A/N: Hi
Long time no see.
Happy turkey day for you Americans.
Holy crap I am so tired.
I miss my beta./sniff
sigh.
What are we doing? Oh yeah.
only 4,000 word this time. Forgiveness.
May not update next week. Will be busy.
BUT! there will be winter break in 3 weeks, so expect larger word count on future chapters. /yayyy
huh, what else.
Oh yeah, warnings: Unbeta-ed. Slash. Fluff. Mentions of male genitals. Pretty vanilla.
Enough of this Nonsense! Read! Enjoy! Review!
Chapter Nine
"Ichigo, Kimon misses you."
"Kimon is lonely without you."
"Kimon won't eat unless he sees you."
The white cat watched his former master with his clear blue eyes. Even his Hollow mask cant hide the bemusement reflected on those eyes. The blue haired espada was pacing back and forth, mumbling made up excuses to an imaginary audience.
"Oi, Kurosaki! The cat misses you!" He snarled at the wall. "No, no that'll just riled him up." Grimmjow muttered and turned away.
"Where have you been? Kimon miss you." He tried again, this time with a whiny voice. The blue haired espada made a face and turned away again. If the cat could, he would roll his eyes and sigh. If only his former master would stop using him as an excuse to spend time with the orange haired boy. even the cat knew that the boy loved spending time with the arrancar.
Thankfully, Ichigo walked into the room before Grimmjow can try his third voice. On his lips were traces of a smile but his brows are furrowed in it's usual angry glare. It was an amusing sight."Kimon!" he called, his face breaking into a grin. The white Hollow cat head perked up and he meowed in relief, glad to be saved from Grimmjow's monologue. Kimon jumped out of the bed and rubbed his body against the boy legs, making the boy laugh. " 'sup little guy." He tickled the cat.
Grimmjow could feel all his muscle tightening as the boy's scent began flooding his senses. Oh God, that smell again. "Kimon misses you." Grimmjow exclaimed and pointed accusingly at the cat. "That's why he's been sleeping all day." The cat gave the espada a dirty look before burrowing deeper into his master's arm, relishing on the man's wonderful scent.
"Yeah?" Ichigo scratched it's jaw. "You're just like Stark. Lazy cat." He nuzzled the white cat and walked away, slipping off his haori and throwing himself onto the bed.
"You saw Stark?" Grimmjow asked him, tensing up at the name of the Primera Espada. "What did he do?"
Ichigo frowned at Grimmjow's suspicious tone. "Hey, don't hate. He saved me from that grasshopper espada," "Nnoitra." Grimmjow corrected. "Yeah, Nnoitra. Then he showed me an awesome hot spring outside of Las Noches." Ichigo grinned and stretched out his arms. Grimmjow traced the boy's long tight muscles with his eyes, imagining Stark's fingers dancing along the smooth skin. That was not a nice image.
"That's impossible." Grimmjow said, sounding testy all of a sudden. "There's no water on the surface of Hueco Mundo. They're only located on the lowest level of the Menos Forest."
"Well it was there." Ichigo insisted. Grimmjow only answered him with an angry look, confusing the boy even further. "If you still don't believe me then I'll take you there sometimes." He yawned and turned his back to the man. This is not the time to pick fights. He's tired, warm, and relaxed. And all that he wanted to do is sleep.
Grimmjow glared daggers at the boy's back, angry at the casual dismissal. "Whatever." He spat out and went out, slamming the door behind him as he left.
Kimon jumped into the air and hissed at the door. "What a fucking wierdo." Ichigo muttered, pulling his cat closer to his chest and closed his eyes. The Hollow cat stared at the door, meowing at the espada's departure.
Zaraki Kenpachi was leaning against a large boulder, his arm loosely draped around his weathered sword. After his escape from the captains meeting, he sent a hell butterfly to the real world, requesting an opening to Hueco Mundo from the illusive Urahara Kisuke. He didn't like dealing with shady people like him, but his only alternative involves asking for help from Mayuri Kurostituchi, something that he would never do in a million years.
They're currently in the forest just outside of district 59, waiting for Yourichi to come with their portal from Urahara. Ikkaku and Yumichika are out getting food while Yachiru was busy setting up tent on the back. Satisfied with the way things are going, Kenpachi settled himself in front of the fire he built, letting the heat of the flickering flames heat his cold limbs.
The sweet dusky scent of the burning logs reminded him of his days of wondering around the Zaraki Mountain. It was a good life, walking around, looking for a battle with only his sword as his companion. He loved falling asleep after a long day fighting, resting his wearied body in front of a warm fire.
Some days he would wake up with his clothes stiff from all the dried blood. Usually that was the signal to stop fighting so he can wash his clothes. Now that he's a captain, he has some measly 4th squad kid doing his laundry, which according to him, are clean enough as it is. To Kenpachi, if there's no blood, there's no need to wash a shirt.
He didn't know that killing off the 10th Kenpachi comes with so much responsibility. Paper works, training up weak newbies, emergency captains meting, and all of those annoying stuff. He did managed to dump most of his paperwork to Yumichika, but there are other things that made his life in Sereitei less than enjoyable.
For one, he's not allowed to attack the other captains, a rule that irked him to no end. He longed to battle the captains, just to see if they were as strong as they're rumored to be. He especially wanted to beat the crap out of the 6th division captain, an intent that the Kuchiki seemed to realized. In every captain meetings, he could see the man's eyes flashed in fear before he moved away. Granted Kenpachi was not as obsessed with Byakuya as he is with Ichigo. With Ichigo, he wanted to test him, to defeat him and then have Ichigo defeat him. With Byakuya, he only want to see the noble's pretty face twist up in pain.
Speaking of uptight do gooders, he was surprised that Soutaichou didn't send any messengers to take him home. Because of his lack of direction, the Soutaichou was always lenient of his time away, making the 11th one of the most independent division. However, this time he has a feeling that he will be away for a long time. With the absence of Yumichika, the division's paperwork will surely pile up. He could imagine his division of illiterate rough guys attempting to complete a report. As painful as being a captain might be, he enjoyed being around men like him, men who would rather fight than eat.
A rustle from the forest caught his attention. He gave a knowing smile as he saw Ikkaku and Yumichika stumbled into the camp, their face flushed and their clothes disheveled. "Found some fish?" He casually asked, startling his seated officers.
"Ah, yeah. I'll prepare them right away." Yumichika blushed deeper and turned away to scale the newly caught fish, muttering on how ugly the fish looked. Ikkaku busied himself with Hozukimaru, attaching and reattaching his shikai form to avoid his captain's eyes. Kenpachi smirked at the two and turned to his vice captain. Yachiru was napping under a tarp, her arms curled under the lose folds of the heavy plastic. She was supposed to put up a tent, but apparently the child decided that putting up tents is stupid and slept right on it.
Those three are his... family? No. They're too dysfunctional to be called a family, and they're not chummy enough to be called friends. Comrades maybe, but even that word is not enough to described the depth of their relationship. Its a connection that arise from respect and admiration. It's a pure and natural bond, like wolves following their alpha, trusting him to provide for them, to keep them safe. Of course, Zaraki's men doesn't need to be protected, but like all social animals, they need a flock to identify themselves with.
He smiled at the people surrounding the fireplace, the few that he actually give a fuck about. His eyes zeroed in on an empty spot right across from him, frowning at it's vacancy. Ichigo should be sitting there. He could be talking with Yumichika, bantering with Ikkaku, or maybe playing with Yachiru. Either way, Kenpachi wanted him there with him.
Ever since their battle, there has been a hunger deep in his stomach. At first, he though that it was because their fight ended up in a draw, and that the hunger would be satisfied with a rematch. However, when he saw the boy, every fiber of his being screamed 'mine'. It was not his usual blood lust. It was paternal, manifested in the desire for companionship, to expand his pack of four to a five. It was also something more, something foreign. He longed to have someone to be his, solely utterly his, just as Yumichika was Ikkaku's.
Kenpachi knew that he needed someone that can hold himself against his powerful blade. With his power, his attitude, and his immense reiatsu, Ichigo was the perfect addition to his pack. He also has weird hair, which fits the unofficial requirement of the 11th division hair code. He smiled when he remembered the bright orange hair, comparing it's brightness to the fire he had before him. Ichigo is fire. He is passionate, radiant, and full of life. If Kenpachi's presence was an ever consuming inferno, then Ichigo was the only flame that can keep him from scorching everything else.
The boy was made for him.
The news of his capture has left Kenpachi both angry and happy. He was pissed that the boy was unavailable for a rematch, and yet he was pleased that Ichigo has provided him a reason to fight. Even without instruction the boy was already leading him to his next battle like Ikkaku and Yumichika often does. He grinned at that thought, already thinking of ways to reward the boy.
"Taichou, you should rest for now. Ikkaku and I will take the first watch." Yumichika said, handing him a skewered fish. Kenpachi snorted in disbelief. "You'll probably be too preoccupied with Ikkaku's cock to be watching anything." Kenpachi said flippantly, making his 5th seat drop his fish.
"Taichou!" Yumichika blushed, probably more surprised at his choice of word rather than the content on his comment.
"There's no way I'm fucking this dandy!" Ikkaku pointed the dark haired shinigami, making sure to avoid any eye contact with the man.
"I can't believe you just used the word 'dandy'. What an ugly word." Yumichika sighed and hid his face behind his sleeve.
A vein popped out on Ikkaku's head. "See captain? How can you expect me to even go near a pansy like him!"
Yumichika gasped and turned to him with gleaming eyes. "Ikkaku," he whispered. "I never knew you thought of me like that." Yumichika teared up and leaned close to Kenpachi, burying his face on the Kenpachi's arm. "Taichou! Please punish him for stomping on my beautiful pride!" he cried, rubbing his face on Kenpachi's sleeve.
"Oi, Ikkaku. Get your woman off my arm." Kenpachi shook his arm halfheartedly
"Taichou!" They both complained. In that second, the sleeping pink bundle sat up, her face set on an angry scowl. Yachiru kicked her legs and threw her hands out, screaming in frustration.
"Mouuuuu! Ken-chan, make Baldy and Yun-Yun kiss so they'll shut up!" Yachiru grumbled, yawning as he climbed her Ken-chan's shoulder.
The two men face turned blank, looking up at their captain with a pleading expression. "You heard your lieutenant." Kenpachi laughed and pushed Yumichika to a blushing Ikkaku.
Ikkaku caught Yumichika and held him at an arm's length. "Well?" Yumichika crossed his arms. "Aren't you going to apologize to me?" The black haired man demanded, his peacock feathers fluttering in annoyance.
The bald shinigami growled. "Fine! I'm sorry." Ikkaku said, looking away from the now grinning shinigami. Yumichika leaned close and brushed his lips onto the man's cheek, eliciting a delighted squeal from their fukutaichou. Ikkaku wiped his cheek vigorously, hiding a smile behind his sleeve. He can't have his Taichou thinking that he's some lovesick puppy.
Yumichika giggled at Ikkaku's reaction, knowing how much his lover wanted to hold up the 'man' façade. "Ok! Lets eat!" He clapped his hand and passed around sticks of grilled fish, handing one to his lover while peering from underneath his lashes. Kenpachi laughed and tear into his fish, asking himself weather Ichigo was like Ikkaku or more like Yumichika. Man, the boy would look so damn delicious with a pink cheek and an angry scowl.
The three shinigami noticed the happy grin that their captain wore, but decided to not ask question. Instead, Yumichika shimmied closer to his lover, using the guise of pouring sake as an excuse to cuddle closer. Ikkaku kept shoving his beaming 'woman' away from him, only to find Yachiru gnawing on his fish. The little shinigami smiled and chewed on the fish, swallowing her's and Ikkaku's dinner in a few chomp. Kenpachi gave a thunderous laugh.
He loved those stupid bastards.
Ichigo fumed darkly as Tousen handed him a severed leg of a Hollow. "What the fuck am I supposed to do with this?" Tousen smiled and pointed at the basket Ichigo had on his back, his face lighting up with glee. While resisting the urge to murder the man, Ichigo threw the severed limb into the basket, grimacing at the sound it made.
They are trekking around Hueco Mundo, finding Large Hollows and cutting them up into small pieces. Ichigo had the honor of carrying those stiking putrid flesh, gagging as the wind blew against his back. Tousen was looking quite happy with the boy's misery. He even whistled a happy tune while they cut up their next Hollow.
Just until this morning Ichigo thought that life is Las Noches was not that bad. Wake up, eat with Grimmjow, play with Kimon, argue with Aizen, nap with Stark, and at the end of the night, watch Kira and Hisagi drink themselves to death. In Las Noches the pressure of a student and a shinigami was on existent. He don't have to rush back after school and lied to his sister so he change into his shinigami form, and for the first time in a while, Ichigo had slept for more than 5 hours. He was well fed, well treated, and he had the cat that he always wanted. Aside from the constant threat of Nnoitra and his Fraccion, life was good.
That is, until Tousen barged in with thigh high boots into Hisagi and Kira's drinking session.
The two fukutaichou were passed out when the former captain stepped in with his ridiculous grab, his nose twitching at the scent of alcohol. Tousen turned his face to Ichigo, who stared back at him defiantly. "What?" he snapped. He couldn't help it. The man was looking at him like he was to blame for Hisagi's alcohol problem.
"Come." He said, handing a large woven basket to the boy.
Now here he is, trekking through the sands of Hueco Mundo carrying a basket full of Hollow limb. He missed his warm bed, his cute white cat, and he want a bubble foot bath. Ichigo pouted and mentally slapped himself 'Damn,' he thought, 'Since when do I sound this whiny?'
"Fuck!" Ichigo tripped over a rock and spilled out the content of his basket onto his head, splashing Hollow blood all over himself. Tousen looked at him dispassionately. "Pick them up Kurosaki." He said and wrote something on his clipboard.
Ichigo cursed for the umpteenth time and began collecting the cadaver pieces. "Why the fuck are we collecting Hollow body parts again? Is Aizen making a Hollow Frankenstein or something?"
"A what?"
"Never mind." Ichigo rolled his eyes. Like the man would knew anything about 18th century novel. "Just.. tell me that there's a reason of why I'm covered in Hollow gunk."
"You'll see soon enough." The man walked away, not even looking back gto see if the boy is following him or not.
'Insufferable blind bat.' Ichigo muttered under his breath, kicking a random Hollow limb and sending it flying over a sand mound.
They walked down a hill into an enclosure of some sort, with wires closing around a large chasm. Tousen led him onto a bridge suspended over the large chasm, stopping on the middle to breathe in the air of Hueco Mundo. Around them were those crystallized trees that dotted Hueco Mundo, their gigantic bark revealed in entirety . Tousen seemed to enjoy the place, but Ichigo was too distracted to notice the nature all around him. After all, it's hard to be appreciative of anything when you're covered in Hollow Gunk.
Tousen could feel the boy fidgeting behind him. "Concentrate." he reprimanded Ichigo sharply, making the boy glower at him again.
"Concentrate on what? The fact that I'm smelling like Hollow chum?" Before he can continue, Tousen jumped at him and knocked him to the ground, saving him from a nearby cero.
"What was that?" Ichigo scrambled back, wishing for his sword. From the dense forest, a silhouette of a Gillian Menos began to appear, It's gaping maw dripping with saliva. It's mask were different from the Menos that Ichigo knew. It was a featureless mask, with only a line on it's right cheek that serves as an eyehole.
It was a gigantic monster. Compared to it's colossal size, the trees looked like nothing. Ichigo cursed and backed away, only to be stopped with Tousen's hand gripping his arm. "Wait." He said. Ichigo thought the man was going bonkers, or maybe suicidal. Maybe Aizen's mission was getting too hard for him to handle and he wanted outs.
The Menos whined, it's jaw opening and closing like a chick waiting for it's mother to feed it. Tousen pulled off the basket full of Hollow limbs and poured it's content into the Menos's gaping jaw. The monster swallowed it with a disgusting slurp, making a delighted noise before stalking off into the wood.
"The fuck?" Ichigo whispered, trying to steady his trembling voice. Tousen leaned down to wiped his hand on the boy's Haori, a smug smile dancing on his lips.
"From now on, this will be your job." Tousen said, throwing a small dagger onto the boy's lap. "Go and kill more Hollows. Gillian-san is very hungry."
"Tousen."
The blind man did budge from his perch on the large rock.
"Tousen." Ichigo called out again. The man still ignored him. Angry with the treatment, Ichigo took a bone from his chum bucket and threw it at the man, hitting the back of Tousen's head. Tousen slowly turned, his hand checking his braided hair carefully. When he brought his hand back, it was covered with the slimy Hollow blood. Stinky, slimy, squelching blood.
The boy was going to pay.
"Kurosaki." He forced the name out between his gritted his teeth. He jumped close to the boy with his sword drawn, eager to kill the boy in one swing. Ichigo quickly parried it with his small bent dagger, regretting his earlier action. 'Fuck, he's strong.' He thought as he pushed the man away with a heavy grunt
"Why do you hate me so much?" Ichigo screamed inbetween blows.
"Because you do things like these!" Tousen kicked the bucket of Hollow chum over, splashing more onto the boy's shirt.
"Well," Ichigo stammered, "You started it!" he kicked a piece of meat to the man, sending it sliding over the narrow bridge. Tousen growled at the wasted food.
"YOU tripped on a rock and brought it to yourself!" He screamed, splashing Hollow blood to his jacket with his angry step.
"You MADE me trip!"
The two grown man stared down at each other while gasping for breath, their reaitsu fluctuating to a dangerous level. "You will pay Kurosaki Ichigo." Tousen hissed and flash stepped them back to Las Noches. Aizen will hear about this.
Ichigo pulled his arm away from the man's grip and stalked into the building. His back ached, his body stinks, and his temper is low. All he wanted to do is take a shower and sleep.s
"Ichigo-kun." Aizen stopped the orange head, his voice was benevolent as ever.
"What?" Ichigo sighed. He didn't have time for this crap.
"We had this conversation already." He touched the back of his hand softly to the boy's cheek, rubbing off the flaking Hollow blood.
"I know." Ichigo ran his hand through his hair, cursing when he found an area clumped by the Hollow's blood.
"What do you have to say for yourself?"
Ichigo rolled his eyes. If Aizen want to treat him like a little kid then he will act like a little kid. "Tousen did it." He said, slipping past the irritated man.
Aizen shook his head in disappointment, grabbing Ichigo by the arm. "Don't blame others for your mistake Kurosa-"
Before he could finish, Kaname Tousen walked in with his blood splattered jacket. It was just as dirty as Ichigo's Haori, and it stank just as much. Aizen was speechless, unable to believe the scene. Ichigo gave Aizen a smug smirk before slipping into his room, locking it behind him before Aizen could recover from his shock.
"Kaname?" Aizen asked in disbelief. Kaname Tousen, Aizen's most loyal servant, has broken Las Noches's most cardinal rule; keep your uniforms clean. This is the first time Kaname has ever disobeyed his orders.
"Aizen-sama." Tousen bowed and walked away, eager to wash away the blood from his skin. Aizen watched the man's retreating back, a confused look still on his face.
If one would label Ulquiorra then one would call him a nihilist. He could feel nothing, taste nothing, hear nothing, but most importantly, he desires nothing. Inside of him was nothingness, a void that has existed since the dawn of his creation. There was nothing, and it was natural.
Even his earliest memory was filled with nothingness. He recalled visions of an endless dessert accompanied by a large expanse of starless sky. It was an empty and barren land, void of any sign of life. The only vegetation he saw were the translucent trees that dotted the land. They have no scent, no sound, no colour or life. They only exist there, not interacting, unmoving sculptures of death. They continued to exist with no drive, no motive, and no real meaning for their existence.
Just like him.
He recalled wandering for days, going uphill, downhill, over chasms, under caves. He would walk for weeks, shifting the stagnant sands with his feet. He did not stop. He did not rest. He just walked. It was a mindless and meaningless routine, one that he didn't mind doing.
In his walk, Ulquiorra remembered stumbling upon a large dark pit, filled with equally large and dark Hollows congregating together. They wrestle with each other, their long sharp teeth glinting and their claws out. He would sit and watch as they bared their teeth and ripped each other's flesh, an act, he later discovered, that was essential to their survival. He watch as they swallowed their comrade's flesh, finding nourishment from a destructive act . Some would cry out in agony, other sound a triumphant roar. Why wouldn't they? They have prolonged their lives with the flesh of their comrades. It's a cause worth celebrating, right?
Ulquiorra wouldn't know. He did not desire live, nor did he desire death. For him, life is nothing more than an endless wandering. It's not that he fear death that kept him from dying. He has no emotion, for emotions cannot be seen. And things that cannot be seen, cannot be touched, does not exist.
It was the only logical conclusion.
All that he had ever witness was primal instinct in action. Hollows eating other Hollows, tearing into each other with their ever hungry mouth. Animals rutting against each other in sexual need and then eating each other bodies after their copulations. There ware no emotions involved in either actions. They were merely a product of instinct, nothing more.
That is why he hated Inoue Orihime.
He normally avoid the presence of emotional idiots like a plague. He even minimize his contact with his fellow espada, thinking the more emotional the more difficult are they to handle. However, Aizen's has put the woman under his care, leaving him no choice but to interact with her.
It was not supposed to be a hard job to do. Bring her food, watch her eat, leave. Bring her food, watch her eat, leave. Simple, clean, efficient.
As her caretaker, he is exposed to her daily idiosycroncies, her emotions, and her stubbornness. Her constant chatter of love and friendship irritates him. Her delusional ideals of her saviors made him doubt the woman's intelligence, and even her sanity. No one should be able to feel hopeful when the last shred of hope has disappeared. He had intended to break down her resolve, to show here that her reality was wrong. He could maybe drive her into the same emptiness that he felt, and hopefully death. Before he could do any of that, she was whisked away and traded for another Idiot.
Kurosaki Ichigo.
He is impudent and loud. He is very much like Orihime, and yet they are diffrent. Hopelessly optimistic, emotionally unstable, and delusioned with their own reality. Ulquiorra had thought that the boy's unstable reiatsu would kill him off eventually, yet his continued presence had proved him wrong.
He had hoped that he could employ the same tactics with the boy. Get in, bring food, get out. Minimal contact, minimal risk of interacting with the idiot. However, his Lord and master was adamant that the arrancar talk regularly with Ichigo. Aizen wanted the boy could to feel 'happy' and 'loved'. Of course Ulquiorra was the right choice to inspire 'happiness' and 'love', who else but an emotionless arrancar could do the job?
Ulquiorra shook his sarcastic self away. Who was he to question his master's choice? He will do his job, and he will do it well. He even had Ichimaru tutored him on the finer points of a conversation, so Ulquiorra was confident that he will do well in the meaningless routine. He rolled the cart of food to the door, knocking on it and waited for the boy to open it. Gin said that it's better to not barge in uninvited. What a strange custom.
The door clicked open, bringing Ulquiorra's attention back from his musings. Instead of the familiar orange haired boy, he was greeted by a sight of a foreign man, dressed in a captain's haori. He was a giant of a man, with spikes and bells decorating his hair. The intruder had an unconscious Ichigo slung over his shoulder, his body still wet and dripping with water. A towel was hanging dangerously low on Ichigo's hips, but the man's seemed to preferred it that way.
Ulquiorra was unsure of how to proceed. He did not recalled a scenario such as this in his lessons. His instinct tells him to draw out his sword, but Gin's word began to echoed in his head. 'Remember Ulquiorra, no matter how bad the situation might seems, do not unsheathe your sword. It's impolite.'
Ulquiorra was confused. Ichimaru was not very clear in his explanation. He should've gone to Tousen-sama.
Before Ulquiorra could decide on his next action, the intruder already noticed his presence. "Move, pale face." he said gruffly , shoving the arrancar away by his shoulders. Within second, the man was gone, flash stepping away from the scene of the crime.
Ulquiorra stared at his shoulder, focusing on his wrinkled jacket. Aizen-sama would not be happy if he reported in with a wrinkled uniform. He decided that the boy was going to die anyway so why bother risk his master displeasure over it. Ulquiorra took his jacket off and began to smooth it out on the ground. Unfortunately, the mud track that the man brought in stained the back of his jacket, making Ulquiorra frown deeper. It seems like he would have to wash his jacket first.
Ulquiorra sighed and began to walk to the laundry room. Kurosaki would have to wait. Uniform cleanliness takes priority over hostage situation.
That's what Aizen said.
A/N: Holy crap, it's finished. I cant believe it's finished. /slumps over desk.
That was soooo hard to writeeee /sad face.
I had so much problems while writing this chapter, especially while I was writing Tousen's and Ichigo's excursion. And Ulquiorra's past was no piece of cake. Thank God for Wikipedia.
Overall, I am very dissapointed in this chapter (because of the grammar and the lack of coherence) I'm afraid of what my beta will say. /shudders in fear.
Go ahead flame away. I'm going to sleep now.
Oh and for a Thanksgiving gift, it would be nice if you lot can review.
Cheers!
Next Chapter: Ukitake joins the madness. Ichigo is saved! but by who...? (LOL author attempt at suspense fail)