~Cold
but I'm Still Here~
A
Bleach fanfic
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Ember is an ordinary girl, leading an ordinary life. But it was boring, lacking, and downright depressing. Her only high points were when she was watching anime, listening to music, and sleeping-all of which sent her to a better place. She longed for something to happen that would turn her life upside-down, anything to bring her out of her lonely, miserable shell, she longed for adventure. She never thought anything would happen, until one day, a mysterious stranger transferred to her school and turned her life out-of-whack. Yet for some reason, this mysterious stranger was highly reminiscent of her favourite anime character….
~CHAPTER SIXTEEN~
"GO PLAY WITH KEN CHAN!! I want to see him happy!!!" She cried out gleefully, pushing me firmly in the process. I screamed with terror as I toppled over the edge, unable to prevent myself from falling. If the fall wasn't going to kill me, Zaraki Kenpachi would finish the job.
(It's time forrr…THIRD PERSON!!!!)
*THUD*
Ember hit the ground with a crash and a moan of pain. She slowly sat up, rubbing her head and looking around. Her eyes widened as she saw Ichigo lying a bit away, in a puddle of blood.
"WHOA SHIT NOT GOOD" she said, jumping up immediately. She whipped her head around looking for Kenpachi…when his outstanding reiatsu slapped her in the face. She froze, terrified. No way she could beat this guy. No effing way.
"What's this? Another ryoka…but not just any ryoka. Ember Mattaya, the rogue shinigami." oh fiddlesticks.
"Eheh…" She nervously turned to face…err…look up to Kenpachi, eleventh squad captain. She paled considerably, and started backing up, her hands out in front of her.
"Ohh…hehe…Kenpachi…hi. I'd love to stay and chat…but I think I'd rather grab Ichigo and get outta here." Kenpachi smirked and started slowly walking towards her.
"Let's just leave Ichigo riggghhht there for now. Fight Me" He hissed, with a sinister smirk. Running was futile. Fighting was useless…what a crappy situation to get into. Ember desperately thought back to all the Bleach she watched….
'Come on, COME ON! There's a loophole here somewhere…Ichigo couldn't have lost! Zangetsu-' She froze before smiling and sighing in relief. Ichigo still must be in his inner world, fighting the hollow side of him to learn how to control Zangetsu better. Alrighty then.
'I just need to hold him off until Ichigo gets up. Then he can take care of Zaraki, and we'll both be safe.' She slowly unsheathed her Zanpaktou from her back, and drew it out in front of her.
"Alright Kenpachi…Let's go." Still not wanting to take him on forever, she started wildly flash-stepping all over the place to *hopefully* confuse him.
…She found out the hard way, that was not the case as he shoulder started gushing blood.
Ember fell to the ground gasping, eyes shaking in fear, as she timidly rose a hand to her freshly cut shoulder.
"Idiot. I can't believe you managed to escape Yamamoto and the others." Kenpachi exclaimed boredly, slinging his sword over his shoulder. Flinching in pain, Ember slowly got back up.
"…You're right, that was stupid of me…" She extended her sword out in front of her.
"…But I won't make any more mistakes, FLY! Koorihono Fumetsu!" The clear blade erupted into flame, and the hilt frosted over with ice. Kenpachi observed the change with a hint of satisfaction.
"Well isn't that interesting? A double element sword…opposite elements too. Maybe this will be a fight worth my time." Ember sneered and jumped up, holding her sword high above her head, before slashing down on Kenpachi's shoulder. He didn't move to avoid the hit, and took it with a smirk on his face. His shoulder started bleeding profusely, imitating what Ember's did when he cut it.
Face filled with dark excitement and joy, Kenpachi let out a fierce roar, before slashing his own sword towards Ember. Reacting just in time, she managed to block with her own zanpaktou before it cut her.
They continued trying to slice each other, both managing to avoid or block it just in time. Kenpachi seemed to be getting even more and more elated.
'Damn…I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up…Ichigo, get up already!!!' Distracted for a milisecond, it was too late by the time Ember heard the bells. A long cut in her back, she coughed, spurting out blood, and fell to her stomach, dropping her zanpaktou on the way down. Released from her grip, Koorihono Fumetsu extinguished to be left looking like a glass sword.
Ember could feel the blood seeping down her back, she couldn't go on.
'Did I really come…this far…to…die?' her eyes started to feel unnaturally heavy, and she could soon, no longer control her consciousness. Before her eyes flickered closed however, she saw an orange haired blob appear in front of her. Smiling to herself, she gave into the darkness that had been threatening to overtake her.
'…Kick his ass, Ichigo'
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Ember slowly blinked open her eyes. "Uggghhh…what happened?" she mumbled, sitting up shakily. She immediately fell back down, coughing, feeling a sharp pain in her back. Her eyes opened with realization as she remembered why she was unconscious.
"SHIT! Ichigo!" Ember struggled to get back up, but failed miserably.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of him." Ember's eyes opened in shock, and turned her head to see…
"Yoruichi!" She exclaimed in relief. The cat smiled fondly and nodded.
"Don't over-exert yourself. You've lost a lot of blood as well, and don't worry about Ichigo. He won, and he'll be fine." With this information, Ember sighed and nodded, already slipping back into the realms of unconsciousness.
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"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PUT ON SOME FREAKING PANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ember woke with a start at these words, jumping up and holding her fists out ready for action.
"WHERE'S DAH FIRE!?!?!?!" She said loudly, whipping her head around. It took her a second to realize where she was. Ichigo was choking back laughter at her abrupt awakening.
"Shut up…" she muttered, sitting back down, crossing her arms over her chest. She then realized Yoruichi's presence.
"Oh! Yoruichi! You saved us!" She said, ignoring the fact that Yoruichi was in human form. Ichigo raised an eyebrow, but Yoruichi simply nodded.
"Aye, I did." She said simply. Ichigo observed her curiously.
"Wait a second…you can transform into a cat without batting an eye. You have healing powers, and now you have this?" he said, indicating the weird wand-like thing that allowed her to fly.
"Yoruichi…who are you?" Ember boredly looked away, having already made her way through the entire Bleach series…not that they needed to know that. Before Yoruichi could answer however, a huge wave of reiatsu hit the three of them. Ember didn't recognize the reiatsu, but she did remember this part in the anime…
"It's him! I told Hanatarou and Ganju to go towards the tower! Shit, I have to save him!"
"Ichigo, wait!" Yoruichi started. Ember remained silent, knowing that Ichigo had to go. After all, it was in the plot for the series…
Ichigo grabbed the weird, flying wand thing and focused some reiatsu into it. "Fly!" he proclaimed. The weird, wand thing expanded into a wing, and flew him out the door and into the sky.
"That idiot…" Yoruichi mumbled, frowning. She turned to Ember.
"That spiritual energy belings to Kuchiki Byakuya…but somehow, I think you already knew that…Anyways, I'd love to tell you to stay…"
"But there's no way I'd go along with that!" Ember said, jumping to her feet. She cringed a bit, as her back was still wounded, but she shook it off, and grabbed her zanpaktou, which she spotted on the ground close to where she was previously lying.
Yoruichi sighed and tapped her foot, "hurry up kid, we haven't got all day."
Ember nodded and strapped her sword on her back, shunpo'ing out of the cave.
"Come onnnnn Yoruichi-sama, we haven't got all day!" She mocked. Yoruichi smirked, and took off after her, heading towards the tower.
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Toushiro burst into his office, his reiatsu preceding him. "MATSUMOTO!" He barked, looking around for his lazy lieutenant. Matsumoto's head perked up from the couch.
"Ah, captain, you're back!"
"WHAT ARE YOU LAYING AROUND FOR?!?!!? A CAPTAIN HAS BEEN KILLED AND THERE ARE SIX RYOKA RUNNING AROUND SOMEWHERE IN THE VILLAGE!!!" Toushiro snapped at the top of his lungs.
Matsumoto immediately jumped off the couch and ran over to her captain. As much as she would normally argue jokingly, she could tense Toushiro's bad mood, and decided it was best to do whatever he said.
"What's wrong, captain? Did something happen?" She asked dutifully.
Toushiro frowned and sighed, crossing his arms. "…That…That girl, Mattaya. She came back with the Ryoka." Matsumoto's eyes widened in shock, as she took a moment to comprehend what her captain had just said.
"Y-you mean…" She froze for a second before jovially leaping into the air in happiness.
"Ember-chan is ALIVE!!!! And she's here it seireitei!!!!! Ohhhh boy, I hope I can see her!!! Wait, how did you find out, Taichou?"
Toushiro sighed again, "I…bumped into her on my way back from squad one's barracks." he admitted quietly. Matsumoto sobered up immediately, and looked down at her feet.
"Hmm…I see. So…this time she really is the enemy?"
' Remember, keep your friends close. Keep your enemies closer. You may have no idea who your enemies are'
Toushiro remained silent for a second, mulling this thought over.
"..You know, I'm not so sure anymore."
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Yoruichi and Ember could sense ichigo's reiatsu.
"Darn it…Knowing that idiot, he probably did something really stupid" Ember muttered under her breath. Yoruichi gave no response, just sighing and shaking her head. AS they neared the tower and bridge, they could see what was happening. Both of their eyes widened in surprise.
"You take left, I'll take right" Yoruichi said seriously. Ember nodded, and they flashed off in opposite directions.
"..Scatter, senbon sakura" as Byakuya's sword began to vanish, a single white ribbon wrapped around it, keeping it in one piece. At the same time, a blade with an icy feel was pushed up against Byakuya's neck.
Everyone, except Ukitake, was focused on Yoruichi's sudden appearance.
"Yoruichi…It's been a long time. You've been in hiding for over a hundred years. I thought you dead." Byakuya said quietly.
"Byakuya Kuchiki" Yoruichi said, a slight smirk on her face.
"Now…who is it behind me holding a blade to my neck, obviously under your lead Yoruichi?" Byakuya asked calmly.
"Ember Mattaya, renegade shinigami, she's the one who escaped seiretei a while back." Ukitake answered firmly.
Ember smirked and pressed the blade up against Byakuya's neck harder.
"Seems I've become rather popular. I'm not sure if I should be honoured or afraid. Hope there's no hard feelings about that little trick I played, Ukitake…" Ember said, a smile working its way onto her face.
Ukitake frowned and ignored her question.
"Listen, Yoruichi, Ember. I appreciate you coming to save me and all, but I'm going to ask you to move so I can beat him." Ember rolled her eyes while Yoruichi released Byakuya's blade, and flashed over to Ichigo, appearingly punching him in the stomach.
"A poison to knock him unconscious in a desperate attempt to save him. Just like you, Yoruichi" Byakuya said tonelessly. Ichigo was slumped over Yoruichi's shoulder.
"Ember...let him go." She commanded clearly. Slightly surprised, Ember drew her sword away from Byakuya and flashed beside Yoruichi.
Ember glanced around, and caught sight of Ganju. Her breath caught in her throat, and she gasped at his condition.
"G-Ganju!" she said hoarsely, staring at him with wide eyes. Hanatarou and Rukia observed Ember with confusion, not having met her before.
"A powerful anaesthetic forced into his body...what do you plan to do with the boy, Yoruichi?" Ukitake asked.
"It's hopeless. Neither of you will escape from here." Byakuya said, creasing his brow. Ember let out a scoff, while Yoruichi rolled her eyes.
"Well, look who's acting like such a big shot now. And I don't think you've ever once beaten me in a game of tag, have you?"
"...Shall we give it another try?" Yoruichi and Byakuya moved at the same time. Ember was astounded at their speed. She was fast herself...but she was nothing compared to them.
They avoided each other flawlessly, until...Byakuya suddenly out-flashed Yoruichi and cut her front.
"Did you really think you could beat me, with a flash step so slow?" Yoruichi disappeared, and flashed behind him.
"Did you really think you could capture me with a flash step so predictable?" She said with a smirk. She flashed on to the top of another building, still hauling Ichigo over her shoulder.
"Three days. In three days, I will make this boy stronger that you." She announced boldly. Ember smirked and flashed up beside her, much to the others' surprise.
Yoruichi glanced at Ember before disappearing in another flash. Ember looked down at everyone, thinking hard if she needed to stay or not.
Byakuya left soon after, paying little to no mind of Ember. In fact, they all ignored her. Ukitake summoned a medical squad, while Rukia was brought back into the tower.
There was a sudden blast of spiritual pressure, and Ember knew there was a presence behind her.
"You're not the enemy here." Ukitake said plainly. Ember just stared straight ahead.
"I'm aware of that." She said, tensing up. Was this a trick?
"...Yet, you do know something about the real enemy."
"In fact, I do."
"...And you won't tell me." Ember sighed and turned ever so slightly.
"...No. But I will give you the same advice I gave Toushiro. Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer. You may have no idea who your enemies are."
Ember lost track of Yoruichi's reiatsu and sighed. She was on her own again. She jumped down from the building, and landed beside Ganju frowning. Hanatarou was also beside Ganju. He slipped a few curious glances at her, but she kept her eyes on Ganju.
...Kukaku was going to kill her if Ganju didn't get healed fully.
A/N:
...that's right...I'm back. XD
AND...I've re-watched the soul society arc, so it's going to start being more accurate :D
Anyways...I really do apologize for the long gap between chapters. My bad *shot*.
LUCKILY...I should be able to update...soon...hopefully. I started yet another story, yet I'm going to try and make this one take priority. In case you're interested, the story is called 'Tears of Tragedy', and it's a Naruto fanfic. *shameless plug*
Also, I'm sure you've noticed my new writing style. Which do you like better, third person, or multiple people's POVs?
Let me know ^_^
Anyways...I want to give a big thank you to everyone who waited patiently for this chapter, as well as everyone who left a review/ added to favourites/ subscribed:
Lovia7, hvit dragon, Death-Key, crystalstar83, ironjaw, Delphine Pryde, narukaze, frozen ice cream, mewzoe, dragonmaiden50, MillieEllie, The time alchemist, IMAGINTIVE, darknekogirl16, Seika Komoriuta, kongsi222, Yuki Rein, Bloody Wynter, SnOw-CoVeReD-RoSe, peterlover01, steel-alchemist, Raine20oo, demon of my heart and mind, XcrazyXookamiX, Deenami-Nicole-Sciashi, Vampire Girl for LIFE, Keimei-chan, HitsugayaDream
O.O Dang that's a lot of people...Thank youuuuu soooooo muchhhh!!!!! *glomps each and every one of you* XD
Anyways...I know this chapter wasn't especially long...but I hope you like it all the same. That you SO much for reading, and please review! :3
Now...because this is the first real update in nearly 2 months, I figure...it's time for a huge announcement.
Here are some story stats.
Reviews: 135
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Hits: 4,609
Oh. Em. Gee.
THANKYOU SOOOO EFFING MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am totally dying of happiness over this!!!!!!!!! *cries tears of joy*
Thank you to everyone who has ever even clicked on my story, I'll try to update as soon as I can.
~ember-chan