Authors Note: Thanks everyone for your lovely reviews, I hope you are all loving this story as much as I am!
Chapter 4:
As soon as I reached the Senkaimon, they had everything ready for me to depart. Immediately, I took my leave, off to the material world.
I couldn't think about how I still hadn't asked Captain Ukitake for his help with learning about the substitute shinigami badge, or the fact that I was skipping out on my first training session with the Kuchiki, and I especially couldn't think about how I'd gotten no sleep yet that night.
Walking through the Dangai was always an odd experience for me; even after going through it multiple times, I have never gotten use to the heavy air it had. As soon as I got through a few minutes later, it was a relief to have that breath of fresh air, although it was still different from the air back home.
The living world usually was calm around this time of night, which was a relief. Karakura Town was quiet as I used shunpo to head to the Urahara shop quickly, where the former captain resided.
I met with the former Captain a few times since his exile, but before he left Seireitei, I met him only once. Back then I was just a kid though; however, he is one of the people who inspired me to become a Shinigami.
Once I stood in front of the shop, the doors opened. A tall man answered, someone who I've come to know a bit over the years. He doesn't speak much, but he is very loyal to Urahara. "Shinobu-san, we've been expecting you, come in." He stood aside to make a path for me.
"Thank you, Tessai."I walked in and began walking to the room where I felt more than one reiatsu. Before I could knock on the door, it opened to reveal Urahara Kisuke.
"Ah! Yuuko, lovely to see you tonight." The former Captain smiled at me before stepping aside, letting me enter the room.
I've always looked up to Kisuke, even after his exile. "You too, sir." As soon as I walked in, I noticed who the other reiatsu was coming from. A man with striking orange hair was sitting down in front of a small table, in a shinigami's attire. From my multiple conversations with Renji about his time in the living world, I knew this must be the Substitute Shinigami. "You are Kurosaki Ichigo, correct?" I held my hand out to him in a polite gesture, "It's a pleasure to meet you, my name is Shinobu Yuuko, the 4th seat from the 1st division."
The substitute shinigami automatically took my hand, "Ah, so you're who they sent. Nice to meet ya!" He talked in a cheerful manner, almost the way Renji normally would. However, I could see something was haunting him, it was apparent in his eyes.
After shaking his hand, I turned to look at Urahara to ask him about this mission. Before I could though, he was handing me a cup of tea and pushing on my shoulders to sit me down; without much of a choice, I did. Never underestimate the strength of a former captain, even if it has been 100 years since his exile.
Urahara took a seat across the table from me, a cup of tea in his own hands as well. "Drink up, Yuuko. Might get rid of that alcohol still in your system."
I felt my face heat up and took a sip of the tea. Of course he could tell what I'd been up to that night as well. "It was quite a few hours ago, it's already out of my system," After another sip, I continued. "Now, why exactly am I..." I spared a glance at the orange-haired shinigami sitting next to me, "or... we, going to Hueco Mundo?"
Urahara hid his face behind his ever-present fan, "Always straight to the point with you." He made an overly dramatic sigh before continuing, "Kurosaki-kun's friend has been abducted by an arrancar. We can only assume it's someone who wants revenge for what Ichigo did to Aizen."
I nodded my head, what he said made sense. Normally hollows, including arrancars, just move on with the time, leader or not. But this just goes to show Aizen really left an imprint on some of the arrancars, especially if they are still doing things like this long after he's been locked up. "I see, who are we going to rescue then? Do we have any clue where in Hueco Mundo they are?" I've been to the land of Hollows a few times in the past, for random missions. It's an enormous place; we could be searching for years, even centuries, if we don't have a specific location to head to.
After that question, the substitute shinigami spoke, "When the arrancar came, it was random and happened very quickly. It took Chad, spoke a couple words, and a moment later just... vanished, completely. It gave us no time to react at all." Ichigo shook his head, as if trying to clear it. "It said: 'The Forest' right before it vanished, that's all."
The forest... As in Meno's forest? I ran through most of the places I've been through while in Hueco Mundo, but the only thing I could think of that somewhat resembled a forest was that one.
Urahara placed his fan on the table before speaking, "I assume you just thought of the Forest of Menos, correct? I hear a lot of the leftover arrancars hid there after Aizen's downfall, that would be the most logical place for them to take Chad."
I nodded, "That's probably where he is. There is obviously going to be one hell of a trap placed though."
Kurosaki stared at me, "Why do you think that?"
"The arrancer moved in and out quickly, right? Even though you were around, he choose that time to take your friend; something any arrancar should know you do not let slide, if the Inoue situation is any indication. However, he not only choose the time correctly, he left a message: 'The Forest'. Most Shinigami know about the forest of Menos, but rarely anyone goes there because a Menos is a Captain-class hollow. Especially now that arrancar have hidden there as well." I rubbed the edge of my tea cup, thinking. "He knows you'll come after your friend, he knows where you will go first, and he choose a place where there are going to be tons of enemies you have to get through to get to your friend, enemies that have probably already been told you are coming."
The former Captain looked at me, seeming a bit surprised. "Well, your deduction abilities have grown, I see."
I shook my head, "You already thought of all that yourself, I assume that's why I was sent?"
Urahara nodded his head, "Yes, it can't be a group too large, they will attract too much attention. You've been there a few times in the past, so you are familiar with the territory. With your abilities, you could have honestly gone alone; however, I'm sure you've heard from Renji how Ichigo can be when a friend is in danger."
The substitute shinigami spoke up from beside me again, "I've fought Menos before, arrancar too, obviously. You say they are captain-class hollows, so why was a 4th seat sent anyways? Wouldn't Renji, or Toshiro even, be better suited?"
He seemed to ask Urahara this, although I'm the one who answered. "They could be, yes, if you wanted to make a scene anyway. I can handle myself very well. Anyone 6th seat and below in the 1st division has about the same amount of power as a Lieutenant from another division." I took another sip of my tea before continuing, "I'll let you know now. For one: Renji is dead drunk at the moment so he couldn't have come anyways." I caught Urahara hide a smile after that statement. "For another: Urahara just stated I could do this alone, why do you think he said that?"
The orange-haired man beside me shrugged, obviously becoming uncomfortable with being lectured. "I don't know. Why?"
I sat my, now empty, tea cup on the table before answering. "My zanpakutō has no reiatsu. I can go completely unnoticed by the hollows because of this."
The shinigami seemed confused at that statement, "Hang on. Since when does a zanpakutō have no spiritual power? And even if that were possible, you would still be putting out some form of reiatsu." After he said this though, he seemed shocked.
I assume he tried feeling for my reiatsu, but couldn't find any traces. It doesn't happen while in Seireitei, but once outside those walls, my reiatsu becomes hidden from everyone.
I shook my head, "He has spiritual power, just no pressure; reiatsu." I glanced at Urahara as I said the next part, "I just found out a while ago; we are assuming my Zanpakutō has an ability similar to the Substitute Shinigami badge. We think it hides... absorbs..." I shook my head again, "I don't know, he just does something that is related to reiatsu. At least within himself and me anyways."
This grabbed a hold of the shinigami's attention, while the former captain remained silent. "Wait, you think? I thought you said you were as powerful as a Lieutenant?"
It's not the first time I've come across questions like that, it's become easier to answer now. "We do have a Captain who doesn't speak to, or even care about, his Zanpakutō, you realize this, correct? You have fought him, and you've seen his strength. Why is it so hard to believe I have strength without these things as well?" Honestly, say it's because I'm a woman. Why the hell do men act like this all the time?
The shinigami seemed on edge; and, almost as if he were able to read my thoughts, he answered, "You're right, sorry."
I smiled at the orange-haired man, at least he knew when to back down. Although, honestly, I have nowhere near the amount of strength Zaraki Kenpachi has.
Urahara then spoke up, "Don't worry Ichigo, Shinobu-san is very skilled in her own ways. She learned from one of the best." As soon as he said this, I flinched, but he payed it no mind and continued. "You two have gotten no sleep at all tonight, get a few hours of sleep before you go. As soon as dawn comes, I'll have everything ready to send you two off to Hueco Mundo." Both me and the shinigami beside me stood up, about to leave to find a room to sleep in. Before I could leave though, he spoke again. "Shinobu, stay here for a minute please."
I looked behind my shoulder at the former Captain, confused. I nodded my head and sat back down none-the-less, "Is everything alright?"
It seemed like the substitute shinigami wanted to stay as well, but Urahara waved him off, "Ichigo, it's not about the mission, don't worry. Get some rest."
The orange-haired man looked disappointed, but nodded, "Alright... thanks." Before exiting the room, he yawned massively; obviously too exhausted to argue.
Once we were alone, Urahara spoke again, "Yuuko, I see you've learned more about your abilities?"
I was a bit wary of the former Captain. If he knew about my powers before, why did he never tell me the multiple times we've met? And how long has he known anyways... how long have I been in the dark about it while he had all the answers? "A bit... I only really know a few things about it though. I learned earlier today, actually."
Urahara didn't seem surprised in the least about that information, "I see. What are your plans now?"
I shrugged, not entirely sure myself. The only thing I knew to do, was to do what my Captain told me to. "At the moment, the only thing I'm going to focus on is learning about the Substitute shinigami badge from Captain Ukitake, and being taught Kidō by Captain Kuchiki."
I've never really seen the former Captain truly shocked. He sometimes would pretend like he was surprised, but never actually was, he wasn't that type of man. However, at that moment, he was definitely surprised. "Kuchiki? Wait, by Captain Kuchiki, you do mean the current captain, correct?"
I knew where his mind went to, it was obvious. It was shortly after his exile, and I never figured out how he knew, but Urahara definitely knew what happened between the Kuchikis and I. The last thing I wanted at the moment was to have any sort of conversation about that Kuchiki though, "Yes, I mean Kuchiki Byakuya. I was..." I paused, rephrase that Yuuko! NOW! "I am against it," Much better, "but it was both my Captains suggestion, and my Zanpakutōs, I didn't have much of a choice in the matter."
Urahara sighed, "I was hoping, given enough time, you'd eventually get over your hatred towards them. Hopefully your feelings change after th-"
Before I let him finished the sentence, I cut him off. "Sir, whatever happens now, will not change what happened then. It'll be the same either way, I've already prepared myself for that." I stood up, "Now, will that be all? You said yourself that I should get some rest." I hated being rude to the former Captain, but I couldn't have a conversation like that... I couldn't have hope being given to me like that.
The man sitting across the table sighed, "Go ahead, just remember Yuuko: not everyone is how you perceive them to be."
I stared at him for a moment, trying to understand the hidden meaning behind those words. After a minute, I gave up. I'd think about it later; at the moment, I have a mission ahead of me that needs my full attention.
"Thank you, sir. Goodnight." I bowed to Urahara and exited the room, where Tessai was waiting to show me to the room I'd be sleeping in that night.
Once I was alone, I quickly got into the futon prepared for me. To say I was exhausted would be an understatement... it's been a while since a day ran on for so long.
All I wanted to do was close my eyes, and sleep. However, everything from that day came back to me. Everything my captain told me... about my Zanpakutō, about what I should do next. My night with Renji... and even, although it must have only been because I was dead tired, but...
I thought about how disappointed I was to miss the training session tomorrow...
With that thought in my head, I fell asleep.
That night, I dreamed about how I imagined the training session would be: Fun, helpful, and so very unlike the past...
...If only I believed it could end up being that way.
Authors Note: Hope you enjoyed! Please review to let me know what you think! Chapter 5 in one week!
-Thenekolover
