Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. But I do own this particular fanfic.
Arc Two: Chapter 20 - Break in and Separation Part Two
/Distant Corner of the Seireitei
"Everyone! Hang on!"
The Rukia Rescue Squad braced for impact, holding tightly to the reishūkaku sphere. Ganju, Masaki and Yoruichi knew that, when the sphere hits solid ground it would crack and then explode. Of course, Masaki wasn't going to let that happen.
'Okay...gotta time this just right...'
[CRASH, CRACK]
The sphere crashed – hard into the tiled ground – creating a large and deep crater. Masaki and Yoruichi continued to clasp the sphere, but everyone else was jolted from its grasp. The sphere became unstable. The loss of a continuous stream from the majority of the group, plus the added bonus of cracks on the barrier, meant the sphere was about to...explode!
The inside of the sphere glowed bright and with a groggy awareness, Ganju feared for their lives.
'Oh no...the things about to blow!'
What he didn't realise was that his Aunt was ready for this. Concentrating on the much needed skill, she placed her hand on the floor of the sphere. Using her hand as a conduit, she began to absorb the reishi that constituted the sphere. Her own body began to glow a mild azure, as the sphere, slowly dissipated. Once all the reishi was absorbed, everyone felt hard dirt on the floor.
"H-How...!?"
"Wh-what the...mom!?"
Uryu and Ichigo were shocked that the barrier disappeared – appearing to be the work of Masaki. Chad, Ganju and Orihime were amazed at this ability. Yoruichi was – very impressed.
'Hmm...didn't realise she had a skill like that up her sleeve. Reminds me of an absorbtion kīdo. Or...' Yoruichi's thoughts drifted off, as Masaki stood up and wiped her brow. Clearly the ability had physically strained her somewhat, but her spirit energy was...increased? Both Uryu and Ichigo nodded at each other, realising this was likely a high level Quincy technique. One they could hopefully learn in the near future.
"Wow mom! Awesome work. You saved us from the exploding energy ball!"
"That was an incredible technique Aunt Masaki. Thank you for the help."
Masaki looked at her two boys and gave them a warm smile.
"Thank you for the compliments. Now, best we get into the designated groups, and get out of here before other Soul Reaper's arrive." She looked over this small group and internally prayed for their safety. With determination in her heart she zoomed off. Uryu followed suit.
"C'mon Ganju!" Ichigo took to a sprint – down a cobblestone street way to his side. He wasn't entirely sure if Ganju knew flash step, so decided against leaving his burly cousin behind. Besides; his mom would ring his ears out for going against their plan.
Ganju was indignant – to say the least. "Hey! I'm the older one here, you should be listening to me!"
Begrudgingly the older Shiba took off after his strawberry haired cousin.
Yoruichi, Chad and Orihime saw this and decided it was probably best to do the same.
"Come, you two. I'll keep an eye on you from a distance." The cat lady purred to her current charges. She hopped out of the small crater, took a few steps, before vanishing in a blur.
"Ummm...which way should we go Chad?"
Yasutora Sado knew that Ichigo had gone to the left. Mrs. Kurosaki and Uryū, likely took a path to the rooftops, so...
"I think we should take this middle road. It's the opposite of where I can feel some enemies coming too."
Orihime agreed, wanting to avoid unnecessary conflict. Chad knew he needed to keep Orihime as safe as possible.
Though separated the 'ryōka' were one in heart and mind. Their mission: rescue Rukia. And come back alive!
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/Central 46 – Monitoring Station
"Gin, Kaname, how are our little 'ryōka' doing?"
"They've landed safely, in a distant part of the Seireitei. No Soul Reaper's are anywhere near them." Kaname – a dark skinned man answered dutifully.
"Should we send a squad or two after them?" The question was laced with more than Gin was letting on. Not that anyone could tell from his rather casual tone. He got the reaction he wanted from Aizen when...
"No, we'll instead send some higher ranked members to test their capabilities. First, let's 'guide' 3rd Seat Madarame and 5th Seat Ayasegawa to those two." Aizen pointed directly at the larger screen, displaying the running forms of Ichigo and the young Shiba (his cousin), Ganju.
Aizen smirked. His plan was in motion. Even though the boy arrived in the Seireitei a little later than expected (not an issue), everything was finally in its rightful place. Soon, he would mold the boy into someone worthy of his time.
Unbeknownst to Aizen and Kaname, Gin had actually altered some of the broadcast footage. He 'scrubbed' the evidence of a certain Quincy Lady arriving with the group. Someone whom he certainly didn't expect, but could be pivotal in messing up Aizen's plan. He suspected (like Aizen), that Kisuke Urahara had planned for this invasion, however if she was with them, then...
Urahara...so Captain Aizen really did get lucky 100 years ago. Captain Aizen was extremely wary of Urahara and I can see why.
\\
A mere six (or was it seven?) years ago, the surveillance equipment in the town of Karakura picked up the emergence of a rather illusive hollow – named Grand Fisher. Aizen knew of this hollow. A mere pawn to distract the Soul Reaper's from his schemes. Not that the hollow knew of its part in his plans.
The hollow was baiting out those with strong (for humans) spiritual energy, and that was when the boy showed up. He approached the angler, to 'help' who he thought was a lone girl by the river. Then it became quite lively all of a sudden.
Captain Shiba's woman (the Quincy girl), rushed the hollow and used some interesting techniques. These did enough damage to (surprisingly) make the hollow withdraw for the night. However that girl (woman now wasn't she?), was mortally wounded and died.
Aizen was fascinated by what this could awaken in the boy. Tōsen thought it pitiful (as he would).
Gin was reminded of Rangiku – all those years ago...
/
The snake like visage of Gin Ichimaru, quivered in glee (though he didn't show it). He wasn't sure how, but that Quincy had hid her presence for over six years. Likely this was part of Urahara's plan to undermine Aizen. He'd use this to his advantage and subtly help again. Just like he did when he clashed with Ichigo at the West Rukon Gate.
Isn't being a good Samaritan wonderful?
/With Ichigo and Ganju
Ichigo was running down the cobblestone roads, each step making a clank sound. Just behind him was Ganju, who was keeping up rather well.
"Hey Ganju!" He yelled back.
"Yeah Ichigo?"
"Can you use flash step? I forgot to ask before we took off?"
A few moments of silence fell between them, before...
"Yeah...I can, though I'm not great at it. Decent. Since training with Aunt Masaki, I've had to step up my skills to even begin to compete with her. That and...big sis forced me to."
Ichigo contemplated those words. After a few more hurried steps, he replied back.
"Good, then let's flash step up to the rooflines. We'll get better visuals up top, then down here."
"W-Wait!? Won't the Soul Reaper's see us?"
Ichigo stopped suddenly. He grew serious, a shadow stretching from his still form.
"They already know where we are – can't you feel that? Those high level spiritual pressures approaching us?"
Ganju blinked a couple of times, and then stretched out his senses. Sure enough, two high level spiritual pressures were approaching them. From what he could tell, they were at least 3rd seat in power. One was definitely a lieutenant.
A Lieutenant like big bro...
His nervousness, wasn't because he was afraid of their power (his Aunt Masaki was well beyond them). It was largely due to his own memories of his brother. The pain he felt then. Tough times for him and big sis. Made worse when Uncle Isshin went missing a couple decades later.
"Ganju, you okay?"
Shaken out of his reverie, Ganju nodded and then followed Ichigo up to the roof.
Clearly, Ichigo (somehow) was more skilled in flash step then him. He wondered if it was due to his Aunt's training, or (like his Big Bro and Uncle Isshin), he was a prodigy, and it just came easy for him? Hard to say.
What he could say, was that Ichigo's flash step felt different. Like...it looked and felt more like his Aunt Masaki's high speed technique.
Is Ichigo...mixing flash step with that Quincy one? Is that even possible?
He'd have no real time to mull over this, as after a few moments of looking across the Seireitei (wow the place was humongous), and Ichigo trying to pinpoint where Rukia was – there was incoherent in the distance.
Two Soul Reaper's came into view. One with a bald head, screaming at the top of his lungs about being 'lucky' and waving his scabbard at them. While the other, looked like a total preen.
"Get ready Ganju." Ichigo's eyes narrowed, as the two Soul Reaper's quickly approached. Once they were a mere 100 metres away from them, the Soul Reaper's jumped up onto the roof, with the bald one rushing at the battle ready Ichigo.
End of Chapter Notes: A bit more exposition about Gin and his 'plans' as well as Aizen's delusions. Also, a few hints here and there about Ichigo himself and his growing power.