SailorStar9: Chapter 48 is up, this is Chapter 49. I'm skipping the whole 'Bount' arc and going directly into the 'Arrancar' arc. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny.

Chapter 49: Reopening of the Substitute Business! The Terrifying Transfer Student


"Good morning, Kurosaki." Orihime beamed, greeting the Substitute Shinigami in class.

"Your reckless hairstyle is as refreshing as always." Uryū adjusted his glasses.

"Zip it." Ichigo retorted.

"What?" Keigo wailed. "What is this? What's with this grouping? There's Chad! Why, oh why, Inoue? Even Mizuno too? And why, oh why, Ishida? I thought things were odd at the start of summer vacation, but then all five of you took extra vacation time off together! On top of that, you're all hanging out here together! What happened to the five of you? Stop messing around and tell me."

"Nothing happened." Ichigo assured.

"So this is…" Keigo gaped. "The feeling that I am about to be dumped by my friends!"

"That's pretty much it." Ichigo shrugged. "If you've got it, then get lost."

"Doesn't he understand you're just messing with him?" Ami pointed out. "Come to think of it," she looked at Uryū. "Were we even friends with this guy in the first place?"

"You've got a point there." Uryū admitted.

"You fair-weathered fools!" Keigo cried and took off.

"So, everyone's present today, right?" Misato greeted her class. "So, I have some wonderful news for you. We have a new transfer student starting today. I'll introduce him. Your name please."

"The 'hei' in lewd, plus the 'ko in Onono Imoko." Shinji started. "The 'shin' in genuine worker, plus the 'ko' in in spicy cod roe. I'm Hirako Shinji. Pleased to meet ya."

"Hey, Hirako, it's reversed." Misato pointed out. "Reversed."

"Pretty good, huh?" Shinji grinned. "Doing things in reverse is my specialty."


"You lost your powers, didn't you?" Ami gave Uryū a pointed look as they were walking home that night. "Don't give me that." She scolded, Uryū turning a sharp look at her. "I'm not stupid. Don't look now." Her senses went on high alert. "We have company."

"A Hollow." Uryū gasped, the pair dodging the energy blast. "It ripped through the fabric of space and appeared. A Menos Grande, huh?" As I thought, he took off running. This kind of Menos Grande is… But I should be okay. There is still a way for me to fight. "Even with just this little bit of Spirit Power left." He pulled out the silver tubes he had and tossed them at the Hollow after him, casting the 'Sacred Bite' spell. High speed regeneration? He saw the severed arm growing back. The torso disappeared? He frowned, drawing out his thread to trap the Hollow. It split? He spotted the Hollow behind him.

"Frozen Rain!" Mercury summoned her hailstorm, giving Uryū the breather he needed. "Uryū, focus!" the Ice Senshi scolded. "It was two separate bodies from the start. Avalanche Defence!" she rose her ice wall to block out the Hollow's charge.

"My, my." Ryuken chided, his Spirit Arrow cutting off the Hollow's outstretched tongue before it pierced Mercury's barrier. "Such awkwardness. Uryū."

"You…" Uryū breathed in disbelief, seeing the Quincy bow in his father's hand. "Ryuken!"

"Is that how you talk to your father?" Ryuken scolded. "You never change, do you, Uryū?"


SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.