Gohan ran through the streets of the Soul Society. It seems he was back to looking for someone now; this time a friend of his mentor Piccolo.
"Well, what does he look like?" he had asked once the group realized they had been cut down by one member.
"Well..." Piccolo grumbled in response. Gohan leaned in with Goten, Trunks, and Renji, looking up to him in anticipation "He wears a mask." was all he said. Uneasy looks passed between the three of them, and that's when Gohan realized teh fourth, Renji had left their group.
"Hey!" he called looking over to the slouched figure walking down the street. Only his spiked red hair falling down his back was visible "Aren't you going to help out?!"
Stopping he looked back to them with indifference "Please," he shrugged "I was only told to get them here." he began to walk again away from them but kept his head turned back over his shoulder to call to them "What you do after that isn't-" he was suddenly stopped in his tracks by the Super Namekian appearing before him and he fell back on to the ground.
"You're helping." he grilled him from above. Grumbling himself Renji picked himself up and glared back up at Piccolo.
"That wasn't part of the deal." Renji said defiantly "I've got to go see Rukia now."
"But Renji," Gohan began as he ran over to the two, hoping to prevent any sort of conflict between them "what if something happens to him?" Gohan asked coming up from behind to rejoin the group "They'll want to know who brought him here."
Turning back to look at Gohan, Renji thought only for a few moments before releasing a defeated sigh "Oh your right." he admitted. He then turned more to Gohan "So what's your plan for this?" he asked.
"Well you know this place." Gohan said, glad they were all on the same page now "Where could he have gone?"
"I didn't even see him leave!"
Piccolo was silent as he pondered this all.
'Rukia Kuchiki' he thought to himself. He knew Kakashi was intent on finding out what happened to Sakura and Guy. Perhaps he had gone to her, not to fight her in that condition, he was sure of that. And if she was in the Medical Division.
"Perhaps we should see your friend Rukia after all." Piccolo suggested. All turned to him.
"What?" Renji asked as his hair wildly flailed about.
"The Medical Division." Piccolo stated "We should try there."
"Tough luck." Renji said "It's that way." he pointed off in the direction he was originally heading "And he didn't pass by any of us so he couldn't have gone that way."
"So he's lost." Piccolo concluded.
"More of a reason to find him." Gohan agreed.
"Even if he's heading there, he could've just waited for me to take him there."
"That's what makes this strange." Piccolo said "He's level headed. He would have done just that." he paused, wondering what really happened when his back was turned. Maybe someone or thig else entirely "He could be anywhere by now."
"So what do we go?" Gohan asked.
"You know your way around a bit." Renji cocked his head to him "So we should split up." That was his honest answer, but if only he knew what the Z warriors had been through already. Gohan was apprehensive.
"You know that hasn't really worked out well for us so far." Gohan brought up nervously, but it was far too late.
"We can help!" Goten and Trunks said together before they jumped onto Renji's shoulder pushing him down before they bounded onto Piccolo's to propel them further into the sky and they flew off together. Bringing his shoulders back up and rolling them as soon as he did Piccolo reached out a hand and tightly gripped around Renji.
"Move along" he pushed him "Lead the way." he commanded impatiently before kicking him forward.
"Alright, alright I'm going." he said as he ran off and rounded a corner with Piccolo behind him. Gohan let out a sigh.
"Alright. Just me then." But Maybe Ichigo was out there too? He could certainly help. He then looked up to see the young Captain Hitsugaya starring down at him with his head resting in his hand.
He raised a brow as Gohan looked up to him "Well?" he asked annoyed.
"Well, aren't you gonna help?"
"I'm not leaving my post." he responded coldly as he loomed from above.
"Oh alright." Gohan backed down a bit "But uh.. did you see anything from up there?"
"Far too many things have come through here recently." he responded with indifference.
"Alright then." Gohan said, disappointed in his lack of interest or help and turned his back to him "I'll head this way." he said aloud recalling Ichigo's words to him once. 'Any particular reason' Gohan had asked.
'None at all.' he responded. Picking up his feet he was prepared to barrel through the streets. But he was off to a bad start.
"Other way." Toshiro voice blandly said causing Gohan to trip over himself.
"Huh?" he picked his head up and looked to the young captain. Idly pointing down a smaller street next to the wall he sat on, he pointed Gohan in the right direction.
"Cool!" he said throwing his legs and himself up "Thanks." he said and without anything else he soared above the ground and through the streets leaving Toshiro behind.
Splitting up didn't seem like the right thing to do, but Gohan knew this was a friendly area, so they shouldn't find too many problems here. Looking up he could see Goten and Trunks spiraling through the air across the Soul Society, likely frightening it's many inhabitants as they did.
He could feel Piccolo's energy as well; feeling strange amongst all of this, but familiar to him. He was following Renji as they circumnavigated the Soul Society on foot. Renji certainly had a better idea of where to go and there's no way this Kakashi guy could have gotten too far. But then again Piccolo was the only one who knew what he looked like, and even then he didn't really have an idea. Hopefully, his attire would stick out amongst the kimono wearing soul reapers. Now Piccolo, Goten and Trunk's energy stuck out here, but he couldn't get a feel for Kakashi's no matter how hard he tried. This would certainly make things more difficult.
Gohan's head swiveled as he passed through the winding streets of the Soul Society. Zooming by white titles and tall structures surrounding him, what would be a blur to anyone else was clear to him. He was going so fast the numerous Soul reapers he passed over were knocked over by the force of his flying.
"Sorry!" he called back apologetically.
"Where did that come from?!" they would shout behind him. Hysteria soon broke out in the ranks.
All of them were in standard robes with no masks to hide their faces so his search continued. Though he did happen to notice that the longer this search went on the taller the buildings around him were and the more narrow the streets became. Strangely, though, it was still clearly day everything got darker. Looking up he saw that he was standing in the shadow of a tall, spiraling tower. It looked like it was still being built, but was impressive even in this state. He thought he could even see a logo on it.
'Squad Tw-'
Suddenly he knocked his head into something, and he came to a complete stop. Letting out a shriek as he fell to his knees and held his head.
"Ow-ah! That hurt-what the!"
"Please watch were you are going Gohan." a feminine voice told blandly. Now the pain was gone when she said his name.
"Hm? That voice." Gohan let out faintly recognizing it. Looking up he saw two long bare legs poking out of a short, short skirt. His face turned a bit red as he stalled to look at them before tracing up the rest of her body. And that's when he knew who this was "Nemu!" he let out both surprised and relieved.
"Yes. It is me." she confirmed without reservation.
"Wow! I can honestly say that I am glad to see you." he said picking himself up as she remained rigidly in front of him with her hands folded before her.
"Why is that?" she asked though neither her voice or face showed signs of curiosity.
"Well.. it's just nice to see a friendly face. And I know you'll be able to help me."
"Assist you? I cannot. I am needed elsewhere. I am late enough already."
"Late? But you don't seem to be in a hur-" Gohan stopped mid sentence as a feeling of shock overcame him; the sound of a sinister laugh and smile crept back into his mind. "Mayuri" he grinded his teeth.
"The Captain is very busy." she confirmed to him not noticing his anger "He's recently discovered a new subject. He needs me to assist him. I only ran out for supplies for the procedure."
"A new subject?!" Gohan grinded his teeth and she nodded. Regardless of what he was here to do or who it was, he couldn't just leave them to torture or even death at that madman's hands. "Who is it? How long have they been here?"
"They've only just arrived." Nemu said confirming Gohan's suspicion. Perhaps this was the end of his search. It seemed Kakashi had been captured by Mayuri, and he had no time to waste in helping him "It was quite the catch according to my Captain."
Gohan clenched his fists and took a step forward "Take me to him." he said with determination.
A light of curiosity came across Nemu's face "Do you wish to assist with the operation?"
"No." he shook his head.
"Very well." she turned around and walked away "Follow me."
"Huh?" Gohan's rage quickly turned to confusion "Just like that? No fight, no argument?"
"I know the Captain will be very pleased to see you again." she said calmly as she continued on. Gohan imagined a dark undertone to that saying despite how calmly she delivered it. Without another word Gohan followed her.
The walk wasn't that far, though she wasn't as concerned about him with their pace. A small few calm steps she took for every one of his. Despite being late she didn't seem too concerned with getting there fast. Maybe that was because he was coming with her.
'This is what Buu must've felt like being lead all across the lookout by Piccolo.' Gohan thought as he dreaded each step he took. Even if it brought him closer to his goal, it would certainly bring him closer to danger. Eventually, they stepped into one of the buildings and descended down a dark stairwell deep below it. All natural light seemed to die the deeper they went and only static bits of electricity came to show them the way, though none of it was comforting. Nemu at least seemed calm, but Gohan had a hard time reading her.
"This way. Please keep up." were some of the words she would say as she lead him. But eventually he had something for her.
"So what makes you come back here if he treats you and everything so harshly?" he asked. Even 17 and 18 turned on Dr. Gero.
Stopping before a large door, she turned to him with the same expression she always had. And when she opened her mouth, he expected to hear an answer. But he got something different; what he came here for.
"We've arrived." she told him. Right at that moment the doors were flung open and Gohan looked inside. "Please come in." Nemu said with surprising hospitality. Then again anything decent seemed out of place here. Taking a look inside it was something out of a nightmare. A dark room with a sole light shining down from the ceiling on a single operating table as screens were adorned all over the walls to display whatever procedure was to be done. And on that table bound by his arms, legs, hands feet, chest and neck was a young man in a open white robe and blue hair.
"Hey!" Gohan called out. Hos voice echoed outwards and all around as it were shot back off of the walls drowning the once deathly silent room in noise. He then ran down over to him. Immobile where he lay, the man's eyes rolled over to him with a cold rage. "Don't worry." Gohan said reassuringly as he reached his side "I'm going to get you out of here." he declared. The young man did not seem impressed, his expression never changing from when he first set eyes on him.
"Who are you?" he asked in a voice to match his glare.
"I'm a friend of Piccolo's." Gohan told him of their mutual acquaintance. That however did little to brighten his spirits.
"Who?"
"Piccolo." Gohan reminded "You remember him, don't you? He's out there now to try to find you, but I found you first."
"What are you talking about? And.. who are you?"
"My names Gohan, what's yours?" he didn't answer him, but seemed to reflect on what he said. When it seemed he acknowledged what he said he continued on, but not in an answer to Gohan's question.
"Well you're wasting your time. I can't get out, I've tried." he said as he returned to staring upwards at the looming ceiling.
"Don't be so sure." Gohan said as he reached down to grab the strap over his chest. With one mighty tug Gohan tore it off its hinges and quickly went about before ripping off the rest of them successfully freeing him from captivity. Tearing the final piece off his neck, Gohan casually tossed it to the floor, and he could see a hint of surprise at the display. "All done." Gohan patted his hands together "No need to thank me." he said being so used to saying it as The Great Saiyaman. Even if he didn't have the helmet he still adorned most of the costume and the attitude after all. The young man picked himself up off of the table "Now let's get out of here." he said when his feet finally touched the cold floor.
It was now that the two of them looked each other in the eye. There was an eagerness to help, even a happiness in Gohan's despite their surroundings and predicament. In this former captive was a stern gaze and coldness in his face. It seemed he kept himself at a distance from every one else even as he stood right before him. The more Gohan looked at him the more he thought he was more like Vegeta than Piccolo.
"My sword." he suddenly said. Gohan looked around for any type of weapon, but didn't see any. His new companion however, must have considering he casually walked by him and picked it up from the wall. Then he turned his eyes to Nemu, and they were filled with anger.
In a flash he unsheathed his sword, ran across the room and brought the sword to her neck before she could even move. He could have cut her open had someone not gotten between them to grab the blade; Gohan.
The two struggled against each other as Gohan gripped the blade tightly and was being pushed against by the man he just saved.
"Hey!" he grunted as their feet became embedded into the floor "What's the big idea?"
"She's half the reason I'm here." he shouted back "And she's in my way, same as you are now." he grunted. Gohan released the sword, but readied himself for another strike. The other man kept it at his side ready to strike again at any moment.
"I just saved you!" Gohan told.
"I was there for it." he shot back at him "And now you just-"
"Nemu!" a voice shrieked that caught all of their attention. Darting their heads across the room, they saw someone enter the room in a white flowing robe and a painted face. "Nemu!" Mayuri's voice rang out again when he saw the empty operating table "What has happened to the-" he stopped when he saw all three of them standing in the doorway. His eyes locked onto Gohan.
"Well, well, well what have we here?" he sang eerily "Two little birds itching to fly." he said taking another step forward. "It seems the lab rats have bounded themselves together" he stated as his eyes rolled from one to the other "Gohan and Sasuke Uchiha. What an experiment this will make?" he waved his hands gleefully in the air.
Gohan looked back at his accomplice
'Sasuke Uchiha.' he thought. So it seems this wasn't Kakashi after all. But that doesn't mean he could have left him here anyway. But what has he gotten himself into now?
Sasuke seemed to be focused on Mayuri so he shouldn't give Gohan any problems, but it seems he's been a poor judge of character of every one in this room save Mayuri.
"As rare as it may be even I account for every and any possibility, though even I must admit this is quite unexpected." Mayuri explained shooting his arm out in a rigid angular fashion making him look even more inhuman. He then lowered in down to reach for his sword "But not unwanted." he said grinning widening even further, making him appear even more mad.
"I wouldn't try that!" Gohan warned "I've beaten you once. I can do it again. And don't forget I know how to cure your poison, though" he chuckled "I may have an immunity of my own this time." he admitted confidently "Alien biology as you may recall."
Mayuri's eyes widened with curiosity "Is that a fact?" he peered over, and Gohan nodded "Then I ask you this.." now it was he who had Gohan's full attention "Do you think I'd be foolish enough not to replace the poison with an entirely new one." The shock on Gohan's face twisted Mayuri's delight even more. He laughed as he slowly unsheathed his sword "Yes. So as you can see, it's what I've already told you." he said as the tip of the sword was pulled from it's sheath "I may fail once, but never twice. And as you may already know I haven't been idle since we've last met. In fact I've kept myself up to date with all of your adventures. From your collusion to the substitute to the reunion with your father, I have been quite busy."
Gohan was at a loss for words "Wha-ho-" he tried to speak.
"A bit of bacteria as well as a few cameras to keep me aware of your movements." Mayuri said calmly as he looked at his nails. Then with a snap of his fingers once blank monitors appeared around the room each one showing his recent struggles. He saw his battle with Gaara, his first meeting with Ichigo, His reunion with his father and many more. Sasuke eyed Gohan's battle with the Kazekage.
'Gaara..' he thought before looking at Gohan 'How strong are you?"
"I'd go into deeper detail, but I'm afraid it would be too hard for you to grasp." Mayuri said as they both looked back from the monitors to him "And after all I am on a very tight schedule." He snapped his head on it's side as his mouth disappeared behind the sword. "Bankai." his voice echoed behind the sword, and it began to brighten up the room.
Shielding his eyes from the glow Gohan knew what came next. At least from Mayuri because when he looked to his side he still saw Nemu standing there obediently, but Sasuke was long gone.
"Wha-Hey!" he shouted out and his voice echoed down the dark corridors. Jumping up off his feet he flew out of the small confined space as something monstrous began to form inside the lab and full up the entire room.
Looking ahead in the hallway, Gohan saw Sasuke jump up to the top of the stairs and to the level open ground of the Soul Society and kept running. Flying even faster than before Gohan erupted from the Squad Twelve building as a dark monstrous figure closed in from behind.
Flying above the walkway Gohan caught up with Sasuke running ahead of him and flew alongside him as he ran.
"Hey what's the big idea?!" he called out. Only Sasuke's eyes rolled to his side to acknowledge him. "You left me behind back there!"
"You seem to have made it out just fine." Sasuke said with continued indifference as he turned his eyes to what was ahead of him.
"But I saved you back there! The least you could do give me a heads up!"
"A heads up?" his eyes rolled back to him.
"For our battle plan!"
"Our?" he questioned never turning over to Gohan.
Gohan was about to retort, but they both came to a halt as the ground beneath them shook. It continued to shake and then cracks began to form breaking the street as if from an earthquake before shattering before completely them as the ultimate state of the Mayuri's Bankai Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō erupted from the ground.
Rising up from the shattered street like a tower under construction by itself and looming over the both of them the disfigured Bankai looked down at them with wide eyes. It filled out from the hole it came from, blocking out and filling up the rest of the path. Emitting from it's sides was a purple mist; poison that both of them had encountered before and didn't want to again.
A shrill little laugh echoed through the hole in the ground before Mayuri jumped up from it and stood at the base of his released Bankai and across from them. Following right behind him was Nemu.
"Well, isn't this a delightful turn of events." he cackled as he looked the two over. "It seems this union is not as sound as I originally believed."
"Don't worry about this thing." Gohan said to Sasuke "We just have to watch out for it's poison and work together. It's big, but it'll break."
Sasuke's eyes rolled over to him "You've beaten this thing?"
"Yep." Gohan nodded "It was a tough fight too. This one maybe even more. But together we have a better chance."
Sasuke didn't seem impressed despite the fact Gohan was able to accomplish what he could not. "I could beat him easily." he boasted "If not for that poison."
"I don't doubt it." Gohan said keeping his eyes on the doctor and his Bankai "Tell you what, I'm going to get you out of here. It seems like you're a long way from home."
"Would you?" Sasuke said with distrust as he watched Mayuri's movements, but he remained in place.
"Yep." Gohan nodded and in return "I'd like you to help me with something."
"Are we calling favors now?" he asked dryly, so much so that Gohan didn't know if he was making a joke or not. He assumed he wasn't.
"I need your help with something too."
"Well don't count me in yet. You may have gotten me out of that lab, but not out of this place."
"Well that makes two. I have a friend loose in this place." Gohan told.
"Friend?"
"Well a friend of a friend." he told more accurately "Piccolo's looking for him like I said." Gohan explained "His names Kakashi." And Sasuke changed instantly upon hearing that name.
Sasuke's eyes budged open when he said that. Then without warning he turned on his heel, launched his leg out and kicked Gohan in the face sending him right for Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō.
"Wha- Saskue why?!" he shouted as he was flung towards Mayuri who watched in wicked delight.
"Say 'Hi' to Kakashi-Sensei for me." Sasuke said darkly as he put his hands out before him. Then before Gohan's eyes Sasuke blew fire out from his mouth engulfing him as he flew towards Mayuri. The last thing he saw before the fire overtook his vision was Sasuke once again turning heal and running away leaving him to fend for himself among the flames and purple haze of poison.
Letting out a scream beneath the flames Gohan powered up. A sudden violent burst of wind extinguished the fire that swarmed around him. Nemu was almost knocked off her feet, but Mayuri and his Bankai stayed perfectly stiff; only his robe lashed about in the wind as his grin remained. Rearing his arm and lunging it forward Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō did as well. Falling head first right to where Gohan stalled in mid air, it unsheathed numerous blades across it's chest.
Without a second to spare Gohan sped away as the Bankai slammed into the street crushing all of it as Gohan took off in the air leaving all of them behind. He was thankful when he saw the purple mist disappearing, and it did not seem to effect him, meaning he had not gotten caught in it yet. He may have been relieved, but he was just as aggravated when he began looking for Sasuke. He saw sure many in the Soul Society would take notice of Mayuri's Bankai. With a furrowed brow and grinding teeth, he looked around to see any trace of the missing man. Sensing his energy was no good; he was either really good at hiding it or had none at all, though Gohan had a hard time sensing things here anyway.
Then in the distance he saw someone jump from a nearby rooftop. It could have been Kakashi for all he knew. Then maybe he could put all of this behind him; not that he wanted to or could very easily. Zooming off to the dot in the distance, he soon caught up to the figure as he jumped down to the streets.
'There he is!' Gohan thought as came down to the ground, heading right for Sasuke.
For Sasuke things have gone from bad to worse. Cynically it seemed like he would never be able to get out of a laboratory, and when he finally did it seemed Kakashi had followed him here, with a few new friends. His thoughts stopped when someone landed hard on the ground before him and kicked up a lot of smoke as he came to a halt. He knew it wasn't Mayuri since he saw no trace of his Bankai. He knew it wasn't Nemu because she wasn't that fast. This could only be one other person.
"Such ingratitude. After I just saved your life." a newly familiar voice said from behind the smoke. A white boot at the bottom of a black leg stepped out of it and when the other followed Sasuke was face to face with Gohan again whose patience was starting to wane with him.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes onto him "And how many times is that?"
"About the same amount that you've left me behind." Gohan mimicked him. "What's the deal with you anyway?!"
"I've got no time or reason to waste time with you."
"You better if you want to get out of here." Gohan said "What did Kakashi do to you?" he asked, and Sasuke had a reaction or rather his eyes did. A flicker in them gave him away. Something happened between the two of them "Or what did you do to him?" he asked and received no answer. but it was enough for Gohan to conclude something "That's it, isn't it?"
"It doesn't matter what you think." Sasuke snarled at him.
"Maybe not..." Gohan paused "But I said I was gonna get you out of here."
"I don't need your help." Sasuke waved his sword unleashing it again to point it to Gohan "Now get out of my way." he threatened.
Suddenly both of them were overtaken in the shadow of a cloud, only there were none. Looking up they saw that Mayuri had caught up to them and his Bankai was towering over them again.
"Gladly!" Gohan shouted when it plummeted back down both of them jumped out of the way and up to a nearby high rooftop. When he missed Mayuri did the same taking his position with Nemu on the other side of the street as Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō circled the streets and base of the towers below.
"You know," Sasuke said getting Gohan's attention "I'd be gone by now if you'd leave me be."
"If I left you be you'd be stuck here." Gohan said "You don't know how to get out of here, but I do. The only thing is we have to get rid of him first." he said as they looked over to their shared enemy "You may be able to bear him, but without me you can't leave here and I need your help just as much."
"Tsh" Sasuke let out "Don't think I'll help you find Kakashi when this is all done."
"If it'll help, I'll say I never even saw you." Gohan said.
"I don't think he'd be willing to do the same." he commented looking over at Mayuri
"Is it a deal then?" Gohan asked. Sasuke was silent. His grim features only highlighted by the placidness of his face, bot really giving much away about his intentions. Sasuke looked over to Mayuri who eyed the both of them with malicious intent; it reminded him of Orochimaru. Even Nemu, who displayed nothing towards him, was just as guilty and obedient as Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō. And he wanted nothing more than to get out of here. He lifted his sword and raised it at towards them on the rooftop. Specifically he aimed at Mayuri.
"Chidori Sharp Spear." Sasuke said as he extended his sword out which had now start to glow blue and Gohan thought he could hear thunder, but when he looked up he saw no clouds. Then he realized it was coming from that sword.
"Oh" Gohan let out "You have a zanpaktou too?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow at him "What does yours do?" he asked. It was strange. If Sasuke came from the world of the Ninja's then why'd he have one of his own zanpaktou?
As Sasuke calmly stood there ignoring Gohan a beam shot from the tip of his sword and shot across the way at Mayuri. It hit him in the chest and continued on shooting straight through him. He stifled and coughed up blood when he looked down at the gapping hole in his body. Sasuke grinned, but no one else was shocked by it, save him when Mayuri seemed perfectly fine. His head turned back up to them as if he was only inconvenienced. Then he swung his sword and his Bankai reared up to fall in line with the towers they stood on top of before it charged them.
Gohan jumped in the air right in front of it and the Bankai began to chase him around in the air. But that didn't mean Sasuke was free yet. Nemu jumped off of the roof to come at him. Outmaneuvering her, Sasuke jumped down from the rooftop and down to the streets. She landed on to the roof and with one punch shattered it before following him down to the streets below.
Nemu landed down before him swinging her arm forward to punch him. Sasuke easily evaded her blow and grabbed ahold of her arm with his free hand. Swinging it out with so much force he took her off her feet and when she was stunned there in the air he ran his sword through her stomach, giving her a hole to match Mayuri with.
"No!" Gohan let out right as he jumped away from a charging Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō that bit at him. He then darted over to Sasuke as he pulled his sword from Nemu and discarded her on the ground. They didn't have time to argue ethics as Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō came swooping down at them. Sasuke jumped let as Gohan dodged to the right as it came down at them, barreling through the street. Then they both jumped into the air above it all. Looking down they could see Nemu limp on the floor in a pool of blood, Mayuri keeping his eyes on them and Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō squirming around through the streets.
Gohan looked to Sasuke and the two locked eyes. With a nod they knew what had to happen next. With their plan silently agreed upon they acted on it. Sasuke began to perform hand signs as Gohan put his hands together and to his side.
"Kahmeh-" he began as a ball of blue energy formed between his hands.
"Hm. Not that again." Mayuri scoffed from the ground, recognizing the threat. His attention then went to Sasuke beside him.
"Fire Ball Style!" Sasuke said as Gohan charged his attack. And it was Sasuke who attacked first. "Fire Ball Jutsu!" he finished as he shot down a wave of fire on Mayuri, Nemu and Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō.
He sat there calmly as his bankai, his lieutenant, his clothes and even himself were being burned. He stood calmly among the flames.
"HA!" Gohan finished and added his attack to Sasuke as the blue blast overtook the red flames and everything disappeared in a flash. The two of them landed on the end of the street as the bright light faded. "We did it!" he cheered. A gloomy low voice said something beside him.
"A powerful attack." Sasuke commented which shocked Gohan. A compliment? More of an observation. Before he could respond Mayuri appeared from the blast. Charred burnt, and bleeding, but still in the fight.
"Wha- How did you?!" they both exclaimed in alarm.
"Once, but never twice." he hissed as he unleashed his Bankai on them. Taking off down the street it followed them. Gohan took off into the air and Sasuke jumped from rooftop to rooftop to outpace it.
Flying through the air both of them looked back to see Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō following right behind them, but they were leaving him behind pretty easily as he ate the streets beneath them.
"Good thing no one's walking around now." Gohan said. Not that Mayuri would likely care.
"You looking for Kakashi?" Sasuke suddenly asked as his leap put him beside Gohan in the air. Puzzled by the sudden questions Gohan looked over to him.
"Well, yeah." Gohan admitted "Did you change your mind and decided to help?" he asked happily.
"No." Sasuke refuted bluntly breaking Gohan's eagerness "But he's right there." he pointed off practically across the Soul Society. Peering off to where Sasuke was pointing it was easy to see what he meant. Flying through the air were two people engaged in a fierce battle from rooftop to rooftop. There was a masked man alright, but he looked worse for wear; even worse than the two of them.
He was locked in a battle with some one else who looked just as banged up as he did. Entangled with someone else they threw punches and kicks at each other before felling through a foot and into a building.
"He's in trouble!" Gohan exclaimed as he prepared to veer off to help him.
"So are we." Sasuke snapped as he jumped away. Looking back Gohan flew away just as Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō came up and snap at him with it's jaws. Flying off Gohan regrouped with Sasuke as he jumped across the rooftops. He looked off to the distance again, but saw no sign of Kakashi or the person he was fighting. "Forget him" Sasuke snapped "We have our own problems to worry about."
The two of them touched down in the middle of an open barracks. Looking at their surroundings, they let out a few pained breathes as they saw no immediate signs of pursuit. But that could easily change.
"We shouldn't stop for too long." Sasuke warned as they stood in the open area.
"I know." Gohan said before looking down at his hands "We don't seem to be affected yet. We may still have a chance to get out of this."
"What's going on here!" a belligerent voice barked. The two of them turned to see two soul reapers in black robes step out from the nearby barracks. One was bald with a scowl on his face while the other was very effeminate.
"This isn't very good for my beauty rest." the second man moaned with a hand through his hair. Both soon locked eyes with Gohan and Sasuke.
"Now who the hell is this?" the bald man asked. "Spies? Thieves? Assassins?"
"Intruders none the less Ikkaku." the other agreed.
"Well then Yumichika, let's show them some of Squad Eleven's hospitality!" Ikkaku roared.
"Hm?" Gohan let out when he heard that. Squad eleven? Now where did that ring a bell from? Luckily he would have an answer soon.
Barging through the barracks and through Ikkaku and Yumichika, opening them like a door thrown from it's hinges was a large man in a tattered white cloak and wild hair. Stampeding towards them, he stopped short of running Sasuke and Gohan down.
"If anyone's going to do the carving, it's gonna be me!" he growled. That threat put Sasuke on edge, but Gohan was happy to hear it, more so because of who it was from.
"Captain Zaraki!" he exclaimed. Sasuke, Ikkaku and Yumichika looked at Gohan strangely as the one visible eye of their Captain turned to him. His sadistic grin turned pleasant upon seeing him.
"You, Goku's boy." he let out gruffly apon recognizing him as well "I expect something so bold from you. Come to try me out for yourself?" he said brandishing his sword "A home visit in my very own barracks."
"Trying to leave actually." Gohan retorted.
"Leave? Not without a fight your not." Kenpachi insisted. Sasuke tensed up more and was ready to intervene as Kenpachi's eye turned to him "Well, your a scrawny one aintcha? You wouldn't last a second against me."
"Wanna bet?" Sasuke said as his blade glowed blue. But now it was Gohan who intervened.
"If you want a fight so badly." he stepped forward "You can get rid of him for us." he pointed to the distance, and they all saw Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō heading for the barracks and them inside of it.
Kenpachi let out a grunt when he saw it "That rotten bastard." he said before looking at Gohan out of the corner of his eye "I'm disappointed in you Gohan. Running away from a fight like that."
"There's a good reason, I assure you."
"Couldn't think of any" Kenpachi said as he picked his teeth.
"Well if you could get rid of him for us" he said and Kenpachi turned to him with eagerness in his eye "Then I'll come back and fight you for real!"
"Ya mean it?" Kenpachi said flashing his teeth.
"Only if you take him out."
"Another favor?" Sasuke commented. But Gohan's words were all Kenpachi needed to hear as he turned towards the charging Bankai.
"Don't worry about him." Kenpachi said twirling his sword in his hands "He's had this coming for a long time." he grinned. Bending over he bounded off the ground kicking up a strong gust of wind and debris as his barracks were torn apart as he left it behind. Watching the sky, they saw him land in a gust of smoke that hid Mayuri and his Bankai in it, though the sounds of a fierce struggle could be heard through it.
"Thank you!" Gohan raised his arm and waved though the Captain of Squad Eleven was too busy to hear him. Turning heel in unison with Sasuke they prepared to leave "Alright Let's get out of here." he said as they both prepared to leave. And they would have if Ikkaku and Yumichika hadn't suddenly jumped in front of them.
"Now where do you think you're going?" Ikkaku asked with his Zanpaktou tucked behind his head.
"If the Captain can have his fun then so can we." Yumichika said.
Ikkaku then pointed his word at Gohan "I'll take this one Yumichika. The little scrawny ones yours."
"Tsh" he scoffed "Just like you to take all the fun" Yumichika pouted as Sasuke scoffed.
"Now then," Ikkaku reared his sword up, so it shined like his bald head "let's-" no sooner had he unsheathed his blade as Gohan swarmed up to him and kicked him launching him all the way out of the Eleventh Division barracks.
"Hm" Sasuke scoffed, this time at Gohan as he watched Ikkaku fade into the sky "Now that seemed excessive." he mocked.
"Trust me they're fine with it." Gohan quickly dismissed him "Now let's go!" he said as he took off into the air and Sasuke took off to keep up with him, but before planting his feet onto Yumichika's head pushing him into the ground and himself higher into the sky. Hopping on rooftops as he caught up to Gohan. "Don't worry." Gohan said as he looked back to sight of Kenpachi clashing with Mayuri. He could hear diabolical laughter from one and maniacal laughter of the other from all the way back there; he couldn't tell who it was from since the two blended together so well. But he did see Ikkaku planted conveniently in the Squad Four barracks as they passed over it. "He'll be fine."
"I'm not." Sasuke answered quickly as he kept his eyes ahead of him. If Gohan didn't know any better it sounded like he didn't even care.
"Well, you could be a little grateful you know." Gohan scolded him as he flew "He put his neck out to help a total stranger like that."
"I think he cared for me as much as I did for him." he retorted "Besides it was done more for you than me."
"For my father more likely." Gohan said.
"Sounds like he called in a favor." he stated blandly.
"I guess you could say that."
"Just don't make it a habit on your end."
"We'll see where it takes us."
"How much farther is that?"
Gohan turned from Sasuke to ahead now and smirked when he did "Just right ahead." he pointed off to the large imposing doorframe. In a flash Sasuke bounded ahead of Gohan without so much as a word. "Hey! Wait up!" he shouted and took off to catch up.
Sasuke had reached the Senkaimon first, touching down on the ground beneath the behemoth of a structure.
'The sooner I'm out of here the better.' he thought 'Away from-"
"Sasuke!" he heard Gohan shout his name and turned his head over as he touched down by his side. "Are you just gonna keep ditching me like that?" he asked offended by his actions; one of many.
"If you can get this open." He pointed his sword at the door "Then only one more time." Gohan looked up to the Senkaimon and studied every arch and angle of it. But he took his time doing so and that didn't sit well with Sasuke. "Well? he snapped.
"Well.." Gohan paused, and that didn't leave a good impression on Sasuke "The thing is..." he did it again "I don't really know how it works."
Sasuke's eyes bulged open flaring in anger like it did when he first mentioned Kakashi "What!?"
"I know what it does, but I don't know how to make it do it."
"So I'm stuck here?" Sasuke threatened as he pointed his sword in his direction.
"Nonono" Gohan eased his mind as he waved his arms "We just have to find someone who knows how to operate it. In fact" he turned around "He's the one who made it." he pointed off to the distance as they saw Mayuri's bankai.
Gripping his sword even tighter now angry eyes flashed at Gohan. Strange as it looked, it looked like they changed color; they were red now.
"Hey, don't get angry. We can still fix this." Gohan said reassuringly.
"We?" Sasuke said softly, but with hard edge in his voice.
"Yeah." Gohan nodded "all we have to do is-"
"No!" Sasuke snapped at the Saiyan and his sword began to glow blue when he pointed it at Gohan "I'm done with all of this!" Gohan prepared himself for an assault as Sasuke was about to charge him. That was until a third party intervened.
"Hello there!" a soft voice strained his voice to call out to them. Both of them looked to see a genial looking man in a captain's robe walking towards them. Sasuke was put even more on edge, but for Gohan it was a friendly face.
"Captain Ukitake!" he waved "Great to see you." he said as the withered captain stopped before them. Stalling his attack Sasuke looked at the two of them.
"And you as well." Jushiro said with a small cough before recomposing himself "Back for more I see." he chuckled before looking over to Sasuke "And making more friends too." he said with a pleasant smile. Apparently he was oblivious to what was about to happen between them or was just showing ignorance "And you're back! We had sent Ichigo to find you with your brother. Did you find him?" he asked.
"My brother yes. Ichigo no." Gohan confirmed "But I know I'll find him." he said determined to do just that. Once he found Kakashi as well.
"Out for more adventures then?"
"For him, yes. I think I'll stay here a little more" Gohan said looking to Sasuke who then relaxed himself or at least became as relaxed as he could as he sheathed his sword.
"Well, I can tell you two boys are having just a grand time of it all." Jushiro laughed with a bright smile looking the two over. The contrasting looks, posture and manner of the both of them was lost on him. "I'll get this thing ready for you before my break." he said turning to prepare the Senkaimon for them "In fact Shunsui is out getting our replacement now. It's been a very interesting these past few days. I certainly wouldn't want to be sitting here with all the excitement going on." he explained giddily. Gohan looked slyly at Sasuke before looking back to the Captain.
As he rambled on aloud Gohan looked to Sasuke whose eyes had disappeared under his hair.
"See." he said confidently puffing his chest out "Everything worked out fine." Sasuke mumbled something just then. Something so low Gohan didn't catch it all. He thought it was 'For you maybe'. He was about to ask him to repeat himself before he turned his head up and spoke.
"I-"
"You don't have to thank me." Gohan said interrupting him, a friendly smile on his face. Sasuke looked at him curiously.
"I wasn't going to."
Gohan's jaw nearly dropped to the ground "What?! After all I did?!"
Finally something resembling a positive emotion came over Sasuke's face; a smile even if it was a cocky one was a welcome sight.
"Here, we are gentlemen." Jushiro said as he stepped away from the swinging doors. "All ready for you two." he waved his arms to them as they opened revealing dark dense forest. Darker than the one he had regrouped with the others before, and much more farther away. Though Gohan couldn't tell the difference between the two Sasuke could. Especially when he saw what appeared to be the door to a house, only this house lead deep into the ground. Another one of his former master Orochimaru's lairs that he left behind to decay.
"Just for one this time." Gohan said crossing his arms. A small commotion could be heard behind them, and Jushiro put his hand over his eyes to block the sun as he peered ahead.
"Now what could that be?" he asked curiously looking forward.
"You better get going." Gohan nodded to the door as they both knew what was coming for them "Who knows who it could be this time."
"Don't have to tell me." Sasuke said as he stepped forward, but stopped short and looked back to Gohan "Hey..." he paused gaining Gohan's attention "I imagine after this you're going to go find Kakashi, right?" Gohan nodded "Fine... can I call in one more favor?" he asked dryly. Gohan smirked.
"You bet." he said eagerly, but it was not matched by Sasuke whose stare hardened as did the glare in his harsh eyes.
"Just.." he began and paused, but sounded more tired of all of this than his glare let on "don't tell him you've seen me."
Gohan raised an eyebrow. That certainly wasn't what he expected, but he would do just that. For a favor of his own. "Alright." he nodded in agreement "Just lighten up a little alright." he advised, his voice taking on a lighter calmer tone. "You look like you're going to a funeral." To Gohan, whatever had happened between Kakashi and Sasuke couldn't have been that bad? After all, look at the foes turned friends they had now; Piccolo, Vegeta, 18, Majin Buu.
Sasuke said nothing to that, but turned his back to him and walked towards the giant door.
"What?!" Gohan exclaimed "You're not going to thank me for all that either!?" he asked as Sasuke stepped through the door, put his feet back on the ground of his home world and turned to Gohan.
"I thought if you've gone this long without one, you wouldn't need it. You should stop expecting anything from anyone. It won't do you any good." he gave Gohan some advice of his own.
"That I'd have to disagree with." Gohan replied. The doors now started to close before him as they stood on opposite ends of it, two worlds away. It was in this moment that two voices could be heard behind Gohan, but they were not who either of them expected.
"Come on little man, just a little closer." Shunsui said as if speaking down to some one.
"No!" an irritated voice responded "You said I was done with this!"
"And I said I needed a break." Shunsui refuted again.
Gohan and Jushiro turned to see who was approaching them as Sasuke just counted down the moments till the doors closed and he could leave all this behind him.
Approaching the Senkaimon were two more captains: Shunsui and Toshiro. The larger of the two was pushing the smaller one along from behind by his shoulders. They were greeted happily by Gohan and Jushiro and not at all by Sasuke.
Shunsui lifted his hat "Oh well, well, well" he said looking Gohan over "Look whose back for more. Got somewhere to go? A hot date perhaps." Toshiro rolled his eyes as the older captain leaned more over him.
"Not this time." Gohan shook his head.
"A damn shame then." Shunsui lazily lowered his hat over his eyes
"Just a one way ticket for my friend here." Gohan pointed off with his thumb to Sasuke as he was now all that could be seen through the doorway. Peering around the half Saiyan they saw a young man disappearing through the Senkaimon. Having never seen him before Shunsui exchanged only the briefest of pleasantries with him by way of a wave, but he received none in return. Toshiro on the other hand stood silently as he studied his face. There was something about him, something vaguely familiar.
Then in a flash he tenses up swung his sword from it's sheath and swung it through the air. Gohan jumped out of the way as an Ice dragon flew out of the tip of the sword as easily as lightning had out of Sasuke's before. The dragon soared through the air and right towards Sasuke, but he stood unfazed as the doors closed behind him and the ice dragon shattered freezing on the now closed door.
Gripping his sword tightly Toshiro's stern gaze stayed on where he just was, as if he was still standing there starring back at him.
"Hey!" Gohan said as he picked himself up front the ground "What was that for?"
"Do you have any idea who that was?" Toshiro said without moving an inch.
"Huh? Of course I do" Gohan patted himself off "That was Sasuke Uchiha"
"And do you know anything else besides his name?" Toshiro grumbled.
Gohan raised his eyes to the sky "Well he's-"
"A missing nin, a wanted criminal, one of the most dangerous men alive in that world!" Toshiro listed off Sasuke's resume. He read up on it enough while he did Tsunade's work before.
"What?!" Gohan exclaimed in disbelief "Wha- no that can't be!"
"Oh I'm disappointed in you." Jushiro spoke up shocked "I thought you kept better company that that."
"Well, I wouldn't put too much thought into that" Shunsui said casually as he looked out to the distance with his back to everyone else "We have bigger problems to deal with right now." Toshiro was about to unleash some fury onto his fellow Captain as Gohan was suddenly reminded of Kakashi. "Those two are at it again." Shunsui said and the other three turned to look at what he saw.
Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō towering over the Squad eleven barracks. The distinct slash of a sword, but the Bankai and the barracks as two distinct laughs could be heard over the slaughter and chaos.
"We better go deal with that." Jushiro said as he stood at Shunsui's side. His fellow captain nodded as they walked off.
"Play nice you two." Shunsui waved back to Gohan and Toshiro "The Senkaimon is in your care Captain Hitsugaya."
With just the two of them alone Toshiro's cold eyes turned in disappointment to Gohan who was nervous under the gaze.
"I can't believe anyone would do something so foolish." Looking over the smaller aggravated Captain it was hard to believe he was older than Gohan himself. But that and his distinct ability before only reminded him of something else.
"You know," Gohan said and it didn't please Toshiro to hear him ignore his previous statement "My younger brother said he fought someone with the power to make Ice dragons," he said taking a stance. "To think it was you all this time." he said. Perhaps this boy was more like Mayuri than Jushiro or Shunsui. Even Kenpachi was willing to help his family. If he only knew that before he reunited with Piccolo he and Toshiro were having this very same stand off as well.
"That's hardly the point right now." Toshiro grumbled back at him.
"It is to me." Gohan growled. Toshiro gripped his sword as the two eyes each other. Then in unison charged the other. Gohan swung his fist as Toshiro swung his sword. Both would have collided and his the other had someone not jump between them.
And the person who just so happened to land between the two of them was Piccolo.
"Piccolo!" Gohan exclaimed coning to a complete stop, but he was not alone. On one side of him was Renji just as he had left them "Renji!" he exclaimed. Yet on the opposite side was someone else, someone smaller and thinner than the other two, yet no less familiar "Rukia!" he let out as he dove down at her "Your alright!" he said getting down and close to her face, causing her to flinch and squirm away from him yet he still remained close. His face bearing down right before hers, turned hers red.
"Well.." she muttered turning even redder as he got closer "..that's not really true." she admitted sheepishly. Sure she felt fine now, but she saw in Squad 4 for a while. Though she could hardly focus with him being so close.
'First when she opened the gate and now this. What was with him and person space?' she thought to herself. Piccolo and Renji had really gotten her out of Squad 4 for this?
"What?!-"
"We have to go Gohan." Piccolo cut him off "We need your help." he said, his tone more serious than usual; a sense of dread was in it.
"Why what's happened?" Gohan asked standing back up, concern in his voice.
"It's Kakashi." Piccolo answered and that's all that Gohan needed to hear. Piccolo's tone and look told him all he needed to know. Renji and Rukia's presence only convinced him even more.
Something was definitely wrong.
Next time: Who said black cats are bad luck?
Copycat vs Black Cat: Kakashi vs Yoruichi!