Lamenting Enchantment (A Bleach/Ulquihime fic)

Chapter 29

This is not my story! All credits go to The. Teal. Rose. on Fanfiction.net. This story belongs solely to the author.
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Chapter 29: Lingering Darkness
Chapter XXIX

Lingering Darkness

"A star falls from the sky and into your hands. Then it seeps through your veins and swims inside your blood and becomes every part of you. And then you have to put it back into the sky. And it's the most painful thing you'll ever have to do and that you've ever done."

-C. JoyBell C.

Restrained by Nnoitra's subordinate, Inoue now stood with her arms held firmly behind her back and a rough arm holding her from around the shoulders. She watched as Ichigo dodged attack after attack, never receiving even a brief window in which to counter the onslaught.

"Kurosaki-kun!" she shouted, eyes wide and face anxious as she watched him receive a blow from the scythe across his back, which sent him crashing into the waiting sand. She looked to Nnoitra imploringly, "stop this! Kurosaki-kun's hurt!"

"Shut-up, you dumb bitch!" the fifth Espada shouted as he turned to look at her, irritation overtaking his features. "Who cares if he's hurt?" His voice lowered, "this's a fight." He looked to Ichigo, "of course it ain't fair!"

It's no use, Inoue realized with a sinking feeling. The Espada before her was not like Ulquiorra or even Grimmjow, who, though for different reasons, would not fight an opponent who wasn't at maximum capability.

"Battles are like monsters that give birth to unfairness and intolerance," Nnoitra continued as he neared Ichigo, who was struggling to stand. "I hate that guy. I can beat him! I'll make him pay! You invent reasons to turn a person into an enemy, and the moment you do, the battle begins."

What reason did Ulquiorra-kun have for turning Kurosaki-kun into an enemy? Inoue wondered as her eyes continued to watch Ichigo as he simply knelt before his looming opponent.

"You thought you could go all-out in the middle of the enemy's base and not have anyone come after you?" Nnoitra glared, "That's a real bad joke, Shinigami!"

A brief moment of silence fell, in which neither movement or expression filled. Nnoitra then suddenly grinned, "Get up. I watched your whole fight with Grimmjow. I know all your tricks!"

Unsteadily, Ichigo stood, sword grasped desperately in his hands, and expression trying to grasp at any confidence he still had. He relentlessly panted, as the sweat poured from his skin and through his attire, the sun above beating down mercilessly, not even allowing for the faintest semblance of comfort.

"Kurosaki-kun," Inoue softly spoke as she observed him.

Nnoitra then chuckled, which was followed by an attack attempt from Ichigo as he jumped and rushed toward the Espada.

"Too slow," Nnoitra chastised as he thrust his scythe toward the Shinigami. Ichigo leaned and dodged this however, which was followed by a look of surprise from his adversary.

Nnoitra reached up and stopped the Zanpakuto as it was mere inches from his face, then running his hand down the blade and halting just above the hilt. "What happened?" he sneered, "I guess this thing only looks sharp." He lifted his head and grinned, "I shouldn't have even bothered dodging!" He reached down and smacked his head into Ichigo's which sent the latter falling back onto the sand.