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Sep. 30th, 2010 03:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
queenofchalicesTitle: The Devil's Plaything, Chapter 15 - Bare Grace Misery
Series: Bleach
Rating: R
Warnings: AU, het (IchiHime, lots of other pairings eventually), blood, guts, testosterone, ANGST
Spoilers: This is AU. We don't need spoilers, where we're going.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to a lot of Japanese people, namely people like Tite Kubo and Shonen Jump. You'll notice how none of those are me. The LiveJournal format that you'll probably be reading this in (if you're one of my friends) is rough draft and is subject to revision. Consider this a 'sneak peek'. If something sits the wrong way with you, let me know. This will probably (never) be updated weekly, until I eventually drop it like every other project ever. Not responsible for epileptic seizures or allergic reactions. May contain eye-and-brain-bleeding levels of radioactive ANGST and/or peanut products. Please sit a reasonable distance from your computer screen.
Author’s Note: No, I haven’t abandoned this story! I’ve just slowed down on updating it to accommodate the other three stories I have going. But rest assured that I won’t abandon it unless I necessarily have to or just have no will left to continue it. That being said, I’m just now catching up with my multi-chaptered fics; the next one in line to be updated is Lady in Waiting, and I already have about 1,000 words done on that one. It should be done sometime next week.
I also made a small correction in the last chapter because I realized I'd mixed up two characters' names when I didn't mean it. It became important in this chapter and I had to go back and correct it.
Either way, please enjoy this chapter (as well as Orihime’s return to the manga after a year and a half! She even brought some IchiHime with her)!
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"Get down, Hiyori!"
The pigtailed blonde swung herself out of the path of the razor-sharp claws just in the nick of time. Her jacket hadn't been so lucky, but the girl herself was alright.
"What the hell do we do?!" she demanded, drawing her serrated sword up to defend against a second strike. Shinji ran up behind the monster, pulling it back by its shaggy mane and attaching himself to its back. It stumbled backwards, trying to get at him as the blond attempted to break its neck. Unfortunately, he wasn't quite strong enough to snap its spinal column and was flung away for his troubles.
"We gotta wait on Urahara to get here," he panted, wiping his mouth as he regained his balance, "He's gonna go nuclear on 'im!"
The "Nuclear Option". Hiyori nodded to show her understanding. It was unfortunate, but she knew it was likely to be the only way any of them were going to live. That thing had already snapped one of them in half and gravely injured three more.
Only Hachi had been untouched so far, and that was because he was maintaining the barrier they were fighting inside of. It was only due to his efforts that the demonic nobility hadn't started breathing down their necks yet, with the ruckus they were causing. That barrier not only hid them and any property damage from view, but also scents, sounds, and temperatures. Should Hachi have stopped at any time, they would all have been royally screwed.
Not that they weren't already. They'd already had to place a call to Urahara for the last resort he'd been developing for just such an occasion. It stung hard; as much as Hiyori bitched and cussed at her companions, they were all still her only family. Watching any one of them get hurt rankled her, and right now she was feeling mighty rankled. But she knew that if Urahara didn't show up, there was no chance of any of them surviving, not even Hachi.
"Pay attention to me, ya damn big lug!" Shinji barked, striking the creature in the area roughly where its kidneys lay. Hiyori knew he was trying to buy her time to get a strike of her own in - and if she was completely honest with herself, she also knew Shinji was trying to draw its ire away from her. She would almost have been insulted, if it wasn't such a good strategy. They were the only two left almost uninjured, they might as well make the best of it.
The demon swung its claws wide in Shinji's direction, striking his sword and pressing him hard. This gave Hiyori an opening to drive her sword into its shoulder. Unfortunately, its shoulder blade was tougher than her sword, stopping the metal short and sending the pressure reverberating back up her arms. This thing was a goddamned tank.
Still, it roared in indignation at having been gouged, turning its attention back to Hiyori as it swung wildly at her. Shinji gave a startled yelp as it flung him back in its lumbering efforts to get at the tiny girl.
"Yeah!" Hiyori screamed, drawing her sword back with aching arms and baring her sharp teeth, "Come at me, asshole! I'll kick yer ass!"
"Keep 'im busy, Hiyori!" Shinji shouted, gathering his bearings and standing. As Hiyori lunged at the monster again, Shinji made his way over to his fallen lieutenant and slung the bigger man's arm over his shoulder. He was bearing the silver-haired man's weight entirely, limping them both toward Hachi. As long as Hiyori kept their foe distracted, he'd be golden.
"Shinji," Kensei gasped, regaining consciousness, "Mashiro... she's..." Shinji kept his eyes straight ahead as sweat beaded on his brow.
"She's fine," Shinji said dismissively, finally making it to Hachi, "Let us out, old man!" The pink-haired man complied, cutting a doorway in his barrier for them. As soon as they were free, Shinji let Kensei slump to the ground and looked back to the barrier.
"I'm goin' back in," he gritted, stepping back the way he came.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Shinji turned back to see the former head of Greed House, Urahara Kisuke, fanning himself idly. His new second-in-command, Tsukabishi Tessai, was at his side holding a large, menacing shoulder cannon. Shinji's eyes widened as he realized how little time they had left.
"Hiyori, grab Mashiro and get out now!" Shinji screamed, turning back to the enclosure. The pigtailed girl whipped her head around in acknowledgment before disengaging from the monster and sprinting to Mashiro's side to scoop her up.
"You need to lose some weight," she grunted, hoisting the green-haired girl over her shoulders. Mashiro didn't respond.
"Shinji, what about the others?!" Hiyori yelled back, ignoring the monster looming over her back. Before it could strike, however, something grabbed it underneath its arms and held it fast. She turned just in time to see who it was.
"Leave me," Love grunted, battered and bloody and still struggling with the fiend nonetheless, "I'll cover you!"
"But Lisa--!"
"She's already done for," the dark-skinned man informed her, struggling with the thing they'd been fighting, "Hurry up and get out!"
Hiyori's expression was horror struck. She couldn't believe they were losing this many comrades in a single night. Her indecision only lasted a split-second more before she took her lip between her teeth and made her way to Hachi.
As soon as he let her out, she was vaguely aware of her former captain motioning to the battle inside with his fan. She turned just in time to see the shot fired back the way she had come, and the ensuing explosion.
It was horrific. That was the only way Hiyori knew to describe it. As she let Mashiro slump to the ground, she watched awestruck at the destruction the shot caused. It somehow left the scenery intact while completely incinerating the three demons inside.
If it were a normal fire, however, it wouldn't have been so terrifying. No, this was more than that; this took whatever had caused the monster to mutate in the first place and turned it up to eleven. He screamed in agony as his form got larger and more unstable, growing from a large, man-shaped, beaked thing, to something resembling a small, winged dinosaur. From there, it became an unrecognizable mound of flesh before exploding entirely. The entire process took roughly three seconds. Worse yet, Hiyori looked on in utter horror as the same process quickly overtook Love.
She looked away, covering her mouth and nose as though Hachi's barrier didn't trap smell. And although she'd never admit it, her eyes might have been just a little wet.
"Lisa... Love... Rose..."
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"We lost three people that night. One was killed in the fight an' one died holding the other one back. That's what it means t' lose control o' this thing."
Ichigo stared at the pigtailed girl in something akin to horror. Was that what the thing growing inside him was? A monster?
"So... What exactly... are we?" Ichigo asked hesitantly. He somehow knew he wasn't going to like the answer.
"An accident waitin' t' happen," Hiyori replied, rolling her eyes, "We're monsters, kid. Whatever got inta us, it changed us. We're harder to kill, but if ya let yer guard down, that thing inside you can take over. And when that happens, you'll haveta be put down."
Ichigo flinched at the way she said it so matter-of-factly. It seemed like the most normal thing in the world to her, as though she was telling Ichigo he'd have to go to the store for milk if he drunk the last of it. More disturbing than that was the idea that he could turn into some kind of mutated monster, like that Rose guy.
"So... If that happens... What do you do? When you lose control like that, I mean?" Ichigo was aware he sounded nervous, but he couldn't bring himself to care. If what Shinji had told him earlier was true, he could be a greater danger to Orihime than anyone he'd met yet. At least he finally understood why Urahara had told him exactly that when he'd asked to see her.
"Does it matter?" Hiyori asked, rolling her eyes, "Hopefully, we won't have t' deal with it! Who knows, it might even just be a matter of time for all of us! All I know is that if you screw up and go berserk, we'll end you." Ichigo's eyes narrowed at that. Did she have to make it sound so definite?
"So what do I do?" he asked impatiently, "Are you gonna tell me how to not get myself killed with this thing or what?" Hiyori smirked, that pointy canine of hers peeking just underneath her lips.
"I'm gettin' ta that!" she said, "Hachi! Give us a good, strong barrier! One with five layers!" The larger man, who had thus far been standing a ways off from their conversation, clapped his hands five times in quick succession. Ichigo watched in fascination as five translucent barriers sprung up around him and Hiyori, each layering atop the last. He suddenly had the all-too-unsettling feeling that he was utterly trapped.
When he turned back to look at Hiyori, though, that same sharp buzzing had begun at the base of his skull again. Her eyes had gone completely black and gold, just like Shinji's. Ichigo felt a sharp pain surge through his head, almost taking his breath away and driving him to his knees. He clutched the sides of his head as he knelt in the dirt of the training room, tugging hard at the orange strands. His breathing became labored and he felt like he might throw up at any moment. Whatever Hiyori was doing, she wasn't letting up like Shinji had.
"What are you... doing?!" Ichigo demanded, disturbed by his own unfamiliar voice.
"The thing inside ya is reactin' to the thing inside me," Hiyori said almost cheerfully, a sadistic smirk on her face, "He wants t' come out, Ichigo! The sooner you stop resistin', the easier this'll be!" Ichigo panted, planting his hands on the floor and barely managing to hold himself up.
"I refuse!" he screamed, "This is my mind! I won't let him take over! I won't..." Before he could finish his sentence, another wave of intense pain overtook him. The thing inside him was clawing it's way out, slowly dragging him under into unconsciousness. Before Ichigo could say or do anything else, however, he felt his vision growing blurry and black around the edges.
Ichigo's last thought as he slipped into unconsciousness was 'Not again!'
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The blackness began to dull in the middle, slowly pushing the dark void back to the edges of Ichigo's mind. As it did, it smoothly transitioned from black to dark gray to a hazy pale gray to clear white. This all most likely took a total of a couple of seconds, but to Ichigo it felt like an eternity.
As soon as his vision cleared, he began to look around. The room he was now in was barren and stark white, the only furnishing being the bed upon which he found himself laying. As he sat up, rubbing his head gingerly, Ichigo became keenly aware that he was not alone. And he was being watched.
His head whipped around to find the cause of his recent distress. There he sat, chin propped on his fist, legs widely crossed at the knee as he sprawled lazily across his large white chair. He was identical to Ichigo in every way, a perfect replica carved out of ice and snow and marble, immaculately white. The only points of color on him were his black and yellow eyes, his blue tongue, and his black fingernails.
The look he was giving Ichigo made him feel as though this new him was going to devour him.
"You," Ichigo murmured, glaring at his pale copy, "What the hell do you want with me?" The white demon stirred, moving forward and looking at Ichigo intently.
"What do I want?" he echoed, grinning, "You should know, Ichigo." When the man in question didn't respond, his copy continued.
"I want the same things you do," the white creature continued, "I'm just more honest about it." Ichigo's brows knitted together. That didn't sound good.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Keheheh!" the clone laughed, a scratchy, high-pitched cackle that made him sound unhinged, "Come on, Ichigo! I'm all those things you don't want to admit to! All those urges you think are bad! Fighting! Fucking! All those things you want, I want! I'm you, Ichigo!"
Ichigo stared in horror at this new vulgar side of himself. Was it true? Did he really want those things? And if so, did that mean he basically had his very own evil side now? And how had Orihime created something like that inside of him?
"That woman," the creature said shrewdly, rising to circle Ichigo on his bed, "You wanna know what happens to her if I get out, right? Those others never knew who made them, but I do."
At this declaration, Ichigo rose, allowing the bed to fall away into the pure white background. He would never let this monster near Orihime, that much he knew for certain.
"I won't let you lay a finger on her," he growled, staring his white counterpart down. The other demon smirked, exuding amusement.
"You won't?" he mocked Ichigo, "Are you sure you mean that? That means you won't be able to either. Everything you do from now on includes me... partner."
Ichigo felt sick. This bastard knew him inside and out; his every thought and feeling, urge and desire. The only way he could even think of to thwart him would be to simply stay away from Orihime.
"What if I don't?" he challenged, "What if I just stay away from her?" The white-haired clone snorted at him.
"Please, Ichigo," he said, his voice dripping boredom, "Don't bullshit me. I know better than that. You promised that smiley hat bastard you'd take care of her. Besides, you know you can't stay away from her blood."
Ichigo paled at this; his counterpart had hit the nail precisely on the head. If he tried to abandon her, his higher instincts would scream for going back on his obligations, and his base instincts would howl at being denied her closeness. As sick as it was, Ichigo realized just how much he desired her and her delicious blood.
"Then I have no choice," he said with a shudder, "I'll beat you until you won't be able to come after her. I'll never let you out." The nausea he felt at watching this new side of himself had finally given way to grim determination. Ichigo had made up his mind that he would protect Orihime, and that definitely extended to protecting her from himself.
"That's the spirit, Ichigo!" the white devil said, grinning from ear to ear, "After all, if I win, I get her and your body all to myself!" Suddenly, Ichigo noticed the long white nodachi in his counterpart's hand. It was an exact replica of the one he used. Ichigo's teeth pulled back in a sneer; like hell he was going to let this bastard steal his life!
He could feel it then. His own black sword's weight had appeared in his right hand. It was like a signal for him to lunge at the white creature, snarling and roaring as he did so. As their swords connected, sending sparks flying, Ichigo could clearly see his counterpart's mouth turned up in a twisted grin.
"Yes! Yes!" he yelled happily, goading Ichigo forward, "Come on, Ichigo! Fight me! If you can't beat me, you can't take those other assholes that want her!" Ichigo pressed him harder for all of his annoying mirth. He already knew he liked to fight, but this was just getting ridiculous.
"I won't let anyone touch her!" he screamed, "Not you, not those assholes in the alley, not anyone!"
Every strike Ichigo made, the white beast grinned wider and wider. Ichigo knew he was forcing him back hard, putting him on the defensive, but it seemed like he wasn't making a dent in him. Finally, the clone slung him back with a flick of his wrist. He lazily swung his sword around by the white chain dangling from the end, slowly loping over to Ichigo's fallen form.
"Didn't think it'd be that easy, didja?" he drawled happily, "I'm not gonna go down like some little bitch just 'cause you finally let yer nuts drop and found a reason to fight." By then, Ichigo had recovered, rising easily to his feet and leveling his sword at his counterpart once again. Now, though, he was also smiling.
"Who said I wanted this to be easy?" he retorted, "Beating the shit out of you wouldn't be any fun if you just stood there and took it!"
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"Orihime-chaaaan!"
The buxom blonde came barreling into Orihime's convalescence room, dragging two petite black-haired girls in behind her. Orihime looked up from her spot on her futon, where she was sitting up and reading her schoolbook, to watch her three visitors.
"Oh, Rangiku-san!", she happily exclaimed, putting the book aside, "Kuchiki-san, Hinamori-san! How are you all today?" She favored the three demon girls with a sunny smile, grateful for the company. Spending four days laying in bed with only the TV for company wasn't exactly Orihime's idea of fun.
"We are all fine," Rukia said, shaking her head; only Orihime would be stabbed through the chest and still asking others how they were.
"Orihime-chan, Hitsugaya-kun and the rest of Wrath House send their warmest regards." Orihime watched as the small demon girl placed a balloon bouquet on one of her bedside tables, adjusting it to a place of prominence.
"Thank you, Hinamori-san," she said softly, taken aback by the outpouring of well wishes from people she felt like she barely knew. Before she could focus too much on it, though, Rangiku spoke up.
"That scruffy old shopkeeper said you're well enough to go on a little walk!" Rangiku quickly interjected, "Isn't that great?" Orihime looked more than a little startled, to be sure. She had only just managed to sit up again yesterday and had only been able to go back and forth to the toilet unassisted this morning. She knew she healed fast, but she doubted it was that fast.
"Rangiku-san, that's rude!" Momo scolded. Her protests were sadly in vain.
"B-But... Are you sure?" Orihime asked, fretting, "I can hardly walk." Rangiku breezily waved her protests off.
"That's why we brought a wheelchair," she said succinctly, "You don't have to walk! You just have to come with us!"
The next few minutes found Orihime the center of a flurry of attention as Rangiku, Rukia, and Momo bustled about to make her presentable. Hair was brushed, clothes were changed, her face was washed, and the wheelchair was wheeled in. Finally, Orihime was plopped into the contraption and they were on their way.
"I've never ridden in a wheelchair before!" Orihime happily exclaimed as Rukia wheeled her out of Urahara's shop and into the late April sunshine. The dark-haired girl smiled warmly at her.
"Let us hope you do not have to again," she said gently, patting her younger companion's head. As she did so, Rangiku smirked at them and pranced a little bit ahead of them.
"Why, Rukia-chan!" she said mischievously, "I do believe that's the first time I've ever seen you smile and actually look happy while doing it!" Rukia looked startled, her mouth puckering slightly as she weighed how to respond properly.
"Well, it certainly is not hard to smile in Inoue's presence," she said with a mild blush. Rukia chose to ignore the underlying friendly jibe in Rangiku's remark. This did nothing to deter the older Succubus, however.
"Someone's got a crush~!" Rangiku sang as she walked backwards to keep an eye on them. Rukia sputtered, turning even redder.
"Rangiku-san!" Momo fussed, hands on hips, "Even if she does, that's not your business!"
"As their senpai, of course it's my business!" Rangiku chattered back to Momo while the more down-to-earth girl gave her a frustrated look.
"Either way, that is simply not the case," Rukia said, still blushing persistently, "I prefer men." Rangiku looked slightly disappointed.
"Oh, poo," she pouted, "You're no fun at all!"
Orihime simply hid her laughter behind her hand. These three reminded her of Tatsuki and her friends from school. She was sure the black-haired girl was worried over her sudden unexplained disappearance, but she hadn't wanted to worry her any more than necessary with her grievous injury. Hopefully she'd be well again by the end of the week with the rate at which she was healing and be able to reassure her herself next Monday.
"Why don't we get Orihime-chan a Get Well Soon present?" Rangiku asked, still prancing backward down the sidewalk, "We're still in the human districts, but if we walk a little further, we'll get to the good shops!" Orihime turned her attention back to her companions with a blush.
"O-Oh, you don't have to get me anything!" she insisted, waving her hands in front of her face, "Really, this is fine! It's perfect!" Her friends smiled at her.
"Matsumoto-san is right," Rukia offered, "It's no trouble at all, and we would like to wish you a speedy recovery." Even Momo nodded.
"You're practically family, Inoue-san," she said warmly, "This is the least we could do." Orihime bowed her head to hide her blush.
"Thank you, everyone," she acquiesced, "You're too good to me..." Rangiku laughed cheerily, still going backwards so she could face the group.
"You're so silly, Orihime-chan," she chided, "Of course we're good to you! You're our f--!"
Rangiku was cut off as she collided with the solid chest of another pedestrian. As she turned to see who she'd struck, the other girls got a better picture of him.
He stood about a head taller then Rangiku and was dressed head-to-toe in white. His mouse brown hair hung in waves down to his ears, framing his kind face. And atop his straight nose sat a pair of square, black glasses. He smiled gently as he helped Rangiku right herself. Rangiku simply watched him with wide, scrutinous eyes.
"Careful, Lieutenant," he chided gently, "You're liable to run into things, walking backwards like that." Rukia and Momo immediately dropped into identical bows.
"Belial-sama."
"Aizen-taicho!"
Orihime watched the stately man in fascination as he smiled and motioned for the girls to rise. As she did so, he noticed her attention and turned his charming smile towards her. Embarrassed at being caught staring, Orihime ducked her head to look at her lap.
"Now girls, no need to be so formal," he said, "I see you're out with Kurosaki-san's human friend. Did something happen?"
"She had an accident, Captain," Momo said, beaming at the older man, "We're taking her for a walk to celebrate her recovery." Regardless of Momo's chipper attitude, Rangiku was still casting doubtful looks at him.
"I'm sorry to hear that, miss," Aizen addressed Orihime with a mild smile, "But I'd like to wish you a speedy recovery. I'm afraid I don't quite recall your name. You wouldn't mind refreshing my memory, would you?" Orihime blushed at his direct attention, fidgeting as she favored him with a shy smile.
"I'm Inoue Orihime," she reminded him softly, earning another warm smile from him, "It's nice to see you again, sir."
"Aizen Sousuke," he reminded her, "And it most certainly is. But I have other business to attend to here, and I don't want to hold you girls up. It was a pleasure seeing you again, Hinamori-kun, Kuchiki-san, Matsumoto-fukutaicho. Inoue-san."
The girls said their goodbyes as the handsome gentleman went on his way, some more happily than others. As soon as he was out of earshot, Rangiku shook her head.
"That man is far too smiley," Rangiku finally said. Momo huffed and put her hands on her hips.
"There's nothing wrong with that," Momo corrected her, "Aizen-taicho is a wonderful person, and he was a great mentor!" Rangiku rolled her eyes and resumed walking, Orihime and Rukia following along in her wake.
"Someone's got a crush, and it's not Rukia-chan," Rangiku replied, her earlier mirth quickly evaporating. Orihime vaguely wondered why she didn't seem to like the kind gentleman. Momo, on the other hand, simply sputtered.
"I do not!" she insisted, her face turning an interesting shade of pink, "I just appreciate all he's done for me!" Rangiku burst out laughing at this declaration.
"And what all is that, hmm?" she asked, causing Momo to gasp and scowl at her.
"Rangiku-san!" she replied, scandalized, "Get your mind out of the gutter! You're not funny!"
Orihime hid her giggles behind her hand as the two continued back and forth with each other. She felt truly lucky to have made such wonderful friends, even if she wasn't a demon.
Series: Bleach
Rating: R
Warnings: AU, het (IchiHime, lots of other pairings eventually), blood, guts, testosterone, ANGST
Spoilers: This is AU. We don't need spoilers, where we're going.
Disclaimer: These characters belong to a lot of Japanese people, namely people like Tite Kubo and Shonen Jump. You'll notice how none of those are me. The LiveJournal format that you'll probably be reading this in (if you're one of my friends) is rough draft and is subject to revision. Consider this a 'sneak peek'. If something sits the wrong way with you, let me know. This will probably (never) be updated weekly, until I eventually drop it like every other project ever. Not responsible for epileptic seizures or allergic reactions. May contain eye-and-brain-bleeding levels of radioactive ANGST and/or peanut products. Please sit a reasonable distance from your computer screen.
Author’s Note: No, I haven’t abandoned this story! I’ve just slowed down on updating it to accommodate the other three stories I have going. But rest assured that I won’t abandon it unless I necessarily have to or just have no will left to continue it. That being said, I’m just now catching up with my multi-chaptered fics; the next one in line to be updated is Lady in Waiting, and I already have about 1,000 words done on that one. It should be done sometime next week.
I also made a small correction in the last chapter because I realized I'd mixed up two characters' names when I didn't mean it. It became important in this chapter and I had to go back and correct it.
Either way, please enjoy this chapter (as well as Orihime’s return to the manga after a year and a half! She even brought some IchiHime with her)!
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"Get down, Hiyori!"
The pigtailed blonde swung herself out of the path of the razor-sharp claws just in the nick of time. Her jacket hadn't been so lucky, but the girl herself was alright.
"What the hell do we do?!" she demanded, drawing her serrated sword up to defend against a second strike. Shinji ran up behind the monster, pulling it back by its shaggy mane and attaching himself to its back. It stumbled backwards, trying to get at him as the blond attempted to break its neck. Unfortunately, he wasn't quite strong enough to snap its spinal column and was flung away for his troubles.
"We gotta wait on Urahara to get here," he panted, wiping his mouth as he regained his balance, "He's gonna go nuclear on 'im!"
The "Nuclear Option". Hiyori nodded to show her understanding. It was unfortunate, but she knew it was likely to be the only way any of them were going to live. That thing had already snapped one of them in half and gravely injured three more.
Only Hachi had been untouched so far, and that was because he was maintaining the barrier they were fighting inside of. It was only due to his efforts that the demonic nobility hadn't started breathing down their necks yet, with the ruckus they were causing. That barrier not only hid them and any property damage from view, but also scents, sounds, and temperatures. Should Hachi have stopped at any time, they would all have been royally screwed.
Not that they weren't already. They'd already had to place a call to Urahara for the last resort he'd been developing for just such an occasion. It stung hard; as much as Hiyori bitched and cussed at her companions, they were all still her only family. Watching any one of them get hurt rankled her, and right now she was feeling mighty rankled. But she knew that if Urahara didn't show up, there was no chance of any of them surviving, not even Hachi.
"Pay attention to me, ya damn big lug!" Shinji barked, striking the creature in the area roughly where its kidneys lay. Hiyori knew he was trying to buy her time to get a strike of her own in - and if she was completely honest with herself, she also knew Shinji was trying to draw its ire away from her. She would almost have been insulted, if it wasn't such a good strategy. They were the only two left almost uninjured, they might as well make the best of it.
The demon swung its claws wide in Shinji's direction, striking his sword and pressing him hard. This gave Hiyori an opening to drive her sword into its shoulder. Unfortunately, its shoulder blade was tougher than her sword, stopping the metal short and sending the pressure reverberating back up her arms. This thing was a goddamned tank.
Still, it roared in indignation at having been gouged, turning its attention back to Hiyori as it swung wildly at her. Shinji gave a startled yelp as it flung him back in its lumbering efforts to get at the tiny girl.
"Yeah!" Hiyori screamed, drawing her sword back with aching arms and baring her sharp teeth, "Come at me, asshole! I'll kick yer ass!"
"Keep 'im busy, Hiyori!" Shinji shouted, gathering his bearings and standing. As Hiyori lunged at the monster again, Shinji made his way over to his fallen lieutenant and slung the bigger man's arm over his shoulder. He was bearing the silver-haired man's weight entirely, limping them both toward Hachi. As long as Hiyori kept their foe distracted, he'd be golden.
"Shinji," Kensei gasped, regaining consciousness, "Mashiro... she's..." Shinji kept his eyes straight ahead as sweat beaded on his brow.
"She's fine," Shinji said dismissively, finally making it to Hachi, "Let us out, old man!" The pink-haired man complied, cutting a doorway in his barrier for them. As soon as they were free, Shinji let Kensei slump to the ground and looked back to the barrier.
"I'm goin' back in," he gritted, stepping back the way he came.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Shinji turned back to see the former head of Greed House, Urahara Kisuke, fanning himself idly. His new second-in-command, Tsukabishi Tessai, was at his side holding a large, menacing shoulder cannon. Shinji's eyes widened as he realized how little time they had left.
"Hiyori, grab Mashiro and get out now!" Shinji screamed, turning back to the enclosure. The pigtailed girl whipped her head around in acknowledgment before disengaging from the monster and sprinting to Mashiro's side to scoop her up.
"You need to lose some weight," she grunted, hoisting the green-haired girl over her shoulders. Mashiro didn't respond.
"Shinji, what about the others?!" Hiyori yelled back, ignoring the monster looming over her back. Before it could strike, however, something grabbed it underneath its arms and held it fast. She turned just in time to see who it was.
"Leave me," Love grunted, battered and bloody and still struggling with the fiend nonetheless, "I'll cover you!"
"But Lisa--!"
"She's already done for," the dark-skinned man informed her, struggling with the thing they'd been fighting, "Hurry up and get out!"
Hiyori's expression was horror struck. She couldn't believe they were losing this many comrades in a single night. Her indecision only lasted a split-second more before she took her lip between her teeth and made her way to Hachi.
As soon as he let her out, she was vaguely aware of her former captain motioning to the battle inside with his fan. She turned just in time to see the shot fired back the way she had come, and the ensuing explosion.
It was horrific. That was the only way Hiyori knew to describe it. As she let Mashiro slump to the ground, she watched awestruck at the destruction the shot caused. It somehow left the scenery intact while completely incinerating the three demons inside.
If it were a normal fire, however, it wouldn't have been so terrifying. No, this was more than that; this took whatever had caused the monster to mutate in the first place and turned it up to eleven. He screamed in agony as his form got larger and more unstable, growing from a large, man-shaped, beaked thing, to something resembling a small, winged dinosaur. From there, it became an unrecognizable mound of flesh before exploding entirely. The entire process took roughly three seconds. Worse yet, Hiyori looked on in utter horror as the same process quickly overtook Love.
She looked away, covering her mouth and nose as though Hachi's barrier didn't trap smell. And although she'd never admit it, her eyes might have been just a little wet.
"Lisa... Love... Rose..."
________________________________________________________________
"We lost three people that night. One was killed in the fight an' one died holding the other one back. That's what it means t' lose control o' this thing."
Ichigo stared at the pigtailed girl in something akin to horror. Was that what the thing growing inside him was? A monster?
"So... What exactly... are we?" Ichigo asked hesitantly. He somehow knew he wasn't going to like the answer.
"An accident waitin' t' happen," Hiyori replied, rolling her eyes, "We're monsters, kid. Whatever got inta us, it changed us. We're harder to kill, but if ya let yer guard down, that thing inside you can take over. And when that happens, you'll haveta be put down."
Ichigo flinched at the way she said it so matter-of-factly. It seemed like the most normal thing in the world to her, as though she was telling Ichigo he'd have to go to the store for milk if he drunk the last of it. More disturbing than that was the idea that he could turn into some kind of mutated monster, like that Rose guy.
"So... If that happens... What do you do? When you lose control like that, I mean?" Ichigo was aware he sounded nervous, but he couldn't bring himself to care. If what Shinji had told him earlier was true, he could be a greater danger to Orihime than anyone he'd met yet. At least he finally understood why Urahara had told him exactly that when he'd asked to see her.
"Does it matter?" Hiyori asked, rolling her eyes, "Hopefully, we won't have t' deal with it! Who knows, it might even just be a matter of time for all of us! All I know is that if you screw up and go berserk, we'll end you." Ichigo's eyes narrowed at that. Did she have to make it sound so definite?
"So what do I do?" he asked impatiently, "Are you gonna tell me how to not get myself killed with this thing or what?" Hiyori smirked, that pointy canine of hers peeking just underneath her lips.
"I'm gettin' ta that!" she said, "Hachi! Give us a good, strong barrier! One with five layers!" The larger man, who had thus far been standing a ways off from their conversation, clapped his hands five times in quick succession. Ichigo watched in fascination as five translucent barriers sprung up around him and Hiyori, each layering atop the last. He suddenly had the all-too-unsettling feeling that he was utterly trapped.
When he turned back to look at Hiyori, though, that same sharp buzzing had begun at the base of his skull again. Her eyes had gone completely black and gold, just like Shinji's. Ichigo felt a sharp pain surge through his head, almost taking his breath away and driving him to his knees. He clutched the sides of his head as he knelt in the dirt of the training room, tugging hard at the orange strands. His breathing became labored and he felt like he might throw up at any moment. Whatever Hiyori was doing, she wasn't letting up like Shinji had.
"What are you... doing?!" Ichigo demanded, disturbed by his own unfamiliar voice.
"The thing inside ya is reactin' to the thing inside me," Hiyori said almost cheerfully, a sadistic smirk on her face, "He wants t' come out, Ichigo! The sooner you stop resistin', the easier this'll be!" Ichigo panted, planting his hands on the floor and barely managing to hold himself up.
"I refuse!" he screamed, "This is my mind! I won't let him take over! I won't..." Before he could finish his sentence, another wave of intense pain overtook him. The thing inside him was clawing it's way out, slowly dragging him under into unconsciousness. Before Ichigo could say or do anything else, however, he felt his vision growing blurry and black around the edges.
Ichigo's last thought as he slipped into unconsciousness was 'Not again!'
_______________________________________________________________
The blackness began to dull in the middle, slowly pushing the dark void back to the edges of Ichigo's mind. As it did, it smoothly transitioned from black to dark gray to a hazy pale gray to clear white. This all most likely took a total of a couple of seconds, but to Ichigo it felt like an eternity.
As soon as his vision cleared, he began to look around. The room he was now in was barren and stark white, the only furnishing being the bed upon which he found himself laying. As he sat up, rubbing his head gingerly, Ichigo became keenly aware that he was not alone. And he was being watched.
His head whipped around to find the cause of his recent distress. There he sat, chin propped on his fist, legs widely crossed at the knee as he sprawled lazily across his large white chair. He was identical to Ichigo in every way, a perfect replica carved out of ice and snow and marble, immaculately white. The only points of color on him were his black and yellow eyes, his blue tongue, and his black fingernails.
The look he was giving Ichigo made him feel as though this new him was going to devour him.
"You," Ichigo murmured, glaring at his pale copy, "What the hell do you want with me?" The white demon stirred, moving forward and looking at Ichigo intently.
"What do I want?" he echoed, grinning, "You should know, Ichigo." When the man in question didn't respond, his copy continued.
"I want the same things you do," the white creature continued, "I'm just more honest about it." Ichigo's brows knitted together. That didn't sound good.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Keheheh!" the clone laughed, a scratchy, high-pitched cackle that made him sound unhinged, "Come on, Ichigo! I'm all those things you don't want to admit to! All those urges you think are bad! Fighting! Fucking! All those things you want, I want! I'm you, Ichigo!"
Ichigo stared in horror at this new vulgar side of himself. Was it true? Did he really want those things? And if so, did that mean he basically had his very own evil side now? And how had Orihime created something like that inside of him?
"That woman," the creature said shrewdly, rising to circle Ichigo on his bed, "You wanna know what happens to her if I get out, right? Those others never knew who made them, but I do."
At this declaration, Ichigo rose, allowing the bed to fall away into the pure white background. He would never let this monster near Orihime, that much he knew for certain.
"I won't let you lay a finger on her," he growled, staring his white counterpart down. The other demon smirked, exuding amusement.
"You won't?" he mocked Ichigo, "Are you sure you mean that? That means you won't be able to either. Everything you do from now on includes me... partner."
Ichigo felt sick. This bastard knew him inside and out; his every thought and feeling, urge and desire. The only way he could even think of to thwart him would be to simply stay away from Orihime.
"What if I don't?" he challenged, "What if I just stay away from her?" The white-haired clone snorted at him.
"Please, Ichigo," he said, his voice dripping boredom, "Don't bullshit me. I know better than that. You promised that smiley hat bastard you'd take care of her. Besides, you know you can't stay away from her blood."
Ichigo paled at this; his counterpart had hit the nail precisely on the head. If he tried to abandon her, his higher instincts would scream for going back on his obligations, and his base instincts would howl at being denied her closeness. As sick as it was, Ichigo realized just how much he desired her and her delicious blood.
"Then I have no choice," he said with a shudder, "I'll beat you until you won't be able to come after her. I'll never let you out." The nausea he felt at watching this new side of himself had finally given way to grim determination. Ichigo had made up his mind that he would protect Orihime, and that definitely extended to protecting her from himself.
"That's the spirit, Ichigo!" the white devil said, grinning from ear to ear, "After all, if I win, I get her and your body all to myself!" Suddenly, Ichigo noticed the long white nodachi in his counterpart's hand. It was an exact replica of the one he used. Ichigo's teeth pulled back in a sneer; like hell he was going to let this bastard steal his life!
He could feel it then. His own black sword's weight had appeared in his right hand. It was like a signal for him to lunge at the white creature, snarling and roaring as he did so. As their swords connected, sending sparks flying, Ichigo could clearly see his counterpart's mouth turned up in a twisted grin.
"Yes! Yes!" he yelled happily, goading Ichigo forward, "Come on, Ichigo! Fight me! If you can't beat me, you can't take those other assholes that want her!" Ichigo pressed him harder for all of his annoying mirth. He already knew he liked to fight, but this was just getting ridiculous.
"I won't let anyone touch her!" he screamed, "Not you, not those assholes in the alley, not anyone!"
Every strike Ichigo made, the white beast grinned wider and wider. Ichigo knew he was forcing him back hard, putting him on the defensive, but it seemed like he wasn't making a dent in him. Finally, the clone slung him back with a flick of his wrist. He lazily swung his sword around by the white chain dangling from the end, slowly loping over to Ichigo's fallen form.
"Didn't think it'd be that easy, didja?" he drawled happily, "I'm not gonna go down like some little bitch just 'cause you finally let yer nuts drop and found a reason to fight." By then, Ichigo had recovered, rising easily to his feet and leveling his sword at his counterpart once again. Now, though, he was also smiling.
"Who said I wanted this to be easy?" he retorted, "Beating the shit out of you wouldn't be any fun if you just stood there and took it!"
_________________________________________________________________
"Orihime-chaaaan!"
The buxom blonde came barreling into Orihime's convalescence room, dragging two petite black-haired girls in behind her. Orihime looked up from her spot on her futon, where she was sitting up and reading her schoolbook, to watch her three visitors.
"Oh, Rangiku-san!", she happily exclaimed, putting the book aside, "Kuchiki-san, Hinamori-san! How are you all today?" She favored the three demon girls with a sunny smile, grateful for the company. Spending four days laying in bed with only the TV for company wasn't exactly Orihime's idea of fun.
"We are all fine," Rukia said, shaking her head; only Orihime would be stabbed through the chest and still asking others how they were.
"Orihime-chan, Hitsugaya-kun and the rest of Wrath House send their warmest regards." Orihime watched as the small demon girl placed a balloon bouquet on one of her bedside tables, adjusting it to a place of prominence.
"Thank you, Hinamori-san," she said softly, taken aback by the outpouring of well wishes from people she felt like she barely knew. Before she could focus too much on it, though, Rangiku spoke up.
"That scruffy old shopkeeper said you're well enough to go on a little walk!" Rangiku quickly interjected, "Isn't that great?" Orihime looked more than a little startled, to be sure. She had only just managed to sit up again yesterday and had only been able to go back and forth to the toilet unassisted this morning. She knew she healed fast, but she doubted it was that fast.
"Rangiku-san, that's rude!" Momo scolded. Her protests were sadly in vain.
"B-But... Are you sure?" Orihime asked, fretting, "I can hardly walk." Rangiku breezily waved her protests off.
"That's why we brought a wheelchair," she said succinctly, "You don't have to walk! You just have to come with us!"
The next few minutes found Orihime the center of a flurry of attention as Rangiku, Rukia, and Momo bustled about to make her presentable. Hair was brushed, clothes were changed, her face was washed, and the wheelchair was wheeled in. Finally, Orihime was plopped into the contraption and they were on their way.
"I've never ridden in a wheelchair before!" Orihime happily exclaimed as Rukia wheeled her out of Urahara's shop and into the late April sunshine. The dark-haired girl smiled warmly at her.
"Let us hope you do not have to again," she said gently, patting her younger companion's head. As she did so, Rangiku smirked at them and pranced a little bit ahead of them.
"Why, Rukia-chan!" she said mischievously, "I do believe that's the first time I've ever seen you smile and actually look happy while doing it!" Rukia looked startled, her mouth puckering slightly as she weighed how to respond properly.
"Well, it certainly is not hard to smile in Inoue's presence," she said with a mild blush. Rukia chose to ignore the underlying friendly jibe in Rangiku's remark. This did nothing to deter the older Succubus, however.
"Someone's got a crush~!" Rangiku sang as she walked backwards to keep an eye on them. Rukia sputtered, turning even redder.
"Rangiku-san!" Momo fussed, hands on hips, "Even if she does, that's not your business!"
"As their senpai, of course it's my business!" Rangiku chattered back to Momo while the more down-to-earth girl gave her a frustrated look.
"Either way, that is simply not the case," Rukia said, still blushing persistently, "I prefer men." Rangiku looked slightly disappointed.
"Oh, poo," she pouted, "You're no fun at all!"
Orihime simply hid her laughter behind her hand. These three reminded her of Tatsuki and her friends from school. She was sure the black-haired girl was worried over her sudden unexplained disappearance, but she hadn't wanted to worry her any more than necessary with her grievous injury. Hopefully she'd be well again by the end of the week with the rate at which she was healing and be able to reassure her herself next Monday.
"Why don't we get Orihime-chan a Get Well Soon present?" Rangiku asked, still prancing backward down the sidewalk, "We're still in the human districts, but if we walk a little further, we'll get to the good shops!" Orihime turned her attention back to her companions with a blush.
"O-Oh, you don't have to get me anything!" she insisted, waving her hands in front of her face, "Really, this is fine! It's perfect!" Her friends smiled at her.
"Matsumoto-san is right," Rukia offered, "It's no trouble at all, and we would like to wish you a speedy recovery." Even Momo nodded.
"You're practically family, Inoue-san," she said warmly, "This is the least we could do." Orihime bowed her head to hide her blush.
"Thank you, everyone," she acquiesced, "You're too good to me..." Rangiku laughed cheerily, still going backwards so she could face the group.
"You're so silly, Orihime-chan," she chided, "Of course we're good to you! You're our f--!"
Rangiku was cut off as she collided with the solid chest of another pedestrian. As she turned to see who she'd struck, the other girls got a better picture of him.
He stood about a head taller then Rangiku and was dressed head-to-toe in white. His mouse brown hair hung in waves down to his ears, framing his kind face. And atop his straight nose sat a pair of square, black glasses. He smiled gently as he helped Rangiku right herself. Rangiku simply watched him with wide, scrutinous eyes.
"Careful, Lieutenant," he chided gently, "You're liable to run into things, walking backwards like that." Rukia and Momo immediately dropped into identical bows.
"Belial-sama."
"Aizen-taicho!"
Orihime watched the stately man in fascination as he smiled and motioned for the girls to rise. As she did so, he noticed her attention and turned his charming smile towards her. Embarrassed at being caught staring, Orihime ducked her head to look at her lap.
"Now girls, no need to be so formal," he said, "I see you're out with Kurosaki-san's human friend. Did something happen?"
"She had an accident, Captain," Momo said, beaming at the older man, "We're taking her for a walk to celebrate her recovery." Regardless of Momo's chipper attitude, Rangiku was still casting doubtful looks at him.
"I'm sorry to hear that, miss," Aizen addressed Orihime with a mild smile, "But I'd like to wish you a speedy recovery. I'm afraid I don't quite recall your name. You wouldn't mind refreshing my memory, would you?" Orihime blushed at his direct attention, fidgeting as she favored him with a shy smile.
"I'm Inoue Orihime," she reminded him softly, earning another warm smile from him, "It's nice to see you again, sir."
"Aizen Sousuke," he reminded her, "And it most certainly is. But I have other business to attend to here, and I don't want to hold you girls up. It was a pleasure seeing you again, Hinamori-kun, Kuchiki-san, Matsumoto-fukutaicho. Inoue-san."
The girls said their goodbyes as the handsome gentleman went on his way, some more happily than others. As soon as he was out of earshot, Rangiku shook her head.
"That man is far too smiley," Rangiku finally said. Momo huffed and put her hands on her hips.
"There's nothing wrong with that," Momo corrected her, "Aizen-taicho is a wonderful person, and he was a great mentor!" Rangiku rolled her eyes and resumed walking, Orihime and Rukia following along in her wake.
"Someone's got a crush, and it's not Rukia-chan," Rangiku replied, her earlier mirth quickly evaporating. Orihime vaguely wondered why she didn't seem to like the kind gentleman. Momo, on the other hand, simply sputtered.
"I do not!" she insisted, her face turning an interesting shade of pink, "I just appreciate all he's done for me!" Rangiku burst out laughing at this declaration.
"And what all is that, hmm?" she asked, causing Momo to gasp and scowl at her.
"Rangiku-san!" she replied, scandalized, "Get your mind out of the gutter! You're not funny!"
Orihime hid her giggles behind her hand as the two continued back and forth with each other. She felt truly lucky to have made such wonderful friends, even if she wasn't a demon.
