TILN CH. 10 - Trapped
Author's Notes
Okay, Sorry for the long wait peoples, had some more personal stuff hit the fan. But I'm back on track (I hope). So, I was going through the reviews and I must admit, yes I have made Hallibel horribly OOC; this is something I hope to remedy soon, and set up here. I thank you all for your patience. With out further ado, here's Chapter 10:
"What do you want, hollow?" This guy has a smile like Gin.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" This little runt has spunk.
"Hiyori, shut up. He hasn't attacked yet, so let him talk." the smiling one said.
"Fuck off Shinji! He's a hollow, so he's gotta die!" Hiyori said, drawing her zanpakuto. She rushed me, blade poised for a horizontal slash.
"Hmm?" I say, as her blade skids off my belly. "You know, these haori are actually fairly expensive," I grab her arm, "Specially since I live in a fucking desert." I toss her to Shinji, who lets her fall to the floor.
"Huh, you're strong hollow. Now, what do you want?" he asks in a strange fusion of monotone and curiosity.
"I was hoping to talk to Hachigen Ushoda. I have it on good authority that he is a fairly decent crafter of specialized garganta." I answer him.
"I am. But why should I give aid to a hollow?" Hachi asks.
"Cause the enemy of your enemy is your friend." I answer simply. Most of them looked shocked at me. "That go over your head? Fine, we have similar goals, so I thought you could help me." I dumb it down a bit.
Shinji was the first to come to, "How'd you find us?"
"I have a great many ways to find whom ever I want. One such way is to search the town for a void of spirit energy; which Hachi's fields so happened to create." I look over the people I found in this warehouse.
There's Shinji, the obvious leader. Hiyori, the spunky girl. Hachi, my goal. Some girl that looked excited just to exist. An ever scowling brute. A blonde with a guitar. This guy with a weird hairdo. And some girl with glasses. 'Hmm, what an intriguing group.'
"Hmm, perhaps an introduction is in order. I have taken to calling myself Soledosa Sekizen. Could I have the honor of knowing your names?" I ask, bowing to the group of Visored before me.
"My name is Mashiro!" the excited girl flashed around me, "Hey, Kensei, he doesn't have a Zanpakuto!" Mashiro zoomed over to the brute.
"Damn it Mashiro..." he sighed. "I'm Kensei Muguruma." he glared at me. I just met his glare.
"They call me Love. Love Aikawa." the man with the do said.
"I'm Rojuro Otoribashi. But everyone just calls Rose." the guitarist says. He looked bored, a lot like Aizen's bored expression, but not as smug.
"Lisa Yadomaru." the one with glasses said simply.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet the Visored." I bow again.
"Hmm, a hollow with manners. Hey, Hiyori, you could learn something from him." Shinji said.
"SHUT UP!" Hiyori threw one of her sandals at him.
"So, wha'd'ya say, Hachi. Would you hear me out?" I look at the large green sited man.
"We will hear what you have to say." he says, gesturing to his allies.
"Very well." I say. I begin to explain my situation, "A while ago, I aided a fellow Arrancar perform a reconnaissance mission. At the conclusion of said mission I managed to recruit someone. This someone is like you. A Visored. His hollow had taken over and joined my cause. However, he lost control of his host body, and now is... normal(?) again. I need to use you," I look at Hachi, "to conjure a temporal garganta so I can return this boy to his own allies."
The Visored all looked astounded. A hollow helping another being? That's unheard of! "You... You're a unique hollow Soledosa Sekizen." Shinji said.
"Indeed. Come, I will do what I can." Hachi said.
"Lord Aizen, Sekizen has breached protocol and descended to the human world. His goals were unclear." Tousen reported from his loyal bow.
"You are unable to locate him?" Aizen asked.
"No, my lord. He has completely hidden from us." Kaname said.
"Hmm," Aizen's smile grew even more smug, "It appears as though it is time. Activate the Tenteikura."
"Black and white net." Tousen began to draw black lines about the ground. "Twenty-two bridges, sixty-six crowns and belts. Footprints, distant thunder, sharp peak, engulfing land, hidden in the night, sea of clouds, blue line." He drew lines down his arms, and thrust them forward. "Form a circle and fly through the heavens, Tenteikura!" The very air seemed to crack and spiderweb from a central square of pure light. "M'lord, the kido is finished."
"Soledosa Sekizen..." Aizen began, "...It seems as though your usefulness has come to a close." Aizen spoke the hidden meaning with glee soaked venom. Happy to be rid of the one being that can stand to his current power.
"You have my thanks for this, Hachi." I said to the large visored. "As do your friends." I added after seeing some of the resentful looks coming from a few of the others. "Here, I will fetch my allies. They hold the boy I want returned."
Hachi nods his head as I gaze just behind him, opening a garganta. "Finally! That place was suffocating!" Odioso exclaimed. "Soledosa what took... you... so... long?" he slowed down as he saw my companions.
"Odioso, where's Ichigo?" I ask.
"Oh, Tsunami's got him."
"And where's he?"
"Right here Sol. Odioso seemed to get a little ahead of himself and ran out before Hisana and I could." His explained, hefting Ichigo over a shoulder.
"Right." I look bemusedly at Odioso who only smiles back.
"Oh, fine, forget about the little one." Hisana barked from beside Tsunami.
"Would never dream of it Hisana." I placate the ice phoenix, "Now, down to business, bring him to Hachigen, here." I order.
Tsunami walks over to the Visord, and gently sets him down. The young man's black shihakusho immediately told them he was a soul reaper. "Interesting, I was not under the impression this is the one you wanted to send back." Hachi said.
"Something wrong?" I ask.
"Oh, no. It's just, a few month's ago, we were looking at recruiting this one, but he up an vanished suddenly. You said his inner hollow was in control for that time?"
"Yes..." I answer cautiously. "What is it?"
"This boy's will must be astounding. For him to battle for months on end and win against an opponent like his polar opposite, is truly remarkable." Hichi said as he sat down. "Now, when would you like him to be sent?"
"To the precise moment after he left this world." I answer.
"That far?" he looked worried.
"What now?" I ask getting annoyed.
"I've never sent someone back so far before. Days would usually be the limit so as to not alter the time/space continuum too much. But months would change so much. This will alter everything in this reality." he explained.
"Hmm, is there a way to avoid it?" I ask.
"Other than not sending him... There is one, but it is very taxing. More energy is required than I can offer, even while hollowfied." Hachi said, looking both relieved and sad.
"What if I could give you energy?"
Hachi was taken aback, "What?"
"If I said I could give you energy, would you do it?"
"Yes..." he said, mirroring the caution I showed earlier. "But how would you do that?"
"My abilities. I call it, Brotherhood. I can openly share power between anyone. I can even use it to a limited extent. I can even give power when needed." I look at Odioso. He just acts embarrased.
"Ahh, okay then. I ask that you begin transfer immediately, this will be very tiring."
"Odioso, Hisana, Tsunami, come here." I order.
"Yes." they all say in unison. They stand before me, ready for anything.
I hold out my fist, "Put your hands on my fist." I order, "Good, now." I surge power into them. They didn't expect it and were knocked on their asses.
"What the..." Hisana began.
"Sol..." Tsunami started.
Odioso just giggled excitedly, quickly rubbing his knuckles together.
"Now you three will give Hachi power." They all look shocked, "I will return Ichigo to the past. No protests."
"Very well." Hisana and Tsunami answer.
"Yes, captain!" Odioso said excitedly.
"You may begin when you're ready, Hachi." I say.
"Good, then." he said. He took a meditative pose, and began to mutter words in many different languages so fast I couldnt' catch anything but an audible mess of gibberish.
The air in front of us began to contort and twist. Then, like a mouth bit down on it, the area compressed. Finally it tore open like a Garganta. I look at Hachi, who nods, hopefully confirming it's safety. I pick up the orange haired soul reaper, and carry him into the portal.
"You had better be worth this effort Ichigo Kurosaki. If not, I may have to kill you myself." it was not a threat, it was a warning. I look ahead and see a single pinhead of light in the distance, and begin to rocket toward it. In a matter of minutes, I arrive at the end of the tunnel. Looking out I see a memorable sight. I see myself holding Ichigo's sword, then out of nowhere, black and red reiatsu flooded from around his feet and spiralled around us.
I watch as he follows me into the garganta. I watch the pain on the faces of Ichigo's friends grow and darken. I watch them begin to crumble. Then I carry Ichigo to them. In a boom of sonido I appear in behind Yoruichi Shihoin and Kisuke Urahara. The sound made them turn.
The grief on their faces immediately turned to rage at the sight of me. Yoruichi was going to attack me, but Urahara held her back, "Kisuke, what the hell! He took Ichigo! He needs to die!" she screamed at the blonde man.
"No. Look. There, in his arms." he sais. Yoruichi looks and sees Ichigo.
"Wh.." she begins.
"I made no agreement with this boy. I refuse to hold him captive." I say as I set him down before his teachers. "Before I go, I must ask something of you."
"What makes you think you deserve to-" Yoruichi's rage was palpable.
"Yoruichi. He returned Ichigo to us not a moment after taking him. His effort must not be small in doing so." Kisuke said. "I will listen." he turned to me.
"There is a group of people at the edge of town. I believe you know them; the Visordes." I pause. "They are looking forward to recruiting your boy toward their goal. I also happen to know that their training is all that will make Ichigo capable of fighting what is to come." I finish, and with that, I turn toward the open portal.
"And what is to come?" Kisuke asked.
"The end of all you know, if you don't heed my words." I answer over my shoulder.
"Sekizen!" Yoruichi calls; I ignore her. "Sekizen!" she calls louder. I turn see her face, "I will personally introduce you to your end." she said between gritted teeth, glaring at me with all the venom of every woman in existence.
"I hope, for your sake, that you don't have to." I say before disappearing in sonido. I return to the entrance of the temporal garganta, and walk in. As I do, the exit closes. I don't think that's supposed to happen just yet... I grow suspicious. I start to rocket toward the light at the end. I see my fracciones at the entrance, all of them were peering into the gate.
"Psst, hey Shinji."
"Hmm? What do you want?"
"If we trap them in the portal, we'll have that much fewer enemies in the future. Wha'd'ya say?"
"I don't like the idea. It's dirty..." Shinji pondered for a moment, and sighed, "Fine. Fewer Espada means less effort." He walks over to Hachi, "Hey, I think it's time for our guests to depart."
"I see." Hachi waved his hand, forming a wall of energy behind the hollow remaining outside of the gate, and used it to shove them inside.
"Ahhh!" Hisana fell in, surprised.
"..." Tsunami was silent but he was shocked none-the-less.
"Ahhh hahahahaha" Odioso was wailing with laughter and joviality while he fell toward me. "Catch me captain!"
I just dodge him, and go strait for Hisana. She was still screaming, strangely enough. "Hey, calm down." I say soothingly as I get to her. I catch her, steadying her in the void of this plane. Hisana hung onto my neck, still shaken. 'honestly it was just a little shove, what's wrong with her.'
"Sol, what are we going to do now?" Tsunami had drifted toward Hisana and I.
"Well, they haven't closed the opening ye-"
"Soledosa Sekizen, it seems you've caught yourself in a bit of trouble." Aizen's voice rang all around us. "My dear Cero Espada, what ever shall I do with you..." I could hear the mocking undertone in his voice, "It seems as though your usefulness has come to a close."
"Aizen you son of a whithered whore!" I screamed, "When I get out of here,"
"If. If you get out of there. You have forgotten that is a special garganta crafted by one of the greatest Kido masters in existence. The likelihood of you escaping is free falling as we speak." Aizen was mocking me. This fucker will die.
"Oh, and don't worry about your allies here in Hueco Mundo. They won't be worrying about you, after all." He was chuckling. He was enjoying the prospect of cutting the greatest of my ties.
"Don't hurt them! If you harm them..." I pause. I can't even put these consequences into words. "What I will do to you will stretch even your imagination."
"Hmm, I look forward to your attempt. As per your allies, they will know the power of my Kyoka Suigetsu." I could hear the sickeningly smug smile on his face in his words. This man will die a very slow death indeed. "Now, excuse me while I attend to your friends here." and whatever connection we had was cut off.
Hisana was looking up at me with dead eyes, "Sol..." she said weakly. I look at my other fracciones, only to see them in a similar state; lost and forlorn. The only exception was Odioso, who just seemed lost, giggling to himself with a content look on his face.
I look up to the still shining white light coming from the Visordes entrance and see Shinji looking down to us, "Well it seems as if your creator has abandoned you, Arrancar. Sadly I must say we will as well. Good bye, Soledosa Sekizen." With those last words still echoing in my ears, the entrance closed.
"I swear to all of you. This will not go unpunished." I declare to my small group of friends trapped in this void.
"Ichigo..."
"Ichigo?"
"WAAAKE UUUUP IIIICHIIIGOOOO!" Ishin came flying through the air, rousing Ichigo from his long sleep. Having the quick reflexes he had came in extremely handy with his family; Ichigo caught his fathers foot and threw him into a nearby wall, embedding his likeness into the material. "Good job, my son..." he muttered as he began to dislodge himself.
"DAMN IT, DAD! CAN'T YOU WAKE ME UP LIKE A NORMAL PARENT!" Ichigo shouted as his dad slid from the wall as if from a cartoon.
"Ichigo?" the voice startled him. Ichigo looked around to see his friends and his trainers around him. He settled on the gentle eyes of Orihime.
"Where am I?" he asked, turning to look at Urahara.
"In my shop, of course. You scared us a bit there, Ichigo." the lazy man said in his unique monotone.
"How'd I get here." he said, rubbing his head. Then a look of realization dawned upon him, "Those hollow! What happened!?" he asked frantically.
"Easy Ichigo. They're gone." Yoruichi said. "When you showed up, they got the better of you. But they ran when Kisuke and I showed up." She lied. Ichigo didn't miss the look Urahara gave her.
"Anything else happen?" Ichigo asked.
"No. Nothing note worthy." Kisuke continued the lie, recalling the look in that white Ichigo's eyes. The crazed smile before leaving.
"Ichigo, those hollow..." Orihime began, "they killed so many people..." Tears began to fall.
Ichigo looked at her, his eyes growing wide. Then his eyes grew focused, and angry, "Yeah." he said in a gravely whisper, "Hat-n-Klogs,"
"Don't bother. I already know what you're gonna say; you need to get stronger. But... I'm afraid I can't help you any further, I'm sorry Ichigo." Urahara looked somberly to the ground.
"For now, Ichigo, you need to rest. You've been through something terrible." Yoruichi said, trying to quell any tension.
"BUT THOSE GUYS DESTROYED ME! YOU EXPECT ME TO JUST SIT AND REST?!" Ichigo grew angry and distressed. No one seems to understand.
"Calm down Ichigo, you'll just hurt yourself." Ishin said from his place by the wall.
"CALM DOWN!? CALM DOWN?! YOU DON'T UNDERSTA-!" Urahara knocked him out.
"I'm sorry Ishin, but it had to be done."
"Yeah. I'll take him home. Good night Urahara, Yoruichi." Ishin grabbed Ichigo and left Urahara's shop.
Urahara sighed like he were exhausted. "Mr. Urahara?" He looked to the young lady next to him, mumbling an acknowlegement. "Umm... We should get going too, Chad and I." she stood with the gigantic boy.
"Well, see you later then. Don't forget to check on that other girl." Urahara reminded them of Tatsuki.
"Okay, good bye." Orihime left in an unusually quiet mood. When she and Chad were out of the shop, she turned to the gentle giant, "I'll go check on Tatsuki, good night Chad."
"Good night, Orihime." he waved her off.
'At this rate...' Ichigo stood at the crater left behind by Ulquiorra and Yammi. He stood contemplating the power he currently held. Contemplating his ability to defend his friends and family. Contemplating the Visored.
The victory in the Seireitei sees so long ago. Ichigo had had his ass handed to him. The power he thought was enough was proven insufficient. Ichigo wandered through Karakura Town, searching, but not knowing what for.
Then he felt it. A pulse. Powerful and resounding. 'Visordes...' Ichigo declared to himself. He followed the pulse to a warehouse somewhere in Karakura. He pushed through some kind of energy field and walked into the decrepit warehouse.
"Well, well... It seems you've finally found our hiding spot. Ichigo" Ichigo looked up. Shinji stood front and center, before the remainder of the Visordes. They had met in school, after Ichigo returned from the Soul Society. Shinji pretended to be a transfer student, much like Rukia had done. Ichigo just glared and scowled.
"That look on your face... Seems like you've been searching for us all day, haven't ya?" Shinji grinned at Ichigo, "So, are you determined now... On becoming one of us?"
"So, do you plan on helping him?"
"What do you mean?"
"Will you forfeit you power to him."
"If he can prove he's worthy of being king, then yes."
"And if not?"
"Then I will become king, and finally defeat that damn Soledosa."
"Sol, what are we going to do?" Tsunami asked.
I sigh, "I honestly haven't the shadiest idea, Tsunami." I extend my pesquisa, but there's nothing in any direction, beyond my fraccion and myself.
"Ahhh-ha-ha-ha-ha," Odioso tumbles by, laughing like a child. "You guys should just calm down. Our Captain will get us out of here."
"Odioso..." I look at him, shocked. He hardly ever has words of wisdom, and his faith is shocking. I continue to contemplate our position: stuck in a void beyond garganta, unable to manipulate reishi.
I remember Aizen talking about something like Nagacion... Something like an individual dimension. 'Damn it all! My friends are in danger!'
"Sol," Hisana seems to have gotten over whatever she was in earlier, "this void, is completely different from garganta. If we do escape, there's no telling when we'll be." she surmised.
'Damn, I haven't thought of that... What if we can't get out? What if I'm not strong enough to..?" Apparently my fracciones had seen the worry and fear in me, "Sol, calm down. You're scaring Odioso." Tsunami called.
I look at my schizophrenic ally, he was scared and about to cry. 'Seriously, just like a kid...' I inwardly sigh. "I'm sorry, Odioso. Don't worry, I'll think of something."