Chapter Three - Rainbow Haze
She left that night. She left and she didn't come back for a long time. But it was only twenty-four hours until she saw Nova again.
Little did she know that when he woke up and she wasn't there, he had been confused and a little hurt, but Urahara had told him where she had went. That had eased the pain, but he was still just as confused.
"When is she coming back?" He had asked Urahara.
"I have no idea." Urahara shrugged. "Maybe you should go with Ichigo and them. You never know, you might see her sooner that way."
He had went, trying to hide his real reason for going. And when the Bounts left the gate behind, he wanted to run into it. But he was sitting on Chad's shoulder in his plushy form and probably would've looked a little wierd if he just ran for it.
Aira on the other hand, had spoken with the Captain. She was walking down the path when the Bount's invaded. She had seen them go across the sky in a shining yellow light and flashed back to when the Ryoka had first arrived. But she knew she shouldn't get her hopes up.
She she heard later that it had been the Bounts, she cursed herself. Why she was getting so attached to this boy was beyond her. She was a normal Captain, just trying to do what was best for her subordinants.
So she walked, and tried to forget about him. But it didn't work.
She wanted to see his face so bad. She wanted to touch more of that soft skin of his than just his hand.
Aira shook her head at herself. No. She demanded. Quit being so stupid.
She lifted her head high as she walked through the 11th Division.
~^.^~
"Oi, Aira!"
Aira rolled her eyes when she turned to Ikkaku. He had his Zanpaktou laying threateningly over his shoulder, as always. And his bald head shown in the sunlight.
"Do you wax that thing?" She asked, covering her eyes.
"Smartass." Ikkaku patted her on the arm.
His usual sidekick, Yumichika, was at his side.
"Hey, did you guys find what you were looking for at the Bount hideout?" She asked him.
He grimaced as Ikkaku laughed.
"No, but he got his ass kicked." Ikkaku chuckled.
Both Yumichika and Aira ignored him.
"We got rid of one of the Bounts." He told her. "The one with the ugly glasses and horribly greasy hair."
Aira laughed. "Not all of us can have hair as pretty as yours."
"You're hair is beautiful." He grinned, reaching out to touch it as it fell past her shoulders.
"That's because it's exactly like yours." She shook her head. "Only a lot more wavy. And longer."
"Still beautiful." Yumichika smiled.
Aira caught people staring at something out of the corner of her eye and looked around Ikkaku and Yumichika to see Byakuya Kuchiki walking through the 11th Division. She raised an eyebrow, as did Ikkaku and Yumichika as he passed.
"See you guys later." She told Ikkaku and Yumichika and they waved as she jogged after the othe Captain.
"Yo, Kuchiki-sama." She said as she matched his pace. "Where are you going?"
"I don't believe that's any of your buisness." His emotionless face didn't look at her.
"Rawr." Aira laughed. "Just askin'. Guess I'm going to find out anyways, so what's the point of asking?"
"How do you plan on doing that?" He said flatly.
"Well, I'm going to follow you, of course." She pointed out. "Here, let me guess where you're going. You are going to...pick up your dry cleaning. No. That can't be it. I know, you're going to go get your secret lover a gift. No. You're going to get Renji a gift!"
Byakuya shook his head. "You are so annoying."
"Or maybe-maybe you're going to go see why Rukia Kuchiki's reiatsu just spiked not ten minutes ago outside the Seireitei." She sighed as he raised his eyebrow at her. "Where did you think I was going, Kuchiki?"
"Rukia isn't your responsablilty, Shikyo." He told her.
"Not yours either." Aira narrowed her eyes. "As you pointed out so very well when you let her almost get executed."
Byakuya's eyes were empty.
"Silent and lawful." Aira giggled. "Same old Byakuya. When I meant Hisana, I really don't remember her being so bad as to regret breaking a few rules for her."
At that, Aira jumped into the air and went over buildings to get to the gate faster.
She had been angry at Byakuya for that for a long time, had told him more times than nessicary how she felt, but now she just didn't have time to deal with his monotone rambling.
She felt Rukia's reiatsu fading quickly.
She landed in front of the gate with ease.
"Captain Shikyo." One of her subordinantes said.
She remembered that her squad was the one guarding this gate.
She smiled at him. "Hey there. You gonna let a girl through?"
"Of course, Captain." They said as they stepped aside.
"Oh, and guys, make sure to give Captain Kuchiki a hard time when he comes through." She said. "Tell him something like, no one is permitted to leave Seireitei or something. I don't know. Get creative."
"But, Captain, why?" One of them asked.
"Because I just want to see his reaction." She smirked. "Please?"
"Yes, ma'am." Another one stepped up. "Whatever you ask, Captain."
"Thank you lots, boys!" She said before skipping away.
She jumped into a nearby tree and climbed to the top before looking over the city. She jumped up as she saw a puff of smoke rising from a neaby Rukongai district.
"Get out of my way!" She heard Captain Kuchiki yelling and laughed.
He was such a poser.
She landed a few roofs away from where Rukia was now engaged in battle with a blue haired Bount.
She had cool hair, but other than that, she really wasn't that attractive.
Rukia's Spiritual Pressure was growing weaker and even her face showed how she wasn't going to be able to take much more of the beating. The Bount was about to give the finishing blow when Aira jumped.
She drew her Zanpaktou and caught Rukia Kuchiki all in one movement. She blocked the blow without hardly any effort.
"What?" The Bount sneered at her. "Who are you? A Captain?"
"No." Aira laughed as she turned away from the Bount. "I just wear this for fun."
"Hey!" The Bount charged her and Aira yet again blocked the attack.
"Hidoi no Shi, Denkihime." She whispered.
The sword sent a shock through the Bount and sent her flying back. At that, Aira sheathed Denkihime and walked down the dirt street with Rukia in her arms.
She smiled when she saw Byakuya, looking at her with angry eyes, walking towards her.
"Would you like to have your sister?" She smiled at him, holding Rukia out to him. "Or whatever you like to call her."
"She's my sister." Byakuya snapped at her. "And if you ever try a stunt like that again, I swear I'll-"
"I do believe murder and torchure is illegal, Byakuya." Aira smirked. "Now, run along. Get her treatment."
He glared at her before turning away.
She sighed and turned around.
That's when she felt the other reiatsu. It was familiar.
Well, as long as I'm out here. She sighed before flashstepping after the Spiritual Pressure.
She smiled as she saw Ichigo and Chad standing in the woods, talking.
"Well, well, well." She jumped between them, making them jump. "Looks like we have a couple Ryoka. What's up guys? You wouldn't happen to be Bounts would you?"
"Airashii?" Ichigo said, taken aback.
"It's Aira." She smiled at him.
"Aira! Is Rukia okay?" The little bird-doll known as Ririn asked from Ichigo's shoulder.
"Yeah, Byakuya has her now." She told the doll with a grin.
She turned and waved at Chad, catching the little turtle-doll on his shoulder.
"Hey, Chad..." She raised her eyebrow. "Nova?"
The turtle doll raised it's little arm in greeting.
"Nova!" She grabbed the doll and hugged it tightly.
When she looked back at the doll, it's cheeks were red and he had his head hidden in his shirt.
"Oh, no you don't." She pulled his head out of his shirt before placing him back on Chad's shoulder. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We followed the Bount in." Ichigo informed her.
"Oh, I see." Aira nodded. "Do you know what they're planning yet?"
"No." Ichigo shook his head. "We can't even find them."
"Well, I just ran into one back there." She pointed her thumb back to where she had been. "They can't be far."
There was a huge expostion, all of the sudden and all of them ran out of the woods to see what was happening.
"It's in Seireitei." Aira narrowed her eyes. "Probably a Bount. I have to get back there."
"Wait." Ichigo caught her shoulder before she could leave. He turned back to Chad and Chad nodded. "Take Nova with you. His sensor could come in handy."
Aira smirked. "Whatever you say."
She watched as Nova jumped from Chad's shoulder to Ichigo's shoulder to her own.
"Make yourself comfortable." She told him. "And hang on."
At that, she leaped into the air.
In a couple jumps, she had closed the distance between her and the gate.
"Captain! What happened?" Her subordinants asked.
"I don't know." She told them. "I'll tell you as soon as I find out."
She ran into Seireitei, sprinting towards the center of the city where the dust was beginning to rise. Nova was clutching her shoulder tightly as it took all he had just to hang on.
She laughed at him before grabbing him and holding his torso to her chest.
He blushed and hid his head again, but she didn't bother with it this time.
"Do you sense anything?" She asked him.
"No." He shook his head. "Nothing here."
She only nodded before picking up the pace.
When she arrived at Senzaikyu, she saw several of the Captains gathering across the now crumbled wall as the dust began to settle.
"Oh, dear." She said as she walked up.
Captain Ukitake stood beside her.
"What happened?" She asked him.
"Bounts, most likely." He told her. "One of them keeps sneaking in somehow. 11th Division ran into him the other day. Appearantly, he has the ability to make himself invisable."
"Damn." She muttered. "This isn't good. How did he get in?"
"Nobody knows." Ukitake sighed. "But it's been a couple times now, and this is the result of his last visit."
"At least it's easy to fix." She put in.
"Which is exactly why I'm wondering why they did it in the first place." He commented.
"Maybe to tell us that they're here." Aira giggled. "You know, just in case we didn't notice."
"Like a threat?" He smirked. "Well, that's kind of whimpy if it's supposed to be a threat."
"Very true." She shook her head. "Makes you wonder if these guys are really serious."
~^.^~
She watched as the shingle fell from the roof of a nearby building and shook her head.
"Hey!" She called. "I know you're out there, you damned Bount!"
It was getting late and Nova had been dosing off on her shoulder, but now he jolted awake and rubbed his eyes.
There was a sort of flash and Aira half-drew her sword to block the blow to the stomach.
She smiled. "You know, if you want to screw with me, quit being a whimp and show yourself."
There was another strike from the back.
This time she drew Denkihime completely and thier swords meant as she said, "Hidoi no Shi, Denkihime."
The opponant was shocked into sight and she smirked down at him on the ground.
"Shinigami?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Not anymore." He glared at her as he made it to her feet, taking a fighting stance.
"You can't beat me, just so you know." She sighed. "So don't even try. I just want to talk."
"I don't have time to talk." He snapped.
"Well, why don't you tell me your name, busy bee?" She asked.
"Ichinose. Ichinose Maki." He said.
"Ah, I remember you." She smirked. "You were the one who got super-pissed when Zaraki defeated the former 11th Division Captain. You left. Whatcha doin' back here?"
"That's none of your buisness." He sneered.
"Right." She rolled her eyes. "So, that means, that you're with those retched Bounts. Figures. Well, I take it back. Since you were formerly of the 11th Squad, just like me, then I guess we can have a go. You never know, you might get lucky."
At that, he charged.
Nova ducked behind her shoulder as she raised her Zanpaktou to block Ichinose.
He stepped back and swept his Zanpaktou in a clockwise circle.
"Koko Hirameke, Nijigasumi!" He cried.
There was a flash of light and Aira was suddenly surrounded by light. She couldn't see a thing until Ichinose was suddenly charging her. She blocked him quickly.
"Sutoraki, Denkihime." She muttered.
Denkihime glowed with blue electricity before hitting Ichinose and knocking him against a nearby wall.
Aira reached for Nova before jumping on a nearby roof.
"I want you to stay here." She told him quietly. "I don't want you getting hurt."
He nodded before sitting down on the edge of the building.
Aira jumped back down and walked up to Ichinose.
"Seems you're somewhat of a seasoned soldier." She told him with a smile. "But the sad thing is, so am I."
She kneeled down in front of him as he tried to sit up.
"If you want, I'll let you leave right now." She told him. "If you were smart, you would take my advice and run back to your little soul-sucker buddies."
He growled. "Never."
He reached for his Zanpaktou as she smiled.
"I would expect nothing less of a former 11th Division Shinigami. A foolish decision."
He grabbed his sword and struck at her. She floated back and landed lazily on her heels. She leaned down into a fighting pose, Denkihime glowing with electricity threateningly.
"Don't call them soul-suckers." He demanded weakly.
"Quit talking." Aira said softly. "Let's get this over with."
They both ran at each other, striking hard. Thier swords were a mix of clashing blades, shining in the pale moonlight. Each time they struck, they hit hard, and each time they lashed out, the other blocked.
It could've went on forever if Ichinose hadn't begun to use his Zanpaktou's Shikai.
Yet again, Aira was blinded. She looked for him frantically, trying to sense his hidden reiatsu somehow.
She was taken by surprise when he swiped at her torso, cutting open her stomach area and knocking her back against a nearby wall.
Aira breathed heavily as she opened her eyes and glared at him.
"Lucky shot." She put in.
Suddenly, she saw Nova running towards her. Damn it. She thought.
She kicked up and swiped at Ichinose before turning back to where Nova was now climbing up her leg and onto her shoulder.
"You okay?" He asked her.
"Of course." She smiled, but she coughed up a little blood.
"You need to-"
"Finish this, I know." She sighed before raising her voice. "Well, since you've decided to use your released Zanpaktou, I guess it would be okay for me to fully release mine."
She smiled at him as his eyes widened. He tried to charge her, but she counterattacked him.
"Hado number 31: Shot of Red Fire!" She cried, a ball of red energy shooting out of her hand and hitting Ichinose straight in the chest.
He fell back, hitting the wall again, making a hole in it.
"Well, now that that's settled." She sighed and held her Zanpaktou parallel and vertical to her face, just like before. "Bankai."
She whipped it behind her. "Jouchaku..."
Aira thrust her sword forward, towards Ichinose. "Soshite Denka, Denkihime!"
Her blade scattered into thousands of sharp blue sparks made of electricity and her sword. They cut against the air and swirled around her and Nova.
"Denkihime, please do me a favor and finish him off." She said with a smile.
The sparks raced towards Ichinose, but he flashstepped away.
"Come here, Denkihime." She said as he did so.
Denkihime surrounded her in a dome-like shield, constantly moving and energizing the air.
Ichinose struck the shield but she shook her head when he shook as the shock went though him.
"Maki-san," she said. "Just go. I don't want to kill you."
He snarled at her from the ground. "I'm not giving up."
"It's Zaraki you want to fight." She told him. "Not me."
His head whipped away to look at the wall.
"Just go, Ichinose." Aira advised him. "And know that Captain Airashii Shikyo of the 9th Division allowed this."
He looked up at her with some kind of remorse in his eyes.
And then he was gone.
"You can go back now, Denkihime." Aira said as she drew Denkihime back into the hilt.
She sheathed he sword and grabbed Nova, glaring at him.
"I thought I told you to stay on that roof!" She yelled at him.
He slipped his head down in his collar.
"Hey, get out here!" She demanded. "Nova! Next time I tell you to stay somewhere, you stay there! No excuses! Got it?"
He nodded.
She sighed, swallowed hard, beginning to feel the pain of her injury, she collapsed.
"Captain!" Nova called as he fell with her, landing on her arm. "You need to get that healed."
She was breathing hard, but she managed to answer. "4th Division's not far from here. You wanna carry me?"
She laughed when he looked wearily at her.
"I was joking, Nova." She commented.
He jumped off her arm and attempted to lift it up.
"Nova, you are just too cute." She giggled before picking him up and putting him on her shoulder as she stood. "Let's go."
Authors note:
Just a little info on Airashii's Zanpaktou for ya!
Shikai:
"Hidoi Shi, Denkihime": Shocking death, electric princess
level 1 shock: "shokku sukoshi, Denkihime." : Just a little shock, electric princess
level 2 shock: "sutoraki, Denkihime" : Strike, electric princess
level 3 shock: "Hidoi no Shi, Denkihime": Shock of Death, electric princess
(level 1 is meant to paralyze the opponant. level 2 is meant to injure. and level 3 can kill a 5th seated officer level and below Shinigami)
Bankai:
"Jouchaku soushite Denka, Denkihime." : Evaporate and Electrify, Electric Princess
(during Bankai, Denkihime scatters into a million little electrified blades [much similar to Byakuya Kuchiki's Senbonzakura]. The blades are electrically charged and once they cut an opponant, they can shock on a level 2 or below, not able to achieve level 3 in such a small state. also, as mentioned in the last chapter, if Denkihime begins to use up all the electricity in the air, she can draw spiritual energy from the opponant. Also, other than Byakuya Kuchiki's Zanpaktou, Denkihime is the only sword with a release command for Bankai.)
Just thought you'd like to know!!!! Aishiteru. ~~bows~~ arigato. PWEEZE review. XP
