Well... His reiatsu did recover in manga. It just took some doing. Urahara knows that if needed Ichigo's powers can be recovered, but sees no reason to interfere at the moment, as Ichi seems fairly content to remain powerless. His reiatsu can probably recover on it's own - all that's needed is some time and decent reason for Ichigo to regain resolve to fight... ^_^
Bleach Veiled Moon Chapter 4 WIP
- Thread starter Ghostface
- Start date
Next part is a go, bay-bee.
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"Are we done yet?"
Kurokawa sighed irritably at his partner's question, letting out a large cloud of cigaret smoke in the process. "Do we look like we're done yet fatass?"
"It's a rhetorical question jackass," Jiro grumbled as he coffed slightly. "You have heard of one of those haven't you?"
"I'm more surprised that you know what rhetorical means," Kurokawa retorted. "So what the hell are they doing in there anyway?"
"Shouldn't one of us go in there to find out?" Jiro asked.
"Are you volunteering, fatboy?" Kurokara asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well look at you, acting like a good little toadie."
"It's called doing your job, jerk." Jiro sighed as he grabbed the handle. "The sooner we're done, the sooner we're-"
"Hey, look!", Kurokawa remarked, his eyes looking behind Jiro. "They're coming out... Finally!"
"Finally he says," Jiro sighed as Ichigo and Uzume walked out of the store accompanied by Urahara. "I thought I was supposed to be impatient one."
"Oh you are," Kurokawa answered. "So I know your piggy ass is relived now."
"Whatever", Jiro grumbled and looked back at their charges. "God knows what they were doing in that dump".
"Don't know, and so long as they ain't making tracks outta Japan, I don't care." Kurokawa grumbled. "And look at that douche they're talking to. You know he ain't worth shit, so no chance of Number Ten being sold off to some competitor."
"At least this will save our asses, considering whatever happened. Thank God he knows a bunch of nobodies".
"Well he is a high school punk," Kurokawa grumbled. "Not like that Higa guy. Who the fuck is he gonna tell about all this anyway? He probably pissed his pants when the CEO called him."
Jiro shrugged, spirits lifting as the two seemed to be parting. "Ok, looks like we're off - ok what the hell now, man?", he groaned when the boy turned back to walk up to the haori endowed man.
"Chillax fat boy, he's probably just saying goodbye." Kurokara replied as he gave a sidewards glance at his partner. "The fuck you in such a rush for? Got a Host Girl waitin' on you or something?"
"What business is it of yours if I do?" Jiro grumbled.
"Oh wow, so you throw yer yen down the drain for something other than food?" Kurokara asked. "Well if that don't beat all!"
"How 'bout you shut the fuck up or I'll - WHOOAAAAAAAA!!!", Jiro shouted in shock, backing up.
Kurokawa tense as he shook off his ears nearly being ruptured and twisted to see what spooked his partner and reached into his jacket and paused. Outside the window was a stranger, wearing glasses and holding up some kind of... tray?
"Um", the figure grunted as he nodded to them and held up the tray higher to their driver's window as if in offering.
"C-can we help you?" Kurokara asked in an unsure tone.
The figure grunted again, gesturing to his tray.
"I think he wants to give us food," Jiro replied in a shaken tone.
"Big shock coming from the resident Purple People Eater over here," Kurokawa grumbled. Turning back to the be-specked man he replied, "Ah... no thanks. We're good."
"By all means", the figure grunted. "Please help yourself to some samples". The figure grunted and nodded again, the light glinting off of his glasses into the van.
"The fuck is with this guy?" Kurokara grumbled. Smiling hesitantly he responded, "Thanks, but no thanks. We're just waiting for someone."
"Um", the figure acknowledged. "If you wish, please do come inside. We have a wide variety of treats for sale". With that, he took a step back and turned to walk back to that shack he likely came out from.
Kurokawa watched as the man waked off with a cautious eye, sighing only when he was out of sights once more. "What the hell was that?"
"A man dedicated to his job?" Jiro asked.
Kurokawa's eyes narrowed as he noted that their targets were no longer in sight,"Or maybe a man dedicated to being a distraction."
"Come again?" Jiro asked.
"Let's go lard butt," Kurokara grumbled as he started up the engine. "The targets are on the move, and we got no clue where they went. So suit up loverboy, cuz we gots work to do," the irritable man said as he swung the vehicle out of their parking space and got back to work.
=========
Two Hours and Three Popped Veins Later...
Ichigo stood in silence as he watched his Sekirei bounce from one area of the shop they were in to another. In that time, he only moved to join her when it seemed like she would stay in one place for a little bit before moving on and repeated his actions after.
"Let's see... what else should we get?", Uzume said as she bent over to get a better look at the display with a finger to her lips and blinked in thought.
Ichigo fidgeted more than a little bit at his sekirei's words, his lips becoming a thin line and his brows furrowing all the more. "Uzume..." he finally muttered in a low voice as he shifted the growing number of bags in his hands. "We don't have all day you know. We've been shopping ever since we got here, and I still have some stuff to pack!" he bit out.
Uzume clasped her hands together in excitement, "Oh I know! I still haven't gotten them any shirts!"
"Did you even hear me, Uzume?" Ichigo muttered with a twitching eyebrow.
"Of course I did," she replied as straightened herself and turned to face him, her hair and a bit more bouncing as she did. She then giggled and moved up to snuggle against her ashikabi's chest. "It's fine, Ichigo."
A slight blush broke across Ichigo's nose, but his eyes were still furrowed and had a slight frown on his lips as he looked down at her, "It's fine huh? At this rate you're gonna buy out all of Karakura-cho. How are we going to transport all this anyway? For that matter, how the HELL are you paying for all this?"
"Silly! I can have the store ship some of the bigger stuff, and we can ask papa to mail the others back to Izumo. Please!" she begged in an adorable fashion batting her eyes and rubbing against him. It was completely shameless, very obvious, and unfortunately for Ichigo, an utterly frighteningly effective technique that he had no proper defense for yet. He covered his face as best he could with one hand and looked away from her, shaking his head.
"Fine, fine, fine we'll go to one more store, but then we've got to get ready to go!"
Uzume yelped in delight, kissed his cheek, then grabbed his arm and almost skipped towards the next store on her wounder tour of his home. Ichigo watched her with an almost bitter expression on his face. So agitated was he that he actively spent the rest of the time desperately trying to think of anything more interesting that he never really registered the black card Uzume had given to the surprised and increasingly helpful clerks who saw the face of said card.
=========
Not to far from the couple, Kurokawa groaned irritably as he wiped his brow. This was getting ridiculous. It had been about two hours since Number Ten and the Kurosaki kid had left that rinky dink shop and there was no end in sight to this shopping tour de force it seemed. They both had multiple bags of clothing and various goods from some of the stores Karakura-cho could offer, and it seemed like Number Ten was just getting started.
Goddamnit, he was too old for this shit.
His breast pocket gave a small vibration, and he growled as he reached in and plucked his cell phone. Opening the device and putting it to his ear, he grunted, "What now, lard ass?"
"Nice to see you haven't lost a step old man," Came Jiro's amused tone.
"Well I sure can't count on your fat ass to keep up with them can I?" he retorted. "It's a miracle we were able to find them so fast."
"And just who lost them for us in the first place?" Jiro asked. "If you don't like your job you can just retire you know."
"And loose out on all the sweet perks? Bite me you fat fuck," Kurokawa bit back. "Is there a point to this call? Or can I show you how a pro does his job, lardy boy?"
"Oh don't let me stop you, you glorious agent you," Jiro answered sarcastically. "Just make sure no old dudes stop to offer you samples."
Kurokara simply grunted as he hung up his phone. "Mouthy little asshole," he grumbled as he picked up his pace. It was time to be the pro again. He could kick that punk's ass when the job was done.
=========
Twenty minutes later...
"Are you satisfied now?" Ichigo asked in a gruff tone as he looked over at Uzume. Both were at a bench nearby the last store they were in and Ichigo had promptly sat to rest. As for Uzume she had sat next to him and curled up as best she could against him with a bit of a slightly embarrassed smile on her face. Most of what Uzume had purchased had been set on or nearby the bench, and thankfully for Ichigo's state of mind they hadn't piled up like he had seen in the anime that Yuzu liked to watch. Even so, it was still almost too much for both to carry, and he was thankful that he could move as best as he could with his share.
"I suppose I really did go overboard there." she replied sheepishly after a few contemplative moments.
"You think?" Ichigo replied.
"Kinda," Uzume replied before sighing. "It really has been nice out here. I never really thought much about leaving Teito and now doing so... I just couldn't contain myself anymore."
Ichigo blinked at her sudden shift in tone, turning his head slightly further to get a better look at her. It wasn't like her to act so solemn. He turned his head back to look forward, watching the cars and other people go about their way and thought for another moment as what could be the cause and spoke. "Is it really so much of a big of a deal that you left Teito?"
"Not yet," Uzume answered, and Ichigo blinked again at the unexpected answer. "If the game were further along I probably wouldn't be allowed to leave as we did."
Ichigo's brows furrowed as the meaning of her words escaped him. Not really understanding he offered, "Sorry if my dad made me get you into trouble."
Uzume smiled softly, reaching up to cup Ichigo's cheek, her eyes twinkling at the faint color that broke across his face. "Don't be. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Outside of an hour or two, I've loved the time that I've been here."
"Is that so?" Ichigo asked softly, trying not to react at the surprisingly intimate and pleasurable feeling of her soft fingers gently stroking his face. "W-well good, I guess."
She giggled at his reaction, "That's another thing I gotta work on isn't it?"
"I wish you'd stop saying that," Ichigo grumbled. "It's gettin' oId and I don't need any 'work', y'know."
"Trust me, Ichigo, you do," Uzume smirked up at her ashikabi. She rose up from her seat, using her upward momentum to take another quick kiss from Ichigo's cheek. "But I promised papa I'd take care of you. And that's what I'm gonna do."
"'Papa' talks too damn much for his own good," he grumbled. "And stop doing that," he said as he stood up as well. "We're still in public, ok?"
"Nope," she smirked. "Don't wanna."
He pressed his lips into a thin line and looked ahead. "We do gotta get going though," he said after a moment. "We're already out a lot later than I wanted to be."
Uzume's head bowed slightly and she sighed as Ichigo didn't take her bait and planted her fists firmly against her hips. "So, so, sooooo much work to be done with you."
=========
Teito...
"Hey..." a voice sheepishly called out softly, but loud enough to be heard by her approaching friend.
Said friend silently walked up and looked at her blankly as she continued to hold her hand up in greeting. After a moment, the silent girl turned her head and nodded in the direction she signaled and began to walk off without saying a word, her ash blonde hair swaying as she turned.
Ikki gulped and pursed her lips as she jogged to catch up to the still silently walking Nanaha. After several minutes she couldn't quite take the silence anymore and spoke the first words that came to mind. "That was crazy right?"
Both continued to walk down the street, Ikki now side by side with Nanaha. Both were oblivious to the odd stares they were receiving from various pedestrians, bystanders and the occasional car due to the weaponry they carried. It had been three very long hours since the dine-and-dash from hell that saw the sisterly sekirei pair outrun an irate waitress, her supervisor and a beat cop all en route to their hotel room.
Never underestimate the resolve of restaurant staff...
Amazingly enough, it hadn't ended there. As Ikki had leaned back against the closed door to her hotel room and slid to the floor in embarrassment and mortification Nanaha had dutifully marched to her bed and began to pad around it and the lamp desk next to it. Finding her MBI card she calmly walked back to the door and with nary a look Ikki had scrambled out of the way and with mute astonishment watched her sister Sekirei go back out. Realizing what Nanaha was going to do she shamefully got up and went out to quietly follow her.
"Yes," Nanaha neutrally replied to her elder sister with a null look on her face. "Yes it was." She turned to Ikki as a frown now began to form on her features as her next words carried a more biting tone. "And just whose fault do you think that was?"
Ikki barely managed to contain a grimace. Nanaha rarely acted like this, and took all she had not to fall several steps further behind. With that, she said the first thing to come to mind. "Wait, you're still mad about that?" Ikki asked sweetly as she moved a step back with her hands raised and closed her eyes to look as innocent as possible.
No response.
"Oh come on now," Ikki said, taking the silence as a cue to continue and hoped to lighten the mood. "You got your training in, you took care of that bill for us and you determined that those people weren't our destined ashikabi. What's there to be upset about?"
Nanaha came to an abrupt halt and Ikki managed to come to halt just as she was about to overtake her, stumbling a bit before righting herself. Nanaha turned her head and looked at Ikki in askance and mouthed the words Ikki just said before actually voicing them. "What's there to be upset about?" Nanaha repeated with an incredulous tone. Her mouth stayed silently open for a second as her head shook slightly before speaking again. "There's plenty to be upset about!! You nearly made us criminals!! You got us banned from that restaurant!! And for what?!? For what reason can you justify this, Ikki?!?"
'Oh no...' Ikki internally bemoaned, a lot more worried now. 'She dropped the suffix. She is pissed.' For the next few seconds Ikki's mind rushed for anything that could that could help lighten the mood. 'I got it!!' Ikki smiled and put one hand to her hip in a pose and gave her sister a thumbs up as she replied, "I always wanted to dine and dash once!"
A pause.
Nanaha blinked a few times and when she stopped her eyebrow twitched before she turned forward and walked off again, leaving Ikki still stuck in her thumbs up pose. Sweat began to visibly form on her brow as she stayed in the pose for a few more seconds before rushing to catch up again, far more worried now. "I mean," Ikki said as she caught up grasping for anything to explain herself and break Nanaha's mood. "I always saw it on those TV movies we watched in our hotel rooms and thought it might be fun to try as well as a good excuse for some good training! So? Wasn't I right?" she gestured with her arms outstretched and away.
A vein began to form on Nanaha's head, "...Are you kidding me?" She then continued in an irritated tone. "Would you stop and think about these things before you act on them Ikki-neechan?" She groaned irritably, clutching her hair in frustration. "I mean I you don't worry about what others might think and you speak your mind with no fear, you were always looking out for me and Narashino and I love that about you neechan, but I keep telling you over and over that it's going to get you into trouble one day. Up until now you've always rushed into things without thinking them through, and at the moment we haven't run into much problems with that outside those two twins.
But this time Ikki-neechan, this time you went too far! You can't do this anymore! You gotta be more careful, dammit!! And now... now you managed to get us banned from a restaurant? How many times do you hear that happening? Let me help you with that, NONE!!!"
She stopped her rant as she looked at Ikki's miserable looking face as the girl slumped and looked downward."I... I really screwed up didn't I...?" she asked forlornly and looked up.
Nanaha sighed back at her and noted Ikki's damp eyes. "Yeah... but... but as bad as this was, it could always be worse.
Please Ikki-neechan next time think before you act. Or at the very least let me do the talking, ok?"
Ikki sniffed a bit and wiped her eyes with a wrist quickly before straightening and looking off to the side. "Hey now, aren't the elder sisters the ones to give out advice and keep the others out of trouble?"
Nanaha looked off in the direction that Ikki had and responded. "Yeah, but sometimes the little sisters gotta act on the things the elder ones don't see."
"I suppose you're right," Ikki sighed. "Sorry for making you a criminal, Nanaha-chan."
"Apology accepted," Nanaha replied as a small smile graced her lips. "I'm sorry for snapping at you like that. And heck, it was good exercise."
Ikki nodded, a relaxed smile on her face"I know right? Say what you will, but I know you lost some of your caboose during that chase."
A pause.
Nanaha's smile quickly faded, "Did you just say I have a big butt, Ikki?"
'Uh oh.' Ikki thought. 'Went and said the B-word. Thinkthinkthinkthinkthinkàbe honest! Honesty is the best policy!' She smiled brightly as she answered, "Of course I did! How else could you lose it silly?"
A vein popped on Nanaha's head, "...So you're saying I have a big butt?!"
Just as Ikki was about to turn around and elaborate on her reasoning her world suddenly rocked and shifted violently as it seemed her feet suddenly found themselves planted into the sky before twisting once more. Had she had enough time to talk aloud about it, she'd guess it was a car that suddenly slammed into her without warning, sending her spinning off into the air. It was about this time that the sidewalk suddenly popped up to say hello.
"àowwwwà" Ikki muttered.
Note to self #5,789: Don't ever bring up Nanaha's booty after a fight when you've got your back to her. See also Notes two hundred and fifty six through 5,788 inclusive on things that will set Nanaha-chan off.
Nanaha sighed as she walked away from the small Ikki sized crater, "Work in progress... work in progress." Her mind idly wondering when it was the little sister became the leader of the duo. "It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it right?"
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"I'll be downstairs, okay?"
"Sure, I'll be down in a bit."
"Okay," Uzume said and closed the door behind her.
Hearing his sekirei's retreating footsteps, Ichigo turned and took one last look at the nearly naked room. Most if not all the boxes he was going to ship to Izumo were downstairs. With what he and Uzume couldn't carry feasibly his father agreed to have them shipped later that day or the next. The room wasn't completely empty, his bed would still be there as well as his dressers. His desk though was already disassembled and boxed as was his chair, waiting downstairs with the other boxes. Many of his clothes still hung in his closet, but there was a noticeable gap now with what he decided to take.
On his bed was an unzipped carry bag for some last minute items as he double checked a few drawers for anything he had missed. Several pairs of socks and shoes were already put in, as were an old photo album and a few books to read as he settled into Izumo proper. Almost disappointed with not finding anything he walked to his bed to grab his bag and began to zip it up before stopping due to a bulge blocking the zipper.
Pulling the zipper back he raised an eyebrow at seeing some of the clothes he had remembered folding now loose and haphazardly placed as if they had been simply shoved into the pack. Not giving too much thought he reached in to pull them out when he heard a yelp from within and sighed. Pulling away he watched as the clothes seemingly moved on their own before a familiar brown and dark yellow lion plushie head popped up.
"Are we there yet?"
"Kon", Ichigo growled out.
"What!? We're still here? What are we waiting for?"
"Kon."
"I can't tell you how excited I am to finally getting out of this house! Haaah~ No more Bostov dress ups...", Kon said as he sighed in relief and slid further down into the pack again.
"You're not going, Kon."
"I see, I - what?!", Kon blurted, seeing Ichigo softly shake his head at him. "But, but why?"
"You know why. And I am not going to explain to the landlady and Uzume why there's a walking stuffed animal trying to peep on her."
"There's a landlady - I mean! Ichigo! You have to take me! You can't leave me here!"
"And who's gonna watch out for Yuzu?" he said almost wryly.
"Come on, Ichigo, that's no fun. And its not like that Jinta kid hasn't been watching her and all so she'll be ok."
"What?" Ichigo said, his eye almost twitching.
A stuffed paw came up to Kon's mouth. "Oh? You didn't know? That Jinta kid's had the hots for her for some time now. Too bad he seems to be half concentrated on being Karin's competition or something."
Ichigo's fist balled but paused soon afterward. If Karin was there then there's no way Jinta will do anything stupid. Taking a breath to calm himself he pointed away to his dresser. "Out."
"Please, Ichigo, don't leave me here."
"Kon, I can't take you. At least here you can be yourself around dad and Karin. If you come with me the landlady'll kill you".
"Better than wasting alone here! Ichigo~!"
"I'm sorry, Kon."
With that he grabbed Kon and pulled him out of his pack so he could set him on his dresser. As he pulled he felt a bit of resistance and instinctively pulled a bit harder. Kon came out but another rustling sound came forth. With the force he used to pull Kon away the object that was pulled along came out to bounce on the bed before falling off onto the floor with a thud and another rustling sound.
Ichigo blinked and walked to the other side of the bed and caught his breath. Lying on the ground face up was his substitute shinigami badge. 'What was that doing in there?' he wondered.
"You were not only going to forget about me, but you were going to forget about that as well!" Kon huffed. "So I put in there when I got in. Now put me back in Ichigo and let's go."
"Kon..."
"What?"
Sighing, Ichigo turned and placed Kon on the dresser before turning back to pick up his badge.
"Ichigo...?"
Bending down he grabbed the badge and stood. Still holding his badge up he looked at it. A little big bigger than his palm the badge was pentagonal in shape, pointed downward. A border outlined the badge, and within was a 'X' pattern with a stylized skull in the center with no jawbone. Connected at the top of the badge was a band of modest length to hold onto or wear around the neck.
'It's funny,' he thought as he gazed at the badge. 'I never gave it much thought after waking up from beating Aizen. Guess I forgot to give it back.' He turned the badge in his hand, his thumb idly rubbing the oddly smooth back before turning it back face up to him. 'It hasn't beeped once since then. Guess it doesn't work anymore'.
He turned and walked to the dresser where Kon was standing and pointing a paw at him.
"Ichigo, did you hear me? You can't leave me all alone!"
"You're not going to be alone, Kon", Ichigo said absentmindedly, his eyes still on his badge as he reached out to open the drawer. He opened the drawer and was about to lay the badge in there but paused, now almost unsure of what do do.
A soft padded fall broke him out of his thoughts as he lifted his head up to see Kon sitting with his back against the wall legs spread out and his little head facing downward.
"You could look like this was difficult, y'know," Kon said dejectedly. "You're in such a hurry to go off and forget about us in your new life."
"Kon," Ichigo said, a little softer.
"Its not like you've had much problems with that, and now you've got the perfect excuse to go off and forget everything."
Ichigo blinked as he looked at his badge again and felt again that stinging feeling of loss. Knowing that his friends had carried on while he waited alongside like a nobody. Not that he could feel it or anything but he knew. And he knew that his friends also knew but didn't say anything much.
"At least take it with you," Kon said tiredly, and Ichigo turned towards him to see Kon looking back. "A reminder of more exciting days, when we were both doing something better than being cooped up here."
Ichigo grimaced and mumbled softly before closing the drawer. Turning around he walked to his bed and pulled the bag towards him. 'A reminder. My reminder of what I did. My proof of my time as a shinigami. When I... When I could protect everyone.'
With that he put the badge inside, not caring to refold the clothes that Kon had messed up a bit earlier. Zipping it up he hefted the bag and holstered the strap on his shoulder. Satisfied he turned to the door and walked to it and paused as he gripped the doorknob.
"I'm sorry, Kon."
"I know," Kon's tired voice responded.
After a silent moment Kon spoke again.
"Goodbye, Ichigo. It was fun."
Suppressing the feeling of tightness in his stomach Ichigo replied. "Yeah. It was, wasn't it?" He sighed as he found himself surprised how much he agreed with Kon at that moment. With that he opened the door and turned for the last time.
"Goodbye Kon. Keep watch."
And with that, he closed the door behind him.
On the dresser top, Kon remained there, head turned down and unmoving and as and still as the plushie most people took him for. He had heard the fading footsteps of Ichigo going downstairs before they disappeared completely.
And with that, complete silence befell the room as the lone occupant noted how empty, dark and cool his surroundings now were.
And would be.
=========
===================================================================
"Are we done yet?"
Kurokawa sighed irritably at his partner's question, letting out a large cloud of cigaret smoke in the process. "Do we look like we're done yet fatass?"
"It's a rhetorical question jackass," Jiro grumbled as he coffed slightly. "You have heard of one of those haven't you?"
"I'm more surprised that you know what rhetorical means," Kurokawa retorted. "So what the hell are they doing in there anyway?"
"Shouldn't one of us go in there to find out?" Jiro asked.
"Are you volunteering, fatboy?" Kurokara asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well look at you, acting like a good little toadie."
"It's called doing your job, jerk." Jiro sighed as he grabbed the handle. "The sooner we're done, the sooner we're-"
"Hey, look!", Kurokawa remarked, his eyes looking behind Jiro. "They're coming out... Finally!"
"Finally he says," Jiro sighed as Ichigo and Uzume walked out of the store accompanied by Urahara. "I thought I was supposed to be impatient one."
"Oh you are," Kurokawa answered. "So I know your piggy ass is relived now."
"Whatever", Jiro grumbled and looked back at their charges. "God knows what they were doing in that dump".
"Don't know, and so long as they ain't making tracks outta Japan, I don't care." Kurokawa grumbled. "And look at that douche they're talking to. You know he ain't worth shit, so no chance of Number Ten being sold off to some competitor."
"At least this will save our asses, considering whatever happened. Thank God he knows a bunch of nobodies".
"Well he is a high school punk," Kurokawa grumbled. "Not like that Higa guy. Who the fuck is he gonna tell about all this anyway? He probably pissed his pants when the CEO called him."
Jiro shrugged, spirits lifting as the two seemed to be parting. "Ok, looks like we're off - ok what the hell now, man?", he groaned when the boy turned back to walk up to the haori endowed man.
"Chillax fat boy, he's probably just saying goodbye." Kurokara replied as he gave a sidewards glance at his partner. "The fuck you in such a rush for? Got a Host Girl waitin' on you or something?"
"What business is it of yours if I do?" Jiro grumbled.
"Oh wow, so you throw yer yen down the drain for something other than food?" Kurokara asked. "Well if that don't beat all!"
"How 'bout you shut the fuck up or I'll - WHOOAAAAAAAA!!!", Jiro shouted in shock, backing up.
Kurokawa tense as he shook off his ears nearly being ruptured and twisted to see what spooked his partner and reached into his jacket and paused. Outside the window was a stranger, wearing glasses and holding up some kind of... tray?
"Um", the figure grunted as he nodded to them and held up the tray higher to their driver's window as if in offering.
"C-can we help you?" Kurokara asked in an unsure tone.
The figure grunted again, gesturing to his tray.
"I think he wants to give us food," Jiro replied in a shaken tone.
"Big shock coming from the resident Purple People Eater over here," Kurokawa grumbled. Turning back to the be-specked man he replied, "Ah... no thanks. We're good."
"By all means", the figure grunted. "Please help yourself to some samples". The figure grunted and nodded again, the light glinting off of his glasses into the van.
"The fuck is with this guy?" Kurokara grumbled. Smiling hesitantly he responded, "Thanks, but no thanks. We're just waiting for someone."
"Um", the figure acknowledged. "If you wish, please do come inside. We have a wide variety of treats for sale". With that, he took a step back and turned to walk back to that shack he likely came out from.
Kurokawa watched as the man waked off with a cautious eye, sighing only when he was out of sights once more. "What the hell was that?"
"A man dedicated to his job?" Jiro asked.
Kurokawa's eyes narrowed as he noted that their targets were no longer in sight,"Or maybe a man dedicated to being a distraction."
"Come again?" Jiro asked.
"Let's go lard butt," Kurokara grumbled as he started up the engine. "The targets are on the move, and we got no clue where they went. So suit up loverboy, cuz we gots work to do," the irritable man said as he swung the vehicle out of their parking space and got back to work.
=========
Two Hours and Three Popped Veins Later...
Ichigo stood in silence as he watched his Sekirei bounce from one area of the shop they were in to another. In that time, he only moved to join her when it seemed like she would stay in one place for a little bit before moving on and repeated his actions after.
"Let's see... what else should we get?", Uzume said as she bent over to get a better look at the display with a finger to her lips and blinked in thought.
Ichigo fidgeted more than a little bit at his sekirei's words, his lips becoming a thin line and his brows furrowing all the more. "Uzume..." he finally muttered in a low voice as he shifted the growing number of bags in his hands. "We don't have all day you know. We've been shopping ever since we got here, and I still have some stuff to pack!" he bit out.
Uzume clasped her hands together in excitement, "Oh I know! I still haven't gotten them any shirts!"
"Did you even hear me, Uzume?" Ichigo muttered with a twitching eyebrow.
"Of course I did," she replied as straightened herself and turned to face him, her hair and a bit more bouncing as she did. She then giggled and moved up to snuggle against her ashikabi's chest. "It's fine, Ichigo."
A slight blush broke across Ichigo's nose, but his eyes were still furrowed and had a slight frown on his lips as he looked down at her, "It's fine huh? At this rate you're gonna buy out all of Karakura-cho. How are we going to transport all this anyway? For that matter, how the HELL are you paying for all this?"
"Silly! I can have the store ship some of the bigger stuff, and we can ask papa to mail the others back to Izumo. Please!" she begged in an adorable fashion batting her eyes and rubbing against him. It was completely shameless, very obvious, and unfortunately for Ichigo, an utterly frighteningly effective technique that he had no proper defense for yet. He covered his face as best he could with one hand and looked away from her, shaking his head.
"Fine, fine, fine we'll go to one more store, but then we've got to get ready to go!"
Uzume yelped in delight, kissed his cheek, then grabbed his arm and almost skipped towards the next store on her wounder tour of his home. Ichigo watched her with an almost bitter expression on his face. So agitated was he that he actively spent the rest of the time desperately trying to think of anything more interesting that he never really registered the black card Uzume had given to the surprised and increasingly helpful clerks who saw the face of said card.
=========
Not to far from the couple, Kurokawa groaned irritably as he wiped his brow. This was getting ridiculous. It had been about two hours since Number Ten and the Kurosaki kid had left that rinky dink shop and there was no end in sight to this shopping tour de force it seemed. They both had multiple bags of clothing and various goods from some of the stores Karakura-cho could offer, and it seemed like Number Ten was just getting started.
Goddamnit, he was too old for this shit.
His breast pocket gave a small vibration, and he growled as he reached in and plucked his cell phone. Opening the device and putting it to his ear, he grunted, "What now, lard ass?"
"Nice to see you haven't lost a step old man," Came Jiro's amused tone.
"Well I sure can't count on your fat ass to keep up with them can I?" he retorted. "It's a miracle we were able to find them so fast."
"And just who lost them for us in the first place?" Jiro asked. "If you don't like your job you can just retire you know."
"And loose out on all the sweet perks? Bite me you fat fuck," Kurokawa bit back. "Is there a point to this call? Or can I show you how a pro does his job, lardy boy?"
"Oh don't let me stop you, you glorious agent you," Jiro answered sarcastically. "Just make sure no old dudes stop to offer you samples."
Kurokara simply grunted as he hung up his phone. "Mouthy little asshole," he grumbled as he picked up his pace. It was time to be the pro again. He could kick that punk's ass when the job was done.
=========
Twenty minutes later...
"Are you satisfied now?" Ichigo asked in a gruff tone as he looked over at Uzume. Both were at a bench nearby the last store they were in and Ichigo had promptly sat to rest. As for Uzume she had sat next to him and curled up as best she could against him with a bit of a slightly embarrassed smile on her face. Most of what Uzume had purchased had been set on or nearby the bench, and thankfully for Ichigo's state of mind they hadn't piled up like he had seen in the anime that Yuzu liked to watch. Even so, it was still almost too much for both to carry, and he was thankful that he could move as best as he could with his share.
"I suppose I really did go overboard there." she replied sheepishly after a few contemplative moments.
"You think?" Ichigo replied.
"Kinda," Uzume replied before sighing. "It really has been nice out here. I never really thought much about leaving Teito and now doing so... I just couldn't contain myself anymore."
Ichigo blinked at her sudden shift in tone, turning his head slightly further to get a better look at her. It wasn't like her to act so solemn. He turned his head back to look forward, watching the cars and other people go about their way and thought for another moment as what could be the cause and spoke. "Is it really so much of a big of a deal that you left Teito?"
"Not yet," Uzume answered, and Ichigo blinked again at the unexpected answer. "If the game were further along I probably wouldn't be allowed to leave as we did."
Ichigo's brows furrowed as the meaning of her words escaped him. Not really understanding he offered, "Sorry if my dad made me get you into trouble."
Uzume smiled softly, reaching up to cup Ichigo's cheek, her eyes twinkling at the faint color that broke across his face. "Don't be. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Outside of an hour or two, I've loved the time that I've been here."
"Is that so?" Ichigo asked softly, trying not to react at the surprisingly intimate and pleasurable feeling of her soft fingers gently stroking his face. "W-well good, I guess."
She giggled at his reaction, "That's another thing I gotta work on isn't it?"
"I wish you'd stop saying that," Ichigo grumbled. "It's gettin' oId and I don't need any 'work', y'know."
"Trust me, Ichigo, you do," Uzume smirked up at her ashikabi. She rose up from her seat, using her upward momentum to take another quick kiss from Ichigo's cheek. "But I promised papa I'd take care of you. And that's what I'm gonna do."
"'Papa' talks too damn much for his own good," he grumbled. "And stop doing that," he said as he stood up as well. "We're still in public, ok?"
"Nope," she smirked. "Don't wanna."
He pressed his lips into a thin line and looked ahead. "We do gotta get going though," he said after a moment. "We're already out a lot later than I wanted to be."
Uzume's head bowed slightly and she sighed as Ichigo didn't take her bait and planted her fists firmly against her hips. "So, so, sooooo much work to be done with you."
=========
Teito...
"Hey..." a voice sheepishly called out softly, but loud enough to be heard by her approaching friend.
Said friend silently walked up and looked at her blankly as she continued to hold her hand up in greeting. After a moment, the silent girl turned her head and nodded in the direction she signaled and began to walk off without saying a word, her ash blonde hair swaying as she turned.
Ikki gulped and pursed her lips as she jogged to catch up to the still silently walking Nanaha. After several minutes she couldn't quite take the silence anymore and spoke the first words that came to mind. "That was crazy right?"
Both continued to walk down the street, Ikki now side by side with Nanaha. Both were oblivious to the odd stares they were receiving from various pedestrians, bystanders and the occasional car due to the weaponry they carried. It had been three very long hours since the dine-and-dash from hell that saw the sisterly sekirei pair outrun an irate waitress, her supervisor and a beat cop all en route to their hotel room.
Never underestimate the resolve of restaurant staff...
Amazingly enough, it hadn't ended there. As Ikki had leaned back against the closed door to her hotel room and slid to the floor in embarrassment and mortification Nanaha had dutifully marched to her bed and began to pad around it and the lamp desk next to it. Finding her MBI card she calmly walked back to the door and with nary a look Ikki had scrambled out of the way and with mute astonishment watched her sister Sekirei go back out. Realizing what Nanaha was going to do she shamefully got up and went out to quietly follow her.
"Yes," Nanaha neutrally replied to her elder sister with a null look on her face. "Yes it was." She turned to Ikki as a frown now began to form on her features as her next words carried a more biting tone. "And just whose fault do you think that was?"
Ikki barely managed to contain a grimace. Nanaha rarely acted like this, and took all she had not to fall several steps further behind. With that, she said the first thing to come to mind. "Wait, you're still mad about that?" Ikki asked sweetly as she moved a step back with her hands raised and closed her eyes to look as innocent as possible.
No response.
"Oh come on now," Ikki said, taking the silence as a cue to continue and hoped to lighten the mood. "You got your training in, you took care of that bill for us and you determined that those people weren't our destined ashikabi. What's there to be upset about?"
Nanaha came to an abrupt halt and Ikki managed to come to halt just as she was about to overtake her, stumbling a bit before righting herself. Nanaha turned her head and looked at Ikki in askance and mouthed the words Ikki just said before actually voicing them. "What's there to be upset about?" Nanaha repeated with an incredulous tone. Her mouth stayed silently open for a second as her head shook slightly before speaking again. "There's plenty to be upset about!! You nearly made us criminals!! You got us banned from that restaurant!! And for what?!? For what reason can you justify this, Ikki?!?"
'Oh no...' Ikki internally bemoaned, a lot more worried now. 'She dropped the suffix. She is pissed.' For the next few seconds Ikki's mind rushed for anything that could that could help lighten the mood. 'I got it!!' Ikki smiled and put one hand to her hip in a pose and gave her sister a thumbs up as she replied, "I always wanted to dine and dash once!"
A pause.
Nanaha blinked a few times and when she stopped her eyebrow twitched before she turned forward and walked off again, leaving Ikki still stuck in her thumbs up pose. Sweat began to visibly form on her brow as she stayed in the pose for a few more seconds before rushing to catch up again, far more worried now. "I mean," Ikki said as she caught up grasping for anything to explain herself and break Nanaha's mood. "I always saw it on those TV movies we watched in our hotel rooms and thought it might be fun to try as well as a good excuse for some good training! So? Wasn't I right?" she gestured with her arms outstretched and away.
A vein began to form on Nanaha's head, "...Are you kidding me?" She then continued in an irritated tone. "Would you stop and think about these things before you act on them Ikki-neechan?" She groaned irritably, clutching her hair in frustration. "I mean I you don't worry about what others might think and you speak your mind with no fear, you were always looking out for me and Narashino and I love that about you neechan, but I keep telling you over and over that it's going to get you into trouble one day. Up until now you've always rushed into things without thinking them through, and at the moment we haven't run into much problems with that outside those two twins.
But this time Ikki-neechan, this time you went too far! You can't do this anymore! You gotta be more careful, dammit!! And now... now you managed to get us banned from a restaurant? How many times do you hear that happening? Let me help you with that, NONE!!!"
She stopped her rant as she looked at Ikki's miserable looking face as the girl slumped and looked downward."I... I really screwed up didn't I...?" she asked forlornly and looked up.
Nanaha sighed back at her and noted Ikki's damp eyes. "Yeah... but... but as bad as this was, it could always be worse.
Please Ikki-neechan next time think before you act. Or at the very least let me do the talking, ok?"
Ikki sniffed a bit and wiped her eyes with a wrist quickly before straightening and looking off to the side. "Hey now, aren't the elder sisters the ones to give out advice and keep the others out of trouble?"
Nanaha looked off in the direction that Ikki had and responded. "Yeah, but sometimes the little sisters gotta act on the things the elder ones don't see."
"I suppose you're right," Ikki sighed. "Sorry for making you a criminal, Nanaha-chan."
"Apology accepted," Nanaha replied as a small smile graced her lips. "I'm sorry for snapping at you like that. And heck, it was good exercise."
Ikki nodded, a relaxed smile on her face"I know right? Say what you will, but I know you lost some of your caboose during that chase."
A pause.
Nanaha's smile quickly faded, "Did you just say I have a big butt, Ikki?"
'Uh oh.' Ikki thought. 'Went and said the B-word. Thinkthinkthinkthinkthinkàbe honest! Honesty is the best policy!' She smiled brightly as she answered, "Of course I did! How else could you lose it silly?"
A vein popped on Nanaha's head, "...So you're saying I have a big butt?!"
Just as Ikki was about to turn around and elaborate on her reasoning her world suddenly rocked and shifted violently as it seemed her feet suddenly found themselves planted into the sky before twisting once more. Had she had enough time to talk aloud about it, she'd guess it was a car that suddenly slammed into her without warning, sending her spinning off into the air. It was about this time that the sidewalk suddenly popped up to say hello.
"àowwwwà" Ikki muttered.
Note to self #5,789: Don't ever bring up Nanaha's booty after a fight when you've got your back to her. See also Notes two hundred and fifty six through 5,788 inclusive on things that will set Nanaha-chan off.
Nanaha sighed as she walked away from the small Ikki sized crater, "Work in progress... work in progress." Her mind idly wondering when it was the little sister became the leader of the duo. "It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it right?"
=========
"I'll be downstairs, okay?"
"Sure, I'll be down in a bit."
"Okay," Uzume said and closed the door behind her.
Hearing his sekirei's retreating footsteps, Ichigo turned and took one last look at the nearly naked room. Most if not all the boxes he was going to ship to Izumo were downstairs. With what he and Uzume couldn't carry feasibly his father agreed to have them shipped later that day or the next. The room wasn't completely empty, his bed would still be there as well as his dressers. His desk though was already disassembled and boxed as was his chair, waiting downstairs with the other boxes. Many of his clothes still hung in his closet, but there was a noticeable gap now with what he decided to take.
On his bed was an unzipped carry bag for some last minute items as he double checked a few drawers for anything he had missed. Several pairs of socks and shoes were already put in, as were an old photo album and a few books to read as he settled into Izumo proper. Almost disappointed with not finding anything he walked to his bed to grab his bag and began to zip it up before stopping due to a bulge blocking the zipper.
Pulling the zipper back he raised an eyebrow at seeing some of the clothes he had remembered folding now loose and haphazardly placed as if they had been simply shoved into the pack. Not giving too much thought he reached in to pull them out when he heard a yelp from within and sighed. Pulling away he watched as the clothes seemingly moved on their own before a familiar brown and dark yellow lion plushie head popped up.
"Are we there yet?"
"Kon", Ichigo growled out.
"What!? We're still here? What are we waiting for?"
"Kon."
"I can't tell you how excited I am to finally getting out of this house! Haaah~ No more Bostov dress ups...", Kon said as he sighed in relief and slid further down into the pack again.
"You're not going, Kon."
"I see, I - what?!", Kon blurted, seeing Ichigo softly shake his head at him. "But, but why?"
"You know why. And I am not going to explain to the landlady and Uzume why there's a walking stuffed animal trying to peep on her."
"There's a landlady - I mean! Ichigo! You have to take me! You can't leave me here!"
"And who's gonna watch out for Yuzu?" he said almost wryly.
"Come on, Ichigo, that's no fun. And its not like that Jinta kid hasn't been watching her and all so she'll be ok."
"What?" Ichigo said, his eye almost twitching.
A stuffed paw came up to Kon's mouth. "Oh? You didn't know? That Jinta kid's had the hots for her for some time now. Too bad he seems to be half concentrated on being Karin's competition or something."
Ichigo's fist balled but paused soon afterward. If Karin was there then there's no way Jinta will do anything stupid. Taking a breath to calm himself he pointed away to his dresser. "Out."
"Please, Ichigo, don't leave me here."
"Kon, I can't take you. At least here you can be yourself around dad and Karin. If you come with me the landlady'll kill you".
"Better than wasting alone here! Ichigo~!"
"I'm sorry, Kon."
With that he grabbed Kon and pulled him out of his pack so he could set him on his dresser. As he pulled he felt a bit of resistance and instinctively pulled a bit harder. Kon came out but another rustling sound came forth. With the force he used to pull Kon away the object that was pulled along came out to bounce on the bed before falling off onto the floor with a thud and another rustling sound.
Ichigo blinked and walked to the other side of the bed and caught his breath. Lying on the ground face up was his substitute shinigami badge. 'What was that doing in there?' he wondered.
"You were not only going to forget about me, but you were going to forget about that as well!" Kon huffed. "So I put in there when I got in. Now put me back in Ichigo and let's go."
"Kon..."
"What?"
Sighing, Ichigo turned and placed Kon on the dresser before turning back to pick up his badge.
"Ichigo...?"
Bending down he grabbed the badge and stood. Still holding his badge up he looked at it. A little big bigger than his palm the badge was pentagonal in shape, pointed downward. A border outlined the badge, and within was a 'X' pattern with a stylized skull in the center with no jawbone. Connected at the top of the badge was a band of modest length to hold onto or wear around the neck.
'It's funny,' he thought as he gazed at the badge. 'I never gave it much thought after waking up from beating Aizen. Guess I forgot to give it back.' He turned the badge in his hand, his thumb idly rubbing the oddly smooth back before turning it back face up to him. 'It hasn't beeped once since then. Guess it doesn't work anymore'.
He turned and walked to the dresser where Kon was standing and pointing a paw at him.
"Ichigo, did you hear me? You can't leave me all alone!"
"You're not going to be alone, Kon", Ichigo said absentmindedly, his eyes still on his badge as he reached out to open the drawer. He opened the drawer and was about to lay the badge in there but paused, now almost unsure of what do do.
A soft padded fall broke him out of his thoughts as he lifted his head up to see Kon sitting with his back against the wall legs spread out and his little head facing downward.
"You could look like this was difficult, y'know," Kon said dejectedly. "You're in such a hurry to go off and forget about us in your new life."
"Kon," Ichigo said, a little softer.
"Its not like you've had much problems with that, and now you've got the perfect excuse to go off and forget everything."
Ichigo blinked as he looked at his badge again and felt again that stinging feeling of loss. Knowing that his friends had carried on while he waited alongside like a nobody. Not that he could feel it or anything but he knew. And he knew that his friends also knew but didn't say anything much.
"At least take it with you," Kon said tiredly, and Ichigo turned towards him to see Kon looking back. "A reminder of more exciting days, when we were both doing something better than being cooped up here."
Ichigo grimaced and mumbled softly before closing the drawer. Turning around he walked to his bed and pulled the bag towards him. 'A reminder. My reminder of what I did. My proof of my time as a shinigami. When I... When I could protect everyone.'
With that he put the badge inside, not caring to refold the clothes that Kon had messed up a bit earlier. Zipping it up he hefted the bag and holstered the strap on his shoulder. Satisfied he turned to the door and walked to it and paused as he gripped the doorknob.
"I'm sorry, Kon."
"I know," Kon's tired voice responded.
After a silent moment Kon spoke again.
"Goodbye, Ichigo. It was fun."
Suppressing the feeling of tightness in his stomach Ichigo replied. "Yeah. It was, wasn't it?" He sighed as he found himself surprised how much he agreed with Kon at that moment. With that he opened the door and turned for the last time.
"Goodbye Kon. Keep watch."
And with that, he closed the door behind him.
On the dresser top, Kon remained there, head turned down and unmoving and as and still as the plushie most people took him for. He had heard the fading footsteps of Ichigo going downstairs before they disappeared completely.
And with that, complete silence befell the room as the lone occupant noted how empty, dark and cool his surroundings now were.
And would be.
=========
Once you got to the part with Teito, you started to have make comma placement errors.
Comma should be before the quotation obviously.
Then there was this weird sentence break.
Again, a comma placement error.
Spacing error where sentences jumped a line.
Now, I'm not sure where the placement of the comma is supposed to be here, or if there shouldn't be one at all.
I really did enjoy the last scene with Kon though. I thought it was very well written. I would have thought that he would have put the badge around his neck and tucked it into his shirt. But I guess that would have caused to many questions for him at this time from Uzume and everyone else.
You made a very good point to indicate that Ichigo was moving on with his life though. So once again, go job both of you. Idk, I kinda feel as if Kon deserved a little better than being left behind. He probably could have at least moved him into Karin and Yuzu's room or something.
And yep, that's pretty much all I got. Keep it up.
Comma should be before the quotation obviously.
Then there was this weird sentence break.
Again, a comma placement error.
Spacing error where sentences jumped a line.
Now, I'm not sure where the placement of the comma is supposed to be here, or if there shouldn't be one at all.
I really did enjoy the last scene with Kon though. I thought it was very well written. I would have thought that he would have put the badge around his neck and tucked it into his shirt. But I guess that would have caused to many questions for him at this time from Uzume and everyone else.
You made a very good point to indicate that Ichigo was moving on with his life though. So once again, go job both of you. Idk, I kinda feel as if Kon deserved a little better than being left behind. He probably could have at least moved him into Karin and Yuzu's room or something.
And yep, that's pretty much all I got. Keep it up.
Zangetsu will not be busy. Right now he is in effect deader than a hollow. He has no connection to anything unless Ichigo gains some power. Right now Ichigo is nothing but the human with the most combat capabilities. But seeing as he couldn't beat the lightning twins that won't matter if he meets Higa alone.
Yeah, because Ichigo isn't known for both breaking every rule in the book there is and growing in power at ridiculous pace when he needs to at all. That's totally not what he does all the way through just about every arc of the story.
The only reason it happened the way it did in the manga was because it both happened really fast and because it allowed a Big Damn Heroes moment for Gotei 13. Or should I point out the fact Isshin recovered on his own, even if it took him a while, despite being implied to have used his own 'final Getsuga Tensho'?
Face it, Ichigo is a freak of nature who made a career out of doing impossible. Him spontaneously reactivating his powers out of sheer need, if given enough time, isn't out of character. Also, there is that little fact he can simply phone Urahara and ask to get his power back if he really needs to.
The only reason it happened the way it did in the manga was because it both happened really fast and because it allowed a Big Damn Heroes moment for Gotei 13. Or should I point out the fact Isshin recovered on his own, even if it took him a while, despite being implied to have used his own 'final Getsuga Tensho'?
Face it, Ichigo is a freak of nature who made a career out of doing impossible. Him spontaneously reactivating his powers out of sheer need, if given enough time, isn't out of character. Also, there is that little fact he can simply phone Urahara and ask to get his power back if he really needs to.
Long post is loooooooooooooooooooooong...
=========================================================================
Downstairs-
"Yes, hello?" a voice could be heard over the phone.
"Heya," Uzume responded.
"Uzume?" the speaker, Miya, breathed, sounding bit surprised. "Is everything alright?"
"We're fine, Miya," Uzume responded, smiling as she propped an arm on the wall and had her right leg bent inward, resting her right foot on her left calf. "I just wanted to let you know that we're going to be leaving soon."
"Oh, that's good. I was going to prepare dinner soon. What time do you think you'll be in so I can have it properly ready for you?"
"Actually, about that Miya...? Ichigo and I are going to eat out before coming home. Will that be a problem?"
"No, its no problem at all. Thank you for letting me know."
"Just means more for Kagari, that's all," Uzume joked into the phone.
"Oh my, it would be if he were actually here," Miya giggled back. "Did you have fun?"
Her smile grew at the question, "Oh, it's been a blast, Miya. I'll fill you in when we get there."
"I look forward to it. In the meantime you two take care of yourselves."
"Don't worry, we will, Miya. We'll see you soon, bye..." she hung up her cell phone after listening to Miya's words of goodbye and turned around, seeing Ichigo reach the bottom of the stairs. Her full lips curved upward in an even brighter smile as he made his way towards her. "Ichigo?" she asked, her smile fading slightly as she noted an odd look in her ashikabi's face as he faced her. "Something wrong?"
"Hmm?" Ichigo blinked and gave a shake of his head, "No it... it's nothing... just saying goodbye to the place is all."
"Ah," Uzume smiled as she pocketed her phone. "Were you feeling nostalgic already?"
"Hn," Ichigo mumbled. "Just..." he trailed off, shaking his head as he looked around. "I guess," Ichigo shrugged. "I have been here all my life after all." He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck absently. "It's just that now that... it's finally here... it's just hitting me finally you could say."
"Getting cold feet?" Uzume asked.
"No," Ichigo firmly replied as he turned to his sekirei and gave her a flat look, "But I can say I'm not lookin' forward to carrying all your gift bags."
She grinned in response, "Hey who knows when I'll get outta Teito again." She reached up and caressed her ashikabi's face, "And you're such a good looking pack mule too."
"Ha Ha," Ichigo replied sarcastically. "I'm so happy to be of service."
"Good boy," Uzume replied. Her smile became a little softer as she locked her free hand with one of Ichigo's. "Thank you for binging me here."
He gave a small smile back at her. "It's nice you got to see tis place, who knows when we'll be back," thoughts firmly on his immediate future and what it may bring.
"Yeah," she whispered as she moved in for a hug. He returned the gesture as she buried her head into his chest, "I hope we can come back again."
=========
A Half-Hour Later...
"Are you sure you have everything, Ichi-nii?" Karin asked.
The Kurosaki family was grouped on the train station platform. Jut ahead of them were the turnstiles Ichigo and Uzume would need to pass to access the area where they could hop on when their train arrived.
"Of course I do," Ichigo grumbled. Raising his duffel bag quickly to show his youngest sibling what he was caring. "At least everything I can carry." He turned and gave a flat gaze at Uzume, who was busy with her own luggage. "Despite the efforts of some people here to test my limits."
"Eh heh...." Uzume had the dignity to look embarrassed, raising an arm to scratch the back of her head, still holding onto one of her smaller bags. Below her was not only her traveling bag, but two other smaller ones filled with souvenirs and other things she had bought while they had been in the Kurokara shopping district. Thankfully, the majority had been decided to come in with Ichigo's luggage that Isshin would be sending over later.
"I said I was sorry," she said, still blushing as she brought her hand back down.
"I'm so sure," Ichigo grunted. "I know you don't get out all that much, but moderation can be your friend sometimes Uzume."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry," she said again.
Ichigo sighed as he turned his glance away from his sekirei, rubbing his hair with his free hand irritably. "Well what's done is done, so the others better appreciate this."
-Sniff, sniff-
Ichigo blinked as he heard an over exaggerated sniffing noise, furrowed his brow and frowned as he located the owner. "It's so sad," Isshin sniffed out, tears close to falling out of his eyes. "So sad to see you go, and to see you so whipped..."
Ichigo gave his father a flat look, curbing his first instinct to deck the elder man. He'd be getting his soon enough after all. "Whatever you say old man."
"Goodbye Uzume-chan," he said before finally taking out a thin white cloth to dab his eyes. "Please take good care of my boy."
Uzume nodded, "Of course papa. Leave Ichigo to me!"
"Oh Uzume-chan!" Isshin cried out, unable to hold back the waterworks. "Y-Y-YOU MAKE YOUR PAPA SO HAPPY!!"
Uzume gave a small sniffle as her eyes started to water, "Oh Papa!"
"Oh Uzume-chan!" Isshin replied.
Uzume opened her arms, "Oh Papa!"
Ichigo sighed and pulled back on Uzume's top. "Oh no," he stated with finality. "We don't got the time for that Uzume."
Isshin sighed, dapping at his eyes with his handkerchief as if he had only been crying slightly. He shook his head at his eldest child, "Oh son... you're no fun."
"And you're an idiot," Ichigo retorted. "But what else is new?"
"Ich-Ichi-nii?" Yuzu said tearfully. "I...I... Can I get a hug?"
Ichigo looked down at his youngest sister as she held back her tears and gave her a soft smile. "What're you sayin?" He knelt down and enveloped her in a gentle hug. "Of course you do." Yuzu returned the hug, fervently clinging to her elder brother. After a while, Ichigo's smile faded somewhat as he tried to break the hug. "Yuzu..."
"Hmm?" Yuzu mumbled as she tried to nuzzle her way into Ichigo's chest.
"You can let go now..." He muttered.
"Dun wanna," she muttered.
He sighed, "I know I know, but what about Karin? I gotta say goodbye to her too."
"I'm saying goodbye for her so keep on hugging," Yuzu replied. It was at that time Yuzu was about to snuggle in further when a jolt ran up her and she yelped in pain. Hopping back a bit she had both hands on her sore rear and whipped her head back and forth before finding the perpetrator. Ignored was Ichigo holding his hand to his ears and a grimace on his face. "Ka-Karin-chan!!," Yuzu hissed at her sister angrily.
Karin sighed and gave her sister a flat look, "You're getting clingy sis."
"You stay outta this, Karin-chan!" she grumbled. "This has nothing to do with you!"
"Except that it has everything to do with me," she sighed. "Look, why don't you go sit in the corner for a sec and then I'll let you be all crazy with grief until Ichi-nii has to go ok?"
Yuzu gave her elder twin a dark look, "You're still on my list Karin-chan."
"I figured," Karin replied nonchalantly as Yuzu walked back to their father's side. She sighed and turned to Ichigo, tilting her head slightly with a smirk on her lips and a hand at her hip. "You sure you wanna leave? Look at all the fun you're missing Ichi-nii."
"I'm sure I'll manage," Ichigo replied dryly as he continued to rub his ears for another few seconds.
"Suit yourself," Karin replied she walked up to him and embraced him. She held it for several seconds before squeezing a bit harder and letting go. As she backed away she smiled at Ichigo and then turned to Uzume. "I'm leavin' him to you. Think you can handle this mess?"
Uzume smiled, turning to look at Ichigo before turning back to Karin. "I'm sure I'll manage," she said, repeating her ashikabi's words but with a much brighter tone. She smiled at Karin and the girl raised an eyebrow at that. "I'm really glad I got to meet you. To meet all of you," Uzume said, looking at each of them wistfully. A breeze flew by, causing her ponytail to get caught up in a bit and a voice over the speaker announced how many minutes the next incoming train would be.
"Likewise," Karin nodded. "Don't be a stranger Uzume. I want another match with you. Just the two of us."
Uzume smiled and held out her right hand to the younger girl and extended a hooked pinky. "Promise?" she asked Karin.
Karin stared at the extended pinky for a moment before shrugging, giving Uzume a small smile as she hooked their pinkies together. "Promise."
"Uzume, c'mon our train will be here in a bit," Ichigo called out, bending over to pick up his bags.
"Coming," Uzume replied. Shaking their hands once, the girls broke their pinkies and Uzume turned to grab her stuff. Once in hand, the sekirei turned to the Kurosaki clan members once more, "Thank you all again for accepting me. I... I hope I'll see you again soon!"
"Ichigo," Isshin called out, causing Ichigo to stop and turn.
"Yeah?"
Isshin walked up to his boy and clasped both of his hands on his son's shoulders and gave a small squeeze and a shake. "You did good," he said looking Ichigo in the eye.
Ichigo was silent for a second before he nodded to his father, "Thank you."
Isshin smiled, squeezing one more time before stepping back.
"Ok Uzume, let's go," he said again and began to turn around. Before reaching the turnstile he turned his head back. "Oh dad!?"
Isshin raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?" he called back.
"Enjoy tonight," Ichigo said before turning forward and walking through the turnstile with Uzume following a second later
"Tonight...?" Isshin wondered.
Both Karin and Yuzu jogged forward, coming near the turnstiles to get a better view of platforms and heard the announcements for the next incoming trains come over the speakers. "He's... he's really leaving us, isn't he?" Yuzu asked in a quiet voice.
"Yeah," Karin said, her word no louder than a whisper, her stomach clenched ever harder as realization that this was really it now hitting her.
Yuzu let out a sniffle as the figure of her brother grew smaller and smaller throughout the crowd of passengers. Tears began to well in her eyes, and she feebly dabbed at her tears with the back of her hands. "I-I-Ichi-nii..." she mewled softly.
She let out a small gasp when she felt a hand on her shoulder and a soft squeeze and turned to see Karin had put her hand there. Karin hadn't turned to face her but Yuzu could see that her sister's eyes had moistened as well. She stood there stunned for a moment before she let out a mournful wail, turning towards her elder twin and enveloping her in a hug. Burying her face in Karin's shoulder, she let her tears flow freely, already missing one of the most important people in her life.
"Dammit, Yuzu," Karin whispered, trying so hard to keep her image and not break down like Yuzu was doing. If anything, she began to wipe her eyes with her free arm, trying to stop the tears she knew were beginning to fall.
When she pulled her arm back she saw something in black begin to pass by her. Blinking she was going to move and her sister a bit to the side. Though not blocking the turnstile it was mostly to be out of the way to save her and her sister's dignity, however when she caught sight of the person she nearly gasped and found herself coughing as if to clear her throat and call Ichi-ni back.
"It's ok," Rukia told her, turning her head to see Karin.
"Bu...but..." Karin stammered out before getting a better look at her. 'She seems so... tired...'
Rukia gave her a sad smile but shook her head and took a few steps forward, stepping through the turnstiles themselves but stopping a few feet away. At this angle Karin couldn't see her face or what expression she wore, but knew that the shinigami was smiling, proud of her brother.
"Ichigo..." Rukia began. "You've already changed the destiny of three worlds; so I know that no matter what happens... you'll be fine. And don't worry, I'll keep an eye on you every now and again. Make sure you won't get in over your's." She folded her arms as she continued to look at Ichigo's disappearing form, "Enjoy your life, Ichigo. And let's hope you don't see me again for a long, long time. I want to hear everything you did when it's over..."
And with that, both Ichigo and Uzume joined the people entering the train and disappeared through the doors, the only sign of knowing being Ichigo's bright hair no longer being visible amongst the other boarders. A few seconds after that, the doors closed and the people who exited made their way towards them for the exits.
And with that, even the view of the departure was momentarily lost, the last bits of the train being seen as the last of the disembarked passengers made their way off the platforms and into Karakura.
=========
Kurokawa opened the door to the van and accepted the nod Jiro wordlessly gave him. "Both the targets have boarded the train to Teito." he said. "The mission looks to be done."
The bulkier man nodded again as he reached for the cell phone on the dashboard in front of him. As he raised the device to his mouth the stocky man checked the time on his watch. "This is Jiro reporting in. Pass code two-five-eight-marble-dash. Time is seventeen-hundred twenty hours."
After a moment a distorted voice responded, "Good evening Agent Jiro."
"Good evening HQ," Jiro responded.
"Report," the voice responded.
"Kurosaki Ichigo and Number Ten are both returning to the Capital as we speak. They are aboard MBI train number eight-zero-seven en route to the next few stops before reaching the Keio Line. You can take over observation duties from here."
"Very good, Agent Jiro. Report to base ASAP."
"Yes, HQ. Over and out," Jiro replied. He sighed as he put the device back onto the dashboard. "And now we are finally done."
"Super," Kurokawa grunted. "Now let's get the fuck outta here. I've had enough of this place."
"Agreed for once," Jiro nodded as he started the ignition. "Never wanna come back here again. Don't know why, but this place gives me the creeps."
Kurokawa refrained from any smart comments as the engine hummed to life, and the duo were quickly out of Karakura as quickly as they arrived, with no one the wiser.
Well, no one alive at any rate.
=========
=========================================================================
Downstairs-
"Yes, hello?" a voice could be heard over the phone.
"Heya," Uzume responded.
"Uzume?" the speaker, Miya, breathed, sounding bit surprised. "Is everything alright?"
"We're fine, Miya," Uzume responded, smiling as she propped an arm on the wall and had her right leg bent inward, resting her right foot on her left calf. "I just wanted to let you know that we're going to be leaving soon."
"Oh, that's good. I was going to prepare dinner soon. What time do you think you'll be in so I can have it properly ready for you?"
"Actually, about that Miya...? Ichigo and I are going to eat out before coming home. Will that be a problem?"
"No, its no problem at all. Thank you for letting me know."
"Just means more for Kagari, that's all," Uzume joked into the phone.
"Oh my, it would be if he were actually here," Miya giggled back. "Did you have fun?"
Her smile grew at the question, "Oh, it's been a blast, Miya. I'll fill you in when we get there."
"I look forward to it. In the meantime you two take care of yourselves."
"Don't worry, we will, Miya. We'll see you soon, bye..." she hung up her cell phone after listening to Miya's words of goodbye and turned around, seeing Ichigo reach the bottom of the stairs. Her full lips curved upward in an even brighter smile as he made his way towards her. "Ichigo?" she asked, her smile fading slightly as she noted an odd look in her ashikabi's face as he faced her. "Something wrong?"
"Hmm?" Ichigo blinked and gave a shake of his head, "No it... it's nothing... just saying goodbye to the place is all."
"Ah," Uzume smiled as she pocketed her phone. "Were you feeling nostalgic already?"
"Hn," Ichigo mumbled. "Just..." he trailed off, shaking his head as he looked around. "I guess," Ichigo shrugged. "I have been here all my life after all." He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck absently. "It's just that now that... it's finally here... it's just hitting me finally you could say."
"Getting cold feet?" Uzume asked.
"No," Ichigo firmly replied as he turned to his sekirei and gave her a flat look, "But I can say I'm not lookin' forward to carrying all your gift bags."
She grinned in response, "Hey who knows when I'll get outta Teito again." She reached up and caressed her ashikabi's face, "And you're such a good looking pack mule too."
"Ha Ha," Ichigo replied sarcastically. "I'm so happy to be of service."
"Good boy," Uzume replied. Her smile became a little softer as she locked her free hand with one of Ichigo's. "Thank you for binging me here."
He gave a small smile back at her. "It's nice you got to see tis place, who knows when we'll be back," thoughts firmly on his immediate future and what it may bring.
"Yeah," she whispered as she moved in for a hug. He returned the gesture as she buried her head into his chest, "I hope we can come back again."
=========
A Half-Hour Later...
"Are you sure you have everything, Ichi-nii?" Karin asked.
The Kurosaki family was grouped on the train station platform. Jut ahead of them were the turnstiles Ichigo and Uzume would need to pass to access the area where they could hop on when their train arrived.
"Of course I do," Ichigo grumbled. Raising his duffel bag quickly to show his youngest sibling what he was caring. "At least everything I can carry." He turned and gave a flat gaze at Uzume, who was busy with her own luggage. "Despite the efforts of some people here to test my limits."
"Eh heh...." Uzume had the dignity to look embarrassed, raising an arm to scratch the back of her head, still holding onto one of her smaller bags. Below her was not only her traveling bag, but two other smaller ones filled with souvenirs and other things she had bought while they had been in the Kurokara shopping district. Thankfully, the majority had been decided to come in with Ichigo's luggage that Isshin would be sending over later.
"I said I was sorry," she said, still blushing as she brought her hand back down.
"I'm so sure," Ichigo grunted. "I know you don't get out all that much, but moderation can be your friend sometimes Uzume."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry," she said again.
Ichigo sighed as he turned his glance away from his sekirei, rubbing his hair with his free hand irritably. "Well what's done is done, so the others better appreciate this."
-Sniff, sniff-
Ichigo blinked as he heard an over exaggerated sniffing noise, furrowed his brow and frowned as he located the owner. "It's so sad," Isshin sniffed out, tears close to falling out of his eyes. "So sad to see you go, and to see you so whipped..."
Ichigo gave his father a flat look, curbing his first instinct to deck the elder man. He'd be getting his soon enough after all. "Whatever you say old man."
"Goodbye Uzume-chan," he said before finally taking out a thin white cloth to dab his eyes. "Please take good care of my boy."
Uzume nodded, "Of course papa. Leave Ichigo to me!"
"Oh Uzume-chan!" Isshin cried out, unable to hold back the waterworks. "Y-Y-YOU MAKE YOUR PAPA SO HAPPY!!"
Uzume gave a small sniffle as her eyes started to water, "Oh Papa!"
"Oh Uzume-chan!" Isshin replied.
Uzume opened her arms, "Oh Papa!"
Ichigo sighed and pulled back on Uzume's top. "Oh no," he stated with finality. "We don't got the time for that Uzume."
Isshin sighed, dapping at his eyes with his handkerchief as if he had only been crying slightly. He shook his head at his eldest child, "Oh son... you're no fun."
"And you're an idiot," Ichigo retorted. "But what else is new?"
"Ich-Ichi-nii?" Yuzu said tearfully. "I...I... Can I get a hug?"
Ichigo looked down at his youngest sister as she held back her tears and gave her a soft smile. "What're you sayin?" He knelt down and enveloped her in a gentle hug. "Of course you do." Yuzu returned the hug, fervently clinging to her elder brother. After a while, Ichigo's smile faded somewhat as he tried to break the hug. "Yuzu..."
"Hmm?" Yuzu mumbled as she tried to nuzzle her way into Ichigo's chest.
"You can let go now..." He muttered.
"Dun wanna," she muttered.
He sighed, "I know I know, but what about Karin? I gotta say goodbye to her too."
"I'm saying goodbye for her so keep on hugging," Yuzu replied. It was at that time Yuzu was about to snuggle in further when a jolt ran up her and she yelped in pain. Hopping back a bit she had both hands on her sore rear and whipped her head back and forth before finding the perpetrator. Ignored was Ichigo holding his hand to his ears and a grimace on his face. "Ka-Karin-chan!!," Yuzu hissed at her sister angrily.
Karin sighed and gave her sister a flat look, "You're getting clingy sis."
"You stay outta this, Karin-chan!" she grumbled. "This has nothing to do with you!"
"Except that it has everything to do with me," she sighed. "Look, why don't you go sit in the corner for a sec and then I'll let you be all crazy with grief until Ichi-nii has to go ok?"
Yuzu gave her elder twin a dark look, "You're still on my list Karin-chan."
"I figured," Karin replied nonchalantly as Yuzu walked back to their father's side. She sighed and turned to Ichigo, tilting her head slightly with a smirk on her lips and a hand at her hip. "You sure you wanna leave? Look at all the fun you're missing Ichi-nii."
"I'm sure I'll manage," Ichigo replied dryly as he continued to rub his ears for another few seconds.
"Suit yourself," Karin replied she walked up to him and embraced him. She held it for several seconds before squeezing a bit harder and letting go. As she backed away she smiled at Ichigo and then turned to Uzume. "I'm leavin' him to you. Think you can handle this mess?"
Uzume smiled, turning to look at Ichigo before turning back to Karin. "I'm sure I'll manage," she said, repeating her ashikabi's words but with a much brighter tone. She smiled at Karin and the girl raised an eyebrow at that. "I'm really glad I got to meet you. To meet all of you," Uzume said, looking at each of them wistfully. A breeze flew by, causing her ponytail to get caught up in a bit and a voice over the speaker announced how many minutes the next incoming train would be.
"Likewise," Karin nodded. "Don't be a stranger Uzume. I want another match with you. Just the two of us."
Uzume smiled and held out her right hand to the younger girl and extended a hooked pinky. "Promise?" she asked Karin.
Karin stared at the extended pinky for a moment before shrugging, giving Uzume a small smile as she hooked their pinkies together. "Promise."
"Uzume, c'mon our train will be here in a bit," Ichigo called out, bending over to pick up his bags.
"Coming," Uzume replied. Shaking their hands once, the girls broke their pinkies and Uzume turned to grab her stuff. Once in hand, the sekirei turned to the Kurosaki clan members once more, "Thank you all again for accepting me. I... I hope I'll see you again soon!"
"Ichigo," Isshin called out, causing Ichigo to stop and turn.
"Yeah?"
Isshin walked up to his boy and clasped both of his hands on his son's shoulders and gave a small squeeze and a shake. "You did good," he said looking Ichigo in the eye.
Ichigo was silent for a second before he nodded to his father, "Thank you."
Isshin smiled, squeezing one more time before stepping back.
"Ok Uzume, let's go," he said again and began to turn around. Before reaching the turnstile he turned his head back. "Oh dad!?"
Isshin raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?" he called back.
"Enjoy tonight," Ichigo said before turning forward and walking through the turnstile with Uzume following a second later
"Tonight...?" Isshin wondered.
Both Karin and Yuzu jogged forward, coming near the turnstiles to get a better view of platforms and heard the announcements for the next incoming trains come over the speakers. "He's... he's really leaving us, isn't he?" Yuzu asked in a quiet voice.
"Yeah," Karin said, her word no louder than a whisper, her stomach clenched ever harder as realization that this was really it now hitting her.
Yuzu let out a sniffle as the figure of her brother grew smaller and smaller throughout the crowd of passengers. Tears began to well in her eyes, and she feebly dabbed at her tears with the back of her hands. "I-I-Ichi-nii..." she mewled softly.
She let out a small gasp when she felt a hand on her shoulder and a soft squeeze and turned to see Karin had put her hand there. Karin hadn't turned to face her but Yuzu could see that her sister's eyes had moistened as well. She stood there stunned for a moment before she let out a mournful wail, turning towards her elder twin and enveloping her in a hug. Burying her face in Karin's shoulder, she let her tears flow freely, already missing one of the most important people in her life.
"Dammit, Yuzu," Karin whispered, trying so hard to keep her image and not break down like Yuzu was doing. If anything, she began to wipe her eyes with her free arm, trying to stop the tears she knew were beginning to fall.
When she pulled her arm back she saw something in black begin to pass by her. Blinking she was going to move and her sister a bit to the side. Though not blocking the turnstile it was mostly to be out of the way to save her and her sister's dignity, however when she caught sight of the person she nearly gasped and found herself coughing as if to clear her throat and call Ichi-ni back.
"It's ok," Rukia told her, turning her head to see Karin.
"Bu...but..." Karin stammered out before getting a better look at her. 'She seems so... tired...'
Rukia gave her a sad smile but shook her head and took a few steps forward, stepping through the turnstiles themselves but stopping a few feet away. At this angle Karin couldn't see her face or what expression she wore, but knew that the shinigami was smiling, proud of her brother.
"Ichigo..." Rukia began. "You've already changed the destiny of three worlds; so I know that no matter what happens... you'll be fine. And don't worry, I'll keep an eye on you every now and again. Make sure you won't get in over your's." She folded her arms as she continued to look at Ichigo's disappearing form, "Enjoy your life, Ichigo. And let's hope you don't see me again for a long, long time. I want to hear everything you did when it's over..."
And with that, both Ichigo and Uzume joined the people entering the train and disappeared through the doors, the only sign of knowing being Ichigo's bright hair no longer being visible amongst the other boarders. A few seconds after that, the doors closed and the people who exited made their way towards them for the exits.
And with that, even the view of the departure was momentarily lost, the last bits of the train being seen as the last of the disembarked passengers made their way off the platforms and into Karakura.
=========
Kurokawa opened the door to the van and accepted the nod Jiro wordlessly gave him. "Both the targets have boarded the train to Teito." he said. "The mission looks to be done."
The bulkier man nodded again as he reached for the cell phone on the dashboard in front of him. As he raised the device to his mouth the stocky man checked the time on his watch. "This is Jiro reporting in. Pass code two-five-eight-marble-dash. Time is seventeen-hundred twenty hours."
After a moment a distorted voice responded, "Good evening Agent Jiro."
"Good evening HQ," Jiro responded.
"Report," the voice responded.
"Kurosaki Ichigo and Number Ten are both returning to the Capital as we speak. They are aboard MBI train number eight-zero-seven en route to the next few stops before reaching the Keio Line. You can take over observation duties from here."
"Very good, Agent Jiro. Report to base ASAP."
"Yes, HQ. Over and out," Jiro replied. He sighed as he put the device back onto the dashboard. "And now we are finally done."
"Super," Kurokawa grunted. "Now let's get the fuck outta here. I've had enough of this place."
"Agreed for once," Jiro nodded as he started the ignition. "Never wanna come back here again. Don't know why, but this place gives me the creeps."
Kurokawa refrained from any smart comments as the engine hummed to life, and the duo were quickly out of Karakura as quickly as they arrived, with no one the wiser.
Well, no one alive at any rate.
=========
Back to Teito...
'What I am doing here?' Minato asked himself yet again.
Work had been let out early due to a evacuation notice related to the unusual growth at the Arboretum, and somehow or other he got roped in with Seo looking for the Green Girl, the one apparently responsible for that unusual growth. 'The Green Girl.... the same one from my dreams...,' he had wondered when heard about the email from Minaka basically letting on about a Sekirei in there and 'First Come, First Served.'
Against his better judgement he had followed Seo and his two Sekirei and nearly wet himself when they barged in and easily destroyed the MBI armored transport vehicle, scattering the escaping soldiers as they ran for their lives. That had been some time ago and he nearly soiled himself when an irritated Hikari threatened to pull him and the pole he had been hugging onto for dear life after that demonstration if he didn't let go.
Now, it had gotten a bit darker, and the tall trees and shrubbery didn't help in letting in what little light was left in the day, but Minato paid it little mind. That girl was in here and his head kept turning back and forth, scanning for any signs of her and where she may be hidden as he, Seo and his twin Sekirei continued to march further in the remains of the Arboretum.
"So tell me kid," Seo said, turning his head left and twisting a bit to get see Minato and get his attention as the young man was walking a little bit behind him. "How much do you know about the Sekireis?"
"Huh?" Minato grunted out confused. "Sekireis?" he repeated, his eyes slightly widening as part of him wondered why Seo asked all of a sudden. "I- I just know that MBI is involved somehow."
Seo grunted and continued, "Since you're an ashikabi yourself you do know how to make a Sekirei yours, right? How to wing them and make them emerge?" Seeing Minato continue to look clueless as they continued to make headway Seo grinned a bit. "You said so yourself kid, you're an ashikabi. So you should have already experienced it."
Minato's brow furrowed as he thought about it. 'Experienced it?' he wondered and thought back to Musubi, how they met, how they were chased, and how she ki-kis-kiss-
"That's right!" Seo crowed as Minato's face lit up enough that he could light their way in the darkening grounds for a few moments if need be. His heard looked forward again, momentarily enjoying the leathered backsides of his two Sekirei as they continued to walk point and continued his explanation as Minato's flush began to calm down. "Through mucosal contact, or kissing, an ashikabi's DNA reacts to a Sekirei's and is imprinted upon them, causing their wings to emerge and making them yours. Normally, it happens after a Sekirei makes contact with you and if you meet the criteria yourselves they'll react to you."
"Hm? React?" Minato questioned, feeling the need to speak, remembering Musubi's odd reactions to him that day they met.
Seo grunted and his eyes narrowed, his head lowering as his hands digged deeper into his coat pockets as he continued onward.
"Seo?"
=========
Somewhere Between Karakura and Teito...
The train continued on its journey as the new set of passengers from the last stop found what little number of leftover seats they could find or opted to remain standing, taking hold of the grips supplied to them and those that were within reach.
Uzume stretched in her seat and hummed, enjoying the sensation as her arms cricked as they were held out and pushed above her and her feet pushing below. Blinking she brought them back and readjusted herself in her seat and turned to see Ichigo blinking himself and smiled at him. "We there yet?" she asked a bit drowsily.
"Almost," he grunted, repressing a yawn.
"That's good," she said before angling over to once more lay her head on Ichigo's shoulder.
=========
"A Sekirei will choose their own Ashikabi's by themselves," Seo began after a quiet moment.
=========
"Uzume..."
"C'mon Ichigo, its just for a bit longer," she said a bit drowsily and smiled as she heard his snort.
=========
Not so much as they make a decision and stick with it, though they can, but its also a matter of their being and reaction to that person. Under the right set of conditions a Sekirei's body will begin to react that someone, and it signals to them that that person is the one they are meant to be with. However..."
"However," Minato cautiously ventured, suppressing a gulp as Seo's face had hardened.
=========
?????
"Hey there," a smooth voice called out, casually leaning up against a lamppost.
The one being called at stiffened as she was in the middle of re-lacing her boots. Her hands continued to hold onto the two untied laces but trembled as she turned her head.
=========
"However," Seo continued, "the way the system has been set up, anyone with the powers or potential of an ashikabi can wing any Sekirei, whether they want to or not."
=========
"It's funny how we keep finding each other," he called out to her, not caring for the giant hammer that had been set aside as he casually pushed off the lamppost and began walking toward her. "I'm sure you can understand it by now. It is fate after all," he grinned as his steps began to increase, the wide eyes of the the girl causing his smile to increase. He stretched his right arm and opened his hand and stretched his fingers before pulling them back in a loose grip to rub his thumb against his forefinger before brushing it against the side of his pants near his pockets. "Now," his voice lowered as the smile disappeared from his face.
"Be a good girl this time and stay still," he said as smoothly as he could.
=========
"You're kidding right?" Minato asked, a bit shaken to hear that that could happen. "Who would-"
"Creeps and scumbags who do it just so they can increase the number of Sekireis they have under their control without caring what it they want. There have already been several instances of forced winging and with the amount of Sekirei that are still searching for their ashikabi that kind of - huh?" he stopped, as he turned around to see Minato looking at him wide eyed.
Minato watched him and his wide eyes quickly darted to the two in front of them and back to Seo, mouth dry as the man confirmed to him that that had been happening. Seeing how Hikari and Hibiki got along with Seo and with Seo's explanation...
"Oh, uh, hey, you didn't..."
Seo gave him a flat look and frowned at him. "What are you, an idiot?" He looked forward again and lifted his chin to the two girls to get Minato to look at them. "After seeing them earlier, do those two seem easily forced to you?" he asked a bit lightly.
Minato looked at the two girls who turned to glance back at them. Hikari glared and turned away, her head turned slightly upward and humphed at Seo while Hikari looked at them and rolled her eyes before turning forward. Pretty much getting the point Minato calmed a bit and apologized.
"Though while on the subject," Seo said, "there will be people who will be coming after the Green Girl."
Minato's face fell slightly as Seo emphasized that point.
"And if that girl is calling to you, then she is reacting to you and you are the one who is supposed to be her ashikabi, so you better hurry and get to her before some other punk finds her first and you lose her due something as screwed up like 'first-come-first-served.'"
Minato's lips parted slightly and his teeth clenched, his nervousness at the entire situation and darkening scenery abating slightly at the abhorrent phrase of this situation. A faint wind blew as the four continued on, the only sounds they could hear being their footsteps and breath. "It's up to you to make those assholes realize something kid," Seo said, breaking the silence as he turned to Minato with a hard gaze.
"That girl is a person, not a prize in a rich fool's game."
=========
A Little Bit Later Across Town-
"C'mon, Ichigo," Uzume called, neatly gliding through the crowd.
The sun was setting, the skies above beginning to shift from orange to black. Some wind blew past, but with springtime around the corner it wasn't the biting cold the last few months had been. Around him people continued to bustle about, and Ichigo continued to wade through them all, bags in hand and over his shoulder. It was an interesting dance, seeing how he had to twist and turn every few seconds to keep from colliding with people too engrossed in their own problems to notice him as they hurried to their whereabouts.
Ichigo grunted as he kept an eye on Uzume, noting how cheerful she seemed and sighing in relief that after dinner he'd be at Izumo soon and he could put the whole trip behind him. Looking back the trip did go well enough overall, all things considered, and Uzume came out of it all the happier, save what could have happened that first night home. With Miya in charge, he knew he didn't have to worry much about that happening too soon, allowing him to focus on studies and think about his relationship with his girl...
And so the question comes back to that. With no word from MBI and no clue as to how these sekirei matches were to be had and when, he found it oddly comforting that they could take their time, allowing him to search his building feelings on the girl without anyone to push him. He looked up back to her and she stood near the station steps, waiting for him, holding on to her bags as another gust of wind blew past, catching her hair. A hand went up to hair to keep it down, not quite succeeding, and he smiled slightly as the locks that covered her face had tickled her nose, causing her to sneeze.
"Bless you," he said as he caught up with her.
"Thanks," she said as she fixed her hair and smiled up at him.
He nodded as his lips twitched, trying to stop themselves from curving further upwards and he shook his head as he began going down the stairs.
"Ah!" she exclaimed in surprise and good humor.
He stopped and turned back to look at her, looking upwards as she hadn't begun walking down the stairs yet. "What?"
"I saw that," she said, her face utterly bright.
"Saw what exactly?" he asked, turning back to see where he stepped as he continued to go down.
She hopped to him and quickly caught up, walking side by side with him as they reached the bottom. "You were about to smile," she said, almost in a sing-song voice as she bent over slightly as she walked with her head turned to face him.
"I was not," he said, a little surprised that he was actually feeling amused.
Her heart soared as she realized what he was doing, and was about to reply when-
"How sweet," a voice called out from a little bit away, but both knew it had been for them.
Both halted, turning to the voice. With less people outside the station both ended up being so focused on the other that they missed this person leaning against a concrete pillar. Uzume got a better look and paled, the good nature of a few seconds ago evaporating as quickly as a snowball dropped into hell. Without another word and her now heart pounding itself out of her chest she slipped in between herself and Ichigo, letting the bags fall as she did so.
"Uzume?" Ichigo said surprised at her response to this person and immediately bringing his game face into play when he realized what she was doing.
From his sekirei's actions, he could only draw one possible conclusion. She knew this person, and Uzume's posture all but screamed that this person was trouble.
He brought his face up and focused his gaze on the figure, a woman, who moved from her position to face him and blinked.
Is that all hollowfication can do? You were scarier back then...
He quickly shook his head, pushing Gin's words out of his mind, though looking at the woman it was easy to see why.
She was taller than Uzume by a few inches but still several inches smaller than him. Ash blond hair framed this woman's face, one not that all unpleasant. Bangs long enough to cover her forehead fell but parted as if not to not blind her, covering the sides of her eyes and the bridge of her nose. One strand stood up over her bangs to her side and a high tied ponytail completed her hairstyle. A dark grey haori covered a form fitting black uniform, stopping high on her thigh with lavender highlights, and he tensed at the two sekirei crest on both flaps on the chest area of her haori. Long, dark boots rode up her strong thighs as she walked to them casually.
But it was her eyes that had sent his mind back. Shut almost completely, making it seem like they couldn't see anything at all.
Like Gin.
Her eyes then opened, momentarily radiating menace as she schooled her lips into a smile.
A smile that he had seen more often on Ikkaku and Kenpachi.
In the two years that he had been deprived of the life, work and power of a shinigami he had been gifted with a few blessings from that time. While the training he had undergone in that time showed in his body, there were other things that had stayed with him as well.
Instinct.
Pure gut feeling instinct. One does not survive in that world without developing some feeling for the flow of battle and mood. The air around oneself, the rise of the hair on one's back, recognizing the tics that an opponent gave off would help ensure survival.
Seeing that smile and sway from this woman his eyes narrowed further and reached out to put a hand on Uzume's shoulder, causing her to slightly gasp unconsciously. Gently he pulled back but she resisted. With a firmer tug and gentle squeeze she took a step back, causing her to give enough room for him to slide forward. Not looking at Uzume he missed her surprised and near panicked look as he stepped in front of her, never taking his eyes off the woman as he placed himself in between Uzume and her.
The woman's eyes widened slightly and her head tilted at his actions, causing her smile to grow a bit wider. "I'm not sure whether to acknowledge your bravery or compliment your stupidity. Tell me, ashikabi-san, what should I do?"
She move forward, closing in on Ichigo's personal space. His grip on Uzume tightened as she tried to move forward again.
"Or maybe," she drawled. "I should say you sure got guts, taking a Sekirei out of the Capital an' all."
"And why is that?" Ichigo asked in a level voice, his eyes noting her hand hovering close to her sheathed katana that was nearly hidden under her haori at her waist.
"Even though nothing's been said, Sekirei technically aren't supposed to leave the Capital area at all, and here you up and waltzed out with one without a care. Maybe..." she trailed, her eyes narrowing dangerously, ."..I should make an example out of you for the rest."
His grip on Uzume tightened further, keeping her held back. "Ichigo," she said, her own voice pitched with fear and uncertainty.
He stared into Karasuba's eyes, measuring her as she continued to measure him.
Her own eyes met his and twitched.
For a brief but eternal moment in time both had locked in on each other.
And then she struck.
"ICHIGO!!"
Almost faster than Uzume could see Karasuba had drawn and held the business end of the blade at his throat before Uzume could finish her scream.
His gaze never wavered, eyes still locked on Karasuba's own.
"Hoh," Karasuba remarked, eyes widening ever so slightly. "No scream," she then looked down. "No leaking pants," she looked back up at him, giving him a more interested look. "I'm impressed," she admitted, grinning further.
"You never intended to follow through," he responded firmly, his gaze hard.
She locked on his gaze and felt a shiver run through her. She then stepped back and sheathed her blade, her grin never leaving her face.
"Congratulations, Ashikabi-chan," she said, acknowledging his answer while still mocking him. Turning away, she began to walk off. "Be sure not to so again," she called out without looking back. "I may not be so lenient next time."
Her walk quickened as her smile threatened to crack her face and her eyes all but radiated excitement.
His eyes....
They were just like Number One's!
She trembled in excitement, her body needing release. She lept high onto the rooftops, eager to find prey.
Any prey.
=========
'What I am doing here?' Minato asked himself yet again.
Work had been let out early due to a evacuation notice related to the unusual growth at the Arboretum, and somehow or other he got roped in with Seo looking for the Green Girl, the one apparently responsible for that unusual growth. 'The Green Girl.... the same one from my dreams...,' he had wondered when heard about the email from Minaka basically letting on about a Sekirei in there and 'First Come, First Served.'
Against his better judgement he had followed Seo and his two Sekirei and nearly wet himself when they barged in and easily destroyed the MBI armored transport vehicle, scattering the escaping soldiers as they ran for their lives. That had been some time ago and he nearly soiled himself when an irritated Hikari threatened to pull him and the pole he had been hugging onto for dear life after that demonstration if he didn't let go.
Now, it had gotten a bit darker, and the tall trees and shrubbery didn't help in letting in what little light was left in the day, but Minato paid it little mind. That girl was in here and his head kept turning back and forth, scanning for any signs of her and where she may be hidden as he, Seo and his twin Sekirei continued to march further in the remains of the Arboretum.
"So tell me kid," Seo said, turning his head left and twisting a bit to get see Minato and get his attention as the young man was walking a little bit behind him. "How much do you know about the Sekireis?"
"Huh?" Minato grunted out confused. "Sekireis?" he repeated, his eyes slightly widening as part of him wondered why Seo asked all of a sudden. "I- I just know that MBI is involved somehow."
Seo grunted and continued, "Since you're an ashikabi yourself you do know how to make a Sekirei yours, right? How to wing them and make them emerge?" Seeing Minato continue to look clueless as they continued to make headway Seo grinned a bit. "You said so yourself kid, you're an ashikabi. So you should have already experienced it."
Minato's brow furrowed as he thought about it. 'Experienced it?' he wondered and thought back to Musubi, how they met, how they were chased, and how she ki-kis-kiss-
"That's right!" Seo crowed as Minato's face lit up enough that he could light their way in the darkening grounds for a few moments if need be. His heard looked forward again, momentarily enjoying the leathered backsides of his two Sekirei as they continued to walk point and continued his explanation as Minato's flush began to calm down. "Through mucosal contact, or kissing, an ashikabi's DNA reacts to a Sekirei's and is imprinted upon them, causing their wings to emerge and making them yours. Normally, it happens after a Sekirei makes contact with you and if you meet the criteria yourselves they'll react to you."
"Hm? React?" Minato questioned, feeling the need to speak, remembering Musubi's odd reactions to him that day they met.
Seo grunted and his eyes narrowed, his head lowering as his hands digged deeper into his coat pockets as he continued onward.
"Seo?"
=========
Somewhere Between Karakura and Teito...
The train continued on its journey as the new set of passengers from the last stop found what little number of leftover seats they could find or opted to remain standing, taking hold of the grips supplied to them and those that were within reach.
Uzume stretched in her seat and hummed, enjoying the sensation as her arms cricked as they were held out and pushed above her and her feet pushing below. Blinking she brought them back and readjusted herself in her seat and turned to see Ichigo blinking himself and smiled at him. "We there yet?" she asked a bit drowsily.
"Almost," he grunted, repressing a yawn.
"That's good," she said before angling over to once more lay her head on Ichigo's shoulder.
=========
"A Sekirei will choose their own Ashikabi's by themselves," Seo began after a quiet moment.
=========
"Uzume..."
"C'mon Ichigo, its just for a bit longer," she said a bit drowsily and smiled as she heard his snort.
=========
Not so much as they make a decision and stick with it, though they can, but its also a matter of their being and reaction to that person. Under the right set of conditions a Sekirei's body will begin to react that someone, and it signals to them that that person is the one they are meant to be with. However..."
"However," Minato cautiously ventured, suppressing a gulp as Seo's face had hardened.
=========
?????
"Hey there," a smooth voice called out, casually leaning up against a lamppost.
The one being called at stiffened as she was in the middle of re-lacing her boots. Her hands continued to hold onto the two untied laces but trembled as she turned her head.
=========
"However," Seo continued, "the way the system has been set up, anyone with the powers or potential of an ashikabi can wing any Sekirei, whether they want to or not."
=========
"It's funny how we keep finding each other," he called out to her, not caring for the giant hammer that had been set aside as he casually pushed off the lamppost and began walking toward her. "I'm sure you can understand it by now. It is fate after all," he grinned as his steps began to increase, the wide eyes of the the girl causing his smile to increase. He stretched his right arm and opened his hand and stretched his fingers before pulling them back in a loose grip to rub his thumb against his forefinger before brushing it against the side of his pants near his pockets. "Now," his voice lowered as the smile disappeared from his face.
"Be a good girl this time and stay still," he said as smoothly as he could.
=========
"You're kidding right?" Minato asked, a bit shaken to hear that that could happen. "Who would-"
"Creeps and scumbags who do it just so they can increase the number of Sekireis they have under their control without caring what it they want. There have already been several instances of forced winging and with the amount of Sekirei that are still searching for their ashikabi that kind of - huh?" he stopped, as he turned around to see Minato looking at him wide eyed.
Minato watched him and his wide eyes quickly darted to the two in front of them and back to Seo, mouth dry as the man confirmed to him that that had been happening. Seeing how Hikari and Hibiki got along with Seo and with Seo's explanation...
"Oh, uh, hey, you didn't..."
Seo gave him a flat look and frowned at him. "What are you, an idiot?" He looked forward again and lifted his chin to the two girls to get Minato to look at them. "After seeing them earlier, do those two seem easily forced to you?" he asked a bit lightly.
Minato looked at the two girls who turned to glance back at them. Hikari glared and turned away, her head turned slightly upward and humphed at Seo while Hikari looked at them and rolled her eyes before turning forward. Pretty much getting the point Minato calmed a bit and apologized.
"Though while on the subject," Seo said, "there will be people who will be coming after the Green Girl."
Minato's face fell slightly as Seo emphasized that point.
"And if that girl is calling to you, then she is reacting to you and you are the one who is supposed to be her ashikabi, so you better hurry and get to her before some other punk finds her first and you lose her due something as screwed up like 'first-come-first-served.'"
Minato's lips parted slightly and his teeth clenched, his nervousness at the entire situation and darkening scenery abating slightly at the abhorrent phrase of this situation. A faint wind blew as the four continued on, the only sounds they could hear being their footsteps and breath. "It's up to you to make those assholes realize something kid," Seo said, breaking the silence as he turned to Minato with a hard gaze.
"That girl is a person, not a prize in a rich fool's game."
=========
A Little Bit Later Across Town-
"C'mon, Ichigo," Uzume called, neatly gliding through the crowd.
The sun was setting, the skies above beginning to shift from orange to black. Some wind blew past, but with springtime around the corner it wasn't the biting cold the last few months had been. Around him people continued to bustle about, and Ichigo continued to wade through them all, bags in hand and over his shoulder. It was an interesting dance, seeing how he had to twist and turn every few seconds to keep from colliding with people too engrossed in their own problems to notice him as they hurried to their whereabouts.
Ichigo grunted as he kept an eye on Uzume, noting how cheerful she seemed and sighing in relief that after dinner he'd be at Izumo soon and he could put the whole trip behind him. Looking back the trip did go well enough overall, all things considered, and Uzume came out of it all the happier, save what could have happened that first night home. With Miya in charge, he knew he didn't have to worry much about that happening too soon, allowing him to focus on studies and think about his relationship with his girl...
And so the question comes back to that. With no word from MBI and no clue as to how these sekirei matches were to be had and when, he found it oddly comforting that they could take their time, allowing him to search his building feelings on the girl without anyone to push him. He looked up back to her and she stood near the station steps, waiting for him, holding on to her bags as another gust of wind blew past, catching her hair. A hand went up to hair to keep it down, not quite succeeding, and he smiled slightly as the locks that covered her face had tickled her nose, causing her to sneeze.
"Bless you," he said as he caught up with her.
"Thanks," she said as she fixed her hair and smiled up at him.
He nodded as his lips twitched, trying to stop themselves from curving further upwards and he shook his head as he began going down the stairs.
"Ah!" she exclaimed in surprise and good humor.
He stopped and turned back to look at her, looking upwards as she hadn't begun walking down the stairs yet. "What?"
"I saw that," she said, her face utterly bright.
"Saw what exactly?" he asked, turning back to see where he stepped as he continued to go down.
She hopped to him and quickly caught up, walking side by side with him as they reached the bottom. "You were about to smile," she said, almost in a sing-song voice as she bent over slightly as she walked with her head turned to face him.
"I was not," he said, a little surprised that he was actually feeling amused.
Her heart soared as she realized what he was doing, and was about to reply when-
"How sweet," a voice called out from a little bit away, but both knew it had been for them.
Both halted, turning to the voice. With less people outside the station both ended up being so focused on the other that they missed this person leaning against a concrete pillar. Uzume got a better look and paled, the good nature of a few seconds ago evaporating as quickly as a snowball dropped into hell. Without another word and her now heart pounding itself out of her chest she slipped in between herself and Ichigo, letting the bags fall as she did so.
"Uzume?" Ichigo said surprised at her response to this person and immediately bringing his game face into play when he realized what she was doing.
From his sekirei's actions, he could only draw one possible conclusion. She knew this person, and Uzume's posture all but screamed that this person was trouble.
He brought his face up and focused his gaze on the figure, a woman, who moved from her position to face him and blinked.
Is that all hollowfication can do? You were scarier back then...
He quickly shook his head, pushing Gin's words out of his mind, though looking at the woman it was easy to see why.
She was taller than Uzume by a few inches but still several inches smaller than him. Ash blond hair framed this woman's face, one not that all unpleasant. Bangs long enough to cover her forehead fell but parted as if not to not blind her, covering the sides of her eyes and the bridge of her nose. One strand stood up over her bangs to her side and a high tied ponytail completed her hairstyle. A dark grey haori covered a form fitting black uniform, stopping high on her thigh with lavender highlights, and he tensed at the two sekirei crest on both flaps on the chest area of her haori. Long, dark boots rode up her strong thighs as she walked to them casually.
But it was her eyes that had sent his mind back. Shut almost completely, making it seem like they couldn't see anything at all.
Like Gin.
Her eyes then opened, momentarily radiating menace as she schooled her lips into a smile.
A smile that he had seen more often on Ikkaku and Kenpachi.
In the two years that he had been deprived of the life, work and power of a shinigami he had been gifted with a few blessings from that time. While the training he had undergone in that time showed in his body, there were other things that had stayed with him as well.
Instinct.
Pure gut feeling instinct. One does not survive in that world without developing some feeling for the flow of battle and mood. The air around oneself, the rise of the hair on one's back, recognizing the tics that an opponent gave off would help ensure survival.
Seeing that smile and sway from this woman his eyes narrowed further and reached out to put a hand on Uzume's shoulder, causing her to slightly gasp unconsciously. Gently he pulled back but she resisted. With a firmer tug and gentle squeeze she took a step back, causing her to give enough room for him to slide forward. Not looking at Uzume he missed her surprised and near panicked look as he stepped in front of her, never taking his eyes off the woman as he placed himself in between Uzume and her.
The woman's eyes widened slightly and her head tilted at his actions, causing her smile to grow a bit wider. "I'm not sure whether to acknowledge your bravery or compliment your stupidity. Tell me, ashikabi-san, what should I do?"
She move forward, closing in on Ichigo's personal space. His grip on Uzume tightened as she tried to move forward again.
"Or maybe," she drawled. "I should say you sure got guts, taking a Sekirei out of the Capital an' all."
"And why is that?" Ichigo asked in a level voice, his eyes noting her hand hovering close to her sheathed katana that was nearly hidden under her haori at her waist.
"Even though nothing's been said, Sekirei technically aren't supposed to leave the Capital area at all, and here you up and waltzed out with one without a care. Maybe..." she trailed, her eyes narrowing dangerously, ."..I should make an example out of you for the rest."
His grip on Uzume tightened further, keeping her held back. "Ichigo," she said, her own voice pitched with fear and uncertainty.
He stared into Karasuba's eyes, measuring her as she continued to measure him.
Her own eyes met his and twitched.
For a brief but eternal moment in time both had locked in on each other.
And then she struck.
"ICHIGO!!"
Almost faster than Uzume could see Karasuba had drawn and held the business end of the blade at his throat before Uzume could finish her scream.
His gaze never wavered, eyes still locked on Karasuba's own.
"Hoh," Karasuba remarked, eyes widening ever so slightly. "No scream," she then looked down. "No leaking pants," she looked back up at him, giving him a more interested look. "I'm impressed," she admitted, grinning further.
"You never intended to follow through," he responded firmly, his gaze hard.
She locked on his gaze and felt a shiver run through her. She then stepped back and sheathed her blade, her grin never leaving her face.
"Congratulations, Ashikabi-chan," she said, acknowledging his answer while still mocking him. Turning away, she began to walk off. "Be sure not to so again," she called out without looking back. "I may not be so lenient next time."
Her walk quickened as her smile threatened to crack her face and her eyes all but radiated excitement.
His eyes....
They were just like Number One's!
She trembled in excitement, her body needing release. She lept high onto the rooftops, eager to find prey.
Any prey.
=========
Here's hoping that Ichigo can rescue the hammer girl.
Also that the other shinigami will eventually realize that Ichigo's been plunged into a death tournament and needs his powers back; the recent chapters have shown that the Shinigami feel that they owe him big for sacrificing his powers to save their asses from Aizen.
Or possibly that he'll spontaneously awaken a portion of them if he runs into the girl with Zangetsu and awakens a Fullbring or something. Him regaining some form of powers is probably inevitable, given that the power-link the Sekirei have with their Ashakibi seems to be two-way.
Also that the other shinigami will eventually realize that Ichigo's been plunged into a death tournament and needs his powers back; the recent chapters have shown that the Shinigami feel that they owe him big for sacrificing his powers to save their asses from Aizen.
Or possibly that he'll spontaneously awaken a portion of them if he runs into the girl with Zangetsu and awakens a Fullbring or something. Him regaining some form of powers is probably inevitable, given that the power-link the Sekirei have with their Ashakibi seems to be two-way.
Great story so far, I think you've got the characterization down pretty well and I just like the general flow of your writing. As for Ichigo's powers... letting him activate his fullbring might be the best way to go, if you do it at all, that way he gets some power without turning it into a curbstomp fic.
Another reason for having the Fullbring is that it can be used while still in a human body. If he get's his Shinigami powers back, he needs to leave his body to fight. And in this death tournament, that means he'll get killed.
The only problem with using Fullbring is that like in the manga, he's kinda reckless with it. He's use to fighting without his real body, and those instincts are kinda hard to get rid of. If he gets fullbring and fight's like he got his Shinigami powers back, he'll get really really badly hurt. (assuming he gets them back in a fight and sees Uzume losing and goes on a rampage)
The only problem with using Fullbring is that like in the manga, he's kinda reckless with it. He's use to fighting without his real body, and those instincts are kinda hard to get rid of. If he gets fullbring and fight's like he got his Shinigami powers back, he'll get really really badly hurt. (assuming he gets them back in a fight and sees Uzume losing and goes on a rampage)
Anyone else picturing Ichigo regaining Zangetsu and Miya somehow being able to see and interact with him? (The Old Man form, not the sword, obviously.) I mean if Zabimaru can pop up to mock Renji while Renji was locked up, then why can't Zangetsu be walking next to Ichigo in the Izumo?
As for Why Miya can see him? She's Miya. She's just that scary. I mean picture Miya and Unohana having tea together. Now try to think of anyone crazy enough to interrupt them.
As for Why Miya can see him? She's Miya. She's just that scary. I mean picture Miya and Unohana having tea together. Now try to think of anyone crazy enough to interrupt them.
About the Fulbring thing I'm in the impression that if Ichigo gets any(even a tiny bit) of his Shinigami powers back he can wear them on his human body like the other Fulbringers are doing with their own powers thanks to his fulbring(Wearing your powers like a Mantle or Cloaking yourself in your own power).
Muhahahahahahaha
Human Shinigami indeed.
Muhahahahahahaha
Human Shinigami indeed.