I'm not sure if I will get the chance to post later this week so I decided to go ahead and get this last chapter up. Hope ya'll enjoy it.
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Chapter Sixteen
Beginning
Karakura, Japan
Artemis, Holly, Uryu and Orihime stepped out of the Garganta and into the the sunlit desert landscape.
"I thought you said we were going to a shop basement," Artemis said. He had peppered Holly and Uryu with questions about Urahara and their destination on the way through the Garganta.
"I forgot to mention his unusual taste," Holly responded. She turned to Ishida, "How is your arm?"
"It's fine now. When she did that it felt like I was burning." He held out his arm looking at the seemingly insignificant cut.
"Holly, can you heal it now?" Artemis asked.
"Maybe, but it seems kind of pointless."
"If she can control the pain someone feels when she cuts them she may be able to track us with it," Artemis explained.
Holly drew in a breath as she collected reiatsu. Once again she placed her thumbs at each end of the cut and the magical sparks did nothing. Holly frowned at the cut. "Now what? Do we have to cut his arm off?"
Ishida did not seem alarmed by the suggestion, he simply looked at Orihime. "You can do it."
Orihime shook her head, "I don't think I can."
"The Shinigami took your memories because they were afraid of you. You reject things. That's how you heal, by rejecting that someone was ever hurt." Ishida tried to convince her.
"I don't remember how!"
"The same way you hid us," Artemis told her, laying a hand on her shoulder. "You concentrated on not wanting us to be seen, so concentrate on getting rid of that cut."
"I'll try," Orihime whispered, uncertainly. She stood next to Ishida, and not sure of what else to do, copied Holly's gesture of placing her thumbs at the cut's ends. A small golden dome spread over it and the cut began to close. They all watched, amazed as the skin knit back together not even leaving a scar. "I did it," her voice was filled with disbelief.
"Good work!" They all looked up to see Urahara standing next to the ladder. "Fowl-san you would make an excellent teacher. Inoue-chan, it's good to see you again. You may not remember me, but I'm Urahara Kisuke."
"You knew!" Ishida yell, shoving his way past the others to reach Urahara. "You knew what the Shinigami did to her!"
"Well yes, but—"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Urahara sighed and opened his fan, "I was afraid that if you knew you would go looking for her and they would have killed you both. After she was taken I thought seeing Hueco Mundo again would trigger her memories. Apparently the People's technology is very thorough."
"They used our technology?" Holly asked.
"They tried their own methods on her once, when she was first attacked by a Hollow and it didn't work," Urahara informed her.
Butler make it down the ladder before anyone could ask more questions. "Artemis, Holly, you made it! I see you rescued Ishida's friend too."
"It is good to see you again, old friend." Artemis greeted Butler who was already checking him over for broken bones or other injuries.
"Honestly, Butler, don't you think I would have fixed him up already?" Holly asked in a false offended tone.
"I know, I just can't help worrying. What happened with Koboi?"
"The last we saw of her she was fighting someone at least as dangerous as she is," Artemis explained about Kasai and what they knew of her Zanpakuto.
Urahara frowned, "I've heard of her. Aizen used her to keep the Espada in line. When he was defeated the other Arrancars considered ganging up on her, her Zanpakuto is powerful but it's only effective in a close fight and a group of them could have brought her down so she came to the World of the Living. She's a dangerous enemy." He seemed to be focusing on Orihime as he spoke.
"We figured that out already," Ishida said, laying a hand over the tear in his sleeve where she had cut him.
"That's not all," Holly spoke up. "Koboi mentioned Rowan Long. It sounded like Kasai was working with him. He's and Elf, he used to be a LEP officer. Until I found out he was killing humans whenever he had a chance." Everyone was quiet as they considered why such an elf would work with Arrancars.
"What do we do now?" Orihime asked.
Urahara looked at the four recently returned travelers. "Clearly none of you are ready to face these people head on. You're going to rest tonight. Then tomorrow we start training."
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Society of the Evening Star Base
Kasai fumed as Koboi, Nel, Grimmjow and Ulquiorra escorted her to the Society of the Evening Star's base. Rowan Long and Szyal Apporo Granz were waiting for them.
"We seem to have a problem," Koboi stated. "She came with three Visoreds to take my prisoners. Because of them we lost them all."
"This is a misunderstanding," Rowan replied calmly. "I sent her to retrieve the prisoners. Since Granz was here and this is where we need Short I told her to bring them here. Considering thier record I was not confident those three would succeed. I was simply taking precautions."
"Just remember who is giving the orders. Next time check with me before you pull something like that. In fact I think these three should work with her from now on." Koboi decided.
"Of course," Rowan agreed.
"Now, how is you assignment coming?" Koboi asked Granz.
The scientist smiled, "All the tests have been successful. I could show you if you like."
"I would," Koboi and Rowan followed Granz away.
Kasai turned to the other three Arrancars. "I know you could have caught them before I arrived. The only reason you fought my Visoreds was to give them a chance to escape. But you answer to me now." She snatched her dagger from Grimmjow, slicing Nel's cheek in the same motion. Grimmjow started to lunge for her, but Ulquiorra grabbed his arm, holding him back. She spoke directly to them now. "If either of you boys acts up, she will be the one who pays for it."
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The next story in the series will be Colliding Destinies: Searching. I'm not sure when I will be able to start posting it. I'm looking into a job and I'm not sure how it will affect my writing if I get it. Either I will spend more time writing because of the more dependable schedule, or I won't have as much time to write. Regardless I will try to get the next story up soon.
I hope ya'll had a good Christmas, and will have a happy New Year.
Thanks and prayer,
RAHbooks.