Author's note: Please review after you read. Also, I bet you guys probably noticed I started to include "re" in front of the chapter names, well basically it is a rewrite and a re release of the chapter. The first time I released the story, it took weird turns and I could complete it. Although I still want to write it so I am redoing the whole series. When the chapters stop having "re" in front of them, that means it's mostly, if not, all new story line and not my original.
(RE) Chapter 7: Chance Encounter!
"Dammit! That was the longest two miles I have ever walked," Ichigo complained as the gang reached the city limits sign.
"I'm with you there," Orihime sighed as she collapsed to the floor.
"At least we're outside the city now," Shuhei assured everyone.
"Still, where are we going to stay?" Rukia asked everyone.
"I don't know, if Ichigo didn't break my spirit phone, we could have made arrangements," Shuhei explained.
"Ichigo is really an idiot," Renji agreed.
"Enough. I don't have the energy to fight with you," Ichigo told Renji.
"For once you're right," Renji chuckled.
"What was that?" Ichigo asked.
"Enough," Rukia ordered. Everyone let out a huge sigh as things kept getting worse and worse. They heard the sound of a huge crash and quickly turned their attention towards.
"What is that?" Rukia asked.
"It looks like a sea wyvern," Orihime (yes her) pointed out.
"No, it's more like a hollow," Renji corrected her.
"It might be," Shuhei mentioned as they saw a hollow, or what seemed like a hollow, which looked like a cross between a flying fish and a harpy.
"We have to do something," Ichigo stated.
"We can't; it's not our job," Shuhei informed him. Ichigo didn't listen to him, he took out his badge and struck it against his chest, but nothing happened.
"I can't go soul reaper," Ichigo shouted as he kept striking it against his chest.
"The soul reaper power might not work here," Renji reminded him.
"Whatever," Ichigo mumbled as with one final strike he finally released his soul reaper form.
"Ichigo wait," Shuhei called out to him but he ignored him and rushed towards the hollow. With a mighty leap into the air, Ichigo swung his sword and easily sliced through the hollow.
"That was easy," Ichigo bragged as the two halves fell and landed on either side of him.
"What the hell did you just do?" a voiced called out to Ichigo causing him to turn around.
"I just saved this town," Ichigo boasted.
"No you doomed us all," the voice told him. Ichigo finally took noticed at the stranger. He had short, spiky black hair with a blue lighting streak on each side of his head, empty black eyes, and a serious look upon his face. He was wearing black slacks, black boots, and a long sleeved, collard shirt that had the top three buttons undone. Strangely he had two swords at his waist, and it looked like he had no personalization to his outfit. Then again that could be personalized and we would be none the wiser, yet.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ichigo asked.
"That was an anti-hollow bait hollow you just destroyed," he explained.
"Say what," Ichigo was confused.
"That monster was used to draw hollows away from the city and destroy lesser hollows," he explained it simply to Ichigo.
"I see, so you guys call them hollows too?" Ichigo asked quickly changing the subject.
"Yes, they have a hole somewhere on their body where their soul and sometimes their hearts used to be. That's how they got their name," he told him.
"So if I can see you, and you can see me, that means your a soul reaper right?"
"What's a soul reaper?" the stranger asked, "oh you must mean grim reaper."
"Grim reaper?" Ichigo was even more confused now.
"Look, I would love to stay and chat but I've got to inform my team of what happened," the stranger told Ichigo as he was getting ready to leave. Ichigo's friends soon joined them all in shocked of what they are seeing.
"My name is Ichigo..." Ichigo started to introduce himself.
"That's nice kid," the stranger smirked.
"You can at least introduce yourself," Renji shouted as the stranger turned around. His eyes caught Shuhei's again, and the strangers face turned a light shade of red.
"Thank you for saving us earlier today," Shuhei thanked as he bowed.
"It was no problem," the stranger boasted as he scratched the back of his head.
"My name is Shuhei Hisagi," Shuhei introduced himself.
"The name is Trace Ashes," Trace the mysterious stranger introduced himself.
"Hisagi, everyone, if were linked by fate, we will meet again," Thomas smiled as he vanished.
"That was strange," Rukia commented.
"Yeah, why did he introduce himself after Shuhei and not me?" Ichigo pondered.
"Well maybe it's because you condemned his city," Renji pointed out.
"How did you know about that?" Ichigo asked.
"We were going to tell you, but you ran off," Renji answered.
"I have seen it before, so I was able to tell," Rukia explained.
"Right, I forgot we're in a different country, I can be myself here," Ichigo mentioned as he climbed back into his body. Stupid Ichigo acting first and asking questions when his ass isn't being kicked.
"It's okay, at least that soul reaper was nice," Orihime smiled.
"Well, they're called grim reapers here," Ichigo explained.
"Grim reapers?" Shuhei mumbled.
...
"Trace, you're late coming back from your patrolling round," a lightly tanned woman with long black hair and blond tips, brown eyes, and a sexy voice told him.
"Sorry Courtney, something happened," Trace explained.
"What do you mean something happened?" a male with medium sized, dark brown hair, and light brown eyes asked.
"Well Corey, someone destroyed our anti-hollow bait," he responded with a sigh.
"Who would do something like that?" a tall, lean woman with long black hair, and hazel eyes, asked.
"It was this one guy with spiky strawberry blond hair, wearing a Japanese kimono of sorts, thought I was a 'soul reaper'," Trace did his best to explain.
"Soul reaper? That is something for a cosplayer to accuse you of," a short woman, with long red hair that was tied in a ponytail and brown eyes pondered.
"He saw me, so I don't think he was one of those, but I believe we have trouble," Thomas informed his group.
...
Ichigo and the others looked around the massive city around them; they were lost and had no idea where to go. They need to find some place to stay, even if they had to camp out for a night or two.
"I'm so hungry," Orihime sighed as she looked at Ichigo.
"You're not the only one," Ichigo told her as they both put a hand on their stomach.
"If we find an open area, I can make us some food," Shuhei told them.
"Really?" Renji asked.
"Yes, I made sure to bring food and some supplies with me," Shuhei informed the group.
"That's what I like about doing missions with you. You are always prepared for the worst," Rukia complemented him.
"That's what all those years at the academy were for," Shuhei joked. They walked around for a couple of minutes looking for a great open spot to picnic in. When they finally found the spot Shuhei wasted no time in setting up his portable grill and started to make a stew of sorts. How he managed to fit it in his bag, we will also never know. Orihime offered to help and told him some "friendly" advice about cooking but he kept shooing her away, letting her know that he didn't need any help, especially from her. He made sure that she didn't hear that last part. Within fifteen the food was ready and everyone was served, with enough left over for everyone to have seconds.
"This is amazing," Ichigo exclaimed.
"This is the best food ever," Renji bragged.
"I didn't know you could cook this good," Rukia confessed.
"It's alright," Orihime shrugged a little jealous that it was better than what she could make.
"I give you my regards," Renji smiled.
"I can die happy," Ichigo commented between bites.
"Thanks, it's nothing really," Shuhei smiled as he was glad everyone was enjoying themselves. The sun was setting, and an uneasy feeling crept over everyone. Shuhei glanced up to the sky and noticed there were a bunch of dark figures flying over head. Before he could speak, the sound of an alarm rang, but only the group was able to hear it.