It had taken a while but some of Orihime's shock had subsided. Sora had taken her below the ship into the room for her to sleep. Orihime felt weak like she was about to faint. She felt as if all life had left her body and her face was as pale as a ghost. Her eyes stared at the ceiling in bewilderment. How could all of this have happened in one day? How could her life go from blissful to hellish in a matter of hours? She could not fathom the events that have occurred but her body gave out and she drifted into a state of sleep.
'Orihime!' a voice cried out to her. 'orihime!' it cried again. The voice was faint, yet familiar. 'It couldn't be' Orihime thought. She was at her house in one of the gardens. It was night time, a full moon and there was a thick fog around. She could not see all that well but followed the voice. She saw a shadowy figure in front and slowly inched closer to it. The mist immediately in front of her began to clear revealing the figure's face in front of her. 'Ichigo?' she whispered in disbelief as she saw his signature orange hair and scowling face. 'Orihime' she said as he wrapped his arms around her. 'I'm glad you are here. I thought something happened to you. Are you okay?' he whispered.
She could only nod in response. This doesn't make any sense she thought he's dead, so how is he in front of me right now? 'Ichigo…..I don't understand. You're dead. I saw you die in that explosion. How are you here talking to me?' she asked.
'Orihime…I will always be alive in your heart, if you keep me there. Please forgive me for not being able to fulfill my promise to stay at your side forever.' He said his voice cracking as if he was about to cry though he had never shed a tear in front of her.
'It's hard,' she said before pausing ' but I forgive you Ichigo, because I love you and I will always love you. No matter how many lives I live, no matter who I meet, you will always be the only person I can truly love with all my heart.' She said choking on tears that she tried desperately to hold back. Despite her best efforts those tears welled up and flowed down her face.
Ichigo's heart was breaking, he hated seeing his princess in such pain. 'please don't cry Orihime. I hate seeing you in pain.' He said using his hand to wipe away the tears from her face. 'I'm sorry I am the reason for your heartbreak and sorrow. I love you Orihime.' He said. In that moment her eyes met his and he kissed her gently. She wished this moment could last forever even though she realized it was a dream and she will eventually have to wake up.
Orihime awoke to the sound of roaring waves and shouts from above deck. She rose from the bed slowly and realized that she had dried tears caked to her face. She probably cried in her sleep last night. She only wished that she never woke up to reality. She cleaned herself up and met up with her brother at breakfast. She was dining with the crew of the merchant ship that had served to ship sugar and other goods around the south. However now since the captain was Sora's good friend Kaien Shiba he agreed to take him to England since the Inoue's have relatives there and can be protected. Both Sora and Kaien discussed their plans for getting to England and that it will take two months to get there. Orihime made herself comfortable and put on a fake smile, trying to act as normal as she could even though she felt empty inside. The day went by like any other day on a ship. She stared out at the ocean above deck and stayed close to the crew but rarely talked because she obviously wasn't in the mood. Night fell again and she was hoping she could continue the nice dream she was having last night hoping to see Ichigo again. She drifted into sleep and saw Ichigo again she was happy for the dream last night was replaying itself and continuing but this dream was about to turn into a nightmare.
Ichigo was with Orihime. He had kissed her and was looking into her eyes, when suddenly the explosions and blasts from canons were heard around them. She was reliving the nightmare of the attack on the estate.
'Ichigo!' she shouted reaching towards him.
'Orihime!' he shouted his arms outstretched towards her. Their hands reached for each other but missed as Orihime was yanked backwards. 'No!' she shouted. She didn't know what was pulling her away from Ichigo but she looked at him as the distance between them grew.
'Why are you leaving me Orihime. Why are you leaving me to die? What have I done wrong for you to abandon me like this!' he shouted to the top of his lungs watching her disappear from his sight.
'I'm sorry Ichigo. I'm Sorry!' she shouted. With that sentence she bolted upright in the bed, screaming. Her brother was next to her and tried his best to comfort her. He knew she would be having nightmares and feeling guilty over what happened. He wished he could stop her pain, how many more times would she have nightmares and wake up like this he wondered.
Ichigo had remembered fighting on the docks when a loud explosion was set off throwing his body into the ocean. He hit his head on a rock when he was thrust into the water and everything faded to black. He thought it was the end that he would drown and die. 'Orihime, I must save her, but I….can't…..I'm sorry' he thought as everything faded around him.
He opened his eyes and was surrounded by utter darkness. What is this? He thought. Am I dead? Am I in the afterlife or hell?
'You are not dead yet Ichigo Kurosaki.' a strong male voice said.
'What do you mean? Who are you? Where am I?' he asked unsure if he himself wanted to know the answer to his questions. Where is this voice coming from? I can't see anybody. Ichigo thought to himself.
'My name is Tensa Zangetsu. I am a parasite demon or sword beast and I offer you a deal. I can save your life if you agree to my deal.'
'Deal? sword beast? I don't understand? I won't make a deal with the devil much less a demon.' Ichigo said.
'I think I can change your mind. What do you want most in the world Ichigo?' Zangetsu asked.
'I want to protect Orihime. I have to be there for her.' He said
'And how could you protect someone if you are dead, boy? You kept saying you have to save some woman, isn't that right? Do you want to save her or are you going to abandon her again?' Zangetsu asked.
'I wouldn't abandon her. I will do whatever it takes to be there for her. I will go to hell and back for her.' he shouted.
'I'm glad to hear that.' Zangetsu said 'now if you agree to my deal I will allow you to live and find her and you could be with her forever. If you do not agree to my deal you will die and never see your beloved again.' Said Zangetsu.
Ichigo gritted his teeth not knowing whether he should trust this so called demon but he was running out of time and options. 'What of this deal?' Ichigo asked.
Ichigo was now in a standing up position but floating, submerged in water. How am I even able o breathe underwater? He asked himself. A reign of white moon light circled around him and in front he could see a figure he assumed was Zangetsu. The man/demon was dressed in black clothes. He looked older than Ichigo and had wavy brown hair.
'You may have heard of supernatural beings called soul reapers that maintain the balance between souls from this life and the next. Their purpose is to destroy evil souls called hollows and help lingering spirits pass over to the spirit world. I am a Zanpukto which is a soul reapers weapon, a sword with special powers. However, my master has died and since his sword was not destroyed I was able to manifest myself due to my high level of power still within me. A zapukto that manifests and lives without its master is a sword beast. I can sustain myself for 100yrs but that was 99yrs ago. Now I need to form another bond with another master or I too shall fade from this world. If your soul is strong enough to accept my power, you shall become a soul reaper, if not you will become a hollow and die. Be warned Ichigo, shall you choose to accept my power and be able to control it you can be strong but the more you use my power the more it will consume you. It all depends on your strength and willpower.' Zangetsu stated staring at the boy in front of him wondering if he would be the one who could harness his power after all this time.
Ichigo was listening warily to what Zangetsu said. Could he really consider this deal? Could he trust a demon? What was he thinking…..that's it though….. he was not thinking of consequences he could only think of orihime. If he became a soul reaper he could see Orihime again he would give up everything he thought.
'Okay, Zangetsu…was it? I accept your deal.' Ichigo said as he smirked in confidence.
Zangetsu nodded. 'Are you sure Ichigo? Once you have agreed to this there is no going back. Do you understand?'
'Yes…I understand old man…so give me the power already….let's do this!' Ichigo said his words edged with excitement.
'Alright' Zangetsu acknowledged and told him the procedure to acquire power. 'Now Ichigo I shall say my name and stab you with my sword. You will also state your name and the power transfer will be complete. You need to stay strong and focus on your goal so that you do not become a hollow.'
'I Tensa zangetsu entrust my blade and power onto you Ichigo Kurosaki.'
'And I Ichigo Kurosaki, accept your power.' Ichigo said as Zangetsu thrust his blade into Ichigo's chest. Ichigo could see and feel the power materialize before him. Zangetsu was surrounded by a bright blue light which flowed towards Ichigo. Ichigo was absorbing the power but it was so much, almost more than he could handle. He slowly felt life coming back to him. He could feel his body that was in the water.
Zangetsu looked at him, 'here comes the dangerous part Ichigo. For me to become your zanpukto I must first merge with your soul. Zangetsu started to disappear from the bottom bit by bit particles of him passing into Ichigo's body. He then reached out with his hand and pushed it into Ichigo's chest. There was a bright flash of light before he disappeared completely. Ichigo opened his eyes and was back in his original body. He swam to the surface coughing water and gasping for air. The power from the merging of their two souls was too great. Ichigo screamed in pain as a hollow black center formed in his chest and thick white liquid poured out. It covered his face and chest forming a hollow mask and horns.
(A/N basically how he turned into a hollow when kisuke was training him before he became a soul reaper except he has horns on his head and his whole body is white like his fully hollowfied self.)
He convulsed in pain as the mask formed and his eyes changed color (black sclera, yellow iris). The wounds on his body were now being healed by the white fluid that leaked out of the wound and helped him regenerate. He was on the verge of turning into a hollow, already possessing the regenerative powers of highly ranked hollows.
'Ichigo! Get a hold of yourself. Do not lose your Identity now! Fight! Call my name and complete the transformation.' Zangetsu's voice called out within his mind.
Ichigo focused hard on the task at hand using all the willpower he could summon. He thought of his goal, his reason for being here, he thought about her. 'I call forth and accept my zanpukto Tensa Zangetsu!' he shouted. There was a bright light and he was thrust into the air as zangetsu's sword form appeared. Ichigo came plummeting back to the ground but he didn't hit water coming back down, he hit wood. He crashed on a ship but lucky for him it was a ship with soul reapers.
'Urahara! What was that loud crashing sound?' a red haired man named Renji asked. A man with short blond hair wearing a striped green and white hat responded 'That's the new soul reaper that I was looking for according to the researchers at the soul society. They told me he would appear around this location.' Ichigo had gotten up but was not completely himself. He still retained his hollow features with glowing yellow eyes, white mask and zanpukto.
'Urahara are you sure that thing is a soul reaper? It looks more like a hollow. I've never seen anything like it before.' Renji said. In that moment Ichigo growled at them and pointed his sword as if he was about to attack. Renji readied his zanpukto for an attack, however Ichigo screamed out alarming both of the men. He then started to tear the white mask that was covering his face. 'What is he trying to do?' Renji asked, gripping zabimaru tighter.
'Hold on,' said kisuke 'I think he's fighting the hollow within him and trying to gain control.' Ichigo then ripped the mask off and the rest of his hollow shell was shattered as well. He dropped to the floor propping himself up on one knee.
'What's going on? Where am I? Who are you?' he asked the two men standing in front of him.
'We are soul reapers just like you. We are your friends and are here to help you so relax. What is your name soul reaper' Kisuke said.
'I'm Ichigo Kurosaki. I…' he started but collapsed on the ground.
'Well I guess he exhausted all his reiatsu for now. Let's put him below deck until he wakes up then we can find out more about this situation. I look forward to knowing more about you Ichigo.' Kisuke said. 'Things just got interesting.'
To Be continued ….
A/N: Thanks everyone for reading my chapter. I hope you liked it. So sorry it took this long to update. I will try to update every 3-5 wks as time permits or at least once a month. I hope it lived up to your expectation and was worth the wait. It was so hard and took me forever to write. I just hope I didn't mess up the story :- ( please review and let me know what you think. Don't be too harsh okay?