Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Hollow Charm ❯ Memory Overwrites ( Chapter 27 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: magicsmith 
Anime/Manga: Bleach Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Psychological / Hentai / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 07.12.2011 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 213 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Bleach Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Psychological / Hentai / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 07.12.2011 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 213 | Status: Work In Progress
Tite Kubo owns Bleach. I just borrowed the characters.
Memory Overwrites
Despite all the evidence of his senses, Ichigo had trouble believing that this was happening. The joy he'd felt at being reunited with Orihime had lasted moments, or less. The fight with the Hollow, the recognition that he would lose, Orihime's attention to the Hollow and then the worst thing of all. Realisation that as long as he lived, and possibility after, he would never be free of the Hollow. If he lost the Hollow, then he lost the power the thing bestowed upon him, even if he shared it unwillingly. They were bound closer than any rite or promise could make them and while the death of the Hollow might not cause his death, he would lose an essential part. He would still be a Shinigami, but considerably weaker and possibly unable to fight effectively. Enemies he had quickly dispatched previously might prove a challenge, or even defeat him.
This revelation only came to him after he nearly succeeded in killing the Hollow.
“What did you do? He’s dying and I don’t know if I can save him. You were fighting him…”
Accusation filled Orihime's voice and he had to accept what she said and feeling a sharp stab of anguish that his actions had disappointed her. This was his fault; he could blame no one else and he wanted to feel the guilt, revel in the despair. It had become increasingly easy to ignore all his mistakes and his culpability in the death of his mother but with this incident, all the errors he made were presented to him in stark reality.
“Until one of them died,” Zangetsu was talking to Orihime, but Ichigo didn't want to listen. He tuned out the voices and sank into miserable introspection.
Now he was less than he had been. Instead of fighting and defeating the hated aspect, he had to keep and protect him. Would Orihime be able to accept him? While she knew about the Hollow, and had seemed to accept him, his face screwed up as he remembered witnessing that embrace, would she be able to love him still. Instead of only being two in the marriage, there would be three.
As he thought of it further he knew that was wrong. Zangetsu was always there and Orihime's powers. It was not a simple marriage between two people, but these additional aspects of their personalities and natures were an important factor in their lives.
One small voice nagged at the back of his mind. "What about sex? Will I ever be able to have sex with Orihime without the damned Hollow commenting? Zangetsu? What if he decides to talk to me? And Tsubaki? Might he try to attack me while we're making love?"
Trying to shut out the internal voice he hunched over, unwilling to look at Orihime or anyone. She was healing his Hollow, and it was working, he knew it was. Some link with the creature was restoring his strength along with the Hollows.
Aware that Orihime was looking in his direction he stammered out some words, not sure what he was saying, but trying to direct her attention elsewhere. “Don’t look at me! Orihime, please don’t look at me. Fix him.”
Those thoughts were unworthy of her. Worrying about sex rather than worrying about her, about his Hollow. This last hour had taught him how base he was, only interested in the things that directly affected him. Zangetsu had made him work it out, rather than explain it, so he could see what he needed to learn. Orihime had selflessly tried to help him and he'd contributed a near disaster. After this he would offer to release her from her promise to marry him. There seemed no possibility that she could forgive him for his cowardice and stupidity.
Distantly he could hear a conversation, but sunk deep in despair it didn't seem that he could contribute anything useful. He never contributed anything useful: only brought pain and death to people, threatened the lives of those he loved. Since he'd become a Shinigami he'd led his friends into danger, attracted treacherous creatures, and hung out with dubious characters. So much for his ambitions to lead a life that helped others.
A sudden flurry of movement attracted his attention. The Hollow was standing? Instead of nearly being dead, the thing was standing on its feet and braying triumphantly about something. "When you were distracted by the old guy, I took it. Now it's mine."
What was going on? From the looks of things the thing had taken hold of the charm and seeing it in his grasp made Ichigo feel distinctly uncomfortable. He hated to think of the damage that the creature might do. Deciding quickly, he rose silently to his feet and slid behind the Hollow. The charm could not be permitted to remain in the Hollow's possession.
"Why would I give it to you? You'll only give it to the skirt or Kingy. They've already had it and now it's my turn. If he can work this, then I can. I'll be the King!" The Hollow was backing closer to him.
Zangetsu spoke smoothly and soothingly. "You wouldn't like to be King. That means you'll have all the responsibility and no fun. Do you see Ichigo having fun?"
The Hollow looked from Orihime to Zangetsu and back again. "He doesn't have any fun because he doesn't know how to have fun. He gets scared and runs."
Damn the creature for being so accurate. He tried to force a smile to show that the words had no effect and saw Orihime smile at him slightly in return.
"Why are you smiling? You're the fun he's running from."
What was with the Hollow? He couldn't deny that it was partially correct and if he tried to explain it would only validate it's words. Later, when he was alone with Orihime he'd explain everything, not hiding anything. When this was all over he'd even tell his family everything. What was the point of keeping these secrets when in the end they protected no one?
Ignoring the conversation that Zangetsu and Orihime were having with the Hollow, he continued to approach it from behind. The gambit of making it focus its attention on them was working, and he thought that within a few minutes he would be able to surprise it and remove the charm. Problem solved.
If the Hollow was permitted to use the charm, it wasn't possible to predict what might happen. They didn't even know the full potential of the thing and from his earlier experience it seemed to loan the Hollow strength. Having fought it too many times he knew he didn't need it any stronger. He wouldn't mind if it used that additional gain to help him, but being the single minded being that it was, it preferred to use it in another attempt to subdue him.
Even now, when they'd both realised that they had to co-exist, the Hollow wouldn't lose any opportunity to take over. Knowing that for the rest of his life there was an ongoing battle between the two of them made him tired. He tuned into the conversation as he neared the Hollow.
"No, old man. I'm not fooled that easily. And Kingy, you can stop trying to creep up on me. I know exactly where you are," the Hollow said without turning.
Why was this happening to him? It seemed that ever since they'd arrived he'd been doomed to fail. Orihime had saved herself, without any assistance from them and now, when it seemed there was a chance of a battle with the Arrancar, he was stuck here playing games with his Hollow.
The thing turned and faced him. "As if I'd give up the chance to get control for a bit of stale news about his sickening love life. Let's fight. Now I've got this, I'll win and you can choose a nice comfortable saddle. So can the girl because I'll be riding her as well."
His handed tightened on the sword's grip as he fought the impelling urge to stab it again. He couldn't kill it and hurting it meant he was hurt.
"I'm sorry," Orihime said, surprising him. At first Ichigo thought she was talking to him, but she was looking at the Hollow.
"You are such a fool, girl."
That was his opening. He was once more looking away from Ichigo and he took advantage of the momentary lapse in concentration. He grabbed the Hollow's hand and tried to pull the charm out of it, not wishing the touch him, but knowing that it was the only way. They tussled, each trying to get the charm, but Ichigo couldn't let the moment go.
"You knew exactly where I was, did you?"
"Your female did that on purpose." The snarl looked natural on the face of the being with whom he struggled.
Ichigo felt a blow to the chest as a hand pushed him away, firmly. He tried not to move and demanded, "Give it to me. It's mine."
"Prove it."
Fingers were bent back as he gained more purchase on the charm and the Hollow became more frantic to get it back.
"Orihime gave it to me," Ichigo said, knowing that was his strongest claim to ownership.
The Hollow stared at him with its endlessly black eyes. "And took it back again."
"Because of you." Why were they arguing about anything?
The Hollow slapped at him, so he slapped back. A volley of slaps passed between them and it struck him as slightly ridiculous. From fighting with swords and trying to kill each other, they were now slapping each other silly because they knew they couldn't kill each other. They remained close, both trying to hold onto the charm as the other hand whacked at the face, the neck, the arms and chest. Some stung, but he wouldn't give up. It might look silly, but this was a deeply important fight. To permit that thing to have control of a potentially dangerous and powerful object was something to be avoided at any cost. He was considering biting the Hollow's hand to get it to let go when Zangetsu spoke.
"Children, cease this needless squabbling."
The charm vanished from his hand and looking he saw Zangetsu now held it. Why hadn't the man done that earlier? And how had he done it?
At first he moved toward Zangetsu, but then paused and stared hard at him. "What are you going to do with the charm?"
"Until I determine who is worthy of it, I will entrust it to Miss Inoue. While she may have misused it in the past," Ichigo made a face when that was mentioned, "I believe that she will only use the charm for others. It will never repeat the same 4 hours over again for her, but it has attuned itself to her reiatsu which is how you managed to contact her previously."
He didn't enter into the subsequent conversation as the previous events had confounded him. Until now he thought all of Zangetsu's powers were known, but it was obvious that his knowledge was incomplete. Earlier the Hollow had mocked him with a comment that now seemed relevant, but how did it know?
"It is time for you to leave. Events in Hueco Mundo are moving fast and you need to take part," Zangetsu's voice broke into his thoughts and the next he knew he was back in the unrelenting wasteland.
He didn't adjust immediately but then noticed that Uryu was holding Orihime. That guy moved and worked fast.
"Get your hands off her, Uryu," Ichigo was beside her in a moment.
"I was merely preventing her from being unwittingly involved in another's fight," the Quincy replied as he released her.
"Oh, thanks," he replied unwillingly. He'd seen the disc, seen it go near Orihime, but moved too slowly to help her. Instead of thinking about that any further he decided to ask something which interested him. "What happened while I was, um, busy?"
"Chad beat Yammy who is now being returned to their headquarters for healing," Uryu said, his eyes fixed on the fighting.
He watched the fight, deciding that any further conversation could wait until later. He was watching Renji closely, wondering if he was going to use bankai soon and how effective it would be against his foe when the large disc that nearly hit Orihime hit his friend in the back. He'd almost called out a warning, but the thing moved too fast. It wasn't fair.
"My victory, I believe. It was a good fight Nino," the guy Renji was fighting said and began to move closer. Without thinking about it, Ichigo stepped between them.
The man had won through default and that could not be permitted to count. As he prepared to fight Dordoni, to protect Renji, he felt Orihime kiss his cheek and say something to him.
"Huh?' Ichigo returned the kiss and pulled her close with the arm not wielding the sword. While he didn't think it was a good idea to fight while holding her he was prepared to use any excuse to embrace her.
When she pulled away and walked to Ulquiorra he felt his mouth gape open. What was she doing? Why was she walking over to the man who had abducted her? Was she going to fight him?
"Where are you going, Orihime?" Ichigo called, desperate to know if this was a joke.
"Let me go. I made a promise and I need to honour it. If I go with Ulquiorra this fighting can stop and you can go home." While she spoke, she kept her face turned away and her voice was sad.
He shook his head and he decided he'd misheard her. They'd come to rescue her, not to watch her walk away in order to provide them with a chance of escape. She'd promised to marry him and now left him. Was it because of what happened with the Hollow? Had the thing frightened her so much that she'd changed her mind and was using this as an excuse to break the engagement? Recalling his earlier thoughts, he feared that it was too likely.
"Don't do it, Orihime. It makes all our effort count for nothing," Rukia said.
Ichigo didn't care what anyone else said. He wanted Orihime to walk back to him and stop doing this. Each step she took away from him made it seem like she was walking out of his life forever.
Then Orihime said the words that nearly crushed him and destroyed his hopes. "I didn't ask you to rescue me. That was your decision and this one is mine."
After fighting his feelings for her and then fighting to come to save her, he almost felt there was no more strength within him to fight any further. If she rejected their attempts to save her, then wasn't it foolish to try? Should they go home, defeated and discarded by the very person they were here to rescue?
The worst of it was, all this made him believe that Orihime had changed her mind. After loving him so devotedly, the love had been destroyed and he had been the cause. She had witnessed his weakness, his fear and the attempted murder of his Hollow. In each trial all his efforts had brought no success.
Despite his pride, forgetting that others would witness his distress he called after her, "Orihime, please don't leave me again."
Not even bothering to turn around, she favoured him with a cold reply. "Honour is everything."
"No. Honour is a word."
The words Chad spoke broke through the despair that Ichigo was feeling. He'd felt his honour had been destroyed, but only if he believed it to be true. Honour was a word and could be used or interpreted in many different ways.
Then Orihime said something that made him feel that she might be acting due to some forces he didn't understand. "You need to ignore me and focus on the importance of preparing for the coming war. Any predictions you have for numbers and strength are false. The Hy...."
"Shut up woman," Ulquiorra slapped her hard across the face. "There are our enemies and should not be given any advantage. Aizen sama will not be pleased."
Uryu grabbed one arm and Chad the other as Ichigo tried to run toward the girl he loved and kill the thing that had dared slap her. Trying to wrench his arms from their grasp he hissed at them to release him. They hung on doggedly, not giving him any leeway for breaking free.
The Orihime again surprised him as she tried to slap Ulquiorra, mimicking his action. The Arrancar caught her hand but she must have been using it as a distraction and kicked him viciously in the shins.
Ulquiorra winced and said through gritted teeth, "Woman, you will regret this."
He didn't care how weak it sounded. He struggled against the hands that were holding him and yelled, "Don't touch Orihime." Abruptly his friend let him go and he drew his zanpakuto, preparing to run and kill the man who had dared to manhandle Orihime.
Finally she turned to him, but didn't look at him. "Ichigo, if you stop me, it will mean you don't trust me. I made a promise."
Ichigo shook his head. She was wrong. "He hit you!"
"It doesn't matter. I can take care of myself. And the promise stands." The words were delivered without emotion and he felt stunned and dismayed. She was rejecting his protection and with it, him.
Finally someone pointed out the obvious. He felt gratitude to Uryu when his friend stated, "That promise was made under coercion. We spoke of this earlier."
Nothing moved in Orihime's face and she simply said, "The pledge might have been forced from me. It doesn't matter. Go home, please." Turning to Ulquiorra she said, "Promise me they can return home without any harm."
The man looked at her and then nodded slowly.
"Let's go," she said and once more turned her back on her friends. She was leaving without another word or look for him. His heart which already felt like it was being ripped from his chest now seemed to be shattering. It was over.
"She was lying," Uryu said once the group were out of hearing range.
"I agree," Chad said quietly. "The lack of eye contact. That is not like Orihime."
"Renji, Renji. Wake up. We need you," Rukia was saying to her betrothed. He stirred and mumbled incoherently but still didn't wake.
Ichigo noticed all this but found it impossible to move. His zanpakuto sagged in his hands and he wished that it was possible to sag to the ground with it. Standing was over rated. Sitting down, or even better, curling into a ball and remaining there, until all feeling left him, was the way forward. The words of reassurance his friends were providing passed by, not affecting or impressing him in any way. All he could hear were Orihime's words, telling him that she was going, that she hadn't asked him to come and rescue her. Each word repeated through his mind, increasing the pain, forcing him to acknowledge that she had left freely. She had made promised to the Arrancar, but what of the promises she'd made to him? Were her insincere promises to deceiving bastards more important than the life changing pledge she had made to him?
Nel came up and placed her hand in Ichigo's. "I'll mawwy you, Ichigo, if you want," she offered.
"You don't really want to do that, Nel, don'tchaknow," her large friend assured her. "He's a bad man, remember? A Shinigami."
Fighting back his feelings, Ichigo looked down at the childlike creature and forced a smile onto his face. She wouldn't understand what marriage was, or what she was offering to do as she was too young, too innocent. Not that he could imagine wishing to commit to anyone except Orihime, but that possibility now seemed improbable.
It seemed that every thought, word or action was there to remind him she had left, without a backward glance.
"Shinigami,' Uryu said shaking Ichigo by the shoulder. "You didn't listen properly, which is what you always do. Did you hear what Orihime said?"
Ichigo nodded. She'd talked about honour and keeping promises. It meant she left him and walked away into the enemies hands and these 'supposed' friends had prevented him from stopping her.
"Idiot, she was trying to warn us. That was why that Arrancar slapped her," Rukia said, anger evident in her voice. "Of all the thick headed, stupid morons in the world, you have to be the biggest, after Renji.
Ichigo didn't care what she called him, or that Orihime had tried to warn them. All that mattered was she'd left.
"She mentioned honour and promises too many times for it to be a coincidence," Chad said slowly. He was obviously thinking things through and for a moment Ichigo felt a slight curiosity as to what he meant.
"It wasn't a coincidence," Uryu nodded in agreement. "In a discreet way she was informing you she will keep her promises, including the one to become your wife. Do I have to draw you a picture?" The derision in his voice stung Ichigo, as it always did, but this time he worked out what his friend was saying.
"Not if you draw anything like Rukia," was his unthinking response, but felt some of the depression slide from him. Was it possible that Orihime did not look at him because she feared he would see her indecision and persuade her to stay, not to leave?
But that raised the question of why she left. She'd made a promise to Aizen, or Ulquiorra about staying and while it was admirable the promise was being kept, it had been a forced promise. Had she felt under pressure to accept his proposal? Did that mean she didn't want to marry him, but made the promise as refusing might prove embarrassing?
"You can't talk. Your attempts at drawing are bad too," Rukia complained and then shook Renji.
"Stop that Rukia. I'm hurt," he complained without opening his eyes. "You're supposed to take care of me, not beat me up."
"Orihime left," she told him.
"I know. I heard," he replied shortly. "There wasn't any point in getting involved. The girl had an idea stuck in her head and for some reason she decided to go back to Aizen."
It seemed odd that Renji had done nothing, but maybe he was injured severely.
"What that girl sees in you, I don't know, kid," Renji said.
"Neither do I," Ichigo found himself agreeing. "She doesn't really want to marry me."
Saying it aloud, hurt, but it was better than keeping it inside.
Uryu sighed and Chad laughed.
"You're a fool, Ichigo. First you refuse to ask the girl on a date...," Rukia's voice faded as she said that. "No, that's wrong. It never happened."
"Dates," Renji suddenly sat up and stared at Rukia with a trace of anger. "You went on a date with the Quincy."
"No I didn't. I wouldn't," Rukia said and all the assurance she had shown before began to fade. "You can't have the same dream, can you?"
"I cannot recall having the pleasure of your company on a date," Uryu told Rukia and then frowned. "Can I?"
"Did we go to an amusement park?" Chad spoke slowly and heavily. "Why would I agree to a group date?"
Ichigo heard all these denials and looked at one friend and then another. Vague images passed through his mind of food and fun parks and cards. Nothing was clear, and emotions and words were jumbled with the insubstantial pictures and it had a quality of being obscured by something he didn't recognise.
"The Handsome Shopkeeper," he said, trying to work out what it meant. The phrase rang through his head but who it related to, he couldn't guess. Of one thing he was certain. That phrase could not relate to any person he knew, especially Urahara. No one could ever suggest that man was even passable, let alone handsome.
"What are you talking about?" Nel asked with a great amount of curiosity. "Did you have a good dweam? Was I in it?"
Shaking his head didn't clear it but he did it to either deny what he was thinking, or to shake the thoughts free. "No, Nel. I don't remember the dream."
He heard a voice laughing in his mind. What could amuse the Hollow so much that it only laughed and didn't proceed to mock him? The laugh was particularly discordant and it indicated that it had knowledge that escaped him. Even if he asked, it was unlikely that the thing would give him an answer that either made sense of was correct.
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Author's Note:
What a worry. Could it be possible that memory is returning, or is it simply a simple way to further torture Ichigo?
I'm hoping that events will move faster from now on. Ichigo and his Hollow have come finally come to see that they need each other, but I can't imagine that the Hollow will remain subdued for long.
Please review.
MS
Memory Overwrites
Despite all the evidence of his senses, Ichigo had trouble believing that this was happening. The joy he'd felt at being reunited with Orihime had lasted moments, or less. The fight with the Hollow, the recognition that he would lose, Orihime's attention to the Hollow and then the worst thing of all. Realisation that as long as he lived, and possibility after, he would never be free of the Hollow. If he lost the Hollow, then he lost the power the thing bestowed upon him, even if he shared it unwillingly. They were bound closer than any rite or promise could make them and while the death of the Hollow might not cause his death, he would lose an essential part. He would still be a Shinigami, but considerably weaker and possibly unable to fight effectively. Enemies he had quickly dispatched previously might prove a challenge, or even defeat him.
This revelation only came to him after he nearly succeeded in killing the Hollow.
“What did you do? He’s dying and I don’t know if I can save him. You were fighting him…”
Accusation filled Orihime's voice and he had to accept what she said and feeling a sharp stab of anguish that his actions had disappointed her. This was his fault; he could blame no one else and he wanted to feel the guilt, revel in the despair. It had become increasingly easy to ignore all his mistakes and his culpability in the death of his mother but with this incident, all the errors he made were presented to him in stark reality.
“Until one of them died,” Zangetsu was talking to Orihime, but Ichigo didn't want to listen. He tuned out the voices and sank into miserable introspection.
Now he was less than he had been. Instead of fighting and defeating the hated aspect, he had to keep and protect him. Would Orihime be able to accept him? While she knew about the Hollow, and had seemed to accept him, his face screwed up as he remembered witnessing that embrace, would she be able to love him still. Instead of only being two in the marriage, there would be three.
As he thought of it further he knew that was wrong. Zangetsu was always there and Orihime's powers. It was not a simple marriage between two people, but these additional aspects of their personalities and natures were an important factor in their lives.
One small voice nagged at the back of his mind. "What about sex? Will I ever be able to have sex with Orihime without the damned Hollow commenting? Zangetsu? What if he decides to talk to me? And Tsubaki? Might he try to attack me while we're making love?"
Trying to shut out the internal voice he hunched over, unwilling to look at Orihime or anyone. She was healing his Hollow, and it was working, he knew it was. Some link with the creature was restoring his strength along with the Hollows.
Aware that Orihime was looking in his direction he stammered out some words, not sure what he was saying, but trying to direct her attention elsewhere. “Don’t look at me! Orihime, please don’t look at me. Fix him.”
Those thoughts were unworthy of her. Worrying about sex rather than worrying about her, about his Hollow. This last hour had taught him how base he was, only interested in the things that directly affected him. Zangetsu had made him work it out, rather than explain it, so he could see what he needed to learn. Orihime had selflessly tried to help him and he'd contributed a near disaster. After this he would offer to release her from her promise to marry him. There seemed no possibility that she could forgive him for his cowardice and stupidity.
Distantly he could hear a conversation, but sunk deep in despair it didn't seem that he could contribute anything useful. He never contributed anything useful: only brought pain and death to people, threatened the lives of those he loved. Since he'd become a Shinigami he'd led his friends into danger, attracted treacherous creatures, and hung out with dubious characters. So much for his ambitions to lead a life that helped others.
A sudden flurry of movement attracted his attention. The Hollow was standing? Instead of nearly being dead, the thing was standing on its feet and braying triumphantly about something. "When you were distracted by the old guy, I took it. Now it's mine."
What was going on? From the looks of things the thing had taken hold of the charm and seeing it in his grasp made Ichigo feel distinctly uncomfortable. He hated to think of the damage that the creature might do. Deciding quickly, he rose silently to his feet and slid behind the Hollow. The charm could not be permitted to remain in the Hollow's possession.
"Why would I give it to you? You'll only give it to the skirt or Kingy. They've already had it and now it's my turn. If he can work this, then I can. I'll be the King!" The Hollow was backing closer to him.
Zangetsu spoke smoothly and soothingly. "You wouldn't like to be King. That means you'll have all the responsibility and no fun. Do you see Ichigo having fun?"
The Hollow looked from Orihime to Zangetsu and back again. "He doesn't have any fun because he doesn't know how to have fun. He gets scared and runs."
Damn the creature for being so accurate. He tried to force a smile to show that the words had no effect and saw Orihime smile at him slightly in return.
"Why are you smiling? You're the fun he's running from."
What was with the Hollow? He couldn't deny that it was partially correct and if he tried to explain it would only validate it's words. Later, when he was alone with Orihime he'd explain everything, not hiding anything. When this was all over he'd even tell his family everything. What was the point of keeping these secrets when in the end they protected no one?
Ignoring the conversation that Zangetsu and Orihime were having with the Hollow, he continued to approach it from behind. The gambit of making it focus its attention on them was working, and he thought that within a few minutes he would be able to surprise it and remove the charm. Problem solved.
If the Hollow was permitted to use the charm, it wasn't possible to predict what might happen. They didn't even know the full potential of the thing and from his earlier experience it seemed to loan the Hollow strength. Having fought it too many times he knew he didn't need it any stronger. He wouldn't mind if it used that additional gain to help him, but being the single minded being that it was, it preferred to use it in another attempt to subdue him.
Even now, when they'd both realised that they had to co-exist, the Hollow wouldn't lose any opportunity to take over. Knowing that for the rest of his life there was an ongoing battle between the two of them made him tired. He tuned into the conversation as he neared the Hollow.
"No, old man. I'm not fooled that easily. And Kingy, you can stop trying to creep up on me. I know exactly where you are," the Hollow said without turning.
Why was this happening to him? It seemed that ever since they'd arrived he'd been doomed to fail. Orihime had saved herself, without any assistance from them and now, when it seemed there was a chance of a battle with the Arrancar, he was stuck here playing games with his Hollow.
The thing turned and faced him. "As if I'd give up the chance to get control for a bit of stale news about his sickening love life. Let's fight. Now I've got this, I'll win and you can choose a nice comfortable saddle. So can the girl because I'll be riding her as well."
His handed tightened on the sword's grip as he fought the impelling urge to stab it again. He couldn't kill it and hurting it meant he was hurt.
"I'm sorry," Orihime said, surprising him. At first Ichigo thought she was talking to him, but she was looking at the Hollow.
"You are such a fool, girl."
That was his opening. He was once more looking away from Ichigo and he took advantage of the momentary lapse in concentration. He grabbed the Hollow's hand and tried to pull the charm out of it, not wishing the touch him, but knowing that it was the only way. They tussled, each trying to get the charm, but Ichigo couldn't let the moment go.
"You knew exactly where I was, did you?"
"Your female did that on purpose." The snarl looked natural on the face of the being with whom he struggled.
Ichigo felt a blow to the chest as a hand pushed him away, firmly. He tried not to move and demanded, "Give it to me. It's mine."
"Prove it."
Fingers were bent back as he gained more purchase on the charm and the Hollow became more frantic to get it back.
"Orihime gave it to me," Ichigo said, knowing that was his strongest claim to ownership.
The Hollow stared at him with its endlessly black eyes. "And took it back again."
"Because of you." Why were they arguing about anything?
The Hollow slapped at him, so he slapped back. A volley of slaps passed between them and it struck him as slightly ridiculous. From fighting with swords and trying to kill each other, they were now slapping each other silly because they knew they couldn't kill each other. They remained close, both trying to hold onto the charm as the other hand whacked at the face, the neck, the arms and chest. Some stung, but he wouldn't give up. It might look silly, but this was a deeply important fight. To permit that thing to have control of a potentially dangerous and powerful object was something to be avoided at any cost. He was considering biting the Hollow's hand to get it to let go when Zangetsu spoke.
"Children, cease this needless squabbling."
The charm vanished from his hand and looking he saw Zangetsu now held it. Why hadn't the man done that earlier? And how had he done it?
At first he moved toward Zangetsu, but then paused and stared hard at him. "What are you going to do with the charm?"
"Until I determine who is worthy of it, I will entrust it to Miss Inoue. While she may have misused it in the past," Ichigo made a face when that was mentioned, "I believe that she will only use the charm for others. It will never repeat the same 4 hours over again for her, but it has attuned itself to her reiatsu which is how you managed to contact her previously."
He didn't enter into the subsequent conversation as the previous events had confounded him. Until now he thought all of Zangetsu's powers were known, but it was obvious that his knowledge was incomplete. Earlier the Hollow had mocked him with a comment that now seemed relevant, but how did it know?
"It is time for you to leave. Events in Hueco Mundo are moving fast and you need to take part," Zangetsu's voice broke into his thoughts and the next he knew he was back in the unrelenting wasteland.
He didn't adjust immediately but then noticed that Uryu was holding Orihime. That guy moved and worked fast.
"Get your hands off her, Uryu," Ichigo was beside her in a moment.
"I was merely preventing her from being unwittingly involved in another's fight," the Quincy replied as he released her.
"Oh, thanks," he replied unwillingly. He'd seen the disc, seen it go near Orihime, but moved too slowly to help her. Instead of thinking about that any further he decided to ask something which interested him. "What happened while I was, um, busy?"
"Chad beat Yammy who is now being returned to their headquarters for healing," Uryu said, his eyes fixed on the fighting.
He watched the fight, deciding that any further conversation could wait until later. He was watching Renji closely, wondering if he was going to use bankai soon and how effective it would be against his foe when the large disc that nearly hit Orihime hit his friend in the back. He'd almost called out a warning, but the thing moved too fast. It wasn't fair.
"My victory, I believe. It was a good fight Nino," the guy Renji was fighting said and began to move closer. Without thinking about it, Ichigo stepped between them.
The man had won through default and that could not be permitted to count. As he prepared to fight Dordoni, to protect Renji, he felt Orihime kiss his cheek and say something to him.
"Huh?' Ichigo returned the kiss and pulled her close with the arm not wielding the sword. While he didn't think it was a good idea to fight while holding her he was prepared to use any excuse to embrace her.
When she pulled away and walked to Ulquiorra he felt his mouth gape open. What was she doing? Why was she walking over to the man who had abducted her? Was she going to fight him?
"Where are you going, Orihime?" Ichigo called, desperate to know if this was a joke.
"Let me go. I made a promise and I need to honour it. If I go with Ulquiorra this fighting can stop and you can go home." While she spoke, she kept her face turned away and her voice was sad.
He shook his head and he decided he'd misheard her. They'd come to rescue her, not to watch her walk away in order to provide them with a chance of escape. She'd promised to marry him and now left him. Was it because of what happened with the Hollow? Had the thing frightened her so much that she'd changed her mind and was using this as an excuse to break the engagement? Recalling his earlier thoughts, he feared that it was too likely.
"Don't do it, Orihime. It makes all our effort count for nothing," Rukia said.
Ichigo didn't care what anyone else said. He wanted Orihime to walk back to him and stop doing this. Each step she took away from him made it seem like she was walking out of his life forever.
Then Orihime said the words that nearly crushed him and destroyed his hopes. "I didn't ask you to rescue me. That was your decision and this one is mine."
After fighting his feelings for her and then fighting to come to save her, he almost felt there was no more strength within him to fight any further. If she rejected their attempts to save her, then wasn't it foolish to try? Should they go home, defeated and discarded by the very person they were here to rescue?
The worst of it was, all this made him believe that Orihime had changed her mind. After loving him so devotedly, the love had been destroyed and he had been the cause. She had witnessed his weakness, his fear and the attempted murder of his Hollow. In each trial all his efforts had brought no success.
Despite his pride, forgetting that others would witness his distress he called after her, "Orihime, please don't leave me again."
Not even bothering to turn around, she favoured him with a cold reply. "Honour is everything."
"No. Honour is a word."
The words Chad spoke broke through the despair that Ichigo was feeling. He'd felt his honour had been destroyed, but only if he believed it to be true. Honour was a word and could be used or interpreted in many different ways.
Then Orihime said something that made him feel that she might be acting due to some forces he didn't understand. "You need to ignore me and focus on the importance of preparing for the coming war. Any predictions you have for numbers and strength are false. The Hy...."
"Shut up woman," Ulquiorra slapped her hard across the face. "There are our enemies and should not be given any advantage. Aizen sama will not be pleased."
Uryu grabbed one arm and Chad the other as Ichigo tried to run toward the girl he loved and kill the thing that had dared slap her. Trying to wrench his arms from their grasp he hissed at them to release him. They hung on doggedly, not giving him any leeway for breaking free.
The Orihime again surprised him as she tried to slap Ulquiorra, mimicking his action. The Arrancar caught her hand but she must have been using it as a distraction and kicked him viciously in the shins.
Ulquiorra winced and said through gritted teeth, "Woman, you will regret this."
He didn't care how weak it sounded. He struggled against the hands that were holding him and yelled, "Don't touch Orihime." Abruptly his friend let him go and he drew his zanpakuto, preparing to run and kill the man who had dared to manhandle Orihime.
Finally she turned to him, but didn't look at him. "Ichigo, if you stop me, it will mean you don't trust me. I made a promise."
Ichigo shook his head. She was wrong. "He hit you!"
"It doesn't matter. I can take care of myself. And the promise stands." The words were delivered without emotion and he felt stunned and dismayed. She was rejecting his protection and with it, him.
Finally someone pointed out the obvious. He felt gratitude to Uryu when his friend stated, "That promise was made under coercion. We spoke of this earlier."
Nothing moved in Orihime's face and she simply said, "The pledge might have been forced from me. It doesn't matter. Go home, please." Turning to Ulquiorra she said, "Promise me they can return home without any harm."
The man looked at her and then nodded slowly.
"Let's go," she said and once more turned her back on her friends. She was leaving without another word or look for him. His heart which already felt like it was being ripped from his chest now seemed to be shattering. It was over.
"She was lying," Uryu said once the group were out of hearing range.
"I agree," Chad said quietly. "The lack of eye contact. That is not like Orihime."
"Renji, Renji. Wake up. We need you," Rukia was saying to her betrothed. He stirred and mumbled incoherently but still didn't wake.
Ichigo noticed all this but found it impossible to move. His zanpakuto sagged in his hands and he wished that it was possible to sag to the ground with it. Standing was over rated. Sitting down, or even better, curling into a ball and remaining there, until all feeling left him, was the way forward. The words of reassurance his friends were providing passed by, not affecting or impressing him in any way. All he could hear were Orihime's words, telling him that she was going, that she hadn't asked him to come and rescue her. Each word repeated through his mind, increasing the pain, forcing him to acknowledge that she had left freely. She had made promised to the Arrancar, but what of the promises she'd made to him? Were her insincere promises to deceiving bastards more important than the life changing pledge she had made to him?
Nel came up and placed her hand in Ichigo's. "I'll mawwy you, Ichigo, if you want," she offered.
"You don't really want to do that, Nel, don'tchaknow," her large friend assured her. "He's a bad man, remember? A Shinigami."
Fighting back his feelings, Ichigo looked down at the childlike creature and forced a smile onto his face. She wouldn't understand what marriage was, or what she was offering to do as she was too young, too innocent. Not that he could imagine wishing to commit to anyone except Orihime, but that possibility now seemed improbable.
It seemed that every thought, word or action was there to remind him she had left, without a backward glance.
"Shinigami,' Uryu said shaking Ichigo by the shoulder. "You didn't listen properly, which is what you always do. Did you hear what Orihime said?"
Ichigo nodded. She'd talked about honour and keeping promises. It meant she left him and walked away into the enemies hands and these 'supposed' friends had prevented him from stopping her.
"Idiot, she was trying to warn us. That was why that Arrancar slapped her," Rukia said, anger evident in her voice. "Of all the thick headed, stupid morons in the world, you have to be the biggest, after Renji.
Ichigo didn't care what she called him, or that Orihime had tried to warn them. All that mattered was she'd left.
"She mentioned honour and promises too many times for it to be a coincidence," Chad said slowly. He was obviously thinking things through and for a moment Ichigo felt a slight curiosity as to what he meant.
"It wasn't a coincidence," Uryu nodded in agreement. "In a discreet way she was informing you she will keep her promises, including the one to become your wife. Do I have to draw you a picture?" The derision in his voice stung Ichigo, as it always did, but this time he worked out what his friend was saying.
"Not if you draw anything like Rukia," was his unthinking response, but felt some of the depression slide from him. Was it possible that Orihime did not look at him because she feared he would see her indecision and persuade her to stay, not to leave?
But that raised the question of why she left. She'd made a promise to Aizen, or Ulquiorra about staying and while it was admirable the promise was being kept, it had been a forced promise. Had she felt under pressure to accept his proposal? Did that mean she didn't want to marry him, but made the promise as refusing might prove embarrassing?
"You can't talk. Your attempts at drawing are bad too," Rukia complained and then shook Renji.
"Stop that Rukia. I'm hurt," he complained without opening his eyes. "You're supposed to take care of me, not beat me up."
"Orihime left," she told him.
"I know. I heard," he replied shortly. "There wasn't any point in getting involved. The girl had an idea stuck in her head and for some reason she decided to go back to Aizen."
It seemed odd that Renji had done nothing, but maybe he was injured severely.
"What that girl sees in you, I don't know, kid," Renji said.
"Neither do I," Ichigo found himself agreeing. "She doesn't really want to marry me."
Saying it aloud, hurt, but it was better than keeping it inside.
Uryu sighed and Chad laughed.
"You're a fool, Ichigo. First you refuse to ask the girl on a date...," Rukia's voice faded as she said that. "No, that's wrong. It never happened."
"Dates," Renji suddenly sat up and stared at Rukia with a trace of anger. "You went on a date with the Quincy."
"No I didn't. I wouldn't," Rukia said and all the assurance she had shown before began to fade. "You can't have the same dream, can you?"
"I cannot recall having the pleasure of your company on a date," Uryu told Rukia and then frowned. "Can I?"
"Did we go to an amusement park?" Chad spoke slowly and heavily. "Why would I agree to a group date?"
Ichigo heard all these denials and looked at one friend and then another. Vague images passed through his mind of food and fun parks and cards. Nothing was clear, and emotions and words were jumbled with the insubstantial pictures and it had a quality of being obscured by something he didn't recognise.
"The Handsome Shopkeeper," he said, trying to work out what it meant. The phrase rang through his head but who it related to, he couldn't guess. Of one thing he was certain. That phrase could not relate to any person he knew, especially Urahara. No one could ever suggest that man was even passable, let alone handsome.
"What are you talking about?" Nel asked with a great amount of curiosity. "Did you have a good dweam? Was I in it?"
Shaking his head didn't clear it but he did it to either deny what he was thinking, or to shake the thoughts free. "No, Nel. I don't remember the dream."
He heard a voice laughing in his mind. What could amuse the Hollow so much that it only laughed and didn't proceed to mock him? The laugh was particularly discordant and it indicated that it had knowledge that escaped him. Even if he asked, it was unlikely that the thing would give him an answer that either made sense of was correct.
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Author's Note:
What a worry. Could it be possible that memory is returning, or is it simply a simple way to further torture Ichigo?
I'm hoping that events will move faster from now on. Ichigo and his Hollow have come finally come to see that they need each other, but I can't imagine that the Hollow will remain subdued for long.
Please review.
MS