Bleach: The Great Story
chapter 7: Urahara's Training: Hone the Hollow
7th chapter split between Yoruichi and Ichigo. Yoruichi's side first
Yoruichi stopped just outside of head captain Yamamoto's office. She was still a little upset over what had happened in front of the Seireitei. The purple haired heroine felt that she was right to do what she did: chastising her friend and ordering her to return to the living world to apologize to Ichigo and aid him. What had the Shihouin girl so riled up was that Soi Fon usually would never act like that, especially not towards one who would risk his life for Soul Society. Yoruichi wondered what could have possibly provoked her closest friend to act in such a way?
Pushing it out of her mind for the moment, the formerly exiled noblewoman took a deep breath, lifting her arms shoulder high to allow for more air, Yoruichi knocked on the door leading into the office of the one whom she had to prove her worthiness to rejoin the gotei 13: Shigekuni Genryuusai Yamamoto. "Who goes there?" The voice of an old, old man boomed through the door that seperated Yoruichi from her zanpakuto's keeper. "Yoruichi Shihouin, Sir. I've come to give my report on my mission in Karakura Town." The young girl anxiously awaited permission to enter the squad one's captain's room.
"You may enter." Yoruichi took one last breath, focused her mind on what she would include in her report, and what she would not, and pulled open the sliding door, stepping slowly into the main conference room of the gotei 13's headquarters. The martial artist could feel the tension in the air as she stepped into the office, making sure that her posture was perfect and her stride was appropriate for the situation: purposeful, yet modest. (I really hate having to carry myself like this) she thought as she strode into the middle of the room, where she would give her report not only to the secular leader of Soul Society but before the other 7 of the ten remaining captains in the spirit world.
All eyes were on her now. Both the captains and Yoruichi waited patiently to hear the words: Please begin your report, Yoruichi. Seconds seemed to pass like hours. (Why does that old fart always keep me waiting? What's the point?) The would be soul reaper was so fixated on this, that she had nearly missed the indication that she may begin her report. "Since all possible parties are present, Yoruichi Shihouin, you may now give your report."
That was it. No 'please', no 'thank you', simply 'give the report'. "Yes sir." Yoruichi said as she took a breath. "One month ago, during Ichigo Kurosaki's trek into Hueco Mundo, I arrived in Karakura town to fulfill the two requirements of my reinstation and the return of my zanpakuto, Shunneko. Over the course of the next few weeks, I proceeded to hunt down and destroy 256 hollows, the prededermined quota needed to fulfill the first of my two tasks."
The girl took another breath so that she could give the other half of her report. "Because I fulfilled the first of the two tasks before Ichigo Kurosaki could return from Hueco Mundo, I had decided to lay low near the Urahara shop until his return. The night that my proposed candidate had returned, I was attacked by an Arrancar of the Adjuchas class, who's full name was Carmelita Maria Concepcion Vasquez de Santiago."
Yoruichi paused to take in another breath. "Upon the Arrancar's appearance, I summized that I alone would not be able to handle killing it, I used flash step so that I could arrive at Ichigo's residence to request his assistance."
"Just a moment, Yoruichi," captain Kurotsuchi interrupted, convinced that he should in order to squeeze more info from the interviewee. "Is Kisuke Urahara not more powerful that Ichigo Kurosaki? Could you not have gone back to his shop for his assistance?" The cyborg taichou's question was inquirical in nature, but also an oppurtunity to mock his former boss.
(Damn it all! I hadn't planned for this question to come up! What am I going to tell them?) Yoruichi started to sweat. She quickely came up with a believable half lie. It was a half lie because although she hadn't done so for that reason in the first place, but it was an added bonus. "I was already more than half way between Urahara's shop and Ichigo's house, so it would have taken longer. I also saw this as an the oppertune moment to test Ichigo's combat abilities, thereby eliminating the second of my two tasks."
"Tch! If it is as you say." The scientific shinigami scoffed in response. "But I say that there is more to this story than you let on. Why is it that you would try to withhold information from the court guard squads, hmmmm?"
"Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi!" Head captain Yamamoto shouted, shocking all of those involved. "I will thank you to wait until Yoruichi Shihouin has finished her report before you begin any cross examination. One more out burst such as this and I will have you stripped of your rank as captain. Is that understood?"
Mayuri couldn't deal with the possibility of his rank as captain being turned over to his brainless, sluggish, irresponsible harlot of a daughter. He could only say a simple "Yes sir, I apologize to you, the other captains, and to miss Shihouin" before stepping back into place. Head captain Yamamoto motioned for Yoruichi to complete her report.
"Once I had flash stepped to the front door of Ichigo's house, I knocked on it loud enough to wake him if he were asleep. Immediately afterwards, I was stricken by the Arrancar, who'd quickely retreated. After Ichigo Kurosaki answered the door. I requested that he provide medical services to me and destroy the Arrancar. This concludes the report on my mission to Karakura Town."
The captains took a few moments to digest this information. After what seemed like an eternity of standing around, The silver bearded taichou spoke to the young noblewoman. "Very well then, the other captains and I shall relay this information to our respective squads, I give you permission to return to the living world once captain Unohana has given you treatment for any wounds Ichigo was unable to heal, you may leave now, I suggest that you visit your home as your family would like to congradulate you on a job well done."
Yoruichi nodded. "Thank you, head captain. I shall do so." She gave a soft sigh of relief as she left the office of conference. She didn't want to go back for a long time.
The princess stepped out of the building, looking up into the afternoon sky. It was nice weather, so she decided to walk instead of shunpo.
-------ICHIGO'S DAY-------
"Tell me something, Ichigo." Byakuya said as they made their way over to the Urahara shop. "What news do you have of my fukutaichou Renji and my sister Rukia?" Ichigo started to get nervous, trying desperately to come up with some kind of answer.
"Er well, I can't say for sure we'll just have to find out when we get there." Ichigo chuckled. Earning a quiet "hmph!" from Byakuya.
"Hey, here we are." Ichigo said as he strolled up to the entrance. "HEY! SANDAL HAT! TESSAI! URURU! JINTA! RENJI! RUKIA!" Ichigo shouted, getting the attention of the shop's crew the best way he knew how.
As if on que, Ururu came out to greet them. Smiling, she chimed "Good afternoon, Ichigo, who's your friend?"
"He isn't exactly my friend, Ururu. This is Rukia's older brother, Byakuya." Ichigo pointed his thumb in the Kuchiki's Direction.
Ururu hopped over infront of Byakuya and beamed upwards into his cold gaze. "So your Rukia's Onii- Sama, huh?" she asked with a sunny disposition. The black haired taichou nodded in response and inquired as to where his sister and liutenant were.
"Freeloader is down stairs training with Urahara senpai and Jinta senpai, and Rukia's inside, drinking tea with Tessai."
Byakuya thanked the small girl and followed Ichigo inside, where the two were greeted with smiles, drinks, and snacks from from Tessai and Rukia.
"Tessai san, would you please show me where the downstairs training ground is? Ichigo needs to speak with Urahara and I must speak with Renji about his career as my liutenant." Byakuya politely asked, to which Tessai nodded and proceeded to guide them into the room which held the trap door.
"W..w..WaitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminuteWAITAMINUTE!! Onii- sama please don't kill Renji, we've only been dating for a few days and I swear he's never made a pass at me! Please don't kill him! Please please please! He's been a perfect gentleman to me!" Rukia thrust herself into her brother's path, bowing and pleading and screaming.
Byakuya could only stare at her with widened eyes as he tried to comprehend the information he had just been fed. "He...Re- Renji's your...boyfriend???????"
All eyes were on Byakuya. No one said anything, no one swallowed, blunk or even dared breath. after a minute of being sure that they would all be slaughtered by Senbonsakura, Byakuya finally spoke. "Hmph. It's about time you picked up on his feelings, Rukia. Honestly, how long were you planning on keeping him waiting?" As he finished his statement he smirked, nearly scaring everyone there to death.
"So..so you're not mad about us, Onii- Sama?" Rukia stuttered, face quite flushed. The nobleman only shoke his head.
"Why would it Rukia? He's a fine man and he knows what it takes to accomplish his dreams. You've done well to earn his affections and I've never been more proud to call you my sister." Byakuya responded before climbing the ladder down into Urahara's strange room, leaving the others to ponder this new side of himself.
"Oooooookeedokee, uh before this gets any weirder, I'm just gonna follow Byakuya down the ladder here. See ya later Rukia, Tessai." Ichigo didn't follow Byakuya so much as beat him down there, because he chose to jump down.
"Have fun Ichigo, give Urahara my best and tell Jinta that he needs to finish his chores." Tessai shouted as he waved into the blackness. Rukia could only sit perfectly still and was now unable to complete a full word, let alone a whole sentence.
Meanwhile, in Urahara's training room, he and Jinta dodged several swipes from what looked like a gigantic skeletal python: Hihio Zabimaru. "So fast, Renji san, but your still not fast enough to catch me or Jinta." Urahara sang as he deflected another giant snake assault with Benihime. "And your power needs some work too."
Renji scoffed and spat at Urahara's comment, that was his method of saying "Thank you very much for the advice, Urahara sama." But instead he said "I know that captain obvious, that's why I'm trainin' aint it? Now stop with the small talk and get back to runnin away!" He howled as he swung his chain like bankai again, signaling another fierce attack, smashing several rocks in his path.
Byakuya and Ichigo watched from the distance, hearing what the Redheaded fukutaichou said. After making there presence known through a burst of energy, the three fighters stopped, acknoledging the entrance of the two Death Gods.
Ichigo, Urahara, Jinta, Renji and Byakuya all sat at a small table that Urahara kept down in this room for rest and refreshments, Ichigo finished explaining what he had herd about the Hougyouku, and the whole incedent involving Yoruichi. Urahara scratched his scruffy beard and answered Ichigo's request for training. "Ahhhh, so that's why you've come here, Ichigo kun: You want to take out the vizard and you think that I can help you." Ichigo nodded and asked once more for the former captain's help. "I'd be delighted to help you train your inner hollow powers, after all, Yoruichi is my friend and I can't allow this sort of thing to happen, not without punishment anyway."
The shop keeper flicked open his fan and waved it about lazily. "Thank you very much, Urahara sensei, I promise that I will push myself as hard as I can. Oh! Jinta, Tessai told me that you need to get upstairs and do your chores." The young, crimson haired boy donned a shock of fear as he dashed up through the room and frantically climbed the ladder, falling down several times.
"If I may speak now." Byakuya began, "Renji you have been selected as a captain candidate, the date of the first test will be one week from the end of December."
Renji's eyes went wide with disbelief. "You mean it, captain Kuchiki? I can really become a captain of the court guard squads? Oh man this is amazing! But, I'm afraid that I'll have to decline. Without me, you'd need to go through of the paper work of promoting a new liutenant."
Byakuya would hear no more of Renji's excuses. " You're going to take the tests, Renji, and if you fail, I'll fire you."
Thus ends chapter 7. Next chapter will give you all a glimpse as to why Soi Fon acts the way she acts
feedback is always appreciated...positive or negative.
Next chapter: Not there for her friend.