The Wasteland

Toushiro: "Thanks for the help, Goku."

Goku: "No problem, Toushiro."

The following day Toushiro took them all to Goku and the rest of the Z-Fighters. The young captain has already informed them of the situation and they, of course, were more than happy to help. Considering how much trouble the assassins had against Vegeta, then the rest of the saiyan's friends were going to be more than enough. Even Ichigo and his friends were there via Toushiro's request. But... The prodigy may have left something out.

Ichigo: "R-Rurichiyo?!"

Uryu: "Oh boy..."

Rurichiyo: "*Gasp* Ichigo!"

The orange haired teen glanced at Toushiro.

Toushiro: "Would you have come if I had told you who was with me?"

Ichigo: "Eh... Not really..."

Rurichiyo: "It is nice to see you again, Ichigo! How are you doing?!"

Ichigo: "Fine, I guess."

Kenryū: "Excuse me, Ichigo Kurosaki... I do believe you should know how to answer Lady Rurichiyo by now."

Both Kenryū and Enryū, especially Enryū, were leaning in just a little too close to the orange hair teen.

Ichigo: "Would you back off a bit..."

A minute later and while Rurichiyo reunited with Uryu, Chad and Orihime, Ichigo was getting introduced to someone new. He's heard about Levi from Rukia and was eager to meet the soldier. In fact, if it hadn't been for this, the Substitute Soul Reaper was going to visit him in the Soul Society today. Levi wasn't surprised that this orange haired teen knew of him. Word had apparently got around pretty fast about him.

Ichigo: "Hey there! I'm Ichigo Kurosaki! You must be Levi, nice to meet you! Wish it were under better circumstances though."

Levi: "No kidding. Nice to meet you too, Ichigo."

Toushiro had decided to bring Levi with them even though he wasn't really suppose to.

Toushiro: "Remember, Levi. I wasn't really suppose to bring you, so... um's the word, okay?"

Levi smirked and nodded. He was happy that Toushiro had brought him. After last night, he wants to see this cult get their ass handed to them with his own eyes. But there was one thing the soldier was curious about as the youth walked away.

Levi: "Can he really get away with this?"

Ichigo: "There's a LOT of things he's gotten away with. Heh-heh! Believe me... This is nowhere near new to us!"

Then the teen leaned in to the soldier for he knew something else.

Ichigo: "In fact... where those two found you... They weren't suppose to be there either. No one is."

Levi: "They weren't?"

Ichigo: "Vegeta says it's called the Valley Of Death for a very good reason. But then you probably can guess why."

The soldier just stared with wide eyes. He wasn't aware that where Toushiro and Vegeta had found him was a forbidden place! Explains the dinosaurs. Meanwhile, Goku approached Toushiro to get more of the layout.

Goku: "How bad was it?"

Toushiro: "Bad. I'm not gonna lie, Vegeta literally IS THE ONLY reason they didn't get Rurichiyo last night."

Goku: "Yikes! That says a lot. Well we'll gladly help ya, Toushiro! You can count on us!"

Piccolo: "Goku. These guys aren't going to play around this time."

Gohan: "And it sounds like they'll do anything and everything to succeed in their goal."

Chad: "Meaning anyone close by will be at risk."

Goku: "You're right. The safest thing we can do is relocate ourselves to somewhere remote, someplace we can fight without worrying about innocent people getting dragged in."

Kenryū: "Will they follow us there?"

Krillin: "They followed the three of you to Toushiro's squad and didn't hesitate attacking you there. So I'm gonna say: yeah!"

Dende: "But where is a good spot?"

Yamcha: "Hey, I know! Gizard Wasteland! It's really far away from ANY kind civilization and, NOW, relatively wide open!"

Goku: "Yeah... That IS a good spot! Sound like a plan, guys?!"

Everyone: "Yeah!"

Goku: "Alright! Everyone gather around me!"

Rurichiyo: "Thank you ever so much, sir."

Goku: "No problem. Okay! Everyone knows what to do! For those that don't, grab the shoulder of the person in front of you and don't let go till I say so!"

With everyone on, Goku placed his index and middle fingers together and held them up to his forehead. But just as he was about to leave, the earth raised saiyan noticed one that didn't get the idea. Understandable considering who it was.

Goku: "Oh, sorry, Levi! Come over here next to me!"

The soldier was confused as to what they were doing. With the friendly saiyan waving at him, Levi approached. Goku personally grabbed the soldier's shoulder with his other hand.

Levi: "Uh... What are you doing?"

Goku winked.

Goku: "You'll see."

And just like that, they all vanished. Gizard Wasteland was a rocky area full of canyons and stone arches and pillars. It was the place where one of earth's most famous battles took place... The very first battle between Goku and Vegeta. Once the land was covered with more rocky pillars and arches, but after the brutal battle from the two saiyans, the land was now relatively flat in comparison. Right in the heart of the remote land, Goku and the others all suddenly appeared just like that!

Goku: "Here we are!"

Vegeta: "... My god it's been years..."

Goku: "Brings back a lot of memories, doesn't it?..."

While Rurichiyo, Kenryū and Enryū looked around in surprise, Levi was stunned! It wasn't the location that stunned him, it was how they GOT here!

Levi: "H... H-How?!..."

Goku: "Instant Transmission! It's a technique I learned! Let's me go anywhere I want in a flash!"

Vegeta: "When you REMEMBER that you HAVE that technique!"

Goku: "Don't make me hurt you, Vegeta..."

Toushiro: "Don't worry, Levi. I was just as surprised as you when I first saw how it worked. As time goes by, you'll start seeing just what Goku, Vegeta, and the others can REALLY do."

Kenryū: "So what now?"

Toushiro: "We wait."

And the group all waited throughout the day. Most of the time they planned and strategized many possibilities and outcomes. They all wanted to be ready for anything. Despite not knowing the area, Toushiro was confident that Goku and the others did. But as the day wore on, Rurichiyo started getting agitated.

Rurichiyo: "Rah! This is stupid!"

Kenryū: "Princess, please be patient."

Rurichiyo: "No way! I'm tired of this! Why don't they just show themselves so we can get this over with?!"

Kenryū: "Believe me, I would love for this to be over myself, princess. But you heard what Captain Hitsugaya and Second Lieutenant Vegeta's friends said. These guys will most likely attack at night where they'll have a little more cover."

Rurichiyo: "But did we have to come here so early than?! I'm bored!"

Enryū tried to calm down and entertain Rurichiyo while Kenryū continued pushing it.

Kenryū: "Lady Rurichiyo. Please understand the situation we are in and take this more seriously! Your life is in grave danger! These people are the only one's who can help us!"

Rurichiyo: "I AM taking this seriously, Kenryū! But I don't see the need for us to be out here right now! It's hot, boring, and I DON'T LIKE IT!"

Kenryū: "We're here to plan for their arrival!"

Ichigo, Uryu, Chad and Orihime have seen this all before.

Chad: "Kenryū's starting to push her again, isn't he?"

Uryu: "It won't be long before she decides to run off."

Orihime: "Ichigo, shouldn't we-"

Ichigo: "No!"

Kenryū: "Head-Captain Yamamoto put us under Squad 10's protection for a reason and they proved why last night!"

Rurichiyo: "Then why are we here with a bunch of FREAKS?!"

SMASH! The earth trembled and cracked underfoot as Vegeta put his foot down and hard! Rurichiyo glanced up and saw the saiyan prince glaring at her with a rather nasty look. Clearly that last comment struck something.

Vegeta: "Now you listen here, you little brat... These 'freaks' are my FRIENDS and one of them is my own SON! So unless you have a death wish, I suggest you pipe down and be quiet! Or those assassins will be the least of your worries! Do I make myself clear?..."

Rurichiyo nodded, terrified of the saiyan lieutenant after watching him slaughter so many of those men last night with just his brute strength alone. Even Kenryū and Enryū shivered.

Vegeta: "... Good..."

And Vegeta walked away, leaving the three of them quite rattled. Even Levi, who was talking to Krillin at the time, found that little outburst quite frightening himself.

Krillin: "Never piss off Vegeta. That is an eternal bad idea."

The soldier gulped. No kidding he thought. Meanwhile, some distance away, there was another group planning for tonight. The assassins.

Assassin: "The princess is indeed with them, sir."

Assassin Leader: "Good. What have you gathered about the newcomers there?"

(Different) Assassin: "Those people with them are the friends of that man, sir. The one who took out most of our men last night."

(Another different) Assassin: "He is the saiyan prince and Squad 10's Second Lieutenant: Vegeta, sir."

Assassin Leader: "So that is the famous Vegeta, huh? I must admit, I am impressed. And if his friends are anything like him, this'll be an interesting challenge..."

Assassin: "What do we do, sir? That saiyan knew we were there even before we attacked, and just charging in will be suicide."

Assassin Leader: "That is why we've brought our trump card with us. Our 'pet' will be more than a match for the Second Lieutenant of Squad 10."

The masked leader stood up and approached a cage with... something truly terrifying inside. A huge beast that stood up on two legs with dark brownish red fur and piercing bright red eyes. A long snout carried many teeth, its hands wielded sharp claws and a long thick tail brushed the floor of the cage. The monster stood at least 7 feet tall, easily towering over the men. It was no creature created by nature. It was the end result of man playing god.

Assassin Leader: "Now, my pet... I have only one task for you."

The beast listened closely to its master.

Assassin Leader: "Kill Rurichiyo Kasumiōji! ... And anyone who gets in your way..."

With a snort, the beast understood as it was let out of its cage. That night, most of the Z-Fighters and friends slept, conserving their energy and strength for the fight they knew would come soon. Toushiro was up for his shift of watch duty. He could feel that something was about to happen at any moment. But then, out of the corner of his eye, the young captain caught a glimpse of Rurichiyo running off somewhere!

Toushiro: *Perfect... Just perfect...*

As it was SHE who was the target, Toushiro ran after her. A short time later, the young captain caught up with the stubborn noble.

Toushiro: "Rurichiyo, what are you DOING out here?!... You can't be wondering around by yourself!"

Rurichiyo: "I KNOW that!"

Toushiro: "Then would you mind telling me why you are out here alone when there's a target on your head?"

Rurichiyo: "It's just... RAGH! I can't take it anymore! Kenryū treats me like I'm a little kid all the time and now I'm the target of yet another group looking to kill me! ... Why do these things keep happening to me?..."

Toushiro: "You're an important noble and there are a lot of bad people out there. Things like this happen. It may seem like it happens to you and only you, but it doesn't."

Rurichiyo: "Are you sure?..."

Toushiro: "I'm sure. Remember, I'm a captain. I've been around despite my age. ... Can't believe I just said that..."

Rurichiyo: "Ok... I'm sorry for running off, Captain Hitsugaya."

Toushiro: "Come on. Let's go back."

Just then... All hell broke loose...