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Prisoner of War	By : horrorgal Category: Bleach > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 57808 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor the characters. I do not profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 42
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Chapter 43

The air was still as Ichigo stared up at the crescent moon, the absence of stars deepened the blandness of it. Everything that surrounded him was void of vibrant color, something that perhaps he had taken for granted while he lived on the mortal world. He heard a shift of the sand nearby, and looked to see a slight, bone covered creature sticking it's head through a opening in a pile of rocks. It observed him like a skittish cat might, it's eyes glowing slightly red. It's shape looked more like a baby alligator as it cautiously slid out of it's hiding spot, never taking the red orbs off him.
"Don't be afraid," he said, but as soon as he spoke the first word, the thing scurried off in the opposite direction, not even looking back to see if he was in pursuit. He just watched it, slightly amused. It was rather small for a hollow, if that's what it had been. He almost expected the desert to be overrun with hollows since billions of human lives had been taken with the destruction of the mortal world. Where else were the dead supposed to go with no Soul Society or even Hell to fall to? It was hard to really measure the vastness of this world. Maybe all those lost souls did roam here in a endless darkness, or Aizen absorbed them all when he destroyed the world of the living. Maybe he would find out in time. He contemplated all of this as he stood over Gin's resting place.
"Makes you wonder if a shinigami even has a soul at all," he said aloud to the grave. "I hope we do, but I guess it really doesn't matter." It was meaningless to think of such things. He left the shovel stuck in the sand as he lowered and folded his legs to sit. He placed the comforting weight of Zangetsu across his lap and ran his hand over the cool blade. As dull as his surroundings were, he felt a sense of peace. He closed his eyes, letting his mind drift to reach out to the connection. Time felt seamless as he felt himself drawn into the inner world. When he opened his eyes once again, he was met with endless blue sky, the vast skyscrapers piercing it.
"Hello, Ichigo."
"Old man," he greeted as he turned to the voice that was behind him.
"I'm pleased that you have come to see me."
"There is something that I have to do, but I have questions first," Ichigo said.
"Of course," he answered with a slight nod.
Ichigo looked at the man that stood before him, eyes cloaked just enough by the shades he wore. Still so mysterious to him. It never bothered him in the past, but more and more lately, he felt something was off. It wasn't a question of trust exactly, but he was hiding something, always had been. It was just more obvious, now that he had grown stronger. Perhaps it was the absence of Hichigo in this inner world as well that made things here feel less stable. It wasn't completely clear, but he felt a slight tremble under his feet where he stood facing what he had always thought was the spirit of his zanpakuto. He felt a slight nudge in his mind from Hichigo then. He was trying to contact him, but he gently pushed it aside for now.
"I want to see your eyes. Really look at me." Ichigo said.
"As you wish," he said. Ichigo expected some resistance, even to such a simple request, but he watched as he reached up with one hand and took them off. His brown eyes looked much warmer and sorrowful. "You have grown much over these troublesome years given to you," he said. "I suspect you have become aware of things more clearly now."
"What are you really, old man?"
"I knew this conversation would happen one day, I just always imagined it would be different. Aizen's victory changed that outcome."
"Tell me," Ichigo pressed him.
"I am not Zangetsu."
"Then what?"
"Another part of you, what came from your mother. I am the embodiment of your Quincy powers."
Ichigo was reminded of the heartbreak, when she was taken so violently. This knowledge made her death even more senseless in his mind. He was not shocked, but only felt confusion. "If she had been a Quincy, couldn't she have defeated Grand Fisher?"
"A fair question, but one I cannot answer."
"You can't, or you refuse to?" The old man remained stubbornly silent. Ichigo sighed and took in the blue sky around them. "At this point, I guess that part doesn't matter. Maybe it did before I lost to Aizen."
"You must call back your true zanpakuto."
Ichigo knew that, but still felt a twinge of regret. The connection between he and Hichigo was something that he would have never expected back when he first met the hollow that seemed to mock him with his twin appearance. Looking back on it all, he knew that Hichigo had been driving him to get stronger, all the while in that taunting voice, and insane laughter.
"Does this mean you'll disappear now?" Ichigo asked.
"I will be here. Part of you, but in the shadows, whenever you need me."
"Thank you, old man." He felt that allure of the Hogyoku then. He frowned slightly, looking around him as if expecting Aizen in this place that he could not possibly be. He must be outside the walls of Las Noches. Maybe he was looking for him, or his intent was on something more devious. "Aizen is on the move," Ichigo said. "I don't have much more time to waste."
"What is your intention, Ichigo?"
"I think you know." He looked at him, but could not read anything from his expressionless face. "I am taking the Hogyoku," he said.
"I see. As ever, I will follow you, whatever you choose to do."
"I've already made my decision. Things cannot continue on this course." Ichigo felt a nudge in his subconscious as Hichigo pressed for his attention once more. "I can't return to Las Noches. Aizen is on the move. I can feel it. I need to claim the Hogyoku. Do you understand?"
"Alright, Ichigo." His voice faded for a moment, perhaps conveying what he said to Grimmjow. He wasn't sure how he would react to everything, but explanations would have to wait.
"I need you with me," he said in a whisper, eyes closed, calling back to Hichigo. Instinct took control as he drew his zanpakuto home, extracting him from one plane of existence to another. It felt so natural, the ease of bringing him back to his rightful place. The old man retreated to the shadows as he said he would, watching, waiting.
"King." Ichigo opened his eyes and saw him there, his lips stretched in a smile. "About time you got it through your head."
"Yes, I guess it is."
"I would have told you, but it's not like I didn't try before, a long time ago."
Ichigo didn't argue the point. "Is Grimmjow okay?" he asked instead.
"Yes," Hichigo answered, losing the wide smile, the humor draining from his eyes. "He'll understand." He moved forward, arms encircling Ichigo in a close hug. "I have a message from Uryu," he said, voice low against his ear.
"What?"
"He warned against you taking the Hogyoku."
"Why would he? If I'm going to stop Aizen, I have to."
"He's convinced it will corrupt us."
"He can't know that." Ichigo said, but felt a moment of doubt. He had already considered the danger himself, but he couldn't let that stop him. "I'm not Aizen. I just want to stop him and help everyone."
"I know, but he was very insistent. He's basing this warning on a dream he had, like a vision. I wouldn't know about things like that, Ichigo. I don't dream."
Ichigo moved out of his arms. "What else am I supposed to do? I can't win if the Hogyoku stays fused with him." He saw the old man move slightly from the shadows over Hichigo's shoulder. "I need you both to be with me on this. If it goes bad, I need your help to control it."
"No point in hiding back there," Hichigo said, spotting his cloaked form as he turned his head. "Bet you just enjoyed it, having this whole place to yourself after I was ripped away."
"It was indeed quieter," he mused as he stepped forward.
"You know you missed me," Hichigo said. He only tilted his head slightly in response.
"I'm not even sure what to call you both now," Ichigo said.
"I like the name you gave me," Hichigo said. "Just know, when you call on me, I am Zangetsu."
"I do not have a name," the old man said hesitantly.
"You seem unsure about that," Ichigo said, observing his unusual discomfort. Ichigo wanted to press him, but he didn't have to when the old man spoke again.
"Yhwach," he said. "I am him, but not him."
"Him?"
"It will take up too much time to explain, and you need not be distracted right now, Ichigo. You have far too much to contend with, and in any case, you should hear it all from someone else."
Ichigo felt a surge of questions wanting to come out, but he was right. It just wasn't the time to satisfy his curiosity. Hichigo stood close beside him, giving the old man a look of unsteady acceptance. He just hoped they would work well together, especially now when he really needed them to.
"Yhwach. Can't say I like the name," Ichigo said, something about it rubbing him the wrong way. He planned on hearing the whole story when all of this was over, one way or another. "I'll stick with calling you old man for now."
"As you wish," he said with a rare, pleased smile.
"Ichigo, there is one more thing," Hichigo said, and explained what Uryu witnessed of Aizen's apparent mental breakdown. "Are you sure you still want to do this?" Hichigo asked when he was done telling him everything.
"I do, even more so now. If he's becoming that unstable, I need to end him now before anyone else is hurt or killed. I'll take the Hogyoku, stop Aizen, and then we can cross the bridge of what comes after. Just, be there for me." Hichigo kissed him, and he savored the warmth of his lips, knowing it might be a while before he felt their special connection again. The old man watched, unbothered by their affection. He pulled back, wishing he could stay longer. "I better go."
"See ya, King." Hichigo was grinning in his cock-sure way again, which made Ichigo feel better about the departure. He closed his eyes and concentrated once more. In moments he was back, still sitting in the same position with Zangetsu resting on his legs. He touched the blade. "Thank you."

~~~

Aizen approached the pitiful arrancar that was desperately clinging to life. He was in the process of trying to crawl his way back towards Las Noches, the trail he left behind crooked and wet with his blood. He only stopped when he realized he was not alone. His head lifted, eyes dazed with the pain, and now fear when he saw the fury that consumed his master. Zoe lifted a trembling hand in an attempt to implore him.
"Zoe, what did I tell you?" He stepped down on his hand, grinding against it with his heel. The low guttural sound of pain did not please him enough, and he dug the heel of his boot down harder, grinding his teeth as he felt the bones snap under the pressure. Zoe yelled then, the sound like a wounded animal. "Why are you all so fucking useless?!"
"I...am...sorry, Lord...please."
"Pathetic." His blade was swift as he cut off the his shocked yell, his head falling separate from his body. "I gave you such a simple task, and you let a wounded shinigami crush you so easily," he seethed to the now lifeless arrancar.
Aizen sheathed his sword, looking in the direction Zoe had been crawling from. He could sense just enough of Urahara's reiatsu. He continued on, leaving Zoe's body to either attract hollow to scavenge or become ashes to join the miles of sand that covered Hueco Mundo, he didn't care which. The Hogyoku pulsed in his chest as he hastened to find his prey.

~~~

Uryu felt Orihime's hand slip in his, clutching it as if she were afraid he would disappear like the hollow. Grimmjow stared at the empty spot on the sofa where he just was moments before. Uryu wasn't sure what to say, and thought it best to say nothing at all when he noticed how tense the espada's posture was. After what felt like minutes, Grimmjow stood up and headed for the door, ignoring their presence.
"Hey, where are you going?" Uryu said, taking a few steps to follow.
"Going to find Ichigo," he said, his voice gruff with annoyance.
"I'll come with you," he said quickly, feeling as if what just occurred was his fault somehow.
"No you won't. Stay here with your woman. You'll just slow me down."
"I can handle myself," Uryu insisted.
Grimmjow turned, nearly growling the words. "Do you really want to leave her here alone?!" Uryu was shocked into silence. "Stay here, Ishida." He left them, the door shutting heavy behind him.
"Uryu," Orihime touched his back.
"He's right, I can't leave you here alone, and I probably would slow him down." He hated to admit it, but he still was not completely at full strength. "I just hope they don't get themselves killed out there." They sat in silence for a while, and he wondered if it was just safer to stay here instead of going back to their own quarters.
"Do you think Hichigo will convince Ichigo about the Hogyoku?" Orihime asked softly, after a time.
"I really don't know. Maybe I was overreacting about the dream."
"You were right to say something, Uryu."
"Maybe, but I'm just not sure it was enough."
The door began to open and he stood, at first thinking it was Grimmjow returning, until he saw Tier Harribel step in, her three female companions following her. He instinctively moved in front of Orihime protectively, confused as to why they would be here. Tier looked them over a moment, then spoke softly to one of her crew. He could scarcely remember them all by name, but he believe the one she conversed with was called Apacci. The other two casually roamed the room, nosing around. Apacci stepped outside and shut the door behind her.
"Relax, Quincy. I met Grimmjow as he was leaving and he requested that we watch over you both."
"More like babysit," Mila Rose said, lounging on the sofa.
"Mila," Tier said in a warning tone.
"I'm just teasing. He can't be that weak if he killed Mayuri," she said, and gave him a lingering look over that made him uncomfortable.
"Ugh, Grimmy doesn't have any tea bags," Sung-Sun complained, the sound of cabinets being rifled through coming from the small kitchen.
"Did he really send you here to guard us, or was it so I wouldn't follow him?" Uryu asked.
"Maybe both. Does it matter?" Tier responded, taking a seat, looking at him with her crystal blue eyes. There was no malice in them that he could see.
"I guess not." He sat back down by Orihime, and she gave him a reassuring smile. She seemed to feel comfortable enough with their apparent bodyguards. He resigned in the fact that they were going to stay here in this room indefinitely to wait it out.

AN: Well, so much for 2017 being better. I have another set of health problems, so I apologize if I don't get updates out as quick as I would like. I assume people are still reading, I haven't had a review in ages. At this point the only thing I care about is getting this story finished. I just hope it doesn't end up feeling rushed, but I will do the best I can. As always, if there are mistakes, or typos, sorry. :D
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Prisoner of War