Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Seeds of Destruction ❯ The culmination of madness ( Chapter 12 )

12. Raging Apocalypse - The culmination of madness

 

 

“Grimmjow Jaggerjack?!”

 

The Arrancar grinned down at him and chuckled. “Yo, King Whimp.”

“Inoue!” Rukia exclaimed, a wave of emotion coming over her. “Is that really you?”

Orihime descended from her position in the sky and landed in the middle of the garden. Her presence seemed to have a silencing effect on all the bystanders and she felt unable to meet their piercing gazes. She was wearing black leather boots over skin-tight black jeans, a Chinese style, short-sleeved black silken shirt with red rimmed collar and a red corset. Her hands were clad in black leather, fingerless gloves. Her black hair was done in an elegant neck bun with Chinese hairpins in it. She looked dressed for war.

“Kuchiki-san! Everyone…” She fell silent as everyone only gave her hesitant gazes. “Everyone… It's me.”

Ichigo looked at the others with slight incomprehension at their behaviour and stepped up to her. “Orihime… You've returned…”

She twirled around and her face lit up immediately as she saw him standing there. “Ichigo!”

He took her in his arms and held her to his chest, feeling the warmth and smelling the scent he only associated with her and almost cried tears of sheer happiness. “You're safe… When you left last night I had no idea if I'd ever see you again…”

Orihime only held him and shook her head. “I'm just glad we got here in time to stop that Golem! I'm relieved that you're safe!”

Ichigo bit his lower lip and buried his face in the crook of her neck and right shoulder. “That was you…”

“Ichigo…” she whispered, “We have important matters to discuss now that I'm here.”

“Is that the reason why he's here with you?” The orange haired youth whispered scornfully with a glare towards Grimmjow.

“What?” The blue haired Arrancar retorted, “Jealous, Shinigami?”

“Care to come down here and repeat that, shithead?!” Ichigo yelled back.

“I suggest we go inside, Orihime-chan.” Urahara spoke gently, “You may be the only one who can prevent lives from being lost in this battle.”

The silence resonated through the now crowded tea-room, all dreading the reason for Orihime and Grimmjow's venue.

She kneeled herself down at the low table, placing her intertwined hands on the smooth surface with an uncharacteristically serious expression.

Though all were used to see and hear Urahara joke at times like these, none blamed him for taking on a more austere disposition towards the matter at hand.

Grimmjow was standing against the wall behind her, almost reminding of a princess' personal guard.

Ichigo never failed to cast his most despising scowls his way, only amusing the teal haired Arrancar as he did.

“Aizen will soon realise that I am gone, so I shall keep this brief.”

Even in the way she talked, they all felt that Orihime had changed, no longer seeming the naïve and cheerful girl they had all grown to appreciate. Her appearance shed off a cool reserve, her behaviour mirroring that of a full grown and responsible woman. Like a warlord… Rukia thought, observing her silently and with held back caution. Seeing Orihime in such control of herself was a bit unsettling and to a certain degree… redoubtable… both frightening and yet awe- arousing at the same time. As she spoke, her voice now evoked respect and admiration, her words power and elegance. Look at you now, Inoue…

“His research has been completed. He has found the last of them, Urahara-san.” Orihime said softly.

“Vasto Lorde,” Toushiro spoke, standing at the other end of the table with his arms crossed over his chest.

Yoruichi, who had been standing in a corner right from Urahara, sat herself down on the floor. “Defeat seems undeniable at this point.”

“Urahara-san,” Ikkaku intervened, refusing to let the thought of defeat cross his mind, “we know he doesn't have the Hougyokou, so he will not be able to turn them into Arrancars, right? We may still have a chance.”

Urahara sighed and closed his eyes briefly as he thought of those words. That chance Ikkaku was talking about was a infinitely slim one, for it did not matter if those Vasto Lordes were transformed into Arrancars or not, their raw power without the Hougyokou's interference surpassed that of a Captain either way. Aizen only had to find at least 5 of them and all would be lost.

He opened his eyes and looked at Orihime again. “Has he laid his hands on it yet?”

She shook her head, “It is the reason for my advent.”

“That's where we have a new problem.” Grimmjow spoke, catching everyone's attention.

“And another…” Ichigo murmured, rolling his eyes.

The Arrancar ignored him and continued, “Unless we kill her, we won't lay our hands on the thing.”

“Say what?!” Ichigo exclaimed.

“Ichigo!” Orihime sternly spoke, her eyes closed and her expression now slightly aggravated. “Please—”

“What have you done, Inoue-san?” Urahara whispered, a hint of regret and admonish in his voice.

She opened her eyes and gave him a resolute look. “I cannot turn back now. We either do it the hard way or the other way.”

“Orihime-chan…” Shuhei and Rangiku whispered in unison, silently admiring her strength of will.

“Both are not things I would like to see you endure.” Urahara whispered, bending his head and shaking it sadly. “But it seems you have left me with no other choice.”

She sighed and closed her eyes again, knowing that all eyes were resting on her, patiently waiting for an explanation. She could almost hear Ichigo's worried thoughts in her own mind, but she could not command herself to look at him now, or at any other of them for that matter.

“The Hougyokou,” she whispered, “I sealed it within myself. By denying it's existence the first time, I had to think of a place to send it off to. Oblivion seemed too abstract of a term for me to use at the time, so I did what I thought would be best with the limited time I had been given. I asked the Commander General to remove the knowledge from my soul afterwards, so that it would never bother anyone ever again.”

“Inoue…” Rukia whispered, a tear rolling out of her right eye as she watched her friend admitting her past actions. “You were ready to sacrifice everything…”

Orihime bit her lower lip and nodded. “Aizen sensed its presence within me, because of his prolonged moments of symbiosis with the Pearl. Also, Hollow Hime knew of its presence within me and didn't fail to inform Aizen. It needs to be separated from me in order to be destroyed, or he will come and take it from me himself.”

They did not need a picture to understand what consequences that would ensue.

“Tessai-san!” Urahara called towards the hall.

The bulky man soon appeared in the room's entrance door and he bowed, “Yes, manager?”

The former Captain began to stand, “I need object P4.7 from the complete artefacts' closet, please bring it to me in the `other room'.”

“Yes, manager,” and he left.

“Everyone,” Urahara now said as he looked at the group of people standing left from him. “I bid for all of you to go lend a hand to the Vaizards as we initially planned. Inoue-san and me shall catch up with you afterwards.”

Toushiro nodded, “Yes, it is time we left.” He then turned to Shuhei, “Still no contact with Soul Society?”

He shook his head after he had taken out his transmitter only to hear static, “None, Sir.”

“Alright, then there's no use in stalling this any longer.” He turned towards the garden behind him and stepped onto the porch, “Let's go.”

Renji kneeled next to Rukia on the floor as Ikkaku, Rangiku and Shuhei followed after the Captain. “Rukia, wait for me to come back.”

She closed her eyes as she fought against the tears. “I can't believe I'm doing this…”

Renji bent over and pressed his lips on her forehead. “I don't care… as long as you're here when I come back.”

Rukia sighed and nodded reluctantly. “I'll kick your ass if you don't come and get me out of this embarrassing situation.”

He chuckled tenderly and nodded. “Yeah…”

They let their lips meet softly and as she opened her eyes again, he was gone.

Yoruichi stood from her sitting position in the corner and stepped towards the porch, passing Urahara in the process. She looked back at him a last time and they shared a smile before she too vanished.

Orihime moved herself on her feet now as well and turned herself around, finding Ichigo still standing right from Grimmjow. She took a shaky breath and smiled. “They'll need you too…”

Ichigo bit his lower lip and bent his head. “Could you please give us a few moments?” he whispered softly.

Grimmjow grinned disdainfully and shrugged, following Urahara who had picked up Rukia from the floor out of the room and deeper inside the house.

“Every time,” Ichigo began, still not looking at her, “Every time I've seen you after our last night together I've felt this growing distance.”

“Ichigo—”

He raised a hand and shook his head to silence her. “It's not that I don't get the meaning of it. I do, but it wasn't up until now that I've begun to see it from your point of view.”

Orihime faced away from him, trying with all her might to keep the tears at bay. There were no words she could find to say to him, his statement seemed to have said everything.

“Orihime… I am sorry I've only come to understand your feelings now.”

She glanced his way and met his sincere eyes.

“I am sorry,” he softly whispered, taking a few steps closer. “But I cannot let you go through with it.”

Orihime only stared at him, still not saying a word.

“I am not saying this out of selfish motivation. There -has- to be a way. You do not have to throw your life away like this. It's not the woman I know.” He seemed to hesitate a little before whispering; “There's still so much for you to live for.”

She rolled her eyes to the floor and smiled remorsefully, “You must think I'm being selfish, am I wrong?”

Ichigo tilted his head to the side and stared outside, “Well, yeah.”

She chuckled, “Of course. You two are the same after all.”

“Orihime—”

“You mustn't think that I'm not aware of my betrayal towards you.” She gritted her teeth and balled her hands, “I know how much it must hurt to think that you of all people can't help me. Yet you know why I need to do this…”

He now stood in front of her and placed the back of his right hand against her pale and cold left cheek. “A very intelligent and wise girl once said to me that dead people can't protect anyone.”

She raised her head up to that and revealed her watering eyes.

“I believe in you, just know that you have me,” he said, looking at her beautiful face and tracing the lines of her cheekbones with a finger lovingly. “You've become so strong, Hime. I'll always be there to lend you all the support and strength you need, only remember that you're not alone. I know you can beat this thing inside of you. Like I know you believe I can beat my Hollow.”

“Ichigo…” she whispered, her lips trembling.

He took her into his arms and held her close, shutting his eyes. “I love you.”

She broke down in sobs at that, staring up at the ceiling as she suddenly felt her heart grow heavy with guilt.

He took a small step back and claimed her frigid lips with his, kissing her passionately in an effort to make her feel that he never lost hope and that she shouldn't either.

“Here,” Ichigo said, bringing his closed right hand up in between them now, “I held on to them for you, but I like them better when you're wearing them.”

She discovered her hairpins lying in the palm of his opened hand and she gasped in relief, having thought to have lost them for ever. “Oh…!”

He smiled softly, “Let me put them back where they belong…”

She let him slide the flowers back on each side of her head and returned his smile. “Thank you, Ichigo.” Her body felt a warmth she had thought long gone and even after he left, she could still feel it deep within her, preserving the last of her dreams.

 

 

A horrifying howl echoed through the air, soon answered by a hurricane of similar cries, tearing up the smooth tranquillity of the morning hours. Dark clouds began to gather ominously, preparing the world for a deluge.

Only, there was no rain to come.

The empty water tank on top of the abandoned building exploded, its steel ripped apart by invisible claws. Glowing red eyes appeared out of nothing, peering down at the small group it wanted as dinner.

Shinji took a step forward and looked up at the building, unsheathing his Zanpakuto slowly. “Love and Rose, please take the flanks,” he said to the group standing behind him. “Hiyori, Lisa and Mashiro, with me. Hachi, Kensei; the rear.”

All nodded and sped off into the direction they had been ordered to.

“Keep Hollowification as a last resort,” he continued, approaching the first Huge Hollow to meet his sword, “this day will be long: we don't want to tire before its end.”

 

 

A few miles away, two figures appeared in the air, looking at the darkening sky in the distance.

“You know, if I remember Rangiku-chan correctly, she'll be terribly upset that you didn't say goodbye.”

Gin only smiled in his characteristic way and shook his head, “We'll meet upon the battlefield eventually…” He took a breath and began walking towards the fight ahead, “And who knows? Perhaps we won't have to say good-bye at all.”

“A sucker for happy endings, eh?”

“If just once, I would like to finally have one,” Gin replied, his grin slowly disappearing.

The other Shinigami nodded, “Yeah…”

Both men then vanished, their blurry silhouettes re-appearing only every other mile into the direction of the battle.

 

 

A bright red flash hit the ground near her feet and Lisa gracefully made a handless- cartwheel in the air before landing and parrying all ceros aimed at her with the flat side of her blade. She swooped it to the side defiantly as she now faced the 4 Huge Hollows standing before her, each one uglier than its friends.

“Hello,” she said calmly, raising her sword. “I'd tell you my name, but seen as how you'll be dead in a few seconds, it won't matter.” She launched herself at them and they quickly surrounded her only to turn into dust a couple of moments later.

“Oww…” Mashiro whined after she watched the Hollow she had been fighting disintegrating itself. “It's much more fun when we put our masks on!”

“No complaining!” Hiyori yelled back, slapping a Hollow on its mask with her right slipper, sending it flying, “Just keep killing them all!”

A few yards away another building exploded and Shinji twirled around to look at the Hollow he had been fighting, hiding in the smoke and debris of the destroyed hangar. He dodged an attack aimed at him and easily cut off the arm with the flash of his sword before gracefully flinging his sword in a wide circle to slash the monster in half. He then directed his gaze up to the skies and grunted: at the rate they were going, they wouldn't see the end of it anytime soon. He launched himself into the air, deciding to cut things short.

“Circle of faith, connecting shores, lord of purgatory, ageless coveter, black hearts bind together, consumed by darkness. I call upon the condemned. Carve thy enemies flesh and scourge their souls.”

A massive, black, shadowy replica of his stretched out left hand appeared above a 3 miles area containing all Hollows that had landed there.

“Vizards!” Kensei bellowed, having noticed the spell, “Everyone, clear the premises over a distance of at least 6 miles!”

“Way of Destruction nr. 71,” Shinji whispered after he felt his companions evacuate the danger zone his kidou would hit. “Crushing Black Palm.”

With an eerie silence as if all noise became swallowed by its passage, the enormous shadow of Shinji's left hand descended upon the hundreds of Hollows gathered underneath it, crushing each and every last one of them. Closing his hand into a fist, Shinji then watched as the replica began to exude bright light and then imploded, the explosion in itself soundless but soon followed by the deafening sound of destruction the after shock wave brought along with it over an additional distance of 2.5 miles in all directions.

“Whoa,” Love murmured, lowering the arm he had used to shield his face with. “That spell isn't supposed to be this strong.”

“Of course not, if you don't use the incantation,” Lisa reflected, arms folded on her chest and her skirt swaying in the wind now that the dust had cleared a little.

“Shinji was once a Captain level Shinigami, don't forget that fact,” Rose spoke, standing up from his hunched position. He dusted off his jacket and placed his hands in the pockets of his pants. “It's only normal the destruction was going to be of this magnitude.”

“It's still hard to believe that that goofball ever made it to Captain once…” Kensei smirked, arms folded over his chest.

“The same can be said about you,” Lisa retorted, not looking at him and beginning to walk back towards Shinji.

“What?!” Kensei exploded, but was hushed by one of Hiyori's slipping hitting him square on his face.

“Hold your trap!” she yelled, “You had it coming and you fucking know it!”

The white haired Vaizard shot her a deadly glare and drew his combat knife. “What the hell is your problem, monkey chick?!”

Both Love and Rose grabbed him by one arm each and kept him from attacking Hiyori, who simply glared at him before walking away after Lisa.

“Get your hands off of me!” Kensei yelled, shrugging his captors off and sheathing his blade back into its holder. “The fuck is wrong with that kid?!”

The rest of them all exchanged questioning glances before following the others back.

 

 

 

The seemingly constant flow of Hollows out of Hueco Mundo seemed to have stopped now.

Shinji descended from his airborne position and landed on the ground, closing his eyes. Although the spell he had used wasn't a particularly complicated one, it did come with its adverse effects. He looked at his left arm and winced slightly as he looked at his slightly smoking skin and smelled the horrid stench of burned flesh. “Well, as long as it was effective,” he whispered, flexing and stretching his hand tentatively only to bit his lower lip at the stinging pain.

“Hadou nr 71, huh?”

Shinji turned his head towards the two men standing a distance from him and smirked. “How long have you been standing there?”

Gin shrugged, “Long enough, really. That was an impressive little trick you did there, Hirako-san.”

“Still, I don't remember it being that powerful,” Isshin remarked, scratching his stubble beard absent-mindedly.

Shinji grinned a little, “Kinda overdid it.”

“Hn,” Isshin chuckled, looking around. “So, seems like we've had the first wave already.”

Shinji nodded, “I don't believe the next will be anytime soon. Now the battle will be on the other side.”

Gin nodded, “We'll inform Kurosaki-san and the others.”

“She will need all the help she can get, even if she thinks she'll be able to handle it,” Isshin concurred. He then sighed, “I just hope my son won't do anything foolish.”

“Orihime has chosen her path, he will have to accept it, whether he likes it or not,” Shinji spoke, turning now as he saw his companions land near him. “We've done our part, now it's theirs. We'll go on standby.”

“Maybe you should Urahara have a look at that,” Isshin advised, nodding at his reddened arm and hand.

“Perhaps,” Shinji smiled, “It's been a while since I've seen Kisuke.”

Isshin nodded and returned his smile. “We'll see you later on.”

Shinji nodded and turned, “Most definitely.”

Gin and Isshin watched the group depart and disappear.

“That ought to be a cordial reunion,” Gin noted as he began to walk in the opposite direction. “Why didn't you tell him?”

“That he risks to lose his arm?” Isshin asked, walking after him.

Gin nodded and waited for Isshin to stand next to him.

“Because I think he knows.”

 

 

Her eyes opened.

A soothing hand landed on the crown of her head and their gazes met.

“Is it done?”

Grimmjow glanced up towards Urahara standing at the other side of the narrow table, holding a small crystal cube in his right hand fingers.

“Yeah,” Grimmjow said, looking down at her again with a ghost of a smile, “It's done.”

Orihime sighed out in silent relief and nodded, feeling like an immense load had been lifted from her shoulders. “Now there's only the most difficult part left.”

He helped her back on her feet and put a supporting arm around her waist. “You're still up to it?”

She nodded and took a breath, feeling a dizziness mounting to her head. “There's no turning back.”

Grimmjow smirked and looked away. `Tch, it's not that I'm taking Ichigo's side in this, but you'll be leaving a lot behind.”

Orihime's expression hardened, “I've already made up my mind… I thought you were on my side?”

He turned his face back to hers and looked into her eyes. “I am, princess. You know I am.”

She let out a trembling breath and closed her eyes again, leaning against him. “I wouldn't be able to bear it right now if I had no one on my side… I need you.”

“You have me,” he whispered back, pressing a gentle kiss on her pale forehead.

Urahara pretended not to listen to their private conversation but couldn't help but notice the advanced stage of intimacy between Orihime and Grimmjow. He wouldn't say anything, for he knew that if a heartbreak was looming on the horizon, it wasn't his task to deliver the message. “Inoue-san,” he said, catching her attention, “Your soul hast just undergone a labouring procedure, it would be best if you kept from tiring it too much for the time being.”

She nodded, “Thank you, Urahara-san,” and slowly made her way to the door.”

Then it happened. Her body suddenly went limp and she collapsed.

“Oi!” Grimmjow exclaimed, picking her up in his arms in one swift movement. “What's going on?”

“Inoue-san!” Urahara moved closer to her as well.

Orihime moaned softly, “What's… happening? What's that sound?”

Grimmjow looked around rapidly, not seeing or hearing anything out of the ordinary. “What sound?” he asked her, seeing her clutch to her ears for dear life. “Orihime!”

“Put her back on the table, perhaps something went wrong during the procedure,” Urahara hurried to their side and walked them back towards the observation table. She was trembling as they lay her down, sweat breaking out of every pore of her body.

“What… w-went wrong…?” she shakily whimpered, her eyes looking up at them pleadingly. “Grimm… jow…?”

He had her right hand in his now and he shook his head, “I don't know—” He looked up at the former Captain and bellowed, “What the fuck did you do to her?!”

Urahara did not respond but only bent over her and examined her pupils and felt her pulse. “Inoue-san,” he then whispered to her, “It's not her. Let go.”

Grimmjow frowned and looked at her again. “How can you be so sure?”

“Her eyes aren't changing,” Urahara answered.

Orihime nodded silently, still shivering uncontrollably on the table before she brusquely arched and went limp.

Urahara then left the room just as sudden as Orihime had passed out, leaving the former Espada puzzled as to what was going on.

 

Her eyes opened once more and she sat up, her body now clad in a snow white, deeply cut halter-top, long dress. The familiar surroundings of her interior world greeted her. She stood, taking in a breath; her alter ego did not seem to be around which meant she was locked away safely in a part of her soul. Yet, there was something quite different even though she couldn't exactly pinpoint what it was.

“Mother.”

Orihime turned, her now light brown hair flailing around her as she did, and she gasped.

A few feet away, stood Ichigo. Or at least, she thought it was Ichigo. He looked so much like him, but younger somehow.

“Mother,” he said again, and his voice seemed to echo in her mind.

She approached him cautiously, grabbing onto her long dress as she did, a confounded expression her features. “Who are you looking for?” she asked and somehow, the closer she got to him, the younger he seemed to become. Where he had been a teen just a moment ago he seemed barely ten now and she kneeled a feet or so away, smiling kindly. “Maybe I can help?”

“My mother,” he spoke to her without moving his lips, looking at her pleadingly. “I was searching for her, now she is here.”

Orihime looked around, not really expecting to see anyone, but still doing it to perhaps put the child at ease. “She is here?”

He nodded with a grin and she had to smile at how adorable he looked, beaming with cheer happiness. “Will you take me with you?”

Orihime cocked her head to the side with an apologetic smile, “Where is your father?”

“My father is off fighting monsters,” he answered with a small pout. “I want to go with you. Can I? Please?”

She frowned, finding it all harder and harder to understand. “But, how did you get here? Do you remember?”

The boy shrugged, “I just thought of my mother and I came here and then you came here.”

She sighed and looked around helplessly.

“The time is right for us to go now.”

A warm hand suddenly pressed against her abdomen and she looked down in silent surprise. “What—?”

He smiled up at her and a soft glow grew from where his hand touched her abdomen. “I love you, mother.”

 

She gasped and awoke with a start, comforting hands immediately reaching to help her lay back calmly, her surroundings once again completely different. She was back in Urahara's Examination Room.

“There's…! I have seen… Ichigo—we…” she breathed incoherently, looking at the faces gathered around her.

Urahara nodded comprehensively, “Take it easy, please…”

Orihime settled down and closed her eyes, her hands moving up to her lower abdomen. “I had no idea…” she silently whispered, still not looking at any of them. “My son… I have a son!”

“You generated a child?” Grimmjow demanded, “When?”

They both turned their heads towards Urahara and he began to explain what they discovered during her absence.

“You are now in the Gigai I made for your unborn child,” he finished, “since I had sensed it wanting to communicate with you. It was the safest way.”

“Why didn't anyone tell me?”

There was a silence in which Grimmjow helped Orihime to sit up again while Urahara stepped around the table to face both of them.

She looked up at him and let go of the hold she had on Grimmjow's right shoulder. “And Ichigo? How did he take it?”

“Surprisingly well, considering,” Urahara answered, smiling encouragingly. “He's matured, you know, Inoue-san.”

She averted her gaze from his at that, a reminiscent expression growing on her face. “It was something we were both ready to accept, were it to happen one day.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “So many things are different now.”

“Inoue-san,” Urahara said, lowering himself on one knee in front of her, “it was necessary to know of your unborn child now that you were still here.”

Orihime smiled at him, and shook her head. “It has only strengthened my resolve.”

“Yes,” he said, nodding.

“Many things depend of me in this war,” she said, sliding off the table now. “Knowing that this child was created during a moment of love while in chaos, is something I will for ever be grateful for. The future we're all fighting for will be my gift to it, whether I'm still in it, or not.” She stepped out of the Gigai, appearing in her war-lord attire again, letting Urahara catch it in its fall, laying it back on the table. Her heels now tapped on the floor as she took a few steps away, feeling her lower abdomen which she knew was empty again. She turned a last time to her artificial body behind her. There is still so much left to do before I can take you with me… Grimmjow took place next to her and she took a breath. “Thank you, Urahara-san.”

“Not a problem, Inoue-san,” he said, touching his hat and bending his head to her. “You've brought us an essential item.”

Orihime smiled, “Hide it well, Aizen cannot suspect you holding it.”

“I shall do my best,” he smirked.

“I will return as soon as I have found Nell, tell Ichigo that, please.”

He nodded and she turned again, stepping out of the room with Grimmjow right behind her, towards the serene garden where the former Espada opened a portal with a mere movement of his right hand. He let her step through first and then followed her, closing the gate behind them.

 

 

Isshin lowered the communicator from his mouth.

“She has gone, it's time.”

Gin nodded, “The others are close now.”

“Yes, open the gate.”

The former Captain nodded once more and opened a portal to Hueco Mundo.

Soon enough, Ichigo, Renji, Rangiku, Hitsugaya, Madarame and Hisagi appeared in the air above them and landed seconds later.

Ichigo walked up to his father. “Dad?! What are you doing here?”

“Hiya sonny boy,” Isshin merrily greeted his son. “Howya doing?”

“Dad, where is everyone?” Ichigo asked immediately.

“Someone used an enormous spell a little while ago,” Hitsugaya interrupted. “What went on here?”

“First things first,” Isshin said, clapping in his hands. “See that portal over there? We need you to go through there, help Orihime find the Arrancar Nell Tu and come back.”

Ichigo blinked and then shook his head, his brain not following. “What? Find Nell? But wha—”

“Wait a minute,” Renji spoke up, “Inoue has gone back?”

“Who is this Nell?” Rangiku asked with a worried frown.

“Why would Inoue-san risk going back into Hueco Mundo when she knows Aizen will kill her if he gets his hands on her?” Shuhei wondered. “Is finding this Arrancar worth so many risks?”

“She must've thought it would be if she decided to do so,” Toushiro spoke thoughtfully and then directed himself back to Isshin. “Without orders from Soul Society, no Captain is allowed to enter Hueco Mundo under any circumstance.”

“We know that, and we weren't asking you to go, Captain,” he replied, turning to his son and Renji. “You two have been there before, you know what to expect.”

Renji nodded with determination, but Ichigo looked rather sullen.

“My boy,” Isshin said, taking him aside, “Do not torture yourself like this.”

Ichigo only stared at his father without saying a word and then looked away. It was obvious to Isshin that he was hurting.

“Orihime has chosen this for herself.”

At that Ichigo shrugged him off and gave him a furious glare. “Don't speak of things you do not understand!”

“Ichigo,” his father sternly said, no more tender. “She has made her choice. You cannot tell her what to do!”

“How do you expect me to feel?!” he hollered back, his pain now clear in his brown eyes. “She chose for him! She chose for him, dad! For that asshole! This is not how I wanted it to be! It's not how we were supposed to…” he fell silent and shook his head. “She didn't even say goodbye.”

Isshin remained silent for a moment and then placed a hand on his son's left shoulder. “She knows about your child, Ichigo.”

The young Shinigami chuckled morosely at that. “What does it matter?”

“She told Urahara that finding out about the child you gendered gave her a new source of motivation.” Isshin told him. “She's fighting for the both of you. Do not let her sacrifice be in vain.”

“Oh God…” Ichigo whispered, feeling completely lost.

“Son, she loves you, of that I'm sure. She chose to sacrifice what she had with you in order to protect you from herself.” Isshin took a breath and looked away, “It's only a matter of hours now before she completely turns and she knows, Ichigo.”

“Fuck no…” He whimpered, now on the verge of tears. He walked away from his father and let out a howl in an effort to vent his frustration, anger and pain.

 

Hime… so now you found that strength you told me you lacked, haven't you? You'll distance yourself from me permanently and there's nothing I can do to stop it, can I?

 

 

In the darkest chamber of Las Noches castle, a sinister laugh could be heard, echoing through the many empty halls.

 

“I told you… Hime. Go back to see him again without my permission and I'd kill him. Yet seen as how you seem to have traitorous habits lately, I guess I'll have to deal with you first. You've crossed the line one time too many.”

 

 

Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoyed. Please look out for the next chapter by end May/ start June.

 

Upcoming Chapter: In the belly of the beast - The Crystal Clearance

 

To be continued…

 

-BDP-