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Seeds of Destruction	By : blackdiamondprincess Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 14158 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
13. In the Belly of the Beast � The Crystal Clearing

The wind whistled in her
ears as the rooftops rushed passed her in her hurry. Yoruichi had separated
from the rest of the group so she could contact the members of the 4^th
reconnaissance unit who were stationed in Southern Karakura. She was hoping to
see if they had news about the situation in Soul Society, though she doubted
they would. Still, it was well worth a try.

�Mistress Yoruichi!�

�Takeda,� she said as she entered the small encampment
located in an abandoned oil factory on the outskirts of town. �Report status.�

Takeda immediately stood and nodded. �All
communications with Soul Society have been out of order since the past hour,
milady. No change since. �

She sighed in dismay and nodded. �Keep trying to
contact them.� She turned to leave.

�Milady,� Takeda called after her.

�What is it?�

Takeda handed her a document holder. �We received
these a little over an hour ago. We haven�t been able to make sense of the
message, but it seems of outmost importance.�

She opened the holder and nodded, recognising the
communication pattern immediately. �Dismissed.�

�Ma�am!�

Yoruichi frowned slightly as she inspected the content
of the ciphered message more intently. She had never seen this type of
encrypted complexity in her entire career as head of the MSC.

It was the code Soul Society used to report a level 1
B&I � i.e., Breach and Invasion. Soul Society was under attack and greatly
outnumbered.

�If this was sent over an hour ago, then��

�Yoruichi-san!�

A heavily beaten up man collapsed at her feet,
struggling to regain his breath. �The second unit, milady!
They��

She kneeled next to him and supported his back and
neck as she helped him to lie down on the floor. �What did you see?� she calmly
inquired, taking in his multiple injuries and lacerations silently.

He grabbed onto her right arm, his eyes wide open in
unseen terror, lips trembling with unspoken words. �When I got there... they�
they�d... no one was left alive!�

�What did this?�

He was shaking his head now, the tears running down
his beaten face and mingling with the blood on his cheeks. �No
one... none! There was nothing there!�

Yoruichi frowned in frustration, realizing that the
man had completely lost it. Still, there was no mistaking it; he had seen something...
or perhaps he hadn�t seen anything. Seen anything coming that
is... just like the second company hadn�t. It made sense, otherwise they
would�ve asked for help. As it apparently was, they were outnumbered and taken
completely by surprise by an unseen �invisible?�enemy.

�What the hell is going on?� she wondered as she
watched the delirious man being taken away.

_________________________________

�

With a sound like thunder, they broke through the veil
separating the worlds.

The first thing that assaulted their ears was the
deadly silence that surrounded them, the darkness of the place they were in
invading their senses.

�What is this place?!�

Bleak, tree-like sculptures rose up from the ground
and into the sky above their head, disappearing into a faint white light high
up in the distance.

Renji stepped up to one of those pillars, touching the
surface. �Looks like some kind of mineral��

Ichigo stepped up next to him and looked up again. �Probably quartz. I think I know where we are.�

Renji cast him an inquisitive eyebrow.

�Underground.�

A loud howl was heard in the distance, making both
Shinigamis reach for their Zanpakutos.

�You think she came through here?� Renji asked, eyes
darting from one side to another in precaution.

�There�s only one way to find out,� Ichigo said
calmly, beginning to walk in the direction of the receding howls. �We search.�

As they travelled deeper into this wood of peculiar
looking trees, everything around them became progressively brighter. A green-blueish hue settled around the closer they came to a
particularly bright spot in the darkness surrounding them.

They both stopped at a safe distance from the centre
of the light, standing high in the branches above the clearance, letting their
eyes fall on the surreal view that lay itself before them.

Hollows. Huge ones. Thousand upon thousand of them, surrounding the
centre, all sitting-standing-lying or hanging from low branches calmly as they
all stared in the same direction as in silent adoration.

�What are they doing?� Renji asked softly, his eyes
never leaving the now humming mass of Hollows below them. �Are they� chanting?�

Ichigo crouched low and squinted, fixing the centre of
the clearance a thousand feet beneath them. �I can�t see. It�s too bright,� he
stated after a few moments of staring. They only had to wait another couple of
moments before they witnessed a change in the Hollows below them again. Now
they were all swaying like one massive wave and a distinctive voice could be
heard in the crowd, singing what seemed like a litany. The Hollows responded to
every supplication with one loud voice, baffling both Shinigamis with the level
of discipline and dedication they all expressed.

After a while, the litany ended and the crowds quieted
down, humming lowly, almost growling, and patiently awaiting the venue of
whoever that was to appear in the centre.

And then, as if an unseen force split the crowd with
an invisible hand, the Hollows standing at 12 o�clock from the centre broke
apart, permitting a pathway to appear, beginning from a large, gaping hole in
the opposing wall. All went quiet as all waited and then�

A lone, cloaked figure walked down the cleared aisle,
making its way to the elevated centre where it threw down the masking clothing,
letting it fall into the crowd dramatically.

�I can�t believe it!� Ichigo gasped, nearly falling
out of the tree.

Renji grunted in annoyance and rolled his eyes,
�Somehow she�s become even worse an actress than she was before.�

The slapping sounds of her bare feet against stone
echoed throughout the enormous gathering space. Her light green hair falling
onto her bare back as she raises her hands and smiles at the crowd, asking for
complete silence.

�Brothers and sisters, welcome!�

�Oh brother...�

�Let�s hear her out first...�

�Today we welcome the advent of the one who will bring
forth a new dawn on our shadow-filled lives!� Nell continued, looking at the
quieted crowd with promise in her eyes and excitement in her voice. �Long have
we waited for answers, but today meaning shall be restored to our existence!�

Uproar of acclamation exploded as the mass cheered and
stamped their feet/paws/ elongated bodies on the ground. Nell stepped back a
few steps and turned towards the entrance of the cave behind her. �Lady
Orihime!�

�She�s here...� Ichigo whispered, rearranging himself
a little to have a better view at the entrance of the cave. �What is she doing here?� He began to stand.

Renji placed a calming hand on his friend�s arm and
shook his head slowly. �It�s obvious she�s become some saviour of sorts for
these Hollows, they seem to adore her, best not get them all angry by barging
in unprepared.�

With a grunt, Ichigo sat back down, knowing his friend
was right. They had no chance against this many Hollows anyway. Although he did
tense up when Grimmjow walked out of the cave first, grinning like he owned the
world. A well aimed flash-punch to his stupid face wouldn�t hurt, would it? He
could move so fast no one would notice�

�Get that moronic thought out of your head, you idiot,�
Renji said with an aggravated scowl.

Ichigo glared at him and sulked.

�There she is,� Renji whispered, drawing Ichigo�s
attention back to the scene.

It was like she was walking through water. That�s what
it was. That elegant grace she possessed as she moved, the way her brown hair
flowed around her as she walked, the white aura that surrounded her figure in
the off-the-shoulder white kimono she now wore. It glittered, even in the
dimness of the place, golden leaf patterns scattered all over the fabric, tied
around the waist with a golden obi, its flowing tails and the trailing sleeves
moving gently as if caught in a breeze.

She was breathtaking.

�Aizen will be upon us soon,� she said, her voice
echoing like bells over the crowd. �The moment to step forward is now. Born
from nothing, we searched for the light that would deliver us from the
darkness. We were all born blind, blinded by the hatred, the rage and the
coldness that enclosed our souls. Aizen made sure we stayed prisoners of our
own fears. Today I say �No more�!�

The crowd roared with acclaim. Many chanted her name,
fists raised in warm approval of her words.

�So they are
preparing for war...� Renji whispered, turning to Ichigo.

�Against Aizen himself... These must be Hollows that
think like Nell. She never really accepted the way Aizen ran things...� Ichigo
murmured, his eyes scanning over the mass below. �There are many of them, but
do you think�?�

Renji shook his head, �There are perhaps what? Four? Five thousands of them down there?
Aizen is abnormally powerful and he has a legion of Arrancars at his command.
This is suicide.�

�But they seem to believe in her,� Ichigo said,
looking at Orihime�s shining figure in the distance. �She seems so sure. It
doesn�t really matter if there is no chance of victory, as long as the masses
believe that their commander believes there is.�

�You�re right, it�s a basic
warfare notion.�

Ichigo nodded.

Then, Orihime looked up and directly stared at him. Ichigo.

He stood. �Let�s go.�

_________________________________

�How do you expect me to treat your wound if you keep
fretting like a little girl?�

Shinji gave Tessai the death glare and then yelped
when some more ointment was applied on his burned hand. �But it frickin� hurts!�
he breathed through gritted teeth, trying to pull his arm away from the bulky
man who had it in a vice-like grip.

�It will prevent your hand from turning black when it
heals. Now sit still, please.� Tessai continued on undisturbed, reaching for
the gauze.

�Sweet mother of all Hollows!� Shinji
howled as the gauze was applied. �Do you have to press it on like that?! You�re
killing me here!�

�Please, sit still or I will have to sedate you!� He
reached for a syringe that was readily placed on the table next to them.

�No! NO! No needles! None of that!�

�Then behave, please.�

Shinji calmed down after that, if only a little.

While Shinji went through uncomfortable moments of
pain (The hell it doesn�t! You�re trying to pull my fucking hand off!), the
others were sitting in an adjacent room, being served tea.

�So now what?� Hiyori
demanded, sitting cross legged on the floor with her
arms folded on her chest. �We just sit here, sipping tea while waiting for the
others to finish fighting?�

Urahara sighed and finished pouring Rukia�s tea. �We
gather our strengths and prepare ourselves.�

�For what?!� she exploded slamming her hands on the
low table. �Damn it! We barely came out of the last battle alive!� She stood,
�Fuck this,� and stomped out of the room.

Rukia raised an eyebrow and gave Urahara a questioning
glance. A closed expression was etched on the older man�s face and she wondered
what it was he knew and was hiding.

�If it hadn�t been for Shinji using that incantation,
who knows how it all would�ve ended,� Love said softly from his position in a
corner of the room.

�We should be dead,� Kensei
said dejectedly, wiping away a smudge of blood that lingered at the corner of
his mouth.

Lisa, Rose and Mashiro
remained silent, staring anywhere but at each other, all carrying the same
desolate expression. Hachi looked into the direction
Hiyori had gone, a contemplative expression on his face. �Night is falling...�
he said, to himself more than to anyone else.

�Is something wrong?� Rukia wondered. She had observed
Hachi for a few moments too and he seemed to have
realized something as well as did Urahara a few moments back.

Just as Hachi turned to her,
Shinji walked into the room, cursing the stars from the sky. �That man still
knows how to scare the living shit out of people...� he shuddered and then
winced at the pain that rocketed through his hand.

�So, will you survive?� Lisa asked with a small
mocking smile.

�I�ll be fine...� he answered with a shake of his good
hand. He then looked around and noticed the gloomy mood. �Where is Hiyori?� he
asked instead.

�I think she needed some fresh air,� Urahara answered,
taking a sip of his tea. He then stared at the darkening sky outside with a
slight frown. Unbeknownst to the rest except for Rukia, Hachi
was looking in the exact same direction.

Shinji walked out and onto the porch leading to the
garden, sliding the door closed behind him. There was a small breeze rustling
the bushes surrounding the garden, the evening bringing a strange calm and
silence.

She was sitting a bit further, bare feet dangling off
the wooden platform. When she noticed it was him, there was a fleeting
expectant look in her eyes before she cast them to the ground, back to their
dysphoric disposition.

Shinji frowned and started to approach her. He seemed
to be seeing that reaction of hers a lot lately and her increased mood swings
hadn�t passed by him unnoticed either. �What are you doing here?� he asked
quietly, sitting next to her at the top of the steps leading to the grass two
feet below them.

�Can�t I just come and sit here without being asked that
question?� she retorted, though there was no heat in it, which he had expected
and was now surprised not to hear. Instead, she sounded sad and broken.

He wouldn�t ask her what the matter was just in case
she suddenly felt like giving him a beating after all and began to stand.
�You�re right, it is a nice night out. I�ll leave you
to it.�

But once again he got surprised by the hand she placed
on his shoulder and the sniffling sound she made. �Hiyori?�

�Boy, for an ex-Captain you really are a stupid asshole,�
she said, once again without heat.

�What��

And then, without preamble, her lips crashed against
his and he was knocked backwards by her momentum, arms flailing.

�Just don�t say anything,� she whispered pleadingly
against his mouth, sitting on top of him now, eyes closed and seeping tears.
�Don�t say anything and just go with it, please...?�

Shinji stared at her silently and reached up to wipe
away the tears that fell down her cheeks. She made a hiccupping sound and he
smiled in endearment, pulling her closer. �I had no idea...�

�Obviously,� she whispered sarcastically against his
chest, burying her face in the soft fabric of his polo shirt.

�Come here,� he then said, bringing her closer to his
face again. �I noticed you being more aggressive lately, but that it was
because of this...? You have a strange way of showing it.�

Hiyori glared at him and then looked away. �That�s
because you�re the idiot. You nearly got yourself exploded out there today and
you act like...� her lower lip trembled and she hit her right fist weakly
against his chest. �You�re a big fat moron!�

Shinji�s eyes softened and his heart melted. �You
really do care about me.�

�I didn�t say that!� she shot him.

His hands flew in a protective position in front of
his face. �No, you didn�t,� he grinned. �You didn�t have to.� He took hold of
her face and chuckled. �Sarugaki, you can stop
tormenting yourself.�

She gasped and her eyes lit up at the meaning of his
words. �Don�t be so dense� I wasn�t tormenting myself!� she pouted, looking
away again.

Shinji chuckled, �Fine.�

�Fine!�

He pulled her in and kissed her gently on her lips. �Fine.�

And for the first time in a long time, Hiyori couldn�t
think of a single thing to say...

_________________________________

Orihime simply looked at him as he landed on the stone
platform in the centre of the clearing, her presence from up close nearing an
ethereal manifestation, the light she emitted magnified a hundred times now
that they were up close to her. Ichigo had trouble looking at her and yet
couldn�t bring himself to turn away; it was like staring directly into the sun.
She smiled then, her clear laughter filling the air around them.

�I�m sorry,� she said and suddenly the light around
her diminished, folding like wings behind her back. She stepped up to him and
cradled his face in her small hands. �Ichigo, your place is not here.�

He couldn�t speak; his throat suddenly dry, his chest
heavy with unspoken wishes and silly promises. He inhaled a shuddering breath
and closed his eyes. �If my place isn�t here, next to you, then where is it?�
he said, sounding more determined than he felt.

She only stared at him a bit longer, her expression a
strange mix of sadness and hope. She then let go of him and walked passed him
to face the crowd again. �It is with the people who need you most.�

The words stung and he twirled around to catch her
arm, but found that he couldn�t; the aura that surrounded her worked as a
shield. He pulled his hand back as if burned. �How can you say that?� he
whispered softly, shaking his head in incomprehension. �What happened to you? To us? Orihime��

Grimmjow stepped up, placing a calm hand on Ichigo�s
right shoulder. �She�s dedicated her soul to the mission,� he whispered, not
surprised to suddenly find himself face to face with the pointy end of
Zangetsu. �I think it�s about time you accepted that.�

�You move any closer and I swear to God that I�ll rip
you apart limb from limb, you son of a bitch!� Ichigo growled through gritted
teeth, eyes gleaming dangerously silver. �If you even think I�ll just let you
take her from me��

Grimmjow rolled his eyes and shook his head. �You�re
so delusional that you don�t even realise how much you�ve been hurting her!�

Ichigo rearranged his grip on his sword and inched
closer to the Arrancar�s throat. �You son of a bitch, what makes you think you
have the right to��

�She is in a state of perfect symbiosis with her
Hollow, Ichigo,� Nell whispered from his left, taking a step forward, hand
landing softly on his holding his sword.

�Perfect symbiosis?� Renji asked,
hand resting on his own sword as he observed how Ichigo slowly lowered his
Zanpakuto.

The Arrancar nodded and released a breath as Ichigo
stepped away from Grimmjow with a scowl. �Her torn soul is in perfect balance
for the time being and her ultimate potential has been unlocked.�

�What are you talking about?� Ichigo demanded.

Nell seemed to hesitate and even Grimmjow looked away
with a pained expression.

�It means,� Orihime turned around and looked at him,
her eyes still holding those two opposing emotions in them, �I no longer belong
in the material world, haven�t for a while now. It also means that I�m the only
one who can stop Aizen now.�

�Then my place is still at your side, I can help you
stop him!� Ichigo said, wishing really hard that he didn�t sound as desperate
as he felt.

�No it isn�t and no, you can�t help me,� she whispered
calmly, the light around her growing brighter again.

Another stab to his heart and Ichigo nearly felt like
yelling at her in frustrating rage. There was no way in Hell he was letting her
go on a suicide mission on her own! �Orihime goddamnit!�
he whispered, throwing appearances to the wind and not caring if he sounded and
looked as desperate as he felt. He reached out to her and cupped her face,
biting back the groan of intense pain as his skin came in contact with her
protective aura. �I love you!� he told her, slightly shaking her, �I fucking
love you so much that I can�t breathe when you�re not with me! I know you feel
the same, so why are you doing this?!�

�Because,� she whispered, and now he could see tears
leaking out of her eyes, crystal beads rolling down her perfect face, �there�s
more at stake in this fight than your life or mine or that of our friends.
There is a balance, a universal balance that needs to be maintained. The scales
have already begun to tip over in favour of Aizen. I�m doing this for the
greater good, it�s my responsibility.�

�Why?� he demanded, jaw clenched.

�Because,� Orihime said, smiling through the sadness
reflected in her eyes, her voice projecting the hope she carried in her heart.
�I have the power and I want my son to have a world where he can grow up in,
free and loved.�

Ichigo stilled and staggered back a few steps, letting
her go. �You saw him...?�

�Yes,� she whispered, nodding. �He is beautiful,
Ichigo. Our son...� her voice trailed off as she brought back the image of that
boy in her mind. �You have given me so much...�

Ichigo nodded, taking her by her shoulders. He could
hold her now, her aura no longer hurt him on contact. �There is still so much
we can share... Together��

She smiled sadly and shook her head slightly before
releasing herself from his hold and stepping passed him. �Aizen is coming,� She
then said to Nell, her tone back to being authoritarian. �Prepare your troops
for battle.�

Nell nodded and she and Grimmjow descended the stone
elevation to gather the troops and prepare for the departure. There was a
silence in which none said anything and then Ichigo looked at Renji pointedly,
needing some time alone with Orihime before he unwillingly would let her go.

�I�ll go see if I can be of use,� Renji said before
walking away in the direction Nell and Grimmjow had disappeared off to. He cast
his friends a last look and sighed silently to himself.

�What is it that you haven�t told me yet?�

Orihime walked away from him, looking over the
gigantic clearing that was slowly emptying itself of the hordes of Hollows.
�Remember that day under the rain? When you kissed me for the first time?� she
whispered, smiling up. �You were trying to get me away from one of the other
seniors lusting after me.�

Ichigo didn�t say anything and simply watched her.

�That was my very first kiss. It was perfect,� she
turned around and grinned. �The rain, you... I always believed that the rain
could bind two hearts together.� She walked up to him and let him run the back
of his fingers the long her face. �That day you showed me it was true... You
kept on showing it to me every single day.�

He needed her to tell him what was wrong; he could feel
something was wrong, he just knew it. �Orihime, tell me. Please,� he whispered.

�I�m dying,� she said, her voice so soft it broke his
heart. �I can only sustain this form for so long before I become swallowed by
the Hollow.�

Somehow, he had suspected that, but it didn�t make it
any easier to hear. �So what after you defeat Aizen?� he whispered, keeping his
voice as neutral as he could.

�I�ll take my own life.� Her eyes were looking at him
in determination and he nodded, not because he accepted it, but because he knew
there would be nothing he could do to stop her anyway.

�I�ll be there.�

Orihime blinked in confusion. �Ichigo?�

He took her hands in his and kissed them. �I�ll be
there, with you, until the very end. I won�t leave you.�

Right when she was about to protest again, he silenced
her with his lips, kissing her with his entire being, wanting this one moment
to never end, to continue on forever. He was crying, but couldn�t care less,
his heart was aching and he wanted to drown in her, let himself be taken in
her, not seeing how he could live to be without her. He understood the
sacrifice now, knew the reasons and could see its purpose, but he felt himself
go insane when he thought about what will be left when the smoke clears.

She was crying too, her small hands reaching around
him to hold him tighter, not quite ready to let go of him after all. She had
thought that seeing him again after she�d left Urahara would make it harder for
her to let him go, and she had been right, but she understood now that it also
gave her the strength to endeavour on, even more than when she found out she�d
be giving him a son. Orihime knew that, Ichigo being Ichigo, probably wouldn�t
be able to let go, but she had faith in the fact that he was a good man. A good
man who�ll know how to see passed his grief with time, for the sake of their
son.

�I�ve always loved you, Ichigo,� she whispered against
his lips, her eyes closed, trying to take in his scent as much as she could,
but knowing that it would never be enough. �I don�t know what�ll happen to me
after this, but even if a small part of me is left behind, know that it�ll love
you. Love you always, no matter
what.�

�God,� Ichigo sniffled imploringly, wanting to kiss
her again, wanting to take the taste of her with him, but knowing that it would
never be enough. Nothing without her would ever be enough. �I�ll carry you with
me forever. You�ve shown me how to love; my heart will be yours always. I love
you.�

She nodded, holding on tighter. �I love you too...�

The desperation in their touches and caresses could be
felt as they held on to each other in the emptied crystal clearing, two souls
ready to separate forever.

_________________________________

The tent flap was pushed aside and Yoruichi looked up
from the rapport she had been reading.

Captain Hitsugaya,
Matsumoto, Hisagi and Madarame stepped inside.

�What�s the status?� Toushiro asked.

Yoruichi shook her head and sighed. �Still no response
from Soul Society and the last thing we received was a Level 1 breach message.�

They all gasped and Toushiro grabbed the paper she was
holding out. �This was 2 hours ago?�

Yoruichi nodded and sat down on the cushion readily
placed in the centre of the tent, watching all of them do likewise. �There is
nothing we can do to help them out now.� She sighed and then moved on to the
next topic. �One of my men from a reconnaissance group returned this afternoon
deadly injured. He claimed his team was attacked by something invisible.�

�Something invisible?� Madarame
echoed with clear scepticism.

�I went to the site not too long ago,� she continued,
her expression turning grave all of a sudden. �It was clear that they had no idea
they were about to be attacked. What we found was carnage.�

�Did you find any leads as to where their killer might
have gone?� Matsumoto wondered.

Yoruichi nodded, �There were traces of leftover
Reiatsu in the vicinity of the camp, but the trail stopped abruptly near
Karakura Centre and we couldn�t find anything else in or around the city. It
was almost like it��

�Vanished,� Toushiro finished, his scowl matched by
hers.

�But,� Yoruichi spoke, reaching for a paper that lay
next to her on the floor. She handed it to Toushiro sitting opposite from her.
�There was one thing we could deduce from the Reiatsu we found.�

The young Captain took the paper and began to read.
His eyes widened. �There is no mistaking it?�

Yoruichi closed her eyes and crossed her arms over her
chest. �No, unfortunately not.�

�These are higher levels than those of the regular
Arrancar we fought half a year ago!� Rangiku whispered in horror, reading the
report in turn.

�Do you have any idea how many we�re talking about?�
Hisagi asked.

�Four, maybe five.� Yoruichi
moved to stand. �We are absolutely not certain because we lack the proper
equipment to know for sure.� She walked towards a table in the back and
retrieved a small transparent container. �But the most disturbing fact is that
they are able to hide such levels of Reiatsu without leaving a trace.� She gave
the container to Toushiro. �We found a hair on the uniform of the soldier that
returned. We had it analysed. It�s bio-synthetic.�

�A faux-body?�

�They�re using Gigai?� Rangiku frowned, giving her a
questioning look.

Yoruichi rolled her eyes to the side, avoiding their
eyes on her, knowing what they all thought. �Kisuke vowed to never make another
Gigai that could conceal its user�s Reiatsu. After Soul Society exiled him, he
told me he wouldn�t.�

�Then how do you explain this happening?� Toushiro
coldly whispered.

�Hate to say this,� Ikkaku agreed, �but the evidence
is pointing in his direction, whether he had an unwilling part in this or not.�
He then shrugged and smiled up at Yoruichi, �Let�s face it; the man has
invented a number of things that have come to bite us in the ass.�

�Without that being his ultimate intention,� Rangiku
understandingly added, giving her a supportive look.

�That�s all great and all,� Hisagi sighed, �but what
are we going to do now?�

�Based on what I�ve heard so far,� Toushiro spoke,
standing in turn, �these Arrancars seem to only have it after Shinigamis or
perhaps even souls with a high level of Spiritual Power; they did not attack
the city with their advantageous ability of invisibility.�

�So, that makes us all targets,� Ikkaku concluded.

Toushiro nodded. �We should regroup with the Vizards at Urahara�s.�

�Wouldn�t that make us sitting ducks, Captain?�
Rangiku wondered.

�We are sitting ducks no matter where we are: they
have two large advantages on us,� Yoruichi explained. �At least at Urahara�s we
could figure out a way to uncloak them on our radar.�

Hisagi stood, �And the more we are, the harder it is
for them to attack us all at once. That�s the only advantage that we can
attribute ourselves.�

�That�s true,� Ikkaku said, moving to his feet as well
now. �So, when are we leaving?�

�That eager to cut something up?� Rangiku
said with a small smirk.

�It�s been a while since I�ve been in a good fight,�
he answered, following the others out of the tent. �Houzukimaru�s
been restless lately; he�s been itching for a fight as much as I have.�

�Oh, I thought you kept scratching yourself for a
whole different reason...� she smugly replied, pinching her nose as she walked
him by.

Ikkaku�s eye twitched and he quickly smelled himself.
�It�s not even that bad!�

_________________________________

Rukia was sitting in her corner of the tea-room,
dozing off as the evening proceeded. The treatment Urahara had administered her
earlier had helped her with the pain she still experienced in her abdomen and
he had staved off the infection of Hime�s corrupted Reiatsu in her system. She
could already feel a bit of her strength returning and sitting up wasn�t so
much of a problem anymore.

She wondered if Renji and Ichigo were safe and if they
would return soon. Urahara had explained to her that they had both gone to Hueco Mundo to help Orihime find
Nell. For what purpose however, he did not say.

She sighed and fixed her gaze on the strange Vaizards gathered in the small room. Rukia had never seen
the entire group from this close before and the more time passed, the more her
initial perception of them settled itself more firmly; they were one hell of a
bizarre group.

She had been told that all of them used to be
Shinigamis before they were betrayed by Aizen and therefore knew that all the
men used to have high-ranking positions in the Gotei, but it was apparent that
something else had been burned away with the process of Hollowification
that they all went through. She had seen the same thing happening to Ichigo
after he returned from them so many months ago. Yet thanks to the support he
received from his family and friends, Ichigo had found a balance between the Shinigami and the Hollow within him, that is, he had fought
very hard to maintain it.

Each one of them was an island, she realised as she
watched them, detached from the others and drowned in their personal sea of
solitude. She understood �with a vague sense of shock� that these people became
what they were �outcasts� not only because of what Aizen did, but also because
of the way Soul Society and probably the humans also, reacted to their
existence. None of them ever asked for what happened to them, not for the darkness
that corrupted their souls or for becoming the centre of apprehensive scrutiny.

There was a sense of despondency that hung around all
of them and yet she couldn�t bring it up in herself to feel anything else but
respect for these men and women who chose to risk their lives for a world that
long ago spurned them. Rukia long ago learned that the laws of Soul Society are
far from perfect, but that they exist in order to maintain a liveable equilibrium
between the forces of life and death and because of that, understood the decision
that led to the Vizards� forced exile.

Understood, but not necessarily approved.

Shinji walked in then, closely followed by an uncharacteristically
serene Hiyori. The air lifted with their entrance and all heads turned their
way, like flowers turning in the direction of the sun.

Rukia noted this silently and rephrased her previous
statement in her mind; they were more a group of islands, each isolated, but
together strong against the vast ocean of seclusion. They were together in
their solitude.

�Hirako, it�s good you have
returned,� Urahara spoke up as he walked back into the room from the other
side. �Sarugaki-san, nice for you
to join us as well.�

�Is something up?� Kensei
asked, still sitting on the floor with his arms crossed over his chest.

�Hachi seems to think so,� Mashiro said in a small voice, looking up at the gigantic
man sitting next to her.

Hachi looked
down at her and then up at Urahara. �There�s a force outside the barrier I put
up shortly after we arrived here.�

�Did it break in?� Love demanded and all of them
instinctively reached for their Zanpakuto.

�No,� Urahara answered, eyes fixed on Shinji. �Not
yet, they are nowhere near us yet.�

Hachi nodded
in agreement, �I�ve only felt the echoes of their Reiatsu.�

�Captain Hitsugaya, his
group and Yoruichi are on their way over here.�

�Have there been attacks?� Shinji asked, fixing
Urahara as well.

�A reconnaissance unit has been annihilated earlier
this evening.�

�More Hollows?� Kensei asked, looking alarmed.

�No,� Urahara whispered. All eyes rested on him now
and he lowered his eyes until he found Rukia�s near his feet. �A few days ago, I
was robbed of a Gigai prototype.�

�Gigai prototype?� Lisa
wondered.

Urahara nodded, �It was a new type of Gigai that
permits the user to model and shape it to his will.�

�So no matter how the user looks, he can change his
appearance once he�s into that thing?� Shinji said with an impressed tone. Urahara
nodded again.

�And you were stupid enough to have it stolen?!� Kensei said with a disdainful chuckle.

�No,� Rukia spoke up, �We got side tracked, and we
never saw it coming.�

Urahara sighed and scratched the back of his head
regretfully. �I am pretty sure Aizen managed to tweak it here and there and create
duplicates of it by now��

�You think it could be those new Arrancars?� Rukia
whispered alarmingly.

�I�m pretty sure of it,� Urahara whispered.

�So what are we waiting for?� Hiyori said, already
turning around towards the door.

�We�re waiting for Yoruichi and the others,� Rose
said, �Urahara said they�re on their way over here.�

�I know that!� she shot back, �I want to know what we�re
waiting for to come up with a plan!

�We already have a plan,� Shinji said. �We gather the
troops and stand to fight.�

�Here?�

�I�m sorry to say this, but I�m afraid there won�t be
much left of your house after this, Urahara,� Love spoke with a grin.

�I was thinking of redecorating anyway...� He replied
with a smirk and a shrug.

_________________________________

All was quiet now.

�We should get going,� she whispered.

�Yeah,� Ichigo nodded, showing no semblance of wanting
to let her go. �We should.�

She balanced her weight on the tip of toes and kissed
him again, sweet and soft on his slightly parted lips. Their hands intertwined
and she led him off the elevated rock and down.

�How
bittersweet�

The temperature dropped drastically all of a sudden
and a familiar cackle sounded in the enormous space, echoing all over and
around them in a confusing cacophony. Ichigo felt a nausea bubble up in his
stomach, threatening to make him hurl. The density of the Spirit force that
flowed through the place was mind-blowing and he wondered briefly how much
stronger Hollows got when they were in their natural habitat. There couldn�t be
that much of a difference with Earth
now, could there?

His head told him otherwise and he suddenly cringed in
on himself, holding on to his head, willing to sudden wave of vertigo to stop. He
had a vague notion of Orihime kneeling with him on the floor and holding on to
him, her worried voice sounding far and muffled. Oh God�

�Show yourself, you pathetic asshole!� Orihime cried,
spreading her arms as she let a wave of her power wash over the entire place. A pulse of gold spread over the surrounding tree trunks encircling
the clearing. Her eyes fixed on a spot on her left and she grinned. �You
should know that I�m really hard to play hide and seek with.�

Hollow Ichigo grinned back from his hunched position
in a far away tree. �But that�s only because you cheat, darling,� he said, one
moment still in the tree and the next ten feet away.

�What do you want?�

He shrugged and placed his hands in his pockets, �Oh,
nothing much. Just his head on a plate. Nice and bloody.�

�You stupid fuck!� Ichigo growled as Orihime helped
him on his feet. Just as he thought he felt a little better, his vision decided
to add polka dots to liven things up and send a new wave of nausea over his
trembling body. It was like he relived the first few days after the bastard had
sneaked away from him all over again, times ten. No need to say that this was
the worse timing ever.

�What�s the matter, Ichigo?� he taunted, �Feeling a
little bit under the weather?�

�I got you,� Orihime whispered softly, practically
holding his entire weight on her shoulders. It would seem that merging with
your Hollow completely gives you one hell of a strength boost. He swallowed his
pride, knowing that his feet, let alone his legs, were unable to support his
body; they were shaking like leaves in the wind.

�Fuck��

A warm glow then began to spread through him and he
started, not understanding what happened at first. The nausea all but
evaporated and his vertigo stopped suddenly. The muscles in his entire body
relaxed and then pumped with renewed strength. He was aware that the warmth
flooding him had a source and he looked at Orihime�s hand on his chest, glowing
golden and steadily over his heart. Like a pulse the glow spread all over him and he took a breath, feeling stronger with every
passing moment she held him.

�Now you see why I say you cheat, da-arling?�
the Hollow growled, beginning to step closer.

One moment her eyes were fixed lovingly on him and the
next Ichigo saw those beautiful brown orbs turn black completely. A dark
presence filled the air around them and the pressure suddenly became
unbearable. She let go of him and turned to face the Hollow slowly, her hair
flailing around her in the whirlwind of raw power she was now encircled in.
Ichigo instinctively took a few steps back and covered his face with his arm
just enough to see what she was doing. The aura surrounding her was pulsing,
sending wave after wave of golden energy rippling through the air.

If Hollow Ichigo�s complexion wasn�t already grey, it
would�ve been paling drastically as he watched the display of power unfolding
in front of him. �W-what?�

With an expression that bordered bored, Orihime tilted
her head to the side as if contemplating the most painful way she could kill the
insect before her. Her alien black eyes nearly shone when she lifted her right
hand and watched how the Hollow got lifted effortlessly a few feet in the air,
limbs clearly immobilised.

�What are you doing?!� he screeched, looking at her with
frightened eyes, making jerky movements of his head in an attempt to free
himself from the invisible hold.

�Ending this,� she said and her voice sounded
fractured. Both the Hollow within her and Orihime were now present Ichigo
realised with awe. He wanted to step forward and stop her, wanted to tell her
it was his fight and that was when the Hollow gave a terrified howl that
immediately turned his insides to solid ice.

�Ending you.�

He looked up to where he was pinned in the air like a
butterfly on display and nearly wished he hadn�t. He nearly choked on his own
breath.

�Y-you can�t do this!� the Hollow cried, but his voice
sounded drowned and soon he was gurgling helplessly when a black, oily substance
fell from his horror struck mouth and splattered on the ground beneath him. The
smell of decay hung heavily in the air and for a moment it looked like his face
was melting, his amber eyes stuck in a terror-filled stare, and then he begins
to fall apart, chunks of his face falling off like puzzle pieces, disappearing
in the growing dark puddle on the ground. �You need me...� his distorted voice
sounds a last time, his eyes now staring at Ichigo, and then he dissolves
completely, leaving nothing but a sickening black mess.

Another flood of energy flowed passed Ichigo and
Orihime lifted the black liquid that used to be the Hollow with a twist of her
hand, transforming it into something that looked like a miniature, black
thunder cloud.

�Kurosaki Ichigo.�

Ichigo�s attention snapped back to her immediately and
he couldn�t help the way his heart beat frantically in his chest. He still
couldn�t believe what just happened. When did Orihime become so frighteningly powerful?

�This essence was born from you,� Orihime says, her
voice still sounding as if two persons were talking at the same time. �Its
power needs a vessel. Shall I return it to you?�

Ichigo blinks, barely grasping what is being asked of
him, the waves of energy threatening to close off his windpipe as his stomach
turned over with the nauseating stench that still lingered. �That power is the
reason for the mess we�re in right now.� He couldn�t even imagine taking that
vile, stinking cloud in him.

Orihime tilts her head to the side again, her eyes
still the same charcoal black, �Power is neither good nor evil, and its core is
pure and raw energy. I have stripped the essence of the Hollow from it; its
evil cannot reach you again.�

�What about Orihime?� he asks, taking a cautious step
closer, �If you were able to strip the Hollow from its power��

�It is too late for us, we have merged too perfectly
with each other; to separate would kill us both,� she said, the aura surrounding
her features glowing softer for a moment. �If you merge with this new power you
shall become stronger, Kurosaki Ichigo, your enemies won�t be able to rival
you. We sense this potential in you.�

The creature � he can�t find another word for it,
because there�s no way in hell that that�s his Orihime� gives him that strange
look again, and he feels a shudder go through him and he wonders briefly if it
can somehow see through him. See the hunger for power that he cradles, the
insatiable need he has for more strength to protect his loved ones? He wonders
if it sees the state his heart is in, how much it aches with all the loses he�s undergone over the years and the pain it has
hidden from others. Does it see how battered it is? Can it smell the
desperation and the fear that surrounds it?

It said that the Hollow essence was born from him and
he gets that, the darkness in his heart gave birth to it. But what if it
returns after he has been given the power? Who�s to tell things won�t go
haywire and make him lose control again? Who would be the victims then? His sisters? His dad? He couldn�t
take that risk, he wouldn�t. It was unbearable to think about becoming the
murderous monster he fought so hard to keep inside. It is universally known
that power corrupts and even if he�s been endowed with supernatural abilities,
at the core of it all he�s still only human. He would only be able to resist so
long before it would take over. Again.

No.

�No,� he whispers, softly shaking his head. He wants
the power, but he can�t risk becoming one of the things he�s been fighting for
years.

�It is your destiny to wield it,� It says, expression
as flaccid as it was before. �More powerful enemies will rise after the fall of
Aizen. You will not be able to defend Mamoru if you don�t have the power.�

�Mamoru?�

�Your son.�

Oh.

It can see the future now too?

He looks at the black cloud still floating a couple of
feet in the air next to her and sighs.

To
protect.

What a fitting name for his son...

He promised Orihime he would protect their son. He had
to admit that it was right about the enemies. More would come and they would
probably be stronger than anything they ever faced before. But what if�

�The love you�ll have for your son will keep you sane
and your heart will not get corrupted.�

�How do you know this for sure?�

�We exist beyond space and time,� it said and that�s
when Ichigo realised that this was Orihime�s unrefined power he was talking to.
�We negated the flow of time for an infinite moment and looked into what is
still to come,� it explained.

Ichigo blinked, flabbergasted by the calm tone in
which it said it, like it was the most normal thing in the entire world to do.
It can do it, why can�t you? �So if you can see into the future can you see
if... err...�

It smiled an amused smirk that looked too strange with
her black eyes, but somehow eased her features a little bit. �You will live a
long, fulfilled life, Kurosaki Ichigo.� Although she said it with a smile, it
was clear that the topic was now closed.

Ichigo gulped, still uncertain. What if it was lying?
What told him that he could trust it?

�Shall we return your power?�

God, he didn�t
really have a choice anymore, did he? If he didn�t take it back, his son would
have no future and he would�ve broken his promise to Orihime because he didn�t
take the only chance he had at preventing it from happening.

But who said this was his only chance anyway?

He shook his head; he needed it now. He needed it, so he could fight beside Orihime against Aizen.
Ichigo wouldn�t fool himself or anyone else any longer; he knew he was no match
for Aizen and he could use all the help he could get.

Orihime could use all the help he could give her.

Ichigo looked at it and nodded.

That�s when it all went black.

Thank you for the patience and the supportive messages
that helped me post this (finally!). Please look forward to the next chapter!

Write on!

Upcoming chapter: 14. Unravelling Chaos � Meet me
at the end of things

To be
continued�

-BDP-
- 12
- 13
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Seeds of Destruction