Chapter 10: The Bounts
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach
Previously: Aizen's betrayal is revealed. Ichigo loses to him. He and the others rest in Seireitei for a week. Then they go home.
Important: I'm moving forward with The Bount Arc. But the rest of the anime arcs I don't see happening.
I'm sick right now and too lazy to edit. There might be mistakes here and there. Apologies in advance.
"They're as lively as ever."
Yuzu winced at the loud banging upstairs, "Maybe we should go stop them. Before Ichigo puts daddy in the hospital."
"No way," I waved my hand, "Old Goat Chin has it coming. Besides," I greedily helped myself to my sister's cooking. "More for me!"
"Karin-chan!" Yuzu scolded lightly. She hummed happily and skipped over to the eggs on the frying pan.
"What's got you in a good mood?"
"I'm just really glad. You and Ichigo are back home. And..."
"And what?"
"You're more...positive now," she said thoughtfully.
"As opposed to the total pessimist I was before?"
"No, no," she shook her head. "It's just that you seem different somehow, lighter."
Thinking back, I guess I wasn't the same as when I first woke up in this body. I'd learned the reason for my existence and found somewhere I could belong. Wow, I really was solemn back then. It was the constant guilt over thinking I had taken over Karin's body and stolen her friends and family, her identity. It felt good to know the truth.
A truth I should share, soon. Ichigo, naturally, would be the first to know. Isshin after he revealed his shinigami past. But Yuzu would never know. I had no doubts, whatever they decided to do after learning my secret, they would not tell her.
After all, what could they say? 'Your sister died and an imposter whose soul can steal one's identity took her place after Karin forced a magic ball to save her from a white-masked monster?'
I still hadn't worked up the nerve to tell my brother. Sandal-Hat had pestered me saying Ichigo would understand. I was still Karin in a sense. But it was easier said than done. My ever so wise teacher pointed out my hesitancy was, in a way, a good thing. I cared enough for the family to be scared of telling them the truth.
The few times I would come close to telling Ichigo, I'd either chicken out at the last second or a hollow would conveniently show up. So far, the only unchanging fact of this matter was, anytime I asked myself when I could tell the truth, my answer stayed the same.
I'll do it later.
"Hey Sandal-Hat, what's the big idea?" I kicked him.
"Karin-chan! It's the middle of the night," he whined, rubbing his side.
"That's what I'm saying! I had to get up in the middle of the night when Renji comes and says there's a strange presence at Orihime's place. Of course I knew that before he even came but someone needed to tell my insensitive brother and I rushed off thinking I had no time."
He opened his mouth but I cut him off, continuing my rant. "I come to find three weirdoes hanging around her place. I know Ririn, Claude, and Nova are your creations but what I don't know," really I just forgot, "what's their damn purpose?" Other than comedy relief and detecting soul-sucking vampires that is.
He stared at me oddly. "You really are frighteningly knowledgeable." He must have noticed my control slipping, "It's a test of sorts. Ichigo needs to learn how to initiate Bankai on will. Ishida has lost his powers and isn't telling the others. Inoue-san and Sado-san are a hindrance and have to become stronger."
"You could have told me that before you pulled this stunt," I sat down. "I ran all over Karakura in my pajamas!" The bastard dared laugh at me and I willed my hand on fire, waving it threateningly in his face. That got him to shut up.
"Now, I don't want any part in this 'test' of yours. I'm going to start a new training regimen so I will be staying here for some time. Tell my brother when he asks." If I wasn't at home, this was the first place Ichigo would come to look. I got up and started to leave.
"I'm going to go out on a limb here," Urahara sounded sure despite claiming to be guessing, "You know the other presence in Karakura, don't you?"
"Yes, I do," I turned back to him. So, the Bount arc will begin soon. Good, we'll need the training to prepare for the Espada. Who knows, maybe we could even befriend some. That could be of great help in the future.
"Who is it?" Urahara asked.
"Now that would be telling," I grinned and left. It would bug him not to know in spite of having the answer sheet, me, right under his nose. I went into the guest room, my room. I'd left some clothes here in case of a situation such as this one. Or if I get kicked out after I tell Ichigo my secret.
The Next Day
I could sense my brother, Uryū, Renji, and Chad above ground. Since my brother didn't come demanding to know where I'd been all night, I assumed Urahara had relayed my message. Three hours, that's how long I had been sitting around trying to brainstorm ways to make myself stronger.
My mind had inevitably turned to Natsu Dragoneel. After all, if taking inspiration from anime/manga helped with training the first time, might as well explore all my options. I wonder if like Natsu, I can eat fire. I had yet to try. I couldn't help but laugh. If I ever end up facing the Old Man in battle, I should try to eat Ryūjin Jakka.
Though, it may lead to indigestion.
"Focus!" I shook my head and began mumbling to myself. "Masaki was a full-blood Quincy. So the Quincy genes—and my personality—likely play a role in my Fullbringer abilities."
Except I didn't use an object to manifest my Power. Then again, neither did Chad. Didn't he? I growled in frustration, cursing my weak memory. Oh screw it; I should down everything I know about Bleach. In code! Yes, hopefully that will be enough to keep anyone from learning about the future should they get their hands on it.
"Wait a minute. Is it possible...?" Could I gain Quincy powers? That half did seem to overpower the Shinigami half in me. Not surprising since Isshin spent years in a faux body. "Yes, that would make sense. Ichigo was the first born child. Isshin was a captain so it would make sense for his genetics to overpower Masaki's."
I got up and began pacing. "Then the years spent—no wait, Ichigo and I are twins in this...reality." I stopped and started tapping my foot impatiently. "Gah! The Shinigami part dominated Ichigo's blood and I go the dominant Quincy genes. Let's just stick with that."
"Right," I nodded to myself, no doubt looking mental to any outsider if I were being watched. "I'll have to make a list of all the Quincy attacks. Maybe I could create some new techniques based on that?"
I shifted; the weight was causing my right foot to fall asleep. "How can I ask Uryū?" I could always go up to him and be blunt about it. But even he can't know every technique. "Maybe his dad?" Oh yeah, I could see that work out real well.
"Wait a minute!" I yelled in excitement. "Hats-and-Clogs! He's a scientist and knows about all the other races. Plus he treated Masaki!"
"Hey! Sandal-Hat!" I threw open the door. "Come with me!" I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out. Completely ignoring the fact he was in the middle of a sentence.
"Karin, wait—" Ichigo stood up to follow.
"Not now," I brought Urahara down below. "I need information."
"Depends," he fixed his clothes. "If—"
"I'll tell you what we're dealing with in exchange for this information." I knew all too well the kind of sneaky bastard he was. "But first, I want the info."
"But why should—"
"I need you more than you need me." I pointed out.
"Fine," he agreed with a sour look on his face. He was probably annoyed about getting interrupted. "Tell me what you need."
"I want all the information you have on the Quincy and," I turned around, "I want you to kick Ichigo out of here. Honestly, who does he think he's fooling? Hiding behind that rock over there."
Ichigo came up to them with a scowl on his face. "How did you know I was there?"
"Are you kidding?" I rolled my eyes. "With your reiatsu, it'd be subtler if you had a giant, flashing sign above your head reading: I'm over here!" Urahara snickered in the background.
Ichigo folded his arms and glared, eyes narrowed suspiciously, "What exactly have you been doing here?"
"Brainstorming," I answered honestly. "Now if that's all, you can leave."
"If it's about training, I can help. Wouldn't it be better to have a sparring partner?"
"Except the only muscles I'm working are up here," I tapped the side of my head.
"Two heads are better than one," he countered smugly.
"I-chi-gooo!" I stomped my feet and waved my clenched fists.
Or at least I did in my mind. On the outside I remained calm. "Fine, if you want, you can stay," I smirked and turned away from him, whipped my pony tail. Ichigo sputtered when he got smacked in the face.
"Hey Kisuke, how fast can you talk in English?" I spoke as fast as I could. English was my brother's absolute worst subject. He'd dropped it after taking it for only two years even though here in Japan, speaking English was important for any high paying job.
"Fast enough so your brother here can't keep up," he answered with equal speed.
"Good, now give me all you have on you-know-whats."
"What do you need it for?"
Eyes wide and jaw on the floor, Ichigo tried to follow our conversation. Then he got a look of concentration on his face. I was surprised he hadn't called a time-out to bring Uryū here to translate for him. Though I doubted even he could keep up.
"I'm planning on using their abilities as inspiration to make new techniques."
"Why you-know-whats?" He cocked his head, understanding already present in his eyes.
"Because I'm half you-know-what and my double X chromosome parent was a pureblood you-know-what." No matter how horrible a linguistic he was, Ichigo would understand 'mom' even if spoken in English.
"You know about that?" Urahara switched back to Japanese in shock.
"But of course," I grinned, also back to Japanese.
Urahara nodded to himself, "It makes sense." His eyes widened, "I wonder..." Then he scrutinized me, "It's not a guarantee but oh if it is," he clapped his hands gleefully. I edged back, knowing that look all too well.
"What are you two talking about?" Ichigo yelled, clutching his hair in frustration.
"Bounts," I answered automatically. Thankfully my brother didn't see the surprise on my teacher's face since he was glaring at me.
"What are Bounts?"
"Evolved humans much like the Quincy. They live off Pluses by, well, eating them, and they're said to be immortal. Sandal-Hat's been sending me out to investigate suspicious readings he'd been getting."
"What?" Ichigo rounded on him. "You sent my sister off all alone to hunt soul-sucking immortal vampires?!"
"They're not really vampires. Besides, I wasn't lying earlier, I did spend majority of the time trying to come up with ways get stronger since I figured out early on what we were dealing with."
Urahara's body language screamed: Yes of course you knew right from the start. Almost as if she knew what going to happen beforehand. Could she...?
"Do you think it was these Bounts that kidnapped Inoue the other day?" It made sense to him. After all, even if the kidnapper sounded like a little girl, she could actually be much older!
I shrugged and let him come to a conclusion on his own. "Why do you call her Inoue?" I changed the subject, distracting him.
"What?"
"I mean she followed you into Soul Society, sure mostly it was for Rukia's sake, but she did it for you too." I subtly began leading him above ground as Urahara disappeared to get his files on the Quincy. "I think you can address her informally now, you know." I rolled my eyes.
"I guess why not," he shrugged, hands in pockets.
I grinned, "I don't know if you know yet, but back in Soul Society, the day before we rescued Rukia, I asked Kenpachi to train Orihime and he said yes."
"WHAT?!"
"Why are you here? Go hang out in your own room."
"Honestly, we don't even need a TV," I ignored Ichigo, preferring to watch Kon and Ririn squabbling like brats. "Sure could use some popcorn right about now..."
Ichigo made a sound of annoyance and turned back to his homework. Not long after Kon stormed out, Ririn sensed a Bount and we left. Arriving at an ally, we chased after Yoshino, I think was her name. She summoned her Doll and Ichigo took out Zangetsu.
"Wait, let me fight him," I stepped in front of my brother. "I've never fought another fire-type before."
Ichigo moved back, albeit grudgingly, "Be careful."
He kept a careful on Yoshino while I took on the fire golem. I dodged his attacks, fire couldn't harm me but my clothes were another matter. This is the perfect opportunity for a little experiment. I surrounded the fire golem—I had no idea how to pronounce his name properly—with my flames. Much to my surprise, they began to corrupt him. With one last shriek of pain and fury, he disappeared in the explosion.
Ichigo cursed, "She's gone."
Putting out the flames and sheathing Rei—really have to come up with a better name—I turned back to Ichigo. But someone behind him caught my attention. "Rukia! You're back!" Ichigo protested when I shoved him out of my way and caught the short girl in a hug.
"I missed you too!" Rukia laughed, returning the hug.
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