And I'm back! What? Did you really think I'd leave you all hanging?
Anyway, here it is, the second part of the latest team Ichigo vs Bounts fight! How will things end this time?
人形: 奪われた
Bount: Taken
This…can't end well.
Ishida frowned in thought while he and Yoshino hid behind some crates, waiting with baited breath for Koga and Dalk to show up. For someone his size, the male Bount can sure run, almost catching up to them with such ease in stride that Ishida had been afraid that the chase would end so soon. Thankfully, the shop's basement was full of passages behind tough wood or steel doors. It had been a small source of amusement for the Quincy to hear Dalk yell strings of curses every time they'd slam a heavy door on her face.
But we can't keep this up for too long. Ishida thought. Yoshino-san is right. We have no choice but to go back up. At least there, she'll be able to summon Goethe.
It disconcerted him how easily the Bounts found them. It made Ishida worried about how the others were holding up, especially since most of the Shinigami were currently occupied.
You better get your bankai back, Kurosaki. I don't think we'll be able to last much longer if—
"FOUND! YOU!"
—Shit! Ishida and Yoshino jumped back in time to avoid Dalk tearing through the crates with her metallic arm. She looked positively gleeful, but Ishida quickly pushed a crate onto her face. Dalk tore through that too, just like the Quincy wanted.
BOOM!
There was a bang, the ground shook a little, and Dalk was sent stumbling back.
"Ouch! What the—?" Dalk cursed and raged, swatting at smoke cloud in front of her while Ishida and Yoshino circled around and away from the doll. "ARGH! NOT AGAIN!"
Yoshino waved a hand to clear the residual dust. "What was in that crate?"
"No idea, other than the fact that it had a 'Caution: Explosive' tag." Ishida answered. "And I even got something out of it."
Koga then showed up on the doorway, making Ishida chuck a couple of the small round explosives at the Bount's face. Koga grimaced, barely managing to raise his arm before the rounds went off. Ishida had a feeling it won't be enough to disorient the bulky male for long, but it was enough to make him back off enough for him and Yoshino to slide past him and back to the hall.
"Your…your Shinigami ally makes the strangest things." Yoshino remarked from behind Ishida.
"Urahara-san's always been a strange one." That's a charitable way to put it. Ishida added in his mind. "But you have to admit, he's saved our hides more than once."
Yoshino seemed to have remembered the several times Ishida led Dalk and Koga through either a trap or a box of inventions that worked just as well as one. "True." And if it weren't for Koga wising up and splitting up from Dalk after one time the Quincy got Dalk stuck in some sort of slimy super glue, the pair would have gotten away faster.
"Anyway, we're almost at the stairs. Just one more floor and we'll be back above ground."
They took another turn to the right, distantly aware of the sound of clinking metal behind them. When the sight of the twisting metal stairs came into view, Ishida allowed himself a small smile. They'll be able to make it!
"YOU LITTLE BRAT!"
What the—? Ishida turned his head, in time to see Dalk charging from the ceiling, her face a scowling mask.
"Quincy!" Yoshino leapt, pushing Ishida away from the incoming attack. Ishida quickly turned his body as they fell, bracing himself to feel the residual impact in case Dalk's arm finds its mark. But just when it looked like their luck finally ran out...
"Santen Kesshun, I reject!"
There was the sound of rushing wind, the sound of crackling energy, and Dalk screaming in anger.
Ishida looked up, his heart to his throat with relief. "Inoue-san! Ururu-san!"
The cool, timid Ururu nodded with a wave. "We apologize for the wait, Ishida-dono." Orihime, on the other hand, was radiating anxiety, her shield being the only thing keeping Dalk away from them. "Ishida-kun! Yoshino-san! Are you both all right?"
"Fine." Yoshino said shortly as she and Ishida got back on their feet.
"Argh! Stupid weak little girl!" Dalk hissed before pounding on the triangular barrier. "Get this thing out of my way!"
Orihime hesitated the slightest bit before her eyes hardened. "I won't…let you hurt…my friends! Tsubaki!"
She lowered the barrier and was able to jump out off when Dalk's arm went down, hitting the stone floor. Orihime pointed. "Koten Zanshun! I reject!"
"What?" Dalk tried to avoid the hurtling beam of light, but Tsubaki grew progressively larger until he hit her on the face. "ARGH!"
Yoshino drew a breath while Ishida smiled slightly. "You've been working on Tsubaki?"
Orihime nodded, but there was a frown on her face. "It's still not as strong as I know it should though. Tsubaki always says so…"
Ishida saw the staggering Dalk and noted how, despite being hit by Orihime's attack straight on the face, the worst it did on the Doll was turning its head into a melted U-shaped, bobbing, bobbling monstrosity that was halved up to the neck.
But while it wasn't obviously enough to kill Dalk, it was enough to irritate her like crazy.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Her screams were sounding way too much like nails on chalkboard for Ishida's comfort. "THE HELL DID YOU DO TO ME, YOU WEAK, WHINY, LITTLE BITCH?!"
"Good enough for now, I say." Ishida tugged Orihime's wrist. "Come on!"
"Dalk!" And of course Koga shows up while he and his allies were trying to escape. "What are you doing? You're letting them get away!"
"DAMN SISSY DID SOMETHING TO MY FACE! GIVE ME A FUCKING SECOND!"
The burly Bount scowled before running past Dalk, obviously to go after them. But from the corner of Ishida's eye, he saw Ururu brace herself.
"Stay. Away." The girl said coldly before jumping up, her foot aiming for the ceiling above Koga's head.
Ishida and Orihime watched from behind their shoulders as the cement cracked like lightning before it burst apart. The last the pair saw of Koga was the man freezing for a split second before a large chunk of rock blocked their view of him, followed by the rest of what would be a rather huge cave in.
Orihime winced. "That…won't end up bringing the whole ceiling down on us, will it?"
Ishida thought about it as Ururu jumped right back into pace next to them. "Probably not, but I don't want to wait around to prove it. At least we managed to get away from those two somehow."
"Indeed." Yoshino said quietly. "Thank you, both of you."
Orihime blushed and beamed at the praise. "No trouble at all, Yoshino-san! We're all friends now, aren't we? And I won't let anyone hurt my friends and get away with it! Not on my watch!"
Despite the cynical remark that automatically popped in Ishida's mind, he could not help the fond smile on his lips. That's Inoue-san for you. Even after everything, she just can't help but focus on the sunshine and rainbows. Can't help but still think that she's too…pure for the life we've dragged her into.
"Is…that so?" Yoshino blinked languidly, as if she was only seeing the cheerful brunette for the first time, before shooting a puzzled glance at Ishida who shrugged.
"Anyway, Inoue-san, why are you and Ururu down here? Weren't you supposed to be with Urahara and the others?"
Orihime's face fell with worry. "That's part of the problem, Ishida-kun! That other Bount we fought-Musashi, I think his name was-his Doll somehow possessed Sado-kun and Jinta-kun, and now they're fighting Urahara-san and Tessai-san!"
"Mabashi." The female Doll corrected Orihime. "And if your friends are under his control, the only way they can be freed is either through making Mabashi release them or…"
The morbid pause lasted another second before Ishida's eyes narrowed angrily. "That's not even an option!" He said heatedly.
"Well then let us hope that your shinigami shopkeeper friend is as strong as he is strange. Mabashi may look weak, but he won't fall easily."
Playtime's over.
Urahara thought, all joviality gone from his eyes as he leapt away from Sado's powerful punch while Tessai avoided the strikes from Jinta's club.
Not that he hadn't been taking this fight seriously, but Urahara felt that he had allowed the whole thing for far too long. He had hoped that everyone's combined efforts would be able to stall the two Dolls long enough for Kurosaki to regain his bankai, then beat the invaders enough to make them retreat and thus lead them straight to Kariya.
He had not anticipated the insidiously dangerous ability of the bount Mabashi and his Doll.
To take control of one's nervous system much like a puppeteer would his marionette's strings. Urahara had to smile grimly at that. Now doesn't that sound familiar? But still, this is quite the situation we have. The Bount and the Doll itself isn't of any real threat, but how can we release Sado-san and Jinta from their influence?
Even while parrying Sado's attacks, Urahara's mind worked through a number of healing kido he and Tessai could use to repel Ritz from Sado's and Jinta's bodies. There is also Orihime's unique ability to consider. But any one of those things could take time to set up, and there's also the question of how to get the two boys to hold still.
Not to mention… Urahara grunted in irritation upon spotting a speeding flower fox heading his way. He kicked Sado out of his way before flashstepping to the side to avoid Ritz. There's no way to know for sure just how many of these copies he can make, as well as how many victims he can control.
First things first then. We'll have to take care of Sado-san and Jinta.
"Tessai." Urahara caught the muscle bound ex-Shinigami's eye for a moment before slanting his own gaze to the right. It was a testament to how long and well they've worked together that Tessai nodded in understanding after a second.
Mabashi, sensing that something was amiss with the two, grunted in anticipation.
"I am sorry for this, Sado-san." Urahara said mildly, vanishing before Sado's punch could land. The controlled human jerked up in confusion, but before he or Mabashi could react, Urahara drove the flat of his blade to the half-Mexican's torso.
Sado stumbled back in shock and pain, but Urahara continued to deliver strikes in quick succession. The teen barely managed to defend himself from the worst of the attacks with his right arm.
"Shakkaho!" From Mabashi's left, Tessai too had stopped fighting defensively, shooting fireballs in rapid succession at Jinta who had no choice but to keep dodging.
Mabashi frowned. So the two old men finally decided to fight back, eh? Che, what a bother. I really hoped using those two as hostages of sorts would be enough to hold them back. Guess I have to do a little more.
He cupped his hand in the air, forming a golden ball. "Ritz!"
Urahara's eyes narrowed. So he can make more of his Doll even while it is controlling its victims. I better hurry before Sado-san or Jinta get hurt any further.
"Hado #32," Urahara slid his hand down his blade, bathing it in golden light. "Oukasen!"
Sado raised his right arm to defend from the beam Urahara sent his way, managing to stave off the brunt of the attack. But at the same time, Tessai hurled another Shakkaho at Jinta, leading him to back up against Sado.
Mabashi's eyes widened. No way!
Got them. Urahara smirked before raising his sword. "Okiro, Benihime!" Tessai, on the other hand, raised his fingers. "Bakudo #1: Sai!"
Jinta and Sado lurched simultaneously as the bakudo's power forced their arms behind them, making Mabashi growl in anger. "What the-? What the hell's wrong with you two? You going to let a few fancy hand spells stop you?"
"I wouldn't go underestimating the power of Kidou spells, boy." Tessai said coolly. "Especially if they are being done by a master."
"Case in point," Urahara cut in with a wave of his hand. "Bakudo #61: Rikujoukourou!"
Six beams of light were hurled right where Jinta and Sado were standing, three going through Jinta and the other three going through Sado, binding them back to back with one spell.
Urahara smirked victoriously. "And that's how that is done."
Mabashi hissed in anger at the sight of Sado and Jinta struggling and failing to free themselves from the light prison. "Ritz!"
"Yes~!" The foxy doll said merrily as it shot forward. "Going right~!"
But the Doll's speed was no match for Urahara's, who was able to deflect the attack with one of his own. "Nake, Benihime!"
"IYAAA~!"
Ritz screeched shrilly before vanishing with a pop.
"RITZ!"
"Yare, yare, you really should work on your Doll's behavior." Urahara said with a tip of his hat. "Shouting the direction of its attack for the world to hear. The poor thing must be begging for a beating."
"Shit…" Mabashi's hands curled into fists.
"Now this game has gone long enough." Urahara flipped his sword to raise its sharp edge. "You now have two choices: either release my allies and leave, or die by the end of my sword. I can assure you, death by Benihime is quite a painful way to go."
"Heh, and you call yourself a shopkeeper, making such a lousy deal. No wonder your place is so rundown." Mabashi smirked despite the cold sweat running down his spine. "Here's a better one for you: you give us the Quincy and Yoshino-san, and I'll let your little friends go. Otherwise," Mabashi raised his index and middle fingers. "I'll just tell Ritz to blow their hearts sky high."
A deep scowl marred Urahara's face. "Here I thought you were the negotiable sort."
"The same could be said for you, old man." Mabashi had a smirk on his face, but deep down he was getting increasingly anxious.
Damn it, Koga, what the fuck is keeping you? If I kill those two, then I'll only be able to make two more Ritz copies before I'm out. And I really don't want it to come to having to kill the humans.
Not to mention the gut feeling I have that, if we don't wrap this up soon, we'll be in a bigger world of trouble!
It can't…end like this…
The world around Ichigo was literal ice, its cold seeping into his skin and even into his vision like an insidious, freezing burn.
How long had he been trapped in Rukia's ice like this? It feels so close to an eternity, and it was making him anxious. Where was Rukia? Where was everyone? Is the whole world speeding past him while stayed literally frozen in this moment? Did the Bounts attack already? Are Yoshino and Ishida taken already?
No. It can't! I refuse to let that happen! Ichigo gritted his teeth, his entire body spasming to make even a single muscle in his arms twitch. He was still gripping his sword, but a lot of good that will do if he can't do anything else! Damn it, stupid arms, move! I didn't go through the hell that was Urahara's training and all those fights in Soul Society with Zaraki and Byakuya just to lose here!
/Then why did you?/
Ichigo's heart stopped, sucking in a breath. That voice! Is that—? ZANGETSU?! OI! OLD MAN ZANGETUS, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, IS THAT YOU?!
/Finally, Ichigo. I starting to think that you've forgotten about me./ Came the zanpakuto's flat-toned reply.
I know, I know, and really, it's my bad, but why the hell didn't you say anything? It's been months and you were too damn quiet!
/Not by own choosing, nor from my lack of trying./
The way Zangetus sounded almost hurt made the orange head bite his lip. So it IS my fault I couldn't summon bankai. But you're here now, Zangetsu! Please you have to help me! I can't fight the Bounts without your full power backing me up!
/It is beyond my ability to help you this time, Ichigo. Remember that you gained my bankai through your own hard work, not merely by relying on me./
"If you cannot find the strength of your own soul," Ichigo remembered Zangetsu telling him. "Then you can forget about learning bankai."
The strength of my own soul…
/Think carefully. You were able to find the strength to stand with your own power alongside mine. What was it that you had back then that enabled you to achieve it, to survive the hell I brought upon you during those three days?/
What I had back then? Ichigo paused as he tried to remember. When I first met you, I was trying to fix my sword because Byakuya broke it. And then when I was in Soul Society, when Yoruichi trained me for Bankai, I wanted to beat Byakuya too.
/And why is that?/
Because…Rukia's face flashed into his mind. Because I wanted to save Rukia! Like hell I was going to let them execute her just like that! I wasn't going to let a friend die!
/Good. Remember how that felt like. The desperation. The need. The determination. Everything I've ever taught you./
Ururu punching hard enough to break his chest. Urahara cutting his Chain of Fate. Him stabbing the Tenshintai. Zangetsu cutting him through his brittle blade. Being surrounded by the Zangetsu clones.
That's right. I wanted that power, because I didn't want to go back to being weak anymore. I didn't want to let someone else die like mom did, right in front of me! I wasn't going to let anything stop me. I won't lose to anybody who would try to take everything I cared about from me.
Why do I want bankai? Isn't it obvious?! It's because I have people important to me that I have to protect!
He heard something crack in the distance, and Zangetsu's tone becoming lighter. /And how much do these people mean to you?/
Flashes of faces before his very eyes.
My friends! Chizuru. Keigo. Kojima. Tatsuki. Sado. Ishida. Inoue. They've all been supporting me. Even until now, Ishida, Sado and Inoue are fighting alongside me. Even when shit got real, they would still risk their lives for me.
The ice cracked further.
Yuzu. Karin. Dad. We already lost mom, and it hurt beyond anything in the world. I wasn't going to let them feel that pain again. I won't let anyone take them from me!
Light streamed out of the ice.
Mom. Mom, you died trying to save me. You told me to stay kind and strong. I…I wont let anyone else die the same way you did. Not when I'm still here to fight.
And I won't lose. Not to the Bounts! Not to Aizen! Not to anything!
A loud crash echoed in his ears, the crystal filling his vision replaced by white, where a familiar black-haired Shinigami stood at the center with eyes wide.
/Took you long enough, Kurosaki Ichigo./
Power hummed through Ichigo's being, his fingers tightening his grip on Zangetsu.
Thanks, old man!
"Going up~!"
Urahara clicked his tongue in irritation after being blocked again by Ritz, who Mabashi was now using as a counter for his sword strikes. After seeing how easily Benihime can destroy his Doll, Mabashi had seemingly changed tactics to defending. That or finding an opportunity to make good with his threat against Sado and Jinta. The way things were going for a while now, Urahara could honestly see both happening.
He's not making any more of his Doll's copies. It looks like he has finally reached his limit. Urahra noted. Or it could be that he is holding back what little power he has left for something else. But from what I can tell…
Urahara waited until Ritz blocked his sword once more before shooting forward and punching Mabashi on the chest. The Bount raised his arms to block the attack, which still sent him a few feet away, but then Urahara held out his hand again. "Hado #32, Oukasen!"
The resulting beam was marginally smaller than his last one, but it was enough to send Mabashi flying with a cry. Before the lanky orange haired man could recover, the ex-Shinigami was on him in an instant.
"Nake, Benihime!"
...his control on his Doll's actions, and the ones his Doll possesses, are limited by his verbal commands. In theory, if I can keep him from commanding his Doll, he won't be able to kill Sado-san and Jinta. Urahara thought while landing with a flourish of his green haori. But just in case, Tessai…
"You're becoming a huge pain in my ass."
Urahara looked up and saw Mabashi emerging from the smoke created by Benihime's attack.
"As you are in mine, good grief." The pale-haired man narrowed his eyes. Are all Bounts this ridiculously sturdy? Do I have to bring down this whole neighborhood to defeat him? I certainly can, but paying for all the damages would be such a bother.
Mabashi met his eyes for a few seconds before sighing, "I didn't want to have to do this, but you left me no choice."
Urahara tensed. Don't tell me! He braced himself to strike, but that annoying voice was back.
"Going forward~!"
Damn it! Urahara hefted his sword to aim at Ritz who was right behind him. "Kamisori, Benihime!"
A crimson wave of energy shot at Ritz, disintegrating it, but his distraction gave Mabashi the opportunity he needed.
"Too late! Ritz!" Mabashi raised his fingers. "Finish-"
"GETSUGA TENSHOU!"
"-the hell?!" Both Mabashi's and Urahara's eyes widened when a sudden attack came flying from behind the Bount, sending him to another building.
Urahara let out a relieved breath when two figures jumped into view in front of him. "Ara, ara, I was starting to think you weren't going to make it to the party, Kurosaki-san, Kuchiki-san."
Is that...Mabashi?
Alarm bells rang loud in Rukia's head, her grip on her sword tightening while her eyes remained on the tall blonde Bount in front of her.
/Is this Bount something of note, Rukia-sama?/ Sode no Shirayuki asked, obviously sensing her mistress' anxiety.
He's one of the first Bounts I had to personally fight with. A deranged and dangerous one at that, answered Rukia. His Doll can launch attacks like a speeding fireball, but its more dangerous ability is to enter someone and control their actions. He...he managed to do that to me once.
/WHAT?! Why had I not known this?! Why that foul, despicable-!/
Rukia mentally shrugged. What with focus quickly shifting on the gathering Arrancars by the time she regained Sode no Shirayuki, telling her about the Bounts hadn't occurred to her at all. But that's not the real issue here. By the time I first ran into Mabashi, it was after Yoshino-san died, and the bitto were released. This...this is another huge change.
"Oi, Urahara," shouted Ichigo from Rukia's right. "What the hell is going on here? How come Sado and Jinta are all bound and twitchy over there?"
Urahara gestured at the coughing Mabashi. "You can take out your frustrations on that Bount over there. It's his fault they're like that."
So Mabashi's taken control of them. "Come on, Ichigo," Rukia drew her sword. "Let's show Urahara the result of your training."
Ichigo readied Zangetsu. "Way ahead of you, midget. TAKE THIS!"
Mabashi forced himself to stop coughing in order to dodge Ichigo's attack, rolling away from the heavy sword strike before shouting. "RITZ!"
"Understood~!" The foxy doll darted to Mabashi's side. "Going forward~!"
Ichigo jumped back, nearly failing to deflect the Doll's volley. "Damn, that thing's as fast as you, Rukia!"
But the little Kuchiki had all her focus on Mabashi as she twirled her blade. "Some no mai, Tsukishiro!"
There was a shimmering sound, and a pillar of ice formed near the pale Bount's heel from where he managed to avoid being frozen. But before he could catch his breath, there was another attack.
"Nake, Benihime!"
That's it. Rukia thought with a determined glint in her eyes, watching while Ichigo and Urahara continued attacking Mabashi, who was visibly slowing down. Keep him on his toes. Don't let up for a second. Until we get Inoue up here to heal Sado and Jinta, we can't let him issue any more commands.
She raised her sword and focused her power. That's it. Let him get his guard down so I can Tsukishiro his ass to-
"NOOOOO!"
...That voice! Rukia's eyes widened, whirling around.
"Inoue!" She and Ichigo gasped at the same time. The Shinigami made a move to run towards the source of the voice, but then felt a movement from the side and saw Mabashi jump ahead of them.
"You're not getting away!" Ichigo jumped after him but then Ritz showed up again ("Going up~!"), forcing the substitute to block the strike with his blade.
"Goddamn that little-!"
"Come on, Ichigo!" Rukia shouted urgently over her shoulder, still running forward behind Urahara, dread clawing at her gut.
Inoue, hang in there!
Orihime couldn't even scream when she and her friends had to jump to avoid a malleable metallic hook coming their way.
Ishida was the first to recover, his eyes harsh with disbelief next to Yoshino. "Dalk? How did you-?"
"Get here first?" The sadistic Doll smirked before pulling her arm back while Orihime, Ururu, Ishida and Yoshino got on their feet. The four hadn't even gotten far from the basement exit when Dalk came hurtling at them from out of nowhere. "Ritz may be a pest, but she does have her uses. You thought getting us caved in was smart? Only took me and Koga finding one of Ritz's burrows to get right back out. Took you long enough, by the way. I hate fighting in cramped spaces!"
"We've dragged this long enough, Dalk." Koga landed next to Dalk from somewhere above them. "We are no longer constrained. Now we have no more excuses."
"I know. I know."
Yoshino narrowed her eyes. "The same goes for us!" She struck her claw against her bracelet with an angry flourish. "Zeige Dich, Goethe!"
A circle of flame burst in the sky, then the flame golem roared to life. "You called?"
"Ah, Goethe," Dalk ran her bluish tongue across her lips. "This ought to be fun…"
"Ishida-san, please stand aside." Ururu said before raising her bazooka. "We would not want you to get hurt."
The Quincy grunted in irritation but stayed behind Orihime while the girl readied herself. All right, Orihime, you can do this. You can't let them get Ishida-kun and Yoshino-san. Be determined. Be determined…
It was Koga who struck first. With startling speed, he lunged for Ishida and Orihime, who quickly shouted. "Santen Kesshun, I reject!"
Her barrier blocked Koga's punch, but the force behind it made her stumble.
It nearly knocked her breath away as well. Such raw power, enough to nearly crack Santen Kesshun! He could be stronger than even Ururu!
"...Dalk was right about you." Koga said with a slight frown. "What is someone who has no will to fight doing in a battlefield?"
Orihime flinched as if stung. "I—I'm…"
"To join the fight without focus is asking for death. Not all deaths in the battlefield are merciful, or quick." Koga's eyes darkened. "Another young life wasted."
"E—Eh?"
But then Koga's eyes slid to the side, and jumped back in time to avoid Ururu's punch, who then promptly raised her bazooka to fire at Dalk while the Doll was fighting Goethe. Dalk saw the attack and simply stabbed her arm through the blast.
"How pitiful. You really think your fiery attacks are going to work against me." The metallic marionette sneered as she sent a vicious jab at Goethe's gigantic fireball. "You just made this far too easy!"
"She's right," Orihime heard Ishida say. "Look at her body!"
It's turning orange. The girl noted with growing dread. "She's absorbing the heat!"
Ishida nodded. "That thing's made of metal! If the fire can't melt it, then it will only heat it up! If Goethe has nothing else against Dalk, he'll lose!"
True to the Quincy's assessment, as soon as Dalk cut through the fireball Goethe sent her way, the marionette looking Doll let loose a storm of heated steel marbles at Dalk and Yoshino, making both of them cry out in pain. And Goethe, who had taken the bulk of the attack, was too damaged that it had to flee.
But Dalk was relentless.
"Oh no you don't, you little coward!" She sneered before jumping and, with a twirl, sent a pointed leg at Dalk's back. The Doll let out a pained shout before causing a fiery explosion.
"GOETHE!" Yoshino screamed in unabashed terror.
"Ishida-kun!" Orihime moved in front of her friend to defend him against the resulting blast, but the fire eventually proved too much for her already weakened barrier.
NO! She could barely hear Ishida shouting for her as she was sent to the nearest wall with the force of Goethe's explosion, the resulting impact sounding like a crack of broken pottery as she landed into a bruised heap on the floor.
Ah. My head, it hurts so much. And, and my body. Oh no, I can barely move.
From somewhere nearby, she heard Koga chide his Doll. "I told you to not harm the Quincy or Yoshino, Dalk." With her blurry vision, she then saw Ururu aim her fists at Koga who deftly dodged a few strikes before he, faster than Orihime could blink, suddenly shot forward and drove his own fist into Ururu's gut.
Ururu-chan! Orihime screamed in her mind when she saw the girl's eyes shrink in shock, blood bursting out of her lips, before Koga sent her body crashing to the opposite concrete wall so strongly it created a wide crater. NO! URURU-CHAN!
"You are strong, child, but it is no good." Koga said grimly, staring at Ururu who struggled to stay conscious for a few seconds before her head pitched forward. "You are decades away from even having a chance to match my strength."
"RAAAH!"
The bulky Bount merely grunted as he knocked aside the pipe Ishida held in a feeble attempt to hit Koga. "We have dragged this on long enough. Dalk, we need to finish this."
"I hear you, Koga." Orihime's hairs stood on end when she heard the steel bodied Doll from her left. "Now," The human girl turned in time to see Dalk raising her sword like arm high above their heads. "Payback time, you little bitch!"
"Look out!"
"Inoue-san!"
"KYAAAAA!"
"INOUE!"
Rukia's heart was hammering in her throat by the time she and her friends reached where Orihime's screams came from, and she nearly stumbled when she saw the destruction before her.
Cracked walls. Scorched earth. Trails of blood. Her allies limp like ragdolls.
Suddenly, she was back in Soul Society, during the Thousand Year Blood War, with rows upon rows of decimated houses, smoke and blood, scattered corpses and body parts.
Urahara. Yoruichi. Ururu. Jinta. Tessai. Orihime. Sado. Ishida. Renji. Ichigo—
/RUKIA-SAMA, SNAP OUT OF IT!/
Sode no Shirayuki's cry cleared her vision of her dead friends, leaving the unconscious Ururu and a terrified Orihime before her eyes.
And Koga with Yoshino and Ishida slung on each shoulder, both unmoving.
"Shit!" Rukia echoed Ichigo's sentiments exactly. "Ishida! Yoshino-san!"
"Don't, Kurosaki-san." Urahara raised a hand to stop the orange head from attacking. "You might end up hitting them."
"You should give up, boy." Koga said coolly. "You have already lost."
"Oi, wait—" But before Ichigo could even move, Koga jumped away from everyone's sight.
Cold dread stabbed Rukia's gut at the truth of the Bount's words, but she forced herself to focus on her fallen friends. "Inoue, are you OK?"
The brunette human nodded though her eyes were full of tears. "Kuchiki-san, I'm so sorry. Yoshino-san, she, to save me from Dalk, she pushed me out of the way. It's my fault…it's all my fault she and Ishida-kun were—"
"No," Urahara corrected her gently from where he was checking on Ururu. "The fault is mine. I have underestimated our enemy, and you had to pay the price."
Ichigo huffed. "Nah, this is a team effort, right? So it's not really just one person's fault."
"Besides, pointing fingers won't do anything to change our situation." Rukia sighed heavily in the middle of healing Inoue. "What we need is a new plan."
"Isn't it obvious?" Ichigo hefted his sword on his shoulders, a grim look on his features. "We go and get them back."
The Shinigami girl rolled her eyes. "Obviously. What I meant is that we need a plan for that."
Urahara was already on his denreishinki. "Leave the tracking of the Bounts to me. Recuperate as quickly as you can. Once I have our enemies' location, the rescue mission will begin in earnest."
Ichigo smirked. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"
Rukia's eyes hardened in determination. It really can't be helped, can it?
So the mansion invasion will still happen. Another place to push in some more character development.
By my estimate, it will be three or so more chapters before Soul Society gets involved, and a few more after that before we get to the invasion arc. If it feels pretty long, imagine watching the whole filler arc itself. I squeezed in as much material as I could from 20+ filler episodes, and I had to rewatch them! Argh!
(If it makes you guys feel better, we'll be getting back to canon after this sort of filler.)
I feel like I should beta read this some more, but this post is already long overdue! I'll reread the whole fanfic and do some edits once I have more time. Because, you know, RL.
…Is someone still reading this? o_O Would be nice to know.
OMAKE:
He felt Ukitake's smile on him as soon as Senkaimon's doors snapped closed.
It was nowhere near threatening or intimidating, but it made Toushirou tad uncomfortable anyway. "What?"
"Oh, nothing much," answered the older captain. "I'm just really glad that you've taken to looking out for Rukia rather seriously. That one can't have enough of that, I think."
"I just told you, it's only because I have nothing better to do."
Ukitake's kind smile broadened. "Of course."
The pause made Toushirou's insides uneasy. "We should be on our way as well. We've wasted enough time as it is."
Ukitake chuckled. "Maa, maa, Hitsugaya-taichou. No need to get riled up. It's actually endearing when you show much you really care."
"Wh—what?!" No, Toushirou's cheeks did not just heat up! How absurd! "Don't be stupid! Are you letting your illness get to your head that you're reading too much into this? I just accompanied you and Kuchiki here! Why are you making it into such a big deal?!"
There was something about the way those wizened green eyes regarded him—as if the Thirteenth Division captain knew something Toushirou didn't—that irked the younger Shinigami.
For heaven's sake, why did he even think of doing this in the first place? He had intended to wait for Ukitake near the Daireishokairou, but when he saw the older captain with Kuchiki, it was as if his logic went in disarray. And when Ukitake said that he'll be accompanying Kuchiki to the Senkaimon, Toushirou had decided to go with them before his brain managed to regain some order.
What the hell was wrong with him? It couldn't have been because of Kuchiki being there, could it? The thought itself was so utterly ridiculous he didn't even know why it occurred to him!
(Not that it was a particularly bad idea, since he was able to impress on her the need to stay out of too much trouble. She may have improved considerably, but that shouldn't be a reason to throw caution to the winds.)
From their inner world, Hyourinmaru snorted. /You realize that it is you who are making a bigger deal out of this, Master?/
Not you too, Hyourinmaru!
/Because your almost namesake has a point./ The ice dragon's amusement was clear. /Though if I may say so, I am sure your student appreciates the gesture. I may ask Shirayuki-hime to be sure./
Shirayuki-hime? That made Toushirou blink. Did you always refer to Sode no Shirayuki so…familiarly?
/And here I thought you were an observant genius. But worry not, Master. Perhaps someday you will be able to do the same with your student someday./
Why would I—? For the last time, Toushirou's cheeks did not heat up! He does not do that! He's ice and frost incarnate, for Soul's sake!
(And the thought of Kuchiki appreciating him seeing her off absolutely did not send a pleasant thrill through him! No matter what Hyourinmaru says on the contrary!)
Ukitake tilted his head in concern, that damn smile still on his lips. "Hitsugaya-taichou, are you all right? You've been staring at nowhere for the past minute—"
"It's nothing." The white-haired youth shot forward with a flurry of his haori. "I'm. Fine."
Not that it helped him any in escaping Hyourinmaru's booming laughter.
