Notice: I don't own Bleach, but I do own this fanfic.


Arc Two: Chapter 22 – Bad Luck


/A great distance from Ichigo and Ganju

Masaki was flying over the rooftops. Dutifully followed by her nephew, Uryū. Both Quincies opting to wear hoods and cloaks to conceal themselves.

They were careful, to move fast enough (and quietly enough) to appear as nothing more than a breeze or blur to unsuspecting Soul Reaper's. She had years to hone her skills at reducing her spiritual presence. And despite the lack of time she had to train him, Uryū, was doing an excellent job of keeping pace and dampening his own.

"Uryū. Should we try to capture some of these Soul Reaper's, to find out where Ms. Kuchiki is being held?"

Uryū nodded in agreement, as even he knew flying around this place wouldn't get them anywhere.

However...

THWOOOSH.

Uryū knew someone had tried to attack them, but before he could pull out his own bow, his Aunt had dealt with the underhanded foe, pinning him to a nearby wall. The ugly Soul Reaper, with a hulking frame (which reminded him of the gentle giant Jidanbo), was pinned down in a cross shape to the wall. His Aunt was...rather ruthless, since she pierced the man's hands and feet, only neglecting a killing blow for the sake of gaining information. He hoped.

"Gah! Filthy Ryōka..." The man spat obscenities at the two Quincy. Rage, giving way to fear and cowardice as he realised (belatedly) the extent of his plight.

"I see we have a volunteer nephew. Now Mr. Attack-From-Behind, do you know where a Ms. Rukia Kuchiki is being held?"

Masaki's gentle smile suddenly looked almost demonic, as she edged closer to the would-be assailant. The hood of her cloak, making her look truly frightening.

"P-Please! I-I-I don't want to die!"

He almost felt sorry for this man. Almost.

/Back to the battle between the Bold and the Crazy Bald

"YAH! HAHAHAHAH!"

Ikkaku used the extra length, of his transformed zanpakutō to keep Ichigo on his toes, and he also increased the tempo of his strikes. The jabs from his spear, looking like blurs. Lucky for Ichigo, he could see the strikes well enough, having trained for high-speed, close and long-range combat over the past few days; with Yoruichi and his mom.

But still...

'Geh! He's keeping me off balance, and his crazy battle lust, means he isn't concerned about his own safety!'

"Come on green horn! You're slipping. COME ON!"

Ichigo needed to end this now.

Ichigo shunpo'd in strategic retreat. He knew this would create the required distance to counter-attack. Ikkaku's eyes were wild, but he was alert for the inevitable counter. Which he thought would be directly at him (seeing as they were in a fairly narrow corridor).

Using an imperceptible hirenkyakū slide around (mostly masked with shunpo), he slipped behind Ikkaku, and delivered a powerful rising slash. Ikkaku; sensing his opponent behind him, readied a horizontal block and the use of his zanpakutō's secret ability. However, once he caught the look in Ichigo's eyes he knew he miscalculated.

A large vertical gash appeared on Ikkaku's body, and his guard was completely destroyed, as his multi-chained zanpakutō was broken in twine.

"I guess...I'm not so lucky...after all."

/Somewhere opposite where Ichigo was

CRASH

"Geh...he's...a...monster," a poor, collapsed and utterly beaten Soul Reaper – surrounded by a slew of unconscious comrades muttered.

A short distance from him, was a determined Yasutora Sado, and his friend, Orihime Inoue.

"Wasn't that a bit much Chad?" Orihime was a bit of a pacifist, and she thought Chad was being a little too rough here.

"I guess? I'm not quite sure. All I know is, that we need to find Rukia, and hopefully relay her location to the others." It was a shame their cellphones couldn't work here. Then he'd be able to call, text and/or video chat Ichigo. Though he mused, that was why Yoruichi tailed them.

The feline lady, trailed behind her charges.

"Okay Chad...but did they tell us anything?"

"No. I asked and they didn't want to say anything."

"Hmm-" Orihime wondered why they wouldn't though? She was pretty sure, they'd spill the beans with enough persuasion, or even if they didn't know, would point them in the right direction. "-perhaps these Soul Reapers are honour bound or something?"

Yoruichi piped up. "No...it's more likely they just don't know. Non-seated officers, usually know nothing about matters regarding high profile imprisonment."

"Okay, and how would we find a seated officer?"

"If your spiritual senses are good enough, you can tell from that. 3rd Seat and above is around about where your level of power is Chad. So find someone, near by that has that level of power."

The giant of a teen nodded his affirmation. Then focused his spiritual senses. Orihime followed suit and closed her eyes to focus. They both found someone whom fit that description.

"Found one, Yoruichi. Thanks."

"No problem, my young friends."

/Back with Masaki and Uryū

Masaki and Uryū both continued to fly across the rooftops, using hirenkyakū

"Hmmm."

"What's wrong Aunty?"

"Well...this feels, I dunno know...too easy?"

Uryū's eyes narrowed and he realised his Aunt was right. Besides that one Soul Reaper (who Uryū was disgusted to learn was Jidanbo's younger brother), they hadn't encountered anyone other obstacles. Sure, they were keeping as stealth as possible, but...considering the formidable might of Soul Society, they should've been found out by now.

"I agree. This is too easy. It seems like we've already been spotted - at least to some extent."

"Yes...I suggest we stop and rest for now...over-" Masaki scanned the area for some sort of storage space, and then she found one, "-there! That's a storage building. We can get some rest, while I set up a barrier to alert us of intruders."

So the two Quincy landed by the storage house, and looked inside. It was...cosy enough for a brief respite.

A few blocks away, a certain mad scientist (and avid mutilator) was out of sight and watching the Quincy duo. He was rather impressed by the woman, who seemed to have already sensed his presence, and planned accordingly. Even using very advanced Quincy techniques that he knew nothing of. As for the welp...his youthful vigour could be exploited; in due time.

Excellent. More tests subjects, and quality specimens unlike...my last one batch!

If Mayuri Kurotsuchi wasn't trying to remain unseen, he would've cackled in glee.

\\

"Huh, so you're awake..."

Ikkaku Madarame was groggy and unawares, until he realised he...

I shouldn't even be alive!

He cursed his bad luck, at finding a worthy foe to die to, and yet...still being alive.

"What's wrong? Thought I'd finish you off? Nah, I have questions and I want some answers." The orange haired youth, was deadly serious. He needed to know where Rukia was pronto. Only then could he repay her kindness, and rescue her from this godforsaken place.

"Heh, of course, my bad luck knows no bounds..." He winced in response. Clearly the kid did a real number on him, and...used my ointment over my wound...that's just...

"Well...whaddaya wanna know?"

"Where's Rukia Kuchiki."

"Rukia...Kuchiki?"

He remembered her as the crush of his old subordinate (and now co-worker) Renji. He heard that she went missing a few months ago, and was apparently labelled as a capital offender by those old geezers from Central 46. Renji (just newly promoted to Lieutenant), jumped at the opportunity to get his 'friend' back. Made easier by the fact that said 'friend' was his own Captain's adopted sister.

"Ah, yes. I know of that criminal. She committed a capital offence; something about transferring her powers...or something. Though...why do ya wanna know where she's being held?"

"Simple. I'm going to save her."

There was an awkward silence between them, until...Ikkaku spoke up.

"...you're joking right? Even if you beat me, you're not going to be able to beat the rest of the Lieutenants and Captains. I'm a Third Seat, and you struggled against me!" Ikkaku winced again as his wounds were starting to reopen.

"Did I? I was holding back the entire time. Once I knew you were a high ranking officer, I made sure to keep you alive for intel."

Ikkaku was surprised by this statement. He sensed there was truth to what this green horn said. Clearly the boy did some of his homework on the Soul Society. How much work? He wasn't sure.

"...you shouldn't hold back against your enemy ya know."

"If I didn't you'd be dead, and I wouldn't be able to find out about where she is."

"True. Well...since you graciously let me live, I'll...spill the beans. Best I can anyway."

And so Ikkaku told Ichigo as much as he could about Rukia's situation. Mostly just hearsay from his superiors. However it was enough to give hope to Ichigo, on getting Rukia back alive.

Ichigo had readied himself to leave, when Ikkaku called him to stop.

"Wait...Ichigo. Whose the strongest in your group?"

Ichigo had to think about that for a second. He was pretty sure his mom and Yoruichi were more powerful then him, but he was catching up. He had learned bankai after all, and was pushing himself to learn his Quincy powers.

"Well...I'm probably third strongest, and it's likely a tie between two very tough women I know."

"...seriously? You're only third strongest in your group? Even with all that you displayed!?"

"Yeah-" he shrugged "- but...I'm getting stronger. So hopefully I'll catch up to them!"

"Hmmm...even so. I do think my Captain would like to battle you. You defeated me with little difficulty, and my prowess in Squad 11 is second only to him. However the gap between me and the Captain is like Heaven and Earth."

"...you mean, Kenpachi Zaraki correct?"

"How'd you!?"

"I know a little about each of your high ranking officers. Kenpachi is the title given to the strongest Soul Reaper, yeah? I've heard Kenpachi Zaraki is super powerful, even without learning bankai."

Ikkaku laughed in utter disbelief, "...damn, you know a lot more than I gave you credit for kid."

"Best to be prepared, when staging a rescue mis-" Ichigo's head snapped to his right, eyes narrowing. Ikkaku thought this was reinforcements, and Ichigo would need to flee. Instead it was a spiritual pressure he had only recently felt.

"Hey yo Ichigo!" Ganju came bounding over the cobblestone walkways, looking particularly pleased with himself. He beat the peacock through wits and guile, leaving the fifth seat of Squad 11 unconscious and trapped - in a pile of trash and a nice little sand mound. The preen wasn't dead (he's not going to kill unless he really has too), but...he'll be outta commission for a wee while.

"Good work Ganju." He nodded to his gruff cousin.

"I didn't ev-" Ichigo held his hand up for him to stop.

"I don't need an explanation. I knew you could take care of him. Good job."

Ichigo then rose from his seated position, patted himself down and flash stepped away. Ganju saluted the downed Third Seat, and followed suit.


End of Chapter Notes: I had a discussion with a reviewer, asking why Ichigo was struggling with Ikkaku (in my story) and resorted to using a Getsugatenshou. This I believe is one of Kubo's mistakes in the Soul Society Arc. Ikkaku is actually low Captain level (even during this early arc), and we do know from later flashbacks that Ichigo (at this point) was around fifth to third seat. He actually did struggle in canon, since he got solidly injured by Ikkaku (cut above the eye, and damage to his arm/hands). Now in this story, Ichigo is already Captain level, and he has more comprehensive battle training. I even gave a slight tease to his current mastery of Quincy abilities. The Getsuga was a warning to Ikkaku, and it proved true when he lost. Ichigo only 'struggled' in terms of being in a real battle with a Soul Reaper. He didn't get injured here. Even Ganju is solidly more powerful here too (as shown by my protracted Ganju vs Yumichika fight). The reason he is? Well, he trained with Masaki who was basically Captain level during her teen years.

Anyway, apologies for the longer EOC notes. Thought I'd explain this bit of info.