239Apologies to those that were waiting for the last few months for a new chapter to The Raven Angel's main story, but once I got back to writing, Turning Back the Pendulum was due for a new one first. Oh yeah, Chapter 3 of that one is up now if you haven't seen it yet. lol I won't go into a bunch of details over my absence again, I've already covered all that in that chapter.
Anyhow, here's the next chapter, and it's a longer one to boot. Not quite as long as the last one, but I still felt like covering quite a bit of material. Plus, I felt like you guys deserved a bit more for having to wait on me this long.
As an aside, the title for this chapter, like most since my earlier days writing this story, is indeed a song title, but this will be my first time introducing fan music into my references. For those in the Bleach community and/or the anime community at large who don't know, there is a legion of anime fans who create music based on and inspired by their favorite anime. They are the Nerdcore movement. I was introduced to them by the Dragon Ball Super Tournament of Power Rap Cypher, and since then, I've been hooked. Members like Fabvl, DivideMusic, DaddyPhatSnaps, and Rustage are getting so good that you have to wonder HOW they don't have stuff on the radio already. If you haven't been introduced to them, please check them out on Youtube. You won't regret it. Fabvl especially is really hitting his stride, creating songs that can not only connect with the anime characters that inspire them, but aren't filled to the brim with references and just hit the audience on an emotional level. The song he produced for Rengoku ("Heart Ablaze") gets me every time. This song here does it just as well. I know its not based on a Bleach character in this instance, but like I said, it's just a good song that fits so well. Trust me when I say that this won't be the last reference to the Nerdcore artists I will make. Check them out, and maybe you'll be able to guess which one I might call back to next. ;)
Note: I don't own Bleach, if that wasn't obvious by now.
Chapter 47: Under My Skin
I don't care that you live deep inside my head
(No, no, no)
Fill my life with purpose, not with blind regrets
(Ho, yeah)
Throw me to the wolves, I'll come back stronger
There's no one controlling me, I'm taking ahold of me
I'll give my heart and soul so they don't wander
My demons will set me free, caged in to let me be
Like I knew they would
...
If only you could see me now, I know you'd probably be so proud
There's no one left to slow me down, 'Cause my heart is sound, yeah
...
Feel you crawling on the inside under my skin (yeah)
Feel you bury me, I came out wearing your sins
I don't need a way out, I'm not scared
Any way it plays out, I'll be there (be there)
Feel you crawling on the inside under my skin (yeah)
...
NARUTO RAP - Under My Skin [Naruto Shippuden] - Fabvl
"Come in, Research Division HQ. Rukia Kuchiki of Squad 13 requesting connection to Sereitei Research Division HQ, do you copy?"
Standing atop the tallest building she could find in Downtown Karakura, Rukia pressed her fingers hard against the radio communicator in her ear, desperate to get a transmission through as soon as she possibly could. The young heiress had to remind herself to be patient, but she silently cursed how shoddy the devices could be at times, the signals sent and received between dimensional barriers being unpredictable. This, of course, was made worse by the interference in an especially spiritually rich zone such as this.
"Lieutenant Kurotsuchi, reading your transmission. Do you have a status report, Lady Kuchiki?" came the monotone feminine reply of a certain buxom android.
"Nemu?" she blurted in surprise, a chagrined blush spreading across her face at such an undignified response. The ravenette had to shake off the momentary shock at catching the Lieutenant of Squad 12 of all people, even as a feeling of repose washed over her at finally getting an answer. "Apologies, I was expecting 3rd Seat Akon. I have urgent news to report concerning the movements of the traitor Sosuke Aizen."
"Affirmative. Proper security and discretion measures are being taken in accordance" came the reply. Efficient as always, Rukia thought, though she wasn't complaining in this case. "Would said intel be in response to the readings of large hollow spiritual presence we were alerted to within the last hour near your location?"
"That's correct" she answered, nodding to herself. "The hollow alert I responded to belonged to the notorious hollow by the designation of Grand Fisher. As an aside, that threat has finally been terminated and purified."
"Well done, Lady Kuchiki" Nemu congratulated, choosing now of all times to be more personable (with words, at least, even if it did not reflect in her voice), as the other members of the Sereitei's Women's Association had been trying to help her be. "I am sure patrol officers will be relieved to hear of this target's demise. Although, the readings I have before me contradict this news. Energy levels suggested a Menos level threat. Could you clarify?"
Rukia took a deep breath, trying to organize all the information she'd gleaned from Isshin on the matter. "You're not mistaken, I'm afraid. Grand Fisher had grown to a threat-level on par with a Gillian since its last reported appearance, but the evolution was not natural."
"You say 'on par with' and 'unnatural evolution.' Elaborate, please." The command would have sounded curt coming from anyone else, but that was just Nemu Kurotsuchi for you.
"The hollow had taken a new form, something more akin to a Soul Reaper with similar abilities as well. It was not a Menos, and yet this…transformation gave Grand Fisher strength capable of producing the same levels of destruction. Apparently, it had become something called an Arrancar."
There was a moment of silence on the other end, although Rukia could swear she heard the clacking of keys in the background. "Accessing information. 'Arrancar.' Translated as 'Ripped Mask.' A state of hollow evolution in which a hollow removes its mask to regain a measure of humanity, most often gaining attributes similar to a Shinigami."
"That's right."
"Our database is limited on this subject, the information provided from long before even Master Mayuri's tenure. Curious. From what I do have access to, this state is most often achieved by hollows of much greater heights, i.e., Adjuchas or Vasto Lorde." Was that actual confusion she could hear in Nemu's tone?
"Yes, that is what I've heard. And yet, Grand Fisher seemed to have attained this form somehow. Based on the information I've gathered, the form was imperfect, rushed. It was like the transformation was not gained on its own. If that is the case, then it is more than likely the result of experimentation. From what we already know, Aizen is probably responsible, with his history of experimenting with hollows and attributes of theirs."
"And if that is the case, then Sosuke Aizen could be attempting to raise an army of similarly-empowered hollows" Nemu finished for her. "And if this particular experiment was an imperfection, then the finalized results could present even more of a danger."
"Exactly." Rukia smiled slightly in spite of herself, grateful that Squad 12's Lieutenant was so astute.
"I will transmit this information to the Head Captain's barracks immediately" she said, already summoning a Hell Butterfly to impart the message. "There is one last matter of inquiry. Your source of information, would that happen to be the large spirit energy that was shown on site in tandem with your own?"
"Well…" The girl had to think quickly. Urahara being forgiven after Aizen's defection was one thing, but explaining Isshin's situation would take more time than they currently had. There was no telling what would happen to him, let alone Ichigo. With what she now knew, or at least suspected of her lover's circumstances…Soul Society may just do something drastic.
Best to keep Isshin's secret for now. Thankfully, he'd already went back home. "Yes. I…had assistance from one of Kisuke Urahara's coworkers. They were able to provide the intel."
"I see…" If Nemu suspected anything about her response, she didn't comment on it. "Please keep us informed if the situation changes further."
"Roger that." Internally, Rukia sighed in relief. "Rukia Kuchiki of Squad 13, over and out."
Her posture slumped as she withdrew her earpiece and slipped it back inside her uniform. Even now, after everything they went through to prove their loyalty to Soul Society and to protect it from its greatest threat in ages, possibly ever, it would seem that she still had reason to worry. Explaining away Ichigo's hollowfication abilities as a byproduct of regaining his own powers had been enough to save him possible persecution, especially with them only manifesting in the most dire of circumstances. If Head Captain Yamamoto or Central 46 were to find out that they were something he was born with, an ability innate to his soul, he could be seen as a potential threat to the status quo. Whether or not his actions were noble wouldn't matter if they deemed him too dangerous.
'You need to gain control quickly, Ichigo…' she thought to herself, staring wistfully at the horizon as the setting sun began to shine through the overcasting rainclouds. She knew that if all of the Sereitei were to descend upon them, he wouldn't be likely to survive. And if that indeed were the case…she would die before letting them near him. 'I…I can't lose you…'
She shut her eyes as she turned away, clutching at her chest to stave off the pain the thought of it alone brought to her. The night-tressed Shinigami took a step towards the edge of the building, ready to return home, when…
RRRRRAAAAAAGGGGHHH!
"What the?!"
Her head snapped back towards the outskirts of the city as an immense sensation of power assaulted her, so dark, imposing, and dense that she could literally hear it screaming in her mind. A cold chill ran down her spine, the spirit energy becoming visible to her sixth sense. The shape of it dancing in a tempest of its own volition was a visage that would forever haunt her nightmares…something too close to home for comfort…
White face…
Dark crimson lines…
…Golden eyes…
"Ichigo…that can't be…" Rukia shook her head hard, trying to make certain what she was feeling ahead of her. The spiritual pressure was monstrous, pervading the very air even from such a great distance. That alone spoke volumes. She had felt Ichigo's power herself when he was using Bankai, let alone the few times his hollow had surfaced at the same time. If this was her Strawberry, then he'd just tapped into a whole new level of horrifying power. Hell, a glance downward revealed that the living souls surrounding her on the streets below were just as struck by it, frozen in place by the sudden influx.
It wasn't just the reistu itself, though. Even she could tell that it wasn't the weight of it, not from this far. The energy carried a heavy sensation on its winds, a feeling so powerful that she found herself reluctant to try to move at all. She had to force her feet to march herself forward to the facing edge of the concrete façade to at least try to get a better look, all her willpower being necessary to even make it that far.
It was so otherworldly, the effect this spirit energy had on everyone experiencing it. And yet, amongst this sensation, she could feel the intent behind it just as well as she could see the frightening image it conjured for her. There was no denying that it was something directed particularly at her…
Must…be…free…
Must…protect…
Always…protect…
Mine…
"It really is you…" As terrifying a prospect as it was for her, there was no doubt that it was her Ichigo. Above all, he lived to protect those around him, especially those he cared for, and if she knew anything about him, it was that her love would be stuck in his ways until the day he finally did pass on. That facet of him would never change, not as stubborn as he was. It seemed his inner beast shared the sentiment, because if she didn't know any better, this stagnating effect was a physical reflection of just how firmly planted he was in his beliefs.
Just as abruptly as his spiritual pressure bloomed, however, it receded and gradually faded back into the obscurity of the white noise that was the ambient energy of Karakura. Clearly, whatever had been masking his presence couldn't hold this new plane of power he'd reached in check, but once he had released it, the mask fell back into place. Still, this now gave her at least an idea of where he was hidden away.
Rukia took a steadying breath, not realizing until now that the stillness imposed upon her included her ability to breathe freely. Her hammering heart would not be so easily tamed, a smirk forming on her face in her exhilaration and anticipation of tracking him down.
With a mighty push, she flashed off the tower of cement and glass. "I'm coming, Ichigo. You're getting a piece of my mind whether you like it or not…"
"What in the lower reaches of Hell was that?!"
Shuren was still poised to strike at something, anything, both hands alight with balls of fire. The wave of spiritual pressure had left all five of them frozen in place, even from clear across town. As soon as he was free to, the Togabito in question leapt into action. The Sinner did not like that feeling, not one bit. He'd already fought with the others to escape the confines of Hell, was continuing to do so in fact. Anything trying to cage him in any way, he wouldn't stand for.
"Calm down" the Lovecraftian Gunjō attempted to assuage. "Whatever that spiritual pressure was, it was not directed, rather it was indiscriminate. We're not under attack."
The arguable second in command was hesitant to drop arms so easily. "That power…it felt crushing in its intensity…Just where in the Four Levels did it come from?"
A dark chuckle drew all four pairs of the Togabitos' eyes to their strongest member, a wide smile forming on Kokuto's face. "Ichigo Kurosaki…It appears the time is close at hand…Soon our chains will be broken…"
Flames sputtered out as Shuren's eyes shot open wide behind his mask. "That was the kid?! I…I knew he was going to get stronger to be able to break the chains restraining us, but…If we go up against that, he's liable to kill us right along with Murakumo before we can be set free! This is insanity!"
"Calm down, Shuren" the white-haired Sinner said with a dismissive wave of his hand, drawing his comrade's incredulous ire. "All we need is proper leverage to direct his power the way we want. After Murakumo's little show…I think I know just what to use…"
The baleful glint in his lavender eyes as the implications hit the group still managed to make Shuren's blood run cold, even if it wasn't directed at him. Times such as these, he was reminded that their mastermind was a psychopathic monster with the power to match it. Nevertheless, the self-assuredness and ego behind it still left him assured of Kokuto's eventual demise, much to his hidden delight.
'If not by my hand, then by that kid's, you wretch…I'm just counting down the days until I see you destroyed for good…Enjoy your confidence while you can…'
"What on earth…?" Orihime finally managed to sputter as her hands rested on her thighs to steady herself, vision glued to the direction that the oppressive energy had come from.
Cold sweat beaded her brow as she fought off the fear that threatened to consume her. It had been a hollow's energy holding her in place, there was no doubt in her mind. That wasn't even mentioning that it had been the strongest hollow she had ever felt. Still, while she could not put her finger on it, there was something oddly familiar about it. She knew that energy from somewhere…
A flicker to her right caught her attention, making her bolt upright as she recognized the source. "Rukia?! Is that you?!"
The call nearly caused the young Soul Reaper to falter as she skid to a stop, turning her violets towards its direction. "Oh, Orihime! What are you doing here?"
The redhead jogged closer, a worried frown occupying her features. "I was out buying some lunch for Uryu and me. He's training out in the forest with his fancy new glove, and I thought I would surprise him. That's when this huge power suddenly stopped me in my tracks. It had to be the biggest hollow I've ever sensed before, and it was so frightening, but its energy wouldn't let me move at all. Even though it scared me, though, I can't help feeling like I've felt it before. Are you going after it?"
Rukia's mouth hung slightly ajar at her friend's mile-a-minute response, a sweat drop forming as her brain processed what had been said. "Um, yes…but that wasn't just any hollow. That was Ichigo's power you felt."
"What?!" Wide silver pools met purple ones in shock before she smacked her fist against her palm. "Oh, that's where I knew that energy from! It was like it was right on the tip of my tongue" she said, rubbing the back of her head, laughing softly in (to anyone outside her own mind) misplaced embarrassment.
"Uh, hehe, right…" Rukia said with a small smile and a good-natured laugh of her own, still feeling awkward about dealing with some of the other girl's eccentricities, not helped by the knowledge of her former crush on her boyfriend. She'd been able to recognize the glances Orihime would send Ichigo's way quite early on, and it was all but confirmed for her when the strawberry blonde had admitted he'd suspected the same thing a while later. Maybe she was still a bit jealous after the fact, much as she was loathe to admit it…or perhaps she was still envious of the redhead's figure, no matter how much Ichigo proved she had everything he could ever want…
"But if that was Ichigo, then…he's gotten so much stronger, or his hollow has at least" Orihime mused. "For that matter, if you're here, why is he all the way on the other side of Karakura? With you chasing after him, no less."
The Shinigami blushed even as irritation roiled ever so slightly inside her at remembering the current circumstances. "Well…he went off to train to control his hollow powers…alone…"
Say what you will about the ditzy highschooler, but she didn't miss the subtle shift in Rukia's tone of voice, nor the look in her eye as she turned back towards where the Substitute had been felt earlier. Grasping her hands behind her back, her thumbs hooking into the material of her skirt ever so slightly, she tried to choose her words carefully. "Is…everything okay between you two?"
The shorter girl sighed, trying to remind herself of her lover's perspective. "He's been having trouble controlling his hollow, and it's been getting harder and harder for him. So…he snuck off last night to train with other Soul Reapers like him…"
She crossed her arms, one hand coming up to pinch the bridge of her nose as she sighed. "I…I understand that he wants to protect me, even if it is from himself, and don't get me wrong, it's one of the things that made me fall in love with him in the first place. I get that he wouldn't be able to live with himself if anything ever happened to me…but I don't enjoy being treated like some fragile thing that could shatter with the slightest touch, either. He needs to realize that I can take care of myself and that I want to stand beside him through whatever challenge or threat he has to deal with…"
Her small tirade finished, she had to take a steadying breath as her hands fell back to her sides, feeling slightly embarrassed as she turned back towards her audience. "Sorry, I didn't intend to offload all of my problems onto…Orihime?"
Said audience had her hands clasped tightly against her blouse-covered bosom, her eyes comically starry as overlarge tears threatened to spill. Her quivering lower lip added perfectly to the picture.
"Oh, Rukia…" Before the raven death god knew it, she was wrapped up in a tight embrace, unable get a full breath of air around the bone-crushing hug, let alone her face being pressed between the sources of her envy. Of course, Orihime was unaware of the precarious and admittedly scandalous position in her fervor, too caught up in her feelings to even notice Rukia's squirming.
"Don't you worry" she said, sniffling just a little. "We're gonna find him and make him see just how wrong he was, romantic a gesture as it may have been. You two love each other so much, and I won't let that go to waste, not if I have anything to say about it."
She was quickly losing the ability to fight against the hold, her upright hands left to tremble with fingers twitching erratically in her discomfort with the situation. Much as she wanted to be free, her manners wouldn't allow her to be rude, especially when her friend was simply trying to show support in her own way. "That's…very nice…of you…Orihime…"
"Now then…" Quickly as her tears suddenly disappeared, so too did her hold on Rukia, leaving her falling on her back with an undignified 'oof' as the taller of the two looked back towards the horizon with a severe determination. "Let's go find Ichigo."
"Uh, right…" she replied, hissing slightly as she rubbed her sore rump. "We know the general direction, but I can't sense his energy anymore, just like this morning. Wherever he is, his…trainers are masking it. Usually, Ichigo and I can sense each other even clear across the Soul Society if we wanted to. Something to do with our intimacy with each other, I guess. Whatever Kido they're using, its thorough."
Orihime's eyes narrowed. "Well, that won't stop us from reuniting the two of you. I won't let my friends be star-crossed any longer. C'mon! Maybe we can find some clues if we get closer!"
"Huh? What do you mean by star-crossed – Orihime, wait!"
She had to scramble to match the dead sprint the redhead suddenly broke into, calling from behind her. "I thought you were meeting up with Uryu!"
"It was going to be a surprise, anyway!" she called without looking back, smiling brightly. "Besides, I'll be spending time with him this evening after he gets home! Now hurry! The sooner we get you two back together, the better!"
"How can you run like that in those?!" she asked, flabbergasted that the teen could move so well in wedges that tall. Souls above knew that she had yet to master any of the torture devices modern humans called heels.
Pale blue sky with stationary clouds dotted here and there slowly coalesced into view. Where normally there would have been considerable amounts of pain and weakness from energy drain, the fatigue slowly ebbed away to…well, nothing. In fact, he felt light, if he were honest with himself, lighter than he had ever felt before. He could feel his reistu practically buzzing throughout his body, ready to spring into action the moment he summoned it up.
Ichigo slowly sat up, glancing around to find that he was still in the Vizards' training grounds. Granted, the area to his immediate left looked like it had been shredded recently, thoroughly at that.
"I guess they had to fight to keep me contained while all that was going on" he thought out loud, barely above a whisper.
'Yeeeaaah, you can thank me for that' came a surprise reply from his Zanpakutō, managing to sound smug even if his voice was much calmer and yet much clearer to him at the same time. No fading into existence. No constant weaving in and out of focus. Just clear as day.
"Huh. I guess I shouldn't be surprised" Ichigo commented out loud as he examined his hands, marveling at the power he felt flowing through his veins. "Rukia did say that Sode no Shirayuki spoke to her pretty frequently. I just assumed Zan – well, the old man, anyway, preferred to keep to himself most of the time. Seeing as you're my Zanpakutō, I guess I should get used to talking to you more often. That and I know you love to hear yourself talk."
A small chuckle echoed through his mind. 'I admit, it's nice not having to force my way through to you past whatever binds the carrier pigeon had in place. I could get used to this.'
Ichigo smirked. "So what did you mean that all this was your doing?" he asked, looking back to the destruction of the rocky field.
'Well…your boy Blondie Bowl Cut knocked you in here, leaving me to take control of your body. Only thing was that most of my concentration had to be on fighting you. Hate to admit it, but…I guess I should be proud that my…partner…forced me to stay on my toes to keep up.'
"I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me" the Substitute said bemusedly. "I mean, aside from the few helpful tidbits back when Rukia and I first got together."
'Yeah yeah, don't get used to it' Zangetsu shot back in disgust, much to Ichigo's amusement. 'Anyway…Since so much of my focus was on you, the only thing left driving your body was pure hollow instinct.'
"Uh-huh. And I'm gonna assume you didn't make it easy on them."
A resounding maniacal laugh he was all too used to was his answer. 'Let's just say they'll think twice about underestimating us ever again…'
He shook his head, sighing as he stood up. "Hopefully everyone is still in one piece…"
"Hey, look who's awake" Shinji's voice called in his usual dismissive drawl.
Ichigo looked to his right just in time to see the rest of the group following Hirako's gesture, eyes focusing in on their new ward from where each of them had been resting. Much to the teen's relief, they all seemed to be unharmed. Whether that was from their own skill in battle, Hachi's in healing, or a combination of those, he didn't know nor much care.
"Figured you be down and out a lot longer than that, kid. How are you feeling?" the blonde asked as the teen approached them.
"I guess the best word I could come up with is…whole" he said, causing them all to give him strange looks. It took him a moment to remember why. "I, uh, learned a few things about myself in there. My hollow…well, more accurately my Zanpakutō…I was born with it."
"What kind of bullshit are you spewing now?" Hiyori growled, though he noticed her usual abrasive attitude was toned down, if only a bit.
He had to think for a moment on how much he wanted to share. "Long story short, unlike you guys, my hollow didn't come from the Hogyoku after all. He's been ingrained into my Shinigami powers since I was born. My hollow basically IS Zangetsu."
This actually caused Lisa to glance up from her Hentai manga for a moment. "That…makes a lot of sense…" she summed up for the others at a loss for words.
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked curiously.
"Well, for one, your hollow was already the most powerful one we've ever seen within a Vizard" Shinji explained. "While we were fighting you off, we noticed that the form it took as it gained more and more of a foothold over you was very similar to what we would associate with the second level of Menos evolution, Adjuchas. I wouldn't call that strange per say on its own, except for the fact that it had the power of a full-blown Vasto Lorde. It's no wonder you were able to put so much pressure on a Captain like Byakuya Kuchiki when you transformed."
"Uh…okay, but I'm not seeing the point" the strawberry blonde commented, scratching the back of his head.
"Quit interrupting, dipshit, and he'll get to it" the shorter blonde shot out, causing a tick mark to appear on Ichigo's forehead.
Hirako just cleared his throat. "Anyway…based on that alone, we were concerned that something about your hollow was making it grow stronger right along with you. And then…it evolved."
"Say what now?" the teenager deadpanned, finding it hard to believe.
Kensei took this moment to speak up. "I wouldn't have believed it either if I hadn't been standing right across from you. We witnessed an actual hollow evolution right before our eyes, something the Research Division could only dream of. Only catch was your version of Vasto Lorde would have taken us all to put you down, and even then, I wouldn't have liked our odds of all making it out alive. That is, if it weren't for you regaining control before it decided to go on the attack."
His expression went from disbelief to outright shock. 'Yo, Zangetsu…um…thoughts?' he asked internally, unable to even put together an articulate thought beyond that much in the wake of this news.
'It's probably just like they said. You've gotten stronger, so have I, or more accurately, you've gotten strong enough to access more of me' the spirit speculated. 'It probably didn't hurt that the whole process of us fighting was basically our two halves coming closer and closer together until we united. Does make me wonder…'
"The fact that your hollowfication has the ability to grow right along with you makes it far more likely to be something innate to you, either that or some byproduct of the Hogyoku's extended influence" Shinji finished, unaware of the similar conversation going on with his "student." "With you confirming the former, it all makes sense."
"Yeah…Zangetsu just said as much" Ichigo replied.
All eyes snapped to him. "You mean you can still converse with your hollow freely?" Hachi asked nervously.
"Like actually have an intelligent conversation?" Love clarified, the implications levied settling onto the orange haired teen's shoulders.
"Uh…yeah. Like I said, he's completely integrated into my powers as Shinigami" he said with a nod. "For all intents and purposes, he is literally my Zanpakutō. I'm…guessing you guys can't do that."
"That'd be a hard fucking no" Sarugaki spat, scooting around harshly to face away from atop her rocky perch. "Wouldn't wanna hear what that fucking thing would have to say, anyway."
"You make it sound as though you're suddenly on good terms with your hollow…side, for lack of a better word" Rose commented.
"You could say that" Ichigo said, shrugging nonchalantly. "I die, he dies, and vice versa, so we came to an understanding. Instead of one ruling over the other, we're partners. Working together, we can both protect what's important to us."
The look he received from them all spelled just as much disbelief as it did…was that jealousy? He supposed he couldn't blame them. After all, they'd had to fight to get as far as controlling themselves, battling to the death to beat their hollows into submission, whereas he…well, he'd had to fight to the death to be sure, but words and an accord had been the end result. That was the other oddity. He wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the disbelief stemmed from the fact that he'd come out and said his hollow had anything he wanted to safeguard at all. Another assumption he couldn't quite fault them for.
"Well, if the Q and A is out of the way" Shinji cut it, running his fingers through his locks. "It looks like you're in surprisingly good condition after what we had to do to keep you busy, not to mention your internal struggle." If he had to pinpoint it, the kid's more integrated nature with his hollow gave him a lower form of high-speed regeneration. Lucky bastard.
"I suppose there's no time like the present. Now that you've got your inner hollow…under control" he said carefully, still causing a small growl from a certain someone in the recesses of Ichigo's mind. "It's time to start training your hollowfication. You'll have to build up your stamina with it over time, unless you're like Mashiro over here…"
'Hey, Ichigo' Zangetsu interrupted, the former Squad 5 Captain's babbling fading to the background. 'If you wanna really give them something to talk about, just raise your hand up to your face and think about pulling me to the surface. Kinda like you did with the old man when you trained for Bankai.'
'Why, what're you planning?' he asked even as he slowly did as suggested, completely tuning out Hirako's long-winded explanation.
'Trust me. This is gonna be priceless' the hollow Zanpakutō replied around preemptive sniggering.
He shut his eyes, his palm settling in front of his face as he pictured his spiritual pressure, imagining Zangetsu, his real Zangetsu, as the source and carefully funneling it to the surface. Wouldn't want a repeat of the incident with Yoruichi, after all.
"…and hopefully you'll get the hang of it in time…to…" Shinji slowed to a stop, the whole of the Vizards openly gaping. Well, all except one.
"What? Why the hell is everyone so quiet?" Hiyori barked as she turned her head. Immediately, her jaw almost hit the floor. "Oh, you have GOT to be kidding me! This shit is just NOT FUCKING FAIR!"
Ichigo opened his eyes, taking in their collective shock, his other half laughing uncontrollably in his ear. Tilting his head, he drew his sizeable blade from his back, the wrappings falling away from the edge to allow his reflection to be visible. It was the first time he had ever seen himself wearing his mask, completely solid and whole at that. There was a moment where it struck him how the markings adorning it were different than he recalled seeing and the contours might have been a tad sharper around the cheeks and mouth, if only slightly. Of course, that could be explained by his hollow powers evolving with him.
He just stood there for several seconds, taking in this new aspect to his abilities. Several seconds stretching into a minute. With a glance back at them, he could see the metaphorical clock counting up in each of their heads, eyes growing progressively wider to varying degrees. Judging by their reactions, it was HIGHLY unusual to have this kind of control right out of the gate, and that was putting it mildly.
"Guess I don't really need the stamina training for this" he commented, more as a statement of fact than questioning it. He had to fight not to shudder at how his voice now mirrored the inner hollow that had been tormenting him for so long.
"YAY! He's just like me!" Mashiro cheered, very nearly bouncing in place in her excitement.
"NOT FAIR! NOT FUCKING FAIR!" the little Oni of the group continued to seethe.
"I…suppose your integration and agreement with your hollow has some…interesting side-effects" Hachigen deduced, reaching up to rub his mustache in contemplation as his studious mind began working over what else that could spell for the youngster before him. "I am curious to see what other abilities you'll have easy access to, if that is the case…"
"You're just full of surprises, aren't you kid" Shinji said in monotone, his characteristic smile gone in his own envy. One of his eyes was twitching, annoyed that his speech had been made moot.
All the while, Zangetsu was rolling around and pounding his fist onto the platform he currently resided on within Ichigo's hidden world, unable to quell his hyena-like howls. 'So…fucking…PRICELESS!'
Welp, that's that. Hope y'all enjoyed, I'd love to hear if you did and what you thought.
Figured after the last chapter, we could use a Rukia injection, not that it was unwarranted. The implications of Ichigo's genetics and what Soul Society might do if they find out are hitting her, and could you really put it past them, what with their history with the Vizards? Sure, we know that their perspective changes after the Winter War in canon, but then again, they never knew Ichigo's full history. Who knows how that will turn out? Especially since his little outburst here reached all across Karakura, even to the Togabitos. Also, a little more clarity for those wondering where I might be heading with his hollow powers. Care to make any educated guesses?
A couple points of character expansion to find as well. I say expansion for lack of a better word off the top of my head. As far as Orihime goes...I dunno, as I was writing for her in this chapter, the imagery it conjured in my mind just seemed to fit her so well. I could just see her acting exactly like that. Maybe that's just my perception of her, and you're all free to call me out if you feel like I didn't play her off realistically. If its any consolation, I thought it was hilarious. That brings us to White/Zangetsu. We have no references, fan fics here aside, for how he would behave under less hostile circumstances. Personally, I like the idea of his character being aware the whole time, just begging to be free of the binds that hold him, angry over being caged, and now that he's free, in a manner of speaking, he's a bit calmer, but still has his own brand of twisted sense of humor, plus an edge of disdain for pleasantries and an easily bruised ego when it comes to any reference to him being anything but his own being with a will of his own. A caged animal, he is not, and as far as this canon is concerned, never will be again.
I feel like I don't need any more explanation than that, because I think I did a pretty good job of explaining my thought process as the chapter progressed. For a final note, or rather a request, I implore you again. Please check out Nerdcore artists like Fabvl if you haven't. You won't regret it, I swear.
Next time: Testing limits and...roadblocks?