Save Me from the Dark (Old)

Life Is Like A Boat

After many years, what seemed like an eternity, a new chapter was posted. A new part to the story. A continuation from the previous part. An addition to the saga of love and angst. A prolongation... ehh y'all get the point. YOU GOT YOUR WISH, DRAGON TRAINING... my bad A NEW CHAPTER! Thank you to everyone who has continued to poke and prod me to continue this story, your comments are what made this chapter possible! It's so nice to see that people care. By the way how does everyone feel about a Superhero AU?

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The morning after arriving at Urahara's Shop was a peaceful bliss. The sun just barely peaked its way through window when Ichigo awoke. A comfortable weight laid on his chest and rose and fell with its breath. A serene smile stretched across Ichigo's face as he opened his eyes to familiar auburn hair. Curled up on his chest, sleeping soundly as ever, was Orihime.

Her words from last night crept softly into his mind like a warm blanket of comfort. Ichigo held Orihime closer as she mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep. He pressed a light kiss to the top of her head as she shifted.

Orihime stretched out her arms in her sleep and murmured, "Ichigo... don't follow the blue zebra man..."

Ichigo laughed at his girlfriend's odd dreams. Girlfriend, huh? A title he'd had yet had the chance to use, it was nice.

As the sun rose higher Ichigo contemplated the developments in his life up till now. Orihime stirred on his chest, skewing his thoughts. She yawned as she blearily blinked the sleep from her eyes. To say she was surprised to find Ichigo still wrapped around her. Orihime sighed contentedly as she snuggled into her boyfriend's strong embrace.

"Mornin' ," Orihime said as she blinked her eyes blearily.

"Good morning, Hime," Ichigo replied with a smile.

The calm morning was interrupted by an abrupt series of crashes from the main room of Urahara's Shop. Ichigo carefully extracted himself from Orihime and helped her up. The couple then went to investigate the source of the crashes.

As the two entered the main room they encountered several knocked over shelves, shredded candy boxes, and magazines soaked in what appeared to be slobber.

"Don't just stand there, grab her!" Yoruichi screamed as she grasped at a little green arrancar leaping around the shop.

Ichigo acted fast, but ultimately landed himself crashed into a shelf covered in slobber as Nel clung to him. Orihime laughed as the small hollow sobbed into Ichigo's once clean shirt.

"Ugh, Nel, really, look at what you've to Hat'n Clogs' shop!" Ichigo scolded Nell as he attempted to lift her off of him.

The arrancar continued to sob and cling to the boy as he struggled against her grip.

"The little shit wanted to see you as soon as she woke up this morning, but she didn't understand that some people actually need sleep." Yoruichi hissed as she began resetting some of the shelves.

Ichigo sighed as he stood up from the rubble of the shelf that he crashed into, he was thankful that it seemed Grimmjow went back to Hueco Mundo. Nel's crying slowed as he made his way back over to where Orihime stood in the doorway.

"We better find Urahara and explain what happened yesterday," Orihime said as everything calmed down.

Ichigo nodded and followed her lead, carting Nel with him as they began their search.

About an hour and new shirt later the three found Urahara talking with Tessai in one of the back rooms. Ichigo gave a light knock on the door frame to alert the two of his presence.

"Ah, Ichigo, I was hoping to see you before you ran off with your lady again!" Urahara said cheerfully as he turned to greet his visitors, "I hope you've come to explain what happened in the Soul Society yesterday."

Ichigo scowled, "There was a raid on the Soul Society, a large force of hollows, mainly adjuchas, led by one of the Vasto Lordes that had captured me."

"I have a feeling that there's more to this than a few sore loser hollows," Urahahra guessed as Ichigo nodded in confirmation.

"There was a soul reaper, the third seat of the Stealth Squad, she also attacked me," Ichigo paused for a moment as he considered his next words, "She said something strange before she died, something about Les Prophetes."

Urahara frowned as Ichigo recounted the events of the raid. "You wouldn't happen to know how the soul reaper died, would you?" Urahara asked.

"My hollow took control for a moment to prevent me from completely hollowfying again and killed her," Ichigo stated, trying not to remember the mangled corpse of the third seat.

"Dammit, Ichigo, this is really going to cause some problems if anyone actually finds proof that you used your hollow," Urahara growled as he began to pace, "It is concerning, however, that you should mention Les Prophetes."

Ichigo scowled, "How so?"

"Les Prophetes is a cult not unlike the Quincies in power, they were also thought to have been completely eradicated, but it seems that's not the case," Urahara responded flippantly as he began to shuffle things around the room.

A moment later Urahara pulled out a notepad and began to scribble. "You see Ichigo the Les Prophetes resided within the Soul Society in the Rukongai districts, they had a habit of buying the loyalty of their district's residents through the repair and advancement of the civilization around them. They would build imitations of wherever they lived in a past life and draw power from the souls who thrived in the mimicry of the memories. The longer a member of Les Prophetes presides over a district of the Rukongai the stronger they become as they gradually absorb the spiritual pressure of the souls.

"The stolen spiritual pressure is then used to power the abilities that they develop over time due to their naturally increased abilities after death. If they are left to their own devices for too long they become a threat much like the Bounts did, and it seems that threat has come to a head."

Ichigo scowled as he walked hand in hand with Orihime and Nel, suited in a new gigai, on his shoulders. It was an ironically beautiful day to have received the kind of news Ichigo had. Orihime, sensing her boyfriend's unease, squeezed his hand to grab his attention.

"What did Urahara say about what happened in the Soul Society?" Orihime asked as they continued towards her apartment.

Ichigo tensed as he shifted his hold on Nel who had now fallen asleep on his head. "He didn't say anything to celebrate about, we have a new enemy who has decided to show their face."

"Then we'll face them like any other threat, head on and with no regrets!" Orihime stated determinedly.

Ichigo smiled ruefully at her determination and thought, I don't think this is going to be that easy, this new enemy is calculating, they know what they just started.