Chapter Four: Evolution
*Three months after the valley massacre*
It had been a little over three months since Takeshi had been stranded in the land of hollows. He awoke in the cave alongside Mila, to prepare for another day of hunting and training. Things had changed a fair amount in that time, the constant hunting and working on his powers taking its effect on him.
His body had become trimmer and with some defined muscle, quite something for an eleven year old. After the valley attack, as Mila had predicted, both had received a significant power boost from their little feast. Hunting basic hollows became much easier for both of them. Mila's own strength overall had risen quite a bit and felt she was close to hitting her next stage of evolution.
Takeshi had convinced Mila to let him have some time to train his abilities and hone his skills on day's they manage to have successful early in the morning hunts. Remembering his kendo lesson paid off greatly in helping his swordsmanship improve as he practiced his swings and strikes with Reaver. His fluidity with handling the oddly shaped blade had started to become almost as if the blade had become an extension of his own arms. the thing that Takeshi was proudest about was his increased mastery of his bringer light technique.
Before Takeshi could only do short little sputters with the movement technique. Now he was able to cover much longer multiple rapid pace burst with it. the green sparks that shot out of his feet before now become a singular green circle upon use. While he couldn't quite fly about the air with it like Reaver told him he eventually could. He was able to make a single great leap into the air and follow it up with another great leap midair, before making a safe landing to the ground. It made hunting easier, most hollows don't expect a human child to essentially dive bomb them from the air out of nowhere.
Takeshi a few weeks after his arrival had also begun to learn how to detect energy of those around him in a similar manner Mila could. It proved an invaluable ability and made hunting and tracking potential targets easier. Not to mention being able to detect and evade possible threats.
Yoshiro himself could feel he was close to reaching a whole new level himself. However despite his progress he had yet to unlock anymore of his fullbrings abilities, much to his annoyance.
Another thing he reflected was his own change in personality. While his time in hueco mundo hadn't been all that long. He was already aware of how much his own personality changed at times. This was evident back when he and Mila butchered all the hollows in the valley.
While he tended to be relatively cheerful and such around Mila, seeing how he and the lioness had become friends with each other. this changed when it came to a hunt. He became much colder, detached, uncaring even when he engaged in a fight. He had little to no remorse when he killed and essentially devoured the hollows he killed with his power. The thing the bothered him most however was the fact he knew a small part of him had started to enjoy the carnage he carved with his blade.
That aspect terrified him in all honesty. Mainly it was the prospect that he would eventually become so okay with causing death and destruction. He would essentially become someone who thrives on blood and death, simply for the enjoyment of it. it was something he had no desire of allowing himself in becoming. It was a thought he constantly kept running through his head, though he had yet to mention it to Mila.
His mind also kept wandering about his family back in the living world. he wondered how they were handling his mother's death and his disappearance. While knew that they were most likely still grieving, he hoped that they were coping with it all as well as one could all things considered.
*Karakura town, Kurosaki residence*
It was the early night in Karakura. Inside the Kurosaki residence, Isshin Kurosaki sat in living room of the house. What remained of his family had gone to bed for the night. In front of him was a small memorial of his wife and eldest son. It had been roughly three months since the attack that claimed his wife's life, forever scared his youngest son and caused the disappearance of his eldest son. He sat in sorrow, grief and anger at himself for failing to do anything to stop it.
It wasn't just dealing with his own feelings on the matter. He also had to deal with the feelings of his remaining children in such a hard time. Since the attack, Ichigo had become very quiet, reserved and would cry to himself at times in the room that had once been occupied by both him and his brother. While Ichigo wouldn't speak it out loud to anyone. Isshin knew Ichigo blamed himself for what happened, he blamed himself for being weak and failing to protect his loved ones. Isshin had already tried to talk to him about it all, trying to convince Ichigo he shouldn't blame himself for it. sadly he knew his words had yet to sink in, he knew he would have to keep trying.
His younger daughters Karin and Yuzu where also still very sad about it all. Isshin wasn't sure how to exactly to explain it to two children so young. He merely told them that there had been an accident and their mother was gone and their eldest brother was gone as well. Both girls were still breaking out into fits of crying quite regularly about it all, especially Yuzu. She had seemingly cried almost every day, wanting to see her mother and eldest brother again. It broke Isshin's heart every time it happened.
Isshin was holding a picture in his hands as he sat in a chair, the photo was of Masaki and Takeshi when he was only a few weeks old. The photo had been taken the day they had brought him home after finalizing the adoption. Takeshi may not have been his and Masaki's son by blood, but they had raised and loved him none the less like he was. Ishhin didn't even know he was crying until a tear drop fell on to the photo he was holding.
As slim as it was, Ishhin wanted to hold out hope that somehow someway his eldest son was somehow still alive. He knew from what Urahara had told him that the hollow that had killed Masaki. Had also most likely taken Takeshi too hueco mundo to devourer him for whatever reason. He knew that it was highly unlikely that his son was still alive being only a child trapped in such a god forsaken place. As much as it pained him, he had to accept the fact that his eldest son was most likely for all purposes dead and gone, just like his wife.
Ishhin unknowingly began to cry even harder as he continued to grieve, never taking his eyes off the photo.
*Forest of Menos*
Mila and Takeshi traveled through the forest in search of their next hunt. Takeshi rode on Mila's back, deep in thought at the moment. This didn't escape Mila who knew the young human boy was generally more talkative as they traveled until they found prey. She realized something was bothering him and she intended to find out.
While they hadn't been around each other for that long. The young human had quickly proved his worth to the lioness. For Mila's part they boy had quickly grown on her. Having reliable people to depend on and even call a real friend was rare in a brutal place like hueco mundo. Though Mila could confidently say that Takeshi was indeed someone she could call a friend. She was quite aware that he considered her in such a manner as well.
"hey Takeshi, something bothering you? You seem like something is weighing down on you?" Mila suddenly asked.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Takeshi addressed the lioness.
"sorry, just thinking about some stuff I've come to realize lately about myself."
"like what exactly? You know you can tell me."
"well" he began "it's just ever since the valley and the hunting we've done since. I've come to start realizing something, that just bothers me is all." He stated.
"what exactly is it?" questioned Mila.
"it's just that I've come to realize there's a part of me that thoroughly enjoys tearing things apart with my blade." He replied.
"I see, that's understandable. Your young Takeshi, in all honesty someone your age shouldn't be doing what you're doing. Sadly, life has saw fit to throw you into such an existence. There's going to be plenty of struggles whether you want them or not. You just have to keep your resolve and will strong and you'll be fine. Plus, one has to enjoy fighting to some degree in order survive in this place." Spoke the lioness.
Takeshi took her words in for a moment and realized she did have a point, though that didn't completely alleviate his doubts. He decided to explain further.
"I can get that but that also scares me. You see I'm afraid that I'll become so enthralled with the carnage I deal out. I'll become someone who lives only to kill, destroy and spill the blood of others." He elaborated.
Mila wasn't sure what to say at first, she knew he had a valid concern. She knew hueco mundo had plenty of hollows that acted just like that. after thinking for a moment, she gave her response.
"it's a valid concern to have Takeshi. The major thing is your aware of this and aim to steer yourself away from such a path. I won't lie, there are plenty of hollows that act like what your fearful of becoming. The thing is they became what they are without knowing it. that's the key difference in this."
"that makes sense, but it doesn't change the fact even if I am aware of it. it could still very well happen to me." He thought for a moment before he spoke next. "Mila, can you promise me something.?" He asked
Mila found this request rather odd. Considering the tone of their conversation thus far, she knew whatever it was he wanted her to promise him. It was most likely quite a big deal. She needed to know what it was before she made such a promise.
"what exactly is this promise? Tell me first before I give you my answer." She retorted.
"Mila I just need you promise me this please." He replied
"Takeshi" she spoke with some authority. "whatever it is you want to ask me. I know it must something big. I need you tell me what it is before I agree to it." she stated
Takeshi gave out a deep sigh before speaking.
"ok look, here's the deal Mila. the thing is, if it ever becomes apparent, I'm going to become some blood hungry, death loving maniac at any point. I….. I want you to kill me ok?" He explained
This caused the lioness to freeze in her tracks and turn her head as much as possible to the human on her back.
"woah, woah, woah! Do you have any idea just what the hell it is your asking here!?" she exclaimed.
"I'm well aware Mila." he replied.
"look Takeshi, I think your letting yourself get a little too worked up about all this. You shouldn't worry too much about it." she spoke
'Mila you said yourself it was a valid concern. Look I can deal with killing if it means getting closer to getting home, getting to fisher, helping you and so on. those are my goals that I keep me on my path. The thing is, if I become a kill obsessed maniac. That means I've lost sight of my goals and myself. that's not the kind of existence I want to live. I'd rather be dead then live such a cursed existence. So can you promise me?" he finished
"look Takeshi I think your get-" she began but was cut off.
"can you promise me or not!?" he spoke more forcefully then he had ever before with her.
Mila was taken aback by his sudden harsh tone. He had never spoken to her in such a way since they met. It made her realize just how important this was to him. She gave out a deep sigh as she spoke.
"god fucking dammit I can't believe I'm actually doing this but, yes Takeshi. I will agree to this promise of yours." She announced.
"thank you" he simply replied in a soft tone.
Before anything more could be said Takeshi felt the presence of a hollow not to far from them. Mila perked up as she also felt one off in another direction.
"I feel a decent hollow off to the east of us." He announced.
"I feel one to the south of us." Replied Mila.
"I'll head for the one to the east if you want to take the one south of us. One of us is more than enough to handle either of them." Spoke Takeshi.
"hmmmm" thought the lioness. "yeah sure that will work just fine and can save us time I think."
Takeshi nodded his head and got off Mila's back. "who ever finishes first, just head towards the other." he stated
"works for me." Replied Mila and she took off to the south. Takeshi then took off east, his fullbring activated and moving in a burst of bringer light.
"quiet the conversation you had with your lioness friend war pup." Spoke Reaver
"I meant what I said Reaver, I refuse to live my life as some kill happy monster." He retorted
"I get it war pup. Better to die as yourself, then live as something you're not." She finished before going quiet.
Takeshi slowed his pace as he neared his target. Moving to a slow tip toe of sorts as he approached, his target came into view.
The hollow was about the size of a mini-van. Its body looking like a type of iguana. It had clawed feet and spikes on its tail. Its mask had two hooked horns on each side.
Takeshi moved in order position himself. So he was behind it, to give himself his best chance to land an attack. Once he was in position, he shot out with his bringer light his blade at the ready. As he got near the tail suddenly swung and shot it spikes at him. Takeshi barely managed to use bringer light to shoot himself back and to the side, avoiding the attack.
The hollow cackled and turned to face Takeshi before speaking in a high pitched gravelly voice.
"oh my, look at this someone here trying to make me his next meal?" it questioned. "you're no hollow but you don't seem to be a soul reaper either? Just what are you exactly kid?"
'soul reaper?' Takeshi thought to himself. 'something I'll need to ask Mila about.'
"sorry but I'm just a human believe it or not." Takeshi finally responded to the hollow.
"a human? in hueco mundo? That's new but it doesn't matter. That just means you'll be an even easier meal. Good thing I caught sight of you with my 360 degree vision. Otherwise that surprise attack of yours could have done something.
"360 degree vision?" Takeshi questioned out loud.
"that's right." Replied the hollow as it pointed it eyes in various directions to prove its point. "I have no blind spots that you can get to without me seeing you. You can't win brat."
"I'm going to assume that you caught me as I moved myself behind you and kept a watch on me as made my move that's why you were able to throw those spikes at me as I approached." Takeshi asked.
"yeah so? What of it?" it replied
Takeshi simply smiled behind his mask. "in that case I'll just need to move faster then your eyes can track."
"no way in hell you're that kind of fast, you're just a measly human." the hollow retorted.
"I can move faster then that. a smart warrior never shows the full strength of their hand at the very start of a fight." He spoke with a tone of simple fact.
"just shut up and die you, stupid human!" yelled the hollow in annoyance as it launched its tail spikes at Takeshi.
Takeshi watched the spikes as they flew towards him, with a swift swing of his blade he batted away the spikes that threatened to hit him. It seemed to take him minimal effort. Before the hollow before him could react, Takeshi activated his bringer light to the max output he could muster and rushed forward with a burst of green light at his feet.
To the hollow it seemed as though, Takeshi had suddenly disappeared without a trace. The hollow had no idea where he had gone and that concerned him. Considering Takeshi's earlier words. Next thing he knew he felt an awful pain from his tail.
"GAHHHH!" the hollow screamed as it turned around to see his tail completely severed from his body. With Takeshi simply standing there, staring the hollow down without a care in the world.
"that's not possible! Your only human! some damn human can't have this kind of power! You bastard I'll ki-" the hollow never had a chance to finish his statement, when Takeshi's blade was suddenly plunged through his head.
"I swear, a lot of you guys are way too full of yourselves." Takeshi piped as he absorbed the hollow into himself. Once it finished, he was to head off to Mila when something odd occurred.
His body suddenly felt like it was flooding with warmth, he felt a strong surge coursed through his very being. His eyes glowed a bright silver and soon his whole body became engulfed with a silver glow. It lasted only a few moments but once it disappeared, the changes became apparent.
While Takeshi's blade remained unchanged, the black misty shroud like clothing that covered his body had changed. while the shape they had in their misty form was the same, they now were solid and looked like actual clothes. The other change to is appearance was, that now the tips of his black hair were now silver.
Takeshi took a few moments to now examine himself. He was rather pleased with his new appearance. Not to mention he now felt a great deal more powerful than he had before the change.
"ok I can definitely go along with this." He spoke out loud to himself.
"glad to see you approve war pup." Reaver spoke.
"so, seeing how I've officially gone next level. I assume I'll finally have access to more of my dormant abilities at last?" he questioned mentally to his fullbring.
"but of course! You see now you'll finally be able to use that energy draining ability I mentioned before."
"how does that work exactly again?"
"simple, all you must do is simply cut a target with me and I'll take care of the rest."
"easy enough."
"also you finally able to start using energy projection with me as well. Don't expect to be able to do anything too flashy yet but it's a good thing to have access to at last."
"I definitely can't wait to start playing around with that one. Well I better get back to Mila before she starts to worry." He finished speaking mentally.
Takeshi began to reach out with his sensing ability, he knew Mila had gone south so he focused on that direction. After a few moments he picked up Mila's presence, but it was what else he felt that immediately made him very concerned.
The reason for that was because there wasn't just one different hollow signature by Mila, there was four in total. He became very concerned by this, especially he noticed Mila's signature growing weaker. Without hesitation he took off towards Mila with his bringer light, faster than he ever had before.
'don't die on me Mila, I'm coming for you!" he thought to himself.
*Earlier with Mila*
Mila prowled steadily and quietly as she approached her target. She kept herself low to the ground and hidden out of sight as she took things in. her prey was a hollow a little smaller than her. It had the resemblance of a hyena. She positioned herself ready to strike and then jumped out of hiding roaring as she did right at her target.
The hyena hollow was taken by surprise and quickly tried to move quickly out of the way. It succeeded but not before getting good slash on its side form Mila's claws.
"GAHHH! you bitch you'll pay for that!" howled the hyena.
"big words coming from my next meal." Retorted the lioness.
"that's what you think you oversized cat!" yelled the hyena.
Before Mila could question even further, she was suddenly knocked clean off her feet and slid a fair distance away. She stood up with her side now hurting.
"what the fuck was that!?" she angrily demanded.
"you'll soon find out." Spoke a mysterious voice.
Mila looked and now saw a crocodile like hollow standing next to the hyena.
"so you're the fucker that cheap shot me!?" she assumed.
"That's right little kitty." Replied the crocodile.
"it's not just them either." Spoke another new voice from behind her.
Mila quickly looked and saw two more hollows appear. One looked like a water buffalo and the other looked like a zebra.
"okay, where did you fuckers come from?" she demanded.
"simple woman" spoke the hyena. "they've always been here they just had their energy lowered so you wouldn't detect them. Words gotten around about you and your little pet. We all decided that it was in our best interest to eliminate you before you grew too powerful."
Then it all suddenly clicked in her head.
"you bastards set us up. You luring me here and then the other guy to…. OH SHIT TAKESHI!" she hollered.
"oh is that your little pets name?" asked the crocodile "don't worry, we only sent one of us to his location. He's just supposed to keep your pet away from here while we deal with you. So even if he dies to your pet, he'll have served his purpose."
Mila couldn't worry about Takeshi now she had her own major problems to deal with. She was badly outnumbered and while she could take any of these other hollows one on one. Having to fight them all at once was a real bad proposition. She could tell with her pesquisa that they were weaker than her but not by that much.
Her thoughts were cut short when the water buffalo hollow charged her. She quickly moved out of the way, but the crocodile had moved up at the same time and proceeded to hit her with a heavy swing of it tail. It connected with her already damaged side and caused to slide back. she never had a moment of respite when the zebra had appeared next to her and kicked her hard in the side of her head with its back legs.
This knocked her to the ground, but she quickly managed to pull herself back up despite being dazed. She gave out a roar of defiance and charged the zebra but was cutoff when the water buffalo hit her with a running headbutt in her non damaged side. It tossed her clean off her feet and flew through the air before landing hard and rolling across the control for a short while before stopping.
Mila staggered to get back up on her feet, she was really starting to feel the pain now. She knew that she had to try and make some sort of escape at this point back to Takeshi. Then the zebra ran at her again, she dodged and gave it claw swipe to it's side drawing blood. She then tried to move but the crocodile was already up on her and brought its tail around and hit her across the face. Sending her tumbling to the ground.
Mila was now too stunned and in pain to move at this point for the moment and was now laying on her side.
"now that wasn't so bad." Spoke the crocodile.
"Only because you…you asshole's fought me four on one." She spat.
"regardless we've won this fight." Retorted the crocodile.
"just hurry up and devourer me then you bastards." She angrily stated.
"oh we will but first we're going to have some other kind of fun with you." said the crocodile. You don't find that many females and its not just hunger we like to satisfy at times."
Mila suddenly became very worried about what was being implied. She may be a hollow, but she was also still a woman. What they were implying of doing to her scared her far more then even being devoured did.
"just fucking devourer me! I'd rather be dead then be used as your god damn toy." She angrily retorted.
"now, now, no need to rush" spoke the zebra. "don't worry by the end of it we'll have you feeling good." It finished as he walked up behind Mila and began to try and shift her position on the ground.
"NO! STOP IT!" Mila cried out in genuine fear. She tried to fight back but was far too weak still. Then the crocodile and water buffalo walked up and pinned her down.
"NO PLEASE NOT THIS! DO ANYTHING ELSE TO ME BUT THIS!" she yelled hopelessly as her fear had started to take over her.
"don't take to long." Spoke the hyena. "I want to be able to have my tu-" his comment was cut off when the tip of a blade suddenly protruded out the front of his head in a spray of gore. The blade was quickly wretched out and the hyena dropped dead. This caused everyone to stop and look at their new arrival.
Mila had never been happier in her existence to see Takeshi standing before her. She was quickly taken by surprise when she noticed his change in appearance. He now had actual clothes and the tips of his hair was silver. She reached out with pesquisa and was shocked that his power felt on par with a gillian. Then she noticed the look in his eyes.
It was the look of ice cold, murderous fury.
"shit, that moron couldn't keep him held up long enough. deal with him!" ordered the crocodile to the zebra and water buffalo as he kept Mila pinned. The other two hollows immediately charged Takeshi. The had Takeshi in their sights but then there was a flash of green light and he seemingly disappeared. Moving too fast for any one of them to possibly track.
The zebra hollow had no idea where the new threat had gone not that it mattered. It felt an odd sensation on his throat when suddenly his neck sprayed out a mass amount of blood and fell over dead. The water buffalo hollow was now very concerned but soon it felt a sharp pain it his shoulders.
He suddenly realized the attacker's blade was sticking clean through his body. Takeshi gave his blade a twist and yanked it upwards cutting clean through the hollows body and out it's back, in a mass fountain like spray of blood. The hollow then fell over dead.
The crocodile hollow was now terrified for its life, he quickly forgot all about Mila and began backing away hoping to make a quick escape. He only managed a few steps when Takeshi appeared beside his right side and swung his blade and cut both legs clean off. The crocodile howled in pain but couldn't move to do anything before Takeshi appeared on his other side and removed the legs on that side with a single swing. The crocodile hollow was now completely immobilized but still alive for the moment.
Takeshi then faced Mila and made his way over to her calming himself down as he did.
"Mila, how bad are you hurt?" he asked concerned.
"I'm….I'm fine. It was all a set up and they got the jump on me and beat me up pretty badly but that's it." she spoke up as she began to stand back up. "what happened to you?" she questioned
"after killing the hollow, I went after I finally hit my next level of power." He simply explained. "then I felt what was going on here and rushed here as fast as I could."
"I see, thank you saving me Takeshi." She replied.
"Mila, what were they going to do to you? I heard you yell in a way I've never heard before. Are you really ok?" he asked softly.
"I'll spare you the details Takeshi. Suffice to say that, they were planning on doing something that every woman fear's happening to them. No matter who they are or how strong they are or even what they are, and I'd like to leave it at that." she finished.
Realizing not to push the matter further, Takeshi simply nodded his head and turned his attention to the limbless crocodile hollow pathetically squirming on the ground.
"I left this one alive for you, figured you would want some revenge all things considered." He spoke.
Mila turned to face the downed crocodile hollow, her rage coming to her full force. She growled in anger as she approached the hollow.
"you mother fucker!" she angrily spat. "you think you could beat me up and use me for your own sick and twisted purposes!? I'm gonna slice you to ribbons before I eat you, you son of a bitch!"
Mila bared her claws and began tearing into the hollow. She made sure to cut deep to inflict as much pain as possible while ensuring he remained alive for it all. She carved into his face, his sides, his back, anywhere she could reach. Clawing and ripping as much as she could.
Takeshi simply watched as this was happening. While he was a little disturbed by what was happening, he simply remained silent. He knew Mila well enough to know she wouldn't be this brutal without good reason. After some time she had finished carving the other hollow up. Takeshi could help but note mentally that the hollow looked almost devoid of any skin at this point but somehow still alive.
"now you can die, you bastard!" Mila furiously stated as she brought her head down clamped her jaws on the crocodile hollows neck and viciously shook. There was an audible snapping sound and the croc hollow was dead at last. Without speaking a word she then began to tear apart and devourer the hollow. After a few moments she was done.
"I saved you the other three, seeing how I just achieved my next stage. I figured you would need them more at the moment." Takeshi stated.
"thank you Takeshi I appreciate it." Mila politely replied as she began devouring the remaining three hollows. Once she finished, she suddenly felt a massive flow of energy through her and her body began to glow.
*Inside Mila's mind*
once she felt her energy begin to swell, she knew right away what was happening. She was finally evolving into a gillian. Suddenly her mind came bombarded by dozens of different voices. The voices of all the others she ever devoured, all trying to gain control of her body.
"you bastards aren't taking my body from me!" she roared inside her mind. "this is my body and I'm the only allowed to have it! you all to weak and that's why I devoured you! you want to take this from me!" she continued to yell. As she continued to assert her dominance in her head all the other voices began to steadily disappear.
"this is mine and no else's! I'm not going to lose it to any you! you got that!? I still have a promise to keep, to a friend of mine who's waiting on me! I'll be god damned if I'm gonna fail to deliver on that!" she roared with all her might.
Suddenly all the voices died away, leaving only Mila's presence. Suddenly Mila found herself coming back to her senses.
She noticed she was suddenly extremely tall, perhaps a good six stories high. Her body was like a giant black covering that stopped just above her feet. Her neck was had spikes protruding around it. she truly was a gillian at last and she had managed to retain her individuality at that as well.
*With Takeshi*
Takeshi saw Mila's body grow and sensed a huge increase in energy once she ate the last dead hollow. He knew what was happening, she was becoming a gillian. Now the only questioned remained if she would retain her individuality from the process. A few moments passed and Mila's body grew to gigantic size as it continued to glow. After a few more moments the glowing stopped as the evolution completed.
Mila was now a good six stories tall her body was all black with some white spikes that stuck out around her neck. He looked at her hollow mask and noticed that it still resembled the one from her base form. He let out a sigh of relief knowing that meant she had retained her herself during the transformation.
"MILA!" he yelled out, causing the now gillian Mila to look at him.
"do you remember me!? Do you understand what I'm saying to you!?" he yelled out.
Mila bent her head down and nodded in understanding to Takeshi. She opened her mouth to speak but all that came out was loud high pitched "AHHHHH" sound before she closed it.
"well, I guess having any more pleasant conversation is out of the question for a while it looks like. Let's head home Mila, it's been a long day. You can't fit in the cave now but there should be enough space just outside for you. you remember where it is?" he finished.
Mila simply nodded her head as she kept bent over. Takeshi nodding in return, then jumped up onto the top of head. With that done, Mila stood back up and off they went together back their home.