A/N: OKAY so here's part 2 of chapter 4. Again I am really really sorry about the length of the last chapter, it was really pathetic but life and writers block literally knocked the living shit out of me. But now its summer and life's getting... better SO! On to part 2 :D oh and if you wanna know what kinda inspired my mood through out this listen to:
The Good Life, Someone Who Cares, Last To Know by Three Days Grace
This is War by 30 seconds to Mars
Arrival to Earth: Transformers 1 sound track
Shut Up and Explode by Boom Boom Satellite
Yeah I know I listen to a lot of music. So shoot me :D
Chapter 4 part 2: The real explaination and settling it all out.
Last Time:
With that said the Vice-Captain of Squad 6 stood up and left the room. Now I was confused. What happened to the witty comment that stupid pineapple usually throws? My gaze never left his rigid form at he walked out of the front of the store and created a Senkaimon. Now it was my turn to show shock and a tinge of fear as the turning gears in my head churned out a possible reason for him just up and leaving.
"I'm so screwed." I moaned silently.
XxXxXxXxXxXx
There was a tense silence before it was shattered by Urahara clearing his throat, ripping our attention toward him and away from the slightly open shop door. I looked around the table again; only Ichigo, Yoruichi, and Urahara remained, our tea already losing its heat.
"Now Alicia-san would you be so kind as to explain how much you know and why?" Urahara intoned, his tone leaving absolutely no wiggle room as his stormy gray orbs pierced my own.
I quickly averted my gaze toward the table, suddenly finding the patterns in the wood grain interesting.
"We need to know, Alicia." Ichigo remarked, his voice sounded.. almost... commanding.
Immediately my head snapped up and I glared. If there was one other thing I hated besides being pitied it was being ordered around... probably why I ended up in In-School-Suspension so many times.
'Fucking strawberry. Talk to me like that again and see if your head stays on your shoulders! And it's not like I can just up and say ' Oh hay, by the way, everything that you're involved in is written out in a very popular manga series.' Dip shit. Heads would definitely roll then!' I mentally seethed as my knuckles progressively turned white from the tightening grip on my sword's sheath.
Why did the character I obsessed over become the one person I couldn't stand? Yeah... there's definitely something wrong with my mentality here.
With a strained and suddenly nervous sigh I squished my out-of-control anger and tried to word this out... Eh screw it I'll wing it.
"Okay so... uhm... where do I start.." I muttered.
"Why not the beginning of what your 'source' told you?" Yoruichi interjected for the first time, a slight emphasis on 'source'.
My shoulders slumped under the weight of their gazes as I tried to remember when Bleach started.
"So my source began with the day Ichigo gained his shinigami power... Then led into the events immediately following. As it went on, I got information on Ichigo's past... Not all of it, but the one major event that basically changed him, the loss of his mother," I began, my voice growing as my confidence in what I was going to say grew.
"I know about how Ichigo lost the powers given to him by Kuchiki Rukia, his battle with Renji in the streets, how Kuchiki Byakuya pierced him in the two places that would only remove the power given to him by Rukia. I know that what I just went through is the same way Ichigo gained his true shinigami power gaining an inner Hollow. Then there was the mad dash into Soul Society to save Rukia, who had been set to be executed. There was Ichigo's easy defeat of Jidanbo, who guarded one of the gates he tried to enter. And when the gate was opened, he ran into a captain, the traitor captain Ichimaru Gin. And then was easily forced out of the Seireitei, making them go to Kukahku Shiba for assistance. After breaking into the Seireitei itself Ichigo fought with the third seat of the 11thDivision Madrame Ikkaku and won... ummm let's see...I know the...adventures?... Of Chad, Ishida Uryu, and Orihime, but I can't remember them clearly at the moment... Anyway, it progressed to where Ichigo and Ganju picked up Hanataro, a member of the 4th division. They traversed the sewer system and once they emerged, ran into Lieutenant Abari Renji. Both hot heads fought... Ichigo took serious damage before he finally landed a critical blow on the red-head, sealing victory."
I paused, realizing I was elaborating a little too much, wasting air, but I had no other way to explain it... Damn it all.
"After the battle, they retreated to the sewers so that Hanataro could heal the bloodied Strawberry, where they discovered his hollow mask. Uhm... there was the battle with Kenpachi, which Ichigo won... Kenpachi admitted to that. Then... the revealing of Yoruichi... the battle with Byakuya on the bridge for the... ohh whatchacallit... anyway, that ended in retreat... bankai training... that was interesting... The mass battle on and around the Sokyoku Hill. The... second? I think the second battle between Ichigo and Byakuya, the reveal of both the stuck-up noble and the hot-head's respective bankai."
I paused as there was a grunt of annoyance, disturbing my "explanation".
"Then towards the end, Ichigo's Hollow briefly takes over before Ichigo is able to win it in the last blow. Afterwards there is Aizen's claim on the hogyoku, where he explains something- can't really remember what – to the almost bifercated Ichigo before said slime bag is surrounded by captains, then retreats to Hueco Mundo via negacion."
Here I stopped, not wanting to go on any further. To do so felt as if I would begin to encroach on sensitive territory if I explained in detail like I had been. Now normally, I wouldn't care, but I know how powerful... or I'd like to think I at least have a vague idea... my three-member audience is, and I would prefer to stay on their 'good' sides. All seemed to be taken out of their respective reveries and eyes and ears were tuned onto me this time.
"Is that all Alicia-san?" Urahara happily asked.
Wait... was that me or did he sound... slightly strained... no I've got to be out of it...
I opened my mouth to reply but a sudden growl cut me off cold. My head dipped and cheeks burned in embarrassment as I instantly realized where that growl emanated from. Apparently I was starving and hadn't realized it.
"She can explain after we eat, Kisuke." Yoruichi so gracefully inserted.
"But of course! How could I have forgotten!" He cried before striding out of the room.
I watched him walk out; his stride was tense, strained, and over all unnerved. And he had every right to be. I swallowed thickly and vaguely noticed that my throat was parched.
"Why."
My gaze snapped over to where the voice had come from.
"Why do you know so much?" Ichigo asked, his tone filled with anger and vague curiosity.
I held his gaze for who knows how long before I sighed again and mechanically grabbed a sip of the now cold tea in front of me.
Jasmine; never had the stuff, but none the less it felt amazing as it cascaded down my throat.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Probably try to kill me," I responded, locking my eyes with the now swirling cup of light brown liquid, my voice nothing more then a whisper.
"Try me."
A sad smile curled along the fringes of my mouth as I solemnly shook my head. 'He wouldn't understand.'
"Why question him Alicia? It's not like he is a complete imbecile." A somewhat familiar growl of thunder reverberated throughout my consciousness, causing me to jump and my eyes to widen in surprise.
"What.." I unknowingly mumbled.
"Why question his ability to understand." The same growl interrupted.
I sat in silence as my hazel eyes glazed over in thought. I don't-
"I already told you this, pup. You were meant for this world. Otherwise you wouldn't have this power."
I sighed in defeat.
'Okay.. wait, pup? Since when was I designated a nickname?' I thought hastily. I waited in silence for a few moments, the only sounds coming from the steady breathing between the remaining occupants of the table. Sometime during my thought processes Yoruichi got up to follow the mad scientist.
'So I wasn't born for this world. I grew up in another. They... It would definitely be difficult for them to understand anything. I mean, come on. A graphic novel artist has these dreams and it ends up becoming one of the most popular manga-slash-anime series. And somehow... ah my head hurts, dammit!'
I heavily placed my head in my hands as I weighed my options. Tell them and possibly be killed and/or outcast, or not tell them and forever be outcast and not trusted... Either way I lose here.
Shit.
"Alright Ichigo." I mumbled from my hands. "You want to know 'why'?" I paused for a few seconds trying in vain to collect my thoughts.
"I obviously didn't come from around here. That much should be obvious. I'll try and keep it simple but basically some dude from my 'world' had these dreams apparently pertaining to this 'world' and drew what he saw. It became a very popular... manga and anime series."
Here I stopped to bring my face out of my hands and look at the strawberry and promptly hit the floor laughing. The expression on his face was priceless.
In the midst of my laughter Kisuke and Yoruichi sauntered in, both curious to the reason to the sudden outburst of mirth.
"Apparently some artist in her world had these dreams about our world, drew it out, published it and it became a very popular manga and anime," Ichigo grumbled in slight disbelief.
My laughter calmed to simple giggle fits as I got up off the ground to sit up straight.
"Okay, now that that has been taken care of, can I get my body back?" I asked Kisuke as I casually got out of my spot on the table and stretched out to my full height of five foot three.
Yes, I'm short. Say anything and you will die.
I was highly enjoying this stretch when Ichigo just HAD to place his two cents in.
"Hey, short stuff. What skills DO you have other then being incredibly vague and short?" He jeered.
I froze in my stretch and dangerously narrowed my eyes into slits.
"Lead me to the basement and I'll show you. Hand-to-hand only. I have no experience at all at wielding any type of object save a small knife and pencil." I spat back.
He nodded silently and got up from his seat. I simply followed him, my frame rigid and my visage emotionless. My exhaustion quickly becoming overridden by irritation.
'Why do I get the feeling that he doesn't like me either?' I thought sourly.
The short trip back down to the basement was filled with a frigid silence, and soon enough we were standing on opposite ends of a hastily drawn out square.
I was rolling out joints and stretching out tendons and muscles. I hadn't gone to the dojo I vented at for about a week, I was slightly out of shape.
He nodded his head once to signal the beginning of the 'match'. I lauched toward him, muscles taut, and wound for the first strike.
I feigned a punch only to follow up with a successful knee to his ribs eliciting a satisfying thud and whoosh of air from his lungs.
'That'll teach you to look down on me, you shit!' I mentally seethed.
I only had an instant to bask in my slight victory as he launched a barrage of body shots using his legs, fists and eblows at random intervals. I was forced onto the defensive.
'SHIT SHIT SHIT!'
Block, evade, side step, counter attack, block, block, evade, counter attack.
His defenses were damn near seemless. I couldn't find an opening I could exploit, and dammit I was running out of ideas! I wasn't about to run, and instead was gaining painful bruises.
'This is pathetic,' My zanpaktou growled in my mind, his irritation at my pathetic excuse of a performance painfully obvious.
'Yeah, I know. And ya know what? He's a seasoned fighter, I'm barely classified as a black belt in traditional Jiu Jitsu! If you have any ideas here, nameless, I'd love to hear them!' I yelled back as his large fist connected to my ribs for the umpteenth time causing me to leap back and try to re-inflate my lungs.
I sat there gasping for breath, humbled, raw with anger, and frustrated as his presence suddenly invaded my mind, causing me to yelp at the sudden shock it caused, sending literally waves of electricity down my exhausted muscles.
"Holy shit. What did you do?" I breathed out.
'You feel that, pup?' The thunderous voice inquired.
"Yeah... but wha-" I asked panting, silently marveling at the tingling sensation erupting across my now sensitized limbs, only to be cut off.
'Feel past your muscles. Feel for his current.' He informed, much like a teacher talking to a new student.
I wondered for a second on what he could be talking about as I closed my eyes to concentrate on trying to figure out how to complete the task given to me.
'How am I...' I wondered somewhat annoyed.
There.
It was feint and hard to grasp but it was there. The current of electricity running through his body. It took me a second to realize exactly what I was seeing.
His nervous system.
'WOAH... what the fuck...' I mentally stammered, completely blown away at what I was... well, seeing in my mind's eye.
'Focus on that and only that. For now, I will guide your body. Focus on the flow of electricity throughout his body. Pinpoint his limbs, pup," He rumbled before I felt my limbs move seemingly of their own violation.
He was moving faster then I thought possible, striking with an uncanny accuracy for a wolf. Yet he was moving like one, too. Chaotically striking while still being organized. Much like a lightning storm.
Pity for Ichigo flitted through my mind before it was roughly batted aside and I fully focused on the current running through his limbs.
I felt it.
Every contact made sent a violent shock of electricity rocketing through HIS limbs, causing pain instead of the tingling sensation I had been given.
This went on for no longer then a few heart beats before nameless violently thrust me back into control of my body.
Blocking a fist that was aimed for my jaw I tried to gather my current into my free left fist, unknowingly creating an orb of electricity around said fist.
For once I was moving too fast for him to dodge.
The fist connected with the hard flesh of his gut sending him flying backwards into a near by boulder and me collapsing to my hands and knees panting as any energy I had drained out of me in one fell swoop.
'How did I...' I mentally breathed.
'Nice try but don't worry or think to much about it pup. All will be explained in due time. ' He rumbled.
'...Thanks I think...' I replied sarcasm just dancing around the edges of my words.
I focused outward and immediately caught sight of a toasted strawberry.
His clothing had a circular burn mark that went straight through the fabric and the visible skin was severely scorched.
Attempts to get to my feet turned out to be futile as my muscles refused to obey my commands and I ended up sprawled out on my back with labored breathing.
"Sorry 'bout that strawberry... I don't really... have any idea... as to what I'm doin' when... it comes to the complicated stuff." I called out between pants.
There was no reply only the soft sound of foot falls on dirt as he strode over to my prone form as consciousness slowly ebbed away.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"Come on sis' we gotta go!" A 12 year old David called after me running out of the front door.
"Hm oh yeah.. let me grab the keys." I called from the couch.
Images sped by in a haze. Colors blurring with each other.
"Why..."
"Dave no..."
His bloodied body lay on the wet pavement, rain mixing with blood in a pool around him.
"Why didn't you save me sis..." He whispered, seemingly against my ear.
"I tried.. I really tried... I wasn't..." I choked out hot tears mixing with rain. Trying to make my way over to him only to find that I was frozen to the spot as his body began to fade away.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE ME!" He roared. The sound raking against my ears. It sounded like a hollow.
"NNNOOOOO!" I screeched as I shot into consciousness.
I sat up shaking and covered in a think layer of sweat, unbidden tears creating streaks down my face.
I hugged my arms around my torso desperately trying to will the images of my bloodied and dying brother away from my thoughts.
"Just bloody wonderful." I breathed as I slipped out of the sheets and stood on the cold wood. With in a few seconds of standing I realized that once again I was in bandages, not in the baggy garb I had gotten used to, and that I was also in a my body by the stiffness in my muscles.
'Huh, this is weird. The phrase 'Uncomfortable in your own skin' definitely comes into play here. Never felt that my body was... this restricting.' I mentally mused.
I looked down and realized with a slight shock that I was wearing the clothed I died in save my shoes, looking almost brand new. My face morphed into a grimace as the image of my bloodied brother flitted through my mind like a candles flame.
There then gone.
Taking one last look around the room, and eying my sheathed zanpakto resting next to the bed in slight shock, then resigning my self to go find food at the garbled rumble of my empty stomach I strode over to the sliding door.
Arriving at the 'main' room of the shop I noticed that it was littered with lunch foods and devoid of any
of the other residents.
'Must've been out for a while.'
I quietly sat down to an empty plate and filled it with foods that didn't look like they could kill me.
I finished quickly and quietly, not wanting to confront anyone yet. I still had a lot of explaining to do, I had only given about half the story I knew. But oh well. I can keep that to my self for now they know enough.
With my stomach finally satiated for the first time in who knows how long I got up and straightened out my jeans and tank top. I looked around for any sign of the shopkeeper or even-
"Yoruichi!" I called out happily.
The black cat her self padded over to the table and sat down her tail flicking out behind her.
"So have any idea where the mad scientist is?" I inquired training my gaze toward her to gauge her reaction. Not like there was much to gauge from a cats face.
"He is down in the basement waiting." the now decidedly manly voice of Yoruichi;s cat form informed me.
"Thanks." I uttered back in response.
'As if I knew where he was.' I thought irritably.
I was not a morning person
XxXxXxXxXxXxX.
Arriving in the basement I saw not only Kisuke but Ichigo, and Hirako Shinji as well.
As I eyed the unexpected duo a foreboding feeling wedged its way into my gut as I strode over to the group stopping only a few paces away..
'Shinji's here does that mean... I'm probably over reacting... Yeah over reacting.. they wouldn't make me...'
My thoughts were quickly cut off by the now overly cheery shopkeeper.
"Alicia-san good afternoon. I assume that you have a few questions." He said while waving his fan infront of his face.
"Yeah I do. Why are Shinji, and Ichigo here? And how long was I out?" I stated somewhat irritated.
Though I could guess as to why the Vizards were here, I really hoped I was wrong. I've always found it uncomfortable to be ambushed like this.
"Ah lets see. You were out for a good day and a half. And these two-" He paused and gestured toward the bright annoyances. "Are here to have a chat with you."
"No." Finality rooted in my tone.
'The bastard is probably trying to get me to bunk with the Vizards. That is a level of insanity I will not touch. Chat with me my ass.' I mentally grumbled not at all happy with the odds here.
A puzzled look flashed across the eccentric man's face before it broke out into the stupidest grin I've ever seen on the man.
"I never even explained!" He cried out dramatically.
"You don't need to. I know where this is probably going to go." I said flatly.
"You don't really have a choice." Shinji interrupted before Kisuke could say anything.
"Really now? Is one small girl that much of a threat?" I sneered, my temper fraying dangerously.
"Actually yes." Ichigo stepped forward. " You have the former sixth espada in your soul. Me n' Shinji have faced that bastard and know how strong he is. And on top of that you now have your own personal inner hollow. You're a ticking time bomb Alicia. Plain and simple."
"That's bull. He's out cold. Used up any and all energy, or whatever, to defeat that single hollow.. that my weak ass couldn't do anything about. And you sure as shit know that my inner hollow won't wake up any time soon." I snapped, anger and rebellion erupting throughout my frame.
My eye brows pulled together and my lips tipped downward. Usually I wasn't this angry.. Maybe it was because I just woke up?
I ran a hand through my hair and sighed angrily, pointedly avoiding eye contact with the four in front if me.
'What the hell is wrong with me? I come to a new dimension and I completely lose control of my emotions! I was never this bad! I mean I know I'm female and all.. but still... This isn't right..' I thought somewhat confused.
Unconsciously I crossed my arms over my chest and began chewing on the inside of my cheek outwardly showing my indecisiveness.
For once the usually talkative and straight forward group stood in silence as my emotions and thoughts caused havoc on my insides.
"So I have no choice huh..." I mumbled in slight defeat.
They had essentially backed me into a corner with their reason. And in all seriousness I probably would have asked to be bunked with the Vizards, I just hate... a lot of things...
Yeah I've lost my sanity.. yep definitely insane.
I looked up at the ridiculously fake sky adorning the ceiling of the training grounds desperately trying to figure out everything when the happier memories I had with my last remaining family member flitted through my mind causing a true smile to light up my previously solemn features and unbidden
tears to carve their way down my face.
XxXxXxXxXxXxX
"Oh come on Ali! Not fair! We don't have school tomorrow!" A 15 year old David pleaded, his hands coming off the x-box controller to brush a strand of darkening blonde hair out of his blue eyes.
"Dave I'm serious it's midnight get off and go to bed." I warned trying and failing to be serious as I broke into a shit eating grin.
His eyes widened at the implications of what that grin usually brought and he hastily shut off the x-box and sauntered into his room not ten paces away.
"It better be good." He called out menacingly before flashing a grin at me and closing his bedroom door.
I sighed unable to stop the smile tugging relentlessly at the corners of my mouth. 'Jeez I get the first good pay check in months and he's going to suck me dry of any and all cash I have left over.'
XxXxXxXxX
Suddenly a hand was on my left shoulder and I almost...almost... jumped out of my skin. My head snapped toward the hand and my eyes widened in shock. It was the strawberries hand. His usual glare towards me had softened slightly. Hard amber becoming warm copper. My hand flew to my face wiping away my tears and turning away from him ignoring the pull on my soul telling me he could help.
" I need to get my zanpakto..." I mumbled distractedly, desperate to get rid of that weird feeling, turning away from the now bemused group.
My mind was a jumble of thoughts and images as I absentmindedly made my way to the room I had been.. well passing out in.
Upon reaching the room and sliding open the door a wave of irritation washed over me and I scowled at said irritated object.
"What did I do now?" I asked exasperated seemingly to thin air.
'Never ever leave without your only source of defense.' The thunderous and irritated growl chastised resounding in my head and making me wince slightly.
'Look I didn't think I'd be ambushed like that. Sure as hell didn't expect to be forced onto the Vizards. I know they don't want me. I may be 'kin' but I have the sixth espada taking an extended cat nap in a dark corner of my soul.' I shot back now somewhat amused that I could annoy the wise wolf in my soul and consequently in my head.
I strode quickly over to the now angrily humming and glowing weapon and picked it up, yelping slightly at the painful shock that shot up my arm.
"That hurt damn it!" I growled at the sword only to receive a rumble like chuckle.
"Ha Ha very funny wise guy." I responded sarcastically rolling my eyes as I walked back out the door.
I putting the worries of living with the Vizards out of my mind, as if I really had a choice in that matter, I wondered if I could ask Urahara for a sash or something to attach the katana to so that I wouldn't have to constantly carry the thing. As if on cue at the top and bottom of the scabbard clouds wafted out and towards the opposite ends creating a stormy gray sash that fit perfectly around my torso over my left shoulder.
'Well that's convenient... Thanks' I thought as I situated the weapon on my back comfortably, not once breaking stride
Not for the first time a longed to have my brother at my side. With him I could do anything. We were each others pillar of strength, someone to lean on when we weren't sure of something.
I slid down the immensely long ladder and landed with a thump, zanpakto comfortably secured on my back the handle poking out over my left shoulder. For a split second I wondered why my zanpakto didn't disappear with my soul when it entered my body only for that thought to be stopped cold by the electrically warm and familiar rumble in my head.
'I can't leave you defenseless now can I?' He thundered sarcastically.
I couldn't resist rolling my eyes.
"Oh how kind of you." I muttered sarcastically not focusing on the group I was now striding towards.
"Kind of who?" Urahara interjected as I came within earshot.
Stumbling over my own two feet and my thoughts I fought to keep my balance.
"Oh... ah.. no one in particular." I laughed out nervously.
Three pairs of disbelieving eyes glared, me finally getting a baring on my emotions just let it go over my head.
"Think what ya' want, your not getting an answer from me." I sighed.
"Alrighty then! You have everything Alicia-san?" Urahara chirped, waving his infuriating fan in front of his face.
"I love how you assume that just because I grabbed my zanpakto that I'm going to go with Shinji here." I spat, sarcasm deciding to dance at the edges of my tone while my face was set in what I hoped was an angered scowl.
Their reactions were priceless. Shinji tensed expecting to have to drag me to their 'hide out', Ichigo scowled his hands twitching toward the direction of Zangetsu's hilt on his back, as if he'd need to use that over sized meat cleaver, and Urahara just smiled snapping his fan shut.
"But yeah, I'm ready. Not like I really had a choice in this matter. I'm not so stupid as to put innocent lives at risk." I finished in a somewhat bored tone, amusement playing in my hazel eyes.
They all look at me like I'm crazy. I just shrug and follow the eccentric, always-smiling, powerful, blonde-haired Vizard out of the store through the streets of Karakura and into the new-yet-familiar warehouse the masked army calls home. And they should. I am crazy... At least that's the conclusion my mind has come up with. I still can't fully believe that this is truly real, no matter how real the pain and screwed up emotions feel. It feels like a dream... a ridiculously long painful dream that I won't ever wake up from. I can't tell you when I came up with this and I can't explain why but it's all my mind can really process as I numbly follow this man into yet another unknown.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
A.N/ So the last part of chapter four. Now things can finally pick up into the meat of what my mind has been brewing when I first thought of this story... okay I lied what I first thought of was Alicia's death and her getting to the Bleach universe. The rest came after that :D
Also pairings right now are up in the air. If you want Alicia to be paired with anyone just let me know, really I've set her up so that she could be paired with just about anyone... which is a good and bad thing.
Next chapter or so should really come out faster. Though once a month seems reasonable to me right now seeing as life has decided to throw way to many fast curved balls my direction and I'm using a shared computer thus making the times I write solely from midnight on into the early hours of the day.
Enough personal stuffs!
I really need to thank soccerstar7 for reviewing and semi-betaing this chapter, as well as BlackHawkNight64, and shaowgouf for reviewing the first part.
SSSSSOOOO about ten pages of stuffs if I cut out all the spacing. I hope you liked her explanation and this chapter in general this really was a pain in the arse to write.
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!
PLEASE REVIEW! they are like my reason and inspiration for writing and also make my day :D
With much love
~Animelover