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Comatose	By : ShadowedEcho Category: Bleach > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2442 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, no money is being made by me, this was written purely for entertainment purposes

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Chapter Five
Whispers in the Dark
Ichigo had been woken up a number of unpleasant ways in his life, his father's flying kicks on the top of his list of obnoxious ways of exiting dreamland. Well that was the top of the list, now he had a new least favorite way.
Hey you wouldn't like it either if you were woken up by a large body slamming into yours so hard you sunk into the gritty ground six inches, lost every bit of air in your lungs, and had to wonder briefly if there were any ribs left that were not cracked.
That wasn't even the worst of it. If that had been an attack meant for him, than the fault would be his own for letting his guard lower too far but no, he just had to be caught in the crossfire between another of Ulquiorra and Grimmjow's spars. At least this one seemed to be an actual fight and not their version of foreplay.
Grimmjow was heavy, and apparently the blow that had blasted him on top of the slumbering Visored had been strong enough to stun him as well because he still hadn't moved off him. The need for oxygen was becoming a problem, so Ichigo did the first thing he thought of. Grabbing the clothed wrapped tang of Zangetsu, kept like always at his side while he slept, he aimed a one handed blow at the gasping Arrancar.
"Oi Grimmjow, get off!" He ordered as he felt the blade connect with the Espada's arm. The large sword cut into the first layer of skin and muscle before a growl reached his ears, and Grimmjow quickly flipped over and pinned Ichigo down, blood running down his right arm.
"Damn Whelp," He rumbled, voice half way between a growl and a wheeze as he was still trying to catch his breath, "What was that for?"
"I could ask you the same thing, seeing as you landed on me!" Ichigo bit out, trying to push the larger body off of him, but he couldn't quite manage it. 'Hey King, you follow my lead and we can have some fun with the kitty if you ever manage to be the one to pin him!' Ichigo wasn't sure if Junichi was trying to encourage him or insult him, he was leaning towards the latter.
Grimmjow, unaware of the commentary running through Ichigo's mind, simply sat back, sitting on Ichigo's hips so he still couldn't move, but Grimmjow could get a better view of their surroundings. Which happened to include a stoic looking Ulquiorra, waiting for Grimmjow to recover and resume their spar, "You need to keep your guard up, this is the third time you could have prevented an injury from me." He groused at Ichigo to cover up the fact he needed another few moments for the feeling to come back to his legs after the hit he took.
Ichigo's eyes narrowed at the lack of the usual bite in Grimmjow's insults, but he had taken a few hits like that himself before, and he had a good idea what was wrong with Grimmjow, "So this is my fault? I'm guessing you're also going to try and tell me if you tried to stand up now it wouldn't be a problem?"
"Why would it be?" Grimmjow responded arrogantly, increasing the amount of force, he was using to keep Ichigo pinned.
Ichigo turned his head to spot Ulquiorra, "Hey Ulquiorra he's all yours!" He called before bucking his hips sharply, flinging Grimmjow off him, who hadn't been expecting Ichigo to be able to fight him.
The next few moments were some of the most amusing he had experienced since coming to Heuco Mundo, as his suspicions were confirmed when Grimmjow could barely stand, let alone block Ulquiorra's sudden attack. It was with vindictive glee that he watched the current bane of his existence be pounded into the sand by what looked like a much smaller and weaker opponent.
"Nicely handled, but if you couldn't budge him at first, how could you throw him off for Ulquiorra to attack?" Ichigo was startled when Starrk spoke; he had thought the oldest Espada would be sleeping still since he was always the last one up.
Ichigo got a dangerous gleam in his eyes, "At first he was holding me down with his arms, he is stronger than me for now, but once he switched how he was holding me so he could watch out for Ulquiorra I realized his legs weren't working right. I waited until his own guard was lowered before bucking him off."
"You have good instincts in a fight," Starrk noted, "You did well against the four of us, much better than we were expecting, and we had been warned you were worth training. Our expectations weren't all that low to begin with."
"Thanks, I think," Again Ichigo wasn't sure which way to take the comment, but since it was from Starrk, he decided to take it as a good thing. "I learned some of what I know from formal training, but most of it came off the streets or from my invasion of the Seireitei. When all you have is yourself against five gang members your instincts get a decent work out."
Starrk nodded, "Fighting is one thing that's better to learn by doing. I'd rather avoid a fight personally, but I believe that if something is important enough to fight over, than you had better be tough enough to win. I didn't earn my number by simply being the oldest."
"How did you earn your number? I know they mentioned the Espada were the most successful of Urahara's experiments, but what do they mean by successful?" Ichigo figured if Starrk brought it up, than it was safe to ask questions about it.
Starrk lounged back, he's eyes closed against the moonlight filtering down to the desert floor. "We earned our numbers by being the toughest in a given field. Then we fought each other to rank the fields according to just how deadly they are. In essence, each of us is an aspect of death. This used to be all that defined us, but as time passed, the definitions got a little looser. For an example Ulquiorra represents emptiness, with a near total disbelief that there is anything in life beyond what is concrete. In other words he had very little concept of anything beyond what you can see or touch, but as he aged and discovered more he has branched out a little. He understands lust now, and desire, but probably doesn't understand love. In time he might, but not yet. "
Ichigo took a few minutes to ponder that. It explained a lot about Ulquiorra, the way he seemed so anti-social and unemotional, if you don't believe in anything you couldn't touch or see, emotions weren't something you were going to know were they? Wait. Why did Starrk use Ulquiorra as an example? He was an Espada too, so he had to have an aspect, was it hard to understand, or did Starrk just not trust Ichigo enough to tell him?
Starrk watched the thoughts cross Ichigo's face, the boy wasn't very good at covering his thoughts, so it wasn't hard to tell something was bothering the Visored, "If you are worried about something, just ask, the worst I will do is not answer. I already told you I prefer to avoid fighting, so I'm not going to hurt you if your question doesn't come out right."
"Why did you use Ulquiorra as an example, when you should have an aspect of your own, do you not trust me? I mean you did just meet me, but I just thought, well, I really don't know what I thought." Ichigo was frustrated, he was stronger than this damn it, what was so hard about telling Stark he thought that the exchange they had the first night he was there meant he was important to the Arrancar?
Starrk hid the chuckle that fought to escape, he knew what kept Ichigo from being able to talk freely, but he didn't know how to get him past it other than to just let the boy come into his own naturally. "You're probably thinking because of how I greeted you, that I would be able to tell you something like this?" He paused there, honestly curious if Ichigo would answer.
"Something like that," Ichigo muttered, this time he managed to keep from going beet red, but there was still a tinge of pink across his cheeks and the tips of his ears.
Starrk found it cute, "You don't have anything to worry about." He took pity on Ichigo and decided not to tease him. "I used Ulquiorra as an example because he is the one that is the easiest to explain and understand what I mean by us all having an aspect, but that with time we can change from being purely about it."
"So, if I asked what your aspect was, you would answer?" Ichigo was glad Starrk hadn't indulged the urge that must have been hitting him pretty hard, if he had been Grimmjow he would have jumped at the opportunity to make him uncomfortable.
"Solitude," Starrk responded, "My field of expertise was in solo combat, in raw power I am the strongest of the Arrancar that have gathered in Las Noches. Before Urahara discovered me, I had driven all other Hollows away, they suffocated under my spirit pressure. I lived alone. I fought alone. I became the one thing that kills the most mortals, when they give up the will to live they die swiftly. Age doesn't matter, or gender, or race, all that matters is when you find yourself without any rock or anchor to hold you to the world you fade quickly."
"Do you have a rock?" Ichigo asked quietly, as he took in everything Starrk said.
"Yes, I have more than one," Starrk confirmed. "The first is Lilynette, she is in essence my Zanpakuto, but with my loneliness and the amount of power we share she is manifested in this realm instead of locked away in my inner world. The next is the Espada, they are the strongest Arrancar around, so I can be in their presence without harming them. I have to be a little careful with the lower level Arrancar, but I can suppress my power enough to make it through the day. It takes a lot of energy to hold it all back, that's most of the reason I have to sleep so much. Arrancar typically don't need sleep, it is a luxury we can indulge it from time to time, but we shouldn't actually have to. That isn't the case with me."
That was news to Ichigo, so his first night here they hadn't actually needed to sleep, meaning that was done purely for him? Hmm, maybe these guys weren't so bad after all. "So are you suppressing your power now because of me?" Starrk had been sleeping an awful lot.
Starrk shook his head, "Not since the first night, with you that close I was able to test you a bit, you held up as well as the Espada do. Although it did let me know we should probably work on your sensing skills, you should have felt it when I spiked my power. I have been sleeping less and less as time goes with just the five of us out here. I'm still going to sleep a lot to save up strength for when we return to the fortress, but I will be training you with my full power."
"I appreciate that, I won't learn anything with my teachers holding back," Ichigo said determinedly, "So what are the other's aspects?"
"Of the ones here, Grimmjow should be the easiest, his is Destruction. His expertise is in melee fighting, he prefers fists and feet over swords, and that's even more evident in his released state. He will pick a fight, anywhere, anytime, with anyone he thinks will give him a good challenge. Harribel's is sacrifice. She is even more reluctant to fight than I am, but like me she will if given a reason. She has to have a cause worth fighting for in order for her to turn violent, but once she does she is nearly unstoppable. The others, I want you to meet them first before I tell you. I want to see if you can figure out what they represent." Starrk explained.
Ichigo didn't like the sound of that, "I already failed Harribel's test miserably, what makes you think I will do nay better with yours? Where is she by the way?"
Starrk decided to indulge him a bit in his frustration because he found it amusing. "You didn't fail, you knew the answer, just didn't want to admit it. My question isn't as personal, whether they have beaten you or not doesn't have any bearing on their aspect like it does with our order. She volunteered to go back to Las Noches and inform them you successfully fought your Hollow so we will be returning soon."
Their conversation was rudely interrupted, again by Grimmjow which made the blue haired Sexta cringe away from the death glare thrown his way from the Primera, "Hey Whelp since you seem to be in a fighting mood, we should get started training you."
Ichigo was pleased to notice the cut on Grimmjow's arm had yet to fully heal, though the blood had stopped flowing. Damn their speedy healing rate. "Oh alright, should probably get something done today. I don't know what would happen if I let Junichi get bored." He started pulling himself out of the crater Grimmjow's earlier landing had forced him in to while listening to Junichi's comments, 'Aww King don't you trust me?'
'Trust you? Yes. Leave you bored long enough for you to plot world domination? Not gonna happen.' Ichigo replied, and was glad to see Starrk was also pulling himself up off the ground.
"Grimmjow, you and Ulquiorra go take a break, I will be working with Ichigo first," Starrk blocked the overeager bluenette from getting to his Ichigo.
Grimmjow was shocked at Starrk's claim, "Wait, you want his first lesson to be with you? Even I am not suicidal enough to pick a fight with you!"
"Could have fooled me, because you are close to achieving that very thing," Starrk warned, "I am taking his first lesson, you may watch, but you will not interfere."
Ichigo wasn't upset about the turn of events, but it was a matter of pride that made him speak up, "Don't I get a say?"
"No." Three voices in varying different tones all chorused at the same time, and Ichigo hadn't even been aware that Ulquiorra had been listening in.
Ichigo huffed, but lifted Zangetsu up to rest on his shoulder as he faced Starrk, realizing for the first time that Starrk was a few inches taller than him, but Ichigo had a heavier build. "So what did you have in mind?"
"I want you to attack me, you have good instincts, and you're tough. I watched you while we all fought you, but fighting one is different from four, I want to see what you can do. Don't hold back, because I won't be. Well I might start out slow, but I will build up to full power depending on how long you last." The was about seeing where Ichigo was really at in his fighting skill, the more they knew about what he could already do, the better idea they would have of how to build on it.
There was also the fact Starrk enjoyed watching Ichigo fight, but that was a personal thing.
Ulquiorra and Grimmjow settled on a dune far enough away they shouldn't be in the way, but close enough to watch, as Ichigo and Starrk squared off against each other.
Ichigo didn't bother with Shikai, he ran at Starrk already calling out his Bankai, feeling Shiro rise within him, but the Hollow didn't try to take over, he was only supporting his King. Starrk let the blast of raw spirit power wash over him. It was invigorating to feel such strength untainted by too many battles. Waiting until the last instant he drew his sword and blocked in a move so fast normal eyes couldn't follow.
To his delight Ichigo's speed increased another notch, the clash of metal on metal ringing out over the desert. He led Ichigo into several traps, only for the Visored to wiggle out of them. Both of them steadily warming up their muscles and testing the other's strength.
Ichigo didn't have any doubts Starrk could crush him like a bug if he was really trying to, but that wasn't what this was about. This was a searching fight, intended to gather intelligence. Instead of coming on immediately with his full strength the Primera was testing different styles and methods to see which Ichigo could block and which he couldn't.
It was obvious Ichigo had far more training with hand-to-hand fighting than with his sword. A weapon of that caliber had to have more uses than the boy was showing, but for being such a novice he was holding up surprisingly well. With that bit of information, Starrk moved into closer quarters, wanting to see if he could get Ichigo to abandon his sword and fight him the way he had trained himself to be good at.
Starrk may have been disappointed if it weren't for Junichi, 'King, you should let him disarm you." The hollow advised, even as Starrk continued a barrage of short thrusts and strikes, not letting Ichigo dodge more than a few feet away before he was right back on top of them.
'You really are crazy! He'll kill us." Ichigo protested trying to keep up with Starrk's speed, and not doing a very good job.
'No he won't. He's testing us, he wants to see how we fight. Put the sword down and show him what we can do. You can street fight better than Grimmjow, now show him!" Junichi commanded.
'How the Hell am I better than Grimmjow?" Ichigo was being pressed even harder, he may not have a choice but to obey Junichi if the onslaught kept up, it seemed Starrk was moving even faster with every step.
Junichi didn't have a lot of patience to begin with, but this was getting ridiculous, 'You forgot your first lesson! Grimmjow might be stronger, but you are better. If you could get the upper hand in the fight you would win, but he comes on more strongly. It's what I was trying to tell you earlier!' He snapped.
'You better be right, or it's both our funeral.' Ichigo insisted, before allowing Zangetsu to be knocked out of his hands. He'd fought people with knives before, and swords did have a weakness.
He barreled into Starrk, stepping past the point the long blade could be successfully used, once inside the Espada's guard Ichigo attacked with every close quarters move he knew. Forcing as much power as he could into each blow he struck at Starrk. In response to the changed tactic, Starrk also dropped his blade, and caught Ichigo around the middle and threw him to the ground, much like Ulquiorra had done to Grimmjow.
Ichigo twisted as they landed, avoiding being pinned, and springing back up to aim a kick at Starrk's head. Starrk dodged to the side, trying to grab Ichigo in a headlock, but the Visored ducked out of his grip, only to try and sweep Starrk's feet out from under him. Starrk let himself be knocked down, but grabbed Ichigo and brought him down with him. He wrestled the writhing form until he was straddling Ichigo's waist, tan arms pinned down above bright orange hair, and a look of irritation on Ichigo's face as he raged at his inner Hollow.
Junichi had this to say in his defense, 'I said you were better than Grimmjow, never said anything about him."
'Could have warned me about that!' Ichigo yelled back, the odd flash of something new to him in Starrk's eyes was causing mayhem in his system.
'I thought you would know, and by the way King, he isn't upset. That look he's got, that my dear King, is pure lust.' Junichi teased, even as he felt the gaze of the powerful Arrancar drilling into both of them.
"Quit yelling at your Hollow and come back to me," Starrk ordered, the words ghosting into Ichigo's ear at the potentially intimate position they found themselves in at the end of the fight.
Ichigo's eyes narrowed at the order, "He made me think if I did that I stood a chance."
'Did not, you deluded yourself!' Junichi protested.
The chuckle Starrk let out rumbled through his chest and Ichigo suddenly found it a bit more difficult to breath as the reality of just how close they were laying against each other came crashing against him. "You did exactly what I wanted you to do. I wanted to see the way you grew up fighting. That is a beautiful weapon, but you don't know how to use it yet. Your body is much more finely tuned and you did well." Starrk assured, even as he felt Ichigo's breath hitch.
He wasn't about to rush in letting the Visored up either, he finally had Ichigo exactly where he wanted him. It also didn't escape his notice that Grimmjow and Ulquiorra had taken this as their cue to leave, both travelling across the sand dunes, and Starrk didn't have to use much of his brain to figure out what the two may be doing with some alone time. That was good, he really would kill Grimmjow if the Sexta interrupted his time with Ichigo again.
"So what was the lesson? How to get my ass kicked 101?" Ichigo asked with a deep scowl in place, not realizing he wasn't protesting Starrk's close proximity even a little bit.
"No, Lesson Three is harder and a much more complicated thing to learn than the first two lessons. Lesson three is this, read your opponent, know what they are good at, and know what you can do to counter it. You did part of it that instinctively when you threw down your sword and instead of running away got closer. You knew it would be much more difficult to land a hit on you without hurting myself if you were right up against me. You proved to be tougher than expected when you avoided being pinned that first time. I only brought you down the second because you relaxed a fraction when you thought I was off balance." Starrk lectured, letting a bit more of his weight settle on top of Ichigo, he wasn't going to take this too far, but he was going to test his boundaries a bit.
"Read my opponent? That's the lesson?" Ichigo asked for confirmation as the beginnings of plan stirred in the back of his mind, Junichi cackling as he deciphered the plan. 'Yes, you should definitely see what would happen!'
"Yes," Starrk answered what he thought was a very obvious question, till he saw the gleam in Ichigo's eyes that both worried him slightly and made him curious to know what the young man was plotting.
He didn't have long to ponder, because Ichigo leaned up and kissed him, a slight brush of their lips, only a bit less tentative then their first kiss. Starrk smiled into it, the brazen side of Ichigo interesting him as much as the innocent parts. "Are you sure you want to start something?" he tried to keep the smirk out of his voice, he really did.
Ichigo kissed him again.
Starrk took that as permission, he released Ichigo's wrists, feeling those long arms warp around his shoulders as he deepened the kiss, sinking into the Visored's embrace.
He let his guard drop. He really should have known better.
Ichigo resisted the urge to grin into the kiss.
He got distracted and kissed back for a few minutes, only Junichi's slightly manic laughter bringing him back to reality and his plan.
With one smooth motion he pushed himself up and turned them over, so he was the one stretched out over the Espada's lean body, smiling mischievously at the startled Primera. Starrk was surprised enough to let out a growl at the loss of Ichigo's lips on his.
He didn't have to worry.
Ichigo wasn't quite that mean, close, but not quite.
This time he leaned down and kissed Starrk soundly, enjoying the feeling of being in control, even if he was fully aware that Starrk could have just turned him over and pinned him down again if he really wanted to.
Starrk didn't want to. His fiery little Visored was surprising him over and over again, in good ways. He kissed Ichigo back until they were forced to break apart to breath, only then did he speak, "Urahara was right, you do learn fast."
Ichigo shut him up with a kiss.
- 5
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