Chapter Sixteen
A/N: /peeks out/ hello. Here's the new chapter. Please don't kill me. /hides back/
LINELINE
Ichigo is not a violent boy by nature. Sure, he punch his father on a regular basis, but when asked to choose between the fist or the dove, he would rather choose the latter. That is why that even though he was trapped between two very sharp blade, he still tried to talk some sense to the two beast on his side. Of course, common sense dictates that beasts only communicate though the only way beast can, with their claws.
"Wait!" Ichigo jumped backwards to avoid a deadly swing. "Nnoitra! Don't-"
The espada ignored him, a crazed smile dancing on his lips. "Move, pet." He said, heaving the large shycte over his head.
Ichigo widened his eyes and rolled away just before the blade slice him into two.
Behind him, Kenpachi side stepped the attack, effectively avoiding it. As he grinned triumphantly over Nnoitra, a thin line of red began to appear on his cheek. He had shed first blood. Kenpachi was not happy about that. Nnoitra laughed and swung his scythe out again, forcing Kenpachi to raise his Zanpakuto to block him. When Nnoitra managed to wound his arm with another blow, Kenpachi grinned and reached up for his eye patch.
"Ken-" Ichigo push himself up against Kenpachi's large figure, distracting the captain from Nnoitra. "Please don't kill him." Ichigo said earnestly, keeping his hand over Kenpachi's eye patch. Kenpachi looked down at the boy, his face hard set face softening. Before he could answer the boy, Nnoitra push past Ichigo and slammed his body against Kenpachi.
"Ya think I can't win by myself?" Nnoitra spat to Ichigo, his crazed eyes still trained on Kenpachi. Kenpachi made a sound of discontent and swung his zanpakuto down, Nnoitra raised his blade to parry the attack, straining against Kenpachi massive strength.
Kenpachi gathered up his reiatsu and readied himself for a finishing blow. Ichigo saw Kenpachi's move and rolled forward to kick Nnoitra into a nearby wall, saving him from the imminent death. "You're welcome." He grinned triumphantly over the espada.
Kenpachi missed his target and trapped his sword in the ground. Kenpachi let out a frustrated growl trained his eyes to Ichigo, stalking over to the boy with a predatory look on his face. Ichigo's smile melted away and turn to face him, raising his Zanpakuto up in case the man decided to attack. Kenpachi grabbed Zangetsu by the blade, digging his flesh into the sharp steel and threw the sword away. Ichigo, left defenseless, turn away to run, but Kenpachi swiftly grabbed him from behind and hunched down to his ear. "I love ya pup, but if ya gonna keep interrupting me then I will have ta manhandle ya." He breathed heavily, managed to sound menacing and aroused at the same time.
Ichigo struggled against Kenpachi's tight hold, twisting and turning to get out of the captain's arm. Everything about the man was overpowering. His presence, his reiatsu, his body. Being with Kenpachi makes him want to submit. Ichigo lolled his head back, relaxing into the arms. It would just be so much easier to just submit. "Ken," Ichigo called out, his eyes fluttering close. Kenpachi grinned and titled Ichigo's face towards him.
The eyes flicked open and Ichigo gave him his customary scowl. "Stop treating me like a girl!" Ichigo screamed and head butted Kenpachi like he head butted his father every morning. Kenpachi staggered him back, chuckling as he felt Ichigo reiatsu scrapping against him maliciously. He was right. The boy was powerful. No matter how much he push, Ichigo just keep on fighting back. Not to mention that ingenious fake submission. Genius. The boy knows how to push his buttons. The shinigami laughed and yanked his sword out. "That's right Ichigo. Give me the fight that I need!" He said, tearing his eye patch off, flooding the surrounding area with golden power.
Ichigo gasp as the overpowering weight began to push down against him. The reiatsu prickled with hostility, jabbing their atmosphere straight into his bones. Kenpachi grinned and threw Zangetsu to Ichigo, landing it between the boy's legs. "Fight me, pup." He said, his golden eyes glittering with glee. Kenpachi raised his arms out and grinned, licking his lips in anticipation for blood, sweat, and dust.
Ichigo gritted his teeth and pulled Zangetsu form the ground. Nnoitra, Kenpachi, they're all the same. All they want to do is fight, fight, fight. The only way to make them listen is to beat them up. Ichigo shook his the dust off his robes and lowered his knee, waiting for a chance to attack.
"Hold on Shinigami, I called dibs first." Nnoitra said, rising from the rubble. The frightening playful look disappeared, and he turned around to see the source of the voice. When he saw the espada's bloody form, the man merely scoffed and turned his attention back to Ichigo. Nnoitra narrowed his eye, unhappy that he's being ignored. The espada let out an terrible shriek and engulfed himself in a cocoon of reiatsu, emerging seconds later with four extra limbs on the side of his torso.
Kenpachi raised his eyebrow and eyed his opponent's new weapon, grinning at the new challenge. "Now you're talking." He chuckled, his eyes gaining that crazed look once more. Nnoitra was unamused.
Ichigo saw the look and quickly sent a getsuga tenshou to their direction, digging out a large valley between Kenpachi and Nnoitra. Like two angry children, the fighters turned their murderous look to the human that saved them from imminent death. Ichigo swallowed nervously.
"Fight me." Ichigo said. Kenpachi and Nnoitra looked at him, seizing him up from head to two. With a twin maniacal grin, they shifted their body towards him and charged.
Ichigo steeled himself for the attack, knowing that he couldn't keep them both off himself. He parried Nnoitra's blades and side stepped Kenpachi's attack. The boy twisted upwards, unfurling his body with an explosion of reiatsu. As the two men struggled to get up, Ichigo wondered whether he should put on his hollow mask.
Both Nnoitra and Kenpachi was fuming. How could the boy pushed the both of them down like that? Ichigo's place is to be dominated and submit, not to climb up to the top. In the heat of the moment, the two men let out a cry and charged at Ichigo. Distracted, the boy didn't see the incoming blades, but before the blade could touch his skin, a flurry of blue rushed forward and parried both attack with a sword. The movement knocked Ichigo down, and the figure towered over him shielding him from the his two attackers. Ichigo stared up, but the sun's artificial glare preventing him from seeing his savoir. It didn't matter. He'd recognize that blue hair anywhere.
"You're supposed to be resting dammit." The espada said through his gritted teeth, shooting Ichigo an icy glare.
"Oh. Yeah. I was-"
"Argh! I don't wanna hear it." Grimmjow shouted out in frustration, exploding upwards and sending both Nnoitra and Kenpachi a few feet backwards. He turned and pointed his sword to Ichigo, his face a picture of wrath and frustration."Every time I want to spend time with you, you're always off with some other guy. You need some space? Sure, I'll kick everyone out of the room. You wanted a cat? I took that little bitch and hollowfied him for you! I tried to be the nice guy, but you always run off with guys like Stark, or-or, him!" Grimmjow screamed, pointing his sword to the espada. Nnoitra spat out in response and flipped him the bird.
Grimmjow breathed heavily, looking at Ichigo with his sad puppy eyes. The orange haired shinigami stared back at him, bewildered at the huge blow out. "Dude," Ichigo started. "If you wanna hang out, then just tell me." He shrugged.
Ichigo crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for Grimmjow to respond. The espada has his jaw slack, looking like he just found out about the revelation of the lifetime. Suddenly, Grimmjow lurched forward and grabbed Ichigo's arm and yanked him up to his feet. "Can we hang out?" He asked, breathless.
Kenpachi and Nnoitra looked at Ichigo expectantly. Ignoring the two, the boy laughed and punched Grimmjow on the arm, knocking him back to the ground. "Of course we can, you goof." He said, grinning from ear to ear.
LINELINE
"Not so fast." Aizen said, suddenly appearing between Ichigo and Grimmjow.
"Holy mother of-" Ichigo jumped back, grabbing his chest. "Don't. Do that. Ever. Again." He hissed, sliding down against a wall. Tousen stepped in front of Ichigo to block the obscene gesture that the boy gave.
Aizen ignored the boy and stared Grimmjow down, expecting his espada to look away and back off. Grimmjow, all fired up from his confrontation met his eyes defiantly. Aizen raised his eyebrow, surprised that his previously docile cat has begun to let claws out. For a split second, he feared that Jaegerjaquez might have a chance with Ichigo, but he quickly realized what a stupid notion it was. Grimmjow and Stark could lie to themselves on how they have a chance with Ichigo, but they all knew that Ichigo belonged to him. Aizen smiled derisively at Grimmjow. He suddenly realized how hilarious Grimmjow looked holding HIS Ichigo, like a child awkwardly grabbing his father's wine glass.
"Kenpachi." Aizen turned and addressed his former college. Kenpachi sighed and rolled his eyes. "Look, I'm just here to get ma pup back. So save your little speech and tell me who I have to fight." He said, yawning behind his bloody sword.
Aizen chuckled and shook his head slowly. "Even if you defeat every last one of my espada, Ichigo would never step out of Las Noches." he smiled and offered his hand to Ichigo. "Tell him Ichigo."
The boy took Aizen's hand hesitantly and stepped forward. "Yeah. I'm kind of with him now." Ichigo scratched his head in embarrassment, avoiding Kenpachi's eyes.
Kenpachi raised his eyebrow in surprise, shoving Aizen aside and grabbing Ichigo by his shoulders. "What?" Kenpachi asked, his two irises flaring out in fury.
Ichigo flinched and mumbled out his answer. "There was this thing with Hisagi and the King... And there was Ukitake too, but it happened in Soul Society. So..." Ichigo looked helplessly back at Aizen. He was a better fighter than a speaker. The evil overlord sighed and nodded. "I'll take care of it."
LINELINE
Kenpachi sipped on his tea in silence. "Good tea." He said begrudgingly, pushing his cup forward for a refill.
"Isn't it? Good tea always calms the nerves." Aizen smiled, motioning for Tousen to fill Kenpachi's cup.
"Hn." Kenpachi grunted and looked away, still unwilling to have an actual conversation.
Across from him sat a very nervous Ichigo. He keep shifting his weight from one side to the other, his eyebrow twitching impatiently. "Aizen.." He whined, tired of waiting for the man to explain his situation.
"Patience." The brunette smirked and pushed Kenpachi's cup towards him.
The three men sat in silence, locked in a strange ritual of tea sipping, a ceremony that is clearly not designed for someone as impatient as Ichigo. Ichigo crossed his arms and wiggled his leg, but an irritated Tousen slapped him to stop. Robbed of his obsessive compulsive behavior, Ichigo sighed out loud and brought his own cup to his lips, yelping when the hot water scalded his tongue. Kenpachi saw the nervous tick exhibited by the teen and rolled his eyes. For someone claiming to be innocent, he sure act like a guilty man. "Pup. Relax." He ordered and held Ichigo by the nape his neck.
Ichigo stiffened at the touch, but a second later, he let out a long sigh. Kenpachi smirked in satisfaction as the man visibly relaxed. It seemed that his Ichigo knew who exactly is in charge. Deciding to push him further, Kenpachi made Ichigo get up and pulled him onto his lap, making Ichigo yelp like a small puppy. Kenpachi chuckled and nuzzled onto his neck.
"Dudee.." Ichigo whined, pushing Kenpachi's face away. The man laughed and let his boy roll and squirm on his lap. Ichigo's slim figure fits wonderfully against his tall muscular body. The contrast between their skin made Kenpachi imagine just how wonderful their body would look tangled together in a writing mass of pleasure.
"Kenn.." Ichigo whined again, trying his best not to punch the man. If their encounters always ends in violence, Kenpachi would never learn the truth about the King. Unlike Ichigo, Kenpachi could care less about Ichigo's explanation with Aizen, and instead found amusement in ticking his boy in risqué places. When he snaked his hand down Ichigo's collar, Kenpachi caught a glint of jealousy in Aizen eyes. At first, he couldn't decide whether he wanted to punch the man or dangle Ichigo over him, but eventually, the feeling of superiority won him over. While he distracted Ichigo with lewd whispers, Kenpachi dragged his fingers along Ichigo's exposed ribs, teasing Aizen with glimpses of Ichigo's soft unmarred skin.
"You-" Ichigo squirmed and pulled against Kenpachi's arm. Before he could smack Kenpachi over the head, the door slammed open, revealing a flustered Grimmjow with a sword in hand.
"You!" the espada bellowed. "Duel! Now!"
The shinigami stared impassively at the heaving arrancar, eyeing him from head to toe."Alright." He shrugged. "Up we go." Kenpachi grinned and stood up, spilling Ichigo all over the table. A duel with a blue haired faggot is better than sitting there sipping tea anyways.
"Enough Grimmjow." Aizen sighed. "Zaraki-taichou, please. We are having a conversation here."
Kenpachi scoffed and kicked his tea cup away. "Ya lure me in with the promise of an explanation, but all that we did was drink tea. So either tell me your story or I'm leaving with the kid."
The 'kid' scowled and sulked in the background, muttering a part of the human anatomy in response to his new nickname. "You're not taking me anywhere. I'm not some damsel you can save." Ichigo crossed his arms defiantly."Besides, I've told you that I'm staying with Aizen." He said with a tone of finality.
That last words broke Kenpachi's patience. He slammed his hands on the table, trapping Ichigo. "Just what is so appealing about Aizen huh? Does he stuff your ass with his cock? " He growled down menacingly, his words turning venomonous.
Ichigo kicked Kenpachi's torso and climbed away from the man. "Dammit Kenpachi! I've told you, it's the King!" he frowned in disgust.
"The King!" Kenpachi threw his arms up in exparation. He paced the room like a caged beast and exploded in anger. "All I hear is 'The King! The King!' but nobody is telling me nothing!"
"Well if you just listen..."
He stalked to Ichigo and push down hard on his shoulders, forcing him to sit face to face with the angry shinigami. "Well? I'm listening now. Spill it pup." Kenpachi grumbled.
Ichigo swallowed hard and darted his eyes to Aizen, silently screaming for help. Kenpachi caught the look,"Oh no, eyes on me." Kenpachi grabbed his jaw, forcing Ichigo to look straight at him.
"Well..." The boy swallowed hard. "Inoue was kidnapped, so I came to rescue her. But I can't defeat Aizen so I sworn myself to him as long as he lets Inoue go-"
"Have you seen the woman? Is she really safe?"
"Well not yet, but there was this King-"
"Wait, wait, wait." Kenpachi slapped the boy's lips shut, his eyes screwing shut in frustration. "You're telling me that you've been running around being Aizen's little bitch knowing whether he kept his end of the bargain?"
"Uh, It doesn't matter cuz-"
"Are ya born stupid or did your dad dropped you as a baby?"
Ichigo gaped at the man, not sure how to respond to the question. "I-I'm not stupid!" He said defensively. Inwardly he sighed. When your argument has been reduced to one similar to a 4th grader's, you've known that your reasoning is moot.
Kenpachi groaned, not believing that the boy that he adored could be so simple. "Ichigo, look." he face palmed himself. "I love ya. I really do. Yer ma only equal, and people like me don't find someone like you every day." Ichigo fidgeted, uncomfortable at the seriousness coming from Kenpachi's voice. Kenpachi opened his eyes and saw Ichigo's hands opening and closing erratically. What a cute nervous tick. He looked up and saw the uncertainty mirrored in Ichigo's warm brown eyes. He couldn't let his pup choose between him and the cause that he believed in. What good would it be to have Ichigo with him, and have him longing to fight for someone else's battles? They stared at each other in silence, knowing that there was only two choices left to them; to be enemies, or to be allies. The thought made Ichigo so angry that he felt like he was going to burst. Why must they be on one side or the other? Where is the freedom of choice in these types of situation? Why can't he just chill with Kenpachi without labeling him as an 'ally' or an 'enemy'? For Kenpachi the answer was simple. He wanted Ichigo, and he shall damn well get him. However, the thought of betraying the old man made him stop in his track. As naggy as he is, he does hold some fond memory of the Soutaichou. Breaking his trust isn't something to be done easily. But Kenpachi is one determined son of a bitch. He wanted Ichigo and he WILL get him. So with heavy heart and said to Ichigo with a low steady voice. "If yer really with Aizen then I'll stand with him too." He whispered, his voice strong and confident despite its volume. Ichigo raised an eyebrow, "Really? Why?" He asked suspiciously. Kenpachi sighed and face palmed himself again. "I might not be Kurotsuchi, but I ain't dumb enough to let you go." Ichigo gave him his blank look, still not believing at what he's hearing. "Do I need to spell it out? I'm-staying-with-you." Kenpachi growled, his irritation evident in his pronounced syllables.Still confused, Ichigo allowed the corners of his mouth to rise. "You'd that for me?" Ichigo asked, his eyes twinkling like a child's on Christmas morning.
Kenpachi forgot his initial irritation and found himself breathless at the happiness reflected in his pup's eyes. "Yeah." The man rumbled. "Why would I want to be in anyone's side but yours" he said casually, as if it was the most natural thing to say.
Ichigo beamed, throwing his arms around Kenpachi's neck. "Thanks ." he said, laughing. The happiness that he felt is indescribable. Someone came for him, saved him, and had trust him enough to join him in a crazy ass alliance with a crazy ass commander. He doesn't need to be the lone hero. 'This must what Yuzu feels when I played with her when no one else would.' Ichigo thought as he hugged the hell out of Kenpachi.
Kenpachi let his pup jump all over him. God, what a wonderful feeling. He never thought that selflessness could bring him so much joy. He would do anything to keep his Ichigo this happy. To have those eyes look up at him with admiration and gratitude made the Shinigami feel like he's the strongest, most capable man in the three realms. And damn, it feels good.
Kenpachi being Kenpachi, took the opportunity to slip his hand under the boy's Haori. "Better go after the girl or I'll do nasty things to you." He whispered lewdly, grinning from ear to ear.
"Okay, okay. I get it." Ichigo laughed sheepishly, unaware of the leering danger right in front of him . "Wait. You meant ' I love you ' in a bromance kind a way right? Cuz I don't do buttsex."
"Pup." Kenpachi growled.
"Right. Inoue." Ichigo grinned.
LINELINE
"I want to see Inoue."
Aizen raised an eyebrow questioningly at Ichigo. "That's quite a random request to make."
"It's not. We had a deal and it's time for you to keep your end of the bargain."
Aizen sighed and laid down the papers that he was reading. "Have you explained the situation to the brute?"
"I want to see Inoue." Ichigo said again.
"Ichigo-"
"I want to see Inoue." Ichigo said again, sounding more adamant as he repeated his demand.
Aizen rubbed the bridge of his nose with his fingers. It was stupid of him to leave Ichigo with the brute. Already he is exhibiting a stubbornness observed only in mules. "Fine. Fine. I'll escort you myself."
"Oh no. I won't let ya pull another of your tricks on Ichigo. I'll go with him." Kenpachi called from the other room, his face buried in the area of his shirt where Ichigo touched him.
"Absolutely not. You are not going to kidnap him for a second time." Aizen retorted, taking a pen a crossing out a word or two on a piece of paper.
"Hey!" Ichigo protested, ready to launch into his speech on how he's not a girl and how capable he is.
"I'll go." Grimmjow step forward. "I'll make sure Ichigo come back here."
Aizen mouth twitched, but his irritation quickly melted into his benevolent smiles. "Thank you Grimmjow." He turned to Kenpachi. "Is this adequate?"
Kenpachi abandoned his shirt and zeroed his eyes to Grimmjow. He stood up and walked up to the espada until they're nose to nose. "Don't do anything stupid or I'll cut off your nuts, boy." Kenpachi said under his breath.
Unperturbed by the threat Grimmjow stared back defiantly and looped his hand around Ichigo's shoulders. "We're going now." Grimmjow said with an authoritative voice.
"O-okay." Ichigo stammered, trying to quell the butterflies in his stomach from Grimmjow's authoritative's voice.
LINELINE
A silhouette of two teens walking out of a portal would've startled a normal spirit, but it wouldn't make the otherworldly inhabitant of Karakura town flinch. From the years past, they have learned that even in death, weird shit still happens, so why waste time being surprised. That is why a grandpa spirit could give Ichigo a high five before floating into a woman's lingerie shop.
Grimmjow couldn't care about the fact that they've just met a perverted old ghost. The arrancar was so happy that he was leaping out of his skin. Well he was literally leaping in and out of his gigai from excitement.
"We get to hang out after all." Ichigo said, laughing as Grimmjow's gigai stopped and started back to live.
"Yeh. Damn t feels SO GOOD to be out from that hell hole!" the blue haired espada laughed, dancing circles around Ichigo with his new body. It was designed to retain excess reiatsu, but Grimmjow was more interested in playing with it.
Ichigo could help but laugh along, Grimmjow's infectious happiness making him forget about all the serious talks that he had with Kenpachi. "You know, the Espadas are supposed to be Aizen's cold blooded killing machines. If you keep skipping around like that, we'll have to call ya 'fruity gay samurai with a fetish for clean white shirts'.
Grimmjow tackled Ichigo to the ground and gave him a good punch. "There. Call me fruity one more time and I'll punch you a blueberry or two." Grimmjow grinned triumphantly.
"Hey! We're on a serious mission here." Ichigo complained, but even he couldn't hide his smile.
"Whatever. We just need to see the girl right?" Grimmjow scratched his ears uninterestedly, flicking bits and pieces of lint to Ichigo.
"Dude, gross." Ichigo laughed and punched Grimmjow on the arm. Out of the corner of his eyes, he caught the green rooftop of his family clinic. A sudden pang of hurt and loneliness hit him. "Uh, Grimmjow? You don't mind if we stopped by my house later right?"
Grimmjow notice the seriousness in Ichigo's tone. "Yeah. Of course. You forgot something?"
"No, it's just..." Breathe in. "If Inoue is there, then I'll have to go back to Hueco Mundo. I wanna say goodbye to my family."
"Oh." Grimmjow looked away, uncomfortable at the sudden turn of conversation. He forgot that before Hueco Mundo, Kurosaki Ichigo had a life. He had friends, a family, and a future. Now he's just going to be Aizen's lackey. The fact of the matter doesn't seems fair to him.
Before he could voiced his protest, they arrived in front of a small row of studio apartments. "Here we are." Ichigo announced, cracking his fingers out. "Lets hope Inoue's there, or..." Ichigo trailed off.
"Or what?"
"Or we'll be enemies again." He smiled sadly, jumping off to a nearby tree.
The reality of the matter struck Grimmjow cold. He didn't want to fight Ichigo again. Hell, he waited a decade to see him and he won't have his chance robbed by the non-existence of some stupid bitch. He jumped next to a branch beside Ichigo's perch and peered into the shining window.
Inside sat Inoue Orihime watching an ordinary TV show with her ordinary friend. Everything about her looked the same. She still has that same goofy smile, the same long brown hair, and the same obscenely large breasts. Despite all of the similarities, one thing that struck Ichigo about the picture of how happy she was. As a human, Inoue can smile and be happy, but when he involved her in the matters of Shinigami, she is always plagued with danger.
Ichigo watched sadly as Inoue and Tatsuki talk and laughed together. The ordinariness of their activity just reminded him how far removed he is from home. "Guess we're still on the same side, huh Ichigo?" Grimmjow quickly said, hoping to distract the boy from his melancholic thoughts.
"Yeah." Ichigo said weakly, jumping down to the ground. "Come on. You promised I can stop by my house." He said, turning away from the wonderfully lit apartment.
Grimmjow nodded and follow suit, unsure what to do with the solemn atmosphere that began to settled over the man.
LINELINE
"You want me to come with you?" Grimmjow asked tentatively, tracing the carved sign that said 'Kurosaki Clinic' with his fingers.
"Nah, it'll just be a while." Ichigo said nonchalantly, pulling himself over the wall and jumping onto a balcony. "Just hang around for a while, okay?"
Grimmjow watched silently as the boy scale the wall of his own home, sneaking around like some teenage delinquent. The espada wondered how Ichigo's life would've been if he stayed human. Would he go to college and run his family clinic? Would he met a girl and marry her? Though the thought of Ichigo with some sweet motherly girl infuriates him, but the possibility of him ripping Ichigo away from his chance at happiness upsets the blue haired espada. Isn't the quintessential Japanese dream is to go to a good school, get a good job, marry a good woman, and have a good life? By involving Ichigo in their war, he would missed out on his future.
The espada scoffed and pushed the thought away. Like someone like Ichigo is happy enough to settle for a mediocre life. Though there are some truth to that, Grimmjow knew that he scoffed because he don't want to face the possibility that Ichigo might be unhappy. Grimmjow groaned out loud and slid down against the clinic gates. When he was an adchudas, Grimmjow was happy to take what he wanted. Now, he's concerned about the feeling of some teenage boy. "Stupid Ichigo." He kicked his leg out in frustration.
"Yeah, my son isn't the brightest crayon in the box alright." A voice called out behind him.
A dark haired man crouched against the wall, a cigarette dangling between his lips. Though he wore a white doctor's jacket, the man looked more like a gangster than a doctor. Grimmjow didn't notice the man appearing beside him. He must be incredibly skilled in hiding his reiatsu. Or extremely weak. Either one, Ichigo wouldn't be happy if he played around with some man. Grimmjow took a step back and turned away. "Oi, young man! Respect your elder!" The man exclaimed and reached for Grimmjow's shoulder. The Espada lash out and took his sword halfway out of it's sheath.
"Hahaha, it's okay! It's okay!" Isshin quickly rush forward to pull Grimmjow's hand off his blade. "You're that big cat from all of those years aren't cha? It's okay I can tell." Isshin chuckled at Grimmjow's shocked expression. "You're grown stronger now ehh? See now, you have strong shoulders! I can tell that people with strong shoulders have strong reiatsu. You know why? Because they have to shoulder the responsibility of a great power! Get it? Get it?"
Grimmjow stared blankly at the babbling Idiot and quickly stepped to the side, avoiding the man's groping hands. He couldn't be the powerful shinigami from all of those years. The man looked like a joke! "Oii! Young man! Do you hear me?" Grimmjow turned his head away, avoiding any interactions from the man. He remembered Szayel Apporo said that Idiocy is contagious. He would hate to caught whatever the man got in his system.
"Ooo! Ignoring me now are we? That's not how you treat the owner of the house you're leaning on!"
Those words caught the espada's attention. "You're Ichigo's dad?" he asked, taking a step forward.
"Yessir! Kurosaki Isshin, at your service!"
LINELINE
"STOP HUGGING ME YOU STUPID DOLL!"
"BUT ICHIGO I MISSED YOU! I THOUGHT ICHIGO IS DEAD AND I'LL HAVE TO LIVE IN THIS BODY FOREVER!"
Ichigo punched Kon on the stomach, cringing as he watched his own face scrunched up in pain. It was an odd thing, punching himself that is. It's like playing some demented video game where has to fight his own evil twin. He ignored the random thought and shoved his hand down his body's throat, searching around the wet narrow passage for that little green orb.
After much chocking and gagging, Ichigo managed to extract Kon's soul candy. He quietly stared at it, remembering how lonely Kon was as a project in Mayuri's lab. He rubbed the soul candy dry and blew at it. "Sorry, but you were just so loud." He shrugged, acting as if it was all Kon's fault. He pocketed the little green orb and walked out of his room, his leg making the familiar trip into his sister's room.
He crept slowly next to Karin's bed, the scent of orange and pompedalle wafting around the sleeping figure. Ichigo lifted the cover off his sister, smiling when he found Yuzu snuggled up against Karin's chest. 'She must've had another bad dream.' Ichigo thought, leaning down to kiss Yuzu's forehead. The youngest of the Kurosaki stirred and murmured in her sleep, but her innocent eyes stayed closed.
He turned to Karin, the tomboy who keeps crying back to him when she failed her math test. The picture of his two sister would've made an angelic painting if Karin would look less annoyed. Ichigo chuckled as Karin's eyebrow twitched when Yuzu wrapped her hand around her neck. Even though she hated sharing beds, she always lets Yuzu climb into her's. "What a good sister." Ichigo whispered and softly tousled her hair. As expected, Karin made a sound of discontent and slapped the hand away, rolling to the other side to avoid his brother's hand.
Ichigo smiled down at the only two girls that he ever loved, immortalizing the simple moment in his head. When times get tough, this will the moment that he'll turn to, a slice of innocence in his chaos filled world.
A humming from his pocket broke his musing. "Ow." Ichigo yelped. The little green orb hummed and glowed, forming a halo of prickly reiatsu. Apparently Kon was not happy being ignored. Afraid of waking his sisters, Ichigo quickly flash stepped into his room. "Stop it idiot!" He hissed, throwing the soul candy against the wall and catching it again. The humming stopped, but the soul candy still retained its prickly reiatsu. Ichigo sighed and scratched his head. 'I guess it's time.' He said to himself.
"Hey, listen up Kon." Ichigo whispered to the little green orb. "I'm going away for a long time now." He looked out the window, smiling as he noticed a glimpse of blue hair behind the wall. "Hell, I'll probably won't ever come back."
Ichigo sighed and fall onto his bed, throwing the soul candy up and catching it on his hand. "I won't tell you why, because if I did, you'll definitely freak out." He laughed. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a picture of his family, taken during one of their many visit to the shrine. "While I'm gone, Yuzu will be lonely." Ichigo said somberly. "Karin would need someone to teach her math. And don't get me started at the Goat face." He scoffed and shook his head.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is," Ichigo took a deep breath and sighed, rubbing his head in frustration. He hated doing these types of conversation. "I need someone to be me while I'm away. Now I know that's your job." He waved his hand dismissively. "But the thing is, I probably will never get back, so it'll be more than a part time job. This time It will be permanent."
He took a deep breath and popped the soul candy back into his body. "So what do you say?" he said, looking expectantly to his own brown eyes.
The soul candy just stared at him blankly."Permanent?" Kon asked, pulling him closer. "So, I'll be living as... you?" he said, looking more befuddled than a cat in a bathtub. But behind that confused look that Kon gave him, Ichigo could see a hopeful glimmer.
In his fight against the King, it is dangerous to affiliate himself with his family. At the same time, he couldn't simply say goodbye to his sisters. Ichigo loved them, and it would be cruel to simply disappear to Hueco Mundo.
He found his solution in Kon. Ichigo knew that Kon had always wanted to be more than just a soul candy, than just a tool to be used and discarded when he's becomes obsolete. Ichigo sympathized with him. He had thought of living a different life in spirit form, but until now he never gave the idea much thought. On his way here he was reluctant to give up his body to Kon, but seeing his sisters sealed in his resolve. "No Kon, you're not going to live as me. You're going to be living your own life." he said, smiling sadly.
Kon face lighted up like a carnival in the middle of a dead town. "Hell yeah!" The should candy jumped up and punched the air, shouting for joy and ran circles around the bed. Ichigo punched Kon on the stomach, knocking him back on the ground.
"Shut up idiot! People are sleeping" He hissed, clamping his hand over Kon's mouth. The soul candy gave a muffled yelped and hugged him.
Ichigo growled and pulled himself out of the death grip. "Karin, Yuzu, and Goat face is your family now." Ichigo said firmly, slapping a dumfounded Kon on the cheek . "You better do well in school. I know you're always talking crap on how stupid I am, but I'm ranked 12th in the whole school, so don't mess up." He grumbled, turning his face away from Kon's face, who has began to tear up. "And don't let Goat face get you or I'll come back and beat you up myself, ya hear?" He shouted out to the night sky, hooking his leg out of the window.
Before he could jump out, a pair of slender arm pulled him back. "I..ichi..gooo." Kon chocked though his tears.
Not sure whether he's irritated or touched, Ichigo turned around and knocked Kon on the head with his knuckles. "Idiot. You finally have a chance to be anybody you want. Don't waste it alright? You little piece of shit" He barked out in good naturedly. Kon sputtered out, his words smothered out my the gratitude he had in his heart. With a last smile Ichigo jumped out of the window and disappear.
LINELINE
"When Ichigo was a child, he never walked. He ran." Isshin chuckled and exhaled a stream of smoke. Grimmjow perked his ears up. Finally, a subject that peaked his interest.
Isshin shakes his head, rubbing his hand over his face. "When we first taught him how to walk, he didn't walked either. He took a step, sprinted for a meter or two, and then falls straight onto his face. His mother always yells at me for not keeping him safe, but the boy would prove her wrong by falling over while she took care of him."
Grimmjow joined the man's laughter with an uneasy chuckle of his own. Why was Isshin telling him all of these things? Wasn't he the one who set up the kekai all of those years ago? If yes, then why isn't he attacking Grimmjow?
Isshin noticed the mixture of uneasiness and curiosity reflected in the Espada's nervous tick. The tapping of his shoes, the persistent rubbing of his fingers. 'I like this boy.' Isshin decided, smiling fondly at the confused espada.
"I know why you're here espada. And I know that Ichigo is here too." Grimmjow freezes in his place, his hand went straight to the handle of his sword. "Oh? I thought we're past the sword slicing stage." Isshin waved him away. For an instant, Grimmjow felt hollow, like all of the power that he had fought for years before had simply disappeared. The man gave Grimmjow a knowing look, stopping all of the streams of questions from the espada's head.
"Just who are you?" Grimmjow asked slowly, distrustful of this shady figure.
"Me? Just some doctor with an awesome goatee." Isshin laughed, grounding his cigarette out with the sole of his shoe. "Anyway, what I am saying is-"
"Grimmjow? Where are you?" Ichigo suddenly called out.
Isshin spin around and clamped his palm over Grimmjow's mouth. "Too bad we can't talk some more eh?" Isshin chuckled."I leave my son to you." The doctor whispered, pressing his index finger onto Grimmjow's forehead while whispering an incantation.
In a second, Grimmjow saw Ichigo's childhood unfurled through the eyes of his father.
A small Ichigo stared up at him, holding up a toy airplane. When he took it, Ichigo grinned and hugged his legs.
Ichigo as a baby curled up on the crook of his mother's arm, the small fingers opening and closing, begging him to hold them.
A five year old Ichigo crying over his dead mother's body, his face a perfect picture of loss.
Ichigo scowling on his first day of high school, and came home eight hours later with a bruised cheek.
Ichigo punching him in the morning, catching a glimpse of a sleepy smile on Ichigo's mouth.
Ichigo holding out his bleeding arm for him to clean.
Ichigo holding his zanpakuto against a hollow to shield his friends.
Ichigo slapping Karin with a slipper for missing a math question.
Ichigo holding Karin's hand as they crossed the street.
Ichigo hugging his two sisters, grinning from ear to ear.
Grimmjow stood there, dazed as scenes upon scenes burned itself into his mind. Isshin smiled sadly and let Grimmjow fall onto the ground. He hoped that this one could see how precious Ichigo is to him and protect him. "Take care of him." He said, drawing symbols in the air just as Ichigo came from around the corner..
"Grimm!" The boy peeked from the corner, walking past his father and stood over Grimmjow. "Did you fall asleep?" Ichigo snickered at Grimmjow's disheveled state.
"Wha- I mean, can't you see-" Grimmjow pointed to Isshin.
"See what?" Ichigo looked straight past Isshin. "Wow, the thin reiatsu air must be messing with your head." He laughed and pulled Grimmjow to his feet.
"No, but-" Isshin held a finger up to his lips, silencing the espada. He then lean down to kiss Ichigo on the head, muttering his parting words into his son's hair. His left hand fisting his lab coat painfully, and his eyes crunched tightly in pain.
Grimmjow quickly closed his mouth, watching in sad fascination as Isshin said goodbye to his oblivious son. "Uh, Ichi. You said goodbye to your dad?" He asked tentatively.
Isshin eyes snapped open his surprise, looking at Grimmjow questioningly. Ichigo shrugged. "Naw, can't find my dad. It okay, I told Kon to do something for him. Anyways, look." He showed Grimmjow a picture of him, Karin, Yuzu, and Isshin on the beach. "Cool, eh?" Ichigo chuckled, coming around to Grimmjow's side to show him the picture. The espada watched pensively as Isshin let Ichigo walk off, his eyes longing to touch his boy again. After a sigh, the doctor turn around and left.
"Yeah, cool." Grimmjow replied.
LINELINE
The two walked together, bumping into each other like two goofy teenagers. For a while, Ichigo forgot that he was a substitute shinigami who's hell bent to save the world. He's just Ichigo, a kid walking around his neighborhood with his good friend Grimmjow.
Friend. Yeah, Grimmjow is his friend. Ichigo sneaked a look to his blue haired companion and grinned. He thought that it would be harder to form friendships at his age, especially after the death of his two companions. Surprisingly, the presence of Grimmjow, Stark, Aizen, and even Nnoitra has filled the lonely space deep in his soul. No longer is he the misunderstood delinquent that only talk to ghost. Nor is he the omnipotent savior that even his peers couldn't approach. In Hueco Mundo, he is Ichigo, that orange haired dude that keeps running away from Nnoitra. His freakishly large reiatsu is not uncommon, for there are more than enough espada that could beat him to a pulp. The normality was an unfamiliar change, but one that is welcomed gratefully.
As they walked, their jovial attitude was quickly washed away by somber thoughts. Ichigo tried not to think about the family that he left behind. A part of him wanted to turn back and slip into his bed, to be waken up in the morning with the customary kick from his father. He wanted to taste Yuzu's curry again, or teach Karin's math again. Yet, he knows that morning kick, warm curry, and frustrating math lessons are a thing of the past. The crumpled picture of his family must be the last connection that he had of his loved ones. It has to be. It's safer that way.
Grimmjow too was deep in thought. He knew way back that Ichigo was special, but the scenes that he was shown too much. Part of him hated Isshin for showing him scenes from Ichigo's childhood. No longer can Grimmjow see Ichigo merely as an object of his desire. That meant that Grim can't simply take Ichigo and make him 'his' like a hollow would, and that thought infuriated him to no end.
"Stupid-fucking-" Grimmjow snarled and kicked a nearby telephone pole.
"Whoa. What's up with you?" Ichigo flinched, avoiding Grimmjow's crazy limbs.
"Nothin'" Grimmjow sulked, hunching his shoulder and shoving his hand into his pants.
"Hey what's up?" Ichigo looped his arms around Grimmjow, shaking the man's shoulders. "You were super excited back then. What happened?"
Grimmjow glared into the ground in front of him. "Nothin'" He mumbled.
Ichigo shrugged and left the issue alone. Grimmjow will talk when he wants to talk.
After a few minute of silence, the espada did open his mouth, but what came out of his mouth was nothing that Ichigo could imagine.
"Let's run away together."
LINELINE
A/N: So? So? What do you think? Leave a review or two! Reviews are an author's bread and butter. /lol, not true. Still review!/
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See you next chapter!