Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ White Sand and Black Waters ❯ MIA to Illusions ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter 2-MIA to Illusions
ÒWelcome Kurosaki-kun.Ó AizenÕs voice rang out in the colossal room.
Quietly without even meaning to Ichigo couldnÕt help but mutter back ÒAizen.Ó
ÒI have the feeling you are wondering why you are here, Kurosaki-kun?Ó The lord said as the boy tried to hold back his fear of being in the same room as all the arrancar.
ÒIt may have crossed my mind, for a moment or so.Ó The teen shot back to the man sitting on the throne.
Chuckling he answered the smart remark, ÒYou are here because I wish to not fight you in this upcoming war, I would much rather have you on my side.Ó
ÒWhy even ask, you already know that I will refuse. I will not turn my back on my friends.Ó Ichigo was venomous in his reply, so much so, that if he was a snake the poison would have been struck into the veins already.
ÒOh, this little human has a backbone.Ó Remarked an arrancar, causing the others in the room to laugh out, in mockery to Ichigo.
ÒEnough, my dear arrancar, there is no need to be rude.Ó Though he did scold his army, the entire room could tell he was amused at the arrancarÕs actions. ÒMy dear child, you seem to think that you have a choice in this matter. I truly have no desire to fight you or your friends, I donÕt have to be your enemy...Ó
ÒThatÕs the thing you are my enemy, from the moment you sent the arrancar to Karakura Town, to kidnapping Inoue. You gave Inoue a threat, the threat to her loved ones, her friends, for her powers. Her powers for our lives!Ó The orange haired youth exploded.
ÒSo I did.Ó The lord did not deny what he did, but became cold in face and voice. ÒKurosaki-kun, have you yet to wonder why all my dear Espada, my dear Arrancar, are here, in this room? How they all are alive, how those you saw killed, are alive?Ó He watched the face of the human closely to see that Ichigo was curious, Ò This is the answer you need. You, your friends, and even the shinigami, have never truly met any arrancar, even less one of the Espada, but one. The childÕs form of Neliel Tu Oderschvank, is the closest any of you have come to the arrancar.Ó
IchigoÕs eyes widened, ÒWhat?Ó
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ÒMan, IÕll tell you itÕs great to be back in the human world, especially if it means IÕm away from paperwork.Ó Remarked the wild haired shinigami to his friend.
ÒI know, but please remember Renji, weÕre here for a reason.Ó Rukia said looking at the cell phone in her hands.
ÒYa, ya. We better find Ichigo then and tell him the news. How you think heÕs going to take it?Ó Renji wanted to know.
Looking up to her friends face Rukia spoke, ÒWe better, and I really donÕt want to think about it. By the way do me a favor.Ó
Untrusting of the sly female the red head backed away, ÒWhat kind of favor?Ó
ÒNothing like your thinking, I just want you to check your phone for me, I think IÕm getting some readings wrong.Ó
Pulling out his phone, he checked, ÒIÕm getting some hollow readings, their weak though. WhatÕs so strange about that?Ó
She pulled her phone back out, ÒNothing except more keep popping up and some have been on the radar for more than twenty minutes. ItÕs not like it would take Ichigo more than ten to fifteen minutes to get rid of them all. But IÕm not even sensing his reiatsu in town.Ó
ÒDo you think something could be wrong?Ó
ÒI donÕt know, but I say before we go look for Ichigo, we should take care of all these hollows.Ó
ÒSounds good to me.Ó They discharged from their gigai, heading for the skies.
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ÔSuch a beautiful day.Õ Was in the thoughts of Orihime enjoying the warm sun and cool breeze in her hair. ÒTo bad Kurosaki-kun wouldnÕt join us this afternoon, right Tatsaki-chan?Ó
The girl with spiked hair scoffed, ÒHeÕs an idiot, forget about him Orihime.Ó
A girl with glasses pooped out of nowhere, groping the light hairs breast, ÒWho cares about that moron? As long as I have my sweet Hime-chanÕs glorious breast, all will be right in the world.Ó
ÒWHY CANÕT YOU ACT NORMAL FOR ONCE!Ó yelled Tatsaki, fist flying into ChizuruÕs face.
ÒChizuru-san are you okay?Ó Orihime was worried, she was hit quite hard.
Chizuru jumped back up and started to sprout off romantic sayings about Ôher Hime-chanÕ until collapsing struggling for breath. Tatsaki herself was having problems standing and breathing. Orihime then felt it, the reiatsu of a hollow. She couldnÕt tell if it was an arrancar or just a Menos, but she was going to find out, as soon as she helped her friends.
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ÔWhere are they all coming from? For each one I kill another two come to takes its place. Why canÕt I feel Kurosaki anywhere? He should be helping to get rid of these hollows.Õ Ishida gave a quick thought before firing more arrows off at the hollows, that are gathering in force. Suddenly he felt a large reiatsu, ÒMenos Grande.Ó In the air, arrows flew faster.
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A blast and the wall collapsed from a warehouse forming a cloud of dust. As the dust cleared a large boy, some would say man, is revealed. Sado had both Brazo Derecha de Gigante and Brazo Izquierda del Diablo activated. ÒSo far all I have met with are low level hollows, I have yet to feel any...Ó Sado broke off feeling the much larger reiatsu.
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ÒWhatÕs that moron doing? WhyÕs he not out here taking care of these weaklings? We should not be doing this.Ó Hiyori was slightly pissed, but if you knew her well, that was normal.
ÒI donÕt feel Ichigo anywhere in town. SomethingÕs up, guys, keep a look out for IchigoÕs reiatsu. Until then we better get rid of what hollows we can.Ó Shinji called to his fellow VizardÕs.
Everyones head shot up. Hiyori called back to Shinji, ÒHow about we take the Menos that just walked into our home town?Ó
ÒIÕve no problem with that.Ó
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An explosion came into the sky, because of a destroyed hollow by way of Jinta.
ÒThis is slightly strange, all these hollows and not a trace of Kurosaki-kunÕs reiatsu? Well, I shouldnÕt worry that boy will show up at the last moment, like usual.Ó Kisuke was not worried yet.
ÒKisuke, a Menos is coming threw. The Vizard are headed that way but so is everyone else.Ó Informed the Shihouin heir to her friend.
KisukeÕs smiled faltered for a moment, ÒThatÕs not good, especially with Kuchiki-san and Freeloader-san here.Ó
ÒA moment of your time Kisuke.Ó
ÒIsshin, why have you come to see this humble shopkeeper?Ó Kisuke asked.
Wearing shinigami robes, Isshin was a sight to see, ÒI was hoping you could tell me if you have seen Ichigo today, he never came home, usually thatÕs not a problem but this recent development has me worried. I canÕt find his reiatsu and you know Shinigami parents can always feel their childrenÕs reiatsu, as long as they are in the same world.Ó

ÒNo, I havenÕt but IÕll keep an eye out for him.Ó Kisuke frowned now starting to worry, this was not good information to get.
Isshin sighed, ÒThanks, Kisuke. I better head back home I left the girls by themselves, and with the town like this IÕm not liking being away from them.Ó
Kisuke just nodded before Isshin left by way of shunpo.
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ÒMenos Grande.Ó Rukia said looking at the hollow. ÒReady, Renji?Ó
ÒYou have to ask?Ó He didnÕt look at her. ÒHoero, Zabimaru!Ó
ÒMae, Sode no Shireyuki!Ó Both zanpakutou were released upon the Menos. Though neither caused it harm.
An arrow flew to hit the Menos as well still no damage was dealt. ÒIt seems as if you Shinigami are still as worthless as ever.Ó
ÒIshida.Ó
ÒSo heÕs not here after all.Ó The Quincy muttered.
A red light filled the air with danger, it shot off toward the three fighting.
ÒSanten Kesshun!Ó A shield came up before the three deflecting the Cero. ÒIs everyone all right?Ó
Ishida nodded, ÒYes, thanks to you, Inoue-san.Ó
Another blast came to hit the Menos, but still no damage was done.
ÒSado-san, you made itÓ Inoue said in greeting.
Sado just nodded back in greeting to everyone else.

ÒWell, KurosakiÕs no where around, and we canÕt seem to damage this hollow what will we do?Ó calmly asked Ishida.
ÒWho cares if IchigoÕs no around, I say we can get rid of this Menos if we just try harder.Ó Renji injected.
ÒItÕs not that easy Renji. Even if we somehow kill the Menos we still have all the lower level hollows to finish off, but by the time weÕre done with the Menos weÕll most likely be low on reiatsu. There is no way we can do it alone.Ó Rukia told her friend.
Renji blew up, ÒThen what are we supposed to do?Ó
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ÒWhat do you mean that none of us have met a true arrancar before?Ó The disbelief shone through IchigoÕs voice.
ÒIt means, Kurosaki-kun, this whole time you, your friends, and the Shinigami have been fighting low level hollow hidden in illusions by me.Ó Ichigo was answered.
ÒIllusions? We were fighting illusions? All our injures, InoueÕs kidnapping, was...Ó Ichigo trailed off as the reality of the statement meant.
ÒNo, Inoue Orihime was never kidnapped by us, she came here willingly. Though in a way, I guess this means she really did betray you all.Ó Aizen revealed to the stunned youth, ÒYou see even though I sent illusions of my arrancar to fight you I made sure each had a sixteenth of that arrancarÕs strength. All numbers were reported true as well, I want Soul Society to know. Even though I kept their strength somewhat hidden, just think, the Shinigami and your friends as well as you could blearily defeat them then. Do you think the you all could win now?Ó
Ichigo was breathing hard, thoughts flying, ÔUnbelievable, only a sixteenth, Inoue... Each fight was worthless, in the end weÕll be killed.Õ ÒHow do I know this right here is not only an illusion, to throw me off?Ó
Laughter bubbled up from GinÕs throat, ÒAizen-taichou, this oneÕs smart. WeÕre keeping him, right?Ó
ÒHe may just be worth the effort, Aizen-sama.Ó Tousen spoke up for once.
The ArrancarÕs interest were pecked as they studied the little human, because of both his outburst and the two generals of Aizen were happy with him.
ÒTrue, this could only be illusion, but even my zanpakutou and I have limits. Yes, I can create illusions but thanks to the human brain, which you and most Shinigami have, can only see one illusion at a time.Ó Aizen paused, ÒKurosaki-kun say this is an illusion you are under, and right beside you Inoue-san is also under an illusion. This is what your seeing, but I have Inoue-san seeing someone confessing their eternal love to her. To make you see what she is seeing, or vise versa, IÕd have to pull one of you out of the illusion they were in, and stick them into the other. Are you following so far?Ó The lord mocked, ÒI can only put one illusion into the brain at a time, so if this was an illusion, this would not work.Ó
ÒNot work, what would not...Ó Ichigo saw AizenÕs zanpakutou unsheathed.
ÒKudakero, Kyouka Suigetsu!Ó
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ÒNake!Ó the attack of reiatsu shot toward the Menos, finally damage was dealt to the hollow. ÒHello, you all seem to need some help.Ó
ÒUrahara-san.Ó Rukia gave a sigh of relief.
ÒWell, we best do our jobs and kill this hollow, since Kurosaki-kun is, busy elsewhere.Ó The shopkeeper said, not showing his face.
Inoue stepped forward, ÒUrahara-san, have you seen Kurosaki-kun today, he did say he was headed to you shop after classes?Ó
ÒHe was coming to the Shoten?Ó the man muttered before looking into InoueÕs eyes, ÒIÕm afraid that I havenÕt seen Kurosaki-kun since last week.Ó
Renji moved between them both, ÒI know youÕre worried about Ichigo, hell IÕm even worried, but right now we have other matters to attend to.Ó
ÒHeÕs right, Kisuke, that Menos is a pressing matter; that if we donÕt get rid of soon weÕll be in trouble.Ó Yoruichi said arriving next to the man.
The Shinigami and humans rushed back into battle with the Menos.
ÒThe Vizard are taking out all the lower levels because they canÕt get to close to the Shinigami. Hiyori was not happy at all.Ó The purple haired women told the blond haired man.
Urahara nodded, pleased.
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Ichigo, time to wake up, youÕll be late for school otherwise.Ó A female voice lured the sleeping teen up from a dream.
ÒMÕup, MÕup.Ó he spoke with sleep laced into his voice.
ÒWell, good, hurry up and ready, silly. IÕll be in the kitchen.Ó The owner of the voice moved down the stairs.
Getting ready the boy thought of his dream, ÔThat was such a weird dream. Shinigami, real, please. Me being one, even more so Ôget realÕ as if that would really happen. Last, mom dead. HA, never going to happen.Õ
Downstairs Ichigo was greeted, ÒGOOD MORNING, ICHIGO!Ó He dodged.
ÒMorning, Yuzu, Karin. Good morning, Kaa-san.Ó he greeted the women that he loved with all his heart. Bending down touching the small round in his motherÕs stomach, he said, ÒMorning to you too, little one.Ó Standing upright, he had little warning to the fist in his left cheek. Spinning around he snarled, ÒWHY did you do that, moron?Ó
Isshin made a dorky stance, ÒBecause you should have not dodged at all, earlier, my first born.Ó
They started to bicker with one another through out breakfast.
ÒIsshin, dear, leave Ichigo alone, so he can finish.Ó Commanded Masaki, nicely.
ÒBUT, MASAKI.Ó Isshin whined, which caused all the girls to giggle.
ÔWhoa, just a moment ago I felt as if something was wrong but what?Õ Ichigo thought, staring at Karin.
ÒWell, weÕre out of here Kaa-san, see you after school. Bye, Ichigo, Tou-san.Ó the twin called out.
ÔNo Ichi-nii, no Goat Face, huh?Õ
ÒI better be going as well, Masaki, IÕm needed at the hospital. See you later, love. Bye my first born!Ó Isshin disappeared.
ÔGoat Face, hates hospitals, not to mention what about the clinic?Õ Ichigo felt realization dawn on him.
ÒHurry up Ichigo, you donÕt want to be late now.Ó His mother, no not his mother, just the image of her, said.
Ichigo grabbed her hand, ÒThis is an illusion, is it not?Ó
The image sighed, ÒYes, this is an illusion.Ó Suddenly everything became clear.
Ichigo lowered his head, ÒYou win, I believe you Aizen. You can stop now.Ó He took one last look at his motherÕs image. She was smiling sadly.
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A scream was the end of the Menos. All but the exiles were panting and low on reiatsu. With help they headed back to the Shoten.
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All injures healed and reiatsu being recharged, they could no longer avoid it.
ÒSo you didnÕt see him at all today Urahara-san?Ó RukiaÕs question broke the tense silence.
ÒNo, I have not. I sent Yoruichi out to look for Kurosaki-kunÕs body, maybe it will lead us somewhere.Ó He said, fan covering his face.
ÒGood idea, even if we canÕt find him, if Kon has his body, KonÕs likely to know something.Ó Realized Ishida.
ÒWell, do you want the good news or the bad news first?Ó a cat walked in.
ÒGood news please.Ó Kisuke hoped for the best.
ÒGood news, I found Kon.Ó the cat said.
Inoue jumped up, ÒHe knows where Kurosaki-kun is?Ó
ÒBad news, heÕs still in his plushie form, not IchigoÕs body.Ó The cat changed back into a women in the next room, before coming back into the room they were all in, ÒWhich means Ichigo is missing. I looked everywhere, not a drop of reiatsu anywhere.Ó
ÒNo where?Ó Rukia looked shocked.
The former cat moved her head side to side in negative.
ÒWeÕll have to report this to the sou-taichou, Rukia.Ó Renji said to the other Shinigami.
RukiaÕs head shot up, ÒBut IchigoÕs family!Ó
ÒIÕll deal with Kurosaki-kunÕs father, Kuchiki-san.Ó Urahara spoke up, ÒNow itÕll be best if you head home.Ó Seeing Inoue and Sado going to say something he raised his hand and in a pleading voice said, ÒPlease.Ó
The teens nodded and quietly started to head out. The two Shinigami made a Senkaimon to Soul Society.
Kisuke fell limp and Yoruchi had to ask, ÒWhat are you going to tell Isshin?Ó
ÒDonÕt know. Any suggestions on how to tell one of you best friends their own son, my godson, is missing?Ó He was going to need a very hard drink or six.
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His senses returned to fast for his human body to handle.
ÒPerhaps weÕve overdone it today Kurosaki-kun.Ó AizenÕs eyes held regret in them, maybe for using the image his mother. ÒWe will finish this conversation tomorrow, until then I will have you stay with one of my Espada and their fracci—n.Ó AizenÕs eyes looked over each of the Espada and realized he really only had two choices, Halibel or Stark. Decision made he addressed the Espada of choice, ÒStark, I would like you to watch over our guest for the time being, if it is all right with you?Ó
The Espada looked down from his perch to the human with board eyes, measuring him up, ÒSure, why not, doesnÕt sound too hard.Ó
Aizen smiled, ÒGood, well then, everyone is dismissed.Ó
All the arrancar moved toward the door chatting with each other, about what happened. Ichigo didnÕt move, he stayed where he was on his knees.
ÒNi–o, you may want to stand, it makes walking easier, IÕve heard.Ó The EspadaÕs hand rested on top of his head.
ÒYa, it really does. Also helps to put one foot in front of the other.Ó Ichigo said tonelessly.
Stark laughed, ÒI have a feeling we will get along.Ó
Strangely enough, so did Ichigo.