Hello, and welcome to the next chapter!
Oblivious IJ; Indeed~
Clarent excalibur; Kenpachi's having a good time yeah~
Vizard Masky; She has a reason for thinking the way she does, and it's hinted that she's blinded by something to see the truth. No, it's not Yoruichi related, not really anyway. It's something else. Haha, what will they think indeed? They'll probably watch what they say in case they awaken her inner Kenpachi again. We'll be seeing Karin dealing with it this chapter, and what she can do. I could see a moment like that, it would be pretty funny. And thanks very much!
ShadowUzumaki55; Thanks very much! Soi Fon's got her reasons, and we'll be exploring those in the near future about why she's acting the way she is. Haha, Kenpachi's gonna be quite happy doing his job yeah~ They might have a run in with someone~ Yeah, he thought he was going to be meeting this motherly figure, seems like that wasn't quite true. She does yeah, Unohana knows his fighting style well, and knows about how he'd deal damage among other things, and yup, when he gains Bankai, she might wish to do battle again. It's gonna get quite ugly yeah for Karin and the others.
Skull Flame; Haha, Soi Fon's surely on the move alright. Unohana doesn't hold back, does she? Lets see how it does yeah~
Guest 1; I've got a fun scene where that happens, and it could be earlier than canon.
Guest 2; Here's the update!
Silver crow; Thanks very much! It seems that they do have some kind of bond huh? That would be cool if he could do something like that. Renji's on side yeah~ Because he didn't know much about Soi Fon. Seems like some girls like that haha~ They'll get a kiss eventually. You never know. Karin and Ganju have a nice relationship huh. That's Nemu for you~ Nope, Unohana jumps straight in there with the fights. Isane went through a few things huh~? Maybe in the future he will be used to it. Glad you liked the fight. Unohana had a fun time, and showing her abilities though she might show off more of her abilities in the future. Ooh yeah, Unohana is quite scary with what she can do with healing Kido and her sword skills. Maybe he did know of her past when he was a member of the Gotei. We'll be getting Bankai eventually. Yeah Rukia's in it alright~ It would be nice to see Soi Fon's Bankai be used to kill an enemy, maybe BG9. Shinji could have been like that. It surely is gonna be interesting huh. It seems that they are yeah. It's a cool design yeah. It could be something Takumi could do, he's quite intelligent, and might have done it alright. He could beat him~ It could be cool if he had a three way battle with them. Yeah, Kenpachi needs his fun haha. Maybe Takumi could do something like that with the Quincy's. Yeah, I always thought he should have died to Ywhach himself rather than a member of the Sternritter. Yeah they could stay with him. He could do yeah. It is pretty cool, I wish we could have seen it in the manga. He could do something like that yeah.
Andrew123456; Yeah, I could do, if I came up with a good idea for it.
Nirvash Neo; Yeah, I'll probably be doing the Bleach Movies, I'll just have to think when to slot them in.
Well, with those lovely reviews out of the way, it's time to start the chapter!
Pushing forward!
Soi Fon, was on the hunt for Takumi.
She was searching in different places that he could be, questioning every Shinigami that had gone past, and hoped that she'd be able to find someone that could help her out.
She even had her Lieutenant dragging behind her, and complaining.
Though when he did, she'd just punch him and told him to shut up.
As she was moving through the city, she came across Shunsui, and Nanao walking towards their own Squad Barracks with Nanao being annoyed by Shunsui's antics, keeping up pretenses about them being unaware of what had happened with Takumi and the others.
"Perfect."
She murmured with annoyance, flashing down before him.
Shunsui blinked several times, before pulling out a bottle of alcohol.
"Sake?"
"Save your alcohol. Tell me, where is Takumi Urahara?"
Nanao looked towards Shunsui while he wore a relaxed face.
"I don't know what you mean. How would I know?"
"Don't play your games Kyoraku. You would cover for him, even now."
"As I said..."
Before he could continue, Soi Fon got close, and grabbed him by the robes he wore.
"E-Excuse me Captain, you can't suddenly grab my Captain in an aggressive manner..."
Nanao argued against Soi Fon's treatment of Shunsui.
Even her own Lieutenant wasn't looking exactly thrilled about it.
"Soi Fon, you're acting aggressive. Why are you really being like this?"
"A man has died! Are you going to tell me Takumi didn't do that as well?"
"How would I know? I'm not a doctor, I haven't seen the body of Aizen. But if you're asking me if I think he did it, then I don't think he would, and deep down, neither do you, am I right Soi Fon?"
Soi Fon's facial expression didn't change.
But it was pretty clear that Shunsui might not be off the mark.
"My feelings do not matter, what does is the capture of a criminal, and you're impeding the capture of said criminal. I know you've contacted him, you wouldn't leave it alone, you'd try and see him somehow."
"Haha, you've got some imagination Captain~"
Shunsui laughed it off, Soi Fon wasn't amused, and tossed Shunsui's robes to the right hand side, while turning away.
"Keep playing your games, they wont hold forever. Once I've found him, I'll take him in myself."
"You do what you need to do Soi Fon, but can you live with yourself if you do this?"
At the question, Soi Fon was visibly stunned for a few moments.
Soi Fon's eyes went towards Shunsui who already began walking away with Nanao.
"Hey Nanao-chan, it seems that we'll have a free day, want to drink?"
"Honestly, all you think about is drinking Captain."
Soi Fon watched on for a few moments, before she flash stepped out of the area, with her Lieutenant ran away after her.
As she disappeared, Nanao turned to Shunsui.
"Captain, she couldn't possibly find Takumi-kun, could she?"
Shunsui exhaled deeply, knowing that it could be dangerous.
But he also knew that if he intervened now, then he would truly be compromised and hoped Takumi could defend himself from Soi Fon.
"I don't know, but if she does find him...then he's going to be in a hard battle for his life. She wont stop until she's found her answer."
"What is her question?"
"That, I don't know."
As he said it, Nanao felt a sinking feeling deep inside of her.
Soi Fon wouldn't let it go.
She was a trained assassin, she could follow people even if their Reiatsu was blocked.
If anyone could find Takumi, then it would be Soi Fon.
After their battle, Takumi, with Orihime, Hanataro, Nemu, Isane and Captain Unohana walked into the medical facility that was Squad Four. Takumi glanced at Nemu who seemed to be looking around curiously.
"Something wrong Nemu-san?"
"Mayuri-sama hasn't contacted me, I am surprised."
"Yes, I can see why that would be surprising."
"Should I contact Mayuri-sama?"
Takumi shook his head.
"It's too dangerous, we don't know what he's doing right now."
"Understood, Takumi-sama."
Takumi had to wonder why he hadn't contacted Nemu.
It did seem out of the ordinary.
Moving forward at a good pace, the group made it to the room that Aizen's supposed body was being kept.
"Do you have any medical expertise?"
Isane asked, she wasn't convinced about working with Takumi.
What she knew from rumours, made her worried that this could be a trick.
But if it was for her Captain, then she trusted her judgement absolutely.
Takumi shrugged his shoulders.
"I've got some, I'm no Hanataro-san or you or anything. But I do know my way around a body yes."
Unohana showed a slight smirk on her face.
"Hehe, is that so Takumi-kun? Do you know your way around a females body?"
Takumi's face turned slightly red when she said that suggestively.
"W-Well, I...I never said female specifically..."
"But, you don't deny it." Takumi went to refute it when Unohana glanced at Orihime who was showing a slightly jealous look on her face. "But, it seems that you also have something's going on here, with this girl, is that right?"
""W-We're not going to discuss that right now!""
The pair said it while looking at one another with a mild blush on their faces.
Unohana felt a small laugh escaping her throat while Isane scornfully looked towards Takumi.
But she stopped when Nemu raised an eyebrow.
"May I ask, why are you looking towards Takumi-sama in such a manner?"
"B-Because, he's still the most wanted person in the Soul Society! I-I simply am having a hard time dealing with this situation. I don't know how everyone else can be so calm right now, it's so difficult for someone like me..."
Unohana waved a hand to Isane.
"Isane, dear. Calm down. As you saw during our fight, he currently cannot beat me."
"Y-Yes Captain...but even then..."
"Even then, Isane. We have to work together to uncover what truly is happening within the Soul Society. We know something is amiss, I've had some suspicions myself, and I currently do not know which way I am supposed to turn. So, if we work together with Takumi-kun here, perhaps we can truly begin making moves in the right direction."
She did trust her Captain, she truly did.
But something inside of her was worried about what truly was happening right now.
With Takumi, with the others.
It just seemed so hard for her to accept that this was happening right now.
She inhaled and exhaled deeply, and begrudgingly accepted what was going on.
Takumi then looked towards the corpse of Aizen with Unohana.
Moving closer, Takumi went into a bag that Hanataro was carrying, and brought out some equipment that he needed to examine the body that was before him. Orihime leaned forward with intrigue.
"Taku-chan, what will that do?"
"If I'm right, then this isn't Captain Aizen's real body. This device should detect even the slightest of flaws. Even the most elaborate corpse doll will have a flaw in them somewhere, and together, with Captain Unohana who understands more about the body than I do, she can understand the data better than I. With my tech and her knowledge, we should be able to come to some sort of conclusion on what this body is before us."
"Hmmm, it sounds good in theory. Lets try this out right now, Takumi-kun."
Unohana said it quietly, while Takumi set up his equipment, and then began scanning the body of Aizen.
The others watched on curiously, wondering what was going to happen next.
It seemed like only Isane seemed to understand what Takumi was doing, besides Unohana of course. Even Hanataro was a bit baffled, and wasn't exactly sure what they were searching for.
But it seemed that Unohana was going over the data quite well, and quickly.
As they scanned, Unohana knew exactly what was happening now.
She understood quite well in fact that she was staring at the information she wished wasn't true, but was unfurling before her eyes.
"So, it is a corpse doll after all. Such intricately designed, but with one fatal flaw. Without your device, I might not have found this..." Unohana inspects the corpse doll of Aizen's, and furrows her eyebrows. "This means that Captain Aizen is, most likely alive."
Isane looked shocked, as did Hanataro.
Orihime looked towards Takumi who's eyes were slit upon the doll before him.
"Taku-chan, if he's alive...does that mean he's going to be coming after you? Or us?"
"Most likely. But there's something that he doesn't know about that I do know about." His eyes went to Unohana. "Unohana-san, I need your assistance once more. It's to make sure that Aizen can't get his way."
Unohana wore more intrigue on her face.
"Interesting, then please tell me what it is."
Takumi then did just that.
He informed Unohana of what he wished to tell her.
It seemed like the others weren't exactly sure of what Takumi was telling Unohana.
But whatever it was, it seemed to be something that made sense to Unohana.
"Is it possible if we do that Unohana-san?"
Unohana got into a thinking position.
"But if we did that...from what you just said, it could..."
She trailed off, with Takumi understanding what Unohana was going to say.
"I know, but it's the only way. If I fail, then Aizen's plan can't succeed."
Unohana lowered her eyebrows.
"...Then we shouldn't do so right now. Lets research a way for us to do it safety. Isane, Hanataro, your assistance if you may. We have to keep this a secret, so the words spoken here, may not be repeated outside of these walls. Even if you believe you're alone, do not repeat them aloud again until this incident is resolved."
""Y-Yes Captain!""
Upon hearing that, Hanataro and Isane sprang into action and did what Unohana wished for.
Takumi went to the side of Nemu and sat down with Orihime on the other side.
"Takumi-sama, I do not understand. From your conversation, it sounds as if you're willing to risk it all on the chance you can't succeed."
Takumi nodded slowly.
"Yes, that's because I have to risk it all. We can't let Aizen win, my Dad said that if he did, then it would cause unknown chaos. We can still do something here. We can win against him. I just have to bet everything on this gamble."
Orihime looked disheartened by what Takumi was saying.
From what he was saying, it sounded as if he was going to be in a dangerous situation.
"Taku-chan, are you sure…? I mean, even if it..."
Orihime didn't know how to finish it.
She wasn't sure on how to say it.
But Takumi reassured her while holding onto her hand.
"Yes, I know that you're worried, but this is the only way that I can see that we'll be able to come out on top. This Aizen is unpredictable, the only way to outdo him is be just as unpredictable. Besides, my Father is Kisuke Urahara, I wouldn't be his son if I didn't also do crazy things sometimes."
Orihime didn't say anything else.
She just had to believe in Takumi this time.
She knew that whatever he was doing, he was going to do his best in doing it.
Nemu also wondered about what Takumi was doing.
She was sure that the way he was thinking was a little drastic.
But she had come to understand that having a free will allowed you to do things that others might deem crazy or insane.
Like Orihime, she agreed to do what she needed to do to support Takumi and what he was planning to do next.
Looking across the bridge, Karin, Yuzu, Yoruichi, Ganju, and Rukia all saw Byakuya moving forward. The pressure that was being released off of him, decked Rukia who had been in a place where she couldn't use her powers for a while, Yuzu and Ganju also felt the extensive spiritual power that was being released, and nearly fell down.
The only ones that were able to stay calm was Karin and Yoruichi. Yoruichi was mildly surprised that Karin could stay standing, despite how Byakuya was trying to use his spiritual power to floor him, but she didn't seem to be all that bothered.
"Yoruichi-san, what are the odds of us winning now if we go at him all at once?"
"If you and I went at him...we'd have a very good chance, and even though I'm unaware of his full capabilities, I believe that we'd probably win. However, this is a public area, we don't know who could come for backup. I advise that we run away from this location...though right now, it seems that only you and I could move at a good speed, and even then, he's fast, unfortunately he's faster than you are at the moment Karin."
Upon hearing the answer, Karin suspected that to be the case.
"I guess that we have to do something to hinder him long enough for us to escap-"
"Is Takumi Urahara not with you?"
At the monotone voice, Karin's eyes snapped to Byakuya.
"Sorry, he couldn't make it, can I accommodate you?"
Byakuya didn't look amused. Yuzu's eyes became slightly hazy, turning between Karin and Rukia. Rukia due to being floored, almost felt like she was going to keel over, Ganju didn't look exactly thrilled, he already didn't like Rukia for what happened in the past, and now that they were being faced by Byakuya.
"Hey, Karin..."
"What is it?"
She asked, while never taking her eyes off of Byakuya.
"This guy, who is he exactly?"
"Apparently, his name is Byakuya Kuchiki. Squad Six or something like that."
Ganju's colour drained from his face upon hearing that name.
"N-Not Byakuya Kuchiki...he's the strongest in the entire families history...as well as the most famous. He's the one that's opposing us...shit..."
"Cool it Ganju, we'll be fine if we don't make any stupid mistakes. Yes, he's powerful, but we have numbers...we need to do something to cause a distraction…"
"O-Or we should beg him to live. We can't beat him Karin, we need to try and survive another day."
Karin's eyes flicked between all four of them there, not including Byakuya, and thought about what Takumi would do right now.
She knew that the chances of winning would be difficult.
She thought that Yoruichi probably could take Byakuya or at least wound him enough for them to escape.
But they didn't think they'd have any chances to actually survive if they did defeat him, as more would come.
They couldn't take the entire Soul Society down...
"Yoruichi-san, is there anyway that I could hold him off while you get these three away from this area?"
Yoruichi looked between Karin, Yuzu, Rukia, and Ganju.
She knew that she could get two of them away at a time, but if she left Karin to deal with Byakuya…
She wasn't sure if she'd come back to find a corpse or not.
"It would be dangerous if I left your side now. Even then...you want to do it, don't you?"
Karin lowered her eyebrows.
"I have to protect my sister from anything that might want to hurt her. So I'll also fight him if I can for a little while. If we get them away from his range of effect, then they could begin running away by themselves, couldn't they?"
Yoruichi didn't think that she was wrong.
But she still wasn't sure about it.
Ganju however felt inspired by what Karin had said.
How she was going to fight, despite knowing her chances weren't the best.
She still knew that she had a few things to do, and she wasn't going to back down, so neither was he.
"Hey Karin. Would you, die for this Rukia girl?" His eyes went to Rukia who bent her head down. "She's the reason my brothers dead. Yet, you're still fighting for her, why are you doing it? Is she really worth it?"
Karin glanced towards Byakuya who didn't look like he was going to wait for much longer.
In fact, he looked as if he was going to be attacking at any moment.
"Ganju...I don't know about your brother, all I know is Rukia. I know that she might be obsessed with that stupid rabbit Chappy." Rukia's eyes flared towards Karin who wore a superior smile on her face. "But she's a good person, I know that deep down. She doesn't back down, she has risked herself for us time and time again. Whether she killed your brother or not...I don't think she did it, and if she did, then there had to be circumstances behind it. I don't expect you to give up your life for her Ganju. If you hate her, then that's your choice. All I ask right now is that you put those feelings aside, and escape with her, while I hold off Byakuya myself."
"Karin! T-That's suicide!"
Yuzu interjected, while Ganju felt sorrow entering him.
This girl was willing to do all of these things, and she still was fighting.
It brought happiness and also sadness to him at the same time.
"Even if I ran...there's only one way off the bridge..."
Ganju wasn't so sure.
He made up that excuse, he didn't feel right about leaving Karin behind like that.
"Then I'll carve a path for you. We came here for Rukia, you don't have to die for her, but I'll stall for time for both her, and you, and especially, Yuzu. I promised Yuzu that we'd be coming home back to our Dad. So that's what I'm going to do right now Ganju."
Yuzu, Ganju and even Rukia were surprised by what was being said.
Karin truly had matured quite a bit over her time during the Soul Society.
"But Karin, this is dangerous, don't fight him!"
Rukia yelled, but Karin just gave a sly smile.
"Rukia, do be quiet."
Rukia wore surprise on her face.
"W-What?"
"I'm not your Knight in shining armour, I'll leave that to that damn Takumi. All I'm here for is to make sure my sister survives. And I don't intend to die. Besides, I might have a chance to win here if I go all out."
Karin was bluffing.
She didn't know if she had a chance to win.
Byakuya becoming increasingly impatient looked displeased.
"Are we going to fight?"
"I'm getting to you!"
Byakuya was silenced by Karin and wore confusion on his face, though he hid it well with his usual stoic mask that he had.
Karin then began moving forward, with Rukia and Yuzu both panicking.
"N-No! Karin! Don't do this!"
Yuzu tried to move, but Yoruichi stopped her.
"Yuzu, don't. You can't become involved here."
Yuzu felt even more panic entering her, while Ganju's eyes tightened shut.
Remembering his sister, and how she had raised him to not be a coward, he simply couldn't allow her to do this alone, so he rushed forward, running past Yuzu, Yoruichi, and Rukia, while placing his hand on his own blade.
Karin cracked her neck back when she heard the shout "Damn it!" and saw Ganju attempting to get by her, but she grabbed the back of his shirt, and yanked him backwards.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"I'm fighting as well!" He pulls out his blade from his back, and points it at Byakuya. "Come on then, I'll be your opponent today!"
Karin shook her head at the sight, worried that Ganju might be in over his head, and didn't want Ganju to die. She didn't want anything to happen to any of them, while Byakuya looked Ganju up and down, and placed a hand on his blade.
Back with Takumi and the others, with Unohana and the others busy researching what Takumi had asked them to do for him, he was currently working on a next plan of attack, and what they'd be able to do next.
Nemu leaned down next to Takumi, and saw that his eyes were going over a few reports.
"Takumi-sama, what are you thinking about right now?"
"I'm thinking about what has happened, and what our next move would be against the enemy. Now that we've found out that Aizen definitely is on the move, we can't be sure of his next move. He's very smart, I just hope the precautions that we're taking, are going to help us out."
Nemu could see that Takumi was trying quite hard.
He was thinking about every scenario that he was coming up with.
But then he turned back to Unohana, and pulled closer.
"Unohana-san, I'm going to have to leave you for the moment, there's something that I need to check on."
Unohana raised an eyebrow.
"Then how do we contact you?"
Takumi pulled out a map from his bag, and produced it to Unohana.
"Come here, when you've got the information. Don't worry, it's a protected area, and no one would suspect you knowing anything about this. If anything, myself, along with Orihime-chan and Nemu-san will have to move quietly around the battlefield."
"Yes, be careful to all of you, it will be dangerous."
"Right, then we'll be leaving."
Takumi gathered Orihime, and Nemu.
Hanataro went to leave with them, but Takumi stopped him.
"S-Sir?"
Takumi found it oddly nice that he was called sir, by Hanataro.
It seemed that he had relaxed himself a bit since their first meeting.
"Still calling me sir huh?" Hanataro looked sheepish. "I need you to stay here, Hanataro-san, your medical expertise could be needed. I also don't want to put you in anymore danger, stay with your Captain and help her with what I've asked. If you want to help, then that's the best way to go about it."
Hanataro nodded, tightening his hands.
"Y-Yes, leave it to me sir! I'll do what I can do help!"
"Right, I'll leave it to you. Orihime-chan, Nemu-san, lets get going."
"Yes Taku-chan, lets go!"
"Understood."
Takumi, Orihime and Nemu nodded at one another, and left the area.
As they did, Isane turned to Unohana.
"Captain, now that they've gone...can we really trust that boy? I don't want to sound as if I'm not trusting you, because I do trust your judgement. That boy on the other hand...after everything that's been said, how can we not assume he planted the corpse doll, and has Captain Aizen tied up somewhere."
Unohana didn't even move a muscle for a moment.
She thought about what Isane said, and could get why she was worried.
"Isane, I am glad you're being cautious, however I must remind you of something."
Isane cocked her head, while Hanataro looked on.
"Yes, Captain?"
"That boy, had several opportunities to slay a good number of people in the Soul Society, has their been a reported death?"
Isane gave a sheepish look.
"W-Well, no but..."
"And, did he kill Momo Hinamori?"
"Of course not..."
"Then, believe in my judgement Isane. I believe that Takumi-kun is here to make sure the Soul Society doesn't suffer anything terrible. I also believe in his ability to overcome adversity. Lets believe in him Isane. Hanataro already does, don't you Hanataro?"
"Y-Yes...I believe in him."
Isane wore surprise on her face.
But she could see both her Captain and Hanataro did believe in Takumi, so while she was cautious, she placed her belief in Unohana, and believed she believed in Takumi and that they were doing the right thing.
Back with Karin and the others, Byakuya glances between Karin and Ganju, ultimately turning his blade towards Karin.
"I feel quite a bit of your Reiatsu, it seems that you're at least Lieutenant Level of power. While your friend, I could barely sense anything. At first, I thought you were manipulating the power you had to hide it. But now I can see the truth, there's nothing for me to be worried about."
Byakuya's words stung Ganju while Karin narrowed her brows.
"That's not exactly nice. You don't know what power Ganju has. Yeah, he might not be the strongest, but he's got skills! He can...erm...he can..."
"I can turn things to sand."
He said with a deadpan stare to Karin, who nodded and snapped her fingers towards Ganju.
"Yeah, he can turn things into sand! And he can...erm, something to do with fireworks I think..."
Ganju felt like crying, at what Karin had said.
But he didn't give up, and withdrew his sword, charging Byakuya.
"Ganju, don't!"
Karin pleaded, while Rukia murmured "I don't think he even has a plan..." while seeing Byakuya disappearing from sight. Karin couldn't really see him, but she took the cloth from her sword, and tossed her Zanpakuto towards the right of Ganju, as he was moving his head in slow motion.
Appearing at the right of Ganju, was Byakuya who was forced to use his sword to block Karin's Shikai, surprise etching itself onto his face, as the force from the thrown Zanpakuto managed to push Byakuya back ever so slightly.
"You saw me, did you?"
While holding his surprise, Ganju comes slashing in with his own blade, but Byakuya parries it easily enough, and puts distance between them. Even Yoruichi was surprised that Karin managed to force Byakuya to block.
Byakuya then turned to Ganju who was already rushing him.
"My sword wasn't made to kill pests. Leave right now, or I'll be forced to kill you."
"Cowards that could be scared by your threat don't exist in the Shiba Clan!"
Upon hearing his clan name, Byakuya wore mild surprise. His eyes looked towards the clothing Ganju had, and saw that indeed they had the insignia of the Shiba Clan there, so his eyes went towards his blade while Ganju came charging in.
"I'm sorry about that, I thought you were a mere bug. But you're from the Shiba Clan, it must mean you have a warriors ability. Then I shall not hold back in my movements this time, and will make sure you wont walk away alive."
His sword goes upwards, and it began to shine a little bit.
"What's he doing…?"
Yuzu wondered, but Rukia already knew.
"N-No! You can't do that! Please Byakuya! Don't kill him!"
Byakuya ignores Rukia's pleas, and allows her blade to begin moving.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
From the way that his blade glowed, it suddenly split down to the handle, leaving only the handle of the sword left. The blades fly into the air, with the sun shining down onto them, and giving them a pinkish glow.
"It looks like falling cherry blossoms..."
Yuzu murmured, Rukia's panic for Ganju became even higher as the blades turned towards him. The blades quickly danced around Ganju, while he was stunned by the attack and couldn't move as the blades went to slice down Ganju…
"Haaaaaaaaaah!"
Karin unleashed her crescent shaped slicing move towards Byakuya, and unleashed a highly condensed wave of energy, which ripped through the bridge they stood on, and forced its way for Byakuya who stared on darkly, forcing his sword back towards him, and created a wall of his small blades, the pink blades stopping the progression of the blades themselves upon Ganju's form, Ganju's eyes widening in shock.
"K-Karin..."
Ganju looked thankful to the young girl, but Karin already rushed forward.
"Get them out of here Yoruichi-san!"
Byakuya looked stunned at the name.
"Yoruichi..."
Karin didn't allow him time to think as she came in with her heavy blade once more. The blade slashed left, but Byakuya blocked with a wave of his blades, then sent them towards Karin at a high speed.
Karin used her blade to cross over her body and take the shot of blades shooting for her, the blast wave of small blades pushed Karin's body back a good deal, but she didn't give up, and swung her sword outwards, allowing her energy to shoot out, at Byakuya who blocked once more with his blades, directing them with his hands.
In the meantime, Yoruichi quickly grabbed Yuzu, and Ganju, with Rukia saying "Take them first." to which Yoruichi agreed, since Rukia was the least likely to die in a scenario that they all couldn't be saved, and the Soul Society wouldn't want to kill her until the date of the execution.
Byakuya barely saw Yoruichi as she took away a protesting Yuzu and Ganju.
"You wont escape."
Byakuya attempted to stop her, but Karin came in from behind him, and swung her blade downwards. Byakuya didn't even look back as his blades responded by blocking off Karin's Shikai, and forced her backwards.
She then saw a few blades flying for her leg, so she lifted it up, when Byakuya used his speed to appear before her, and swing out his small blades, sending a wave of them towards her body, and she received a big gash across her arm.
"Karin!"
Rukia panicked, but Karin didn't even seem to be all that bothered, and allowed her swords energy to be released, sending a crescent shaped energy wave for Byakuya's right hand side, the energy coming in at a high speed.
"You're attempting to destroy me at close range, not a bad tactic."
Byakuya however managed to get his blades in the way and formed a wall to combat the energy wave. Even though he did, her energy managed to force him to use more blades than he previously thought that he would have to do.
Because of that though, Karin managed to send her foot towards Byakuya's torso, who was surprised by the speed, along with how she had used her energy attack to trick him into blast the power at him, and then attack from a different direction.
"No time to move my sword..."
Because of the short distance of the kick, and how surprisingly fast Karin was, Byakuya managed to block with his arm, the pressure of her kick however sent him flying backwards, where he flipped in the air, and skidded across the bridge while she herself landed on said bridge as well, looking at her wounded arm.
"This is nothing..."
Karin panted, seeing the man before him barely injured.
She was bleeding from her arm, and he still wasn't seemingly using much effort besides that last moment.
She didn't mind though, she was still going to show her strength.
"Hey Karin, don't worry. If you let me out, I'll fight him for you. I'm sure together, we'll destroy him."
She heard her inner Hollow speak to her in a casual manner.
It was as if she was goading Karin into doing it.
If she allowed herself to do it…
Then she was worried about the consequences of her actions.
"N-No, I wont allow you to come out, I've got this on my own."
A laughing could be heard inside of her mind, it caused her to feel sick.
She didn't want this to happen.
She fought down her inner Hollow the best that she could.
She wouldn't allow her to win.
"Don't worry Karin, all you have to do is relinquish control over to me."
"I said I wont!"
She spoke aloud, confusing Byakuya.
"You wont, what?"
Karin shook her head, her blade aimed towards Byakuya who wore intrigue on his face.
"Come on then Byakuya! Show me what you've got!"
"You're going to regret those words, Ryoka. I'll give you an easy death if you submit to me right now."
Karin laughed through her nose.
"Yeah, right! I'll get right on that! You think I'm that weak I'd die from you so easily?!"
Karin got ready to fight once more, and showed a willingness to fight.
Byakuya also got into a defensive stance with his Shikai, the blades floating all the way around him.
Soi Fon arrived at the place that Isane and Nemu had their brief little fight. She looked between the broken areas, where the ground had been damaged by Isane's Kido spell, and the attacks that Nemu had delivered.
"Huuuuh...C-Captain..."
Soi Fon's Lieutenant huffed and puffed as sweat came down his face.
Soi Fon wore a disgusted look, folding her arms.
She inspected the ground a few more times, along with the buildings.
She searched quickly
"This wasn't him."
"B-But, it's damaged..."
That's what he thought, but Soi Fon knew better.
"No, I can tell when it was him. There's no scorch marks on the ground, or on the buildings. There's no residual energy that was left over...so that means that it probably was Takumi who had been here in the first place...damn bastard, he's making us run around in circles..."
"So, what are we going to do Captain? We can't keep searching around aimlessly..."
"For once, you're right. That's why, we have to concentrate our efforts somewhere...he'd eventually have to go towards the Captain Commander. Assuming that he'd not have contact and couldn't know the outcome of his question to the Gotei 13, he'd have to get the answer...but, he wouldn't do it himself...he'd have to be close though..."
Soi Fon thought about the most logical step.
She thought that he'd try to go to Shunsui, but even she couldn't see that happening.
She knew he'd not be stupid enough to meet him now, as Shunsui could have warned him somehow that she was on the hunt.
She didn't rule out the possibility that he'd try and head for the place Aizen was killed either.
"...Right, we'll be using the forces for this, splitting them upon different locations in the Soul Society. We'll be going to Squad Four to see if he's appeared there, also outside of the Squad Eight Barracks, he also could potentially head for Squad Five, and the place Aizen was murdered, so head there. I also will be going to a location I think he might go as well."
"Uggggh, does that mean more running around?"
"You need to move more anyway, don't complain or don't bother following me."
He cringed at her words.
"B-But, I want to make sure you are safe my Captain!"
"Then stop complaining and do as I say. We're leaving, I have a hunch, and sooner or later, he's gonna have to go there. Also, send people to the locations that I list off. Chances are, he'll be at one of these locations eventually."
He knew that he'd have to do it to make sure Soi Fon was safe, and partly because he didn't want to anger her.
As that was happening, Takumi, Orihime and Nemu rushed through the Soul Society, moving quickly and swiftly, with Orihime on his back, they moved through the shadows, with Nemu guiding them to the location that Takumi thought would be the best.
"Taku-chan, where are we going exactly?"
Takumi thought about it for a few moments before answering swiftly.
"I need to go and keep up appearances with the Captain Commander, and that's to find out what Central 46 has said about my inquiry. We know the answer, but if I don't show up at least a single time, then I'll be endangering the likes of Shunsui-san and the others, so I need to go there, and send a Gigai to 'find out'."
"I see...yes, that makes sense Taku-chan. After that, what are we going to do? Search for this Aizen?"
Takumi shook his head.
"Not yet, there's a few places where he could be but right now we don't know."
Orihime understood.
"Then Taku-chan, when we find him, is he going to be arrested? Can we do that?"
Takumi shook his head.
"We don't have any evidence that I didn't do anything, and if we confronted him now, he could come up with some lies, perhaps I kidnapped him and had a corpse doll in his place, and kept him there to order around the Soul Society. The ways I believe that we can win is if Aizen confesses to what he's done, and perhaps we can force his hand..."
"Can we do that Taku-chan? Force his hand?"
"Aizen will have to make a move sooner or later, we just have to make sure that when he does, we're fully prepared. He wont be staying silent forever, that's why we'll be making sure what happens, the Soul Society will be prepared, and to answer your question, there are a few things my Dad and I thought about while we were in the human world, something's are coming true, and some aren't, I'll just have to adjust."
Takumi's words caused Orihime to bob her head up and down.
"Lets do it Taku-chan!"
Takumi was glad Orihime was quite spirited, and knew that he wouldn't be able to do it without her.
Back with Karin and Byakuya, the pair stared on at one another, before Karin rushed forward. Byakuya disappeared with a flash, with Karin readjusting her stance to move her blade left, just as Byakuya appeared there, and sent a barrage of blades towards her.
She managed to block with her Shikai, and sent off a powerful wave of her energy towards Byakuya.
The man dodged out of the way, as Karin tossed her sword behind her, just as Byakuya appeared once more. He was forced to block with his blades, but Karin was already rushing forward, catching her sword, and stabbed forward with sharpness towards the man's upper body.
Allowing more small blades to form a thicker wall, he had to admit that Karin was doing quite well.
"Your speed isn't that bad. I'll give you that much credit. You're able to see me."
Karin gave a light smile.
"I can see you, it's difficult but I've been trained to keep up with fast people like you."
Karin backed away, spinning her sword until it pointed downwards, then she stabbed downwards into the bridge.
"Now lose yourself!"
Karin unleashed her energy into the bridge itself, and sent off her power towards the footing below Byakuya, forcing him to dodge out of the way, but Karin already used her time to dislodge her sword, and come in left…
But when she did, he had already appeared right, and sent off a heavy barrage of blades for her body.
"Aaaaaaaah!"
Karin was blown away by the powerful wave of blades, cutting into her skin like razors.
She was flung down to the ground, with wounds erupting across her chest.
"K-Karin! No!"
Rukia tried to stand up, but Byakuya placed more pressure onto the spiritual pressure he was releasing, forcing her body downwards.
He then turned to Karin who began standing up, despite bleeding.
"You can't win, you shouldn't try. Even if you can see me and attack me by knowing where I might be, it is meaningless if I can dodge out of the way."
Karin glared into his eyes.
"Shut your mouth."
Byakuya focused his eyes upon her own, seeing her determination.
"I understand Takumi Urahara's reasons for being here, but why are you here? Are you interested in saving Rukia? She isn't your concern. This isn't your life. You're not even a real Shinigami, are you?"
"Real, or not, it doesn't matter. You're a person who isn't even doing anything for his own damn sister! She is going to be killed, and you're actually stopping us?! You should be fighting beside us! I don't know what you're even thinking right now!"
Byakuya didn't change his face.
Though he did think about what Karin was saying, it didn't deter him.
He couldn't allow it to deter him.
"You're saying these things, but I didn't hear your answer. You only came for Rukia. Nothing to do with settling any scores."
"No, I don't have any scores to settle here. I was said I was needed here, and that's why I'm here. My sister came here, so I came here to defend her."
"Your sister, are you going to keep going to defend her?"
Karin nodded without hesitation.
"That's right, because that's what siblings do for each other. They don't let them get hurt, they don't let them die, and they don't betray them. I don't know your circumstances, and I frankly don't care about it either. But you're standing before your sister, and saying that she can't live..."
"My reasons for doing what I'm doing, is not your concern. However, I am intrigued. Do you have a Bankai?"
At the question, Karin thought about what was being said for a few moments.
"Bankai...I was told about that...a second release, is that right?"
"If you're questioning it, then I can't say that you have it. It is a shame, that you're going to die right now."
Karin narrowed her gaze, as Byakuya moved forward.
Suddenly, he disappeared, moving left and right across the bridge.
Karin couldn't even keep up with her eyes, nor could she predict where Byakuya was going to go.
So rather than try and take it, she swung her blade out before her, encompassing the entire width of the bridge, she unleashed her powerful energy, in an attempt to try and take down Byakuya's body before it could reach her.
But when she unleashed her body, Byakuya's foot landed on her swinging blade, her eyes looking up to see Byakuya's hand directing downwards.
"Shi-"
Before she could finish, his blades rained down on top of her.
They sliced into her skin, and blood began to erupt everywhere around her.
But still, she held onto her blade, and flipped Byakuya upwards, and causing him to be thrown into the air. With blood leaking out of her wounds, she directs a massive wave of her energy into the sky, to shoot down Byakuya.
Byakuya responds with his Shikai out before him, blocking the intense power that had been released, and was surprised that it was stronger than before.
Karin also noticed the same thing…
Before she felt something growing on her face.
Peering down, she saw that the mask of a Hollow was coming on her face.
"S-Shit, not now..."
She didn't want it to appear, but it was going to appear regardless of what she wished for.
She stuck her hand onto the mask, and began peeling it off of her face.
"Come on Karin! Don't fight it! You need me to fight him! He's too strong for you!"
"N-No, I wont use your power! I'm strong enough without you!"
Karin recalled what Takumi had said about her Hollow.
While she didn't think they'd be able to be friends right now.
She wasn't going to give in either.
But with fighting her Hollow for control, Byakuya managed to come down with his raining blades onto her form.
Rukia looked worried for Karin's future, and how she could die.
"B-Byakuya...please don't do this..."
She begged Byakuya but he ignored her.
He didn't even bother with anything other than what was before him right now.
Karin felt her body bleeding.
It felt sore.
But she still didn't back down either.
She pulled herself to her feet, and angrily stared into the eyes of Byakuya.
"I'm not going to die today!"
She yelled, and lunged forward, swinging her blade for Byakuya but he dodged it with not much effort on his part. She then got to her feet fully, and felt her blood coming out of her.
"You're resilient, I'll give you that. However, this is your time to-"
"Byakuya, what are you doing?"
Rukia recognized the voice.
It was her Captain, Ukitake, with a sickly appearance. Yet he still saw that Byakuya had his Shikai activated and also saw the wounded Karin using her sword to keep herself on her feet, so she didn't fall over.
"Releasing your Zanpakuto here is a first class offence. Even if you're fighting a Ryoka."
Byakuya, seeing the body of Karin bleeding, sealed his sword, cracking an eyebrow to Ukitake.
"This is a wartime situation, we've been authorized to carry Zanpakuto, and this Ryoka managed to break Rukia out of her cell. I am merely acting in accordance to what the Soul Society wishes, and that's for her capture, and execution. My personal feelings don't come into consideration."
Ukitake looked taken aback by what Byakuya had just said.
"I'm surprised that an invasion of a few Ryoka has ended up like this. Is this to do with the death of Aizen?"
"Perhaps, now I'll be finishing off this Ryoka. Even if it is a single Ryoka, aiding Takumi Urahara is a capital offence, I have to deliver swift punishment with her blood."
Rukia became increasingly more worried, while Karin took her sword, and got into a defensive movement.
Ukitake looked over Karin, and became intrigued.
"Who is this Ryoka? And what connection does she have to Takumi-kun?"
Byakuya pulled his sword in front of him while Karin narrowed her eyes.
"It's not important who she is. All that matter is that she's a Ryoka that invaded the Soul Society, I shall deal with this swiftly."
Karin huffed at the sight before her.
"I wont give up Byakuya Kuchiki. Even if you cut me down, I'll still stall for time for my sister to get out of here!"
Karin took her blade and rushed forward.
Even though she was bleeding, she didn't care.
She was prepared to fight to make sure that Yuzu was safe.
She had promised herself that she'd keep Yuzu safe and that's what she was going to do.
But that's when Karin's mask began to form once more.
The power that was taking over her, saw a moment it could do as Karin's tiredness along with her drive gave into the power of the Hollow, which allowed the mask to fully form, surprising both Byakuya and Ukitake.
Byakuya's hand stuck up and he announced "Byakurai." aiming for the mask itself to shatter it.
But Karin, now possessed by a Hollow, deflected the bolt of lightning with her sword, and forced it to dig into the ground below the bridge that was quite a ways up.
"Hahahahahahahaha! You're thinking too small you little bug! Come on Bya-kun! Show me what you've got!"
"...Her demeanour completed changed, and that mask on her face...what is she? She isn't a normal Shinigami..."
While he thought about it, Hollow Karin got close, and brought up her sword.
"Here's a new technique for you Karin-chan! Listen to this!" Hollow Karin laughed maniacally. "Getsuga Tensho!"
Unleashing her energy at Byakuya, he raised his sword and took the power head on. But the power was stronger than before, stronger than he had thought it would be, and it blew him backwards as a result, forcing him to hit the bridge hard as the energy slash continued on, shattering the building behind Byakuya.
"D-Damn..."
Byakuya murmured as Hollow Karin came above Byakuya, and thrust her sword downwards.
"Come on Bya-kun! You can't win against me!"
The sword penetrated the bridge, and she unleashed a mass of energy that completely destroyed a section of the bridge. Byakuya tried to avoid it all, but she was caught up in the waves of power that she had unleashed and he received an injury to his leg as a result, bleeding rather profusely.
But even then, he didn't stop, and placed up his fingers.
"Bakudo 61: Rikujokoro."
Six beams of light came out, and thrust at Karin's waist, pinning her there to stop her from going on a rampage. The six beams hit her, stopped her movements, while Hollow Karin's eyes twirled towards Byakuya's form.
"Meanie...pinning me like this, I thought we had a good rapport."
"I don't know what you are, but if you're intending to do something dangerous then..."
Hollow Karin opened her mouth, and red energy began to form at the base of her mouth, surprising Byakuya.
"Time to fire a Cero! Gotta protect Yuzu from you!"
Laughing maniacally, the Hollow Karin went to fire off a Cero…
When suddenly Karin forced her head up while announcing "N-No! I wont lose to you!" desperately holding onto the power that she had, and made sure that she wasn't ruled by it, and at the same time, shaking her head side to side to try and throw the mask off of her face.
Byakuya didn't quite get what was happening, but he flashed over towards her, and went to strike her down…
But Yoruichi flashed before him, with a cloth wrapped around Byakuya's sword, stopping it from moving forward, surprising everyone that was around. Byakuya and Yoruichi locked eyes with one another, and animosity came between them.
As that was happening, Takumi with Orihime and Nemu had continued towards their location using ways that many people might not know about, with Yoruichi informing him about it, and could feel the battle between Karin and someone, with Takumi knowing it was Byakuya. The battle raged on and their senses were bombarded by new developments.
Of course without seeing they didn't know play by play, but they felt spikes of power going off in the direction of Karin and Byakuya's fight. They'd feel Byakuya's power spiking, then Karin's, and they'd have a back and forth.
But suddenly, they felt Karin's spiritual energy suddenly drop considerably to the point it felt like it disappeared.
"Taku-chan, do you think Karin-chan is...her spiritual pressure just disappeared..."
"Karin-chan's tough, she's not going to die so easily. I have to believe in Yoruichi-chan for now, and hope that she's keeping her safe."
"Yes, I also hope the same thing Taku-chan."
He nodded at Orihime, and continued moving forward.
But as he did, he felt something…
Takumi paused when he glanced backwards.
Though he didn't see anything, he did feel something was off.
"Nemu-san, don't look back, but did you feel anything then?"
He whispered to her.
Nemu raised an eyebrow.
"I currently don't detect anything Takumi-sama. Shall I search?"
"...No, not yet. Come, lets go this way."
Takumi changed direction, to the surprise of Nemu and Orihime.
But when seeing his eyes, it seemed as if he had discovered something, and didn't say anything as they followed him.
Meanwhile, Giselle walked across the Seireitei with Kenpachi who continued to laugh loudly, swinging his blade outwards, and shattered several walls with shock waves from his blade.
"If nothing else, he seems to take a joy in destroying things."
She muttered, with Yachiru nodding strongly.
"Yup, he's really into this right now! I think Taku did the right thing, Ken-chan is going to destroy everything that is before him!"
She didn't even deny it.
Kenpachi was having a blast right now.
She knew that.
However, as they walked, Giselle suddenly felt a presence coming in from the right hand side.
Quickly, she pushed Giselle into a different place as the man appeared before her.
Wearing a 69 on his cheek, his eyes went towards Giselle while Kenpachi was storming ahead.
"So, you're one of the Ryoka. I have to admit, you're not really the sort of person that I'd expect to see honestly."
Giselle placed her hands over her mouth and began laughing a little bit.
"Ooh my, are you really into that sort of thing?"
The man raised an eyebrow.
"W-What?"
Giselle let out a small snorting sound, and then pointed towards his cheek.
"Are you into that? 69ing people~"
The man looked to his cheek, and saw the number being there.
His face turned red, pointing at her accusingly.
"D-Don't accuse me of being into that! Your mind went into that territory already! Seriously, what's wrong with you?!"
He snapped at her, but Giselle wore a goofy expression on her face.
Sticking out her tongue, and thumbing her hair, she gave a sway of her body as if she was dancing to some sort of song.
"There's nothing wrong with me~ I don't have that tattooed onto my face~ You're letting everyone know what you're into~"
She said while playing with her hair antenna.
The man didn't look pleased, and felt himself blushing as a result.
"N-No! You've got it wrong! This doesn't represent 'that'! It means something else entirely! You need to please not think of it like that! I wouldn't advertise that!"
Giselle let out a small laugh at the panicking man before her.
She found it rather funny that he was freaking out like he was.
"I don't know...it seems like you might be into those kind of practices. Though it's alright if you are, maybe I could do that with Takumi-kun…."
Giselle stared off into space, as if he wasn't really interested in what the man was saying, and imagining her and Takumi in bed together.
Her face curled upwards at the images entering her mind, and she didn't seem to be all that bothered about many things either.
The Shinigami before her was baffled.
Even though he was an enemy, she still didn't show anything troubling at all.
"A-Anyway, my name is Shuhei Hisagi! And I am going to defeat you, Ryoka-" Suddenly, Kenpachi came in and swatted Shuhei with his blade. "-Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Shuhei went flying through the air, and landed several miles away from them in a crater his body's shape, while Kenpachi looked on curiously.
"What did I just hit? And why did it sound like it was scared?"
Giselle giggled awkwardly.
"You hit some guy that was into 69ing people~ And he probably was quite scared huh~?"
Kenpachi raised a brow curiously, before shrugging his shoulders.
"Oh...I don't know what that means, but whatever! More destruction!"
Yachiru came shooting into the light once more, and grinned.
"Yay! Ken-chan did it again! Well done Ken-chan! You didn't even have to look at your opponent to beat them!"
Kenpachi let out a large laughing sound, and continued his mass destruction.
Giselle shrugged her shoulders, and followed after him once more.
But as they walked, Giselle felt as if something was following them.
She couldn't sense much.
But what she did sense, it felt like a cold killing intent had begun making its way towards them.
"Are we being followed?"
She mused to herself, turning back but she didn't see anything.
However, in her heart, she felt as if something was coming from behind her.
She wondered what it could be.
What could be coming for them.
She could only think of a few things that could be coming after them, but she didn't want to make any wild guesses right now.
She just stayed alert, and hoped it was just her mind playing tricks on her…
But, what she didn't realize was that she was right to be cautious, as someone was trailing behind her, and the others, waiting for a time to make a move.
Back with Byakuya and the others, with the cloth firmly around his sword, his eyes met with Yoruichi's own who looked back towards him as she was held in a crouching position, Karin was desperately trying to fight off the Hollow's influence.
Rukia overlooked her, and recalled her from Karakura town.
"She's that woman..."
Byakuya scornfully looked down upon Yoruichi, who smirked right back towards him.
"I should have known you also would come here. Considering that Takumi was here."
Yoruichi showed a light smile on her face.
"Naturally, I wouldn't allow him to come without me." She appears by Karin's side, and quickly takes out some kind of needle, and places it into Karin's neck. "Sorry Karin, this is a countermeasure just in case."
"Counter..."
She didn't quite understand.
But her vision became hazy and soon, she fell unconscious. The group looked shocked that she had done that. Even Ukitake didn't seem to understand why she had done that. But he presumed it was due to the Hollow mask that had been forming.
Yoruichi broke off the Kido spell that had pinned Karin and hauled her over her shoulder, along with her Zanpakuto.
"Are you trying to save her right now?"
Ukitake asked, to which Yoruichi agreed with a nodding head.
"Correct, I did just that. She was losing control, it was a countermeasure Takumi make this for me in case something was to happen to this girl to make sure that she didn't lose herself completely. It seems that she still needs to train with her mask before she attempts to use it, even if it is subconsciously."
Yoruichi's reply made Ukitake nod in understanding.
Byakuya though didn't even seem to be bothered by their conversation and continued forward, while ripping off the cloth that Yoruichi used around his blade.
"Do you think I'll let you escape. She had a Hollow mask, it was similar to that incident in the past with Takumi Urahara. Has he also turned her into a subject?"
Rukia lowered her eyes, knowing Takumi wouldn't do that.
But she was just as astonished as Byakuya that Karin had a Hollow mask.
"You know as well as I Takumi wasn't inhumane to experiment on souls and use Hollow powers on them."
"I don't know what to believe when it comes to that individual. But that doesn't matter now, he'll surely come if the Princess is in the tower."
Yoruichi smirked as she pulled backwards.
"Are you talking about me, or are you talking about Rukia?"
At the question, Byakuya's face contorted into something else besides stoic, and showed his annoyance on his face.
"Are you going to really try and run away from me?"
"Since when did you talk big? I don't recall you being able to ever catch me in a game of tag."
Byakuya's face lowered slightly.
"Then, we should try again. Another game of tag, this time I'll win."
Yoruichi smirked at the challenge, and uses Flash Step to appear behind Byakuya.
Responding to that, he swings his blade backwards at a quick speed, but Yoruichi was faster, appearing behind Ukitake, with Rukia looking stunned that he could move behind Ukitake so fast despite her eyes on his form.
Byakuya fully turns towards her, and uses his own Flash Step to appear behind Yoruichi as she attempts to leap backwards, so she twirls in the air, bringing her foot down onto the blade that he had swung for her, and quickly kicks Byakuya in the face, and because of the injuries Karin gave him, he was a bit slower than he usually would be, sending him flying a good distance.
Rebounding off the bridge using his hand to flip his body around, Byakuya gets to his feet, seeing that Yoruichi had appeared on top of his head, Byakuya didn't seem amused at all, aiming his finger upwards to shoot Kido at her, but she had already vanished by the time that Byakuya had raised his finger.
"If you're trying to catch me with that level of speed, then you best think again, Byakuya."
Byakuya turned back to see that she was on top of the remains of the shattered building Karin destroyed beforehand.
Yoruichi's eyes went to Rukia, and moved towards her...
But then she saw that Komamura, a man with a large helmet on, along with Tosen also appeared, and stood before Rukia, and slashed at Yoruichi at the same time, who backflipped.
"You're not moving anywhere closer! Sensing some strange pressure here, it seems that coming here wasn't futile after all."
Komamura demanded, with Tosen resting his hand on his blade.
"One cry from my sword, and you'll be down. I wont let you escape."
With them, and Byakuya stationed nearby, she knew she couldn't get to Rukia and keep Karin safe.
"Yoruichi, what is Takumi currently doing? He isn't here, what is he up to?"
Byakuya demanded this time.
Yoruichi showed a hint of a small smile on her face.
"Proving innocence takes a while. He didn't do it Byakuya, no matter how many disbelieve."
"If that's true, then he should come and state what he believes to be the case before us all."
"So he could die? I don't think so. No one is that stupid, there wont be a fair trial, unless he has evidence. And you'll soon see that for yourself. If you're itching to fight him, then he'll be ready to take you on, and by that time, I'll make sure that he wont lose against you unlike last time back in the human world. Until then, you'll have to wait." She turned away from Byakuya who went to move, but a grin appeared on Yoruichi's face. "If you want to follow me, any of you, you may do so. But remember, the Goddess of Flash doesn't lose so easily either." With one last look of sorrow for Rukia, Yoruichi announced. "Takumi's coming to save you, he wont give up until you're saved."
Rukia's eyes went wide.
She didn't want Takumi to be in danger anymore. She wished that he'd forget about her, but that was their reality now, he wouldn't forget about her, he'd save her, or he'd die trying, that was just the man Takumi was after all.
Byakuya wondered what kind of tactic that they were playing.
Announcing that out for others to hear, it almost sounded intentional and that it was more of a message for him than Rukia.
Though, at the same time, he also knew that Takumi was crafty, and there could be any number of hidden meaning's within his words and that the message could mean something else entirely, which bugged him to no end.
Yoruichi then flashed out of there with Karin with Tosen and Komamura taking her up on the challenge, and tried to capture her.
But Yoruichi was simply too fast for them and while they tried, they couldn't get to her in the end.
Byakuya looks to the place Yoruichi disappeared, with Ukitake raising an eyebrow.
"Are you not going to chase after her?"
Byakuya didn't reply as he began walking away from Rukia.
Ukitake also asked "Where are you going?" but Byakuya didn't seem interested in answering.
Byakuya then walked away from the area, murmuring "Do what you please." and didn't spare a look for Rukia, who looked on.
But then it felt like her energy left her, and the breath she didn't know she was holding released out of her mouth, her body becoming weaker by the second. Ukitake looks towards Rukia, and could see the sorrow on her face, and shakes his head.
"Rukia...it seems that you also became attached to Takumi-kun during your time in the human world. It must be so hard for you to know that this is for you. You're thinking about it from all angles, and believe that Takumi-kun is going to die. So, I don't know what to think about that." Exhaling deeply, he turns his head around. "Kiyone, Sentaro, come out. You're there, aren't you?"
As he said it, two people jump before him. A young woman with short hair, and man with dark hair turned up, bowing before Ukitake.
Ukitake looks between them, then cocks his head to the right hand side.
"How long have you been there?"
Sentaro pushes Kiyone back a little bit, antagonizing her a bit.
"We're sorry Captain, I know that you told us not to, but it's because I respect you so much that I had to make sure that you're okay."
Kiyone slaps Sentaro backwards, placing a hand on her chest.
"Well, it's because I respect you even more Captain, I might even say that I really love-"
"Seriously, doing such cheap things like that."
The pair glare at one another, and show angered looks between them.
Ukitake rolls his eyes at the sight.
"Kiyone, call the Fourth Division and make sure that Byakuya's wounds are healed, and Sentaro, please take Rukia to her cell."
He said it while having a heavy heart.
Kiyone looks back towards Rukia, and speaks with a passionate heart.
"I'm worried for her, more so than Sentaro."
A tick mark appeared by the forehead of Sentaro, snapping back towards her.
"You don't have to copy everything I do!"
"You didn't even do anything then, I said it first!"
"I was thinking about it!"
Ukitake moves closer to Rukia as the pair fight one another, bending down towards her and adopts a kind expression on his face.
"Rukia, I'm sorry about what's happening to you. If there was anything that I could do..."
"Captain...not for me, but could you...as a last request...I know I shouldn't ask, but I'm worried about him...Takumi, I don't want anything bad to happen to him, he doesn't deserve to die...I know what others think about him, but I've spent time with him...he's not like how everyone thinks he is...he wouldn't cause those horrible deaths to anyone...he wouldn't experiment on anyone..."
Hearing her heartfelt plea, Ukitake knew Rukia was speaking truth.
At least the truth that she thought was the truth.
"Rukia, I don't know what Takumi-kun is currently doing, I can't say for sure that he is right. But there is one thing about that boy that I know, and that is, he's very intelligent. He has a plan for everything he does. Even now, he's got plans upon plans, planning for every little detail that could happen. He's like his Father, and he wont give up until he's done what he came here to do. If he came to save you, then he'll stop at nothing to save you."
"Captain..."
"I know this, Shunsui also knows this. We believe that he had nothing to do with what happened in the past. He was the sweetest kid that I had met, so earnest, and generous."
Rukia's face curled upwards, but she began crying to Ukitake's mild confusion.
"That's what I'm worried about. His kindness to try and save me, might get him killed."
Ukitake didn't confirm or deny that he also felt like that.
All he did was bow his head, and began walking away.
Rukia remained unsure of what to feel at this point, as she was taken away back to her prison cell.
Travelling to a different part of the city, Takumi and the others came to a very secluded area, with Orihime being unsure of what Takumi was doing. This wasn't the location that they had talked about, so it didn't make sense to her.
Nemu was on the same boat, but she presumed he had a reason for doing what he was doing.
Landing in the centre, Takumi looked around before calling out.
"Come out, I know you're there."
Both Nemu and Orihime became alert when he said that.
Peering around, they couldn't see anything, until a small shadow shot out from the right hand side, appearing before Takumi himself.
The person who appeared, was Soi Fon.
"Did you think that I wouldn't know you'd use those movements through the blind spots that Yoruichi told us about a hundred years ago."
"You guessed I'd be going to see the Captain Commander, didn't you?"
Soi Fon didn't deny it.
"I thought that it was a possibility yes. Though it was a small chance, I knew I'd have to take it. You'd go into a situation and subvert expectations if you could do that. You've been leaving a path in your wake, haven't you?"
"I couldn't possibly know what you mean, Soi Fon-san."
Soi Fon's eyes slit themselves.
Controlling the anger that she had deep inside, she didn't allow it to show, and kept on a composed expression.
"I'm impressed that you managed to find out that I was following you. I was being careful, I didn't make any kind of mistake, and if I did, point it out to me, so I can correct it the next time."
"Well, it was more your buddy than you, I didn't notice your presence until he made a mistake."
Soi Fon let out a small sigh.
Her annoyed eyes went to her Lieutenant who stayed in the shadows.
He felt a shivering up and down his spine from the glare Soi Fon had for him.
"Seriously...of course it was, damn bastard..."
Takumi raised an eyebrow at the young woman before him.
"So now that you've found me, what are you going to do?"
Soi Fon pulled closer, and showed a calm expression on her face.
"You killed Aizen, didn't you?"
"No, I didn't."
Takumi denied it swiftly.
Soi Fon's face contorted angrily.
"Save everyone the lies, and confess. You could get an easier sentence if you confess right now."
Takumi thought that Soi Fon was either trying to end it peacefully (which he doubted) or she was so convinced that he had done it that she wouldn't accept any other way of thinking besides that certain way.
"Confess to something I didn't do? I couldn't do that, and I wont do that either. Even if it is to satisfy anyone, and I can prove it as well. If you give me sometime that is."
"Sometime to hide evidence against you, I don't think so." Takumi furrowed his eyebrows. Soi Fon pulled closer as she began leaking her power. "I'm taking you in, whether you like it or not."
Orihime and Nemu felt the intense power that she was using.
Even Takumi felt it, but he didn't allow it to rule him.
"I can't let you take me in, and even if you're a Captain, I'll have to fight against you."
Upon hearing those words, Soi Fon was mildly surprised.
It sounded like the old Takumi that she had known a long time ago.
But she had to fight those feelings down.
The sadness that was bubbling inside of her.
Her eyes then went towards Nemu.
"Also, I didn't expect you'd be working with a known murderer. I'll have to kill you for your treason."
Nemu's face didn't change, but Takumi's did.
He wasn't pleased in the slightest.
"She has nothing to do with this."
"She's helping a known criminal, she will have to face punishment."
Takumi let out a small sigh.
"If you target her, I wont hold back, Nemu-san's been through a lot in her life, because of Mayuri, I wont let her suffer anymore because of me."
Nemu's eyes broadened when he said that.
Care...
He truly did care for her.
Even to go against Soi Fon for her...
"How kind, you do have something inside of you besides your wicked intentions."
"You must really hate me if you're speaking about me like this. And if you do...why do you hate me? What did I do to you for you to feel this much hate for me? Target me, fine. But saying you'll target my friends, I don't think so."
Soi Fon felt a reaction within her heart.
She didn't know what it fully was, but it did feel as if something had shot inside of her briefly.
She however wouldn't be ruled by it.
She couldn't be ruled by it.
She was going to show her strength and resolve to not give up.
"Don't try and talk me out of anything, I gave up my feeling for you long ago, and if you fight me, then you will die, am I making myself clear?"
Takumi nodded.
"Perfectly, Soi Fon."
Soi Fon and Takumi locked eyes.
Their powers increased as the pressure around them became staggering.
Orihime and the others presence felt the intense wave of power that was before them.
They weren't messing around.
Soi Fon and Takumi were about to fight.
End chapter!
So Karin fought against Byakuya, and did quite well with predicting where he'd be among other things like that and even managed to force Byakuya to get more serious. But then Hollow Karin came out when Karin was getting tired, and couldn't hold her back, and had some of her fun. Takumi and Unohana are working together on something that will be revealed quite soon, while Isane is a bit distrustful of him, as she doesn't know him, but has decided to believe in her Captain. Meanwhile, Giselle's been going on with Kenpachi, who swatted away Hisagi, while she also feels as if something was following them. Soi Fon's been hunting down Takumi, and by the end, she managed to find him, and has confronted him, so next time, a fight between Soi Fon and Takumi!
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.