Chapter 32
"W-What the fuck is this?" Ichigo stuttered, horrified by the atrocity before him.
"The last line that separates us from extinction," Oda said gravely.
He couldn't help but stare at the monstrosity. Each face was twisted in agony and despair, as if they realized any chance of survival had been snatched away.
"You probably realize that those aren't sculptures," Oda stated. "Because even a being of the Soul King's caliber could not create a barrier of this magnitude alone. He had to make a tough decision."
"How many... how many people were sacrificed?" Ichigo asked, his throat dry.
"Hundreds of thousands... so that billions more could live," Oda bellowed. "This wall of souls is the last thing preventing the Ancients from entering our world. If they ever did, the results would be catastrophic." He shook his head. "Now, I need you to activate your contract and attune yourself to the wall. In the future, you'll be able to reinforce it."
"Will it require touching it?" Ichigo asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
"Sadly, yes," Oda replied, understanding Ichigo's hesitation. "But only for a few seconds."
The young Commander sighed and activated his contract. As anticipated, the wall turned into a myriad of trillions of seals, all holding the construct together. The sheer complexity stunned Ichigo. After a few moments of hesitation, he walked up to the wall and searched for a place to touch. With visible disgust, he chose an unfortunate man's shoulder. It was obvious none of them had wanted to be sacrificed.
His eyes widened the moment he touched the smooth black surface. His mind was bombarded by a storm of images.
Ruins... Bones... Dust... Sand... Silence... Calamity... Death...
Thump... thump... thump... thump... thump... thump... thump...
Seven hearts beating in unison...
Seven minds linked in harmony...
Seven souls intertwined forever...
Seven beings that mortals could only describe as gods...
And seven pairs of eyes boring into Ichigo's very soul...
Ichigo couldn't sense their presence. It felt almost like Aizen all over again... almost.
He felt them with every fiber of his being. His body screamed at him to run away as far as possible. Like an ant compared to an elephant or a human to a mountain, his mind made the closest analogy it could manage, unable to truly comprehend what he felt.
The beings reeked of ancient death and decay.
His body trembled as the creatures focused on him. Their gigantic silhouettes loomed closer, their transparent hands reaching toward him. Ichigo's eyes widened, and his mouth opened in a silent scream of terror. There was no hope. No salvation. No escape. The calamity was upon him—
SNAP!
Ichigo was suddenly ripped from the illusory world. His butt hit the hard ground, but he had never felt so relieved. He looked around and saw his father still holding him while others stared at him with concern.
"W-What happened?" He cursed himself for stuttering.
"At first, nothing. But then you started screaming..." Isshin said.
"Thanks, Dad," Ichigo said with so much gratitude that it shocked his father.
"What happened, Ichigo?" Tessai asked. He couldn't recall any previous adjustments that had been this violent.
"I felt them—" Ichigo started, but he was instantly interrupted.
"I told you this kid couldn't handle it," Aki said coldly to Oda. "He's not ready for this duty if he starts to wail as soon as he feels them."
"Now, now, Aki, don't be rude. It must be quite shocking at first to feel them, but I'm sure he won't throw a fit later," Oda soothed. He pitied the boy. The first contact with the Ancients was always an unpleasant experience. Ichigo's reaction was a bit overdramatic in his opinion, but he was still young.
"And they saw me," Ichigo finished, staring coldly at Aki. The gathered crowd looked at him in shock.
"What do you mean they saw you, Ichigo-san?" Roku asked, his expression puzzled.
"They saw me—all seven of them. Seven hearts, seven minds, seven souls," he mumbled with an empty look in his eyes. "... Seven gods. The gate will be broken... The gate will be broken... The gate—"
Isshin slapped him hard, waking him from his trance.
By now, everyone was looking at him in horror. Not once had any of the Commanders been noticed by the Ancients, let alone all of them. The news was beyond disturbing.
"Ichigo, are you okay?" Tessai asked tensely.
"My dad pulled me back when they were reaching for me," Ichigo mumbled, taking a shaky breath and shocking the group further. "We absolutely can't let them pass through." He gave them a fanatical look. "Or we will all die. We can't fight them. We need to do everything in our power to keep the Gate intact."
"Good to hear that," Oda said, breaking the pregnant silence that followed Ichigo's words. "Now you have an idea of what we're opposing. Since the Gate is now attuned to you, you can reinforce it with your Reiatsu. It's purely a symbolic gesture."
"Do I have to touch it again?" Ichigo gulped, losing some color.
"Yes, but this time, you don't need the contract activated. Simply push your Reiatsu in," Oda reassured him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Ichigo nodded and took a deep breath, walking back to the wall. He placed his hand on someone's head. Without the contract active, it only felt deeply uncomfortable touching it. Even now, he faintly sensed their presence.
He began pushing his Reiatsu into the Gate. As soon as he started, the seals around him became visible. A circle of golden kanji symbols appeared on the wall, standing about two meters high.
It's not enough, he thought. Given the magnitude of the Gate, what he was doing wasn't even a drop in an ocean.
But now, more than ever, Ichigo's goal was clear. He needed to stop the Ancients from destroying the worlds, from taking everything he loved. He knew he wouldn't stand a chance against them. Only by holding the Gate could he protect his loved ones.
He recalled their faces and felt their presence give him strength. Drawing on every ounce of Reiatsu he had, Ichigo closed his eyes in concentration. He pushed his power into the wall, his resolve firm. Reaching his limits as a Shinigami, he swiftly donned his mask, stretching even that to its limit. He placed his other hand on the wall and let out a quiet growl.
The Gate will hold!
He felt a surge of power through him but redirected it to the wall. There was no time for half-measures; everything had to go.
Had his eyes been open, he would have seen the entire cave illuminated in golden light. It stretched as far as the gathered group could see in every direction. Some of the other members of the Kido Corps began to gather, witnessing the unprecedented spectacle.
Imagine their shock when they realized this was the work of a single individual—a boy. Ichigo was achieving something they could only manage by working together as a large group.
Oda snapped out of his stupor and walked up to Ichigo.
"It's enough, Ichigo-san. You need to save your energy to return," Oda said, placing a hand on Ichigo's shoulder.
Ichigo let go of the Gate and turned to face Oda. The old Shinigami admitted to himself that the boy's mask, particularly his glowing eyes, was intimidating. It was Oda's first time seeing a Visored Shinigami, and the sight was both unnerving and awe-inspiring.
"I still have plenty of reserves," Ichigo said in a hollowfied voice.
"You don't need to exhaust yourself every time," Oda said wisely. "We've guarded this place long before you were born, and we'll be doing this long after each of us has passed."
Ichigo wanted to protest but realized Oda was right. It was arrogant of him to think this place would fall without him. Looking around, he noticed the gathered Shinigami staring at him warily. Rumors of hollowfied Shinigami had circulated, but many hadn't believed them. Now, living proof stood before them. With the glowing Gate behind his back, the sharp shadows cast on his mask made him look even more menacing.
His gaze turned to Aki's cold blue eyes. She held his gaze for a few moments, but the sight of his glowing gold-and-black orbs made her look away. She had underestimated this boy—no, this man—too much today.
"Alright," Ichigo said as he disintegrated his mask.
"I must say, I'm impressed, Ichigo-san," Oda said with a smile. "For someone so young, you are undeniably powerful. While I'm not completely comfortable with those hollow powers of yours, I see you're dedicated to our cause."
"I'll do everything possible to keep the Gate intact," Ichigo replied, deadly serious. "Is that all?"
"Yes. You've done all you can for now. You can return to the Soul Society or the Human World," Oda said, offering a shallow bow that surprised Ichigo. "It's an honor to serve with you, Ichigo-san."
"Likewise, Oda-san," Ichigo said, mirroring the gesture. Roku and Aki also bowed, though the latter did so more deeply. "Farewell."
"Alright, Ichigo, let's go back," Tessai said. The trio walked out of the chamber and headed toward the exit.
"Son, are you really okay? You still look a bit shaken," Isshin asked, concerned.
"I'm fine, Dad. You would be too if you saw them… They are beyond us. Those monsters are unlike anything I've ever encountered—not even the Shadows compare," Ichigo said, closing his eyes. "We have too much to lose if they ever pass."
"I know," Tessai said grimly. "Just sensing them made me feel like vomiting. I can't even imagine how it feels to be seen by them."
"When you look into the abyss, the abyss looks back," Ichigo quoted. "And your mind screams at you to run as far as possible."
"It's good to trust your instincts," Isshin said. "They are rarely wrong."
"Indeed," Ichigo said, a small smile forming on his face. "And now they're telling me to go back to my girlfriends. I suddenly miss them terribly."
"You know I still want grandchildren… Now that you have two girlfriends, I expect twice as many!" Isshin declared.
"I'll see what I can do," Ichigo replied smugly.
"NOOOO! Since when has sexual teasing stopped working on you?" Isshin wailed.
"It sounds so wrong coming out of your mouth," Ichigo deadpanned. "But it stopped working quite a while ago. You're obsolete, old man."
Isshin collapsed dramatically to the ground, curling into a small ball.
"Masaki! How can your son be so cruel?" he sobbed.
"Ugh, let's go, Tessai," Ichigo said with a sweatdrop.
"And now he's abandoning me with another man," Isshin mumbled.
"Okay, that's really disturbing," Ichigo growled. "Right, Tessai?"
"Oh, how perverse of you, Ichigo-dono," Tessai said with a faint blush.
"Die," Ichigo muttered as he marched forward, leaving the two men roaring with laughter behind him.
Human World – Ishida's Mansion
"Uryu-kun! Hurry up! We'll be late!" Nel chirped.
"I'm ready," Ishida said with a sigh.
"You take longer to dress than me!" she laughed loudly.
"I need the proper gear for a fight," he replied with a scowl.
"Silly, it's just training," she shook her head. Uryu could be too serious sometimes.
"We need to be ready for what's coming, so I'm not holding back," he said smugly, making her pout.
"It was a one-time mistake," she mumbled. Uryu smiled and took her hand.
"I know, but we all need to be stronger. We can't let Kurosaki leave us behind... like Tia left you," he teased.
"Hey! I do not have a Zanpakuto!" Nel protested with a blush. It was embarrassing that a younger successor was stronger than her. "I'll catch up to her in no time!"
"We'll see about that," he shrugged. "Now let's go. Chado and Inoue are waiting for us."
The pair headed toward the door, but Ryuken suddenly appeared.
"Good morning, Ryuken-kun!" Nel greeted him enthusiastically. Over the months she had stayed here, Ryuken had somewhat warmed up to her. While still mostly aloof, he was at least no longer openly hostile and likely didn't wish for her death anymore. He seemed to accept her presence and treated her as a person. However, the probability of hearing positive words from him about her was still nonexistent.
At least he doesn't bad-mouth her anymore, Uryu thought. He had lost count of the heated arguments he and his father had whenever Ryuken insulted her. Uryu was grateful Ryuken had finally dropped the subject altogether.
"Good morning," Ryuken replied in his usual monotone. "Are you going to train?"
"Yes," Uryu answered, slightly confused by the obvious question.
"Then watch your back, son," Ryuken said, fixing him with a cold glare. "They are here... probing."
The duo immediately grew serious.
"How many?" Uryu asked through gritted teeth.
"I can sense ten, but there might be more. Be wary... both of you," Ryuken warned before turning and walking away.
"Let's go, Nel. We better warn Chado and Inoue," Uryu said, but he stopped when he saw the concern on her face. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," she said quietly. "I'm just worried about Pesche and Dondochakka... Who knows what they're doing to them."
"We'll find them," Uryu said, pulling her into a gentle hug and patting the back of her head.
Deep inside, he had little hope for the two comical Hollows. He had tried looking for them in various places, including Hueco Mundo, but found nothing. When he asked Ryuken, his father had said their headquarters were unreachable and ended the discussion there. Uryu hadn't the heart to tell Nel they were likely gone, nor was he ready to risk her hating him for being a Quincy.
The irony wasn't lost on him. He was now afraid of being hated by a Hollow. The only Hollow whose feelings mattered to him.
'Karma really hates me,' he thought.
They left the house and headed to Urahara's shop. Upon arrival, they saw Chado and Inoue sitting on the terrace with Urahara, drinking tea.
"Hey, guys!" Nel greeted them with a wave.
"Ara, looks like someone's late," Urahara teased, waving his fan. "I wouldn't have expected that from you, Ishida-san."
"We have information about the Quincies," Uryu said, instantly making them tense. "They're here—apparently ten of them, if Ryuken is right—but as he said, they're just probing."
"Whatever they're up to can't be good," Chado said. "Should we engage them?"
"I don't know. We have no information about their numbers or allies. It's risky," Uryu said, crossing his arms. "But it would be an excellent way to see if our training has paid off."
"There's no better way to gain experience than fighting a true battle," Urahara said sagely. "It's up to you, but if you choose to fight, I'll aid you just in case."
They looked at each other and nodded. They needed real combat experience.
"We're going to fight," Uryu said.
Urahara nodded. "Let me grab my sword." He headed inside.
"Remember everything I've taught you," Urahara said when he returned. "Quincies rely mostly on speed, and their weapons are always bows—don't be fooled by appearances. Also, beware of their Reishi absorption technique. It's advanced, and not many know it, but be prepared for anything."
The group nodded. Uryu closed his eyes and focused, spreading his senses to locate the Quincies. After a minute or two, he found them. Though they were masking their presence, his Quincy blood made it easier for him to find them than for Shinigami.
He frowned. "They're at the place where Ichigo killed Aizen."
The mention of the location made Urahara's expression grow cold and calculating.
"Whatever they're looking for there can't be good," Uryu said. "We need to hurry."
Without hesitation, the group took off.
Northern Edge of Karakura Town – Former Battlefield
"Have you found anything yet?" Sternritter Shaz Domino asked.
Shaz was a slender man with cropped light hair. The right side of his face bore markings that resembled leopard spots, and he wore full-framed glasses. His attire was a variation of the Sternritter's standard white uniform: a hooded cloak with a leopard-print top and a calf-length trench coat beneath it.
"No, sir. Only faint traces of Reiatsu. The object is gone," a common soldier replied.
"It was a bad idea to come here this late," Zok Nok stated.
Zok was a short, muscular man with dark skin, eyes, and hair. He wore a sleeveless version of the Sternritter uniform, featuring a high collar and fingerless gloves.
"It was risky. The Shinigami kept this area under constant surveillance until recently," Shaz admitted, scanning the area. The battlefield still bore scars from the climactic battle a few months prior. The flattened mountain peak and deep, thin rows carved by Ichigo's last attack were a stark reminder of the devastation.
Every Quincy had watched that battle, and even the most arrogant among them gained a begrudging respect for the orange-haired boy. They had to admit he was a force to be reckoned with—though, of course, their Majesty would crush him without effort.
"We're wasting time here," Zok grumbled.
"Do you question our Majesty's orders?" Shaz snapped. "He told us to scan this area, not to complain. Do your job, or I'll do it for you."
"You better watch your mouth, Shaz," Zok growled. "Or I might shut it permanently."
The two Quincies were seconds away from lunging at each other when the sudden arrival of five figures halted them.
"Ara, it seems we've arrived just in time for the party," Urahara said, fanning himself with his signature nonchalance. "And what, may I ask, are you gentlemen doing here?"
"None of your business, Shinigami. Leave, and we won't hunt—" Shaz paused mid-sentence when his eyes landed on Ishida's attire. "And who the hell are you to dress as a Quincy?"
"I'm Ishida Uryu," he introduced himself, "and I could ask you the same. Ryuken and I are the last living Quincies, so who are you?"
"Ishida?" Zok echoed, looking at Shaz in disbelief. "I thought that family was wiped out."
"It seems a few stragglers remain," Shaz sneered. "Let's kill him. Any Quincy disloyal to the Emperor must die."
"Agreed. All traitors must die," Zok growled as a white-and-gold two-handed battle axe materialized in his hands, adorned with crosses on each blade.
Shaz summoned black knives with white hilts and Quincy crosses at their edges.
"Oh, things are getting interesting!" Urahara chirped, sitting casually on a nearby rock. "I can't wait to see this!"
"You're not going to fight?" Zok asked, confused by Urahara's lack of action.
"Nah, I'll let the kids show their stuff," Urahara said, waving his fan dismissively.
Zok shrugged and turned his attention back to the group. In the blink of an eye, both sides launched themselves into battle.
Chado and Inoue engaged the regular soldiers, while Nel and Ishida squared off against Zok and Shaz, respectively.
Shaz vs. Ishida
"Since you introduced yourself, I suppose I'll do the same," Shaz sneered. "I am Sternritter 'R,' Shaz Domino." He mockingly bowed.
Ishida remained silent, his cold glare unwavering.
"Looks like you're incapable of giving me proper respe—" Shaz's words were cut off as he ducked to avoid an arrow aimed directly at his forehead.
"And rude, too," Shaz growled, summoning a flurry of knives and hurling them at Ishida.
Ishida easily evaded them. Compared to Ryuken's arrows, they were slow. To provoke his opponent further, Ishida began firing arrows to intercept the knives mid-air. His eyes widened in surprise as the knives sliced his arrows cleanly in half.
"Fool! You think arrows that weak can destroy my knives?" Shaz laughed maniacally, throwing more knives with increased speed.
Despite the heightened pace, Ishida dodged effortlessly. He put some distance between himself and Shaz, landing on a nearby rock and shooting three arrows.
Shaz burst out laughing, throwing three knives to intercept the arrows. However, moments later, he screamed in pain as two arrows pierced his shoulders and one struck his right thigh.
"Gah! How is this possible?" he roared.
"Those were just my medium-strength arrows," Ishida stated coldly, his glare intensifying. "Now, you'll tell me everything you know."
"Don't underestimate me, traitor!" Shaz shouted as he was engulfed in energy. "I'm a Sternritter! My power is 'The Razor!'"
Three blades appeared in each of his hands, and he began slicing at the ground. The blades turned from black to bloody red as Shaz snarled, "The more I cut, the stronger I become!"
Shaz lunged at Ishida, throwing his knives with incredible speed. Each time a knife struck, it sliced through obstacles like warm butter, radiating more power with each cut.
Although Shaz's speed was increasing, Ishida still outpaced him. However, he realized that a single mistake could cost him dearly. Shaz's abilities demanded stronger attacks.
Time to end this, Ishida thought, pulling out his Seele Schneider. He notched it in his bow and empowered it before release.
The arrow shot toward Shaz at an incredible speed. Shaz frantically threw a dozen knives to intercept it, but each knife shattered on impact. Too stunned to react, Shaz screamed in agony as the arrow pierced his stomach. Blood poured from the wound, staining his pristine white uniform.
"You bastard!" Shaz coughed, blood dripping from his mouth. "How dare you..." With a growl, he summoned a single knife and stabbed it into his own hand.
"Now, you will see the full power of my Vollständig!" he roared as a red aura exploded around him. His form began to transform—his arms became encased in red energy, forming five long claws with spikes protruding from his elbows. His teeth turned crimson, sharp and jagged.
"Claws of Vengeance," he snarled, glaring at Ishida—or rather, the spot where Ishida had stood a moment ago.
Looking around in frustration, Shaz finally spotted Ishida hovering above him.
Five Seele Schneiders descended around Shaz, pinning him in place.
"Now I understand why Ryuken called you abominations," Ishida said coldly, pulling out a small container filled with raw Reishi. "You are hideous."
He hurled the container toward the Seele Schneiders, unleashing a column of blue light that engulfed Shaz.
"Damn you!" Shaz roared in despair as his body disintegrated in the energy blast.
Adjusting his glasses, Ishida turned and headed toward Nel.
Nel vs. Zok
To an ordinary observer, the battlefield appeared desolate. To a trained Shinigami, it was a flurry of sparks and chaos.
Nel pressed Zok relentlessly, her attacks fueled by cold fury. He had dared to mock her friends and lie about their fate.
When Nel launched a vicious stab at his head, Zok blocked it with his axe and hurled her back with brute force. He then fired volleys of arrows at her. Nel used Sonido to evade the attacks, closing the distance again to engage him in close combat.
Despite his strength, Zok struggled to keep up with Nel's speed. She landed a powerful kick to his face, sending him crashing into a rock wall.
Zok grunted in pain as he stood. His Blut Vene had mitigated the damage, but the impact still hurt.
"Tell me what you've done to my Fracción!" Nel demanded, her voice laced with icy determination.
"They screamed for you," Zok sneered, a bloodthirsty grin spreading across his face. "Oh, how they screamed your name... but you never came. They died in despair!"
"You liar!" Nel roared, but she suddenly felt a heavy weight pressing down on her. It's my fault. If only I were stronger...
Her resolve wavered. Zok took advantage, slamming her into the ground with a powerful swing of his axe. Nel barely managed to block the blow with her sword, but the force sent her sprawling.
Bruised and battered, Nel shakily stood, her sparse clothing nearly torn from her body.
"Let it consume you," Zok taunted, approaching with a sinister smile. "Despair. It's all you deserve."
Nel dropped to her knees, her head hanging in defeat.
You're pathetic, a voice echoed in her mind.
Nel's eyes widened. Gamuza?
Can't you see? He's doing something to you, Gamuza scolded. He's not stronger—you're weaker. Snap out of it, idiot.
"But... he's right. I failed them," Nel whispered weakly.
And if you give up now, you'll fail Ishida too, Gamuza countered. Stand, Neliel Tu Odelschwanck, and fight!
Nel's eyes burned with determination. She glared at Zok as he raised his axe for the final blow.
"Last words, Hollow?" Zok sneered.
"Yes... Declare, Gamuza!"
A brilliant pink light engulfed Nel as her Resurrección activated. The sheer power of her transformation sent Zok flying.
"Had to open my damn mouth," Zok muttered as he regained his footing, eyeing Nel's centaur form with irritation.
"I don't know what you did to me, but it won't work again," Nel said coldly.
Zok smirked. "I am Sternritter 'D,' Zok Nok. My power is 'The Despair.' I see all that weighs you down and turn it against you."
Nel's gaze hardened. She formed a Cero at the tip of her lance and fired it at Zok. He narrowly avoided it, leaping into the air and firing a powerful arrow in retaliation.
"Lanzador Verde," Nel whispered, throwing her lance with incredible force. The projectile collided with the arrow, obliterating it entirely.
Zok prepared to enter Vollständig when a shadow appeared behind him.
"That's enough. You're ordered to return," a voice commanded.
Turning, Zok saw Sternritter BG9 emerge from a portal.
"What about them?" Zok asked, gesturing to the defeated soldiers.
Without hesitation, BG9 unleashed a volley of missiles, killing the wounded soldiers instantly.
The group stood in stunned silence as the Quincies retreated into the portal.
Aftermath
The group gathered near the smoldering battlefield.
"So much unnecessary cruelty," Urahara muttered, shaking his head.
"I can't believe they dare to call themselves Quincies," Ishida spat.
Nel remained silent, her face etched with grief.
"Nel, are you okay?" Ishida asked, his voice gentle.
She hesitated before asking, "Do you think Pesche and Dondochakka are still alive?"
Ishida froze, unable to meet her gaze. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself.
"No," he said softly. "I'm sorry, Nel."
A quiet sob escaped her lips as she collapsed into Ishida's arms. He held her tightly, whispering words of comfort, his heart breaking with each trembling sob.
I'll avenge them, Ishida vowed silently. I'll make sure Ryuken and I are the last of the Quincies.
Wandenreaich HQ
"Good work Zok." Yhwach praised him. "You allowed us to gather much information on our enemies, especially about my lost son." He smirked. "Go rest now."
"I'm honored, your Majesty." He bowed and left the throne room, happy to be alive.
"So Haschwalth, what do you think of the young Ishida?" He asked, looking at the half-transparent screens showing his battle with Shaz.
"He's very well trained in the old style, your Majesty. He defeated Shaz without sustain even a minor wound, and showed even greater potential when he instantly ended him as soon as he used his Vollstandig." The blonde said. "But his apparent rejection of our evolution might hamper his growth…Not to mention his unusual relationship with that Arrancar." He eyed the screen, showing Uryu and Nel in a tight embrace.
"You still need to learn Haschwalth, that something to fight for is a great stimulant to growth." His smile widened and gained a cruel edge. "And the pain of losing it is even greater…"
Soul Society
After coming back from Hueco Mundo Tessai and Isshin went back to the Human World., while Ichigo stayed and buried himself beneath the books in the library. Reading all he could find about the Gate, but also on how to improve his performance in Kido.
During that time Tia was the one to govern the Division. She understood his reasons very well, since the news of what happened had shaken her as well. She decided to make her training even more strict than it was before.
The only good news was that Yoruichi could wake up any day now. Her eyes were fluttering, and she started to mumble. Those were clear signs of coming back to consciousness. When the good news finally came via messenger, an ecstatic Tia found Ichigo in the library, and they both took off to the 4th Squad Barracks to see their Goddess of Flash.
The duo entered the building with bright smiles on their faces.
"I can't wait to hug her," Ichigo said in excitement.
"Only to hug?" Tia teased with a smile.
"Maybe something more." He replied idly. "But after that, I'll strangle her for not calling us."
"I'm sure you will." She chuckled and opened the doors to Yoruichi's room. They found her sitting in her bed, a giant pillow behind her. All the bandages from her face were already taken off. She looked mostly fine, a bit pale, but fine.
"Hey guys, fancy meeting you here." She greeted them, flashing her infamous smile. "Miss me?"
"You can't imagine." Ichigo said, and gently wrapped his arms around her, before pulling her into a deep kiss. Yoruichi purred contentedly, and melted into his embrace. She was so happy to be able to see them again. After Ichigo let her go, Tia moved and hugged her too, kissing both her cheeks.
"Don't make me worry like that again, or you be in for a whole world of pain." She hissed.
"Hehe I'll remember that," Yoruichi giggled. "But damn I'm starving." As if on cue, a cart filled with food rode to the room.
"Captain Unohana sends her best regards." A random Shinigami said, and left the room quickly, which filled with a wonderful scent.
"Fooooood." Yoruich drooled, her eyes glittering. Ichigo handed her the first plate, and was about to sit in a chair…"Next!" She said brightly, showing an already empty plate.
For the next twenty minutes Tia and Ichigo witnessed a very un-ladylike show of gluttony, in testament to Yoruichi-style, aka the food disappear in flash.
Tia couldn't stop feeling jealous. If she ate that much she would surely gain weight. But Yoruichi's blissful expression indicated that she hadn't had that problem, and stuffed herself to the fullest.
After she was done, she leaned deeper into her pillow massaging her full tummy.
"Man that was good." She smirked. "So what happened while I was out?"
"I'll tell you later, but for now tell us what happened to you?" Ichigo asked, growing serious.
"You know…it seems that not only you required humbling Ichigo." She said with a sad expression. "My arrogance almost got me killed." Ichigo moved and took her hand, rubbing it with his thumb. "I underestimated my Brother completely."
"Yoruichi what happened?" Tia asked, worry written all over her face.
"My Brother's gone insane."
A/N
Ufff Yourichi humbling herself? Hell froze!
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