Angry Days
Karakura Town, later that night
Rukia slowly hobbled and limped her away across the bridge towards Urahara's shop. {"Please...Urahara-sama...Nii-sama….Taichou…."} Using her sword as a crutch she implanted it into a patch of dirt and paused to catch her breath, she slowly and painfully pulled out her Denreishinki. "I...I...need to report this...and get reinforcements…" She said within pain gasps of air. Then a small red bullet shaped ball of energy smashed into it causing it to fly out her hand and smash into a tree destroying it. Rukia's eyes widened, and froze when she heard a voice, "Oi Oi..my bad I meant to shoot you..but I missed." Rukia felt a wave of Reiatsu, and her eyes widened even further. {"Whoever this person is...They have immense spiritual pressure…"}.
Rukia turned around and quickly dodge the slash of a sword, and spotted Tatsuki and her two Fracción standing there surrounding her on her left and right. Rukia observed her opponents, {"Like the others they seemed to be some kind of hollow-shinigami hybrid...are they aligned with that Vasto lordes?"}. Rukia pulled out her Zanpakutō out of the ground and got into a stance despite the pain coursing through her body. {"If I die...I do it with honor."}, "Who are you people?! What's your connection to that Vasto Lordes?! And Are you controlling those two innocent little girls?!" Rukia shouted, if she was gonna die, at least she deserved some answers.
Tatsuki's eyes twitched at the last part {"Are you controlling those two innocent little girls?!"}. She growled and her face darkened to a point her Fracción seemed nervous and fearful. "L..L...Lady Tatsuki?" Aleksandra asked with slight fear filling her, Rukia noticed this and looked at the girl {"Her subordinates are afraid of her..she wasn't this angry until I asked my questions…"} Rukia thought but was interrupted when she unleashed a loud yelp as Tatsuki had kneed her in her stomach causing her eyes to widen in shock. {"F...F...Fast I didn't even see her!"} Rukia managed to catch herself on the ground but was forced to drop her Zanpakutō as she clutched her stomach in pain and she felt like vomiting. But she never got the chance as Tatsuki kicked her in her cheek and she went flying across the river and into a parked Van on the other side.
The Van tipped over with a crash as its alarm rang out in the peaceful night. Rukia cursed in pain and felt the air becoming cold and cold as the wind started wiping and she noticed small snowflakes raining down. {"Snow...but isn't it springtime here?"} Her eyes widened as Aleksandra came flying down with a sword-like staff, Rukia forced herself to dodge her thrust as she lightly tapped the Van and it exploded into a rain of metal and ice. Rukia stumbled and hissed as the pain from earlier plus the kick and knee started to come on stronger and stronger. Aleksandra twirled her weapon around and around, and she smashed it into the ground as a jagged trail of ice spikes erupted and raced towards Rukia.
Rukia dodge again as the spikes crashed into a parked pickup truck, shearing it into multiple pieces. Rukia also then had to dodge ice based Cero's from Aleksandra's small pet dragon. She felt someone behind her and when she turned around she was sent flying upwards from a kick aimed at her chin. Chu Hua then vanished in a short burst of Sonído and started kicking Rukia multiple times in her chest and sending her crashing down with a downward kick to her chin.
Rukia cried as she landed on her back again and created a small crater and a dust cloud. Chu Hua got into a martial artist stance and was prepared to attack the injured Rukia and was blocked by a familiar figure. "Now...let's all calm down." A familiar mascline voice ranged out in a sing-song voice. Rukia's vision was blurry but she could tell from the shape it was Kisuke Urahara, she felt muscular hands slowly and carefully picking her up, "T...t...t..Tessai.." She croaked out in pain. The large man nodded and grabbed her prone form and dodged an angry swipe from Tatsuki. "Now Now Ms. Arisawa, Rukia-san is injured, I know you're upset but calm yourself." Tatsuki glared, and growled and reseathed her sword.
Chua Hua bowed to Kisuke and took her place next to Tatsuki, followed by Aleksandra. "Does Ichigo-sama know?" Kisuke nodded, and she noticed a bandage on his cheek. "I take it he wasn't happy with your suggestion?" She noted, and he nodded again. "He is at the shop already." He explained and turned to Tatsuki, and placed his hand on her shoulder and she scowled and looked away. "I know you're mad, but remember Rukia-chan doesn't know." Tatsuki nodded, still angry but slightly more calm now. {"I'm in trouble I know it."} She thought as she rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
The group made their way across town, and into Kisuke's shop, sure enough Tatsuki looked up and spotted her childhood friend and his siblings along with everyone else crammed in at the table which led towards an argument between the aids, and a large worm like hollow over who stole whose seat. Tatsuki and her Fracción sat down by Chad, and Ryūken, "I take it you encountered the shinigami first?" Ryūken asked as he pushed up his glasses, Tatsuki looked away flustered and nodded. "You can't let your feelings dictate your actions..you were angry which clouded your logic. The shinigami most likely didn't realize what she did plus Yuzu and Karin are okay." Ryūken scolded the teenaged arrancar as if she was his own daughter.
He placed a hand on her shoulder as he lit up a cigarette. Ururu entered the room and handed everyone tea as they waited for Rukia to wake up, Orihime followed by a small grasshopper hollow who was perched on her shoulder decided to help Tessai. Ichigo allowed Yuzu to place flowers in his hair much to the amusement of everyone. Ulquiorra eyed his lord and mistress; he then felt weight on his left side. He looked over and saw Karin laying her head on his side. He said nothing and went back to drink the cup of tea he received, Shinobu also drank his tea followed by Chō.
Tatsuki, holding her head down, felt extremely bad for her actions. She wasn't alone. Menoly sat on the opposite side of her lord and aided Yuzu while making the flower braids in Ichigo's hair. She still felt bad for saying nothing earlier, she hopes this would appease her lord. That was difficult as Ichigo ever since becoming a Vasto Lordes somehow lost the ability to speak completely though he can roar, and make other noises.
Next day
Rukia tossed and turned, as memories flashed through her mind. She then abruptly woke up and wheezed and panted. She looked around and found herself in a familiar room {"Tessai must have patched me back up…"} She thought, and the sliding door opened and she heard a small gasp. Rukia looked up and spotted a long orange-haired girl who was bustier, making Rukia slightly flustered and jealous. The girl approached her "You alright?" She asks as she kneels slightly away. Rukia nods and blinks {"Does this girl work here or something?"} Rukia was going to get some answers when the door opens again and she freezes at the sight of Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra stares at Rukia with slight interest, "Ulquiorra?" The girl askes, Rukia blinks {"The way she said her name was filled with fear...but it was also done in a familiar tone.."} before Rukia can get answers Ulquiorra nods at the girl "If your finished Lady Orihime, Urahara-sama requests the shinigami in the eating area." He said in a cold and aloof tone. Rukia froze and searched around for her weapon, Ulquiorra approached her and made a motion telling her to stand up. Rukia did as he requested slowly and with slight fear {"He is like nii-sama...in terms of personality."}. She had thought about using Kidō, but she dropped that when Chō and Shinobu appeared in the doorway.
Rukia was escorted by the three sibling arrancars and the human teenage girl. Rukia blinked with confusion {"How..and why is that human close to these individuals? He has a Hollow hole but at the sametime a Zanpakutō."} Rukia noted everything down to add to her report if she ever does return to the soul society. {"This Ulquiorra seemed close to Urahara. He is acting strange now is my chance to get some an…"} her thought process was interrupted when Ulquiorra opened the door and led her through it and spotted an odd sight.
Rukia blinked and her heart sank, as she spotted the two girls from early sitting on the lap of the Vasto Lordes. The other humans seemed content and didn't mind the various hollows and also strange humanoids with hollow holes and Zanpakutōs. Ulquiorra pushed Rukia towards the table, and she sat down. Ulquiorra and his siblings took their stance on either side of the Vasto Lordes, choosing to stand rather than sit down. Orihime took her seat next down to the girl whom Rukia recognized as the one who attacked her last night. Rukia also noticed the twins who had almost beaten her to death.
"Ah glad you have decided to join us...Miss Kuchiki!" Kisuke shouted in an over-happy manner. Rukia blinked and sweatdropped at his manner, "Please join us for breakfast we have many things to…" He was cut off by a loud shout of "WAKE UP STARRK!" Everyone, including Rukia blinked and watched as a small girl with a horned helmet beat up an older male sleeping on a bean bag chair. Rukia sweatdropped at this and then her face fell as she noticed the Vasto Lordes face palming at the antics of his subordinates. Her eyes then bulged out their sockets when he handed a broom to a hollow who rushed over to separate the two only to get beat up as well.
After an half-hour
Starrk yawned and woke up and noticed Rukia was awake still shocked by the antics she witnessed. "Oi...is it afternoon already?" Everybody groaned and sweatdropped at that, even Rukia blinked {"I...is...this guy seriously that lazy?!"}, "Now that's taken care of, we have many things to talk about...Ichigo remember what we said..and no you can't immolate Rukia here." Rukia blinked as the Vasto Lordes crossed his arms and made what she guessed was a huffing sound. {"W...wait wasn't his name El Diablo? Either way now is my chance to get some answers for my report."}.
"U...u..umm miss?" Came a soft voice, causing Rukia to pause her thought process as her eyes followed the voice. They landed on the blonde preteen from earlier; she blinked as the two girls had been snagged in what appeared to be a protective glance as the Vasto Lorde growled slightly, his breath visible. Rukia blinked as the girl blushed but continued her speech. She also noticed the three girls sitting by the Vasto lorde including the short hair blonde girl she saw earlier with and had their hands placed on their respective Zanpakutō. "Please don't go after Ichi-nii any more...please...he is all we have…" She looked to her right at a man with glasses who was smoking a cigarette, "Besides oji-san...and Uryū-nii we have nobody so pl...please leave Ichi-nii alone, he has never hurt anybody nor had his followers hurt anybody…" Yuzu pleaded.
Rukia's eyes widened at that {"W...wait...she isn't being controlled?...the Vasto Lordes….is her brother?...and that guy is her uncle?"} Rukia levels a glance at Ryūken for a moment and back to Yuzu. She sighs "I don't know…" she hears the sound of a sword being slowly drawn and gulps. "I..I mean I will see...if I get some answers…" She glares at Kisuke who shrinks and hides behind his fan. Ichigo shocks her and rumbles and nods his head in her direction as if he was agreeing with her. Kisuke sighs and throws his hand up "Fine Fine, ask away Miss Kuchiki."
Rukia nodded {"Okay..this is my chance, no time to waste this."}, she cleared her throat and decided to start and thread slowly and carefully. "H..H..How long has Ichigo been a Hollow?" She decided to start there, as she already knew what rank he was. Kisuke blinked and closed his fan and tapped it on his chin as if he was in deep thought. After a few minutes he answers "Two..years is it?" He aims this towards Tatsuki who nods as she is sipping on a juice box, "Yea It's been two years since he died, because I died after the funeral." Rukia's eyes bulged after hearing that "YOU DIED!?" She accidentally blurted her thoughts out.
Everyone turned to her, and she bowed her head and apologized, and Tatsuki waved her off. "Nah, it's cool, Hime had the same reaction." She said casually as she jerked her thumb at her friend. Rukia decided to ask about the strange humanoids in the room, "Who are these people? They have hollow holes but Zanpakutō at the same time." Tatsuki answered her, "We're arrancars." Rukia blinked, confused trying to remember her time in the Shin'ō Academy, in all that time she never heard of Arrancars. Tatsuki clarified the best she could. "Technically we're created when a hollow breaks his or her mask. Most of us try to be a Menos rank as opposed to a lower rank , most of us were created from at least Adjuchas or Vasto Lordes." Rukia nodded and took a mental note.
"And what rank were you?" Rukia asked, Tatsuki blinked and tapped her chin with her juice box's straw. "Uhh...Adjuchas..and that was an accident, Chad punched me in my face which broke my mask next thing I know I'm waking up naked on Orihime's couch." Tatsuki is slightly flustered as she rubs the remnants of her mask. "Sorry about that." Chad apologized, Tatsuki laughed and waved it off. Rukia blinks and her eyes twitch {"I heard humans were inferior...the nobles won't believe me if I say a human punched a hollow in her face, especially if it's an Adjuchas"}. "So...why are you with him?" Rukia askes while pointing at Ichigo who was munching on some gummy worms much to her shock.
Ichigo looked offended at her staring and raised a brow, Starrk spoke first "Eh..he used to be the God-king of Hueco Mundo but that old dinosaur and sack of bones Baraggan Louisenbairn." He said as he accepted a cigarette from Ryūken and let him light it. Rukia's eyes widened and she whirled back at Ichigo looked even more annoyed by the staring. {"He was the God-king?! That makes sense as he feels incredibly powerful but how did this Baraggan manage to overpower him?"}. Rukia then noticed the humans in the room and something bugged her; she figured the two girls were Ichigo's sisters.
"What is the relationship these humans have to Ichigo?" She asks and Ryūken answers her question, "Ichigo is my nephew, and Yuzu and Karin are my nieces." He pauses to take a puff on his cigarette and Rukia nods, he then continues "My son..Uryū is their cousin, the others were classmates and friends of Ichigo when he was alive." Rukia nods at that and seems satisfied with the answer. "How many hollows and…'arrancars' does Ichigo have under his command?" She asks only for Loly to glare at her "Why?...Are you scared or something?" She asks with a mocking smile.
Rukia's left eye twitches violently but Kisuke intervenes "Now Now ladies, lets calm it down." he says and both girls sit down and look away from each other. Causing everyone else to sweatdrop, "Geez, if I knew there was gonna be a cat fight...I would've gone back to sleep." Said Staark lazily, only for Lilynette to smack him in the head "You have been sleeping for hours!".
Rukia decided to get everyones name for her report, and also when and how Ichigo became a hollow. "What is everyones name?" She asks first, causing everyone to blink, before Loly could protest Menoly went first "Mine is Menoly Mallia, that's Loly Aivirrne, and Cirucci Sanderwicci." She points to each person sitting next to her "Oh were Ichigo-sama's aides." She adds on, Rukia nods and turns toward the Cifer siblings who stare at her with cold emotionless eyes. Ulquiorra places his tea cup down and simply but coldy says "Ulquiorra." With that said he picked up his tea cup and said nothing further. Chō spoke in a similar manner to her brother "Chō, and that's Shinobu...we're siblings." Rukia blinks at the later part of her answer. {"Only him and Shinobu look remotely like siblings...though they have the same personality."}
"Coyote Starrk, and that's Lilynette Gingerbuck." Starrk said lazily with a yawn, Lilynette waved happily "Hi Nice to meetcha!" Rukia sweatdropped {"Her personality is similar to Yachiru…"}. The Unnamed Female Arrancar sitting in the corner stood up only to be kicked in her back by Tatsuki "OI quit stealing my seat!" She snapped as she sat down, "Name's Tatsuki Arisawa, and that's Yin and Yang" She said and jerked her thumb at the red and blue haired twins who just glared at Rukia, "That's Chu Hua." She points to Green chinese-bun haired arrancar munching on some chips. Rukia blinks "She is mute and blind." Tatsuki explains, Rukia just nods at this.
Tatsuki then pointed at Aleksandra, "That's Ice fairy." She said with a cheeky grin, Aleksandra growled angrily "My name is Aleksandra Knežević! Don't listen to this
Ја то радим" She huffed, Rukia could only blink as she had no idea what she said in relation to the latter part. Chad spoke next "Yasutora Sado, and that's Orihime." He said while pointing at Orihime, Rukia decided to not ask the twins, nor their uncle and cousin their names.
"Okay then...when and how did Ichigo..and Tatsuki become a Hollow? And can Ichigo become an Arrancar?" Rukia askes, "Ohhhh a good question." Kisuke praised, and Rukia beams slightly. Ichigo blinks and Tatsuki speaks for her childhood friend"I don't know about him...oh he can't talk." She said, and Rukia sighs depressedly. Tatsuki continues speaking "I was killed after attending the funeral the Hollow dropped me on a metal post and it pierced my Solar-plexus." Tatsuki paused and unzipped her one-piece shirt slightly and Rukia gasped as she spotted the Hollow hole. Rukia didn't know why she moved on autopilot and caught Tatsuki off guard and caused her to blush as she spread her hands over the hollow hole. "Uh...Uh...You done caressing my hole?" Tatsuki askes with a slight blush.
Rukia looks up and blinks and blushes and jumps back "S..Sorry, I just never seen an Arrancar before." She quickly states, and sits back down. Tatsuki continues her story, "I woke up in Hueco Mundo...Ichigo was an Adjuchas back then and he saved me from Vasto Lordes. He became the God-king after about a year and he for some reason was unable to talk after becoming a Vasto Lordes." Tatsuki stated, she decided to not continue as it pained her to talk about her own death. Thankfully Rukia didn't push it, "Anything else?" Kisuke asked, and Rukia shook her head even though she wanted to understand more about the arrancars' abilities and the abilities of their Zanpakutōs.
Then she remembers something, "Oh wait why hasn't Ichigo here become an arrancar yet? Isn't he the correct level to become one?" To her surprise and shock Ulquiorra answered "Ichigo-sama is capable of yes, becoming an Arrancar but he refuses to break his mask." Rukia's eyes widened {"He refuses to break his mask? Their must be a good reason..maybe it's because of his sisters."}, "Why?" She asks, Ulquiorra stares at her for a few minutes before continuing "Because of his spiritual pressure, he is able to hide it now..but if he becomes an Arrancar due to his immense power, he will have to split half into three separate personalities." Rukia blink at this Coyote speaks up "Me and Lilynette were one, and if I recall you two were one as well." He turns his direction to Aleksandra.
Aleksandra, looks away slightly flustered by the attention and nods before replying. "Yes, me and Srp." She pauses to pet a small ice-like hollow who was laying contently on her lap before continuing. "We were one we separated upon becoming an arrancar." Rukia's eyes widened {"So these three must be extremely powerful then."}. She looks at Yuzu after looking at everybody. She remembers she was taught to look within not on the outside, she sees how Yuzu and Karin were not afraid of Ichigo. She looks at Ichigo for a bit and sees not a monster but a loving brother.
Something then came to Rukia, "Where is your base of operations?" everyone stiffens and Rukia wonders if that was a bad question. Yuzu then chirps up "El Castillo! It's a beautiful city…" She then gasps and her eyes sparkles and she hugs Ichigo "Can she visit?! Can She?!" Ichigo looks at his sister as she gives him puppy eyes and he does what seems like a sighing motion and nods his head. Yuzu cheers loudly making everyone sweatdrop at how this kid can forgive someone so quickly.
"I have decided to leave you alone Ichigo Kurosaki...after my observations I was wrong in my initial assessment...you are indeed different to other Vasto Lordes." Yuzu squeals and hugs the shinigami, tightly knocking her to the ground. Kisuke chimes in "Why don't you take her to El Castillo..I see no harm with it." The arrancars huddle up for a bit as the humans watch on. The hollows haven't moved the entire time and were mostly preoccupied trying to figure out how to play UNO.
Loly clears her throat once, and everyone ignores her. She clears it again and everyone ignores her again. "Would you quit being a creep!" Tatsuki shouts as she grabs the unnamed female arrancar by her helmet-like mask and proceeds to spin her around before throwing her through the roof and sending her tumbling through the sky while screaming. This ironically enough gathered everyone's attention. "Thank you Tatsuki." Loly mumbles, and continues "We have decided this shinigami will be welcomed to El Castillo as a guest." She states and Yuzu cheers, "However...do something suspicious...and you're dead." Menoly added on.
Rukia blinked but nodded quickly, {"I won't report anything...for some reason my gut is telling me to trust them."} Kisuke comes back and hands her Zanpakutō and shinigami uniform. Tatsuki rubs her head, messing up her hair, "You are not bad for a noble, I can tell from your stance that you can fight...if you weren't injured I would have to go all out on ya." Rukia turns around and fixes her hair and smirks back. "Based on your spiritual pressure I can tell you're pretty strong." Tatsuki flashes a toothy grin "Yup." Yuzu hugs both and cheers happily while Karin, Yin, and Yang maintain a cold look towards Rukia. Starrk fell back asleep on another bean bag chair.