She did not use an incantation to simultaneously bind their arms; it wasn't necessary. She had become more proficient in eishohaki during her past few months in Kisuke's underground training arena, and Rukia used it to her advantage in her current situation. She pulled the kido rope toward her with as much brute force she could muster.
"Rukia! What the hell?" Ichigo shouted when he realized that it was her who was restraining them. He was incredulous at his sudden incapacitation--she hadn't even used an incantation! He looked to Renji for help. The red-head shinigami just shook his head, cursing under his breath. Ichigo turned his head toward Rukia, who was standing a few feet behind him. "Let go!"
Rukia quickly released the kido binding spells, allowing the two soul reapers to regain control of their arms once again. "Stay back!" she hissed.
"I will not stay back!" Ichigo roared. "Renji!" he yelled, as if asking his friend for help. He met Renji's worried gaze, as the Abarai glanced toward Rukia. Ichigo followed the redhead's eyes, noticing Rukia. Really noticing her. She was looking past both of her companions, her violet eyes concentrating on what lay before them.
Ichigo noticed that the snow white blade of her zanpakuto had disappeared as she held the bare hilt in her hands as the white ribbon floated listlessly in the air. She moved gracefully as she slashed the bladeless handle through the atmosphere. He had been distracted by her unfamiliar shikai display that he failed to notice the two animals that had soared past him. The sudden cold that bit at his legs as they rushed past brought him back to reality. He stared incredulously at the two massive animals that stalked their Adjuchas prey. Their fur was devoid of all color, their eyes flashing an icy blue as they gnashed their teeth at the Hollow. Just what are they? he silently asked himself. Had Rukia summoned them?
He watched as one of the giant cats lunged forward. The scorpion-like Adjuchas used its tail to stab the snow-white puma—leading to the puma's dissipation into millions of tiny ice-like particles. Its lithe companion took advantage of the situation, darting under the stinger and using its massive claws to slice into one of the crushing pincers. Ichigo could see Rukia's swinging movements from the corner of his eye. So that must be it, he thought, she is controlling their movements with the handle of her zanpakuto. The Adjuchas howled in dissatisfaction as it attempted to smash its attacker with its viable pincer. Before it could do so, the first attacker had reformed, slicing through the Hollow's second claw. Suddenly, the Adjuchas fell forward, its two claws hitting the ground, thudding from the impact.
Rukia's voice sobered Ichigo. "Return," she murmured, as the two animals crumbled into fine icy dust. Her pure-white zanpakuto blade reformed from the tiny particles.
"Rukia…y-you.." Ichigo began.
Rukia wordlessly stepped past Ichigo, as his mouth dropped open in amazement. She angrily gazed at the arthropod before her. "You will tell me where he is," she spat.
"You are a fool, Shinigami!" the hollow sneered. "You think you have defeated me? Or that I will beg for my life? Ridiculous!" He attempted to pull his pincers off of the ground, but their weight was too great. He tried to drag his body backward, as if here were retreating.
Ichigo studied the massive pincers, realizing that they were…made of ice. When had that happened?? "So, their claws freeze anything they slice," he murmured, answering his own question.
"This is…new," Renji whispered, watching his childhood companion with wide-eyed wonder.
"New?" Ichigo echoed. "You knew about this?" he asked accusingly. Renji nodded, slightly. "For how long?"
"For as long as she had been training," he answered.
"Why didn't she tell me?" he asked, hurt by Rukia's sudden secrecy.
"She didn't tell me, either," the red-head answered. "I only found out by chance," he admitted. "She is much stronger than even I had thought," he said, nodding his head toward Rukia as she stood with her back to them--her focus on the scorpion-like Adjuchas before her.
Ichigo wanted to go to her side, to help her. He felt Renji's hand on his arm. "Don't," he said softly. "She needs this."
"This is ridiculous," Ichigo growled.
"Is it?" Renji whispered. "Was it ridiculous when you barged into Seretei hoping to save her?"
Ichigo remained silent as he studied the woman he had saved more times than he cared to count. Perhaps Renji was right. Just this once, he told himself. "If anything goes wrong…," he warned.
"Be ready," Renji responded, tightening his grip on Zabimaru's hilt as he watched Rukia pace before her victim.
"Your claws are too heavy to move, so your attacking range is limited," she confirmed, studying her shikai's handiwork. "Now tell me where he is!"
"He is dead!" the Adjuchas answered.
"Lies!" she replied, her eyes flashing their anger. Her hands shook as they gripped Sode no Shirayuki. "I will finish the job that Ashido started," she warned, tightening her grip. She began to swing her zanpakuto through the familiar half-circle of its First Dance, Tsukishiro. Before she could complete the movements, the Adjuchas attempted one final attack.
To Ichigo, it looked as if it had happened in slow motion: Rukia began to swing Sode no Shirayuki, its ribbon twisting with the intended motion. The Adjuchas managed to separate its frozen pincers from its body, awkwardly tripping backwards over its tapered legs. When it realized its success in freeing itself, the scorpion swung its deadly stinger at the slender shinigami. Ichigo knew with certainty that the needle-like stinger would connect with her body. He opened his mouth to scream, as Renji tore away from his side. Sure enough, the stinger pierced her chest. Her face did not register the impact or pain.
"Rukia!" Ichigo screamed as he used his shunpo to reach her side.
"You stupid, arrogant Shinigami," the Adjuchas spat, pushing its stinger farther into Rukia's chest. Renji had reached her side first, slashing through the segmented stinger. The appendage crashed to the ground, pulling free from Rukia's chest.
Ichigo grabbed her frail body as she collapsed forward. "Rukia!" his scream tore through the forest as Renji watched in horror. The lieutenant turned angrily toward the mutilated remnants of the hollow, as its laughter floated through the stale air of Hueco Mundo.
Ichigo's hands caught Rukia as she fell, his eyes widened in surprise. "What the—," he began.
"Utsusemi!" Renji murmured, as he watched the afterimage collapse in Ichigo's careful hands. Renji was familiar with his captain's technique—as he was the only man skilled enough to perform it. Until now. "I can't believe it!" he breathed, incredulous at Rukia's ability to master the technique.
Both men looked at the injured Adjuchas before them, as he cackled mindlessly at his self-absorbed success. Suddenly, Rukia appeared behind the hollow, holding her sword at arm's length from her body, the blade facing backward. A loud ripping sound emanated from the space between the three Shinigami. Rukia turned her head slightly, watching from the corner of her eye. "You are the arrogant one, Hollow," she growled.
She had moved with such speed and precision; the Adjuchas never stood a chance. Its body fell apart into two halves, each collapsing in opposite directions as its spiritual energy flaked away into the atmosphere. It had never registered its defeat. Rukia silently slid her zanpakuto into its sheath, saying a silent prayer for the souls that were devoured to create the hideous demon.
"Rukia!" Renji yelled, staring at her, his mouth gaping.
She turned to study her two companions. Ichigo stared at her—a mixture of anger and astonishment. She felt a slight burst of pride as the two men ogled her incredulously."Quit staring, idiots!" she replied, pushing her hair from her face.
"Y-you…you learned Cicada!" Renji practically whined.
Rukia smiled grimly. "I hadn't expected to use it, in all honesty," she answered slowly. During her training with Yoruichi, she had yet to master the technique, though she had been quite close. She continued to train during her time with Urahara, finally able to grasp the necessary final steps of the complicated Flash Step.
"But…you did…," he moaned. "I can't even do it!"
"Quit your bitching! You sound like a girl," Ichigo grumbled, as he stood--his eyes still on Rukia's face. He stood in silent disbelief of the events he had just witnessed. Rukia had indeed been training these past few months--this fight proof of that dedication. Why did she not tell me? he asked himself, his stomach sinking. He had hoped that she could have at least talked to him about it, even telling him that she was going to train for the next few months. He would have understood. But, instead, she disappeared suddenly, never leaving him so much as an explanation. Had she learned her bankai in these past few months?he silently wondered. He knew that the two pumas were another shikai release form of her zanpakuto. He was also aware that the Flash Blossom that she had just displayed had been something that Yoruichi had developed. He assumed that she, too, had been training Rukia these past few months. His churning thoughts were interrupted by Renji's voice.
"What did you say?" the Abarai howled.
"Shut up, you two!" Rukia commanded, her face reddening from Ichigo's stare. She could see the unspoken anger in his eyes. She knew that he may never forgive her for leaving him without so much as a word. She dropped her eyes to the ground.
"I thought you were hurt," he whispered, studying her closely. "I really thought you had been injured," he repeated softly.
"Rukia, is this guy you're looking for—this Ashido—is he the same one that helped us escape before?" Renji quickly changed the subject.
Rukia nodded, "Yes, I promised to return and bring him back to Seretei. And now, I may be too late." She balled her small hands into tight fists as she fought the tears that threatened the back of her eyelids. She could still feel Ichigo's silent gaze boring into her. She looked up at him, pleading for him to understand. Later, she silently told him. I promise. They would talk later. She would make sure of it. She owed him that much.
"It looks like he won't be able to tell us where this Shinigami is," Renji said, kicking the pile of dusty remains—the only reminder of the Adjuchas' existence. "Shit, this is going to take forever."
Rukia understood their frustration. It was her quest, not theirs, and she was grateful for their company. "I'm sorry, guys," she offered.
"For what?" Ichigo responded.
"For dragging you both into this. And making you worry," she gestured.
"I wouldn't be anywhere else," the orange-haired man replied. Rukia felt a sudden urge to hug him.
She looked at Renji, waiting for his response. He nodded, smiling slightly, "What're friends for, right?" he asked, scratching his head. "Aww, shit..my glasses!" he whined, remembering the broken frames.
"Shut the hell up about your stupid glasses!" Rukia laughed.
Renji scowled at her, "They cost me six months' pay, you know!"
"Which makes you even more stupid!" she retorted, as Ichigo snorted his laughter.
"I hate you two," Renji muttered under his breath.
"Fine with me," Ichigo replied. This time, Renji joined in the laughter.
"I—I think we need to keep moving if we are going to keep from being found by other hollows," Rukia interjected, her stomach hurting from laughing.
"Which way should we go?" Ichigo asked, looking around. He was not familiar with this forest, and hoped that Rukia knew where she was taking them.
"I could track Ashido's spirit," she suggested. She had never tried the Way of Binding No. 58, but she knew the incantation from her Academy Days.
"Kakushitsuijaku?" Renji asked. Both Rukia and Ichigo stared at the Division Six Lieutenant. "What?" he asked, his face turning red from embarrassment.
"Kido is not your strength," Ichigo muttered, "It's surprising, that's all." He shrugged his indifference.
"So what? I can't know the name?" he defended himself.
"I'm impressed," Rukia mused. "Do you think it would work?" She, too, knew that Renji was weak with kido. She suspected he had studied after she defeated him with shunpo. She decided to tease him about it later.
"It would be easier than running around this shitty forest," he answered.
"Agreed," Ichigo seconded Renji's opinion.
"Fine," Rukia replied. She knelt down, drawing a circle on the ground, illustrating it with four characters. "Heart of the south, eye of the north, finger of the west, foot of the east, arrive with the wind and depart with the rain," she recited the incantation. The ground glowed as she placed both palms below her circle. The circle began to pulsate with the bright blue light. A set of numbers appeared suddenly.
"What is that?" Ichigo asked, confused by the kido. He had never learned to use the spells, though he was finding them quite useful.
"They are the location of the spiritual energy that she focuses on while she performs the spell," Renji answered so that Rukia wouldn't hear him. He had been studying his kido, though he would never admit it.
"So if she thinks about Ashido, then it will give her the location?" Ichigo asked, his eyes on Rukia. The light from the ground softly lit her face as she kept her eyes closed in concentration.
"Basically," Renji confirmed.
"So if he is dead, then technically his spiritual energy could not be sensed?" he continued. He felt guilty at his sudden, dark thoughts.
Renji nodded. Ichigo watched Rukia open her eyes, as the violet irises fell on the numerical code before her. He watched her mouth upturn into the smile he enjoyed so much. He knew that she wanted to rescue her friend more than anything. Part of him understood her feelings, the other part felt jealous at the fervor she displayed so adamantly for the missing Shinigami.
"Found him!" she whispered, interrupting Ichigo's thoughts. She looked up, her purple eyes twinkling with satisfaction. "He's alive!" She saw Ichigo's eyes slightly dim at her words. She frowned at his response. Why was he so sullen when she mentioned Ashido? Perhaps she was reading into things too much. Her eyes fell on the glowing kido box that engulfed Ashido's severed arm and zanpakuto. "Renji! Carry that box, will you?" she ordered.
"Why me?" he whined, grimacing at the thought of carrying someone's hand.
"Because," she replied, smiling slightly, "I'll tell everyone I beat the Sixth Division's Lieutenant at shunpo if you don't."
He muttered a string of profanities as he tucked the brightly glowing box under his arm, gagging slightly at the thought of carrying another man's severed limb.