Meanwhile one by one Toshiro, Mayuri, and Kiganjo jumped through the portal. It was a strange feeling to Toshiro. He felt like he was weightless, like he was soaring in the sky. Looking around him he saw nothing but bright lights. The trip in the portal was shorter than a second but he felt like he was there for hours.
The portal obviously opened and the group came out the other side. Toshiro again not having any experience with such travel fell right down on his face. Luckily he landed in some sand, which softened his fall.
Mayuri and Kiganjo on the other hand landed perfectly on their feet. The two looked around casually noting there surrounding was nothing but vast desert for miles. Then the two looked to each other and nodded.
Toshiro picked his head up from the ground and spit out a mouthful of sand.
"No time for eating." Said Mayuri as he walked past him." We've got to get a move on."
"Move on?" asked Toshiro looking around, seeing nothing but desert and sand." Move on to where? Where are we?"
"To many questions and not enough walking." Mayuri yelled back as he was already several feet away. Toshiro still lay there in the sand but then Kiganjo walked by and grabbed him by his collar and hoisted him up to his feet.
"C'mon." he said shuffling Toshiro along. Toshiro was reluctant to go, being that he'd never been to whatever this place was before. But he hoped Mayuri had some idea of what to do, and already involved too far in this quest to turn back Toshiro moved forward.
Then for the next few hours the ground made their way across the desert. And it was hot. Toshiro had already removed several layers of his clothing. He tried to cool himself off with some water from Kiganjo's pouch but Mayuri stopped him and said 'No wasting water'. So they continued on. It getting hotter and hotter by the minute with the sun's unbearable heat. Toshiro suffered the most while Mayuri and Kiganjo seemed alright.
They traveled on for most of the day but eventually they stopped, just as the sun was going down.
Toshiro now fully exhausted quickly dropped to the ground the first moment they'd chosen their camp site. He'd seen nothing but desert and sand all day, but if made him very tired. He looked over and saw what Mayuri and Kiganjo were doing.
Kiganjo stood over the small fire they'd made roasting some meat. Mayuri despite saying 'No wasting water' was now douching himself with the stuff. He drank it, poured it into his hands and rubbed it on his skin.
"Where are we?" Toshiro finally decided to ask. Although this group was made up of three members, he was the only one who knew nothing about this quest. This was hardly the adventure he had in mind.
"The desert." Replied Mayuri. He was several feet away, looking out over to the horizon.
"I can see that." Said Toshiro sarcastically as he sat up." But where are we? What are we doing here?"
"No talking yet." Said Kiganjo as he shoved a slab of meat into Toshiro's hands." Eat. We've got to build you up boy." Then Kiganjo took a bite of his own food. Toshiro looked up and noticed Mayuri tilt his head back and take a long drink of water.
Toshiro just sat there silently. Since Mayuria and Kignajo didn't appear to what to converse with him he just decided to do so with himself. He thought of this adventure and how he got involved in it. But then he began to think of the Soul Society and everything he left behind. His Division, the Lieutenants, the other Captains, Sajin, Rangiku. Toshiro hung his head for a moment wondering if Rangiku was thinking about him right now too. He couldn't help but let out a sniffle at the very thought of her all alone.
"What?" asked Kiganjo hearing the sniffled coming from Toshiro." What's the matter you're not hurt."
Toshiro quickly whipped his eyes and put his head back up. He looked up to see Kiganjo starring down at him with a questioning look."None of your business." Toshiro said to him, and then he turned away.
"Don't you talk to me like that." Said Kiganjo poking him in the shoulder with his big meaty finger." I'll whoop you're little." Mayuri looked over to see Kiganjo poking Toshiro and the little Captain just taking it." I don't know why we bothered to bring him along." Said Kiganjo as he looked to Mayuri but continued to poke Toshiro." He can't even stand up for himself."
But he was in a very emotional state so anything could happen. Then finally he'd had enough, with the last jab from Kiganjo Toshiro quickly jumped up and head-butted the larger man in the stomach sending him back onto the ground. Kiganjo continued to groan as Toshiro picked himself up and stood over him.
Toshiro suddenly realizing what he'd done began to feel frightened. Kiganjo was a Kenpachi and had tremendous strength to back up that claim.
Kiganjo picked his head up and noticed Toshiro standing there." Haha." He chuckled." You know something you're alright Kid." He said as he sat up and gave Toshiro a soft mock punch along his jaw. Mayuri chuckled and looked away from the two and back to the horizon." Nobody's ever done that to me before, not even Head-Captain Gandalf. And trust me he wanted to."
"The Head-Captain?" asked Toshiro confused.
"Of course." Said Kiganjo." But not just him. His butt-buddy in Squad Six, The Captains of Squad Five, Nine, Seven. They all wanted a piece of me, but they were all pansies and they knew it." Toshiro cringed slightly as the bigger man bent down next to him, still thinking he might get hit." And it's because I got something they don't got. It's the whole essential of being a man in power."
"And what's that?" asked Toshiro.
"Now it's like this Halfling." Said Kiganjo." All you gotta do is." Then he clapped his hands together."
Kiganjo: Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life
Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue?
"PawPAw." Chuckled Mayuri." Of all the silly gibberish."
"C'mon Mayrui." Said Kiganjo shaking him violently." Get with the beat."
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
"So just try and relax, yeah cool it .Fall apart in my backyard. Cause let me tell you something Halfling. If you act like that bee acts, uh uh you're working too hard. And don't spend your time lookin' around for something you want that can't be found."
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true
The bare necessities of life will come to you
It was now suddenly that Mayuri noticed something in the distance. It looked like two figures walking towards them.
"SHH!" Mayuried said as he turned back to Kiganjo and Toshiro." Quiet!" The harshness of his voice stopped the two. Then he quickly looked back over the sand dune. Toshiro looked to Kiganjo, hoping he might know what's going on. But Kiganjo jumped across the sand and sat down next to Mayuri.
"W-What is it?" asked Toshiro as he moved towards the two.
"I said quiet!" Mayuri whispered harshly. Toshiro then made his way over to the sand dune the two were sitting on but soon found it hard to climb. Kiganjo noticed his struggling and then helped Toshiro to sit up with him and Mayuri.
Toshiro was pulled up and placed firmly between the two. The he poked his head up over the dune looking out into the unknown.
Mayuri's white and black makeup along with his large blue hair poked up, Kiganjo's large fat head with his black hair, and Toshiro's blue eyes and white hair.
Looking out Toshiro could faintly make out two figures coming their way. He watched them with Mayuri and Kiganjo, seeing the two approaching walk across the desert coming closer to them.
"Their getting closer." Whispered Toshiro. He didn't notice at this time but Mayuri and Kiganjo slowly slipped down behind the sand dune." What do we do?" He looked to his left and right and noticed the two weren't there. But then Mayuri's white hand and Kiganjo's black hand reached up and grabbed Toshiro. Then together the two yanked him back.
They pulled him down and Kiganjo put his hand over Toshiro's mouth to keep him quiet. Mayuri stood before the two. Then he slowly crept up the sand dune and poked his head over to observe the two coming their way.
Toshiro struggled in Kiganjo's grip but the bigger man held him there and whispered to him "Quiet."
Mayuri observed the two and notice now that they had branched off and were now going in a different direction. The former Captain of Squad Twelve turned to Kiganjo and gave him a thumbs up.
Kiganjo quickly released Toshiro who fell down to the ground.
"What was that?" asked Toshiro." What's going on?" Mayuri slid down from the sand dune and now stood before the two.
"We have to get moving. We can't risk getting found." Mayuri said quickly." Kiganjo get our things." Kiganjo did as he was told and began gathering their provisions.
"What's going on?" asked Toshiro." Who was out there?"
"There's no time." Said Mayuri to him quickly and in a startled voice." We need to go now!"
"Hold it!" shouted a voice from behind him. Mayuri's eyes suddenly widened and he slowly turned around to face the source of the voice. Toshiro cocked his head to the side and looked around Mayuri to see two men standing on top of the sand dune.
Mayuri froze up on the spot and Toshiro moved out from behind him to view the two fully. The sun was beginning to set now but he could just make the two out. They were two men dressed fully in armor of some kind.
"Who are you?" asked the men as they looked Toshiro and Mayuri over." What are you doing here?" Mayuri did not answer and instead scanned the area with his eyes noticing that Kiganjo had somehow vanished.
"Gentlemen." Said Toshiro stepping up once he realized Mayuri wasn't going to talk." No need to be alarmed, we're-"
"Look!" exclaimed one of the men pointing to Toshiro. The little Captain froze upon being pointed at." He's got a sword!" Toshiro cocked his head to the side to see his sword was still strapped to his back.
"And the other one does too!" said the second man pointing to Mayuri, who had his tied in front of his waist." They must be Soul Reapers!" Mayuri grimaced at them.
"Of course we are." Replied Toshiro casually seeing no problem with it.
"I knew it!" the men exclaimed. Then the two men jumped down and attacked Mayuri and Toshiro.
Toshiro was easily taken down as one of them jumped down on him. The other jumped at Mayuri who easily dodged him and then kicked the man forcing him to stumble back.
The one on top of Toshiro however kept him there despite hos struggling. Then the man raised his fist and punched Toshiro across the face, then a second time.
Toshiro looked up, blood running down his face to see the man raised his fist for another strike. Toshiro was going to die here and he felt it, this man was going to kill him and he didn't know why.
But when the man went to swing he suddenly couldn't. He tried but his fist just stayed in its place while his arm moved forward slightly with what he wanted to do.
Then suddenly the man was lifted into the air by what appeared to be the air. Toshiro watched as the man was suspended there and then flew across the air and then fell on top of his comrade who battled Mayuri.
Toshiro slowly rose to his feet while Mayuri went back several steps. The two men were slowly getting up. When they did they faced off against the two Soul Reapers.
But then as the two prepared to charge Kiganjo suddenly appeared before the two with his arms open wide. He lunged forward and hit the two in the neck with his arms sending them to the ground. Once they hit the ground they did not get up again.
Kiganjo then turned back to Toshiro and Mayuri while slipping something into his pocket.
"What was that about?" asked Toshiro confused. Mayuri went over and turned the bodies with his foot. Then Kiganjo reached out and grabbed Mayuri by his arm.
"We need to get going." He said. Mayuri nodded and then bounded over the sand dune.
"LET'S GO!" yelled Mayuri. Then he turned and bursted into a sprint.
"What's going on?" asked Toshiro to Kiganjo.
"No time." Said Kiganjo." We must run now. RUN!" he yelled. And Toshiro felt a sudden fear overtake him and he jumped up and began running.
He and Kiganjo caught up with Mayuri and the three continued to run. They kept running never looking back or around them. Toshiro felt something, like they were being followed but he didn't dare to turn around and look.
But finally they stopped. Toshiro ran in swinging his arms wildly and then bent over and began panting. He looked up to see Mayuri constantly observing their surroundings.
"What's going on?" asked Toshiro with panted breaths as he walked towards them." What's going on?"
"SHH!" Mayuri snapped at him. Then he made his way up a small hill and began overlooking the surroundings.
Toshiro went to follow after Mayuri but was stopped by Kiganjo.
"Leave him be lad." Said Kiganjo." He's got to figure out what to do next."
"What do you mean what to do next?" asked Toshiro." Who were those guys? What did they want? And why did they try to kill us?"
"You wanted to know what we were doing here little man?" asked Mayuri several feet away from the small hill. Toshiro and Kiganjo turned their heads to him and saw Mayuri pointing to something." Come and see for yourself."
Toshiro nodded and then began to walk forward and climb the small hill with Kiganjo right behind him. Toshiro walked up and looked at Mayuri, then followed his arm to where he was pointing.
And what he saw shocked him.
There was a large fortress in the distance. It looked dark and menacing, sending chills down Toshiro's spine.
"What is that place?" asked Toshiro in a hushed voice as he tried to hide his fear.
"It's Hueco Munedo." Replied Mayuri.
