So things start to pick up in this chapter and it'll probably stay like this for a while, which is never a good sign :P
Don't forget the pole, it goes down next chapter.
I own none of the rights to Bleach, that goes to Tite Kubo.
'Chouko'
'Shiro'
'Tensa
New Captain Arc: Crescendo
Mugetsu was hurrying back to school at a quicker pace than normal as he'd sensed something when leaving the vizards warehouse. He hoped there wasn't something wrong, everyone was at school and he wouldn't be able to forgive himself it something happened to them because there was someone out to get him. Curling his hands into tight fists he let out a last burst of speed the school grew closer, so close that he could see his friends standing on the roof in their usual positions.
Landing round the side of the building which contained the stairs Mugetsu slipped into his body which was slumped up against the wall. No one had seen his body thanks to Chouko putting up a barrier around it and luckily his was out of everyone's line of vision. As he settled back into his body his slowly rounded the corner, pretending to stretch and yawn as he did so.
"Been asleep there long Mugetsu?" Ishida quipped, pushing up his glasses slightly. Mugetsu glanced up at the sound of his name, what his saw was the usual. Orihime, Chad, Ishida, Rukia and he were the only people on the roof. So what was it that he'd been sensing?
"Can you're hair change colour?" Orihime said excitedly, "Because it was pink before and now its black, does that mean you can turn it blue? Or green? Oh maybe yellow?"
Mugetsu chuckled, "No, my zanpakuto was just playing a trick on me."
"Oh…" She said her enthusiasm put out.
Mugetsu glanced around noticing the fraccion were missing, "Where're Apacci, Mila-Rose and Sun-Sung?"
"They went to deal with the hollows so we could talk to you," Rukia said from her position next to Orihime.
"So where is Kurosaki?" Ishida pressed.
"He doesn't want any of you to know," Mugetsu rose his voice a bit when they began to protest, "And he has his reasons, he doesn't want to worry any of you. Anyway this is Ichigo we're talking about, you all know how he is." They all either nodded their heads in agreement or, like Chad they made a slight grunt. "Because of what happened the other day I took him to people who've gone through the same thing and he's already got it more or less under control."
"Are you sure we can trust these people?" Rukia asked.
"Sure we can, they'll treat Ichigo like he was family." Mugetsu smirked as he remembered what they had put him through, though that might be different this time.
"Can we go see him?" Orihime asked nervously.
"I don't see why not, I'll show you where he is la-" Mugetsu was cut off by a voice he's been dreading, but expecting, to hear.
"I'm sorry Mugetsu but you're going to be otherwise engaged," Sang the voice of Azrael as he descended to the roof, stirring up a gust of wind as he did so. Everyone looked up at where the voice had come from most of them showing shock, apart from Chad who merely tilted his head slightly returning it to its original position when he'd seen Azrael.
"And just who might you be?" Rukia demanded in her usual forceful tone.
"My name is Arzael," He studied Rukia for a second, looking at her as if he was looking into her very soul. When he was done he smiled slightly casting a quick glance over to Mugetsu before continuing, "You must be Rukia Kuchiki, the girl Mugetsu brought back as an arrancar. Extraordinary."
Rukia turned slowly in Mugetsus direction, "Why does he know I'm an arrancar?" she asked menacingly.
"I guess Anubis must've told him, he was there when it happened…" Mugetsu trailed off not liking the look on Rukias face.
"I wouldn't get mad at the boy, after all he did save your life and I would've found out anyway," Azrael smiled, easing the tension in Rukias body. The raven haired midget was obviously still touchy about being a hollow, something which she deemed a monster and killed for a living.
"You're not a hollow and you're defiantly not a soul reaper, neither are you someone like Chad and Orihime," Ishida paused in thought. "What are you?"
"I'm an angel of the Lord," he raised his hands towards the sky for emphasis only to receive blank faces. Sighing he dropped his hands to his sides, "I serve the 'Soul King' just like the soul reapers only we call him something different."
"I heard brother talking about people like you, you're from the…" she struggled to remember the words.
"Royal Guard?" Mugetsu supplied.
"Yes! The Royal Guard, how did you know?" Rukia, along with everyone else, turned to Mugetsu surprise along with (almost) hurt that he hadn't told them anything about this.
"I…uh…well…"Mugetsu said bashfully, scratching the back of his head in unease.
Azrael sighed at the boys ease of embarrassment and supplied the words for him, "We interviewed Mugetsu," Mugetsu snorted but Azrael continued on, "about a situation that has been going on. He was found guilty after we each interviewed him in turn and he's now helping us find the real culprit."
"Does this 'situation' have anything to do with Rukias murder?" Ishida asked clearly already knowing the answer.
"You're not as stupid as I originally thought Quincy. And yes it does have something to do with her murder," he admitted, ruffling his wings Azrael floated down to the roofs surface. "Anyway back to why I was here, Ananke told me as much as she could and we have a new lead. Me you and Hades will go and follow up on this lead, after I've told you all about it that is."
"Can't this wait?"
Azrael shook his head.
"Why do you need me?"
"You'll find out when I tell you about it." He clarified turning to go, "come on, we need to do this quickly."
Mugetsu turned to everyone, "I'm sorry guys, if you can't find Ichigo I'll show you when this is over."
"Ic-Mugetsu…"Rukia began, everyone glancing at her curiously, "Can't we help you too?"
"No," Azrael declared, "The involvement of civilians is strictly forbidden, I would've thought better of you Miss Kuchiki."
"There's something else you've got to-" Mugetsu was cut off.
"Now Mugetsu, we must go!"Azrael growled in a way that was unlike him. Mugetsu started to sense something was wrong as, he noticed, was Ishida.
"But-" again Mugetsu was cut off.
"Time is of the essence, I we don't act now Ukitake will be the next to die!" leaving all doubts behind Mugetsu jumped into action and slipped out of his body.
"Rukia could you take my body home?" he asked quickly, she nodded visibly trying to stop herself from going with them to protect her captain.
Mugetsu smiled, "Thanks, I'll see you all later." He and Azrael jumped into the air but as this happened those on the roof noticed something weird. Azraels body was glitching. They were about to warn Mugetsu but they were too late. Azrael had noticed that they noticed and had already struck out at Mugetsu.
The image of an angel quickly disappeared only to be replaced by a young man with similar looks to Mugetsu. Only the hair was much shorter and contained subtle streaks of white which appeared to reflect the sun. The boy was clad in a black suit that was completed with a pair of white conversers. A maniacal grin curled onto his face as he flicked a finger in Mugetsus direction sending a bolt of piercing tainted white light at his heart.
Unable to contain herself Rukia sucked in a breath and screamed at the downcast face of Mugetsu, "Ich-"
Her scream was muffled as a white hand clamped over her mouth and the owner behind her whispered, "We don't want to give king away now do we?" As it faded along with the hand chills worked their way up her spine causing her to feel an unnatural cold. She recognised that voice, but couldn't quite put her finger on it. Realising there had been no sound of cutting flesh, no blood pooling everywhere and no pain filled moan from Mugetsu, Rukia looked up at said teen.
There was a smirk on his face as he stared up at the boy in a suit. A shockwave of grey rippled around him as it hit an invisible shield and everyone on the roof let out a breath they hadn't realised they were holding. Mugetsus opponent was apparently enraged at this specific outcome.
"WHY?" The boy screeched, "WHY DO YOU PROTECT HIM?"
Mugetsu was confused as to who this stranger was talking to, but that didn't matter. What did matter was if he'd done something to either Ukitake or the real Azrael. Figuring he'd ask questions later Mugetsu charged at his opponent, bringing his zanpakuto into existence as he did so. His first strike was blocked by a dark crystal like sword that reminded him of the one Chouko usually gave him.
Pulling back Mugetsu readied himself for another attack. This one was also blocked and both combatants were locked in a fierce contest of strength. The boy gritted his teeth as Mugetsu pushed back with as much force as possible. Before anything else could happen the boy disappeared and a shower of blue arrows whizzed past Mugetsu, just missing him. Glancing down to the roof Mugetsu saw Ishida with his bow ready, Chad and his hollow like arm preparing for a strike, Orihime with her hands on her hair pins and Rukia, now out of her gigai, with her zanpakuto unsheathed.
'I wonder how Ishida got his powers back…' Mugetsu thought as he looked around the sky for his opponent.
'Don't you remember? His father helped him.'
'I'd forgotten about that…' Mugetsu admitted and sensing something behind him he turned to be met with a sword swinging towards him. Summoning his crystalized sword he bashed the oncoming sword down and swept across the boy's body with Zangetsu. Slicing just below the collarbone and all the way across Mugetsu kicked the boy down in the direction of the roof. However, his opponent decided he wouldn't go down that easily.
In mid kick the boy disappeared and appeared to Mugetsus right only to be met by another flurry of arrows combined with a blast of energy from Chads arm. The projectiles mad contact, leaving a cloud of smoke where they'd made impact. Mugetsu was about to make his was over to the billowing smoke that rolled through the air when the sound of a bloody cough materialised on his left.
The body spat out some blood, "Tch, you'll have to do better than that, Ichigo." A smile curled onto his bloody lips as he whispered the words cruelly.
"How-" Mugetsu scowled, his words cut off by someone he hadn't been expecting to hear.
"Shimi why are you doing this?" Chouko quivered appearing next to Mugetsu, anger shinning though her eyes as she glared at the boy.
"Because he doesn't deserve to live! He shouldn't even exist!" Shimi screamed in anger flaring his hand out to his side for emphasis, his wounds forgotten even as blood welled out the jagged laceration under his collarbone. Everytime he moved the loose flesh shivered and recoiled to reveal the bone underneath. Not even the singed skin on his stomach made him flinch.
"We don't decide who lives and who dies Shimi, I thought you knew that."
"I do but that doesn't matter anymore, he took it away from me when he split us apart!" Shimi cried as he walked towards Mugetsu intent on making him pay.
"How was he supposed to know! We were trying to kill him!" Chouko appeared in front of Shimi, her hands pressed into his chest trying to stop him moving any closer, "Shimi please, don't do this, don't be like him!"
But Shimi didn't heed her words, with regret filling his eyes for only an instant before turning back to anger. He raised his hand, "I'm sorry but this must be done, all I need is a single touch…"
"Don't… it's not worth it…" Chouko pleaded her eyes widening as Shimi brought his hand down with lethal force and backhanded her across the face.
She let out a child's scream as his hand made contact and she was sent sailing in the opposite direction to Mugetsu. Her eyes fluttered shut as she stretched out her hand towards Mugetsu, trying to tell him to run. He didn't know what Shimi was, nor what he could do, the truth was Shimi was Aizens half of the Hōgyoku.
"Chouko!" Mugetsu roared as he started to go to her, why wasn't she returning to his soul?
"Don't ignore me!" Shimi snarled appearing in front of Mugetsu his sword coming down for the attack. Mugetsu blocked risking a glance over to Chouko as he did. He Sighed in relief when he saw that Rukia had flash-stepped behind her and caught her, taking her down to Orihime when she had done so.
"I SAID, DON'T IGNORE ME!" Shimi screamed hysterically pressing down harder on Mugetsus zanpakuto. As he did so someone appeared behind Mugetsu and dragged their sword up his back almost carving through his spine as they did so.
"ARGHHH!" Mugetsu roared as he disappeared in such a quick flash-step that to everyone he appeared to have disappeared. In quick sucession he exited his flash-step and appeared behind the double of Shimi who'd attacked him. Repeating the movement the double had just enacted on him, with a slight difference, Mugetsu cut sideways through his waist sending a getsugatensho through at the same time. Disintegrating the doubles body's completely.
Now enraged Mugetsu stepped the battle up a gear. He and his opponent began moving so fast that no one could them, the only indication that they were fighting were the sounds of swords hitting each other and the occasional spark where they clashed. Both were evenly matched and Mugetsu knew this. He'd been debating the use of the Mugetsu move throughout the clashes. Tensa and Shiro begged him not to do it, reasoning that he should use the hollow mask before trying anything that drastic. Mugetsu complied with their request and pausing for a split second her pulled his hand over his face, materialising his mask that still felt slightly heavy.
'Don't be afraid of it king, I've saved your life more times than you know.'
'I know.'
Smirking under his mask Mugetsu charged back at Shimi who was breathing deeply, the wound on his chest was obviously taking its toll. Shimi looked up and a smirk also crossed his face before he disappeared into nothing leaving only a whisper behind, "Only one touch was needed Mugetsu, I'll get my revenge on you tomorrow so be prepared."
Not leaving time to dwell on Shimis words Mugetsu flash-stepped down to the roof, removing his mask as he landed so no one would see how similar it was to Ichigos.
"How's she doing?" he asked Rukia and Orihime. The small girl was enveloped in the usual golden glow of Oirhimes powers and there were no signs of injury as she slept soundly.
"She's fine, it looks like she's just tired from whatever he did to her," Rukia assured him and he relaxed considerably.
"What did he do to her?" Mugetsu looked at Orihime hoping she would have some clue.
Nervously Orihime scrunched up the material of her skirt before answering uncertainly, "Urmm….well I'm not sure because it was something I've never felt before."
Mugetsu smiled at her, "Thanks Orihime."
"Mugetsu," Ishida called getting the long haired soul reapers attention, "Do you want to explain what this is all about?"
"There's nothing to explain and you've probably got it all figured out already Ishida," Mugetsu grinned and was just about to get back into his body when the real voice of Azrael called out to him.
"I sensed something was going on and I thought I'd find you in the middle of it Mugetsu," The angel smiled before glancing at the sleeping Chouko and then descending to the floor. As he did so everyone was on their guard causing Azrael to raise an eyebrow, "Have I done something wrong?"
"Are you the real Azrael?" Mugetsu asked pointing his zanpakuto at the angel.
"Who else would I be, now lower your blade Mugetsu I've got something important to talk to you about." Azrael made a gesture for him to lower his sword and Mugetsu grudgingly obeyed.
"What's it about?"
"I cannot tell you in front of all these witnesses, but I'm sure it can wait until later." He glanced around, "And by the looks of it you have something to tell me."
"That easy to tell?"
"When there's this much hostility in the air? Yes." Azrael walked over to where Chouko was still shrouded in the orange bubble. He looked at Orihime, "May I?" he indicated to Chouko and Orihime nodded, "Thank you, you have remarkable powers for a human. How did you get them?"
"Well I was protecting Tatsuki from a hollow and they just…appeared," she said unsure how to explain how it happened.
"A noble reason for any power to appear," he murmured as he reached through the shield and touched Chouko on the forehead. After a few second he withdrew his hand and patted Orihime on the shoulder, "You've done a great job, she's perfectly fine. Any injury, physical or mental, has been erased and she's sleeping. She'll be awake tomorrow morning."
"So what is it that has everyone in such hostilities to me?" Azrael asked as he sat down next to Orihime which made her slightly nervous.
"Someone called Shimi came here pretending to be you and…" Mugetsu began the almost lengthy explanation on the events that had occurred before Azraels appearance.
Hummm… what did you guys think of that chapter? When it came to Orihimes behaviour I got a lil stuck, not sure why though…
Anyway, I wonder if any of you saw that coming, you know two Hōgyokus man even I forgot about that lil gem :L
Another thing, I have been thinking of doing little profiles on the OC's I added, they won't be amazing but it'll probably make it easier for your guys to keep track of them seeing as I keep adding loads, so shall I do it? It'll be two per story btw (:
Shimi, is supposed to mean something like moth, but I'm not sure on that one...
Next time: New Captain Arc: Betrayal?
