A/N: Review Replies
midnightscar17: Again, I answered this one in a PM, but for everyone else, in this fic, Ichigo won't have any quincy powers. Thanks for Reviewing
New Segemnt! FanFiction Recomendations!
I want to start recommending fanfictions that i've come across and feel like talking about ir sharing. and in doing this, i'm hoping you share some of yiur favorite stories with me sinc eim always loking fir more stuff to read.
recomedation: Shattered Bonds and Steeled Resolves by Greivous166
[Bleach Thy Soul]
With his head bowed and knuckles if his right hand pressed firmly to the wooden floor of the meeting chamber he, Kuchiki Byakuya, patiently waited for the reveal of whatever sentence his poor sister would be subjected to. His gray eyes never leaving the smooth grain of the wooden floor, even as the slow bitter taste of anxiousness began to settle in his tongue. He heard the shifting of fabric from behind him, his third seat acting Vice-captain, Tsubaki Rin. The two had been waiting for several minutes now. Rin had arrived a few minutes after her captain since she passed by the fourth division to see Renji. But now the two were forced to wait silently as the Captain Commander received the sentence for Kuchiki Rukia from Central Forty-six.
Byakuya silently pressed his knuckles deeper into the wood as he could feel the mocking glances from the plebeians fools around him. Their stray gaze lingering upon his shoulders as their hushed words went between them. Though the air seemed to still as the imposing doors to the captain commanders chambers opened, Rin lifted her head first and in seeing her captain hesitate to do the same she paused. But Byakuya didn't let the moment last as he pushed up. His gaze fixed on the narrowed eyes of his commander.
"Captain Commander-sama what ruling has Central Forty-Six decreed?" He asked, and all those who personally knew the captain could hear the bitter undertone of having to go through with this.
"...Kuchiki Rukia...has been sentenced to death via the Sōkyoku in two weeks time."
Rin felt her shoulders stiffen. Her mind unable to comprehend such a judgement and her impulses urging her to call out in objection.
"Thank you for your time Captain Commander-sama." Byakuya said in a dead tone before turning and excusing himself.
[Bleach Thy Soul]
Hesitance could never before so perfectly describe him before now. His top teeth digging ruthlessly into his bottom lip, his hands clenching and releasing repeatedly. A hard thumping in his chest like he'd gone for an extended run. He wanted nothing more than to turn around and head back to Urahara Shop, they'd be leaving soon, and as much as it bugged him to leave without at least a little warning...could he really face them now?
"Ichi-nii?"
The voice came from behind him. With it came a mild spook, but you didn't fight the corrupted souls of spirits turned monsters for the better part of half a decade and not develop a tolerance for jump scares. Tiredly he turned around to see his kid sisters, Karin, staring up at him with mild confusion. And that look that he saw in her eyes….it hurt.
"Ah, Karin, I'm glad I caught you. I'm here to apologize for not being around more but, also to let you know that I'll be leaving the country for a bit. Could...could you tell Yuzu for me?"
The bag she'd been holding that had gone unnoticed by him fell to the ground with a loud crash, whatever glass object within shattering from the impact. Out of all the Kurosaki's Karin was normally the most calm and collected of them, she lacked the harsh temper and scowl of her brother. Her hands came up and gripped the fabric of his shirt, her furrowed brows framing her fury filled gaze perfectly as she stared into her brothers own resolved orbs.
"Y-You've been away for so long, ignoring home and everyone there for our reasons...and I didn't want to pry. But now you come here just to say goodbye!? And you won't even man up enough to say bye to Yuzu yourself!"
His larger hands wrapped around her wrist. She was partly correct, she may not have known that he was staying away to protect them, hopefully she would never know, she had every right to hate him. Especially now that he was gearing up to risk his life, risk never-ever being there again, for some girl he'd known for less than half a year? It was almost enough to make him crack a smile.
Removing her hands from his shirt he reached up and ruffled her hair. She flinched at the knowing and understanding look he had. She cringed, where was their bombastic father to demand his son visit his youngest sister, where was the staff so she could throw a tantrum and demand to get her way, where was her older brother who spoiled her and Yuzu so much just to see them smile!?
His calloused thumb wiped at the tears she didn't realize were falling. Her mouth slightly agape as she struggled to suck in air for her heaving breaths. Her arms threw themselves around his waist, her face buried into his stomach as she cried, his larger palms instantly settled on her shoulder and back soothingly. His gentle hushing and soft taps mildly alleviating her sudden frenzy of emotion.
He pulled away slightly, reaching into one pocket and removing a simple white handkerchief, "Let's get you cleaned up," he offered dragging the scratchy cloth across her face, "I doubt Yuzu would want to see you like this when we go into see her."
Karin started past the white cloth under her right eye and into her brothers, focusing solely on the all the pain that resided behind his brightly shining brown eyes. She bit back another sob, she wanted desperately to know what was hiding so far beneath the surface that she couldn't see it. She wanted nothing more than to find what was there, to find the truth that had been buried away to save her the pain.
His hand wrapped around her own and before she could do anything, she was being led to the hospital room belonging to her ill sister.
[Bleach Thy Soul
His fingers ached, desperately crying for relief, so when his pen finally scratched off at the final line to his report he dropped the accursed utensil and clutched his aching wrist, all too happy to set his throbbing head down on his cool desk. Though even after he had dropped his own writing apparatus, the sounds of scribbling on paper did not cease. His eyelids cracked open, when had they closed…? As he stared over at the desk that would normally belong to his vice-captain, who was nowhere to be found, and in her stead sat another orange haired woman who happily hummed while scratching away at the few articles that he had the liberty to disclose with her.
"Captain Hitsugaya, about next week's joined training venture, seventh seat Kojiro Ken and officer Watanabe Shin, have requested slots in the exercise." Her honeyed words filled the drearilly silent room and he found himself pushing back up into a fully upright position. Bitterly beratting those morons for not submitting their request sooner...the deadline was tomorrow!
"...Have they filled out the required forms Kurosaki-san?" He asked, the yawn building up in the back of his throat.
She happily reached across the desk and raised two thin packets, turning them to flash the awkward penmanship to him. Her smile illuminating.
His brow twitched, "Fine, compile all your completed forms and hand over what you have left, with any luck we'll be done before sunset today, he said realizing that implied another several hours of work. Had he even bothered with lunch today?
She stacked up all of her forms and neatly rearranged the desk before standing and straightening her wrinkled shihakusho, "Well captain, sorry to say but it appears we're are in fact all done for the day, perhaps I could make some tea, or we could take a walk around the barracks so you could appraise your men's standing?"
His hand came up and brushed back a stray bang. How many fortnights had it been since he finished his paper work so early in the day!? And now he was being offered tea made by someone else...it was too good to be true! He brought his hand up and coughed into his fist, all the while obscuring his winners smirk.
"Tea sounds fine, I'll do a round afterward…" Toshiro hesitated, the stray thought betraying him, "Tell me Kurosaki-San, have you seen Matsumoto-San around?"
The orange haired assistant stopped her tea preparation and tapped her chin in thought, a soft hum coming from her direction.
"I believe I saw her early this morning while reporting in. She may in fact be with the other Lieutenants for an optional training meet."
The young captain could feel his lips twitch at the thought, his vice-captain so rarely bothered attending the 'mandatory' meetings that the thought of her going to the optional one seemed ludicrous and wholly unlikely...though the ditsy headed ginger woman had a knack for doing the unlikely…
With a grunt he reached out and took the offered cup and slowly blew at the hot liquid within, once, twice, and then he sipped. The soft taste and sweet remanente danced softly across his tongue for a second before he swallowed. It was a bit different from the usual, not too terribly much, a -blink and you'll miss it- sort of taste. But it was just enough to ask.
"Ginseng?"
For his effort he received the warm smile and tilted head.
"Good guess. Captain Komamura dropped some off, said he got it while doing his patrol through the upper rings." She happily explained before taking a long sip of her own tea.
The next several minutes were blissfully calm. He'd be overjoyed if everyday could be more like this...though he assumed he'd be bored to his wits end and back if the monsoon of paperwork dried up so suddenly. He shrugged away the bitter thought and took to the halls, he had assigned his fifth seat, Yamada Yuuta, to lead the zanjutsu class today. As he slowly walked through the halls he didn't miss the fact that his assistant paper pusher had invited herself along, usually not a problem, but it often led to hearing things like…
"Another cute red-head?"
"Think Captain-Hitsugaya has a thing for gingers?"
"He's so cute~"
In varying degrees of hushed whispers. With an internal sigh, he pressed onward. Hopefuls to see the end of this -too- long day soon.
[Bleach Thy Soul
The group of seven stared at the paper covered gate, the artificial Senkaimon. The passageway between the worlds. Ichigo felt the growing lump in his throat. Earlier that day after having talked to Yuzu, and going to the bathroom twice to keep himself from tearing up in front of her and getting playfully mocked for it by Zangetsu, he had to return here and reorganize with this merry little band that Urahara has put together. The ones traveling to Soul Society to save Rukia would be Yoruichi, him, Keigo, Tatsuki, Uryu, Orihime, and Chad. The seven of them, embarking on a journey that could just as easily end in their deaths…
Ichigo reached up to his shoulder and tightened his grip around Zangetsu's hilt, the slight reassurance really helped to pull his thoughts in order. The heavy feeling in his gut was new, he didn't think himself one to shy away from fights. His jaw unhinged and he sucked in a great breath of air as he drew his blade. The tip mere inches from the threshold of the gate, and with the snap of Urahara's fingers the bright blue light of the portal spilled through, creating their passage.
"Go!" Yoruichi called, her voice deepened from having entered her cat form, Ichigo still in denial that it had taken him so damn long to realize she could do that.
The group of seven sprung forth, Ichigo sheathing Zangetsu as he went, and none looked back as they rushed to make it to the other side. If any of them had turned, they would have seen the sullen face of Urahara as he reached out, his hand lingering inches from the open portal, his longing gaze as he wished to return home. Though the shop owner was strong enough, and patient enough to wait just a little while longer. So with a delayed breath he turned to his Living World: Karakura defense force which was built up of Ururu, Jinta, Tessai, Suki, Isshin, and if Ryūken was up to it he may even kill a hollow or two, though Urahara wasn't looking forward to finding the bill for the ex-Quincy's services.
On the other side, rather somewhere toward the middle, of the portal the group was hard pressed in there run. Yoruichi taking the lead, Uryū and Tatsuki close seconds, Ichigo taking up third, with Chad and Keigo fighting for fourth, leaving Orihime in dead last, a hard struggle to keep up with the rest of the group.
The run through the portal seemed to be nearing its end, when they heard it. All head swiveled to look and the eyes of the more experienced ones in the group, Ichigo, Keigo, and Yoruichi, as all their eyes narrowed in alarm at seeing the spirit sweeper. The sudden cries of shock from Tatsuki, Orihime, and Uryū got the ball rolling in their leaders head.
"That's the spirit sweeper!" Yoruichi called out, "Its an entity that transcends all and can completely eradicate your spiritual form if it makes contact. So run like hell!"
The group picked up its already harsh pace to insane level, their heavy foot falls rattling the bones in the floor as the train like entity quickly made to catch them.
Orihime huffed, hating that she hadn't train harder, hadn't worked on her cardio more, as she struggled to make headway in this would be race, when suddenly her feet connected. Her body began arching forward and she was just about to scream when, a lanky arm wrapped itself around her midsection and sped back up again. She looked up through her hair shield and saw the Quincy of the group had been the one to save her.
"Ah! Thank you Ishida-San!"
"Nothing of it Inoue-San." Uryū offered, though the glint to his glasses and faint blush on his cheeks spoke of hidden pride for his accomplishments in saving the girl.
And as soon as their run had begun, it came to a close, their exit in sight another burst of speed came over the running group and with one last push, they found themselves free of the tunnel of death! And standing a happy twenty odd feet in the air with no ability to stand on their own.
The group plummeted.
Yoruichi, being a cat and all, of course landed on her feet. Her sterling recovery garnering her a scar of perfect tens. Ichigo and Keigo somehow managed to land on their feet as well, if rather shakily. Tatsuki and Chad had landed in awkward heaps of limbs, intertwined with one another in a garbled mess. But the funniest of them all was how Uryū had broken Orihime's fall by letting her fall on his face.
Her pale skin quickly darkened red as she stood in a flurry of movement apologizing the whole time, after standing it revealed the poor Quincy with a goofy smile on his face, cracked glasses, and a vague smear of blood around his nose.
"No, it's fine...Inoue-San." He offered still happily dazed. So dazed in fact that he didn't catch the sniggering coming from the three Soul Reapers in the group, and the well restrained giggle from the half Mexican.
"So, this is Soul Society huh…? Place is kinda a dump." Ichigo offered looking around, it seemed as though no one had been around to catch their sudden appearance in the barren waste.
"No Ichigo, we've landed in the outskirts of Soul Society, likely one of the bordering districts that encircle the main body of the shinigami's precious little city." Yoruichi bitterly explained, her feline eyes narrowing as she turned to peer at the horizon who had the briefest hint of the city poking over it.
Orihime looked around and spoke before processing the words, "So this is heaven then?"
Keigoand Ichigo shared a look before crossing their arms. They had thought much the same, considered it much the same before realizing how foolish that was. No, this wasn't heaven, this was a hellish waiting room while you hoped for reincarnation to earth. The living world. The young Shinigami didn't miss the fact that Yoruichi didn't explain that to the girl.
"Alright. We've gone over the plan. Ichigo make sure you and Keigo don't arouse suspicion while your amongst the Shinigami, and don't be late to Kukaku-Chan's place. Remember, our strength lies in our numbers."
Ichigo nodded as he pulled out a small capsule before spitting on it and crushing it in his hand, then he began rubbing it harshly through his hair, changing it from bright orange to a sandy blonde-brown color. Beside him Keigo pulled out a pair of fake square nerdy looking glasses and pulled his hit back into a ponytail. The group around them had each gotten the bullet point version of the plan.
Ichigo and Keigo investígate around Soul Society and figure out where Rukia-San is being held. While they were doing that, Yoruichi, Tatsuki, Orihime, Chad, and Uryu would seek out their home base provider Kukaku-San. Then no more than two days later Ichigo and Keigo would deliver their information to the group and they would all invade Soul Society and bust Rukia out.
With a nod Keigo and Ichigo split from the main group and began their run to the far off city.
A/N:
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