Hello, beautiful readers! Welcome to Chapter 10! Hahah...ok. This is my friend Theoress's section. Sorry for the cliffhanger, she's sneaky.
Chapter Ten- Rushing
Ichigo's concentration broke in the midst of his chemistry homework. His head shot up. What was that huge reiatsu pulse he had just felt? He'd never had a keen spirit sense, but this felt very strong, but not totally unfamiliar. An Espada!
Adrenaline pounded through him. He slammed his badge to his chest, separating his soul from his body. Prepared as a shinigami, he bolted out of his dormroom and down the hallway towards the spirit force he sensed. His thoughts flying, he was going on instinct alone. Ichigo didn't know which Espada had come or why, but he knew he had to put a stop to it. He just hoped it was not the beginning of Aizen's attack.
The halls seemed to go on forever; it seemed that the faster he wanted to get there, the slower his legs carried him. At last he burst into the courtyard, the area where he had first sensed the strong spirit force. Ichigo looked around. That's weird. Everything looked…normal. The sun was shining, the wind was rustling the leaves…had the Espada left?
Ichigo sensed the Espada's spirit force elsewhere, though there were still particles lingering in the sun strewn lawn, among the peaceful looking trees. Wearily, Ichigo rounded the corner of the building as he followed the reiatsu. The girls dorms are that way! Then he saw it.
Three shinigami wearing the insignia of the 13th Squad lay flat on the ground. Ichigo's eyes widened. Who did this!? Is this Grimmjow come for the final battle? Who are these men? Do the Captains know they are here, or about the Espada? Questions flashed through his mind, each one leaving him increasingly certain that he would be facing this on his own. He pushed thoughts out of this mind, what he needed now was resolve. Ichigo approached the men to establish their identities. They're…alive, just unconscious. And one is a woman. They were all breathing and did not appear to have severe injuries. Which of the Espada would do this? Ichigo knew the Espada normally delighted in bloodshed. Does this mean Aizen was not attacking? Because if he is, wouldn't he have wanted his Arrancar to kill any and all members of the Gotei 13 that they encountered? Then...what is this Espada's mission?
Ichigo wasn't sure what to think, but the Shinigami would live and he could feel the strange reiatsu growing as if in anticipation. Fulfillment of the mission? Ichigo's mind raced, and he ran as fast as he could towards the source of the spirit force.
o o o o o
Rukia rushed through the Spirit Gate to the real world with Renji flying behind her. They had to get to the Espada as soon as possible. The three soldiers there would not stand a chance. Though resolve and panic consumed her thoughts, she could not help but feel slightly chagrined that this had happened on her watch, though she knew it was in no way her fault. No time for thoughts like that now, she told herself. Must provide aid now!
"Renji!" she called "Where in the real world is the Espada currently?" She knew the coordinates, but whether it was a park or an office building was an important fact which she did not know.
"I think it's the campus for some college," he called contemptuously. Renji found the idea of a university rather odd and mostly pointless. Academia just seemed to perpetuate itself with little real use. "ACU? Or something, maybe, AGU?"
AGU! Rukia's head throbbed. That was where Ichigo was! What if the Espada had been sent to get rid of him?! Panic gnawed at the corners of her will….Ichigo was likely in danger!! She pushed images of a mortally wounded Ichigo out of her mind, NO, she thought. I must protect him.
"Come on, Renji!" She pulled his arm, forcing him to go even faster. Holding up her hand, she materialized the opening to the real world.
They materialized in courtyard. Rukia saw the three members of her squad. Her breath caught in her throat.
"They're ok!" Renji called having arrived closer to them than she had. "This way!" he pelted off towards the Espada's reiatsu. Rukia followed him at top speed. Ichigo's reiatsu was in the same place.
o o o o o
Orhiro banged on the door to the Captain's meeting. Open up, open up, come ON, he thought. "This is 6th officer, Orhiro of the 13th squad! I have an emergency message from Vice Captain Kuchiki!" He heard commotion within the chamber. Hurry up hurry up, he mentally commanded them.
The door swung open. The Captains looked grave, even Shunsui. Orhiro felt oddly self-conscious suddenly being the center of attention, but remembering the issue at hand, "An Espada has appeared near Karakura Town on a university campus. There are three members of Squad 13 stationed there. Vice Captains Kuchiki and Abarai have already left to reinforce them, and they request further back up," he gasped out.
"Thank you," the Commander General said. "We will act immediately, you may go."
Orhiro was relieved to have completed his role, but was slightly disappointed that he did not get to hear nor be a part of the Captains' plan. He closed the door and walked back to his quarters, feeling an odd sense of anti-climax.
However, the mood among the Captains had darkened. Ukitake spoke first. "We have already sent Captain Hitsugaya with an advanced group out to search for Vice Captain Hinamori, as we suspect she is the target Aizen is going after." He looked troubled… "Although we are unsure of her whereabouts, she is not suspected to be near Karakura town. It is possible that Aizen is seeking Kurosaki Ichigo."
The Commander General broke in. "Aizen's reasons for sending an Espada are unimportant at the moment. Alert Captain Hitsugaya of the situation, as they are the closest and most able to provide immediate assistance. He, his guard, along with Kuchiki and Abarai, should be able to take care of the Espada. Right now we must prepare reinforcements in the event that more Arrancar surface, and we must lift the limitations on their power as soon as possible."
The Captains nodded.
o o o o o
Ichigo sensed that he was closing in on the Espada. Looking around he realized that he was in front of the Shironam Dormitory. Doesn't Orihime live here? What was the Espada doing here? He couldn't possibly want her. Then Ichigo saw him.
The 4th Espada, Ulquiorra, was moving swiftly towards the side entrance of the building. Ichigo's eyes widened. He had been the one who kidnapped Inoue and brought her to Hueco Mundo before. Was he after her again?
"Oi! Stop right there, you bastard!" Ichigo called. "No Espada is attacking any classmate of mine." His eyes narrowed. Ulquiorra had beaten him once before, but Ichigo was confident in his own improvement since then. "Why don't you take on a man, you coward!" he taunted.
Ulquiorra turned and stopped, his face expressionless as always, but his eyes looked annoyed. He did not appreciate the interruption. It's that foolish Shinigami child, Kurosaki, he thought. He should be easy enough to take out, just like the three who had been in the courtyard. Although they were hindrances, Ulquiorra had little interest in expending the extra effort to kill those who got in his way. He focused single-mindedly on his goal. Today, he wanted Inoue Orihime and nothing to do with Kurosaki Ichigo. But then again, he thought, Inoue's allegiance to this boy just might be reason enough to…annihilate him.
"You are not worth my time, today, Shinigami," Ulquiorra said quietly to Ichigo. "However, if you get in my way, I promise it will be the last thing you do."
Ichigo was enraged. Does this guy really think that I'll just stand by and let him take someone, probably Inoue?! What a bastard!
"Yeah? Well, just attempt to attack one of my friends, and Zangetsu will be the last thing you ever see, you shithead!"
Ulquiorra remained expressionless. "You are arrogant, Shinigami. I will show you your stupidity." Ulquiorra rushed at Ichigo, katana raised.
Ichigo smiled. Payback, you dick, for kidnapping Orhime, for not letting me have another chance at you, and for trying to kidnap her again, he thought. Ichigo grabbed the hilt of Zangetsu, the bandage-like scabbard falling away.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"