I do not own Bleach or any of the works contained or referenced herein. But at least I've got chicken.
It was the night after their conference in the park. Karin had gone to school once more and then to soccer practice only to find Rider waiting for her again. He had embarrassed her royally by standing on the sidelines and watching, occasionally shouting out encouragement to various team members until the coach had been obliged to walk over and ask him who he was. Whatever answer he had given, the coach had come back red in the face and Rider had stayed.
They had trained until it was nearly dark that day, working on a variety of problems that the coach had noted in their last meet and by the time she had finished she was sore all over. Rider had congratulated her heartily calling her "A model of physical diligence!" But he had then pressed the book on her, asking if her mind was as sound. It was strangely comforting. Karin had always been the kind of person to try and push a little further, and the fact that Rider seemed to be behind her on that was nice.
Then she had opened the book.
It was dry, boring and pointless, the plot seeming to revolve around a few tribal chieftains arguing about... a woman? Plunder? The gods? Whatever it was they droned on and on about it in the same long winded style that made it hard to remember what you had just read a few seconds ago.
Rider it seemed couldn't get enough of it.
And so, they were once again in the park as Karin was forced to endure what she started associating to reading homework.
"'For shame...'" she read slowly. "'Surely now great grief comes on the land of... Ach...a...ea... but think how glad it would make King Piram and all of his sons along with the other-' how long are these people going to argue?! Is this... one, two, ten..." *Flip flip flip flip* "There's four hundred more pages of this!"
"You're impatient girl." Rider growled at her sounding annoyed. "And you read it like an inventory list. Didn't they teach you anything in that school? These are the wisdom's of the ancients. 'For shame! Surely now great grief comes on the land of Achaea! But think! How glad would it make King Piram, and all his sons along with the other Trojans to learn of this wrangling between you! You that among the Dannans stand first in counsel and warfare!'"
Karin watched with something like disbelief as Rider stood there reciting the words on the page back to her without looking at them. Had this man actually memorized this specific point of the book at some time? She had just read the last few pages of the Iliad (at his insistence) and was not sure she remembered any of it.
"See? Your listener must feel the wisdom, the earnest passion of Nestor flowing out of the page and through your mouth."
"Right," she sighed and closed the book. "Reading was never my thing really. Sorry."
"Your lack of enthusiasm is troublesome. Aristotle would've had you scrubbing floors till you learned the meaning of patience."
Karin coughed sharply, looking up at Rider in disbelief. "You knew Aristotle?" Okay, even if she was not good with history, by virtue of being alive she had heard that name before.
Rider gave her a hopeless look and shook his head sadly. "Of course I knew him. I... what do they teach you in those Schools if you don't even know that?"
Their augment was interrupted rather abruptly when Karin felt a prickling in the back of her head. True to her prediction she had stopped having an active headache from Riders power sometime last night, meaning that this one had to be...
She turned her head sideways and was greeted by the sight of a strange dark mass poking out above a nearby wall.
"Who's hiding there?"
"Ahh!" A strange voice exclaimed. As Rider turned as well to see what was going on a strange looking afro'ed man hoped out from behind the wall. Karin's eyes narrowed. He was wearing a familiar black uniform and cradling an elegant Katana sword under his left arm.
"Who is this now girl? A ghost? Someone you know?" Rider asked looking at the man in amazement.
"No one I know anything about. I don't believe in spirits remember?"
"I will be the one asking questions here!" The Shinigami stated waving his sword around in wide circles over his head. "I am Kurumadan Zennosuke, and I am the law in this town!"
"Ho!" Rider exclaimed, looking the man over several times. "It's true then, someone has appeared to challenge my rights to the books I plundered the other day."
"What?! Are you stealing books? Who are you, what are you and what brings you here? And what books are these that I should know about?" He waved his sword around a few more times for emphasis.
"Don't mind him, Rider," Karin said, looking at the black robed man side-face. She could feel his power and it while it was greater than hers it was definitely weaker than Jinta's, putting him on the low end of concern in her books. "He's just some idiot Shinigami. I think."
"A Shinigami you say...fascinating. The things you have in the East..." Rider stroked his beard staring at the little death god owlishly. The man seemed to be losing his confidence under that bemused gaze.
"Yes, I am a Soul Reaper it is true, so that means you listen to me! I am in charge of this town after Rukia was recalled so if you want to be in it then you are under my jurisdiction!"
Rider shook his head firmly. "Nope."
Karin shook her own head. It was always the same with these types, turning a trivial meeting into some sort of confrontation. She was not exactly impressed with his power, but still, it was probably better to not be on the wrong side of the Soul Cops. "Look Kurumandan-san, we're just-"
"What do you mean "nope"?! Are you challenging my jurisdiction?"
Rider nodded once.
"Then face the wrath of my Death God Flying Kick! Behold! The Twenty Seven Shadowless Strikes of Chastisement! Huaaaaaa!" With a fearsome war cry the Shinigami launched himself quite suddenly over the wall he had been hiding behind, one foot thrust forward apparently aimed at Rider's face.
Keeping a perfect cool head, the big man simply leaned forward and swatted the flying Shinigami out of the air with an open handed strike that was lazy even by her standards. He went rolling eight feet till he came to rest upside down in a ball, his legs bent back over his head, arms splayed out to either side.
"Ha. Is that it? You had better gird your loins and get up or this will be my jurisdiction in a few minutes."
"Y-you! You'll pay for this!"
"Rider..." Karin felt herself unsure whether to laugh or complain. "Stop harassing the local ghost enforcement."
"Is a Spirit not still a man?" he said ruefully. "How can I turn down a challenge to my rightful spoils?"
"Hyaaa!" The man made another lunge at him, flying up from the ground quite unexpectedly to punch at the center of Riders chest.
His efforts were met with a similar result as before, Riders meaty hand swinging up and knocking him blithely aside. When he rose again, Rider did something new, whipping his hand out with surprising dexterity and delivering what looked like a finger flick to the man's forehead when he tried to knee him. It was a light gesture but it sent the unfortunate Shinigami rolling across the ground, clutching his scalp in agony.
"You'll have to do better than that to deprive the King of Conquers of his prize little man."
"You..! You're not a Hollow but still you fight me! Are you some kind of evil Reaper terrorizing Plus? If so then it's my duty to punish you, reclaim the books you have stolen and avenge any of my brethren who have fallen prey to your hands!" Zennosuke rose to his feet, and drew his sword in a smooth motion. "Repent now or I will be forced to use more deadly measures!"
"Ohhh, so that thing's not just a show piece. Good. I was hoping to get a look at the weapons of this land. What a strange shape..."
"Hey!" Karin shouted, running in between them and waving her arms. "Aren't you adults? Show some diplomacy or something! You can't just start killing each other over library books!"
"Stand aside little girl, this is a matter of the laaaw!"
"Little girl, if a man isn't prepared to get himself killed over a pair of library books, then how can he have the courage to get himself killed over more important things?"
"Stop calling me little girl! Both of you!" she shouted, feeling her face go red. Talking to them was like talking to a brick wall!
"Hya!"
"Hey!"
The afro'ed Shinigami had apparently decided to ignore her presence completely, and launch a sword slash right over her head. Quick as a snake Rider suddenly drew his own sword from thin air, intercepting his attackers two handed strike with an easy single handed block. The slender Katana met the oversized Spatha and 'clanged'. Zennosuke continued to press against Rider's sword with all his strength, veins on his forehead popping up as he shoved.
Rider's weapon wavered not at all, the burly Servant keeping a tight grip on his sword as his challenger strained away.
"Rider..." Karin sighed. Her 'Servant' was playing with that poor man. She didn't like spirits in general, but Shinigami did keep people safe from Hollows, and now her partner was bullying one. Still, she supposed that he had started it, and the rights to vengeance were something she had always had a great respect for, ever since Kaneda had thrown a snake in her hair during one gym class many grades ago.
"Very good," Rider hummed nodding softly at Zennosuke. "You're quite strong of arm you know, but unfortunately as it happens mmmm, so am I."
"You thug! Gorilla! Your big mussels won't save you... *grck *... from justice! I have you at a stalemate! Surrender now or I will be forced to keep this up forever!"
"Perhaps. As it happens though there is one thing you haven't considered."
"Whats that?"
"This." Still holding off his sword with one arm Rider reached over Zennosuke's blade with his free hand, bent his finger back and flicked him on the forehead again, sending him sprawling head over heels once more.
"You see girl there is the reason I have earned Military Tactics: Rank B." Rider proclaimed, folding his arms together and posing. His sword disappeared once more into thin air as he gazed down on the broken shell of a man that his finger had reduced his opposition to.
"You just finger flicked him" Karin said. "That isn't a strategy. At all."
"Of course it is; if I hadn't come up with something like that then he could have kept me there all day."
"You… you monster..." Kurumadan gasped clutching at his forehead, manly tears streaming down his face.
"Enough of that now! It's not fitting to call someone a monster after they beat you fair and square."
"Damn it... now… now I won't be able to intercept those other two. I've failed..."
"Other two? There are more like us around here?" Rider suddenly grew serious, and walked over to his downed foe he prodded him slightly with his foot. "Where were these others do you say?"
"What's it to someone like you, eh?" Zennosuke managed, glaring up at Rider from the pavement.
Rider frowned and then bent over, bringing Zennosuke to his feet gently. The Shinigami looked rather green, but Rider gave him a firm couple of pats on the shoulders and leaned him against a nearby streetlight.
"Can you heal people?" Karin asked, coming closer herself and giving the defeated Shinigami a worried look. He looked very out of sorts, and she was not eager to be charged with battery or something. Besides, it's wasn't like she liked people getting hurt, even if they were idiots.
"No, but he'll be fine. Just needs some wine and a little rest and he'll be back on his feet in no time. Those books are still mine, by the way."
Zennosuke nodded reluctantly, cringing away from Riders friendly smile.
"So, these other two, I happen to be keeping an eye out for others like us you know."
Zennosuke shook his head reluctantly. "They- they weren't like you. I'm not exactly sure, they felt like Shinigami... but one was also like Hollow... I think..." He trailed off sounding very confused with his own explanation.
"A Hollow?" Rider said slowly. "What's that?"
Karin and Zennosuke both looked at him in disbelief.
"Who is this guy?" Zennosuke asked, turning to Karin.
"I'm not really sure," she muttered back. Something was picking at the edge of her mind again, threatening to kick her headache back up, but she ignored it for the moment. She had assumed that he would at least know what a Hollow was, even if nothing else. Even she had known about Hollows long before she had known about Shinigami or the terms that associated with both of them. Come to think of it, he also said he didn't know about Soul Society. She had never really got around to clarifying that.
"Well…" Zennosuke started, struggling for words. After several moments, he blinked in astonishment. "Wow, I have never had to explain this to anyone before...A Hollow is like a great big beast, kind of."
Rider blinked. "A beast?"
"That's not what a Hollow is!" Karin sniped at the beaten man.
"Well, maybe that's not the best explanation," he amended, scratching his head before starting again. "A Hollow is like a great big beast, but with a hole where its heart is. And it's black to."
"Wha- Really? Really? That's not what a Hollow is, either!" Karin yelled kicking at the Shinigami. "Are you even a Soul Reaper? The last Soul Reaper who patrolled around here was at least smart!"
"Well that's basically what they are," he said, trying ineffectually to defend himself from her foot with his empty scabbard. "I'm doing the best I can!"
"If the beasts have holes in them, then wouldn't they quickly bleed to death?" Rider asked. He seemed oddly distracted, looking away down the street at something.
Karin shook he head at Zennosuke, wondering at his incompetence. How could someone be a Shinigami if they couldn't even properly explain what the things they were sworn to safeguard the living from are? She was forced to put up with a lot from her dad, Jinta and Urahara, but really? Now it fell to her to do a Shinigami's job. "Hollows are evil spirits who's anger and rage have transformed them into monstrous ghosts who prey on the living and the pure dead as well. You saw one on the night you appeared, remember?"
"Ah. I seem to remember now." Rider's voice came sounding rather off. He was not looking at her, she realized, but at something above them. "Tell me girl; do they also happen to look something like that?"
A shadow fell over Karin's face and all at once a minor prickling which had been growing unnoticed in the back of her head blossomed into a fully-fledged headache. Beside her she felt more than heard Zennosuke take in a huge breath.
Looming over them was the biggest Hollow Karin had ever seen, at least eighteen feet tall and wider than the biggest elephant. It was huge, pale, covered in fur and radiating malice in a way she hadn't believed was possible. But it was more than even that. Karin fell to her knees, drops of sweat working their way down her face. There was something horribly familiar about that monster, something that reared up in her psyche like a snake. She could hear her mother...
The Hollows mask was somehow halfway open exposing a leering gigantic face, awkwardly set in its monstrous body.
"There you are." It rumbled at them in an impossibly deep base- no, its voice was clearly addressing her. Karin felt a squall of terror at the realization and sunk further down almost curling up into the same fetal position that she had found so comical in the Soul Reaper only moments before.
"I thought I recognized you girl," the monster leered. "Karin Kurosaki. Your brother is nearby. I was going to pay him a visit personally, but when I smelled you I figured that I might as well pay him a proper visit by bringing your body with me!"
Karin gasped, and covered her ears to block out the sound of its voice. The Shinigami had been right after all. She had never really seen a true Hollow before, and when you boiled it down, what was a Hollow but a beast with a hole in it? A ravenous hole that would swallow you down into oblivion and spit out your bones? Why did it matter if one knew what a Hollow was beyond that? Why did anything matter? She could feel it looming over her, her head was splitting open from its closeness… she was going to die...
Her spiraling train of hopelessness was interrupted by the sudden presence of a strong hand on her shoulder. She blinked and all at once the spell was broken. The hand griped her and Karin rose with it, coming to her feet gasping like a drowning swimmer pulled from deep water.
"There, Karin. Steady now girl." It was a simple reassurance, but somehow those simple words robed the Hollow of its menace and restored the strength to her limbs. She understood now, the Hollow had been crushing her with its Reiatsu, grinding her spirit down. But what one could do, another of the same power could cancel. Rider must then be using his own Reiatsu as a shield, to block out the unnatural power of the Hollow.
But no, it was more than even that, she realized. If it were simply a matter of the creatures Reiatsu being blocked off then she would've still probably be scared witless by its size and appearance. Instead she felt fine now, almost calm in fact. She could feel a powerful reassurance flowing from Rider; it was in the way he held his head and shoulders, the way his arms hung easily at his sides. The Shinigami felt it to she noticed, he seemed to be hiding behind Riders shoulder, his fro poking out over the top just as it had from behind the wall. It was...
Involuntarily her vision flickered again, the same way it had the other day in the crowded hallway. She saw again the graph like layout reading:
Servant: Rider
Master: Karin Kurosaki
True Name: Alexander the Great
Strength: C
Agility: E
Endurance: B
Mana: C
Luck: ?
Noble Phantasm: ?
Only this time, at the bottom she could see something else. A small footnote which read two skills:
Military Tactics: Rank B
Charisma: Rank A
"So, when I said they had strange things in the east, I was not grasping the full picture was I?" Rider said, looking the Hollow up and down. "I suppose its best I never came this far. My poor army had a hard enough time with elephants."
"Who the hell are you, little man? What are you mouthing about?" The Hollow snarled taking a menacing step forward.
Rider's arms moved up to settle upon his hips as he continued to stare up at it undaunted. "I'm Alexander, though some call me Iskander. I would give a more extensive list of my titles, but... something tells me you are not much the kind to be caring."
"You would be right little man. I eat the names of those I kill, like you." It gave a rumbling chuckle and then reached one of its huge ape-like arms back over its shoulder to grasp an immense hilt that Karin had not noticed before.
"A-a sword!" Zennosuke squeaked. He sounded cowed even with the shelter Rider was giving him from the Hollow's Reiatsu, and with good reason. "A Hollow with a sword, that's impossible!"
It laughed again. "Of course it is! But I am no mere Hollow! I am an Arrancar!"
"The difference is lost on me I'm afraid." Rider growled back. "Hollow or Arrancar, you still seem to have a hole in you. How do you breathe with that there?"
The Hollow, or Arrancar rather sniffed at Rider a few times, and, perhaps seeing that it would get no fear from him, shook its head. "Little man, too stupid to know even when to scream."
It drew its sword, an impossible length of curved steel and held it out before it in a lazy manner. Karin and Zennosuke both gaped up at it unbelieving, seeing the sword tower even the giant wielding it, almost like a skyscraper.
Doubt filled her again. She knew that Rider felt powerful sure, but against that Karin was not sure he could win. She wasn't sure anything could win against that. It made the length of bronze that Rider used, something she had thought looked oversized before, look like a toothpick in comparison. Even Rider seemed to be considering the gigantic blade with fascination.
Then with a roar, the Arrancar brought it down driving what must have been fifteen feet of steel towards them with horrible speed.
But as the monster moved, so too did her protector. There was a glitter of crimson and gold, and in an instant Rider had somehow changed from his casual shirt and jeans into his armor. The light from the streetlamps gleamed off elegant layers of bronze and leather, and a long flowing train of royal red billowed out behind him as he strode forward to meet the coming blow.
Karin went pale. The idiot was trusting to his physical strength against that? He was going to get himself slaughtered! "That's not the way!" she wanted to scream. "If you want to win you have to dodge!"
There was a terrible clang, a screeching sound of metal on metal that seemed to make the air shake. Zennosuke squeaked again, and realizing that he no longer had Rider to hide behind, grabbed Karin instead.
The two of them gaped at the sight before them. Rider was still standing, the massive blade had driven his arm back, bringing his own sword almost to his shoulder, but there it had stooped. Tense seconds passed as the spectators and giant tried to process what had happened. Then, with muscles bulging, the Servant began to push back, and slowly, impossibly, the vastly greater blade with which he contested was driven back in turn.
"I-Impossible…!" The Arrancar murmured loudly in disbelief.
Karin agreed with him, but all the same it was happening. Somehow, Rider's strength matched that of the giant before him… or maybe even surpassed it.
Snapping out of his stupor, the Arrancar quickly added another hand to the blade of his weapon and continued pressing down. Mimicking his opponent, Rider added his other hand to the hilt of his blade as well and continued to push back. The Arrancar roared, and gave up the pushing contest, drawing its blade back to swing again. Rider stood his ground and swung back in response as well, the blades clashing in a similar fashion with much the same result as before.
"Impossible!" *Clash * "I am the Grand Fisher!" *Clash* "I am an Arrancar!" *Clash Clash*
The beast howled again as he lashed out at Rider with everything he had, swinging his oversized blade with the full power of his giant build behind it again and again and again. It did not matter; Rider stood his ground like a rock in a storm, halting or deflecting every smashing strike that came his way. To Karin it did not seem possible, but somehow, his eyes squinted and his arms straining he was holding his ground against an enemy an easy ten times his size.
And then he took a step forward.
The Arrancar howled once more at the sight of his advance and swung his weapon in the widest, most brutal arc yet. Again Rider matched it, and swung his blade upwards with both hands with a grunt and grim expression. The two blades met halfway, and this time it was no mere stalemate. The monster sword gave way and went spinning from its master's grasp to land some fifty feet away.
The Arrancar gaped, and Rider charged.
What followed was a crude butchery. Rider it seemed was somehow stronger than the monster, but the creature was so big that he did not seem to have a clear idea where to strike to finish it off. He opened wide gaping gashes on its legs, it clawed at him. He drove his sword deep into its chest seeking its vitals, it screamed and tried to grapple him succeeding for a moment before he broke free again and took off an arm. When the beast tried to flee, screaming curses at him all the while, he finished the job on its legs, bring its behemoth body to the ground with a crash. It was only then that he was able to get the clear shots at its head that finally felled it. Karin was covering her ears by the end of it, though she could not bring herself to look away. Beside her the Shinigami looked as if he were about to be faint.
Spiting on the body once, Rider marched back towards them, a trickle of blood running down his face. He did not look pleased. "Geez, that thing stank."
"A-ah, isn't the body supposed to evaporate?" Zennosuke ventured, looking terrified of the grim warrior who was now returning.
"How should I know? It's a giant spirit monster. I suppose if it's not like us Servants, its body could take several weeks to rot. That's a lot o' meat."
It should evaporate quickly once it's been purified. Karin almost said, but she stopped herself. For all she knew when a Hollow that strong died it took longer. Instead what came out was: "I think that thing killed my Mother."
Rider blinked and turned to her looking taken aback. "Karin, what are you saying? Is your mother..."
She shook her head. She was almost as surprised as he was, but once she had said it she knew on some level that it was true. "She died a long time ago, but... I remember that thing now."
"...I am sorry." He laid his hand on her shoulder once more. "It if is any comfort to you, she is avenged. Hades' messengers will bring the news to her on fleeting feet. Her killer is done, and her own daughter has brought her justice."
"Me?" she said slowly. "That's all wrong. I didn't do anything. You were the one who killed it." She was surprised to find that a little bitterness had worked its way into her voice.
"You are my Master, Karin. If it were not for you I would never have been here and the beast would yet roam free, seeking to devour your brother. Any victory I obtain is yours as well then."
She didn't respond yes or no, but only kept looking at the butchered corpse of the Arrancar until Rider planted his hand on her head and forced her face away from it.
"H-hey!"
"Little girls shouldn't brood on such things for too long. At least not while looking at such filth. Morn your dead in a tomb, the city's for the living." He gave her a small jab with his foot and pointed in the direction that they had originally been walking.
"That's rich coming from you, you're dead."
Rider flinched visibly and looked down at her aggrieved. "Oy! That's enough of that, girl. I lived more in my life than most by far, I'm entitled to a little liveliness after death I think."
They began walking back the way they came, Riders royal garb and sword fading once more to reveal the casual clothing that he wore underneath. He stretched and rolled his shoulders before chuckling to himself. "Ah yes." Swinging his hand out casually, Rider grabbed Zennosuke by the collar as he was tiptoeing away in the opposite direction.
"Wha!"
"I feel the need for some liveliness indeed after that. Something to lift the spirits. And you need some wine yourself after our little tussle I think. Nothing like drink to celebrate a beast slain, or to mend the shame of a brawl lost either."
"Oh, uh, well, I suppose this is my jurisdiction after all... Nothing says I can't have a drink or two as long as-"
"Good! I'm the visitor to this land so you can pay, and show me the best this town has to offer. Wine for two. No, make that three, I'm a big man. And wine is also good for toasting to a family member avenged, I think. Make that four."
Karin turned to her Servant with a neutral, yet annoyed glare. "Rider, I'm eleven years old. I can't drink, baka."
"What? Why not?"
"It's the law. Don't you know anything?"
Rider looked aghast. "There is a law that says you can't drink wine at eleven years old?! Are your magistrates mad?"
"Maybe no one ever told you ten thousand years ago, but booze is bad for your health."
"Nonsense. Spirits make you strong, they purify the water. You can't seriously expect me to believe that you have never had wine before. Once a week minimum."
"No."
"Ha! No wonder you're so scrawny. We have something to fix then for sure."
"Rider, I'm not-"
"I will have to order extra to celebrate my Master's first. And now that I put my mind to it, I don't think I've ever actually slain a beast before. Huh. Even more wine then. Wine for six!"
"Gah! I-I don't really have that much money Mr. Rider!"
Slowly as they walked away together down the street the voices of the strange companions drifted away and fell silent leaving behind the monolith of butchered flesh that had once been an Arrancar.
And perhaps still was.
As the last traces of its slayers voice faded from hearing the Arrancar who was the Grand Fisher stirred and opened an eye.
Glancing fitfully around, it ascertained that the danger was passed and slowly moved, rising onto its knees. Its body was a ruin, its legs and left arm gone, not to mention a series of deep gashes that had been opened up across its torso. But it was still alive, and the malice that burned bright in the hole where its heart once lay was as fierce as ever. The fools didn't know what it took to keep an Arrancar down apparently.
"D-damn it. That bastard... I'm gonna kill him, I'll kill them all. Just wait."
Crawling forward pulling itself across the ground with one arm it moved over to where its sword, the precious symbol of its superior evolution lay.
Its path was interrupted by a soft noise. The Arrancar turned around, squinting with its eyes. Another Shinigami had arrived. It cursed its luck, of all the times! Still... it was small, alone, and seemed to be walking straight towards him. He could squash a single Shinigami even in this state with only one arm. It should make quite a tasty meal in fact.
The Arrancar grinned internally, and let itself go limp, feinting weakness. It was an old hand at this game. It had even forgotten how fun it could be...
But instead of coming within arm's reach, the Shinigami halted just beyond where the Grand Fisher was sure he could get him. And then he started talking.
"Hmm. Our guest is a really sloppy guy it seems, even if he does look like he has some strength. But still, to not even finish his enemy's off? What carelessness."
"You... you know I'm alive? Come a little closer, Shinigami. Give me the peace I so desire."
But the Soul Reaper only shook its head sadly. "I'm sorry, you may not remember me, but I remember you, Grand Fisher."
"...Who are you then, wretch?"
The man smiled pleasantly and hoisted his Zanpakto over one shoulder. "Isshin Kurosaki."
Grand Fisher's eyes widened ever so slightly, and he struggled to push himself back up to get a better look at the man. "I see, so you are that one's father."
"Indeed."
"I came tonight wanting to kill him, but as it looks like I won't be doing that I will just have to settle for you. You were foolish to approach me alone, Kurosaki."
"I couldn't have it any other way. You may have gone out tonight with a purpose, but my purpose tonight was to avenge a certain Masaki Kurosaki. I do not suppose you remember her?"
"Remember her? No, I must have forgotten, just as I will soon forget about killing you!"
Roaring the Grand Fisher leapt at Isshin, propelling itself off the stumps of its legs and through the air, lashing out to pulverize him with his fist.
The Shinigami's tiny little sword curved up in a silver arc and split the Grand Fishers mask in two as easily as cutting silk. For a moment the Fisher stood there perfectly still, its mouth wide open in disbelief, and the next he was gone.
Isshin Kurosaki stood alone gazing thoughtfully at the ground as the moon rose slowly over the city. "Revenge tastes… okay I suppose."
"I would hope so, considering how long you waited for that one." A dark figure said, stepping out of the shadows.
"Urahara. A pleasant evening."
"Pleasant for us maybe. Your children don't seem to be having as leisurely of an afternoon."
Isshin frowned and crossed his arms. "Karin is strong. I didn't want her to learn of this so early, but it seems that she takes more after her brother." He gave a small sigh.
"While Karin is indeed a point of concern, it was not her I was referring to. Do you know where your son is?"
"I noticed," Isshin said, grimacing. "So, the Vizards have taken an interest in my son after all. Did you... hear how he replied?"
"He turned them down quite firmly, though I'm sure he can't be as adamant inside. You know, this would thing could be a lot easier if you would just talk to him about it openly."
Grimacing again, Isshin cupped his chin with his hand and continued to gaze downward, avoiding the eyes of the green clad shop-keep. "I suppose it might be in the short run, but if I do that then the last remnants of his normal life could very well become meaningless to him." He shook his head firmly. "Maybe, if the time becomes right then I will tell him, but I am not ready to give up on Masaki's dreams yet. If Ichigo could hold on to an ordinary life even for a little while, well, to me that in itself is worth fighting for. Besides, I think in a way he draws his strength from wishing to protect us. If I were to become just another Shinigami Captain to him..."
"You would never lose his affection by telling the truth," Urahara replied softly. "But if you are adamant then I suppose it can't be helped. I won't press on it further."
"Thanks."
"What I will press further on is your daughter." Urahara said, his voice becoming light again, while he twirled his cane in the air.
"I was wondering when you would get to that again. I've been watching him very carefully you know, even been using a Giga to fill in for me at work for the past few days. Big Red is a... curious fellow."
"A curious fellow who's somehow attached himself to a human's Reiryoku in a way we've never seen before. Whoever he is, and whatever his motives are, once the battle starts between Aizen and Soul Society he will be noticed. If he is not already an agent of Aizen then before long both sides will be gunning for him; and for Karin by extension. I'm surprised that the Onmitsukido has not already been sent to retrieve him. "
Isshin folded his arms again looking uncomfortable. "So, you would kill him then?"
"Kill him? No, not at all, we need only remove him and Karin from the city for a while."
"Hey!" Isshin pointed at Urahara accusingly. "What was it I said about my children living normal lives just a few seconds ago?"
"You don't really leave me any other options." Urahara insisted, pointing his cane right back at Isshins face. "We can't remove him from Karin without cutting of the bond that they have formed, and I am now certain we can't do that without killing him. Unless you want a unique spiritual specimen, not to mention a very cheery personality dead the only option is to hide both of them.
"If you want I can whip up a Giga that Ichigo would never see through. He would not need to know she was gone, and we can even erase her memories of it latter if you insist, though I wouldn't see the point. Karin already knows far more about the Spirit World than her sister. Letting her spend time with that Don Kanonji fellow has spoiled all your grand designs for her normal life it seems. Can say I didn't warn you, by the way."
"Geez," Isshin punched himself lightly on the forehead several times, grinding his teeth. "All right, all right!" He whipped around pointing back at Urahara once again. "We do it your way, grand genius man. It might be fun to watch some of your clever little designs fall apart for once, so I'm giving this one to you after all. I warn you though," He said more seriously. "If Karin is hurt, I will be holding you responsible." He tapped the side of his scabbard a few times. "Got it?"
"Oy oy oy." Urahara waved his hands defensively, a floppy grin appearing as he pulled his hat lower down on his face as if to shield himself. "You know my plans don't go wrong, after all."
"Good to know; it's even better to hear the specifics first so I can judge for myself. What will you do?"
"Easy, easy. Yoruichi and I will pay him a visit and explain things to him in the morning. We'll take him to the training grounds under my shop. It's warded against spiritual detection and they'll be safe for a while."
"I haven't been watching the man for more than two days now and I can already tell you how that will go over." Isshin said shaking his head.
"We'll knock him out if need be. A big man like that might stew for a little but once he cools off we'll explain things to him, see if he can answer some questions."
"Here I was thinking you would come up with something cleverer than hitting them over the head and hiding them in your creepy basement." Isshin said, his voice mocking. "I should take back what I said about you being a genius."
"Hey now, no need to be so hasty," Urahara insisted waving his hands again. "My creepy basement is in itself a work of genius, so hiding them there is simply the best way for now."
Isshin nodded slowly, and allowed himself a half smile. "I'll trust you then. Good luck."
"And to you, as well. Keep an eye on Ichigo. Both eyes if you can, though I hope I shouldn't have to say that to his own father." With a last mock bow Urahara signaled his goodbye and disappeared again into the night.
Isshin watched the shop keep leave, and then gave the ground where the Grand Fisher had evaporated one last look before rolling his shoulders. Things were getting awfully complicated with his children. "Heh. At this rate when I get home Yuzu will be shooting spirit arrows." The thought made him chuckle.
"Now... I guess I had better go make sure that man doesn't get my daughter drunk."
Lights flickered and keyboards chattered mechanically under the fingers of the dozen Shinigami inside the Division Twelve headquarters in Soul Society. Wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead, Rin Tsubokura nibbled absently on the end of a rather stale toffee as he gazed dully down at the screen in front of him trying to make sense of the mess.
It had only been a few days ago when the irregular readings had cropped up, but the Captain had been so excited that he had kept them working around the clock without sleep or rest since. Never much one for pressure but not daring to ask the Captains permission to quit, Rin had reached deep inside himself and summoned up all the strength he could to keep going on for one more day... two days ago.
It was odd but after a certain point of sleep deprivation one didn't feel very tired anymore, or at least not sleepy. The body consigned itself for the long haul and the tiredness became simply a dull numbness behind the eyes.
Not that it meant he wasn't going crazy.
It was always dark inside the bowels of the Twelfth Division headquarters, and the almost constant tap-tap-taping of the keys was sometimes enough to drive him frantic on a good day. Akon had said that one grew used to it after a few years, but five years later the noise was still picking away at his nerves, and after 75.3421 nonstop hours of it, Rin felt as though he would go mad if he were forced to endure the sound for another day. Some daring researcher had made a timer of the clicking up on the wall using Kido. It was the closest thing that anyone had come to protest, though if Mayuri had noticed he made no sign.
Biting the toffy in half he chewed slowly and then spat out a bit of wrapper that had fused with the gum. How old was this thing? He hadn't cleaned out his pockets in a while...
The screen in front of him let out a small buzz and he turned to it again before making a small note in his records.
"Everyone get that?" Hiyosu chimed happily. Of all the Researchers, he was the only one who seemed to still be keeping his enthusiasm for the project up. Then again, if what he had heard was true then Hiyosu was probably on some rather powerful stimulants right now.
"Aye," A dozen voices answered dully, his included. The tapping, steady drone before briefly became a storm as the researchers raced to make their notes; before dying down again to its previous level.
Something, or rather some things were loose down in Karakura Town and were leaving strange spiritual residue all over everything. It had happened only three days before, and Hiyosu was watching the world of the living when the readings started coming in. A peak of spiritual pressure with some very odd components that apparently were not on record had spiked up in the city.
The news had been like a bomb at the time. New spiritual phenomenon were not exactly common and even Rin had been just as excited as everyone else. Mayuri's excitement had been frightening; a nearly murderous glee that spoke ill for anyone who interrupted his lab time in the next few weeks. Hiyosu had been drooling (literally), Akon was reportedly seen smiling (something he had 800 Kan placed against) and as for himself he had given almost half his sweets out in mock celebration. It was the most lively that he had ever seen the Twelfth Division by far.
But now everything sucked.
Rin was himself a great believer in the off hands research approach, but how much more could they possibly learn by watching these things on a monitor from another dimension? It was past time someone went down and got a sample or three. Not that he would volunteer for the job, the-
A harsh bleeping noise drew his attention back to the screen once more, and he blanched. Leaning over so far his nose nearly touched the glass he watched as the markers on the graph representing spiritual power spiked in a way that was much more familiar. A Hollow, he thought for a moment, but no, that was wrong as well. Could it be that he was looking at another new spiritual signature?
The taping of keyboards fell mercifully silent across the room for the first time in three days as the others registered the same. Whatever it was, one was down there, and two more were on the way.
"Look!"
"Are you getting this now?"
"W-what? Not now!"
"Both at the same time!?"
"They're here... how inconvenient."
Rin recognized the last voice at least. Unlike the others Hiyosu did not seem surprised so much as resigned.
The air in the room seemed to drop a few degrees and suddenly the Captains familiar silhouette was looming in the doorway. A pale almost ghost like visage shrouded in a white lab coat, the Captains appearance was one that had haunted the Twelfth Division for almost one hundred years now. The first time he had seen him Rin had thought the man looked like a clown. That impression had quickly corrected itself. Mayuri's face was that of a ghoul, and anyone who looked on it to boldly endanger themselves.
Rin jumped, bagging his knees on the underside of his desk in his haste to rise and salute. All around him the others were doing the same.
"What is this now? What are your findings thus far?" The Captains thin voice cut through the air, making Rin shiver.
"Captain, we have been monitoring the anomalies carefully, but while we did a new spiritual turbulence has kicked up, one only a moment ago, and now two more on the way. We are reading an incoming spike, both high level Hollows, only..."
"Only?"
"-They are Arrancar, Captain. It seems that they have been completed." Hiyosu spoke up giving the Capitan a meaningful look.
Mayuri's pale face scrunched up for a moment prompting several researchers to take a step back before it subsided.
"So, he decides to move things now then? Send word to the Captain Commander; Aizen is making his first move."
There was some nodding and a researcher scurried away to make it so.
"So..." Mayuri's voice was smoother than silk and full of quiet danger. He was angry, that much was plain, and Rin felt his spirit sinking into his shoes. The Captain was often in a dangerous mood, but he had seen him in a rage only once before, and it was not an experience he wanted to repeat. "What is to become of the subjects 54921 and 54922 then? Will we lose these new specimens because of wartime politics? Is our science subject to the whims of that fool?"
"No!" A dozen voices chimed all at once, his own among them. It was an unspoken rule that they had all lived under for countless years now. When the Captain asked a question in that voice, you agreed with him and quickly.
"Outrageous!"
"An insult to science itself!"
"Never!"
"N-no Captain Sir!"
Mayuri waved a hand and the agreements died away. "What we need is a closer look, I think. Yes, yes, yes, before the 5492's get mixed up or exterminated in the other divisions crossfire... and Aizen's own new toys will be fascinating to study closer for sure." He gloated, rubbing his long boney hands together. "A unique opportunity this is... to find two new spirit strains in such swift succession. We must act quickly! Someone must go down, yes..." His yellow eyes scanned over the assembled Shinigami researchers. There was an immediate silence, deeper than the one before. Only Akon would meet the Captains eyes. Mayuri frowned, stroking the tip of his double pointed hat.
"S-send me!"
All the heads turned towards him, and Rin realized that it was his voice that had spoken. Why had he done that? Oh wait, yeah he knew.
"Send me! I've been down once already and if I have to sit in this chair for another hour I'll Hollowfy!"
Mayuri glanced at Akon, who shrugged. "He is the most useless… up here at least. He performed adequately on his last assignment downstairs."
Miyuri's eyes bored into him for a moment before he turned away. "Fine," His thin drawing voice came. "I will petition the second division for an escort, and..."
"Rin, Rin Tsubokura."
"Rin is it... Go down to the world of the living then, get us pictures, get us readings, and above all else, get us specimens! If you mess this up I shall be... annoyed."
The shiver that went up his spine at those words made him wonder whether this was such a good idea after all.
Karin opened the door to her room, still shaking her head and tossed her backpack into the corner where it landed upside down. Her escape from Rider's plans to get her a drink had been long and embarrassing. No matter what she said he had refused almost point blank to believe that it was illegal to take an eleven year old to a bar. Even when Zennosuke had confirmed it, Rider had maintained that no human being with a heart would aid in the enforcement of such a "Barbaric" law.
In the end he had made a scene and they had been yelled out of a pub. Still, it had been close. There was a point where she thought that his winning smile might even get him past the waiters but thankfully the manager had somehow got wind of it and all the smiles in the world had not moved the man.
From the way he sulked while they were going back to her house, she could tell he was not used to getting rejected. It was a terrifying thought. Somehow, someway she really had wound up finding a bigger man-child than her own father.
A man-child who had the strength to hack giant twenty foot tall Hollow from her worst nightmares apart with a sword... At least he had the decency not to barge into her home due to their master-servant connection like Rukia did with Ichigo a couple months back. There was no way she could fit him in hercloset.
Biting her lip she collapsed onto her bed for a moment staring up at the ceiling before she reached for her backpack and zipped it open. She was hungry and tired, but unlike food algebra would help her forget all this wacko spirit nonsense and keep Grand Fisher's looming face out of her mind's eye. This time yesterday she was hoping that her problems would be solved by now, but they had only grown and done so almost exponentially. She really hoped she didn't dream tonight.
Diving into the friendly world of equations which she was comfortable with, she worked for more than an hour before she realized that she had ventured several pages beyond where she needed to go in her quest to find new problems. She smiled down at the page slightly. Math at least was something that was reliable.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the door slammed open in the hall below. Somehow she knew that it was her brother even before her dads familiar "I-Chi-Go!" rang out through the house.
Instead of the usual scuffle and resulting protests however, there was a flat sounding Thunk and a deadpan silence from her brother's side.
"What's wrong, Ichigo? Are you sick? Wait, is it your grades? Who cares about those eh, not me that's for sure!"
There was a pointed silence, and Karin sat up, pushing her chair back. Something was wrong.
Her sister said something and a moment latter her father apparently took up the suggestion with a: "Ohhh, could it be love then? If it is then that's okay; you're not doing love right if you can talk about it!"
Her dad's string of suggestions were cut off by a quiet word from Ichigo and a long silence followed, the only sound being the sound of her brother's slow footsteps coming up the hallway and then turning towards his own room. Something was wrong, something was really really wrong. Her brother's reiatsu, usual chaotic and uncontrollable was seeping all over the place like an oozing wound.
Getting up from her chair Karin came to quick conclusion.
When she opened the door to his room she found him lying belly down on his bed, his face turned away from the door. Even Kon it seemed had left. It scared her. She wasn't sure she had ever seen him like this, and for a moment her anger with the spirit world mounted to its breaking point.
It was all this Shinigami crap that was dragging him down, and if she let it go on, it might drag him down to a place where she couldn't find him. She couldn't allow that, no matter what.
He seemed to sense her presence and turned his face towards her. "Karin."
He sounded bone weary.
"Nii-san, what is it that's doing this to you? Please... You can tell me."
"Karin... it's nothing." He said turning away again. "I'm just worried about something little, is all. Nothing you should trouble yourself over."
"Stop that. Nii-san, you don't have to... Look, I know that you're a Shinigami."
Her brother blinked and his mouth fell open for a little. She nearly covered her mouth, she had actually said it! For a moment she wavered, wondering if she had made a mistake or not, but the next instant she plunged ahead. It was something she had wanted to do- no, needed to do for a long time.
"I know you're a Shinigami, and it's okay! It doesn't matter to me, at all, not to Yuzu and not to dad either. You don't have to hide things from us!"
"W-what?" He brother struggled for words, looking shifty as he did. "A Shinigami? What makes you think-"
"I know, all right? I saw you. You think I didn't notice when that lion doll started pretending to be my brother all those days!?"
"K-Karin... I"
And then, all at once the roof fell in with the force of a hammer blow.
Karin yelped and fell over onto the bed as the world was thrown into chaos for the second time that night. Clamping her hands over her ears, she resisted the impulse to tear at her own hair peek an eye open. Something was wrong. It wasn't the roof that had collapsed onto them, no. It was an overwhelming spirit pressure that had invaded the room, pressing down on her like a ton of steel and grinding her into the ground.
Struggling for air she somehow managed to force her way to her feet and spun around looking for her brother.
He was making a B line for the window, snatching small black object as he went. Desperate she reached out and snagged his coat. "Nii-san!"
For an instant he looked back at her. "..Sorry."
Then he was gone, his body slumped over in her hands. But she was wise enough now to know that it wasn't really him. Dashing into the sky as if he had winged shoe's, she could see her brother as clear as day silhouetted against the sky in his black robes for a moment before he disappeared from sight.
Karin fell back onto the bed, fighting against tears and pounding her fist on the mattress. The Spiritual pressure that had suddenly invaded the room was still present if fading, and she could feel its power. She couldn't let her brother go up against that alone! She had to do something...
Not stopping even to grab a coat Karin ran from the house, ignoring her father's urgent protests and her sister's confused questions. It was a long run but thankfully she found what she was looking for before she was even halfway to the pub.
"Rider!"
"There you are Girl. Did you feel that? I was wondering-"
Her so called Servant was pink in the face and looking slightly woozy, the scent of alcohol very apparent on his breath. She almost screamed.
"Never mind that! Rider, you're strong right? You beat that giant monster. Tell me that you're strong!"
The big man looked at her quizzically, scratching his head before he grinned. "Are you questioning my power girl? After last night?"
"YES I AM QUESTIONING YOUR POWER!" She really screamed this time, leaning forward, both her arms thrown back shouting till her voice broke an octave. "NOW ARE YOU STRONG OR ARE YOU JUST JINTA GROWN TEN SIZES TOO BIG?!"
The big man froze and then glowered at her, his eyes narrowing dangerously. A thick wave of pressure came off him and settled on her making her want to back away quickly. Perhaps it had been a bad idea to scream.
"Girl," His voice was flat and dangerous. "I don't know the customs of this land, yet, but where I come from children who talk to their elders in such a manner are beaten and sent to sleep outside for the night."
"Wait, look, I'm sorry!" She said backpedaling quickly. "My brother is in danger! Whatever just fell out of the sky is coming for him. I couldn't stop him from going. Please help him."
"Your family is in danger?" His threatening glower eased somewhat as he grasped the situation, and looked past her to where the overwhelming spirit pressure had come from.
Karin pointed behind her in the direction Ichigo left. "If you are really my Servant, then my first orders are to stop whatever that is and make sure my brother is okay. Can you do it?!"
Rider squinted off into the distance she pointed towards, as if he might be able to spot what it was she was asking him to go up against. Several tense seconds passed, and then he nodded. "Yes... Yes!" His grin split his face again and for the first time she was honestly happy to see it. "Whatever just landed made quite a ruckus, this should prove interesting. All right! I am Alexander the Great, King of Conquerors, the Strongest of the Servants. Hang on girl, we're about to go for a Ride."
Shimmering Alexander was once again suddenly clad in his royal reds, his sword appearing in his hand in a flash of light. He brandished it for a moment, and then with a wide arcing sweep he slashed at something invisible.
All around her the street lights flickered and went out, the air rumbled like thunder and all at once thin arcs of lightning began to play across the ground. Karin took a step back and then another, her eyes widening. The area where Rider had slashed was opening strangely as if it had been torn. From that tear poured a whole new Spirit pressure, a part of but somehow separate from the Spiritual pressure that Rider himself gave off.
Karin took a third step back and almost stumbled as something lumbering and large made its way from the dark portal that had suddenly opened in the sky. Out of it rolled the strangest contraption she had ever seen, an immense bronze and golden chariot pulled not by horses, but by two gigantic bulls, their hair black and sleek, their mussels bulging with barely restrains power. Arcs of lighting rumbled and rolled off the chariot in waves leaving blinding impressions in the air that forced Karin to shield her eyes. Looking away from the main body her eyes fell on the two curved scythe like blades that jutted out from the chariots side at almost waist level.
"Behold my Noble Phantasm! The Great Divine War Chariot Via Expugnatio!"
His wide grin still playing across his face, Rider strode boldly toward the contraption, rubbing one of the bulls affectionately behind the ear and stepping into the car without hesitation.
"You coming girl?"
Karin's legs felt like water, but when he turned towards her and held out his hand she felt her courage returning. She had never seen or felt anything like this dazzling vehicle. It looked like something from a savage fairy tale and felt strong enough to incinerate her if she approached it, but even so she stepped forward with ginger steps feeling half in a trance.
When she swung her first leg up into the chariots car Rider's grin grew even wider. He hoisted Karin the rest of the way inside, setting her in front of him. Both the bulls looked back at her curiously, but Rider seized the reigns and gave them a flick.
"Roll on, Gordius Wheel!" The Bulls lowed and broke forward in a gallop that would have swept Karin of her feel but for Riders body supporting her. And then unbelievably they were flying, the chariot clattering through the air leaving the ground far behind them in a trail of wind and thunder.
Wherever Ichigo was and whatever danger he was facing his Sister was coming, and she was not alone.
Well it's been a looong time, but I'm back. Hopefully I will be able to keep going to. So, perhaps this was predictable but in the past year or so the other Authors all dropped off and lost interest. This is good and bad, on one hand I don't get to ever see the outcome of what I still think would have been an interesting experiment. On the other hand you now get a much more conventional story that is going to be only a Bleach/Fate cross, with one Author determining where this thing goes.
It also means I have to rework the plot though, as the original plans involved a lot of crosses and with those now out a lot of things we were planing on must be changed. But thankfully it should not be to hard.
Only one major note on this chapter itself really, this is an AU in which Isshin and Urahara met up again earlier and have been discussing the Aizen problem for a bit now, which is why they are not discussing the Arrancar and the upcoming fight with Aizen more. They have already discussed it to some degree.