"So, are you going to use your mask or nah?"
The blade was cold against his skin, but it didn't bother him one bit. It was nothing compared to the anger that he felt. It was the same as before. It was the same as before.
"I told you I don't know what you're talking about!"
Moving at a fast speed, Ichigo deflected Shinji's sword and jumped away, taking distance from his opponent. His face was full of fury, his teeth gritting tightly.
Shinji was amused, he chuckled in amusement as he played with his sword.
"Come on. There is no point in hiding it." He grinned, "You have it. Just like me."
"I said, I don't know what you are saying." Ichigo growled.
Shinji sighed, he shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
As if saying 'Oh well.'
"Whatever," Shinji replied nonchalantly. "Then I just have to force it out."
Walking nonchalantly toward him, the blond haired man stopped a few feet away. He suddenly looked serious as his expression hardened.
"Nah, that's not within the plan."
"What are you-"
Just as Ichigo said that, he felt an immense reiatsu coming from a few spots in the city.
One of them was near his place, right above where they were fighting. Garganta had opened in the air and Ichigo could see the silhouette of humanoid figures coming out of it.
A person with light blue hair stood calmly. His hands were in his pockets, and he clicked his tongue when he saw Ichigo. His eyes were cold and his face had a scowl on it, and his reiatsu was incredibly high.
The teeth-like mask on his right face showed the fact that he was one of the Espada, an arrancar.
Upon seeing Ichigo, his lips formed a large smirk. He licked his lips as if he couldn't wait for what was coming next. "Jackpot."
Suddenly he disappeared from the Garganta. Grimmjow had used his sonido, appearing behind Ichigo and punched the teen to the building.
"Kurosaki Ichigo!"
Ichigo's body was sent flying, his back slammed into the concrete. The pain made him grit his teeth. His eyes widened as he realized what had happened to him. The attack came from the blue haired Arrancar, who was smirking in amusement.
Everything happened so fast that Ichigo had no time to react.
But that wasn't a problem. He stopped himself midair and raised his head, looking at his enemy with anger and annoyance. When he looked up, the arrancar was standing in front of him. He was looking at him with a wide smirk.
"I have been looking for you, Kurosaki Ichigo. I'm arrancar seis, Grimmjow." He introduced himself to Ichigo with a smirk on his face. His eyes were filled with bloodlust, but there was no malice in his words.
Ichigo could tell this guy was dangerous. If left unchecked, he could become a threat to everyone in Karakura Town. But still, why did he have to deal with this right now?
"Which one of you is stronger, I wonder?" He looked at both Ichigo and Shinji, whose eyes narrowed when he heard those words.
Then again, he didn't need to know the reason. This arrancar would bring harm to Karakura, so he would have to defeat it.
He just wished this didn't happen while Shinji was here.
"What's up with him?" Shinji muttered as he looked at the Arrancar in annoyance. He frowned. "But this is perfect. Fight him, Kurosaki. It seems you're his target."
Changing his mind, Shinji sheathed his sword back and jumped away. He decided not to get involved in this fight because of personal reasons.
'If Kurosaki uses his mask in this fight, that would be ideal for me.' Shinji thought as he landed and stood in the air, 'I have to gauge his power before bringing him in.'
Not far away, Ichigo heard his words. And he glared at him. "Don't give me an order!"
"Whatever you say." He waved his hand dismissively.
Ichigo wanted to argue, but then Grimmjow charged at him. He disappeared from the air and reappeared before Ichigo, fist moved forward at a high speed to punch Ichigo.
He dodged, barely.
And Grimmjow didn't stop, he disappeared again, and kicked him to the ground. "What are you doing? Fight back, Shinigami!"
"Tsk!"
Ichigo swung his sword at Grimmjow, but he blocked it with bare hands.
"What?!"
Surprised, he was forced to move back. But the blue haired Arrancar immediately chased him. And this time, the attack came faster and stronger, forcing him to go defensive.
Grimmjow was the type that didn't hesitate in the slightest to go offensive. He moved with speed, power, and ferocity. Ichigo had to focus on everything just to keep up.
Sword versus fists. Usually the sword would have an upper hand, but Grimmjow was fast and durable.
"Haa!"
Gathering and compressing reiatsu around his sword, Ichigo released another black-red arc slash.
"Getsuga Tenshou!"
Seeing the reiatsu attack, Grimmjow crossed his arms to block it.
Black arch met with the flesh, bursting upon contact.
Swoosh!
The sky was covered in black color before it dissipated into nothing. When the smoke cleared out, Arrancar had a new wound across his arms and chest.
Gnash that chipped his skin, revealing the white bone under his flesh. Blood dripped down from the wounds.
A frown appeared on Grimmjow's face. The attack worked.
Ichigo panted, a bit tired after releasing his attack.
Grimmjow licked the blood off his fingers, and looked at his arms.
"Not bad, Shinigami. Now this is interesting."
Grinning widely, Grimmjow opened his palm, aiming at Ichigo.
"Cero!"
A blue light suddenly appeared in front of Grimmjow, a cero blast. It shot forward at incredible speed, almost instantly hitting Ichigo.
The teen's eyes widened, and he instinctively swung his sword, creating a Getsuga Tenshou.
Black reiatsu collided with the blue one. Both of them exploded in the middle and dispersed.
Panting, Ichigo gritted his teeth. He had to admit that Grimmjow was really powerful, and his attacks were too strong. If this continued on any longer than necessary, then Ichigo would have a problem keeping up.
At that moment, he heard something within his mind.
'You can't win.'
Ichigo's left sclera slowly turned dark black. His heart skipped a beat when he heard a familiar voice inside his mind.
'You are going to die, King.' He said again, 'That Arrancar is going to kill you. And then, he's going to kill your friends and family.'
He couldn't let that happen!
"I won't let that happen!" Ichigo shouted, gripping his zanpakutou tighter.
'Hehe, that's why you should accept me. Use my power, go berserk and kill that arrancar before you lose!'
"I refuse!" Ichigo shouted back, but his body shivered in fear and disgust. The Hollow's voice echoed in his mind.
'Tsk.' The hollow clicked his tongue in disappointment. 'How foolish.'
Distracted, Ichigo didn't notice Grimmjow already standing right behind him.
And Grimmjow's hand moved, grabbing Ichigo's neck and pushing his face down on the roof. Ichigo groaned from the pain, unable to do anything in his grip.
"You're distracted." Grimmjow said, "What are you thinking? You think this is easy?"
Ichigo's left eye turned darker and darker, the black sclera became darker.
However, he regained control of his body and rolled to dodge the attack. He stood up, holding his sword in front of him with two hands. He panted heavily and looked at his opponent.
His left eye was turning black. His right eye was still normal. The Hollow was speaking to him.
"Let me out. You know I can beat this guy. Give in. Use me!"
Ichigo ignored him. He couldn't lose control here.
Still, the enemy was strong. He was pushed to the sky and forced into a defensive position. He didn't have much chance of winning without the Hollow's power.
He could feel his power rising within him. His inner hollow, his enemy. It was always there. Always watching him.
Waiting for him to give up.
"Kurosaki Ichigo-kun. You don't need to hold back."
Ichigo glanced at the source of the voice and saw the blond Shinigami who was watching their battle from afar.
The man looked pretty calm despite the situation. He had one hand holding the sword and another hand was in his pocket.
He looked bored.
Shinji Hirako was his name, and Ichigo had just learned about him a few minutes before.
"You should just let it out."
His words confused him. What was this guy talking about?
Was he referring to his inner Hollow?
'Use me, King!'
Having his concentration broken, Ichigo was punched right on the face by the blue-haired arrancar. His face slammed on a wall.
Ichigo coughed out blood and fell down.
Grimmjow landed near the teen's fallen body. He was looking at Ichigo's prone form. He had a bored expression as if this wasn't enough.
"Tsk." He clicked his tongue. "What a boring opponent. I expected more. You're not as strong as I heard from the report, Shinigami. What a disappointment."
Standing above the Shinigami, Grimmjow lifted his leg to kick Ichigo. It hovered menacingly over him, and he looked at Ichigo with a smirk on his lips.
Ichigo didn't have the chance to move as Grimmjow suddenly brought down his foot, stomping on Ichigo. The sound of bones cracking echoed in the area. Blood spurted from his mouth, staining the ground beneath him.
Or so it was supposed to happen.
"Hmm?"
When the dust settled, Grimmjow didn't see Ichigo's body anywhere.
***
More chapter in my pat reon / ShuviLily