Chapter 22: Breakthrough
Hey everyone! It's me, sakuraphoenix, and I'm back with a new chapter! I know, I'm really late with the update. I've been busy like hell. I'd tell ya, but I'll just hit the disclaimer.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. I also do not own Shizuku. He belongs to Lyokowarrior1994.
Enjoy!
"But… what is that thing?" asked Ichigo
"It's huge." Said Uryu
"You can quit worrying about getting through the wall. With this launcher, I'll get you all into the Sereitei through the air." Said Kukaku
"The air?!" Uryu, Ichigo, and I exclaimed in unison with a deadpanned look on our faces
"Or my name's not Kukaku Shiba, fireworks expert of the Rukon District!" Kukaku exclaimed as she stood on the platform of the launcher
"Fireworks?" asked Ichigo
"That's right. Koganehiko! Shiroganehiko! Raise it up, now!" exclaimed Kukaku
And just like that, the ground began to tremble! Is it some kind of earthquake?
"Hey! What's going on?" asked Ichigo
"I don't understand this!" exclaimed Orihime
"It's the floor! It's… its going up!" exclaimed Uryu
Like some kind of messed-up elevator. Soon enough, I saw sunlight. Wait? Is it just me, or is the ceiling opening up?
"Look, the celling is opening up." Uryu said as we all looked up
"Is this for real?" asked Ichigo
I wanna say no, but I'd be lying.
"So, did that scare you kids? This is my one and only enhanced fireworks launch pad." Said Kukaku
"And that's the Flower Crane Cannon!" Ganju exclaimed before Kukaku kicked him from behind with a ticked off look on her face
"That was my line." Said Kukaku
"Ugh. Sorry." Ganju said as his back was literally smoking
"Huh? Left you all speechless, didn't I?" asked Kukaku
"*sigh* I know that you're supposed to be a pyrotechnical wizard, but I'm still not fully convinced of it. The idea of shooting us up in the air is completely…" Uryu started before Kukaku threw some kind of bowling ball at his face, which I managed to catch
"What's that?" asked Ichigo
"It's a Reishukaku, or spirit core. Place your palms on it, and concentrate your spirit energy." Said Kukaku
I took a deep breath as I closed my eyes in focus and sensed my spirit energy before I imagined that the orb was an extension of myself and poured spirit energy into it before I opened my eyes and saw that I created an orb around me. When I willed the orb around me to vanish, Ichigo took the orb out of my hands. Rude much?
"Like this?" asked Ichigo
He had his concentration face on, but he was a no-go on this one.
"Can someone show me how to concentrate my spirit energy?" asked Ichigo
"Huh? Any Soul Reaper should easily be able to do that. So you should know how to use your spirit energy to do this." Kukaku said as she created a glowing blue ball
"Well, actually, he's the substitute Soul Reaper I was telling you about earlier. Karen is as well, but she has more control over her spirit energy. Ichigo on the other hand can't use spirit energy at all." Said Yoruichi
"Yeah, I can see that." Said Kukaku
And he was still having trouble with that orb. I bet he's calling it a stupid orb by now.
"*sigh* This kid is completely hopeless. Ganju, show this amateur how it's done." Said Kukaku
"Hey, give it here!" Ganju exclaimed while trying to grab the orb from Ichigo
I don't know if they were playing a game, or Ichigo was stopping him on purpose.
"Why you… so kid, you wanna play for it?" asked Ganju
"Yeah. Go on and take it if you can, but I for one would rather die right here than to learn it from you." Ichigo said while patting the orb
I was about to punch them both when Kukaku beat me to it.
"Stop this right now. Both of you." Kukaku said while glaring at them
"I'm sorry." Ichigo and Ganju said in unison
Ganju focused his spirit energy into the orb and created the same orb I was just in.
"Whoa! He did the same thing you did Karen! Just what is it?" asked Ichigo
Kukaku knocked on it, and it made a sound, like it was hollow.
"This here is the cannonball." Said Kukaku
"Cannonball?" asked Uryu
"Now pay close attention everyone. You may think that the only thing guarding the Sereitei is that barrier, but you are dead wrong. It isn't nearly that simple. That barrier is made from a special stone known as Sekkiseki. It's rare, even in the Soul Society. This is a fragment of it." Said Kukaku
She had set the fragment on the ground and punched a crater, but the area where the rock was had withstood her blow. What does that rock do?
"As you can see, it completely repels spirit energy. Therefore, it's impossible to smash through the barrier with spirit energy alone. Even cut into a small piece such as this, it emits a wave that breaks down spirit energy from all sides. Which means, that the Sereitei has a spherical barrier that surrounds them, protecting them not only from the sky above, but even below the ground. So you see, that's why we use this." Kukaku said while hitting the sphere again
And Ganju's not looking so hot.
"Enough show and tell. I'm tired." Said Ganju
"Suck it up! This cannonball is a special hard spiritual partition device I invented. In other words, if all four of you combined, put your spirit energy into this Reishukaku, you can create a temporary cannonball that can break through the barrier. Then I'll use the Flower Crane Cannon to shoot that cannonball into the sky, and it'll punch a hole straight through the barrier. Any questions?" asked Kukaku
"Eh, well, uh…" started Ichigo
"Alright then. Now take them to the underground training room so that they can practice concentrating their spirit energy, all except for you purple head." Kukaku said while pointing at me
And Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko were back.
"Get them out of here." Said Kukaku
Immediately, Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko picked up Uryu, Orihime, and Ichigo. I guess Chad's too big for them.
"Listen you guys. If any one of you loses concentration, then you'll blow up on the spot. Practice hard." Said Kukaku
"Hey! You never mentioned that!" exclaimed Ichigo
"I bet it's gonna take him until nightfall to learn how to use that sphere." I said
We both then heard a crash, and saw an exhausted Ganju with the orb next to him.
"Oh yeah, thank you." Said Kukaku
"You're welcome." An exhausted Ganju said
"Now, get your ass down there and help them practice." Said Kukaku
"I guess that applies to me as well." I said
"Actually, I'll need some help to prepare the cannon. That's where you come in. That's why I told you to stay behind." Said Kukaku
"Oh…" I said while trailing off
"But sis… are you seriously gonna help them?" asked Ganju
"What are you talking about?" asked Kukaku
"I'm against it. Helping a Soul Reaper is something we shouldn't do. Let alone two! I mean, think! After what happened to our brother. Listen sis, I…" started Ganju
"Ganju. What did I tell you? Didn't I say you were never to speak of this again?" asked Kukaku
"But sis…" started Ganju
"You have your orders. Now go. Listen, you must never show such a weak face in front of them. Understand?" asked Kukaku
Ganju said nothing before running back to the house. Kukaku then had a funny look on her face as she turned to look at me.
"I would ask what he was talking about, but if it's uncomfortable to talk about, I won't ask, despite my curiosity on the matter. I don't like sticking my nose into other people's business unless they stick their nose in mine. That's just how it is to me." I said
"Heh. You sound like an old friend of mine. She was always willing to risk her neck helping me, Yoruichi, and Kisuke out when we needed it. She died a long time ago. I just hope she doesn't have any regrets wherever she is. Anyways, here." Kukaku said while handing me a feather duster
"What's this for?" I asked
"You're going to have to clean this thing top to bottom since it hasn't been used in a long time. Any questions?" Kukaku asked while glaring at me
"Nope. None." I said while shaking
"Good." Kukaku said before walking away
"I better get started somewhere." I said while finding my way into the cannon
Just as I started from the top, I lost my footing and fell onto my stomach. Man, that's gonna leave a mark in the morning. After a whole day of working inside this thing, I was lying down on my back starfish style, exhausted from all the work I did when Kukaku showed up with two trays. Wait, trays?
"You probably didn't have anything to eat in the Rukon District, since those guys don't know how to use spirit energy. As a result, they're not hungry." Said Kukaku
"Thanks, but you didn't have to bring the food all the way out here." I said
"I don't mind. After I saw how hard you worked inside the cannon, I saw how determined you were to help out that friend of yours." Said Kukaku
"You could tell just by watching me clean?" I asked
"Yeah. So, tell me, the guy you came here to talk to. Shizuku was it?" asked Kukaku
"Yeah. What about him?" I asked
"He's part of the Shiba clan, but he's more like a distant cousin to me. Truth is, whenever he was hurt when he was a kid, he'd always hide behind a cold icy exterior, while on the inside he would hide his pain. Whenever he felt like he was alone, he'd let his frustration out through emotion. I'm pretty sure that's what's going on with him right now. Just from seeing you." Said Kukaku
"You think so?" I asked
"I know so. Now hurry up and eat. Otherwise, your food's gonna get cold." Said Kukaku
I nodded my head as I ate my food. Just as I finished, there was some kind of weird earthquake! And this time, it wasn't from the cannon. Kukaku quickly sped off to the house, and I followed after her. Just as we reached the practice room, we saw Ganju just looking dumbstruck.
"What the hell's going on? Ganju, I'm talking to you." Said Kukaku
"Sis, I'm so sorry." Said Ganju
"Huh?" asked Kukaku
"It's just that I only showed him once. I never thought it would turn out like this. His spirit energy is strong, but he's out of control." Said Ganju
Kukaku looked shocked before she opened the door to the practice room, and we all saw Ichigo in this huge sphere! The worse part? It was still growing!
"You stupid idiot. Concentrate your spirit energy!" exclaimed Kukaku
Soon enough, the sphere solidified and grew smaller to fit Ichigo. Well, I won the bet. He did it by nightfall, not that Kukaku and I placed any bets.
"I did it!" exclaimed Ichigo
"Great! You did it Ichigo!" exclaimed Orihime
"Yeah." Said Ichigo
And he lost his concentration. Oh boy. This is gonna be bad!
"You ignorant dumbass! You gotta stay focused!" exclaimed Kukaku
He looked confused, then the sphere shattered, and then Kukaku pummeled him into the ground.
"What are you? Freakin' deaf or freakin' stupid?! Remember? I told you if you don't concentrate, you're gonna blow up." Kukaku said while having her foot on Ichigo's head
"Yes. Yes, you did." Said Ichigo
"Next time, just be sure not to do this." Ganju said as he was picking his nose
I bet he didn't see me or Kukaku punch him in the face simultaneously.
"You're as guilty as he is schmuck. Both of you. No food tonight." Said Kukaku
"But why?" asked Ichigo
"Come on! You can't lump me together with him!" exclaimed Ganju
"Shut up!" Kukaku exclaimed before she threw them both to the floor before saying:
"Any more complaints?"
"Okay. We understand." Ichigo and Ganju said in unison
The next morning, Shizuku's P.O.V.
I woke up in my quarters feeling tearstains across my cheek. I just can't get it out of my head. The look on Karen's face after I lied, saying that what I felt for her was an illusion. I know she'd never forgive me. I bet that she's gone back to the world of the living. I'm just a terrible person. Just as I put on my Shihakusho, the alarm sounded.
"Red alert. Red alert. Intruders detected in the Sereitei. All squads get into position. Repeat. Red alert. Red alert. Intruders in the Sereitei. All squads get into position." One of the people in charge of the alarm said
"It can't be… Karen? You'd really risk your life to find me? Or is it revenge?" I wondered out loud
Done and done! I'm cruel, aren't I? Well, I'm finally done with this chapter! Please review, check out my boyfriend, Detroid434's page while voting on his poll, and until next time, I'm sakuraphoenix, saying I heart you, signing off for now. Kan dao ni!