Save Me from the Dark (Old)

Void Heart

So long time no see! But man it's great to update! Dam writer's block kills. That and extensive and unnecessary amounts of homework for U.S. History. But whatever this week I'm celebrating one full year on Wattpad!!!! Gods it's hard to believe. So I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Phoenix who encouraged me to continue writing and to everyone who's stuck with me this long, especially now that I've hit over 100 votes on Save Me From the Dark!! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Song: Scars by: Boy Epic

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Screams. Fire. Chaos. Pure confusion. The attack was so sudden. No warning. Ichigo seemed to move on impulse, grabbing Orihime who stood by the grand doors and flash stepping off to a safer area. The assailants had already gotten deep into the walls of the Seireitei. The army seemed to be mainly hollows, but in the discord it was impossible to tell . As Ichigo landed on a rooftop a fair distance from the fighting. Orihime pried herself from Ichigo's firm grip as she furiously questioned, "Ichigo what are you doing? We have to help them!" Ichigo was taken aback, he was quickly consumed with concern, "I just don't want to risk you getting hurt." Orihime's gaze was sharp, "You're not doing this again, going off alone and leaving me to wonder what's become of you," Ichigo's face contorted into one of shock, "Every time you go off to fight something and leave me behind, I worry, I worry about you and your tendency to sacrifice for others. When you died in Hueco Mundo I swore to myself that I wouldn't leave you to fight alone again," Orihime's voice became strained as tears began to pour down her face, "Then when you were captured by those Vasto Lorde I was devastated, I didn't know if we would be able to get you back. When I found you I wanted to break down then and there, but I told myself I had to be strong, be strong and just maybe we'd make it out alive. Then those horrible Vasto Lorde came and you transformed and I didn't know what to do, despite that I'm glad that you survived and made it to this point. I may have been weak then, and even now I may get in the way, but I don't want to be useless either and not at least try to help!" Her strong voice declared her rawest emotions. Ichigo smiled, and as he softly pulled her into a warm hug said, "If you want to help I won't stop you, once you have your mind set to something there's no changing it. So, together?" Orihime smiled through her fading tears, "Till the end."

     Ichigo's zanpakto clashed with the boney shell of a hollow, slicing clean through. A screeching howl was heard from behind him as a hollow attempted to ambush him. Ichigo spun around and brought Zangetsu up to block only to see an orange shield preventing the hollow from landing its attack. Ichigo smiled as Orihime came to stand beside him. Ahead laid soul reapers and hollows of various classes clashing against each other. Several buildings were caught in a hungry blaze that devoured everything it touched. Ichigo gazed grimly down in the landscape of blood and gore. "I guess we'll never get off this train of war." Ichigo stated solemnly. "Maybe one day it'll calm down, but now we need to help the Soul Society." Orihime broke into Ichigo's pessimistic thoughts strongly. Ichigo looked down at her fondly, finding the energy to give her a sloppy smirk of confidence. Ichigo readied Zangetsu as he charged into a swarm of hollows surrounding the Squad 4 barracks. Slashing and stabbing at any hollow that got close to him he steadily tore down the numbers that threatened the walls of the healing squad. "Orihime go see if you can help out Unohana!" Ichigo roared over the clashing of metal. "Will you be alright without me?" Orihime yelled back with concern. "I got this, the hollows aren't that strong!" Ichigo loudly replied as another wave of hollows struck at him. Orihime hesitantly turned to enter the Squad 4 barracks, her eyes lingered on Ichigo's figure in the midst of the storm of hollows.

   Everything was a blur as Ichigo hacked his way through the army of hollows to its source. The unmistakable crack of a spiked whip and a cold, condescending laugh shattered the air. Anger bubbled in the pit of Ichigo's stomach fueling him toward the inevitable. "Ichigo, how nice of you to finally join my little party. I hope you enjoyed its games!" Her voice was strained, it didn't truly seem to be filled with its usual sadistic glee. Before him stood Shikina, one of the Vasto Lordes that had captured and tormented him in Hueco Mundo. Her cat-like mask no longer covered her face the way a normal hollow's did. Now it was an arrancar's mask, most had broken off leaving only the left ear and lower jaw bone on her face. Her brilliant red eyes glistened with hatred for everything she saw. Ichigo readied his stance and prepared for Shikina to make the first move. He eyed her movements carefully, looking for any sign of hostility toward him. "I'm not here to fight you Ichigo." Shikina growled. Ichigo's stance didn't falter, he then hesitantly questioned, "Why are you here then?" "To put an end to this pointless uprising. Most of these hollows are adjuchas that your friends just so happened to rile up on their way to rescue you." Shikina snapped, gesturing to the hollows that bore whip lashes and the bodies of some disintegrating. Ichigo glanced around taking in the hollows' destruction. "It can't be only hollows here, the fire and the overall damage is too much for a horde of hollows to cause, even if they are adjuchas." Ichigo stated firmly, aggressive doubt lined his voice. "You're right, it's not only hollows here." A new voice broke into the discussion. Shikina drew in a sharp breath as a zanpakto slid through her heart with a sickeningly loud shink. Ichigo stared in shock as the soul reaper that stood behind Shikina came into view as the hollow's body decayed into black particles that drifted away into nonexistence. "I'm Iko Shuione, third seat of the stealth force, and your demise, hollow!" The soul reaper declared proudly. "Raise the Dead, Shi No Chiheisen!" Iko called as she slid a hand down her blade, awakening it. A loud groan came from the earth as it seemed to split in two. Skeletal talons gripped the edges of the chasm as they heaved the body of an ancient samurai that seemed to have partially hollowfied. Ichigo glowered at the third seat as he clasped his hand on his forearm and bellowed, "Ban-Kai!" Ichigo's black and red energy bursted and swirled around him as the released energy infused itself with his physical form. He slashed his zanpakto through his reiatsu, separating and calming the energy. "Tensa Zangetsu." He said deadpan. Iko shifted uncomfortably at the display of power, but prepared herself for an attack as her warrior took her side. Ichigo was quick in landing his first strike, not sparing any mercy on his opponent that stood before him. Together Iko and her samurai blocked the assault. Ichigo slashed, parried, blocked, and evaded throughout the fight. "I won't allow you to live any longer hollow!" Iko spat bitterly through exchanging blows. "What the hell makes you think I'm a hollow?" Ichigo roared in response, knock her sword up and out of the way for a strike on her arm. Iko glared as she leapt back clutching her arm. The samurai came in and took over her place in the fight, only more skilled. However not skilled enough. As Iko watched as her samurai being beaten while healing her arm with her kido she slammed her blade into the ground and chanted, "Rise, Soradearu!" At this a hellish beast rose from another fissure in the earth. It bared its massive fangs and let loose a resonating screech. It rose to its back talons as Ichigo hacked down the skeletal warrior and charged forward. Ichigo leapt away from its charge only to be caught by its sickeningly long talons. They left a decent gash in his left leg as he raised his sword, readying a Getsuga. The wave of reiatsu hit the beast square in the chest splitting it in two. Ichigo swiftly spun around to block Iko's attempted sneak attack. "It seems you have no control over yourself hollow." Iko hissed. Ichigo stopped for a moment, and leapt back from the fight. Then he felt it. The emptiness was creeping into him just as it had done before.

The fourth squad barracks were complete chaos. Injured soul reapers were steadily flowing into the infirmary, filling every inch of floor space available. Orihime bustled around the base offering her much needed help where she could. "Ms.Inoue over here, two soul reapers in critical conditions!" A random fourth squad member called. Orihime immediately made her way to the two people in need. Moments later they were safe and healing under her Santen Kisshun. The warm, orange dome had saved many lives today, and for that everyone was grateful. Soon the two were out of critical condition and able to be treated by lower officers of the fourth squad. Orihime sighed. She made Ichigo promise he wouldn't get himself killed. But if she was honest with herself she couldn't help but worry he'd hold to the promise. It scared her. He'd already died twice to protect her, and she didn't want it to happen again. She just wanted to take him and hide him away from the problems of the twisted reality of the soul reapers and their affairs. She sat by herself near the doors to the barrack as she waited for someone to need her again. It was only moments later that she felt a twinge in her left leg. It was then followed by searing pain that vanished as quickly as it came, but what replaced it worried Orihime. It was emptiness. Like the center of her being was a void, almost as if she had no heart.