Chapter 27: The Battles Begin

"My, my..." Kyoraku said as he listened to the story that Eikichiro was telling him. "Quincies and Shinigami have a very bad history, but this boy Ichigo seems to be trying to build a bridge between the two."

Eikichiro frowned at him. "Sir?"

"A competition, in normal circumstances would be an excellent way to create friendship between two warring people." he explained. "However, the way this Quincy boy went about things could spell trouble."

"Trouble?" Eikichiro asked before shaking his head. "More like a disaster!" he exclaimed. "If it wasn't for the people I was unaware of, I may have had to call for back up."

"Unaware of?" Kyoraku inquired as he pulled his hat up to reveal a raised brow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Eikichiro began, "the boy was only the beginning." He stated as he continued to tell the captain of the eighth what had occurred.

Standing outside of the school dojo Tatsuki wiped her brow of sweat with the towel around her neck as she brought the bottle of water to her lips. The Tokyo competition was a victory. I'm in good condition for the nationals. Things are lively with the team. Drinking a little more she let her mind wander off towards what had been happening as of late. Despite that I'm still lethargic. I can't focus very well. She sighed as she heard kissing noises but tried to ignore it. I've got a reason for this and I don't know why I haven't talked to Ichigo or Verena about it. Why is that? Another smoothing sound followed by giggling caused her to look off to the side in the sky. They've been flirting all day long. damn it. They're just damn ghosts and they're getting more of that then I've ever seen from anybody, myself included! To her side the couple continued to kiss and love up on each other, oblivious that they were being watched.

"Tatsuki?" A soft voice broke through her thoughts causing her to look over to her right to see Orihime. "Can we talk for a second?"

The first time I felt something was the day before Ichigo and Verena told us about them being shinigami and that they fought evil spirits called Hollows. she thought as she looked at her friend. It started off vaguely. Then day by day, like a clearing of a fog, the became clear as day. Clearing her throat she tried to ignore the ghosts. "So what is it Orihime?" she asked, trying to sound like she wasn't having an internal melt down about seeing spirits now.

"It's nothing big," her friend began solemnly. "but-" Suddenly a pressure hit the two teen girls, like something had just opened. Behind them the first floor of the school windows shattered, glass spewing everywhere. Above them the two saw a small crack appear above the city. Both let out a gasp as a creature appeared out nowhere. A strange mask covered its face as it outstretched its clawed hands to grab at them an arrow flew through the air cutting off its hand, its flesh smoking from the heat of the arrow. Both turned to see Verena standing there in an odd black shihakusho with a glowing blue bow in her hands.

"Run!" she yelled at them. Verena watched then run off, at that moment she felt a thrumming feeling against her hip as her Zanpakuto gave off a powerful feeling. Does it want me to use it? she wondered as she jumped out of the way of the now angry hollow. Allowing her bow to disappear, Verena pulled the sword from its sheath, the chain's that sealed it to the sheath breaking as she did so. Verena's eyes widened as she felt power begin to flow out from the black and white diamond blade that sparkled in the sunlight. I don't know your name yet, but if you help me to defend my friends and the people of this town, I swear I'll work hard to learn your name and be a respectable partner to you. A pulse of power was her answer.

In front of her the hollow gave a cry as it charged a blast from its mouth. Lifting her sword she charged the hollow, as the blast was released her sword gave a pulse before it absorbed the blast and as she brought the blade down upon its head the sword released the blast down upon the hollow which then disintegrated the hollow. Breathing heavily, Verena stared in amazement at her sword. Oh, my... she thought as a grin spread across her face. This is so cool! Sensing another hollow not too far away, Verena took off after it; never noticing the shadow following her.

As Ichigo slashed two identical hollows in half, their bodies turning into dust as he did so, a sudden realization came to him. Shit! he mentally cursed, this gained his hollow's attention for all but a minute.

What King? the hollow seemed to be talking a bit faster than usual due to it being excited at this challenge.

At this time of day Karin and Yuzu are no longer at school. he stated as he spun around, brought his shorter sword down upon the head of an octopus type hollow causing its mask to shatter into bits before it died. This is when they go home. So about now they're out playing. Looking around where he was, he found himself on the edge of the main city park. Where are they?

Stop panicking and feel for her King or did you forget your training? the albino inquired with an annoyed voice.

Taking a second Ichigo calmed himself before stretching out his senses. Holding out his left hand that held the shorter Zangetsu Ichigo felt a tingle against his senses that would take him towards the soccer fields. Of course! he gave a sudden smile as he felt a second familiar spiritual power. Chad is close to them.

Then let the giant protect them if need be. the hollow said before grinning. Now, let's show Quincy boy what we're made of. Ichigo shared an identical smile before flash stepping towards the nearest hollow.

On a nearby rooftop Uryu took out two hollows as they descended from the sky when he suddenly sensed something behind him. "Eleven." he counted so far before spinning around and taking out a bear type hollow with wings. "Twelve." Jumping from the roof to the next building he saw small fry hollows sanding around. Shooting a Single arrow he took all three out. "Fifteen." Kurosaki won't win this time, but... He suddenly sensed four hollows being destroyed in a single moment. ...it would seem Verena has joined in this as well. He frowned. I don't sense her using an arrow to kill hollows though. Sudden realization hit him. Did her shinigami powers fully activate? he wondered. Ishida knew she had a shinigami form, but she couldn't use her zanpakuto. Did her sword suddenly unseal itself? It was a question he'd soon have an answer for.

Jumping from the roof to a electric pole, Uryu raised his bow to take out a huge hollow that towered over an apartment complex. "Sixteen." he said As the arrow destroyed the enormous hollow in a single shot. Engaging hirenkyaku he vanished from sight to take out his next target.

Inside their hideaway the eight exiles suddenly sensed something as above the skies a huge crack began to spread across the entire town. Shinji Hirako was the first to open the door to their home and gaze up into the sky above, his eyes widening in horror at what was about to occur.

At the same moment those inside Urahara's shoten felt the sudden spiritual power associated with strong hollows. Standing, those inside quickly ran outside to witness the apocalypse about to begin. Tapping his staff, Urahara was suddenly carrying a sword as the illusion of a staff vanished. "Awaken Benihime." he called out as a dozen hollows suddenly appeared in front of his shop. "Nake, Benihime!" he called out as he swung his sword. An arched crimson energy blast took six of the twelve hollows out. Seems these are not very strong. He eyed the crack in the sky. Whatever is coming will be stronger. He heard the children and Tessai take out the others without a problem.

Near the central city park a group of students were traveling home when a dark haired male looked up. His eyes widening slightly at the sight. "Something wrong Chad?" One of his friends asked.

"No." he lied. "It's nothing." Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of some children playing on the soccer field. From his position, he spotted two children he knew. Ichigo's sisters. he thought. Turning he waved at his friend's. "I see some kids I know." He ran off towards the fields.

Both of his friends stared off after him. "What kids does he know?" one asked the other only to receive a shrug as an answer.

"Hey Kurosaki, kick the ball!" a young boy yelled at Karin who had stopped in the middle of the field as she felt the pressure around her change.

Looking up with wide eyes, Karin felt her heart freeze. There's a crack in the sky. she thought as her eyes widened. Around her kids yelled for her to kick the ball, but she found that she couldn't move. What do I do? she thought as fear gripped at her.

Above the city a thunderous boom could be heard. It shook the air, caused the building the shake and the ground to shift beneath people's feet; before abruptly ending as quickly as it began. Normal people shook it off as nothing but a slight earthquake, but those who could see spirits or had high spiritual powers, they all could see what was happening as the dark crack opened up and nightmarish hollows began to descend upon the unsuspecting city below.

M-Angel: I tried to get this out last night, but I was unable to do so. I was very busy until 11 p.m. which meant by the time I got to my pad it was too late to write. The poll is closed. The results are up on my profile, but I'll tell you here. Primera Stark/Lilynette and Cuatro Ulquiorra are the two by an unanimous vote of 18 votes here and 3 on AO3. No votes for the others. Nice! ^_^

CO - I myself always wondered why nobody else ever thinks of Orihime healing Ukitake. Yes, I plan to use her to do so, but she's going to get help in doing so. Hopefully you like what I plan to do with this and how I do it. Yeah, Uryu can be really stupid with his words by saying he's better than others and such. I get why he says this but it paints him as arrogant.

GunBlade2018 - Yeah, his personal life really does take hits in order for him to perform his duty.