Chapter 18
Infiltration
Sleep was something Aaron considered a virtue in a hostile environment such as Soul Society. Therefore, he planned on getting as much as he could while given the chance. He didn't want fatigue standing in his way of rescuing Kana. There were enough roadblocks barring his path as it was.
"Y-You want me to buy how many cookies?!"
He sat up from his futon in a hurry, his bloodshot eyes wide and alert. He calmed once he saw he was in one of the guest rooms in Kuukaku Shiba's residence.
"Oh. I...guess that was just a dream then. Cookies, huh?"
He chuckled and then yawned. Since he was still tired, he debated on sneaking another hour or two of sleep in before his voyage to the Seireitei.
"W-Wait. Why...does it feel like someone's lying beside me?"
Probably because there was. Though he had still been half asleep prior to his comment, he became wide awake at seeing strands of red hair sprawled over his torso. Konoka Mitsumi wasn't just sleeping next to him; she had her arms wrapped around his neck like a vice grip. Naturally fearing for his very life, Aaron didn't bother endeavouring to sort out how or why the Red-Haired Beast was in his bed. Rather, he muffled the scream his trembling body craved to emit and carefully went to pull Konoka off of him.
"Y-You've gotta be kidding me! W-Why the hell does shit like this keep happening?!"
Much to his dismay, Konoka refused to budge. In fact, she squeezed him even tighter the second he touched her skin. The two were now face-to-face, and blood rushed to every corner of his face. His eyes shot down to her lips, causing his heart rate to skyrocket.
"A-As tempting as it is, I'm not making the mistake of trying to kiss a sleeping girl again! Still, she's gonna kick my ass if she wakes up and finds us like this! Dammit, none of this is even my fault! How'd I get into this mess?!"
Again, he forced himself to relax. Panicking wasn't going to help one bit. Sweating like he were in the middle of the Sahara, he forced the gears in his mind to churn. He needed a solution to his bizarre predicament and fast.
His concentration was broken when Konoka began to mutter something.
"...Mom. ...D-Dad. I'm...so sorry. I...couldn't...do a thing."
"Huh? She's having a dream about her parents?"
Perhaps calling it a nightmare was better. Tears were rolling down her scarlet cheeks. Aaron froze up at this, feeling strangely guilty all of a sudden.
"Man, I've...got no right to complain about my family situation. I mean, my Dad's dead, and my Ma is always busy with work, so I never get to see her. Even so, at least I still have her. Izumi takes care of me too. Mitsumi here though has been all alone. She's...had to suffer through her pain all by herself. ...She's a tough girl, that's for sure."
His train of thought was once again thrown off course, this time by someone standing above him. The very same person was snickering obnoxiously enough to make Aaron roll his eyes.
"...You done yet, Sasune?" he asked, leering up at his best friend.
"That depends. You done doing whatever it is you're doing to Miss Mitsumi?"
"T-This isn't what it looks like! She just…!"
"No, no! You don't have to explain a thing!" Sasune winked. "It's clear I'm interrupting something here, so I'll just take my leave! I'm rather surprised though! I never thought you capable of doing something so shrewd where other people could see you! Yes, I've misjudged you, buddy! You're quite bold!"
"D-Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself?!"
Aaron wondered why he was wasting his breath. Sasune clearly wasn't listening.
"You have nothing to be embarrassed about!" the Quincy continued. If Konoka weren't restraining him, Aaron would have jumped up and socked his so-called friend across the mouth. "However, as your pal, I'm just gonna remind you to use some protection with that girlfriend of yours! Don't be silly; wrap your willy!"
At this point, Aaron was practically foaming at the mouth in ire.
"For the love of God, shut up, you goddamn idiot!" he whispered through tightly clasped teeth. "Don't just stand there running your mouth! Help me get her off of me!"
He was talking to nothing but thin air. Sasune, still laughing, was walking away. Left on his own, Aaron palmed his hand over his wrinkled features and found himself back at square one. The sole thing he could appreciate was Konoka remaining fast asleep.
"Huh? G-Good! You came back! Now we can…!"
When a shadow shrouded him, Aaron was under the impression the silhouette belonged to Sasune. However, his pupils dilated when he spotted Mayu Shiba glaring at him like he were the lowest life form in existence.
He stammered, "I-It's not what you think! Seriously, I just…!"
"Stupid Shinigami!" the girl hollered. Aaron sighed at the all too familiar insult. "Have you no shame?!"
"L-Look, I don't have time to explain, but I need your help! You're the absolute last person I'd wanna ask, but I'm desperate!"
"Go to hell, dumb Shinigami!" Mayu stuck out her tongue for emphasis. "I should've known scum like you would try to take advantage of a woman in her sleep! What, were you gonna come after me next?!"
Without any restraint, Aaron shouted, "IT'S NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL! Would someone listen to me for crying out loud?!"
"...I'll listen to you. I'll hear whatever you've gotta say before I slit your fuckin' throat!"
Squeamishly, Aaron wheeled his head over to Konoka. The Red-Haired Beast without a doubt wasn't slumbering anymore. No, she was out for blood. Shaking uncontrollably, she stood, lifting Aaron up with her. Her victim nearly passed out, turning whiter than a sheet.
"...So, your bimbo goes off and gets herself kidnapped, so you think you can get fresh with some other girl to hold you over until you get her back, huh?! Was that it, Higuchi?! Is that why you crawled into my bed?!"
Aaron choked on his tongue some as he relied, "A-Actually, you got into my bed, so..."
His body dented the wall after Konoka punched him into it. Fragments of it rained down on his bloodied skull, though he was far more concerned with the Red-Haired Beast closing in, mirroring a lion on the prowl. She wasn't done with him just yet by the looks of it.
"It's bad enough you tried takin' advantage of me, but you were doin' it while that little girl over there was watchin'?! What the hell kinda freak are you?!"
"Hey! Don't include me in whatever it is you two were doing!" said Mayu.
Aaron threw his arms up. "I'm begging you! Someone! Anyone! Just listen to me!"
"The only thing I wanna hear is the sound of your bones snappin'!" declared Konoka sadistically. "So, any last words?!"
If Aaron had any, they solely came out as helpless whimpers.
"Awesome! A dumb Shinigami is gonna get murdered in front of me!" exclaimed Mayu. "Don't do it too fast, lady! You gotta make sure he suffers!"
"That's what I had in mind, kid!"
"A-Am I some sort of magnet for demonic women…?" muttered Aaron.
Before he could be ripped to shreds, Orihime and Chad entered the room. Neither were sure what they had stumbled upon, and they hurried to turn back the way they came.
"H-Hold on! Help! Help!" said Aaron. His pitiful cries persuaded them stay.
"W-We were coming to wake you guys up, but it looks like you're all wide awake!" stated Orihime demurely.
Chad thumbed toward the door, saying, "...Yoruichi says it's time to go."
"Already?" Sasune, lounging on a bed in the corner of the room, shook his head. "...You mean that crazy Kuukaku lady really is gonna use that big ass cannon to get us to the Seireitei? ...Maybe I should've written down my last will and testament just in case."
"Oh yeah? You can write Higuchi's while you're at it!" grumbled Konoka.
"Uh...c-can you please put me down now, Mitsumi? It's taking everything in my power not to pee on myself," Aaron stated almost a whisper.
"Tsk! ...You're lucky we need you once we get to the Seireitei!"
Reluctantly, Konoka lowered him, but not before driving her skull into his as a sort of warning that any frisky business in the future would be reward with a much harsher punishment. Her victim, rolling around on the floor in agony, received the message loud and clear.
"We should refrain from killing one another if possible. Considering we'll likely be heavily outnumbered once we reach our destination, we'll need every bit of manpower."
Sasune cried out in terror at Sharpscale, who had literally spawned out of thin air.
"D-Don't do that!" the Quincy voiced. "You trying to give me a heart attack?!"
"My apologies," said the Hollow sincerely. "I just came here to gather you all to the surface, but it seems Miss Inoue and Mister Sado were already attending to it. By the way, Aaron Higuchi, are you alright? You are bleeding. Do you require treatment?"
"...I'd prefer a lawyer, but I'll live either way." Aaron distanced himself from the Red-Haired Beast as he wiped his brown skin clean with a towel. "Where's Kurosaki?"
"Hmm? He must've fallen asleep in the training room," said Orihime.
"He was probably training all night to master the Spirit Core," added Chad.
"Yeah, that sounds like him," said Aaron.
"Well, for our sakes, let's hope that bastard learned a thing or two! I don't wanna go exploding in midair or anything!" said Sasune. His stern expression softened when Orihime gave him a reprimanding glare. "D-Did I say bastard? I-I meant lovable oaf! Yeah, that's it!"
"I think Ishida went to get him," said Chad. He leered at a perplexed Sasune and added, "I meant the other Ishida. …We should probably go up now. I don't know about you all, but I'm ready to go."
"Me too! I'm getting kinda of restless!" said Orihime cheerily.
"Me three. Let's go kick some ass already!" said Konoka, cracking her knuckles.
Everyone headed out of the room save for Aaron. He grimace while stretching his now aching limbs and stared at himself in a close-by mirror. He thought himself unrecognizable, and not solely because Konoka had just got through beating him into a bloody pulp. An air of confidence surrounded him. Though he was admittedly nervous too, he would have been lying if he said he weren't excited to continue to search for a specific Shinigami.
"...Just hang on a little while longer. I'll come and pick you up soon, Kana."
#
Kuukaku Shiba inspected the group gathered before her and figured everyone worth mentioning was present and accounted for. Like her, the Kakaku Cannon was ready to go.
"I hope you punks got enough sleep!" she decried. "I don't wanna hear any whining before we do this! Is that understood?!"
No one dared argue with her, merely nodding.
"Good! Yoruichi, I'm ready whenever you are!"
"Perfect. We'll just have to have faith these kids are ready for what's to come."
Aaron stared at the black cat and couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
"W-Wait. What...happened to his tail?! It's all zigzag-shaped now!" said Ichigo.
"Hey, you're right!" said Aaron. "Did he sleep on it wrong or something?"
They gulped after Yoruichi glowered at them hard enough to kill.
"...Do you two have a problem with it?" the feline asked in a calm yet grave tone.
"N-No! Not at all!" Aaron was quick to say.
"It looks as pretty as always!" added Ichigo in the same, anxious manner.
Uryuu leaned over to him and whispered, "Idiot! You're the one that did that! After you passed out when your spirit shell exploded, you grabbed Yoruichi's tail and wouldn't let go! The rest of us worked together to get him free, but his tail has been like that ever since! For your sake, I suggest you avoid the subject all together."
"I-I see..."
"Well, looks like Higuchi wasn't the only one acting like a goddamn idiot!" said Konoka bitterly.
"S-She sure can hold a grudge," mumbled Aaron. "Best to avoid that subject too."
"Hey, where's Ganju? Don't tell me that idiot is slacking off!" said Kuukaku.
"Oh, I saw him downstairs, big sis!" clarified Mayu. "He was making some last minute preparations!"
Aaron, raising an eyebrow, asked, "Eh? What do you mean by that?"
"Hold on a minute!" someone loudly proclaimed just then. Huffing and puffing, Ganju came from around the corner and into plain view. He then pointed to himself and boasted, "Heh! Heroes like me always arrive at the last second!"
"Wow, big bro! You look really cool!" said Mayu. Her eyes were basically sparkling.
Ichigo wasn't nearly as impressed. "...What the hell are you wearing?"
Specifically, they were talking about the green bandana, black pants, green vest, and white shirt Ganju had changed into. He was also armed with his trusty meat cleaver.
"This is my special battle suit! I'm glad you like it, sis! I had a feeling you would!" he proudly remarked. Facing Ichigo, he added, "I won't let you wear it no matter how much you beg!"
"Good. I don't think anyone was gonna ask anyway," said Konoka under her breath.
Ichigo replied, "'Battle suit?' What do you need that for? Aren't you just here to see us off?"
Wordlessly, Ganju marched over to the orange-haired Shinigami and suddenly grabbed him by the collar.
"Uh...w-what did I do this time?" said Aaron when he was treated the same seconds later.
"...My older brother was murdered in cold blood by a Shinigami!" declared Ganju. Needless to say, his abrupt claim left everyone both shocked and confused.
"S-Shut up, Ganju! You don't need to…!" began Kuukaku.
"Sis, don't interrupt me! Please, just listen for once!"
"Y-You don't have to tell them our business, big bro! They don't need to know!"
"That goes for you too, Mayu! You've got an even bigger mouth than our older sister! Just let me do this! I have to do this!"
Swayed by his determination, Kuukaku and Mayu chose to heed his request.
"...My older brother was a genius," he continued. "Our family wasn't the only ones who noticed that either! He was able to pass the Shinigami Academy's entrance exam in one try! His spiritual prowess was also on par with a Vice-Captain of the Gotei 13! Then, he finished six years worth of curriculum at the Shinigami Academy in two before being officially accepted as a Shinigami! Five years later, he became a Vice-Captain! But then…then he was killed, betrayed by his partner!"
"N-No way…!" mouthed Aaron in disbelief.
"Sheesh. That's a rather shitty way to go out," stated Sasune.
"No wonder these guys hate Shinigami so much," said Konoka.
"Even though I was young and don't recall all the details, there are two things that I'll never forget!" decried Ganju. "The cold eyes of the Shinigami that brought back my dying brother, and the smiling face that Shinigami made when thanking him! I don't know why, but not once did my big brother speak out in hatred against the Shinigami! That's why...I wanna know the reason he never hated them for what they did! I gotta find out the reason he believed in them up until his death!"
He zeroed in on Ichigo and Aaron, his needlelike gaze unwavering.
"You two are different from the other Shinigami! I can just feel it! If I go with you guys, I think...I'll be able to figure out my brother's line of thinking! So, I'll give you a hand with this little rescue operation of yours and then, I'll see what Shinigami are like with my own eyes!"
Although she had forgotten when she started, Mayu was sobbing.
"Tsk! What the hell are you bawling your eyes out like that for?!" said her brother. "You weren't even born when any of this went down!"
"T-That doesn't mean I shouldn't care!" she snapped. "You're so stupid, big bro! E-Even if I wasn't there, the Shinigami that died was still my family! If you're gonna go with these guys to find out why he was killed, I'm going too! I wanna learn more about my other brother!"
Ganju was caught off guard by her passionate reply. "N-No way! A kid like you will only get in the way! Just stay here with big sis where it's safe and sound!"
"No, no, no! I'm going! I've already decided, so don't bother trying to change my mind! You've let me do lots of dangerous stuff in the past, so why are you being so fussy about it this time?!"
"T-That was different! You're...just sticking your nose where it doesn't belong now!"
He sighed. He got the hunch that no matter how much he protested, nothing was going to cause her resolve to waver. Stubbornness was just something that ran in the Shiba family, he thought with a grin.
Kuroganehiko and Shiroganehiko, weeping openly, said, "T-The two of them have grown up right before our very eyes! Their bold words are quite touching!"
"Y-You guys don't have to get so damn emotional about it," said Konoka weakly.
Kuukaku grinned from ear to ear. "...Well, it sounds like you brats have made up your minds! I really don't care one way or the other if you wanna go with these punks, but the two of you better make damn sure you don't come running back here with your tails between your legs if things get rough! Go out there and give it everything you've got!"
"Y-Yeah! You got it, sis!" responded Ganju.
Mayu added, "I-I won't let you down, big sis! I'll show you that I'm even stronger than Ganju!"
"H-Hey, wait a sec!"
"Haha! That's what I like to hear!" said Kuukaku.
Without warning, Ichigo pulled Ganju close. "...Watch my back."
"Tsk! Scum!" Ganju replied as he slapped the teen's hand back.
Mayu, meanwhile, glared up at Aaron. "Y-You better make sure I come back safe and sound, dumb Shinigami, or you'll have to answer to my big sis and my other big bro!"
"Y-You talk like it was my idea for you to come along in the first place..."
She drove her foot into Aaron's ankle to get her point across, and he felt it wise not to argue. His luck in terms of dealing with women today was rather poor, after all.
"Great. Looks like we're on babysitting duty again," groaned Sasune.
"She's quite young to be so adventurous. I commend her bravery," stated Sharpscale.
"Is that what you call it?" Konoka chuckled. "Whatever. I don't care who comes along so long as they're willin' to pull their weight."
"You don't have to worry about that! I'll do that and more!" asserted Mayu.
Kuukaku was fired up as well. "Alright, you punks! I ain't waiting around anymore! Let's go!"
#
Izumi Higuchi was bored out of her mind. No, saying that felt like an understatement. She was so uninterested in what was occurring in the world, she was certain she would die. She gazed up at her room's ceiling, finding nothing of interest there either. Annoyed, she shut her eyes.
"...I just wanna take a nap. Is that too much to ask?"
The muscles in her face jerked about unnaturally. Tossing over in her bed for a number of seconds, she growled, opened her eyelids once more, and went back to absentmindedly leering at the wooden ceiling.
"...How many days has it been since that no-good punk left?"
She wasn't sure. It felt like her brother had been gone for an eternity.
"I wonder if he's doing alright? Tsk! No way! He can't do a damn thing without me, and he knows it! He's probably getting his ass kicked as I speak! ...That's good. That means he'll give up on this whole 'saving Kana' thing and run home as soon as he can."
She certainly hoped so, yet she wasn't holding her breath. Aaron was as stubborn as he was a pain to deal with, a trait they shared. She knew him in the past as being nothing more than a scaredy cat. Nowadays, he seemed to dive head first into danger whenever the opportunity arose. Just this once, she wished he would go back to being a coward.
All these thoughts of her sibling being in danger unsettled her again. Desiring fresh air, she got up, walked over to a window, and pushed it open. A warm, summer breeze hit her skin at once. She could see kids laughing and playing on the street below.
"Now that brings me back. Me and Aaron used to do stuff like that. Well, I guess I mostly picked on him whenever I could back then. ...He used to be such a crybaby."
Her thin smile faded.
"...I'm supposed to be looking out for him, but all I can do this time is wait. That makes me feel like the coward."
"Is that so, Miss Higuchi? Well, how would you like to do something to assist your dear brother?"
Blinking, Izumi gradually moved her head and attention to whoever had just spoken. The sight of Kisuke Urahara sitting on a giant, floating piece of paper made her shriek at the height of her voice.
"Not so loud!" he said, looking around at the many people in the neighborhood searching for the source of the disturbance. "I didn't mean to startle you!"
"W-Well, you did!" Izumi replied as she clutched her pounding chest. "You can't just show up to people's homes, especially when you use such idiotic forms of transportation!"
Urahara took off his signature bucket hat and stated, "My apologies. Anyway, it's a pleasure to see you again. It's been some time, hasn't it?"
"I-It has. W-What were you saying about helping my baby bro?"
"...Right." Urahara became austere as he put his hat back on his dirty blonde hair. "I hate to bother you, Miss Higuchi, but there's a grave matter that I think only you can assist me with. In a way, it has to do with Mister Higuchi."
"...You're kinda creeping me out. Just say what you're trying to say."
"Of course. You've likely already noticed it, but like your brother, you possess a most peculiar power. It's only gotten stronger as all these strange things have been happening in Hino, correct?"
"...You really are weird, aren't you?" Izumi paused and then exhaled sharply. "Ever since we were kids, me and my brother could see and even talk with strange things. I guess you'd call them ghosts or spirit. Whatever the case, we seemed to be the only ones around here that weren't exactly normal. However, my abilities, if you wanna call them that, went a little further. From time to time, I can feel...things, things I can't really explain. It's not the same as when my brother or Sasune picks up on a Hollow. Remember that night those Shinigami from that Soul Society place showed up in Karakura Town? Well, it was like I knew they were coming well before they got here. Like I said, it wasn't really me just sensing them; it was more like a premonition."
"Just as I thought!" chimed Urahara. He was a little too happy in Izumi's opinion.
"Okay, I've said my part. Tell me now why all this is important."
"Of course. But first, do you detect any Hollows nearby?"
"Hollows? ...N-Now that you mention it, no. Strange. Those things were crawling out of the woodwork before Aaron and the others left."
"We are in agreement then! I don't believe this to be a coincidence! Because Kana Mitarashi is now in the clutches of Soul Society, I think that whoever was sending the Hollows here has stopped."
"I get it. You're saying they're related then?"
"That's what I intend to find out."
"...And that's why you need my help, right?"
"Correct! You're rather astute!"
"Well, if you're expecting me to fight Hollows..."
"Nothing of the sort. I wouldn't be asking you to help me if I thought it would be endangering your life, Miss Higuchi."
Izumi smacked her lips. "After you nearly killed my brother and that Kurosaki kid with your so-called 'training', I'm not really sure I believe you. You're liable to chuck me down a hole while I'm not paying attention!"
Since persuasion wasn't working, Urahara presented a huge sack of candy, one that made Izumi's eyes broaden.
"I understand your apprehension. Of course, I never expected you to work for free. If you help me solve this mystery, all these sweets and more are yours, Miss Higuchi!"
He blinked, and Izumi managed to snatch away the candy in that time. She popped two of the treats into her mouth, her taste buds exploding with flavor.
"Alright, you've got a deal!" she eagerly declared.
"Fantastic! You have my thanks! Now then, time is of the essence. If my theory holds any water, your brother and the rest of the people that traveled to Soul Society might have something bigger to worry about than rescuing Miss Kuchiki and Miss Mitarashi."
"...What the hell is that supposed to mean? You're telling me things could get worse?"
#
"So, we're going to use this thing to make a cannonball?" asked Ichigo, holding the Spirit Core. "We all trained like our lives were on the line to master this thing!"
"It really was a pain in the ass to get it to work," mumbled Konoka.
"Actually, only you two had difficulty using it," stated Uryuu plainly.
"What about you, Yoruichi? You'll have to use the Spirit Core to come with us, but I don't know how you'd manage," said Aaron.
"You don't have to worry about that," the black cat answered. "Ichigo, place it on the ground for me."
The orange-haired Shinigami did so, and Yoruichi hopped on top of the orb. Within seconds, a transparent barrier materialized.
"Doing this is as natural as breathing for me," the kitty stated. With their pride crushed into tiny pieces, Ichigo and Konoka slumped to the ground. "Are you two disappointed? Do you feel inferior? You trained 'like your lives were on the line', yet I'm able to do this without even trying. Tell me. How foolish do you both feel?"
"O-Okay already! We get the point!" snarled Konoka.
"When did he become such a smartass?!" wondered Ichigo.
"I heard you were studying hard downstairs," said Kuukaku to her younger brother as he lept up to where she was. "Think you've learned how to do it?"
"Pretty much," retorted Ganju. "I've memorized all the important parts anyway."
"If that's the case, we'll go ahead and use Kakaku Style Version Two. Can you handle it?"
With some hesitation, Ganju stated, "O-Of course!"
"Don't worry, big sis! Ganju can handle something like this without even breaking a sweat!" asserted Mayu.
Her words brought a tear to Ganju's eyes. "T-Thanks a lot, sis! You're the best!"
"Yeah, yeah! Let's just get this show on the road already!" Kuukaku drove her fist into the Kakaku Cannon, causing a spiral-shaped doorway to open. "Alright, everyone! Get inside! I'm gonna begin!"
The others did so, enabling her, Kuroganehiko, and Shiroganehiko to fasten ropes on the giant, black cannon. Once that was done, Kuukaku leered up at the sky, which was still awaiting the morning sun. She would activate her creation when it made its daily appearance.
#
Inside the Kakaku Cannon, everyone gathered around the Spirit Core, placing their hands on it.
"It's kinda cramped in here, isn't it?" asked Konoka.
"Indeed. It wasn't constructed to hold so many of you," said Yoruichi.
Sasune stated, "I-It wouldn't be so bad if we didn't have a big, dumbass Hollow with us!"
He took some solace in being sandwiched between Konoka and Orihime.
"I-I'm sorry! I'm not suffocating you, am I?!" asked Orihime.
Nestled within her above average-sized bust, Sasune simply gave her a thumbs up. "...Idiot," said Aaron, shaking his head.
"Once we get to the Seireitei, I don't want any of you wandering off!" said Yoruichi, who then stared icily at Aaron, Sasune, Konoka, and Sharpscale. "And that especially goes for you four!"
"Hey!" blurted an offended Sasune.
"Man. As blunt as a knife," breathed Konoka.
"D-Don't worry! We'll be on our best behavior!" Aaron said with confidence.
"Good. Now then, if any of you run into any Captain-class opponents, run! Our objective is to rescue Rukia Kuchiki and Kana Mitarashi. That's all. Do not take any unnecessary risks or try to play the hero! Remember: those in the Seireitei are highly skilled Shinigami who won't hesitate to cut you down given the chance!"
Everyone nodded at Yoruichi's advice, intending to follow it to the letter.
Back on the outside, Kuukaku drew and then planted a slender sword into the ground.
"Yonder, the brown avarice covets control of the thirty six directions!"
Yoruichi picked up on this incantation with his sensitive ears.
"It's staring! Everyone, install your energy within the Spirit Core!"
"Yeah, yeah! No need to be so bossy!" decried Sasune.
"I wouldn't need to if you spent less time talking and heeding my words, you twerp!"
"Tsk! This why I don't like taking orders from men!"
The group bound for the Seireitei powered the Spirit Core and crafted a spirit shell. Afterward, they simply waited, unsure of what was next.
While Kuroganehiko and Shiroganehiko continued preparations to assist their master, Kuukaku voiced, "Seventy-two pairs of illusions, thirteen pairs of hunting horns!"
She ripped away the white bandages adoring her messy, black hair, letting them coil around her sole arm.
"The right hand of the monkey grasps the star!"
Flames engulfed her limb moments later before she punched the empty space between her and the Kakaku Cannon. A torrent of energy rushed forward, scaling the full height of the cannon. Although her arm's wrappings were smoldering, Kuukaku carried on.
"Embraced by the sun of twenty-five rings, the cradle of the sand gives forth blood!"
The energy enveloping the Kakaku Cannon reached its maximum. Kuukaku sensed this and made damn sure not to squander the moment.
"Kakaku Style Version Two: Kagizaki!"
Alongside a deafening, ground shaking blast, the spirit shell inside the cannon was launched, spreading thick smoke everywhere.
"That was wonderful Mistress Kuukaku!" exclaimed Kuroganehiko.
"Simply marvelous! It was a huge success!" added Shiroganehiko.
Her efforts were unquestionably commendable. Nevertheless, she looked somber as she observed the heavens.
"...Ganju. Mayu. Take care of each other out there."
#
Miraculously, it had been accomplished. Those inside the spirit shell marveled at the fact they were now high above the Soul Society thanks to Kuukaku and her Kakaku Cannon.
"Amazing! I really thought we were gonna die for a sec!" said Aaron.
"Can we reach the Seireitei like this? How the hell are we gonna land?" asked Konoka.
"D-Don't care anymore. Just...t-trying not to puke!" Sasune shot his hand over his mouth and retched, giving his statement some credibility. "C-Can I get off this ride now?!"
"That's what you get for piggin' out during breakfast, Pretty Boy!"
"I-If you're going to throw up, point your head somewhere else!" cried Uryuu.
Ichigo, paying the ongoing discussion no mind, said, "We weren't fired out of that cannon thing as hard as I figured we would be."
"Yeah, I was just about to say that," said Aaron.
"Heh! Don't be silly! This is just the beginning!" proclaimed Ganju.
Uryuu muttered, "...Why do I have a bad feeling about what you just stated?"
Without warning, the cannonball rocketed forward. Its passengers hollered in a mixture of shock and terror.
"Nope! Can't hold it anymore!" said Sasune, gagging even harder.
"Suck it up!" replied Konoka. She was growing as pale as him however. "Ugh! Now I think I'm gettin' sick!"
Ganju unwrapped a lengthy parchment that had characters scribbled all over it.
It drew Ichigo's attention. "Hey, what are you doing?"
"This paper has the follow-up incantation! The Kakaku Style Version Two: Kagizaki is a two-part technique! The initial portion decides on the direction! The follow-up here maintains the speed and stability!"
"We'll land right on target with it!" said Mayu.
"That's right, so if you all wanna walk out of here alive, don't bug me for the next couple of minutes!"
"Yeah, don't bug him!"
"I didn't know we brought a parrot along!" Sasune complained.
Ganju went on with, "Listen up closely! In order to pass through the barrier around the Seireitei in one piece, I'll need you guys to keep the cannonball stable! You've gotta maintain your concentration and balance the level of energy you're giving the Spirit Core! Since I've gotta read the incantation, I won't be able to help out anymore! I need you guys to compensate for me!"
"You guys can use the Spirit Core to figure out how to adjust your energies! We're screwed though if any of you mess up by even a fraction, so be careful!" warned Mayu.
Ganju patted her on the head. "Good girl! I can't believe you remembered all that! You guys had better take her seriously! We really could blow up if something goes wrong!"
Though the stakes had been risen, everyone nodded and tried not to let themselves become distracted by the worst case scenario.
"It's now or never!" said Aaron in order to pump himself up.
"Fate of the three sparrows, bond of the four dragons, obstructing the five directions, return to the six villages. heavenly wind, orangutan, spoon, cane of elm..."
"...What the hell is he even talking about?" said Sasune in response to Ganju's muttering. "Whoever made that incantation was smoking something!"
"Shut up, Pretty Boy, and put more energy into this damn core! I'm gonna kick your ass if you keep slackin' off!" yelled Konoka.
"Y-Yes, ma'am! Leave it to me!"
"Um...you're putting too much energy into it, Kurosaki," said Orihime gingerly.
"Oh, o-okay..." replied Ichigo.
"Lower it already, Kurosaki!" snapped Uryuu.
"I know! That's what I'm doing, dammit!"
"...Ichigo," began Chad.
"I know, I know! Just...give me a second!"
"I-It's not that I'm rushing you either Kurosaki…!" Aaron, laboring to maintain his focus, felt as if a ton of bricks were weighing him down. "But having to deal with your spiritual pressure is kind of distracting!"
"Speaking of which, you're also exerting too much force, Miss Mitsumi," said Sharpscale.
The Red-Haired Beast scoffed at the criticism by replying, "K-Kiss my ass, freak! This is already hard enough without you puttin' your two cents in! I've never done somethin' like this before, so leave me the hell alone so I can figure it out!"
"My apologies. I was only..."
"As much as I dislike the idea of agreeing with a Hollow, he's right! You and Kurosaki need to stop messing around!" bellowed Uryuu.
As loud as they could, Konoka and Ichigo responded, "We aren't messing around, idiot!"
The Quincy didn't dare say another word as he recoiled in fear.
Unconsciously trembling in anger, Ganju recited, "A thousand ashes, a thousand wisdoms, the measure of white clouds..."
His expression warped into one of frustration when Sasune said, "Yo, Kurosaki! What's the deal?! You gonna lower your spiritual pressure or what?!"
"For the last time, I'm trying! J-Just because you all keep complaining doesn't mean it's gonna happen any faster!"
Ganju strived harder to drown out all the distractions. "...Tread not on the scarlet light that embraces the moon, a thousand ashes, a thousand wisdoms..."
"H-Hold on a second, Ganju. I think you read that last part already!" said Mayu.
"G-Goddammit! I did, didn't I?! Ugh! Damn you! It's all your fault!"
"Why the hell are you yelling at me?!" roared Ichigo.
"Because you made me lose my concentration with all your yapping!"
"To be fair, all of us were pretty loud," admitted Aaron.
"Don't worry! I was just about to kick your ass too!"
"Hey, wait a second! Just because I'm kinda skinny and quiet doesn't mean I can't break your nose in!"
"Don't threaten my big bro, you stupid Shinigami!" cried Mayu.
Aaron grit his teeth. "Tell your gorilla of a brother to back off before I really get mad!"
"W-Who the hell are you calling a gorilla, you dumbass Shinigami?!" blared Ganju.
"Yeah, dumbass Shinigami!" echoed Mayu. She relented when her older brother glanced at her reprehensively for her foul language. "S-Sorry!"
"A-All of you, please calm down!" advised Orihime.
Uryuu chimed, "Now isn't the time to fight!"
"Besides, you're givin' me a headache!" added Konoka.
"Come on! Let 'em go at it! I'll take bets on the winner!" exclaimed Sasune. "I got fifty bucks on the skinny, black kid!"
Chad silently gazed out of the buzzing spirit shell ahead of facing the others and stating, "...Hey, look outside."
The group rapidly approached a magnificent city, one that glimmered in the morning sun.
"T-That's it!" gasped Aaron. "That has to be it! The Seireitei!"
"Indeed. It seems we've finally arrived," remarked Yoruichi. "...How long has it been since I've last laid eyes on this place?"
#
Captain Toushirou Hitsugaya, accompanied by his Vice-Captain, Rangiku Matsumoto, and a number of men from the Tenth Division, probed around their assigned area yet stumbled upon nothing of interest. An alarm signaling the appearance of intruders in the Seireitei had gone off minutes prior, but so far, they had discovered nothing of interest.
"Looks like this was just a wild goose chase!" said Rangiku. "So, what do you want to do now, Captain?"
"...Let's not assume this is a false alarm just yet, Matsumoto. Have the men spread out and comb the area one more time. Don't leave a single tile or building unchecked."
"Seriously? Can't we just go back to the barracks and await further orders?"
Hitsugaya wasn't having that. The second he allowed Rangiku to slack off would be the moment he lost her for the remainder of the day. She was good for lazing off alright, just like another subordinate he knew.
"Come on! There's nothing going on and you know it!" asserted Rangiku. She pouted her lips and crossed her arms. The display had little effect on her Captain. "That alert was just a mistake after all!"
"That isn't for us to decide. Stop complaining and just do your job."
"Hmph! How can you just…!"
Rangiku ceased whining after hearing an object whistle while it tore through the sky. She spun the other way and became mesmerized by a gleaming ball she at first confused for a shooting star. Hitsugaya spotted it as well. Whatever it was, it was falling at an alarming rate.
"Uh...I-I think we might have found our intruders, Captain," said Rangiku.
#
"W-We're going to crash!" exclaimed Uryuu.
"We're all gonna di-iiiiiiiiiiiii-ie!" hollered Sasune dramatically.
"Be quiet, you cretin! Nothing of the sort will happen if you do as I say! Everyone, output as much energy as you can into the Spirit Core! We'll make the cannonball as hard as possible!" ordered Yoruichi.
"T-That's easier said than done! We could barely keep this thing together when we weren't about to be smashed into pieces!" cried Aaron.
"You gonna whine or get this done, Higuchi! Come on! Let's do this!"
Ichigo's brash talk caught Aaron by surprise. At the same time, it made him smirk and realize there really was no point in overthinking things. The time for that was long gone.
"Tsk! I'm gonna come to regret decidin' to follow you idiots here!" said Konoka.
"Is that how you feel? I was actually just thinking that coming along with Aaron Higuchi was in my best interest. Things were never this thrilling in Hueco Mundo," stated Sharpscale.
"A-And people call me a thrill junky..."
Orihime proclaimed, "W-We're almost there!"
"Don't panic! Just...concentrate!" said Uryuu.
"Ugh! T-There goes my stomach again!" Sasune, looking ready to faint, wobbled over to Uryuu. "S-Sorry, bro! I can't hold it in this time!"
"S-Stop it, you idiot! G-Get away from me!"
"Come on! Don't be so cold! Help me out here!"
"I-I don't want anything to do with you right now, Sasune! Go away! Seriously! L-Let go of me, you idiot! I thought I told you to hold it! A-Are you even listening to me?! Sasune!"
Sasune was past the point of self control, and Uryuu's greatest fear came true as the clamor of his brother throwing up resounded inside of the spirit shell. Moments later, he emitted a cry of pure agony. All this overshadowed the fact the cannonball had made impact with the barrier around the Seireitei at last.
#
"Man! That was a good nap! I slept like a baby!"
Kana, scratching her belly, yawned, sat up, and then yawned again.
"You know, I can get used to this 'being a prisoner' thing! It sucks being locked up here in the Repentance Tower, but at least we don't have to do any work! Right, Rukia?"
She located her cellmate doing what she often did: leering wordlessly out of the window.
"Come on! Knock it off already! Your eyes are gonna fall out of their sockets at this rate! What the heck could be so interesting out there?!"
"Hmm. Oh. I didn't notice you were awake, Mitarashi," replied Rukia in a gentle voice. "...I was just taking in how strange the sky looks this morning."
"Eh? What are you…?"
Kana intuition kicked in. Nearly tripping over her bed, she jumped to her feet and scrambled over to where Rukia was before taking a gander outside. Her amber eyes dazzled like diamonds; the skyline was indeed strange. It was so bright, she pondered if there was an extra sun hiding somewhere.
"What do you think is going on?" asked Rukia.
Kana gulped. "B-Beats me! All the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up on end though! Either something bad is about to happen, or I'm gonna win the lottery soon!"
Rukia highly doubted the latter was going to come true.
#
"T-That thing just hit the barrier!" snarled Toushirou Hitsugaya. All he desired was answers, an explanation for what the hell was going on. None of this made a lick of sense to him. "It didn't disintegrate? That means that whatever it is must be made up on a high concentration of spirit energy!"
"W-What should we do, Captain?!" queried Rangiku.
That was the million dollar question. Hitsugaya's eyelids narrowed, and he sighed as he endeavored to come up with a solution.
"...We'll wait for the time being," he eventually said. "In the meanwhile, tell everyone to remain in position! We don't know what's about to come down here, so let's presume the worst!"
His head, as if drawn by a magnet, rotated to the far off Repentance Tower.
"...She's somehow causing trouble even while locked up. Tsk. That woman..."
#
The cannonball powered its way through the shield, yet its shape fluctuated wildly in the aftermath. An unseen force was ripping it apart. It succeeded, leading Aaron to slam his eyes shut in anticipation of dropping like a rock toward the surface.
"W-Wait, we're...not falling?" he stated. He and the others were somehow floating in midair. "Well, this...is new."
"W-What's going on?!" asked a dumbfounded Ichigo. "We passed through the barrier, but..."
"Everyone, do not separate!" Yoruichi made haste to declare. "The cannonball was melted by the intense pressure of the barrier and will completely vanish in a few seconds! It's merely holding us up temporarily! Soon, a vortex of spirit energy will appear! If we separate, it will send us flying in different directions!"
"A-A vortex?! N-No one said there would be a vortex!" cried Mayu.
"W-What do you want us to do, Yoruichi?!"
Aaron's question came too late. The aforementioned tornado reared its ugly head, pelting him and the others with voracious winds. The plan might have been for everyone to stay together, but the storm seemed to have other ideas. It immediately targeted Ganju, shoving him away from safety.
"B-Big bro!" yelled Mayu. "H-Hold on! I'll…!"
"J-Just stay right there, Mayu! Stay with the others!"
Reluctantly, she did so. Meanwhile, Ganju used his arms to paddle against the vortex and toward Ichigo. The mere sight of him prompted the Shinigami to get out of the way, but Ganju latched on his robes beforehand.
"Let me go! Get away from me!" hollered Ichigo.
"H-Hey stop pushing! D-Do you want me to die or something, punk?!" replied Ganju.
"...What the hell are they doing?" asked Uryuu in a monotone fashion.
"I know what the hell I'm doing!" Sasune wrapped his arms around Orihime, mostly to save himself but also to have an excuse to be near her. "Y-You'll protect me, right, Miss Inoue?"
"Um...I-I'll try my best!" she replied.
"You gonna bother to worry about anyone else but yourself, Casanova?!" growled Konoka. "E-Everybody, just relax! We'll get through this!"
"She's right! Do not panic! Simply grab whoever is closest to you! Do not let go!" said Yoruichi.
"G-Goddammit!" muttered Ichigo harshly. He reluctantly pulled the individual with him closer.
"Hey! What are you cursing for?!" said Ganju. "Tsk! Whatever! Mayu, come over here! I won't let this dumbass storm do you in!"
Mayu had no issues with his request. Unfortunately, an intense gust of air blasted her right past him.
"B-Big bro!"
"M-Mayu?! H-Hold on, Mayu!"
Ganju was beaten to the punch by Aaron, who reached out and caught Mayu in the nick of time.
"Gotcha! You alright?" he inquired.
"L-Lemme go, stupid Shinigami!" Mayu rewarded his bravery by repeatedly clubbing him upside the skull using her fists. "Just how many times are you gonna kidnap me?!"
"K-Knock it off! Are you even taking this seriously?!"
"Pervert! Freak! Pedophile!"
Shielding himself, Aaron could do nothing more than groan at his rotten luck today.
"Allow me to use your shoulder!" said Yoruichi, who climbed onto Ichigo. "Good! The vortex should be over soon! We simply have to hold out until the end!"
Uryuu was the storm's next victim, springing Chad into action. However, his hand just missed clasping Uryuu's, and the Quincy sailed away. The giant didn't give up. Carrying Orihime and Sasune, he tossed them backward, using the momentum to vault himself toward Uryuu. Then, he grabbed the bespectacled teen by the cape around his neck.
"H-Hold on, Chad! Don't…!"
Uryuu was powerless to prevent his friend from throwing him at Orihime and Sasune.
"I-Incoming nerd!" proclaimed Sasune. With some difficulty, he and Orihime were able to catch his sibling. "W-Watch it next time, little bro! You had me worried there!"
"Tsk! As if! You were probably hoping I'd get thrown god knows where so you could be alone with Inoue here!"
Sasune didn't deny the accusation. Neither did his devilish grin.
"Ah! C-Chad!" cried Orihime. She and the two Quincies had nearly forgotten Chad was now the one plummeting helplessly.
Konoka shouted, "Oh no you don't!"
Chad had saved her from the Dangai, so she was going to return the favor. She used Sasune's head as a launching pad to thrust herself at her target.
"I-I'm not a piece of garbage you just...step on, Miss Mitsumi!' bellowed Sasune, brushing away the footprint sullying his features. He then sniffled, adding, "I-I really get no respect around here..."
Konoka landed smack dab into Chad's arms, and the two disappeared from sight as the tornado carried them off.
"Mitsumi! Goddammit!" Aaron slammed his fist into his leg in exasperation.
"Chad!" voiced Ichigo, feeling just as dejected.
"You needn't worry about them! They'll find a way to survive!" said Yoruichi. "If you all truly want to find them, focus on surviving first! You won't be able to search if you're dead!"
As heartless as that sounded, Ichigo and Aaron understood the black cat had a point. "Uh...I-I don't mean to interrupt, but could someone please pull us in already?!"
Sasune's plea induced Ichigo to reach for Orihime. Even so, his outstretched arm couldn't quite make it to hers.
The vortex subsided, but not before bringing Yoruichi's worst fear to life. The group was propelled away from one another and into five groups. Ichigo found himself with Ganju, whereas Aaron was stuck with Mayu. Meanwhile, Orihime, Uryuu, and Sasune managed to stay together. This left Yoruichi and Sharpscale descending by themselves.
#
"W-What the hell just happened?" said Hitsugaya, observing the intruders fall like meteors. "...It would've been easier to deal with them if they'd remained in one group."
"Well, looks like we'll have our work cut out for us," said Rangiku. Her casual tone pulled at one of her Captain's strings.
"...That's right, Matsumoto. I'll make sure you track each and everyone of those Ryoka down by yourself!"
The busty blonde's face lit up with horror. "H-Huh?! Why me?! What did I do?!"
Without answering, Hitsugaya shuffled away, foreseeing another meeting between himself and the rest of the Captains. Then again, he thought that the least of his problems now.
"Y-You weren't serious, were you, Captain?! Come on! Answer me!" pleaded a teary-eyed Rangiku. Her sadness transformed into irritation. "Tsk! Kana's lucky she's locked up right now! She doesn't have to deal any of this crap at least!"
#
Becoming a human pancake wasn't exactly at the top of Konoka's to do list. Nevertheless, gravity insisted on sucking she and Chad closer to their dooms.
"Ugh! I-It'd be nice if my Fullbring let me fly or somethin'!"
Chad stepped up to the plate. While his plan didn't involve wings, it did include the black and red gauntlet he formed over his right arm.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! W-What the hell is that?!"
Konoka's question went unheeded as Chad put his arm to good use by obliterating the building under them, enabling them to land unharmed. Konoka dusted herself off in the aftermath and made sure none of her bones were broken.
"...You're a man of action and not words, huh? I can respect that. Just warn me next time you're gonna start nukin' the environment."
Chad nodded.
"Alright! Let's find out where the hell we are!"
#
Elsewhere, Sasune was busy shrieking at the top of his lungs.
"I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die!"
"S-Shut the hell up already! God, I almost hope the fall kills us!" remarked Uryuu.
Orihime didn't agree with that sentiment. She reached up to her blue hair clips.
"H-Hold on tight, you two! Hinagiku! Baigon! Lily! Santen Kesshun! I reject!"
"Aw, not this crap again!" moaned Sasune.
#
Yoruichi, tumbling alone, smacked his lips at his quandary.
"...So, I'm by myself in the end. Maybe...things are better for me this way."
The cat peered down and immediately picked a pink-haired Shinigami out from amongst the crowd. Even though they were nowhere near one another, Yoruichi could tell the person was scowling right at him.
"Hmm. Curious. I don't believe I'm acquainted with whoever that is."
#
"...Well. I didn't see this coming."
Sharpscale glimpsed around and confirmed it was all alone. It felt guilty at being unable to heed Yoruichi's warning of not splitting up, but at the same time, it supposed it needed to worry more about making a soft landing.
It did so without a hitch, breaking apart the ground under it as it did so. Without so much as flinching, Sharpscale rose from its knees and absorbed its surroundings. Aaron Higuchi and his friends weren't nearby, but a bloodthirsty pack of Tenth Division Shinigami were. All of them snickered maliciously at the sight of fresh prey.
"...Oh my. It looks like I won't be able to search for Aaron Higuchi as soon as I had planned."
#
"D-Dammit! Where did everyone else land?! I can't see a damn thing from up here!"
Squint as he might, Aaron really couldn't make out any details on the surface. On the other hand, if he spent any more time idling, he would be nothing more than a detail on the surface.
"Alright, alright! Think! Think! There's gotta be a way outta this mess!"
Even with his Shinigami body, he felt it impossible to touch down without incurring substantial damage. Other than buildings, he saw nothing in which to soften his impact either.
"Wake up already, dumb Shinigami!" said Mayu, popping him across the mouth. "W-We're gonna die!"
"I'm aware! Just...g-give me some time to think!"
"We don't have time! Tsk! Useless! Let me handle this!"
"Huh? How are you gonna…?"
He gasped once he saw that they were seconds away from splattering on the concrete underneath them. With haste, Mayu traced her hands across the air.
"Stone Wave!"
"Hey! Isn't that…?!"
Just like in the past, the Stone Wave was rather effective, transforming the hard concrete into rough quicksand. Aaron and Mayu sunk headfirst into it, knocking Aaron out for a spell. When he awoke, he gagged at the sand swelling inside his throat. His body moved on instinct; he climbed out of the sandpit, pulling an unmoving Mayu with him to the surface. He then spat out the contents of his mouth before letting fresh air into his lungs.
"M-Man! That was too close! I don't know what kind of magic that was, Mayu, but it saved us! I-I really owe you one!"
The young girl was unusually quiet. She hadn't thrown an insult his way long enough to induce him to peer back at her. He found her both unconscious and unbreathing. His brown eyes broadened in shock, and he wasted no time in scrambling over to her.
"H-Hey! Q-Quit kidding around, Mayu! We've gotta go! Come on, get up!"
His initial attempts to rouse her resulted in failure. As such, he was forced to resort to drastic measures.
"G-Goddammit! Good things there's no one around to see this..."
He pressed his palms against her chest, hoping to lodge out the sand blocking her airways. When even that didn't work, he gulped, swallowed his pride, and pressed his lips against hers, forcing air down her throat. He repeated the CPR, becoming more desperate with each passing second.
"Come on, Mayu! You can't die on me! Didn't you come here to learn more about your brother?! Didn't you come here because you wanted to know why he had to die?! You can't do any of that if you're dead yourself, so come on back to me already!"
At last, Mayu stirred. Violently hacking up sand, she clutched her throat prior to sitting up and looking around in total vexation.
"W-Where am I?! W-What happened?!"
"Phew! Thank goodness! Don't scare me like that, Mayu!"
Understanding flashed in Mayu's mind. Blushing, she then touched her lips.
"Y-You kissed me, didn't you?! Y-You no good pervert! Freak! Pedophile!"
"Huh? N-No, it wasn't like that! It was the only way I could save you and…!"
"Shut up, stupid Shinigami! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!"
Facing another flurry of punches, Aaron merely sighed and shielded himself.
"Guess we lucked out. There aren't any Shinigami here," he then said. "Weird…"
"Guess they know better than to mess with the great Mayu Shiba!"
"Yeah, I...don't think that has anything to do with it. Anyway, it looks like we'll be stuck with each other for the time being. I know...you aren't all that fond of me, but all I ask is that we work together until we can regroup with the others. Sound fair?"
"Hmph! You're not gonna try to do anything funny to me again, are you, dumb Shinigami?"
Rather than arguing his case, Aaron sheepishly replied, "I-I promise."
Mayu, unconvinced, crossed her arms. "...Alright! Guess I've got not choice! We gotta make sure to keep an eye out for my big bro though!"
"Right. We'll see if we can't find Kurosaki and the others too."
They had a plan of action and no one to inhibit it. At least, that's what they presumed.
"Interesting. You two must be some of those that fell from the sky just now."
They both froze like statues at the voice behind them. They then anxiously faced the individual, one they soon realized was a Shinigami. Piercings and tattoos littered his body, and his Shinigami robes were missing their sleeves, showing off the toned muscles on his arms. Although they didn't know it, they were standing face-to-face with Shuuhei Hisagi, Vice-Captain of the Ninth Division.
"How fortunate. Perhaps it was a good thing I picked this area to search first after all," said Hisagi as he drew his blade. "Still, I didn't think one of the Ryoka would be a Shinigami. ...I take it you aren't with the Gotei 13."
"Sorry. I guess you could consider me a free agent," replied Aaron, pulling out his own Zanpakutou. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his head. "And here I was hoping I wouldn't have to fight someone so soon. ...It might be unfair of me to ask this, but would you mind letting us pass?"
"W-What are you even saying?! Just kick this guy's butt already, dumb Shinigami!" hollered Mayu. As brash as her statement was, it was somewhat invalidated by her hiding behind Aaron.
"Sorry, I can't do that," Hisagi told Aaron. "I have my orders to capture any Ryoka I come across, and I intend to follow them out. However, I can promise not to hurt you if you don't resist."
That wasn't an option, Aaron thought. There was no possibility for him to save Kana if he ended up getting caught himself. Hisagi sensed his intentions and shook his head before taking a fighting stance. Though neither combatant was all that eager to do so, they would have to do battle. The two stared one another down, daring the other to make a move. Mayu, meanwhile, continued to tremble. Suddenly, she felt like she had gotten more than she bargained for by deciding to come to the Seireitei.
END
