Welcome back everybody to another chapter of Ballad of the Strawberry! This is a few hours late and it's because my sleep schedule is messed up. My fault and I'll fix it so you can all receive your chapters at the regular time. If you're wondering I post chapters at midnight eastern standard time. Anyways let's get onto those awesome comment!
ssj3gohan007: Thank you for the corrections as always, I'm glad you have been guessing and taking an active role in these comments, I always look forward to them and they always keep me on my toes. You can find out what happens with Ichigo as I should have posted a chapter to The Lost Nachos before posting this chapter. Thank you again and enjoy the chapter
merendinoemiliano: I understand your criticism. I am still not good at writing but with time the descriptions will get better. I'm always playing of all of the comments suggestions to improve and make a better story. Thank you for sticking around for so long.
With comments done let's get on with our feature presentation.
"You sure this is going to work?" Tatsuki hadn't fully wrapped her mind around the plan to break into the Seireitei. Kukaku smirked at her hesitation.
"Of course, trust me, I know what I'm doing." Uryu blanched at the smug former Noble. Isshin had given them the rundown of who he was and who all was left in the Seireitei but it still came as a surprise.
The group all stood in a circle around a single orb. It was going to channel their spiritual energy to form the glorified hamster ball that would then smash into the barrier protecting the Seireitei and, hopefully, punch a hole through. They had their own groups and their own missions. Tatsuki was paired up with Chad and was heading to the large white tower that would act as Rukia's holding cell if she had been moved there already. Orihime and Yoruichi would be going to a safe place so if any of them got injured they had a place to meet up and heal before heading back out again. Keigo and Mizuiro were to go with Uryu and see if Rukia was still being held at the 6th Division. If they didn't find her then they were to head to group up with Tatsuki and Chad to the tower and work together to defeat whoever was in their way.
As according to Murphy's Law, the second the ball hit the barrier surrounding the Seireitei, the ball exploded and the swirling vortex of reiatsu switched all the teams up and shot them throughout the shinigami base of operations. Tatsuki just hoped that everyone would make it to their destinations safely and without issue, that was too much to ask for though.
While the ball of reiatsu was shuffling the group, Keigo had clung for his life to the resistant Uryu. Trying to shove the scarred highschooler off of him. The two crashed into one of the many dead ends of the Seireitei.
Dusting himself off, Uryu took in their surroundings. Scanning the nearby area for any shinigami.
"You think we're safe?" Uryu didn't respond to the question in favor of feeling out the reiatsu that hung in the air. He twisted around and tackled Keigo. The ground where Keigo was just standing caved in as a blade crashed into the ground. Turning around the two teens saw another giant of a man. He was shorter than Jidanbo but they wouldn't be surprised if they were related.
"So you saved the weakling from my attack. Very good, I will give you to the count of ten to regret your decision to face the 4th seat of 7th Division, Ikkanzaka Jirobo! One, two." The Shinigami kept his zanpakuto ready but didn't attack. This was the time to plan their attack. Uryu quickly checked over his charge.
"You alright?" Keigo nodded and hardened his gaze at the Jirobo as his mind flashed to their meeting with Urahara to explain what happened to Ichigo. It was their fault. It was a Shinigami that had taken his friend away. The person who drove him to gain the power he did. The reason for fighting right now. The Shinigami would pay.
"Five. Six. Seven."
The once trembling teen stood tall as a blue and black, viscous material crept up his legs to stop right above his knees. The blue veins pulsated under the black covering as red tribal markings crisscrossed his legs. Small wings sprouting from his ankles. Keigo stared down the shinigami. His eyes displayed a heterochromia with one eye shining a blue color and the other a deep crimson.
"Nine. Ten. Your time for regrets is done and now you'll regret ever meeting me!" Jirobo swung his blade at Keigo but hit nothing but air. "Wha-?" The shinigami didn't get to finish his statement before he was kicked in the face and thrown into a building.
Uryu had an arrow ready, in case Keigo needed support but the teen seemed to have his stuff handled. He almost felt bad for the arrogant shinigami. Almost.
Jirobo stepped out of the wall he had crashed through with a burst of reiatsu. A blue aura surrounded the shinigami as he held his blade to his face.
"Flap away, Tsunzakigarasu." The blade vanished and dozens of dual bladed, spinning scythes. He grinned from ear to ear as he let the silence reign.
Keigo grit his teeth with Uryu being as stoic as ever in the face of the zanpakuto's released form. It looked deadly. Keigo shared a look with the other teen as he nodded to the bow. Uryu grinned.
"What do you think of my released form? I am the only one to lay gaze on it's beauty as I only intend to use it when I KILL!" Jirobo pushed his palms out and the blades attacked as Keigo vanished from his position while Uryu unleashed a volley of arrows at the oncoming blades. Several of the blades were hit as Keigo used his superior speed to weave a path through the wall of death.
Jirobo was grinning from ear to ear when everything changed, he was on the ground and felt two wounds. What happened? He blinked and saw it all, the Quincy had made an opening for the fast one by shooting his blades and when he went to draw his zanpakuto again to summon more flying scythes the fast one had a hand on his arm, preventing him from drawing and then the pain coursed through his body. So this was it, no more 4th seat, he had lost.
Uryu pushed up his glasses as Keigo was by his side before the shinigami had hit the ground.
"I figured the shinigami had better standards than this. First you attack the perceived weaker of us on multiple occasions and then you have the audacity to give us time for regrets. I regret nothing because you are nothing more than a weakling hiding behind a body count that is presumably made up of sneak attacks and picking on people significantly weaker than you, had it been anyone else they might have killed you. Be grateful I just took your power away because there will be no further mercy to your kind. Come Keigo, we have a mission to get back to." The Quincy turned on his heel and walked down a street with Keigo hot on his heels.
"Are we really going to kill the next reaper we find?" Uryu was quiet for a moment.
"If they persist then I will not hold back. You may not be away but they allowed my grandfather to die, the very Quincy who vouched for the cooperation between our two races. He died due to their ineptitude. They also took Ichigo away from you and your friends. Would you not do the same if they stood in the way of his last wish?" Keigo stopped as he thought about that, would he be willing to kill in Ichigo's name? He didn't think it would come to that but with the last shinigami they ran into then it might call for that. Would he be able to make that chance? The teen decided that he would cross that bridge when he came to it.