The Awakening [Book 2] (Bleach: Ichiruki)

VI

Arachne

I gritted my teeth together.

Damn that Soul King. He's much more stronger than I could imagine.

I needed to get out of here. I needed a decoy.

I shut my eyes, taking in a deep breath as the sound of Tatsuo's hollowfication filled my ears. I brought out my hand, kneeling to the ground, pressing my hand firm against the soil.

The second I opened my eyes, dozens upon dozens of spiders arose from the ground, surrounding me.

"Poison, my pets." I ordered.

And then it was like a tornado had passed by.

All I could see were the black spawns of my pets swiftly moving around.

I made my way to the almost fully hollowfied Tatsuo, wrapping him in an impenetrable bubble with a twirl of my finger.

"Rukia." I called out.

I turned my head, watching as she approached me before she was stopped.

A red haired shinigami, Renji, had grabbed onto her wrist, preventing her from coming forward.

Stupid leach.

With a flick of my rest he was flung to the side and into the hands of one of my black widows.

"Come here, my darling." Rukia did as I ordered, approaching me with movements like a robot and eyes as empty as the desert.

"Now." I dissolved a small part of the barrier around Tatsuo's hollowfied form.

"Give yourself to him."

I watched Rukia's eyes widened. She looked like she was struggling with the order I gave her.

I had consumed over half of her soul. How does she even manage to defy me?

"Rukia." I warned.

"Rukia!"

I rolled my eyes, turning around and throwing a force of lightning towards Ichigo, as the lightning pinned him to the ground while electrocuting him.

"Don't interfere." I spat.

"Now, Rukia. Do as I commanded."

Still nothing.

"Give yourself to Tatsuo."

And then she finally took a small step forward.

She couldn't even take another step before Tatsuo's hollowfied form grabbed a hold of Rukia, pulling her into him.

Ichigo let out a furious roar.

Hmm. I forgot he had been watching.

Tatsuo sunk his teeth into Rukia's neck.

Don't get me wrong. Tatsuo is no blood sucking beast.

He just drinks Rukia's blood to keep his hollowfied self locked away.

And poor Rukia would be left almost dead after this since Aizen, that bastard, completely hollowfied him.

I secured the barrier around them both as Tatsuo continued to feast on Rukia.

Time to go.

I placed my hand over the secure barrier the two were both in, before thinking of my palace in Hell.

And the next second I opened my eyes, here we were.

I sighed in frustration, allowing my servants to take care of Rukia and Tatsuo.