling the twenty four she would need to fully train him.
Jo had asked him how he felt about Sachiel training a new slayer. He hadn't known what to feel. He knew it didn't dismiss from his duties as her guardian. Perhaps it would afford him more time for Jo.
He sighed to himself; his confession to the girl about his feelings had been unintended, yet, it had come out. He couldn't take it back. He didn't want to.
A single pinpoint of light manifested in front of him. He stopped, watching it as it grew, forming the shape of the girl who filled his thoughts. She smiled as she looked at him. "There's a demon by the dig site nosing around," she said. "I just found the one."
"Manifested?"
"Yes. It has no host body," she answered.
"Yet."
"Hopefully not at all if you hurry," she remarked as she faded from sight.
He changed direction toward the dig site. Being the weekend, the only ones there would be the guards. He scanned the ground as he flew over, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Slowing, he caught a glimpse of a dark shape moving around the entrance. He frowned to himself. Memnoch never gave up; he'd sent another lesser demon to do his work.
Since the discovery of the dig, he'd been trying to find a way to lead the scientists to discover the ritual chamber. For months, he and Sachiel had been able to avert any plans he had tried. Pulling his sword free, he dropped down quietly to where he had spotted the figure.
He looked around carefully, his senses on high alert. He didn't see anyone by the entrance. Figuring the probability of him entering, he made his way inside. Looking around, he still did not see anything out of the ordinary.
"Jo," he reached out mentally.
"Yeah?"
"I can't find him."
"That's because 'he' isn't here," he heard behind him.
He turned, dodging the sword that swung toward him, the blade just missing his long coat.
"Good reflexes. She taught you well."
"She didn't teach me reflexes," he countered. "Show yourself."
"Tut tut. You didn't say please."
Ulquiorra summoned a silver hammer, throwing it in the direction he heard the voice come from.
"You weren't aiming for me, were you," he heard from his left.
"By writ and command, I summon you to full form," he said, reciting the summoning spell Sachiel had taught him.
The demon screeched, knowing it ha d no choice now but to reveal herself. She appeared before him, her black leathery wings flapping in irritation. He noted her leather top that clung to her like a second skin, her pants just as tight. A long kriss was strapped to her waist. Her long black hair framed a mottled pink, heart shaped face, her eyes completely black.
"You are mine to command," he said. "Speak your business here."
"I have no business here," she said. "I was merely looking around since I felt the pull strongest here."
"Pull?"
"There's something drawing us here," she said. "Haven't you noticed an increase in my brethren here?"
"We've noticed," he answered.
"I just wanted to see what it was."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Slayer or not, you can't deny the proof."
"While I agree that I cannot, I also cannot let you remain here," he said.
"You would kill me?"
"Return below and do not rise again. Begone from my sight, demon," he said calmly, the runic spell glowing beneath the demon.
She hiss at him, angrily attacking the walls of the binding. He watched as her form disappeared, the spell sending her back to the abyss.
"Hmph," he said to himself, turning back to the entrance, not noticing the demon or the sword that was thrust through his middle.
His eyes wide, he put a hand on the blade; the hand holding the hilt of the sword twisting it before pulling it out. Ulquiorra's last conscious thought was of Jordan.
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Jo waited an hour, frantically pacing as she tried over and over to contact Ulquiorra. Sado and Ishida watch as she wrung her hands in worry while she paced from the living room to the patio, looking for him.
"I have to go find him," she said to them, grabbing her sweater.
"Where was he going when you lost contact," Ishida asked.
"He went to the site, after a demon," she answered heading to the door.
"Does it ever cut off communication?"
"No. Never."
Ishida looked at her worried eyes, unsure of what to do. "Can you drive," he asked.
"Yes, I can," she answered, grabbing the vehicle keys from the hook by the door on her way out. "You two coming?"
Ishida and Sado ran after her, barely making it into the vehicle before she sped away toward the dig site.
As they got closer, Jo slowed down as she turned onto the dirt road. "When we get there, tell them you forgot something," she said. "They'll most likely escort you to your tent but that's ok. I just need to get to the entrance."
"Do you need help carrying him," Sado asked.
"I don't know yet," she answered. "I just hope he's alright."
As expected, the guard escorted Ishida to the tent they used. Sado and Jo used the time to sneak to the temple entrance. They didn't get far when Jo stumbled upon the prone form of Ulquiorra, his torso covered in blood.
"Oh, my god," Jo exclaimed. She immediately knelt by his body, taking his wrist to check his pulse. It was light, thready; she could barely tell it was there.
"We can't move him," Sado said.
"And I didn't bring any potions," Jo said, cursing herself for being so hasty. "I have to get Sachiel," she said. "Keep an eye out. Whoever ambushed him could still be here." She closed her eyes, searching for Sachiel's spirit. Finding it, she willed her astral form to her location.
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Sachiel ducked, avoiding Ichigo's swing, bringing the polearm around, forcing him back as she used her momentum for another swing. She stopped it mid swing as Jo's form appeared between them.
"What's happened," she asked, taking in the tears that flowed freely down the girl's face.
"He's hurt, Sachiel. It's bad. We can't move him," she managed to get out after a moment.
Sachiel turned to Ichigo. "Sorry, bud. Training's over for now," she said, grabbing his hand. Ichigo didn't have time to ask or say anything, feeling the world shift around them.
He found himself back at the dig site, inside the temple. Sachiel was already bent over Ulquiorra's unconscious form. He took in the blood, part of his entrails sticking out from where his stomach should be.
"What happened," he asked, squatting beside her.
Sachiel's hands were glowing, the bleeding stopped as she moved them along the arrancar's wounds. She hissed, drawing her hands back as she reached the direct opening of the wound.
"It's poisoned," she said. "I have to move him or else I can't heal this."
"Hurry, Sachiel," Jordan pleaded. "Please…just help him."
"I will, sweetness," she said. "You were right to get me. I take it that the car's outside?"
"Yes and Ishida."
"Ok," she said. "Go back to the car. I'll take him home. I know you're worried but please just do this for me."
Jo nodded, leaning forward and kissing Ulquiorra's forehead. "I'll see you at home," she whispered before hurrying out of the temple.
"Sado?"
The big man turned to her. "Keep her calm. I'll come for you all after I move him." He nodded to her before following Jo out.
"Hang on," she said, holding her hand out to Ichigo and taking Ulquiorra's in her other as a green glow began to surround the three of them.
"You can heal him," Ichigo asked as he took her hand.
She looked at him, worry in her eyes. "I have to," she said as the light intensified, all three enveloped completely as the spell teleported them home.
Ichigo found himself in a dark room, the walls were a deep green with dark wood accents. Sachiel was kneeling by the bed, Ulquiorra laying on top of the black and green comforter.
"Stay with him," she said, standing up. "I've put him in a stasis field, but with me going, Jo gone and him unconscious, this place is unprotected. Guard him." She vanished in a wisp of smoke.
Ichigo stared at the last tendril of smoke as it disappeared. He looked over at Ulquiorra, sitting on the edge of the bed. In the week he had been here, the arrancar had shown none the malevolence he'd had in Hueco Mundo.
Not knowing what else to do, he spoke to him. "I don't exactly know your role here, Ulquiorra. But, I know this. You're important to Sachiel. So, for her sake, I hope you pull through this. I don't know what happened but Sachi said she can heal you. Just hang on until she comes back.
He looked at Ulquiorra's still form, watching for any sign of change. He was deep in thought when the door burst open. Sachiel hurried in, followed by Jo, Ishida and Sado.
"You weren't gone long," he commented.
"Instead of flying them here, I teleported them like I did with us," she answered.
"Has he had any change," Jo asked, kneeling by the bed, taking hold of his hand.
"None that I could see."
Sachiel produced two vials from a pouch and a third empty one. One vial glowed a vibrant orange, the other in a deep red. She handed the empty vial to Jordan.
"I've never mixed these before, so I don't know how he'll react to them," she said mixing the two into the empty vial. "Please, Father…let this work," she whispered.
She placed the stopper on the two vials, taking the third and slowly poured some on the wound. Ulquiorra began to thrash on the bed, opening his wound further.
"Hold him," Sachiel yelled. All four did, keeping him from moving any more.
She grabbed the orange bottle, pouring some of the contents into the wound. It hissed and bubbled. Sachiel summoned a cloth, putting it over the wound to absorb the goo that began to rise from it. She repeated the process several times, satisfied when no more was forthcoming. Ulquiorra had stopped thrashing after the second application, allowing Sachiel to tip the red vial to his lips. The wound glowed dimly, the flesh beginning to knit, leaving smooth skin behind as the glow disappeared.
She stood with hands on her hips. "Now, we wait," she said, turning to Jo. "Tell me what happened."
"I don't know. I sent him to the site because there was a demon there. All I can figure out is that he went inside and then I lost communication," she said quickly.
"Why'd he go inside? He had no backup," she mused. "Did he talk to anyone?"
"Yes," they heard weakly.
Everyone turned to see Ulquiorra trying to sit up.
"Whoa, brother," Sachiel said, putting her hands on his shoulders, pushing back onto the bed. "You're in no shape to sit up."
He looked at her peevishly but stayed lying. "There was a female demon," he started. "She was rather chatty."
"What did she say?"
"She said that there was something luring the demons in. She said she was looking for the source of it."
"Did she do this to you?"
"No. There was another. He must have been cloaked."
Sachiel sighed. "We'll you're out of commission for a bit, brother," she said, raising a hand when he began to protest. "I can take patrols for a while by myself. You're going to need rest for at least a few days…another week before you can do patrol."
"I can be your backup," Ichigo said eagerly.
"No offense, but your training isn't complete. I can't finish that, do patrols and live my life here at the same time. We'll just have to postpone your training for a bit."
"Sado and I can help at the store if needed," Ishida volunteered.
Sachiel looked at them. "Yeah…no. You don't have work permits."
Both men pulled out their cards.
"What," Sachiel cried incredulously.
"All three of us got them in case something should happen and we needed more money than we brought," Ishida explained.
"Well, I guess that's settled," Ichigo said.
"I guess so," Sachiel said, looking defeated. "But you're still not coming with me," she said to Ichigo, walking out the door.
Ichigo caught up to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her around, his eyes meeting hers. "Why are you being so stubborn," he asked. "Let me help."
Sachiel could see his determination, his resolve to help her. She matched it with her own. "No," she said, pulling her arm free and walking into her room.
"You may as well accept that she doesn't want your help, Ichigo," Sado said behind him.
"It's my decision, Sado," Ichigo replied, walking down the stairs.
Everyone felt Sachiel leave the house to finish Ulquiorra's patrol. Jo stayed with Ulquiorra, sitting next to the bed to make sure he didn't try to leave. He looked at her, wondering at why someone like her would stay with him. He felt his eyes droop, only to pop open again as he felt his spare blanket covering him. Jo lay next to him, using her sweater covering herself.
"What are you doing," he asked her.
"Trying to get some sleep like you should be doing," she answered. "Do you think she'll find him?"
"It's a very good possibility," he answered. "The real reason is how she is going to react to Kurosaki following her."
"He left," Jo exclaimed, sitting up.
Ulquiorra nodded, trying to stifle a yawn. "Just after she did," he answered.
"I didn't even feel him leave," she said, looking at his with worry in her eyes.
"You don't know his signature, yet. I do since I've fought him before."
"Was he the one," she asked, looking at him curiously.
He nodded. "But don't hate him for something he had no control over and something he didn't do to you," he said.
"Alright," she said, laying back down next to him. "He's actually a pretty likeable guy."
"I suppose he can be," Ulquiorra agreed.
"I hear a but coming."
"Not really…but," he said with a smirk, Jo laughing at him. "I don't know him well enough to make an assumption about him."
"Maybe that can be changed."
"I suppose it can be since he'll be around more."
"You can help keep him trained since Sachiel will be here less now until you're healed."
"I'll see how open she is to the idea when she comes back. If she finds that Ichigo went after her, she may be angry," he said.
"I don't think I've ever seen Sachiel angry," Jo mused, cuddling up to Ulquiorra's side, his arm coming around her.
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"What do you think you're doing," Sachiel shouted, hoisting the body off Ichigo. "Answer me, Kurosaki or so help me…"
Ichigo jumped to his feet, bending close to Sachiel, trying to stare her down. Her anger rolled off her in waves, her brow furrowed as she waited for an answer from him.
"What does it look like? I was following you to make sure you'd be alright," he shouted back.
She flicked him hard on the nose, Ichigo crying out as he covered the offended flesh with his hands, tears filling his eyes.
"I told you to stay at the house," she said, grabbing his collar. Ichigo was not used to being challenged, everyone usually conceding to his wishes and letting him do as he wanted. This woman was obviously used to being obeyed.
She walked over to the body, the usual signs of decaying already appearing, the skin bubbling and oozing. She lifted her hands, a golden mist spreading out along the ground, leaving a fiery trail that consumed the body.
She spoke as she began to walk away. "By consecrating the ground, the flesh it took is burned away in holy fire, purifying both although it will also kill the demon."
Ichigo stared as the fire pulsed along the ground, burning anything in its path. He held his side that was torn, blood still trickling into his eyes from the gash on his head. Sachiel manifested a ball of red energy in her hand, throwing it at Ichigo who cringed before realizing the warmth that spread through him, the pain of his wounds fading.
"What was that," he asked, feeling his side, no longer feeling the wound there.
"It's a flash heal spell," she said. "I told you that you had much to learn."
"Not even Inoue can heal that quickly," he whispered.
"Well I have several healing spells in …wait! You're changing the subject! I'm angry with you," she said, green eyes flashing as she remembered her forgotten ire.
"I didn't think…"
"That's right, you didn't! You thought you'd be ready to take on these demons because you're strong, you're powerful," she said, poking his chest. "Let me tell you something," she continued. "You can't fight shit!" A rod of lightning formed in her hand as she grabbed his collar, yanking him to the side as she drove it into the chest of the creature that had snuck up behind him.
The rod burst into silver flames, consuming the creature. Ichigo sat on the ground, eyes wide.
"You have no instinct for these creatures," she said, swinging her sword away, energy flying into another demon that came from the side. Sachiel ran toward the creature, throwing herself into a spin, her sword coming around and slicing through its neck, it head rolling away as the body fell to its knees.
She ran back toward Ichigo, jumping before her leg shot out, kicking another back. She used her momentum to twist in midair, her sword coming down, slicing the creature in half from shoulder to groin.
"I control the element of water; storms and lightning," she said, panting. "You have speed and strength; so do I. We will finish your training but not right now!" She spread her wings, grabbing Ichigo's collar and took flight.
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The loud crash woke everyone from their sleep. Sado and Ishida were the first out of the house, waiting for the dust to clear. Sachiel landed near the river in front of the huge dust cloud.
"What hell is wrong with you," Ichigo yelled, coming out of the dust.
"Wrong with me? Wrong with me," she yelled back, getting up in his face. "You're the one who went out there when I told you to stay here. You are the one who almost got killed tonight. You are the one I had to rescue and you ask me what's wrong with me?" She slammed her fist into his chest, sending him flying back into another rock.
She calmly stalked toward him, lifting him out of the rubble. "You're itching to prove yourself…is that it?" She threw him to the ground.
Ishida, Sado, Jo and Ulquiorra stood there, the first three with their mouths agape. Jo had never seen Sachiel angry, the other two never having seen Ichigo manhandled in such a way.
Sachiel brought her leg up, Ichigo caught it as it came down, throwing it away from him. It didn't throw her off balance as he'd intended. Using the momentum, she spun before she slammed her fist down, narrowly missing him. "Don't," she snarled. "I will fuck you up."
Ichigo stared into her eyes. "Bring it," he said.
"Sachiel," Ulquiorra said.
"Stay out of it, brother," she responded.
And so it began. The four watched as they fought, Ichigo never gaining an upper hand. They fought for what seemed like an hour. Finally, faster than he could dodge, her leg caught his stomach, bending him over double. Her fists slammed into his back, sending him back to the earth.
He lay there, panting as Sachiel flew into him, landing in a straddle on him, grabbing his collar. "Done," she asked, her fist cocked back.
He couldn't move, could barely breath. Even in bankai form, he wasn't fast enough or strong enough. For the first time in his life, Ichigo conceded defeat. "Good," she said, leaning forward and kissing his forehead before standing over him. "Lifeblood," she whispered. Energy began to spread over him from the earth, healing his injuries, flowers sprouting around him. "Go to bed, Ichigo," she said, walking away.
Ichigo watched her walk, a blush coming to his cheeks as he realize that she had kissed him.
Standing, he walked by everyone on his way to the house, not meeting their glances as he went inside. Finding his way into his room, he re-entered his body, lying there as he felt lethargy come over him. He touched his forehead, remember the feel of her lips there. He wondered briefly before he fell asleep, what her lips would taste like.
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Ulquiorra looked at Jordan, waiting for her inevitable questions. She surprised him by only saying, "Remind me to never make her mad." She turned, making her way back into the house.
Ishida and Sado, however, didn't say anything as they also went back in.
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Sachiel lay in her bed for several hours, berating herself for kissing him on the forehead. In the weeks they had spent together in her alternate universe, she had felt her feelings for him blossom into more than like.
She hadn't enjoyed beating him to a pulp, but seeing him fighting a demon had angered her. She also knew she was wrong to take out her anger on him, but it felt to her that he didn't realize the danger that these creatures presented. What had angered her most of all, was that he would purposely go against her wishes and put himself in danger.
She sighed, putting her face into the pillow and screaming before sitting up. A hot soak would go a long way in settling her nerves. Moving off the bed, she began to gather her things before leaving the room.
She bumped into Ishida who was coming in with a plate of food on her way out. She only nodded to him as she walked past. Ishida noted what she was carrying but before he could say anything, she was already on the path to the hot spring.
Sachiel let her mind wander as she walked the familiar path, falling deep into thought as she went into the bath house. She undressed slowly, setting her things on the bench before turning around and wading into the deep pool with her basket of toiletries. She let the waters envelope her, sighing as the heat began to seep into her, the minerals already relaxing her muscles.
She leaned her head on the ledge, eyes closed when she realized she wasn't alone. Opening her eyes slowly, she saw Ichigo on the other side, his back to her. She flinched as she saw the deep bruises there.
"Had the same idea," she asked.
"Sort of," he answered. "I was trying to forget."
"So which is bruised more," she asked. "Your body or your ego?"
"I think they're both about equal," he answered, finally turning to look at her.
She inhaled sharply, taking in the damage she'd done to him. His left eye was swollen shut, his lip split and bruised, another large bruise covered his chest, both his cheeks were also bruised. The spell she had used to heal him would have only healed enough to allow him to move.
"Jo cleaned me up and told me to come soak here," he said, answering her unspoken question. He was surprised to find her in front of him, her small hands taking a hold of his face.
"I am so very sorry, Ichigo," she whispered, her eyes glowing as she began to heal his injuries. As his eye opened, he averted his gaze, licking his lip as it healed, trying hard not to think of the naked woman in front of him that was currently straddling his lap.
"It's ok…Sachi," he said, purposely not finishing her name.
"Sachi?"
"It's a nickname. If you don't mind, that is," he said.
She smiled. "I like it. I've never had a nickname."
Ichigo smiled back, glad that the woman didn't realize that he had nicknamed her…Joy.
"Let me do something for you," she said.
He looked at her in surprise. "Do something for me?"
She gave him a naughty grin before giggling at the look of horror on his face. "Let me bathe you," she said. "Penance for what I did earlier."
"You don't have to," he said quickly as she stood, a blush coming over him before he quickly looked away.
He heard her leave the water, the sounds of her feet approaching again as she slipped back in behind him. The feel of her skin against his caused him to jump away.
"Are you alright," she asked, hurt evident in her voice.
"It's fine," he said quickly. "I can bathe myself." She pouted demurely at him, letting him see her sadness.
"Alright," she said. "I'll go then."
Now he felt guilty. "Wait," he said as she made to leave the water. "If it means that much…you can bathe me," he conceded. "But that doesn't mean I'll be comfortable."
She smiled, taking his hand and pulling him to her, her hands going to his shoulders as she turned him. She settled herself behind him, grabbing the bowl by her. She let the water flow over him, wetting his hair little by little. Taking another bowl filled with her soap, she wet the sponge, dipping it into the creamy mixture. She let her hands travel with the sponge over his broad shoulders. After washing his back, she moved around to the front of him, taking and washing each arm in turn before moving to his chest. Ichigo watched her as she washed him, her attention fixed on his chest as she moved it in circular motions. He fixed his attention on her full lips, noting how she nervously chewed on a corner of her lower lip.
He jumped as he felt the sponge move to his stomach.
"Sorry," she whispered. She handed him the sponge. "You may want to finish." She got no response. Looking into his eyes, she could see he was focusing on something. She pinched his arm to get his attention.
"Wash below," she said. "I'll wash your hair."
She moved behind him once more, filling the bowl again to rewet his hair. Using her oil soap, she rubbed it in her hands before massaging her fingers through his hair, lathering it. She massaged his scalp and neck muscles as she washed his hair.
She smiled as she felt him relax against her lower chest, draping his arms over her knees.
"This is very relaxing," he murmured.
"That means I'm doing it right," she whispered near his ear.
"Why are you not shy about being nude," he asked.
"Because to me, it's just a body," she answered. "As an elf, we don't think of nudity as a sin or indecent. We are taught at an early age to love ourselves, that our bodies are perfect."
"I won't argue that," he agree. She smiled behind him.
"You agree that my body is perfect," she teased as she continued to massage his scalp, her fingernails lightly scratching.
"One would be blind to not notice your hourglass shape, your perfectly toned body, everything."
She began to feel mischievous. "And what do you notice most?"
"Your eyes," he answered. "They're very expressive."
"I've been told that," she chuckled as she moved to his shoulders, massaging the muscles there.
"How long were we gone anyway," he asked, changing the subject.
"Ten hours…ten weeks we spent together," she answered.
"Two and a half months," Ichigo mused.
"Mm…," she agreed, murmuring something he didn't quite catch. He heard her sigh behind him.
"Ichigo?"
"Mm?"
"Are you really so determined to go with me on patrol?"
"Yes, I am," he answered. "Getsuga wants me to make sure you stay safe."
"So you'll keep this up every time I go out on patrol?"
He nodded, then sputtered as Sachiel dropped a huge helping of water on his head. "Sachi!"
She laughed, pushing him further into the small pool. She summoned a red bathing suit to her body, covering it for him. Ichigo was surprised to feel a pair of blue swim trunks covering his lower body.
"Come on," she said, taking his hand and leaving the water, pulling him out of the bathhouse behind her. As she pulled him around the corner of the building, he felt the familiar displacement of space as she pulled him into her alternate dimension.
He looked around the familiar campsite. "Why are we here," he asked.
"Because I can teach you a few things about fighting demons…duh."
"But you said we were done."
"A few hours away will be alright. Besides, you need to learn how to detect them. You're strong enough to fight them but not if they surprise and overpower you," she said. "I don't want to come upon you being shredded…again."
They spent three weeks in her alternate world, training him to detect demons and how to fight them effectively. His speed and strength increased with each day. When she was done, she opened the portal home.
As they stepped through, she took his hand, stopping him.
"Now, you are ready to fight along side me, Ichigo Kurosaki," she said, moving close to him, her fingers tracing a symbol on his forehead which glowed before sinking into his skin. "And now, you have the ability to communicate with me if you should ever need to," she added. "This is a temporary situation, Ichigo. When Ulquiorra is able, he will rejoin me."
"I know. My time here is limited anyway," he answered.
She nodded, letting go of his hand. "It's around lunch time," she said. "Are you hungry?"
"I'm more tired to be honest," he answered.
"Go rest then. I could use a nap myself," she said, stretching, her back and shoulders popping. "I'll be making dinner before going out on patrol." She walked away from him, making her way to the house.
Ichigo watched her walk down the path to the house, touching his forehead, smiling to himself. He had admitted to himself during their time in the alternate universe that his feelings were becoming more. He cared for her deeply, respected her even more. He had decided that, during his time here, she would be his one thing to protect.
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Sachiel walked toward the house just as the sun was breaking over the horizon. Tonight had shown her the most activity she had seen in a long while. She swayed, Ichigo catching her about the waist to prevent a full fall. She leaned against him, letting him guide her into the house and through the hall and up the stairs.
"I need a bath," she said.
Ichigo chuckled. They both did; blood and gore covered them.
"Shower first," she said, turning around.
"You shower and I'll use the pool for a bath," he said.
"Yeah. Deal. I can stand long enough for a shower." She moved them to the bathhouse, immediately undressing as Ichigo turned away, removing his clothes before stepping into the hot waters. During his training, he had grown accustomed to bathing with her since there were no partitions in her world.
Sachiel let the warmed water fall over her, sighing as she undid her braid to get the sticky blood out of her hair. She began to wash quickly before her fatigue overtook her and she fell asleep in the shower; she'd done it before. She hissed as the water hit the cut on her thigh, her hand instinctively reaching down and healing it.
After she washed, she manifested a white robe over herself as she wrung out her hair. She manifested another for Ichigo, sitting on the bench as she waited for him to finish bathing. Together, they walked back to the house.
Noticing her slowed pace, Ichigo picked her up, carrying her bridal style into the house and into her room, setting her on her bed. She immediately hugged a pillow, sighing softly.
"Thank you, Ichigo," she murmured, burrowing further into the covers and pillows. He stood there for several minutes, listening to her deep, even breathing. As he watched, he thought he saw a flicker of light around her, as if her skin had begun to glow. He dismissed it as his own fatigue playing games with his mind.
He closed the door, turning back to the stairs to find a snack before he went to bed. He jumped as he saw Ulquiorra standing there, arms crossed as he stared at Ichigo.
"How was patrol," he asked.
"Very different from hunting hollows," he admitted.
"You both had to bathe?"
"Yeah. Sachi found quite a few nests," Ichigo said. "It got pretty messy."
"I had noticed the increase over the past several weeks of demon activity and presence. We still haven't figured out why."
"Didn't you say that the one you trapped said something was drawing them?"
He nodded. "Jo and your friends have been helping me to do research but we weren't able to pin down the lure," Ulquiorra said. "When I talked to Sachiel earlier, she said it felt as if a fount were opening."
"A fount?"
"Demon well. But it would take incredible powers to open one. Even if Memnoch were able, he would have…," he didn't finish as a thought suddenly occurred to him. "He's in the ritual chamber."
"Ritual chamber?"
Ulquiorra fixed him with a droll stare. "Inside the ruins is a secret ritual chamber," he explained. "Sachiel has been using her abilities to keep the archaeologists from finding it."
"And if they do?"
"It will create a chasm through which demons can use to come and go freely. It's a gate to Hell."
"I've seen those," Ichigo said, walking down the stairs.
"That was a temporary portal," Ulquiorra said, following him. "This would be an open maw between their world and this one."
"I can see why that would be bad," Ichigo commented, opening the refrigerator and grabbing some juice and a plate of leftovers before going inside.
"Do you care for her," Ulquiorra asked.
Ichigo looked surprised at the question. "Of course. She's a friend."
"I saw the look in your eyes when you carried her, Kurosaki."
"And? I can't be attracted to her?"
"It would be unwise."
"Why? Because she's not human?"
"So you've forgotten about the shinigami you were in love with," he asked.
"Unless I'm dead, I can't be with her."
"Sachiel is not someone to have a fling with, Kurosaki. Like me, she is here to find her redemption. For me, it is finding someone who accepts every aspect of me. It may be the same for her. There can be no redemption without sacrifice; for either of us."
With those words, he turned away, going back upstairs.
Ichigo felt guilty suddenly. Ulquiorra's word rang true with him. He had wanted just a fling with Sachiel. The fact that Orihime was seeing someone, still stung his pride. Ishida and Sado were still sleeping, the sun finally beginning to rise completely. Looking at the clock, he calculated the time difference between his home and where he was now. He decided to call anyway.
Going to the bedroom, he changed into regular clothes, grabbing the soul phone he had found among his things when Rukia had left, he headed out of the house. He hesitated after dialing the number, his thumb over the send button. Taking a deep breath, he pressed it, praying it would work with his restored powers. He got an answer on the third ring.
"Moshi moshi," he heard.
"Renji? It's Ichigo."
"Hey, man! How's it going? How did you get a soul phone to work for you?"
"Long story," Ichigo said. "I just…I needed to get some information."
"Sure. What's up?"
"I need some information on a demon slayer."
"Demon slayer? How'd you get mixed up with them?"
Ichigo told him about the school trip, Sachiel and everything that had been going on, including how she'd been able to restore his shinigami powers. He left out information about Ulquiorra.
Renji whistled into the phone. "You have been busy, my friend. This Sachiel you're asking about…she's not the Sachiel is she?"
"What do you mean?"
"Sachiel is an archangel that turned on the host and became a demon herself, outcast from heaven. If I remember correctly, she was caught, imprisoned and serving eternal punishment. It's weird that your host there has the same name."
"Do you have a description of her," Ichigo asked, his curiosity peaked.
"I'd have to go to the library," Renji said. "But if you want, I can get you one."
"Ah…forget it," Ichigo replied. "That's not why I called."
"What's up then?"
"It's been a while since I've heard from Rukia or anyone in Soul Society," Ichigo said. "I wanted to see how everyone was…how Rukia was. Is she ok?"
"Busy," Renji replied. "She's been helping her brother more and more. Really getting into the Kuchiki business and her duties to her squad since she took the promotion to vice captain. Even I barely get to see her. But from what I have seen, she's doing well."
"Is…is she seeing anyone?"
Renji laughed. "With her busy schedule, it's not likely. What brings this up, Ichigo?"
"I…I don't know," he said, sitting on the outcropping as he looked down at the house.
"Uh huh…liar," Renji teased.
"I know," Ichigo said, his tone deflated. "Orihime's seeing someone. And…"
"She dating someone? I figured you and her would hook up," Renji interrupted.
"We did, for a while. But I just couldn't see myself staying with her and building a life. We broke up a while back. And…there's someone here that I like."
"Just like or really like?"
"Really like but this is her home. Starting something with her is out of the question. It wouldn't be fair to her."
"Does she like you?"
"I don't know," he admitted.
"Is she hot?"
"She's perfect," Ichigo blurted out before he could catch himself.
"Whoa, buddy. Perfect is trouble."
"Yeah. She's gorgeous but not conceited, strong willed, gentle but strong. She fights amazingly well. She's kicked my ass more than a few times even in Bankai form. Hell, she's even taught me a few things."
"Can she cook?"
"Yeah. Hey! I got a picture. Wanna see her?"
"Sure."
Ichigo looked at the phone, locating the picture he'd taken of Sachiel during one of their breaks in her alternate world. She had posed on a boulder for him. Looking at the picture, he smiled at it before sending it off to Renji.
After a moment, he heard Renji. "Got it," he said. "Wow, she's is gorgeous. Perfect is a good word, Ichigo."
"She's the demon slayer."
"What? All that and a deadly fighter?"
"Yeah."
"Bud, don't let her get away. If you don't want her, can I have a crack at her?"
"She'd eat you for breakfast, Renji. Remember, even in my bankai form, I wasn't able to touch her until she began training me," he chuckled.
Silence.
"Renji? Renji!"
"Sorry, Ichigo. I can't stop staring at her," Renji finally said.
Ichigo could feel himself getting slightly angry that someone else was interested in Sachiel.
"Well I'm one up on your already, Renji."
"How's that?"
"Well technically two. One, we sometimes bathe together and two, she enjoys washing me."
"No!"
"Yeah."
"You dog, Ichigo," Renji laughed. "So try being a bit more forward with her. See if she likes you, too."
"How?"
"Ask her out."
"And where would I take her?"
"A club? Girls your age like clubs, don't they? Tell you what, I'll come there and help you out," Renji suggested.
"What? No!"
"I'll see what I can arrange. Talk to you later, bud," he said, ending the call.
"Renji? Renji?" No answer.
"Damn him." Ichigo's problem didn't get solved. It just got worse.