• • •
That's..! That's the presence of a Hollow!
But, it wasn't just any Hollow. No, this reiatsu had to belong to an entirely different Hollow than what had previously showed up in Karakura Town. I grit my teeth as I took off in the correct direction, fishing my cell phone from my bag.
However, there were no alerts from the Soul Society issuing a Hollow attack. Nothing even showed up on the radar..!
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Oh, so now the order comes? Typical Soul Society, always running behind.
I wasn't running for long, before I saw Rukia.
"So, you felt it too?" Rukia asked, her eyes unblinking.
"Yeah," I nodded, before lightly growling. "But the stupid order was late!"
We approached a crossroads and Ichigo appeared. Apparently even he had felt the dense spiritual pressure, even though he sucked at stuff like that.
"Hey," He greeted, meeting our gazes. "So, you two both being here means that this is the right direction, right?"
"Of course..!" I answered, smirking.
"We can't be making errors like that!" Rukia summed up, smiling.
Ichigo's deep cinnamon eyes connected with mine, seeming to try and tell me something. I could only guess, but I think he didn't want me mentioning to Rukia that I knew anything. I slightly nodded; I could feel my icy blue eyes smolder the message back. Rukia watched our exchange, eyebrows raised high.
"You're not…going to ask anything?" Ichigo asked before she could get her chance to question us about what had just happened.
"If I ask, will you answer?" Rukia questioned, before slightly shaking her head. Her eyes saw the hesitation in Ichigo's brown orbs, before darting towards my guarded bright blue eyes. She could see the walls that I had continuously built up throughout the years. Her eyes snapped back to Ichigo, as she shook her head once more. "It's your problem; a deep, deep problem. I have no right to know. I don't have a method of stepping into the depths of your heart without it getting dirty. So, I'll wait. When you want to talk, when you think that it's okay to talk…then you can tell me." Violet orbs darted towards me once more. "That goes for both of you. Until that time comes, I'll wait."
"Yeah," Ichigo said, as I nodded agreement with a slight smile.
"Yeah?! You've gotta be kidding me!" Kon's voice rang out from seemingly out of nowhere, causing Ichigo and I to jump. "What do you mean, 'Yeah'? Stop acting so cool! I can't keep up with you guys!"
Kon popped out of Rukia's backpack, unzipping it from the outside and pulling himself up so he could get some fresh air.
"K-Kon! What, you came along?!" Ichigo asked, surprised as he picked up his running so that he was next to her backpack and talking to the plushie lion.
"Of course! I'm Rukia-Onee-Chan's number one disciple! We have a much higher level of closeness, Ichigo-Chaaan! " Kon yelled out, "Besides..! I thought that I'd get to see Jun-Kun again, too! Juuuuun-Kuuuuun~!"
Kon made a move like he was going to jump out at me, so Ichigo quickly diverted his path so that his body blocked mine from view as he glared at the plush. I giggled; Kon was growing on me… Even if he still was as perverted as he was when I first met him. Besides, he provided a nice touch of comic relief; things never seemed as tense when he was around, which was amazing for stress levels.
"When did you become a disciple?" Ichigo asked, trying to distract Kon from the fact that I was there.
"What are you saying?!" Kon asked, acting surprised. "Since that day Onee-Chan saved my life. My soul is devoted to her!" Kon turned around in the backpack so that his face was right beside Rukia's. "Right, Onee-Chan? "
"Don't ask me." Rukia bluntly replied, still running as fast as she could.
"Onee-Chan..!" Kon wailed, mock tears falling from his eyes as his clawed hands rose to his face. "How cold..!"
"Oh, really?" Ichigo asked, before darting to the side so that I was back in Kon's view. Kon eye's instantly snapped onto me, before observing my attire and screeching my name. He made wild grabbing motions and even his plushie face seemed to blush. Ichigo scoffed, rolling his eyes before grabbing my arm and forcing me behind him and away from the plushie once more. "You 'devoted your soul'? Yeah right."
Ichigo quickened his pace, literally dragging me along with him. Kon screamed out profanity, causing me to chuckle.
"Both of you be quiet." Rukia commanded, having enough of the quarreling between the strawberry and plushie.
I gasped, feeling the reiatsu seem to thicken.
"It's close..!" Ichigo muttered, his eyes widened and narrowed as he concentrated on the reiatsu.
• • •
"I'll eat you first!" The spirit of a small girl roared. She was standing next to a gigantic Hollow, which looked related to a hamster. Its mask was pure white, save for the tomoe looking markings decorating it.
Ichigo's youngest sister, Yuzu, was suspended in air. A thick rivulet of fur formed a tentacle which constricted around her neck, literally choking her. Ichigo ran forward, withdrawing his large Zanpakuto to slice through the thick rope of fur.
As he sliced at the Hollow, I used my flash step and managed to catch Yuzu before she hit the ground. Ichigo's eyes met mine for a split second, resting on his younger sister in my arms. Darting forward, he went to rescue Karin.
The Hollow's claw was pinning her down, holding her to the ground. Before the Hollow could realize, its claw was chopped off and Karin was free. Before its claw hit the ground, Ichigo had moved to my side with her in his arms.
"Shinigami..!"
"W-What's going on here..?" Ichigo questioned, getting a good look at the Hollow and the spirit that accompanied it. "You…You were the one at the river's edge that time..! Six years ago..! Why are you here?! How come…you're with a Hollow..?!"
"Six years ago..? I don't remember that far back…" The spirit of the girl spoke, dangerously narrowing her eyes. "I see… So, you've seen me before."
"That's right!" Ichigo exclaimed, pointing at the girl. "What the heck are you?! A Hollow's crony?! Or are you controlled by that Hollow?! Say something!"
"Both are wrong, boy."
Ichigo froze, eyes widening.
I narrowed my eyes at the Hollow; it was obvious from Ichigo's reaction that he'd seen it before. This wouldn't be good.
"Jun," Ichigo whispered, brown meeting ice blue. "Take Yuzu and Karin and get them some place safe."
I nodded, readjusting Yuzu so that she was on my back. Ichigo placed Karin in my arms; a worried look appeared in his eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll check to make sure they're fine. They just look unconscious now, so it's nothing serious." I said, hoping to reassure Ichigo as I looked at his two unconscious sisters weighing me down.
"Yeah," He nodded, eyes sat on the Hollow.
"I'll be back soon." I whispered, flash stepping out of the area.
I was running for a couple of minutes, trying to put some distance between the Hollow and the Kurosaki twins. However, I soon saw Rukia. She was carrying Ichigo's unconscious body; it would have been quite a comical sight, if the situation wasn't as serious as it was.
"Where's Ichigo?" Rukia questioned, looking at the two twins weighing me down and seeing no strawberry near me.
"He's back there with the Hollow. I have to find a safe place to keep Yuzu and Karin so he won't be distracted during the fight." I explained.
"That doesn't matter right now. First, we have to get to Ichigo..!" Rukia said, her violet eyes flaming.
I nodded, not sure what else to do.
I followed Rukia; however, I hid Yuzu and Karin behind a rather large boulder in case Ichigo asked if they were hidden.
My eyes scanned the area, looking to see if anything else had happened in my quick leave of absence. Hearing Rukia's gasp, my eyes trailed over in the direction she was looking at. I gasped as well.
The spirit of the girl with the Hollow… It had peeled away, almost like someone was peeling a banana. Its thin layer of flesh was ripped all the way down the center, as the center was left intact; however, it wasn't a full skeleton. It looked too much like a bug's exoskeleton…
"Wha-What is that?!" Ichigo asked, shocked.
"Now that you've seen me like this… I can't let you go without eating your soul." The Hollow spoke, as the lure attached to his head.
"…What's going on?" Ichigo asked, "That kid before…is a part of you?!"
"Grand Fisher." Rukia called out from our places off to the side. We walked closer to him, looking at the screen of our phones.
Ichigo still looked confused, so I decided to further clarify the situation. "That's his code name." I looked down at my phone, scrolling through his history as it appeared as a text message. "He hides his body, while his neck protrudes a lure that takes on a human shape. Humans that can see that… You can probably figure it out; he attacks and devours humans who have a high reiatsu."
Rukia nodded, seeing the freaked out look on Ichigo's face. She was printing off a copy of the record, and tore it from the top of her phone. Well, I guess older styled phones had perks, then. Mine couldn't do that.
"By doing so, he increases his own strength." Rukia continued, "For fifty-four long years, he has continued to elude us Shinigami. That's him. He's highly infamous. Look, his name is so well known that the Soul Society's database has an extensive record on him."
"As you say, brat." The Hollow sneered. Ichigo crumpled up the report that Rukia printed off, turning to look at the Hollow once more. "Anyway, there are so many who can see my form. What a catch. Hehe! I'm happy. So happy. One, two, three, four… Oh, man… I wonder if all of you will fit in my stomach. Hehe! Hehe!"
As the Hollow maniacally chuckled, Ichigo's grip on his Zanpakuto tightened; I could see his knuckles turning white. Before I could blink, Ichigo was soaring through the air with his Zanpakuto targeted on the Hollow, Grand Fisher..!
"Ichigo?!" Rukia yelled, "Fool!"
However, his Zanpakuto collided with the ground; cracking it. Grand Fisher had jumped into the air to evade his blade.
"This is careless, you moron!" Rukia exclaimed, as Ichigo got ready for another attack.
"You can't do this without a plan..!" I screeched, eyes wide. I shook my head in disbelief, so shocked my next words came out in a murmur. "Even a Taicho would have trouble with Grand Fisher… That's how deadly it is…"
"Hehe! Inexperienced boy!" Grand Fisher screeched, laughing. Its fur began to twist and curl, reforming the arm that Ichigo had previously cut off..! Ichigo barely managed to bring up his Zanpakuto in time to block it, but was sent back towards the Earth from the strength of the blow and gravity catching up to him.
Grand Fisher's fur then seemed to take on a life of its own; it seemed to explode outward, rushing towards Ichigo..!
Ichigo became tangled in the fur, not able to escape.
"Ichigo!" Rukia yelled, terrified.
I withdrew Ankoku-Tatsu, focusing on my spiritual pressure. I had to get it up enough to go into Shikai mode… That would be our only hope. It had already begun to fade to black with my dark reiatsu swirling around.
"Stop, Jun!" Ichigo yelled, swinging down his Zanpakuto and cutting the fur clean in half. He then disentangled himself from it. I ran to his side to help free him.
"Jun! Stay back this time; I'll do this alone..!" Ichigo ordered, grabbing fistfuls of the fur off of him. "Take Rukia with you. All of you go with Kon and look after Karin and Yuzu."
"Don't talk nonsense! He's strong! Rukia told you! For over fifty years, he's eluded—"
"Shut up!" Ichigo cut me off, gaining my attention. "…Please, don't interfere… This is my fight…"
"Fine..!" I huffed, before biting my lip. "Just… Just don't die!"
I turned and ran towards Rukia, grabbing her hand in mine and pulled her along with me. She wouldn't be happy about this, but this is what we had to do. I had to let Ichigo fight this Hollow himself…
"Jun! What are you doing?!" Rukia exclaimed, trying to pry herself from my grip. It was pointless though; I was much stronger than she was. "Get back there and help Ichigo!"
"I can't!" I solemnly said, shaking my head before letting it hang. My bangs covered my eyes, giving me a closed off look. "This is his fight."
"You don't understand! Grand Fisher is-"
"I know. He knows. However, this is a battle of pride." I explained, still not looking at Rukia as I bent down to retrieve Ichigo's sisters. "I would help if I could. It's just… I can't. He doesn't want any help."
Rukia nodded, seeming to understand. She knelt down to Ichigo's discarded body, slinging it over her shoulder once more.
• • •
"Hell no!" Kon screeched, jerking and screaming.
Rukia was holding Kon close to Ichigo's face. They were so close that they were almost lip locked… well, if Kon had actual lips.
"Don't make a racket, don't struggle, and don't complain!" Rukia yelled as she sat on Ichigo's chest and forced Kon closer. "I'll set you on fire!"
"No! Getting burnt is bad, but this is much worse!" Kon wailed, still trying to flap around. "Why the hell do I have to kiss him?!"
"I didn't say kiss! I said get closer!" Rukia ordered, clearly aggravated.
I shook my head, sighing. This was getting annoying fast.
"Even so, no way..!" Kon argued, as he was shoved even closer. "Aah! It stinks, it stinks, it stinks! He probably never brushes his teeth! Onee-Chan! Onee-Chaaaan~!"
With one last forceful shove, Rukia smashed their faces together. With her holding him down, she suddenly smacked the back of Kon's lion head with her red gloved hand, forcing the pill Kon from the plush body.
Ichigo's…or should I now say Kon's… eyes popped open in disgust. "Nasty! Bleah..!"
Kon crawled his way over to the nearby bushes and began to gag.
"Geez, so much noise because of literally nothing." I murmured, rubbing my temples to try and dispel the headache that I felt coming on.
"Don't whine!" Rukia snapped at Kon, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, hurry up so we can move Karin and Yuzu to a safe place." I said, standing up from my seated position underneath a large tree.
This was taking way too much time. While we sat here and killed time with Kon, Ichigo was facing Grand Fisher by himself..! I know he said that he didn't want any help, but… it's useless to try and defeat Grand Fisher by yourself. One Shinigami wouldn't be able to do the job.
Kon picked up Karin and Yuzu easily, as we made our way further into the woods.
Lucky for us, we ran into a small little lodge for the public to use when they visited the graveyard. Nobody else was there, so we got lucky again. Now, we just had to wait until the girls woke up and Ichigo came back.
I had to have faith in him. He would come back.
• • •
"Is that enough, Onee-Chan, Jun-Kun?" Kon quietly asked, as he slid the sliding door back into place. He had fulfilled his role as Ichigo; he watched over the twins until they awoke. Actually, Karin was the only one awake. She was now looking after Yuzu.
"Good work!" I exclaimed, shooting him a thumbs up.
He surprised me; he was somehow able to recreate Ichigo's scowl perfectly~!
"Phew! Keeping my eyebrows knit together all the time is exhausting~!" Kon whined, bringing his hand up to his forehead as he smoothed out the skin between the eyebrows. "How does Ichigo keep this face up all the time?!"
I slightly smiled; it was a mystery how he could keep that scowl up the whole time. His facial muscles must have adapted and automatically go into that pattern. I sighed, before taking to pacing between a couple of trees. Crossing my arms, I held myself back from running to Ichigo.
"…You're not going?" Kon asked, getting both Rukia's and my attention.
"Go where?" Rukia asked, leaning against a tree that was out of the way of my pacing as she watched my steps.
"Eh? No, I mean to save Ichigo…" Kon clarified from his sitting position on the steps of the lodge.
"He said not to interfere." I answered curtly.
"So, you're really going to leave this alone..?" Kon asked, staring deeply into my eyes with Ichigo's. I couldn't look away, so I just bit my lip. "It's a strong Hollow this time. Didn't you say that, Jun-Kun?"
"Yes; it is." I murmured, only to bite my lip again after I spoke and resumed my pacing as I tore my gaze away from Kon's.
"He's…not gonna die, right?" Kon asked, lightly scratching the back of his head.
I stopped pacing, not finding myself able to move my legs anymore. My back was facing Kon and Rukia, as I shook my head. "I-I don't know. I hope not. He better not."
"Well, can I ask a favor then?" Kon asked in such an innocent voice that my eyes snapped back over to him. "…Please go and save Ichigo."
I froze, my eyes widening in surprise.
Kon ran over to me, only to fall down to his knees in front of me and beg even more. "Please!"
"Quit…Quit it, Kon!" I exclaimed, "Men shouldn't bow so easily!"
"It's not easy!" Kon argued as he looked up at me. "For me, this is a big problem! Because, if that guy dies, I'll have to stay in this body forever. I'd have to keep living with that damn noisy family. Aww, man! I definitely couldn't take that! I'd be dead! I'd die! Definitely die!" Kon yelled, slapping his face with his hand, covering his eyes in agony. Before I could blink, he was once more on his hands and knees and begging. "For that reason, I'm begging you!"
"I…I understand! I understand, so quit it! Sheesh!" I yelled, not used to seeing Ichigo's body bow so easily. It was a bit unsettling.
"Really?! You'll go?!" Kon asked, beaming.
"Yes," I nodded, but crossed my arms and sternly glared at him. "But you'll have to stay here to protect Yuzu and Karin!"
"Of course~!" Kon exclaimed, happily standing up once more and hugging me close. My eye twitched as I shoved him away.
"I'll go, too." Rukia volunteered, catching my eye and nodding.
"Alright, well… Let's get going then!" I exclaimed, my hand going to Ankoku-Tatsu's hilt unconsciously.
"Just leave it to me!" Kon exclaimed, waving as we took off running into the forest. His fist bumped against his chest in the universal male sign that they were to be trusted.
I scoffed to myself as we ran out of sight.
I'm really an idiot.
I know that I should go, but… just what the hell do I intend to do?! Running to Ichigo like I am… What the hell am I doing?! His regret is driving him now. This is the first time since he's become a Shinigami that he's actually fighting for himself and not others. Winning the fight with my help…would he really be happy with that? No, he wouldn't be happy. This fight is for his Mother…
I stopped running as my feet curled around the edge of a hill. I had almost completely run off. I looked gown, gasping.
This was the perfect view to watch the fight.
Ichigo stood across from the Hollow below, Zanpakuto in hand. However, he was wounded..! His chest was bleeding; he had been pierced with something.
Memories of my parents fighting against the Hollow filled my brain. They'd been pierced through their chests as well..!
I fought to hold myself back. My left hand grabbed my right arm, wrapping across my chest. "Don't interfere…" I whispered to myself. I could feel Rukia's eyes on me. "If he wins with my help he won't be happy with the outcome. There's more than that. This is a fight to protect what's important to him; his pride..!"
Rukia's eyes widened at my words; she remembered hearing them from someone else in the past. Well, something vaguely familiar.
Rukia's hand grabbed my shoulder and tossed me behind a tree so Ichigo wouldn't be able to see us if he looked up.
"Don't interfere. Don't interfere. Don't interfere." I chanted to myself, as Rukia nodded her head and looked at me with apathy. "Don't die Ichigo!"