A/N: All copyrighted material belongs to its respective owner.
"You're his hollow!" She gasped. She seen the smile on his face switch to one of approval, as he hovered towards her.
"Got it in ne guess, very impressive Queen." He confirmed as he made his way closer to her.
"Why are you here?" she asked while holding her ground. She wasn't necessarily afraid of him, but he was intimidating to be around after all. Seeing him smirk she asked again. "Why are you here?!"
"Am I here?" He asked cryptically. Moving passed her he turned and whispered in her ear, "Why are you here?"
"What?" She whispered as she spun around to face him again. She watched with rapt attention as he floated around the abyss never taking his eyes off of her.
"You're here for a reason Queen, now what could that be?" He asked mockingly. With a wave of his hand a projection of a young Ichigo appeared. Just as quickly as it appeared it dissipated with the flick of his wrist. He watched her mull it over and was impressed by her, she was definitely a lot sharper than the King was.
"I want to learn about Ichigo. I want to know everything about him, the good and the bad." She answered back softly, bringing her arms up to hug herself, a small attempt at self-assurance.
Once again she watched the white clone, she flinched a bit when he reached for her. Her anxiety turned to confusion when the white hand passed harmlessly through her arm.
"You're not real!" She exclaimed, only to try amend her statement when a look of hurt and anger passed through the specters eyes. "You're obviously here, but what are you?"
"A distant memory an echo of what I once was." He replied moving around her again before she could react he whispered in her ear again. "I was brought forth because of you Queen."
The way his double layered voice caressed her ear made a cold shiver run down her spine. She called him forth, but how?
"I don't understand." She whispered again.
"And here I thought you were smarter than he was." He mocked, giving her a razor sharp smile he elaborated. "Your desires called to his soul. Given your connection his soul responded."
"My desire to know him." It wasn't a question, but a realization.
"Bingo! Since he responded sub-consciously to you, a guide was called forth. A guide that he knew wouldn't sugar coat things for you, the good memories along with the bad."
"So he doesn't know I'm here?" Seeing him shake his head she continued. "I shouldn't do this, not without him knowing."
"I wouldn't have appeared if his soul didn't accept your desires, so no worries on that front." The hollow laughed, "Besides from what I can feel the King definitely wants to get to know you better."
Letting the obvious innuendo slide she closed her eyes, readying herself for what was to come.
"I want to know everything."
Her breath hitched in her throat when the abyss shifted to a small park. A mop of unmistakable orange hair darted by her, taking a good look she realized it was a much younger Ichigo.
"What is this?" she asked breathlessly.
"This a time in his life when he was still an innocent bright eyed child." He replied a slight edge of longing leaking into his voice.
Startled by his apparent affection she looked up at her guide, the fondness for the scene was unmistakable. She smiled as she watched him help his sister Yuzu up a slide before sliding down with her, eliciting a squeal of delight from the toddler. Once at the bottom she was shocked to see Karin with a big smile on her face as she reached up for her brother to do the same with her. The smile on his face was radiant, one so vastly different from the one he showed the world today. Her attention was drawn away from the kids by a woman's voice calling their names. She stood there breathless as Masaki walked over a hill calling for the three. She was beautiful and seemed to glow with warmth as knelt down and hugged her three children when they rushed to her side.
"Were you behaving?" She asked sweetly licking her thumb and rubbing some dirt off Ichigo's face, only for the boy to squirm and move his head trying to avoid it.
"Uh-huh, we played on the slide and I was showing Karin how to play soccer." Ichigo beamed up at her.
"You're such a great big brother." She smiled giving him a kiss on the forehead. "Now come on lunch is ready."
She could feel his soul coming to life as the memory played, the love washing over her was definitely what he felt for his family. She watched with rapt attention when more scenes like the previous one were shown to her. She couldn't stop herself from laughing hard when scenes of Isshin pestering Ichigo would play, she almost doubled over when Ichigo smashed a small fist into his face.
"It seems something's never change." Getting a snort of amusement from her companion she laughed. She could see the differences in all the people in the memories the twins were so much more carefree, Ichigo only ever scowled at his father and constantly wore a goofy smile, the biggest difference she noted though was in Isshin. Sure he still acted like a crazy person, but it was the looks he gave his family when no one was looking, he was a man so filled with pride and completion. The world could disappear and he wouldn't care as long as they were with him. She closed her eyes and let everything wash over her, it was plain to see that the Kurosaki's were a perfect image of a dream family.
Readying herself as the scene shifted again, she once again laughed as the image of a young Ichigo was getting thrown around a dojo. Her heart went out to him when he started to cry, that was one thing she never knew about him, he was a crybaby and large momma's boy. Just as the tears began to fall they disappeared just as quickly as a voice called out that she now knew belonged to Masaki.
"Oh Ichigo, did that mean ol' Tatsuki beat you up again?" She cooed wrapping him in a warm hug. Feeling him shake his head no she arched an eyebrow at him when she pulled back.
"I was so close to beating her this time Mom I swear." He stated puffing his little chest out to make himself imposing.
"It's okay to lose sometimes Ichigo, all great protectors have lost at some point in their lives." She said as she ran her hand through his hair, she smile when he leaned into the small display of affection.
"I'm going to be the greatest protector ever! Just like my name implies!" Hearing his Mom's soft tinkling laughter he looked up at her and beamed.
"I have no doubts about that, you are a truly special person. Now let's go I want to get home before this storm gets much worse." She said holding her hand out to him.
Uzume trailed behind the pair a sense of foreboding welling within her. She looked to her guide, but he wouldn't meet her eyes. She couldn't bring herself to laugh when Ichigo got sprayed by a passing truck, even though she found it kind of funny. The atmosphere was thick with tension and she knew without a shadow of a doubt it was coming from the being next to her. The rain had increased and it was peppering the mother and child as they made their way along the river bank.
"What's going on?" she asked her voice full of trepidation.
"The end of his innocence." The hollow replied softly, nodding to the scene before them.
"ICHIGO!"
Uzume's head whipped around at the shrill scream that cut through the thunder like a knife. She watched as her ashikabi raced down the river bank, a determined set to his jaw. Looking at where he was heading her mouth opened in horror at what she seen. A young dark haired girl in all white with black hair was standing by the river bank, the sinister smile she wore made her heart clench. Attached to the girl was a long tentacle that led into the river, something was wrong, horribly wrong. A swish of strawberry blonde hair darted past her as she watched Masaki frantically trying to reach her son.
Heart thundering her eyes darted back to the river where a monster was emerging. She tried to cry out to her ashikabi, but obviously to no avail. The giant hamster like hollow closed the distance between them quicker then she could imagine.
"Nononononono!" She screamed just as four spikes of fur shot from the beast impaling the mother of three through the chest, just as she arrived to shield her little boy.
Watching everything play out with watery eyes, another scream ripped from her throat when Masaki's soul shot from her body a chain anchoring her to her former shell. Instinct overtook her when the large hollow grabbed Masaki's soul chain and put it between his large jaws. She rolled across the ground when she phased harmlessly through the hollow after trying futilely to break its mask.
A sickening crunch brought her attention back as the hollow broke the chain, before grabbing the still spirit form laying on the ground.
"STTOOOPPP!" She cried as the hollow took a large bite, before shoveling the rest of the body in its gapping maw.
"Delicious! Women are truly my favorite snack!" It crowed as it made its way towards the prone bodies lying on the ground.
"Now time for the main course, your soul smells especially delicious boy!" He jeered eyeing the unconscious child in his dead mothers embrace.
She sobbed on the ground as it stalked closer and she was powerless to help. She gasped when a tall man in dark clothing seemed to appear next to the boy, his wavy black hair blew in the breeze along with his cloak, a saddened frown marred his face as he looked down at the boy who would one day become his wielder. With his powers still locked away he could only watch as the hollow destroyed something so precious to the orange haired youth.
"Damn it!"
Snapping her head up she seen Urahara flash into existence and the hollow retreat into a garganta forgoing its meal. As quickly as he appeared he was gone again when another voice reached her ears.
"MASAKI, ICHIGO!" Isshin roared as he crested the hill, the dawning horror on his face grew as the prone forms of his family came into sight.
It was too much, the broken look on Isshin's face was too much to take as he hugged his dead wife to himself and cried to the heavens. Sobbing to herself on her hands and knees she didn't even notice when everything shifted back to the inky blackness she had come to know.
"Not everything you see here will be pleasant Queen." The hollow whispered as he crouched down in front of her. "Do you still want to see more?"
The steely determined glare she leveled him with was all the answer he needed, the King had definitely chosen well.
"W-Who was that man in the cloak that appeared next to Ichigo?" She croaked out her voice strained from screaming.
"Zangetsu. He is Ichigo's zanpakuto, as I'm sure you know. The last bit of the memory was from him, he was forced to watch as his young wielder's life was torn apart." He answered.
Orihime sat alone in the tub enjoying the peace and quiet, trying to ignore her stomach as it growled for the third time.
"I'm gonna starve to death!" She moaned laying her head back against the edge. The door opening drew her attention as she watched Miya walk in. Taking in the women's disheveled appearance she shook her head in amusement. 'Her and Ichigo are going to kill each other one of these days.'
Without even asking she placed her healing shield over the landlady while she was washing off under a showerhead.
"Don't heal too much. After all you lose the thrill of the fight if there's no after effects." Miya smiled over her shoulder. She appreciated the young woman's efforts, but her stiff and sore muscles let her know she was still alive. Seeing the dome retreat she turned off the nozzle and stepped into the tub sitting across from the other woman.
"Mmmm that's good." She moaned as the hot water did its magic. Cracking an open she stated, "Between me and you I hope you guys screw up again. Fighting with Ichigo is the most fun I've had in years."
"It would have to be soon, because I don't think we will be staying here much longer." Orihime said leaning her head back closing her eyes. She didn't notice the startled look that Miya shot her.
"If it's the meals thing I was only half serious." Miya stated watching the younger girl and receiving a giggle from her.
"It's not that, even though that's extremely cruel." She said throwing a small pout the land lady's way. When she continued her voice was much more somber. "I don't think the other residents want us here."
"Why's that?" Miya asked slightly confused, 'did something happen when I was chasing Ichigo around?'
She sat quietly taking in all the information that the young healer was spilling to her. For Matsu of all people to be thinking along those lines something must have spooked her, and bad. After all she was Ichigo's biggest proponent when she herself was leery of him. Standing up she was determined to get to the bottom of this. Noticing her bruises had disappeared she smiled at the young woman.
"Thank you Orihime, breakfast is in the kitchen. Before you three make any rash decisions let me talk with Matsu." She said a fond smile tugging her lips. Seeing her brighten up at the mention of breakfast she chuckled before leaving the bathroom.
A couple steps down the hallway her jovial expression turned into one of annoyance, sure some of her early assumptions of Ichigo were correct. He was brash, stubborn and completely unwilling to follow rules, she quickly came to see those as minor inconveniences. What she truly learned was that he was kind, lovingly and most of all highly protective of anyone who needed help. She wouldn't admit it but she would miss his scowling face skulking around the Inn if he decided to leave. Stopping by Matsu's door she glanced out the window and seen Uzume with Ichigo meditating. Smiling slightly before it morphed to a more menacing one she opened the door.
"Ohhhh Matsu we need to talk." She sing-songed closing the door behind her.
She watched with a heavy heart as the years ticked by, unable to take the heart ache when Ichigo pulled further away from everyone. Receding into himself being swallowed by regret, punishing himself for something out of his control. She may as well have been alone as the hollow offered no comfort only flicking through the years, she noticed the way the bleached copy mirrored her ashikabi's actions almost to a frightening degree.
"This is the night he made the choice to take up the mantle of a true protector." The hollow said suddenly, it seemed like he hadn't spoken in hours. He was unsurprised when she started at his voice.
Not answering she just waited until everything was done shifting, she was in a room that she assumed belonged to Ichigo. Instantly she knew what was going on, she read this passage in Urahara's book several times. This was the night that Rukia gave him her powers.
Over the next few hours she watched in amusement at their early days together, from Rukia's crude drawings and ridiculous training techniques, to Ichigo's naivety and temper. She felt a slight sting of jealousy towards the petite shinigami, there was obviously a deep bond being formed right before her eyes. Anger flooded her when she seen the Grand Fisher again on the anniversary of his mom's death no less. She watched as her ashikabi gave everything he had to kill the beast, ultimately coming up short in the end. Her arms ghosted through him as she tried hugging him when he was standing motionless in the rain. She would give everything to have been there for him at that moment.
'Enter Urahara' she thought in mild amusement. Even though it was tough to watch Ichigo get cut down by Byakuya, she was now accustomed to the realism of the memories. She knew Ichigo was alive and well, but it was by no means pleasant.
"Now the greatest to ever happen to him! My awakening!" The hollow cheered.
"Awakening? Don't you mean birth?" She asked. Seeing him shake his head no and give her sad smile she raised an eyebrow at the apparition.
"Ichigo started becoming part hollow the night our mom died." He said softly.
"W-What?"
"Is it that hard to believe? Have you ever seen a person so awful that you wondered if they had a heart? I'm not talking about the run of the mill assholes, I'm talking about humans that are evil personified. The ones that commit unspeakable acts without batting an eye at it." Seeing her nod in understanding he continued. "It's not impossible for a person to be dead inside, to have their soul so corrupted that they essentially become walking, breathing, human hollows."
"Ichigo wasn't like that!" She denied vehemently.
"He wasn't evil, but he let his guilt and regrets eat away at his heart until there wasn't much left. Given a few more years who knows what he would have become." He stated boring into her eyes with his own.
She continued to watch as everything unfolded in front of her. Her ashikabi more times than not standing alone against opponents that by all rights should have killed him, just the thought of facing down Kenpachi made her blood run cold. Just like in the book the events unfolded as she expected his rescue of Rukia, the battle with Byakuya, and the unveiling of Aizen's plan. She watched in uncomfortable silence as the being acting as her guide tried to take over Ichigo's soul countless times, going as far as to hinder him in battle.
"Why did you do that to him?" She asked an angered edge in her voice as she watched him get pummeled by Yami.
"It's what he needed at the time." He stated in a firm tone.
Once again everything seemed to speed by his Visored training, Orihime's abduction, being denied aid by the very same people he wanted to protect. A small smile made its way to her face, she was seeing flickers of the man she came to know and love. Watching battle after battle she realized that Yoruichi wasn't lying when she said Hueco Mundo was a hell dimension. Sometimes she begged silently for Ichigo to stay down so she didn't have see him get hurt anymore, the espada Noritora was one such time where his drive and determination weren't enough and he paid dearly for it. Seeing Kenpachi fight again made chills wrack her system, she was truly frightened of that man.
She groaned in frustration when Hime was abducted again.
"Yep that's how everyone felt." The hollow agreed.
"Ulquiorra." The name rolled of her tongue before she even realized it.
"Bastard." The hollow scowled, "The only thing other than Aizen he was interested in was the human heart. He kept asking the King about it when they fought."
Her heart rate started picking up this was where the book diverged, whatever happened to this espada was never published. Was this what Orihime was talking about in the training grounds? She watched as the battle went to roof of the dome. She wasn't expecting the absolute one sided beating Ichigo received, he was outmatched on every front. He was fast, but Ulquiorra was faster. He was stronger, but Ulquiorra swatted him like a fly. When he released a second time she felt true despair flood her body, it was insanity.
Hearing Orihime's screams she looked down to see her running towards them, turning back she heard Ulquiorra speak before everything went black.
"He died." She breathed out in a shaky voice. Watching the hollow give a grim nod she waited. Hoping for something, as she watched him floating in the darkness with a hole blown through his chests.
"-urosaki-kun, Kurosaki-Kun!" She faintly heard through the darkness. The heartbreaking cries of her sister drove her to her knees.
"She's calling me." He whispered. Images of a crying Orihime flickered around them. "She's calling out to me. I can hear her. Get up! Get up! Get up!"
She heard him repeating the same phrase to himself over and over. The world blurred flashes of red and black reiatsu flashed before she heard him shout.
"I will protect you!"
She was trembling when his form was finally revealed to her. When he roared she wanted to run and hide this was not her Ichigo, but even if deep down she knew it was.
"You brought him back to save her." She whispered turning wide eyes to the hollow.
"Tch, if anyone was going to kill the king it was going to be me." He waved dismissively.
She glared at him when he swung his sword and blew Orihime away, instinctually she moved to be closer to her sister. As the fight raged on a dawning horror struck her… Ichigo was the scarier monster. For the beating that Ulquiorra dished out earlier, what he received was infinitely worse. She watched as he became more ruthless with his enemy. As the fight wrapped up and Ulquiorra turned to dust she stared unblinkingly ahead.
"He finally realized what a heart was." She whispered. "And Hime was sad that he died."
The hollow eyed her skeptically, he truly wanted to see how she dealt with this new knowledge about their king. What he heard made his eyes widen.
"Thank you." She whispered looking him in the eyes, without him she would have never met either of the bright haired teens. Hearing him scoff again she smiled.
"Whatever." He casually brushed off her sentiment.
She smiled none the less, he was more like Ichigo than he realized. Once again the events blurred before her eyes, the fight in fake Karakura, the dangai training and finally the death of Aizen. All events that she already memorized and where the book ended. One thing caught her by surprise when she watched the Aizen fight.
"He let himself get stabbed to deliver the last blow!" She exclaimed in wide eyed horror. After everything she witnessed she was going to lock Ichigo up forever and make sure he was safe!
"He accepted death to secure the lives of everyone else." He confirmed.
She sighed to herself it was that devotion that drew her in in the first place. Next she watched in amusement of his life over the next few years, the torturous regimen that Urahara, Tessai and Yoruichi put him through. It was his Onmitsukidō training that truly caught her attention, it was another turning point in his life.
"I refuse!" Soifon spat on the ground in front of her.
"C'mon Little Bee." Yoruichi purred. As she asked her former pupil to continue Ichigo's stealth training.
"Why should I waste my time on him?!" To say she was livid when she heard the news about her newest 'member' would be an understatement. Even with the Soutaicho on his side she wanted to refuse him.
"I promise you it wouldn't be a waste of time, you may even find having him around to be beneficial." The were-cat stated.
"Why won't you teach him?" The smaller woman asked with narrowed eyes, obviously her mentor was more than capable of teaching him.
"Nope he needs to learn the ways of the Onmitsukidō the old fashioned way, which means boot camp in squad 2." She stated waving her finger in Soifons face. She was trying not laugh at the range of emotions flitting across her face loathing, agitation and finally begrudging acceptance.
"Fine but I won't be easy on that trash!" She spat.
"Standing right here bitch ninja." Ichigo drawled, in all honesty he didn't want to go through with this either. Ducking a swipe from the shorter woman he scowled. "Let's get this over with."
"Fine, but from now on while you're in my squad you will follow my rules. First slip up and I will kick your ass to the curb!" She seethed out, in her opinion he wouldn't last 2 days.
"That's the spirit!" Yoruichi cheered as she turned on her heel and shunpoed away.
Whatever he expected the training to be like the actual training wasn't even comparable. He was given a full body Onmitsukidō outfit making him indistinguishable from everyone else, from that point he was run ragged starved and beaten on a daily basis. Unlike some of the others who took the walk of shame out the gates and the few that even died trying to achieve their goal, he pushed forward. Two weeks in and he had lost nearly twenty pounds from a frame that couldn't stand to lose it in the first place. He was gaunt, tired and his vision was blurring over. Staring at the task before him as he eyed the safe and the tools he had been given. What waited inside was worth more than all the gold in the world… a meager meal of rice and toast. Up to this point he had to steal whenever he needed to eat, given his lack of stealth was daunting task at best.
In a moment of weakness and with a foggy mind he fired a bala into the safe blowing it across the training grounds. Shunpoing to it he bent down to reap his rewards from within, before even tasting a grain of rice he caught a kick under the chin and had his mask ripped off.
"You're done here Kurosaki! Turn in your gear." Soifon stated arrogantly. She was slightly impressed he made it this far and maybe she had made this year's boot camp more difficult than in previous decades.
"I can't give up." He groaned from the ground.
"It doesn't matter anymore, you failed. Honestly this will make quite a few people happy." She mocked.
"What do you mean?" He asked sitting up.
"A lot of people felt uncomfortable giving you this training. Honestly training a being as powerful as you to be an assassin had a lot of people on edge. The central 46 outright refused the proposition when it was brought up, but a lot of people that believed in you swayed them." She stated. Eyeing his still form she shook her head and continued, "It seems their worries were misguided, you don't have the conviction to gut out this training anyway."
Inwardly she smirked, while she may have put on a show for the others she truly wanted to see what this man was made of. Looking into his eyes she seen it click in place, the legendary resolve she's heard so much about.
"Please let me have another chance." He stated swallowing his pride. He would prove her wrong and everyone else that doubted him.
"I didn't catch that, try again."
"May I please have another chance, Soifon-Taicho?"
"Your team is leaving for recon and stealth training in the north woods." She stated turning her back on him. Before she left she added over her shoulder, "Don't screw this chance up, Kurosaki."
It had been a full month since that incident she idly noted as she surveyed the training grounds with a pair of binoculars. This was the final test for the recruits, those that passed would go on to become elite members of the Onmitsukidō, while those that failed would become common foot soldiers. The objective was simple there were ten high ranking officers in the compound, a full guard patrol and several other surprises for the recruits. Ten targets equaled ten opportunities to advance their careers.
It was a scorching hot day and she started seeing some men become desperate to get to a target as the hours wore on. Each one that was unmasked she was relieved that she didn't see a mop of orange hair under the mask. Call it irony, but the brash youth had grown on her. His dedication to training and drive to be the best put him at the top of this year's recruits. She could respect that about him, also after that first slip up he hadn't said so much as a hand full of words, preferring to watch and absorb everything like a sponge.
"First team report." She called out through the microphone, licking her dry lips she took a swig of her canteen before setting it down. A crackle in her earpiece drew her attention.
"First team has apprehended to more recruits. Kazi and Matsuda have been captured." The voce replied back.
It had been nearly 20 hrs. and 9 of the targets had been takin out, leaving herself as the last possible chance at passing the test. To her surprise or delight she couldn't tell, Kurosaki was the last recruit still unaccounted for, which meant a show down between him and her. She drummed her fingers on the rail in nervous anticipation, nothing stirred she called for a surprise guard switch bringing in fresh bodies before the regular rotation.
She sighed as she surveyed the compound, he sure was drawing this out. Just as she was about to call the exercise over an explosion wracked the training facility at the far end. Scoffing at the obvious distraction she jumped up to the nearest roof surrounded by a handful of her soldiers.
"Team two report!" She barked out.
"Nothing here Taicho, just a low level explosion." The team leader responded back.
Jumping back down her posture was lined with irritation, she was growing weary of this. Grabbing her canteen she gulped greedily only to cough and sputter when the liquid burned the back of her throat. Spitting the foul liquid on the ground, she glared at the canteen when she turned it upside down she seen the word.
'Gotcha.'
"If that had been poison you'd be dead Taicho." Ichigo called out from a nearby building. A building that had been patrolled several times throughout the day.
"Recruit Kurosaki… pass." She stated as she turned on her heel and stormed back to her office. Once out of sight of the others a smile graced her face.
"Well done Ichigo." She said to no one in particular.
"Aww is my Little Bee developing a soft spot for someone besides me?" The Goddess of Flash asked as she appeared in the office.
"Yoruichi-sama! It's not like that i-it's just that he surpassed my expectations is all." She replied as a bright blush of embarrassment lite up her face.
"Uh-huh and what's with calling him Ichigo in such a dreamy voice." She teased exaggerating the way she said his name to sound like a love struck fan.
"He passed boot camp." She blurted out trying to change the topic.
"Did he now?" she asked allowing the topic to switch. "Which target did he get in the end?"
"Me." She confirmed turning her head in embarrassment.
"Wow, when was the last time that happened?" She asked noticing a small noise above them.
"Never, all ten targets were takin out for the first time under my command."
Making a thoughtful noise in the back of her throat. She leaped into the rafters.
Hearing some slight cursing above her she bit back her own swear, when the sounds of a scuffle were heard from above. Watching her mentor come down with someone in her grasp she groaned.
"It's not polite to eavesdrop Ichigo." She said as she pulled off his mask.
"Sorry it's become a force of habit." He replied rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
He promptly dodged a strike from the twin braided captain as her eyes blazed with fury. Evading for any amount of time in the tight quarters, he couldn't prove it, but he swore that Yoruichi tripped him just as Soifon was closing in on him. What happened next was sheer instinct as his hand shot out to grab the closest thing to him to break his fall, that thing happened to be the small Taicho as he landed on a couch with her awkwardly straddling him. To their immense horror the sound of a camera clicking and coo of a 'how cute' was heard. Turning back to the embarrassed woman in his lap his eyes widened when her head rocketed forward hitting him square between the eyes.
"Damn You!" he roared pushing her off of him.
"Quiet, it was your fault!" She snapped back. "Now go to your barracks, you have interrogation training in the morning."
Uzume paled at the mention of interrogation, she knew for a fact that he was more than competent in that area. Looking at her companion she asked, "Is it necessary to show me this?"
"This is the point in his life that he became a true Shinigami. He took on the responsibility of taking life to protect life." He replied a small amount of pride in his voice.
Walking into the detention unit, his stomach was in knots. This was a part of the training he wasn't looking forward to, stealth and recon he could handle, but interrogating was something he felt he couldn't pull off. Walking into the small room he noticed a line of nine other men, figuring they were the other candidates that passed he fell in line with them. Promptly at six on the dot a door across the room swung open and out stepped Soifon.
"All right maggots, you will draw a number from the bag. You're number will determine who your instructor is for the duration of this training." She barked out holding up a bag in front of her.
Drawing his number he stepped back in line, before he heard her start again.
"Whichever one of you poor souls drew number one you're with me."
Looking down he unfolded the piece of paper in his hand, he held in a groan when a giant 1 was printed on it. Holding it up, he stepped forward catching the captain's eye. Seeing her nod her head towards the back he followed after her without complaint. Entering a corridor lined with rooms he trailed after her in silence until she stopped in front of one of the doors.
"Lift your mask I want to know who I'm working with." She pinched the bridge of her nose and mumbled an 'of course', before staring him in the eye. "This is the second hardest thing for a new Onmitsukidō member, but is also one of the most essential."
Opening the door he swallowed a lump in his throat, bound to a chair in the middle of the room was a man who looked to be in his forties. If anything he had to admit the man looked down right normal.
"What am I supposed to be doing?" he asked his nervousness not missed by the captain.
"Observing." Is all she said.
Rolling a cart over to the man she held a mask of indifference, what she was about to do was just another day in her world. To the orange haired teen behind her he was having a hard time controlling his breathing.
"Calm down cadet." She reprimanded only to turn her gaze on her prisoner when he snorted.
"Looks like he's about to piss himself." The man sneered. Only to be silenced when a fist buried in his gut.
"Rule number one never hit your captive in the head. You might give them a concussion." She said glancing over her shoulder.
After an hour of watching Soifon beat on the man and gain no information he heard her sigh before starting.
"Sometimes you run into people like him who refuse to cooperate. When that happens you need to ratchet up the punishment."
He eyed her dubiously as his stomach did a small flip when she pulled out a pair of snips and positioned the man's finger between the blades.
*Snip*
He bolted from the room before the finger hit the floor and the man's howl of pain reached his ears. Letting everything he had for breakfast empty on the floor he stayed there for a second. After the dry heaves passed he seen someone holding a canteen in front of him.
"Rinse your mouth and do not…I repeat do not put your damn lips on my canteen." She stated calmly. "A lot different than cutting an enemy with a sword in the heat of battle isn't it."
"Yeah." He answered back handing her canteen back with a small 'thanks'. Following her into a different room they watched their prisoner through a one way mirror as she motioned for him to take a seat.
"This is a yes or no moment Kurosaki, after you give your answer there is no going back. Can you do this?" She watched as he contemplated for a few minutes.
"What did he do?" He asked his voice slightly strained.
"Does it matter?" She asked. She was glad he didn't make a snap judgment, this was a test in itself anyone too eager to inflict pain on another human would have their mental stability monitored closely. She was relieved that he had a normal reaction to torture.
"To me it does." He answered back. Seeing her slide a file to him he flipped it open as she began talking.
"He is involved in trafficking humans and drugs through the Rukongai." She motioned to several photos of the man cataloging bound people. Seeing his shoulders slump she continued, "In order to put a stop to this we have to get information from him, to get information I'm fully prepared to cause physical and mental harm to him."
Reading quietly through the file the list of crimes against the man were staggering. Even though there was proof in front of him he asked
"Are you sure it was him?"
"Positive, we don't take prisoners unless we are sure of their guilt."
Uzume watched as the weeks passed by and Ichigo took more and more involvement. She watched as he seemingly formed a façade of indifference the farther into training he got. What made her breathe a sigh of relief was how he acted afterwards the façade faded away and was replaced by a man unsure of his actions. She watched as their prisoner degenerated over the weeks of abuse, sometimes they didn't even ask questions just deal out punishment before leaving again. She watched something happen that she definitely remembered seen Ichigo himself do.
"Is that all there is?" Seeing the bound man wearily nod. The petite captain moved forward quickly and grabbed him by the chin and back of his head jerking up and to left breaking the man's neck.
"What the hell Soifon?" Ichigo asked in disbelief.
"No witnesses Ichigo, if we were to lock him away and word somehow got out about what we knew our information would become invalid." She said with her eyes boring into his, "Remember this, do not take a hostage to interrogate unless you're prepared to execute them afterwards."
She watched as her words weighed heavy on him through the night, he didn't sleep a wink just stared straight ahead with his chin resting in his hands. When morning came she could tell he made a decision.
"Where do we go from here?" He asked stepping into Soifon's office.
Staring at him critically for a few seconds she started.
"We followed the lead we were given and found the next man up on the ladder."
"So we have to go through this all over again?" He asked closing his eyes.
"Not we this time Kurosaki, you are doing this on your own." She stated if he could pull this off he would be one step closer to mission ready. Seeing him swallow a lump in his throat she eyed him as his features shifted into the man she seen working alongside her the last couple of weeks.
"Three days." She murmured to herself as she stared out the window. It had taken Ichigo all of three days to break his prisoner, she watched from observation and even she was slightly scared of him. When it came time to complete the interrogation he only hesitated for a second and closed his eyes before killing his captive. Checking the information that he gathered it was a hundred percent accurate. Shunpoing out the window she headed for the barracks looking for her knew recruit, she found him in his room still sitting in his boxers after his shower staring at his hands.
"It gets easier." She said slipping into the room.
"I hope not." He mumbled
"Why's that." She inquired.
"Because when I stop feeling bad about it I'll become a monster." He answered back softly. He was startled when she pushed him on his bed.
"Roll on your stomach." She commanded. Seeing him do so she straddled his hips. A silent curse left her when she felt how many knots where in his body. 'We've been winding him like a spring and he's close to snapping.'
"Soifon what're you doing?" he asked his voice slightly higher than usually. Both parties were oblivious to Uzume trying her hardest to kick the petite captain in the face as the hollow roared with laughter behind her.
"You need to relax and listen." She said softly as gently worked out the knot near his shoulder blade. "What we do in squad two is not glamorous or even appealing, but it is necessary. We would kill twenty corrupt souls to maybe save one innocent. To do this we work in the shadows and do the dirtiest jobs that most would blanch at if ordered to do. You are an exceptional shinigami and you completed a training regimen that few could. You will not be considered a monster by those that fight beside you and whatever you do while you wear the Onmitsukidō uniform will never see the light of day."
He didn't respond as she continued to work on his back, just let himself relax into her ministrations. He didn't realize that he had fallen asleep until he woke up the next morning, on a chair next to his bed was a brand new uniform and a note.
'Report to my office.'
Walking to her office he mulled everything over, he admitted that a life in the shadows was appealing after living the last few years as 'The War Hero'. He didn't know what to expect when he walked in a blush crept to his face when he thought about last night. That was definitely a side of Soifon that he never seen before.
"That bastard!" Uzume roared as she watched her ashikabi blush while thinking about the bitch ninja. She knew there was a reason she didn't like the pint sized woman from the start!
"Calm down Queen, this all happened before he met you." The hollow chuckled out.
"She better keep her damn hands off him from now on!" She yelled at the white copy who only laughed harder in return.
Seeing a large map on her desk as he entered the office he quietly walked up beside her.
"We found what we were looking for thanks to the Intel you gathered. We have a problem though we can't approach the compound without setting of alarms." She stated her eyes never leaving the map.
"Why sneak in, why not just storm the place and arrest everyone?"
"The head of the crime syndicate is a noble. As such he has certain immunities from the Gotei 13." She replied.
"What the hell? So because he's a noble he can do whatever he wants?"
"Of course not. If you failed to remember the Onmitsukidō is not a part of the Gotei 13. It is a separate force that handles these kind of situations, while squad 2 handles work for the Gotei 13." She answered lifting her eyes to meet his.
"The problem with dealing with nobles is they have the money for top notch security. Take these nobles for instance, they have employed several individuals that can detect the smallest amount of reiatsu from long distances. Effectively they have human radars when we tried to get close last time they raised the alarms."
"Wait last time, you already tried getting these bastards once? So having a being that couldn't be detected would be highly beneficial to you?" He asked already piecing things together in his head. Seeing her nod he closed his eyes. 'So is this the real reason I was trained?'
"Even with your unique gift it will be difficult to get inside. They have kido experts that erect barriers around the house, even a person with no reiatsu will raise alarms trying to get through them."
"Well shit is there any good news to this?" He scowled at the map.
"Every 12 hrs. they switch the person erecting the barrier. You have 2 minutes to get inside and will have to hide for 12 hrs. While inside you need to gather whatever information you can. If you see this man…" She said showing him a photo, "… you are to execute him."
"He's the boss?" Seeing her nod yes he readied himself. "When do the barriers change?"
"5 o'clock, your best bet is going in the evening and slipping out in the morning." She stated.
The next few hours she watched as they went over different methods of entry, pouring through dozens of photos of sentries and the landscape itself.
She was eternally grateful that she didn't have to keep up with Ichigo as he blurred through the forest. Opening her eyes when he finally stopped she watched as he went through his equipment which consisted of the bare minimum a lock pick set, garrote wire, a small camera, listening devices and some poison. She was surprised he forego bringing his zanpakuto.
"His sword is unique and he would easily be identified by it." The hollow answered her unasked question.
Glancing at his watch he read 4:58 as he made his way towards the compound slinking through the shadows. He stopped as a sentry got within a few feet of his position, stilling his breathing as he was taught he waited for the man to move on. Letting out his senses he could feel the barrier around the house… three, deep breath… two, exhale… one, go!
He darted from his spot splitting between two sentries walking in opposite directions. He leaped in the air using air walk to get on top of the roof where he landed by a sky light. With speed and precision that would make the most experienced thief envious he picked the lock and was through. The sky light was slid back in place just as the barrier was erected. Noticing that he dropped in an office that was thankfully unoccupied he planted a few bugs, before the door opening alerted him. Thinking quickly he lifted the couch and tore the lining underneath before crawling inside. Was it a perfect spot… nope, but his options were limited.
"Gah, the damn stealth force is closing in again." A loud boisterous voice exclaimed.
"What makes you say that?" another man asked.
"A couple of my book keepers have disappeared again. The last time that happened they tried to raid us." He answered back.
"Good work Ichigo, the bugs are working perfectly." Soifon commented through his earpiece.
Sliding out from his hiding spot a few hours later. He quietly made his way around the office snapping pictures of several documents that he found in the desk. He slipped what appeared to be a ledger with a list of clients in the folds of his shihakusho. Leaving the office he made his way down the hall keeping his senses sharp he ducked into a door when he heard voices coming up the stairs. He inwardly groaned when he realized he was in a linen closet, the slatted door should've been a dead giveaway. He watched through the door as the voice he recognized from earlier approached. Getting a good look at the man he knew it was the one from the picture. He watched as the man pinned a maid against the wall knocking the armful of towels she was carrying out of her arms.
"Tonight I'm going to visit you." He breathed into her ear. Letting his hand trail up the front of her uniform.
From his position in the closet he could see that she was around his age with blonde hair and that she was completely terrified.
Nodding her head in reluctant acceptance, she bent down to pick up the towels only to have a foot planted in her backside pushing her to the floor.
"That's it crawl on the floor like a good bitch! Who do you belong to?!" He snarled.
"I-I belong to you Omaru-san." She sniffled out.
"Damn straight you do! Now put those towels away, I will be by in 30 minutes and you better be ready." He smiled as he licked his lips before turning away and walking down the hall.
Sniffling she gathered the towels and opened the door. When she looked up she started to scream only to be pulled inside the closet and have hand clamped over her mouth.
"I'm not going to hurt you." He whispered in her ear. "I'm going to let you go so don't scream."
Feeling her nod he let go of her, his hands twitched ready to subdue her at a moments' notice.
"Who are you?" She asked timidly, she hoped against hope that he was here to rescue her.
"Not here, your room." He whispered watching her nod he followed her carefully through the house. Avoiding several people on the way he ended up in her room in the basement.
"Who are you?" she tried again nervously staring up at him.
"Who I am is not really important. I'm here to stop whatever is going on here." He stated calmly he seen hope flare to life in her eyes. Clumsily he patted her back as she threw herself at him.
"Okay that's enough of that." He said as he pried her off sitting here in the bed. "Stay here and keep his attention when he walks in."
Opening the closet door he backed in, leaving the door open he was thankful that it wasn't directly in front of the bed. It wouldn't be good if she glanced in his direction and tipped him off. It was several minutes later when the man entered, obliviously he walked right past the assassin heading for his prize.
"That's a good girl already in be…" Whatever he was about to say was cut off when the garrote was slipped around his neck and yanked.
Kicking the man in the back of the knee as he was taught he brought the man down. Crossing his hands to dig the wire in tighter while the man clawed helplessly at it, he put a knee in his back applying more pressure. It seemed like an eternity before the man stopped moving letting go of the wooden handles he let the man drop. He stared at the girl sitting on the bed who was frozen in horror as the blood pooled at his feet. Watching her dash for the door he grabbed her before she could try to escape.
"What are you doing we need to escape!" She exclaimed struggling against his hold.
"Not yet, if we try to escape now we will set off the alarms." He said quietly as he restrained her. She was fighting as if her life depended on it. "Stop, I'll get us out of here, but we have to wait."
Feeling her calming down he let her go, walking over to the bed he sat down before taking a shuddering breath. He felt horrible for what he had done, justified or not. Feeling the bed sink next to him he continued staring straight ahead, barely noticing that she looped an arm through his and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Damn it! Why does every girl he comes across feel like they can touch him?!" Uzume seethed. Once again trying futilely to remove the girl from her ashikabi.
"You watched him brutally murder someone and you're worried about the frightened girl hanging off his arm? He definitely chose well." The hollow snorted while shaking his head.
"Hey I Knew abou…" She cut herself off when her guide was missing.
Turning around she realized that she was all alone in the abyss, tentatively she called out.
"Hey! Is anyone there? Yoo-hoo still down here!"
Huffing to herself she turned her head upwards noticing that the opening had reappeared.
"I guess his soul decided I've learned all I need too."
Which was the truth she seen everything all her nagging questions had been answered. What was he like? What had he been through? Why was he the way he is? What was he?
The last question made a smile come to her face, he was Ichigo… her Ichigo. Feeling herself go weightless she let herself float out of the depths, feeling the bright sunshine on her face she felt complete.
"Now time to find him!" She exclaimed as she raced forward heading in the direction of the flower fields.
Stopping at the edge she reached down and touched a hibiscus, only to feel a jolt of Orihime's tama flow through her. As always it was warm and comforting as it filled her with the feeling of love. Looking to her left she seen a par of feet sticking out a few rows down from her. Cautiously she walked forward a small chuckle escaped her when she found Ichigo in his shihakusho laying half in a field of lillies and half in the hibiscus field basking in the warm sun. He looked so at peace that it made her heart melt.
"Hey you, is this what you do in here? Lay around all day?" She laughed when he bolted upright with a bewildered look on his face.
"W-Wha H-how?" He stammered as he looked at his first sekirei.
"I don't know the details, the short version is I found you meditating, touched your sword and poof here I am." She stated walking over and lying next to him.
"Great just another weird thing to add to my list." He said blowing out a breath and giving her a smile.
"It's quite the list there Ashikabi-sama." She agreed playfully.
"And what would you know about my list?" he asked mockingly poking her in the ribs.
"Everything." She whispered back.
He sat completely still as she recounted her tales and adventures inside the abyss. His mouth hung open in disbelief, his hollow was around that should be impossible!
"He was actually there!" he asked excitedly. Only for his expression to drop a moment later when she shook her head no.
"I don't think it was really him, he said he was an echo or a memory. His hand ghosted right through me when he tried to grab my wrist." She said reaching over and grabbing his hand, she tried to give him a comforting smile. 'He obviously misses them.'
"He was just a memory." He breathed out slowly. "That makes sense actually."
"What do you mean?"
"That abyss is where all my memories are held. The good ones along with the bad ones." He said looking at the sky.
"Why down there?"
"With them down there it keeps me from dwelling on the past and moving forward." He said not looking at her.
"Abandon your fear. Look forward. Move forward and never stop. You'll age if you pull back. You'll die if you hesitate." She recited without thinking, honestly it struck a chord with her.
"Exactly." He whispered standing up, holding his hand down to her he helped her up. "Now what do you want to see first?"
She stared up at him as he was smiling at her, she never even heard the question he asked her. That smile held flashes of the little boy she seen in her memories, that simple realization made her want to cry. Closing the distance between them she hugged him tightly, she didn't need to bring his smile back, it was already there just a bit different.
"Whoa!" He said barely holding himself upright. Hearing a soft sniffle he started rubbing her back. "You Okay?"
"Yeah." She whispered looking up at him with a smile on her lips.
Smiling back at her he lowered his lips to hers, she looked so beautiful. Even with tears in her eyes they radiated joy. He kissed her long and thoroughly before pulling back. Seeing her eyes closed and a content smile, he quirked a playful smirk of his own before an idea came to him. Carefully letting her go he shunpoed fifty feet away.
"Wha…" she started as she opened her eyes. Seeing him a little ways away she asked, "What are you doing over there?"
Running she caught back up to him only for him to disappear again. Looking down she seen the top of his shihakusho laying on the ground. Licking her lips sub-consciously she seen him at the edge of the forest waiting for her. A spur of excitement coursed through her she was truly hoping this was leading to where she thought it was. Catching up to where he was she wasn't surprised when he was gone again leaving behind his socks and sandals.
Walking into the forest she failed to see him, making her call out.
"No fair hiding I can't track you in here!"
"Well you're not playing fair either… you still have too many clothes on." His voiced whispered on the wind, not giving away his position.
"Really?" She said looking around. Stripping until she was bare ass, playful she asked, "How about now?"
"Much better." He said in a husky voice.
He was a little disappointed when she didn't jump in surprise, but he really didn't care at this point. Snaking his arms under hers he cupped her breasts as his lips found her neck. A low groan escaped him when she reached back and grabbed his hips before grinding her ass into his groin.
"That feel good?" she asked rhetorically when he started grinding back into her. She bit her lip as he continued kneading her chest with his incredible hands.
Spinning in his hold she pushed his back against a tree, before asking in a sultry voice.
"Who has too many clothes on now?"
Fumbling with his sash she smiled and looked up to him when it fell away. Her heart was hammering as she stared into his hooded gaze. Gently taking a hold of him she gave a couple pumps watching his eyes close and his breathing pick up. Standing on her tiptoes she kissed him again, increasing her speed.
His eyes snapped open when she suddenly stopped touching him. Looking to his left and right he cursed when she was nowhere to be seen, catching a glimpse of pale skin moving through the branches above him he smiled. Unlike her he had no trouble tracking her, as uncomfortable as it was shunpoing with an erection, watching bounce bare ass through the branches was worth the slight discomfort.
He knew exactly where she was heading all he had to do was keep pace until she cornered herself.
Spotting a clearing up ahead she bolted forward. Every nerve in her body was on fire it took everything she had to pull away from him, but being chased was becoming even more of an aphrodisiac. Slamming on the breaks when she seen a cliff up ahead, she stared at the giant body of water in front of her. A pair of arms wrapping around her was all the warning she had before she was takin gently to the ground. Reaching up to touch his face she gave a gentle smile when he lowered her face to his.
"I love you so much." She whispered.
"I love you more." He whispered back as he began kissing his way down her body. He arched an eyebrow at her when she stopped him.
Ever since watching Orihime at Rangiku's she was eager to try something with her ashikabi, scooting out from under him she rolled him on his back. Giving him an impish smile she straddled his face, taking out her side ponytail she used the band to keep the rest of her hair out of her face as she secured it behind her head. For a moment she was almost content riding his face as he gave her long slow lick, shuddering in pleasure she leaned forward over his body.
Grasping his thick length she returned the favor delivering a stroke with her tongue also. Feeling his groan rumble though her core she smiled before full engulfing him. It was difficult at first as she was breathing heavily and being forced to breathe through her nose, pulling away she let some spit fall from her mouth onto his cock as she pumped him in a steady tempo. Getting her breathing somewhat under control she added more saliva to him before going down on him again, to her delight the more saliva she added the easier the task became. Feeling him near the back of her throat she fought her natural reflex and pushed him in as far as she could. Pulling back off him she took another deep breath.
"U-Uzume, that was amazing." He panted from underneath her, she completely caught him off guard with that move.
Upping the zeal at which he worked her over he was determined to make her finish before him. It was becoming an increasingly difficult task as she deep throated him again and again. Feeling the end coming he was overjoyed when he felt her body trembling slightly, her reiatsu was flaring wildly as she burst giving him the treat he was working for. He didn't even get a chance to warn her as he let go unloading into her waiting throat.
"Wow." He panted taking in massive gulps of air.
"Incredible." She agreed as she giggled. Looking down she almost squealed when he was still rock hard and twitching for more.
No hesitating for a second she threw her leg over his waste and straddled him. Leaning down she began to kiss him as she guided him to her slick entrance. Feeling him pushing through her folds she gave two short pumps of her hips before forcing herself all the way down his shaft. Throwing her head back as a quick burst of pain shot through her, she dug her nails in his chest as she rode out the discomfort. Clenching and unclenching her inner muscles as the pain started to ebb she rock herself on top of him experimentally. It was indescribable as she pulled forward and sank back on him repeatedly.
He was floored when he felt the lust radiating from his first girlfriend, there wasn't an ounce of indecisiveness coming from her when he claimed her purity. Hands landing on her hips he reached around and squeezed her cheeks, helping her ride with his arms as he helped her set the tempo. Stopping her every so often to let their groins grind together, a move he remembered Orihime enjoying immensely, he was rewarded every time with a moan of pleasure.
Sitting up he wrapped her legs behind his back as he kissed her deeply, simply enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by her, feeling her become impatient as she ground into him the best she could he pushed forward more laying her on her back without breaking the connection. Pulling out slowly he pushed back in with force making her throw her head back screaming in pleasure, biting into her shoulder his movements became harder, faster barely giving her a chance to breath. He was rewarded when she raked her nails down his back, delivering a sweet burning sting. Feeling her orgasms echo through their bond was driving him insane as well as boosting his male pride, feeling his own release on the brink he pushed in as far as he could. With a few small grunts he stilled resting his forehead in the crook of her neck. Pushing himself up so that he didn't crush her with his weight, standing up he swayed a bit before righting himself. Kneeling next he picked her up bridal style as a small sated smile spread across her face. Walking to the edge of the cliff he sat down and positioned her in his lap.
The lovers sat overlooking the lake as the sunrays danced off its surface, two hearts beating as one.
A/N: First don't throw anything at me, I know some of you were happy about the return of the hollow, but I never planned on him being in this story in the first place and he is gone… again. I know there was some Ichi/Soi in this chapter *shrugs* what can I say I'm a fan of the pairing, but she won't be one of his girlfriends in this. As always I hope you enjoyed the chapter. To all those that have faved, followed and reviewed thank you.