Chapter 6: A Lot Can Happen in One Day!
Three Days Later:
Traban and Huey stood in front of the remaining Captains, Lieutenants, and Third Seats of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads in the Captain Assembly Hall to be pick new Squads to join. It was normally you pick a squad to join, but some people were assigned to squads. They had already picked their squads, but Yamamoto wanted them to see the other captains and see if they would agree. These captains had all the information that they needed based on the Academy records. Yamamoto banged his wooden staff to call the meeting to order.
"Now then, we have with us today two youngsters who wish to be in Squads Three, and Squad Nine, but we will let you all have your say in what you think of their request." Yamamoto said gruffly as he sat and closed his eyes. Huey always did wonder why the Head-Captain got to sit while everyone else stood, but he attributed it to being old and the leader of the Squads.
All the gathered people began to mutter and whisper to one another about the two boys in the middle of them all.
Huey, being ambidextrous, had placed Raiken to the right of his waist just as Traban did with Suzuhime, though Traban is left-handed. Traban glanced around the room as he realized that Isshin wasn't there, but then remembered that he fled to parts unknown to be happy with his wife, who had been the Lieutenant of Squad Five which he and Huey had met about two years ago.
Huey realized that most of the Squads had either Lieutenants, or Third Seats standing in the place of the Captains. These Squads were: Squad Three with a Lieutenant and Third Seat, Squad Five with only a Third Seat, Squad Seven with a Lieutenant and Third Seat, Squad Nine with only a Third Seat, and Squad Ten with only a Lieutenant. Squads Two, Eleven, and Twelve were all missing there Lieutenants, but still had their Captains. He then remembered that Head-Captain Yamamoto spoke of a new Rebellion before the Third Seats had arrived.
His attention was brought back to Assembly Hall as it was apparently in an argument, with Yamamoto banging his staff to calm them and get their attention. He then spoke as if he didn't want the headaches he was getting from them, which was true.
"Enough! I shall say this, but once: These two youngsters are very well equipped to be more than the positions they ask for. If it were up to me I would make them Lieutenants, but they have respectfully declined due to not having worked to gain those placements." Yamamoto said as many eyes were now locked on the pair.
"No way am I letting him become a Third Seat alongside me in my Squad!" The current Third Seat yelled from behind the Lieutenant of Squad Three.
"You're Squad? Last time I checked you weren't the Captain of the Squad. You're only the temporary leader until a new Captain is assigned." stated Huey bored in both tone and expression with a raised eyebrow.
"See! Already he's mouthing off to his superiors, Lieutenant Iba! I will not allow him to be in my squad with that attitude just, because he's from some clan." The Third Seat said as Chikane rounded on him, but didn't say anything.
"I was just stating facts, you know; the truth and logic about a situation. No need to take it personally…" Huey said as impassively as he could while he scowled at the man's ignorance. Even in the afterlife, there just has to be ignorant-ass people. It was Woodcrest all over again…
"Indeed, the boy did state a solid fact, Third Seat. Seems the Third Division just isn't what it used to be…" The Captain of Squad Two, Hiruzen Shihoin, said with a light smirk upon his old face.
"What was that, Captain Shihoin? I didn't quite catch that." The Third Seat said threateningly as his gripped his sword while Hiruzen gave him a raised brow and a look.
"Shut up, you idiot! I like the little afro-headed brat, he's got spunk." The Lieutenant of Squad Three, Chikane Iba, said with a smirk as she placed her hands on her hips. Huey looked at her, and raised a brow as he moved his gaze to the Third Seat. Before the Third Seat could say anything else, Shunsui spoke up as he fiddled with his hat.
"Now, now. Let's not resort to violence, okay? We're all mature people, so let's just calm down." Captain Kyoraku said as he moved his hat over his eyes.
The Third Seat calmed down, but still looked angry as Chikane simply rolled her eyes. She really wanted him to just run his mouth off to the wrong person and die already.
"Indeed, but we have gotten off topic here. Now, young Huey Freeman will become the Third Seat of Squad Three by my order. Now on to you, young Traban Tousen. What say you, Third Seat of Squad Nine, Mashiro Kuna?" The Head-Captain said as everyone turned to the spot the Squad Nine's Lieutenant was… only to see her on the floor sleeping. Yamamoto then banged his staff louder than usually and she awoke with a start.
Traban then looked over at her. Her appearance is that of a young woman with hazel eyes. She wore the standard Shinigami robes, though her sleeves were very long. She also wore a pink scarf and glasses perched atop of her wavy lime green hair.
She gave a loud yawn and spoke in a child-like voice.
"Is the boring meeting with the boring and old people finally over?" she said as everyone in the room grew either angry or annoyed with her, though some were more amused than annoyed. Traban didn't know why, but she seemed like a kid sister to him already, and he had just met her.
"No, this meeting is still in session, Third Seat Kuna. Now please inspect young Tousen, to see if he would be right for your Squad" Yamamoto said gruffly while Traban held back a chuckle, though Huey didn't hold back his sigh.
She walked over to Traban as Huey scuffled away muttering about how weird the girl was. She circled him a couple of times, looking him up and down as if she could see something the others couldn't. She got in his face a couple of times and muttered things like "Good, good", "Ah, I see", or "Nice enough". She then stopped in front him backed up a step, looked him up and down once more as everyone waited with baited breath. She then opened her mouth to ask the last thing many who didn't know her would expect from a Lieutenant.
"Do you like candy and games?"
Most of the occupants of the assembly hall face-faulted upon hearing that. Shunsui was laughing outright while Jushiro and Unohana chuckled. Huey and Yamamoto raised eyebrows to the question as Traban merely smiled warmly at her. Yup, she could definitely be the little sister he never had.
"Why, yes I do enjoy candy and games. Do you?" Traban asked, gesturing to her as she smiled back like a five year-old.
"Of course I do! Do you have some candy? Huh, huh, huh, huh?" she asked as she jumped and bounced around him.
"Yes, I do. Would you like some?" Traban asked while taking out a bag of candy from the within the sleeve of his uniform. Huey's eyebrow went up even more upon seeing that bag. When had Traban gotten candy, and not shared it with him, even though he didn't like sweets that much…?
"Yes! Mashiro'd love some!" she said holding out her hands, still jumping, but in one spot.
He dropped the bag of candy in her hand and she ravished it like a starved dog. The Head-Captain and Huey's eyebrows shot up even more as she ate, while others looked ready to be sick. Yamamoto then cleared his throat to get the attention of all in the room.
"Well then, what do you think of him?" Yamamoto asked with his eyebrow still raised as she gave a thumbs up while continuing to devour the candy. He nodded to her as if understanding and then turned back to look at the two boys standing in front of him. He then nodded to himself and opened his eyes to give everyone a sharp look.
"As of this day, you Huey Freeman are the Third Seats of Squad Three, and you Traban Tousen are the same of Squad Nine. You are all dismissed to your squads to get acquainted with your new recruits, and ready for the day." Yamamoto said as he gave his wooden walking staff one last bang to the floor.
With that everyone left as Huey and Traban flash-stepped their separate ways, with Huey saying he would get set up in his Squad's Barracks and meet Traban and the others at the usual time and place.
Huey arrived at the Third Division barracks with the Lieutenant standing there to greet him. Chikane Iba, the Lieutenant of Squad Three, has grey eyes and thin eyebrows. She has dark hair with a large grey streak running along the top left of her head. She smiled as they made their way through the Squad barracks.
"Now then, we know each other's names and rank, but I have question." Chikane said as Huey glanced at her.
"And that would be?" Huey asked as she stopped in front of her office and opened it, going inside and sitting behind her desk.
"Third Seat Enema said that you were from clan. Might I ask which one?" Chikane said as Huey raised a brow.
"The Tousen Clan, though my father was a Freeman, my mother was a Tousen apparently." Huey said as Chikane raised a brow of her own.
"What do you mean by apparently?" she asked as Huey shrugged.
"As you probably know, my friend Traban Tousen is now Head of the Tousen Clan, which is one of the Four Great Noble Houses along with the Shihoin, the Kuchiki, and the Shiba. When Traban was inducted as Clan Head, he was made to read his linage in terms of life and death; meaning that whomever was a part of the Tousen in life or death were marked in the book. Traban's father had a little sister in life, and that little sister was my mother. That makes me, and my bother Riley part of the Tousen clan by blood lineage." Huey explained as Chikane nodded and narrowed her eyes.
"That was a lot of information you just handed out to me. Why?" Chikane asked as Huey raised a brow.
"Because, it's basically useless information." Huey said as Chikane nodded once again, knowing he was right.
"I heard that the Tousen clan deals with the orphans of Rukon, and that they have always had a male sovereign. Is that true?" Chikane asked as Huey narrowed his eyes a bit, but shrugged.
"It's true. It is an iron clad law in the Tousen Clan that has been passed down, generation after generation for centuries. It says that the Tousen clan must always have a male sovereign, thus a female cannot be head of the clan. Don't ask me why, but after about three generations of girls and Traban being discovered in our fifth year at the Academy, Traban was immediately asked, or rather forced, to take up the position." Huey said as Chikane sighed while nodding.
"Thank you. I know I must be coming off as pushy and nosey, but I've always had a thing for the noble clans." Chikane said as Huey nodded.
"Can I ask you something, Lieutenant Iba?" Huey said as she waved him off.
"After the third degree I gave you just now call me Chikane, and sure; what is it?" Chikane said as Huey nodded.
"Do you have a son named Tetsuzaemon Iba?" Huey asked as Chikane looked up at him in mild surprise.
"Yes, how do you know that?" Chikane asked as Huey shrugged.
"My friends and I met him on our first day of the Academy six years ago. He, my brother Riley, and my friend Cindy have been hanging up ever since." Huey explained as Chikane smiled.
"Yes, I happen to remember that day. I was doing energy readings with some of my fellow Lieutenants for the first year recruits. Tetsuzaemon has shown me your brother and friend. They're all quite alike." Chikane said as Huey sighed.
"Yeah, that was what I was afraid of…" Huey muttered as Chikane laughed.
"I know what you mean. My son gets his attitude and looks from his father, but he has my temper and brains. His father was a moron, but I guess we can't help who we fall in love with. God rest my poor husband's soul." Chikane said with a saddened look in her eye.
"He died… again?" Huey said as Chikane chuckled a bit at the small joke.
"Yes, the whole 'gangster life' is not one to guarantee a long healthy life. My husband showed me that when former Captain Hisami came to give me the bad news…" Chikane said as Huey placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Well, with that type of life it was bound to happen, just be lucky you still have your son." Huey said, not to comforting, but Chikane only chuckled.
"I like you. You're not trying to comfort me like the others. No, you give cold hard facts and don't care what people think. And you're right; it was bound to happen. Thankfully, my son doesn't know anything about being a true gangster like his father, so he's safe and not pursuing it either." Chikane said as Huey nodded and turned for the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow with your assignments, Third Seat Freeman." Chikane said as Huey opened the door, but turned to look at her over his shoulder.
"Just Huey, Lieutenant Chikane." Huey said as Chikane snorted in laughter.
"I thought I said just Chikane." she said as Huey shrugged.
"You worked hard to be a Lieutenant, right? Then you deserve to hear that rank every time someone you don't really know addresses you." Huey said as he walked out and closed the door, leaving Chikane at her desk to grin and rub her chin with a chuckle.
"I really like you, Third Seat Huey Freeman. I hope my son grows up to be someone like you." Chikane said as she began doing paperwork.
Traban had been given a tour of the barracks and the Squad by Mashiro, and now they were going to his office.
"This is where you'll work as a Third Seat, just like me. Today we're all off, but tomorrow we work really hard, so enjoy your time and welcome to the Ninth Division!" Mashiro said, and with that she disappeared; not through Flash-step, but A.D.H.D. Traban looked around his office and saw that his belongings were already in there, so he simply locked it and walked away.
He flash-stepped all the way to the West Gate and opened the small door in the gate to leave Seireitei and enter the Rukongai. He then noticed that none of the others showed up, so he did what he normally did when he was the earliest; go strolling through the woods and promise next time to be late and have a really lame excuse as to why.
As he was walking through the forest he suddenly heard laughter. He flash-stepped near the source, but kept his energy as low as possible while walked closer to the source of laughter and saw that it was three Soul Reapers and two kids.
The three Shinigami looked to be about in their thirties, and they didn't look anything special. They were probably just non-seated members of some Squad. The kids, however, did look rather unique.
The children were a boy and girl.
The boy looked to be about 13 years-old. His eyes were narrowed to slits, making it so Traban couldn't see the color of them. He is unusually thin and a bit short with very sharp features giving him a skeletal appearance. He bore unusual silver hair, and wore the standard clothing for one who lived in the lower Rukon Districts. He stood behind a tree, looking pale and scared for the girl.
The girl looked to be about the same age. She had long and wavy strawberry-blonde hair, and blue eyes. She seemed well developed for one as young as herself, but then he remembered she could be well over a 100 years-old, so he didn't think too much of it. She also had a beauty mark located under the right side of her mouth. She was on the ground with the three officers standing before her.
Then the thought hit Traban. "Are they... No, but…" Traban thought as a hand grabbed his shoulder. He whirled on the spot to see Huey and the others looking at him.
"What's going on there?" Cindy asked as she looked over his shoulder and saw the three guys standing over the girl.
"I'm not sure, but I'm gonna find out." Traban said as he went back to watching the men and children.
"Who's that skinny kid over there?" Jazmine asked as she pointed to the boy hiding behind the tree watching.
"Don't know, but by the look of his shabby clothes I'd say he's from outer Rukon, maybe District 50 or lower. The girl is from one of the higher districts though because her clothes look better, and she's probably new to being a Soul since they're still so fresh." Riley analyzed, knowing much about the people of Rukon from his experiences working with them and protecting them.
"What about those three guys. They look like unseated officers, but shouldn't they have already been helping the girl, and why does that boy look so afraid?" Huey said as he could see the boy trembling, even from where they were; which was a good ways away from the kid.
"I don't think they're here to help these kids. If they were they would have picked her up by now, but they're just standing over her and talking to one another. They're faces don't show any form of concern or even thought about the girl. Plus, if they were here to help, then that boy wouldn't be shaking like he is since he seems to be concerned for the girl." Cindy replied as Riley nodded.
"The girl doesn't appear to be physically hurt from here, but I can tell that her spiritual energy is far to low for her to even move. She also seems to have broken a few ribs and that's causing her breathing problems from what I can see. The boy over there seems to be malnourished, that's why he's so skinny. He may have also sprained his foot from the way he's leaning on his other for support." Jazmine said as she kept a sharp gaze on the girl and boy, her experience working and training under Captain Unohana giving her the ability to spot injuries a mile away with a glance.
"So what should we do? I know they look and feel weak, but they could be stronger than we think. It's not too hard to hide one's spirit energy." Traban said as he watched the men talk more.
"We'll wait here and see what happens. If they do anything we disapprove of, we'll have them imprisoned, but if they are actually do their jobs, then we'll still kick their asses for not doing it sooner." Huey said as everyone nodded and moved into position to take the three out. Cindy and Riley jumped to the trees above while Huey and Jazmine moved to the other side by the kid. Traban moved closer to the men for a better look, but still stayed hidden.
The men finally stopped talking and all of them looked down at the girl with grins on their faces. Two of the men moved to grab each arm of the girl while the other man was undoing his uniform.
Only one though went through all their minds as they moved to stop the men, "They're about to rape a child! Oh, HELL no!"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Huey said cold voice as he and the others had their blades at the throats of each man. Cindy and Jazmine were practically seething in angry at the despicable act of these... Monsters while Traban and Huey were about to decapitate the man whose hands were still in position to untie his sash. The boy looked at them all with hope in his narrowed eyes as he saw them appear.
The men looked afraid at being caught, but then saw it was just a bunch of teenagers. They turned back to the girl as they moved the blades from themselves and the leader spoke in an annoyed voice.
"Damn kids, stop yellin' and wait your turn. Now scram with those two girls before we mess ya up. They're all the Fifth Seats of Squad Five, and I'm a Third Seat of Squad Five. Now go before I get even more annoyed." he said as he slapped Huey and Traban's blades from his neck.
Then all of a sudden the three men fell to their knees and hands gasping for breath under the weight of Cindy and Jazmine's combined Spiritual Pressure as it was focused only on them. Jazmine and Cindy was about to do something they had hoped to never do in their lives; they was about to deal with rapists. Jazmine and Cindy raised their blades high, but were stopped when a hand was on each of their shoulders. It was Traban and he shook his head as he slowly redrew Suzumushi from its sheath while he spoke.
"I can't let you two kill them, because then you would be imprisoned for murder of an officer. Please, allow me to deal with these three. All of your Zanpakuto are either elemental or not for hurting others. Mine, on the other hand, is able to do damage without that damage being seen."
"Cry out in protest, Suzuhime"
The world went black and white for the three men as they screamed in agony and dropped into unconsciousness. Jazmine and Cindy took deep calming breaths while Traban then used a low-level Bakudo to restrain the men until someone came.
"I'll call the Stealth Force to take these… assholes to the my Captain. I'm sure Captain Shihoin will find the proper punishment for them." Cindy said as she looked over the unconscious men with disgust in her eyes.
Cindy clapped her hands twice, and as if on cue five members of the Stealth Force showed up on the scene. Cindy explained the situation from their arrival to the now point, to which the lead member nodded and had the others take the men away while he reported to the Captain upon Cindy's orders. Jazmine had been giving the girl medical attention, but couldn't do as much as Unohana could, so she had Traban pick the girl up and bring her to Squad Four while the others went to report the men to their various commanding officers. Jazmine left to prepare a medical table for the girl, so Traban was left alone with the two kids.
Now seeing that she was unconscious made him even more enraged, as he looked toward where the boy was.
"Come on out, kid. I know you're there, so get over here." Traban said to the boy as he stopped hiding and made his way over.
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, and your friends so much for helping her." the boy said as Traban smiled at him.
"No need, now I'm going to bring her to Squad Four so Captain Unohana can help her. Hold my hand cause we need to get there quick." Traban said as the boy grabbed his hand and they Flash-stepped at Traban's full speed.
In less than a minute they had arrived at Squad Four. Traban didn't drop the boy's hand as he led the boy to the Hospital sector of the Squad. When the doors opened Unohana was the first he saw as Jazmine was right beside her and they were walking. Traban quickly caught up to them, still holding the boy's hand like a father with his children as the girl rested into his arm and chest.
Unohana saw him out the corner of her eye, and raised an elegant eyebrow to seeing him with two children, but nodded all the same before he could say anything. Jazmine called over two nurses to her and had them take the girl from Traban to the healing station she had setup for the girl. Jazmine turned back to Traban as the boy practically clung to his side while gripping Traban's hand as tightly as he could.
"Don't worry, Captain Unohana, Lieutenant Yamada, and I'll be healing the girl just in case. I haven't filled my captain in on the details, so while Lieutenant Yamada and I begin healing the girl properly, you can speak with her." Jazmine said as Traban and the small boy nodded.
As Jazmine walked off to go after the nurses, Unohana turned to Traban and the boy, wanting answers. Traban told her everything about what he and Jazmine had seen, and she was shocked, but nodded mutely. She told Traban to go to the Tousen Family Manor with the boy, and to wait there until she arrived later, to which he nodded and Flash-stepped away with the boy in tow.
The Tousen Family Manor wasn't any different than the other clan mansions in Soul Society. It was big, spacious, and elegant looking, but Traban didn't care about that right now, as he paced the floor, waiting for Unohana, with all plans for the day forgotten. His attention was snapped back to the boy when the small kid's stomach growled. The boy blushed in embarrassment, adding a small bit of color to his paleface as Traban chuckled and ruffled his hair.
"Sorry about that, I guess you're hungry…?" Traban said, but trailed off as he realized he didn't know the boy's name. The boy gave a small playful grin as he looked up at Traban.
"Gin… Gin Ichimaru" the boy, apparently named Gin, stated with all politeness. This was not the time for mocking one of the very people who was helping.
"Nice to meet you, Gin. My name is Traban Tousen, Lord of the Tousen clan." Traban said with his hand outstretched as Gin shook it and then grinned for some reason.
"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Tousen, and thank you once again for saving that girl." Gin said with his grin as Traban grew a bit curious about the boy.
"Oh, was she your friend?" Traban asked as he sat down next to Gin while the small boy shook his head.
"No, not really, but I found her away while ago before those guys came around the first time. I followed them around and they came back to her, knocked her out, and then you guys showed up." Gin finished the grin still in place, but wavered a bit as he spoke.
"Oh, and what did you do the first time this happened; before they knocked her out and you followed them?" Traban asked.
"She was barely awake when I got there and I fed her some dry persimmons that I had. When I saw them coming I hid." Gin said, lowering his head as he spoke the last bit.
"I see, well, after Captain Unohana tells us if she's okay I'll get you home and to your family." Traban said, but Gin's head only lowered his head more.
"I don't have a home or family, sir. I'm also sure she doesn't either, since I've seen her on the streets before." Gin said solemny as Traban gained a shocked look.
He knew life in the lower Rukon Districts was bad, but this: kids without homes, or families. Traban knew what it was like to be alone. It was not something he would wish upon his worst enemy. Then he remembered what his clan was all about; giving a home to the small and homeless so that they could grow to become strong and helpful members of the Soul Society. He looked at the boy with a kind smile as he stood.
"How would you like to stay here, as a member of my clan?" Traban asked kindliy as Gin's eyes widened, allowing Traban to see his light sky-blue eyes.
Gin never expected this man, who had just met him, to invite him into his clan. It was a wild dream he was sure he'd wake up from, though his thoughts were interrupted when Traban struck a thinking pose; hand folder under the one rubbing his chin.
"Although, you wouldn't be classified as noble, per say. You would become my servant, following orders from only me and in exchange you can stay here and I'll support you in just about anything you want, sound good?" Traban said, but was surprised when Gin started bowing lowly and repeatedly as Huey and Riley walked in.
"Yes, yes. That sounds more than good, Lord Traban! Thank you, I am forever grateful!" Gin said bowing to his new lord and master.
"Umm… should we just come back at a better time?" Huey asked as Riley scoffed and dropped down on their clan couch.
"Nigga, we live here too. We Tousen clan members too. Just cause that nigga supposed to be the leader don't mean anything. He better lead us to some food then." Riley said as he made himself comfortable in Traban's private study while Huey raised a brow and Gin just kept looking toward Traban.
This man, whom he had just met, had now given him a lot; a home to live in, a lord to follow, a clan to call family, anything he wanted, and new purpose in life. He would cherish this day always. No more eating whatever was edible, no more living on the streets, and no more sleeping out in the cold. It was all behind him now. Except just then his stomach grumbled louder than before invoking a chuckle from his new Lord and Master.
"See, even the little Chinese-lookin' nigga hungry. Traban, yo ass supposed to be our leader; lead us to some damn food then." Riley said as Traban glanced at him, but placed a hand atop Gin's head.
"Let's get you something to eat then shall we?" Traban said as they moved to the kitchen where Riley started ordering the staff around to cook his favorite meals while Traban chuckled, Huey sighed deeply, and Gin's mouth watered at the exotic smells that wavered through the kitchen.
After an hour, and finding out that the little boy Gin was a bottomless pit that stayed thin and boney, they all went to the foyer to wait for Captain Unohana. Gin still had a plate in his hand as he ate from it. It was so delicious.
"What's this called again, Lord Escobar?" Gin asked as Riley snickered while Huey elbowed him, having told the small boy to address him as such.
"It's fried chicken, red beans, and cornbread. Their foods that came from the Living World, little man, so eat up." Riley said as Gin grinned up at him and nodded. Huey only raised a brow as Gin ate with even more vigor than before, and he found that hard to believe.
After ten minutes of waiting, and Gin's empty plate being taken away by a servant, Unohana was being guided into the mansion by a guard. She sat down as Traban offered her some of the tea, to which she nodded in thanks and took a cup as tea was poured into it. She sighed in relaxation. Traban always did make the best tea, though she really liked the Kool-Aid Riley made, even if it did become an addition that they had named "Kool-Aid's disease" do to the fact almost everyone couldn't stop saying "oh yeah" after drinking it.
"The child you brought to me shall be fine. She just experienced some mild stomach pains from not eating of late, a few broken ribs pressed against her lungs. We've healed her and restored her energy, and she's just finished her meal before I came to get you. Jazmine and Third Seat of Squad Two, Cindy McPhearson, are with her now, so you can see her. She wants to meet the men, women, and boy who saved her." Unohana said as Traban nodded.
"But I didn't do-" Gin started, but was cut off as Traban slapped him on the back.
"Nonsense, you helped save her in a way most don't even know." Traban said as Gin looked up at him.
"How?" Gin asked as Traban smiled while Riley rolled his eyes. These niggas was gay with their touching moments…
"You cared. You cared about her existence, when no one else did. You were the first to notice her. You may not have saved her physically, but you may have saved her mentally and spiritually. " Traban explained as everyone else nodded to his words as they all got up.
With that sappy moment done they all made their way to Squad Four's hospital and to the way to the girl's room. They knocked and heard a soft voice tell them to enter. They walked in, seeing that she was sitting up in the hospital bed with Jazmine and Cindy by her sides, looking at them as they entered.
"Wow, I bet it sucks to be you right now. Being in a hospital, in that stupid bed, having people stare at the patch of hair they shaved off your head…" Traban trailed off as the girl screamed and got out a mirror from somewhere while checking her head to see if he was telling the true, to which she sighed in relief when she found that he wasn't. She pouted childishly and crossed her arms as Jazmine and Cindy giggled by her.
"Hey, that wasn't very nice ya know. If they did that I would have just died." the small girl said as she dropped her head on her pillow while Traban rolled his eyes.
"I would have just like, oh so totally, like just, totally, like died, totally! Oh my gosh!" Traban mocked in a dumb blonde voice as he fell to the ground pretending to be dead. Huey sighed at his antics while the others giggled or chuckled. Traban was a moron at times…
"Why am I here again?" the girl asked Huey raised abrow, but Cindy and Jazmine gestured for him and the others not to tell her.
"Tell us, what do you remember?" Unohana asked kindly as she stood over the small girl.
"Well, I remember walking through the forest, looking for food, and then… nothing besides waking up here, eating, and talking to these two ladies." The girl answered as Huey raised a brow again.
"Okay what's yo name?" Riley asked.
"Rangiku, Rangiku Matsumoto." The girl said with pride as Riley grinned at her.
"Names Riley Escobar Freeman, and I like yo style little bit." Riley said as he dapped her off, her looking confused as ever.
"Tell, little Rangiku; would you like to have what I've just given young Gin here?" Traban said as Rangiku looked confused.
"I don't know, what did you give him?" Rangiku asked as Jazmine wrapped an arm around her shoulder sisterly.
"You see, Rangiku, that's what we were talking about. You see, we all belong to a clan which takes in an orphans it comes across and helps them to have a better life. It mainly works in the middle to inner districts of Rukon, because of the killing done on the outer districts." Jazmine said as Rangiku looked in thought while Cindy picked up where Jazmine left off.
"He's the Head of the clan, and that clan is called the Tousen clan. We could give you a home, food, and you could become our family. Would you like that?" Cindy said as Rangiku nodded.
"Did… Gin join?" Rangiku said, finally knowing the name of the boy who would give her food and shelter every now and then.
"Yeah, he did." Huey said as Gin smiled at Rangiku.
"Then I'll join. It would be a honor to serve under you all." Rangiku said, bowing from her bed as Riley snickered.
"Cool, then you can call me Lord Escobar- ow!" Riley was saying, until Huey smacked him in the back of his head.
Traban merely chuckled as he walked over to the girl's bed, where she hugged him while he rubbed her head as a father would his daughter. Unohana told them she could leave now as they quickly took the two kids back to the mansion; introducing them to everyone while giving them their rooms and clothes. Traban, Huey, and Riley had to go to report some thing to the Clan Elders, but told the two kids that if they needed anything to ask the other servants or clansman.
Traban, Huey, and Riley walked away from the Elder's room in silence. The Elders didn't stop them from putting the two kids in the clan, but they had asked that the two be watched for the time being and trained by some of the more experienced servants. Traban had agreed to their terms, and Riley let them know that if anything happened to those kids, that he'd be coming to kick their asses.
"Ya know I'm going out to police the outer West Rukon tomorrow." Riley said as Traban glanced back at him.
"Yeah, I know. It seems that you'll be needed indeed." Traban said as they made teir way to the roof. When they got there they saw that Jazmine and Cindy were already there watching the sky.
"I'm the most gangsta-ass cop these Rukon niggas then ever seen. They go build a statue of gold and make it look just like me, cause you know if I step on the scene, then niggas gettin' fucked up, word." Riley said as Huey only rolled his eyes in amusement at his younger brother while the others were laughing.
"Alright Riley, we get it; it took dying for you to want to be a cop, and a snitch." Huey said in amusement as Riley flipped him the middle finger.
"Nigga, shut the fuck up with yo gay-ass." Riley said as Huey smirked and wrapped an arm around Jazmine.
"Riley, I'm sure Jazmine can testify to the fact that I'm not gay." Huey said as he kissed her while Traban chuckled beside Cindy.
"It's true, he not. Well… maybe he is a little for Traban." Jazmine said playfully as she knew the two had become extremely close friends over the years. Traban stood up and walked over to Huey.
"Aww, Huey, you finally confessed our undying love to the world so we don't have to hide it anymore. I so proud of you, and I love you." Traban said as he wrapped his arms around Huey's waist, making only Riley go wide eyed as the girls laughed. Huey wrapped his arms around Traban's neck as he put their foreheads together.
"You know I'd do anything for you, my love." Huey said in a low romantic whisper as Cindy and Jazmine "aww-ed" while Traban and Huey started inching their faces closer and just as they were about to kiss Huey pulled away.
"I can't do it! I just can't! You win." Huey said laughing as the girls looked disappointed while Traban did a victory dance.
"Yes, I'm the master of Gay Chicken!" Traban proclaimed as he danced around the roof while Riley was yelling about gay-ass niggas and their gay-ass games.
Traban stopped his dance, as he remembered something that he wanted to say. He blurred away, and almost instantly was back with a book in his. Huey noted, as he gazed at the book in Traban's hands, that it was a large purple tome and held the symbol of the Kido Corps.
"What's that, nigga?" Riley asked as he sat beside Cindy and the others on the roof.
"Well, you guys know how much I enjoy Kido, right? Well, one of the clansmen heard me talking about it, and he brought it to me since he's a higher-up in the Kido Corps. It's filled with every Kido in existence to date. I've already mastered most of them with Kyoraku-sensei, but there are still some which I haven't." Traban explained as Huey raised a brow.
"What of it, nigga? Get to the point." Riley said, growing impatient with all the talk.
"Well, the point is that one of them caught my attention. It was a Kido that was classified a Hollow technique." Traban said as he flipped through the book. Riley's eyes, along with the others, widened as Traban showed them the page. The technique being called a Garganta. Apparently it was able to tear apart time and space to create a path to anywhere you wanted.
"So what are you gonna do with that? You saw the description; only high-level Kido masters should use that technique." Cindy said as Jazmine nodded beside her.
"I am a high-level Kido master. I was gonna use it to cut a path back to our world without having to use my Senkaimon so we could train in things… a bit too destructive for Soul Society to know about. Plus, there's a theory I wanted to test out." Traban said as everyone was silent for a while.
"I say we do it." Huey said as everyone looked at him in surprise. Huey was usually the one wanting to follow the laws of the Soul Society. Though in life he was anti-establishment he had grown to like most of the laws of the Soul Society, but even he admitted that the laws weren't always perfect, so he took them in stride.
"What?" Huey asked as he saw the shock on their faces, though they all turned from him.
"… nothing…" they all said as Traban shook his head and smiled.
"Well, what do you three say?" Traban asked as Cindy and Jazmine looked at each other before nodding, and Riley shrugged uncaringly.
"So long as I get to kick some ass I don't give a fuck." Riley said as Traban rolled his eyes, but kept smiling. That was just the answer he expected from Riley…
"Then allow me to start right now." Traban said as he turned toward the open sky just above the roof with his hands outstretched as the others stood behind him.
"Is this gonna be safe?" Jazmine asked as Traban nodded.
"Are we gonna get caught is more like it." Cindy said as Traban shook his head.
"No one will even know we're gonna, especially since we're all off today, and it's not even near sunset yet. Now I should recite the incantation for it, but I've made my own, and it's way cooler." Traban said as he took a deep breath and gathered his energy while the others rolled their eyes. Show off bastard…
"My mind is the bridge which connects all worlds with me. My soul is the sword that slashes reality and bleeds it of my own will. Now, let my body be that of the virgin, that is for sacrifice. Stratus clouds come and gather! For now we strike back at the viper!" Traban said as he his hands became to glow and connect through the air and a beam shot out, tearing the very air in front of him apart until it opened like the mouth of some beast.
"This… is the Garganta. It is a portal to a dimension of black and whirling energy. It warps space, bends time, and stretches on for eternity and then some. If we were to head toward the darkest we'd end up in Hueco Mundo, but if we head anywhere else we can end up in any other world; not the World of the Living." Traban said as his hands stopped glowing.
"So where are we going in there?" Huey asked as Traban smirked.
"Home" Traban said as he pointed into the portal, "Though I should warn you; there is no pathway in here, so we have to make one out of Reishi. Don't fall off it, or you'll fall for all eternity; never to be seen again." Traban said as Jazmine shivered at the cold and dark tone he chose to use.
"You've done this before, haven't you?" Cindy accused as Traban nodded.
"But of course. I won't let my friends do something without having tested it myself first." Traban said as Cindy kept narrowed eyes on him and his smile.
After some more reassurance they stepped through and followed him, to who knows where this "home" was.
Unknown Location:
After what felt like hours, which was only a minute or two, of walking on the pale green path of energy, Traban opened another Garganta and they walked out of that darkness and into another darkness, yet this one was of night.
"Okay I'm pretty sure that it was just daylight, so where did, Mr. Sun, go?" Huey asked sarcasm clearly in his voice as Jazmine giggled.
"Okay, now that we're here take a look around." Traban said as he turned to face them, speaking for the first time since entering the first Garganta.
They looked around, but all they saw was night. Huey looked over Traban's shoulder at a green thing and then Flash-stepped to it. They did the same, and as Huey read the big green sign he mouthed "no way" and promptly Flash-stepped off in a hurry. Traban chuckled and followed after him. The girls and Riley were confused, so they read the sign themselves and with wide eyes followed after the pair as fast as they could.
The big green sign they read was an enter-limits sign which read:
"Welcome to Woodcrest"
Huey and the others arrived at the place their old neighborhood, though nowhere by their old house.
"Surprise!" Traban yelled as he brought up his hands.
They all looked at him as if he were crazy while Huey took calming breathes.
"Why did you bring us back to the place all this crap began?" he asked as Traban backed up a bit.
"Well I would have done it sooner, but I needed time to master the Garganta. Now hear me out, okay? I'm mean all of you." to which they nodded and he continued.
"When I first perfected the Garganta three months ago I needed to be sure it worked, but it did so far better than I hoped. Just follow me and when we stop next, check a watch from this world." Traban said as he Flash-stepped away with the others close behind.
They arrived outside of Huey's old house. Huey looked toward his yard and his eyes widened more than ever with the others mimicking him as they gaped like fish. Traban Flash-stepped away and was back in five seconds with something they couldn't see very well in the darkest of their old neighborhood. He then placed the thing in the yard and walked back by Huey.
"I don't believe it…" Huey said quietly, his eyes still like dinner plates as Riley nodded in agreement.
"Impossible…" Jazmine whispered out as she and Cindy clung to each other, not sure of what trickery was going on.
"Traban, how?" Cindy asked, looking toward him as he smiled.
The very thing that had them freaking out was the fact that after six long years of being in Soul Society that here in Woodcrest, lay their still bleeding and dead bodies; the same as when they died.
"Apparently, in relation to Soul Society, when one is passing through the dimensions time and space are slowed to basically a stop since the last time the user was in that dimension. I'm not sure how, but I believe it is because that it's a time and space field which does it, because when I returned to Rukon from here, it was the two seconds passed time I left, and I had stayed here two days working on my theory. I then expanded the time of my stay, and found that minutes here are equivalent to years in Soul Society and vise-versa." Traban said, explaining the impossible; which was quite possible apparently.
"So from the two dimensions years pass as minutes in the other?" Huey asked.
"Yes, I believe so. It has been six minutes since last we were all here, at least by this world's count. I don't know why, but that's the way it works. Even though time passed in Soul Society, it didn't here." Traban replied as Huey felt like fainting on the spot, but didn't in fear of Riley and Jazmine never letting him live it down.
"So what now?" Jazmine asked, trying to not be so confused with their time-space smart talk.
"Well, my dear Jazmine, I would like it if you were to assist me in the healing of our dead bodies, then we'll can store them into the house until I think of how to do what I'm thinking." Traban said, confusing them more with his last words.
"Nigga, can yo ass speak plain fucking English!" Riley yelled as Traban chuckled sheepishly.
"I'm a madman, why should I?" Traban said as he knelt beside Huey's dead body and began healing it.
"Umm… I can't do very much. I've learned a lot under Captain Unohana, but that was basically how to spot injuries and administer first-aid." Jazmine said as Traban tossed her the Kido book.
"Chapter Five, Page 372." Traban said, not looking up from his work as Jazmine turned to the page.
"Whoa, this book has everything to it! It even has tips!" Jazmine said as Huey raised a brow.
With that Traban and Jazmine began healing the bodies, which was easier due to them not having Spirit Energy to heal. The bodies started breathing gently, indicating they were back to life as Riley and Huey placed each on the floor of the living room inside the Freeman house. They all sat in the living room while Traban paced the floor in deep thought. He then went up to his body, stood it up and channeled energy. The others gaped in shock when he was then forced into his body and started dancing like a madman.
"Yes! It worked!" Traban shouted as he turned to his friends to explain, "You see, I was just thinking that if I'm the soul and the Body is soul-less, then I should be able to merge with it since it was mine. I then flowed energy into my body to see if it'd work. Since it's my body, it knows my Spirit Energy and sucked me into itself to merge together once more. I believe that if I forcibly cut the flow of energy, I can leave it."
He then tried it and his body fell to the ground as if a puppet cut from its strings.
"Yes, it works!" Traban exclaimed as Huey smacked him upside the head.
"Okay that was cool, but what now?" Huey asked with a raised eyebrow as Traban rubbed the back of his head.
"We can go now, so that not a lot of time passes in this dimension until we come back to either stay or visit." Traban said as Huey sighed.
They left the house in a Garganta and arrived back on the Tousen Family Manor's roof. Traban said that they should get some rest while he did the same.
Huey and Jazmine, cuddled up in bed that night, let sleep over take them as Huey thought about what could or would happen in the future.
And trust in the fates, a lot will happen in the future.