Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Of Demons and Death ❯ Mind Games ( Chapter 6 )

Once again, I DO NOT and WILL NEVER own any part of Bleach or Inuyasha. I merely beg the forgiveness of the authors for twisting their characters and ideas to fit my sick needs.

 

NOTE: NO INUYASHA CHARACTERS WILL BE DEPICTED IN THIS WORK! I MERELY TOOK SEVERAL IDEAS TO SUPPLEMENT MY OWN!

 

Major spoilers!

 

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When I managed to get back to the hideout I found Ichigo pretty much in the same condition as Kenpachi when I had left him. Bandages were covering a bloody hole in his stomach and several other wounds he had managed to sustain, although I still couldn't believe that he was still alive.

“At least Sado is in the care of Unohana.” said Yoruichi as we watched the sleeping Ichigo. “She will do her best to take care of him.”

“Speaking of Unohana, I managed to run into her on my way back here.” I said casually and Yoruichi stared at me. “She said that she felt obliged to tell me that Yamamoto has given all the Captains the order to execute me on sight.”

“This is not good.” said Yoruichi as she stared pensively at Ichigo. “Maybe it is in our best interest now that you stay here until we decide to make our move.”

“What's the fun in that?” I asked and her head jerked so fast it looked like a tick.

“What?”

“I'm just saying I came here to fight and there's no way I'm going to back down now.” I said as I shrugged before drawing my knees up and wrapping my arms around them.

“Just remember that you're the only one we have right now that can use bankai.” warned Yoruichi as I rested my chin on my knees.

“Don't worry. Just because I want to fight doesn't mean I'll do anything stupid.” I said as Ichigo started to stir.

We both watched as Ichigo's eyes flicked open, his eyes unfocused. Yoruichi stood up and walked over to him, his eyes slowly focusing on her.

“Looks like you're awake.” said Yoruichi and a smile lit up Ichigo's face.

“Yoruichi-san… Reijin-san… you're still okay… that's a relief.” said Ichigo and I couldn't help but laugh.

“Yeah, better than you.” I said as I ran my fingers through my hair.

“Ah, did Yoruichi-san save me? Thanks for that.” said Ichigo.

“Nay. You should thank your stubbornness that kept you alive with such injuries.” said Yoruichi as she sat down next to Ichigo's head.

“Injuries… yeah… I got hit quite a few times…” said Ichigo absently, suddenly sitting upright. “That's right!” I shook my head as he winced at the pain in his stomach, my hard work ruined as the red liquid stained the white fabric. “Ow…”

“Idiot, you can't get up yet! Don't you know how bad your injuries are!? Reijin spent half an hour stopping the blood flow so you wouldn't die from blood loss! What were you thinking!?” asked Yoruichi as she scolded the teenager.

“Chad… he's in danger. I have to go help him.” said Ichigo and I slipped into flash step, coming out opposite Yoruichi.

“Calm down.” I said as I slammed his head back into the pillow. “Sado-kun is fine. I went to go get him while Yoruichi went looking for you and he's fine. I managed to get there in time to watch the 4th Division paramedics take him away and I doubt Captain Unohana would allow him to die while he is under her care. Orihime and Ishida are fine too. They have avoided confrontations nicely and are probably unwounded, so stay in the barrier and rest. A half-dead man won't be able to save anyone. Plus, I don't like it when I spend half an hour healing someone and they ruin my work.” I flicked him in the head to show my annoyance before turning to see where Yoruichi had gone.

“Also, half of your possessions got smashed. If it wasn't for this thing, your torso would have been cut in two already.” said Yoruichi as she held up a Hollow mask, the left side looking as though it had been stepped on. “Though I am surprised that you would carry something like this with you.”

“Huh… I had that thing on me?” asked Ichigo, obviously shocked that he was carrying a Hollow mask on his person. I kept my face blank, knowing Yoruichi would look to me for verification.

“Hm? Don't you carry it with you?” asked Yoruichi, just as surprised as Ichigo.

“No. I actually got saved by that thing when I fought Renji yesterday so I wanted to keep it with me as a lucky charm, but Hanataro insisted that I throw it away so I threw it away in the sewers.” Yoruichi's eyes went wide and she looked up at me, but I shook my head. I watched as Ryuujin materialized beside me and drifted forward, carefully examining the damaged mask.

“It is his. It smells of him.” said Ryuujin as she leaned back, telling me what she knew as Ichigo continued talking. “The fact that it keeps reappearing shows that his Hollow is interested in keeping him alive, which is smart because if he dies it dies. However, this proves my point that he doesn't even know that Hollow is even there or he doesn't know it is a Hollow.”

“Wait. I'll take it for safekeeping.” said Yoruichi as Ichigo took the mask back and held it above him.

“Hm? Why? I want to keep it.” said Ichigo and Yoruichi's reiatsu flared as she leaned in close.

“Give it to me. End of discussion.” said Yoruichi firmly and Ichigo nearly knocked her in the head as he held the mask out to her.

“Y-Yes… please take it.” said Ichigo nervously before quietly voicing his discontent. “That scary face was totally uncalled for… all you had to do was ask for it…”

I watched as Yoruichi stared at the mask, her eyes unmoving as she thought. It was silent for a moment until Ichigo said, “Oh yeah… thanks Reijin.”

“For what?” I asked, Ryuujin still hovering over my shoulder like some demon out of someone's worst nightmare.

“For carrying me here.” said Ichigo as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“I didn't carry you here.” I said before jerking my thumb at Yoruichi. “She did.”

“Wow… Yoruichi-san sure is strong.” said Ichigo as he looked up at the ceiling.

“What do you mean?” asked Yoruichi as she looked up from the mask.

“Running around without getting hurt at all and then carrying me here with such a small body.” said Ichigo as he continued to stare at the ceiling.

“Oh, it's no problem once I return to my original form.” said Yoruichi and I put my hand over the lower half of my face to hide my smile, waiting for the inevitable shock.

“Ah… I see. You're original…” said Ichigo as he looked over at her for a few seconds before he finally comprehended what he was saying. “Original… form?”

“Ah… come to think of it, I've never shown you guys before.” said Yoruichi as she glanced up at me, a smile on her face. “Alright. There's no point in hiding it anymore.” Ichigo's eyes widened as Yoruichi began to release a large amount of reiatsu, her shape beginning to change. “I'll show you my true form.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing as Ichigo slowly sat back up, his arm shaking from shock as he pointed at Yoruichi. His shock was well founded as Yoruichi didn't really seem to notice, or really care for that matter, that she was naked.

“W-W-What…?” asked Ichigo, seemingly unable to string together letters.

“Hehe… you look surprised.” said Yoruichi as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I understand why. You probably thought that I am a guy because of the way I talk. You're face is all blue too. I really love turning back into my true form. Everyone gets so surprised by that. Now…” continued Yoruichi as she sat down Indian style next to Ichigo, picking up one of the many Shihoin artifacts she had managed to hide here. “I'll tell you how I carried you here. First I used this…”

“Put some clothes on!” screeched Ichigo and I let out my laugh. “What are you laughing at!?”

“That look on your face is priceless!” I said through my laughter, banging the floor with my fist.

“Shut up!” shouted Ichigo as I wiped a tear away from my eye.

“Ah, sorry… sorry…” said Yoruichi as she pulled a shirt over her head, her hair already up in a high ponytail. “I haven't worn clothes for so long I forgot. Though surprisingly, you're quite innocent. Was that your first time seeing a girl naked, hm?”

“Shut up…” said Ichigo, his face beet red as Yoruichi finished pulling on her shirt.

“Are you sure you don't wanna look?” asked Yoruichi as she turned around and pulled her shirt up, Ichigo falling for her trap as he turned around just in time to see her chest. “You probably won't see such a delicate body of a woman ever again.”

“I said shut up!” shouted Ichigo, my sides starting to hurt from laughing so much. “Stop worrying about my future and get dressed!”

“Ch… you have no sense of humor. Do people often tell you you're a boring man?” I asked as Yoruichi pulled her shirt back down.

“Not even once! It's none of your business even if they do!” retorted Ichigo before turning back to Yoruichi, who was continuing to dress. “And why aren't you wearing anything on your lower body!? Don't people normally start dressing from the bottom!?”

“Anyways…” said Yoruichi, cutting him off as she held up the artifact with her toe. “I used this artifact to transport you here. By the way is the wound on your stomach okay? Normally screaming that loud will cause the wound to open up, so be careful in the future. Reijin can help fix it for you if it hurts too much.”

“So with this…” said Ichigo as he reached over and grabbed the wand from Yoruichi. “…you just put reiatsu into it and you can fly?”

“Yeah! It's a very unique artifact in Soul Society. You should feel honored.” said Yoruichi with her customary smirk in place.

“Why would such a treasure end up in your hands?” asked Ichigo as he looked down at the object in his hands. “You shape shift, you cure wounds, and you have something like this… Yoruichi-san, who are you?”

“That's…” started Yoruichi when a large wave of reiatsu crashed over the room.

“This… this reiatsu…” said Ichigo as we all looked up towards the source of the reiatsu, his eyes wide. “It's him!”

He jumped to his feet and started running towards the door, zanpakuto in hand as Yoruichi turned to me and growled, “It's from the direction of the White Tower.”

“Hold it Ichigo! Where do you think you're going!?” I asked as I grabbed his arm, forcing him to come to a stop.

“Hanataro and Ganju were going to the White Tower! If I don't go, who will save them!?” he asked and my grip slackened in my shock.

Quickly pulling his arm loose, he put both hands on Yoruichi's wand, pouring all his reiatsu into it.

“Fly!” cried Ichigo and I could only watch in shock as the huge wing sprang into life, the tentacle wrapping itself around Ichigo's arm to ensure it wouldn't slip from his grasp.

He crashed through the door as both Yoruichi and I dashed after him, unable to catch him as he gained speed and altitude. We watched as he flew away, Yoruichi's face mirroring mine as she snarled, “Ch! That dumb brat!”

“We should hurry before something happens.” I said as I prepared to slip into flash step, but Yoruichi stopped me.

“No. It is no longer safe for you to leave here.” said Yoruichi as she regained her composure. “I will go.”

“I don't care! Let them come!” I said angrily as I turned to her.

“Stay here.” said Yoruichi quietly, a sad look on her face. “Don't make me tell Kisuke that you died on my watch.”

“Fine.” I said and Yoruichi smiled quickly before slipping into flash step and disappearing from sight.

Ryuujin greeted me as I walked back inside, her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned back against the door post.

“Why didn't you go?” she asked without looking at me.

“Because she is Captain's friend.” I said simply as I stood beside her.

“Your Captain's friend. That places no responsibility on me.” she snapped, obviously angry at being denied another chance to encounter Aizen.

“Then go. I won't stop you.” I said as I put my hands in my pocket and started walking again.

“You know full well I'll have all of Soul Society on my ass if I separate from you.” growled Ryuujin and I stopped, a smile pulling at the corners of my lips.

“Is that my problem?” I asked as I looked at her over my shoulder.

“It damn well is.” she said as she stood up and walked over to me.

“How is that?” I asked as I turned around to face her.

“It's only because I cooperate with you that you haven't been found out yet.” said Ryuujin, her threat clear as day. “Plus, once I take back my powers you'll be helpless against that bastard Aizen.”

“Don't forget you will be too.” I countered, steeling myself not to flinch as Ryuujin lashed out, her insubstantial claws passing through me.

“Watch your tongue.” snarled Ryuujin as she regained her composure, running a clawed hand through her hair.

“I've noticed you've been coming out a lot more lately. What's up with that?” I asked as I sat down against the wall, pulling Honorable Ruler out of my obi so I could sit comfortably.

“I can smell him.” she said as she crossed her arms and looked out over the Seireitei. “And it makes my blood boil.”

“Why are you so scared of him?” I asked.

“He fears nothing.” said Ryuujin.

“What!?” I asked, more than a little shocked by her answer.

“There is nothing more dangerous than a man who has no fear and the power to back up that belief.” said Ryuujin, a little of her anger tugging at my mind.

“But everyone is afraid of something.” I reasoned and Ryuujin laughed as she turned around.

“In all your years as a member of the Gotei 13, did you ever see him upset or afraid?” asked Ryuujin and I scowled at her as I racked my brains.

“Well… no, now that you mention it.” I admitted as I chewed on my thumbnail. “But aren't you the same way?”

“Ha! I wish!” barked Ryuujin, her mask twisted in a predatory smile. “Even we Vasto Lords have fear. Mine is to be controlled, to no longer be the master of my own life. Why do you think I want Aizen dead so badly?”

As shocked as I was to learn that Aizen had no known fear, Ryuujin's recent revelation blew my mind. I couldn't help but give a little laugh as I shook my head.

“Why is that so hard to believe? You are no different. You think I haven't noticed all those nightmares you've been having lately?” she asked and I looked away.

“What of it?” I asked as I shifted to get comfortable again.

“It's only natural that you fear those who are more powerful than you.” said Ryuujin as she walked back over to the smashed door. “You see Aizen's power and you're scared of him.” she continued as she pushed the splinters around with her toe. “Hey, you gonna fix this?”

“Why not.” I said as I stood up and put Honorable Ruler back into my belt.

“Hey, here comes Yoruichi and it looks like she's carrying an unconscious Ichigo.” said Ryuujin as she leaned against the doorpost, casually observing as I pulled an extra door out of a nearby storage closet.

“You gotta be kidding me.” I groaned as I banged the closet door shut and brought the new door over. “Is he bleeding?”

“Oh yeah.” said Ryuujin as she absently picked at her teeth. “Anybody with half a nose could track them here.”

“Shit.” I said angrily as I ripped away the rest of the smashed door and threw it out into the forest. “If that kid doesn't die from his wounds I'm gonna end up killing him.”

“Atta girl.” said Ryuujin as Yoruichi slipped out of flash step, Ichigo slipping out of her grasp as she tried to catch her breath.

“Phew. It's got to be because I haven't fought anyone for the past one hundred years. I'm fighting so hard to catch my breath after some one hundred and two hundred flash steps. I sure got a lot weaker.” said Yoruichi as she looked at me.

“What happened?” I asked as she dropped Ichigo's zanpakuto and sank to the floor. “Did our little child prodigy decide to pick a fight with one of the Captains?”

“Yes, and I barely got him out of there alive. Byakuya was out to kill.” said Yoruichi as I dragged Ichigo back to his pallet.

“Some people never change.” I said as I threw a blanket over Ichigo and fixed his pillow. “Now to fix the door.”

As I started to pull the remaining wood out of the door frame I could hear Yoruichi's breathing start to return to normal. Continuing to work I asked, “Do you still plan on teaching him bankai?”

“Yes, but I am afraid he will not have any time to heal beforehand.” said Yoruichi as I pulled a splinter out of my finger with my teeth. “Our time is starting to run out.”

“Good luck with that.” I said as I popped the new door into the frame, sliding it back and forth experimentally before calling it good. “If he does learn it, it'll only be because a miracle happened.”

As I moved to replace the second door I heard rustling behind me and turned to see Yoruichi shoved against the wall by Ichigo.

“Why… why did you only take me back!?” asked Ichigo, Yoruichi impassive as Ichigo screamed at her. “The person with the highest chance of survival back there was me! This way Ganju and Hanataro, even Rukia may have been killed!”

“Don't think so highly of yourself.” said Yoruichi quietly, as I simply sat there and watched their little showdown. “You had no chance of surviving the fight. No one there could have survived a fight against Byakuya.”

“You…!” started Ichigo, raising his arm as if to lash out at Yoruichi, but she knocked him flat on his back without visible effort.

“Stop fighting unless you want your wound to open up again.” said Yoruichi crossly as Ichigo lay, visibly hurting from all the damage he had accumulated. “To still be able to outrun Byakuya…” said Yoruichi as she started walking away. “…one person is as many as I can carry.”

“Then why didn't you take Rukia instead of me!? Where was Reijin!?” asked Ichigo, still not able to let go of the fact he hadn't been able to save his friend.

“I was here, fixing the door you smashed.” I said calmly as I stood up and dusted off my pants. “I would have come but I have a death order on my head and with two Captains there I would just be asking to have my head cut off.”

“Death order?” asked Ichigo. “What about the rest of us!? Will they kill Chad and the others now that they've been…!?”

“Shut up.” I said quietly as I opened the newly replaced doors. “Quit thinking you all are so god-damn special and listen for once. While you guys have broken into the Seireitei and are attempting to save some girl on death-row you haven't reached the level of crime or ability to have a death order put on your head. So stop whining and let Yoruichi tell you how you can save your friends.”

I turned around to see Ichigo staring at me in shock, Yoruichi watching Ichigo with a calculating eye. Scowling at him I looked up to Ryuujin leaning against the wall, applauding my little rant.

“Bravo, bravo!” she said, a little chuckle escaping her grisly mask.

“Shut up.” I shot at her, careful not to let a sound escape my lips.

“It's true that back there no one could have defeated Byakuya, but in three days time it may become possible for you.” said Yoruichi as she started speaking again, Ichigo's eyes turning to her. “That is why I've brought you back. Aside from Byakuya, Ukitake was also there. He's Rukia's superior and a very decent man. Even though Ganju is an intruder and Hanataro is a traitor he won't let them die because they were trying to save Rukia.” continued Yoruichi, not stopping as Ichigo struggled to his feet. “So don't worry. Just make sure you get stronger. Right now you don't stand a chance against Byakuya, but in three days I'll make you strong enough to defeat him. Then you can go and rescue everyone.”

She started walking into the training area, Ichigo grabbing his zanpakuto as he followed her. I watched him stumble after her and I couldn't help but feel that he was going to fail, no matter how hard he tried.

“Maybe it would be kinder to kill him.” said Ryuujin as she walked up beside me, her arms behind her back.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked as I stared out over the Seireitei.

“Even if by some odd chance that he does learn bankai, his body will be so overtaxed that he'll probably drop dead in his next fight. If he doesn't drop dead he'll probably be killed in under a minute because he won't know how to use his `ace in the hole.'” said Ryuujin as she looked over at me. “From what I know about your experience, just spending a few extra minutes over the time limit results in a month spent at the hospital directly under the best healer in all of Soul Society.”

“Yoruichi won't let it go that far.” I said as I looked at her. “She knows the consequences just as well as we do. After all, she also did try to learn her bankai this way.”

Ryuujin let out a laugh before saying, “Yes, but did you ever think all this training will weaken him enough to let his Hollow take over? Tell me, did it even cross your mind?”

“Why do you ask things you already know the answer to?” I asked, a little annoyed.

“Because you shinigami seem to need the obvious handed to you.” said Ryuujin before dissolving into thin air again.

I slammed the doors shut to relieve some of my anger before opening one back up and resting against the doorpost. Sliding into a sitting position I started shredding stray leaves to keep myself amused as I thought about what Ryuujin had said. After a few moments of silence I found myself starting to nod off and rubbed my face to wake myself up.

“I need a good night's sleep.” I grumbled to no one in particular as I rested my forehead against my knees and let my eyelids close.

 

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Once again, I apologize for this chapter taking so long. Hopefully this won't need to be edited and save me even more time.

 

I also wish to thank anihana again for another lovely review and SweetYuya for their review. It feels nice to know that people like what you write.

 

P.S. I updated chapters three and four if you wish to read the extremely minor changes I made in them. The one in three is almost not worth reading as I just changed it back to Reijin and Kaien became Lieutenants at the same time. As for four, it's in the flashback and Tousen becomes Gin.