Hello, and welcome to the next chapter!
Clarent excalibur; He is yeah, he's showing his smarts, and planning ahead for the future. Haha, Kenpachi surely will yeah. I can't spoil it, but Momo's gonna be going through a few things in the coming chapters.
Oblivious IJ; Looking good.
ShadowUzumaki55; Thanks very much! Nemu's gonna be exploring more about herself and is going to be showing growth as we go forward. We'll see some more scenes between them in the future. That's Kenpachi for you, as long as he gets to fight, then he's alright with it. Unohana is...quite wild, so Takumi's gonna have to do his best to convince her. He did yeah, Karin's been struggling with it, so he's trying his best to reassure her that it will be alright. Poor Momo, she's going to be going through a few things.
Skull Flame; We'll discover more about them in the coming chapters. That's Kenpachi for you, and yeah with the way things are going, he's gonna need some Bankai action. It is yeah, Yoruichi is just being prepared. We'll have to see about that, how Momo handles this situation.
rhinocaputo777; Here's the next chapter!
david teague 3950; That would be cool for Yuzu. Both of them are in it. Yeah, they're not in it, sorry.
Silver crow; Thanks very much! We'll have to see about that. He did yeah, Karin's beginning to understand more and more. Soi Fon and Takumi had some sort of relationship yeah. Kenpachi is yeah, though he still wishes to fight him haha. Orihime and her weird dreams~ Yeah, Momo goes through a lot in this arc. I can't reveal much about that, but there could be a different reason he goes to where Aizen is during that arc. Yeah, he's making plans alright, he has some information but not all of it, and he's gonna be showing more of his smarts through the story. Yeah, they're gonna have an explosive meeting. She wont acknowledge them yet, but I do know when she is going to do that. Momo's thinking about it yeah. Yeah perhaps she will. It surely is yeah. No problem. I've got ideas for Takumi's future abilities. Yeah, it sounds good to me. Sure he could. Yeah if he could help it, he wouldn't allow her to be captured. She could still do that for Grimmjow. Maybe he could have yeah. Soi Fon's got some complex feelings. She could do yeah, her Bankai didn't even kill anyone in canon. Sure that would be cool. Yeah it would be cool huh. That would be nice for them to have that kind of relationship. That sounds pretty awesome to me! It could be yeah, he could make it Chappy.
Andrew123456; I've never watched it before. I haven't watched it yet, and if that's true, that's sad. We'll find out more about his teachers in the future. Merry Christmas!
Guest 1; Yeah maybe~
Well, with those lovely reviews out of the way, it's time to start the chapter!
Captain Unohana
Sitting within a room, looking towards what seemed to be a picture, was a young woman who had a cold look within her eyes. Her hair was short, but she had two very long braids wrapped in white, and a gold ring at the end of them, and she herself was a rather petite woman.
There was another appearance at the door that she had within the room.
"What?"
She said with a rather rude voice, due to her thoughts being distrupted by the new presence.
"I have important news, may I enter, Captain Soi Fon?"
Soi Fon let out a low snarl.
"Fine, come inside."
Soi Fon allowed the man inside, who presented her with a scroll.
She overlooked said scroll, before scrunching it up in her hands.
"Damn, Aizen's dead...Takumi, what have you done now…? To go this far..."
Soi Fon's spiritual pressure increased higher and higher.
It increased so high that it became visible, and she looked as if she was thinking about something deeply. The sadness that she felt, the deep depression that she had suffered in the past, and now the anger of what she was reading, what she had heard from the Seireitei and what Takumi was doing as well.
The man who delivered the scroll began to feel sweat pouring down his face from the intense feelings that Soi Fon was releasing through her spiritual pressure.
It became so high that in the end, he didn't know how to feel, and fell unconscious from the wild power that Soi Fon was releasing.
She had kept her power back for now…
But no more.
She simply couldn't do that anymore.
She was going to go and find Takumi herself.
In the 6th Division holding cell, Renji awakens, laying down in a bed with his Zanpakuto just outside of his cell, having been fixed now from his fight with Takumi, since it healed alongside Renji, he was glad, but he also was thinking about the fight that he had been through recently with Takumi.
He also thought about Rukia.
During his fight with Takumi, he remembered when he broke down, and how he was unable to fulfil the duties that he had set out to do.
Rukia was waiting…
Or if she had been rescued already, he didn't know.
He wished that he did but in the end, he ddnt know what was happening regarding that.
Did Takumi keep his promise to save Rukia?
"How long do you play to lay there?"
Renji's eyes shoot open, looking towards the left hand side of him, he sees a white baboon stood there, with a snake tail. Both of their heads turned towards Renji, while the baboon itself seemed to be more calm, the snake just looks scornfully towards Renji.
"Zabimaru, what are you doing here?"
The snakes eyes laid upon Renji, and showed a condescending look.
"Scumbag."
Renji bit his lower lip in slight annoyance.
"What a nice choice of words. We haven't spoken in a while, and you're starting with those words?" Renji exhaled slowly, seeing the snake not looking pleased. "So, what are you both doing here?"
The baboon raised his head towards Renji.
"I'm completely recovered now, I'm ready to fight. But I'm waiting for you. However, you're just laying there as if you are giving up the fight. Don't you want to go and fight that boy, Takumi Urahara, again? For Rukia?"
Renji breathed out slowly, trying to get his head around what the baboon was saying.
He stared into the eyes of both baboon and snake.
In the end, Renji shook his head.
"Idiot, did you not remember the fight at all? I already tried that, even if I wanted to fight him again, which right now I don't, he's trying to save Rukia, he also reminded me of the past a little bit, and remembered the times that we had shared together. So no, I don't want to fight now."
"If he isn't the enemy, then who is the enemy?"
At the baboons question, Renji couldn't respond.
He honestly wasn't sure who the enemy was anymore.
In a way, Takumi being the enemy gave Renji a reason to not think about it.
To not think about what had happened in the past years with Rukia, with Takumi, with everything that he had held inside of him for so long.
Instead, Renji peered out of the window of his cell, seeing that the sun was blazing in the sky, shining down its brilliant light.
It washed over him as time went on, and Renji began thinking what he was going to do next.
But in his heart of hearts, he was sure of what he was going to be doing now.
He was going to have to find Takumi, and fight together with him.
To rescue Rukia.
Now all he had to do was...find him.
Takumi stretched his arms, as he was about to leave for his mission, when Yoruichi came into the room, and moved closer to the young boy.
"Takumi, a word, before you leave."
Takumi turned towards her curiously.
"What's going on Yoruichi-chan?"
Yoruichi furrowed her eyebrows, folding her arms.
"I've got a few things to say to you that I hadn't had a chance to do before." Takumi nodded for her to continue. "First, it's about a woman called Soi Fon."
"Soi Fon, I've heard that name being mentioned before by Captain Shunsui. Is she someone that I have to be aware of? Is she powerful?"
"She's got a tricky ability with her Zanpakuto yes. Two hits in the same exact place, and you will die."
Takumi looked stunned by her saying that so honestly.
"W-Wow, that's quite the ability."
"Yes, it's an ability that her Shikai has. But that's not why I'm warning you."
Takumi appeared to be confused.
"Isn't that the dangerous thing? Why are you saying that isn't the thing you're warning me about exactly?"
"It's about Soi Fon herself. She is...well, lets just say that when you left the Seireitei the first time those years ago...and how she also feels about me personally, I can't say that you'd have a warm welcome from her."
"So, she's after me? As in, she's trying to kill me?"
"It's a distinct possibility, and now with Captain Aizen having 'died' she'll believe that you are the one behind it. She is someone that enforces the law without question, even against people that she used to care for. Just be careful of her, alright?"
"Sure, I'll be on the lookout for her."
He saw that Yoruichi seemed concerned, so he made sure that she'd be comforted by those facts.
Yoruichi then pulled closer to his form.
"Also, I need to say my thoughts regarding Nemu Kurotsuchi."
"Nemu-san? What about her?"
"You know that she was created by Mayuri, don't you?"
Takumi blinked, then nodded.
"Yes, she's told me that before."
"Then you also have met Mayuri, and how he can be. He is a person that...I'm not accusing Nemu here, I believe she genuinely wishes to have a better life than she does now, and finds it hard to express her feelings. However, she still is created by Mayuri..."
"You think she'll turn on us for him?"
Takumi cut to the chase, seeing where Yoruichi was going with it.
She didn't deny it, bobbing her head up and down a single time.
"Yes, that's right. I don't think she'll do it of her own accord of course. But he is the type that will try something if his creations turn on him. I'm only warning you in the event that something does happen with her."
Takumi could understand her concerns.
"While I get were you're coming from, I just can't see her turning on us. And if Mayuri did make some kind of switch to her, then I'll make sure that it is disabled. I'll find it myself, if she does have one. But if he has done that to her, then I think that's really disgusting. She is his daughter."
"That doesn't matter to Mayuri at all. To him, she's a mere puppet for him to control. A creation that he made to be his personal tool. He's the type of person that doesn't want perfection, but wont settle for anything than amazing. And I mean that in many ways. He will use her to attack you, he'll slice through her to cut you, he'll use her as bait for you to be into a deadly situation. He is the type of person who will abuse others to win a fight."
"I see...yes, I thought that from the first time that I met him. But Yoruichi-chan, I know Nemu-san, she isn't going to turn on us, and as I said, I'll check myself with her permission of course, and if she does have it, I'll do my best to disable it. But you're wrong about her."
"Wrong in what way?"
At his question, Takumi smiled lightly.
"She's not a puppet. She might have been made to be a puppet, but she isn't someone that's under the thrall of anyone, anymore. She's gaining individuality, she's becoming more independent, she wants things. She desires to have a better life. Before, it didn't seem like she even understood the concept of simply desiring to not be hit or anything. But now she's taking interests in many things. Mayuri created her yes, but he's not earned the right to call her his daughter. A Father wouldn't stifle their child in this manner, and wouldn't abuse them."
Upon hearing that, Yoruichi became content, showing an affectionate smile on her lips.
"It's something I've always liked about you, Takumi. Even when situations like this arise, you keep the thing about you that makes you wonderful."
"What's that?"
"Your compassion." At her response, she pulled closer, and placed both of her hands on his upper body. "It's what I think is something that most should have in the Seireitei. Compassion for your allies and enemies, yet always managing to understand that compassion can only go so far before you have to take action. It was best seen when you fought against Kenpachi, even though you and he had just had a fight, you also stepped in and defended Yachiru, who was on your enemies side, from an even greater evil, recognizing these things is someone that I find really wonderful."
Yoruichi's hands slid down his body, and then reached around, ending up lightly touching his butt, pulling him even closer to her form. One of her hands slid up his side, and ended up on his face, causing his cheeks to turn red slightly.
"Yoruichi-chan..."
"You're so cute, I'd definitely kiss you right now if we had time."
Takumi blinked in surprise.
"Yoruichi-chan, that's...I'm surprised, you want..."
Yoruichi allowed her soft lips to brush against his cheek, then petted his other cheek with her hand.
"You're so cute, stay alive Takumi, then come back to me."
Takumi felt his heart beat increasing more and more.
Feeling the warmth of Yoruichi's body, her embrace and her gentle touch.
"Yes, I'll come back, Yoruichi-chan. No matter what."
Yoruichi softly smiled, and groped his butt, as he let out a small gasp.
"Haha, then I'll see you soon, my adorable Takumi."
Yoruichi pulled away from his body, leaving the younger male blushing from the sultry way that she moved, wiggling her hips, and the way that she turned back towards him, and gave an alluring smile, she truly was a master of being able to tease others.
Once she was gone, Takumi exhaled slowly, while still having red cheeks.
"Taku-chan, are you coming?"
Orihime called, Takumi blinked several times, getting his stuff together, before leaving the room.
"Yes, I'm here, lets go."
Takumi announced, and with a final goodbye to the others, he left with Orihime, Hanataro, and Nemu together.
Two hours later, Karin took her group consisting of Yoruichi, Yuzu, and Ganju towards the large white tower that Rukia was being held in. Though their objective was simply to buy time for Takumi and the others, they also had to try and rescue Rukia at least, Karin thought it would be best to try and do that anyway.
"So, if we keep heading in this direction, how long do you think it will take for us to reach where Kuchiki is?"
At Karin's question, Yoruichi in cat form, pursed her small lips.
"That's a good question. At our current speed, it shouldn't take us more than a few hours. But be careful everyone, even though this is a rescue mission, they still will have some powerful people guarding Rukia."
Yuzu furrowed her eyebrows, clenching her fingers together.
"I know that you're right, Yoruichi-san. But I still think that we should try and rescue her. It would be best if we could rescue her, at least for Takumi-kun's sake, right?"
Yoruichi nodded.
"Yes, that's our main priority, then we'll have to be careful. We can't allow us to be captured. If Aizen truly is still going to be alive, and is going to be our enemy, then we don't know who he might or might not have under his control. It's been a hundred years, he could have convinced anyone to join his cause. With or without his Zanpakuto's ability."
Karin could hear the worrying tones within her voice.
It was clear that Yoruichi was definitely worried about what was currently happening.
But she still was keeping strong for the others, which she had to admire greatly.
"Right, when we reach that tower, we'll have to assess what's currently happening. Even if it is a dangerous situation, we still have to do our best, alright?"
"Yes, I understand."
Ganju said seriously, but Karin smirked, and jabbed his side.
"So, you're sounding serious all of a sudden. I also noticed that you were unusually quiet during the meeting before. Are you still scared of Takumi huh?"
His nostrils flared, shaking side to side from what Karin was saying.
"T-That's not your business!"
"Aah, I think that it is right after all. Don't worry, I don't mind if you're worried, it will be perfectly fine if you feel like that. I'll make sure that you're taken care of, I'm sure Takumi wouldn't kill you...although..."
Ganju gulped when Karin's face turned more sadistic as a fun time for herself.
"Well, I did hear that he wasn't pleased with what you did when you first met."
Yuzu glanced at Yoruichi sweat dropped.
"W-Wait, what…? Still…?"
"Yes, because of what you did. He thought it was rather unforgivable."
"N-No..."
"Did you not see, the coldness when he spoke your name. It was like he had daggers out for you. I mean, I don't want to assume anything but..."
Karin had a small joke with Ganju, she didn't expect however that he'd take it so seriously.
Ganju's face turned white, shaking side to side as if to deny anything that was happening to him.
"N-Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo! He's going to sacrifice me to his research or something, isn't he?! I can't die by Takumi Urahara! Please Karin! Please give in a good word for me! I can't handle it anymore!"
Karin thought it was rather funny that he was freaking out the way that he was.
"D-Don't worry Ganju, I'm sure if you apologize, you'll be fine."
Karin assured him, but he didn't seem exactly thrilled.
In fact, he looked rather scared by what was happening.
Yuzu poked Karin in the side.
"Karin, it isn't nice to scare Ganju-san like that."
"I'm only teasing, don't worry about it." Karin said it with a smile on her face. "Ganju, I was kidding, he isn't going to kill you or does he hate you or anything like that."
Karin assured him, but it didn't make Ganju feel anything other than a real deep fear building up inside of him.
"Y-You can't do that! You know how frightened I am of him!"
Karin didn't really get it.
She never felt frightened of Takumi so seeing others being frightened was a surprise to her.
"Well, stop being frightened of him, he isn't going to kill you or anything like that. I don't even get you sometimes Ganju, being frightened of someone that you've never met. How can you be scared of someone that you don't know?"
"Actually, I kind of agree Ganju-san." Yuzu added. "While Karin is a bit brash, she's got a point, you shouldn't be afraid of someone you don't know. Like Takumi-kun, he hasn't done anything that's been bad, has he?"
Ganju shuddered.
"As soon as we get out of this damn place, the better. I can't stand being here."
Karin furrowed her eyebrows, seeing that Ganju's hand was shaking.
It didn't seem to be with fear.
It seemed to be more with...determination about something.
She recalled what had happened with Kukaku saying about their elder brother, and a Shinigami.
She just hoped that they didn't meet the Shinigami that had taken his brothers life.
Meanwhile, Takumi with Orihime, Hanataro, and Nemu were currently underground for their mission. Wearing cloaks around their bodies, they were able to hide their spiritual pressure from the world that was attempting to sense for them.
They crept through the Seireitei as if they were mice, trying to stay off the streets as much as possible, with Hanataro allowing them access to the underground sewer system, with him guiding the way towards Unohana.
He was honestly glad that he had Hanataro around, since he seemed to be a good asset in things such as this.
Though Takumi was unsure of what the future was going to bring, he still knew that he had a mission to do.
They had been walking for a good few hours now. They didn't risk using Flash Step in case their pressure was felt. The cloaks did cover spiritual energy, but it did have a limit, and using spiritual energy might also cause it to be revealed to the others.
"Wow Taku-chan, I've just been thinking. If we manage to save the Soul Society, we'll be super heroes or something~"
Orihime brought up, with Takumi chortling happily.
"I suppose that we would be yeah~"
"We are, going to be heroes, Takumi-sama?"
Nemu spoke with a confused face, with Takumi inclining his neck.
"Sure, I don't see why not. Don't you want to be a hero Nemu?"
He joked, as Nemu cocked her head.
"Yes, I understand Takumi-sama. I will be a hero also. Incidentally, perhaps after this adventure, we can also take a picture?"
"Picture?"
Orihime looked surprised, but Takumi thought that it was rather sweet that Nemu wished for something like that.
"Yes, it would be great if we did that, wouldn't it Nemu-san?"
"Yes, I have been reading that taking pictures is a sign of friendship and loyalty."
As they were talking, Takumi kept thinking about Captain Unohana, and how she was going to be.
If she was going to be a kind Captain.
Or if she was going to be vicious that could cause massive damage to him and his comrades.
So while they were walking through the sewers, Takumi turned towards Hanataro questioningly.
"So, Hanataro-san, what is your Captain like anyway?"
Hanataro cocked his head curiously towards Takumi.
"M-My Captain?"
"Yeah, is she like, kind and sweet? Or are we going to have to fight her?"
Takumi thought that it would be rather reasonable to know exactly what was, and what wasn't, going on with this Captain. He had heard some stuff from Shunsui, but he had been awfully quiet when he asked Shunsui what Unohana was actually like.
"Well, Captain Unohana is quite a sweet woman, she's very kind to Squad Four members."
"Ooh, that's great, didn't want to run into someone that was going to cleave off my head or anything hahahaha~"
Takumi let out a small laugh, with Orihime joining in on the laugh, believing that it would be quite a good way to keep up beat...not aware of what was about to happen.
"Please calm down!"
Takumi yelled as he was thrown through a door, and landed outside of the Squad Four medical treatment area, Unohana came outside with her katana swinging down towards him, forcing him to dodge out of the way, while turning to the side to see Nemu, Hanataro, and Orihime looking shocked.
When they had arrived, Hanataro promised that he'd get them in easily enough.
But when Unohana locked eyes with Takumi, she immediately took to fighting him quickly.
She didn't even back down for a single moment.
An aura radiated off her form, as they stood outside of the facility. Her sword had killer intentions.
Takumi turned to Hanataro with wide eyes.
"I thought you said she was nice!"
"S-She is, usually..."
"This isn't usually to me!"
Hanataro cried, bowing his head again and again in sorrow, as Isane, a girl that was rather tall, stood beside her Captain.
Unohana's eyes danced up and down the form of Takumi as he tossed some daggers that began to light up as he threw them around the area. It seemed to form some kind of dome, with Nemu noticing that the spiritual pressure from outside was being blocked off.
"So, Takumi-sama is attempting to hide this clash. Yes, it makes sense. He doesn't want to be found out...but even then, Takumi-sama is in danger. Perhaps this time I should fight for him...but, I couldn't take on the Captain of Squad 4, from what I know of her. Takumi-sama..."
Nemu's thoughts held her feelings.
Usually, she wouldn't think so...caringly about someone.
But since her incident in Karakura town, she had begun developing more of her feelings.
And because of that, the way that she thought also changed.
"So, you've changed quite a bit since the last time I saw you. You used to be a bit smaller than this, but you've grown to have the face of a man. I'm quite pleased to see that your face and body have matured."
Takumi placed his hand outwards in an attempt to calm down the woman.
"Wait, please. I need to talk to you..."
Unohana showed her blade to Takumi, effectively silencing him.
"You have killed Captain Aizen, haven't you?"
Unohana showed a creepy smile that sent chills down everyone's spines.
Even Takumi felt this killing intent was more than what he had experienced regarding this woman before him.
"N-No, I didn't kill him. Please, I just need to talk to you..."
"Did you win against Kenpachi Zaraki?"
Takumi wore surprise that she had asked that.
"Well, yes...I guess in the end that I did. But I got pretty banged up from that fight."
Unohana's face turned into a mixture of glee, and desire.
Her blade ran across the ground, slicing the stone that was there as if it was made of butter.
"That's good. You know, he's someone that I have also fought before."
"Really…?"
Takumi muttered, wishing that he didn't have to deal with this woman now.
She was terrifying to say the least.
"Yes, that's right. So someone that can fight and beat him, makes me feel excited~"
Takumi's face turned slightly red of a mixture of fear, and intrigue why she would feel like that, and the face that was alluring that she was using didn't help either.
"A-Ah...I'm sorry…?"
He didn't know how he was supposed to reply.
Was he supposed to be apologetic because of this?
Or should he be happy about this?
Either way, the way that she looked at him, he felt as if he was being looked at by a wild animal that was about to devour her prey, and could pounce in an instant, and that alone caused him to tremble a bit.
As for the others, Orihime felt immensely worried, Nemu didn't look worried but felt it, Hanataro felt like passing out at this moment in time. Like he was staring into the jaws of hell, and it was about to devour him.
"Oh no, don't be sorry. I haven't had a reason to pick up my sword in years. I haven't felt the desire to fight for a long time. But, seeing you before me, gives me thrills, and also chills. I'd like to see the man that clashed with Kenpachi Zaraki, and how he began also unlocking his true power that he had held back for so long."
Takumi wore surprise on his face.
"You also felt like that…?"
"I was the first one that witnessed him do so. He kept those psychological handcuffs on him without having killed me. He was someone that has been holding back since he was a child. He wanted to prolong the fight as long as he could to enjoy the battle he is currently in, and because of that, it was my sin that I locked away his potential power. However, you began restoring his power, which I am grateful for."
Takumi didn't know where this was going.
One second she seemed to hate him.
The next it seemed as if she was enjoying his company.
It was very strange.
"S-So, we don't have to fight, do we….?"
"I insist that we do."
Takumi cringed.
"But, I helped Kenpachi-san, that has to count for something..."
Takumi tried to play that angle, seeing that Unohana had some kind of, attachment to Kenpachi, if that was as a warrior, or something else, he wasn't quite sure. Whatever it was, he was hoping that him helping Kenpachi might make her listen to reason.
Though, he wasn't sure when seeing the look on her face.
"It does. You unlocked some primal urge for me to take up my blade once more. I want to see the man who began changing Kenpachi Zaraki."
Takumi shivered at the sight before him.
"E-Erm...y-you don't have to do that, do you…? Can't we just be friends instead? I wouldn't mind that..."
Unohana tilted her head left and right.
"You want to be friends?"
"Y-Yeah! It's better being friends, isn't it Orihime-chan?"
Orihime nodded, thrusting her thumb outwards.
"I agree! We should all strive to be great friends!"
Unohana gave a bemused smile as Isane saw the look within the eyes of Unohana.
She hadn't seen her Captain so excited before.
It looked as if it was a once in a life time opportunity.
"Isane, be a dear, and fight against the others, take them away from this area."
"C-Captain…?"
Isane wasn't so sure.
But seeing the way that her Captain was, she wasn't sure if she should question her.
"Myself, and this boy cannot fight with you around. We don't want to cause your death."
Isane could hear the seriousness in her voice, and in the end, had to obey what she was saying.
"Yes Captain."
Orihime looked towards Takumi, who gave her a thumbs up.
"Go, Orihime-chan."
"But Taku-chan..."
"Don't worry, I've been in life and death battles before. If I have to fight another to achieve what we need, then I don't mind. Make sure that Nemu-san has some back up Orihime-chan, and afterwards, I'll definitely need you."
Orihime was torn about it.
But feeling the power coming off of Unohana, it was definitely surprising and she knew she'd not be able to get involved.
"Yes Taku-chan, I'll do what I can for Nemu-san! Please be safe!"
Takumi nodded a single time, before Nemu rushed forward, quickly grabbing Isane who let out a cry.
"I'll be your opponent."
She said in her monotone way, and tossed Isane away from the others, while Nemu glanced towards Takumi.
"It's alright Nemu-san, you've got this, I know you can win."
Nemu continued to look over Takumi, her eyes seemingly displaying something that resembled worry.
"Takumi-sama, I'm not worried about myself. I am worried about you. The current woman before you is one of the strongest Shinigami in Soul Societies history. She is even stronger than Byakuya Kuchiki-san. If we retreat now..."
"Then I wont be able to see about Aizen's corpse." Takumi cut off Nemu, offering her a comforting smile. "I'm happy you're worried, and I know that people have had some doubts about you, but I trust you Nemu-san. With my life. With the lives of those I love. I'll leave that girl, Isane-san to you."
Nemu began feeling something more than she thought.
Rather than just use her, he was asking her to protect the others, and fight alongside him as a comrade in arms, someone that he trusted.
This was one of the reasons that she began liking Takumi more.
He gave her the ability to make her own decisions, and right now, all she wanted was to make sure that Takumi was able to survive.
"Takumi-sama, I shall defeat Isane-san, then I shall return."
Takumi nodded strongly.
"Alright, good luck Nemu-san."
Nemu nodded, and went chasing after Isane, as Orihime followed her. Hanataro looked unsure of what to do, so Takumi gave him a nod.
"S-Sir?"
"You also go Hanataro-san, this is going to be a bloody battle I'm sure."
"But sir..."
"Haha, why are you calling me sir? I'm not important enough for any sir talk."
Unohana let out a small laugh with what he said.
She then waved her hand at Hanataro.
"Do not worry Hanataro, this fight is something both warriors are going to experience together, so I'll have leave with the others, and do your job as a member of Squad Four."
"Y-Yes...Yes Captain!"
Hanataro bowed his body and ran out of the area, leaving only Takumi and Unohana to stand there together.
Meanwhile as that was happening, with Takumi's group gone, and with Karin's group gone, Kenpachi left with Yachiru, and Giselle. Giselle herself stood behind Kenpachi as they all wore the cloaks Takumi had made to imitate the powers of Takumi and Orihime, so they would be able to move easily enough through the area.
"Hahahahahahahaha!"
Kenpachi gave a maniacal laugh as he crushed through the Seireitei, swinging his newly fixed sword around and cut through several walls easily. The shock wave of his power also destroyed the walls that were at a distance.
Giselle sweat dropped, with Yachiru grinned.
"Ken-chan's having so much fun right now, isn't he Zombie~?"
Giselle liked her nickname, it was something that made her feel good.
"He surely is sweetie~"
"Yup! But, if we can't fight strong enemies, Ken-chan might become unhappy."
Giselle thought that he probably would become dissatisfied.
Though seeing him smashing his way through the arena that was around them, and crushing the Shinigami that attempted to oppose them, Giselle looked on with a slight smile.
Kenpachi was content right now, destroying the foes that had opposed him, Giselle kept sensing for any serious threats coming her way, and right now, couldn't sense anything at all.
Nemu had caught up with Isane who faced Nemu with a serious look on her face. Orihime and Hanataro ran up from behind her, and showed that they looked rather worried about the fight that was happening back with Takumi and Unohana.
But for the sake of their comrades, they had joined here to help Nemu if she needed it.
But Nemu clenched her fists, and put her hands up into a fighting form, which surprised Isane quite a bit.
"Nemu-san...why are you working with Takumi Urahara? He is the enemy, you know?"
Though she said that, Nemu didn't even blink as she replied.
"Because Takumi-sama was the first person to help me explore who I really am."
Was it that simple?
That's the question Isane had held inside of her.
Seeing that Nemu was willing to side with Takumi, she wasn't sure if Takumi had done something, or that he was a genuine person.
Either way, she still had a job to do, so she stuck out her sword.
"Nemu-san, I have to fight you, so please prepare yourself."
"I am currently prepared."
Isane smiled awkwardly, as she nodded.
"Okay then." Her sword waved through the air as she activated her Shikai. "Run, Itegumo!"
Isane activated her Shikai's state, and took a stance against Nemu.
Nemu simply stood there without having anything on her face.
Nothing to give away.
"Then let us begin."
Nemu rushed forward, her speed surprising Isane who stabbed towards Nemu.
Nemu leapt up into the air, her foot rising higher and higher, as she stepped onto Isane's stretched out blade.
"Executing."
"D-Did you just say executing!?"
Isane yelled as Nemu's foot came down harshly.
Isane gasped, and attempted to pull backwards, when she saw that Nemu had wrapped her foot around Isane's blade, stopping her from moving backwards by yanking her sword towards her, allowing Nemu's foot to collide with Isane's shoulder, and a heavy pressure forced Isane's body down to the ground with a large thudding sound.
"Aaah!"
Isane cried out, as Nemu flipped in the air, attempting deliver another kick to Isane.
Isane quickly rolled out of the way, avoiding Nemu's foot, then slashed forward towards Nemu.
The young woman avoided the slash, though noticed that some of her top had been caught by Isane's slicing movement. Nemu wasn't deterred, seeing Isane sticking out her hands, gathering a red energy.
"Hado 31: Shakkaho!"
Unleashing her Kido spell, the red sphere travelled at Nemu at a good speed, but Nemu's speed was faster, simply stepping out of the way to avoid the blast, before heading right for Isane, who was beginning to feel the pressure.
Pulling back, Isane activated a Kido barrier to defend herself, but Nemu simply tightened her hand.
"My fist should be enough."
Nemu thrusted her hand forward, and her fist collided with the barrier before her, leaving a large crack within said barrier, surprising Isane.
"Y-You did that with your fist…?"
She was impressed with Nemu to say the least.
Nemu then reeled her fist backwards once more, before delivering a heavy strike to the barrier, shattering it all together, and continued on with her fist, Isane letting out a small cry, and raised her Zanpakuto in a defensive position, taking on Nemu's hit straight on.
But that proved to be a mistake when Isane's body was blown away by the intense pressure of the fist that she had used. Isane cried as she slammed against a building, and she began to bleed from her head.
"I am, sorry for harming you."
Nemu apologized.
She didn't want to kill Isane, or cause her unnecessary harm.
She just wished to disable Isane the best that she could.
Isane inhaled and exhaled slowly, feeling the blood trickling down her forehead, so she raised a hand to her head, and a green light began to form out of her hands, wrapping around the wound, and began healing it.
"She is a medical officer after all." Hanataro began to Orihime who looked worried. "Though we don't specialize in combat, we are able to heal in the middle of battle, and Lieutenant there, is able to heal rapidly, she's one of the best."
"What about t-the Captain back there?"
Orihime asked as Nemu adjusted her stance once more.
"S-She's the best healer...and she could heal wounds instantly. She's skilled enough to do it rapidly."
"Is Taku-chan in danger…? Can he win…?"
Hanataro didn't have an answer, as he honestly didn't know.
Isane healed her wound, but she didn't have time to get ready as Nemu was already on her. She jumped, and span rapidly, her body turning into a mini hurricane, and her foot went for Isane's upper body.
"Aaaaah!"
Isane received a hard impact from Nemu's kick. Despite even raising a barrier, she still received a hard kick that forced her body backwards, with Isane's body bouncing off the ground, and tore up the ground a little bit from the amazing impact that she had received.
Isane let out some cries as she came to a halt, seeing Nemu rushing towards her.
"N-No!"
Isane announced, and unleashed several Shakkaho's were released towards Nemu.
Nemu expertly dodged out of the way of the blasts, each of them shattering a small part of the ground with ease, before she managed to get up close, with Isane placing her fingers outwards.
"Bakudo 4: Hainawa!"
Allowing her fingers to go outwards, the yellow rope attempted to try and wrap it around the young woman, and managed to wrap around her form, binding her upper body with her arms being bound to the rest of her body.
"It seems that I have been bound."
Nemu noted, seeing Isane being curious.
"I-I just bound you, aren't you that bothered?"
"Currently, I am not. I intend to escape."
"B-But..."
Isane watched as Nemu used her incredible strength to being forcing the rope off of her body, showcasing her incredible raw strength that even surprised the others. Isane backed away slightly, attempting to gather her energy as Nemu's strength forced the Kido spell off of her body.
"Executing defeat assault."
"Please don't execute me!"
Nemu dashed forward, zipping left and right as she came at the woman. Isane placed her sword outwards, and slashed left, as Nemu appeared there, but Nemu jumped, and hopped into the blade as it sailed past, using it as a stepping stone, and jumped upwards, high into the sky.
Isane looked up as Nemu span in the air, and changed her body to point downwards.
"Ooh no..."
Isane turned around and began to run backwards with flash step.
But Nemu's descending body was faster than she had thought, and came in like a bullet, her body building up speed thanks to the natural gravity that helped her out, Isane attempted to raise a few barriers, to defend herself.
But Nemu crossed her arms into an X shape, and continued heading downwards, her strength and speed, allowing her to shatter the barriers within an instant, Isane cried as Nemu got close to her body.
"Please leave me alone!"
Isane used this chance to slash for the incoming Nemu…
But Nemu released her arms outwards from the X shape attack, and unleashed a massive amount of air pressure that forced Isane's body backwards, along with her sword, and ended up receiving a massive blow to her body from Nemu's dual fists slamming against her torso.
"Gwaaaah!"
Isane spat out some bile as she went flying through the area.
She smashed into the side of a building, passing out all together, with Nemu landing on the ground elegantly, Orihime and Hanataro looked on nervously while Nemu turned towards them, and offered her thumbs up, with a very awkward smile on her face that didn't look natural at all.
"I have accomplished the task. Please one of you heal this young woman named Isane."
Hanataro and Orihime glanced at the other, before Hanataro walked forward.
"Please save your energies to heal Takumi-san, I'll heal the Lieutenant."
Orihime nodded, allowing Hanataro to go forward, and begin healing Isane. Orihime looked back towards the area that Takumi was in, and hoped that he was alright. She didn't want anything bad to happen to him at all, it was scary to even think about it.
Meanwhile, Takumi and Unohana confronted one another. Their eyes locked, and their hearts almost were in tandem with their beats. Both hearts were racing, but for completely different reasons all together.
Takumi went to speak, when Unohana raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you really here?"
"I'm here to see about Captain Aizen's body and I also need your assistance Captain Unohana, if you wouldn't mind. I don't want to fight you."
Unohana showed her sword as she moved forward.
"I wish to fight you though. So either show me your abilities, or you'll die quickly."
Takumi sharpened his eyes.
"Is that a threat?"
"I am attempting to understand a few things. So, please show me your sword."
Takumi ground his teeth, and stuck his sword up into the air.
"Alright, you asked for it." A thundercloud formed above his head and it began to rain a little bit as his sword glowed. "Ravage, Kinhime."
A lightning bolt shot downwards, and collided with the sword itself, coating it in a beautiful ray of light, and changed the shape to a thunderbolt. Unohana raised an eyebrow, as he swung down his sword, unleashing a mass of electricity that surrounded the entire area that he was in.
"Nice sword."
"Are you not going to release your Shikai?"
Unohana shook her head to Takumi's bewilderment.
"My Shikai isn't suited to fighting. Don't worry though, I can fight just fine with this sword of mine."
"Alright then! Have this!"
Takumi didn't waste anytime, and shot off a massive bolt of lightning right for Unohana.
He wished to end this quickly, and hoped the attack was going to take her down.
But he was surprised when she raised her sword, and merely said "Cut." as she sliced downwards, and the bolt of lightning was split in half when he unleashed his power against her, Takumi seeing the half bolts heading away from her, behind her, smashing into the building and caused two giant holes to appear.
"You have a good deal of power behind your strike, and your accuracy isn't bad either. I don't have many critiques behind the attack."
Takumi wasn't sure if he should be happy if he was being praised or not.
Either way, he didn't have time to stop, so he rushed forward while speeding as fast as he could.
Unohana allowed a small smirk to appear on her face as she swung her sword left, forcing Takumi to block with his own blade. Gritting his teeth, he pushed against her sword as sparks erupted from both blades.
"You saw my movements?"
Unohana nodded.
"I've been a Captain for many years, Takumi-kun. Though your speed is on par with a Captains, it still takes a little more than that to take me down." Unohana pushed against his blade, and forced him backwards with her incredible strength. "Now, perish."
Unohana with incredible speed got before Takumi, and swung in several different directions. Takumi ground his teeth, attempting to deflect each blade as it came, but as he was, Unohana revealed a small blade up her sleeve, tossing it at Takumi at close range for his upper body.
He went to deflect, when seeing Unohana's main sword raining down from up above.
Knowing he'd not be able to block both, he instead allowed his electricity to shine around him, deflecting the blade Unohana threw at him, while his sword smashed against her, allowing the electricity to form up her arm, tingling her fingertips, and began making them feel numb before she pulled away.
"Good trick, my hand has dulled a little bit." Unohana, to his surprise, allowed her medical Kido to shine through, and flexed her fingers. "A little nerve and muscle damage, it isn't difficult to heal if you know how to do it."
Takumi was beyond surprised.
She healed it within a matter of seconds.
Though the technique was supposed to cause the nerves and muscles to shut down, she still brought them back within seconds, when he has seen that it took his Father over half a minute to do so, showing that Unohana's skills in medical arts weren't a joke.
"Nice technique, it's clear you're attempting to disable me. But if you don't try and kill me, then you're not going to be able to win against me, understand boy?"
Unohana pulled forward, and unleashed her sword.
He went to block, when she changed her swords movements, spinning her body around and came at him from the right. Quickly moving, his sword attempted to intercept her own, when he used a knife from up her kimono, and attacked from the other side at the same time that her sword was coming for his body.
"If you don't use both hands during a fight, then you're wasting an opportunity."
Unohana's sword was blocked by Takumi's own, but the other managed to cut his hand before he grabbed her wrist, attempting to put pressure on her wrist to force her to drop the knife, but she still remained strong, pushing against Takumi's own hand, while other sword forced itself against Takumi's again and again, the pressure of the swing growing higher by the second.
Realizing that he wouldn't be able to keep going on like this, Takumi breathed out "Shunko." and unleashed it for a few seconds, the Kido energy blasting the shirt he had off, but allowed him to increase his power, forcing Unohana's knife away from his body, at the same time he channelled lightning along with a cloak of water from his Shunko together, unleashing it against Unohana's sword wielding hand.
"Try that!"
Takumi unleashed a combination of water and lightning, causing a massive explosion against Unohana's sword, and body, erupting all around her, and caused some burns to appear on her body from the intense lightning enhanced by the water, and exploded the young woman backwards.
Unohana skidded across the ground, noticing that she was bleeding from the swords power that had hit her form like it did, as Takumi deactivated Shunko, so he didn't waste the power, nor did anything happen to his body from overusing it.
"My, that's impressive. You've caused me to bleed. I can see why Kenpachi was having difficulty with you. Honestly, that man is very powerful, he's stronger than I am. But currently, he's weaker than I am, does that make sense to you?"
"Yes, you're speaking about his sealed power again."
"Correct. You, also hold potential inside of you. Right now, the current you, couldn't beat the current me."
Takumi watched as she used her healing Kido to fix her injuries.
Takumi wore surprise on his face even more.
Even though she had moderate injuries, she had fixed them so quickly it was as if she didn't have any injuries at all. He was amazed, and also worried about how he was going to combat the enemy that was before him.
She then turned her blade towards Takumi once more.
"Come at me, show my the abilities that took down Kenpachi Zaraki."
Takumi breathed out slowly, and swung his sword outwards. Blades of electricity came off his sword, and shot for Unohana at high speeds, who smirked at the blades coming for her, as she quickly sliced each of them down.
Her movements were elegant, and the blade managed to cleave through them instantly.
But when she turned towards Takumi, she saw that he wasn't there.
"Diversion, clever."
She turned around to see Takumi coming up behind her, a mass of electricity in the shape of a hammer headed right for her, released from the blade. She went to raise up her sword, when she saw ropes of Kido being released from Takumi's electricity, also having the electricity surrounding the ropes.
She turned her sword right, and then slashed at high speed, swinging again and again to cleave through the rope, then she took on a dual handed stance, standing before the mass of electricity in hammer form coming for her.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
She swung her sword downwards, and her sword clashed with the electricity.
Even though it was sealed, Takumi saw that she was pushing back his electricity.
He didn't even hold back in his strike.
Yet she could see that he was still being pushed back.
So rather than allow her to win the push back, he aimed his fingers forward as he tossed his sword to the side of Unohana who seemed to be confused.
"Hado 4: Byakurai!"
Unleashing a simple lightning based Kido, the electricity was drawn to his sword, which happened to be in the path of Unohana who was still dispelling the electricity hammer that was before her, showing a small grimace.
"Definitely a clever boy. Fighting with his head, rather than with pure instincts. All he has to do now is combine the two and he'd be quite the force."
She said it while showing a calm smile on her face, as she disrupted the hammer, and attempted to jump, when she felt something binding her feet.
Turning down, she saw that it was Takumi himself that had used Hainawa to bind her feet to the ground.
"You're smart at mixing Kido with your swords abilities. Many seem to not grasp that, and has led to a fighting style all your own." Unohana stuck out her hand, and formed a barrier of Kido, blocking the incoming bolt of electricity. "But, I'm no slouch either."
Unohana cut through the binds of hers, and then lunged forward, dashing at a super speed, appearing before Takumi, and unleashed her heavy duty slash towards him, which he raised to parry.
But he was shocked when she turned her sword downwards, and cut through his leg, drawing blood out of him.
Though to her astonishment, he didn't even flinch when he unleashed his own power against her, his electricity coming out at her at high speed, forcing Unohana to block with her sword, taking the bolt of lightning head on, digging her body into the ground.
But she didn't lose her stance, and continued on, slashing through the electricity, launching several hidden blades at Takumi. He was forced to defend against the attacks, as she carried on with her sword, coming at him like a tornado, the spinning of her body and blade was like an art form.
She clearly had been used to many battles, and could adjust her stances accordingly.
She hadn't even used Shikai, and he was surprised by her strength.
He didn't even want to know what would happen if she had used Bankai.
With both attacks coming for him at once, Takumi knew he'd have to try something, so he stuck out his sword, and used some kind of drug, throwing it at Unohana who cut it down with her sword, but when she did, she saw sparks going off from Takumi's blade to her own.
"What is..."
Unohana watched as the blades she had launched, had changed trajectory and headed for her body instead.
She gasped lightly, and changed her sword towards her own blades, parrying them away from her, but she saw Takumi charging in like a bullet, his sword aimed for her shoulder with a mass of electricity building up around it.
She smirked, and turned her sword towards him, as her blade slid into his own shoulder, leaving a deep gash in his chest as the blade slid across his skin, but at the same time, his own managed to slice across her shoulder, digging in deep inside of her body.
"My, I've been penetrated by your sword, Takumi-kun. You are a wild boy after all."
Takumi blushed at the suggestive tone that she had used.
Despite having a sword inside of her, she seemed to be enjoying herself.
Takumi on the other hand couldn't deny that this was quite an experience.
It felt like he was able to fight hard and strong.
He was learning from her.
He pulled out his sword from her, as she did the same.
They both had wounds on their bodies.
But like before, Unohana's body began healing with her Kido, while Takumi took out some kind of drug, and ran it on the wound, beginning to heal it.
"Aah yes, you did have great chemistry skills, and knowledge of various drugs such as that."
"Your healing skills are fantastic."
Takumi complimented, Unohana bowing her head.
"Thank you very much. You know, I learned healing Kido to keep fighting for longer?" Takumi wasn't surprised by that. "It's true, though you don't seem to doubt it."
"I can see you're a fierce warrior, and learning how to self heal makes sense. It also makes you very dangerous."
"So it does, so come at me Takumi, let us have an amazing battle."
"Yeah, lets do this!"
Takumi and Unohana charged at the other, and continued their battle.
It raged on for several minutes, with each managing to land blows on the other, and cut deeply into their bodies, Unohana's skills in sword fighting were unreal, he knew that fighting this woman was going to end in defeat.
So after those minutes, Takumi took a stance with his sword.
He had wounds on his body, and he had a limited supply of the drug.
But Unohana seemed to be able to keep up her healing for quite a good while.
So he activated Shunko, speeding up his movements as he felt a tearing in his back.
He hadn't gained proper control over the power yet, and did damage his body when he used it.
But it gave him a good dose of power, allowing him to shine brightly.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Allowing the water to swirl around him along with the lightning, he turned his sword to Unohana, who looked quite pleased with what she was seeing right now. Seeing the energy before her, she could see that it wasn't a joke, and could see how Kenpachi would be damaged quite badly against this powerful attack.
"Are you going to show me an attack that could stop Kenpachi Zaraki?"
"If you want it, here it is!"
Takumi unleashed his strongest attack.
With the lightning and water flowing out of his body, he shot a massive wave of the combined abilities together, and attempted to attack Unohana, who merely made a stance with her sword, readying for the attack.
"Good attack, I can't complain about this."
Unohana was overjoyed by the attack, as she took it head on.
Her sword sliced into the power before her, and created a massive explosion of power.
The intense shock wave shattered the ground, and even began breaking down the building that was near them. Even Takumi felt his own body feeling tired from unleashing such an attack, and had to power through it with his Shunko.
He felt his skin beginning to tear off from the intense power that he unleashed.
But he still didn't back down.
Unohana herself was caught in the wave, and she felt her healing speed actually being overtaken by Takumi's attack.
"Hahaha, this boy definitely has potential alright."
She grinned, as she fought off the power more and more.
But the sword that she had suddenly flew out of her hand, and the attack landed against her body as she mumbled "Good..." feeling satisfied that he managed to do that to her.
Takumi felt the contact, and his own body draining, so he stopped the attack, deactivating his Shunko, collapsing to his knees, with blood coming out of his body.
His eyes attempted to adjust to what had happened, as the smoke began to clear.
Standing in the mass of smoke, a figure came out, Unohana.
Despite the attack, she still was walking.
She had injuries on her, but she still looked ready to fight.
Blood came out of her, and her injuries were being fixed, but she seemed a bit unstable on her feet, compared to Takumi who was down on his knees.
The clear endurance of this woman was fantastic, Takumi couldn't complain about that.
She walked over to her sword, picking it up, and turned it towards Takumi.
Takumi, despite feeling drained, turned his own blade back towards her...
When she raised a finger.
"May I tell you something?"
Unohana began, Takumi wondering where she was going.
"S-Sure, what's that?"
"It's a story, don't worry it wont take long." Unohana took a breath, before she continued. "It is about myself. I once was a woman that went around this Soul Society, searching for the ultimate opponent, that could stand up to me. But I never could find the right kind of opponent, until I found a nameless boy that didn't even have a single fear within his eyes. His sword clashed with my own blade, and through the battle, I was becoming more and more under the realization that I wasn't going to win. Though I was an adult, and he was a child, he still had amazing powers. As you might have guessed, that boy was Kenpachi Zaraki."
"Even as a child, he had power above yours? What is he?"
Takumi had to wonder that.
Someone that could beat an adult as a child and someone like Unohana.
Even though they had clashed, he could feel that she was currently stronger than he was.
She was probably even stronger than Byakuya and some other people he had met.
"He's something that's a monster. But because of that fight, he began handcuffing himself like I had told you before. Mentally, each time he fought an opponent, he stopped himself from going too far, and ending it quickly. However, the other day, I felt it...those handcuffs are beginning to come off. And that's because of you, the sin that I committed has been purified by your blade. In a way, your heart managed to awaken the monster inside of Kenpachi in a way that no one ever could. Challenging him not only on a physical level, but also questioning his beliefs, his ability to fight and his ability to understand the world around him."
Listening to what she was saying, Takumi exhaled slowly.
"Your sin...I don't think it was your sin Captain. Kenpachi might be seen as some idiot monster, but he's...he's something that even I couldn't be, and that was someone without any cares in the world, not denying who he is at the core."
Unohana looked slightly surprised, before she offered a cold smile.
"Perhaps my sin is that I didn't attempt to unlock those handcuffs before now."
"If you had, I'd be dead right now. I felt it myself, he's like a never ending well spring that I couldn't hope to fight right now. Even then, I'm pleased because it was amazing for me to fight against such a man."
Unohana twitched her neck.
"Also, there is something else that I have been dying to do, for a long time now. But only recently, I could acquire that opportunity, and that was to fight against you."
Takumi blinked his surprise.
"But, why…?"
"Didn't I say already? You also have potential deep inside of you."
Takumi blinked as she smirked.
"Y-Yeah?"
"Of course, I thought you had a way with the sword. How much do you truly know about your past here? Do you remember anything at all?"
Takumi furrowed his eyebrows.
"I get...flashback like things sometimes to the past. I remember certain things, but it feels as if something is blocking my mind...it's kind of hard to describe. But Captain, if you knew me from the past, then you must know that I didn't murder Captain Aizen. That I wouldn't-"
"Oh, I'm already aware you didn't kill him."
Takumi's face dropped instantly.
"W-Wait, you knew!?"
"Of course I knew. Though someone has tried very hard for it to be you, to paint you as the killer. Leaving behind your aura, attempting to leave marks on the body that would be reminiscent of yourself. That's what the sword battle was for. I wished to see if you could have made the marks that were on his body, but seeing your current sword stances, I can't see it being you. Whoever did do it though, tried to make it convincing, probably believing that I wouldn't investigate like this. But now that I have, I understand that you weren't the one who killed Captain Aizen."
Takumi inhaled and exhaled happily.
He was glad that she believed him.
But then she raised her head.
"However, even with this evidence, people wont believe myself. So you'll need more than my word that you aren't the one who committed murder against a member of the Gotei 13. But, I believe that you also seem to be ready to do just that."
Takumi nodded, attempting to stand, but he felt his knees wobbling.
Even then he still moved to stand, as Nemu with a knocked out Isane, Hanataro, and Orihime came running back.
"Yes...please, let me examine the corpse with you. Perhaps with my technology and your incredible skills, we can gain clues about what has really happened."
Unohana watched as Orihime came closer to Takumi. She glanced at Unohana who didn't say anything, as she then activated her healing ability, taking away the wounds that Takumi had, surprising Unohana at her skills.
She then conceded.
"Alright, I'll cooperate with you, Takumi-kun. I also wish to hear any stories you may have about what's happening in the Soul Society currently. I also have some suspicions, so please follow after me. I'm glad our battle wasn't interrupted, and was hidden by those blades of yours. But, when you gain Bankai, I'd also like to fight you once more, and show my own Bankai towards you."
"Ehehehe...I-I guess that we could do that..."
"Splendid. Then follow me."
Unohana turned around and began walking away.
Takumi glanced at Nemu, seeing that she didn't have any injuries.
"Nemu-san, are you okay?"
"Yes, Takumi-sama. I managed to defeat her, though there is something I'd like to say." Takumi nodded for her to continue. "Takumi-sama, there is one question in my mind that I don't know the answer to, and that is...who I am? It might seem trivial to most...but, I am trying to understand about myself. I know my name, I know my face, my body and my history. Yet, I feel as if I don't know much more about myself. People around me, have connections between others, and these connections, are becoming more fascinating to me."
"Haha, I can't tell you that Nemu-san, you're gonna have to figure out who you are. But I think you're already on the path to doing just that. Keep doing your best, Nemu-san. I'm sure you'll come to the conclusion, and I'll help anyway that I can."
Nemu gave a nod.
"Thank you, Takumi-sama."
Takumi smiled as he along with the others, followed after Unohana to do what they needed to do, and get some answers.
Meanwhile, Karin and the others had arrived at the tower, with surprisingly minimal efforts needed. They had knocked down a few people, but they didn't seem like anything more than grunts that even the weaker members of their group could handle with ease.
Standing before the large bridge, two guards were standing on the opposite side of the bridge to the place Rukia was being held.
The girls and Ganju were at the very bottom, and were using binnoculars that Takumi provided them to spy it.
"Is it clear?"
Karin asked, as Yuzu nodded.
"I think so, I can't see anyone else. They don't feel that powerful to me Karin, we should be able to take them down."
Karin glanced at Yuzu who nodded.
"Alright Yuzu, you take out the left one, I'll take down the right one."
"You got it."
"Karin, what should I do?"
Ganju asked, Karin showed a soft smile.
"You keep watch, with Yoruichi-san. We've got this."
Karin saw Ganju nod, so Yuzu from down below, gained two arrows, and tied some rope to them, firing them off up the tall building. She fired it off, and it went high up the building, but not to the point the guards would notice.
Then Yuzu and Karin scaled the building rather quickly with Yoruichi surprised by their swiftness.
Then once getting up high enough, Yuzu and Karin perched where they were, looking upwards.
Karin waved her fingers in a manner that Yuzu understood, then they leapt upwards.
"W-What?!"
One of the men attempted to use their sword, but Yuzu fired off her arrows, forcing the blade out of his hands, while also shooting off arrows very precisely for his clothing, pinning him to the wall, as the other guard was charged at by Karin.
"Try this!"
Karin raised her sword, and clashed with the guards, but Karin's strength overwhelmed the guard, and she embedded her swords handle deeply into the body of the guard, causing him to spit out bile, and knock him down to the ground.
She then brought out some green liquid, dripping it onto the guards face, who became whoozy.
"W-What's happen..."
He soon passed out, as Yuzu repeated the process on the other guard, knocking him out.
"Ooh yeah, sisters kicking ass~"
Karin said with a singsong voice, Yuzu smiling as she put the bottle away, signalling to Ganju, who hurried up the rope with Yoruichi.
"I'm glad that Hanataro-san gave us this Shinten stuff. It's just like a tranquillizer. It seems that they'll be out for a while."
Karin nodded strongly.
"Yeah, it works on people with weak spiritual pressure."
"Even then, we're making good time Karin. If we can rescue Rukia-chan, then we could even leave Soul Society soon~"
"Haha, I know, I can't wait to get back home, I'm missing soccer for this."
Yuzu let out a small laugh as Ganju got up towards them, looking slightly out of breath, while Yoruichi looked composed.
"R-Right, ready girls?"
"Yeah, lets get this over with."
Karin said as they rushed across the large bridge.
Because of the length, it took them half a minute, before they made it to the towers doors.
"Great, how are we gonna get in?"
Karin murmured as Ganju laughed.
"Hahaha, now this is where I come in~"
"You're gonna turn it to sand or whatever?"
Ganju shook his head, producing a weird looking key.
"Wh-Where did you get that?"
Yuzu was astonished, while Karin raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, you couldn't have gotten that from anyone we've fought."
"Actually, I got it off that runt Hanataro. He gave it me while saying that he wanted to help Rukia out, and he stole it. Gotta give the kid some props, stealing like that while not thinking about himself. This Rukia girl better be worth it."
"She is, trust us."
Karin said, as he unlocked the door.
Once it was unlocked, Yuzu and Karin pushed it open, revealing Rukia stood there, looking wild eyed at the sight before her.
"W-What are you guys doing..."
"Rukia-chan!" Yuzu beamed, rushing towards her, and hugged her tightly, to her surprise. "We came here to save you! T-Though it was hard, and everyone did their best, we've been going through so much Rukia-chan!"
Rukia looked baffled as Karin entered.
"Takumi sends his love~"
Rukia's face turned bright red while Karin smirked.
"W-WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!? YOU COME OUT WITH THAT FIRST?!"
"Hahahahaha! I had to do it! To see your reactions!"
Rukia puffed out her cheeks, as Ganju began stepping in, looking eager.
"So, who is this Shinigami that everyone is fighting for..."
Ganju's grinning face, fell instantly when he locked eyes with Rukia.
He recalled an event from his past, Rukia stood there, with the corpse of his brother dragging on the floor, blood on her face, and a cold hard expression that had been steeled for many years, something that Ganju never could forget.
"Oh, who's this?"
Rukia asked, as Ganju's hand balled tighter and tighter.
"This is Ganju, he's a friend of ours. But we need to get going Rukia-chan, come on!"
Yuzu began pulling Rukia along who was in a state of unsureness.
As she did, Karin noticed that Ganju's face showed anger, his trembling hand told her quite a bit.
"Ganju..."
"She's the one..."
Karin knew what he was talking about, but she couldn't accept it.
"She couldn't be, Rukia wouldn't do that."
"What wouldn't I do?" Rukia asked, looking between the pair. But when she saw the symbol on his pants, she froze inside. "...That symbol...you wouldn't happen to be from the Shiba family, would you?"
Her voice was low, and filled with sadness that was coming back to her.
She thought about the night that Kaien had died.
What had happened to him.
How she couldn't save him in the end…
Noticing the tension in the air, Yuzu looked towards Rukia.
"Rukia-chan, what's going on…?"
"Yeah, tell them Rukia."
Ganju said harshly, as Rukia's head lowered more and more.
"Ganju, lay off. This girl isn't the one that..."
"But I did." Rukia said with a sad expression. "I am the one who killed his brother, if he is from the Shiba family that Kaien was from."
At Rukia's confirmation, both Yuzu and Karin were immensely shocked. Yoruichi didn't say anything, as she saw Ganju quaking with his rage, storming over to Rukia, and grabbed her by the collar, dragging her towards his hurt filled face.
"Whoa there Ganju!"
Karin snapped, moving forward, but Rukia waved her hand.
"No...it's okay, Karin."
"But, Rukia..."
Rukia shook her head.
"No, I did cause the death of Kaien. Though I...I attempted to do what I could, I did end him." Her eyes went towards Ganju who continued shaking his body with his rage. "What are you going to do to me? If you decided to kill me, then I wouldn't blame you."
Ganju's mind filled with many thoughts.
He didn't know what to think about in the end.
Even though Rukia had said no, Karin got between them, peeling off Ganju's hands, and pushed him back slightly.
"That's enough! No one is killing anyone here! We came to rescue you Rukia, we aren't going to let you die! Understand?!"
"But Karin..."
"You say you're his brothers killer, yet when you say it, your eyes display hurt, sadness. A killer doesn't display that, so there has to be a reason why it happened."
Yuzu nodded, moving closer.
"She's right, there has to be a reason Rukia-chan, Ganju-san. But we can't speak here, we need to go before we're caught. I'm sure Rukia-chan will explain to you Ganju-san...trust us, we know what it is like to confront a family members killer. We have done that before with a Hollow. But Rukia-chan isn't a Hollow. She isn't evil either. She has helped us many times in the past, she helped us grow stronger, and brought us together." Yuzu moved closer to Ganju, placing a hand on his trembling one, drawing his eyes towards her. "Please...for us? If not for Rukia-chan, then for us, your comrades?"
Ganju breathed in and out sharply.
Thinking about what Rukia had said, in the end he had to accept it, bowing his head in understanding.
"...Alright, for now I'll go along with you guys."
"Thanks, Ganju." Karin turned to Rukia. "Come, we're going."
"But Karin..."
"Don't you start, we're leaving, that's the end of it. Even if I have to drag you by your hair."
Rukia was surprised by her sudden words, but then conceded.
"...I shouldn't argue with you after all. I wouldn't win, I forgot about that with my time here."
Karin nodded with a smile on her face.
"Exactly, now lets get..."
Before she could continue, Yoruichi bowed her head.
"It's too late for that."
Yuzu also sensed what Yoruichi was feeling, and turned to the entrance.
"Karin...that power..."
Karin turned towards the door, and saw someone walking across the bridge.
"I...who is that person…?"
Rukia turned her eyes to the door, and saw exactly who it was.
"That's my brother...Byakuya."
At that they froze.
Karin and Yuzu remembered what Takumi had said about Byakuya, how even he couldn't take him down despite going all out. Now here they were, confronted with the Captain himself, and while Yuzu remained hopeful…
Everyone knew that disaster was about to come.
End chapter!
So, Takumi and the gang have begun moving forward! Soi Fon cameo at the beginning, it seems that she's also gunning for Takumi. Renji made his appearance back in the story and is now beginning to side with Takumi and the others. Takumi, Orihime, Nemu, and Hanataro got towards the Squad Four area, only to be confronted with Unohana, who was in near full Kenpachi mode. Takumi fought against her, while Nemu fought off Isane and showed her skills, while Giselle is keeping her watchful eye on Kenpachi who's having fun destroying things and finally at the end, Karin, Yuzu and Ganju along with Yoruichi made it to Rukia, though as Ganju found out about Rukia, who almost resided to her fate, but Karin and Yuzu managed to stop him, but then Byakuya entered the scene. What's gonna happen next, we'll find out next time! Thanks for reading!
Takumi; Orihime, Rukia, Yuzu, Karin, Nemu, Giselle, Liltotto, Momo, Soi Fon, Yoruichi, Hiyori, Nelliel, Tier, Rangiku, Toshiro (fem), Nanao.