RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE...
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE...
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE...
Deafening thunder rolled along the street.
Gouged channels of sword marks kept opening in the ground.
Even the Hollows who could see were stunned.
"You're insane. You're a Soul Reaper, yet you aren't hiding from humans, and you're wrecking their city."
Tachibana Yu did not answer. He only pressed the attack, faster and harder.
The Hollow's mask twisted. It snatched a passerby and roared, "Strike again and I'll kill this human."
BOOM!
Yu's swing nearly cut the Hollow in two.
The creature shook the hostage in disbelief. "Do you Soul Reapers not care about human lives?"
Yu's face was ice. "If I don't kill you, do you know how many will die? Some sacrifice is worth it."
The Hollow's face darkened to violet. It had never seen a Soul Reaper like this. Cold as a glacier.
"..."
"Hollow pressure."
"Yu's pressure."
On a street near Kurosaki Clinic, Kuchiki Rukia's expression shifted. She snapped her head toward the surge.
"How is he clashing with something this strong?"
Kurosaki Ichigo frowned. "Yu and a Hollow? I can't feel it at all. I only hear the noise coming closer."
Figures streaked into view with the rolling booms.
In seconds, the yard ahead exploded under a savage arc of light.
A bloodied Hollow, face contorted, fled for its life.
Behind it, Yu hewed down with his eighty meter blade, turning the street into rubble.
Rukia stared, nearly slack-jawed.
"No way..."
Just these swings alone would mean she'd have to rewrite memories for who knew how many humans.
"Yu!"
Rukia gritted her teeth and shouted.
Yu saw her and Ichigo and said, voice low, "Ichigo, that Hollow is the one that killed your mother. I just saw it puppet her. Stop it."
Ichigo froze, then his eyes unfocused for an instant.
"The Hollow... that killed my mom..."
He snapped back, rage erupting as he charged, grip white-knuckled on his blade.
"It was you. It was you."
"Kurosaki Ichigo," the Hollow rasped, recognizing him. It bellowed, "Wait. Don't you want to save your mother?"
Like a marionette, it conjured the shade of Kurosaki Masaki, the woman it had devoured.
Ichigo faltered.
Yu did not.
He leveled the massive blade and chopped across the Hollow's lower body.
SWISH!
Light flashed.
A scream tore out. The Hollow toppled with a thud, both legs severed clean.
"Yu..."
Ichigo stared.
He knew if Yu had wanted, that stroke could have cut the monster in half.
Yu smiled faintly. "This one has to be killed by you."
Ichigo was silent for a few seconds, tears brightening his eyes. He nodded, hatred surging.
"Leave it to me."
"Yu. Ichigo..." Rukia blinked, at a loss.
"Come with me. I'll explain later."
Yu took her hand and turned to go.
"But the Hollow..."
She glanced at the legless beast.
Yu did not bother arguing. He scooped her up and vaulted away.
"Wait, Yu."
Landing, Rukia glared. "Why not let me watch?"
"Trust me. That is his mother's killer. It's his fight. He won't want an audience."
Rukia steadied her breath. "I understand. Then what now?"
"We?"
Yu gave her a look. "I'm going to Inoue's. As for you, who knows."
A hashmark vein throbbed on Rukia's forehead.
They reached Inoue Orihime's home.
Seeing the ruin before her, Rukia glanced sidelong at Yu. "Is Inoue's family that poor?"
Yu coughed twice.
Honestly, he had carved this place up.
Seeing him return, Orihime's spirit form brimmed with tears. She rushed into his arms.
"Yu-kun, thank goodness you're okay. I was so worried. Thank you for saving me and my brother. I thought I was going to die."
Rukia shifted, suddenly uncomfortable.
Mostly because Orihime had pressed her generous chest flat against Yu, making two round pancakes. It pricked a tiny thread of inferiority in her.
Yu ruffled Orihime's hair. "It's alright. You're safe now."
Orihime nodded, eyes wet.
Her brother stepped up and bowed his head. "Yu, thank you. If you hadn't come, I don't know what would have happened."
Yu smiled at him. "We're classmates. Protecting her is only right."
Her brother nodded, then looked at Orihime with reluctant warmth. "Orihime, I won't be by your side anymore. Take care of yourself. Don't get hurt."
She hugged him tight, voice quavering. "Brother, are you leaving?"
He nodded and gently stroked her hair. "I stayed because I worried you'd be lonely. Now you have friends, and someone you like. I can rest easy."
He glanced at Yu again. "Yu-kun, I entrust Orihime to you. Treat her well. Don't let her be wronged."
Yu dipped his head.
Her brother looked around at the wreckage and managed a smile. "Yu-kun, my home is like this now. Orihime can't stay here. Could she lodge with you for a while?"
Yu thought it over and agreed.
He was a Soul Reaper now. No need to keep boarding at Kurosaki Clinic. His place was large, and two more people would be no trouble.