Hello, and welcome to the next chapter!
Vizard Masky; I'm glad that you liked it! Yeah, they had a few pieces of telling conversations. Haha, Mayuri's gonna be surprised a few times in this chapter. They will be told in full in the future.
Clarent excalibur; I'm glad that I could deliver~ Nemu is going to have a spot like that, it wont be in this chapter, but there will be a moment where Nemu stands up to Mayuri. Yeah, I could see him using it there. Yeah, Momo's main thing in the story is that she gets stabbed, and that's really sad, she has much potential, she was Aizen's Lieutenant, there could have been some drama between them, or her tackling many feelings, it's referenced a little, but it isn't focused upon, in this story, that's gonna change, and give Momo some more things to do than in canon. I could see her fighting a Fullbringer, it could be Yukio, or Jackie. I could see her doing that. Yeah, we'll see more embarrassed Nanao.
Oblivious IJ; Indeed, she's going to try and fight him now. Haha, yeah, that's a good part of the story. Lets see if it does~ Kenpachi's a character that has some fun moments so yeah it's fine haha~
TheLost01; It will surprise him huh~?
ShadowUzumaki55; Thanks very much! Glad that you liked it! He did yeah, he pulled out his powers to fight Kenpachi, even going Shunko at the end of it. He does yeah, Takumi didn't like to think he was like that, but seeing that he can be like that, but different, allowed him to overcome that kind of hurdle for him personally, Kinhime did truly help him out with that. Lets see what is going to happen~
Guest 1; Yeah, that would be great for Akitsu.
Guest 2; Yeah, that would be cool for Soi Fon and Takumi, and yeah, with Nemu's fighting style, it would be pretty cool to see that.
Guest 3; That would be cool to have him know Saitama like that before he became how strong he is. That would probably happen with Tatsumaki. I like the idea of the Hero name, sounds good to me! Hah, that would be a funny moment between them.
Skull Flame; Not all, but yeah, most are coming undone. She does yeah~ Good guess, he could have, that would mean he's part Quincy. Mayuri's like that, he'd use that kind of opportunity to get one up on opponents. It seems that she can yeah. We'll have to wait and see where that goes. They're going to be doing a few things quite soon~
Andrew123456; I am still doing it, please be patient~
A fan; If you mean this yeah, I haven't really read any new manga's this year, though I did discover Dr Stone recently and I'm reading the manga for that which is pretty interesting and reading Black Clover.
Silver crow; Thanks very much! Yeah, Rukia's just worried about him fighting Kenpachi. Glad that you liked it! Yeah, Kenpachi didn't take it easy, he wasn't giving Takumi any help, so he came at him with the intent to kill right away. She managed to help Takumi with understanding a few things. Haha, Karin's not the type to say that, at least not yet. She didn't mean a Captain, she'd say Captain if he was, she meant like Kisuke run a Squad before he became a Captain. We'll be getting to their connection soon enough. Haha, Orihime and Nemu had a nice reunion huh~? They did yeah, they are pretty crazy in different ways. It affected him, because Takumi is a logical person, he believes enjoying things like fighting, and in turn, inflicting pain, something that isn't logical, so that's why he threw him off, acknowledging that a part of him liked it. Though Kinhime helped him with that. He'll get his memory back sooner or later. It seems that he does yeah, Unohana wishes to have a fight. She has yeah. And yeah, she might reveal her Shikai this chapter. Maybe he might be able to do that in the future. It wont be this chapter, but it could happen next chapter where he's mending Kenpachi's sword. Lets see what happens with that~ Yeah, seems like Takumi was a scary guy a 100 years ago. That all looks good to me for the harem! Lisa is a quiet type yeah. Yeah, maybe he could develop something like that, or help her have an ash sword or something.
Anime PJ; I'm glad haha! No worries, glad that you're enjoying the story so far!
haibara-san; The Astaroth Heir won, The Young Brother in Sona's peerage came second, and then Unusual Uchiha came third.
Well, with those lovely reviews out of the way, it's time to start the chapter!
Mayuri's intentions
It was a typical day within the human world, with the Quincy girls (Liltotto, Bambietta, Meninas, and Candice) took a stance against a bunch of Hollows that had come into the town of Karakura, and each shot off their arrows, piercing through the Hollows and killed them off easily.
"My, it seems that we can keep the Hollows at bay here."
Meninas spoke while they headed back towards the shop of Urahara.
"It's the least we can do after the mess we caused."
Bambietta stretched as Candice showed a dangerous smile.
"Of course, it is quite amazing! Being in charge of Karakura, I guess we achieved our goal. Even if it wasn't the way that we wanted."
"Only until Takumi comes back with the others."
Liltotto spoke up, Bambietta nodding.
"Exactly, we owe it to him after the crap we caused." Liltotto raised a brow. "Yes, I was also apart of that. Anyway, we're more competent than the Shinigami they sent to replace Rukia Kuchiki."
"You mean the afro guy?"
Meninas wondered, Bambietta rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, he seems...well, wasn't he interacting with some humans before? He seems to be easily distracted. Anyway, we should probably report our killings to Urahara, and see if there's anything else we can do."
"Agreed."
Liltotto sucked on a lollipop while she nodded in confirmation.
They walked all the way back to the Urahara shop, going inside while saying "We're back." but were faced with something shocking.
Sat in the living room, was Kisuke, who was being served food by Zombie Chizuru.
"Zombie Chizuru made a pie, eat it."
Kisuke looked fearful of the pie, it seemed to be giving off a scary aura.
"A-Ah, this pie looks...delicious, but I'm not hungry..." Zombie Chizuru growled, causing Kisuke to let out a small cry. "A-Alright, calm down, don't do anything that you might regret, or that we might regret in the future."
Zombie Chizuru placed a hand on his shoulder, giving off a creepy smile.
"Making food for Kisuke is best."
"You don't have to make food for me." She snarled at him, causing him to move away slightly. "O-Okay, whatever you want..."
"Good, Kisuke."
Her gravely voice was terrifying for him.
Bambietta sweat dropped at the sight.
"So, yeah, Urahara, we're back. If you're busy with your new girlfriend..."
"N-No! Please come inside!"
Kisuke offered, or more like pleaded.
The girls glanced at the other, before walking closer, sitting down before him.
"So, how did it go?"
Kisuke asked, while Zombie Chizuru pushed the pie closer, he cringed at the sight.
"We slayed about twelve Hollows today." Liltotto confirmed. "But, we're wondering about the Shinigami here. He doesn't seem to be able to do the work that well. He is easily distracted."
"Yeah, sometimes things like that happen." Zombie Chizuru went towards the kitchen so Kisuke moved closer. "B-By the way, your friend Giselle, told you how to unzombie people, right? Because this girl is terrifying."
Candice shook her head.
"I'm not sure even she knows how to turn people back from being Zombie's. She said something like Takumi-kun might be able to turn them back with some drug."
"Aah, my son would have left notes for me, I'd have to..." Zombie Chizuru came back, sitting down beside Kisuke, and held onto his arm, to his eternal worries. "...an-anyway, if you girls could look for that thing for me, I'd be grateful!"
Bambietta, wishing to have some fun, posed a question.
"Sorry, what did you want us to do?"
Kisuke's face fell into a frown.
"Bambi..."
"What's wrong?" She smirked, turning to Chizuru. "Zombie Chizuru, how is your relationship with Kisuke going?"
"Yes...Zombie Chizuru and Kisuke are, enjoying one another's, love." Kisuke vehemently denied it, shaking his head. "We are, enjoying the feelings of, affection that we receive, and I am, also thinking of, decorating our home together."
Kisuke looked unsure of everything while Bambietta snickered.
"That's lovely. I'm hoping you have many happy years together."
Zombie Chizuru gently kissed the young man's face, causing him to cringe.
"Yes, our love will continue on."
"Wonderful. Well, we have to go now."
Kisuke's face dropped considerably.
"W-Wait, you can stay longer..."
Bambietta chortled.
"Sorry, got to go now."
Kisuke looked on with pleading eyes.
He truly didn't want her to go.
"B-But..."
Bambietta loved seeing Kisuke like this.
But she couldn't prolong the suffering.
"Yeah, we'll try and find what you're looking for."
"T-Thank you Bambietta-san, you don know how much this means to me."
"Yeah, yeah."
Bambietta with her group strolled off, while Kisuke was left with Zombie Chizuru.
The young woman released a low growling which made Kisuke feel very complex about many things, thinking "Please find the notes soon, I can't say anything or this Zombie might try something." while showing a smile for Zombie Chizuru who looked on with cold eyes.
Rukia, having felt the battle of Takumi and Kenpachi from the distance that she was in, felt the powers suddenly come to a head, she felt conflicting feelings. She felt both signatures go so low that she couldn't feel them.
"Damn..."
She murmured, thinking about the fight at hand.
She didn't want either of them to be dead, nor did she think that she'd be able to simply sit still either.
She just wanted to go and see if Takumi was fine.
Now that the powers were low, she couldn't sense them at all.
She pulled her head back into its resting position against a nearby wall, and felt conflicting feelings entering her system. How she wished to help out the people she cared for, but how right now she wouldn't be able to do something like that.
"Takumi...did you win the fight…? Did you lose…? These damn walls, I can't sense a thing. I can't even feel if you're alive, your pressure has gone so low...Takumi, please be safe, please don't be dead...all this just for me...how can it be? Just be alive Takumi..."
Rukia wished from the bottom of her heart.
Truthfully, she wasn't sure if she would be able to do anymore than that.
Lowering her body to the floor, she places her knees to her chest, resting her arms atop her knees, then rested her head on said arms. The young girl let out small breaths, she wasn't sure if she would be able to think anymore about it without going crazy.
She thought that was more punishment than anything the Soul Society could think of.
Her friends being in a dangerous situation.
Rukia leaned her head backwards, and allowed her mind to drift back towards the memories of when she was in the human world, about how she was with Karin, Yuzu, Giselle, Orihime, and Takumi as well.
Meanwhile, Orihime and the others were hurrying towards the location of Takumi, with Orihime feeling something bad was happening with Takumi. She didn't know what it was, but she definitely felt something was amiss.
"Yoruichi-chan, can you feel anything over there?"
Orihime asked, wondering if she was just being paranoid, and that she was just worrying about nothing, while they continued to run towards the location at a good speed. Yoruichi had even shifted to her human form for this, and was carrying Orihime while Nemu carried Hanataro on her back.
Yoruichi mused for a few moments before shaking her head.
"No, I don't feel anything over there right now. It seems calm. The fight between Kenpachi and Takumi has come to an end."
"S-So, who won…?"
Hanataro timidly asked, Yoruichi couldn't provide an answer.
"Their energy signatures dropped at the same time, I can't tell. They very well might have ended the clash with their energies cancelling the other out, and have finished themselves off. They might have drawn in their battle. Apart from winning, that would be the best outcome."
Hanataro also thought the same thing.
But Nemu didn't seem convinced by it.
"Yoruichi-sama, Takumi-sama is currently in danger."
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow while Orihime wished she hadn't got that confirmation.
"What...do you mean by that?"
Yoruichi didn't like the sound of it.
Her eyes became a little hazy as Nemu stared on with a surprisingly worried expression.
It was hard to define on Nemu's face, but worry definitely was there.
"I can sense that from a distance, Mayuri-sama has arrived."
Yoruichi didn't like the sound of that.
With Mayuri there, it was going to be a complicated matter.
"Mayuri...how do you sense him? Even I can't from here..."
"I have been around Mayuri-sama for all of my life." She divulged while a worried Orihime looked on. "I can sense his presence from this distance. He is attempting to keep the power hidden from the rest of Takumi-sama's comrades, and the Soul Society at large. My sensors have detected his presence."
"D-Does that mean Taku-chan is in danger?"
Orihime worried, while the young woman looked on with her usual melancholic expressions.
"Yes, Mayuri-sama has a deep hated for Takumi-sama, and if Takumi-sama is unable to defend himself, then that means he wont be able to keep alive for long. Mayuri-sama is what is described as a sadist, and if he's there, then that means he'll torture Takumi-sama, and the then slay him if he senses us coming."
"So, if we rush there, he'll end Takumi. And if we take our time, he'll also end Takumi potentially. Shit, what are we supposed to do…?"
Yoruichi pondered it while Nemu spoke up.
"Our best course of action, regrettably would be to take the slower route, and hope Takumi-sama's will is able to keep himself alive for long enough for us to cross the distance between here and there."
"B-But, Taku-chan...if he dies then..."
Yoruichi could understand Orihime's apprehension.
But she also knew that they'd have to try something, anything to get closer and closer without being spotted.
"I know Inoue, I'm also worried. But don't forget, Takumi is not a quitter. He wouldn't give up now. We just have to be careful and move swiftly, but keeping our presence low."
"Yes...I'm glad."
With that being said, they took off running towards the location that Takumi was in, and hoped that they would be in time to save him, but knew if they had their presence made known, then Takumi would die before they could get there, so they had to be quick and stealthy, which was no easy feat.
Yachiru, coming face to face with the monster known as Mayuri, strolled forward more and more while she clutched her blade tightly in her hand. She knew that Mayuri was a powerhouse, that he was strong, but she simply didn't have the luxury of giving up either, she had to protect Kenpachi, and Takumi from this monster.
Takumi and Kenpachi desperately tried to move.
But due to their fight, their bodies felt wrecked.
They weren't sure if they'd be able to get towards them in the end.
"Alright you pink haired brat, get out of the way or I'll be forced to slice you down. I might not be on the level of your Captain in swordsmanship, but I'm pretty confident that I could take you down in a fight, got it?!"
He snapped at Yachiru who didn't back down.
She felt like she was staring into the jaws of a monster threatening to swallow her whole.
But she still didn't move.
She couldn't move.
She was going to show that she also was a strong person who could fight.
"I wont move clowny!"
Mayuri felt triggered by that.
Being called clowny like that.
"You dare speak to me like that little girl! I will slay you!"
Mayuri snarled, but Takumi, grinding his teeth, turned to Mayuri from the ground with the little energy that he held inside of him.
"W-Why…?"
Mayuri smirked, placing a hand to his ear.
"Huh? Why what boy?"
"W...Why are you after me…? What have I done to you…?"
Mayuri, upon hearing that, began laughing loudly.
"You seriously don't know? What you've done."
"No..."
Takumi was serious.
What was it about him that Mayuri didn't like?
Was it because of how everyone else viewed him as an enemy of the Soul Society?
He didn't know at all, but the deranged look on his face, told Takumi that it was something deeper than mere hate.
"Then that's too bad! You're someone I truly do hate!"
Takumi sharpened his eyes at the sight of the man with the deranged look in his eyes.
"Why though...?"
Mayuri gave a condescending look to Takumi.
"Seriously, I remember when you were here, this child came onto the scene and stopped me from doing what I wished to do. Do you know a place called Nest of Maggots?"
"No..."
"Heh, if that's the case then I wont bother with the rest. You without your memory isn't what I wanted. I wanted to look you in the eye as I rammed my blade into your body and killed you. Seeing the life leave your eyes, seeing the helpless look as you writhed on the ground in pain. Hahahahaha! You must be crazy to come back here! Thinking you'd be able to actually do anything! You should have stayed in the human world! You would have lived longer! But, I'm glad you came back, because I can kill you! I can actually take you out hahahaha! The goal of mine for so long to finish you off, it makes me gleeful with delight!"
Mayuri seemed to be a little out of it than usual.
His anger was taking over.
His arrogance was building higher and higher.
His face was growing with the negative feelings that he felt.
His eyes glazed over with his anger.
"I came here...to save Rukia-chan...and I'm not dying...to a deranged bastard like you!"
Summoning what strength he had, his body lifted itself off the ground, with blood coming out of him. His eyes narrowed as his blade swung for Mayuri who effortlessly dodged out of the way, but then a bolt of lightning shot for the clown make up man before him, surprising Mayuri a little bit.
"So you have a little fight in you after all." Mayuri took out a vial, and sprayed the contents before him, blocking off the intense lightning shock from Takumi. "You're not fighting a Neanderthal now, boy. You're speaking to someone that is Captain of Squad 12, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the smartest Captain in the Soul Society! Compared to me, you're a worm that can't even crawl on his belly to try and fight a lion like me! You are nothing!"
Takumi panted heavily while trying to move his legs.
But they gave out, collapsing to his knees, panting heavily.
His body simply was feeling more heavy by the second.
"Nothing...is that so…? Nothing...I'm nothing..."
"That's right, you're nothing."
He grinned at Takumi evilly.
"If I'm nothing...then what does that make you?" Mayuri's eyes slit at the young boy. "All I care about...is not dying right here...right now, by someone like you...I have things I need to do...and you're in the way!"
Takumi, on pure will power, forced his body to his feet, taking out his sword, and aimed it at Mayuri.
Mayuri gained a sadistic grin.
"Didn't you see that lightning has no effect on me?!"
"Didn't you see that I'm not an idiot?" Takumi, with the remaining power he had, took aim at the amused Mayuri. "Hado 33: Sokatsui!"
Running the power through the blade, he shot off the Kido spell, as Mayuri simply chuckled.
"I know what you're doing. You've hid your lightning inside of the Kido spell, so predictable!"
Mayuri shot off his own Kido spell, while allowing the same vial he had before mix with the Kido, cancelling out the attack.
But Mayuri also saw that the liquid didn't disappear when it hid Takumi's spell like it should have.
Confusion wrote itself on his face, he wasn't sure what the hell had happened.
But then Mayuri heard the sound of crackling above him.
Quickly turning, he saw that a bolt of electricity was raining down towards him at light speed, Mayuri's eyes widening.
"No time to get out the drug!"
He yelled while holding out his blade in front of him, allowing his sword to take the brunt of the attack, but the lightning travelled up Mayuri's arm, and began turning his arm into a smoking smoldering mess.
The heat was intense, and Mayuri felt it hurting him pretty bad.
But he didn't stop himself, and merely jumped backwards, as the lightning smashed into the ground, creating a sizeable explosion before him, only for Takumi to wave his sword in front of him, and shot off several blades that seemed to be normal blades.
"Anken!"
Mayuri snapped, blocking with the sword that he had, but the reaction time in his hand was slower than usual due to the fact that his arms muscles and nerves had suffered a severe shock from Takumi's blade, something that had pissed him off.
Because he had underestimated the current Takumi, he had let his guard down, and suffered the consequences of the small black blades heading for his body.
Mayuri managed to parry the blades just in time, only for Takumi to appear before Mayuri, with his sword swinging downwards at a high speed. The blade wrapped lightning around its form, while Mayuri's face contorted angrily.
"You dare trifle with me boy!? I'll show you why you're going to die right now!"
Mayuri switched hands and swung his blade for Takumi's own, while coating the blade in an anti electricity liquid, clashing together violently. Takumi, using his precise control, allowed him to split off some lightning, that changed shape into daggers from the blade and shot off at Mayuri, for his head.
Mayuri ground his teeth, clicking his tongue, which activated a barrier around his neck, deflecting the blades of electricity away from him, as Mayuri noticed the strange markings on Takumi's body that seemed to be suppressing the blood flow.
"So, that's it. He's using that ability. I did find it suspicious that he was fighting me after fighting that damn Zaraki. So the power is being reawakened, is it? Hahaha, I don't think so, I wont lose to you bastard."
Mayuri gave an evil grin, and pushed Takumi away, who skidded on his feet, trying to stay on them while Mayuri let out a bellowing laugh.
"What are you laughing for?"
"You're actually trying to fight! You barely have any stamina left, your feet are shaking, your hands can hardly hold the blade in your hands. You got in one lucky shot against me. I let my guard down against you, but those markings on your body wont last forever. Do you know what they are? Because I do, and I know how they operate, and I know how to get around them as well."
Mayuri pulled out what seemed to be a small explosive, casually tossing it at Takumi who used his force of will to jump away, but Mayuri snapped his fingers, and the explosive device seemingly had a small jet behind it, allowing it to shoot right for Takumi who widened his eyes.
"Taku!"
Yachiru and Kenpachi both were impressed by what he was capable of doing, how he wasn't going to surrender to Mayuri despite being down and nearly out, he was still thriving in a fight like this.
So Yachiru used her flash step to grab Takumi, and pull him out of the way, as the mini missile device flew by them, smashing into a part of a broken building, the explosion propelled Takumi and the others forward, smashing all three of them into the ground, while Mayuri remained calm and collected.
"You wont be moving anymore after that, sorry about that."
Mayuri was delighted.
Seeing Takumi like this, it gave him glee.
Mayuri stepped forward, seeing Takumi struggling to move, holding out his blade.
But then Yachiru jumped before Mayuri, stopping him progressing.
"Seriously, are you still trying this you brat?"
Mayuri's aggressive words didn't deter Yachiru for even a moment.
She held her ground with Mayuri.
"I wont move!"
Mayuri hated that Yachiru was doing this, it really annoyed him.
"Then you can die!"
Mayuri growled out, and his hand slowly went to his Zanpakuto.
However, without even thinking, Yachiru's body moved at high speed, and slashed for Mayuri.
Sensing danger from him, her body simply reacted, causing Mayuri to jump backwards, and place his hand out before him, gathering his Kido energy around his pointing finger.
"Byakurai!"
The deranged Captain unleashed a basic Kido spell with enough power put behind it that the lightning would potentially rip right through Yachiru's body…
But as the lightning sped out of his finger, the lightning shot away from Yachiru as she got close, and went towards Takumi's blade, acting like a lightning rod, and stopped the electricity from hitting her, just as she came swinging down with her blade, Mayuri snarling and clashed blades with him, blocking it off so it couldn't touch him, but the force behind Yachiru's swing was surprising.
Mayuri pulled backwards while he summoned his Kido around him, shooting off multiple Shakkaho's towards his opponent, Yachiru let out a small gasp, and dashed towards the right, avoiding the several blasts, but Mayuri chortled, sticking out his hand, which suddenly came off to the shock of Takumi, which was attached to some cable that stretched further and further for Yachiru.
Yachiru saw the hand nearing her, so she swung her sword outwards to slash the hand away from her, but from the hand, a Kido spell released, which created a large puff of smoke, enough to blind Yachiru and the others.
"Iyaaaa!"
Yachiru was grabbed by the throat, and yanked right back towards his body. The cable attached itself to the rest of his body, and clutched Yachiru's throat tightly, strangling the poor girl while he just snarled towards him.
"Y-Yachiru!"
Kenpachi, despite his wounds, tried to get up.
But in the end, his huge body fell down to the ground.
He couldn't move, and he felt regret over it, seeing Yachiru like this angered him more than anything.
Takumi tried to move, but he saw the markings across his body were disappearing.
[I'm sorry Takumi, we're reaching the limits these markings will work, you're nearly tapped out of power.]
Kinhime expressed sorrow within his mind.
"N-No...I have to..."
Takumi couldn't see Yachiru getting hurt.
If she was stabbed, and killed…
He wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
Mayuri sadistically lifted up his blade, and chortled darkly.
"Say goodnight little girl!"
Mayuri thrust his sword at Yachiru's torso, who's eyes widened.
Kenpachi's eyes looked worried for Yachiru. Since Yachiru was his partner, it showed how much he cared for her, when usually he just cared for fighting, Yachiru was one of the exceptions to that.
As the blade was about to pierce Yachiru, she closed her eyes.
But she didn't feel anything.
Even when she heard the sound of something being stabbed could be heard, she didn't feel any pain.
She didn't feel anything.
Her eyes opened, to see Takumi stood in between her, and Mayuri's blade, with Mayuri's sword being inside of his torso.
She looked so shocked that tears began to run down her face.
"Taku…?"
She called with a low voice.
Takumi was supposed to be the enemy.
She liked him sure, she liked how Kenpachi liked him.
But they hadn't known one another long, and he had just took a sword to the torso for her.
With wounds already across him, she honestly didn't know if he was going to survive the fight.
"Stupid fool, killing yourself for this pink haired brat."
Mayuri spat out angrily, while Yachiru cried at seeing the sight of Takumi with a sword through his stomach.
Takumi, despite feeling a lot of pain, and having lost a lot of blood, his eyes being hazy, he just chortled at Mayuri, which felt very unnerving.
"W-What are you laughing at you bastard?!"
"Y-You Mayuri Kurotsuchi. You...had to fight someone...when they were exhausted...already..."
Mayuri's face contorted angrily.
"So what?!"
"Cowardly...you might be smart...but you're a coward..."
Mayuri felt his anger growing even more.
He hated Takumi calling him that.
It felt like a huge insult.
It felt like he was truly going through something horrible.
It felt like, a blade had stabbed him rather than Takumi.
"You dare say something like that to me! You know nothing of me! You are an insolent bug! You have nothing! You are nothing! You're a bug that keeps getting in my way! You will never be able to get one up on me!"
Mayuri pulled his blade roughly out of Takumi's stomach, who coughed up some blood.
Yachiru's power grew higher and higher, her eyes became glazed over with anger, with rage.
She gripped her sword tightly, and her eyes leaked tears while her energy summoned around her form.
Mayuri, focused on Takumi, suddenly felt a spike of pressure around Yachiru, and turned to see her eyes on his form.
"Come and play, Sanpo Kenju!"
Yachiru announced, as Takumi saw two beasts appearing beside her.
Mayuri on the other hand seemed to be unsure of what was happening.
Yachiru swings her sword towards the right, Mayuri chortles, and yells "Nice try!" as he parries the blade…
But suddenly, just before her sword hit his, a large gash appeared across his torso, and proceeding it, the hand that was holding onto her throat was cleaved right off, the direction that her sword was going, releasing Yachiru from the grip of the man.
Takumi blinked, wondering what the hell had happened.
Yachiru however thrust her sword forward at Mayuri.
"Bad Mayuri, I'll have to punish you for hurting Taku!"
Mayuri was left reeling from what was happening.
It seemed mad.
What had happened to him, he wasn't entirely sure.
But with an arm cleaved off, and a huge gash in his chest, he coughed up a bit of blood.
Karin, Yuzu, and Ganju managed to finally get away from the Shinigami, and meet up back with Nanao who seemed to be preoccupied with what was currently happening within the distance, something that she wasn't thrilled about.
However, upon seeing her, Ganju's eyes felt like they were freezing due to how Nanao was looking at her.
"N-Not you! You're a Shinigami! And you feel strong!"
"Ganju relax, she's on our side."
Karin spoke with a calm expression.
But Ganju didn't look pleased at all.
"B-But, she's on the enemies side, h-how can you be alright with that? It's scary! Perhaps we should leave!"
Nanao turned to Ganju who flinched under her gaze.
"Excuse me, are you thinking of trying to leave? We spent too much time in trying to find you, now you're going to leave? Do not try something like that, we have little time."
"B-But..."
Nanao's eyes sharpened, and she took off her glasses.
As she did, Ganju's face contorted into something akin to being horrified.
He quaked in spot while Karin grinned.
"So, that's a way to keep Ganju quiet. Hey Yuzu..." Her eyes saw Yuzu looking in the direction that they felt the powers before. "Something wrong Yuzu?"
"It's calm over there..."
"Now that you mention it, I haven't felt any waves of power over there for a little while now."
Karin commented, while Nanao placed her glasses back on.
"It seems that the battle is over. But from where we are, I cannot say who has won the battle. Both spiritual pressures have lowered to a point it makes it difficult to sense." Nanao lowered her head, as she addressed the others. "Honestly speaking, it could have gone either way, towards the end, I felt both of their pressures being on a similar level to one another. So, the fight could have either gone in or not in Takumi-kun's way."
"You're worried about your boyfriend, aren't you?"
Karin said with sympathy, Nanao nodded without thinking.
"Yes, I am..." Nanao paused, turning to Karin with confusion. "Wait, what did you say then?"
"Oh nothing, nothing at all~"
Karin teased, while Nanao showed an unsure look on her face.
"Either way, we should go."
"Are we going to go towards Takumi-kun?"
Yuzu posed her thoughts, but Nanao shook her head.
"No, we'll go back to my Captain. We have to leave immediately."
"But what about Takumi-kun…?"
Yuzu felt worried about him, if even Nanao couldn't sense him.
Did it mean that he was dead?
She didn't know at all.
"Do not worry about him, he'll be able to handle himself for now. Besides, I am sure that the other members of your group are going towards that location. I can sense several high energy signatures heading towards that location as well, so if we could, we'd be in the line of fire. Besides, it would take us a few hours to go that way, if we're to keep a low profile. It's best to head back to my Captain and assess the situation from that location."
Yuzu knew that Nanao was probably right.
Even if she was worried about Takumi and the others, they also had a mission to do, so she fought down her feelings of wishing to help Takumi, and decided to follow after Nanao as fast and quietly as she could.
Karin also felt her worries coming over her, and because of that, something stirred within her.
She then walked forward, when she felt something inside of her robes.
Curious, she went into her robes, and saw that it was a mask.
Not just any ordinary mask, it was a Hollows mask.
"No...w-why do I have that…? What the hell is going on…?"
She felt worried about it.
She didn't even know what to think about it.
She saw the others walking forward without looking back to her, and she felt her heartbeat increasing.
Despite putting on a brave demeanour, even she was worried about the inner Hollow of hers, something that gave her some worry.
But she didn't allow it to take over her, and fought down her worries, shoving the mask deep into her outfit.
"Karin, are you coming?"
Ganju called back, Karin snapped out of her thoughts, turning towards him and put on a faux smile.
"Y-Yeah, of course! I'm coming now!"
Karin exhaled slowly, catching up with the others, and slowly walked beside them, while not mentioning about her inner Hollow.
Back with Mayuri and the others, Mayuri was reeling from the slash he received from Yachiru. Seeing his arm on the ground from Mayuri's cut, Mayuri didn't know what the hell had just happened, he was in a state of shock.
Takumi watched as Yachiru announced "Left!" thrusting her hand left, and the beasts followed after her, then announcing "Right!" and she went in that direction, with the beasts following her directions as well…
No, it wasn't just following.
Takumi noticed that the smaller creature was moving just before her, and the larger one was moving just after her.
Kenpachi watched on while feeling his wounds bleeding deeper and deeper.
Takumi barely could concentrate, he felt like he was on the verge of passing out.
But Yachiru seemed to be playing with the beasts.
One of the creatures is tall and made of bone with teal hair. It wears a black cloak and has a large bone running through its head vertically, wielding a long dagger-like blade that has another blade protruding at the top edge. The other creature is plump and covered in yellow fur, leaving its eyes only partially visible, wielding a cleaver.
Yachiru looked towards Takumi with her sword dangling beside her.
"Taku, you saved me, thank you Taku. Do not worry, Taku is someone I care for as well so I will protect Taku." Takumi, despite nearly passing out, offered a smile for her. "Ooh yeah, Taku, these are my friends! This is Lumpy!" She pointed to the smaller creature. Then she turned to the bigger one. "This one is called Boney! Aren't they cute~? They've come to help me out~"
Takumi couldn't say anything else.
Everything that had happened to him, caused him to pass out.
His eyes closed completely, and he fell into a pool of his own blood.
In the end, Takumi couldn't fight. He tried all he could, but with his fight against Kenpachi, and then against Mayuri, it was too much for him.
Yachiru looked on in concern, while Mayuri growled angrily.
"Seriously! You think you can trifle with a Captain little girl?!"
Yachiru turned back towards Mayuri, holding her sword out in front of her.
"You hurt Taku! You tried to hurt Ken-chan! I am not happy!"
"As if I care!" Mayuri placed his hand to cleaved off other arm, and pressed some kind of release, revealing the rest of the mechanical device that made up that arm. "You think this is anything I hadn't foreseen? I think moves ahead, and I had planned for this just in case." Mayuri took out a green liquid, and injected his arm, which began to grow back. "See? Even if you cut off my arm, I can regrow it back."
Yachiru, not missing a beat, pulled forward with her blade.
"Then I'll cut it off again!"
Yachiru sliced forward at Mayuri who saw the beasts moving as well.
She saw one of them heading first, so he blocked that one, twisting his blade to block Yachiru's blade, but the third slash managed to land upon Mayuri's face, who had moved out of the way just in time from having his head cleaved off, saving him from decapitation.
Becoming annoyed, Mayuri thrust his sword outwards.
"Rip! Ashisogi Jizo!"
Along with a small cry babies cry, the blade transformed into something else.
Ashisogi Jizo's blade glows and transforms into a deformed trident with curved, serpentine blades. The middle blade is straighter and longer than the side blades, and appears to ascend from the guard, which is shaped like a baby's head with hands clasped in prayer, all mounted on his sword's normal hilt, which has more ornate spiky protrusions on either side, which resemble golden leaves right below the guard.
The baby's mouth secretes a poisonous vapor in this form at various intervals.
The poison attempts to head for Yachiru, Kenpachi and Takumi…
But suddenly, Takumi's blade glows, and releases some kind of white powder from the hilt that turned into a cloud of haze that blanketed a small area which counteracted the poison, by stopping the gas from spreading.
Mayuri yelled "Impossible!" turning angrily towards Takumi, but he was unconscious.
Confusion came over him…
But then he realized something.
"Damn bastard, he built in a device that detects poison in his Zanpakuto, and releases that powder to disperse the gas, and it is lingering in the air, so my poison gas wont reach them while they stay here. He must have been aware of my ability...but how did he find that information out? It might not be impossible for Kisuke Urahara to have told him about it. But it seems for me to use my blades attacks, it is going to have to be direct, that powder has created a field around us that stops gas from spreading far. I'd need to study its properties before I can make something to neutralize its effects."
Mayuri's eyes clasp onto Yachiru's own, and he charges forward.
Despite being a Captain that doesn't specialize in it, his speed was quite impressive, having managed to cross the distance within a few seconds, and slashed right for her body, she moved her sword in the direction of blocking and the beasts own swords came across Yachiru's body, giving three times the blocking power, Mayuri didn't look pleased about it, so he hopped backwards, and looked at the blade.
Focusing his eyes, he flash stepped behind Yachiru, and swung down for her body.
He noticed in that moment, the beasts didn't move to protect her, causing his eyes to narrow.
Yachiru however acted on basic instinct, stabbing backwards with her blade, causing the other beasts to stab backwards. Mayuri managed to parry the first blade away, but Yachiru's blade managed to stab into his leg, while the third blade sent his way was also parried away from his form.
Gritting his teeth, he showed a displeased look.
"I know how your sword works little girl. Those blasted beasts can only move when you move. The small one moves just before you, and the large one moves after you! Hah, if that's the case, then I'll just have to keep that in mind! Now die!"
Mayuri used his speed to blitz around, appearing and disappearing at different places.
He was moving much faster than how he usually would be capable of doing.
But that was because of his secret weapon that he had.
Or rather, one of the gadgets on his shoes, that allowed him to move at an insane speed.
He knew Takumi was fast, having been trained by Yoruichi, and that he'd never be able to catch him with his normal speed, so he had to make himself faster, so that's why he invented the shoes that he wore.
Yachiru couldn't follow him at all.
The speed was too fast.
"E-Eeeh...w-what do I do Ken-chan?"
"Do...what I'd do..."
Kenpachi said from the ground, fighting to stay conscious.
"What Ken-chan would do…?"
Yachiru thought about it for a few moments.
But then she grinned, and placed her feet on the ground strongly.
"Now, it's time for the Yachiru twister!"
Yachiru, with elegant movements as if she was a ballerina, began spinning, going faster and faster by the second.
Her body carried her through the area, while she swung her blade outwards by spinning, and correspondingly, the beasts followed, and did it just before her swing, creating a vortex of three spinning weapons with slightly different swinging speeds, so it made it even harder to try and time an attack as the movements seemed to be almost perfect.
Even Mayuri had to admit that the movement wasn't so bad either, due to how he had to avoid the attack, though his body did receive two cuts that caused him to bleed a little bit.
He looked for an opening as Yachiru came closer, forcing him to retreat backwards, taking out a small scythe blade from his ear, and swung it since it was attached to his head, for the young girl to try and cut her down.
But the spinning managed to swipe the blade away, allowing Yachiru to jump while spinning, heading right for Mayuri.
Mayuri would use a poison technique, but with Takumi's white mist from the powder scattered around, it just wasn't going to work for him right now, he couldn't use the poison mist due to that causing it to disperse, something that he had to admit was a stroke of genius from the young man, something that he hadn't expected.
But Mayuri saw an opening, and decided to take advantage of it as well.
"Have this!"
Jumping up, Mayuri went into the middle of the spinning Yachiru, who gasped and due to spinning, her speed was slowed down to move her sword to slice down Mayuri.
So the mad Captain managed to bypass her defensive movement, and came at her with his sword, to cut her down.
Suddenly, an arrow was shot through Mayuri's body, causing him to widen his eyes in shock.
He coughed up some blood as Giselle rained down elegantly from atop of a building far off.
"Damn, seems I missed the heart. With all that moving around, he truly managed to dodge out of the way in time~" Giselle walked forward, once using her Quincy flash step to cross the distance. "Ooh my, what a bloody battle you've had going on here."
Giselle twirled her fingers through her hair while Mayuri showed a dark grin.
The two stared at one another, with tension filling the air.
Back with Yoruichi and the others, they continued running through the area, while getting closer, and could feel the power of Yachiru growing at first, with Nemu tilting her head to the side.
"It seems that Lieutenant Kusajishi has taken it upon herself to fight against Mayuri-sama."
Yoruichi noticed how Nemu had called Mayuri 'Mayuri-sama' and wondered if Nemu still thought of Mayuri fondly, despite his treatment of her.
He was her creator, all she knew for most of her life before she had met Takumi.
If she did, then Yoruichi wouldn't be surprised, and would expect it.
"Nemu, may I ask, what are your feelings regarding Mayuri?"
Yoruichi decided to ask that straight out.
She needed to know, in case she had to do something to protect the others.
"Mayuri-sama is the man who created me. At first, I believed that Mayuri-sama was the man that I should follow without question. However, since that incident, within the town of Karakura, Takumi Urahara-sama has allowed me to see worth within myself, and follow my own ideals. I haven't been able to discover my own ideals in the past, and right now, I am going to say that my ideals do not match up with Mayuri-sama's. I, like to research, but I do not like inflicting pain onto others."
Yoruichi wanted to believe that Nemu was telling the truth.
She wanted to know that this was true.
But because Nemu was someone that Mayuri created, she honestly couldn't be sure.
She just didn't want anything to happen to the people around by trusting in Nemu and she could turn on them.
But for now, she had to trust in her, if only for Takumi's sake.
"I understand, so Takumi helped you feel...helped you come to an understanding about yourself."
"Yes, that is correct. Takumi-sama has helped me understand myself in ways I haven't before. Are you concerned of my feelings regarding Mayuri-sama? He is my Father, in many ways, however, I have come to understand that Mayuri-sama doesn't treat me in ways that are acceptable."
Yoruichi simply nodded her head.
But then she stopped when she felt a spike in power.
"That power..."
"Y-Yoruichi-chan, that feels like..."
"Giselle."
She finished off for Orihime who inclined her neck.
"So, she's come to save Taku-chan?"
"I guess that she has. But because she has, that means we can move faster. Nemu, I'll meet you and Hanataro there."
Yoruichi, feeling Mayuri being in a fight now, used her famed speed, and shot off like a speeding lightning bolt, leaving Nemu and Hanataro in the dust, due to her amazing speed. Nemu also knew the reason why, if she was discovered by Mayuri, then it wouldn't be good.
Back with Giselle, the pair stared at one another for a few moments, before Mayuri pulled closer, with Yachiru pulling backwards, standing next to Kenpachi, while also moving Takumi to Kenpachi's side so she could protect them.
Yachiru didn't know what it was, but the feeling coming from Giselle was cold, distant.
She could see that her eyes were on Takumi, and how he was bleeding, dying, and she didn't look pleased.
Mayuri though didn't care about the killing intent, he found it rather cute coming from a girl as unassuming as Giselle.
"Heh, so a newcomer. What was that arrow? I saw it at the last second, you can hide your presence rather well girl."
Giselle showed a gleeful smile.
"You look like a clown. And you've been abusing my Takumi-kun. You are a bad person~"
Mayuri, despite having an arrow through him, still could show a menacing look on his face.
"Is that right? I'm sorry about that, but I had to kill him quickly."
Giselle's face suddenly turned dark, and she pulled closer.
"If he's dead, then your death will be anything but quick."
Mayuri smirked at the killing intent rolling off of Giselle.
"Are you trying to be intimidating? Because it comes off as a flea trying to intimidate a dog. It simply doesn't work."
Giselle ran a finger through her hair once more, snapping her fingers as shadows began appearing around the battlefield.
"Are you sure that you should be insulting an unknown enemy?"
"Don't worry, I can handle two little girls."
Giselle's face grew larger with her smile erupting all over her face.
"Ooh just the two of you, did you say?" Giselle directed Mayuri around, revealing different people, confusing him. "Don't you mean, the twenty of you?!"
Mayuri gasped, seeing Shinigami appearing around him.
He was surprised.
Did they turn on him?
What did Giselle say to them...
But then smirked.
"Alright then, Shinigami! This is a Ryoka! Arrest her immediately!"
He demanded, only for them to not move a single muscle.
Mayuri became confused as Giselle skipped closer.
"Doesn't seem like they're listening to you." Giselle got right in Mayuri's face, showing a dark smile. "Because they're my comrades now you bastard."
"As if!"
Mayuri swung for Giselle, but two of the Zombie's intercepted Mayuri's blade, clashing with sparks erupting around them. Then two more Shinigami jumped down to slice at Mayuri who growled, forcing back the two Shinigami with a Kido spell.
But that allowed Giselle to fire an arrow at close range, Mayuri panicking and bent his beck backwards, as the arrow went above his face.
"That was-"
He couldn't finish his sentence as Ikkaku came down with his Shikai activated, what was left of it after his fight with Karin, stabbing towards Mayuri again and again at a good speed. He parried the shots from Ikkaku, but admitted to himself that he wasn't that good in swordplay as were the Squad 11 that focused in on battle.
"Ooh, what's gonna happen now clowny? Getting worried are you~?"
Giselle giggled, which unnerved Mayuri.
She didn't even appear to be worried.
She seemed to be as calm as they came.
Mayuri glared hard for Giselle, while waving his hand forward, shooting a restraining spell at Ikkaku.
However, Yumichika came down, and sliced towards the binding spell, dispelling it before it could capture Ikkaku, as Giselle shot off several arrows at Mayuri which went at a high speed, all coming for the deranged looking man.
"Get lost! Seriously!"
Using his sword skills, Mayuri cut down the arrows, but Yumichika and three Shinigami following him charged for Mayuri, all slashing towards him, so Mayuri cut down two of the Shinigami, but due to the arrow that Giselle had hit him with before, his reflexes dulled, and the blade of Yumichika's cut into Mayuri's skin, causing him to scowl, releasing a barrier before him, so he couldn't get cut with others.
His hands stuck themselves out, and concentrated on his Kido energy.
"Hado 73: Soren Sokatsui!"
Using a doubled version of Sokatsui, Mayuri's Kido spell slammed against a bunch of Shinigami charging for him, keeping them away from his body, but Giselle saw an opening, and shot off a very powerful arrow, so powerful that Mayuri knew it would be too strong for his own good.
Mayuri turned his Kido onto Giselle's arrow, and a violent clash sent a powerful shock wave between the two of them, obliterating the ground below them, while Giselle quickly moved Takumi out of the way, with Yachiru carrying Kenpachi.
As the shock wave died down, Mayuri stood there with some blood dripping down his face, his eyes squarely on the enemy before him.
"You're not so bad little girl. I have to commend you. So, what have you done to those Shinigami?"
Giselle, to keep Mayuri guessing, weighed her hands up and down.
"I don't know what you're talking about~ They saw you attacking their Captain, they decided in that moment that you're their enemy rather than I am~"
"You're lying, don't mock me little girl."
"Mocking you? I wouldn't mock someone like you, because it would be too easy. I could mock the fact that you're a clown, or the fact that you're a sadist. I'm not a sadist myself, so I don't know what being one is like."
Mayuri clutched his sword tightly.
"Then you can witness a power like no other, my Bankai!"
Giselle felt a slight panic entering her.
She didn't know if she could deal with his Bankai.
She didn't even know what his Bankai could do.
So rather than appear to be distressed, she just showed a wild smile.
"Go ahead!" She baited to the suspicions of Mayuri. "But you should be aware, there are people coming here." Mayuri paused as Giselle lazily waved her hand left. "There's a few of our comrades coming here, someone that could probably blitz you in speed."
"You're lying!"
Giselle didn't show anything other than her strong expressions that showed she wasn't messing around at all.
"Check for yourself."
Giselle suggested, so Mayuri focused and sensed.
For a few seconds, he didn't feel anyone.
But then he felt a few targets approaching, and one, which was Yoruichi, who had high spirit energy did make Mayuri sweat a little bit. Thankfully, he couldn't sense Nemu's presence, something Nemu had made sure that he wouldn't.
Mayuri didn't exactly want to get caught up between this kind of battle, and with the injuries he had suffered, he didn't think it would be a good idea either.
"Tch, you're a pretty weird girl. But you intrigue me girl. Your arrows, are that of a Quincy. I had given up on Quincy's a while ago."
"Given up? What do you mean?"
Mayuri showed his deranged smile that made Giselle's eyes narrow.
"Yeah, I experimented on many Quincy's, probably over two thousand of them."
"Two thousand…?"
Giselle felt her anger growing within her.
He experimented on innocent Quincy's…
Two thousand or more?
He looked even happy with announcing that.
"That's right, I can't remember the exact number, but it is a rather interesting. But I got everything I wished out of that research. Though, you have sparked my interest again girl. What kind of abilities do you have?"
Giselle was seething.
Mayuri was making light of killing innocent people.
It pissed her off.
It made her feel like she was going to kill Mayuri for ding something like this, the injustice of it all.
Not only killing the Quincy's, but also having done what he had done to Takumi...
"You're dead."
She said coldly, and shot off many arrows at Mayuri who panicked.
Seeing the barrage coming for him, he knew he wouldn't be able to dodge them all at the same time, so he went into his pocket, and pulled out a weird looking device, which he pressed a button on, throwing it into the air, which created what seemed to be a very bright light, which forced the arrows from Giselle to head towards the light itself, Mayuri snickering at the sight.
"Always come prepared. I came prepared for Takumi, but this will work with you as well, little girl. Goodbye for now girl, you've definitely piqued my interest."
"Wait!"
She tried to give chase, but Mayuri threw a bomb towards Yachiru and the others.
Gritting her teeth, she shot the bomb down, but Mayuri managed to hide himself as he got away.
Giselle noticing though that the wounds he had wouldn't allow him to give chase to them.
Once he was gone, Giselle strolled over towards Takumi, and the others. She had also noticed that Kenpachi had passed out by that time, Giselle bent down towards Takumi, and saw how his life was struggling, how he was losing, due to the massive amount of injuries on his body.
"Takumi-kun, it seems that you've been through quite a bit. Don't worry Takumi-kun, you're not going to die."
While she spoke, Giselle saw Yoruichi come in with Orihime.
Orihime gasped, and jumped out of Yoruichi's arms, rushing towards Takumi.
"Taku-chan! Taku-chan!"
She knelt down before him, and used her Soten Kisshun ability, to try and heal him to the best of her abilities. Yoruichi overlooked the situation, then turned to Kenpachi, who was unconscious, and Yachiru who looked worried over Kenpachi.
"Please, help Ken-chan too! Ken-chan and Taku are best friends now!"
Yoruichi wasn't convinced by it.
But Orihime expanded her shield, and enveloped Kenpachi in it as well.
"Inoue..."
Yoruichi spoke with worry about her healing someone like Kenpachi.
But Orihime continued healing while saying "Taku-chan would do it too." so she healed Kenpachi along with Takumi, while Yoruichi wasn't sure about it. It felt like it was a bad idea to do something like this.
But then she sighed.
"Little girl, we need a base. Would your Squad be acceptable?"
"Ooh, you're making a base for the Taku Squad?"
Yoruichi was taken aback by that.
"T-The Taku Squad?"
"Yup! I'm Lieutenant of the Taku Squad! Taku also saved me, so make sure that Taku stays alive, okay? Ken-chan will need his best friend to become well so they can fight again!"
Yoruichi was bewildered, but Giselle stepped forward.
"She's right, Takumi-kun saved her life."
"How do you..."
"I could see the blood on Mayuri Kurotsuchi's sword, that matched Takumi-kun's blood. The wound came from him, and I believe he would defend her from that kind of attack. So if she said that he did, then he did save her."
"Yes...you're probably right." She turned to see Nemu coming in with Hanataro, who went immediately to Takumi's side to help Orihime with healing. "In any case, we need to get off the street, it is too dangerous to stay here."
"Then lets go!"
Yachiru announced happily, Yoruichi nodding and took a glance at Nemu, wondering if they could trust her. Not that she didn't like Nemu...but she had to be cautious in case Mayuri had planned something and that Nemu was a participant, even if Nemu wasn't aware of it happening at the time either.
As the night began to come, Karin and the others finally reached Shunsui's are, immediately coming in contact with them, and as soon as he saw Karin and Yuzu, his face grew with a smile.
"Well, Nanao-chan. I didn't know you were bringing two beautiful women."
Yuzu became bashful, putting her hands to her flushing cheeks, while Karin didn't look exactly thrilled with him.
"So this is your Captain?"
Karin asked Nanao who nodded with a sigh.
"Unfortunately."
"Hey Nanao-chan, don't be mean~ Besides, we all know you'd want Takumi to be your Captain huh~?"
Karin adopted a smirk, playfully poking the increasingly shy Nanao in the side.
"Is that true? Do you want him to be your Captain? Commanding you in different ways..."
"N-No! Do not speak like that!" Nanao released an out of character cry, before straightening herself out. "A-Anyway, Captain, have you heard anything back from the Central 46?"
Shunsui's face turned downwards.
"Unfortunately I have."
"Captain..."
Nanao didn't like the tone that Shunsui was using it.
It was confirming some fears that she held inside of herself.
Shunsui pressed forward with an unsure look on his face.
"It seems, that they could consider trading Rukia Kuchiki for Takumi, and then they would execute him in her place."
Both Karin and Yuzu gasped, while Ganju wore complex feelings on his face.
"But we can't give Takumi-kun up to them surely!"
Yuzu argued, while Karin nodded.
"That's not an option. We're all leaving this damn Soul Society. Regardless of what this Central 46 wishes for or not. Don't worry Yuzu, we wont hand over Takumi for Rukia-san, we'll save both of them from this corrupt society."
Shunsui furrowed his eyebrows.
"By the way, when I last saw Takumi, he alluded to something being wrong with the Soul Society. Did he tell either of you what that was?"
Yuzu and Karin glanced at one another, before Yuzu spoke up.
"Takumi-kun told us that there are some probable traitors in the Soul Society. But we shouldn't discuss that with anyone unless we fully trust them."
"And sorry, but we can't trust you yet. Just met you and all. We can't be sure if you're the traitor."
Shunsui let out a laugh.
"Yes, I'd be worried if you did trust me fully. Good, then it seems that it wasn't just for show. If there is a traitor in the Soul Society, then it has to be one of the Captains. Only they'd have the ability to attempt trying to betray the Soul Society."
"But who, sir?"
Nanao questioned, but Shunsui wasn't so sure.
"I don't know yet. That's why we should try and meet up with Takumi. That boy probably has an idea about it as well. But, I'm not sure where he is currently."
"He was fighting Kenpachi Zaraki but..."
"I already went to look, by the time I got there, he was already gone. Whatever happened to him, his body wasn't there, so he's alive at least."
Yuzu released a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"See Yuzu? I said that idiot would be fine."
"Yes, I guess that you're right. I'm glad Takumi-kun is still alive. But we have to find him."
Shunsui then interrupted.
"But not tonight, it's too dangerous, they're on high alert right now, and if I know Takumi, which I do, he wont be going back out tonight. We'll have to wait for a little while, but we will meet up with him again."
Karin nodded.
"I agree. Lets get some rest, and get ready to fight."
Shunsui nodded, and asked Nanao to prepare them so sleeping areas.
While doing so, Yuzu was just relieved that Takumi was fine and not dead right now.
With everything that was going on until that point, Momo was in a situation she wasn't sure to think about. Remembering what Toshiro had said, remembering what happened with Renji, and also, how she had met Takumi, and he wasn't a monster that he had been portrayed to be.
It all seemed insane, she wasn't sure where to go, what to think, how to feel.
In the end, she found herself moving towards her Captains room, trying to find some clarity from the wisest man that she knew, and the man that she believed was the only one that she could currently trust due to how kind he was.
Momo's knuckles knocked on the door several times, even some more that was necessarily.
The door opened, just as Momo was knocking, almost hitting Aizen.
"Momo, it seems something is wrong." His calm voice always made Momo feel better. "Is something the matter Momo?"
"N-No...yes...I don't know Captain. Things are..."
Momo didn't know how to begin.
She wasn't sure what to say.
Aizen stepped aside, allowing her entry.
"Please come and sit down."
She nodded a single time, before walking inside of the room.
Positioning herself nearby, where Aizen was writing something at his table, she sat down and Aizen sat down before her.
"I'm sorry for bothering you so late Captain. I-I didn't mean to come so late, and I'm sorry...for screwing up in front of you Captain."
Aizen turns towards her, giving her a slightly kind smile.
"So, is that the image I project to others these days? Is it a scary Captain image?"
"N-No! I didn't mean it like that Captain! I swear!"
She said while waving her hands in front of her face, embarrassment on her face.
Aizen's face softens.
"I see." He overlooked Momo's features, seeing the worry on her face. "Are you worried about Renji right now Momo?"
"Yes...I mean, Captain Kuchiki seemed a little harsh considering everything currently going on with Renji-san..."
"Yes, he can be a rather closed off person. But do not worried about Renji, he is fine. He's healing and recovering quite well. Though he is still unconscious right now."
"I see, that's one good thing at least."
Momo showed her relief on her face, while Aizen continued.
"Captain Kuchiki attempted to try and demote Renji, but everyone was against it. So when he is healed, he will return to his position."
Momo exhaled the breath she didn't know she was holding.
"I bet it was you, wasn't it Captain Aizen? Who defended Renji-san."
Aizawa shook his head with a kind smile erupting outwards.
"It wasn't only me. Since Renji is talented, and is well liked, he wasn't going to be punished. Since that boy, Takumi Urahara is the one that had fought him, no one was happy to to demote him for attempting to apprehend him."
"I see...since it was that boy...Takumi Urahara-san huh..."
Aizen raised a brow when Momo seemed to be pondering something.
"Is something on your mind, Momo?"
"Well...I just thought about something. Captain, is this boy...Takumi Urahara-san that bad? I mean, he seems to be really...I don't know. He didn't seem to be a monster to me."
Aizen's eyes sharpened.
"Is that so? I was told you had contact with him. I'm sorry if he scared you."
Aizen tried to appear as sympathetic as he could.
Momo appreciated the kindness that Aizen showed, but believed that he also had got it wrong.
"No, no, he wasn't a bad person to me Captain Aizen. In fact, he...he was quite nice, and spoke kindly."
Aizen wasn't thrilled about that.
It wasn't in his plans to have Momo begin actually sympathizing with Takumi of all people.
So he tried to dissuade Momo from Takumi as much as he could without giving anything away.
"Perhaps he did. But remember Momo, the kindest words can hold the darkest intentions."
Momo thought about what Aizen had said, not seeing the look that was within Aizen's eyes.
"Maybe...but, is it possible, that we're wrong about him? I heard that he was a ruthless monster that had done many horrible experiments on good people. Yet, when he had me in his clutches, all he did was ask me questions, and then let me go. He didn't even try and threaten me. He didn't seem like a monster to me...and Renji-san. He also said that once, he learned a good deal from Takumi Urahara-san, and he was kind to him and Rukia Kuchiki-san. So, it's so confusing."
Aizen's eyes sharpened more and more.
He wasn't thrilled about this.
He looked quite angered by this actually.
But he kept on his calm face, and showed nothing but kindness to her.
His hand reached out, gently petting her head.
"I know it must be confusing. I must admit that it is also confusing to me. I once fought alongside Takumi Urahara, and when I had heard about the incident which lead to him leaving the Soul Society, I couldn't believe my ears."
"You knew Urahara-san in a more friendly manner Captain?"
Aizen meshed his lips together, thinking about how to reply.
"I have met him before, he and I had served together on several missions. He was a genius on a similar caliber to Toshiro Hitsugaya. If he had stayed on with the Soul Society, he'd be a Captain of a squad by this point, he had that much talent. But, it went to waste, and he fell to the darkness."
"I-I see...you speak kindly of him Captain. Was he...your friend?"
Aizen nodded turning fully towards her.
"We once shared a friendship between us, we had things that were in common and I came to refer to him as my comrade in arms. But if I see him again, I'll have conflicting feelings. I wouldn't know if I could end up fighting him with my best. The old memories of us being together in a battle situation would haunt me, and perhaps dull my blade. He once protected me and I had once protected him during a fight with some particularly strong Hollows."
Momo was hooked on every word Aizen was saying, something Aizen was pleased about.
"Wow Captain, he was on a similar to you in the past?"
"Haha, I suppose he was. But now...he has been lost to the darkness. As I said Momo, do not be deceived with kind words, he might appear kind and had let you go, but remember, his intelligence and his ability to deceive comrades and foes alike is amazing. He managed to fool the Soul Society for a long time, before what he did came to light. Regrettably, the face you see, his face that looks like a sweet and kind young man, hides a force of nature that even surprises me. I don't wish to scare you, I wish to protect you."
Momo took in everything that Aizen had said.
But…
Something inside of her couldn't quite believe it.
Unless Takumi was the best liar in the world, it all seemed natural.
Their interaction seemed to be as natural as it could be.
He wasn't threatening.
He wasn't menacing.
He was acting...quite like a normal person would.
And if he was deceiving her...for what purpose?
Momo didn't know, but she felt her fatigue coming over her once more.
Her body slunk down a little bit, something Aizen had noticed, showing his ever so kind expression that would fill most with delight.
"Anyway, Momo. Feel free to stay as long as you wish."
Momo thanked Aizen.
"Thank you Captain, I'll keep quiet so you can continue your work, and I am sorry if I have made you fall behind because of it."
"Do not think anything of it, Momo. You are someone I consider to me close to me, not just as my Lieutenant, but my comrade...my friend."
Momo's face filled with delight, as her eyes became heavier and heavier.
But she watched Aizen for another hour or so, before she couldn't stay awake anymore, and she fell asleep.
Aizen's eyes scanned over Momo's form.
"Damn that Takumi, perhaps he had planted an idea in Momo's head, knowing that she was my Lieutenant...if that's the case, then he's smarter than I thought. It seems that I'll have to move faster in order to achieve what I wish for, that boy is getting too close. But still, I wont be beaten by him. I'll get my hands on it, nothing is going to stop me, least of all Takumi Urahara."
Aizen, having wrote a letter, left it on the table, and then left the area.
Focused on his mission, Aizen was preparing for what was going to happen next.
End chapter!
So Bambietta and the others showed back up, and are watching over Karakura town for Takumi and the others while they're away, while Zombie Chizuru and Kisuke are...doing what they're doing~
While that was going on, Mayuri's causing terror for the group. Takumi, despite being nearly out of energy, managed to at least for a small while, duel with Mayuri, but since his fight with Kenpachi had exhausted him, he couldn't fight for long. Then Yachiru stepped in and tried to fight him, even showing her Shikai and managed to surprise Mayuri since he didn't have any notes on her Shikai, then finally, after she was nearly beaten by Mayuri, Giselle came in with her hoard of Zombie's, and fought off Mayuri, drawing him away from her.
At the same time Yoruichi is wondering about Nemu, if they can trust her or not, not because she doesn't like Nemu, but due to being the daughter of Mayuri, she doesn't want anything bad to happen to the others in case Nemu changes on them, though Nemu is on their side, after stating about how Takumi had helped her see her treatment by Mayuri was wrong.
Karin and the others finally met up with Shunsui, revealing about Central 46, something we'll be getting back to soon enough, and Karin has manifested her Hollow mask, that she's keeping hidden from everyone else due to worry about it and not wanting to worry anyone else, and Aizen seems to be up to something, knowing that Takumi could be someone very troubling for him, so we'll find out about that in the future!
Well, until next time, thanks for reading!
Takumi; Orihime, Rukia, Yuzu, Karin, Nemu, Giselle, Liltotto, Momo, Soi Fon, Yoruichi, Hiyori, Nelliel, Tier, Rangiku, Toshiro (fem), Nanao.