A.N: This is a request by Draxon.Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Chapter Nine
Sometime later…Soul Society; Rukon District
"So where are we going?" Ichigo asked as he and his three friends followed the black cat across the grassy meadow.
Their journey into the Soul Society had gotten off to a rocky start. After narrowing escaping death by the hands of the Cleaner in the Precipice World, the group arrived at the gates of the Soul Society. Ichigo squared off against the gatekeeper, Jidanbo, and defeated him with little effort, destroying his axes. Though defeated, the giant gatekeeper was moved by Ichigo's (supposed) kindness and opened the gate for the group.
Unfortunately they had someone waiting for them just inside.
The captain of Squad Three, Gin Ichimaru, intercepted the teens as they attempted to enter the Seireitei. After the insidious captain severed Jidanbo's arm, Ichigo engaged him in spite of Yoruichi's warnings. Though Ichigo got in a lucky hit on Gin, grazing the man's arm, Gin's zanpakuto was more than enough to push Ichigo back, slamming into Jidanbo and knocking them both out of the gate, keeping their goal out of their reach.
With the gates watched, their only option was to go in from a different route. To that end, Yoruichi inquired about the whereabouts of an old friend named Kukaku Shiba.
Ichigo was glad to have his friends at his back. He was surprised that both Orihime and Chad had developed special powers but he knew he wouldn't be in this alone. And for all their animosity he did consider the Quincy, Uryu, to be his friend.
Yoruichi was the only person that Ichigo didn't fully trust. While he knew that the cat was helping them, he also knew that the cat was working with Kisuke. And after his training with the bucket-hat wearing shopkeeper, he was wary of the pair. The shopkeeper had routinely tried to pry into Ichigo's private affairs, trying to get to the source of his growth. His training with him had helped but the groundwork that Halibel had laid was the core of Ichigo's strength. He knew that Kisuke wouldn't take kindly to him being taught by a Hollow but it was more than that. For all that Ichigo was hiding from him, Ichigo knew that there was something that Kisuke was keeping from him.
They found their destination, a quaint looking house with an abnormally large chimney next to it. "This the place?" Ichigo asked.
"So it would seem, if the village headman was correct," Yoruichi said, moving through the grass.
As they neared the house, two huge men obstructed their way. "Halt!" said one of them. "Who goes?"
"Great, more gatekeepers," Ichigo groaned as he reached for Zangetsu.
The other burly man noticed the black cat and held his twin back. "Hold!" he told him. "Yoruichi, we weren't expecting you. It's been a long while."
"Hello, Koganahiko. Shiroganahiko," Yoruichi greeted. "We're here to meet with Kukaku."
"Right this way," the two said in unison.
They brought the group into the house, taking them to Kukaku's room. "Master Shiba!" they both said. "Yoruichi is here to meet you!"
A loud, boisterous voice boomed through the paper door. "Yoruichi? Why didn't you say so? Come in! Come in!"
The guards opened the door, Inside, sitting on a large cushion while smoking a pipe, was a highly well-endowed, one armed woman with messy black hair.
"THAT'S KUKAKU?!" all four teenagers gasped.
"So what are you here for?" the woman asked the cat as it approached.
"We're in a little trouble and need your help," explained Yoruichi.
Kukaku grinned. "Tell me all about it. I like trouble."
Later…Kukaku's Basement
"So that's how it's going to go," Kukaku explained once she finished showing them her special cannon which would launch them into the Seireitei. "You'll all be practicing using the Reishu Kaku." She took the large orb, about the size of a volleyball, and handed it to Orihime. "We'll start with you, little lady."
One by one, the teens practiced using the cannonball in preparation for their journey. The buxom woman and the cat watched as each teen took turns using it.
"Not bad," Yoruichi noted as a bright yellow sphere encapsulated the teen. "I see you've taken my lessons on controlling your energy to heart."
"Gotta admit, that's kinda impressive," Kukaku noted. "Usually the sphere's transparent. She must have strong control over her energy if she's able to weave it into the cannonball like that.
Next up was Uryu. The two watched as an oval shaped barrier surrounded him. "Hmm…It's narrow but it's getting there," Kukaku said.
"It must be because of his personality. He might need a little more practice." The cat turned to the next person. "Chad, you're next."
The tall boy took the ball from Uryu's hands. After a few minutes of heavy concentration, a large sphere surrounded him. Both the woman and the cat frowned at the state of it. "A little on the strong side, isn't he?" Kukaku noted.
"A bit unstable but strong, nonetheless." The black cat turned its attention to Ichigo. "You're up next."
Chad handed him the ball and the Substitute took center stage. He felt a little nervous being the center of attention but put everyone out of his mind and focused on the orb in his hands. Closing his eyes, Ichigo focused on the words that Halibel gave him. Envisioning the well within his mind, Ichigo imagined lowering the orb in his hands into the well dipping it into the water.
Everyone's eyes widened when Ichigo glowed blue before a huge orb of energy surrounded him, almost knocking everyone over. "Ichigo!" his three friends shouted in alarm.
'Not possible!' Yoruichi thought, the cat's eyes widening in alarm. 'He's focusing too much energy!'
"You idiot!" Kukaku shouted to the boy. "Solidify your spirit energy or you'll blow us all sky high!"
Keeping his eyes closed, Ichigo envisioned the water surrounding the globe turning to ice. In response, the huge sphere around him shrink and solidified into a solid cannonball around him.
"You did it!" Orihime cheered while Chad and Uryu looked on in shock.
Uryu pushed up his glasses and stared, his mind working a mile a minute. 'I knew he had skills but for him to possess this much power. He truly is remarkable.'
Releasing his energy, Ichigo took a deep breath. "Sorry, I didn't know how much energy to put into the orb," he explained, feeling a little exhausted. 'I need to remember what Halibel told me. Drawing out too much energy leaves me tired. I need to be more careful.'
BONK!
Ichigo hit the floor and groaned as Kukaku put a foot over him. "You idiot! You almost blew my house up! Next time be more careful!" she roared in anger.
"Yes ma'am…I promise ma'am…" Ichigo said meekly, not wanting to incur the woman's wrath.
Taking her foot off of Ichigo, Kukaku looked at the clock and frowned. "Well you all seem to get the gist of it. You'll practice with it a little more after dinner." She turned to her helpers. Go take our guests to the dining room and make them some grub." She pointed down at the boy on the floor. "Leave him be for a moment to catch his breath."
Ichigo lay on the ground and watched as the two burly men picked up his friends and carried them upstairs, Kukaku following behind them. Hearing small footsteps, he sat up and saw Yoruichi in front of him. "Oh, hey Yoruichi. What's up?"
The cat's golden eyes narrowed as it stared at Ichigo. "That was quite a feat, Ichigo. I'd no idea you knew how to harness spirit energy."
"Well, that's how I destroyed the Menos Grande," Ichigo said, scratching the back of his head. "I mainly use it as a shield though."
"Interesting. I was under the impression that Kisuke gave you combat training. I don't recall him mentioning that he trained you on the basis of spellcraft," she noted inquisitively, her eyes staring at Ichigo with the same look of accusation Kisuke had.
Keeping a straight face as best he could, Ichigo merely replied back, "It's something that Rukia taught me. I sort of had a habit on drawing on my spirit energy by reflex. She taught me how to draw on it. She didn't teach me to use spells though, only to boost my offense and defense."
"Hmm…" the cat went, falling silent as it turned around. "Very well then. You'd best come join the others for dinner once you catch your breath." Yoruichi made it to the stairs before stopping. "Oh? And Ichigo?"
"Yeah?"
"You are a terrible liar."
Ichigo watched the cat leave up the stairs before sighing, slumping down to the ground. He hated lying to everybody. He glanced down at the bracelet that Halibel had given him and touched the jewel while remembering his secret trainer. Over and over again he asked the same question.
'How much longer can I keep this a secret from everyone?'
To be continued
