Silbern, Sternritter A's Residence
"You're back, Ishida-senpai! W-What's going on?" An agitated Yuzu questioned.
"*sigh* I'm sorry for not explaining this to you any sooner, but I never expected them to start moving so quickly" Uryuu apologized. "Basically, welcome to the Fatherland of all Quincies: the Wandenreich"
Upon seeing her face of confusion and shock, Ishida proceeded to briefly explain the origin of the Quincy race to her.
Of course, Uryuu himself didn't know everything there possibly was about the whole topic, but at the very least he was able to give her an idea.
"Ok, so that... Clears things a bit but, I now feel that there are many other questions I need an answer to!"
"Yuzu... I wish I could give you all those answers but, for now that's all I can tell you" Ishida seriously concluded. "I'm sorry about my miscalculation. You'll have to bear with me from this point on"
"Wait... You mean, we can't just go back to Karakura?" A deep feeling of anxiety built up inside her.
"Exactly. I was ordered to stay and keep you here as well. All Quincies deemed of interest by his Majesty were" He said in more detail.
"No... What... What if dad and Karin return and don't see me? What about... Kon and Nozomi-chan? What if... What if Ichi-nii comes to visit and I'm not there to greet him?!" She broke in tears.
"*sigh* Most likely, Ryuuken will make sure to fill in whoever asks, so there's no need to cry" He told her that harshly, but deep inside understood her perfectly. "All of a sudden we were forced to come here, a place she's not familiar with, filled with strict and hostile people she doesn't know and to make everything worse, prohibited to go back to her home. She might have grown a bit over these years, but she's still a kid..."
Yuzu tried to stop crying, but couldn't help to keep weeping for a couple minutes, distraught by the unexpected news that were unveiled to her.
By the time she let out the final sorrowful sigh, Ishida showed her around the house, which thankfully, was equipped with pretty much everything they could need, even two separate bedrooms.
Yuzu was feeling slightly better after seeing how comfortable the place was, but nothing could replace her home. Even if they had been given a palace to stay, that alien sensation of being in a room without her clothes, decoration or even smell, was something that wouldn't simply go away.
"I know it's not like back in Karakura, but try to get used to it. I don't know how long you'll have to stay" He tried to encourage her, but he knew the harsh truth.
"I'll... Do my best. I'll try my best to make this as sweet as home, Ishida-senpai" She did her best effort to remain positive, and gave a little smile to him.
"Good. I'll go get some food for these days" He told her. "Don't go out on your own, you hear me? If anything happens, you can give me a call"
"Got it" She nodded.
~~~~X~~~~
In parallel...
The charismatic white-haired Sternritter pat a shoulder that was at his head's height.
"What the?!" The tall man was startled.
"Hahah! Did I scare ya?" Atticus chuckled. "Sorry, it wasn't my intention"
"N-No, I was just, alerted of your presence" Dârstor retorted, a tad embarrassed. "So, you've got a Schrift for me?"
"I don't wanna brag, but I'd say that's indeed the case" He confidently stated. "I assume you're ready to roll"
"As long as it's a useful ability, I have no qualms"
"Very well then" Atticus placed his palm on Daxx's back and closed his eyes, concentrating in passing the skill he had designed onto him.
Dârstor felt a painless blow go through his body, followed by a comfortable warmth he couldn't precisely describe, yet understood as the new power that was flowing inside.
"Is this... What a Schrift feels like?"
"Being honest, I wouldn't know. All the Schrifts I own are copies made with my own skill so, I can't guarantee that the feeling is the same. I'd have to ask Candi about that when she returns"
"Don't bother. It's not really important" He shook his head, content. "What I would like to know is how this is supposed to work"
"Heheh... Let's try something fun" Atticus proposed with a tricky smirk. "I'll teach you all about the theory, but the practical exam will be on the deadline with Majesty"
"Tch... You wanna throw me into the lion fence?" Daxx chuckled, worrying a bit.
"No, no, hahaha, I swear it won't be like that" The End giggled. "I'll make sure you're more than ready for that moment"
"In a single day? The deadline's tomorrow, Arctopus!"
"Is it? I understood it was the day past that"
"For his Majesty it would mean tomorrow at night, that makes it a day and a half barely"
"Welp... That only means we'll have to work a bit harder, won't we?" Atticus shrugged.
"*sigh* Give me a break..."
~~~~X~~~~
At the Kaiser Spa...
"Oh, yasss, that's the good stuff..." Candi purred as she was laying down, a woman massaging her professionally, releasing all accumulated tension and stress in her muscles.
"You don't need to mention it..." Bambi retorted, experiencing the same. "Thank you so much for inviting me"
"It's what friends are for, right?" Catnipp smiled at her.
After the massage, they were shown the way to their room, which of course was equipped with beds comfortable as clouds, a mini bar equipped with prime quality drinks and snacks, and last but not least, a large bathroom equipped with a jacuzzi ready for its immediate use.
Once inside the hot water, they made a toast with the contrasting cold champagne, perfect for the occasion.
"Ha... Way to beat the cold from outside" Bambietta didn't like chilly weather. "I'm not so lucky that I have a boyfriend to warm me up"
"Oh, please, like you ever needed one" Candi blushed a bit. "But I won't deny it's amazing to have him around, and I can't believe we only just started!"
"And it's safe to assume after seeing that dumb book in his nightstand that you two went all the way, right?"
"Well... One thing lead to the other so... That's the way it goes" She covered her face embarrassed.
"And...? How was he?" Bambi asked the inevitable with a smug face.
"I won't go into detail but..." She sighed in a dreamy tone as she remembered how it felt when their bodies became one, their eyes closed as they kissed passionately and their fingers were entwined. "Would 'perfect' be an exaggeration?"
"Pffft... It was only your first time, Candi. Without the spicy details, I simply can't trust your word for it" Her friend mocked.
"If you want details then you better start explaining what's going on here" Candi grabbed Bambi's breasts and started fondling them. "Last time you were only as big as I was"
"~Ah~... Candi, please... They're really... Sensitive... Hn..." She blushed beet red.
"I thought it was only your clothes, but now I see that you haven't stopped growing here"
"I-I'm 19... Of course I... I haven't stopped growing, ah...!"
"Fess up: What size are they now?"
"You know... That stuff is... Secr-ahmn!" Candi pinched her nipples. "H! They are Hs!"
"Wha?! When did you become almost Meni's size?!" She let go of her, indignant.
"I don't know! I've been eating and exercising as usual..." Bambietta retorted, the red flush still not leaving her face. "And why do you care so much? Are ya scared I might use these to steal Atticus away from you?"
"In your dreams... Although... I did feel better thinking I had the best curves" She muttered. "And Atticus thought so as well"
"Please, you know I still can't beat you at that. Those hips with that ass? I wish I had a shape like that..." Bambi tried to comfort her, though she honestly believed it. "But still, if you're that worried of meeting your man's expectations, you can simply match his taste more"
"What do you mean?" She seemed puzzled.
"For instance, Atticus is a metalhead, right? At least that's the picture I get from him fooling around with his guitars and those CDs he has" Basterbine recalled. "Which means, he's totally into Goth chicks!"
"H-How did you know that?!" Candice was astonished.
"Tch, tch, tch..." The purplish brown-haired smirked proudly. "You have a looong way to go when it comes to men, Candi"
"Hmph. I don't need to know about men, I just wanna know what kind of things Atticus would like" She retorted in an offended manner. "He did mention he would like to see me dress up all gothy... So I guess what turns him on is fishnets and stuff?"
"Fishnets are definitely a start, but there is a lot more to that style. Things like black lipstic, spiky bracelets and chokers... Maybe some platform boots, although a pair of nice heels would be alright as long as they're pitch black I guess... What about tats and piercings, does he like those?"
"I... Think he does. At the very least he once mentioned he'd like to have his tongue pierced and his back tattooed" She remembered a random conversation that brought up the topic.
"Ah... Then I know what he'd absolutely love" Bambi got an idea, whispering said thought in Candi's ear.
"W-What?! Is that... Something girls actually do?" She blushed as she snapped.
"Totally, and while it's not typical, you would be surprised to know how many actually have done it" Bambi clarified. "And in the case of goth chicks, I'm pretty sure it's practically a must of the aesthetic. Besides, it would give you a plus no other girl in the Wandenreich has"
"How can you be so sure?"
"It's something more on the side of taboo, so in conservative families like most Quincies', I doubt any would dare" She explained. "But that isn't an issue for you so... What do you say?"
"*gulp* I... I could give it a thought" She finally replied. Truth be told, she wasn't totally fond of the idea, but still needed something to make sure Arctopus wouldn't be looking at other girls, let alone be seduced by them in the future.
"Wow, you must really love the guy" Bambietta was really surprised.
"What do you mean?"
"Most girls would never think of going that far to please a boyfriend. Like, you do know you two could split up eventually, right?"
"Not happening. I won't go into detail, but basically, if it does occur, it'll be cause the two of us agree to it" Candi replied convinced.
"Candi, you can't be so childish as to actually believe that. You're an adult, even slightly older than me. You need to understand that relationships of this sort aren't as perfect and long-lasting as in books and movies"
"Please, Bambi, stop. I get your point, I know you had your experience in the past and I am not being immature. I've always known of the complexity in relationships..." She evaluated revealing her family background, but finally decided not to. "Look, for the first time in my life, I've come to know a warmth and happiness I can't even start to describe. Atticus is far from perfect, but so am I! And when we're together... There's really no other person I'd rather be with.
I'm sorry that your first try at love didn't come out as you expected but, Bambi, someday you'll find a person that makes you understand this feeling. Although... If you keep blowing up guys you find hot instead, you might never find it"
"Tsk... So now we're talking about me, huh? Nice card played" Bambi bit her lip. "Whatever, for as long as I don't see a sign that there's actually a guy like that, all men are just selfish bastards"
"Funny to hear you say that, considering your dad has given you practically anything you want"
"He just does that to feel less guilty about everything" Basterbine retorted annoyed. "But no amount of money or useless things can cover all his abuses when I was little. He was always either not paying attention, yelling or hitting me back then"
"That was back when you lived in the Human World, right?"
As a matter of fact, Bambietta hadn't been born in the Wandenreich, nor was she truly a pure-blood Quincy.
She was one of the many (yet unaccounted) exceptions to the Auswählen. Born to a human mother and a Quincy father, in no other place but Karakura.
"Yeah... He was always behaving like that, probably to vent his own frustrations as a Quincy. First son of the Basterbine family, yet he was the weakest of all his brothers and cousins. He was sent to a reconnaissance mission in the Human World and after meeting my mother, he just fell victim of his own lust and I was conceived. Talk about a poor excuse of a father"
"It really must've been rough for you"
"It was... But it wouldn't be enough reason to hate him as much as I do" She confessed. "The thing I actually can't forgive him for, is because I have barely any memories of my mom"
"Eh? For real?" Candi was in shock. "I mean, I don't really remember my dad cause he died when I was a baby, but what happened in your case?"
"Nothing much. Just that my father was a lazy ass who did nothing but mind his own business while mom had to work two jobs so that we could eat" She revealed with a strong tone of disdain. "All I remember was her blurry silhouette as she gave me a good night kiss long after I had already fallen asleep"
"I'm sorry to hear that..." Her friend said comprehensively, while her thoughts adventured somewhere else: "I guess we both miss our moms in some way. We might not be so different after all"
"It's okay. I just bear with the thought by now" Basterbine retorted stoic. "If I had known that by revealing my Quincy powers I would be taken here, maybe I would've hid them till the day I died"
"Damn... So you actually wish you'd led a normal life?"
"Maybe... I don't really know since we came here when I was four or something... But at least I would've been able to enjoy my mom more" She concluded. "While I barely remember her, I can still recall that sense of love and care she gave out when she hugged or kissed me. I don't even know how she's doing right now, but I do hope she's happy and well"
~~~~X~~~~
At the same time, in Karakura...
"Oh, Hiyori, you're..." Unagiya Ikumi welcomed the blonde girl as she entered, but was shocked at the sight. "Kaoru! What happened to him?"
"Shit... I was actually hoping you weren't here yet, Boss" The Vizard admitted. "But, it's nothing serious! He just... Crossed during a red light and almost got hit by a car! Yeah!"
"What?!"
Hiyori was amazed that she came up with such an excuse, so continued:
"What I just said! I was going to work when I incidentally saw him crossing. Lucky for him, I quickly grabbed him and was able to get him to safety, but the shock seems to have been too strong. He's been out ever since"
"I... See..." Ikumi didn't detect any hint of dishonesty in her voice, but still was confused about some details, however, her caring motherly nature forced her to extensively check on him first. "Not a scratch, thank God... And thank you so much for saving him, Hiyori. I owe you my life"
Unagiya placed her son on the couch, staring in awe at her most valued possession.
"Damn... That sounds really heavy, I don't think I'm worthy of that" Hiyori wasn't used to that kind of treatment.
"Believe me, you do. As a mother it's simply unthinkable to live without... Your children" Her voice broke a bit, as if a certain memory had hit her. "B-Besides, how would I face his dad if something happened to him while he's working away?"
"Oh, so Kaoru's dad is just away on business?" Hiyori asked with surprise, as she assumed that she was just a single mother.
"Yeah. He's away most of the year. The pay isn't great, but being a salaryman is tough these days, so he bears with it. I've told him many times that he could quit and just work with me but... We both know that's way too unstable to be at peace, especially thinking about Kaoru's future"
"I guess..." Hiyori shrugged as she didn't really know that field in the world of the living.
"But anyway... A million thanks and honestly, you can take today off. You've done more than enough to earn your pay for a week in fact, Hiyori" She spoke sweetly, more than grateful that her son's life had been protected by her.
"Really? Hm... I'd rather take some other day though"
"Huh?"
"I mean, I already came here so, let's get this over with. I just did what anyone would do in any case"
"Hm. If you say so" Unagiya smiled. "But take it easy, alright? Here's the list of jobs I had prepared for you today. Luckily, they're all somewhat nearby"
Hiyori received the memo and put it on her pocket.
"Got it. I'll be on my way then" She walked out the door. "See you later, Boss"
Ikumi sighed as she sat on the couch, resting her son's head on her lap as she muttered:
"My boy... What would I do without you? I... I can't-" She wept as silent as she possibly could. "I wouldn't be able to take losing you... Not after losing her" She unwrapped an old picture from her wallet. "My dear Bambi..."
~~~~X~~~~
Nighttime, Hueco Mundo
"Ichigo, Nelliel!" Orihime called as soon as she exited the Garganta.
"You're back! How did-" Nelliel stopped as soon as she saw Ryuuken.
"Ishida...San" Ichigo was just as shocked, even feeling a bit troubled after seeing him.
"You're... Ishida-san's father, right?" Nel wanted to confirm what was already obvious out of pure anxiety.
"That's correct, but unfortunately, today I'm not here to socialize. Inoue-san told me you came across Quincy soldiers, better known as Soldat" Ryuuken went straight to the point.
"Yeah. At least based on the description our Espada gave, that's the conclusion we reached" Ichigo explained. "We thought it was a bad omen, and seeing you here, looks like we were right, sadly"
"*sigh* Indeed. We're facing a pretty terrible scenario" He agreed. "And although I have an idea, it's impossible to know for sure just how complex the situation is"
"Please, tell us what you know" The King requested.
Ishida nodded, starting right away.
He did his best to quickly explain the history and characteristics of the enemy, as well as teaching them the advantage they had as Arrancar against the Quincies.
"That's pretty much all I know, but that knowledge could be pretty much useless if they've somehow changed their ways or became stronger somehow" He concluded informing. "And I'm afraid... That your sister, Yuzu, is with Uryuu in the Wandenreich"
"Dammit...!" Ichigo spat, unable to contain his emotions.
"Ichigo..." Nelliel became worried as well. "Is that fact dangerous by itself, Ishida-san?"
"Not really, thankfully... But I can't assure her or my son's safety either" He bitterly accepted. "If anything, it'd be right to assume that Uryuu will do all he can to make sure she comes to no harm"
"But it is a fact that this Yhwach guy is up to something" Ichigo reminded. "*sigh* Guess all I can do is leave it up to Ishida"
"Haa..." Nel sighed as well. "Thank you for all your help, Ishida-san. Although we can't do much in this situation, at least there's some hope we can hold onto"
"Maybe, but whatever you need, don't hesitate to call me. If it comes to it, I'm more than willing to fight. So long as it's the end of it all... I'll do whatever it takes" He looked especially determined as he spoke those words.
"That's great to know, really" Ichigo smiled a bit. "But I'll do my best to make sure that doesn't have to happen. If possible, I'd love to put an end to this by myself, but... It's never that easy, is it?"
"If the crises of the past are any indicator... Then no, not at all" Nelliel sadly accepted. "But we'll do our best to be prepared. I'm sure that we will find a way"
"Damn right about that" Kurosaki agreed. "For now, I'll try to somehow cool myself down for tomorrow. I can't have Renji or Byakuya see me all worried with their Duel coming up, can I?"
"Same here" His Queen retorted.
"Well then, I won't take any more of your time, so I shall head back home" Ishida bid farewell. "Inoue-san, would you mind?"
Orihime came closer.
"Sure, no prob!" She opened a Garganta once again. "Be right back!"
"Thanks again, Ishida-san" Ichigo told him. "And if by any chance your son returns with Yuzu, let me know right away. It'd take a heavy weight off my chest"
"Of course, take that for granted" He replied, perfectly understanding the feeling.
~~~~ X ~~~~
Next Day at the Seiteitei, Kuchiki Estate.
"And just like that, we somehow got to come together to such a refined event, wouldn't you agree Sayuri?" Shinji grinned as he walked by his friend's side.
"I was surprised to get an invitation as I personally don't know Captain Kuchiki, but I guess he thought it'd be rude to invite all Squad Captains yet leave the Kidou Corps out" She theorized. "But in any case, it surely was a marvelous surprise"
"Oh my, now here's a uniquely gorgeous flower you don't see often" A man shamelessly said, easily giving out his identity.
Sayuri ignored the comment as she thought it was of poor taste, but Shinji couldn't let it pass:
"Captain Kyoraku, no matter the time or the occasion, you don't miss a single chance to flirt, do ya?"
"Please, no need to take it the wrong way, I'm just fooling around a bit since Nanao-chan isn't around" Shunsui chuckled. "Besides, I wouldn't be seriously hitting on Jushiro's sister, that would be going too far even for me"
"I'm glad you have established limits, Kyoraku-taichou" Sayuri retorted a bit more easygoing.
"You know me, I love all kinds of games and teases, but I'm a man of values in the end"
"I would object to what those values are though, but I'll let it slide for today" Shinji teased back.
"Very funny, Hirako, but more importantly, Sayuri, have you seen your brother?" Shunsui tried to catch a glimpse of him around the area.
"We only just arrived, so I'm afraid I have no idea" She answered politely.
"Is that so? Well, guess I'll look around for a bit then. Maybe he woke up sick and got late haha, or maybe he's just lost somewhere along the nobles" Kyoraku concluded.
"Good luck then. We'll go ahead, so see you later" Shinji continued walking.
"Later!" Sayuri followed.
Shunsui nodded and continued his search.
On a different end, Ichigo and Nelliel were arriving at the Kuchiki Estate, noticing the arena that had been prepared for the encounter, almost looking like a miniature sized stadium.
"Wow, Byakuya sure went all the way with this event" Ichigo commented.
"It just goes to show how much Rukia-san means to him" His Queen theorized. "Or that's what I believe at least"
"It's most probably spot on"
"Now this is a sight I wasn't expecting at all!" A strong femenine voice called, one he had not heard in quite a while.
"K-Kuukaku-san!" Ichigo recognized her immediately. "I didn't know you were invited!"
"Kuuchiki-kun had the nice gesture of inviting me as the head of the Shiba Clan even though we were relieved of the status we once had, so I couldn't really deny it"
"Ah, I see... Then was Yoruichi-san...?"
"Formally invited? I wish!" The dark-skinned woman appeared from behind him as the master of stealth she was.
"Ack!" Both regents were astonished by the pro move.
"But... I made the proper arrangements to come in representation of my little brother, who doesn't know Bya-kun all that well anyways" She grinned.
"I see. It's great to see you, Yoruichi-san!" Nel greeted her.
"By the way, Ichigo, did you see your pops on the way here?" Shiba asked.
"Huh? No, we didn't cross to the Human World, we entered the Seireitei directly"
"No, of course not. I meant that Isshin is here" Kuukaku specified.
"What? What's he doing here?" Kurosaki was surprised.
"He wanted me and Yoru to teach a couple things to Karin as well as check on some of his former colleagues, so they will stay for the weekend" Shiba explained.
"Ah, awesome. I'll definitely go see them before taking my leave" He smiled.
"Busy as always, aren't we?" Shihouin commented, easily forming an idea of what was his schedule like.
"Yeah, no need to mention it" He scratched the back of his head.
"But we're planning to delegate a couple functions to our trustworthy comrades little by little, so I'm sure we'll be able to rest more in due time" Nel clarified.
"That's great to hear, but, shall we continue this talk inside?" Kuukaku realized they were starting to get weird looks from the nobles due to the Arrancar monarchs, so she tried to avoid any awkwardness to her Hollow friends.
Half an hour later...
"This thing should be about to start..." Ichigo observed.
"Actually, I was thinking for a moment, isn't the arena way too little for the massive attacks of Kuuchiki-san and Abarai-san?" Nelliel inquired.
"That's because this won't be a full-fledged battle, otherwise there wouldn't be a stage in all of Soul Society that could keep them at bay" Yoruichi answered. "This will be a traditional Kendo duel, with wooden swords and all"
"Ah! That makes sense!" The Queen's eyes glistened as she realized, hopeful to see something new.
"It might be a bit old fashioned, but then again, it's the only possible way under these conditions" Kuukaku accepted. "And in any case, these old farts from the 'high socialité' will be more than content with it"
"Excuse me" A man sitting next to Yoruichi spoke. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, and I must say I completely agree"
"Um... Who would you be?" Kurosaki had never seen him before, although he felt somewhat bothered by his presence.
"Oh, so sorry. Where are my manners?" He made a flamboyant mannerism as he flicked his hair. "The name's Tsunayashiro, Tsunayashiro Tokinada"
"I forgot where we were sitting for a moment" Yoruichi sighed. "But I didn't expect you to just barge into our conversation"
As expected of Byakuya, he made sure that the highest-ranked nobles had the best spot, which included the heads of the three clans (Kuchiki, Tsunayashiro and Shihouin in order), the special guest (Shiba), as well as Ichigo and Nelliel for obvious reasons.
"Don't be like that, Shihouin Yoruichi, I just thought that Shiba-san made a statement that completely expressed my feelings on the matter" Tokinada brushed her off. "To be honest, I doubt any of these flesh puppets would understand, let alone enjoy the thrill of a real battle unfolding before their eyes"
Yoruichi looked at Kuukaku as if saying: 'This guy's bad news, don't pay attention to him!'
But a woman of such a playful and strong character like her simply couldn't be swayed by such things.
"Would you look at that?" Kuukaku acted interested, changing places with Yoruichi to make the talk smoother. "I always thought the Tsunayashiro was by far the most classy out of the Great Noble Clans, you know, away from the likes of violence and such, but you don't match said stereotype saying something like that"
"Of course, I won't deny that class is something inherent of our status, but there are some stupid details I pay no heed to" He retorted. "At least in my eyes, the unquestionable love for violence and blood without falling into brutality is a characteristic shared by only the most distinguished people in the world, such as many emperors in both the West and the East throughout history"
"Ah, spoken like a true sadist I see" Shiba smiled to herself. "But I'm afraid we're not the same. I enjoy an all out war cause only then is everyone under the same conditions. Everyone is forced to give everything they've got, and failure to do so is their own responsibility. No place for excuses nor complaints. You've got one job and you gotta do it right cause your life depends on it, surpassing all kind of limits if necessary"
"Hm... I see. While we're definitely not the same, we can agree that seeing limits being overcome is a delightful aspect" He reflected, grinning maliciously afterwards: "Although... Would that include the limits established by laws and morals?"
Yoruichi stared at him with disgust, expecting such a distasteful point of view from her friend's comment.
"If your life depends on it..." Kuukaku conditioned. "All is fair game in my eyes"
"Interesting... Truly interesting" He smiled like a reptile that has found its prey. "Thank you for the chat. I couldn't be happier to see that the Shiba Clan has such a woman at its head, though it truly is a shame that they were removed from their rightful status"
"Thank you for the compliment, but I must say I enjoy my freedom without the weight of being an example to the whole Seireitei" She proudly said.
"Is that so? Well, who am I to judge?" He chuckled, but heard a voice in his ear.
"Tsunayashiro-sama, two individuals of Captain-level Reiatsu are trying to infiltrate the laboratory!" Kagerouza said over a hearing device he had given his master.
"*sigh* I was expecting action, but so soon? What a pity" He thought, standing up. "Well, it truly is a shame, but I just remembered a previous engagement I had and cannot stay any longer. I bid you farewell, Shiba..."
"Kuukaku" She completed.
"I'll make sure to remember that. Greetings to your companions as well, I hope you enjoy the show" He bid them farewell and quickly left.
Everyone seemed a bit uncomfortable, but of course, only one person would just go and say it first:
"Hey? What was that all about? That man's the worst kind of bastard you can possibly think of sharing a convo with!" Yoruichi reprimanded her.
"I don't like judging people too quickly, but that nobleman truly gave me the chills" Nelliel agreed. "What were you thinking, Kuukaku-san?"
"I don't know, I thought it'd be interesting. You don't often see a character like him" She simply replied. "And besides, everyone in the Seireitei knows that the Tsunayashiro Clan is not known for its powerful members. They always hire assassins and other sorts of mercenaries to get the job done, so even if I had fallen on his bad side, I have nothing to fear"
"You sure have a twisted idea of fun, but at the very least I can see you thought things through" Ichigo sighed.
"I always do, so no need to worry" She assured.
"Oh, look, Rukia-san entered the arena!" Nel exclaimed.
Kuuchiki Rukia was beautifully dressed in a Kimono, painted with different shades of pink cherry blossom petals.
"Ehem!" She called the visitor's attention. "On my and my brother's behalf, I'd like to thank everyone for coming today to witness this duel. The rules are simple, first direct strike will be considered the winner. The only restrictions will be the use of Kidou, as well as low blows. Both are forbidden" She stated as two figures entered the Arena. "Without further ado, I'll leave you with Kuchiki Byakuya and Abarai Renji, to an outstanding duel!"
People clapped as Rukia descended, clearly anxious about what was about to happen, but trying her best to keep her composure.
"Thank you for your beautiful words, Rukia" Byakuya said with gratitude while keeping his stoic attitude. "Now, at your signal, we shall begin. Are you ready, Lieutenant Abarai?"
"Y-Yes!" He yelled nervously, sweating bullets while holding the wooden sword, doing an inhuman effort not to tremble.
"I'll count down from 3" The girl announced, and two Soul reapers started playing a Taiko to create tension. "3! 2! 1...! Start!!!"
Just before any nobles could comment on how short the match would be with just one point for the win, in the fraction of a second the Lieutenant and his Captain clashed at least a tenfold of times.
They stopped for just a moment to stare at each other, Renji had a fierce expression while Byakuya smiled a tiny bit.
The next second, their elegant swordplay was back in action, striking the other's weapon over and over with both violence and technique.
For those of Captain level and beyond, it was a more than delightful sight, enjoying each and every move of the duelists.
Byakuya, seemed particularly happy as he continued crossing blades with his Lieutenant, who could seem on the brink of defeat at times, but quickly concentrated to save himself from a direct hit right when it came.
For Kuchiki Byakuya, who had always esteemed class, it was simply a marvel to see someone from the slums grow to such a skill. His sense of superiority regarding Renji, was long gone after seeing how much he had grown by now, and this was simply the final test to see whether he'd be able to protect his Pride.
"If we were using our Zanpakutou, this might have been a lot shorter, or so I thought at first" The nobleman said inside his head as he received an attack of the redhead. "But seeing how much you've polished your technique, and the passion you've put into this duel... I'm not so sure anymore. Guess I'll have no choice but to keep pushing myself even harder!"
Byakuya's strikes increased their speed and force, throwing off Abarai a bit, but just when he seemed he would be defeated, Renji put all his heart and mind into a dangerous counterattack.
"Ha...!" He couldn't help exclaiming as the wooden blade kept slashing with the intent to finish off his Captain.
"Won't those break at some point?" Hirako commented.
"The wooden swords were hardened by a Bakudou Spell. While not as dangerous or sharp as a Zanpakutou, they're meant to withstand as much damage as the real thing"
"I see..." He nodded. "Looks like it was useful to bring you along in the end"
"I remind you, Usagi, that I was invited just like you, cause I'm not only a Captain, but a member of the Ukitake family as well" Sayuri retorted annoyed.
"Figures, huh?" He kept teasing her. "As much as I enjoy being lectured on your lineage, you should pay attention, you'll miss the greatest part!"
"Urk..." Sayuri groaned as she shook her head.
However, Hirako was not lying, both contenders were clearly giving it all, and particularly Abarai seemed to have gained the upper hand for the first time in the duel, forcing Byakuya to step back slowly with each strike.
"This is it, Captain. I've been waiting my whole life for this moment" Renji thought frenzied. "The moment I finally beat you!"
With the final strike of the combo, Byakuya's wooden sword flew out of his hand.
The Captain widened his eyes for a moment, in more than disbelief from the event, seeing as Renji prepared the final blow to end the match.
A win seemed certain for the Lieutenant, who directed the blade at Kuchiki's chest.
However, Byakuya did not give up, and dodged the swing just before it reached him, while opening his hand for a falling object...
In a mere second, Renji was hit in the back with Kuchiki's wooden sword, losing The Duel just as he was tasting victory, and falling down into the Arena.
"Point to Kuchiki Byakuya. A round of applause for the winner" Rukia said in a strangely bitter way.
One would think she considered this match an easy win for his brother after all, but the truth is, after knowing how hard Renji had trained and, during the match itself, how close he came to actually win... It was inevitable to find some sour taste in the result.
"Dammit... I really thought he would make it" Ichigo felt the same.
"Right? That was totally unexpected, but I'm forced to recognize that Kuchiki-san's reaction was amazing too!" Nelliel was excited after seeing the whole thing.
After the ovations ceased, Byakuya helped Renji stand up.
"Thank you all for the energy, but I'm afraid I don't really deserve it" The Captain said, much to everyone's surprise, but especially Renji's. "I am someone who was born to become an example. It's nothing strange that I was raised in the art of combat ever since my childhood, and from there always continued practicing and polishing my skill to get where I'm at. On the other hand, coming from a young man who didn't grow with such duty, or let alone had the means a noble family has... This was a more than spectacular display of skill, courage and fortitude"
"Taichou...!" Renji exclaimed, holding tears with all his might.
"I couldn't be happier to have a Lieutenant such as Abarai Renji. He's an example of resilience for all Soul Reapers, and maybe even more. Through all these years, I've seen how hard he has worked to get where he is now, and it's because of all that, that I feel that the true merit goes to him"
At first, most nobles were in shock, not really knowing if they should clap their hands to the loser...
But soon, applause started again in two sides of the Arena:
The Noble Clan seats (and co.) on one side, and the Captains of the Gotei 13 on the other.
Soon, cheers and claps were heard coming from all the spectators, all to congratulate Renji over his magnificent duel against a man respected in all the Seireitei and known to be one of the strongest Shinigami to walk the streets of the Gotei.
Rukia didn't think twice as she jumped over the Arena to hug her beloved, happily lifted from the waist by him as soon as they were together.
"Ehem...!" Byakuya cleared his throat, requesting silence again. "Now... Regarding my sister's hand... I still have my doubts"
Rukia and Renji stared at him with fear.
"But..." Kuchiki continued. "I am willing to allow it if Lieutenant Abarai vows to keep training with the objective of becoming stronger than myself, her indisputable protector"
"Yes! I promise, Captain! There won't be a single day you won't see me swinging a sword with that goal in mind! So please...!"
Rukia limited herself to make a puppy face to her brother.
"*sigh*" The Captain decided. "Fine. You've earned your right to court her (with marriage in mind)" He almost whispered the last part.
"Yayyyy!" Rukia hugged Renji again, joyfully celebrating the verdict.
"I knew it!" Nel cheered as well. "I knew this would happen, I could feel it!"
"Yeah, yeah..." Ichigo chuckled at her energetic reaction, but was really happy for his friends as well.
"I see, so he's still a softie when it counts" Yoruichi mocked with a smirk directed right at Byakuya, but he quickly diverted his eyes from it, pretending not to see her even.
"That will be a great story to tell their children, won't it?" Kuukaku had enjoyed the moment as well. "Worthy of a novel"
On the other end, there were also interesting reactions.
"So? Who do I have to beat to ask for your hand, Sayuri?" Shinji grinned.
"I'm sorry, but I don't feel like dating idiots at this time of the year" She cut him off right away.
"Oh, don't be so rude, Sayuri" Juushiro interrupted. "I'm sure Captain Hirako is just messing around, though if he's serious, I wouldn't mind really"
"What?!" Sayuri exclaimed flustered.
"He's a diligent and trustworthy man, or at least I've always had that impression during the years I've had to work with him, on top of his funny attitude" Ukitake was actually fond of the idea. "Actually, you know what? I'm feeling great today. Why don't we ask Captain Kuchiki if we can have a duel right away over Sayuri?" He started stretching, but was immediately caught by an uncontrollable cough.
"*sigh* See what mumbling all that garbage got you? Just go back and rest, Nii-san" Sayuri pat him on the back as he continued coughing. "I can go with you if you want"
"*cough* No need! *cough* REALLY! *cough*"
"What a waste... I almost took you up on that" Shinji teased.
"You just shut up! It's not funny!" She yelled as she blushed. "Or at least it's very serious to me..."
"I know, I know... So we'll just skip the whole duel and go straight into a date, what do you think? It's a beautiful day today"
"Urgh... Usagi... Just... Hahhh..." She just sighed and left.
Shinji chuckled a bit, but sighed in the end as he saw her go.
"If only it was that easy..."
~~~~X~~~~
Meanwhile, in the Tsunayashiro Estate...
"Again, how is it that YOU ended up in this?!" The mad scientist of the Gotei complained.
"I just saw you up to something sketchy so I thought I'd join, nothing more" Isshin said with a big smile as he continued following Mayuri. "Where are we, though?"
"A secret entrance to the underground beneath the land of the Tsunayashiro. And don't you dare ask why, cause I won't tell" Kurotsuchi replied annoyed. "This was supposed to be a top secret mission"
"Well, not so top secret anymore, but don't worry, I won't tell anyone about this" He retorted as carefree as a fuzzy cartoon bear. "Wait, can you feel that?"
"A couple annoying pests, most likely" Mayuri expected at least a bit of security.
"Don't worry, I've got'em. Burn, Engetsu!" He activated his Shikai and swinged his blade. "Getsuga Tenshou!"
Flames of tremendous magnitude filled the tunnel, burning the hidden mercenaries to a crisp in a matter of seconds.
"You couldn't do something more discreet? This is an infiltration mission" Mayuri felt like smashing his face into a wall, for a facepalm wasn't nearly enough to express himself.
"Oh, it was? Sorry, my Zanpakutou isn't the best at being discreet to tell the truth" He scratched the back of his head. "But we don't seem to have triggered any alarms so I'd say it's all good"
"That won't be necessary, after all, the host himself has arrived" Tokinada appeared behind them. "So, what do I owe this visit for? You don't see a Captain and an Ex-Captain of the Gotei in your house every day"
"I see... So you were smart enough to be expecting us, Tsunayashiro Tokinada" Mayuri commented as he made a crazy face. "Or was Inaba the one to warn you?"
"I don't know what the Hell you're talking about or who that is, but I just happened to be checking my basement when I felt the presence of two powerful Shinigami"
"Look, pal, if you're hiding anything better confess right away and this will be a lot easier" Isshin wasn't up for games. "Cause I can feel the stench of death in your Reiatsu alone"
"Shiba Isshin... Or do you prefer Kurosaki nowadays? Well, the matter of the fact is that you were a more than unlikely individual to come across my way, and yet somehow... *sigh* Anyways, I'll just make sure to make the most out of this"
"You're well informed, aren't you? Cause I'm pretty sure we've never met" He said surprised.
"Oh, you would be surprised to hear how much I know about you" Tsunayashiro retorted defiant. "But I'm not here for that. You came here without any document to support the invasion of my property, so why don't you just leave right away? You know, so I don't press charges or something"
"Oh, we'll leave, as soon as I find evidence that you've been hiding and protecting the criminal that is Kagerouza Inaba!" Mayuri lost his patience. "And for evidence, I mean the traitorous maggot himself"
"How mamy times must I repeat that I don't know such a person? You're not only wasting your time but also violating the property of the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan" Tokinada wasn't even fazed. "And now I'm definitely done with chances, so know that there will be consequences"
"Of course there will! And you'll be the one to deal with them!" Kurotsuchi unsheathed his Zanpakuto. "Rip, Ashisogi Jizou"
"Looks like I'll have to put the garbage in its place" Tokinada tasted his lips as he used his family's treasured Zanpakutou. "Venerate, Kuten Kyoukoku"
Isshin was instantly alarmed by the strange aura that blade emanated, and so decided to end things quickly.
"Getsuga Tenshou!" The wall of flames appeared strong as ever, ready to scorch the nobleman in a flash.
But unfortunately for him, Tokinada was ready for this, and used his sword to reflect the attack towards Mayuri.
By the time Captain Kurotsuchi was able to realize what had happened, it was too late.
"Shit..." He muttered as his body was completely roasted.
"Kurotsuchi!" Kurosaki yelled.
"Heh, heh, heh... I thank you, Ex-Captain. My powers alone would never be able to defeat a Captain as powerful as Kurotsuchi Mayuri in one blow, but your rash offensive made this result possible"
"You bastard...!" He charged towards him with a decisive slash. "If he can reflect my flames, then I just have to cut him down like this" He thought.
Although his hypothesis was correct, this was expected by Tsunayashiro, who let himself be slashed just the right amount.
"Kgh...!"
"Give up, Tsunayashiro! There's no way you can beat me" Isshin said convinced.
"In fact... I don't have nearly the strength or the skill to do so" He panted. "But... That doesn't mean I can just give up, you know?" He prepared his blade for a way more powerful release. "Sip from the four seas, the heavenly shores entwine. Equally duplicate ten thousands and sharpen, Enrakyoten!"
"Ban...kai?" Kurosaki wondered as he heard the command.
After a black and light green aura engulfed him, Isshin noticed the most wicked thing about the Zanpakutou.
"Wait, there's no... Blade?" Isshin realized.
"What do you mean? It's right here" Tokinada laughed evilly. "My... Kyouka Suigetsu"
"It can't be...!" The Ex-Captain muttered as he fell into the hypnotic spell.
"Hahaha... AHAHAHAHAHA!" Tsunayashiro rejoiced in his victory. "So now... How should I proceed with this?"
Two hours later...
"I love to be back in the Seireitei, and this time it's like a mini vacation, so it's been a great change of pace! Wouldn't you agree, Ichi?" Nelliel happily hummed as she held to her husband's arm while they strolled around the Gotei's streets.
"You can say that again. Not only did we get this little rest, but also got the opportunity to catch up with our friends out here" Kurosaki smiled. "That reminds me, I wonder where Karin and dad might be..."
"Ichigo!" A certain healer came running towards him desperately.
"Hanataro! Long time no see! How have you been?"
"There's no time for that! Your father has been put into a cell! There's been a murder!"
Nelliel covered her mouth as she gasped.
"Wh-Wha...?" Ichigo's eyes became frozen. "Th-There's no way... This has to be a joke!"
"I'm sorry, I don't know more details but, it's all true!" Yamada was crying. "I'm so sorry..."
"Squad 3 is the one in charge of prisoners, right? I-I'll go right away" He said, still digesting what he had been told. "Let's go, Nel"
"Y-Yeah. Of course!"
Ichigo moved as fast as he could around the streets without crashing into anyone.
"Dammit old man... What mess did you get into?" He thought, still baffled beyond recovery.
And... So sorry for taking so long, but I ended up playing AoE II a whole lot during vacations so I left writing aside quite a bit, as well as the very different travels I did with family here and there that aren't the base for concentrating purposes.
However, this semester at Uni shouldn't be AS heavy as the ones before, so I might write more these months.
I've also been working on my Light Novel from time to time, so I hope you understand.
Anyways, first chapter where something actually serious happens, so I hope you enjoyed it and look forward to what happens next. I bet you might have a gist of it, but trust me, you're not prepared for Tokinada's schemes on this matter...
Without further ado, Evhron out.
In the Catnipp Residence...
"So here we are once again for some Sternritter ABC!" Atticus welcomes everyone. "Here are the cool riffs of this chapter, ready to melt your faces!"
J - The Jail: "Take No Prisoners" by Megadeth.
"A classic one, straight out my favorite Megadeth album, 'Rust In Peace', filled with original riffs and solos, these last ones courtesy of Marty Friedman" He says as he has a blast playing the song. "Also, I won't elaborate on Quilge cause he's a piece of shit, he's dead, and we all know how his ability works, so moving on!"
I - The Iron: "Ironhead" by Helmet.
"As obvious as it can get, this song title and groovy riff pretty much represents the iron skin mimicry Cang Du can achieve when using this Schrift"
H - The Heat: "The Arsonist" by Thrice.
"A song that smashes right into your face with its scorching riff, perfect to describe the power wielded by one of the fan favorites: Bazz-B!"
G - The Glutton: "Informal Gluttony" by Between The Buried And Me.
"Last but not least today, we've got one freaking masterpiece to associate our favorite petite Sternritter's Schrift" He bangs his head to the loud music. "If you're ever interested in marrying her, just remember that you're gonna need a REALLY big cheque each month in order to feed this bottomless glutton... Or just be like Gremmy and generate food from your imagination, haha!"
He puts the guitar down and bids farewell.
"Too bad Candi was busy at the spa today, but don't worry, cause I'll always be here to entertain you. See you next time, when things are getting SERIOUSLY outta hand!"
