A sandled foot landed on the dirt of a hill with a giant wooden structure. Renji took in a deep breath as he came up beside Toshiro. "I'm home."
"Hey, Toshiro-"
"How many times must I tell you, Ichigo, it's not 'Toshiro', it's Captain Hitsugaya!" As Hitsugaya yelled, the entire right side of the hill turned to ice, and the atmosphere turned arctic. The Soul Reapers didn't seem bothered by it, but the Rangers wished they had warmer clothing. Halt's questions grew as the ice melted when Toshiro calmed down. Rukia appeared next to Will. She has apparently taken a liking to him. "Welcome to Soul Society. Ichigo, you should go back to Karakura town and inform Chad, Uryu, and Orihime of this. Captain Hitsugaya, shall I go get the Head Captain?"
"Yes, Rukia. Bring Will, and Gilan with you as well. I want to answer any questions that Halt may have in private. Plus, the Head Captain may becoe suspiscious if I bring two kids along." A vein pulsed in Gilan's necked. "I'm not a kid. I'm in my twenties. Plus, I'm a full fledged Ranger." Halt looked at him. "You need to stay with Will, make sure he doesn't get hurt or anything. I don't know anything about this place, and I want my apprentice to stay alive."
"Gilan, Halt's right. You can trust me, but there are a few people far above my rank, and will harm people for the fun of it." Ichigo looked next to him. "Grimmjow."
"No, it's mostly Nnoitora."
"It's both of you. Not you Ichigo, Grimmjow and Nnoitora." Rukia looked accusingly at the blue haired man who showed up so suddenly. Ichigo fell on the floor, pointing at Grimmjow. "I knew it, hahaha!" Grimmjow growled. "I'll go too. I may be able to hold off some off those people. -cough-Ichigo-cough-."
"Not true!"
"Really, then what about the little brawl between you and Renji I heard about?"
"Well-look he provoked me!"
"So, you fight anyone who provokes you?"
"Not anyone. I wouldn't do that with Ulquiorra. Last time I did, I completely lost my-ah, come on!"
"I win." Rukia sweat dropped. "We better hurry. Those two may kill eachother at any given moment." Grimmjow lifted Will onto his back, but Will complained. "How come I can't just run?"
"Because, do you know what shunpo is?"
"What what-?" Will was cut short when a blast of wind hit him. "Hide your face in the crook of my neck. Itll help keep the wind from it." He struggled, but Will did what he was told. He hid his face in a mess of electric blue hair. Faintly, he felt a presence following them. Then it became stronger, smothering the life out of him. "Captain Jaggerjack, do you feel that spiritual pressure?"
"So, you feel it too, Hisagi?"
"Yes, sir. Three. They're powerful too. Do you think they're intruders?" Grimmjow said nothing. Instead he stopped dead in his tracks. "You can get down now. We're here." Will got down. He looked to where the new voice had come from. It was a tall, broad man with purplish black hair. He had tattoos all over his face, and the robe he was wearing was different from the ones Will's seen. Yet, somehow, he couldn't help thinking of Horace when he looked up at the stranger. Tears came to his eyes, but his Ranger's cloak conceled them. Unconciously, his hand went to the hilt of his Saxe knife. Instinctivley, he used his throwing knife to support the heavy Saxe knife to block an overhead slice from a sword. The unexpected stranger looked surprised as Will sent waves of spiritual pressure through the knives. Gilan became disgusted with him self. He hadn't detected the newcomer. But, at the same time, he felt pride. He taught Will that move.
The new comer jumped back, and Will dropped his knives. In a single, swift movement, he picked an arrow, nocked it, and had it drawn. He didn't shoot, incase the person was an allie. "Do not shoot. He is just Kenpachi Zaraki of squad 11." Will looked to where that cool, calm voice came from. It rang in his ears. The voice was strong, but was a smooth a silk.
A black haired man walked up to him. He was about as tall a Halt, but Will guessed he was probably weak from an illness, taken his unusually slender form. His skin was a pasty white, and he had amazingly beautiful, bright emerald eyes with slit pupils, much like a cat. His sword was unusual aswell. The crosspiece wasn't normal. Will can't find words to describe it.
"Are you done staring?" Will snapped his head up, glad that his cloak is concealing the color coming to his face. He couldn't feeling a sense of Deja Vu. "Sorry, sir."
"Take that cloak off." Will looked to Gilan, who held his hand out. "It's okay. I'll hold it."
Gilan smiled reassuringly. Reluctantly, Will pulled his cloak off, and handed it to Gilan. The black haired man circled Will, inspecting him. He stopped, infront of Will. "My name is Ulquiorra Schiffer, captain of squad 1. Are these morons giving you a hard time?" Ulquiorra looked at Kenpachi and Nnoitora. "Anyways, I believe you need help?"
"Y-yes, sir. Our enemy will be attacking in our rear, but my king got a different story, and we don't have time to warn him."
"We?"
"Yes, sir." Gilan spoke before Will had time to respond. "King's Ranger, Ranger Gilan. Our country, Araluen, is currently undergoing a war against a fearsome enemy, Morgarath. When Will, and Halt, his mentor, encountered a group of Wargals, they also ran across some plans that turned out to be false. A battle will unleash in a few days, and it would take us over a week to get to Castle Araluen . If you could help us, we will be forever in your debt." Gilan got down on one knee, and bowed his head. Ulquiorra regarded him for a moment. Then looked at Will. "Come with me."
Will hesitated. He looked to Gilan, who nodded and took the lead behind Ulquiorra. "Lieutenant Yami. Call a Captain's meeting." A dark skinned man with magenta eyes and tri colored hair nodded. He called another and gave him the same message. He seemed pretty interested in the new people. He ran and caught up to the group, and walked by Will's side. The man noticed that the boy is not much taller than he, and he has a high curiosity span. Will's warm chocolate eyes searched the small japanese buildings, and studied his surroundings. The man smiled. He couldn't help but remembering a little boy of his own.
"Big, bright magenta eyes looked up. 'So, Pharaoh what now?' A blond man thought sadly. 'Ya, kno, he's right. We defeated that evil Zorc guy. Wut'r we supposed ta do now?' The Pharaoh shook his head. 'I'm not so sure, Joey. I think this may be the end of the race. I have my memory back, and the sorce of the Shadow Games has been extinguished.' The small boy who looked to be a smaller version of the Pharaoh, felt a tightness in his throught. He knew his time with the Pharaoh was up. 'Well, at least, we still have a little more time with you.' Pharaoh smiled. 'You're right, Yugi. Let's enjoy the time we have left together.'"
His eyes flicked to Will, and smiled. "And you might be?" So deep in his thoughts, Will hadn't noticed the man. Now, his deep, rich voice broke into his head. "W-Will. My name's Will." Pharaoh chuckled, and his irises stung. He missed Yugi alot. The way Will searched his features reminded him of how Yugi would stare intently on the cards in his hands, trying to ddecide what to do. "I'm Atemu..."
"Atemu? That's an odd name."
"Yes, that's because I am an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh." Will's face went blank. "Pharaoh?"
"I presume that you haven't heard of ancient Egypt?" Before Will could answer, he heard the hiss and thud of an arrow. He tripped backwards to get out of the way, and fell. A hand, strong and rough from years of handling a long bow, was held out. Halt helped Will up, while keeping his keen tracker eyes on Atemu, who was about his own height. "You are?"
"There are some who call me Pharaoh. And few who call me Atemu. Who are you?"
"Ranger Halt, of Redmont Fief in the country Araluen. Can I assume that you are an ally?" Halt heard Will take a large gulp of breath. "You have something to say Will?" But, Will didn't answer.
