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Chapter 18: Rocket...Man?!
Following Lady Shiba, the group made their way down a long hallway.
"Hey, err, cousin Kūkaku – erm – Lady Shiba...what's the Flower Crane Cannon?"
Kūkaku grinned to herself, clearly amused by her orange haired cousin's 'struggle' with honourifics. She knew this was a result of the boy wanting to treat others as people, not because of their position, or power. 'He's a Shiba man alright – through and through.'
"Kūkaku's fine Ichigo, and the Flower Crane Cannon is a tool of the family. We're known for our showy displays, and the Cannon is a symbol of that. You'll see when we get to it."
"Oh...okay then..." With that the rest of the group quietly continued following Kūkaku. After a few minutes of walking down a hallway, Kūkaku stopped at a set of sliding doors. Throwing them open revealed a rather large room, initially looking empty, but housing the...
/Room containing the Flower Crane Cannon
"Welcome to the Flower Crane Cannon kiddos!" Kūkaku shouted out to the group behind her. It was an extremely large 'chute' surrounded by a small stone-like platform. Uryu piped up, "Um...it's just a chute Lady Shiba, doesn't look like a cannon to-"
Throwing her hands in front of his face, she silenced his line of questioning with her own words: "Well...it's not fully operational yet. Now come! We need to all be near enough to the cannon." Kūkaku briskly moved near the 'foot' of the cannon. The others followed suit, just below the platform. Looking up to the roof of the room Kūkaku smiled, knowing precisely what would happen next.
/Above the Flower Crane Cannon Housing Room
"It is time to do as Lady Shiba asks!"
"Yes! Indeed it is time!"
The Shiba family retainers approached what looked like some sort of lever or 'crank' made out of wood and stone. This seemingly simple mechanism had a stone foundation and looked like any regular lever system – at least from the Feudal Era of Japan.
The brothers gave each other a stern look. Both men then grabbed a hold of one side each – of the lever system. Gripping it so tightly, their muscles rippled with tension. The men grunted in anticipation, readying themselves for the task at hand.
"Now...HEAVE!"
Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko moved the crank with all their might! Each rotation made with zeal and gusto – the strain evident on their faces. The ground around them started to rumble and rock with each rotation. Behind the giant men a large section of pasture parted – slowly. Much like the traditional doorways in the Shiba Estate. Looking straight down towards the opening, an aerial observer would get the smallest of hints, that the opening actually made way for a platform of sorts. A platform that was slowly being lifted from underground. Said platform was actually occupied by Kūkaku, Ganju, Masaki and Ichigo's group – the group being elevated to ground level. Ichigo, Uryu, Chad and Orihime were simply amazed by the process!
Uryu never expected Soul Society to have this sort of technology, but reasoned this was yet another speciality from the Shiba family. 'A rudimentary elevation system! And powered by physical force and not electricity of any kind...'
Ichigo thought this was just another addition to the weirdness of his extended family. Chad and Orihime were collectively wide-eyed.
As the platform rose closer to ground level, the outside 'chimney chute' burst apart to reveal the elongated canon shaft of the Flower Crane Cannon. All the group could hear was some sort of mini-explosion near to them.
"What was that noise!?" Ichigo was on alert, his brows furrowing in a mild scowl.
Yoruichi and Masaki kind of expected something like this. Their suspicions where confirmed, when they glanced the smirk Kūkaku had on her face.
'Yep...she's lapping this up...typical Kūkaku.'
'Oh...niece...you never change.'
"Well cousin, that was just the cannon bursting from its covers. Nothing to fuss over-" She looked at the rest of the group, "-this is only the beginning kiddos."
/Preparing to Launch
"Okay everyone, it's closing in on sunrise – as you can see. So...it's about time we start the launch process...Ganju! You have the reishūkaku with you?" Her brother again yelped to attention, and he fought the urge to salute...since she really didn't like that. The young man gulped, "Y-Yes! I do sister!"
"Good..." Kūkaku moved right next to the cannon, and then slammed her hand on the side. Everyone thought this was odd, until part of the cannon opened up (or rather opened top-down), revealing a section that looked curiously like a door opening.
"I'll be using the second method of launching here. It's the best bet for what needs to be done." Kūkaku had mulled over the details of the launch process, during the small time she was allowed – with the 'kids' training and all that. Shiba Style: Flower Crane Cannon Version Two was their best shot in getting through that sekkiseki barrier, enclosing the Seireitei. Realising she got a little caught up in her thoughts, she cleared her throat with a grunt and addressed the group.
"Now...everyone get inside here, and remember to make sure you make that barrier strong and stable...together." The Shiba Head moved back from the newly revealed doorway, to allow the group to move inside. Before her little brother entered, she had a quick word with him:
"So...have you mastered the incantation for this Version?"
"Barely. Lucky I had a little longer to practice Sis, otherwise I'm not sure if I'd get it down pat." For all of Ganju's bravado, he was pretty serious when it came down to it. As a Shiba man, he prided himself in getting the job done, when asked to do something. Learning the Second Incantation was no exception.
"Good Ganju. I'll be launching the cannon, and you need to direct it properly to its destination-" She looked over towards her Aunt, eyes a little weary. Masaki saw this but instead chose to ignore it. She knew her niece well enough, that worrying about things now wouldn't be beneficial for this mission.
"Keep an eye on them, little brother. I'm counting on you." Ganju was shocked to hear those words from his sister. However, he soon realised why she said that. Knowing this would be the most dangerous task he's ever done, he nodded in resolution. Kūkaku smirked – but what Ganju saw was sadness and...fear.
/Inside the Flower Crane Cannon
Yoruichi – in cat form – spoke up: "Listen everyone. Put your hands on the reishūkaku sphere, and channel your spirit energy into it. Once you do, it will create a barrier around all of us. Remember: keep the output, balanced."
Ganju held the sphere in front of him, and everyone placed a single hand on the sphere. Once the last person placed their hand on the ball, the barrier was generated, like paint over an invisible ball.
"Ready everyone. Brace for launch!"
/Outside the Flower Crane Cannon
After the group were all shuffled into the opening within the canon shaft, Kūkaku started the launch process. First she bound the cannon shaft to the edge of the platform with ceremonial rope. Four ropes in total, equilaterally encircled the cannon. This also made sure that the platform could withstand the launch, and to help strengthen the initial incantation. Then, Kūkaku drew a circle, a short radius apart from the cannon shaft, using a rather large brush with black ink. Once satisfied with her work, Kūkaku moved to near the edge of the platform, and faced towards what was the opening to the cannon. She grabbed the short sword that she carried behind her, quickly unsheathing it using her left arm, and then proceeded to stab the platform with the tip. The she began her part in the launch ritual:
"Far away! Copper-coloured greed desires the domination of 36 degrees! Seventy-two pairs of illusions! Thirteen pairs of horns! The right hand of the monkey...grabs the star!
As she was chanting, Kūkaku moved closer to the circle she drew, leaving behind her sword. Unwrapping the cloth that tied her hair up (or what her Aunty described as a scruffy mess), she proceeded to wrap the cloth around her entire left arm. Then with the words 'grabs a star!' she ignited her fist with her spiritual energy, and punched the ground in front of her, allowing the spell to snake towards the ink.
"Embraced by the 25 wheels of the sun, the cradle of sand bleeds!"
An inferno surrounded the cannon, coaxed in full by her spirit energy. As she finished the last of her part of the ritual, her eyes flickered with the wisps of flame. She was ready to launch it, and it would be up to Ganju to finish the rest.
The fire redirected back to her cloth-covered arm, and using this enhanced flame, she channelled the flames up towards the cannon shaft. The ceremonial ropes withstood the furnace, up until the fire rose to the top of the cannon.
"Shiba Style: Flower Crane Cannon Version Two...Launch!" The cannon roared to life and launched the ball, containing the group intent on invading the fortress known as the Seireitei, and rescuing one of their own. The translucent barrier ball was being held together, by the synchronous output of spirit energy from everyone within. Ganju then spoke up:
"Everyone, it's my time to shine!" The burly young man, unfurled a scroll, which he furrowed from one of his pockets. He knew he didn't really need it, but it was good to have on him. "Okay...I'll be reciting the Second Incantation of this launch. This will require complete concentration...so no distractions," he eyed Ichigo incredulously. "Hey! I won't distract ya, from your fancy spell! Don't look at me like that!"
The orange haired boy was fuming, but a reassuring hand tapped his shoulder, "Ichigo, keep calm. Ganju needs to concentrate." It was his mother, and the look in her eyes told Ichigo that she had faith in Ganju.
"Good...now I'll say this once. Balance the output between you. I can't monitor the energy in the reishūkaku, while performing the chant." He traced from left to right across the whole group. They all agreed. Nodding his appreciation, he began his work:
"The fate of three sparrows, the fate of four dragons, enclosed on five sides, unable to return six ri! Winds of heaven, orangutan, spoon, cane of elm... a thousand ashes and a thousand wisdoms, the plan of the white clouds... close to the moon, not stepping on the shadow of scarlet..." The rest of Ganju's chanting was muffled by the howling winds, generated from their launch and continued motion through the sky. Unlike a regular cannon ball that would only have a set trajectory, the reishūkaku that is launched using the Flower Crane Cannon, can be directed, towards its destination. The Seireitei was – after all – several kilometres away, and the cannon was launched vertically. The first incantation set the launch and velocity, while giving the necessary energy to keep the barrier ball aloft.
"Ichigo! Pull your spirit energy back a bit more!" Uryu knew that Orihime and Chad were struggling with keeping their output so high – especially to match Ichigo's enormous reiatsu.
"H-huh!?" The orange haired Soul Reaper was surprised, until he looked around and saw that everyone besides his mother (and Yoruichi) were struggling with matching his output. He looked to his mother who nodded. So...he lowered his output further, matching as close as possible to Uryu's level. Visible relief was drawn over Orihime's face, and Chad...looked more relaxed. "S-Sorry guys. I honestly thought I was going low enough. I guess I need to be more careful." The boy scratched his head with his free hand, embarrassed by his blunder.
"The Second Incantation is complete. Now it's up to us to keep the barrier strong. The Seireitei...is up ahead!"
Everyone looked at the massive centralised cluster of buildings, encircled by a physical and invisible barrier to keep intruders out. Ichigo vowed to save his Soul Reaper friend from the clutches of Soul Society.
End of Arc One
End of Chapter Notes: And that spells the end Arc One for this story. A bit of a nostalgia boost, and we're getting the Thousand-Year Blood War in a couple of weeks. As you can see here, a huge change is that Ganju completed his incantation! What does this mean for the rescue squad? Is it smoother sailing from now on?