Disclaimer
Remember that I own nothing. None of these Characters are originally and even the ones I thought I made myself turn out to be strangely real. Such as the fact that there really was a Lieutenant in Squad 4 with the family name Yamada during the time of Urahara's Captain Period.
(Captain Hitsugaya prospective Captains meeting)
An unexpected Captains' Meeting, I really don't have time for this. With any luck someone will just run out in the middle of it or start a fight causing the meeting to be canceled. It would probably happen. Other then Captains Kyōraku and Ukitake none of the Captains really get alone very well. Not that Ukitake was here, he has to skip most of these do to his terminal illness.
I really do feel sorry for him. Not only does he have to deal with his condition but he has to do all of a Captains work along with the Lieutenant's work ever since his own died in a terrible accident involving a strange hollow.
'Not that my lieutenant is ever any help. Rangiku is usually drunk or partying, it is rare I get any real work out of her.' I was steered out of my thought when I heard the doors open and the last Captain, and reason we were all in the stupid place to begin with, walked in.
I never liked Gen Ichimaru. I could never understand why they let him be a Captain in the first place. If you took all the bad traits of all the other Captains and put them together you would get Gen Ichimaru. He was blood thirsty, argent, condescending, lazy, sneaky, had a twisted sense of justice and never followed orders.
I was prepared to listen to everyone yell at him for letting the Ryokas live when I got a look at him. His clothes where scorched, his hair was a mess and he had small scratches and burns on him. Everyone was confused on his appearance but didn't want to be the one to bring it up. I had to concentrate on thoughts of my lieutenant not doing her work and how angry that makes me just to stop myself from laughing. Captain Zaraki of squad 11 didn't try as hard.
"Well well look what we have here. An unexpected meeting called just for me. Or am I mistaken." Ichimaru said in that way he had that made you want to kill him and face the consequences knowing that you have done the universe a favor.
"What happened to you Ichimaru?" Captain Zaraki said continuing to laugh.
"I was going to get cleaned up but then I reserved the summons same as you." Ichimaru said in a fake pout.
"Don't tell me that the Ryokas did this to you. You should be able to take on four or five Ryoka without any back up. Letting them live was absurd but this." Captain Zaraki said trying to get control over his laughter.
"Hey they ganged up on me it's not my fault." Ichimaru continued his fake pout. "It was all I could do just to stop them from entering the Seireitei."
"That is ridicules there is no way that Captains such as ourselves could fail to kill something as simple as a Ryoka, after all most of them are little more than humans with no spiritual presents." Now it was Captain Kurotsuchi talking, god how I hate this people.
"I believed so to and that almost got me killed. There was one of them that there was something wrong about." Ichimaru said before elaborating. "His spiritual pressure was pitiful, less than your average grunts, so when he threw a punch at me I tried to simply block it with my superior spiritual pressure. But something happened, even though he had no spiritual pressure behind it, it felt like I was trying to block one of Captain Zaraki's best. Not to mention that his Kido and Hohō were at a level beyond what a human should be capable of. And even though he used them one after another he didn't run out of his rather small energy supply. He managed to stun me completely and I would have been killed if his ally had gotten there one second sooner. He managed to use a level 60 Hadō and Bakudō spells without incantation with no more than a few seconds between each. And the way he would work with the little white hair girl without talking made me think that they had a mental link or something. They were extremely good at adapting to the fight." At this point both Captains Zaraki and Kurotsuchi were practically drooling and failing to hide their excitement.
"So the reason you allowed the Ryoka to escape was because you were incapable of defeating them. Then how did you drive them out?" Head Captain Yamamoto asked.
"I aimed a killing blow at one of the weaker ones that had yet to cross the gate. They jumped in the way to shield their friend and I made sure the gate closed behind them." Ichimaru said with a shrug. I hated that about him, he didn't feel any remorse about aiming his attack at the friends. It was under handed and yet he will probably be let off for using such a tactic.
"So what did this Ryoka that over powered you look like?" Zaraki asked. "Do you think he will find a way in?" It looked to me like Zaraki was looking forward to it. He was blood thirsty, but not like Ichimaru. Zaraki had a code that he killed people by, sick as that was. Ichimaru, I just don't know.
"Oh no you don't." Kurotsuchi said. "That Ryoka would make a valuable research experiment but not if you cut him into a million piece."
Zaraki glared at him. "Maybe if we're lucky he will cut you up into a million piece. Unless you would like me to do the job." Zaraki said stepping forward.
"What did you say?" Kurotsuchi meet his step.
"Enough," Head Captain Yamamoto shouted causing them to stop. "Ichimaru, even if you did manage to fight off the Ryoka, you still acted alone and did not kill them. We must deal with this fact."
"Head Captain Yamamoto, I have some questions I would like to ask Captain Ichimaru." Captain Aizen started. But before he could continue the intruder alarm went off.
"Intruders? The Ryoka?" Zaraki shouted before running full speed out the open door. 'Yes thank you Zaraki. The meeting will be canceled and I can get back to my real work.' I thought with a smile.
"This Captains meeting will have to be suspended. I will inform all of you as to what well be done about Captain Ichimaru's incompetence at a later date. Go and wait with your squads for further orders." Yamamoto instructed us. All and all I would say that was one of the better meetings, only one death threat the entire time.
I was on my way out when I overheard Aizen talking heatedly to Ichimaru. "That was a convent distraction wasn't it, Ichimaru." Aizen said not looking at the snake faced man.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. You aren't making any sense." Ichimaru said back acting incident.
"Don't underestimate me Ichimaru." Aizen said and kept walking. We all exited the hall but I couldn't get that small exchange out of my mind. 'If Aizen thought Ichimaru was up to something then I should probably keep an eye on him to. If Aizen takes action, then Momo will be dragged into this as well. And I already promised that I would never let anything happen to her.'
(Danny's Perspective)
We had all gathered at the launch pad before sun rise. Well almost all of us. Uryū was going to go and wake up Ichigo and Ganju was… somewhere. "I guess we should start preparing for the launch now." I said bringing out my Fenton Thermos and sucking Cujo into it. Then I looked to Gen'ei. "It would be easier if I just remanifest you when we get there." I told her.
"Oh all right." She said grudgingly. I placed one hand on her head and her body disappeared in a flash of blue light.
"What? Where did she go?" Kukaku asked.
"Oh that is right we didn't tell you. Gen'ei is the spirit of my Zanpakuto. I just manifest her so that she can interact with things by herself. She prefers it that way." I explained.
"So you can manage to maintain a manifestation by yourself for an extended period of time, On top of the exertions with making the cannonball all with your small amount of spiritual pressure?" Kukaku asked dumbfounded. "Your control is unbelievable… if not impossible."
"Hey sorry I'm late." It was Ichigo awoken from his nap with Uryū standing behind him.
"Good, then we are all here now?" Yoruichi asked.
"Yes sir." We all replied. Then Ichigo noticed Yoruichi's tail. "But what happened to your tail Yoruichi, it looks like one of those bendy tooth brushes?" I slapped Ichigo on the back of the head to tell him to shut up but the damage was already done.
"What about my tail… is there something wrong with it?" Yoruichi asked with a murderous intent pouring off of her.
"No it is a very beautiful tail." Ichigo said a little afraid.
"Don't you remember, you're the one that did that in the first place?" Uryū informed Ichigo of the events that happened after he went to sleep and advised against talking about it.
"You should know better than to make a negative comment about a woman's appearance anyways Ichigo." I added.
"Hey wait. Why isn't Ganju here with the rest of you?" Kukaku asked.
"Uh? Last time I saw him he was down stairs muttering some nonsense to himself." Ichigo said.
Then off course speak of the devil and so on. "Never fear Ganju is here!" Shouted the fool himself. "You should know that the hero is always the last one to make his entrance."
"That is not true at all. You're thinking of the Cavalry. The hero is part of the Vanguard that comes out first. The Cavalry is the one that comes last." I explained to Ganju shaking my head. Think if I always showed up after all of the local ghost hunters and sneak attackers, not to mention Tucker. There would be nothing left of Amity Park by now.
"What? But I thought it was always the hero that came last." Ganju said.
"Ok but what is with that outfit?" Ichigo asked. Ganju was wearing a dark green and gray ninja like uniform.
"You like it huh. It pretty great really. It is my custom battle uniform pretty sweet right. Don't bother asking I won't let you borrow it." Ganju said smuggle.
"You know if your coming with us into the Seireitei wearing a custom uniform like that one is like wearing a target on your back. That goes double for you Uryū… Though I will admit yours looks better even if it is more restricting of movement." I commented.
"What he is not coming with us." Ichigo shouted. Uryū was trying to decide whether to take what I said as an insult or a complement.
Ganju glare at Ichigo and walked straight up to him. He pause for a second before say. "My big brother was killed by a Soul Reaper." My heart stopped. It is a really good thing I don't need it to beat to live.
"Ganju don't you dare." Kukaku said warningly.
"Why don't you just listen and let me talk for a change sister." Ganju snapped back… she stopped talking but he was going to get an ass kicking for that later if his speech wasn't good. "My brother… he was a brilliant man. He passed the Soul Reaper Academy entrance exam on his first try. At that time his spirit power was at 6 class which is the same level as a lieutenant's. He passes a seven year curriculum in one year and became a lieutenant in just five more. But he was betrayed by his comrades. His own Soul Reaper allies lead him to his death. I was still just a kid at the time so I don't remember the detail very well. But there are two things I will never forget. Two faces, the face of the heartless Soul Reaper as he dragged away my brothers lifeless body. And the face of my brother giving thanks to that same Soul Reaper."
It made sense. That is way Ganju hates Soul Reapers. Ever since I meet Kukaku I wondered about her brothers reasons. I don't really blame him. "Why?" Ganju shouted. "Why didn't he hate the Soul Reaper that took his life? To this day… I just don't know. But you and Danny seem different. You are putting your lives on the line to help save your friends in order to protect your humanity. I think that that's what makes you two different. I am willing to follow you two into enemy territory in order to see what being a Soul Reaper is all about." Ganju said.
"Fine you're with me." Ichigo said seriously.
"Alright then… we really need to get underway. So are you all ready for the cannonball." Yoruichi brought us all back to reality.
"Yes." We all responded before Ichigo had a second thought. "What a second, do you know how to make a cannonball?"
Yoruichi smiled in her cat like way and responded saying. "Actually that is a good question. I guess I should give it a shot."
I wasn't very concerned if I could do it in one try then Yoruichi who has more spiritual energy and experience should be able to do it. The others were a little more concerned. "Please tell me this isn't your first attempted." Uryū said.
"Just put it down on the ground right there." Yoruichi instructed Ichigo.
Ichigo did as he was told and Yoruichi jumped on top of the orb. In one second and in a lot more prefect form then my first try. Yoruichi formed the cannonball and was flouting in the center of it on top of the Spirit Core. "Just as I thought it was as natural as breathing in and out." Yoruichi said.
"Wow Yoruichi, you did in one try what it took all of us so long to learn. Other then Phantom-kun of course." Orihime said.
Ichigo was down on his hands and knees sulking. "First Danny and now Yoruichi both compare controlling spirit energy to breathing. Why can't I do it?" He muttered.
"I don't know why you're so surprised. You will find that there are many things that I can do that are simply out of your reach." Yoruichi gloated.
Ganju walked up to his sister. "So did you master it?" She asked him.
"Yeah I think so." Ganju replied.
"Then we will use Shiba Flower Crain Cannon launch method number two." Kukaku said.
"Ok." Ganju replied again.
"You better not chicken out and run away in the middle of the launch you little brat." Kukaku teased.
"I would never do that." Ganju immediately said.
"Not afraid to lay your life on the line?" She asked.
"No, no way." he shouted.
She paused for a second before addressing the group. "If you're all ready to go then the final countdown begins now." She hit the wall of the cannon and a hole opened up. "We will start when the sun rises." I let the black mist surround me reviling my Soul Reaper uniform before I followed the others into the cannon. As I passed her I hear Kukaku whisper. "May the fates smile on you… Ganju." Then the hole closed. I realized then who Kukaku had always reminded me of. She was like Sam, always throwing her weight around and being the boss… but never hesitating to help others. She just didn't know how to show that she cared.
Yoruichi started to lecture us again about the importance of sticking together and not fighting any Captains. I just knew that she was jinxing it so we really weren't going to be given a chose in the matter. As such I didn't really pay attention. As the sun started to rise and the ceremony outside began we all started to channel our spirit energy into the Spirit Core.
Then we were off. We were launched straight up into the air and hanged there for a moment before speeding off towards the Seireitei. The view was pretty good and I couldn't remember the last time I went flying for the fun of it. I hadn't been able to since I needed to concentrate on training.
Ganju pulled out a long sheet of paper covered in Japanese writing. "What is that?" Ichigo asked.
"This is the secondary part of Flower Crain Cannon number two. The first stage of the stage of the spell is just for the launch and the initial directional setting. Now we move on to the secondary spell that controls the acceleration and axis adjustment."
"Uh." Ichigo said in confusion.
"Think off the first spell as the car keys and that is the steering wheel and pedals." I translated.
"Oh. Why didn't he say that?" Ichigo said.
"What the heck is a steering wheel?" Ganju asked before just shaking his head. "Just stay out of my way if you want to land safely."
"Alright alright." Ichigo said.
"Now one more thing. We need to keep this cannonball as stable as possible. In order to do that we will need to keep the spirit energy from each one of you as stable as possible. To do that just keep your hand of the Spirit Core so that you can tell how much the others are releasing." Ganju instructed us. We all nodded.
Ganju started to chant his spell. "Kurosaki-kun I think your releasing to much energy." Orihime said. That was an understatement.
"You really think so. Ok I will back off." Ichigo said cutting his output down.
"Ichigo you need to lower it a little more." Uryū said.
"What but I already lowered it by almost half." Ichigo said.
Even if he learned to pull out his spirit energy he was far from being in control. Then I had an idea. 'Gen'ei can you take over pouring my spirit energy in. I need to concentrate on something.' I felt Gen'ei taking over maintaining my output.
I took one hand off the orb and reached over and grabbed Ichigo's wrist. "Ichigo take your other hand off on just send your spirit energy though this hand and don't worry about the amount." Ichigo blinked for a second but did as I said. The spirit energy flowing out was immense. I concentrated my spirit energy forming a spiral inside of his wrist washing away a portion of the spirit energy away so I had control over Ichigo's output.
"That worked, what did you do Phantom-kun?" Orihime asked.
"I am using my own spirit energy as a form of resister to slow down Ichigo's output and get rid of the excess." I explained.
"How long have you been able to do that?" Ichigo asked.
"The true is I didn't know it would work." I admitted.
"Your winging it!?" Uryū shouted.
"Will you all shut up? All of your yelling made me repeat the same line twice!" Ganju shouted at us.
"Don't blame us just because you can't remember your stupid chant." Ichigo yelled back.
"Well this stupid chant may just save your life if you would just shut your big yap!" Ganju shouted back. They started to head butt each other and I was glad that Ichigo had forgotten that he had a free hand.
"Whose bright idea was it to put those two next to each other?" I asked.
"Will you to please stop fighting? Can't you see that we are all in danger?" Orihime asked nicely.
"Stop it you two your disrupting the energy in the cannonball." Uryū yelled.
I placed my feet on the bottom of the Spirit Core and maneuvered in order to be under it. Then I Gen'ei started to release my spirit energy out of my heels into the Spirit Core. I then grabbed Ganju's wrist so that I was controlling the output for both him and Ichigo. "Don't worry Uryū I got it." I said. It was close to the truth. It was much harder to control; their heightened emotions had a strong effect on their output.
"That isn't the point Danny we need them to stop fighting." Uryū said. Then we all stopped talking as the Seireitei came into view.
"No, we are not on course." Ganju said.
"We're going to crash." Orihime shouted.
"Everyone, in order to survive we must pour in as much spirit energy as possible. Give it everything you got, hold nothing back." Yoruichi shouted. I let go of Ichigo and Ganju's wrists and replaced my hands on the orb. My spirit energy was not as strong as the others so I used it to grab onto the energy that they were wasting or was leaking out of the orb and replace that in Spirit Core.
Then we hit the barrier. The entire cannonball was thrown around as we tried to push through. Unfortunately we had lost most of our speed in the impact and I didn't think that we would make it. The cannonball was maintaining its form but I didn't know for how long. Cracks started to form in the orb from the stress. I reached deep and took energy from my ghost core and used it to start to push us through the shield. I could sense the cannonball starting to give way.
I covered our cannonball with a ghost shield to see if I could lessen the pressure. Since all three the cannonball, the barrier and my ghost shield were physical shields, but there was no friction between my shield and the cannonball do to the fact that spirit energy and ectoplasmic energy don't mix well. The result being that my shield acted like soup and the cannonball slipped through.
After we managed to get through the cannonball shattered along with the Spirit Core. But for some reason we didn't fall. "Why aren't we falling? We are just floating here." Ichigo pointed out.
"Don't be separated!" Yoruichi shouted. "The cannonball is gone but its residual energy is still keeping us afloat. But soon it will turn into a whirl pool and then explode. And anyone how is not holding onto each other will be blown away."
As soon as Yoruichi finished it started. The energy started to spin around us pulling and pushing us in a circle. On instinct I turned intangible.
This was not the right thing to do. The spiritual energy stopped acting on me and without the centripetal force I went flying out of the area and away from the group. Before I could slow myself down I was already miles away from them. I was going to start flying back when the area exploded and I saw them being carried in five different directions. 'I'll give you the popsicle when we land.' I thought to Gen'ei sensing her joy at guessing correctly. I landed on the ground outside of a large hole that I think was some kind of garbage dump.
I released my energy focusing it into the form of Gen'ei. She lighted down onto the ground next to me and I gave her a frozen juice box. "Guess we should try to reunite with the others." I sighed.
"We are probably better off without them." Gen'ei stated. "We should have just made our own team instead of going with this one. Not much has gone our way."
"It never does. But we should at least make sure that everyone is alive." I told Gen'ei. She jumped on my shoulder and we were off in the direction that the closes people fell in.
