Chapter 4 - Counterattack
An unnatural red moon in the night sky, a man with a sword that has an ability to control the Hollows and wants the blood of the Soul Reapers, the world as we know it is once again in peril. After lieutenant Renji Abarai of the 6th squad division had been taken back to the Soul Society for medical treatment under the care of 4th squad division Captain Unohana. While Renji was being treated,Rukia Kuchiki left to report what had happened and the initial attack to the head-captain and commander of the Gotei 13, Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
Upon hearing of the enemy, Captain Yamamoto assigned squads 6 under Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, 10 under Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya and 11th squad division under Kenpachi Zaraki. To the surprise of the others, the 8th squad captain Shunsui Kyoraku and 13th squad captain Junshiro Ukitake also stepped in as they offered their assistance as they wish to analyze the weapon that the enemy possesses. And so, they are sent out to Karakura town to find the enemy and apprehend him.
Meanwhile, Ichigo Kurosaki went on ahead and continued searching for Iruma by himself. His motives still remain unclear, as well as who he is, where he comes from and what exactly is he after that requires the blood of the Soul Reapers.
The sky was covered with thick clouds, unbeknownst to regular humans, the once clear white moon had turned red, the color darkened by each passing hour. After continuously running around, Ichigo jumped up to get a higher vantage point. Upon positioning himself above the buildings, Ichigo tried to see if there was anything suspicious. No sign of Iruma, but he had to be close by.
But that was not all; frustrated by being unsuccessful he thought to himself, "Dammit, still nothing! I can still sense his spiritual pressure around the town, but it's too faint to be able to see where he's going. Just who and what the hell is he? Human? Hollow? Some kind of rogue soul reaper? He took down Renji without a scratch on him and was able to hold his own against both me and Rukia. And the way he commanded the hollows like that... This stupid moon isn't helping either on things and if he continues wandering on things like this, it could cause trouble, or worse."
As he couldn't stand there and think all day, Ichigo then decided to jump back down, holding his sword over his shoulder, and continued walking. However, he was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of ringing. Curiously, he looked down to his pocket and took his phone out. Without paying attention to who was calling, he put the phone to his ear and answered as he spoke in curiously, "Hello? What is it?"
But, he was unprepared for the response as a woman's voice yelled loudly, "Ichigo are you out of your mind!?"
Reeling from the pain in his ears, Ichigo grunted and responded to her question with his eyes glaring in the direction of the phone, "No, but I feel I could use a new set of ear drums."
She then told him a straight voice while frustrated, "I told you to wait for him till I come back!"
Ichigo then retorted in the same kind of angered tone as he told Rukia, "Well the last time I checked, you don't get to order me around. Look, nothing was gonna get done with me just standing there. I'm in Karakura town, I'm gonna track this Iruma guy down."
Hearing that, Rukia then felt the importance to tell him, "Are you crazy? He was able to take down Renji and an entire group of Soul Reapers without getting a scratch on him!"
Ichigo didn't seem to take her warning as he replied in his usual cocky attitude while still walking, "Yeah, yeah. That was just a lucky shot. I can handle him."
Returning the cocky attitude, Rukia sarcastically told Ichigo, "Sure, like you didn't need my help the last time." She then informed him, "The head captain Yamamoto has assigned the rest of squad 6, squad 10, and squad 11 to apprehend him. Whether you or we get to him first is left to be decided. Wait right there, I can get to you."
That time Ichigo was able to listen as he replied to the instructions from Rukia, "Well in that case this guy has no chance. But, there's still no way in hell I'm waiting around while this guy's still out there."
Seeing that there was no point in arguing with him, Rukia let out a sigh in slight frusturation as she then told him, "Fine, just don't do anything stupid."
Tisking in his snarky tone, Ichigo replied with a sligh on his face, "Since when do I ever do anything stupid?"
In the same amount of snark, Rukia responded returning with her own question as she said, "Do you want the short answer or the long one?" She then told him in cheeky and sly voice, "Besides, I would hate for something to happen to my subordinate."
"Really this again?!"
She then scoffed and replied, "Alright fine, then you're my apprentice."
Ichigo rolled his eyes, "How the hell is that any different?"
"That's not a no. I'll see you around, my little apprentice." Rukia concluded.
"Wait a second, I wasn't finished." Ichigo retorted in a loud tone. However, he quickly heard that Rukia had hug up as he yelled, "Hey, Rukia! Hey!" He then led out a long sigh in frustration as he yelled"Dammit. Just who did she think she is?" He then took a second as he stopped and wondered in thought, "I ain't some stupid kid. Yeah, her time in the soul society makes her years older than me; so what?"
As Ichigo continued on walking throughout the town, he soon came into view of the moon. With each passing hour, the now red color became thicker and the spiritual pressure it was causing was growing. While he and the other soul reapers had theorized that Iruma was somehow involved with it, the distinct connection is still unclear to them. Ichigo merely wondered, "The red moon. Just what exactly is it?" But, now was the time to worry about that, there was still an immediate threat to be dealt with.
All seemed quiet for now, however as Ichigo could suddenly feel something coming, he lifted his sword to defend himself. Suddenly, there were quick sudden sword slashes, Ichigo using Zangetsu to defend himself. While unable to see who exactly it was, attack and the spiritual pressure seemed familiar to him, Ichigo figured, "This attack…" He then held his sword with both hands and swung it in a direction. Feeling the pressure that caused it, Iruma was right behind Ichigo as the enemy swung his sword down in a direct slash. Ichigo lifted Zangetsu up to defend himself and spun around in his own strike. Iruma backed away and as the two swung their swords again, they were holding their way against the other.
Ichigo tisking and commenting with a slight grin on his face, "I thought it was you, Iruma." Iruma remaining quiet with a straight face as Ichigo continued to say in his cocky attitude, "Well since you started the fight, I guess I have no choice!"
The two then pulled away for each other, Iruma then walking around Ichigo. Little did the two notice, they were not alone as a flying Hollow was watching them from afar. Keeping his eye on Ichigo, Iruma commented, "Your skills are impressive and commendable. I thought I could finish this quickly, but you're more troublesome Soul Reaper than the others."
Keeping the grin on his face, Ichigo then informed him, "Don't know what you were expecting and sorry to break it to you, but I'm not a normal shinigami. I'm a human."
The confusion in his face was immediately apparent, "What?"
Ichigo then formally introduced himself as he told Iruma in a straight face and louder tone, "My name is Ichigo Kurosaki, I'm a human that protects Karakura town as a substitute Soul Reaper."
Iruma still remained confused as he wondered in curiosity, still keeping his eyes on Ichigo, "How is it possible for a human to have the powers of a Soul Reaper?"
Putting the grin on his face, Ichigo slightly walked around as he responded, "Well that's a bit of a long story, so let's just say when I was attacked by a Hollow, a soul reaper shared her powers with me."
Iruma could not believe such a thing, but accepted his answer as he walked forwards with his back to Ichigo as he said, "I see." He could then feel the sword's essence speaking to him.
Keeping his guard up, Ichigo's eyes went to the sword as he said, "Now I have a few questions for you. Your spiritual pressure isn't like a Hollow's or Soul Reaper's. What exactly are you?" As Iruma was walking away from him, Ichigo then demanded, "Answer me, dammit. What the hell are you?"
Stopping for a second, Iruma didn't turn his attention back to Ichigo as he merely replied to him, "... I'm a human as well."
Ichigo also seemed confused as he thought to himself, "A human?" He then asked and wondered, "How did you get that sword and that kind of power?"
Before Ichigo could follow after him, Iruma turned back around as he pointed his sword right as Ichigo. "Since you are a human, I have no reason to fight you." Iruma then warned Ichigo with a straight face as he threatened, "Leave and don't show your face to me again, but if you do and insist on getting in my way, I will have no choice but to kill you as well."
Ichigo then responded to his threat, "Hmph, as if given all the problems you've caused. Besides, you were the one to attack me."
Ichigo then planned to strike at Ichigo as he took hold of Zangetsu. However, Iruma's speed was much too swift as he landed his own. The wind and impact caused Ichigo using zangetsu to defend himself as he was pushed back a few steps. Lifting his sword into the air, Iruma informed Ichigo, "I will warn you only once to stay out of my way. My only prey to kill is the Soul Reapers. I will not let anyone interfere." He then held his sword out as his fingers in his other hand stroked the other side at the top.
Ready to continue the fight, he said in a serious tone, "Once again, hate to break it to you but I'm the guy who's gonna get in your way and not stand idly while my friends get hurt."
Seeing his stubbornness to keep getting involved, Iruma then concluded, "I see. Well if you must insist." He then took his own fighting pose.
The two then rushed towards each other and taking hold of their swords, they clashed against each other. Exchanging blows as the other deflected them. Ichigo just barely able to keep up with Iruma's speed. As Iruma increased his speed and force, he knocked Ichigo back and landed a successful blow. Before Ichigo could stand back up, he suddenly found himself unable to move. Ichigo then thinking to himself, "What? A barrier?! When did he-?!"
Holding his sword up and having two fingers on the other end, Iruma told Ichigo, "I've wasted enough time squabbling with you." As he swung Battou, within the barrier, Ichigo could feel the walls squeezing and slashing at him, causing him to yell out in pain. Iruma then told him "It's as I said, I won't allow anyone to stand in my way." Iruma then continued to strike at Ichigo.
With swift speed, someone rushed through and used their zanpakuto to break through the barrier, releasing Ichigo As he landed on the ground, Ichigo's breathing was now heavy still in pain as he struggled to stand and looked to see who it was. Iruma also saw that the one who arrived as Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya of the 10th squad division, the other 10th soul reapers not far behind, holding their own sword's ready to fight.
Ichigo then wondered with a grunt "Toshiro, what are you doing here?"
Looking back at him, standing in between him and the enemy, Captain Hitsugaya informed Ichigo, "It's just as your friend Kuchiki said, this man is now a target of the Soul Reaper. We will take over from here, stand back and don't get in the way."
Getting back to his feet, Ichigo retorted and refused his instructions as he responded in a firm and strict voice, "Like hell I will. This is my fight too."
Looking at Toshiro and the other Reapers, Iruma quietly thought, "Finally, more Soul Reapers for me to drain." Not wasting any time, he rushed forward and attacked both Ichigo and Toshiro. The two Soul Reapers defending themselves with their zanpakuto's.
As Ichigo rushed forward, Toshiro took the slight opening he had as he unleashed his sword's powers as he announced, "Rain over the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru!" Holding his sword with both hands, he swung his blade, causing the formed dragon of ice to follow in a mist.
However, as the mist, cleared, Toshiro saw that Iruma was untouched and standing firm, telling the captain, "you missed."
Toshiro then thought to himself, "Impossible. How could he be fast enough to avoid Hyorinmaru's ice? Wait, if the enemy was able to miss the ice, I must have hit-" He then saw in confusion and frustration as his failed attempt had hit Ichigo instead, freezing him completely solid. Toshiro sighing and figured, "Huh, I thought I told you to not get in the way. As usual, you have to cause us unnecessary problems." He then instructed his other Soul reapers, "Someone move him out of here, I will deal with the enemy."
A group of Soul Reapers then replied, "Yes captain!" They then rushed over as they grabbed onto Ichigo's frozen form and left the scene.
Meanwhile, Iruma kept his focus on Toshiro as he was intrigued by his higher spiritual pressure from the Soul Reapers and commented, "It seems I'm followed by troublesome men wherever I go."
Holding his sword at the enemy, Toshiro replied, "Maybe, but Kurosaki was able to lure you out and lead us straight to you." In a countermeasure, the remaining squad 10 Soul Reapers formed a circle around the two of them. Iruma looking around as Toshiro informed him, "There is nowhere for you to run, Iruma!" Holding his sword ready to fight now, Toshiro gave him a single warning, "Surrender yourself now and hand over your sword."
Unthreatened or unafraid, Iruma merely chuckled and laughed as he said, "Interesting." Looking back directly at Toshiro, he asked, "You? Are you a genuine Soul Reaper?"
Toshiro responding to him, "Yes, I am of the Gotei 13. The captain of the 10th squad division, Toshiro Hitsugaya. I won't ask again, surrender yourself now."
As Iruma's sword spoke to him, he lifted the blade up and told it, "Of course. Their Soul Reaper blood, I will let you drink plenty of it."
With a loud grunt and a gentle strike, Iruma swung his sword around, breaking the formed circle by knocking the soul reapers onto the ground and even pushing Toshiro back a few feet. Rushing forward, Toshiro swung his sword at Iruma. The enemy blocking the strike before the two backed away from each other. As the other Soul Reapers charged in, Iruma dealt with him, striking at each of them with ease. As he knocked one to the ground, Iruma attempted to throw his sword down on him. Toshiro trying to stand in his way using his sword to block the attempt.
"Captain!" The knocked down Soul Reaper screamed as he tried to move. However, it was of no use as with a grin on his face, Iruma landed his sword down on the Soul Reaper, stabbing him. Iruma then attempted to strike at Toshiro while he was in close range, but another Soul Reaper stood in the way to defend their captain, getting struck again as Toshiro stepped back.
Looking on in horror as his subordinates were being slaughtered, Toshiro yelled in an angered tone, "You bastard!" He charged in again, full with anger and rage as Iruma and Toshiro exchanged blows with their swords.
As the two were holding their swords and arms on each other, they spun around. Both holding their swords to the other's necks. Iruma grinning as he felt he had the upper hand, he announced, "Now, with one big gulp."
The two then knocked each other back before exchanging one large blow, then being at each other's backs. Toshiro then tisked and said with a grin on his face. "You made a big mistake underestimating me by turning your back. You better come at me at full strength unless you want to die."
Iruma remained silent as the two turned back around and began circling each other. Before long, the tension was broken. Both continued to exchange countless blows with their blades. As Iruma was weighing and getting tired, Toshiro was able to knock Iruma back.
Now seeing his chance, Toshiro readied a finishing blow, yelling out loud, "Ryusenkai!(Dragon Hail Flower!)" but, after he landed it, he looked in shock and confusion as another Hollow, unlike the one that was watching before was swapped in his place it fell and died. The soul it had came from being released. Toshiro merely thought to himself, "A dummy? What is the meaning of this?"
As Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake had finally caught up and rejoined him, Captain Kyoraku informed Toshiro,"It seems that he managed to even outsmart you Captain Hitsugaya."
Still confused, Toshiro looked back at them and replied as he put his sword back in its sheath, "Hmm?"
Captain Ukitake then explaining to the both of them, "The moment you had attempted to use Hyorinmaru's powers of frost and ice, not only was he able to outspeed the blow, but he had also substituted himself with a dummy. I must admit the timing to pull off such an attack is quite remarkable."
As Toshiro thought about what had happened, he muttered, "Switch himself with a dummy, I see."
Stepping in, Captain Kyoraku added confident as he stepped forward, "If the katana this guy is using is as powerful as one of the zanpakuto's, it's not out of the realm of possibility that he would be able to pull a stunt like that."
Walking up behind him, Toshiro wondered with curiosity, "What are you talking about? Have you found something out?"
Ukitake walked up and responded "Yes, we were able to observe your battle with the enemy from afar and it is just as my subordinate Rukia Kuchiki had said. We have been able to observe with our own eyes and report the enemy's tactics and the weapon itself. I'm almost certain, soon we'll be able to discover what is the true nature of the power he holds."
Toshiro looked at the other captains in confusion as they were being too vague for his liking, but now was not the time to keep babbling while the enemy was still on the loose. For now, they would need to fall back and regroup with the others. They were close to stopping Iruma, but not close enough.
