Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters. They belong to Tite Kubo and whoever else actually owns it and I make no money from writing this. This story however is mine and is not to be replicated, reposted, or copied in any way without my consent. Thank you.
…
Night and Nightmares
…
Nevertheless, she had obtained her mission objective, and now it was time to complete the mission altogether.
…
Ichigo Kurosaki had already been in bed and was drifting off to what he had been sure would have been one of the greatest sleeps of his life when he felt it. It wasn't so much that he felt something in the air, to be more accurate he felt a
lack of something in the air. Just like with Rukia's near-death experience in Hueco Mundo, he felt the suddenness of Tatsuki's uncontrollable reiatsu becoming nonexistent. His chest constricted painfully at the many thoughts that went rushing through his head as he scrambled around in the dark to find his Substitute Medallion, and did everything but break through his window to get out into the air when he had left his body behind.
So many possibilities were rushing through his head, all of them unpleasant. There were only a few possible ways he knew of to completely conceal reiatsu. The person wielding the reiatsu could have enough control over it to hide it within themselves to avoid being sensed, but Tatsuki had as much control over her reiatsu as he did of his, so that was ruled out rather quickly. She could be locked up in the Repentance Tower, but this was the Real World and he hadn't seen heads or tails of any of his Soul Reaper friends for a good couple of months. She could be…de—
No! I refuse to think that! I absolutely refuse to believe that! Ichigo thought desperately as the world flew by his speeding form.
What else could there be! Think dammit! Think! She could have the reiatsu-restraining cuffs on her, like Chad and the others had told him about during their time of confinement in Soul Society…
His eyes widened.
Of course! That has to be it! But why would—oh no. His mind suddenly left his body and reeled him back into the Past, where his memory showed him the moment in time he had thought was completely absurd, the memory he thought would never have any merit in his life.
…
"
So let me get this straight. Ichigo, for no apparent reason, decided he would stab you with his zanpakutou and give you some of his powers so you could become a Soul Reaper like him. For no apparent reason! Dammit Ichigo, are you trying
to give Soul Society a reason to kill you!"
…
He paled.
No, that's impossible…Soul Society has to have smartened up by now…they wouldn't dare… Even as he thought those things, he knew the arrogance of Soul Society better than anyone. He knew if they thought their precious 'laws' were under fire, they wouldn't hesitate to eliminate the source of that fire. Another illegitimate Soul Reaper, let alone another Vizard, would definitely be reason for them to take action.
He found himself in her room before he was even done thinking. His body knew where it needed to be and it had taken him there without him even being consciously aware of it. He saw Tatsuki's body on her bed and rushed to its side, though already he knew. He just knew.
"Tatsuki!" He shouted as he shook her body. No response. "Dammit! Dammit dammit dammit
DAMMIT!" He hollered in absolute rage as he ran his hands through his hair angrily. He knew what had happened. They had taken her Soul Reaper body, not her real body. That
would be all they would need after all.
That was when he suddenly went still.
There was reiatsu in the air.
Whoever had taken her had gotten careless, for on the ground was a device he had never seen before, but he knew it to be an instrument of Soul Society. A distinct pattern was in the air from the person who had taken her, and now he struggled through his memory for a similar pattern out of all the people he had met in Soul Society. Finally, one came to him, and the feeling growing in the pit of his stomach grew. He had only met her briefly as he and the others were leaving Soul Society, but he had a knack for remembering the feel of reiatsu. That was probably because he wasn't too good at it back then, so the ones he
did feel became ingrained in his memory.
What was her name…dammit what was her name! Then it came to him, the name Uryuu had told him. They had all shared their stories of their own adventures when they were split up both in Soul Society and in Hueco Mundo; even now he couldn't understand why, but right now he was extremely thankful for that. Thanks to that he was able to match the description and name to the reiatsu he had felt.
Nemu! That was her name! She was the lieutenant of…what division again? His heart stopped momentarily.
Squad Twelve! The maniac that wanted to slice and dice Orihime into little analytical pieces! His blood ran cold and he stumbled back into the wall, both lightheaded and nauseous.
A half-Hollow test subject…he wants my Tatsuki to be a test subject! They know they couldn't get a hold of me or the others even if they had an army behind them…but a new Soul Reaper that's also a new Vizard…she'd be perfect. Oh God, she'd be perfect! Darkness enveloped him as he involuntarily unleashed Zangetsu's second stage and the tight jacket of his Soul Slayer replaced his shihakushou and covered his torso until it went down into its loose and tattered tails. This he wouldn't allow. Tatsuki was
his.
His to hold,
his to love,
his to protect. No one else's. No one could do experiments on her; no one could touch her; no one could do
anything to her with the possible exception of their friends. But this…this was
not allowed. Absolutely beside himself with rage, the young Shinigami was so tense he was shivering; aggravation, anxiety, and undiluted fury just begging for an outlet.
Ogihci was following his line of thinking, which was an extreme surprise. He was enraged that someone would have the
audacity to try and capture his Queen, and he was unequivocally
murderous towards whoever took her. He probably shouldn't have chosen that time to remind his host of his existence with those thoughts, because then those steely eyes burning with vengeance closed in on him. This time Ichigo didn't try to
tap into his power, this time Ichigo grabbed his wide-eyed Hollow by the throat and suddenly white and black lost all boundaries as their inner world was consumed by a fireworks display of pure, unadulterated,
power.
The reiatsu lying dormant in the air around him from his insanely large stores of the spiritual substance flared and multiplied to far past inhuman levels as he took more and more power from inside himself and forced it to the surface. The violent thickness of the reiatsu itself spread over Karakura Town, the rest of Japan, and everywhere else until anyone on that side of the hemisphere with even the smallest amount of spiritual awareness was feeling his awesome presence. He hadn't been the one to defeat Aizen for nothing, he was the strongest being there was. He was a Soul Reaper, a Hollow, and the Hougyoku.
And he was
pissed.
A more frightening combination couldn't be achieved anywhere else.
A pale hand reached out for an equally white Tensa Zangetsu lying on the floor, and yellow eyes tinted by the absolute darkness surrounding them narrowed towards the window as his thin lips scowled into the night. He knew of
one way to get into Soul Society, other than relying on Urahara, and so with a swish of his white coat, Ichigo leaped out the window.
Standing on air as his incredible power spread around him, Ichigo jammed his hands into the air like one who was trying to manually open elevator doors. The air seemed to scream in protest as reality itself was warped and torn around his hands, but he paid it no mind. He may not be a Menos, or an Arrancar, but he was something much,
much more dangerous. With a howl of rage the fabric between the realities was at last breached and a hole into the Garganta was ripped open. There wasn't a single moment of hesitation in him anymore, he had to get to her. He had to save her. He jumped in without once looking back and in response to the intense pressure he was creating,
all the churning spirit particles of the Garganta were solidified instantly into a floor. It was as if the particles themselves recognized his power and status, and submitted to the will of, and in, his power.
He had been there when the Gillian Menos' had broken through to Soul Society to save Aizen, and he knew even if he didn't have an army to help him, he was powerful enough on his own to break through the space between the realities and to Soul Society by himself. Never once did he entertain the thought that he couldn't. Even if it might have been true, he wouldn't allow it to be. He would defy every law there was in existence, as long as he made it there. It didn't matter where he broke through, as long as he made it there.
But after an infuriatingly long time of walking and feeling the pressures on the other sides without any success, Ichigo was seriously beginning to question that ideal and he let out another scream of frustration as he tightened his ashen hands into fists. Still, the eerily deadly calm stayed over him as he commanded his Hollow's maskless power and finally, finally, success answered him. Ichigo came to a stop where he felt the most spirit pressure from something other than Hollows, which was rare, and that meant one thing.
With a grim smile that bled both his and Ogihci's bloodlust, he said two words as white energy defined with the bloodiest of crimson strained through alabaster fingers tightly gripping a similarly pale sword:
"
Getsuga Tenshou."
…
The first thing Tatsuki Arisawa noticed as she came back to consciousness was that her head hurt like she had just taken on Ichigo one-on-one and received a couple of those 'Cero' things to the head. Everything was black around her even though she knew her eyes were open, so she figured she had to have something covering her face, which was confirmed when she took a breath in and material met her mouth.
She tried not to panic when she remembered the last thing that had happened to her. Forcing herself to calm down, she knew she had a few options available to her in a situation like this, but they all depended on the circumstances, which as of right then she didn't know. She could play dead and hope she gained some information from her kidnappers while they thought she was still out cold; she could try negotiating with whoever took her; or she could always bust out and do some serious damage.
She liked that last option very much.
With a frenzied grin she reached within herself to try and find her Hollow and her power.
That was when she truly started to panic.
Nothing. She couldn't feel a thing. From her own reiatsu to her Hollow's, not even her zanpakutou; she couldn't feel a thing. She tried to move her hands but found they were in a bound state as well and her legs still felt like jelly to her lightheaded mind. As she awoke more however, faint voices were becoming discernable through the bag on her head, and eventually she mustered up the strength to speak.
"Hello? Where am I!"
It was more of a demand than a sentence but as of the time she woke up she wasn't feeling very charitable towards her captor, or captors, whatever the case was. All she knew was she didn't like being held prisoner, and if she had anything to say about it there was going to be pain in the near future.
"Ah! So she's finally awake!" A woman's voice exclaimed. The voice was oddly familiar to Tatsuki for some reason, and suddenly the bag was pulled from her head and as her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw Yoruichi of all people, wearing pajamas and looking at her maybe a bit
too smugly.
"Yoruichi! What the heck am I doing he—re." Her words faltered when she looked around and saw not one, not two, but at least ten or more women all dressed in pajamas and eagerly looking at her from on top of various futons and mattresses. If she didn't know any better, she had been abducted to a slumber party. She didn't recognize any of them, that was until her eyes fell upon a blonde with possibly the biggest set of breasts she had ever seen and stunning ice-blue eyes.
Her she recognized.
"You! I know you! You came to see Ichigo that one time with that elementary schooler right!" She tried to point at her, but with her hands being bound the way they were, she only succeeded in pointing both arms at the gifted woman.
…
Across Soul Society, working on his paperwork, a more grown Toshiro Hitsugaya felt his eyebrow twitch.
Why do I get the feeling that I'm being insulted? But the calm and contained captain eventually shrugged and got back to the paperwork his
loving Rangiku had left on his desk when she left for the Shinigami Women's Association New Member Slumber Party.
…
Rangiku Matsumoto let a soft laugh escape her and the strong tone of her sensually deep voice carried through the room. "You remember me! Thanks!" Then who Tatsuki had thought was calm and gentle actually
jumped through the air to hug her chair-bound form with what she was sure was a slightly inebriated coo.
So much for that theory, she thought sarcastically as she was all but plastered to the older woman.
"Okay okay! Get'off me already!"
The blonde merely chuckled and reduced her hug to one arm over her shoulders. She seemed to need the help staying upright. Tatsuki took the freedom to look around more freely, and soon she spotted shihakushous all folded neatly in the corner with a katana set against the wall for each uniform on the ground right by them. For some reason Tatsuki felt a cold chill run down her spine.
"Where…where am I?" She asked hesitantly.
Yoruichi laughed and patted her on the back. "You're in Soul Society! You are now an official member of the Shinigami Women's Association! This is the celebratory slumber party we always have to induct new members!"
There were two words for a situation like this, and Tatsuki made good use of them.
"WAAAAAHHHH? HUUUUHHH!"
"Come on Tatsuki, we're having a sleepover to celebrate you joining our group!" A cheery voice exclaimed, and suddenly Orihime's head popped out from under the mountain of covers and futons in the middle of the room, soon followed by the ever-energetic Yachiru. "We're making a fort! Wanna help?"
To say the black haired tomboy was stunned would be putting it lightly. "O-Orihime! What are you doing here!"
"Oh, she was made an honorary member for Soul Society's mistake of thinking she was a traitor," a short woman in peach and orange plaid pajamas said as she appeared beside Tatsuki. "The meetings have been a lot livelier since she was inducted, and her sewing skills are really useful. Sorry about all the dramatics getting you here, but we couldn't really trust you to come on your own."
There was a theatrical pause before Tatsuki's voice would work again.
"R-Rukia too! Just what in the world is going on here!"
Yoruichi had clasped her hands to her ears, just so she couldn't hear the tomboy's loud exclamations anymore. "I told you already! We're having a party in your honor!"
Well, that made more sense; and in Tatsuki's mind having Orihime, Rukia, and the woman she had just met days before—that also happened to be impressively powerful—named Yoruichi, with her was relaxing. "So I'm in a female Soul Reaper club now? Heh, I guess that's all right." A little bit of warning would have been nice, but it worked, she supposed.
The entire group smiled at her simultaneously, and she felt welcomed instantly. Rukia undid the cuffs on her wrists and Tatsuki rubbed said wrists to try and get the circulation back in her hands as she felt her power returning. Then a calm voice spoke out among the others.
"While I was watching you, I saw you could already call your zanpakutou into its first release. How long did that take you?" A woman with braided black hair and tight black pajamas asked. Tatsuki recognized this woman, it was the last face she had seen before she blacked out.
"You! You were watching me! For how long!"
Nemu merely smiled at her demurely, and suddenly Tatsuki felt the incredible urge to run far,
far away.
If she was watching me for most of today, then that means… Her face turned bright red and she hoped to high heaven she was wrong. "You…you wouldn't have happened to be watching me after school…were you?" The karate expert received another modest smile as her answer, and she almost fainted again. "Uhh, um…you… you wanted to know about my sword right? It took me around four days to get it released," the young woman continued hastily, wanting to get off the previous topic as quickly as possible. "And a near-death experience," she added bitterly.
However, Rukia's inner pervert sensed something wrong with Tatsuki's eagerness to change the topic, and her face warped into an evil grin. "Oooooh, did something happen after school? Come on come on, it's a slumber party! You have to tell us everything!"
Tatsuki nearly choked.
"We could always watch the recording. I recorded everything I saw on my vision glasses, it would not be too hard to view it," Nemu stated, oblivious to Tatsuki's growing horror.
Aforementioned woman jumped at the expressionless scientist like she was a wrestler jumping at her opponent and the entire room was caught up in the game of tag Tatsuki was seemingly playing with the enigmatic lieutenant. It was rather amusing. Every time Tatsuki got close enough, her hands were straining for the glasses Nemu was holding gently in her one hand while the other was having little difficulty holding off the petrified tomboy. Yells of "Giv'it here!" and "Quit moving!" were shouted throughout the exchange, as well as a few more unintelligible pleas of bargain to try and get back the embarrassing tape and more than a few unladylike curses. Everyone was laughing and Rukia and the other two that knew her personally were growing more and more curious to the contents of that video as the tomboy's face continued to turn redder and redder as time went by.
"Sheesh, and to think Ichigo agreed to this. I never would have thought it would happen," Rukia said as she shook her head in her palm.
That stopped Nemu.
In that brief moment Tatsuki was able to grab the vision glasses from her and held them in the air victoriously, but eventually got curious as to why the other woman was doing nothing to get them back and looked over at Nemu. She found the other woman was looking at Rukia oddly, and Rukia noticed this too.
"You…you DID tell Ichigo about this…right?" Rukia asked the Twelfth Squad Lieutenant hesitantly.
Nemu cocked her head to the side and looked at the shorter Shinigami innocently. "Why?"
Two people paled unhealthily. Rukia and Yoruichi instantly dashed for their clothes and swords and only after Orihime realized what they were so desperately trying to do did she turn the same shade of white. One by one the women of the group seemed to catch on and it was a mad scramble for uniforms until Tatsuki finally got frustrated at the chaotic display of girls running around trying to change, all except Nemu, who was still standing confusedly in the middle of the room.
"WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON HERE!"
Everything stopped.
Yoruichi, who by now was fully dressed and doing up her hair into her quick ponytail, looked over at the confused Soul Reaper with wide cat-like eyes. "Rukia was his
friend and he turned Soul Society upside down to rescue her. You're his
fiancé, and if he can discern Nemu's spirit pressure, then he'll know exactly what division she's from! What do
you think he's going to do when—!"
It was as if the air suddenly gained visible form, for at that moment seeing through the air was like trying to see through a haze of gasoline, and unexpectedly a reiatsu heavier than anything they had ever felt pushed every single person in the room to their knees as the less powerful struggled to
breathe and the more powerful struggled to even
stand. Lightning exploded from two people in the room and Soi-Fong and Yoruichi were able to get up thanks to Shunkou strengthening their limbs. Passing serious looks to each other, they ran out of the room quickly, where Rukia, Orihime, and Tatsuki soon followed. It was easier for them because they had been gaining a tolerance to Ichigo's giant reiatsu after being so close to him for so long.
When they were out of the room, they too were struck stunned looking up at the stars, exactly like Yoruichi and Soi-Fong were. The dark sky was being brightened by glowing arcs of jagged white energy, scarlet radiance outlining the deadly bolts seeming to come from the other side of the heavens themselves. The very sky in its splendor seemed to shudder and cry as two hands were unexpectedly seen pulling apart two pieces of the starry expanse as the immaculate energy radiated from the hole they created. The five looking up in fear grew even more frightened at the white hands doing it, but this was no Menos Grande.
These hands were human sized.
The hole finally grew large enough for a human to fit through, and a white-clad, white-skinned being did exactly that. Even from where they were, they could see the black socks under the sandals, leading up to the white hakama partially covered by the long white coat that clung to the man's chest before falling down to his feet. Black lining contrasted the clothing in the exact same way white would normally line the black of a regular shihakushou, and a black obi held his hakama in place. The brilliant pallidity of the person's apparel wasn't what had their attention though; it was the ashen pallor of the person's skin, completely white all the way to the spiked, snow-colored hair. In his hand was a long colorless katana with a broken chain dangling loosely at the end, and his glowing yellow eyes pierced through the darkness surrounding them like a beacon. There was one thing that caused the gasps of the Soul Reapers as they scrambled to counterattack against the intruder, for the visage of the alabaster man was that of a much deadlier Ichigo Kurosaki.
To all outsiders, it would seem like Ogihci Ikasoruk had at last taken over.
But to most everyone that knew what had happened in Hueco Mundo, they knew this was simply the fullest extent of his Hollow power unleashed, and this wasn't even taking into account the Hougyoku.
Yes, this was the King.
There were only a few people in existence who knew of that, and all the regular Soul Reapers and even some of the captains weren't privy to that knowledge. Thus, when thousands upon thousands of glowing pink flower blossoms went flying at him, it came as no big surprise. What
did come as the surprise however, was the swirling mass of white and red energy easily recognizable as Tensa Zangetsu's Getsuga Tenshou obliterating the attack in a single strike, and then a loud shout was screamed that could be heard over all of Soul Society.
"
MAYURI! I SWEAR I'll KILL YOU IF YOU'VE TOUCHED ONE HAIR ON HER HEAD!" It was still Ichigo's echoed voice being used by the man, so he was still in control. Ogihci had a much more grating voice that could be condescending even in the best of tones. It was what made him who he was.
The five people that were gradually gaining in number as the stronger ones managed to stumble out the door looked up in horror. He knew who had taken her all right, and now that they thought about it, the conclusion he had apparently come to was quite logical. They saw his head turn, and saw that his attention had been drawn elsewhere by an army of Soul Reapers running down the catwalks, and the ones that could control their reiatsu enough to walk on air were doing that. And they were all running towards him.
"Stop!" Yoruichi tried to yell at them. "If you get any closer he'll kill you the way he is right now!" She wasn't heard, and that was apparent. With a worried glance over at her loyal friend, she and Soi-Fong took off in an explosive burst of lightning-laced speed.
Predictably enough, another Getsuga was soon released, and the giant fang of condensed spiritual energy roared towards the walkways with a power hard to fully comprehend. The strike had been easily expected though, and not one was injured—though the same couldn't be said of the walkways—allowing for the charge to be continued, however reckless it may be.
No one could have expected what happened next.
Ichigo audibly snarled at the mass approaching him and switched Tensa Zangetsu to his left hand before raising his right by his head like one who was preparing to backhand someone.
"Ruler: the mask of blood and flesh, all things of the universe that fly, that which names ALL…!" Rukia was staring in shocked awe as the white Ichigo started yelling out his words, and only when she recognized what it was did she truly start to panic.
No, he can't! He's only heard me use that incantation once! That's way too powerful a Kidou for him to pull off with his knowledge, even in this state! "Stop Ichigo! You have to stop!" She shouted, but her voice fell dead among the noise the growing spiritual power was creating as it gathered in his hand.
"…
In the name of truth and temperance dig your claws into the wall of sinless dreams! Hadou number thirty-three: BLUE FIRE CRASH!" The small Soul Reaper that had spent so much time trying to get the man hovering in the air far above her to understand the basics of Kidou was stunned beyond belief when he completed his incantation and shot out his palm, where a mass of blue spiritual power shot out and rained down towards all the Soul Reapers now trying desperately to get out of the way of the falling attack. It had been perfect, exactly like it would have been if he had been trained in the art of Kidou just like she was. Even though she was awed by the awesome might of the attack as it fell down, every other part of her was dreading the loss of life that would occur when that spiritually supercharged spell hit the masses below.
Thankfully, before it hit, massive arrays of lightning came from the ground where the attack would have landed, and they were soon joined by a huge burst of red energy and a swirling defensive wall made up of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi's glowing pink flower petals.
When the smoke cleared, both Yoruichi and Soi-Fong were standing on the catwalk, and Renji Abarai was standing on an opposing building, Hihiou Zabimaru in hand while the smoke from its cannon still smoldered from its mouth. Byakuya Kuchiki was standing regally on the building on the other side of his former lieutenant, making a quadruple captain-level defense against any more attacks. Renji was even wearing his captain jacket to keep up appearances.
And yet even with all that, there remained doubt of success in the face of what was opposing them, what was pressing down on them with enough force to strain even
their lungs.
Tatsuki couldn't take any more.
It's all my fault. Ichigo's gone off the deep end and it's all my fault! She wasn't simply going to watch anymore. Ichigo had been so worried about her he had torn into Soul Society by himself and was blasting anything in his way without even testing the pressures around him to try and find her, that was how certain he was of her capture. She knew she had to get over there and she had to get over there NOW.
Without wasting any more time, the young woman raised her hand to her forehead and brought it down, concentrating on her Hollow's power within her. Her intricate mask formed instantly and her reiatsu burst out like water from a destroyed dam, flooding through the air saturated almost utterly by her fiancé's unreservedly malicious spiritual power. She saw her ivory lover look up confusedly as he felt the power rushing into the air around him, but it wasn't enough. She didn't care that she didn't know how to use Shunpo, or practically anything involving reiatsu, all she knew was she needed to get there and she would use her power to do that.
Within moments of jumping from the ledge, Tatsuki found herself by Yoruichi's side.
I did it! I used Shunpo! She thought excitedly. Of course, she didn't know
how she used it, but she had used it.
Looking up at Ichigo she saw his sword falling from his hand as he saw her appear, and the look in his deadly eyes was nothing but pure relief. He stumbled towards her from his place in the sky, and with every step he took down to the catwalk his color started returning. It started at his brilliant orange hair, until when he was right in front of her and collapsing at her feet he was entirely back to normal. She dispelled her mask and knelt down to his level, where his hysterically trembling muscles were causing the young man to shake uncontrollably as he struggled to keep his eyes on hers. Jerkily reaching to grasp hold of her arms, the unimaginably powerful man almost collapsed into her at her returned touch.
"I…I thought I lost you. I was so…so
arrogant…I thought nothing could touch me. I forgot…I can't believe I forgot about
you. I couldn't…oh God I couldn't protect you. God Tatsuki, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry…" His brown eyes were locked on to hers the entire time and she could see the terror and regret roiling uncontrollably within him. He truly thought she had been in danger and he had taken all of that on his shoulders as his fault. She embraced him passionately and he responded like his arms were coiled springs just waiting for that same opportunity, collecting her against him so desperately she couldn't have moved even if she wanted to.
Renji was looking at the display with a certain amount of shock, but Byakuya, Yoruichi, and Soi-Fong were all looking at the embracing couple with warmth and a degree of happiness. Byakuya may seem like a heartless soldier nearly all the time, but he had known Love's touch before, and he knew it when he saw it. He knew the pain that came when a loved one was perceived to be in danger, or actually in danger, and nothing the other could do would do any good. He knew of that all too well.
"Be at ease, Ichigo Kurosaki. It would appear your wife-to-be was abducted for the Shinigami Women's Association, and no harm has befallen her. Such
mistakes as those that have happened with the information in this matter will not happen again, am I correct in this assumption, Soi-Fong?" The Kuchiki head asked formally and regarded the Second Division captain with no small accusation written in his steel grey eyes.
Soi-Fong nodded rapidly, getting on the bad side of Byakuya Kuchiki was
asking for a death sentence, even if she herself was a captain as well.
At last, the ordeal was done with.
…
Bankai's were resealed, Shunkou's were deactivated, and all in all peace was restored to Soul Society in relatively quick fashion after it was all revealed to be a simple misunderstanding that had brought about yet another elaborate break-in to the Court of Pure Souls.
There was a healthy amount of awe regarded to the savior of Soul Society after it though, and Ichigo was a little uncomfortable with some of the stares he received as he walked towards where the slumber party had been held prior to his…misunderstanding. He found it especially uncomfortable the way the women were all staring at him like he was some giant piece of meat and they were all ravenous wolves.
He gulped silently.
Captain Unohana now sat in the circle of women at the Association, and he was thankful for that at least. He
had been called here after all, instead of the other way around. A man at the Association meetings wasn't unheard of, it was just highly rare.
"So, you're engaged eh?" A still slightly drunk Rangiku asked tipsily.
"Yeah," he responded simply, trying not to act as cornered as he felt.
"Hehe, no wonder you went crazy when she disappeared like that and only Nemu's reiatsu was left behind. I'd go crazy if that lunatic captain wanted my lover as a science project too."
Ichigo wasn't aware of who she was talking about, so he kept quiet. When the silence of the circle was restored, Ichigo turned to the captain of the Fourth Division. "Captain Unohana, I was wondering if I could get some medical training from your division, or maybe even you if it wouldn't be too much trouble. I'm trying to become a doctor in the Living World, and any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated." He paused for only a second as he rethought how to word his next sentences. "I'm… sick and tired of having to rely on others when there are wounded in front of me, and if you could teach me how to heal with my reiatsu I'd be in your debt." He bowed lowly and needless to say the entire Association was shocked.
The savior of Soul Society being in
debt to someone! It was almost unheard of that a celebrated warrior would stoop so low as to learn the graciousness of the healing arts; usually they stuck to what they knew and held nothing but contempt for the healers, but this warrior actually
wanted to learn them. He was even willing to be in
debt for that knowledge.
Retsu Unohana smiled her usual friendly smile that could both warm the heart, yet at the same time terrify the wicked, and regarded the Vizard hero hospitably. "Nonsense, I would be glad to help you learn the healing arts, no payment required." Ichigo's face lit up and she smiled again. "But there is one condition, in return for this you have to let the Association plan your wedding."
Now Ichigo had no idea what the ways of the Shinigami Women's Association were; the only encounter he had ever had with any of their handiwork was the Gikongan pills that had been changed to 'Soul Candy' because of their efforts. But, being as the situation would be much easier if he just complied, the unknowing Ichigo agreed to Unohana's condition.
"Sure, why not? Tatsuki's with you ladies now so I'm sure it can't be too bad."
He would later regret those words.
…
Author's Notes: Thanks for reading. I love this chapter.
