1/17/13

That Horrible Noise, Part 3: The Chase

"Ichigo!" Zangetsu shouted.

"Zan-get-su!" Ichigo screamed back.

Zangetsu glanced back at his master. Was he gaining? His foot slammed against a wall and he jumped to the side. He could hear Ichigo's furious pants behind him and the swift clatter of his feet on the glass. He suspected that his master would not be able to catch him before wearing out. His master had little understanding of the power that he could wield within his own soul-scape after all. Still, that was not the best outcome as his master would chase him until he passed out from exhaustion, thereby preventing Zangetsu the chance to explain what exactly was happening to his master and more importantly… That it really wasn't his fault.

How would he have guessed that the Hollow-like portion of his master's soul was fertile in the manner of a female? Ichigo was very much a male and the Hollow was a portion of his master. How was it that it could have any abilities that his master did not? Anything that his Hollow could do, Ichigo would eventually be able to learn. He chanced another look back at his master as ran. It would take Ichigo much longer to learn though.

The Hollow had very little to do within Ichigo's soul. He could sleep. He could bug Zangetsu or Ichigo but this usually just led to him getting ignored. He could also learn.

Zangetsu could not help but be drawn to the Hollow when he practiced. He was his master's sword after all. He was to be wielded and he would like for at least part of his master to learn how to fight to the best of his ability. So he would spar with the Hollow and offer ideas for possible techniques that he had thought up. Admittedly less than half of his ideas actually worked and only about half of those were practical but that is why trying them with the Hollow was much better than offering them to his master straight away. Especially since his master usually did not think to speak to him or listen save for in a fight. He was not looking forward to being forced to offer his master a half baked idea in a life or death situation.

Anyway, it would take Ichigo longer to learn these techniques than his Hollow because his master had many other concerns to deal with such as his family, his friends, his education and purifying actual Hollows in the real world. His poor master simply did not have the time to concentrate on learning how to fight better with all of these other things on his plate. Still, every now and then his master would pull out a technique that he had been working on with the Hollow. It was often imperfect from lack of practice but it did show that training part of his master's soul had an effect on the rest.

He blinked and stumbled slightly when he spotted a perverted sign held up by the Hollow. What in the world? It looked like a pair of running stick figures and the one following had an erection. He was rather disturbed. His blade looked nothing like a penis! Nor was Ichigo aroused… In that particular sense of the word at least. He heard Ichigo roar behind him. Had he seen the Hollow's sign? He saw his master change targets out of the corner of his eye and slowed, wary of a possible trick. But no – his pregnant master was now chasing his naked doppelganger in circles as he shot little energy blasts at the sign.

Excellent. A flagpole sprouted under his feet and hoisted him to a suitable height. He happily watched as Ichigo cursed and chased the Hollow. Ichigo had really needed to give that part of his soul some one on one attention. He blinked again as the Hollow cackled delightedly, whipped a white sword from nowhere and then spun around to smack Ichigo's rear with the flat. Did it really just joke about Ichigo chasing him around 'all aroused" and all?

Yes, he reflected, yes it did. He considered the sign the Hollow was still waving about one-handed. Was he really saying that he thought that chasing someone with a sword implied sexual desires? What did that say about the Eleventh Division in Soul Society then? They had made chasing Ichigo (and fighting him) into an actual game complete with points and prizes. They often did it with swords out and waving too. He shuddered as he suddenly imagined them with their little swords out and waving instead. Bad thought, bad thought he mentally scolded himself.

Gah, why did the Hollow have to imply such perverted things all the time? Why?

Thank you, everyone who reviewed. I really appreciate your comments! I did say that I planned on moving directly into other character's reactions but this particular bit decided it needed to be written too. I am also still thinking about which characters to include and possible reactions. I need to know… Is Orihime likely to cry or would she suddenly go into a completely improbable and very silly rant about how Ichigo looks chubby all of a sudden? If someone wants to offer an idea for a rant, I'd appreciate it.