Hey guys and gals, Baelparagon coming at you with chapter 2 of Dark Crusade. Thank you all for the reviews from chapter 1 it's good to feel the love coming from the readers. Anyways I hope you are all enjoying the story and hopefully with this one the plot will thicken. Rated T for now, may change later.
Dimension Unknown
For what felt like hours Hanataro sat on the ground weeping, having lost someone closer to him than any best friend. He hadn't ever carried Hisagomaru around that much (partly to ward off being seen as a challenger by his bullies but also because it slowed him down from running) but now he found himself regretting it greatly. If he had it with him maybe he could have healed himself, and then he wouldn't be in this position.
"Doubt will not serve you here young shinigami. Time grows short and you have a decision to make." Hanataro looked around for the voice, looking for where the voice was coming from, but there was no one in sight. "Umm hello, is someone there? If you are I can't see you."
From the corner of his eye he saw something shift, causing him to look towards the area where the light was glowing. Standing up he began making his way towards the light taking care not to stumble. Normally he did this anyway but something about the darkness surrounding him made him feel on edge.
He couldn't prove it, but for some reason he felt like he was being watched from everywhere.
Just as he took his first step into the light he felt something growl behind him. He whirled around and saw a figure leaping at him, it's white skin and black/gold eyes inches from his face before he felt something pull him away, his eyesight suddenly being blinded.
He began struggling against what was holding him, trying futilely to break free. Just as he felt himself begin to break free a hand fell on his shoulder.
That simple touch seemed to drain him of his energy , and instilled him with a cold feeling. His body fell limp at the sensation, barely able to feel himself being moved. "Apologies young one, I didn't wish our conversation to be interrupted, just give me a moment child."
Feeling himself being seated a slight electric feeling washed over his skin as feeling began to return to his limbs. The silence surrounding him was replaced by the sound of music, a tune both lilting and yet distorting. Finally his sight and smell returned to him.
Where he had been walking towards what appeared to be a cavern with a glowing ball of light, the scene had been replaced with what appeared to be an old sushi restaurant. Men and women were walking around in old clothing from the 1940's, while waiters were walking around serving them.
"Excuse me sir, umm hello sir can you please stop, umm is anybody listening?" He kept asking for people to talk to him, but none of them seemed to hear him. Finally one young waitresses walked over to his table. "Hey how are you doing today?"
Hanataro smiled, at last someone who noticed him! "Oh thanks miss, I was worried for a second there people couldn't...EHHH?" He spoke to her reaching out to her arm, only to stop in midsentence as his arm passed through her.
As the waitress walked away as if an appendage hadn't just weaved through her body, a voice cleared itself across the table. Hanataro turned his head to see a pale bald man sitting across from him, tattoos moving across his body.
"Yes that can be disconcerting, but have no fear, you are safe here for now. You will not pass into the rebirth cycle while in this realm." Hanataro looked at the figure with trepidation, shaking slightly in his chest. "Wh-What is this place? And w-who are y-you?"
The figure sat back, picking up a glass of water from the table and taking a sip from it. Hanataro tried to do the same, only for his arm to phase through the object again. Once the being finished drinking he placed the drink down as if nothing happened.
"This is ...a memory, these people, this restaurant are all remnants of another time. As to who I am, I think deep down you know." Hanataro looked around at the people, watching them as they chatted and ate with each other happily 'Are you o-one of these people?"
The man shakes his head in dismissal, black eyes staring at the boy. "No, I'm what's going to happen to them when the bomb drops into their city, and wipes it off the map."
Hanataro paled as he heard these words, shinigami didn't pay too much attention in regards to human history, but the destruction of Hiroshima and subsequently Nagasaki was something they all had noticed. The subsequent flooding of souls and hollows from the incident had taken years to quell.
None of this mattered to Hanataro though, as the realization of what was sitting before him came to full view. "You...You're...you're-"
"I have many names child, but Death seems to be the most common amongst your kind. I suppose that will suffice." The being turned and extended his hand out to the boy, only for Hanataro to move out of his chair and begin backing up, mouth gaping in horror at the being.
"Please return to your seat boy and shake my hand, I promise you it won't bite." Hanataro found himself unable to back up, but neither was he willing to sit back down. Death on the outside was emotionless, but inside he was pleased to see such resistance.
"I'm guessing you think if you touch me your death will be finalized and you'll be forced into the rebirth cycle yes?" Hanataro nodded, his whole frame shivering at this prospect of dying. Death simply sighed and looked at the boy, lowering his hand and folding it across the table.
"Despite popular belief I do not appear at the time of death for most individuals, I understand my presence is not comforting to you living types. But I am comfort given to those who have been lost to the agony and attacks of life and time. I am merely an avatar of an inevitable action that all living things must pass through. Nor do I kill with a single touch. Besides if I wanted you to die I'd never have left you in your collapsing world. So now will you sit?"
Hanataro didn't move at first, doubt and uncertainty plaguing him from the inside. Eventually he found himself moving slowly back to the table, expecting at any second for death to leap forward and grab him. When he didn't Hanataro sat back down with a slight squeak, finding Death towering over him once again.
"S-Sorry about that, I-I guess I e-expected you to be d-different." Death nodded at this, showing that no insult was taken. In fact he looked a little amused "Expected me to be a demon with horns and a kimono huh?"
At Hanataro's nod the being chuckled, fingers drumming on his arm. "To some of your kind I indeed look like that, to others I appear an old woman. And in others a walking skeleton of all things. My form changes depending on who or what see's me. It's been so long since someone saw my true form, I can't quite remember what it looks like. But that's not what your really wondering about is it boy?"
It was Hanataro's turn to nod, his insides squirming under deaths gaze. "We'll y-yes, i-if you're not here to...take me than why a-am I here?"
Death smiled at the boy, despite the boys nervousness he didn't tip-toe around the question. "Hmm, we'll as painful as it is to say boy, I need your help. Do you know what a vessel is child?"
"Umm are you talking about the gikon's we use in the real world? Cause of you are I-" Death held up a hand silencing the boy. "No although I suppose the idea is similar. A Being such as myself cannot enter the material world on my own, we normally exist in the spaces between dimensions, known as the immaterial plane. It allows us to exert our influence into your world, without causing the full effect of our powers to take place. So long as the beings of the material universe are keeping the balance of nature, I and the few others are not supposed to leave this realm."
"I-I'm sorry b-but I don't see w-what that has to do with me?" Hanataro asked meekly. The figure nodded in understanding .
"You boy are a vessel, or perhaps a gateway in order for you to better understand. You are one of the few beings born in all the universe who's spiritual signature capable of sustaining my presence without succumbing to it. If i was to enter the form of any other being currently existing in your universe their hearts would literally explode from the power. For example-"
Faster than Hanataro could imagine the being shot his arm to the left into the apparition sitting to his left. Immediately the woman fell over to her side, convulsing as blood began to stream out of her mouth while the restaurant flew into a panic. Hanataro only watched in horror though as Death retracted his arm, not even paying attention to the panicking patrons.
Death saw the expression on the medics face and gave a small sigh. Snapping his fingers the restaurant scene dissolved away, leaving him and Hanataro sitting at a lone table surrounded by darkness. Reaching forward he placed his hand slowly on Hanataro's shoulder, fusing in ever slowly. A cold feeling spread through Hanataro's body, but otherwise he felt no different. After a few seconds Death pulled his hand out and Hanataro felt warmth return to his body.
"Th-That was unpleasant." Hanataro said as he flexed his hands, shaking off the bits of cold. Death shrugged his shoulders in reply to this, a sympathetic smirk on his face. "Can't help you there kid, under most circumstances being's like myself aren't supposed to directly involve themselves with mortals. Even with vessels the feeling is often negative when we merge, however temporarily."
"Sp-Speaking of..." Hanataro spoke slowly, working the numbness out of his jaw. "Y-You said y-you're not allowed to normally enter the universe. S-So why do you want to n-now?" Death lost the smile on his face, knowing the business was finally at hand. Rubbing a hand over his scalp he leaned forward slightly, looking Hanataro directly in the eye.
"This universe is fairly light in regards to the rules that support its foundation and existence, but these few rules must be followed to the letter. One of the most important rules is that any life born in this universe must die in it as well. Normally this isn't a problem but one of your kind has found a loophole that has allowed him to continue living far past his time. And as I am currently I cannot reach him. If this man is allowed to continue he will inevitably cause the end of all life as we know it. And should life cease to exist, so will I."
"I need your help to kill this man, and by doing so save this dimension and many others."
Seireitei Corridors
"cough cough THOSE LITTLE FUCKER'S! The next time I see them I'll carve their hearts out!" One of the 11th division members yelled, before crouching over and vomiting
The leader of the group and his cohorts were coughing from the smoke the fireworks had emitted. By the time they had been able to pursue Ichigo and Ganju were already gone. The leader of the brutes stood up first, wiping a hand across his mouth to get rid of a little of the bile.
"We'll deal with those pussies later, Kijiro is that little 4th division member dead yet?" The man closest to the boy looked down at him and gave him a slight kick to the side. At this Hanataro let out a slight wheeze, but otherwise didn't move. "Not yet, but it shouldn't be long now. Kids bleeding like a stuck pig."
The leader smiled, pulling his Katana out of the ground and began heading towards the fallen medic. "Let's make sure, last thing we need is this little weakling crying to his captain. Besides at least this way the day won't be a total loss."
Approaching he failed to notice the body give a small twitch, nor did he notice the large wound on the chest begin to slowly close up...
The Immaterial Plane
The silence following Death's statement was deafening to say the least. Hanataro stared at the bald being while Death stared back at him impassively. Finally just as Death started getting annoyed Hanataro chose to speak.
"Let me see if I got this right..." Hanataro said, his voice calm and noticeably missing its usual stutter.
"Your claiming that the reason you have saved me is in order to wear me as a meat suit, in order for you to kill a man I've likely never met in order to save all reality. Am I basically up to speed here?"
"We'll that covers the basics, we'll go over the exact details la...What are you doing?" Hanataro had stood up from the table and was preceding to walk away. Death stood up and followed him, a frustrated look on his face.
"And where boy do you think you're going?" Hanataro didn't turn towards Death as he walked, eyes set on the black door, his face morose and downcast. "You know, up until now I had been debating whether this was a dream or if the universe really hated me this much. As today has shown me it's the latter, I've decided to take the easy way out for once."
Death swung in front of the boy, his teeth bared slightly. "What part of "I need you to save the universe" escapes your comprehension? If you walk out that door unprepared you'll be swallowed before you have a chance to even breathe. Do you not care at all?"
This made Hanataro turn around, a look of anger crossing his face for the first time in a long while. Tears fell down his face as he spoke in a grated voice just above a whisper.
"You know, since I've been born all I've tried to do is care about people. I've dedicated my life to healing people and trying to make the lives of others easier, and what do I get for it? At best I am ignored at every level and at worst I have the very people I'm trying to help bet me up and try to kill me. I've personally healed each one of those bastards who are probably planning to desecrate my body and they can't even remember my name. So why don't you tell me one reason I should give a damn about this world or any other?"
Death was silent as the boy finished his rant, the two standing in the darkness. Death lowered his head for a moment contemplating the question before raising it again.
"You don't have a reason to care for this world, why should you? I have watched this world for eons and in regards to the human species I have very little good to say about it. Your kind has caused the extinction of more species on your planet than any other in the universe, and even now one of your dead is threatening the entire cosmos. If it was up to me I'd have eliminated you from the rebirth cycle a long time ago."
The being clenched a fist to its left, as images of different species began whirling through, some of them monstrous others almost angelic in their features. As the images began moving faster Death spoke again, his tone condescending.
"But what of these souls boy, these quadrillions of lives and millions of worlds, will you allow the poison of humanity to destroy them as well? Or those few people who've shown you kindness and stood up for you? Should they perish along with all the others?"
Hanataro stood there as images of friends and family began flashing through them. His brother Seinousuke giving him a present for his birthday, Rikichi and him playing together in Rukongai, Captain Unohana welcoming him into the 4th division. This and many other scenes flashed by his eyes, so many until he couldn't take it anymore. Turning from them Hanataro sniffled and wiped his tears away, looking up at Death again.
"Wh-what do i have to do?" Death approached the boy, arm reaching forward to shake his hand.. "Just give me your permission to enter you. I will take control and deal with the destroyer. Then when this is over I will allow you to walk away and live wherever you wish, I promise."
Hanataro stood still, fear and doubt eating at him as he stood before Death. Part of him still didn't trust the skeleton was being completely honest, and as much as the being's words had mollified him the anger and despair was still festering in him. His chest ached as if screaming at him to refuse.
Still can I really take the risk he isn't lying?
Slowly Hanataro began approaching Death, feet sliding along the ground as if they were made out of concrete. As he got closer to him Death's face slowly broke into a smile, watching as the vessel got closer and closer. Soon the two were within arms distance of each other , although to both of them the distance could have seemed like miles. Hand shaking Hanataro reached forward to shake Death's hand and seal the deal.
And with a thunderous boom the world they stood in began to shake as the two fell away from each other, hands just inches away from their counterparts.
Seiretei corridor
The leader stood above Hanataro, blade poised to strike into Hanataro's heart. At the cheers and taunts of his followers he gave out a great roar and lifted his zanpakuto up, before plunging it down towards his chest.
Only for Hanataro's arm to shoot up, the hand wrapping around the blade with a metalic screech.
"WHAT THE HEL-" Was all the man had to say before the blade was torn from his hands and plunged back into his stomach, spilling his guts and blood over the floor. As the 11th division members watched their leader fall to his stomach and tried to crawl away, their eyes were turned away as Hanataro stood back up, a vicious grin sitting out of place on the boy's face.
"I had hoped to stay hidden until I was taken to the hospital, where they prey would have been the easiest to feed on. But you boys had to go ruin that, so I guess your souls will have to suffice."
He emphasized this last point by stomping down on the leaders head, rushing it under his foot. One of the braver members stepped forward, his katana held in the traditional kendo stance. "You little shit, you wont get away with killing a member of the 11th division. We're the strongest out of all the shinigami, none can match us for our ferocity or our-"
That was the last word the man said as Hanataro leapt forward, hand punching through his chest and out the mans back. "Blah Blah Blah for all your talk you bleed just fine to me. You'll go down as easily as my other half will.
As the man looked into Hanataro's eyes he watched in horror as bits of bone began pushing themselves onto Hanataro's face , while his pupils changed from grey to gold, the rest of the eyes slowly turning black.
"Th_this cant be, your not s-strong your weak. Your just some shitty-" Hanataro pulled his arm out of the mans chest, holding the mans heart before him before he crumpled to the ground, eyes already dead. With a grin he turned to the men, tossing the heart to them and crouching down low. "Let's make this understood boys I'm not that little pussy you've all been taking your sexual frustrations out on. I'm on a whole different level than him. And let me just say one thing-"
As one the men charged forward, voices a mix of fury and fear. Not Hanataro simply grinned, bending his knees slightly before springing forward, their battle cries turning to cries of anguish as he tore into them.
"YOU'RE ALL FUCKED!"
The Immaterial Plane
"WH-WHAT'S GOING ON?!" Hanataro yelled in a panic, as the remnants of the restaurant scene was torn asunder, returning the scene to the cavern with the glowing orb. Death lowered his head to the ground, listening to something Hanataro couldn't over the rumbling. Death's eyes closed for a second, and the sound and the rumbling seemed to disappear for a moment, the world silent only to him.
Within that silence something seem to waft its way through like wind through a pane of glass. It started low. then grew with each passing second. Consume Consume Consume Consume CooonnSuuume!
DEEEVOOOURRR!
Death's eyes snapped open and for the first time Hanataro saw panic on his face. "Damn, I thought we had more time, it must be a stronger beast than I thought!" Death immediately slammed it's fist on the ground, reaching into it like a chest, looking for something. Hanataro ran up behind him, not noticing the door getting closer behind the two.
"What is it, what beast?" Death gave an aha and pulled something from the ground. something long and wrapped in a grey shawl. "The boy who inadvertently cut you down is carrying a beast within him, a corrupted soul. When the blade struck your body a piece of it managed to invade you and grow off the chaos your soul has been in. I had hoped to suppress him once we were joined but now there's no time. Take this."
Death shoved the item into Hanataro's arms, almost causing the boy to tumble over. "Wh-What am I supposed to do?"
"You must slay the beast within your soul, then return here to finish the bargain. And hurry before it tries to-" It never got the chance to finish as a chalk white arm shot past Hanataro's head, slamming into Death and sending him flying backwards. As Death flew out of sight the arm retracted, Hanataro's gaze following it causing him to turn around.
Once he turned around all he could see was a pair of golden eyes, a combination of strangeness and familiarity causing his heart to thump against his chest like a jackhammer. He involuntarily took a step back when a pair of arms shot through the door, lifting him up and pulling him out of the Immaterial Plane.
"Time to go home, big brother."
And that's chapter two, I know it was a little short but I'm hoping as the story progresses I'll be able to add more chapters. Next chapter will be a number of battle scenes, both in and out of Hanataro's head. Anyways thanks for reading and let me know what you thought of it, see you at the next update.
