Chapter 37
Uryu Ishida was walking home from getting a few supplies for Handy Crafts club at school, and was walking along, not really thinking about anything, when he felt a strange presence near him.
It doesn't feel like reishi ..and I can barely feel it, like its…like I don't actually know someone is watching me, but my instincts are telling me that someone is. Uryu thought, as he walked on, carefully watching the areas he did. Then again if someone was here like a Soul Reaper, or hollow, I would know…unless it's.. the Bounts? No, it was impossible to sense Bounts with one of those mod soul things Urahara created…
He rounded the corner of the street and saw a old man standing their holding a cane and looking up at the moon.
"Hello there young man,.. Would you do a old man a favor and assist him?" The man asked, looking over in his direction with squinting eyes. "I'm not from the area and need to get to a large nearby park to meet up with my grandson"
"Um...I suppose I could… do you mean the Yumisawa Park?" Uryu asked, somewhat suspicious of the old man. " Why are you out here ..on your own?"
"Well I'm not the kind of man who wants to be treated like he's helpless, despite my age" The old man said, with a slight smile on his wrinkled face. " Although in retrospect, I probably should have brought a map with me.."
"Right, it's not far from here… I can take you" Uryu said, still keeping an eye on the strange old man. "By the way, what is your name, if I may ask?"
"Where are my manners.. You may call me Sawatari " The man said as the walked along the empty streets towards the park. " I'm really looking forward to seeing my grandson again"
"Of course.. We'll be there any minute now anyway" Uryu said, looking forward but glancing at the man every once and a while, while thinking, Maybe I'm being paranoid for nothing… if he was dangerous, he wouldn't be walking with me…
Several minutes later they reached the park, and it was empty, no one there but them.
"Well I do need to get home now that you're here...however, if you wish me to wait till your grandson arrive, I suppose I cold delay my return home for a bit" Uryu said, looking over at the man.
"There's no reason to wait with me now" The man said, looking over at Uryu as he turned away. "However, you won't be leaving on your own, nor will it be home that your going to, I'm afraid, Mr. Quincy"
Out of the shadows in front of him and to both of his sides, appeared several people, Bounts to be exact.
"Hello again, young Quincy" Kariya said, hands in his pockets as he casually strolled out into the moon light. "Lovely night isn't it?"
"Kariya!…and the other Bounts…or rather most of the other Bounts.., what are you doing here?" Uryu asked, holding on to his Quincy cross and getting ready to release his bow. "For that matter, what do you want?"
"No need to be so defensive, Uryu Ishida, we're here…. to talk to you" Kariya said, smiling.
"Talk about what, exactly?" Uryu, said gripping his cross tightly.
Ugaki stepped forward, adjusting his glasses. "It's simple actually… we need you do us a little favor.. The Soul Society awaits us ,and you're the key"
"No deal, the Bounts are as much my enemy as Soul Reapers are" Uryu said, eyeing them carefully. "I will not do you any favors, or help you into the soul society, Kariya"
"I see…most unfortunate that won't help us willingly …." Kariya said closing his eyes, before smirking. " Koga, perhaps you can…encourage him… to change his mind"
"As you wish, Kariya" Koga said, stepping forward and pulling out a metal ball. "Zeige Dich, Dalk!"
The metal ball glowed before growing in size and multiplied, connecting themselves together and as they formed a tall semi-humanoid shape of a woman with a white face.
"Oooh! ..what do we have here?…" Dalk asked, licking her lips. "A fine young man who will show this woman a good time?.. I hope so"
"Fine, then by the pride of the Quincy, I will show you a good time" Uryu said, holding out his tiny cross on a chain, that shot bluish energy out from two sides and let it form a large, energy bow.
Uryu shot off several arrows at the doll, only to have it dodge them and fire off pieces off herself at the Quincy in the spot he had jumped to. Uryu rolled out of the way, missing all but a few that, struck him in his shoulder. He flinched from the pain, but tried to ignore it, as he gathered a large amount of reishi from the air and fire a large arrow back at her.
"Damn , that kind of smarted…how dare you strike a lady!" Dalk yelled, turning her arms in tube shaped objects and firing tiny balls of metal at Uryu like a machine gun. "Come on! Where's that confidence of yours? I like my men strong!"
Uryu ran to the left and jumped behind a low brick wall that made up part of the park's border. He heard as much as felt the barrage of makeshift bullets smash into the wall, and tearing it to pieces as they more or less drilled through the bricks.
"Damn! This wall will not hold forever...I need to catch her off guard" Uryu said ,using his analytical mind to try and think of a quick strategy. " She uses force …so speed might be the best option for the moment"
Though not as skilled as he should be, he concentrated and gathered spiritual particles under his feet before disappearing from view just before a hole was torn through the wall by the bullets flying at it. He reappeared behind Dalk and fired off a large arrow, he had made during the moment he disappeared. The large energy arrow hit the doll square in her back, just as she noticed him behind her and sent her flying into the wall she had been decimating with the bullet sized balls of metal.
Dalk smashed face first into the wall, destroying what was left of the area she had been shooting at. Uryu allowed himself a momentarily grin, before his normal calm expression return, there was no point it getting overconfident. He knew first hand how dangerous the Bounts were and didn't intend on letting his guard down.
"You are not treating this lady… VERY NICE!" Dalk screamed, bursting from the pile of bricks, sending them flying. From her torso down, the steel balls that made up her body, changed her shape from human like-lower half, to a spider-like form. Her arms also became as pointed as her now, several pairs of legs did, and she grinned wildly at Uryu.
Uryu eyes widened, and he disappeared from sight once again, as Dalk shot a web made of metal at him. He raced across the park using Hirenkyaku, dodging more metal webs as he did. He spotted a tall building that was in the middle of being built, and raced toward it. He only had one option...even though he wasn't looking forward to using it.
I've only trained with it a little while, and haven't used it combat yet, but...but at this point , what choice do I have?… Uryu thought as he pulled at the skin of his right hand and tore away the fake, specially created, skin that had been on it. He made a mental note to thank Urahara for giving him the fake skin material later as he stood up and waited for the doll to find him. He looked down at his Senrei glove, with a bit of anxiety at using it in a combat situation for the first time.
"I'VE FOUND YOU MY LOVE!" Dalk screamed, as she smashed through a nearby wall. "Why ever did you run off, my handsome young man?"
"It might have something to do with you being a psychotic metal monster .." Uryu sounding calm on the outside, despite nervous on the inside. "By the pride of the Quincy, I will destroy you, and your owner"
"Mmmm… sounds like you know how to make up for striking me…," Dalk said, grinning. "Too bad it's not enough!"
Meanwhile across town,….
Urahara lowered his blood mist shield he had just used to block Yoshi's attack of the needle like pieces of metal she fired off from her fan, Nieder.
"Ha!, that probably would have hurt quite a bit, if not for my Blood Mist shield, huh?" Urahara asked, grinning. "But you know, I haven't really had the opportunity to fight a lot for the past hundred years or so, so thanks for this, it's been fun so far!"
"You won't be having fun for much longer, Soul Reaper" Ryo said, using Frida as a whip to strike everything around them and create countless snakes. "Go and have a good time, little ones"
Numerous snakes, of different sizes lunged at Urahara, who used flash-step to avoid them and his Zanpaktou to slice through them. A large snake one from behind him caught him off guard however after he moved out of the way of Yoshi's fan, which she threw at high speeds. The large snake sank it's fangs into his arm, causing great pain to Urahara.
He tried shaking if off but it held on as another smaller snake bit into his leg. Ignoring the pain, he sliced thought both, and knelt on the ground, bleeding a bit from his shoulder and leg.
"Not bad,…but not great either." Urahara said, standing back up, with blood soaking into the sleeve of his jacket . "Bakudo 61, Rikujokoro"
The six beams of light the kido spell created, slammed into Ryo holding hi in place, while Urahara pulled back his sword.
"Scream, Benihime!" Urahara yelled sending a wave of red energy from his sword as he swung it outward at Ryo.
The wave of energy slammed into Ryo making yell out in pain, and cough up a little blood as well. Frida hissed at Urahara, as a inured but not deterred, Ryo broke free from the Kido spell.
"Stupid Soul Reaper …you will die!" Ryo said, growling and wipe blood from his mouth. "Frida, full form attack!"
"With pleasure!" Frida hissed, before detaching from Ryo's arm and growing into a giant red eyed snake. "Now I will devour you, ssssstupid SSSooul Reaper!"
"..Huh…well this sucks.." Urahara said, flash-stepping out of the way as the giant snake, Frida, smashed into the roof where he was just standing. " I feel like roasted snake for dinner, I think"
Urahara wordlessly fired out Hado 31 several times at the doll, hitting it in the side and burning it. He dodged down and moved back, to avoid the sword blade of Yoshi's doll as she swung at him. His hat was cut in half diagonally, and the pieces floated to the ground, as she jumped at him again, swinging her sword, and meeting his blade in return.
"You may have killed my hat, but make no mistake,…your not worth my time right now, young one" Urahara said, grabbing her sword with his bare hand. "Now be gone.. Bakudo 63, Sajo Sabaku"
Yellow glowing chains wrapped around Yoshi, holding her sword and chain connected fan weapon against her body. Ignoring her wide eyes, Urahara brought his foot up, kicked her off the roof and sent her flying into side of a close by building, that she smashed inside of.
Urahara looked up, but in time as Frida smashed her giant tail into him send him through several nearby buildings. The doll shot towards the roof where Urahara had landed on, mouth wide open.
"I'm going to devour you, whole!" She hissed loudly, slamming into his slightly wobbling form.
He managed to keep most of his body out of her way, but he felt her bite into his left arm, with her large fangs. He brought Benihime down at her and she let go of him, getting a large gash across her face as she moved out of the way. Urahara looked down at his arm and saw it turning black at the hand, spreading slowly upward.
"Ugh…ow.. " Urahara commented holding his arm. "What…what the hell, it's turning black! What the hell did you do?"
"My ssspecial poison, foolish SSSoul Reaper.." Frida hissed, grinning( as best a snake can that is). "Feels good ,doesn't it?"
"So sad… Mr. Soul Reaper.. In a matter of minutes it will spread up your arm's nerves, destroying them ,and before long, reach the rest of your body as well" Ryo said, walking up onto the roof , by using Frida's tail. "What a sad way to die for someone so powerful"
"Not necessarily.. You told me how it works, so the solution, while painful, is clear." Urahara said, not pausing for even a moment as he sliced across his left shoulder. "uhg,.."
"What…?.. What did you do?" Ryo asked eyes wide in confusion.
"I cut…uhg.. My nerves that go from my arm to the rest of by body…Uhg… so the rest of me won't effected at all" Urahara said, with a grin, despite the pain. "Guess my death was forecasted a bit prematurely, wasn't it?…now then…. how about a little game of flash-step tag?.. Your it!"
He vanished from sight, appearing a few blocks way.
"Come on, keep up if wanna catch me!" Urahara yelled loudly , holding onto his damaged arm as he appeared on a roof several buildings over, before disappearing again.
"We have to follow him!" Ryo said angerliy ,standing on Frida's head. "After him, Frida!"
Urahara knew of a way to kill the regenerating doll, but it wasn't going to be easy to set up, nor without sacrifice. He finally stopped moving after landing in a area, of abandoned, and condemned buildings, the perfect place to execute his plan with out hurting anyone, though it might cause trouble in the Soul Society later. He set up a large barrier, that while not super strong would hold off the doll long enough fro him to activate his high level Kido spell.
Several minutes later the giant snake, now free of wounds, tore through several of the empty buildings, and spotted Urahara chanting something, inside a translucent energy barrier. She slammed in to the barrier head first after Ryo jumped off, far enough to watch but not too close to the destruction that Frida was bring.
"I hope my personal protection barrier is strong enough to keep my unaffected by this.." He said, as the outside barrier smashed apart from Frida slamming into it continuously. "Alright, time to rid this world of a Bount….. Yoruichi.. I hope I get to see you again my old friend .. Hado, number 96... ITTO KASO!"
Heavy, red colored spiritual energy swirled around Urahara, before shooting into the air in a shape of a giant blade. Frida notice it, but was already mid strike at Urahara, and going to fast to stop and was disintegrated upon contact. Only part of her lower half remained, and it slammed down on the nearby empty buildings, smashing them to pieces, before disappearing from sight. The energy tore a large path of destruction around it, taking several more buildings with it before it faded out.
Ryo saw what had happened , and yelled in frustration and pain as he turned to sand and died, leaving only a pile of sand filled clothes on the roof he once stood on. Dust, dirt and smoke had been created by the high level kido, and now dissipated, leaving a crouching, and bleeding individual on the ground nearby. The man was covered in bleeding cuts, bruises, and gashes, as he performed a healing spell on his left shoulder.
"Well that…could have gone better… or worse.." Urahara said, looking over at his left. " I can't believe this happened…"
Urahara's left arm, up to his shoulder ,was gone, leaving a bleeding wound where it once was. He finish sealing up the wound, so the bleeding would stop, and laid down, pulling out a cell phone.
"Hello? Tessai?…" Urahara said, weakly into the phone. "I'm a bit injured and I think I'm going to need at hand to get home…litterally…"
He hung up after Tessai telling him he would pick him up asap, And laid there grinning, despite the wounds he had.
"Yoruichi is going to kill me ,when she finds out what I did, isn't she Benihime?" He asked, talking to his resealed sword. "…Yeah, your right, she's not going to kill me, she's going to make me beg for death...Hahaha… In the meantime. I wonder if Spirit Hunter, with Don Kanonji is on tonight?…"
Back with Uryu, he was moving at high speeds, while using his Senrei glove's bow to blast powerful arrows at the doll Dalk, as she attacked him. He speed out of the way, only to be sent flying away by one of her pointy arms, which she smashed into him. Uryu rolled across the ground a few times before using Hirenkyaku to barely avoid Dalk piercing the ground where he was just laying at.
He fired several more arrows at her that blew off her arms, causing her to scream before growing new metal arms, by using nearby construction equipment.
"You are going to burn…" Dalk said, angerliy. "Know one… DOES THIS TO ME!"
She raced at him as she fired a metal web, catching him in his leg. She came down pircing her sharp, pointy feet through Uryu's right leg, lower side, and left shoulder, pining him to the ground. He cried in pain,while Dalk grinned down at him, licking her lips, before kissing him on his cheek.
"There.. You showed me such a good time tonight,.. I thought a reward was in order, before I killed you.. Mister Quincy.." Dalk said, shaping one of her arms into a large sword and pointing it at him. "Where should I stab you to finish you off?… you head?… your chest… maybe I'll cut off all your limbs and watch you bleed to death?… the choices the choices… I just can't decide.."
"Hado 8, Kooyri Yari" a female voice called out, and a spear of ice shot out, stabbing into Dalk's arm and coating it with ice.
"Hey bitch!" Kukaku Shiba said, grinning as she walked into view. " I was in the neighborhood, and felt clashes of spiritual pressure nearby. Thought I'd drop by and see if their was a good fight going on, guess I was right"
"Now then… Bakudo 4, Hainawa" She said walking calmly forward as she held out her left arm. "And maybe a little of Shiba style as kicking as well"
She pulled out her sword ,and and channeled a ice kido into it, coating it with ice.
"Explosionsare really more my thing, but I'll make an exception, since I know metal isn't good when frozen" She said, walking up and slicing though Dalk's legs, cutting them off. "Now, this is going to hurt Uryu, but hey, at least we can go"
"What ..about the other Bounts?" Uryu asked grtting his teeth from the pain.
"I put up a two block long barrier, that will hold out long enough for me to get you back to Urahara's shop" She said, taking a hold of the three legs while Dalk was smashing the ice off and trying to break free of the binding spell. "Ready? One of five I'll pull out the two sharp legs that didn't come out when she fell over.. 1...2.… 3... Pull!"
"Ahhh! You said , on five!" Uryu yelled out. "That was three!"
"Duh!.. you expected five and would tense up on five, so did it when you didn't expect it" She said, pulling the bandages around her hair off, and wrapping up his most serious wound , his side. She then scooped him up despite protests, and flash-stepped off. But not before stopping out side and through down a few smoke bombs that exploded in sequence, giving Kukaku and Uryu plenty of time to escape.
"Hmm… the young Quincy is gone…what a shame.." Kariya said, standing calmly. " Lets go, Koga, Ugaki, Sawatari… we still have one more option open to us.."
"We do?" Koga asked as a angry Dalk returned to him. "How so?"
"No one said he was the last of the Quincys… and all it will take to get the other one's cooperation.." Kariya said, holding up Uryu's tiny Quincy cross. ".. Is the right motivation"
Some time later Kukaku arrived at Urahara's shop and dropped her jaw at seeing a one armed Urahara.
"What the fuck happened!" She asked wide-eyed. "Did you try to peak on Yoruichi in the shower?...again?"
"I couldn't be so lucky, Kukaku.. I had a bit of a run in with the Bounts.." Urahara said, grinning like an idiot.
"…And this moron decided it was a smart idea to use Itto Kaso" Yoruichi said, bitterly as she walked into the room. "Maybe you could have resorted t something a bit more...limb saving?"
"Well in my defense , at the time it seemed like a good way to stop the giant snake, that kept regenerating.." He said running his remaining hand through his hair. "Guess it wasn't, huh?"
"You had better hope that all that time Orihime has spent developing her powers with Hachi, the Visored, has paid off, Kisuke" Yoruichi said, sitting down at the table with Urahara. " Tessai can you help Uryu until Orihime gets here in a few minutes?"
"Of course, miss Yoruichi" Tessai said, bowing. "Bring him this way, if you would, Miss Shiba"
Several minute later Orihime arrived and made a big fuss over Urahara's arm, before calming down and using Soten Kisshun to help Urahara.
"Incredible… she's...regrowing his arm from northing, by using some sort of.. phenomena rejection of sorts.." Yoruichi said, watching Urahara's arm reappear from nothing.
"Whatever it is Orihime does, it definitely goes beyond simple healing" Kukaku said, rejoining Yoruichi in the main room. "Tessai said the quincy kid, Uryu, should be fine. Although Orihime might wanna take a look to just be safe"
"Any ideas why the Bounts were after him?" Kukaku asked ,sitting down and scratching her butt. "Seemed like they really wanted him for something.. Better ask the kid what they wanted.."
"Yes… in any case I better inform the Soul Society about this…" Yoruichi started to say before Tessai interrupted her.
"Young Ishida said to tell you that the Bounts plan to go to the Soul Society and that for some reason, they thought he was the key to that" Tessai said, setting down some tea for them. "Oh boss, your arm is back! Truly amazing work miss Inoue.. Truly amazing"
"Um well, it was nothing really.. Hachi helped me develop my powers quite a bit, after Mr. Urahara introduced him to me" Orihime said,blushing. "….I think I should check over Uryu now, though, excuse me, miss Yoruichi, miss Kukaku, Mr. Tessai and Mr. Urahara"
"Ok then,…. Guess I'll return prepare to return to the Soul Society and inform the head Captain about the possibility of the Bounts trying to come to the Soul Soceity" Yoruichi said, standing up and bringing her tea with her. "I'm using the secret Shihoin gate to get back though, it's faster… you coming or staying here?"
"…I haven't seeen my idiot brother Ganju or my other brother Ichigo in a while, I better go with you" Kukau said, downing the hot tea, and droppnig the cup on the table before following her out of the room. "Think we should bring Orihime with us? Any injuries will be snap to heal with her abilities"
"She should probably stay here where she's safe…then again.." Yoruichi said ,thinking about her restoring Urahara's arm. "..maybe she should come with us afterall. You get Orihime and I'll ready our gate"
"Meet you in the basement, Yoruichi" Kukaku said , watching Yoruichi walk out of sight.
It wasn't long before Kukaku, Orihime and Yorichi entered the private Senkiamon of the Shihoin clan and traveled to the Soul Society.
"Wow it's so pretty here , Miss Yoruichi!" Orihime said, after they exited the gate near a large mansion. "And so big! Is this really your house?"
"Well technically it's my clan's house, but close enough" Yoruich said, smiling. " You know, I received word that they want me to take over as clan head once again, but I haven't giving a response yet…"
"With Urahara doing such overpowered , and stupid things like a level 96 kido spell, can you really afford to?" Kukaku asked grinning. "Anyways, while you go and tell the head captain about the Bounts thing, I'm going to go pay my favorite little brother a visit..right after I check up on Ganju , that is"
"Right, I'll take Orihime with me, I've had a bit of a idea in which she can use her powers to benefit the Soul Society,.." Yoruichi said ,looking over the girl in question. " You interested, Orihime?"
"Oh, um sure ,if we can visit Ichigo afterwards" Orihime replied smiling.
"That was the plan…, in fact ,how about everyone gathers up to catch up and disscuss the situation in say… 3 hours?" Yoruichi asked, looking between Orihime and Kukaku, who both nodded. " Alright then, grab on and we'll get to the squad 1 barracks ,Orihime… We'll see you later Kukaku"
Quite some distance away,…
"Come on Ichigo, you jackass!" Hiyori said, whining. "Just except that it's your fault our barracks is missing several walls!"
"I may have been the one to unleash that kido spell, but you're the one who kept telling me to put more power in it!" Ichigo yelled back. "Therefore,… it's coming out of your paycheck, snaggletooth!"
"…How about we take it out of the squad's monthly budget normally used for replacement uniforms, and other crap..it's not like we spend a lot of it" Hiyori said, laying on their bed with her head upside down looking over at Ichigo.
"…sure, whatever works…. ,as long as I don't have to pay" Ichigo said, standing up. "I'm going to go and put this stupid paperwork away. I'll be back shortly"
He leaned down and kissed Hiyori on upside-down lips before walking off with the stack of papers.
A voice called out over the loud speakers, making Ichigo stop in his tracks, only a few feet from his office. "Attention all Captains, an emergency meeting has been called at the Squad 1 barracks, all captains and Lieutenants are required to report, immediately!"
"Huh..wonder what's going on?…" Ichigo said walking back to the office and finding Hiyori already there waiting for him. "You ready to go?"
She nodded and after he dropped the stack of papers to the side, Hiyori jumped onto his back, before Ichigo sped off to the meeting, hoping it wasn't anything major..and having a bad feeling it was.
End of Chapter 37 to be continued…
Please read, review and enjoy,. Sorry bout the wait, but hey, it was a shorter wait then last time, I'm trying folks.. See you soon with another chapter