Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Into the Fire ❯ The Dark Sky ( Chapter 1 )

Into the Fire

 

Don't own Bleach, would like to of course. Also some mild language and the F-word one time, other then that, Enjoy!

 

Thin streams of light filtered in through the blinds creating bands of light all along the king-sized bed. I shifted slightly at the soft embrace of the one next to me. Trying not to move too quickly I wiggled my way from her only to be enwrapped once again in her soft arms and cradled in her warm embrace. I looked to her but only saw a devious smile gracing her angelic visage.

 

“Just where are you going?” My exotic purple-haired goddess asked. I smiled sheepishly, quickly kissing her on the forehead before I rose to my feet. “Can't stay in bed all day can I?”

 

She bit her lip seductively, “I beg to differ.”

 

I laughed, hastily showering and throwing on some jeans and a dark blue shirt. I check the mirror and nodded. Some would call me too slim for my six foot height but I preferred the word lithe; a tree was slim but a leopard was lithe. I pushed away my long silver bangs and stared into my own deep red eyes. Many claimed me unnatural, that I had somehow altered myself to gain my silver hair and my crimson eyes but I let them talk, preferring to simply mind myself.

 

I sauntered downstairs to the humming of my beloved. “Hana-chan! Could you go buy me some milk?” I winced instinctively, a twinge of embarrassment as she used my “pet” name. She had taken to calling me “Hana-chan” after I had done… erm long story short I had “saved” her from some flowers and she thought such an act required her constant remembrance.

 

I walked outside on the cold and unwelcoming cement of the sidewalk. Leisurely I put my hands in my pockets and whistled a little tune, smiling at the various students walking along to their schools. Spotting a coffee shop I strolled into it, the ring of the bell announcing my arrival. The wondrous smells of the differing brands assaulted my nose and I thought I could die a happy man. Izumi always said I liked coffee too much; too bad she wasn't around to see me now.

 

“Hmmm. How about 1,2,3,4,5, and 6 all in the same cup?” I ordered, listing out the various choices. The petite girl behind the counter stared at me for a moment but she broke from her trance-like state with the shake of her head. She charged for the items and I happily dug into my pocket to pay her.

 

I pulled out my wallet only to see crisp green notes tucked securely in the folds of the wallet. Smiling sheepishly I handed her a green bill with none other than Mr. Benjamin staring out from the paper but she only looked at me like I had some sort of limb protruding from my head. She pointing at the bill she spoke. “We don't accept foreign money.”

 

Hastily I shoved the bill back into my wallet and searched my pockets for some other bit of money I had on me. When I came up empty the girl turned to cancel the order with a hint of a vindictive smile on her face. “How much was that miss?” A white haired man in a large green coat asked, smiling at me. He adjusted his green and white striped hat and I gave him a smirk.

 

“You always did enjoy coffee eh Hiro-san?” I grinned at him upon hearing my true name.

 

“I didn't know you were a caffeine freak too Kisuke-chan?” The man tried to hold his smile but he failed miserably.

 

“Let's talk outside Michiba-san.” Slim and a bit on the playful side Kisuke surprised me when he walked with an air of seriousness out of the coffee house. He turned abruptly as I took a sip of the dark and rich liquid in the cup.

 

Although his hat shadowed his eyes the striped brimmed cap could not contain his almost white hair that poked out beneath the fabric. “What is it you want to talk about Urahara?” I spoke calmly, gauging the former shinigami.

 

“What are you doing here? Are you looking for me? I won't go back to soul society.” Almost playfully he smiled and added, “I've gotten stronger as well Hiro.”

 

I chuckled, taking another sip of my liquid gold. “What makes you think I'm here for you? I thought you were always one to be cautious but just now… you were foolish to ask that. You're also foolish to believe I'm here alone like this.”

 

Immediately Urahara stiffened, his hand gripping the end of his “cane” until his knuckles went white. “How do you know I'm not alone as well?”

 

My smile faded as I let the precious coffee fall towards the earth and I quickly swatted away a lightening quick blow as though it were simply an annoying fly.

 

“Ah. Yoruichi-chan. So that's where you were hiding eh?” The dark beauty landed gracefully beside the green coated man, glaring at me as though her eyes could produce daggers. “I see you have improved a bit Yoruichi-chan… but being away from Soul Society meant you hadn't mastered everything yet, right?” The woman leered at me as though I was a mouse but I fended off the murderous intent with a smile.

 

“No need to be so angry Yoruichi-chan. I mean Urahara no harm, in fact I just needed to tell him that the Night is upon us.” I turned to the stunned light-haired man. “You had best get ready Kisuke-chan.” Immediately the green capped man turned around, walking in the direction of his shop with Yoruichi on his heels.

 

“Well that's done… crap! I totally forgot to tell him to give me some money. Looks like I'm gonna have to use a credit card.” I continued on my way to the local market and found it quiet busy for such an early hour. I strolled down the aisles and stopped abruptly when I reached the aisle of temptation. I stilled my heart and my eyes roaming to and fro as I stepped forward. In my sight were bags of all colors, each containing a different blend, and my mind raced to pick which one would be the best choice. My decision was abruptly interrupted when the sound of two forces colliding caught in my ear.

 

I turned to see an orange-haired boy stand triumphantly over a smaller dark-haired youth. “I told you coffee stunts your growth Asano.” The wild looking adolescent spoke, smirking. Asano let the bag of coffee fall from his groin and looked up at the other boy with an air of desperation in his eyes.

 

“Coffee doesn't stunt That growth Ichigo!” Ichigo, not one to be yelled at, took the smaller boy by the collar and held him in the air.

 

“It's your fault we're here in the first place! Why the hell did you tell Kagine-sensei you were making lunch for her? You damn Perv!” Smiling, I watched as the two bickered some more. They only ended their argument when Ichigo threw the smaller boy, who went sailing across the store and was knocked unconscious when he met with a wooden chair.

 

I smiled and followed the wild boy, leaving my groceries for another time. Heh, he's stronger then I thought Isshin. I let my Reiatsu, otherwise called spirit force, leak from my body, no longer attempting to mask it. Ichigo stopped dead in his tracks and turned to look at me. A hint of fear flashed in his eyes as he gazed upon me but he suppressed it with ease.

 

“Who are you?”

 

I smiled wryly, not speaking a word to his question. “I asked you a question.” Ichigo glared at me, his hands balling into fists.

 

“You forget your manners Kurosaki.” I spoke, watching as his Reiatsu began to spike with his emotions. He suddenly froze however when I spoke his name and a bit of amazement shot through him.

 

“Shut the hell up! How do you know me?” He yelled wildly. His soul separated from his body and I smiled as he took on the shinigami form, the black kimono, which was the norm for the death gods, sharply contrasting with his orange hair. He drew his obscenely large knife-like blade and pointed it at me, a grin appearing on his face. “Tell me who the hell you are or you're getting your ass kicked!”

 

Smiling I stepped from my Gigai(replacement body) and the orange haired boy couldn't help but stare. A quick gust of wind sent my dark blue coat fluttering behind me and despite only having my torso covered in bandages I felt no cold from the unforgiving morning.

 

It didn't take long before the boy recovered from his brief shock and he attacked me head on, unafraid of the unknown. I shifted my feet, deftly dodging to the side while my hand delivered a quick blow to his forearm.

 

Ichigo cursed as he massaged the sore point but the fire did not leave his eyes. “Don't test me boy…” I chided as he came again, swinging his massive Zanpakuto in hopes of maiming me. Again I dodged, stepping to my left but this time I did not let him go with just a blow to the arm. I brought my knee to his abdomen and using the force of his swing as well as the innate force of my leg I sent him sprawling backwards.

 

Ichigo coughed but got to his feet shakily. “Bastard! Draw your sword!” I could see the fire in his eyes ignite to greater heights as I ignored him. Again he brought his sword towards me but this time at such an angle that I could not dodge and hope to attack without a wound to show for it.

 

“I see you're as quick as they say Kurosaki, you're probably as powerful as your old man too.” Ichigo couldn't help but give me a blank stare as I spoke of Isshin, his father.

 

“What do you know about my old pops?” Ichigo asked angrily, but I knew the little venom in his words were to mask his confusion.

 

“What did I say before Kurosaki? Manners, Manners.” Ichigo clutched his Zanpakuto as though it might suddenly disappear but with a sudden sigh he placed his blade back upon his back.

 

“Tell me what you know about my Pops… please.” I could tell that the boy strained to get those words out and I chuckled, knowing that Isshin had the same problem.

 

“I may as well tell you now… your father was, no he still is, a shinigami.” The boy took it better then I thought he would, only blanking out for thirty seconds or so.

 

“Wha-What?! The old man's a shinigami?” I nodded. “How can that be? If he's a shinigami then why didn't he save us when Rukia first came here?”

 

I sighed, not wanting to explain his whole family history. “That's something you're gonna have to ask him yourself.” Ichigo sat on the ground, trying to make out what everything meant.

 

“Hey, Kurosaki. Something's been bothering me lately.” The boy brought his eyes to meet mine as I spoke. “I need to ask you… why are you so afraid?” that got his blood boiling. Ichigo rose from his feet and glared at me angrily.

 

“What the hell are you talking about! I'm not scared!” he drew his blade once again but I silenced him with a piercing look.

 

“You are scared Kurosaki. You're sacred of yourself!” the words bit into him as he allayed his anger. “That's why you don't fight to your potential, you WON'T fight to your potential. You're so scared of that little mask that you won't let yourself fight!” The boy shrunk back from my reprimands but I did not stop. “Why are you so scared Kurosaki? Why are you so scared of yourself?” His eyes went wide with recognition and I stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.

 

“I know you fear what is inside you Ichigo, but you shouldn't be afraid of it, you are what you are after all.” The boy's face contorted, rage suddenly filling in his eyes.

 

“What would you know bastard! What do you know about having this- this monster inside. Don't talk to me like you know everything-” I smiled amusedly as astonishment filled his fierce pupils. I knew he could see it now, the piece of stone than covered my left shoulder. Most people feared the object, no one liked Hollows after all, but it became a part of me.

 

His eyes suddenly locked onto mine and in the pools of his pupils I saw the deranged face of his other self. He screamed, falling to his knees in pain. I knew the other Hollow battered at Ichigo's subconscious, trying to get to me. Hollows had a tendency to attack each other, to become angered and the Hollow inside was no different.

 

“You need to let it free Ichigo.” He looked at me as though I was mad but I smiled at him warmly. “Let it come, and then overwhelm it; harness its rage and use it.”

 

His hands balled into fist and he pounded the pavement in agony. “Can't… too much…” he spoke, trying desperately to calm his breathing.

 

“You can't! Listen to yourself Ichigo! To protect your family you became a Shinigami, to save your friends you became stronger, to rescue Kuchiki Rukia you survived death itself and reached Ban Kai. But now… when you could save everyone- your family, your friends, Rukia- you let that chance slip by with the pitiful excuse that you can't. Do you really want to have them die right in front of you? Do you want to be helpless, just like you were when your mother was murdered!”

 

The boy seemed to will himself to stand, determination set in his eyes where there had once been that shadow of the hollow. “Shut the fuck up you bastard! Don't mess with me!” a sudden burst of energy sprung forth and a piece of Ichigo's Hollow mask clattered on the ground in front of him. The boy picked up the fallen object and glared at it, breathing heavily from the exertion. “I won't let anyone touch my friends you can count on that.”

 

I knew what seemed only a span of seconds took much longer in his mind, where his other self had been. The Hollow that was created inside was no more than a representation of the self and to be able to defeat or reconcile with it meant the person became whole, therefore gaining access to powers that had once been locked away.

 

Of course there were problems with having a Hollow present as well, due in part to the fact that if the Hollow somehow managed to win then it would take control. There was also the slight problem that both minds could die and that would have been the end of that.

 

The sky became blanketed in dark clouds and I turned from the orange haired boy, walking along the narrow alley. “Wait!” he called. “Who are you?”

 

“I'll tell you later… but now you have a job to do Shinigami.”

 

The sky went dark and the winds howled. It's time. I thought grimly. The sky seemed to rip open and out flooded the Hollows that had bided their time deep inside the crevice of the underworld. They flew from the opening, their misshapen forms landing haphazardly on the unsuspecting humans below. I watched as more and more Menos-class Hollows poured from the openings in the sky. Those would be dealt with by the others; I had another goal in mind.

 

I could sense them off in the distance and I stood before them in a matter of seconds on top of a rather large building. Four stood in front of me, each one with a demonic smirk on their face. “I see you still plan on doing this Aizen.” I spoke, staring hard at the ex-shinigami captain.

 

“Why of course… but I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you.” his voice was cold and commanding and I couldn't help but notice the piece of shattered hollow mask hanging near his waist.

 

“Sorry but you won't ever learn my name Aizen.” I leapt at them, targeting the strongest, a woman. I could hear the sound of sword on sword as I reached the female Hollow, knowing that other shinigamis had taken care of the other three. I swallowed hard, staring at her. Thick wavy brown hair hung in a pony tail that reached the small of her back. Her slim figure was perfectly displayed in tight fitting black clothing although the most peculiar thing about her was the black Hollow mask she wore. Normally the masks were white with differing colors on them but hers was black with streaks of white.

 

I rested lightly on the balls of my feet and found a calm that was pierced when memories began to rise. It can't be her… she can't be… Before my mind could steady she pounced on me, drawing her blade and striking at me deftly.

 

I rolled away from the blow, drawing my own Zanpakuto. “May I ask your name?”

 

A screechy voice came from behind the mask. “Rei.”

 

She ran at me again, staying low to the ground. Her forms were perfect and precise, crescent moon flows into the night, quickly followed by vine entwining tree and finishing with serpent's decent. My muscles worked furiously as I parried each blow, flowing from one stance to another. I countered her blows with mantis stalks prey and wind blows though leaves and it soon became a deadly dance that neither one of us could afford to lose. Each attack was met with a counter and that counter with another. It seemed to be an endless flow that would result to death if a mistake was made.

 

It seemed like hours before she finally leapt back, examining her blade as though something were wrong with it. “Soukutsu!” she yelled.

 

Nothing noticeable happened but she seemed satisfied and ran at me again, swinging her katana in a wide slash. I parried the blow but this time the air around exploded with an explosive energy. I leapt away from the blade, fingering the hole in my cloak, the cloak that should have withstood a direct blow from most Zanpakuto. Rei gave me no time to think, charging yet again. I parried each blow, careful not to touch her blade too close to my body but that left me unable to counter her. She noticed this of course and her attacks became wilder and more frequent so all I could do was back away.

 

The explosions only come when her blade touches mine so that means she can't control the blasts by will or I would already have been hit. She's also attacking more wildly, meaning if it hits my skin an explosion would occur so it's not just the sword. My mind worked furiously but in the end it didn't matter if I could figure it out.

 

I distanced myself from Rei and placed two fingers on the base of my Zanpakuto. “Fuchin, Lorelei!” I smiled as it rippled and felt like nothing at all. She charged again and this time I brought my sword to meet hers. My Zanpakuto melted around her blade and the sound of an explosion meant her technique had gone off. An orb of my melted Zanpakuto floated where the two blades had met and I smiled when the remaining piece of my blade continued on its course, slashing her deeply across the chest.

 

Rei leapt away, examining her sword for some oddity and she could only stare as my Zanpakuto began to reform itself. “It's useless now.” I spoke, drawing her attention to me. “Once someone has been capture by Lorelei they cannot escape unless I let them.”

 

My Zanpakuto, Lorelei, seemed to grow brighter at the mention of her name. I went on the offensive this time, bringing my blade down hard against hers. Again the meeting of steel on steel sounded an explosion and this time Rei was not so lucky to simply suffer a flesh wound. Lorelei contained the explosion and she bent at the point of contact. The top of the blade swung with such great speed that the air crack behind it and before Rei knew it her face had been exposed.

 

Half of the Hollow mask fell to the ground with a clatter but I stared dumbfounded. I… I didn't want to believe it. I swallowed hard and said a silent prayer. “How dare you?!” Her voice screamed, grabbing the midnight black mask from the ground and trying to place it back on her face.

 

After a few unsuccessful tries she let the object clatter onto the ground and her eyes threw fire at me. “You will pay!” She seemed to look less and less like a human and more and more like a Hollow. Her sword seemed to meld with her growing arms; each finger became a sharpened blade that was at least three feet long.

 

She wasted no time in adjusting to her new form, flying at me with unheard of speeds. I brought Lorelei to counter the bladed hands but it took all I could do to simply dodge her completely. Each time it seemed like I was able to trap one of her fingers, like I had her sword, an explosion spread the water thin and she broke from the trap using her other blades.

 

Luck happened to be on my side though. Rei let loose a massive swing and I took that opening as my advantage. Wrapping her whole and in my Zanpakuto I let loose a series of lightning quick kicks that had her reeling backwards. My moment of victory had been short lived. Rei seemed to have used that pain as a stimulant, getting faster and wilder with each second. Her blows became harder and harder to stop and I had been lucky that there was some shred of protection when her claws finally made it to my cloak.

 

My once Midnight-blue cloak was now nothing but tatters of charcoaled cloth. A kind and gentle voice erupted in the depths of my consciousness. Hiro-kun! Let me out! Hurry before you get hurt…. Hiro-kun! I knew her voice well, the voice of my Zanpakuto. I can't… I can't let you hurt Masaki-chan. I replied, distancing myself from the soul of my close friend. I won't let her harm you Hiro-kun! I would have chuckled if not for the situation. I know. I thought grimly.

 

“Masaki-chan. please stop this!” I tried but she didn't stop, instead she rushed headlong towards me. Wait! Hiro-kun! He's there, Tetsu-kun's in there! I knew the name as soon as she spoke it though it had been years since I last heard it. Tetsu had been Masaki's Zanpakuto before she had been killed. No she hadn't been kill, she had been taken, her spirit ripped from her body. It had been a mystery as to what had happened but I had always thought she had been abducted. Now it was certain.

 

I shuddered, thinking of what she had been through, how they had gotten one so innocent and gentle to turn into a vicious monster. My Zanpakuto hummed with life as I swung it. My blade flattened against her fingers, melting through her guard as water does in a sieve. The liquid blade hardened and continued its course after it had evaded her guard, piercing through her Reiatsu-reinforced hide. I didn't escape unharmed however. Her claws ripped gashes across my chest and the explosions wracked my body, sending me crashing down into the nearby buildings below.

 

I shook away the black flecks that moved across my eyes as I rose gingerly to my feet. A voice called at me from afar and I angrily ground my teeth, knowing that she was most likely right. I letting you out Lorelei… but I want to talk to her so don't do anything rash. I drove the shimmering sword into the cement beneath me, watching as the Hollow-controlled Masaki came at me. “BanKai! Shinsui Senkon!”

 

Water erupted from all over and the Hollow was forced to leap onto a pile of ruble because of the crashing waves. I walked onto the surface of my element, feeling at home more so than at any other time. Lorelei spoke to me, and she was angry. Being a protector of soul cutters she became angry whenever someone misused their gift, their Zanpakuto, so it was only natural that she felt enrage when someone dishonored her friend.

 

The Hollow leapt at me, trying to hit me while I stood in the center of the water. The serene liquid around me suddenly turned violent and thick spike-like weapons shot towards the Hollow, making her retreat to her previous position.

 

“I'm sorry Misaki-chan.” She looked at me, snarling and bearing her teeth. She seemed to notice the ripples in the water next to me and hastily grabbed a piece of concrete and heaved it at me. I swatted away the object and watched as a figure began to rise from the liquid.

 

A figure made of water stood next to me, tall, slim, and the most exotic being in existence. I nodded solemnly to her and closed my eyes, not wishing to witness what happened next. A melodious voice filled the area and I knew she had started. Her song put people into a trance where she could control them as she pleased. She would bring her victims into the water, where she would slay them.

 

Close your eyes and let the wind pass over you

Let me guide and show you what to do

 

Close your mind and rest assured

I will make your pains a blur

 

Close yourself and come to me

The gentle water will set you free

 

Masaki glided into the water, unknowing of her fate. “It's your turn Hiro-kun.” Lorelei spoke softly, giving a gentle caress to my name. The Hollow suddenly began to thrash about without Lorelei's voice to calm it bit in the water it could do little but howl as I made the liquid stronger than any known substance.

 

“Masaki-chan… It's me, Hiro.” I walked up to her, smiling but she continued to throw her head about, tossing that lovely brown hair everyone had admired so much. “Masaki-chan, I know you're still in there, please regain control.” Once a Hollow took control it became almost impossible to regain control but with a strong will it became possible. “Masaki-chan, please come back. You've missed so much. It's only been six years but you've missed so much Masaki.” Her howls became less and less frequent and I continued on.

 

“You've missed a lot, like Isshin running the hospital by himself, or Yuzu cooking for the whole family, or Karin pretending to be strong. Heck you even missed Ichigo becoming a shinigami.” She went silent upon his name. I reached down gently and tugged at the other half of the mask.

 

Her full face came into view and I could see the conflict in her eyes. “They miss you so much Masaki. Ichigo… he blames himself because you were taken. He thinks he's responsible for making the family the way it is now, for taking his mother from his sisters.” Tears began to stream from her eyes and soft sobs wracked her body. I let the water recede, and she fell onto the rubble of the building.

 

“Hiro-kun… Hiro-kun you need to…” she spoke with her ever gentle voice and a dagger pierced my heart. I raised my blade, knowing that the Hollow would come back, that Masaki couldn't stay on this plane and still stay sane, and she knew it as well.

 

The hilt of my Zanpakuto hit her square on her forehead but a massive gate opened behind her. My heart suddenly went into overdrive and I gripped her shoulder tightly. “She's going to Soul Society, not there!” The looming figure behind the gate of sin did not move and I felt a sudden lurch in my innards.

 

The water surrounding me suddenly began to collect onto my skin, and I closed my. “JouKai!” The gate keeper flinched at the light that erupted from the water and I could see he was receding from the massive structure. “I hold the Will of the Lord and you shall obey me Keeper!” The dark gate began to sink back into the earth, though the guarding still snarled and thrashed, feigning a mask of disobedience. As soon as the massive gate towers were away from sight I collapsed to the ground, pain wracking my whole body.

 

My eyes began to stare into darkness as my brain began to shut down. I knew there were still many Hollows about but I would have been worse than useless if I tried to go on without a five minute nap. I had just used something that should have been forbidden by the greater beings and would have if not for the fact that only I knew of it. The JouKai was the pinnacle for any warrior because it brought them to a level equal to that of a demigod. Though the form gave unheard of strengths it also depleted the user and if not moderated it could also destroy them. I suddenly realized the soft fingers gripping my hand and looked to see my beautiful purple haired Izumi sitting next to me. I let my head fall back and before sleep took me I smiled when I spotted a black swallow tail butterfly floating towards eternity.