Hiro and the others had no choice, but to retreat from Arracue and his group. They all retreated back to Kimune and were recovering some of their injuries. The worst who had it was Ami and she was still unconscious. As she rested, Ashiru stood over and watched her for he was very concerned about her. That was just about when Enru entered the room.
"Everyone else has gathered. We need to discuss a plan." Enru said.
"Yeah. I'll be there." Ashiru said, but it didn't sound like he meant it. Enru could tell he was concerned about Ami.
"Conor said she's going to be fine. She's alive and that's what should matter." Enru said. "Why do you seem so concerned about her? You haven't really gotten to know her so well."
"I'm not entirely sure myself." Ashiru said. "When I met her at the Soul Society, I got this familiar sensation from just looking at her. I don't know why, but when I look at her, it makes me think of….Minarin." Enru knew that was a hard subject on Ashiru ever since his fiancé died.
"I'll give you a few more minutes." Enru said as he was about to leave.
"No. You're right. I should focus on the mission." Ashiru said as he got back on his feet, but he does plan to avenge Ami. All of them, in casual clothes, went into the bistro area to talk about what happened at the mansion.
"So there's about ten of them." Manana said. "I highly doubt it's much of a coincidence there are that many of them."
"You think this has to do with old group: Espada?" Conor said.
"The who?" Hiro questioned.
"It took place a little over ten years ago." Conor said. "There was once an extremely powerful soul reaper who betrayed the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. He was known as Sosuke Aizen. He even had a small army of arrancar to serve him. The Espada was an elite group of ten arrancas."
"Just like how there are ten of them." Daigo said as he was beginning to think it was more than convenient.
"So what? That doesn't have much to do with right now." Hiro said as there was one of them that kept haunting him. "That Arracue guy really is something." Everyone was getting a little concerned about Hiro.
"Hiro, be honest. Does he scare you?" Conor said.
"No. It's not that." Hiro said.
"Yeah right!" Neko said as he jumped right on his head. "He's got you so scared that he might make you wet your pants." Hiro got annoyed as he reached up and grabbed Neko off his head.
"What are you even doing here?" Hiro said.
"Hiro, we need to focus on defeating Arracue. So Neko's going to be you in your civilian life." Daigo said.
"Yeah. See? I can be helpful. I'm not afraid." Neko said.
"I'm not afraid!" Hiro shouted as he tossed Neko to the wall. He might be claiming it, but everyone else was thinking differently.
"Hello in there!" They heard someone calling outside.
"That voice…" Enru said as he knew seemed to have known it.
"It can't be!" Ashiru said. All of them were surprised as they saw the door open and saw it Takarin was there.
"Yo! You all miss me?" Takarin said.
"Takarin!?" Daigo said.
"What are you doing here?" Daphne said.
"I heard all three of my boys came to the World of the Living. With a little help from that Rukia captain, I was able to get here myself." Takarin said.
"Sorry, but we're not here on vacation." Ashiru said.
"I know." Takarin said. "She told me there was some sort of trouble that I need to help out. So what's going on exactly?" All them took a moment and explained to Takarin what was going on. "That's some pretty hefty stuff."
"And yet we have no idea what they're planning." Daphne said.
"Even Hiro seems to be scared of these guys." Lucas said.
"I'm not!" Hiro said.
"You're acting like you're down in the dumps and it's not like you." Neko said. "If you're not scared of this guy, what could the problem be?" Hiro wasn't answering and that surely wasn't helping him.
"Sounds like you just need a little discipline to get back out there." Takarin said as he grabbed him by the back of his collar and pulled Hiro out of his seat. "Get out of your gigai and let's do this."
"This isn't a gigai you idiot. This is my actual body." Hiro said, but Takarin seemed confused.
"You mean you don't know." Sonya said.
"Hiro's part human. His mother is a human and apparently his father was a soul reaper." Daphne said.
"What?! Everyone knew, but me?!" Takarin said and it seemed like it. It bothered him, but he shook off. "My point still stands. Get out of it and become a soul reaper."
"I've got this." Daigo said as he used his glove and shoved Hiro's soul out of his body.
"Hey! Quit ganging up on me!" Hiro said.
"You're acting like a coward and you need a good smacking." Takarin said as he shoved him.
"I think I'll help with that." Ashiru said as he followed them. Takarin brought Hiro downstairs in Conor's underground area so the two of them were ready to get Hiro into shape.
"This is stupid. I don't need a lecture." Hiro said.
"Cowards don't get lectures. They get disciplined." Takarin said.
"I'm not a coward!" Hiro said as he was getting agitated.
"You're right. A spineless wimp seems more appropriate." Ashiru said.
"Watch it." Hiro said.
"There's only one way to get through you. We just need you to get back in the action." Ashiru said and held out his sword.
"You're joking. You want to get beaten to the ground by me again?" Hiro said.
"That's assuming a coward can really beat Ashiru." Takarin said. Hiro kept getting annoyed by them and couldn't wait to shut them up.
"That's it. You're asking for it." Hiro said and pulled out his sword to attack.
…
The Soul Society
Rukia was staring up at the night sky in the Soul Society at her home. She was alerted of what was going on and seemed a little concerned.
"Mom!" Ichika called. "You should be getting ready to go bed like me, right? Isn't it getting late?"
"You're right. Go on inside, Ichika. I'll be in a moment." Rukia said and Ichika went back inside.
"Is there something bothering you?" She looked across the yard and saw her brother coming her way.
"Byakuya? No. I'm just doing some thinking is all." Rukia said. "I heard about the arrancars that are among those in the World of the Living, in the town that the new substitute soul reaper, Hiro Hashiru, lives in. It's just having me think of the battle we phased against Aizen. Some of us barely survived."
"Do not cling to the past." Byakuya said. "That battle has been long over. We have to look ahead to the battle we're facing now." Rukia could see it in his eyes that Byakuya had no hint of worry or concern.
"I guess you're right." Rukia said with a smile. "Compare to back then, perhaps we don't have much to worry about."
….
Hiro
"Ryukiba!" Ashiru called out as he tried to slice down on Hiro, but Hiro blocks the attacks. The impact of the last one had Hiro slide back.
"Is that all, Hiro? You really are scared if you're too afraid to fight back." Takarin said.
"Shut up! I'm not scared!" Hiro said.
"Yes you are." Ashiru said. "Don't try to hide it. If you're not scared, tell us what the problem is." Everyone hanged back and watched for all of them were concerned about Hiro. They've been going at it like this for hours, but Hiro isn't budging.
"I'm not scared. You wouldn't get it." Hiro said.
"Sounds like excuses!" Ashiru said as he went to attack him again. Ashiru slammed his blade against Hiro, but Hiro was able to hold it back.
"You're a coward." Takarin said. "So what if the enemy is stronger than you. That didn't stop you from when you fought the captains."
"He's right and if fear isn't your problem, what is?" Ashiru said.
"Just shut up!" Hiro shouted and pushed Ashiru off him. "You guys can't possibly understand how I'm feeling. This is a waste of time. I'm out of here." Hiro turned away and ignored them.
"Hiro, wait." Sonya said as she raced over to him. "We're all just worried. We want to help, but we can't if you won't tell us the problem." Sonya was trying to get to him. Hiro would have ignored it, but he could never really get mad at Sonya.
"He made me feel powerless. No one has ever made me feel that way before." Hiro said and everyone was all ears. "Normally I wouldn't care if my opponent was stronger than me. When I fought guys like Kenpachi, Rukia, or Shunsui, I knew they were stronger than me. Even if I had a little power compared to them, I still would fight. It's different with Arracue. When he placed his hand on me, it was as if all my strength was gone. It all just vanished. No one has ever made me feel like that before and until you guys get that feeling, you can't understand how I'm feeling."
"You're right." Daigo said. "We can't, but someone can and you're holding him." Hiro was confused until he saw he was talking about his zanpakuto.
"Dakunaito?" Hiro said.
"We soul reapers are able to communicate with our zanpakuto. They know what we know and feel." Daigo said. "If that's what's really going on with you, your Zanpakuto can help. Just put yourself in a meditative stance and concentrate." Hiro thought it would be stupid, but he does need to get over this feeling if he's going to fight Arracue again.
"Fine." Hiro said as he dropped to sit on the ground. Hiro meditated and tried to get in contact with his zanpakuto. He didn't think it was working until he felt air blowing up. "Huh?" Hiro opened his eyes and saw he was falling out of the sky. He freaked and tried to stop himself until he crashed front first on one of the platforms. "I've got to work on those landings." He heard someone walk towards him and looked up to be met with Dakunaito.
"So you came here on your own this time." Dakunaito said.
"Yeah." Hiro said as he sat back up. "Daigo says you might be able to help me."
"Yes. I know of this Arracue." Dakunaito said. "He is a formidable foe. His power is overwhelming, but he is still a hollow and a soul reaper must defeat all hollows."
"I get that, but he made me feel something I haven't felt before." Hiro said. "I don't know what I'm suppose to do."
"You grow stronger." Dakunaito said. "When faced with a powerful opponent you feel you can't beat, you grow stronger until you know you can win. A knight must fight until their death."
"But how do I stop this feeling from coming back?" Hiro said.
"Arracue is just another enemy that must be beaten." Dakunaito said. "There is no battle without someone having weaknesses and limits. You must move past your own and know your enemy's. Knowing that he is not invincible and that he can be beaten is all you have to remember. You were able to triumph over the captains. This will be no different." Hiro thought of how he fought against every enemy he went up against and how he won each of his battles. Hiro had no reason for doubts or any of that. Arracue is just another enemy. Hiro left his inner world and was back with the others where they were all waiting for him.
"Did it work?" Daphne asked.
"Are you, you again or are you still afraid?" Takarin asked.
"Oh shut up!" Hiro said as he hit him and Ashiru. "That's for all the garbage you two were giving me." Ashiru felt that hit and was glad about it.
"Yep. He's him again." Ashiru said. Hiro stomped down and got their attention and he didn't look happy at all.
"Let me make one thing clear. If you ever call me a coward again, I'm not going to hesitate to kill you." Hiro said acting like a real menace.
"Uh oh. He's him again." Ashiru said as he was thinking it was a bad thing.
"You two will be at the top of my list….after Arracue." Hiro said as he felt ready to take him on again.
To Be Continued...
