~FIREFLY KNIGHTS~
Bleach Copyright Tite Kubo
Firefly Knights Copyright Illand Girl
'For those that need a Guardian.'
Chapter 30: Stargazers
"All things considered, I think that went pretty good."
Ichigo snorted, staring out my window, rain pattered gently against the pane. I sighed, falling back on my bed, watching him. We'd been lucky that both of us were close by during the arrancar's invasion. Kisuke and Yoruichi had shown up shortly after the two beings left, filling us in on what they believed was happening. Arrancar; hollows who removed their masks for more power and crossed into soul reaper territory. Something Aizen seemed to be obsessed with if his speech on Sōkyoku Hill was anything to go by.
The more I thought about it, the more eerie the entire thing was. Their abilities seemed very similar to my own, so much so that I was beginning to feel uncomfortable with it. Especially with the one called Ulquiorra. He bothered me immensely, especially because of his eyes, his skin, his scent, even his markings... They looked a lot like my own. Something in my gut dropped when I saw him. I felt uncomfortable with his presence.
Ichigo had been very quiet since the fight, thinking deeply, staring off into the distance. He wouldn't look at Orihime or Chad. He wouldn't say anything at all really, even to me. I was hoping it was a sign that he was ready to go back to the visoreds, but it was hard to tell with him. He was staring with a frown at the sky, swallowing once or twice.
"It was fine, because you were there," he said. There wasn't malice or disdain, but I could tell he was still deep in thought. "But you can't always be there for me, Nao."
"I know," I said softly, understanding what he was saying. We were separated in Soul Society for most of the time, it would be egotistical to say we would always be right beside each other. Ichigo was likely thinking about how that fight would've gone had I not stepped in. His eyes drifted to me, wordlessly he stared.
It was time.
"We can go tomorrow?" I asked. He looked away; eyes distant.
"I want to go alone." He confessed. I waited patiently, curious why there was this sudden change. I sat up, legs swinging off my bed. Ichigo looked down at my feet when they settled on the ground.
"It's just... I think there's some truth to what Shinji says. I hesitate in fighting that guy because I'm always worried about you in the back of my mind," his eyes trailed up my body until our eyes connected. "And I know you can handle yourself, but I'm always worried."
Our eyes bore into each other for a long moment. Ichigo was trying to make me understand what he was feeling, and I was struggling with the idea of letting him do this himself. I had fought that hollow, I knew how strong it was, and my gut told me not to let him go alone. I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, before I got to my feet. It was three steps before I knelt in front of where he sat, resting my forearms on his thigh. It was very quiet for another moment as I tried to process things. What if I was wrong? What if the reason Ichigo hadn't defeated his hollow was because he had been afraid of hurting me the entire time? I gripped his pants tighter.
Had I been holding Ichigo back this whole time?
"I... I don't like it." I admitted, my fingers fumbling with his jeans. His hand found my jaw, tilting my head up to look at him. He looked sad, worried even. What did he think was going to happen? Did he think he would hurt me? But that couldn't be it, I'd been able to prove multiple times my defense was strong. So what was going through his little head?
"I need to know why though." I continued, noticing the hesitation in his eyes. I leaned up, putting weight on his thigh and squeezing it. Ichigo looked down at me, emotions crossing his face faster than I could read them. He took a breath, his thumb grazing over my cheek. And there it was, the fear. He was afraid of something, but I wasn't sure what?
Ichigo's mouth opened, but then he grimaced, closing his eyes and recoiling from me. I froze, realizing that Ichigo was putting up walls again. Why? What was wrong? Or maybe this had nothing to do with me at all? Being his girlfriend, I expected him to be more open with me. But as I took another deep breath, I realized this was one of those moments Ichigo needed his best friend instead of his girlfriend. My eyes hardened then, a frown setting in. My hands gripped his thighs as i concentrated on what he needed to hear.
"Do you remember what I told you in front of your mom's grave?" I asked, he nodded as his eyes opened slightly. "Then do it. Just get stronger."
He gulped, eyes landing anywhere but on me, shame colouring his face.
"Nao-" I cut him off by grabbing onto his hair and yanking him to look at me.
"Look at me," I said firmly. His eyes widened as he stared down at me, un-moving. "I told you, if you struggle with a fight, it means you have to get stronger. If you need support-"
I grabbed his hand with the one still on his thigh, lacing our fingers together.
"-then hold onto my hand. Because I'm not giving up on you Ichigo, so don't you dare give up on me." I said, eyes firm. Ichigo swallowed again, but he straightened himself out. A deep breath in, and he seemed more confident again. I clutched our joined fingers to my chest, resting the back of his hand against my heart as I stared straight into his eyes.
"Masaki saved you. She loved you more than her own life and..." I swallowed, wavering slightly as I tried to keep eye contact. Quieter, I added, "and I love you just as much."
Ichigo sucked in a breath, freezing. I felt a lightness in my chest as I said this, squeezing our fingers tighter.
"So no matter what happens, I'll be right here, saving your ass and supporting you all the way." I swallowed, going silent. Ichigo looked at me with blank eyes for a moment, and for a split second I thought my little confession was a mistake. But then he leaned closer, his lips resting against mine. It was a soft, gentle, but sure kiss. Chaste, loving. The kind that made your heart lighter. Ichigo pulled back, eyes on me. They were dilated, molten ridges with black pools. They darted everywhere around my face as his free hand reached for the back of my neck and pulled me in again.
Moments later I crawled into his lap, his hand against my heart now on my hip, tugging at my clothing. I whimpered, trying to pull back, but Ichigo chased my mouth even as I leaned away. His hands found both my hips, sliding to my ass as he stood, taking the few steps it took to get me on my back on my bed. I gasped when he dropped me, climbing on top without hesitation.
Ichigo hovered over me, eyes wide as he froze, looking all over my face again. I laid beneath him, just realizing we were both already panting. His hand cupped my cheek, soft and delicate. Despite the adoration in his eyes, the warmth, I could see a lingering fear. Wordlessly, I reached for him, wrapping my arms around his neck and coaxing him to lay down. He hesitated, but then in slow motion laid his full weight on top of me. Big arms circled my torso as he laid his head in the crook of my neck. His hot breath was soothing, but there was a desperation to his grip that reminded me of how much Ichigo had endured in the past few months.
I wanted, above all, to keep him safe. Keep my whole family and friend group safe. My arms pulled him in tighter.
"You're safe with me." I whispered. He shuddered, kissing the junction once.
"Nao." Ichigo whimpered, sounding so full of emotions as I soothed him. Ichigo was completely quiet for a moment, before a hand reached between us, tugging at my skirt. I lifted my hips as he tugged it down, sighing when his mouth kissed the junction of my neck again. Ichigo lifted himself to look at me, eyes filled to the brim with emotions. Our breaths mingled as he kissed me, his hand dipping into the waistband of my panties.
"You know I love you, right?" He asked between kisses. Wet popping noises on either side of his words. I pulled away, a sly smirk on my face as I pressed my forehead into his.
"Mmm, I had a feeling." I teased. He gave a lopsided smirk.
"Brat." He scolded, but then kissed me again. His fingers were gliding in my folds. I rolled my hips to encourage him, sighing happily at the attentions. His tongue slid into my mouth, I moaned. This moment could only get better if I could make him feel good too. Yet as I went to reach for his waistband Ichigo's freehand yanked mine away. He pulled free, his cheeks red.
"Not today, just you." He insisted despite the growing bulge in his slacks. I whined, but he kissed me again. It suddenly occurred to me that we had evaded talking about the visoreds again.
"Wait," I said between kisses. "The visoreds. We're going, right?"
Ichigo hummed in confirmation, his fingers working overtime as I moaned again. My body wriggled as he used his weight to stop me from trying to rub against him.
"After school, tomorrow. Promise." He brought his hand that wasn't buried between my legs up to my jaw, grasping it to make me look at him. "Now let me take care of you."
He definitely felt me clench around his fingers when he said that. His smirk only made my face turn bright red with shyness. My skin felt hot, clothing felt bothersome now as I grabbed at his shirt, unbuttoning it eagerly. Ichigo's mouth connected to mine again, his tongue massaging mine perfectly as drool dribbled out the corner of my mouth. I whimpered as his thumb circled my clit, two fingers lazily dragged in and out of me. I could feel how hard he was, my mind imagining Ichigo buried inside of me made me clench again. Ichigo grunted, his hips rolling against my thigh as his brow furrowed in frustration. I wanted to ease it, attempting to reach for him again. Ichigo pulled away, surprising me as he flipped me over. I landed on my elbows and knees, shocked as I looked over my shoulder where Ichigo was knelt behind me.
"Today's for you." He repeated, fingers back inside of me. I whimpered, pushing my hips back to meet his fingers. He couldn't quite angle himself to reach my clit, just using his two fingers to drag and scissor along my walls. I moaned, feeling dirty with my ass in the air. I felt like a whore, face bright red again as the idea made me clamp down once more.
"I-Ichigo." I whimpered, feeling his other hand tugging at my shirt. I helped him pull it all off, leaving me naked except for my socks and bra, but those soon vanished as well. When I looked back over my shoulder, Ichigo was staring at me with so much emotion again. When he locked eyes with me, he added a third finger. I jerked, clenching around him.
"Pl-Please. Ah~! " I rocked my hips with his fingers, he thrusted faster, allowing me to climb to my high quicker than usual. When I came, I stilled, feeling Ichigo work me through my orgasm. His fingers slowed, pulling out of me as I landed on my side to catch my breath. His hand brushed over my ribs and belly, before he pushed open my thighs. I let him, laying on my back, panting. Ichigo looked down at me, then kissed the side of my head, lips travelling south as he stopped at my nipples for a short stint. I whimpered, automatically raising my chest to him as his one hand worked a nipple and his mouth suckled the other. I could feel his abs resting against my cunt, my juices were getting all over him. Something feral took over my brain as I felt Ichigo's mouth travel south again.
"What- but I-" Normally I would get a chance to pleasure him, but today Ichigo refused. He knelt beside the bed, yanking me closer to him as Ichigo pulled my thighs over his shoulders. He wrapped an arm around each of my thighs and set his mouth on my pussy. I felt his hot breath, shivering as he came closer. When he kissed me, I bit my lip, but as his tongue lapped at my already abused clit I cried out.
"Ichi- ah~! Wait wait!" I looked down at him to see Ichigo staring at me, his arms working overtime to keep my shaking legs flat. His eyes were concentrated, dark, but there was so much love. If someone had told me I would ever see Ichigo look at me like that I wouldn't have believed it. It seemed so surreal and added to the pleasure. One of my hands fisted the sheets while the other found his hair. I tugged as I felt him moan against my cunt and threw my head back, rolling my hips towards his mouth as he brought one hand back to slip two fingers inside me. My hand gripping the sheets ended up holding that free thigh, giving him more room to work. My only thoughts then were about how it would feel for Ichigo to be inside of me. I wanted it. Badly.
"Fuck me, please fuck me." I begged, clenching as hard as I could around his fingers. Ichigo hissed, suckling on my clit like he was trying to steal my god damn soul. I screamed, moments later squirting all over his jaw and hand. He slowed down as I collapsed in a heap, legs twitching as I stared up at the ceiling. After a minute of recovery, I looked at Ichigo, watching him suck his fingers where he was still knelt.
His eyes locked to mine, and for a split second I really thought I could get my wish and feel him inside of me. Then he leapt on top of me. I whimpered when his fingers pressed into me again instead. Ichigo was panting, pressing his forehead to mine as he worked me up again.
"One more." He said, urging me. I shook my head lightly.
"I can't." I whimpered. "Not like this."
"Shh, yes you can." He assured me. Something about my love telling me I could do it had my pussy coming back to life for him. Leave it to Mr. Magic Hands here to get me riled up again. I felt like I had genuine tears this time as I grabbed onto his bicep for support. My eyes locked with his, seeing the juices on his jaw, I leaned up and licked them off. Ichigo grunted, his brow furrowing as he tried to focus. I could feel his cock, hot and heavy in his pants.
"Ichigo," I cried, rubbing my thigh against him. He grunted, curling his fingers inside of me. I shuddered, clawing his shoulders and likely marking him. "Please love, I want you."
Ichigo stopped, pulling his hand from me to use it to support himself. He looked like he was being tortured.
"Nao, we can't." He hissed, looking like someone told him to say it. I leaned up and kissed him softly, he kissed me back, settling a little bit. I pulled away and kissed his jaw up to his ear.
"Who says so?" I asked, slowly adjusting myself. My thighs were still spread, resting on top of his at either side of his hips. I pulled him closer, feeling our bellies touching and felt a heat climb inside of me again at the skin on skin contact. He was so warm, so soft with me. I nibbled at his ear lobe, feeling him shudder. One of his arms wrapped around me as I nestled his bulge against my cunt.
"It's not- this isn't-" Ichigo seemed at a loss for words the moment he felt me against him. He moaned, softly rocking his hips into my heat. I kissed his jaw as he tried to hide in my shoulder, his teeth bit down softly, eliciting another soft moan.
"Do you not want to?" I asked, to which Ichigo pulled back enough to look at me with those bedroom eyes. His one hand rested beside my head, propping him up while his other grabbed the sides of my neck. It was possessive and surprising but made my skin feel hotter as he leaned down over-top my face.
"You have no idea how bad I want you." He said, sounding wounded as he bumped his hips to mine again. He grunted, his hand on my neck twitching but never clenching. "But what kind of man would a be if I did that to you? We- fuck- we should wait- u-until-"
Ichigo gasped when I reached down, unbuttoning his jeans. With my pinky I hooked it onto his underwear and tugged it down, effectively pulling him free. He let out a long sigh, but his face turned completely red. Now that he was free, his cock was resting between us. I adjusted myself, the base of his shaft rested against my lips. Ichigo sounded like a wounded animal as his whole body shook. He was trying to stop himself, struggling with it.
"I want you," I said, looking up at him. Ichigo looked from our hips to my eyes, turmoil evident in there. "If you want to wait, I'll wait. But... But I would never regret this, not with you."
"Naomi," he whispered, his hand gently gliding over my stomach, soothing me. I gave a soft smile, swallowing nervously. Ichigo looked back at our hips, slowly gliding himself back and forth once, then looked back to me. He swallowed, then leaned down and kissed me softly. Ichigo pressed his forehead to mine, his free hand squeezing me tightly. With ease, he pulled me with him while he sat back, allowing me to slide into his lap. His cock rested against my belly, feeling hot against my skin. I was nervous about the initial pain but was very confident in my words. I would never regret this. I kissed him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and trying to pull him closer. Ichigo pulled back though, looking down at our hips once more, watching how his dick rested against my stomach. He frowned, thinking.
"What is it?" I asked, noticing his hesitation. Ichigo's eyes looked back up at me, a different glow in them from before. He swallowed, looking like he was struggling with his thoughts. I initially thought of condoms, about to tell him I had many stuffed into my nightstand from the clinic, but Ichigo instead pulled me into a hug. I blinked, surprised when my head rested against his shoulder. His big warm hands embraced me, one against the back of my neck, and the other on my lower back. After a second of adjustment, I settled into the hug and reciprocated it.
"I love you so much." He said, his voice filled with the very emotion he claimed. I kissed his bare shoulder, pulling back to look at him. When our eyes made contact, his cock pulsed against my belly. I looked down at it, then back up to his eyes. Despite my eagerness, I could tell Ichigo was hesitant still. Whether it was his extreme moral compass, or he was more nervous than he was letting on, I didn't know, but I knew that he wasn't ready and wasn't about to push him into it.
"I love you more." I said, smiling as I leaned closer to him to bite at his lower lip and softly pull it back. "Now let me please you."
He didn't let me. Ichigo grunted, grabbing my hips to hold me in place, then flipped me over on the bed onto my belly. I was about to move, when Ichigo closed my thighs, his legs on either side of mine.
"I told you," He said, dropping the rest of his clothing off the bed. His thighs were bare against mine, hot and sweaty from all the excitement. He then rested himself on top of me, whispering in my ear. "Today is for you."
I sucked in a breath as I felt his cock rub between my ass cheeks, not being able to help it as I lifted them to get more friction. Ichigo pressed down on the middle of my back, making my hips angle up higher. His lips kissed along my hairline and neck, trailing between my shoulder blades. Not being able to see him I couldn't tell what he was planning. His forearm rested above my head again, his other finding my dripping cunt. I lifted my hips even higher as his fingers found it from the front side. However, when I tried to spread my legs, his thighs stopped me.
"I wanna make it special, our first time." Ichigo said suddenly, kissing the top of my head. As he glided his fingers in and out of me, the confessions seem to fall from his lips in soft pants. "Every time I touch you, I can't stop. I want you. I want you so bad Nao."
A moan broke from my lips as I felt his cock glide between my thighs. His fingers left me as he angled his hips a bit, the juices dripping from me soaked my thighs enough that he slid right between them with ease. The head of his dick rubbed my clit, riding along my lips as he slid back and forth.
"I can barely control myself." Ichigo grunted, rolling his hips enough to jiggle my ass. I whimpered, his tip bumping my clit each time; feeling his cock slide against my lips was riling me up again. I reached above me, trying to grab onto something, to ground myself. Ichigo's hand found mine, covering it and gripping the sheets. His weight slowly settled onto me, the feeling of being pushed into the mattress made another moan slip through my lips. Ichigo thrusted into my thighs harder, earning a grunt from me as I took it, even pushing my hips back into his. Ichigo growled into my ear, his free hand grabbing my hip so he could pump harder.
My head turned towards his as I felt him panting against my neck. He bit me, causing a jolt to run through my skin. Ichigo lifted his head, his nearly black eyes so close to mine I began to feel dizzy.
"Mine." He grunted, thrusting harder once for effect.
"Yours!" I cried, feeling him twist my top half as he captured my lips. His hand on my hip found my nipples, playing with them the way he knew I liked. His tongue in my mouth, dominating, pushing me closer to the edge. I didn't even care how much of a whore I sounded like, moaning and begging and whimpering. It was for Ichigo, a man I'd happily give anything to, who would happily give me anything in return.
He picked up his pace, his movements becoming sloppy as he stuttered against my ass a few times. His hand holding mine moved south, reaching to plunge all three fingers into me one last time as his thrusts became erratic. His cock couldn't reach my clit, but his fingers could as he continued to bump against my ass hard enough to make a slapping noise echo in my apartment, his cock still sliding smoothly between my thighs. I cried out as he came, thrusting against me so hard I moved up on the mattress. His fingers curled and I was a goner.
My vision went blurry for a moment as I pulled away to breathe. A trail of drool dragged across my naked body as we both gasped for breath. Semen was all over my sheets, my thighs, and my belly. Ichigo watched me with glazed eyes for another moment before lying beside me and pulling me to his chest. I rested there, in his arms, completely in a daze.
Ichigo stared at Naomi as she slept, not quite bringing himself to leave.
She was so pretty, even while sleeping snuggled to her pillows. Even snoring with a bit of drool coming out of her mouth. He smiled despite his turmoil, brushing some hair out of her face.
"So no matter what happens, I'll be right here, saving your ass and supporting you all the way."
His smile died as he swallowed.
He couldn't do it. Ichigo couldn't lie to himself and say he wasn't always thinking about Naomi's well-being. He'd put off the whole meeting with the visoreds just so he could reconsider how to approach it. The fact that Naomi wasn't running for the hills after seeing him as a hollow was shocking enough, but Ichigo was beginning to question what the limits of their relationship might be. He was afraid to find the edges, if he was being completely honest. And even worse, he was afraid he wouldn't find them.
Naomi really would do anything for him, and he could see that plain as day. Which made the consequences to all his actions so much more important. He had to think not only about what would happen to himself, but what would happen to Naomi.
Ichigo leaned down, kissing her forehead. In the back of his mind he worried this might be the last time he'd kiss her. As much as he wanted to take their bedroom life to the next level, Ichigo couldn't. He couldn't do that to Naomi. Because if he failed, if he lost to the hollow-
He was gone late at night, having made sure she was properly locked in and comfortable, heading to the warehouse district. It would give him some time, he hoped, before Naomi knew he was missing. Her sensory ability was better than anything he could do, so he wasn't sure if he could ever hide from her, but he'd use her fatigue as a chance to get far enough away. He'd spent hours worshipping her body partly to tire her out, but also as a potential farewell. As much as he didn't want to think of it like a goodbye, he knew there was a big risk that he was about to lose. He would hate for his final words to his family being ones of dismissal, and he could imagine the rage Naomi would have when she found out.
So he chose to go alone, to ensure nothing was holding him back. He would win this way. He would defeat the hollow, he would help Naomi, and he would fix her issues with her own hollow as well.
He had to.
When he arrived at the warehouse district, Shinji was already waiting, leaning against a building. He didn't say anything until Ichigo came to a stop in front of him.
"Well well, ya finally came crawlin' back. And without ya girlfriend." Shinji teased. Ichigo said nothing, lamenting the fact that the last time he was here he had to rely on Naomi. He had sworn to be someone she could lean on, but all he had done this entire time was lean on her for support once more. He felt shameful. Had she not been here, he wasn't sure what condition he would be in. As if sensing he wasn't really listening, Shinji pushed off the building he leaned against and began to walk.
"Well c'mon. Before she catches ya." Shinji drawled, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Ichigo followed behind him wordlessly. The blond frowned, glancing at the teen over his shoulder. "Ya know, I ain't one ta pry, but ya got a glum look. Ya know how this works right?"
Ichigo remained silent as he walked, prompting Shinji to continue.
"If ya lose, ya die. Wouldn't ya want Naomi 'ere to help save yer ass?" He mused, noticing the minute changes in Ichigo's expression. They reached the underground training area, several heads popped up to look at him then.
"That's why she's not here." Ichigo said, eyes narrowing. "I know what happens. It'll devour me."
Shinji stopped walking, looking back at the teen whose eyes were far away. The blond understood what he meant immediately. He was right in his original assessment; this kid was whipped.
"I'll make sure she never sees ya like that. Consider it insurance incase ya bite it." Shinji said, a grin on his face despite the grim subject. Ichigo grunted, frowning, but his eyes remained far away.
'Sorry, Nao,' he thought as he followed Shinji into the training grounds. He didn't want to lose, but he felt grim now, knowing that without Naomi he had very little chance to win. However, his gut told him to do this alone. He couldn't rely on Nao his whole life, especially if he was ever going to stand a chance at protecting her as well.
'Looks like I'm going where you can't follow this time.'
I sighed happily after getting out of the shower. Ichigo had tired me out so bad I had passed out right after we were done. He'd wiped me with a towel, but the shower was what I had really needed. I changed the sheets, deciding to wash them tonight after class instead of right away. It was still early in the morning; I had a whole hour before I had to go to school. Ichigo would probably be here soon. As I thought this, my cellphone rang.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Why hello my third daughter! How is my little Naomi on this fine morning?" Isshin called into the phone. I pulled some clothing on, stumbling over to my kettle.
"Morning pops, I just woke up. Did something happen? You normally wait a few more hours before calling." I commented, glancing at the clock.
"Oh nothing, just wanted to remind you kids not to get too cozy with each other~!" Isshin taunted. I paused, staring at my empty bed.
"Huh? Did you not hear him come in? Ichigo left last night." My words were met with silence other than the boiling kettle. A pit settled in my gut as the silence stretched on from the other side of the call. "Ichigo... did come home last night, right?"
"No, he didn't. I thought he was with you." Isshin said, his voice becoming serious. A cold feeling settled inside my chest. What if something happened to him? What if the hollow-
Breathe Naomi.
I took a deep breath, settling down as I smelled Ichigo's scent. It was far, in a familiar direction. Swallowing softly, I gripped the phone tighter.
"Oh that's right! I totally forgot Ichigo said he had to meet Chad!" I lied through my teeth, hoping Isshin wouldn't notice it through the line. It was quiet for a moment before he huffed.
"That moron! Alright Naomi. I'm trusting you to make sure he gets home tonight then." It felt weird, like Isshin knew more than he let on. His words had a different meaning in my mind, making me unconsciously nod.
"I'll bring him home." I said confidently.
I said my goodbye to Isshin, then ripped off my school uniform. Five minutes later I was dressed in my casual clothing and sprinting out the door. The warehouse district would take a long while to get to, but I ran anyway. I took a deep breath, sensing Ichigo's spiritual pressure change. My nerves were high as I continued to run blindly towards him.
Why did he go alone? Why did he lie about going later? Was he... my feet slowed as my thoughts caught up to me. Despite stopping my breath was still ragged as I stumbled to a halt.
Ichigo left without me... because he didn't want me there with him.
I stared at the road ahead of me, realizing I had gotten further than I initially thought. I was maybe a fifteen-minute walk now, but my heart clenched as I doubted myself. Ichigo's spiritual pressure spiked again- what was I doing?
"I think you're scared to show your hollow because ya don't wanna scare your little girlfriend."
Had I really been holding him back? I swallowed, questioning if being Ichigo's sparring partner had been a bad choice.
"I hesitate in fighting that guy because I'm always worried about you in the back of my mind."
I was the problem. Maybe Ichigo would've been just fine if I hadn't intervened at all. Maybe he would've defeated his hollow already if it wasn't for me. I stared at my feet, beginning to question if I should go home or not. As much as I wanted to keep going, I didn't think showing up was a good idea, especially if he lied to me about it to make sure I wouldn't be there. When I turned around, I was stunned to bump into a chest.
"Well, ya sure can't sense us all the time, eh?" I stepped back, staring up to the lipless blond grinning down at me. Shinji raised a brow before I looked away from him. No words came from my mouth as I looked anywhere but his face. "Hm? Whatcha doin' standin' here?"
I immediately felt another spike in Ichigo's spiritual pressure and spun to face it. This was bigger than how he was the last time we fought.
"Ah, ya can sense that can ya? Yeah, he's a real knock out." Shinji mused. I swallowed again, making fists at my sides to try and not move. It was quiet for a moment, then Shinji drawled out something that made my blood run cold.
"He's a goner."
"No he's not." I snapped, immediately defensive. When I turned, Shinji wore an unassuming look as he stared down at me.
"Huh?" He drawled. I frowned, digging my nails into my palms.
"I get that you can't sense it, but Ichigo and that hollow- they're the same thing. It's not like fighting an enemy. It's like- it's like Ichigo is struggling against himself. So this is a fight that he can win." I said, swallowing. Shinji's eyes narrowed, but he didn't move.
"That why ya are rushin' ta save him? 'Cuz you believe in him?" He asked. I froze, feeling cold in my chest. Shinji huffed. "If ya believed in him, ya would've waited for him to come back yeah? But ya didn't. Ya came rushin' the moment ya figured it out, didn't ya."
I looked at the ground, feeling embarrassed for some reason. Shinji stepped closer.
"Don't try to lie to yourself. If ya don't think he can do it, just say so-"
"He can do it!" I snapped, cracking my neck from the speed at with I made eye contact. "He can do it! And what's so wrong about wanting to help him out? What is with guys and wanting to do things all by themselves? Does it make you less manly if you get help? Why does everything have to be a struggle?"
I stood a bit taller, frowning.
"I am going to Ichigo because if he needs help, I will be there. If he doesn't need me, then I can watch him kick some ass." I swallowed again, confused when Shinji scratched the back of his neck and looked away.
"Y'all kids are so fierce all the time." He muttered. His eyes found mind again. "Let's go then."
"Huh?" It only dawned on me that Shinji was randomly out on the edge of the warehouse district.
"What? 'snot like I was waitin' for ya to come by or anythin'." he muttered, wandering in the direction of Ichigo's spiritual pressure. I followed closely, stopping short when he came to a halt in front of me.
"Are ya sure ya wanna see this? Ichigo might not be Ichigo anymore." he asked, glancing back at me. I nodded firmly, not a hint of hesitation as I stared straight into his eyes. Whatever he saw made him scoff. Then Shinji turned and led me back to the base.
'I'm coming, Ichigo.'
Ichigo grunted, staggering backwards on the skyscraper. He panted, holding a hand up to the gash on his chest. The hollow smirked at him across the way, blood dripping from his white Zangetsu. How the hell was he so much stronger? As if knowing his thoughts, the hollow licked his teeth.
"Poor little Ichigo. Still struggling I see? No wonder you were so afraid of your friends seeing you like this." He taunted. Ichigo growled, lunging for him.
"Knock it off!" He shouted, clashing blades with the hollow. His lookalike just laughed in that same high-pitched screech, mocking him.
"You really don't get it do you?" He taunted, putting more weight into his sword and he used his second hand. It surprised Ichigo as he was sent off balance, flying backwards. The hollow followed him, floating overtop as Ichigo glided backwards.
"You think you're just gunna win this battle, and everything will fall into place?" He lunged, headbutting Ichigo into the ground. It shattered one building completely as the ginger slammed into a second one. He groaned, struggling to his feet as the hollow appeared, slashing at him. Ichigo struggled to block as the hollow pressed harder. "You think that everything will be better if you just defeat me? Heheh, I've got news for you."
The hollow leaned in closer, his grin wide.
"You can't save her."
Ichigo froze, the only sounds were the ringing in his ears. He felt a coldness take over him. The hollow pulled back from the block, grabbing Ichigo's blade with his bare hand. Not even a scratch was on him. Ichigo stared, stunned.
"That's your real fear, isn't it? That no matter what you do, you won't be enough. Not for your friends, not your family, and certainly not our little Naomi. You've always been looking at her back. You think that if you keep chasing after her one day you'll catch up. But that's not how you become stronger." He squeezed the blade, making the black bleed to a startling white. Ichigo could only watch as his sword began to dissolve, he stood frozen, stunned.
"That's why you didn't bring her, because you're afraid you'll fail. Even after all your bravado and your promises, you still lean on Naomi in order to grow, but she still doesn't lean on you. Because even she knows how weak you truly are." The hollow's eyes narrowed; disgust evident in his gaze. "You don't deserve this sword."
Ichigo stared at his empty hand, stunned. His palm looked so small and weak, tiny droplets of rain began to fall slowly from the sky.
'My sword...'
The hollow kicked him, sending the teen flying once more. He crashed into another building, sliding down the side and falling into the abyss. Still, Ichigo stared at his empty hand.
'My sword... I don't...'
Ichigo fell into the water with a loud splash. At first it seemed shallow, maybe a few meters, but the further he drifted the more cavernous the place began to look. He sank slowly, feeling like he was drowning and yet not needing to breathe. Ichigo stared at his empty palm, questioning himself.
Why did he do this to himself? What would Karin and Yuzu think? He didn't want his dad to know, to grieve. How was he supposed to tell Nao what happened? He feared her arriving and seeing for herself his failure. He grimaced, knowing that the hollow was right.
"Of course I am." A voice whispered in his ear. Ichigo's chest constricted as he felt the hollow touch his shoulder. He looked behind himself to see the white version of himself grinning ear to ear.
"I know you better than you know yourself Ichigo. I know your true desires. I know what you truly want. Because I want them too."
"What...?" Ichigo couldn't comprehend this. The hollow smirked, gripping his shoulder tighter. That wicked smirk still playing at his lips while his eyes narrowed.
"You know what I'm talking about. It's why you keep trying to rein yourself in around her. You doubt whether your feelings are your own, ever since our Naomi told you how I didn't try to kill her." He grinned, looking thrilled suddenly. "You think it's me, you think I'm gunna grab that body of yours and do what I want huh?"
He laughed, stabbing Ichigo in the side. The teen blocked the best he could, but his hands were cut as he snapped out of it and kicked to get out of the water. The hollow watched him, humoured by his attempts. As Ichigo neared the surface, the hollow grabbed his ankle. Ichigo glared, trying to kick him off, but the hollow raised his sword to point at Ichigo's throat. The teen stilled.
"Maybe I should! Maybe the next time you're thinking about fucking our pretty girl I'm gunna show you how it's done!" He laughed louder, making Ichigo's chest clench tightly at the thought. He'd rather die. The hollow sensed this, smirking. "That can be arranged!"
He lunged up, narrowly missing Ichigo as the teen countered with a kick. Ichigo swam upwards, pushing and kicking with all he had. The hollow kept laughing in his ear, always right there.
"You rely on that girl so much. It blinds you, clouds your instincts." Ichigo hesitated for only a second and the hollow grabbed his throat, squeezing tightly. The creature grinned, dragging Ichigo back down, slamming him into a skyscraper. "You remember what you thought about when you fought Kenpachi?"
Ichigo grabbed at the hollow's wrist, trying to force him off. The hollow ignored him, laughing like he always was.
"Nothing! You didn't think of anyone but yourself! You fought because you could, because you wanted to." He pulled Ichigo closer. "You won't admit it, but you like to fight as much as all your opponents do."
"Fuck off..." Ichigo grunted, wincing as he struggled for breath. The hollow frowned.
"You still don't get it." He sounded disappointed as his grip tightened. The hollow huffed, stabbing him in the chest with his own blade. Ichigo stared, shocked as the hollow let him go. He began to sink downwards, a trail of blood drifting in a small current. Ichigo whimpered, struggling to breathe properly around the blade lodged into him. The hollow watched, amused.
"You can't even stand on your own damn legs. Aren't you tired of getting other people to carry you yet?" The hollow asked, putting his foot on Ichigo's chest to gain leverage. He yanked his sword out, causing Ichigo to bite down a shout.
"Tell me Ichigo, are you a king, or are you a horse?" The hollow pointed his sword again at the boy, eyeing up his liver. "Because from here you look like a dead horse."
Ichigo grimaced, coughing up blood.
"A dead horse with no will to fight. No instinct or drive. You are truly pathetic." The hollow smirked, aiming once more. The teen felt like giving up, questioning how he thought he could do this in the first place.
'I'm sorry.' He thought, so many people flashing before his eyes. Ichigo felt dizzy, watching the light of the surface become further and further away from him. He coughed on more blood, watching the trail cloud his vision of the light. Was this it? Was this how he'd die? He didn't want to die, he didn't want to give in. But the hollow was right, he was absolutely correct. He didn't have Naomi to lean on now, he didn't have that person who had been carrying him this whole time. The only thing he had was this broken body that couldn't even carry itself. Ichigo sighed, closing his eyes.
'I'm sorry, I'm not... Strong enough...'
"So just get stronger."
His eyes snapped open as the voice echoed in the water. So soft and strong, so bold and unafraid. He drifted further into the water, but his eyes remained fixed on the surface.
"Naomi... It's not that simple."
"That's what weak people say. That they've reached their greatest strength, that they can't get any stronger."
Her eyes, he could remember them glowing in the moonlight that night. He remembered giving in and holding her close, he remembered promising he would protect her and never let anything happen to her. Ichigo's chest burned as he thought of Naomi, of the bravery and loyalty she held. She was the one moving forward, and he was just happy to be in her orbit.
A glow emitted from above. It was soft, but whatever was glowing caused a ripple in the waters. The ripples rode through the water, reaching Ichigo and feeling like they were purposefully searching for him. A warmth settled in his hand; a sense of familiarity washed over Ichigo then.
"But you're not weak Ichigo."
In one swift movement he kicked his feet underneath him and lunged for the surface. Unlike last time, there was purpose in his movements, as he soared straight past the hollow who looked on in curiosity. Ichigo broke through, landing on top of a skyscraper as his brown eyes took in the view in front of him.
"So, you have to get stronger."
It was a moon. Soft, glowing lightly, he'd seen it several times before. It was small, fragile looking, and yet he'd never been more in awe of it as he stepped closer. It floated above the skyscrapers, causing the waters to ripple and fall away.
"Well well, someone's here to save the day." The hollow mocked as he landed a short distance away. Ichigo didn't answer, staring at the moon's glow.
"No," Ichigo said, turning to face the hollow. His eyes changed, looking focused for the first time. "She's here to watch."
The hollow sneered, scoffing at the implications. He gripped his sword tighter, lunging at the unarmed boy. His screech was loud and mocking as he raised Zangetsu overhead, slamming it down on the ginger.
"You need brute strength?"
Ichigo caught the blade with his bare hand, surprising the hollow.
"Become someone so powerful nobody can touch you."
"You're absolutely right. I've been the horse for too long, fearing the day you beat me into submission. I've been using Naomi as a crutch to hide my fear and as a pillar of support to make up for my shortcomings." The blade began to turn to an inky black, startling the hollow as he scowled. "So that means in order to surpass her I have to stand on my own damn feet!"
He yanked the sword from the hollow's hands. The hollow fought for the control, but as the black spread out he spooked and backed away from him, growling. Ichigo's hands bled, but he gripped the sword as tightly as he could anyway. He was not about to give up his sword.
"You need support?"
"I will save her! I will protect her!" His whole body glowered gold, his wounds sizzled from the intense heat.
"Hold onto my hand."
He could feel it, her hand holding onto the hilt as well as he raised his sword to slash at the hollow. The creature blocked, grimacing as he went on the defensive. Ichigo wouldn't give though as he lunged after him, giving no space.
"Masaki saved you. She loved you more than her own life and... I love you just as much."
He growled, putting everything he had into one attack.
"And, most importantly Ichigo..."
"And I won't lose in front of her!" His sword glowed as he felt a pulse run through him one more time. Strength that was above his normal attack was in his arms as it glowed golden.
"Live, so that you can thank her."
He slashed the hollow with all his force, shouting as he did, stunning the creature as it screeched. It was bright for several seconds, before Ichigo saw the damage. The hollow was wounded, blood dripping from him in an odd fashion. All the gashes along his body burst, but the blood slowly began to wrap around his body.
"Damn, you found it. Your backbone. Here I thought you lost it a long time ago." The hollow sneered, smirking. "I'm impressed. Here I always thought Naomi held you back, but you're a little savage when it comes to her, aren't you?"
Ichigo said nothing, still on guard. The hollow chuckled quietly.
"Relax, you've won, for now." He stepped closer. "I'll accept you as my king, but I'd be careful. A horse has a will of its own you know. I can choose to change my mind whenever I want to."
He was suddenly in front of Ichigo, grabbing his zanpakutō. Ichigo's eyes widened as he stared at his white alter-ego's grin.
"I guess you've got that killer instinct after all, even if it has to be drawn out. Oh and a word of advice." He began to dissolve, fading into the blade. "I would give up on trying to save our little Naomi."
Ichigo winced, glaring sharply when he recovered.
"I will save her." He snapped, not budging. The hollow laughed.
"You can't. Not from this. Our little Naomi is beyond saving. The only one who can save Naomi is herself." He yanked the sword forward, making Ichigo stumble as their faces were inches apart. "Just like only you could save yourself. "
With that he dissolved into the sword, vanishing from Ichigo's inner world. The teen stood there for a moment, staring at the place the hollow once stood. Then his gaze turned to the moon. It glowed peacefully, illuminating the world, before it too vanished.
"Wait..." He stepped towards it, reaching out.
Ichigo was suddenly not in that inner world as something grabbed his hand. His eyes widened as he looked down at the small figure in front of him. The teen stumbled, legs buckling as he fell forward. The smaller person caught him, slowly lowering him to the ground. On instinct he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug.
"Naomi." He said quietly, taking in her scent. She smelled of black tea and apples, warm and inviting. Her small arms wrapped around him, gently scratching at the nape of his neck.
"You did it Ichigo." She praised him. It took him a second to realize he had a mask on his face still, his arms shakily raising to pull it off. He stared at the white mask with red markings for a while, then looked back at his girlfriend. It was then that he realized she didn't have her horns on or anything and was still in her body. His eyes widened, a panicked expression on his face.
"What the hell are you doing here anyway? And why are you in your body?!" He shouted, looking over her for any wounds. He couldn't see any but that didn't make him feel any better. Naomi was going to give him grey hair by the time he was done high school, he just knew it. She scoffed, pulling back to cross her arms.
"Oh please! You couldn't touch me!" She taunted, flicking some hair over her shoulder. Ichigo grumbled, sitting back on his folded legs.
"Yeah when you're in soul form you idiot!"
"Jeez, you two share one brain cell, don't ya." Shinji mocked as he stepped closer. Ichigo looked up to the blond, calming a bit as the older male smirked.
"Did you bring her here?" Ichigo asked, remembering vividly how Shinji promised to not let Naomi see him like this. He didn't even know what he looked like, but if it was anything like a hollow...
Shinji smirked.
"I just wanted ta prove a point. That ya really are useless without her 'round ya." Shinji taunted. "Ya were losin' then good ol' Naomi comes in and ya changed immediately. Like ya knew she was here."
Ichigo frowned, looking down at Naomi. It was true, he could tell she was there, but right now he felt nothing from the girl again. It was like he had caught a glimpse of her spiritual pressure, but it was gone once more. What had changed? His girlfriend looked up at him, a slight frown on her face. He knew he'd be in trouble, and she would never let this one go, but he wouldn't have done it differently if he was being honest with himself.
"Alright! Playtime's over!" Hiyori shouted, stomping her foot and gaining the attention of everyone. "Now the real training begins, Ichigo!"
Despite himself, and his exhausted muscles, Ichigo couldn't help but feel a little bit excited for training. The idea of honing this power, of being able to understand Naomi a little bit better, was engaging. And maybe, but using these abilities, he could help Naomi as well.
His hand found the small of her back despite his eyes being fixed on the shorter blond. He smirked.
"Hit me with your best shot."
The halls were quiet as Ulquiorra made his way into the partially built throne room. Lord Aizen had been constructing the entire place for some time, and it was near completion now. However, there were still rough edges and damaged stone to be removed. Something that the arrancar used to sit on while they waited for Ulquiorra to arrive.
Yammy staggered behind him, bleeding on the ground as he struggled to keep up with the smaller arrancar. When Ulquiorra stopped in front of his lord, all eyes were on him. Yammy fell to the ground behind him, the floor rumbling with the shaking. Aizen's brown eyes locked onto his subordinate, watching him with mild curiosity.
"You have returned, Ulquiorra." Aizen said smoothly. The arrancar bowed before meeting his gaze once more.
"We have, my lord." He said softly, standing tall. Aizen tilted his head, gaze narrowing.
"And what have you gathered for us? Would you please share it with your brethren?" Aizen asked in his deep voice. Ulquiorra reached up to his face, plucking out his eyeball and holding it on display.
"Yes sir, please observed." He crushed his eye, causing dust to float across the room. All arrancar and soul reapers closed their eyes, reliving Ulquiorra's memories of the world of the living.
"I see," Aizen opened his eyes, looking down to the smaller male. "You chose to return instead of eliminating the boy."
Ulquiorra nodded, hands at his sides.
"The orders were to keep Naomi Sakurai alive but deal with the boy as I saw fit. Due to their close proximity, I was unable to deal with Ichigo Kurosaki without killing the girl." He explained calmly. It was met with a bark of laughter.
"Fucking weak!"
From deep in his soul, Ulquiorra struggled to bring up the patience to not murder the owner of that voice. He turned slightly, looking over his shoulder at the blue-haired arrancar.
"Grimmjow." Said Ulquiorra. Grimmjow sat cross-legged with his fist against his cheek. He grinned, mocking the smaller male.
"The hell kind of idiot response is that? You were supposed to kill the guy, but you let a female stop you?" His gaze turned to Yammy, eyes narrowing. "You're just pathetic. She didn't even break a sweat and that kid sliced you like you were nothing! "
"Fuck off Grimmjow! They're stronger than they look!" Yammy snapped. Grimmjow sneered.
"Hardly. If it had been me, I would've cut them down the moment I arrived!" The sexta espada growled, hackles raising as he glared at Ulquiorra. "Not pussy-footed around pretending I needed to evaluate the enemy's strength!"
Seeing the turmoil spreading amongst his men, Aizen spoke.
"And do you believe you would've done better, Grimmjow?" Aizen asked. The blue-haired espada narrowed his eyes at his supposed superior. He growled under his breath quietly.
"Damn straight I would've." He said proudly. Aizen gave a shallow smile, thoughts bubbling behind his head.
"Well then, perhaps you will get the chance." He stood, commanding the attention of everyone once more. "Ulquiorra, I believe you made the wise choice of returning. Let us regroup and make plans. I would like to allow Grimmjow to prove himself."
The arrancar bowed politely, understanding his dismissal.
"I shall await further orders, Lord Aizen."
Grimmjow was silent, but his eyes betrayed all the thoughts swimming behind them. With the dismissal, Aizen left for his quarters. He was unsurprised to find the snake leaning against the wall, waiting casually.
"Those two sure have grown stronger." Gin mused. Aizen frowned at the memory.
"Reliance is not strength." He said dismissively. "If anything, they have grown weaker."
"Hm? I thought they looked real tough. That Naomi really gives me the shivers." He laughed as he pushed off the wall to follow Aizen. His lord said nothing as he continued up the staircase. Gin figured he could make one more jab before calling it a day. "Whatcha gunna do? She's turnin' more and more like 'im, Captain."
Aizen chuckled, coming to a halt in front of a massive outcrop that showed the sands of Huecho Mundo. The dark skies were grim and bare much like the desert surrounding them. A hollow cried in the distance, but it was swept away in the wind.
"She already is just like him," Aizen mused, eyes watchful and forever thinking. "Which is why I know exactly what can break her."
Gin frowned, his mouth slipping for a second as his eyes softened. Poor girl, born into the wrong family. He chuckled though, despite himself.
"All that effort just to snap 'er like a twig? Ya sure can be cruel, Captain." Gin mused, but then his eyes changed, the snakelike appearance taking over as he lowered his chin. "But I find it hard ta believe since ya told Ulquiorra not to touch 'er."
Aizen looked over his shoulder at him, his eyes pensive. Then he closed them, smirking.
"Gin, your affections cloud your judgment. If I didn't know any better, you're infatuated with the girl." Aizen deflected, watching his subordinate carefully. "Otherwise you would've killed her instead of letting me play."
Gin chuckled.
"She's a fun lil thing ta play with. I will agree ta that." He shifted, looking out to the sands with his ever-present grin. Aizen watched him for a moment longer before he stared at the beyond as well. Gin was attached, whether he'd admit to it or not. Sōsuke wasn't blind, nor could he entirely blame him. The girl was... strange. She was a puzzle that he couldn't quite solve. She also never did what he wanted her to do. However, he was beginning to make a plan to put her exactly where she should be.
Gin's gaze drifted to Aizen, seeing a shallow smile on his lips.
"Uh oh, whatcha thinkin'?" He asked, knowing that look anywhere. He wore it whenever he had a plan, whenever he had a plot to work through. Sōsuke met his gaze, eyes bright. He knew exactly what to do. His mind circled back to the orange haired girl with bizarre abilities disguised as healing.
"Let us see how strong the little Ryoka feel when we hit them at their weakest point."
Hey y'all, happy to announce my aunt is back home and recovering nicely. I still visit her daily to help out so I'm still quite busy, but considering she was in for a month I'll take what I can get.
Also, full disclosure, I didn't proof read this chapter, but it's been nearly three weeks so I wanted to get this out to y'all. Thank you so much for the continued support, I am thrilled to say we're almost to the scene that inspired the entire god damn story. Any guesses on what that is?
Also, chapter titled is based off Myles Smith's 'Stargazing'. Great song, Check it out.
This chapter was fun to write, but it really developed on it's own. I think I struggle a lot with giving Ichigo his own story and value without throwing Naomi out, and vice versa. They have a pretty intertwined story and yet are their own entities, which is always a struggle ha. But I adore these dorks so much.
Mesmerizing Mermaid: Interesting theory. Aizen is definitely not saying something, neither is Gin or Chiyo. But there is a chapter where I totally thought I spilled the beans, guess I didn't lol. It's hard to judge what is giving the hints and what isn't since I know the answers. The animosity thing is correct, but not quite in the way you think. We're almost there though. I will say, Aizen's behaviour has reasons and you're not far off.
Cheers.
Iland Girl