Chapter 7

Savage Blade, Kind Heart

Kon arrived at the Urahara shop early, and was greeted by not only Urahara and Ichigo, but Uryu, Chad, Orihime, and Rukia (in her gigai) as well.

"About time you got here." Said Ichigo.

"Sorry, Yuzu wouldn't let me leave without breakfast. Is she awake?" Kon walked in.

Orihime was over by the girl using her abilities.

"I see."

"Kon, you have to be careful in your Soul Reaper form. Your riatsu is unstable right now. I can't say what that will mean for you, so watch out." Warned Urahara.

"I'd like to see your soul reaper form for myself," said Chad.

"I'm kind of interested too," added Rukia.

Kon popped out of Ichigo's body via the combat pass.

"So? How do I look?" He looked down at his form.

"This riatsu is so familiar..." said Rukia.

"It's mostly Ichigo's, that's why. He's the one who gave me these powers." Kon said, nodding to Ichigo.

Ichigo shrugged "Yeah, it wasn't that hard. It's to help my body get used to my riatsu again or something."

Rukia noticed Ichigo was restless; his foot had been tapping non stop and he shifted in place.

"Ichigo, are you alright?"

"Yeah just a bit antsy. You know I can't stand sitting in one place too long. The Hollowfication doesn't help."

"Why don't' you spar with Kon then? I'd say until your powers reach maximum strength he could keep up with you." Said Urahara.

Kon felt a chill run down his spine. "A-are you crazy! Ichigo would tear me apart!"

"Sounds like fun!" Ichigo seemed almost too eager to fight.

"Alright then! You two go underground. And do try not to destroy everything?" Urahara asked.

"Alright then, Kon. Let's see your Bankai; you'll have to go all out if you want to keep up with me!" Ichigo taunted.

"In your dreams!" Kon drew his sword. "I won't even have to use my Shikai!"

"I'll make you eat your words, you overconfident bastard!" Ichigo laughed in a manner frighteningly similar to his inner hollow and charged at Kon.

Kon blocked the blow from Tensa Zangetsu and parried.

Ichigo easily dodged the attack.

"Kon, face it, I"m just too fast for you to handle without at least-!" Kon had vanished... and reappeared behind him. 'A flash step? No... he ran!'

"Surprised, Ichigo? I'm still part mod soul, so I can use my enhanced legs to literally run circles around you!" Kon began doing just that.

Ichigo tracked the Mod Soul gone soul reaper and blocked a blow to his back.

"Not bad. But you forget that I have keener senses than you do!" Ichigo launched Kon backwards.

Kon managed to catch himself and pulled his sword close to his body. "Rip the sky, Zainengetsu!" The blade burst into brilliant blue light and transformed.

"So that's your Shikai huh? Looks pretty nasty." Ichigo said.

Kon raised the sword into the air. Ichigo's eyes widened behind his mask. "Shit!"

"Getsuga TENSHO!" Kon yelled and launched the attack.

"You wanna play that game? Issen GETSUGA!" He swung his sword in a horizontal arc and a black and red energy blast sped towards Kon's own white and blue one.

The two collided, creating a massive shock wave.

"Not bad, Kon. But I'm not done yet!" Ichigo sonido'd behind Kon, who barely blocked a strike.

"The disadvantage to the size of your sword is the time it takes to bring it around! Show me your bankai!" Ichigo chuckled inwardly; he sounded a bit like Grimmjow when he egged Ichigo himself on.

"Fine!" Kon jumped back and raised his right arm. "BANKAI!"

Once the transformation was complete, Kon smirked. "Still confident, Ichigo?"

"What do you think!" Ichigo asked as he rushed Kon, who blocked Ichigo's strike with ease.

" Aio Getsuga!" The blade launched a large crescent of black and blue energy that even Ichigo couldn't avoid at that range.

There was an explosion and the two combatants jumped back.

Kon's right sleeve was almost completely burnt off, and Ichgo's left arm was the same.

"You actually managed to wound me! Not bad Kon." Ichigo sheathed his sword and Kon reverted to his sealed form and did the same.

"You'll do fine."

"Ichigo! Kon! The girl is awake!" Rukia said.

The two sped off to join the others.

Kon Walked over to Nozomi.

"Hey."

"Wait... you're... a soul reaper?" She was confused.

"Not Important right now. Why was that guy in the yellow,"

"Inaba," Rukia corrected, having learned more about the situation from the other captains who had recently arrived.

"Right. Why was he after you?"

Nozomi crossed her arms and looked the other way from Kon. "You're lame."

Kon snapped. "Lame? I'm not only a Temporary Soul Reaper, but I was originally a Mod Soul! Don't go calling others lame if you don't know anything about them!"

"...A Mod Soul?"

"...Sorry about that. Anyways, if you'd tell me while he was after you, I could help you!"

The rest of the people (and otherwise) in the room looked at him angrily.

"I mean... we could help you." He sat down next to her and, without thinking, embraced her.

This earned him a flower pot to the head.

"Perverted freak!"

Kon brushed the dirt and clay out of his hair. "Not this again! Alright I'll admit, that was crossing a line, but I'm used to being a plush toy! Still, that's no reason to smash a plant over my head!"

"Plush...toy?" She asked, confused.

"He means this," said Rukia, holding up the lion-like bear doll.

Kon panicked and latched onto Nozomi again, hiding behind her.

"No way are you shoving me back in that thing!"

Kon then found himself with his face crushed against the wall.

"Perverted freak!"

"Kon, drop it. If she doesn't want to talk about it, there's no forcing her. And you need to learn to keep your hands to yourself." Ichigo chided.

Nozomi's eyes widened at the sight of Ichigo.

"No, No! It's fine really! I"m Ichigo Kurosaki, Perfect Vizard. The body you've seen Kon in this entire time is my body. It's a very very long story. Sorry about his behavior; he may be a bother most of the time, but he's a good

person at heart." Ichigo said, insulting and praising Kon in the same sentence.

Kon gave a weak thumbs up from his awkward spot on the floor.

Ichigo returned it, an odd sight given his form.

Ichigo nodded the others to the other room, leaving Kon and Nozomi alone.

Kon managed to get himself together..

"Hey, look I'm sorry about that clinginess from before. It's just... ever since I used Ichigo's body the first time I've longed to have a body of my own. And now I do! The concept of going back... it really is scary." He propped himself up against the wall, seated.

"Look, I know I may come across as rude, and whatever other opinions you may have of me, but I want to let you know, that I've decided it's my responsibility, no my duty, to keep you safe. So get used to me,"

Kon smiled.

"Cause' I'm gonna stick around until this mess is sorted out, got it?"

No response.

"Geeze you're hopeless."

"...You're a stupid perverted freak."

Kon growled and buried his face in his hands.

A short while later, Kon left Nozomi to see what Ichigo and company were up to.

"A barbeque? What for?"

"It's to try and make Nozomi feel welcome!" Orihime cheerfully exclaimed.

"That, and I was getting hungry." Ichigo said. "Last time my victim was one of Orihime's plush animals. It tasted awful.!"

"I got woken up by the noise and made Ichigo something to eat." Orihime giggled.

Ichigo walked over to Kon and whispered, "The scariest thing about this transformation is that her cooking is edible."

Kon turned blue. "That...is pretty scary."

However he was still somewhat pale from the mention of eating plush animals.

Ichigo put down the tables he was carrying and began to set them up.

"Speaking of which, why don't you help set things up too? You have a good working set of arms and a good working set of legs, I'm sure you could do something useful."

Kon nodded. "Right."

Kon had decided to take a nap outside the shop once he did his part. Then, Nozomi walked outside and kicked him in the side.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"What is all this?" she asked.

"Wait.. you don't know what a barbeque is?" Kon slowly rose form his position on the ground, careful not to catch a glimpse of Nozomi's undergarments, lest she decide to do something more painful than smash a pot on his head.

The girl shook her head.

"Ah! W-well you see..." He looked for something to aid him, and found a container of Chilli power.

"This is Chilli powder! It's a spice that's essential to barbeque." He unscrewed the lid.. and then screamed when a small dusting reached his eyes. "Gahh! It burns!"

He stumbled blindly around and knocked over a (thankfully) empty table. Everyone else tried to restrain him.

Once the havoc was finished, Kon realized Nozomi was gone.

Kon decided to go hunt for her himself.

He found her walking along a riverbank.

"What're you doing out here?"

No response.

Kon swiftly matched her pace. "Hey? Can you hear me?"

They continued along... until they met a familiar face.

"Hey there, Kon!"

It was Rangiku.

Kon did everything he could to restrain himself; he wasn't a plush doll anymore.

"Oh hey! How are-!" He paused; Rangiku had never seen him like this before. 'This must be one of the Regai that Rukia was talking about..." He had been briefed about his mission as he set things up for the barbeque.

They looked and felt like normal beings. They weren't though. How did he know? He could sense the same riatsu elsewhere. The evidence was too strong; she was a fake.

"Nozomi," Kon drew his sword. "Don't move."

Kon had an unusually serious expression on his face. "This isn't the real Rangiku."

The fake made a pouty face. "How can you say such a thing?"

"The evidence points to it. I've never spoken to Rangiku in this form before, and she's never this nice to me on top of that. You're a Regai. Trying to trick me like this, that's low."

He held his sword close to him. "Rip the moon, Zainengetsu."

His sword transformed into the broad blade of his Shikai. He raised the blade.

"Getsuga Tensho."

The Regai was disintegrated.

Kon sealed his sword and sheathed it.

He then scooped up Nozomi into his arms.

In response, she slapped him.

"Yeah yeah whatever. We need to get out of here right now. They might send backup. Please, Nozomi, trust me! For once just trust me!" Kon pleaded.

He used his powerful legs to rush them back to the Urahara Shop.

Upon their return, Kon let the girl down carefully.

Kon noticed that Renji and the real Rangiku had joined the party.

Once again restraining himself, he walked over to the small setup, greeting the two new arrivals.

"You look like a westerner," said Renji upon seeing Kon's new form.

"Is everyone going to point that out?" Kon fumed.

He sighed and got back in Ichigo's body.

"Kon! You'd better not go bleaching my hair and dying it the color of yours, you hear?" Ichigo growled.

Kon nodded. "R-right..."

Pissing off Ichigo right now would be like pissing off a hungry bear; it would actually end about the same way.

Kon walked over to Rukia.

"Rukia, do you think it would be possible for me to learn some of that kido stuff?"

She blinked. He hadn't called her "Big Sister".

"You seem to have better control over your power than Ichigo does,"

The Vizard growled, his stomach out weighting his patience.

"So yeah, I could teach you a few simple Kido."

"Thanks a lot, Rukia. When can we start?"

"Tomorrow would be fine, but why do you want to learn Kido?"

"I can't just Getsga everything. The situation might call for subtlety occasionally." Kon answered.

Ichigo was tapping his foot at this point. He was eying the doll Kon used to inhabit like an animal being watched by its owner, knowing it would be scolded for going after the plushie.

"Don't you even think about it Ichigo." Said Kon. "Or I'll get the spray bottle or a newspaper."

Everyone in earshot laughed except Nozomi.

Kon did notice, however, her expression changed to a small smile.

Ichigo growled. "You cheeky bastard... If you weren't in my body I'd be using you as a chew toy right now."

Kon flicked Ichigo on the "nose" of his mask.

"No! Bad...whatever you are!" Kon chided.

He noticed Nozomi's shoulders moving up and down for a second; she had just laughed!

Nobody was laughing, especially Kon, when Ichigo sonido'd inside and took a bite out of the misshapen bear doll.

Kon went pale and his eyes went wide.

Tomfoolery out of the way, the group started the actual barbeque.

Nozomi kept her distance, partially from her own preference and partially from the fact Ichigo was all but devouring any food he could get his claws on.

She watched as the Vizard fed his immense hunger.

"Hey." She turned and saw Kon standing a couple of feet away from her, holding two skewers with various meats and vegetables on them. He held one out in her direction.

"Have some. It's good... as I'm sure Ichigo can attest to." He said this last part loud enough for the Vizard to hear him.

Ichigo paused, gave Kon the finger, then continued eating.

"Anyways, come on try some!" She took the skewer from his hand.

"Hey, another thing. I'm going to protect you, like I said. And not just me. Everyone is going to help. Even the guy who seems half pig instead of half hollow over there." He was really enjoying these pot shots he could take at Ichigo.

"They're all fools. And you're a stupid pervert." She said before biting into the food.

Kon sighed and began eating his own food as well.

He smiled. He was actually enjoying life for once. He hadn't had this much fun since he first got a hold of Ichigo's body...

That night, Kon got out of the shower and entered his room in a T-shirt and flannel pants. "

"Nozomi, everyone else is already asleep, you should..." Kon looked around the room; it was empty.

'Dammit Nozomi...' Kon decided he'd have to hunt her down. He lied down on the bed and tapped the combat pass to on his forehead, exiting Ichigo's body. He stretched and opened the window.

"Let's see, where is she...?" He closed his eyes and looked for her unique Reiatsu.

"There she is." He paused. Should he tell everyone else? "Nah, they're probably asleep anyway."

He leapt out the window and started to where Nozomi was.

Upon his arrival he noticed she was passed out on the ground. He ran over to her and shook her. "Nozomi? Nozomi, wake up!"

Her eyes shot open and Kon took a fist to the face. He tumbled backward and wound up on his ass.

"Ow... That's some reflex you have there." He rubbed his chin. "Say, what are you doing out here anyway?"

"How did you find me?"

" I tracked your spiritual pressure."

She scowled at him.

"Why do you keep running off anyway? You that pissed at me? I know you hate me and all but it's really hard to protect you when you run off! So what is it? Some ulterior motive or objective you don't want us to know about?"

"...None of your business." That was the last thing Kon heard before a fist knocked him out cold.

When he came to he desperately searched for her location. He noticed 4 lieutenants, but that was all in the immediate area. Then he saw her, a good distance away and sped off, combining flash step with his own speed.

He landed behind her and matched her pace. "Hey! Where are you going? Why did you knock me out like that!"

She remained silent.

"Hey! I'm talking to ..." She stopped moving as did he. "you."

"I don't know." Nozomi said.

"Eh?"

"Where am I supposed to go?"

Kon circled in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"What are you talking about? You mean you've been wandering around without knowing where to go?"

She shoved him and he fell on his back.

"Buzz off, pervert."

Kon started to rise. "I keep telling you I'm not a pervert!"

"I do have.. a place to go." Nozomi muttered.

"Huh?"

"I... don't know where it is."

"What?" Kon said, confused.

She began walking again.

Kon swiftly rose. "H-hey..."

"Come on! Enough is enough!" Kon pleaded. They had been walking for what seemed like an eternity to him. "What if a whole army of those Regai things show up? I don't know if even I alone could deal with that many! Maybe I should have told everyone else..."

"Why would you all protect me?"

"Why? Why you ask!"

"Is it for Soul Society? For the world of the living?"

"Geez, you just don't get it!" Said Kon with an exasperated sigh.

He stopped walking. "Fine! I'm done playing knight in shining armor. You can go on your own."

Kon turned around, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes.

He opened one eye and looked over his shoulder carefully.

Nozomi was still on the move.

He sighed and turned around, easily catching up to her. He grabbed her left arm firmly but gently.

"I'm taking you back even if I have to drag you!"

Nozomi looked up at him with surprise on her face.

Kon's expression wasn't its usual goofy, stupid look. His eyes were narrowed and his face was void of his normal goofy grin. She had never seen him this serious before.

She pulled back her right hand... .and slapped his face.

Kon instantly released her and stumbled back a bit.

She then continued her walk. Kon stood still for a few seconds before catching up to her again.

"Just come back where everyone else is! We can protect you from anything!"

"That's why I'm doing this So none of you will have to protect me." Nozomi responded.

Kon was speechless.

Ichigo had found the two a long time ago and had been silently following them.

His power had once again reached its peak and he was undetectable unless he lowered his power to a level they could detect.

He was surprised at how Kon had grown since he got his new body.

"You too have grown Ichigo. You are no longer the naive boy you were when I first met you. I am proud of you, Ichigo."

"Yeah king, if you could get over your addiction to stuffed animals you'd be square to go."

Ichigo sighed and continued to follow the duo.

Eventually Kon and Nozomi found themselves in a forest.

The girl stopped.

"What is it?" asked Kon.

"I know where I want to go." Nozomi answered.

"Great! Let's go there, then go back to everyone else!"

She grabbed his hear and turned his head to face where she was looking.

"Ow! Easy there!"

"There. That gate."

"Gate?" Kon inquired, seeing the massive gates ahead of him.

"But not here." Nozomi responded.

Kon groaned. He was sick of this walking. If she knew where she was going he'd just pick her up and carry her there himself.

"Is there a place where there are many of these in a row?" She asked him.

He cupped his chin in his hand. "Many shrine gates... that would be..." the light bulb above his head went on. "Ah! The mountain! I've been there before!"

"Show me the way."

"I'll do better than that!" He scooped her up in his arms and jumped into a flash step.

'Crap. His flash step is faster than my sonido because of his abilities as a mod soul.'

Ichigo decided he'd leave them for now and catch up when they stopped.

Kon set down on a path.

"Over there, that's it right?"

Nozomi nodded and elbowed his ribs, causing him to put her down.

They walked up to the bottom of the massive set of stairs.

"So what's up there?" Kon asked.

"..."

"Giving me the silent treatment again, eh? You could at least let me know what we're looking for!"

"...A Senkaimon."

"Oh...I see.." Kon paused. "Wait isn't that something soul reapers open!"

The two climbed the stairs, eventually reaching the top.

"So? Where is it?" Asked Kon.

Nozomi walked forward and tapped on the air; a ripple appeared.

"A wrinkle in time-space." She made hand gesture and a portal opened.

She then gave a lengthy explanation on Senkaimon, ending with:

"If I enter and close the portal behind, nobody will find me."

Kon crossed his arms and nodded. "That would be perfect for Hide-and-Seek. So, how long do you plan on hiding in there?"

"Forever."

"I see..." Kon's head jerked up. "Wait! Then are you planning on...!"

"It can't be helped. If I close the gateway I won't wind up in the same Time-Space as before."

Kon stepped in front of her. "Wait, wait, wait! You don't have to do such a thing! I said we'd protect you...I'd protect you! Is this really what you want?"

Kon felt the odd sensation of his heart literally about to tear out of his chest.

"...What I want?"

"Lots of great things will happen if you keep on living! Thanks to Ichigo I was able to keep on living!"

Nozomi closed her eyes. "But this is the only way to stop him..."

Kon put his hands on Nozomi's shoulders. "If you're that determined... I'll come with you."

"What?" Her eyes shot open and she looked up at him.

"I.. can't explain it. It's not a whim... but... It's like the though of you leaving is something I can't seem to take."

"You..."

Kon blushed a bit. "W-what?"

A few seconds later he found himself tied to a tree.

"Wait, what are you doing?"

"I'm going alone, stupid."

'Well that's an improvement over pervert...' Thought Kon. "Who are you calling stupid?"

Nozomi turned and began walking away, but stopped after a few steps.

"But I do appreciate.. your feelings."

She walked over to the portal and stopped.

"Nozomi! Don't do it!" Pleaded Kon. "Hey, You!"

She took two steps forward... and then stopped.

A hand was placed on her shoulder...

'No... not it again...' Thought Kon.

Before him was the very being he had killed: the Rangiku Regai.

"Hey there, Nozomi! Where was it you were about to go?" The fake asked.

Nozomi jumped away from the portal. "Regai..."

"We need you to stop acting on your own."

Then five more Regai appeared.

Kon struggled against the ropes. If only he could reach is sword...

"Are you going to take on all of us?" asked one of the other fakes.

"How did you find me?" Nozomi asked, shocked.

"How?" scoffed the Regai Rukia. "Did you honestly think you were the only one who knew of the existance of this precipice world?"

"What you know, Kagezora knows as well." Said the Regai Rangiku.

"Let go of me!" protested Nozomi.

"Now, let's go."

"Hey you bastards!" Yelled Kon. "Keep your hands off of her!"

"I don't want to go!" Yelled Nozomi.

Suddenly, a thin black blur shot out of nowhere and impaled Regai Rangiku.

"That sword..." Kon said.

There was a loud screeching roar.

Ichigo was back.

END CHAPTER 7

Shit just got real ladies and gents!

Ichigo gets some action after some odd chapters with Kon as the lead!

Next time:
The transcendent being conquers all! The return of Ichigo Kurosaki!