974"Because I killed you." Ichigo's raspy voice echoed through the room. "Because of me both of you died." He wept. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"
"Ichigo we're here, we're fine!" Tia hugged him tightly. "You did nothing wrong!"
"No…I'm the worst. I thought I could do it, but I failed…I'm nothing." He shook his head viciously.
"Ichigo…" Yoruichi mumbled. "Shh it's ok, you're safe." She petted his hair gently. "Rest now."
Both of them lead him to the bed, where he collapsed, curling into the ball and mumbling some incoherent apologies.
"Yoruichi…go for Unohana…I'll go to report to Captain-Commander when you come back," Tia whispered, voice laced with worry.
"Ok." Yoruichi silently left the room, and Tia moved to the chair near Ichigo's bed.
"Ichigo stop crying please." She pleaded. "Nothing you saw there was real." She continued gently, but he was deaf to her words. "We're all ok."
She felt her eyes watering. To see Ichigo in such a state was ripping her apart. It was so wrong, he was supposed to be unbreakable, the one she could lean on in times of need.
'And since when did I started to think like that?' She asked herself. 'I must be strong for him.' She forced her tears back, just in time for Unohana and Yoruichi to come back.
"How is he?" She asked.
"He's not responding," Tia whispered.
"It's a given after such a strong trauma." She looked pityingly at the weeping boy. "Let him cry himself to exhaustion. He'll be a bit better tomorrow…I know I've told you two hours a day, but I believe that your presence will act as a security blanket now. So I'll move additional beds here."
"No need, we should fit on his," Yoruichi said.
"Very well. Your close presence might help him a bit." She smiled faintly. "Tia-san I'll inform the Captain Commander about this development, so stay with him."
"Thank you Captain Unohana." Tia smiled a bit.
"I'll leave him to you." She left the room. Yoruichi moved to Tia's side, and both of them observed him for an unspecified amount of time. As Unohana predicted, after three hours he indeed fell asleep. Leaving both ladies nervous wreck. Watching their lover suffer, and not being able to do anything was taking its toll on them.
"I don't know what to do…" Tia admitted.
"We'll think of something…It's Ichigo we're talking about, he will get over it in no time." Those words sounded hollow even to Yoruichi.
"Just what did he see in there?...I've never seen him so…so broken." She started to pet his head.
"Me neither…Nothing could get him so upset, even the fact that he almost died a few times. He's always just stood up and was ready to push onwards." She smiled. "Always straightforward and hard-headed." She felt a lump in her throat.
Tia put a hand on her shoulder, feeling the same thing.
"We need to be strong," Tia whispered.
They both sat in silence again, each deep in their thoughts, until a knock could be heard.
"Come in," Yoruichi said.
"Pardon my interruption." A messenger said. "I have a message for Lady Shihoin from Captain SoiFon. She says that she has a clue, and you need to come immediately." He said, then excluded himself from the room.
"What does that…the person what?" Tia asked with no small amount of venom in her voice.
"Remember what I had told you about the situation in my clan?" Yoruichi asked, and Tia nodded. "She was digging who was behind the last assassination attempt on my bastard brother, and from what you heard she has found something, but…" She looked at Ichigo.
"I'll stay here and keep an eye on him. Go Yoruichi, your clan is important too." Tia said.
"Thanks, Tia, you're a sweetheart." She gave her quick hug and Shunpo'ed away, intending to solve the matter as quickly as possible.
"So it's just you and me now Ichigo," Tia said looking at his sleeping face, which was far from peaceful.
2ndDivision HQ
SoiFon was filling out paperwork, waiting for Yoruichi to arrive. Due to her investigation, she managed to nail the one behind the assassination attempt on Yamazaki Shihoin. To say the news was intriguing would be a severe understatement.
"Hey, Little Bee, what do you have for me?" Yoruichi appeared in her office, wasting no time.
"Welcome Yoruichi-sama." She said. "I managed to find the person responsible for the assassination attempt." She told her with pride.
"I knew you could do it!" Yoruichi said happily, making SoiFon beam. "Now who was it?"
"It was one of the clan's elders named Kenji Shihoin." She said and watched as Yoruichi's face morphed into shock.
"Ken-Jiji did that?" Yoruichi uttered, disbelief written all over her face. "Impossible."
"My sources are accurate, but why would be that impossible Lady Yoruichi?" She asked.
"He was more of a father to both Yamazaki and me than our father. He loved us…Hell, he loved Yamazaki more than me! There's no way that he would try to murder him! There's no way he would want to murder anyone, he's too gentle…Someone must have framed him!" She exclaimed heatedly.
"Lady Yoruichi please calm down. Only I and one of my most trusted men know about it….We can contact him if you wish." She offered.
"Do it. I'll meet him as soon as possible before Yamazaki discovers it." She said and was about to leave when SoiFon spoke.
"Are you going back to him?" She put pressure on the last word. "You should rest Lady Yoruichi, you look exhausted."
"It doesn't matter. He needs me at his side." Yoruichi said firmly, making SoiFon shake her head.
"As you wish Lady Yoruichi, but I hope that someday you will get over him." She said.
" I hope that someday you will see what I see in him." She replied, and left her office.
After ten minutes or so SoiFon called Omaeda and told him to contact the Elder Shihoin for a meeting.
1stDivison HQ
The Captain Commander was standing in the main hall of his HQ, looking at the Seireitei, like he always did when he was deep in thought.
The object of his recent thoughts had been no one other than the current carrot-headed Commander of Kido Corps.
He felt pity for the young boy, an infant compared to him. Kurosaki Ichigo had been the youngest Commander to ever pass the test. Yet the word 'youngest' was the key. All of his predecessors had at least a century to prepare, to grow and to stabilize their personality. But Ichigo was just a teenager, in his late teens true, but a teenager nonetheless.
Yamamoto feared what would happen when he woke up. Even though every single person who survived the test recuperated after some time, he wasn't certain how it would affect the young Commander. His deeds by now were remarkable, but his mind was fragile. After all as are all minds of children.
That brought him to the biggest problem of his. Ichigo was immensely powerful, for his age. He even managed to somehow defeat Aizen, but he kept tight-lipped on how. Now to give him even more power…it could prove dangerous. Yet, on the other hand, the main purpose of the test was to prevent such behavior.
While he was familiar with the general idea of the test and its …examinations, he could only wonder how all those Commanders were kept on a leash. Despite him being the leader of Soul Society for over a millennium, and living even longer, he still was in dark about that matter.
His thoughts were interrupted when Captain Unohana walked up next to him.
" Captain Commander-sama, Kurosaki has woken up." She stated.
"How is he?" But he already knew the answer.
"He's traumatized…How much I could say after I speak with him…but after he woke up he was in hysterics, and he cried himself to sleep, constantly apologizing." She told him, genuine sadness on her face.
"I see you've become attached to the boy." He said with a faint smile.
"Please don't jump to such conclusions." She said with her sweet/dangerous smile. "I'm merely doing my job."
"Of course." He said, keeping himself in check. He couldn't wait to share his observations with Sasaki.
"I should be getting back to check on him." She said, leaving quickly.
"You're interesting Kurosaki Ichigo, to even crawl your way into her heart." He chuckled, summoning a Hell Butterfly to send a message to Kido Corps, that their Commander has woken up.
Kido Corps HQ
Hachi, Shiro, and Hashiro were sitting in the library filling out paperwork. The mood in the division was grim. It's already been a week since Commander Kurosaki was wounded by unknown circumstances, and the lack of good news was tasking. Some of the older members started to gossip about the possible disbanding of the division. The higher-ups tried their best to nip such rumors in the bud, but as time went on they got more and more frequent, escalating the situation even more.
Tia wasn't making them feel any better. She dutifully attended to her responsibilities, but the depressed look on her beautiful features was souring the mood even more.
'Good news any time now.' Hachi sighed, putting the last paper on the pile.
"You know that we won't be able to drag this out much longer. The old guard is starting to get restless." Shiro spoke.
"I know, but we have to it's not like we have a choice," Hachi replied.
"I'm barely managing to calm the younger recruits down," Hashiro said. "I've told Roja and Shinda about the situation, and they are trying their best, but as I said…I think we have week tops before they start demanding answers."
"I second that," Shiro said, nodding to Hashiro. Over the past week, the senior Shinigami decided to take the younger under his wing. Both men held mutual respect. Shiro for the resourcefulness and skills of Hashiro, and the latter for the knowledge and guidance the older one provided.
Hachi rubbed his temples. The situation was slowly getting out of hand. Then he noticed a Hell Butterfly flying to him. He let it land on his hand and listened to the message. First, his face lit up, then it fell, only to be set in a thoughtful expression.
"So tell us what is it?" Shiro said impatiently.
"Ichigo has woken up," Hachi smiled seeing the relief on their faces. "but as Tessai was, he is traumatized...We don't know how much…but we should have hope." He explained.
"I guess it's time to inform everyone…Of course excluding trauma part." Hashiro said calmly, but both elder men could see the worry in his eyes.
"Told you he's a fast learner." Shiro praised him. "I'll go inform my part of men, you go to yours." Both men left Hachi alone.
"Well, maybe I should visit Shinji and the rest."
Later That Day - Late Evening
Over the course of the day, many people swept over to Ichigo's room. During the week he was unconscious Captain Unohana forbade anyone, except Tia and Yoruichi, to visit him, but since the news that he woke up leaked out, suddenly everyone wanted to see the hero of the Winter War.
There were so many people in fact, that Unohana allowed only the Captains and his closest friends in.
Tia and Yoruichi stayed at his side all the time, watching Ichigo's various female friends (Rukia and Rangiku) hug and touch his motionless body, with a healthy dose of hostility and envy. But one warning glance from Unohana makes them stay calm.
When the day finally seemed to end a Messenger came once more, giving Yoruichi the info that Elder Kenji wanted to meet in her in District 10th West. Begrudgingly she excused herself from the room, but not before kissing Ichigo. Five minutes later the one-sided make-out session ended, and the Goddess of Flash left the room…in a flash.
Noticing that it was already late, Tia decided to go to sleep. She went to the showers and washed. Then she dressed in her nightgown.
When she was done, she went back to the room and was about to jump under the blanket and hug herself to Ichigo, when he began to stir. Tia's hopes jumped. She as a little worried that he fell into another coma after a whole day of sleeping, but sadly he wasn't waking up.
He was having a nightmare.
"No…." He groaned. "I won't…." His hands started to move to his face. Tia quickly moved to catch his hands, but he started to struggle. She tried to hold down his hands, but Ichigo was physically stronger than her. He was slowly forcing her back. With growing worry, she observed how his eyes fluttered under his eyelids. "Let…go." He almost growled. His tone was so hostile that it almost made her let him go. It seemed that he was very close to waking up.
But if only Tia knew that waking someone from the nightmare wasn't the greatest idea. Especially when powers, she had little understanding of, were at work.
Ichigo's eyes shoot open, but instead of his usual brown, they were…glowing. Faster than she could see, his hand wriggled out of her grasp and shot to her throat.
In the blink of an eye, Tia found herself being slammed to the opposite wall of the bed, being choked to death by her lover.
'Ichi…go." She choked out. "S..stop." But her plea fell on deaf ear. The cold glowing eyes were boring into her very soul. She noticed that they were constantly changing colors. Ichigo closed his face to hers, so they were mere inches apart. He looked deeply into her teal eyes.
Tia felt her world darkening, she was slowly losing consciousness from lack of air. Her body felt heavy. His hand started to clench her throat.
"Please." She breathed, a single tear escaping her eye….It worked like a charm.
Ichigo's eyes widened in realization, coming back to his usual brown. He recoiled back in terror, letting Tia fall to the ground.
She coughed violently, gasping for air. She could still feel her throat ache from Ichigo's iron grip. After her coughing calmed she looked at Ichigo. He was currently pressing himself to the opposite corner of the room, staring at her, eyes wide in horror. She slowly stood up and started to move towards him.
"Ichigo…" She breached gently.
"Stay back!" He exclaimed fearfully. "I don't want to hurt you again!" He started to tremble all over his body.
"Ichigo please." She begged, slowly moving forward. At her action, he pressed himself even more to the wall.
"Don't come any closer, just stay away from me!" He shouted.
Those words stung Tia. The fear in his eyes as she approached, made her feel like some kind of monster. But it also gave her an idea. She felt disgusted with it but knew that it was the only way.
"Don't you love me anymore Ichigo?" She asked with sadness.
"No Tia…please…just stay away from me." He mumbled, hiding his face in his hands.
"Why are you pushing me away? Ichigo…do you hate me?" She cringed when he flinched and looked at her with hurt. She was not made to use such deception.
"No, I love you, Tia! I don't want to hurt you again!" He pleaded, tears sliding down his cheeks. The moment when Kale raped her, flashed before his eyes. "I don't hate you! I just couldn't move then! I tried, but I couldn't move!" He yelled confusing her, but she decided to ignore it. " I just couldn't move…"
"Then come to me Ichigo…" She spread her arms open. "Please come to me Ichigo."
Ichigo very slowly stood up, and stiffly marched to her, looking at her with frightened eyes. He stopped hesitantly about two feet away from her. Tia very slowly moved forward, and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. She felt him first stiffen at first. She feared that he would push her away, but he relaxed after a few seconds, returning the hug.
"Tia…" He muttered burying his head into the crook of her neck. "I'm so sorry."
"Hush Ichigo, it's ok." She whispered gently. "You've done nothing wrong."
"I hurt you." He replied trembling.
"It's not your fault." She said firmly. "Ichigo…what had happened in there?" She quickly regretted her question. He started making a gap between them.
"I can't tell…" He muttered with shame and grief written all over his face. "You'll hate me." He said his expression changing to defeat. She took his face in her hands and made him look at her. Still, Ichigo was doing everything to avoid her eyes.
"Ichigo look at me." She said gently. "Look at me." She added more sternly. He reluctantly obliged. Brown met Teal. "You have seen me at my absolute lowest…. When I was broken and tainted…I was your enemy, a Hollow at that, and yet despite all that you managed to love me." Ichigo was about to say something, but she put a finger on his lips. "Even when you had a choice of someone who had no such baggage…who had no such burden and shame upon themselves you still chose to love me. To see the worth in me. Ichigo no matter what happened there I won't think of any less of you. What happened was inhumane cruelty that you did not deserve…we... We're just people, we make mistakes, we break under pressure…you have not done me any wrong, my love."
Ichigo felt a lump in his throat. Her declaration made him feel a thousand times better, yet the dark images still lingered in his mind.
"I'm afraid…of telling you, Yoruichi, or anyone else." He mumbled. "You'll think I'm a monster."
"Ichigo where you listening to what I just said? I'll never think of you as a monster." She said with confidence.
"How can you be so sure? How can you have so much faith in me? I'm ..." He was interrupted when she pressed her lips to his.
"Because I love you. If you can't have faith in yourself, then have faith in me." Ichigo felt that his lips curve upwards. "Now tell me what happened?"
She asked just in time for the doors opening, revealing Yoruichi.
"Hey Tia, I'm back how's Ichi…." She blinked when she saw him standing, enveloped by Tia. A smile blossomed on her face as she jumped at them, hugging them with all her might. "ICHIGO!" She cheered kissing his face repeatedly. Tia was about to stop her, fearing Ichigo's reaction, but relaxed when she saw a faint smile on his face.
"Ok, Yoruichi gives him some room to breathe," Tia said with a smile. Yoruichi stuck out her tongue, but let him go nonetheless.
Ichigo sat on the bed, and instantly the smile fell from his face, replaced by a sad frown.
"Ichigo is something wrong?" Yoruichi asked with concern.
"I'm thinking of how to tell you everything." He replied quietly.
"You know you don't have to say anything if you don't want to." She told him.
"No…" Tia interjected. "Bottling something like that is never a good thing…Trust me, sharing your burdens makes them easier to bear."
Yoruichi looked at them sadly. Both of them suffered greatly in their lives. Her problems paled by comparison.
Tia sat on his right and rested her head on his shoulder. Yoruichi following her example and did the same from left. They sat in awkward silence for the few minutes, when Ichigo finally spoke.
"It all started innocently, the shadows came and demanded from me to perform various Kido spells, from Hado to seals, easy….but then the second part came." His lips quivered. "They started to mess with my memories. The first one was that accursed riverbank where my mother was killed…but the difference was that in reality I just woke up under her dead body…" Both ladies cringed when he said the word just. "But what I saw….was…was…much more gruesome. I saw how Grande Fisher consumed her… every detail. I heard every bone-cracking, the sound of ripped flesh." He swallowed hard. "She begged me to help her, she yelled in pain…she yelled so horribly…. Yet I stood telling myself that it was only an illusion…She said that she loved me with her last words…" He felt his eyes watering but continued.
"Then it changed to the moment when Yuzu and Karin got the news…They shouted that they hated me. Dad said that he regretted the day I was born, he wished that I never existed…That she died because of me…Well, that part is true…" He blinked, trying to keep his tears in check.
"The next one was shortly before I met Rukia when the hollow came he grabbed Karin….but this time Rukia wasn't there to make him drop her…I saw how he crushed her to death. She screamed "I don't want to die.", and looked at me for help…I couldn't do anything, but to stare at the blood coming from between its fingers…" He felt a shiver go down his spine.
"Then it changed to the moment when I met Yammy and Ulquiorra for the first time in the park. That Yammy bastard was holding Inoue's head between his fingers, slowly applying more pressure…She screamed for me to save her, and I couldn't move. I couldn't do anything…He crushed her head like an egg… and had the gall to complain that it stained his vest…" He gritted his teeth. "Then he moved to finish Chado…." He paused, taking deep breach, trying to calm himself down. He turned his head to Yoruichi, and she saw tears shining in his eyes.
"Then came the battle with Aizen…You lunged at him, but he caught your hand, and broke your wrist…Then he broke both your thighs…I tried to help, but I was powerless…he…he lifted you by that hand…You cried…and sobbed…" He felt bile rose in his throat. "And Aizen…he stabbed you in the gut with his hand…and ripped out your kidney." Yoruichi's eyes widened in horror. "You had the same look then. The sheer agony on your face, I couldn't take it…" His hand moved to his face, but Yoruichi caught it and brought it to her chest. "He wasn't finished…Aizen threw you at me….When I was about to catch you…he severed you in half." He choked, finally letting his tears out. "I caught your upper part…you told me to run, and then died…I felt your innards and blood all over me…but the worst part were your eyes…They lost their beautiful spark…were dull and empty…So horribly lifeless….and then the last image finally came." He turned to Tia.
"It was when Kale was about to rape you…I had to watch it all over again…to her…Your pleas to stop, but this time I could be seen…When you begged for me to save you…that bastard turned around, and told you that I'm here…to…to enjoy the show…that I'm the same as him." He muttered with pain. Tia wanted to ensure him that it wasn't the truth, but he continued. "You begged and pleaded for me to help you, but I couldn't move…I saw how you lose your hope…How you wailed…You begged me to not hate you, to save you and I couldn't move…I couldn't move…" He started to weep. Tia joined him for two reasons. She was crying for him, and because his earlier words made sense now. She felt disgusted with herself, and the way she manipulated him to come to her.
Yoruichi was also crying silently, hugging Ichigo and whispering soothing words in his ears. Both ladies were emotionally drained, but Ichigo wasn't anywhere near finished.
"Then the second part ended." He said. "I snapped and tried to shoot a Cero at the shadows, but it somehow disappeared…They beat me in an instant…I was nothing compared to them….They wrapped some black belts around me, and forced me to kneel….Then the third party began….They brought Tatsuki and Inoue in first, and…made me choose which one lived and which one died." He said shocking both of them with the sheer of atrocities he had to go through.
"At first I refused to choose, but then…they started to scream…like in some sort of agonizing pain…. Tatsuki begged me to choose Inoue…but I couldn't, and they both died…" He started to shake. "The next ones to go were Yuzu and Karin…and I…I oh god…I choose one sibling over another." He wept when the full gravity of what he had done hit him. "I killed my sister….I'm a terrible brother…How could I do that?..." He felt like his heart was about to explode. " How can I look at Karin again?..."
Yoruichi and Tia were now openly crying. They now understood what his shout about choosing Yuzu meant. They hugged him with all their might trying to comfort him.
"After…K-Karin died….you two were brought…."
Flashback - Chamber of Trials
Ichigo saw how Tia and Yoruichi were brought to the room. He started to thrash violently, but the belts were holding him firmly.
"NOT THEM! PLEASE NOT THEM! DON'T MAKE ME CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM!" He screamed. "TAKE ME! JUST DON'T HARM THEM!"
"Choose which one lives, and which one dies" The shadows' voice boomed grimly.
"Ichigo what's going on?!" Tia shouted in panic.
"Where the hell are we? Who are those guys!" Yoruichi tried to move but it was in vain.
"Choose!" They yelled. At the same moment, both ladies started to scream, and writhe in pain. "Choose who lives!"
"No..I can't please!..." He begged.
"Ichigo…chose Yoruichi." Tia gasped, trembling from pain. "Save her…ugh." She grunted.
"Don't listen to Sharky, Ichi-c-chan." Yoruichi grinned, despite the pain. Her face twisted in pain. "Now choose TIA! GYAAAA!" She cried. Tia soon joined her.
At their agonizing screams, something snapped inside Ichigo.
"I….chose…" The shadows leaned closer to hear him. "….both!" He roared.
Time seemed to stop. Even Tia and Yoruichi's blood-chilling screams stopped.
"What did you say?" The leader of the shadows said.
"I'm sick…of playing your games…" Ichigo said through his tears. "I'm choosing both of them to live!"
"You think that you have any power here brat!" One of the shadows sneered. "You're nothing. You think that you can always be in charge of your fate!"
The moment he said that the screaming renewed, but the sight was far more gruesome than the previous ones. Blood started to drip out of their ears, eyes, and nose.
"STOP IT! IT HURTS!" Yoruichi screamed.
"ICHIGO CHOOSE ALREADY! WHY ARE YOU PROLOGING MY PAIN!?" Tia yelled.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Ichigo screamed, his voice hoarse from pain.
"Now pay the price for your arrogance." The shadow said.
Moments later Yoruichi and Tia fell to the ground, a gurgling sound coming from them. Ichigo just looked at their prone forms, with the pool of blood growing around them. He hung loosely on the belts. The silence was defeating. Tears mixed with blood slid down Ichigo's face, but he hadn't cared about that.
He just lost everything.
"Hehe…Are you happy now?" Ichigo chuckled. "You just took everything from me…Are you happy? Why aren't you saying anything? I FUCKING ASKED IF YOU'RE HAPPY NOW!" He roared, feeling fury fill every fiber of his being. "IS THAT FUCKING POWER WORTH THAT MUCH?! THEN FUCK IT, I CAN LIVE WITHOUT IT!"
"Then why did you come here!?" The leader shadow roared. "Why did you desire our power!?"
"TO PROTECT THEM!" He moved his head to his lover's bodies. His face twisted in pain and grief. "To protect them from any harm…To ensure that they would live a good life's." He started to cry again.
"You didn't want that power for yourself?" Asked one of the shadows.
"What's the sense of being powerful if you don't have anyone to protect? Power for power's sake…is worth nothing to me." He said through tears.
"Have you never felt better than anyone else because you were more powerful?" Another shadow asked.
"NO!" Ichigo shouted firmly.
"You're either lying to us or yourself." The leader Shadow said. "You're an arrogant child."
"I'm not!" He shouted.
"He's too blind to even see his shortcoming." One of the shadows said.
"He's barely eighteen, he's just a child." Ichigo looked at the shadow. From the sound of the voice, it appeared that it was female. She was also the shortest one. "It's given that he's not seeing it. After all youth's privilege is foolishness."
"Then let's make him see it. I'm getting tired of this." Another said in a grumpy voice. "Hey brat tells me, do you think that you are better than…what was her name?... Oh yeah, Soifon?" He asked.
Ichigo wanted to shout no when it occurred to him that he indeed thought that he was better than her.
"Or maybe, that Grimmjow fella, or Kurotsuchi, or Aizen...You think that you are better than them?" Another asked.
"Yes, but not because of my powers! Those are scums!" He shouted.
"Really? Nowhere inside you? You didn't feel the smug satisfaction that they were weaker than you? That you're one of the twenty most powerful people in the Soul Society?" He said with an amused tone.
"I'm proud that I'm one of them! But that's not arrogance!" Ichigo replied defensively.
"Pride and Arrogance are separated by a very thin line, child." Again the female shadow said. "You seem to overlook it. For example, you waltz into the Soul Society, and force them to change their ways, just because you think that they are wrong."
"But they were!" He shouted. "If not for me, Tia and Rukia would've been executed."
"I agree, but what gives you the right to say what's right and what's wrong? You're a guest in this world, and yet you force people to change their ways to fit yours." She berated him gently.
"Or when you mocked Aizen by mimicking him in front of the crowd. It's not nice to mock the dead." Another added.
"I…" He looked to the ground.
"What about when you killed that man Akira when you were looking for recruits?" She asked.
"He was about to rape a girl! He deserved that!" Ichigo yelled.
"Who are you to deliver his punishment? The Soul Society has a jurisdiction system, you should have given him to them." Yet another shadow said. "Or that fatso in the arena. His business was legal by the laws of the Soul Society yet again you had the better idea that resulted in his demise. You think of yourself as superior, above the law don't you?" He said.
"No, it's not like that! I just wanted to help them! I…" He realized that indeed he felt satisfaction when he killed Akira or forced Jin's business to end. Albeit he regretted the former. "Am I supposed to do nothing when something evil is happening?! Even when it's legal?!"
"We didn't say that, boy." The female shadow said. "But admit that you understand now why you are arrogant. You're just a human who's made mistakes."
"But do you still think that you are powerful?" Another asked. "Look how easily we took everything from you?" He pointed at Tia and Yoruichi's bodies. "We didn't even break a sweat. You're nothing compared to us boy."
"I…" He felt his resolve leaving him. 'Am I arrogant?… Am I that powerless?' He looked bitterly at the bodies of his lovers. He hung his head in grief and shame.
He now knew the price of arrogance.
"I see you understand now boy…Then let me show you something." The leader shadow moved to him and placed his hand on his face. "Look what power and arrogance can cause."
In place of where his eyes should be, two pools of white light appeared.
Suddenly Ichigo's vision blurred. He opened his eyes, and he was above a city. It had many temples, like the one he was now in. Around them were many smaller buildings that he estimated were homes.
"In the time when I was alive, this was the capital of the Commonwealth of Souls… Tlaloca…" The leader shadow said with hints of nostalgia. "Let's move to the streets." They landed.
Ichigo, though blood and tears, saw the lively streets filled with merchants, artists, and children. They were dressed in loincloths and had many amulets, feathers, and necklaces on them. Most of them looked well-fed, but there were also many beggars on the streets.
"Look what power, wielded by those who thought of themselves as superior, caused." He boomed ominously.
Suddenly blue particles started to separate from the buildings. All motion stopped. People were looking on with shock, as the buildings were crumbling around them.
'It is Reishi.' Ichigo thought numbly. Then he heard screaming. Peoples around them started to fall one by one, in a fountain of blood and gore, as they were ripped apart with their Reishi forcibly taken from them. No one was spared.
Even the trees and grass died. The earth started to crumble all around them.
"Witness the last moments of the Commonwealth of Souls Era!" The leader shadow boomed.
"Stop it!" Ichigo shouted, filled with terror from witnessing this massive cataclysm. "I can't look…please…I have enough already…" He begged.
Surprisingly the leader Shadow caved into his request. The vision blurred, and he was back to the chamber, but this time all the bodies had disappeared.
This time he felt thirteen hands on his body.
"You are nothing," They said in unison.
"I am nothing." He replied before he even had a chance to think about it.
"Realize your powerlessness!"
"I am powerless."
"Abandon your arrogance!"
"I am humble."
"Then be reborn as the true Commander of the Kido Corps." The leader shadow said. "I, first Sorcerer Xalek of Commonwealth of Souls, grant you the power to destroy and create!"
Suddenly, for one second, Ichigo's existence became pure pain, then he knew no more.
Present
"Then I woke up here." He finished, tears sliding down his cheeks. "That's all."
After his story, a grim silence fell on the trio. Tia and Yoruichi couldn't believe that something like that could happen to their lover. They hadn't even known how to cheer him up.
"The worst part is…that they were right…I'm just a worthless, arrogant nobody…" He swallowed hard. "I force people to do things my way, and never listen…And the ones I love pay the price…" He stared ahead, a haunted look in his eyes.
"Ichigo that's not true!" Tia said. "You're not like that!"
"I'm not? Not when I think about it…I thought that I was superior to SoiFon and Kurotsuchi… That I'm always right, and most of the people are wrong, or just to plain stupid to see the things my way...I looked down on Soul Society Traditions, never even once bothering to learn them…I'm a failure." He said as if he had not heard her words. "I failed my mother…and I'm hurting everyone around me…"
"That's not true Ichigo!" Tia exclaimed.
"I almost killed you…Twice…How can you even look at me?" He muttered.
"Ichigo you weren't in the right state of mind then!" She said.
"So I'm a psycho then…Who the hell else tries to eat or choke to death the woman he loves?" He spat bitterly. "I'm not worthy you two…You should find…"
"Ichigo." Yoruichi interrupted him. "I dare you to finish that sentence…You'll hurt us that way, you know?"
"Let's go to sleep…You must be exhausted." Tia said gently, rubbing his back.
Ichigo just nodded, and lied on the bed, closing his eyes. Tia moved to him, wrapping her arms around him.
"I'll just take a quick shower and be right back," Yoruichi said, and walked out of the room. After she showered she walked back to the room, only to find Unohana waiting for her in the hallway.
"Good evening Youirchi-san." She said.
"Evening Unohana-san, how can I help you?" She replied.
"I noticed that Ichigo-san has awoken…" She trailed off.
"Yes he did…and…what was done to him was horrible, beyond any means." She said feeling her heartache. "I don't know when he will get out of this."
"I specialize, not only in healing physical wounds but psychological as well. I can speak to him, but I'll need to know what exactly has happened." She said.
"You think that you can help him?" Yoruichi asked hopefully.
"I managed to persuade Tessai to not kill himself, and his situation was far worse than Ichigo's," Unohana replied.
"How so? He suffered similar pain." Yoruichi said.
"Yes, but he had no one to lean on, unlike Ichigo, and he was already unstable because of his friend and lover's demise." Her face saddened. "I'm glad that Hachigen-san came to me for help before it was too late."
"How did you help him?" Yoruichi asked eagerly, desperate to know.
"Well, I can't say the details…" She smiled.
Then it clicked in Yoruichi's mind.
"You slept with him?" She asked shocked. 'Nice score Tessai...Hey, wait a minute!' Her eyes widened. "You're not planning to sleep with Ichigo are you?" She asked with hostility.
Unohana chuckled.
"No. It would be wrong for more than several reasons, and for your information, I did that with Tessai after he recuperated." She said with her gentle/scary smile. "Now tell me what he had seen."
Yoruichi summarized everything, every little detail. After she finished Unohana was looking at her with furrowed eyebrows and deep concern on her face.
"It was a really hard lesson for him." She said with sadness. "Thank you for telling me. Now I need to go and think about it."
"But why he was tortured so cruelly? There are better ways to humble someone." Yoruichi asked, desperate for any justification.
"I don't think that making him humble was the main purpose of that test…" She rubbed her chin. "Only the last moments of the test serve the purpose of humbling someone…I think that something else was tested here." She said.
"What? What'd they want to check?" She asked.
"His mental fortitude." She replied. "To see if he breaks under extreme mental strain…For what purpose I do not know…"
"Please help him." Yoruichi pleaded.
"Don't worry, I'll do everything in my power…everything." She said with a small smile, successfully pissing Yoruichi off. With a huff, she moved to the room and saw that Tia and Ichigo were already asleep, the latter's head between the former's generous bosom. Chuckling silently, she slid under the covers and pressed herself into Ichigo's back.
Night
Ichigo woke up from another nightmare with a gasp. He tried to calm himself down for a few minutes. Luckily, he hadn't woken up either of his girlfriends.
He had found himself between Tia's breasts. He felt a little comfort from the warmth and softness of her flesh. He inhaled her sweet scent, feeling it help him calm down. He listened to the steady beat of her heart for a few minutes. He also felt Yoruichi pressed to him, and from the feel of it, she was naked.
He smiled faintly, but he knew that he needed to get up and go where he could be alone with his thoughts. He gently untangled himself from them, careful to not wake them up.
When he succeeds, he got out of the bed and looked at them. The room was dim, but he could still make out their features. His smile widened when he saw them sleeping peacefully.
But then he recalled their death screams and gruesome deaths. He felt bile rise in his throat. Forcing himself he swallowed it back, he walked out of the room.
He moved forward mindlessly until he ventured to the 4th Division gardens. He found a bench using the moonlight and sat on it looking at the moon.
Every few minutes an image of his test flashed before his eyes, not giving him even a moment of rest. He was exhausted, despite just waking up from sleep.
'Just what I'm supposed to do now?' He asked himself. Strangely neither his Zanpakuto or Hollow said anything, leaving him truly alone with his thoughts. He was ashamed of himself beyond any belief. He didn't know if he could ever look Karin in the eyes again. He started to doubt the reason behind all his victories, his self-confidence was gone. He wondered if all he ever did was because he felt that he needed to prove that he was right. That he was better than them. That he looked down on people who were less powerful than him. That he was a hypocrite. While he was living in luxury and throwing parties, people died on the streets from starvation in the farthest districts.
'What am I doing?' He looked at the night sky. 'Do I deserve all I have? Maybe it would be better for everyone if I just disappeared…' He mused. '…But Yoruichi and Tia would be hurt…But they would be hurt even more if I stayed…I bring bad luck to people…It's not like I can protect them…' He closed his eyes, trying to chase away another wave of horrible images. Before he knew it, he was looking at the gray dawn. 'I've must have dozed off.' He thought, grateful that his short slumber was dreamless.
He was about to go back when he saw a person walking towards him. He recognized Captain Unohana, and she was carrying a steaming jug and two cups.
"Good morning Ichigo-san, mind if I seat here?" She asked gently.
"Please do." He replied quietly, not looking at her. She sat next to him, and poured steaming tea into the cup, then handed it to him.
"Mornings can be quite chilly, this will warm you up." She said. Ichigo had to admit that he started to feel a little cold. He took the cup from her hand.
"Thank you Unohana-san." He replied.
"Please call me Retsu." She said smiling gently at him.
"Ahh…is that proper?" He said blushing slightly. "I mean you're respected among the Captains and letting someone like me call you by your first name…" He said.
"Please call me Retsu." She empathized using her "charm".
"H-hai Retsu-san." He mumbled. For some time they sat in silence, sipping their tea and watching the sunrise.
"Ichigo-san what do you mean by saying, and I quote: someone like me?" She asked.
"I'm…I'm..." He played with the cup of tea. "I'm a despicable man Retsu-san…I deluded myself into thinking I'm some sort of savior… a hero that can do everything… I even went around the Rukongai and delivered justice on my own…Or what I thought was justice…I killed a bunch of men in cold blood, lead another to his demise, and his men…I never saw the consequences of my actions…I risked my whole division's reputation for one of my loves…That I almost killed two times…" He felt his eyes watering again. "I even chose between my siblings, killing one…What brother could do something like that…"
"Ichigo that wasn't real," Retsu said gently.
"But it might as well have been…How can I say to Karin that I love her as much as Yuzu now…I'm too weak to protect anyone…I'm a failure…" He stopped when he felt her hand on his thigh.
"Ichigo-san, I understand that everything you believed in was shattered, but know that such words you utter are untrue." She said gently. "You managed to protect many people in your life, with Rukia-san opening that list, and ending it on Tia-san. You've thrown yourself in any battle, despite the odds, to save them. You have a noble heart and centrality, you're not a failure." She said.
"My hands are stained in blood." He muttered.
"Who did you kill, Aizen? He deserved his fate…and who were those men that you killed in Rukongai?"
"Those were Akira and his men…I killed them in anger when they were about to rape Kurai…and Akira for torturing and almost raping Lilly."
"You mean Lillynette?" He nodded. "You don't even realize how much that girl looks up to you, do you?" She inquired. "You're her hero. She told me when he was about to violate her, you appeared just in time to save her."
"But I should have handed those men to authorities, not take things into my own hands." He replied.
"If you truly acted on that belief Rukia-san would be dead." She smiled. "Instead she's alive, saved by the boy who managed to stop the Sōkyoku."
"But what if I went too far one day and turn into some sort of monster?" He asked. "That I might be wrong and hurt innocent people in the process?"
"The fact that you're worried about it shows how big your heart is. You have a strong sense of justice, and also are a very gentle person, despite your rough exterior, who can't just pass by someone suffering." She smiled. "Sometimes you let the fame get to your head, but deep inside you're a good person."
"I'm afraid of losing them Retsu-san." He looked at her. "Every time I think about them it just petrifies me…I wanted that power to protect them, but I wonder if that was the only reason…If I wanted that for my satisfaction…and that I might hurt my loved ones with it…I'm afraid of myself…"
"You know how I know Tessai thought you were ready?" She said and noticed how his face darkens at the mention of his name. "You must not hate him Ichigo."
"Why?" He felt anger rise in him. "If he never told me about that stupid test I wouldn't have to suffer!" He snapped. "Wasn't he aware of how painful it is."
"Ichigo-san look at me." She said firmly. He caved in instantly. "Tessai suffered the most out of all of us. He knew precisely what would happen, and felt incredibly guilty for it. He thinks of you as a precious apprentice, and trust me, he died a little that day when you went in there." She sighed. "He did what was necessary of him, and for you, to be a true Kido Commander…and trust me, his test was far crueler than yours." She said.
"How do you know?" Ichigo asked.
"Yoruichi told me everything…You were tormented by false illusions and memories, save one of your mothers…He was tormented by the real ones…The Shadows didn't even need to alter them." She said. "I'll now tell you how Tessai was appointed the Commander." She regaled him the tale about Kyoko and Daiki. When she finished Ichigo was so shocked that he forgot about his own terrible experiences. "And then came his test…He saw two things…the friend…brother, he burned to death and the moment that the light left Kyoko's eyes, over and over again. Each one was more painful than the other…and then came the third part…. He was forced to torture her with his own hands." She whispered.
"What?" Ichigo choked.
"You heard me…He had to torture her, or she would be tortured in an even worse manner….by Daiki…and by torture, I mean rape too…" She closed her eyes. "Imagine that when he came out, he had no one close to him…His bonds with Yoruichi and Kisuke were very loose at that time…He wanted to take his life, but we managed to save him." She smiled a bit. "You, on the other hand, have two wonderful girlfriends. I had to limit the time they were sitting with you to two hours per day, so they could get some air. Not to sit by your side 24 hours a day. Not to mention a loving family, and lots of friends. You might think that I'm just saying this to cheer you up, but know that they will there for you despite everything…And know that when you suffer, they suffer too." She said. "You've got loyal friends."
"I…I don't know what to say Restu-san…That's much to take in…now." He mumbled. "I wanted to be angry at him, but after what I just heard…and the fact that he let me prepare for it…As much as I could…" He sighed. "Retsu-san, will those memories and images go away?" He asked in a small voice.
"No…But in time they will fade and stop hurting so much. However, that experience is now an integral part of you…Learn from it and grow even stronger." She finished her cup. "Now Ichigo-san, I have to go. I've got lots of duties to attend to…but if you want to speak don't hesitate to come by. I'll always find time for you." She stood, Ichigo as well.
"Retsu-san…I...thank you for that…I…" He hesitated to blush madly.
"It's quite alright if you want a hug." She smiled. Ichigo blushed even crimson, being caught red-handed, but he accepted the invitation. He hugged her tightly, resting his head on her shoulder. He could smell a faint scent of jasmine. She wrapped her arms around him, and they stood like that for a minute or so. Then Ichigo moved and broke the hug.
"…Sorry about that." He rubbed his neck embarrassed.
"Don't apologize." She smiled at him. "I must go now, see you later Ichigo-san." She took the cups and walked away.
Ichigo sat on the bench again, feeling way better. While still seeing his horrible memories, Unohana's words soothed the pain a bit.
Before he could start to dwell it again, he saw two figures approaching him at quite a fast pace.
Tia and Yoruichi were marching toward him with scowls on their faces.
'Why do I think that they will…' He thought.
"Ichigo!" Yoruichi yelled. "Where the hell have you been all this time!?"
"You can't even imagine how worried we were!" Tia added. "How could you just walk off like that?! We thought something had happened to you!"
Ichigo just looked at them with a faint smile.
'Wonderful girlfriends indeed.' He recalled Unohana's words. He silently stood and walked to them. Then he hugged them cutting off their rants.
"Thank you for being alive." He whispered into their ears, surprising them. He wanted to say more, but his Inner Hollow cut him off.
'Kingy meets me in our inner world.' He said shortly.
Ichigo would normally just dismiss his words, but this time he caught something underneath his tone.
Fury
Ichigo knew that he might cause some real problems if he wanted.
"I need to go now." He said let them go.
"Where?" Yoruichi asked.
"I need to do one thing, but I can't say anything more." He rose his hand, silencing their protests. "I'll be back soon, don't worry."
"You promise?" Tia asked/demanded.
"I promise, don't worry." He gave them one last half-smile and Shunpo'ed away.
"So where we gonna follow him?" Yoruichi asked with a smirk.
"Let's give him a ten-minute head start," Tia replied mirroring the smirk.
Forest Outside the Seireitei
Ichigo stopped deep in the forest. The trees there where thick and old, almost obscuring the sky. He had found a rock nearby and sat on it.
'Well, here we go.' He concentrated and went to his inner word. He opened his eyes expecting to see the familiar sideways skyscrapers. Well, he saw them, but not like he expected.
Now the windows were broken, and the buildings had many cracks, not to mention it was a downpour there. The only thing that changed for the better was the steams of colorful energy flowing between the buildings. Previously they were thin and dim, now they looked like large rivers of colors floating through the sky, illuminating an otherwise dark environment.
But Ichigo didn't have much time to admire the view since he was greeted with a fist to the face. He was sent flying and crashed into a building.
His Hollow stood over him, a scowl on his face.
"Nice to see you too." Ichigo spat. Hichigo lifted him from the ground and looked him dead in the eyes.
"What the fuck are you doing?"He growled.
"Is that a trick question?" Ichigo replied. He half expected to be hit again, but Hichigo just dropped him to the ground.
"You're fucking pathetic."He snarled. "Look at what you fucking did to this world you fucking pussy."
"How is it my fault!?" Ichigo shouted.
"Hadn't the old goat told you that every time you mope around like a bitch, it rains here. This time there was a fucking hurricane here!"He exclaimed throwing his hands up
"Well sorry that I had a bad day ok?" Ichigo snapped.
"I had a bad day ok?"He mocked. "Well suck it up! You're a fucking weakling deep inside if few fucking illusions can mess you up to that degree"He laughed at him.
"They hadn't affected you at all? Not even a bit?" Ichigo sneered. "Seeing all that stuff hadn't fazed you even in the slightest?" Before he managed to say anything else Hichigo hit him again.
"It did…"He breached his face turning into a mask of fury. "The humiliation…the pain…Yes, it fazed me, but I won't fall into a petty depression-like yourself…I'm boiling with fury. I want the blood of those fucking shadows, I want to hear them scream in agony just like our lovers! I want to eradicate that fucking ruin and raze everything to the ground! "He yelled. "I'll fucking show them the true meaning of fear!"He bared his sword. "But first I'll beat you up, you pathetic piece of shit. How dare you acknowledge what they said! We're fucking better than the rest of that rabble!... With a few exceptions. "He added more quietly.
"You think that I don't want fucking payback on them!" Ichigo roared pulling his sword out. "But unlike you, I at least could see through the damn pain!"
"Shut up!"Hichigo roared and lunged at him, slashing vertically. Ichigo raises his sword and blocked it. Yet the power behind the cut forced him back a few feet. They both glared at each other.
"Getsuga Tensho!" They said in unison and blasted themselves away with an explosion of white and blue energy.
As soon as they gained their footing they clashed again, exchanging numerous blows. Ichigo tried to stab Hichigo's chest, but the latter sidestepped and repaid him with Bala in the face. Ichigo flew backward, with trails of smoke, but his instinct told him to raise a barrier around him, just in time to protect him from a Cero.
The red energy enveloped the barrier, making a few cracks in, but the barrier held. Ichigo dispelled the barrier and shot Hado no 63: Raikōhō at his opponent.
Hichigo avoided the lighting and shot at Ichigo with blazing speed and an insane grin on his face. They clashed once again. They clashed the blades hard again, each other standing face to face. Ichigo felt his Hollow gaining advantage over him and decided to do unexpectedly.
He head-butted him.
Hichigo, stumbled backward holding his nose. Ichigo seeing the chance cast Bakudō no 21: Sekienton, hiding in a cloud of red smoke.
"Hiding ain't gonna do any good!"He shouted shooting a large Getsuga at the cloud. The explosion thinned the cloud…revealing twelve Ichigo's standing in front of his Hollow. "You think that little trick will fool me!"He shot a Cero at the one to the farthest left, shattering the image.
"I do," Ichigo replied. He snapped his fingers a few times, and soon Hichigo found himself surrounded by dozens of Ichigo's, on every side. Ichigo began charging his Getsuga. Hichigo looked frantically around, trying to guess which side the attack will come from.
"Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo yelled, releasing his attack. Hichigo too late noticed the wave coming from below. The attack enveloped him completely sending him flying. Ichigo broke the barriers and looked for his opponent.
Hichigo jumped out of the rubble, smoking from a few places, but otherwise unharmed.
"Ya got me kingy."He snorted. "But we're still for from ending it"He grinned. "…and seems our lovely ladies just found us"
Ichigo remained silent.
"What no threats? I'm surprised…"He started.
"I know you won't hurt them." Ichigo interrupted him. "You're my instinct after all."
"But that doesn't mean that I won't play with them a little."He grinned when Ichigo's face hardened.
"Let's get it over with," Ichigo said extending his arm.
"Ban-kai"
With Tia and Yoruichi
The ladies decided to follow him after twenty minutes, so they won't be detected. And it was not like Ichigo was trying to conceal his Reiatsu. They were now not hurriedly following his trail since they felt that he had stopped.
"Hey, I forgot to ask, how was your meeting with Elder Kenji," Tia asked seeing how her face fell.
"He's luckily alive and well, but what he had told me is terrible." Yoruichi shook her head. "I could use some good news….."
Flashback - Rukongai District 10th West.
Yoruichi Shunpo'ed over the roofs of the District 10. Her mind was in disarray. She didn't know if Ichigo woke up, she didn't know if Elder Kenji was responsible for that assassination attempt, not to mention if he survives the next few days in case someone framed him.
She jumped down on the street and walked into the back ally where the Elder was supposed to wait. Yoruichi saw a hooded individual leaning on the wall.
"What do you want? Want me to rob you blindly?" He snapped.
"The sun is already blinding me." She replied.
"My apologies for that Lady Yoruichi, but we need to be as discreet as possible." The man bowed. "Elder is waiting for you." He pointed to the doors next to him.
"Thank you." She replied and slid open the doors. She walked into the short corridor and saw stairs that led to the cellar. She walked down into the dimly lit room with a table and a pair of chairs. She looked around, but couldn't see through the darkness…yet she could sense the presence of a man standing in the shadows.
"Come out, I don't have time to play games." She snapped.
"It seems that your senses are as sharp as ever…Yoru-chan." A voice replied, making her eyes widen. He stepped from the shadows pulling down his hood.
Elder Kenji was tall, muscular but not overly, man. His short hair was gray and his face was marred with a web of wrinkles. Like all Shihoin's he had dark skin and golden eyes.
"Ken-Jiji!" Yoruichi jumped at him and hugged him with all her might. The man returned the hug, laughing loudly.
"It's good to see you, dear." He smiled. "You look even more beautiful than one hundred years ago."
"Aww, still the charmer." She smiled happily. "It's so good to see you alive and well."
"Likewise, Yoru-chan…I just wish that the circumstances were more…pleasant." His smile fell from his face. Yoruichi saw how he aged a century as he said those words. "We have much to talk about."
"Let's sit, old people, can't stand that long." She joked.
"Very funny." He snorted. "Maybe I should start telling people how much worms frightened you?"
"No need." She said quickly, blushing embarrassed.
They sat down in the chairs, and Kenji folded his arms.
"I know that you have any questions." He stated.
"You can't even imagine…but to the most important, do you have something to do with the last assassination attempt on Yamazaki?"
"Yes." He said shortly.
"Oh good, I was worried for a sec…what did you say?" She choked.
"I was the one behind it." His face saddened.
"B-But why? I thought you loved him like a son!?" She exclaimed.
"I did…but the boy I held dear is dead….Now he's some stranger." His face twisted in pain. "I failed miserably from steering him from that path, and now I must correct my mistakes." He muttered with a breaking voice.
"Ken-Jiji it's not your fault! Yamazaki is just a bastard!" Yoruichi said heatedly.
"No, Yoruichi…it was my fault…I encouraged him to always do his best and supported him on his every step…but I overlooked when he started to be obsessive with the desire for power…I started to notice things after he had you expelled from the clan…and I supported him as a new clan head." He balled his fists. "Now I've even failed to put an end to his rule…I'm sorry Yoruichi…I failed to protect the clan and you…It's all my fault that he became like that…"
"You can't blame yourself that much, we all make mistakes." She put her hand on his.
"But why does everyone except me have to pay for them?" He asked rhetorically. "I'm his adviser, and no harm fell on me while the rest of the clan suffer…He's destroying what makes us Shihoin!"
"I heard some things, but can you give me more details?" She asked.
"Well, from what I have heard Shin told you few things." She nodded. "But that's not all… After Shin's grandmother challenged him and failed, he started repressing the closest relatives of those who opposed him. That why Shin got guard duty, many got even worse jobs….He practically has torn apart the Elder Council after he managed to secure his position, so no one would oppose him. Not to mention he killed his wife Kagura as soon as she gives birth to the twins." He said
"What? I heard that he had just one son Han." Yoruichi said.
"Yes, the other child was born dead.." He said sadly. " Kagura was poisoned after that…I was there, her death wasn't natural…but he still had enough heart than to choose a painless poison."
"But why the hell kills his wife?!" She exclaimed, horrified with her brother's cruelty.
"Probably because she had a gentle and caring heart…He was afraid that his son would be corrupted by her weakness, heh…it turned out like that anyway." He smiled. "Han may look like Yamazaki, but he has his mother's heart…He couldn't agree with his Father's policy and argued with him as often as possible. Thus he ended up in prison just like many others."
"But how the hell does he keep the clan on a leash? There are hundreds of us!" Yoruichi stated.
"He has many supporters. While most of the clan is against him, some of the most powerful is on his side, bribed, blackmailed, or simply frightened into submission…. If fighting broke out our clan would fall apart." He sighed. "Now I just worsened the situation." He ran his hands through his hair. "Using the assassination attempt as an excuse, he put all the clan under close surveillance…He forbids anyone to leave our mansion without permission."
"Then how'd you slipped past?" Yoruichi asked.
"Don't forget that I'm your Father's older brother. I've been here for a while…I would go drown myself if some brats managed to catch me doing something." He grinned. "Give Captain SoiFon my regards."
"You knew?" She asked surprised.
"Oh please, she may be good, but I'm far better at this game. If I hadn't dropped small clues, she would have never found out." He laughed.
"Crafty geezer." She smiled, but her smile quickly fell, turning into a scowl. "When I get my hands on that son of a bitch." She cringed when she unintentionally insulted her mother. "I'll rip him to shreds."
"Yoruichi doesn't do anything rash." He said gently. "There is some good news too. Your last appearance at the banquet gave hope to all of us…and a few laughs at how your boyfriend humiliated that bastard." He smirked. "We'll hold Yoruichi. We're all awaiting your return, but do it like a true Shihoin, so no one will know that it was you." He winked.
"I'll will Ken-Jiji." She replied with a small smile, overwhelmed by emotions.
"Good. I'll soon send a messenger to you, he's planning something." He said seriously.
"Then I'll be waiting…See ya soon Jiji." She smirked and pecked the man's cheek. "Gotta go!" She Shunpo'ed away.
"Ah always in rush." He chuckled.
Present
"That's horrible," Tia said after hearing all about Yoruichi's Brother's actions. "I can't believe that you are siblings."
"Not just you." Yoruichi spat like her mouth was dirty. "He deserves his fate." Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Tia looked at her worried. She had never seen such fury and hatred on her face before.
"Yoruichi stops doing that face, you look ugly." She commented dryly. Her comment brought the excepted results when her face expression morphed from hate to surprise.
"Hey! That's not true!" She pouted.
"Sure, the look of utter contempt and detest looks good on you." Tia mocked.
"Hmph!" She grunted. "Anyways we're near Ichi-chan, so let's see what he's up to." She smirked. They have found him sitting on a rock with his head hung as if he was sleeping.
"Is he sleeping?" Tia whispered.
"It seems so...Looks like he went to get a secret nap." Yoruichi half-joked. "Let's wake him up."
They both jumped and landed in front of him. Yoruichi put her hands on his shoulder and started shaking him.
"Wakey wakey sleeping beauty." She said playfully.
Ichigo lifted his head.
"Ahh, what a pleasant view to tired eyes, "Hichigo said half of his face was already covered by his mask. Before Yoruichi managed to jump back, he grabbed her by her hand and slammed her against him. With one swift move, he moved behind her blocking any way of escape. He mockingly rests his head on her shoulder. "Now shall we play kitty?"He blew cold air in her ear.
Yoruichi shivered, feeling goosebumps on her skin.
"What do you want!" Tia asked warningly. "Why are you just now trying to take over!"
"I and Kingy had a major disagreement about a certain matter, and how to handle it."He chuckled. "But don't worry, after I kick his sorry ass and eradicate a certain ruin, all my attention will be focused solely on you two."He moved his hand and grabbed Yoruichi's breast. He started to fondle it passionately.
"Stop it!" Yoruichi growled.
Hichigo grinned and bit the side of her neck. Yoruichi inhaled sharply with her eyes widening. He started to gently chew on her soft warm skin, feeling the blood rushing under it.
"Oh, how I'd love to rip your throat and drink your sweet blood."His Hollow nature spoke through him. Yoruichi tensed, ready for anything, except for his other hand moving to her womanhood and stroking it through her thin leggings. "But you're much better alive." He whispered lustfully.
Luckily for Yoruichi, his lust was stronger than his hunger.
She despite herself, she let out a quiet moan when he stroked a particularly sensitive part.
"Let her go!" Tia shouted, baring her sword. Yet one could see the faint blush on her face.
"Why should I? She enjoys it…or maybe you're jealous" He licked his lips. "Don't worry, I won't forget about you, you moan so sweetly after all."
"S-Shut up!" She shuttered embarrassed.
"Hehe, don't be like that…I'll…woops."He let Yoruichi go. "Looks like Kingy decided to get serious, gotta go."He blew a raspberry at them and closed his eyes. Ichigo's body fell limply to the ground. The mask covered three fourth of his face, leaving his upper right part revealed.
"Are you ok?" Tia asked.
"I'm fine." She said out of her breath, with a heavy blush. "But I'm going to rape Ichigo after he wakes up."
Ichigo's Inner World
The two fighters clashed with terrifying speed, creating cascades of sparks. The colorful Kido spells and white Cero's lit the dark sky.
"Give up! You know that I'm stronger than you!"Hichigo roared.
"It doesn't matter, I'll do anything to beat you!" Ichigo replied, thrusting his sword violently.
"I can protect them much better than you ever could!"He spat, sidestepping the thrust, and elbowing Ichigo in the face. "You won or survived the majority of your battles thanks to ME!"
"You think that I don't know that!" Ichigo shouted, momentarily stopping his Hollow. "You think that I'm not aware that I'm alive thanks to luck!" He trembled with anger. "I was too arrogant to see it up till now, but those shadows opened my eyes on many things…"
"What the fuck are you babbling about!"Hichigo yelled, furious that Ichigo again said that those shadows helped him.
"I'm talking about almost all my serious battles!" Ichigo shouted bitterly. "I won most of them thanks to some damn convenient power-up! Every single fucking time when I was pressed to the wall, some damn power comes out of nowhere!" He roared. "I can't even win a battle with my damn skills! Because I am too weak! I was too blind to see it until now!" He gasped for air, looking at his Hollow with a haunted expression. "You're right, I survived most my battles thanks to you…The fight with Renji, Byakuya, Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, Kenpachi…I couldn't even beat Aizen or those damn Vasto Lorde's without some random power-up… What if my Dad hadn't told me about Final Getsuga Tensho? What if my powers hadn't suddenly evolved while fighting the Vasto Lorde's? Just how many more convenient power-ups do I have left up to my sleeve…I just realized that I always counted on something like that to happen. Deep inside I knew, that despite the odds I'd somehow manage….Until those shadows showed me that they can beat me in seconds, without even trying…That was humiliating….That was humbling, to meet such beings that can evaporate my Cero like it was nothing…Even you can't do that." Ichigo saw his comment hit a nerve.
"Shut the fuck up, you wimp! Just because of that you're going to turn tail and run?!"He roared. "Just because they are that fucking powerful you'll cower in fear!"
"No, but I'm done with rushing at opponents unprepared. Like it when I invaded the Soul Society or in Hueco Mundo…" Ichigo's eyes began to glow with multiple colors "I'll get more powerful, so I won't be pressed against the wall in every single battle, counting on a miracle to occur… Not anymore." He rushed his opponent.
"That's all very sweet, but you'll have to defeat me first!" Hichigo grinned and moved his hand to his face. "Let's get serious."He pulled his mask on, and charge at Ichigo.
They clashed with an explosion of power, trying to push each other back. Suddenly Hichigo began charging a white Cero between his horns, aiming it directly at Ichigo's face.
"No, you don't!" His eyes shined, and he redirected the nearest steam of energy directly at Hichigo, sending him flying. "Woah." He looked at the power flowing around him in awe.
But his moment of distraction had disastrous consequences. His only warning was the buzz of Sonido.
Moments later his whole back burned in pain, as Hichigo slashed it obliquely, leaving a deep bloody gash. Not finishing, he clenched his fist and hit Ichigo in the back of his head, sending him crashing down to the nearest building.
The world seemed to go dark around him. Ichigo looked up and saw his Hollow looking at him from above, radiating power and confidence.
'Maybe I should let him take over…He might protect them better than I ever could.' Doubt started to creep into his heart.
"Abandon your fear. Look forward. Move forward and never stop. You'll age if you pull back. You'll die if you hesitate."Zangetus's voice sounded in his ear. Ichigo felt a hand on his shoulder.
Zangetsu appeared beside him.
"Stand Ichigo and take what is rightfully yours, always push forward! STAND ICHIGO!"Zangetsu shouted.
Ichigo felt a surge power rushing through him. He gathered it into one last Getsuga.
"Let's end it Kingy, I've had enough of this game," Hichigo said, charging his Getsuga.
They both lunged at each other with battle cries. The blades clashed, obliterating everything around them.
Ichigo pushed forward, Zangetsu's words were still fresh in his ears. There was no doubt in his heart, no fear. He needed to win for everyone.
Inch by inch he pushed his Hollow back. Power was ripping everything around them asunder. Finally, he poured every into one last push and overpowered him. Sending him crashing into the ground.
Gasping for air, Ichigo looked at his fallen opponent. Hichigo stared back, bleeding from multiple wounds.
"I won." He stated.
"Just by one swing of the sword….Next time we fight Kingy will be the final fight which will decide who will be the King, and who will be the horse….permanently. "He sneered.
Ichigo just glared at him and disappeared from his inner world. The moment he did that Hichigo burst out laughing.
"Why did you let him win?"Zangetsu asked.
"Oh, so you did notice?" He chuckled. "I tried to be subtle this time."
"Answer my question, you could take over this very moment, and yet you let him subdue you." He pressed.
"Ah, so you gonna blab it all out to Kingy? Don't think so, but I'll give you a hint or two…The higher stakes the greater prize, and he's not ready yet" He grinned.
"Ready for what?"Zangetsu narrowed his eyes.
"That's for me to know, and for you to guess. HAHAHA!"
Soul Society-Forest
Tia and Yoruichi watched with dread from a kneeling position, as the mask expanded over Ichigo's face, covering almost all of it. Leaving just one eye left. They feared that they were witnessing the fall of their lover.
They both prayed to whatever entity watches over Ichigo, to help him get through this.
To their immense relief, their prayers were heard. Just when the mask was about to fully form, it started to crack and crumble, falling off Ichigo's face.
Suddenly his eyes snapped open, and he shot up to a sitting position, startling both of his girlfriends who landed on their butts.
"I won…" Ichigo whispered, feeling a small smile blossom on his face. Soon his smile grew wider, and he started chuckling. "I won…" He burst out laughing.
Tia and Yoruichi were looking at his incredulous gazes. They saw Ichigo catching his sides, laughing even harder with tears jumping from his eyes.
The funny fact about laughing is that it is extremely contagious. So soon both ladies found themselves laughing with Ichigo.
The repressed feelings and stress accumulated during the last week, we're finally leaving the trio. Vanishing with every chuckle and giggle.
The sensation was cathartic.
After some time they managed to subdue their laughs.
"Ok really, what were we laughing about?" Yoruichi asked, wiping her tears.
"I don't know, but it felt good," Tia said stiffing another giggle. Ichigo just lied on the ground, with his arms thrown behind his head staring at the sky.
Yoruichi gave Tia a conspiratorial stare. The blonde returned it with a mischievous smirk on her face. They both crawled on top of him, standing on all fours.
"Tia, Yoruichi?" Ichigo looked at them quizzically.
"You've been a very naughty boy Ichi-chan." Yoruichi started.
"Giving us all that grief and pain…I can already see a few gray hairs on my head." Tia added.
"So prepare for punishment I-CHI-GO." They said in perfect sync and lowered their heads kissing him senselessly.
Later there were reports of some unknown creature in the forest. Its cries and moans could be heard for miles, but the squad of Shinigami dispatched there hadn't found anything.
A/N
Gasp! Another chapter so soon?! You can thank Corona Virus for that :) As usual, I hope that you liked it and don't forget to drop the review!
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