Chapter 9
Welcome to the Other Side
"You have no right to call any of us your anything. You lost that right when Ichigo Kurosaki defeated you." stated Ulquiorra."
"Alright you two, no fighting. Aizen, on the way here you mentioned having a way to find the Vasto Lorde?" Ichigo interviened.
"Yes, Ichigo I did. Come with me, I shall show you myself." Aizen calmly replied.
"Good." Ichigo looked to Ulquiorra. "Watch Orihime. Don't let her leave this place."
"Understood." Replied the Arrancar.
After a long amount of walking, Aizen led them to his old quarters.
He pressed his hand against a wall and the Hogyoku reacted.
A panel appeared and slid into the floor.
"This, " Aizen began, "Is where the secret lies."
The two went up the staircase.
In the middle of the room was a table with a layer of crystal over the top.
"This is a map of Hueco Mundo. Over it is a layer of Soul Crystal. When fed spirit energy," He walked over to the table, prompting Ichigo to go on the other side "It will reveal the location of whatever kind of being the user wishes. However, it reacts stronger and more accurately if the same spirit energy as the one carried by the target is used. Go ahead, try it."
Ichigo cautiously placed his hand on the crystal and focused his energy there.
Several dozen red dots appeared.
"Those are Menos. However, not all Vasto Lorde. This was the only reading I could get myself." Aizen explained. "Focus on any spiritual pressure that feels like your Inner Hollow."
Ichigo did as instructed and the number decreased to twelve.
"There you have it, Ichigo."
"So which is closest?" Ichigo asked.
Aizen pointed to one of the dots. "That one would be nearest. What will you do? Ask them nicely to join your ranks? Try and explain it to them?"
Ichigo shrugged. "Yeah I guess."
Aizen chuckled. "You have grown Ichigo, and yet you are still so, so naive. Hollow respond to power Ichigo. Prove your superiority, and they will follow. That is how I recruited most of my Arrancar. They knew I was strong, and so they followed my lead."
"So I have to beat him in a fight?" Ichigo asked.
"Correct. Now, as to whether you want Arrancar or not is up to you. I will gladly use my powers to transform them if you so wish." Aizen said with his usual charisma.
"I'll get back to you on that one. Right now I have to find this Vasto Lorde." Ichigo removed his hand and the map went dark again. He walked back the way he came.
"Get comfortable, Aizen. You're going to be staying here a long time."
"As you wish."
The soul society was in pandemonium.
They had discovered Aizen missing and gone into red alert.
Currently, the Captains were holding an emergency meeting.
"Who could have possibly gotten past all our guards without being located?" Fumed Soi Fon "Even the most skilled Shinigami or Arrancar couldn't have slipped past our guards, let alone our technology unnoticed!"
Ukitake had an idea of who it was, and what their motive was, but he didn't say a word. Especially if it was all over that.
After some discussion, the Captains disbanded.
The white haired captain was half way back to his squad's barracks when Shunsui caught up with him.
"You know it was him too, don't you?"
Ukitake nodded. "Yes. I feel it is all my fault as well. I knew he would figure out the purpose of the Combat Pass eventually, but then..."
"He had his 'makeover'." Shunsui finished.
"Yes... He's probably just scared of what would happen to him or his friends if he stayed."
"You're probably right. I just hope he doesn't do something stupid. From what I heard he's become a bit more cold and distant than he used to be."
"Do you think... maybe... I could be going out on a limb... but... was he a sleeper agent for Aizen this entire time?" Ukitake mused.
"Nah, the kid ain't like that. He's as you said, scared and confused. I can't think of any way for you to talk to him without getting him angry."
"Then why free Aizen?"
Shunsui thought for a moment.
"Oh no. I think I figured out what he's doin'."
Ukitake's heart skipped a beat. "What?"
"He's tryin' to find hollows. More specifically, those hollows."
"Oh no... this is awful! I have to find a way to reach him before he does something he'll regret!"
"Calm down, Ukitake. We have to keep this hush-hush until it gets resolved. I think if he just brings back Aizen everything'll be just fine. No harm no foul, right?"
"I hope so..."
Ichigo let out a roar of challenge. He didn't like doing it; sounded so... animal.
But he got a response.
He then saw a blur dart past him.
"You're one of the Vasto Lorde, am I correct?" Ichigo said.
"So what if I am? You don't have any strength at all." Replied a vaguely feminine voice, thick with the watery echo of a hollow's.
"I wouldn't suggest you underestimate me. I," he began. "am the one who defeated Souske Aizen."
"Really? Cause' I don't feel any spiritual pressure from you at all."
"You can't feel it unless I lower it to a level you can comprehend. Not that I'm bragging or anything." Ichigo replied with a smirk
Silence. Then a famiar sound; a Cero charging.
Ichigo whipped around and charged his own Cero, overwhelming the Vasto Lorde's Cero easily.
"So you've got a tough Cero eh? Well let's see how you like THIS!"
He saw a maroon blur come at him.
He raised his right hand and caught a punch.
The being was about six and a half feet tall, with maroon skin.
Her hands were covered in bone and the fingers ended in claws.
Her feet also were tipped with bony claw.
Over her chest was a bony plate that wrapped over her shoulders.
Navy fur stuck out from under the bone over her shoulders, covering the deltoids.
Her forearms had bone gauntlets , and fur stuck out from under them as well.
Her shins had guards as well, similar to the guards on her forearms.
A catlike tail that ended with a navy tip sprouted from her lower back.
Her mask covered her mouth, nose, and cheeks. It had a set of feline-esque teeth etched into it.
She had long, navy hair with bangs that covered her left eye completely that ran down past her waist.
The most interesting feature, Ichigo thought, were two cat ears that were tipped with navy on the back.
"What's your name, Vasto Lorde?"
"Felicia Sangrenato. The last name You'll ever HEAR!" She swung a kick at Ichigo, who blocked it with ease.
"If it'll make things easier, I'll drop my spiritual pressure. I might kill you though." Ichigo replied with a sigh.
"Go ahead and-GUH!" Felicia fell to her knees, gasping for air as Ichigo dropped his spiritual pressure.
"C-can't...breathe..."
"Do you see now? I'm stronger than you. Now are you going to let me talk or are you going to suffocate?"
He sighed and raised his spiritual pressure to its maximum, freeing her of it.
The Vasto Lorde gasped for air.
Ichigo crossed his arms, waiting for her to catch her breath.
"What's your answer?"
"What do you want?" Replied the catlike Hollow.
"I'm gathering the Vasto Lorde under myself. Soul society is planning to betray me." Ichigo paused. "One of the captains once told me that if Aizen had ten or more Vasto Lorde under his command, Soul Society would be doomed."
"I heard about his antics a while back, and I don't plan on taking orders from anyone else! Not even you!"
"Please reconsider. It's not like I'm going to confine you to Los Noches as he did. I don't care what you do in your free time, but I want to know if you'd help me if I asked later? I also have... means.. to preform the process that makes hollow Arrancar, giving them greater strength in case you're interested.'
"So you won't be having us running errands or anything stupid like that? No observation or intelligence gathering missions? And we can do whatever we want otherwise?" Felicia was skeptical.
"All I need is some insurance. They won't fuck with me if they know I have all of you backing me up."
"What do we do if they decide to fuck with you anyway?"
"We burn Soul Society to the ground."
"...Alright. I'm in. Now what was this about more power?"
Kon sighed. School was boring. The highlight of his day was getting home to see Nozomi.
Orihime was taking some sort of leave, Rukia had gone back to soul society (not that he could SEE her anymore) and everyone else was...everyone else!
He decided he'd doodle in his notebook as the teacher explained something that was common sense to him.
It turned into a picture of him killing a crudely drawn hollow and Nozomi swooning over his awesomeness.
"It is good to see you again, Orihime Inoue." Said Ulquiorra, trying his best at conversation.
"Yes..it's nice to see you too." Orihime's mind, however, was on Ichigo. She was still trying to figure out what had happened.
Why was Ichigo with Aizen? Why was he trying to find hollows? Why had he brought her here?
She looked up at the doors when they opened.
Ichigo entered, followed by a catlike Hollow, somewhat shorter than him.
"Alright, listen up. This is Felicia Sangrenato, our first new ally and...friend." He added the last word carefully.
"Everyone get along, or I'll be forced to knock some heads around. Understand?" Ichigo said with authority.
Everyone nodded.
"Come on, Felicia. You said you wanted to become an arrancar, right?" Ichigo led her to Aizen's quarters.
"I have the first one. Get your ass out here."
Aizen walked down the staircase from the map room.
"Welcome back, Kurosaki Ichigo."
Ichigo shoved Felicia to her knees.
"Do it."
"As you wish."
Aizen raised his hand and the Hogyoku in his chest glowed.
Felicia's body was covered in bandages and then a glass-like box appeared around her.
The box glowed with a bright light and Ichigo covered his eyes.
When the light finished a young woman was where the Vasto Lorde had been before.
"So that's how you did it..." Ichigo's skin turned red under his mask.
She was naked.
He swiftly thrust his hollow in control of his eyes, his moral code being greater than that of his hollow's.
"Hello! Wow you actually did somethin' nice for me king! I'm touched, really."
"It's not my fault your morals are messed up," added Ichigo in his mind.
"Now that you understand that, how about lettin' me have control of our body so I can... "Initiate" our new "friend"?"
Ichigo groaned; he was as bad as Kon... no he was WORSE than Kon.
Ichigo realized that his lapse in control had given his hollow the time to rip control away from him. Seeing as his body was fueled mostly by his hollow powers, he figured his hollow would get what was coming to him after the stunt Ichigo thought he was about to pull.
This was a mistake.
"Outta the way, ya egomaniac." Instructed Hollow Ichigo as he shoved Aizen aside.
"Hey there. I'd introduce myself but I don't have a name. All you need to know is that this form is my form. Sure it's Ichigo's body, but the form is mine."
"What are you then?" Felicia asked, standing up.
"I'm his true instinct. I'm also what they call his "Inner Hollow". Ya see, Ichigo here's not a hollow, I am, Vasto Lorde to be precise. The only reason he got this strong is because of me."
"Really? Then what is Ichigo?"
"Vizard. Soul Reaper with Hollow powers. Perfect Vizard to be exact, like the opposite of what you are, a perfect Arrancar. Ya see, Ichigo here has this thing for the readhead ya saw comin' in. I on the other hand have better taste."
"Are you implying what I think you are?" Felicia said, a dare in and of itself.
"Depends on what you want the implications to be, babe." His hollow smirked as the same portion of his mask faded away as Ichigo's had earlier, revealing his trademark smirk.
'Are you TRYING to get me involved in a love triangle here?' Ichigo fumed inside his head.
'Tch. Hardly. We can just take turns. Set up a schedule or some shit. You get your girl, I get my girl, everyone's happy! Technically they don't have to share you or me!'
Ichigo sighed.
"I'm not quite used to this new form yet. Maybe you could... teach me the finer points?"
'HAHAHA... OH Ichigo this is hilarious! I'm going to get laid before you even leave the damn gates!'
'Not on my watch!' Icigo stole back control and his mask reformed.
"You and my hollow can have some time alone later." Ichigo growled. "Right now, I'll have Halibel escort you to your quarters."
Felicia sighed. "You must be the boring one. Fine."
"And put some goddamn clothes on!"
"Ichigo is there something you aren't telling us?"
'Eh?'
"Well I AM the anti you... maybe you're just pretending to like Orihime to escape the fact that you're secretly-!"
'Shut up right now. I'm NOT gay."
"I don't know... you even got to see Yorouichi naked... twice might I add. Seriously, you've gotta be gay."
'Shut up." Ichigo gave his hollow a "shove" and he began falling continuously.
"!"
"Speaking about clothes, I'd like to find something more...fitting." Ichigo said to Aizen.
"Ah, there are a number of different styles the Arrancar wear... perhaps you'd like one of them?"
"Sounds good."
Ichigo had selected an outfit that was visually similar to Aizen's original outfit, with red inside the jacket instead of violet.
"It looks good on you. Very fitting for an Immortal Being such as-!"
"Cut the Immortal shit out already, Souske. I know I'm all powerful, I don't need you reminding me. And as long as we're working together, call me Ichigo, not that official sounding bullshit, alright?"
"Very well, Ichigo."
"Glad we can see eye to eye...As for the rest of you! Arrancar created prior to my arrival aren't eligible to be Captains of any of the squads. You'll be our equivalent to Squad Zero. You're the most experiences at being...well..arrancar. You answer to Souske. Despite what he looks, he went through a hollow-like transformation himself. He's in charge of you, but I set the rules here. You aren't required to obey any commands of his unless you are in combat. You will follow the standards of the previous Espada-Fraccion setup. I know there are arrancar still here in Los Noches. How you manage them is up to you."
Ichigo looked to Felicia.
"What's your specialty? I know you're fast, but that's not specified enough. If you can't answer, go train a bit, figure it out. You, unlike the old Espada, will pick a Lieutenant. Then together you will pick up to eighteen more Arrancar to be your Officers. Once we have that set up we'll be good to go. I myself will be taking position of Captain Commander, and leader of Squad One."
"Then who will be your Lieutenant, Captain-Commander Ichigo?" Asked Aizen.
"Nel."
Tia was surprised. "What? This child?"
"You'll see. Orihime! Use your powers on Nel's mask." Ichigo commanded. It was obvious he was getting used to barking orders.
"Right. I reject!" She used her powers on Nel's mask.
There was a flash of light and Nelleil Tu Odelschwanck stood again, grown.
"I'm assuming you still remember my declaration, Lieutenant Odelschwanck?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes sir. I'm honored."
"We all know how hot headed I can get. I need someone who can keep a level head and out-think me at all times. As for everyone else, you're free to go. Except you two," He pointed to Nel and Orihime. "Come with me. We have to talk."
When they arrived at the old "palace" of the Primera Espada, Ichigo looked around.
"Well, it's colorful. But it isn't my style. I'll have to change this."
He noticed the lack of true furniture, aside from the table in the center and some shelves.
Instead, there were three bean bag chairs.
Ichigo managed to settle in without slashing it open with his claws and invited the two to do the same.
"You both have quite a few questions I'm sure. Some like 'what happened to you' and 'why are you working with Aizen?'. I'll listen. You two decide who asks first." Ichigo said, letting the bean bag chair sink under his weight.
The two whispered among each other before looking at Ichigo again.
Orihime raised a hand.
"Orihime. What is it you want to know? Ask anything at all."
"...Why did you bring me here?"
"To keep you safe."
"From who?"
"I know you'll have a hard time believing me, but Soul Society."
"What? How could you say something like that?"
"They're going to betray me. The Combat Pass I was carrying up until now? It was created to absorb, control, and analyze my spirit energy. They were tracking me this whole time, watching my moves. Then I transcended, like Aizen did. Except I went further. They got scared of me, I know it. They're going to try and kill me in any way possible. I knew blackmail would be a good way to do it, so I took the precaution of bringing you here. I don't want them hurting you, Orihime. You're too precious to me to let that happen."
She blushed; he had called her precious to him! Her heart was practically jumping out of her chest.
"I think I figured it out, but why are you doing all this?" Nel asked.
"I need a trump card. Captain Hitsugaya once said if Aizen had ten or more Vasto Lorde level arrancar, soul society would be doomed. Don't let the others know, but I don't plan on attacking them; it's a scare tactic. They'll know I'm serious then. That, and with all the arrancar left, it would be good to have some order around here."
"But why Aizen?" Asked Orihime.
"I needed him. He had the Hogyoku, and that is how to create Perfect Arrancar. I wanted no mistakes in creating Arrancar. That, and he taught me how to control my power to use Kido. I used the Black Coffin on Inaba thanks to his teaching. Besides, if he steps out of line, he's weaker now so I can beat him back into line. And if you're worried about soul society's reaction, I plan on returning him once I'm done with him. Easy as that."
"I suppose you've been waiting for me to ask, but how did you get that form?" Neliel questioned.
"Part in thanks to my Inner Hollow, part in thanks to Ulquiorra, and part in thanks to Orihime. Ulquiorra had killed me. Almost anyway. Orihime tried desperately to save me I'm sure, and I heard her voice. Then, before I could carve Ulquiorra's body, Uryu stepped in and brought me back to my senses. So, here I am."
He stood up.
"Neliel, your quarters are over there." Ichigo pointed to an adjacent room. "Orihime, since this place was built for Fraccion, there's an extra room. It's yours."
Then a knock came on Ichigo's door.
"Enter."
Aizen stood in the doorway.
"What is it, Souske?"
"There's someone here to see you."
"Really now? Who?"
"A soul reaper named Rukia Kuchki."
Ichigo walked up to the short soul reaper.
"What business brings you to Hueco Mundo, Soul Reaper?"
"Ichigo.. it's me! You won't even call me by name?"
"You are a Soul Reaper. I am a Hollow. We are enemies. The fact I know you is the only reason I haven't had you locked away. .?"
Rukia was hurt, but opened a folded piece of paper and cleared her throat.
"Ichigo Kurosaki,
I am terribly sorry for this misunderstanding. I know you're afraid. I know you're confused. I would like to meet with you in person to discuss the Substitute Soul Reaper Combat Pass in detail.
I understand you are trying to build a hollow equivalent to the Gotei 13. This is my theory, anyways. I wouldn't mind discussing this with you as well; it interests me greatly, and promises hope for some
peaceful coexistence between hollows and soul reapers... higher level ones at least... Arrancar included. I am on your side! I know it was you who freed Aizen, and I think I know why. But back to
the topic at hand. I would like to arrange a meeting on middle ground, at Karakura town. You may bring as many of your soldiers as you wish; I will come alone. Any other soul reapers who arrive have followed me.
Thank you for your time,
Jushiro Ukitake"
Ichigo was silent for a minute, then replied "Tell Captain Ukitake his words do not fall on deaf ears. I will meat him at Karakura Community Park in two days in the living world at noon. You are excused, Rukia Kuchki." Ichigo tapped the air and opened a Gargantua.
"This will take you back. Just run straight."
"...Thank you, Ichigo." Rukia solemnly walked into the portal.
As he walked back he was met by his Lieutenant.
"What did she want?"
"Captain Ukitake and I have a meeting arranged. I'm taking you and Ulquiorra as insurance. Go inform him."
"Yes sir."
Ichigo stepped out of the Gargantua, followed by Ulquiorra and Neliel.
He inhaled the fresh air in the park. Sure enough, there was Ukitake, waiting.
"Hello, Ichigo."
"Don't call me by my first name, Captain. Let's get down to business. What could you tell me about the Combat Pass I don't already know?"
"Please, sit." Ichigo did so cautiously, motioning his cohorts to stay standing.
"Now, the combat pass was-!"
"Created to observe, restrict and analyze my power. I know that." Ichigo interrupted.
"...Yes. I hadn't planned on... this... happening to you. When the Research and Development Department got a hold of the data, they started to worry about you. You became dangerous to them."
"And you don't find me dangerous?"
"No. You're like a small child; you feel alone and confused. There's nobody like you in the human world OR soul society. So you went to Hueco Mundo."
"Yeah. I did go to Hueco Mundo."
"And you started to build an army, an arrancar Replica of the Gotei 13, am I correct?"
"..." Ichigo didn't answer.
"What are you going to do with your "Hollow Gotei 13" when you get it together, Ichigo?"
"If I tell you, they'll force you to tell them."
"I won't. Even if I have to die."
"It's insurance. I don't actually plan on attacking the Soul Society unless they make the first move. Now that I know you weren't in on it... I'll have them spare you. NO, I'll make sure you're spared myself. If it comes to that."
"Thank you. You're still the kind young man I remember. You may look like a Hollow. You may call yourself a hollow. But as long as you have a heart, you're still Ichigo Kurosaki."
Then Ukitake changed the subject. "Who are your friends?"
"They aren't my friends, they're my subordinates. The one with the green hair is Neliel Tu Odelschwanck. She's my Lieutenant. The one with the black hair is Ulquiorra Cifer. He's under Aizen's command."
"And what is your rank, Ichigo?"
"I'm Captain-Commander of course. Hollows only know power. I'm strongest, I'm highest rank."
Ukitake had noticed a twinge of sadness in Neliel's expression when Ichigo called her his "subordinate".
"Does this make you happy, Ichigo? You had friends here. You have friends here. You even have a few in the Soul Society, like me or Rukia. Did you not notice? She got a promotion."
"...Really?"
"She's my Lieutenant now."
"Thats..." Ichigo froze. He didn't feel joy for his old friend... he should feel that, right?
Ukitake saw him flinch and decided to change topics again.
"I know you took Orihime Inoue also. Why her? You had many friends here as well, even family. Out of all of them, you chose one girl. Why?"
"I..."
'Dammit king, get out of the way!' His hollow shoved into control.
" It's cause he's in love with her."
"You aren't Ichigo, are you?"
"Nice guess. No, I'm his Inner Hollow. Before you blame me for ruining his life, I SAVED his life. Ulquiorra had him practically dead, then I combined my powers with his desires to turn him into this thing and save us both. Oh yeah, an' Orihime too. Not that I care about her."
"You don't act like any hollow I've ever seen."
"Course I don't. I'm just half of Ichigo."
"What do you mean?"
"Urahara stuck Ichigo in the Shattered Shaft. He started turning into a hollow. I was born. He got his soul reaper powers. I was suppressed. I got stronger. Fought Byakuya. Ichigo beat me in a fight. Here we are. I'm just what Ichigo would be if he had been a second slower."
"So you feel things like Ichigo?"
"Yes and no. I don't have any of that goody two shoes save my friends crap. I fight for me and him, because if he goes, I go. I like living, even if it's in this miserable world of rain and buildings that need to be rotated ninety degrees. Look, if you're trying to get me to comfort him, forget it. He's a lost cause. I could try taking over and undoing all the shit he did, but then I'd just wind up stuck in his head again listening to him whine and then get wet because when he gets sad, it pours in his inner world. I'm smarter than Ichigo tho'. I'm everything he's not, and then some. Orihime makes him happy. That's what he wants. HE want to be with her, but he doesn't have the balls to just outright say he likes her! He's come close once or twice, but now he's got us in this mess. Look, Whatever your name is, I don't' care what happens to his emotions, but I know Zanpakto don't agree with hollows well. He's succumbing to hopelessness. I think it might be the mask. I've successfully removed it once or twice, partially, but I can't keep it gone. It's part of the transformation."
"And there's no way at all to reverse it?"
"I haven't tried. I'm kind of scared to actually. It might rip us apart. It might turn him back temporarily. I can't say. How about we make a deal, Ukitake? I like those."
"What do you mean?"
"If Ichigo can manage to get in a favorable position (no pun intended) to actually get in Orihime's pants, I'll try and revert him back. Then maybe his body will accept his form and we can all go back to living happily ever after."
"So you're telling me that you want him to have sexual intercourse THAT BAD?"
"Hell yeah! I don't want us dying a virgin! There is one Arrancar Chick, but she's only interested in me."
"One moment." He looked over to a nearby tree.
"Rukia, you can come out now."
Rukia, beet red, stepped out from behind a tree.
"Hey, it's Rukia! You know why Ichigo's being such a dick? It's because he's going through a phase. He's being all depressed because he can't get back in his body and blah de blah de blah. I keep telling him that if he would just ASK Orihime she'd agree, but noooo he gives me his moral bullshit talk. If you're interested ya moron, yer living in the same building with her, so why not just-!"
Ichigo took control.
"Shut up. You're getting on my nerves again. I tolerated you for a while but then you got quiet I was glad!"
"Ichigo," said Rukia, standing next to Ichigo.
"Wha-!" She kicked him in the ribs.
"GAH! What was that for?"
"You're such a kid Ichigo! You got taller but your brain didn't get any bigger with that transformation! I know how much Orihime likes you! As your mentor, I think you should be open about your feelings! I can't believe I'm agreeing with a hollow, but you need to grow up! You're a healthy young man, are you not?" Rukia had a somewhat comedic face on.
"Geez you old woman, you sound like my dad!" Ichigo replied grumpily.
Then Rukia froze as she had a blade to the front and back of her throat.
The arrancar had reacted to her kick.
"Woah woah, easy! Stand down! It's just horseplay!"
The two arrancar backed off and sheathed their swords.
"Seriously Ichigo, you know nothing about girls! I bet Orihime is in so much pain right now because you keep ignoring her! If you feel the same way then tell her!"
Ichigo stood up and walked back to his companions.
"What if it turns out I'm not all she thought I was?"
"Fool! Doubt makes you weak! You'll never succeed with that attitude."
Ichigo froze. He'd heard those words before.
"Ichi...neve...don't..."
That voice... Zangetsu... he could...
He could barely hear Zangetsu.
"The combat pass was meant to restrain your powers. What if I had something similar created? Or we had Urahara do it?"
"You'd do that? I think it's too late; I can barely hear Zangetsu anymore." Ichigo's shoulders slumped.
Rukia grabbed Ichigo's hair and pulled.
"Ichigo! You're going to march back to Hueco Mundo, confess your feelings to Orhime, and get your soul reaper powers back in front alright? Then you're going to come back and we'll get you back into your body! Understand!"
"Yes yes! Stop pulling my hair, it hurts!"
Ichigo smiled under his mask.
This felt normal.
Normal was a good feeling.
Rukia released him.
"I can't just drop everything though; I'll have to cut out on school for a while. If I don't finish what I started then what was the point in starting at all?"
"Perhaps we can meet again some time?" Ukitake suggested.
"Perhaps." Ichigo turned to his cohorts. "Ulquiorra. Neliel. Let's go."
He tapped the air and opened Gargantua.
'If you can still hear me, Zangetsu, I'm trying. I"m trying old friend.'
END CHAPTER 9
Well, it looks like Ichigo's gonna be alright after all.
Or is he?
Now, with the the weight of saving his Soul Reaper powers, finally admitting his feelings to Orihime, and getting back to his old self how will he cope with the pressure?
And will Urahara and Ukitake manage to work some technological magic to help Ichigo return to his body?
Next time:
Hopeful Hollow With a Dying Heart! Ichigo's Fate Decided!
ALSO:
Hit me up for a chat sometime!
I always enjoy hearing live from you, the readers!
Chatango: HinamizawaWarGod (Send me a message so I can add you as a friend)
Skype: PimpedOutToast (Just send a friend request; this account is specifically for the account)
Youtube: Homepage on profile