Chapter 26: A Name Regained
Karakura Town
Aizen smirks at the new arrival—a blonde man wearing a hat, a dress-shirt with a tie, and long pants.
The captain states, condescendingly, "I'm sorry, Shinji Hirako, but you and your band of failures aren't worth my time right now. Come back later."
Shinji smirks, "Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you…?"
A loud young voice calls out, in an irritated tone, "That's right! You can't just brush us off like nothing in your condition. Even Kisuke would realize something like that!"
Aizen glances at Hiyori with widened eyes which immediately narrow in irritation, "She means to say I am inferior to Kisuke Urahara? I'll remember that…"
Aizen then smirks smoothly, "You all must know the about my Shikai… none of you have any chance against me."
Shinji returns the smirk, "Your Kyoka Suigetsu is formidable, yes, however, if you think it is the only Zanpakuto that can control another person's senses, you're sadly mistaken."
Aizen raises a brow.
Shinji elaborates, "In all our time together in the Gotei 13, I never once revealed to you any of my secrets—the nature of my Zanpakuto included."
Shinji holds his blade in front of him, "Collapse, Sakanade."
Aizen stares dubiously at Shinji, whose blade spins around his wrist, which lays in the center of a round, hollow disk at the end of the hilt. Shinji returns Aizen's gaze with a devilish smirk.
Aizen states, "That's an interestingly shaped sword."
Shinji maintains his casual smirk, "Nice, isn't it? You can't borrow it."
Aizen sighs, "But… I don't feel any change. Didn't you say it takes over the senses?"
Shinji drops his smirk, replacing it with a frown, "What are you talking about? The change is already in effect."
Aizen's eyes widen as Shinji is now upside down, "Welcome to the upside-down world."
Hiyori glares at Shinji, "Enough showboating, Baldy! Let's take him out before the other captains catch on!"
Shinji nods, "Alright… sorry, Sosuke, but I don't exactly have the time to play around."
Shinji and the rest of the ex-Shinigami glare at Aizen before all suddenly making a motion over their faces, dawning white Hollow-like masks on their faces.
Bambietta and Yukio widen their eyes in confusion, the former giving voice to her thoughts, "Shinigami with Hollow powers?! Impossible!"
The group of Visored Shinigami all charge beams of spirit energy in their hands before simultaneously launching condensed ceros at Aizen. The captain attempts to dodge by going up, but immediately jerks himself down, remaining on the ground, leaving the blasts to connect.
Aizen comes out of the blast, exasperated, "I should have easily dodged that! I tried to go up! Why did my body stay on the ground?!"
Shinji flash steps behind Aizen suddenly, stating in a distorted voice, "My Sakanade can invert my opponent's sense of directions… you probably can't fight properly under these conditions. Too bad…"
Aizen's eyes widen again as Shinji charges another bright red cero. Aizen attempts to strike Shinji with his sword, but a golden whip latches around Aizen's sword hand, disabling his only good arm.
Aizen is forced to take the cero blast at point blank range, sending him flying backwards. Hiyori and Lisa, both still wearing masks, use their large weapons to bash Aizen back and forth, as if playing a game of tennis. After four hits back and forth, Hiyori finishes by slamming Aizen across the sky.
Mashiro and Kensei, also wearing their own masks, approach the midair Aizen from both sides.
Masiro kicks Aizen in the face dramatically, halting his momentum, while shouting, "Mashiro kick!"
Kensei pulls up right behind Aizen, stylishly taking out a knife strapped to his hip, spinning it around with the circle on the guard. Kensei then immediately strikes Aizen in the back with it, causing a shockwave that results in Aizen's body unnaturally bending under Mashiro and Kensei's combined attack.
Rose violently rips Aizen's body away from the martial duo, causing dynamic piano key noises to come from his whip.
Aizen glares at the musician from the air, prompting Rose to chuckle, "Why are you looking at me like that, Aizen? I'm not the one you should be worried about…"
Aizen's gaze becomes one of dread, as a masked Love appears above him, a katana raised in both hands, declaring, "Crush Down, Tengumaru!"
Love's katana turns into a giant spiked mace, which he promptly slams down on Aizen, sending the captain spiraling towards the ground.
As Aizen slams into the ground, Rose touches the sections of his whip as if playing a piano, "Kinshara Sonata Number 11, Izayoi Bara (Sixth Tenth Night Rose)."
An explosion occurs, with Aizen at its epicenter, as Rose recalls his whip.
As Aizen struggles to get up, Hachi, who just finished lightly healing the Xcution members, chants, "Wall of iron sand… tower of the shaven priests… glow, incandescent iron… tranquil and soundless to the end. Bakudo Number 75! Gochu Tekkan (Five Pillar Piercing Iron)!"
Aizen's eyes widen as he realizes what is happening. The captain scrambles to get up, going to the left but then instinctually pulling back once he realized he meant to go right. Aizen glares at Shinji in shock, who smugly still swings Sakanade like a pendulum.
Five iron pillars slam on Aizen's body, one for each of his limbs and one for his neck.
At this point, Shinji abruptly stops spinning Sakanade, resting the blade on his shoulder, "And that looks like a wrap… so long, Sosuke."
The Visored all charge ceros again, this time even larger than before, unleashing the full power blasts at Aizen. The ex-Shinigami all recall their Hollow masks.
Shinji places a hand on the bill of his hat, "Well I'll be… we actually did it!"
Yukio looks at the scene in horror and confusion, shouting hysterically, "What are you doing?!"
All of the ex-Shinigami widen their eyes as they find not Aizen, but the charred bloodied body of Hiyori in the epicenter of their attacks.
Shinji looks over to find Lisa and Mashiro falling to the ground, bloodied, as Aizen stands casually above them with his blade leaking blood, having no more damage on him from when the ex-Shinigami first arrived—his only real wound being his left arm.
Rose throws his whip at Aizen, who catches it casually with his sword arm, pulling Rose in a circle and swinging him at the approaching Love and Kensei, knocking them over. Aizen then rushes them faster than Shinji can see, cutting all three men down with a single series of sword strokes.
Shinji watches helplessly as Hachi declares, "Hado Number 31, Shakkaho!"
A red blast flies at Aizen, who cuts it in half easily with his sword before smirking evilly, "Your Kido is lacking… here, let me show you—"
Aizen raises his right arm, "Hado Number 90, Kurohitsugi."
Hachi's eyes widen in horror as a large black coffin shaped spell surrounds him before piercing him through in every direction. As the spell dissipates, Hachi is left a bleeding mess on the ground.
Shinji stares at Aizen with widened eyes, "When did you…"
Aizen tilts his head up at Shinji, "Hm? When did I what? You'll have to be more specific."
Shinji growls, "You know what I mean! When did you use your Kyoka Suigetsu?!"
Aizen smirks, "What an odd question… let me ask you one to help you understand…"
Shinji flinches as Aizen coldly regards him, "How long have you been under the illusion that I wasn't using Kyoka Suigetsu?"
Shinji's eyes widen as Aizen suddenly appears behind him. The ex-Shinigami lets out a gasp as blood spurts from his back before he falls to the ground, unconscious.
Aizen surveys the battlefield, "I should finish them all off…"
Aizen's eyes widen when he notices something, "Where is Kugo Ginjo?"
Aizen feels heat coming from behind him, turning around in slow motion to find the form of Ginjo, bleeding profusely all over his body, yet shrouded in blood-red reishi with angel-shaped wings and a star-shaped crown.
Ginjo, with pupil-less, bloodshot eyes, slams his sword at Aizen, who just barely manages to block the strike with his own blade. Ginjo lets out a final, desperate, adrenaline-fueled roar as he pushes the blade at Aizen with more force, it starting to light up the same crimson color of the reishi around them.
Aizen looks at Ginjo with dread before a massive, skyscraper sized explosion occurs, that causes a shockwave that splits the clouds. Aizen screams desperately as the explosion completely overtakes him, sending his smoking form flying off a distance away.
Ginjo breathes heavily, his breath hitching as blood pours from his eyes, mouth, and just about any other location on his body. The red reishi dissipates as Ginjo's breath quickly stops before he falls to the ground, motionless.
Yukio and Bambietta stare at Ginjo with urgent expressions, the latter preparing to call out to him before cutting herself off as she shifts her gaze to an approaching group. What she finds includes a young girl with long orange hair, a similarly young girl with short spiky black hair, a tall built man with a moustache, and a not quite so tall man with a hat and clogs.
Urahara remarks, "Good thing Yoruichi reached out for our help… If we made it any later, everyone here might have died… Miss Inoue, if you would."
Orihime nods, glancing at Ginjo and Hiyori, "I'll heal the most wounded first."
Urahara glances at Bambietta and Yukio, "I'll be taking you all to my shop to sort things out. Resist and I'll leave you here for the Shinigami…"
Yukio and Bambietta both sigh dejectedly in reaction.
Urahara tilts his hat in front of his face, "I'll take that as your consent."
Elsewhere in Karakura Town
Isshin growls, looking around, "Damn, that Hollow's fast!"
A huge explosion suddenly occurs in the distance, causing Ukitake, who is close behind Isshin, to react worriedly, "How could we not have sensed that by now?! Captain Aizen is in trouble!"
Isshin looks off in the opposite direction, Ukitake noticing the look, "We can pursue White later, Captain Shiba! As far as I know, there is no one over there right now who could possibly be worth that Hollow's attention!"
Isshin sighs, "Fine. But after we find Aizen, I'm going right back after White!"
Isshin notes to himself, "That Hollow is heading towards the clinic… I have a bad feeling I'm right about who he is…"
Ukitake nods as the two captains head towards the explosion.
Near Explosion, Karakura Town
Renji was contemplating heading towards where he felt the massive Hollow reiatsu was when he noticed the massive explosion come out of seemingly nowhere.
The Vice-Captain notices a scorching form fall to the ground nearby, out of the explosion, and heads to investigate.
What he finds causes him to gasp, "C-captain Aizen?!"
Before Renji lays the nearly unrecognizable form of Sosuke Aizen, a bleeding scorched mass of flesh.
Renji rushes to the captain's side, hearing the man sputter, "Curse you… Quincy… White! …Kurosaki!"
Renji gives an urgent, confused look, "Quincy…? White?! Kurosaki? What do you mean, captain?!"
Aizen, still disoriented, spouts things as if by instinct, "The… the Clinic—!"
Aizen then blacks out, clutching Renji's hand. Renji gazes at the captain, completely baffled.
The red-haired man hears some movement behind him followed by a light gasp, "C-captain Aizen!"
Renji doesn't even need to turn around as he recognizes Momo's voice.
The woman drops next to Renji, with tears in her eyes, "Who… who could've done this?!"
Renji glances at Momo, handing Aizen's hand off to her, causing the woman to look at him in mild confusion through her despair.
Renji gets up, "Captain Aizen was talking about White among other things before he passed out, but I doubt he was the one who did this…"
Momo nods as she weeps, "Yeah… White was fighting Captain Kuchiki just now…"
Renji nods with resolve in his eyes, "You stay by his side until Squad 4 arrives, Momo. I'm going to get to the bottom of this!"
Momo slowly nods her head as she looks down at Aizen in anguish.
As Renji storms off, he can't help but think, "White should be over that way… but it sounds like Captain Aizen was concerned about a "Quincy", whatever that means… he knows something the rest of us don't—but was likely silenced before he could share. Regardless, I've got to find this Clinic!"
Renji then takes off in the direction of White.
Kurosaki Clinic
Yuzu, frustrated, cooks a meal for herself, "Candice! How could she say such horrible things about herself! She's not worth saving? No, I refuse to believe that!"
Yuzu sighs, pausing in her cooking before looking outside through the window, "It was immature of me to run off like that… I'm worried about them… I can feel all the powerful sources of reiatsu out there… maybe I should—"
The girl cuts herself off as she feels a vast, crushing reiatsu right outside the house. She immediately rushes underneath a table to hide, further suppressing her own reiatsu in hopes of not being detected.
Outside, White observes the Clinic dubiously, "This is it… this was my home."
White invites himself in, phasing through the walls of the house, leaving him in the kitchen.
The Hollow glances at the stove, noticing a pot of hot rice, "It smells fresh… someone was here…"
White observes the interior of the house, but fails to find anyone, thinking in frustration, "Where is everyone! My family should be here!"
The Hollow calms down as he notices a poster of a beautiful woman with dirty blonde hair, "That woman in the poster… she was my mother. I don't remember anything about her, but I'm sure I loved her a lot…"
White pauses at the stairs, which causes Yuzu to tense slightly, "What is it doing? It's just looking around… does it not know I'm here?"
White suddenly disappears, a sure sign of Sonido.
White instinctually enters a room, which has cross-shaped bed sheets on the bed, a desk which has a light layer of dust on top of various books, and various pictures on top of the dresser.
White takes in the sight, "This was my room…"
The Hollow approaches the desk, grabbing the first book on top, reading the cover in his head, "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare."
The Hollow flips through the pages, taking in the foreign-looking language, "This… this is English!"
White gets lost in interest, trying to decipher the language, as apparently, he was still a beginner in life.
Suddenly, the Hollow hears a voice call out to him, "King…"
White nearly drops the book as he spins around, "Who's there?!"
There is no response.
White's eyes narrow, as he can feel movement downstairs. The Hollow uses Sonido to appear in front of an individual walking towards the front door.
White growls at the individual, causing them to yelp. The Hollow stops growling as its eyes widen in recognition of the person in front of him.
Yuzu stares up at White in both fear and an odd sense of nostalgia, although mostly fear as the Hollow's gold and black eyes peer down at her, "Its reiatsu… it's leagues greater than my own… I'm going to die!"
The Hollow then speaks, causing Yuzu to flinch, "Hey… what's your name?"
Yuzu's brow furrows, not expecting the Hollow to speak so softly to her, for some reason feeling the urge to comply with the Hollow's wishes, "I'm Yuzu…"
White nods, "Alright, Yuzu. Can you tell me what your brother's name was?"
Yuzu raises her brow, glancing to see the book in White's hand before answering, "You are the third spiritual being I've met who was interested in him… do you know Ms. Roka or Grand Fisher?"
White tilts his head in mild confusion, "I can't say I do…"
The Hollow shakes his head, sighing, "Look, I just want to know my name so I can get out of here…"
Yuzu's eyes widen. She is completely speechless, "His voice… his orange hair… it can't be, can it?"
After a moment of this, the girl breaks out of her initial shock, asking with hesitation, "I-Ichigo?"
White looks at the girl with widened eyes, before they narrow again, "Ichigo… I see, that is my name…"
Yuzu starts to cry slowly, wanting to believe the Hollow is telling the truth so that she can once more embrace her brother. However, Yuzu is not quite so naïve as she was a year ago, "T-this must be a trick! Like with that Grand Fisher!"
Yuzu glances at the book once more, "I want you to prove you are Ichigo! Tell me how you feel about William Shakespeare!"
White tilts his head, "What? Why?"
Yuzu shakes her head, tears still flowing from her eyes, "If you don't, then I'll have to believe you're just playing with my emotions! I-I'll have to think of you as an enemy."
White rubs the back of his neck, sighing, "Alright…"
Yuzu waits quietly as White gathers his thoughts.
The Hollow answers, "To tell you the truth, ever since I died, I've been an amnesiac… so I don't recall my—or rather, Ichigo's exact thoughts on him… but from what I've read in this book briefly, I feel like I must've admired Shakespeare as an author. The premise of this story seems to be about bridging the gap between two feuding families… I admire that. Building bridges between people is an admirable thing…"
Yuzu's tears now flow freely, "It really is you!"
Before the Hollow can react, his sister embraces him.
White—no, Ichigo awkwardly pats Yuzu's head with his clawed hands, "Even if you thought of me as an enemy, I would not harm you, Yuzu… I'd have no right to call myself your brother if I did."
Yuzu smiles, not breaking the embrace, "Please, Ichigo! Stay here! Don't leave me again!"
Ichigo's gaze becomes more solemn at this, "I can't, Yuzu… I belong to Hueco Mundo now… as a Hollow. Being here would only put you in danger—Shinigami are after me."
Yuzu looks up at her brother with widened eyes, "Ichigo… are you the Hollow called White?"
The Hollow nods his head, causing Yuzu's heart to drop.
Ichigo breaks the embrace, "I have to leave now… I'll return to you one day, but right now I have to leave. I'll kill all the Shinigami that come between us."
Yuzu gawks in dread, "I-Ichigo is talking about k-killing people? How?! Ichigo would never—"
Ichigo turns his back on Yuzu before opening a Garganta, "Goodbye."
As Ichigo walks through, Yuzu snaps out of her trance, running at the portal, "Wait!"
The portal closes before Yuzu can reach her brother.
After a few moments, Yuzu composes herself, "I have to find uncle!"
Yuzu runs out of the house, however, a spiky red-haired man in a black Shihakusho appears, cutting her off.
Yuzu flinches under the man's glare as he questions her, "You, girl! Based on your expression, you can see me. A monster named White was just here, right? Do you know anything about that?"
Yuzu's posture is apprehensive, choosing not to state anything.
Renji snorts, "Not feeling like talking, huh?"
The man looks at the Clinic to his left, his eyes widening, "Kurosaki Clinic?"
Yuzu's brow furrows, "Why is he so put off by our Clinic…?"
The red-haired man glares down at the girl, "Are you a Kurosaki? Or maybe a 'Quincy'?"
Yuzu's eyes widen slightly at this, "Why are those things important to him? Did—did dad tell him? No… why would he…"
Renji frowns at the girl's silence, "Well, if you don't feel like talking, I'll have to take you in for questioning!"
Renji grabs at Yuzu, which causes the girl to instinctually flare up her powers, launching red reishi at the man, causing the Vice-Captain's hand to bleed.
The Vice-Captain scowls, "Captain Aizen may be on to something! You are a Quincy, aren't you? I bet you were even in cahoots with White!"
Yuzu's look relays one of being found out. The girl freezes, unable to move.
Renji draws his sword, "Your reiatsu is sufficiently high that I can do this…"
The man then lays the palm of his hand not holding his sword on the guard of his blade, "Roar—"
However, the red-haired man is suddenly punched in the gut, sent flying into a nearby wall.
Isshin appears with his back turned to his daughter, who looks at him with wide eyes, "Dad—?"
Isshin slowly turns around to face his daughter, wearing a disappointed expression, "Why did you run away Yuzu? I thought you knew we could always talk things out…"
Before Yuzu can respond, Ukitake appears behind Isshin quicker than the captain can react to, slamming reishi cuffs on his wrists. Isshin gasps, falling to the ground.
The Shiba man glares at Ukitake, "What are you doing?!"
Ukitake wears a hardened expression, "A Quincy attacked Captain Aizen. Your daughter is without a doubt one of their kind… we…"
The veteran captain pauses, wearing a disgusted look, "…we have no choice but to take her in… I'm sorry…"
Yuzu takes a step back, bumping into a form behind her.
The girl glances back to see Momo, wearing an angry expression with tear-filled eyes as she places similar reishi cuffs on Yuzu, "I-I won't let you get away with hurting Captain Aizen!"
Yuzu wears a confused, dread-filled gaze as she meets the woman's glare.
Momo flinches at the sight, only just now fully realizing who she's dealing with, "She's just a little girl…"
Ukitake gives Isshin a downcast gaze, "You must understand, Captain Shiba, that this isn't something I can just sweep under the rug…"
Isshin frowns as he looks at the ground. The man's eyes widen when he notices something in the corner of his eye—Ryuken and Yoruichi standing helplessly a distance away from the scene.
The captain moves his eyes back and forth briefly, which causes the Quincy to flinch and look at the ground in shame, as he responds to Ukitake, "Yeah… I get it. Nothing personal, right?"
Ukitake gives a dejected nod before opening the Senkaimon, allowing for the group to walk through to the Soul Society.
Hueco Mundo
Ichigo finds himself once more in Hueco Mundo, Las Noches in his sights.
The Hollow growls, the sight of Hueco Mundo a depressing reminder of the state of things, "I killed humans… I almost attacked Yuzu… I…"
Ichigo hears a voice call out, "Chin up King, your crown is slipping!"
The Hollow looks around him, hissing, "Who's there?! Show yourself!"
There is silence, prompting Ichigo to begin charging a cero between his horns, "If you are intent on hiding from me, I'll blast the whole landscape to kingdom come!"
The voice replies excitedly, "That's more like it!"
Ichigo roars as he unleashes the cero, causing the dunes around him to buckle under the force of the explosion.
The Hollow sighs in relief, "Finally, some peace and—"
"You call that an attack?! Ichigo, I'm disappointed!", the voice calls out once more.
Ichigo's eyes widen, "What the fuck?! I don't feel anyone's reiatsu! Where is this voice coming from?!"
The Hollow hears maniacal laughter, which seems similar to his own after listening to it for a moment.
The voice regards the Hollow, "Look down."
Ichigo looks down at the ground and gasps, finding his shadow with piercing white eyes and an equally white smirking mouth.
The shadow speaks, "About time you looked at me, my accomplice!"
Ichigo growls, "Who the hell are you?!"
His shadow frowns, "What a stupid question. I'm your shadow, Ichigo! Think of me as your alter ego, if you'd like."
Ichigo scoffs, rubbing his head, "I must really be losing it…"
The shadow hisses, "We had both of those Shinigami on the ropes—we could've killed them!"
The Hollow snarls, "More humans would've gotten hurt—"
The shadow snaps, "And what of it?!"
Ichigo flinches, "What…?"
White's alter ego elaborates, coldly, "Are the lives of the Shinigami worth less than a small number of human ones? Think, Ichigo, that's two less captains between you and your family, yet you chose to spare them for strangers you don't even know? Face it, Ichigo, we're meant to kill—whether the target be Shinigami, Hollow, or even human! Any who dies as collateral were too weak anyway…"
Ichigo roars, "You bastard! These are people's lives you're talking about! They're not something I can play with—"
The shadow cuts him off, "Can't you?"
The Hollow gasps in shock, silent as his shadow continues, "We have suffered this existence, devoured those we deemed unfit to live in Hueco Mundo—which has seen visual improvement if what Nel said is true. You're telling me you want to stop that all because some humans happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time? Don't be so naïve…"
Ichigo grits his teeth, "Once I kill Barragan, I'll—"
"You are in no mental state to be killing anyone of his caliber right now. That's why I'm here…", the shadow scolds.
Ichigo argues, "Yes I can…"
The shadow asks, "Oh really? Because to me, it seems like your resolve was shaken after you met your sister… your feelings of self-loathing are too loud and distracting!"
Ichigo says nothing, neither confirming nor denying the shadow's claims.
The shadow scolds further, "Ichigo, we are a Hollow—an instinct-fueled force of nature that will stop at nothing to destroy all that stands in the way of our desires! No questions. No thinking. Only DEATH for those foolish enough to stand in the way of White! Quit trying to reason with others—some things are meant to be destroyed! You're resisting your very nature to dominate those below us!"
The Hollow's eyes widen as he takes in what his shadow is saying.
The shadow continues, "That's why I—"
This time, Ichigo cuts the shadow off, "Shut up! I've decided…"
The shadow questions, "What…?"
Ichigo stares off in the distance, a destination in mind, "I'm going to gather allies now… I need something to take my mind off things… you're right, I'm not ready to fight Barragan right now, but maybe soon… I will be."
The shadow snickers, "Then I shall eagerly await until the next time you need me, my accomplice…"
The shadow reverts back to a normal shadow as Ichigo sighs, "Now, where was that cave, again?"
A Few Hours Later, Hueco Mundo
Midflight, Ichigo retracts his blood red reishi wings before touching down in front of a cave—the same cave where he once rested during his twilight days as an Adjucha.
Ichigo walks inside the cave, looking around briefly before speaking authoritatively, "Bug girls, are you there?"
"Bug girls?!", an angry voice shouts.
Ichigo doesn't flinch, "Err… what were your names again? Loly? Menoly?"
From the ground, two Adjuchas burst forth, both eyeing the Vasto Lorde with uncertainty.
Upon seeing him, the centipede speaks, "Oh damn… it's a Vasto Lorde! That spiritual power is…"
The scorpion seems to recognize the Hollow's horns and voice, "You know our names? Wait… you look familiar somehow. A-are you White?"
Ichigo tilts his head, surprised, "You recognize me?"
Loly speaks fearfully, "Menoly! Are you out of your mind? If that's really White, then we should be getting out of here!"
Menoly speaks up, "Oh please, Master White! Please don't kill us!"
Ichigo sighs, "I'm not going to kill you… Before you go and lose your minds, I have a proposition for the two of you…"
Both bug Hollows trade a look of confusion before turning back to face the Vasto Lorde.
Loly asks, "What do you want from us?"
The Vasto Lorde requests, "I was wondering if I could stay here a while. This cave is a pretty safe place."
Loly eyes something in Ichigo's hand, "What is that? A book? You some kind of nerd?"
Menoly shakes in fear, "Loly! Stop it! Don't listen to her, Master White… I don't mind if you stay here so long as you don't kill us."
Ichigo shakes his head before groaning in mild annoyance, "I said I wasn't going to kill you two, didn't I? As for the book, it's a tragedy from William Shakespeare, written entirely in English…"
Loly chides, "So you are a nerd! Color me surprised."
Ichigo squints, still mildly annoyed, "Yeah and what of it? Why does that surprise you so much?"
The centipede shifts, "Well… I just didn't think someone as strong as you would concern yourself with geeky stuff…"
The orange-haired Hollow shakes his head, "Well I think you two are too close-minded… which is unfortunately a common trait here in Hueco Mundo…"
The two bug Hollows are quiet for a moment before Loly scoffs, "Alright fine… you can stay here…"
Ichigo nods, "In that case, I'd prefer it if the two of you stopped calling me 'White' and referred to me by my true name—Ichigo."
Menoly tests the pronunciation, "'Ichigo'…?"
The Vasto Lorde nods, "Yeah, that's my name. I haven't told any other Hollows but you two about it."
Menoly backs away in shock, "Really?! In that case I don't think we deserve to call you by that name, Master White!"
Loly scoffs at her sister's cowardice, "Oh c'mon Menoly! Stop being such a coward! He wants us to call him Ichigo so that's what we're gonna do!"
Menoly looks at Ichigo who nods, "It's fine. You can call me whatever you want. I'd just prefer it if someone calls me by that name, lest I forget it again."
Menoly nods in understanding, "Alright then… what was that proposition you mentioned, Master Ichigo?"
The Vasto Lorde sighs, "Still with the 'Master'… well, it's improvement, I guess…"
Ichigo regards the two Adjuchas, "I know you two have each other, but it must be pretty dangerous to be all alone out here so close to Las Noches' field of influence. I was wondering if you cared to join me?"
Menoly seems surprised by the request, "Why do you want us to go with you? We can't offer you anything you don't already have…"
Ichigo shakes his head, "That's where you're wrong… I've met a lot of Hollows in my time here and have spared very few of them. I kept you two alive because you seemed interesting to me. I wouldn't mind your company."
Loly seems put off by the suggestion, "Our company? What's your game, White? Is this some sort of trap?!"
Ichigo doesn't fail to notice how Loly doesn't use his true name, before sighing, "I don't really like being alone out here. It's dangerous and extremely boring… not to mention depressing. You two would be much safer in a group with me… plus I could train you, if you'd like."
Menoly asks excitedly, "You would do that?!"
Loly, on the other hand, sounds more skeptical, "What's the catch? I don't like the idea of you ordering us around."
Ichigo states, "Life's full of trade offs… think of it this way; would you rather be with me or against me next time Barragan sends an Adjucha hunting party out here?"
The centipede Adjucha seems more convinced as she nods, "Okay I get it… but let me ask you one thing. Would you actually train us to become stronger?"
Ichigo nods without hesitation, "Of course I would… I want my pack to be strong."
Menoly steps forward and immediately speaks her mind, "I accept, Master Ichigo… it would be an honor to follow you. What do you want us to do?"
Loly protests, "Menoly! Don't be so subservient! He's asking us to follow him, not to be his slaves!"
The scorpion sighs, "This is a good thing, Loly… you're always talking about us getting stronger. Master Ichigo's spared our lives twice now. I don't sense any deception."
Loly responds, "Alright fine… we'll follow you then. Happy now? You better protect us though if we're going to throw our lot in with you!"
Ichigo nods, "Alright then, ladies, I feel like we can start your training now, then."
Ichigo leaves the cave, followed closely behind by the two bug Adjuchas. After traveling a few miles, Ichigo stops, making a motion with his hand for the Adjuchas to line up.
Menoly wonders aloud, "Master Ichigo, if I may, I was wondering how you are going to train us? Hollow powers are instinctual. We use what we know and hope it's stronger than what our opponent has…"
The Vasto Lorde gives her a nod, "Yes, that is true… but in my experience, there is always a way to improve so long as you have the willpower to do so. I want you both to tell me your motivations. Why do you want to get stronger?"
Loly states in annoyance, "To survive, duh!"
The scorpion Hollow nods in agreement.
Ichigo shakes his head, "No… that is an instinctual need. It drives you to survive, but not to become stronger. You need a reason to become powerful. Tell me, Loly, what would you do if you were as strong as I was?"
The centipede seems unable to answer the question for a moment.
Loly slowly speaks up, "I don't know… I guess I never thought about it before."
Ichigo nods before turning to Menoly, "There's my point… what would you do?"
"I would keep Loly safe.", Menoly replies.
The Vasto Lorde nods his head approvingly, "Good answer. You would protect her."
Loly remarks distantly, "Protect? …is that why you want to help us?"
Ichigo notes, "Makes sense, doesn't it?"
After a moment, Ichigo lets out a sigh, "Those are both good reasons of becoming powerful… but try to look beyond them for a moment. Is there some emptiness you wish to fill other than your own hunger? Do you want to make a better life for yourselves in this place or languish in the emptiness?"
The centipede sighs, "You want to change the way the law of Hueco Mundo works? I mean, it'd be great, but I don't see how it is even possible…"
Menoly speaks assuredly, "I would do anything to achieve that."
Ichigo nods, "If you two want to change the way things are in this place, then you share my desires. Since we all strive for the same thing, that makes us kin, in a sense."
Loly speaks with doubt, "Kin? How are we like you though? You've already evolved into a Vasto Lorde…"
The orange-haired Hollow looks at her with his haunting golden eyes, "That doesn't make us different… I can tell you from experience, that the emptiness only gets more unbearable at my stage of evolution. I want to help you two… but I want you to help me as well. Nobody can survive this place alone without eventually giving into despair."
The words of the Vasto Lorde seem to strike deep as the two Adjuchas silently contemplate his words.
After a long silence, Ichigo looks over the duo, "I want you two to show me what you can do… and I will show you how to make yourselves stronger."
Menoly steps forward, "I'll go first."
The scorpion charges a red cero-like orb between both claws. She jabs it forward and releases the attack in a beam. Much to her shock, Ichigo appears in front of the cero and quickly deflects it with his bare hand.
Ichigo looks at her closely, "You're a scorpion… have you ever considered using the power of your cero in a different way?"
Menoly asks, confused, "What do you mean?"
"Imagine yourself in a battle. For the sake of practice, I'll let you use it on me. Don't worry about hurting me and just try to grab me with your claws while you fire your cero from each one.", Ichigo requests.
Menoly seems confused by this remark but nods all the same, "Okay… but I don't see what the point of that would be."
The scorpion charges two independent ceros in each claw this time and as she fires them, tries to snap her claws at Ichigo.
Much to her astonishment, it launched a wave-like split for each claw, splitting the two ceros into four beam-like extensions. They followed the motions of her claws and quickly surrounded Ichigo. The scorpion worries that it will hurt Ichigo for a split second but sighs in relief as he blocks the spirit claws with each of his hands, having stored his book under his armor.
Ichigo laughs approvingly, "Good… now show me what your stinger is capable of!"
Doing as instructed, Menoly's stinger flails towards him remarkably fast. She wonders how he can block it with both hands preoccupied. Shockingly, her tail is stopped as Ichigo jumps up with both feet, catching it between them.
The scorpion follows up by releasing a poisonous shot out of her stinger, which he promptly dodges.
Ichigo speaks in an approving tone, "Good work, Menoly… you caught on fast. As you can see, your reiatsu is like an extension of your own body. A normal Adjucha would have no defense against what you just did."
Menoly remarks as she backs away from Ichigo, "Amazing! Why haven't I ever done this before?"
The Vasto Lorde shifts his attention on Loly, "Your turn, centipede… show me what you can do."
Loly hisses as she immediately burrows underground.
Ichigo stands calmly, still awaiting her to emerge. The Adjucha bursts out at surprising speed as she quickly circles around him. The additional legs quickly seem to harden as her reiatsu rises—appearing as bladed as she tried to ensnare the Vasto Lorde.
Ichigo quickly evades and reappears nearby, shaking his head, "No… that won't work against a faster or stronger opponent. You need to do what she just did… find a way to trap me."
The centipede pounces aggressively as her front arms attempt to fire a cero. As she does this, the back half of her segmented body unleashes a poisonous cloud. It doesn't seem to affect the Vasto Lorde, much to Loly's surprise, but she follows through with her strategy nonetheless, and channels reiatsu over her bladed bone-like legs, giving them a serrated appearance. Moving fast, she fires a cero whilst simultaneously trying to wrap Ichigo.
The Vasto Lorde deflects her attack and leaps over her before jumping back.
Ichigo nods, "Good… if you get a bit faster then that technique would be quite effective against other Adjuchas…"
Loly seems proud of herself, as she moves back next to her sister.
Ichigo regards the two of them, "Now I want you two to practice your Sonido… you'll need speed to succeed in downing opponents stronger than you. I want you to go to the cave and back one hundred times."
The Adjuchas gawk at him, Loly voicing her disbelief, "One hundred?! The cave's miles away from where we are now!"
The Vasto Lorde tilts his head, "Is there a problem? I don't have to keep teaching you if you don't want to learn…"
Loly sighs, "Fine! We'll do it…"
30 Minutes Later
Both Adjuchas are on the ground collapsed from exhaustion.
Ichigo shakes his head at the sight, "It took you longer than I thought it would…"
Loly snaps, aggravated, "This is… wasting our energy. What are we going to do if another Hollow attacks us in our condition?"
Ichigo sighs, "If you performed Sonido correctly, then it wouldn't use any of your reiatsu… besides, nothing's going to happen to you as long as I'm here. We can do this next part later if you're both too tired to continue…"
Menoly gets up immediately, "What do you mean by 'next part', Master Ichigo?"
The Vasto Lorde glares menacingly, eyeing an approaching Adjucha party, "To kill Barragan's henchmen, of course!"
Loly and Menoly gawk at the sight of the approaching Adjuchas as Ichigo nonchalantly waves his hand, "I'll intervene if I think you're going to die—good luck!"
Loly hisses as Ichigo disappears with Sonido, "Bastard!"
5 Minutes Later
Loly and Menoly pant heavily as a mound of Adjucha corpses lie strewn on the group around them.
Menoly remarks, "That… should be… the last of them…"
The two hear a distorted noise behind them, turning to find Ichigo standing, nonchalantly reading his book, "Not bad, not bad… Overall I'd give it a 5 out of 10… could use some work."
Loly hisses, "If you're going to mock us, then don't say anything at all, shithead!"
Ichigo closes his book, glancing at the duo, "Are you two just going to sit there and let a good meal go to waste?"
Loly and Menoly widen their eyes before looking around them at the Adjucha corpses. The two can't resist the instinctual itch, immediately bursting at the corpses and feeding on them, causing their bodies to glow with reiatsu.
Ichigo nods, "With that, I can tell your reiatsu is much larger than before."
Menoly observes her claws, "You're right! I've never felt this strong before!"
Loly eyes Ichigo intently, "So what now—we go back to the cave?"
Ichigo shakes his head, "We're done, yes, but I don't want to go back to the cave. While you two were fighting, I was thinking that we should go explore the furthest reaches of Hueco Mundo—away from Barragan's influence."
Loly shouts, "But you're the one who said the cave was a safe place! That's the reason you wanted to team up with us to begin with, wasn't it?"
Ichigo shakes his head, "No, that was just an excuse. As if I need a safe place to rest, I'll just ki—defeat any Hollows that come after me."
Loly tilts her head, "He didn't say kill…"
Menoly perks up, "Well, Master Ichigo, I for one wouldn't mind exploring Hueco Mundo with you. It sounds quite exciting, to be honest. I have no idea what's out there…"
"Nor do I.", Ichigo adds with an excited tone, turning away from the Adjuchas.
Ichigo stares back at them briefly, "Just try to keep up with me. The place we're heading is quite far away."
Ichigo vanishes with a Sonido, prompting the two bug Adjuchas to use Sonido as well, following closely behind.
Unbeknownst to the group of Hollows, a saber tooth tiger Hollow had been covertly observing them from a distance ever since the Adjucha party came after them.
Ggio grunts, "White's a Vasto Lorde now?! That bastard Szayelaporro told us he was still an Adjucha, and a wounded one at that!"
Ggio shudders as he hears the voice of the man in question as a golden thread appears behind his head—a sign of Roka's mental link, "Why yes, it seems he has evolved… I was unaware of that… oops…~"
The tiger growls, "'OOPS'?! Are you kidding me right now?! We have to tell Lord Barragan about this!"
Szayel hums on the other side of the line, "Oh, don't worry about that. I'll handle it. You just keep following White at a safe distance."
"Fuck you, Szayelaporro, I don't have to listen to you! What's in it for me, anyway?", the tiger snarls through the connection.
"If compensation is a concern, I'll supply you the souls of any and all of my 'test subjects'. You shouldn't starve that way, in fact, I'd say you'd be better off than you would be hunting." Szayel offers using the most convincing voice he can.
The Adjucha is silent for a moment considering the offer.
Szayel chimes in, "Do I take it that means we have a deal?"
Ggio snorts, "Fine! I'll follow White—but don't expect me to get myself killed for your research!"
The tiger runs off, heading towards the direct White's group were heading.
Las Noches
"You may go now. I won't be speaking to him for quite a while." Szayel states, glancing at Roka.
Roka nods wordlessly before walking out of the room.
Szayel snickers, "While I'm more than happy to 'recycle' my test subjects on him, I have no intention of telling Barragan anything. Besides… it's only a matter of time before White—no, Ichigo Kurosaki, comes for our dear Hollow King's head."
Szayel chuckles evilly, clasping his hands together, "I can't wait to bear witness…"
Author's Note:
Ichigo finally has his name back! This chapter is particularly important in beginning Ichigo's journey into becoming a morally grey anti-hero. More on that as I continue to develop him—I'll let my story speak for itself.
One of my readers has been adamant about Ggio being a part of this story, and while initially I didn't really care for the idea, I came to think about it and something clicked. I think I can make this story a bit more compelling if I have one of Barragan's most loyal men start to waver in his loyalty as a result of Ichigo existing as he does in this story. It's an interesting concept to me, and while it didn't need to be Ggio specifically, all of Barragan's Fraccion are kinda blank slates. This means if I chose anyone else, it would kinda be like giving the middle finger to one of my readers and I'm not about being mean like that.
Anyway… next chapter will focus on the Kurosakis and the aftermath of the battle.