Chapter 36 – The Hunters and the Hunted
"What were you thinking!?" Kanisawa said slamming her hand on her office desk in anger later that afternoon.
The odd absence of Master Dao, the teacher who had an arsenal big enough to destroy legions of hollows, had resulted in the appearance of the one and only head of the Disciplinary Squad.
Instead of bringing help in case we failed, he brought somebody to put us in our place as a reward for saving the school.
"First years... fighting hollows, completely unaided and against express instruction!?" she ranted looking like she was going to blow a fuse. "Have you any idea of the damage you could have done!?"
The five of us stood in a line staring her down determinedly while Master Dao, who I had lost all respect for, stood behind her chair and Shuhei leaned against the door looking nothing like his usual cheery self and more like the sullen campus heartthrob that everyone portrayed him as, blocking our only escape route. Clearly, he had gotten to know me well enough and by reputation as a hothead in the short time we had worked together and he knew full well that the threat of multiple imposing authority figures would not be enough to stop me from waking. I was probably more intimidated by Shuhei the music club boss who could shatter my dreams at any moment than Shuhei the Head Boy with a big shiny badge on his chest.
"Someone had to do something, or would you prefer for our class to have been eaten alive? Dao sure as hell saved his own skin before ours-" I snapped back
"How dare you!" Dao said defensively, his nostrils flaring and face going red. "My number one priority was to protect my students! I instructed you to get to safety and you refused-"
"If we'd have gone to safety they would have either destroyed the building to get to us or spread out onto the campus! You of all people surely know that hollows never lose the scent of pray!"
"Do not presume to teach me lessons, Murasaki! Remember who is the teacher here" he argued, dodging my bullet.
"Hell of a job you did there, teach, running and hiding like that. Is that the example you want all Soul Reapers in training to follow? Was Kanisawa your rescuer? Did you already have your mind made up to let students do the heavy lifting while you sat back and watched?" I snipped knowing I was pushing my luck but I was too mad to care.
"SILENCE!" Kanisawa demanded hitting the table again. She rubbed her temples with her thumb and forefinger, a look she seemed to adopt on almost every one of your unfortunate encounters.
"Murasaki... Your blatant disrespect for authority and disregard for the rules leaves me speechless again and again... Quite frankly I don't know what to do with you." she said shrugging animatedly.
"How about letting us out of here with a thank you for saving countless lives and leading the front line against a small scale hollow invasion?" I suggested.
The others looked at me with eyebrows raised as if to ask "You call that small scale?" But so far none of them had said a word.
They all stood there like children being scolded by their parents while I did all the negotiating.
"As you keep reminding me on multiple occasions, Head Girl, I am but a lowly first year less than six months into my training. I shouldn't be able to lift a sword yet, let alone take on hordes of hollows. And yet here we stand after the fact."
"And your reckless behavior and lack of care for safety could have gotten someone killed. Leave it to the professionals, Murasaki!"
I choked out a stunned laugh. "Are you kidding me? I saved those people! I saved my friends! Hell, I even lectured these guys about letting their guard down after we wiped them out! Did I not?" I asked them.
The four of them hesitantly nodded as if really not wanting to be dragged in to this.
"Safety was the one thing on my mind throughout the whole ordeal! This could have been a tragedy if I hadn't led the charge, because I'm sure as hell no one else would have!"
"Enough arguing. Were done here. I'm done with you disobeying and dragging down perfectly good, respectable students with you." She said, affording a quick glance at Renji who bristled.
"Hey, don't look at me, I just tagged along for the ride." He shrugged.
Kanisawa waved him off.
"You are not my responsibility, Abarai. I wouldn't be at all surprised if you encouraged Murasaki's behavior but I'll let Shuhei handle you, as usual. However, Murasaki is unfortunately under my care, and regardless of how much of a handful she is, it's my duty to bring her to justice. From this day forth you are grounded." She decided.
I stared at her in disbelief, then burst out laughing.
"What are you, my mother? The hell is grounding gonna do?"
"Grounding is going to keep you locked up in this building while your roommates bring your work home to you. It is also going to stop you from attending classes, going to meals and going to your precious club gatherings."
The laugh died in my throat and my friends shot horrified glances at me.
"You can't do that!" I yelled my voice cracking as I leaned forward to slap my own hands on the desk. "You can't imprison me like some criminal! I did nothing wrong! You owe me one! ...Shuhei, tell her!" I pleaded turning to him.
He shook his head gravely. "No can do, Kid. You're not my responsibility, Head Girl's word is the law around here. Maybe you'll think twice next time-"
"Think twice about what exactly? Saving people? Destroying monsters with some random weapon that happens to be twice the size of me!? I did that with a handy cap, imagine what I could have done with my real sword! I'm not just some useless kid!"
"I never said you were useless," he countered calmly, standing up straighter she sweeping his long hair out of his eyes. I hardly noticed a thin red cut across his right cheek underneath his hair. I was on a rampage and not about to give up. "This is a joke! Is this what you call justice?! What's the point in learning the stupid theory behind killing those things If we spend our education attacking straw dummies?! Were here to learn, not to be treated like precious, fragile snowflakes! How are we supposed to fulfill our duties as Soul Reapers if our first chance to fight real hollows is in the field in dangerous situation!? Shouldn't we be prepared first?!"
"If you'd have held that temper of yours and thought rationally, you'd have realized that you were against the odds in that fight. Five newbies against hundreds of hollows, and yet instead of focusing on preservation of life and evening those odds you went in for the adrenaline rush and thrill of the fight. If you were really ready to fight those things you'd have thought about it like a real Soul Reaper. But you're not. You're just a kid, barely wet behind the ears. So I suggest instead of mouthing off you sit your ass down and accept your punishment like the pro you think you are. I hate to break this to you, but you're not a pro until you've spent years honing your abilities and proving your worth. You've proven that you have unnatural strength, speed and spiritual pressure and I'm not sure how you have come to be so strong, but you are just too new and too cocky to deserve the recognition you would like."
I stared open-mouthed at Shuhei. I felt like I'd been slapped, just like the rant the Commander had given me on the night of our first Stealth mission. Her sharp, unforgiving gaze swam into my mind, matching that of Shuhei's disappointment and once again my heart ached.
So far, Shuhei had shown me nothing but kindness and felt like a good, reliable friend. Now I saw past that, to the high ranked student who was soon to be absorbed into the ranks of the Seireitei. The stern, hard-faced officer behind the fun-loving musician I had clicked with.
I stared into his eyes and saw nothing but the harsh reality of his words. He didn't waver one bit, he meant what he said. I fought back the waterworks and turned away from him, fighting the hurt and urge to scream at him for taking Kanisawa's side and sank into the seat behind me, defeated by words my head bowed. At that moment with my fists curled, I had the same hate for Shuhei as that asshole Fang from the Stealth Club. Showing me up like that, treating me like a stupid child, time and time again.
"Thank you for talking some sense into her, Head Boy. " Kanisawa said as I sat with my gaze fixed on the floorboards and fists shaking out of view beneath my overly long uniform sleeves.
"I don't believe that you three," she said indicating Kira, Rukia and Momo "Had anything to do with this. I know full well Murasaki is the prime instigator of trouble around here. I'm happy to let the rest of you get off with a single joint detention where you each write an essay about what we discussed here today. The importance of listening to your superiors and what not."
"No!" They shouted back, talking over each other.
"Whatever Kimi does, we will do too!" Momo said.
"That's not fair, we were in it together!" Kira told her.
"Give us all house arrest too, we can handle it!" Rukia suggested.
My heart leaped at their unconditional loyalty.
Kanisawa waved them off. "Nonsense. The whole point of Murasaki's punishment is to isolate her and make her think about her actions. After all, allowing her to spend more time with the innocent people she's dragging down would be more of a reward than a punishment, don't you think, Shuhei?" She taunted with a sickly sweetness behind her voice.
I knew it. This was her revenge for me showing her up in the Emeralds entrance hall that time. This was her abusing her power to get one over on me.
"Get this over with already." I snarled, still not looking up at them so they couldn't see the rage in my eyes.
Finally, she let us go sending me straight to my room and the having Shuhei escort the others away to detention.
I found out from Momo and Rukia later on, seeing as they couldn't stop me from having contact with my roommates completely, that the whole school had been placed on lockdown and every student was to be escorted around the outside of campus, even if it was to move between two wings of the building via an outdoor courtyard.
They had also brought forward curfew so the students would be locked up safely in bed by the time teams of Soul Reapers came in to conduct extermination hunts around the forest throughout the night.
I couldn't believe how ridiculous this was. So many people with incredible powers crammed into one piece of land and they wouldn't allow any of us to put that potential to good use? To me, this sounded like a major overreaction to a relatively small situation. Why would they send out extermination parties and lock down a school for small, low-level hollows that powerful Soul Reapers could kill with a glance?
I was ready to bet my life that they were hiding something... something big... something big that could shake trees in the distant forest. And there was only one way to find out what that thing was.
It was time for me to break every rule in the book, consequences be damned.
When the clock struck midnight I was already kitted out for my biggest ever nighttime adventure. Ruby was strapped tightly to my side and black clothing covered almost every inch of my skin.
I had to be careful with how I was going to do this. I had a sneaking suspicion that they would be keeping a close eye on me for a while and surely someone would consider my bedroom window to be an escape route. I had no doubt that bugging my window would be something they would do, so finally came the moment to put my newly learned Kido to the test.
I poked my head out of my door to make sure Momo and Rukia were in their rooms before heading out.
I took a deep breath.
"Alright, here goes nothing... Oh, lurking fiends, direct your gaze beyond, unsee those who do not wish for their discretions to be discovered, may the shadows cast their cold grasp across the ones forced into the light, unbidden; Allow no undesired eyes to pierce the veil of mist: Bakudo number 71 - Miemino Fuku!"
I forced my energy outwards, imagining it as a smooth, silky liquid wrapping around me just as the advanced Kido book had suggested. Freezing tendrils seemed to be enveloping my whole body and when I looked down at my hands, they were still visible but had a clear shimmery quality.
"Did it work?" I mumbled. Then realizing there was no one around confirm for me. I wasted no more time. It wasn't worth sneaking out of my window in case anyone was posted to keep an eye on me. If they saw my window open and no one come out, they would know something was up and I didn't need that kind of attention.
I tiptoed across our apartment and opened the door to slip out a crack. The hall was dark as all of the Emerald girls were supposed to be retired for the night. I used the dim red emergency lights to guide me to the stairs and took them a few jumps at a time until I reached the entrance all.
Just as I went to reach for the door handle, hoping against hope that it wasn't locked, it opened from the outside.
"Are the checks complete?" Came a horribly familiar voice from the other side. I jumped sideways, hoping Kanisawa couldn't hear my heart racing as she came through the door with a couple of her student council team.
"Crystal, Sapphire and Ruby have been confirmed. All seemed well. Just Emerald, Amethyst and Diamonds left. No word from Shuhei and his crew yet though."
"Good. Finish up so we can head out. We don't have time to be dallying."
Thankfully she carried on walking toward the stairs and I used the opportunity of the door being ajar to slip through before it could swing shut.
I dove into the bushes beside the door and scurried along towards the edge of the building until I was just underneath my bedroom window overlooking the lake and vast fields.
The Camoflague Kido must have worked... That or she was too distracted to spot me. Either way, I didn't know how much longer I had left on the spell so I shot off towards the vast ocean of tree canopies, stretching as far as the eye could see with an exceptional flash step.
Even if my Kido had worked, it was my first time trying it so I knew it wouldn't last long so I had to get to cover, fast. I had spent my night going through the notes I'd written from my library session in extra preparation for this trip.
It was a clear but chilly night, which unfortunately meant high visibility for anyone who might have me under surveillance and I wasn't naive enough to assume that they would leave me completely unsupervised. Surely, if we were supposed to be locked up they would have guards, but so far security seemed dreadfully lax.
The steady winds blew ripples across the grass as I charged into the tall reeds surrounding the lake for cover and I hoped I hadn't left any obvious tracks in the dewy ground.
When I reached the edge of the reeds closest to the forest I flash stepped again, landing on a low branch just in the tree line. I climbed a little higher hoping that I was out of view of anyone that might be looking out of a window back home.
I stood there for a moment again observing my surroundings to make sure I hadn't been detected. Nothing. No lights were on in the emerald building, no lanterns carried by senior patrols and strangely no signs of hunting parties as they had promised. Not even a single person sitting on the roof above my window as I had partly expected.
Surely if this was such a big deal they would have people dotted around to thwart curious troublemakers like me, unless they were already tracking prey deeper in the forest...
I took a deep breath, savoring my apparent triumph. It had been a while since I had felt this invigorated. I was used to sneaking out now, but nothing felt better than coming out on top under tough circumstances. The more someone told me NO, the more I did what I wasn't supposed to be doing and they were too dumb to stop me.
With a satisfied grin beneath my mask, I went to turn and head east into the darkness when a hand touched my shoulder and gripped tightly.
I squealed loudly as almost fell out of my tree in fright and the hand switched positions to stifle my shout.
Regaining my balance I whirled around, my hand already Ruby's handle, expecting a fight.
To my astonishment there stood Renji, wearing all black with a tight fit black winter sweater that showed off the curves of his arm muscles, and baggy cargo pants. He was leaning against the trunk behind me as if he had been there all night and I was disturbing his peaceful stroll.
"Took you long enough, Porcupine," he mumbled looking amused by my scared reaction.
"Renji!? What the hell are you doing here!?"
"Same reason you are, I assume. Got pissed off with all the secrecy, couldn't sleep a wink and decided to go do some of my own investigating. Just happened to see your light go off so I waited to see if you were in rule-breaker mode" he smirked.
I nearly headbutted the tree in despair.
"Was I that obvious?" I groaned.
"Nah, you were fast. I just know you too well and happened to be looking in your direction at the right time. Doesn't look like they set guards around the perimeter though, not another Soul out here from what I can sense."
I focused on the atmosphere around me and strangely he was right. There were definite but dull spiritual pressures off in the distance and in the direction of the school and Seireitei, but nothing in our immediate area.
"I don't get it... They make a big show of locking everyone up but then have no security? It makes no sense"
"Makes me wonder where all of their people are, obviously they're needed elsewhere" he pondered.
I mulled that over for a moment. "Right, I think I've got an idea but if you come with me you can't just change your mind and turn back, so speak or forever hold your peace."
He stared with an inked eyebrow raised. "Shut the hell up and tell me the plan."
"Fine, don't blame me if you get caught. Now listen up and listen well: You can tag along as long as you don't get in the way and can keep up with my pace. I won't slow down to let you catch up. I think those spiritual pressures will take us right to the action so that's where we will go. I'll keep an eye out for signs of hollows, footprints and stuff so we don't walk into anything nasty. You better watch your set too. I can't have you making mistakes on me. And for crying out loud, do something about your hair!"
"What's wrong with it!?"
"You stick out like a strawberry in a bowl of cream! Here-" I pulled the woolly winter bobble hat off my head and my almost waist long hair flowed out freely, my hair band making a bid for freedom.
"Put this on before someone spots your red pineapple head glowing like a sore thumb! And take your bandana off, you can use it as a face mask. Good grief, kids these days don't have a clue how to be stealthy," I tutted disappointed.
"Alright, geez, gimme a break. Anyone would think you do this for a living," he complained reluctantly accepting my offering as I turned to pull my hair up into a tight bun with a spare hair tie I always had on my wrist for practical classes.
When I didn't answer and averted my guilty icy blues from his dark brown gaze, he stared me down.
"I mean, you would never do that, right?" He asked suspiciously.
I paused to think of a suitable answer, or even better an excuse, but nothing came to mind.
"Between the two of us... This isn't my first rodeo."
"Huh, you don't say. I can tell. You seem to know your way around a dark forest that's for sure. You gotta work on your Kido though, that vanishy trick didn't last long"
I cringed. "I thought so. It was my first attempt. How long did it last?"
"You became visible in the reeds but you were a blur. If you hadn't landed so close to me I wouldn't have found you. Good idea though"
I cursed. "Yeah definitely gotta work on that. Let's just say that moonlit strolls have been a hobby of mine for as long as I can remember, not that anyone else knows that. I've been worried about being spotted so Iv been doing some self-guided studying at the library"
Why was I telling him this? Why did I trust Renji, my arch nemesis rival that I had only considered to be a friend in the last few months, with information that could get me expelled, more than my trusted roommates who were like sisters to me?
This was a prime example of how to get yourself found out, with loose lips.
I imagined him taking the gossip to Rukia, Kira and Momo tomorrow. I suddenly blushed bright red and moved deeper into the shadows of the tree so he wouldn't notice. If our friends ever found out Renji and I snuck out for a midnight rendezvous, they would take it the totally wrong way and never let us live it down!
"Please don't tell the others I sneak out! I can't have them knowing!" I suddenly blurted in a panic.
He smirked, calculation clearly running through his brain. "What's in it for me?"
"I'll... I'll... let you win in all of our combat lessons for a week and allow Kira to give you the points! I'll go easy on you!"
He made an indignant pft sound and waved me off. "Oh please, Iv been wanting you to take me seriously for months because you're the only one who can give me a good fight, so why would I want you to stop pounding me into the ground now? The challenge is all the fun"
My heart leaped at the compliment and I stared around for inspiration. "Okay, so I'll go hard on you as usual, but allow you the last dedicating hit so it looks like I lose."
"Hm, Sounds like a fair trade" he shrugged holding out a hand for me to shake. "But only if you fill me in on what's been going on. Is this sneaking around the reason you look like a zombie sometimes?"
I sighed and took his hand in a firm grip. "You read me like a book. Fine, I'll explain to you as we search, but cmon we can't stand here all night, let's get moving before were discovered. And why the hell were you looking at my window anyways!?" I demanded finally clicked with what he said.
"Coincidence. Quit making me sound like a perv and move your ass!"
It felt like the weight of the world was lifted from my shoulders when I came clean to Renji. I found myself telling him everything: How I discovered the Stealth Club that night at the party when I slipped away from him, the initiation and the truth behind the failed robbery that had the school buzzing, the real reason I rushed out after dropping the book on my face, bungling my theft of Kanisawa's paperwork, my rage at the Commander's golden pupil treating me like dirt.
He was a good listener, he just let me tell my story start to finish as we bounded from tree to tree never touching the forest floor so not to leave tracks in the mud.
For so long I'd bottled it all up. I'd never had anyone to confide in or share my excitement and frustration with so unable to stop myself. I let it all spill out.
When I was done he simply let out a low whistle.
"You can never call your life boring,"
"No, but I can call it a pain in the ass. It's so troublesome at times."
"Yeah but it's not like trouble finds you, let's be honest"
"What are you trying to say? That I'm the one looking for the trouble? I'll have you know I'm an innocent who gets landed in difficult situations. Trouble finds me." I said in mock pride.
"And i'm the Soul King's great grandmother." he scoffed. "But I'm glad you've told me, a lot of the crazy crap you do actually makes sense now"
"It just never made sense because you never knew the bigger picture. I'm glad you're not telling me to stop and be a good girl... I know that's what the others would say... That's why I haven't told them"
He laughed "Do I look like a good boy? I'd be a hypocrite if I said that. The others are well behaved, follow the rules by the book, law-abiding students. I mean look at Momo, she cant recite every page of the handbook in by heart and we barely know what's on the front cover.
We are the adventure seekers, we want fun and excitement. If I was in your position I'd do the same; Hell I'd join you every night if I could"
The idea of having a partner in crime to accompany me on those hard, sometimes lonely missions suddenly felt appealing. Just having Renji here gave me some strange sense of comfort or safety. I wasn't sure if it was just because I knew I had back up if I got into any difficulty, or if it was just having another human for company. A vision of Renji being there to have my back the next time Fang challenged me popped into my imagination. Duo-kicking his ass would be so much fun.
"I don't think the Stealth Club would take new members now, and the Commander always says that she doesn't want members who aren't serious about joining the Stealth Forces anyway. She's very strict."
"The Stealth Force is like a military camp, but the other squads are more relaxed. It makes sense for them to need serious members... But, is that really the kind of life you want to graduate in to? You're not exactly good at following orders..."
"I know I'm not, but that's something I would have to learn. It's the only thing I'm good at... I've always been good at sneaking around, information gathering, that kinda stuff. Even sitting in my father's roof to listen to his private conversations as a kid... They just came naturally to me... I'd be useless at anything else. If I don't get into Squad two... I don't know what I'll do... Who else would want me..." I said, voicing my biggest fear for the first time.
"Hey, don't think like that! That's completely wrong. Not many people have the power to take on hordes of hollows almost single-handedly as a first year"
"That's bull and you know it! You saw how much I struggled with that weapon, without you guys I'd have been monster meat"
"That was a one-time situation. Look at you, you're tiny but even with barely being able to swing the sword you killed so many of them. Without you, we would have probably gone running for the hills like the rest of the class. You kept us grounded and focused. That's some team leader shit right there, and that's the kind of thing squads look for. I think any squad would happily take you in if they knew what you were capable of"
"But instead I'm more likely to be punished for going the extra mile" I sighed sadly.
"Yeah well, that's school for ya. They want us all to fit into molds, not stand out in the crowd. But I'm certain the more daring stuff you do, the more the Squad recruiters will notice you"
I didn't know what to say. He was being so... Nice. So honest and encouraging. Such a different side to the guy who had made it his life's mission to see how many insults he could fit into one conversation with me. It seemed like his mean side was just a performance in front of his friends, and now that it was just the two of us he seemed really, genuinely nice.
"Thank you, Renji. I'm sure you'll have no problem too"
We continued following the spiritual pressure signatures in the distance until suddenly all of them dimmed, like a group of light bulbs dimming all at once.
"Did you feel that?" He asked.
"Yeah... That's was weird. It's like they just... stopped"
"They haven't vanished completely though so they're not dead. It's like they all just stopped using their energy all at the same... Like they were forced to stop?"
This bothered me. "Cmon let's move faster, we need to find out what's going on"
Further along the path, we ran into a patch of trees with a sparse canopy that allowed the moonlight to shine through to the forest floor.
I looked down and froze.
"Renji-!"
"Huh? Whoa..."
Below is was the reason the canopy had suddenly become so open. Trees lay flat across the ground. some toppled and leaning on their neighbors and some completely uprooted. Around them were distinct human footprints, hundreds of them all embedded in the mud.
I dropped down and landed in the shade of some overgrown roots, Renji appeared beside me.
"What the hell happened here?" He asked staring around in bewilderment.
"This must be what I saw from the library window the other night... wait- no these footprints are fresh. The mud is still wet here."
"Over here too-" Renji said lifting his foot out of the sludge to demonstrate.
"There was definitely a fight here, look- "
The footprints were in all directions as though there had been many people here all vying for a good position. A few feet away there was a tree with a distinct sword slash in its bark, and the more I looked the more signs of missed sword attacks and stray Kido spells I found.
I stepped forward and almost fell flat on my face. "Uh, what the-"
I lurched. I thought I had fallen into a ditch when in fact it was a huge footprint that was as far from the shape and size of a human I had ever seen.
"That's gotta be a Hollow... I can fit five of me in there" Renji said stepping into the print with both feet together to compare. "This thing is nothing like what we fought earlier..."
My stomach did a back flip. Was I in over my head? "It's too late to turn back now, we might as well keep looking but if we find them well just observe from a distance"
"Got it. There's no way in hell I'm fighting this thing"
We ran faster following the trail of footprints with more urgency in our strides, not bothering to use the trees to cover our tracks as our prints would be indistinguishable from the hundreds that were already pressed into the ground.
Suddenly there was an ear-splitting, inhuman screech that reverberated around the forest.
Renji and I stumbled to a stop to flinch and cover our ears. The sound shot tendrils of fear through my chest and I could tell by Renji's wide eyes that he was scared too, but we keep running. "This way! They're close!"
The forest suddenly opened up into a vast clearing and I skidded to a halt. Renji went into the back of me but regained his balance with a hand on my shoulder.
Right there on the far side of the clearing was a crowd of people, all in black uniforms with swords in their hands. Only feet in front of us with its back to us was a huge, hulking creature that reminded me of some sort of oversized rodent. Tiny legs and feet with a huge furry brown body and a swath of matted green human-like hair on its head.
In a few slow seconds, my brain processed the scene before me.
"Crap, get down!" I hissed dragging Renji down into the brush beside us by the hand.
"That was close, I hope no one saw us"
"I think they've got more pressing problems on their hands, like big, fat and hairy over there-" he said sarcastically. We scurried along behind the tree line to get into a better position in case they fired at the hollow and we got caught in the attack.
Renji got up into his knees to get a better look at the gathering over the top bush.
"Yeah, well, can't exactly miss something that big- Hey don't give away our position, someone might see you!" then a thought occurred to me. Why was it so quiet? Why was the no fighting? I listened to the silence for a moment.
Instead of looking over the top of the bush I pushed some of the foliage aside to create a little peephole. I only had a view of one party at a time, but it became terribly obvious that there was something wrong with the Reaper hunting party.
They had their swords in their hands slack at their sides, gaunt unfocused expressions on their faces and from what I could see at this distance they were all walking forward, step by tentative step. "What the hell... You seeing this?" I asked but when I looked up at Renji was gone.
"Ren- Oh shit..." There he was wondering away absent-mindedly just like the others, Rin the sword dragging along the floor still sheathed on his hand.
"Renji, get back here right now!" But he acted like he was in another universe walking willingly into danger.
The hollow must be using some sort of mind control, but in that case, how was I not affected? I wondered looking frantically for understanding so I could help.
I had only looked at its back when we arrive and when I peeked through the bush at this Central position I only had a small field of view, but Renji and the Soul Reapers saw its face. That must be it.
Iv got to do something! I can't just let them be eaten! I looked all around me hoping to find another option than the only one that was floating around in my mind.
Knowing I would regret the decision later I left Renji to amble off like a zombie and sprinted around the clearing until I was directly behind the monster in the position we arrived at.
I knelt down, unsheathed ruby and focused until my energy was flowing freely, then directed it into the sword. All I needed was to break the hollows spell and get the Reapers to do the rest of the work. Easy in theory.
"So much for just observing... Here goes nothing-" I encouraged myself, wishing I had a real Zanpakuto with Shikai at that moment.
Without a sound I dashed forward and vaulted into the air, my sword blade glowing white with icy energy and gripped with both hands pointing down like a dagger.
"Over here you big ugly bastard!" I shouted.
The hollow looked around a split second before the shimmering steel reached its head, allowing Ruby to be buried into its forehead instead of the back. I hadn't seen until now, but there was a long appendage dangling from its forehead that looked a little bit like those Angler fish with the dangling light bulbs... Like a fishing lure. It had been luring those people towards it!
It gave a scream that almost burst my eardrums at this point blank range when the fishing rod got sliced clean off by Ruby, and the rest of the sword embedded itself into its mask causing a thin crack to form right down the center of its big ugly face. It started throwing me around, writhing like a bucking donkey and still screaming in agony.
My sword wasn't strong enough to shatter its mask completely but it had pierced a few inches down none the less. Some damage was better than nothing.
"That got your attention, huh? You want some more?!" I focused my energy again, this time into my hand. I'm not sure how I managed to hold on with one hand but I shot my first ever incantation-less Shakkaho into its face and pushed off with my legs, yanking Ruby out as I went.
With a flip, I landed roughly a few feet away and turned to see, to my amazement, that it had done the trick. The hypnotized Reapers and Renji had snapped out of their trance and were looking around in confusion, but they seemed okay.
"Everyone wake up! Get it while it's down!" I called out and they seemed to snap to attention, noticing me for the first time.
They began to move forward, then froze as if they saw something that paralyzed them in their tracks.
Every single one of them stared with looks of shock on their face. One of the Reapers gave a garbled grunt of terror and Renji stumbled backward as if forcing his frozen limbs to react.
They weren't looking at me, they were looking towards the heavens.
"BEHIND YOU!" Renji roared and I looked up.
Flying towards us in the sky was another hollow, unmistakeable even with its chalky white underbelly set in grey shadow against the moonlight at its back, blocked out by its dragon-like wings.
It dived, swooping down at an unbelievable speed.
I managed to force myself to move and flash stepped back into the brush out of its flight path with only a second to spare.
All I saw was it's monstrous shadow cast the entire area into darkness, then noise, light and heat. Then nothing.
The impact on the ground rattled my brain and seemed to have knocked me out for a moment. When I came too I couldn't work out what was happening.
I couldn't tell where I was, I didn't know left from right, up from down. Nothing looked familiar. The forest was gone and I was surrounded by smoldering branches, small patches of burning wood, charred ground and hot coals littered the ground around me.
For a moment I thought I'd been transported to a volcanic wasteland, then the fleeting image of the dragon-hollow hit me.
My gaze shot to the sky, obscured by plumes of smoke and fluttering embers, the moon blacked out by sheer destruction. There was no visible sign of the winged menace.
Then I came back to my senses and realized I was surrounded by spreading fire... Red colored fire... Red like someones hear...
"Oh god where is he!? Renji?! RENJI?!" I called out, fear creeping into my voice. If he was dead it would be all my fault! "Renji?! Where are you?!"
Then a faint call came from my left and my heart jumped in relief.
"Kimi! Over here!"
I ran towards his voice, stumbling with legs like jelly, avoiding flames that hadn't flickered out yet and holding my ribs as I coughed through the smoke.
There he was, kneeling amoung a pile of fallen trees right in the edge of the forest that had just escaped the inferno.
I ran to him and grabbed him by the front of his jumper.
It was charred in places and large tears opened up to see his blackened and scratched muscles.
"You idiot! Why did come with me! I told you it would be dangerous!" My voice cracked. He put both hands on my shoulders and pushed me away slowly.
"I'm fine, I just lost my real eyebrows again, okay? It's a good job I've got ink now, no big deal" against my will I laugh holding back a sob of mixed fear and guilt.
"NO BIG DEAL?" My voice cracked as staring around into the sheer desolation surrounding us. "How can you possibly be making fun of this situation?!" I croaked punching him weakly in the chest causing him to cough too, though I heard a laugh in there.
"I'm so sorry for bringing you here. I should never have let you join me. You need to get home now!"
"What about you? You can't stay, not on your own"
"I won't be in my own," I said pointing to my right.
The clearing was gone. Instead, there was a giant impact crater, like a giant had dragged a plow through there to create a primitive road.
To my surprise all the Soul Reapers were all standing in the middle of the crater looking unharmed and ready for a fight, staring towards the sky with their swords drawn.
The first hollow that I attacked was nowhere to be seen so I could only assume that the dragon had eaten it.
I had felt their energies as I searched for Renji's spiritual pressure in the debris, but I had no idea how they had come out unscathed.
"This is my mess, that thing came here because I attacked the other hollow, I have to help them!"
Now he grabbed me by the collar and shook me. "What is wrong with you?! Stop playing the hero and just walk away! This is none of your concern now, think more about yourself for a change instead of walking into danger"
I shook my head. "Not this time. I've got to do this. If I hadn't have gotten involved this wouldn't have happened"
"You don't know that! That thing was probably on its way whether you attacked it or not-"
"I think the first hollow's cry brought that thing here, Im certain of it! It appeared as if he had teleported here, that's no coincidence! This is my fault, I need to fix this mess."
"No-"
I cut across his argument. "Promise me you'll go home. Get yourself cleaned up and if I don't come back you can't admit you were involved. Just act like you know nothing"
He went to interrupt me again and I shook him by the collar again. "Renji, promise me!"
"No!"
"RENJI"
"I-You-Ugh! Why're you so difficult!? Whatever just be careful-"
"There's no time for that, run before it gets too close!" I said pointing towards the stars as the wind changed direction and the winged Shadow came looming back into view beyond the billowing smoke. It seemed to be positioning itself for another pass.
Before Renji could argue I stood and ran as fast as I could towards the Soul Reapers.
He cursed loudly calling for me to come back but I ignored him.
I skidded down the embankment created in its first dive bomb attack and landed close to the group of Reapers, ripping my sword from its sheath.
"Who are you?" A young woman with long dark hair twisted into an elegant half bun demanded upon my arrival, barely sparing me a glance.
"Back up," I said simply not bothering to grope around for a lie to tell.
"You're with the Patrol Unit? About time you got here, where are the others?"
I went to tell her that we had more important problems but the incoming roaring beast made her realize that for herself.
"Brace yourselves!" She instructed the group before raising her hands, palms crossed towards the sky.
"Bakudo 40: Engei Ou!" She called out without reciting an incantation. The beast was practically on top of us and I flinched waiting for impact but a huge shimmering blue dome flashed into existence enveloping our whole group.
The hollows eagle-like talons crashed into the shield on feet from my head and caused a ripple effect across its surface.
The woman, who I assumed to be the leader, held it in place until the thing came in to land with hovering flaps of its wings that kicked up dust and debris in our direction, battering the shield more.
From this close up I had a much better look at it. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, like some insane science experiment gone wrong. Covered in the same chalky white armor of its smaller brethren but at closer inspection parts of that armor were layered with thick white scales that glowed amber like burning lava at the roots when it roared.
Its body was that of a dragon with leathery wings attached to its thick muscular arms, but its head was that of a lion, with a full mane of fiery rocks.
It leaned back on its hind legs and roared at us once more sending a shockwave of dust toward us, showing its deadly sharp rows of teeth.
"What do we do?" I asked faintly.
I had never expected anything like this. I'd come to see what was happening and maybe kill a few more small fries, but this? This was not what I signed up for.
"This guy is a high-rank Menos Grande, high up on the wanted list too. We hadn't been expecting it to appear but from what I can remember off the top of my head, it drops bombs which explode if touched and after a while they explode on their own. If we can knock the bomb scales off while he's not fired up then detonate them while they're on the ground we'll leave him defenseless for capture"
That whole explanation went over my head at the word capture.
"You want to keep this thing!? Does this look like a pet to you?!"
"Not at all, but there's a bounty out for it from the Department for Research and Development that demands it be delivered alive. I'm dropping the barrier, get ready!"
And without any more planning, we scattered.
My hands shaking violently I rushed to the side out of range of its dangerous looking mouth and hopefully out of range of the bombs if it decided to drop them.
Sure enough, moments later is scales flared up and shot off like cannonballs, scattering throughout the area.
Some exploded upon landing, others blended in with the mud.
"Crap! Watch your step!" I called making sure to watch the floor before I moved. This was not my environment at all. I didn't dare go fast here for fear of losing a leg, or worse.
As instructed, we kited around the dragon until its scales went dormant, then we let loose.
While the others went for places like its wings to stop it from flying and ankles to make it fall, I shot up to its back, running along its spine until I reached its tail, somehow managing to hold on while the thing bucked and reared.
I managed to stab my sword into the gap between a few scales chipping them away like big burning scabs.
Its hide was so thick that I only managed a few on each try, but after a while, I began to understand and see a pattern.
Its face, chest and ankles seemed weak. Its wings were far too thick to damage with our swords alone but beneath its scale was far more sensitive skin that I found after I'd climbed up there a few times.
I landed on the ground next to the leader-lady. "Hey, you were right! Wait for it to finish getting fired up, then knock off the dormant scales so we can't get bombed. When its skin is exposed we then attack the raw flesh!"
"Understood" she said, darting away again.
I suddenly felt more in control again and my confidence was returning with a much-needed boost of adrenaline.
It took flight once again, staying low to the ground to swing a wide pass around the area and drop whatever bombs it could produce.
We avoided them, throwing rocks and other scattered floor debris to explode the hidden mines on the ground before someone stepped on one.
When it came in for landing, I went for another attack on its back but out of nowhere, it's tail came swinging in my direction like a wrecking ball.
Too late to change direction I braced myself for impact forcing my energy outwards and hoping that my trusty old spirit energy shield wouldn't fail me.
But I didn't need it. Suddenly I wasn't in the line of danger anymore, I was surrounded by warmth and the smell of charred clothing. I looked up into Renji's face as he cradled me and fell towards the ground.
"Didn't I tell you to get out of here!?" I demanded though I was actually happy to see him in a way.
"Hey, it wasn't a pinky promise so it didn't count," he smirked.
"You asshole!" I laughed wrapping my arms around his neck to hold on for landing. Thankfully the floor was clear and he placed me down way out of range of the hollow's thrashing tail.
"Thanks, but If you get hurt don't blame me," I said.
"How was I supposed to just leave you here? Did you think I would be able to keep it to myself if you never came back? Use your head Princess Dumb-Ass!"
"How rude! If you're gonna help, new nicknames are not what you need to be thinking of right now. We need a plan!"
As its scales stopped glowing for the umpteenth time I went in for another attack. As I sped forward, extremely conscious of my proximity to its tail I happened to look up and see a loose bomb plummeting to the ground.
Right in its path was the leader-lady, slashing away at its feet with the others, completely obvious to the danger falling from above.
I dived on her and pushed her out of the way, landing on top of her a few feet away.
The scale exploded right where she had been standing.
"Look out, those things still go off after they're removed, you need to have eyes in the back of your head for this fight!" I told her, offering a hand to help her up which she took gratefully. Even when covered in mud she still had an air of gracefulness and poise.
She peered at me in surprise. "You... You're not from the Patrol Unit... that's an Asauchi... You're a student!" She said coming to an understanding.
"You're welcome for saving you, I guess" I tsked then got up and ran to meet up with Renji and explain the situation properly.
We continued attacking and eventually, once the Reapers started to understand the hollow's attack pattern and abilities, far slower than I came to understand them, we managed to chip off every one of the bombs and the Soul Reapers let loose.
All around us, Zanpakuto were being awakened and Renji and I stood back at the embankment, unable to do much more.
"Get back-" the leader said running in front of us. "Let us handle the rest. Entangle: Gardenia!" She called elegantly sliding her sword out of its mahogany sheath by its rosy-red colored handle.
Right before my eyes, her sword began to transform, the shining metal blade morphing into long, thick green vines with thorns poking out at odd angles.
"Root!" She commanded, throwing her arm forward as if she was cracking a whip.
The vines extended, crashing into the ground, disappearing for a moment then bursting out of the dirt to wrap around the dragon's legs like a giant tree sprouting from nowhere just as the beast was rearing and flapping its wings to take flight.
I could see in its movements that it was tiring. It seemed sluggish compared to its earlier attacks.
"Set up the array quick! I'm not sure how long I can hold it!" She instructed and the other Soul Reapers began laying large metal cylinders around the creature in a circle on the floor.
In unison, they all read out an incantation and the cylinders burst open, emitting a beam of purple light.
The beams shot into the air and seemed to attract to each other like seeking magnets, meeting at a point in the sky to form a dome over the hollow.
Before the gaps in between each beam could be filled to form a force field cage, the Soul Reapers threw in what looked like smoke bombs and within the minutes the monster fell to the ground with one finally weak roar, tranquilized by the smoke billowing around inside its prison.
The leader gave a huge sigh of relief and called her Zanpakuto back, causing the roots to retreat underground and shrink back into the shape of a normal sword.
I was staring up at the thing in awe when she turned to me.
"Hey, you-" she said bringing me back to reality. I realized what I was doing. I'd been discovered and I was just standing here!? I looked down, noticing that my Stealth Club gear was in tatters, a whole had burned to expose my ribs and the sleeves were gone, somehow my mask, hood and fingerless gloves were still intact and thank god as my hair colour and scar would have been the sort of features that could give away my identity.
I looked up, spying the other Soul Reapers gathering behind her. Suddenly I felt like the hunted instead of the hunter. We were cornered.
I clutched at what remained at Renji's sleeve, ready to run and then froze.
My eyes widening and my heart made a desperate leap to get out of my mouth. Over the leader's shoulder highlighted in the moonlight was a group hurrying along the impact crater, lead by a small figure in a long white cloak.
"A Captain?!" I croaked completely freaking out. I didn't stick around to find out who it was.
"We've gotta go now or well be dead! Quick, RUN!"
The two of us escaped the area like bats out of the depths of hell, running as fast as our shaking legs would allow us not daring to look back.
"Miyako!" A man called from the arriving group.
Miyako turned to see her husband running towards her with worry written all over his face. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.
"What happened? Are you okay?!"
"Kaien... That girl... The student in black... She saved us all..."
"That's- wait, what? A student? That's impossible," he said holding her at arm's length, looking her over as if expecting to see that she had hit her head.
She shook her head. "We were careless. Even after all the preparation, we got caught in the fisher's lure but she's broke it's spell"
"Wait, I'm confused, where's the fisher?"
"It's dead." Came the cold voice from behind him. He turned.
"Captain Soi Fon?"
"This is the Beelzabeast. It's attracted by the scent of blood and murderous intent. That girl attracted its attention with her intent to kill it and save the squad, then it came in and ate the blood source, being the injured fisher." She explained.
"Captain! The girl... I thought she was one of your people! She didn't act like a student at all"
"I issued no orders for my people to be dispatched on this raid. Squad Thirteen are the only personnel present here."
"Please, Captain, let her go! I owe her my life two times over. She saved me from the Beelzabeast's bombs too. You mustn't punish her!" Miyako pleaded.
"I am sorry Third Seat, but I cannot do that. If she is indeed a student, she and her friend just broke every single rule in the book by being here tonight. I cannot let them escape."
Miyako grimaced. "I understand... But please, when you catch her, at least allow me to thank her first"
Soi Fon paused to consider the idea, her long braids swinging in the wind as she turned away from the group to get a better look at the Beelzebeast, then finally she nodded gravely.
"Captain, could it have been-" another voice asked from behind her. She turned to see Shuhei standing there looking at strong, smart and perceptive as always in his blue uniform and golden Head Boy's badge.
"Possibly." She answered absentmindedly running her fingers over the black beaded bracelet beneath the sleeve of her Captain's cloak. She didn't need him to finish his question. The same thought ran through her mind too. That familiar, cold spirit energy could very well be the same girl that had caught her eye only a few days ago. She glanced at Shuhei, spotting the thin slash on his cheek just beneath his long raven black hair. The single war-wound that confirmed his first ever defeat.
"Very well, Third seat. I can permit that request. Lieutenant Shiba-"
"Yes ma'am," Kaien said releasing Miyako and standing to attention.
"Accompany Lieutenant Omaeda in the search for our little truants. Bring them back unharmed." She said just as the rotund Lieutenant Omaeda finally plodded onto the scene, late as always.
"Captain, what did I miss?" He wheezed panting to catch his breath. She clenched her eyes shut as if willing herself not to slap him into next Tuesday.
"Lieutenant Shiba, please fill him in along the way. I will await your return while we organize the collection of the captive."
"As you wish Captain." and Kaien took off into the wood.
Omaeda stared after the much fitter, younger Lieutenant in disbelief. "You gotta be kidding me, I only just got here!" Then he waddled off like a bloated walrus after a target that was already long gone.
"Head Girl-" she said turning her attention to the tall mousey blonde hovering behind Shuhei, staring around at the destruction.
"Just in case she makes it back... and for your boys too Shuhei. Inform the other dorm leaders."
"Yes, ma'am. We will find them either way." And they both disappeared.
Soi Fon stood there alone except for the team of low-rank officers attending to the captive hollow, staring up at the moon solely. "Who are you, girl?"
A/N: We-hey! There we go, the main event, finally! Hope you guys liked it and hopefully someone can understand how what just happened has completely changed the outcome of the canon.
In case you were wondering, the Beelzabeast is inspired by my Monster Hunter World arch nemesis the Bazelguese. Stupid airplane-dragon always diving bombing my poor little light bow gunner and KOing her :( If you haven't played MHW just google the Bazelguese and you'll see what I mean about dive bombing
I needed something big for her to fight and couldn't think of a better enemy.
I kinda imagine the scene with Kanisawa to be a bit like Snape telling off Ron and Harry in the chamber of secrets after flying the car xD
And yes, that Kido was made up. I'm a bit crap as thinking of incantations but their translations make no sense anways so its fine~
3rdSeatofSquad2
Does that confirm your suspicions of who the Commander is? :P
No, Kimi won't be that highranked in the squad to begin with. She's a big believer in climbing your way to the top so she'll start a bit lower than 3rd seat.
I can't compare Kimi's Zanpakuto situation to any other character specifically because it's unique. Let's just say that night in the forest where Aizen stabbed her with Kyoka Suigetsu, he did it for a reason and he has BIG plans for her... Big white and scary plans with teeth and claws that don't belong in the Soul Society. That's a loooong way away though, probably towards the end of the pre-canon arc and onwards.
She will have limited use of her Zanpakuto in a similar way to Yumichika.
She will use a fake name to make people think she knows it and use the excuse that it's just a stubborn/lazy sword so she doesn't have to perform Shikai, so it will mostly be a melee weapon until she decides to use it in "emergencies"
But that's more for everyones safety because if she uses her power everyone will be in danger. So even when she does find out it's true name she refuses to use it unless shes desperate. Again, not gonna happen for a while.
Yep, she will get to know the usual characters and make friends (or foes) with them. Naturally her and Ikkaku get on like a house on fire for their love of sparring and Yumichika is always tagging along anyways.
She will join the Women's association pretty much on graduating when she first hears about it.
I doubt the RangikuXGin flame will be obvious to romance-clueless Kimi, but she loathes Gin so no doubt she'll have a few choice words about Rangiku's love life if ever she finds out, straight forward and blunt with her opinions as always lol
Remember that this story is currently taking place in the past, so "their old Captain" isn't the old Captain, YET. All those events are still to happen, and Kimi will be smack bang in the centre of it all.
She won't find out about Unohana until the end like everyone else, or if the canon timeline shifts permit it, I may decide to reveal her earlier but no plans there. The only plan I have for the blood war arc is the reveal of Kimi's true heritage and biological parents :P
I do agree with Tatsuki, she's too strong to be left as a human, and with the amount of exposure she has had, she should at least be a full bringer like Orihime. A friend of mine was supposed to write a sister story/sequel to this where he had plans for Tatsuki's development as a main/supporting characters from his OC's human perspective, but he writes like a chapter every 2 years ago so at this rate I'll catch up, hijack it and write it myself lol Dark Raven Day, I'm talking to you mister! Move your ass!
So yeah, when the opportunity pops up I am gonna feature Tatsuki more and build her a bit so Dark Raven Day expect discord messages when I get to that point, gonna need your input on it seeing as you're the one developing her :)
Hope you enjoyed! More coming soon with a little bit more filler stuff before the approaching end of the academy arc. I only have the next ones in notes so might take me longer to upload now that's they're not sitting completed on my desktop. Cya soon, don't forget to review!