The world was sideways. Seriously. I'm not making this up. I awoke to find myself looking up at a blue sky; that was normal since I had done so outside behind my house. A cloud passed overhead, normal. Looking to the right, then the left there was a building under my back, not normal. I was well known for being able to concentrate spiritual pressure to my feet and walk along any surface like Soul Reapers. Wiggling my fingers and wondering how much of a spectacle I was making to those on the ground below me, the thought that I had accidentally slept walked again amused me.
Sighing heavily I sat up... and saw nothing below.
Confusion. That was what went through my mind, looking around the area. I wasn't using any pressure, which meant that I was in fact on the ground. So the building sides could be the ground, and the vertical moving sky was empty space.... interesting. This was some altered reality.
Searching for someone, I felt Ichigo's spiritual pressure right away, meaning he was around. But there was someone else here, one that felt similar, but different at the same time.
Walking didn't get me anywhere. The buildings either dipped low forcing me to jump down, or rocketed into the air, and I had to walk up the sides. Something was following me like a shadow, keeping its distance. After twenty minutes it started to get annoying, the thing having yet to reveal itself.
"You can come out! I know you're following me."
A crazed chuckle filled the air, echoing in the space. Turning around my eyes landed on a white clad person. It looked like a Hollow... but then why did it look like Ichigo. "Where the hell am I?"
"You're in King's world, or also known as My World," it answered, voice sounding off.
"This isn't real."
"This place is as real as I am."
"How did I end up here?"
"How should I know? One moment I'm alone and the next someone else has invaded my space."
"Sorry to intrude."
"You're an improvement. I've only had one other visitor before, and let me tell you I could do without them."
"Who?"
"Ichigo."
I looked him over again. "Are you him? An alter ego?"
He grinned sadistically. "I'm better than him."
"Hollow," was the first thing I could think of. The never changing grin was what confirmed it. "How do I get out?"
"I don't even think you can leave."
Questions. There were so many questions on how to leave and get back to my own world, if it was safe to be in here with this Hollow, and what I could use to defend myself if he chose to attack. "What'cha thinking about, hmm?"
"Nothing that concerns you."
"Trying to escape?"
"It's crossed my mind."
"Why don't you stay a while?"
"Sorry, but I have a life on the outside. And what if a Hollow attacked me when I was in this state?" He didn't answer. "Exactly." Something crossed my mind. "If this is a dream or altered reality... there's one way that always works when getting out." I couldn't help the small smirk at the thought, the Hollow's eyes narrowing.
"What are you thinking about, girl?"
"Nothing-"
"You're lying."
"Of course I am."
I slowly began to step backwards, the young man following my every step. "So what is that thing that's going to get you out of here, hmm?"
"I'm not telling you."
"Why not?"
"Because you could stop me."
"Why do you think that?"
"Because Hollows' eat people's souls. What's to say you're not trying to eat mine?"
He grinned widely. "That didn't cross my mind, but now that you've said that..." My heel touched the edge of the building. "I just might take a bite to see how you taste." He couldn't restrain the purple-bluish tongue from coming out and licking his lips. The hunger was clear in his eyes.
"What's you're name?" I quickly asked, trying to distract him.
"Hichigo Shiro-!" In that instant I stepped back and fell from the building. "Hey!" his voice yelled, head peeking over the edge.
The wind from the fall blew my hair around, obscuring my vision, but I was sure of the shocked look on the Hollow's face. I smirked and snickered before yelling up, "My name is Hana! Nice to meet you!"
"You're crazy, you know that?" he yelled after me. "You'll fall forever if you don't stop!"
"Wait for it-!"
The altered world disappeared from my vision and I was sucked back up into my own body. I shot up from the ground, breathing heavy and trying to stop things from spinning. Fact. Falling, receiving a rush, the possibility of dying, or being killed in a dream always wakes you up. "See you later, Hichigo," I muttered.
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"Hana, run!" Ichigo yelled.
"What do you think I'm doing?" I snapped back, carrying myself up a lamppost before flipping over the on coming Hollow. It crashed into the object. Landing on the ground, the onslaught of Hollows continued, the numbers growing.
"Hana, get out of here!" Renji ordered, blocking a monster from ripping me in half. "There's too many!"
A clearing was made and I ran for it, sliding between the legs of a Hollow before sprinting off down the street. My feet hit the side of a building, running along it. Something slammed to the glass, spraying shards everywhere. A quick look over a shoulder revealed that one of the Hollows had followed after me.
"Shit!"
There was no way I could fight one myself, at least at this size. My only hope was to head back towards the group so they could get rid of it. Lunging across the street, I scrambled up to the roof. It roared loudly, claws slashing everywhere. Three more roofs. Two. One. "Ichi-!"
It's hand came up from under me, launching my body into the air. Lucky for me it wasn't the claws but the back of the hand that made contact. "Hana!" Ikkaku yelled.
Even though I could focus spiritual pressure and walk on anything there was a flaw to all of this. I couldn't walk on air. It wasn't a physical thing. It had no matter, no real form. So at this moment, I couldn't do anything except hope that someone would catch me before I hit the ground.
A sadistic laugh ripped through the air, something grabbing me around the waist. The world spun, staining itself red with blood. When everything finally stopped everything began coming back into focus. My savor set me on my feet, but I wasn't trusting balance just yet so clung onto them. I could hear their heartbeat, and a deep chuckle, meaning it was a boy, though the flat chest was a dead give away too. "Don't wanna let go of me just yet?"
"Not till the feeling of falling over goes away," I answered, taking deep breaths.
"Funny, you couldn't wait to get away from me the last time."
Last... Time...?
Looking up I came face-to-face with, "Hichigo?" I stumbled back in surprise, wobbling on my feet. "What are you-? How did you-?" We were nowhere near the fight, in a quiet area somewhere in Karakura.
He chuckled, hands stuffing into the pockets. "It tends to happen when King slips up."
"Slips up?"
"He forgets to keep me away or is in need to extra power or doubts himself which is where I come in. Though you should be thanking him, otherwise no one would've reached you in time."
"Then, thanks I think..."
We shared the silence, looking at each other. "Not trying to run this time?"
"Well I am in my world, so I guess I don't feel as on edge."
"You shouldn't let your guard down around me."
"Don't worry, I haven't."
A smirk came to his lips. "So, what are you gonna pay me?"
"Pay you?" I questioned, cocking a brow.
"Yeah, after all, I did just save your life."
"Er, but, well..." The smirk widened, knowing he caught me. I sighed heavily, arms crossing. "Fine, I guess I do owe you. What do you want?"
"Hmm, does that mean I can have whatever I like?"
There was a mischievous look in his eyes now. "Um, I guess. Depends on what you want exactly." He seemed to give this a lot of thought. "If you need to think about it you can wait till later-"
Hichigo was suddenly in front of me, fingers clutching my chin hard enough so I couldn't escape. "No, I think I will collect now." His lips contacted with mine roughly, shock running through my body, eyes going wide. Pulling away, I was still too stunned to move. The Hollow chuckled in amusement. "Now we're even. For saving you, and the last time when you caught me off guard." I blinked, remembering jumping off the building in his world. "You gonna say something?"
"That was, er, unexpected."
Another chuckle. "I like you Hana. You're different." His eye twitched. "Don't change, got that?" I nodded. "Don't go getting yourself into trouble either, or I'll be forced to break out more." The two of us smirked at each other, liking the possibility. "That is, unless you pay me."
I laughed at the comment as Hichigo slowly slipped away, only to be replaced by Ichigo. He stumbled, clutching his head to regain his surroundings. "Hana? What the-? How did we-?" Ichigo's eyes widened. "You're not hurt are you?"
"I'm fine."
"You're covered in blood!"
"It's not mine," I answered, looking at the stains on my clothing from when Hichigo ripped through the horde.
"Did you...?"
"I know about him."
He sighed heavily. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Hichigo protected me." A simple nod was my answer. "We should find the others. The fight is over."
"Hana?" I turned back to look at my friend. "You've caught my Hollow's interest. That's dangerous to mess with."
There was a flash of yellow in his eyes, meaning Hichigo was watching our conversation intently. A smile spread across my lips. "Yes, I know, but you only live once."
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