This War's Not Over: Chapter 20
Losing Everything
Hello everyone, I'm back~!
The reviews were as fantastic as usual, and I'm so glad for every single one of them!
On with the next chappy! Slight Ichiruki coming your way!
Ichigo had never seen anything like it.
He flash-stepped after Miko across the Royal Dimension, staring at his surroundings in curious wonder. He had never really had the chance to see what the Royal Dimension looked like, since he was drugged up and thrown into a cell as soon as he got here.
The floating lands were out of this world, but considering all the strange things Ichigo had seen, he knew he would easily get used to it. In fact, he felt like the more he stayed here, the more he felt like he belonged here.
The teen shuddered. It was a terrible feeling, especially when this place was where his enemies resided. Ever since he had arrived here, the strange voices that clogged up his mind had stopped—and left him a longing to remain here in the Royal Dimension.
Ichigo cursed under his breath. Perhaps this alluringness was due to the fact that he was in some ways the Oken. The real key belonged here after all. It made Ichigo want to scream at the whole world, but then everyone would think he was crazy.
The teen almost crashed into Miko as she halted abruptly. Ichigo took a few steps back on her path of reishi that she had created for them, dazed. After a few moments, Ichigo shook himself vigorously before confronting Miko's back with a puzzled face.
"Why'd we stop?"
"Isn't it obvious? We're here, reaper boy," Miko said, turning towards him.
Ichigo frowned, straining to peer around her. They had come across another one of the floating islands, yet what confused Ichigo was that it was barren and without a single person in sight.
"Are you so lonely that you have to make friends with a floating islan—"
He was cut off abruptly by Miko slapping him round the head. It made him wince not because it hurt, but rather because it reminded him of Rukia. It prompted him to remember with a pang that he was still separated from his friends.
"Don't be stupid," Miko snapped, surprising Ichigo because it was the first time he had seen her slightly ticked off. "There's a hidden hatch down there."
"Oh," Ichigo said dumbly, rubbing his head.
She turned her heels to Ichigo, reaching the island using her reiatsu to walk above the nothingness. Ichigo paced after her, relieved to have finally attained solid ground. Without turning, Miko addressed him again. "Supposedly, my friend knows you already. You're lucky that he went through the trouble of travelling all the way from the three worlds to this one just for you."
Ichigo raised brow, clearly weary of whoever this 'friend' was. He would find out soon enough whether to fully trust Miko or not based on whatever her friend had to say.
Miko crouched down in the dirt, her hands feeling for the hidden opening. With a grunt, she gripped both hands around two chunks of grass, before heaving the hatch open. Without bothering to look and see if Ichigo was following, Miko dropped down to whatever lay in wait for them below. Ichigo had no choice but to follow.
It was dark at first, but as Ichigo's eyes began to adjust to the dim light, he flew three feet away in fright as the face of no other than Gin Ichimaru himself stood inches away. Ichigo tumbled clumsily to the floor, before getting a grip on himself. He looked up from a sitting position, his hand itching for Zangetsu. But something told him to refrain for doing so. He pointed shakily at Gin, his jaw agape with shock.
Ichigo blurted out: "You're…you're supposed to be dead!"
Rukia and the others were running across the path of reichi Rukia was making for them, pants and gasps coming out at regular intervals. The palace seemed ages away, no matter how long they ran on for. It reminded Rukia vaguely of Las Noches.
"Rukia!"Grimmjow's voice came from behind.
The petite soul reaper ignored him. She was still ticked off with him for all the stunts he pulled back in Hueco Mundo. In some ways, Grimmjow was a lot like Ichigo.
"Rukia!"
She proceeded to ignore the angry voice. Her eyes narrowed. We're coming, Ichigo.
"Um, Rukia?" it was Renji's voice this time.
Rukia finally turned around, huffing angrily. "What?"
"Ichigo's reiatsu…it changed location a couple of minutes ago. That's what Grimmjow was trying to tell you," Renji said impatiently.
Rukia flinched. How could she have been so stupid? Her anger had blinded her form listening to some valuable information. How could she have not sensed Ichigo's reiatsu before? Perhaps because it was…suppressed?
Rukia scanned her friends, puzzlement on her face. "Where's Grimmjow?"
Renji sighed. "He's gone."
Gin's fox like grin shrunk to a fake puzzled look. "Hm?"
Ichigo didn't say anything, continuing to finger Gin with the most stupid expression on his face. Shiro was clearly enjoying this. Gin tapped a finger on his chin thoughtfully before the trademark smile returned to his face.
"Ahah!" Gin said, and Ichigo half expected a light bulb to appear above his head.
Gin turned towards Miko, who'd been hiding in the shadows until now. "You haven't told him the whole story haven't you?"
Miko shook her head. Gin waved her away casually, nearing his face to Ichigo's ear and smiling slyly again. "Excuse Miko, she…always leaves out a few key details."
Ichigo edged away from Gin. "Why do you always have to get so close to people all the time?"
Gin straightened up, a fake hurt expression on his face. "You don't have to be so rude Ichigo-kun. Especially when you haven't seen me since I 'died'."
Ichigo got to his feet, brushing off the dust of his red uniform, continuing to stare at Gin like he had gone and grown another head. He hated it when Gin would talk about his supposed 'death' so casually like as if he was talking about the weather.
"How're are you still alive?" Ichigo asked at last.
Gin sat himself on a wooden chair, and gestured for Ichigo to do the same. The teen awkwardly decided to sit down. He still wasn't sure whether Gin was a friend or a foe. But his memory flashed back to when Gin had been lying there, dying by Aizen's fatal blow. He had surely tried to fight Aizen.
Gin slipped his hands into his long espada sleeves, lying back against his chair.
"By using Kyokasuigetsu's power. You should get used to Aizen's tricks by now," Gin said, with a hint of amusement of his face.
Ichigo gave him a confused look. Gin nodded to the room where Miko had vanished. "Aizen couldn't hypnotise you at the time because your…lineage, Ichigo-kun. However, Unmeibureka, or, Fate Breaker, the name of Miko's own hallucinating zanpakuto, helped generate enough power along with Kyokasuigetsu's own enough to make even you hallucinate, Ichigo-kun."
Gin contemplated Ichigo's dumbstruck expression for a few moments, enjoying Ichigo's astonished look. After a while, Ichigo managed to process the information in his brain. He swallowed, worried for what his new question might bring. "What lineage are you talking about?"
Gin rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, swatting the air with a downward flick of his hand. "Don't ask so many questions! I thought you might ask something like that…Just ask Isshin-san will you? I don't really no much of the details."
Ichigo's eyes narrowed suspiciously. It was clear that Gin didn't want to talk about it. It frustrated Ichigo that secrets were always being kept hidden from him. But he resigned to asking again, settling for an angry huff. Gin was watching him closely, his usually closed eyes opened ever so slightly.
"Why?" Ichigo asked suddenly. "Why all this trouble for me?"
Gin seemed to be surprised again. "Didn't Aizen tell you everything was to assist your evolution? Giving you a reason to fight Aizen in battle would make you even stronger."
Ichigo's eyes glinted fearfully. "So you're still with Aizen then? And Miko too?"
"Of course. We have to take down the evil Spirit King, Ichigo-kun! Do you really think our goal has changed?" Gin smiled with malice.
Ichigo's eyes narrowed. So he'd been duped this whole time that Gin had died and that Miko was just a simple Rukongai spirit that had absolutely nothing to do with Aizen whatsoever. He should have known better. Even in prison, Aizen had kept a tight clasp on his life. Ichigo would never be free of him.
"Miko really was used as a test subject for the bloodlock poison though, in case you were doubting her story. Her anger towards the Royal Guard is what brought her to us," Gin added.
Ichigo brought his gaze down to the floor, his eyes narrowing. "Right."
When Ichigo looked up again, he was surprised to see Gin's extended hand close to his face.
"What do you say, Ichigo-kun? After all the Spirit King has attempted to do to you, why don't you come with us?" Gin smiled.
Ichigo looked at Gin's extended hand, his expression flat. "Are you hoping to recruit me as your 0 espada again then?"
Gin's smile grew even wider, but he got the message. He slipped his hand back into his espada uniform, strangely content.
"Aizen was all worried that they had altered your personality, Ichigo-kun. I'm glad to see that you haven't changed," he said cheerfully.
"Who knows," Ichigo muttered. "I just might if they lay a hand on my friends."
Gin was already moving away. Ichigo took a step forwards after him. "Wait! What about my friends?"
"They're already on their way. And one of them is already here."
Ichigo eyes widened at Gin, but before he could have a chance to speak, the hatch door above Ichigo's head was kicked open, slamming down onto the poor teen and burying him under three feet of soil.
"Ichigo! Are you okay?" Grimmjow screamed from above the opening.
He landed onto the pile of earth, searching for his leader. The 6th espada froze when his eyes landed on Gin. He immediately drew out his zanpakuto, bewildered that his previous leader was still alive.
"Ichigo! Where are you?" Grimmjow called.
"Get off me you bastard!" Ichigo's muffled voice came from underneath the pile of dirt.
Grimmjow jumped back, surprised to find the teen right underneath his nose, and began to unbury him. Ichigo's orange head popped out of the soil, his face flushed with anger.
Grimmjow smirked. "I think I found a strawber—"
And was immediately cut off by Ichigo's fist that sent him hurtling across the room.
"Thanks for nothing you ass!" Ichigo snarled, before jumping out of the opening in the earth and to the world outside.
Rukia and the others arrived to where Grimmjow's reiatsu had led them too, aghast when they found the 6th espada rolling around in the dirt with Ichigo, locked into an angry fist fight—and Gin standing there casually watching.
They all landed on solid ground, Rukia charging towards the fighting pair to knock some sense into them. She had no idea what Gin's intentions were or why he was even there at all.
"Get off him you moron!" she said, her kick flying at Grimmjow.
Grimmjow crumbled to the floor, clutching his nose. Ichigo stood up triumphantly. "See? I told you she'd be more on my side than yours!"
"You shut up too!" a pissed off Rukia screamed, sending her fist slamming into Ichigo's jaw.
Both were sent sprawling on either side of the tiny island, with a confused Miko coming out of the hatch and staring at the scene.
Ichigo sat there in his corner, sulking for all he was worth, while Gin and Miko took turns explaining themselves to his friends. Ichigo watched silently as they nodded cautiously, trying to make sense of things. They were much better at handling it than Ichigo was.
"Ain't you Mr. Happy?" Shiro's voice grinned.
Ichigo face contorted with frustration. "Shut up. I'm just sick of hearing people's voices that's all. Yours included."
He could hear his hollow's eerie laugh at the back of his mind.
"Kingy, it's fucking hilarious when you try to be mean."
The whole team seemed to have accepted the story more or less. Everyone had all agreed not to engage in a full battle against any member of the Royal Guard; their main priority was to get Ichigo home and avoid being recaptured again.
There were occasionally suspicious glances towards Miko and Gin, but otherwise, the group moved through the Royal Dimension without many problems.
"Since the Royal Dimension gate practically never opens here, the security is pretty lax," Miko had explained.
But just as they were beginning to relax, their luck ran out as a familiar voice crooned behind them. "There you are, Ichigo-sama."
Ichigo turned around to see the one enemy face he actually wanted to see. Jun, all clad in the usual Royal Guard red, was standing floating in the air above them, his usual sly smirk on his face. Ichigo wanted payback. Badly. He returned it with his own toothy grin, Renji and Grimmjow looking at him like he'd gone crazy.
"I want you to consider retreating and letting the Oken remain in its rightful place here in the Royal Dimension. Unless you want to spend the worst five minutes of you're life," Jun smiled unpleasantly.
He was immediately answered by Rukia's blizzard of snow, which he nimbly evaded with ease.
"Rukia! What did we say before about not engaging with any of the Royal Guard?" Renji protested.
Rukia turned to him, giving him her Kuchiki glare. "He is clearly not going to let us pass."
Miko's eyes narrowed. "We should all be careful. Jun may be a simple messenger, but he is extremely strong. It was because of his strength that he was chosen to come get you, reaper boy."
Everyone nodded in assent to attack at once. It was probably too many people, but they had to finish it quickly if they were to move on without making too much ruckus.
"That's right," Jun sneered. "Don't hold back."
"Bankai!" Ichigo answered, before charging into the air to meet Jun's blade.
The teen pushed his sword against Jun's, sparks flying as they grinded against one another. But Jun flash stepped away due to Chad's beam attack, before reappearing behind Ichigo to slash him in the back.
Jun was very fast. Ichigo didn't turn around in time as Jun's zanpakuto tore down his back, making Ichigo let out a pained scream. He rolled in the air a few feet away, Uryu covering him as he fired his rain of arrows upon the messenger. Ichigo picked himself up, even angrier than when he started.
Ichigo waited for an opening in Jun's defences, and when he thought he saw one, he charged. He brought his own zanpakuto down on his enemy, Jun making a side step in order to evade it. It cut a tear in his red uniform, and blood rolled down the gash and dripped along his arm. Jun cursed, shrugging the pain off like as if it was nothing.
"Your friends are more troublesome than I thought, Ichigo-sama," Jun smiled to what could be miss-interpreted as a kind smile, but it was all fake according to Ichigo.
"Let me show you, the power of my zanpakuto," Jun smiled, running his thumb and his index finger along his blade. "Stun them, Shiroinazuma."
Jun's red reiatsu enveloped him briefly, causing Ichigo to leap back and regain his friends' sides.
"Be careful," Miko murmured to the group. "It's an electrical zanpakuto. Whatever it shoots at you, don't attempt to block it. He wasn't joking when he said the worst five minutes of your life."
Ichigo was about to word his confusion but was interrupted by Jun's flying form, which was hurtling towards them. Ichigo acted reflexively. "Getsugatensho!"
The black and red reiatsu smashed into the messenger, but Jun countered it with a spark of electricity, ripping the getsugatensho to shreds. He came out unscathed, continuing his charge towards them. He crashed his sword against Ichigo's, the force making Ichigo's heels dig into the ground, creating a huge crater.
In his shikai, Jun was obviously much faster. Ichigo and his friends continued working together, while noticing in annoyance that Gin hadn't raised a single finger to help them.
"Bakudo 61: Rikujokoro!" Miko called in the midst of the battle.
The eight beams of light smashed into Jun, who had been temporarily distracted by Chad's attack. Rukia took her cue to unleash her Hakuren onto the messenger. Jun was encased in ice, but sparks of electricity sent the ice flying in all directions, the messenger breaking free.
He turned to Rukia, his eyes lit with uncharacteristic frustration to not be able to get to Ichigo. He pointed his blade at Rukia, charging a huge beam of light that crackled with lightning. He launched it at her, the panting Rukia just managing to lift up her gaze to stare in horror at the projectile flying towards her.
"Rukia!" Ichigo gasped, flash stepping in to grab Rukia's shihakusho.
He moved in to carry her away, his back to the projectile, hoping his bankai's speed would be fast enough—but it wasn't. The beam splattered onto his back, giving him the worst electric shock Ichigo had ever felt in his whole life. He immediately let go of Rukia, his jaws parted in a silent scream. He tumbled backwards and hurtled towards the island ground below, crashing into a plume of dirt.
"Ichigo!" he could hear Rukia's distant scream as his body convulsed on the floor.
Ichigo's eyes were open, but he couldn't see anything. No. That wasn't it. He was being blinded by the lightning that arced around his body. He couldn't blink, couldn't close his eyes to block the blinding light. Pain washed over Ichigo. He felt like his skin was melting right off his muscles and bones. He tried to scream, but it was as if he had lost all of his functions—his arms, legs and torso shook no matter how hard he strained to stop them. The crackle and pop of electricity filled his ears, but soon, another sound took over.
"Ichigo!"
It was Rukia's voice.
He tried to say something to her, but only a gurgling groan came out. He shut his mouth. He sounded like a wounded dog. As he flipped over onto his front, the last crackles of electricity subsided. The worst five minutes of his life was over. He hoped. Rukia was at his side immediately, shaking him. His brown eyes seemed to become more focused when he saw her. He stared at her quietly for a while, neither of the saying anything as they heard the distant sounds of battle.
"I don't…I don't need…your protection!" Rukia finally burst out angrily.
He didn't say anything, knowing full well that he couldn't speak properly. He hoped that just his eyes would tell her everything. He knew she would understand. They had been able to communicate with each other without speaking for as far as he could remember. There was no reason she wouldn't understand now.
And Rukia did. She narrowed her eyes at him, before closing them tightly shut.
"I used to think…that when you died—I would be in Soul Society. Waiting," Rukia admitted after awhile.
Ichigo voice came out in barely a whisper. "I wouldn't mind that."
Rukia smiled a bit. "But I realized, after I left you when you lost your powers…that your death was the most horrible thing to wish for. You should be here, with your friends."
Ichigo opened his mouth to argue that Rukia was his friend, and couldn't help but feel a twinge of hurt when she mentioned the moment she faded away. She positioned her hands to use her healing kido on him, but due to her lack of medicinal skills, it wouldn't do Ichigo much good.
"So don't die for me. Okay?" Rukia said almost so softly that Ichigo had to strain to catch the words.
Everything felt so out of place to Ichigo. First, it was his inner hollow who was acting odd. Now, it was Rukia.
"I'm sure that Inoue could do a much better job than me," Rukia sighed, finishing her healing kido, but the hidden meaning of her words confused Ichigo.
Ichigo was able to sit up, but his movements were incredibly shaky. Ichigo was furious that Gin had remained at an observing distance, but the teen said nothing to express his resentment. He couldn't speak very well anyway.
The battle was still waging above their heads, Renji's bankai letting a huge energy blast rip through the air. They were all incredibly injured, all huffing and panting feverishly.
"King. I can make us turn into an espada again," his hollow's voice sounded in his mind, before he added sweetly, "Unless you don't wanna protect Queeny."
It took a few moments for Ichigo to register who "Queeny" was before he practically hissed out loud. Rukia gave him a confused expression at his sudden angry look.
"You in pain?" Rukia asked.
Ichigo was glad that he looked angry. It was a good alibi for why his face was flushed red ever so slightly. He waved her dismissively.
"Nah. It's just my hollow," Ichigo winced in embarrassment. "Saying stupid things."
Rukia didn't prod further, her eyes trailing on the fight. It was then that what his hollow had said previously finally got the teen's attention.
"Did you just say you can turn me into an espada again?" Ichigo asked his hollow mentally.
"Would I lie?" Shiro smiled innocently, and it almost looked weird on the hollow's face.
Ichigo ignored Shiro's remark. "Well I'm all ears."
"Just sit back and enjoy the show. This might hurt. A bit."
Ichigo was about to scream that what a hurt a bit for Shiro hurt like three rollercoasters running him over ten timesfor Ichigo, but he didn't have time to protest as he felt a whirl of gale and dust envelop him. Rukia was thrown back a few meters, bewildered. Pain lanced through Ichigo's body as he began to transform, feeling the familiar horn at the top of his head. His red uniform began to whiten, replacing it with a typical espada uniform instead. He emerged with tensa zangetsu coiled around his arm, his yellow eyes glowing for battle.
He approached Rukia, who blinked slowly, as if registering that Ichigo had reverted back to his espada form.
"Mind giving me a warning before you pull a stunt like that?" Rukia snapped after she had recovered from her initial shock.
"Sorry," Ichigo said.
He felt rejuvenated by his espada form, since all the damage of Jun's electrical attack seemed to have disappeared. Rukia gave him another withering glare before gesturing him to follow her towards the battle above. Gin watched on with interest. Ichigo had no idea what Gin's problem was, but sooner or later he was going to come and fix it.
He raced after Rukia to aid their friends, who had taken on more than their own fair share of beating. Ichigo and Rukia joined Renji's side, Rukia supporting her wounded friend. "Come on Renji! Let's do this for Soul Society!"
Renji nodded, but Jun only gave them another one of his unpleasant smiles. "What are you talking about? You people don't seem to understand, do you?"
Renji and Rukia glanced at each other in confusion, and they were totally unprepared for what Jun was about to say next. The messenger gave them a smile full of malice.
"There is no Soul Society to go back to."
Tadaaa~!
I had to tweak a bit here and there to make Gin's return plausible. Hope it wasn't too confusing.
And Jun's zanpakuto, Shiroinazuma, means "White Lightning".
Many thanks to everyone for reading, please review!