Chapter 38: Kraken

Verena tapped her foot as she waited impatiently for Ichigo and Rukia to show up. Already in soul form she'd been practicing with her zanpakuto using different practice forms that she and Ichigo had used over the years. She wasn't jealous of Karin for figuring out her zanpakuto's name or having her shikai release; but she was upset that her zanpakuto didn't seem to want to talk to her. Many times she'd gone into her inner world and searched for her sword spirit, only to find a blue tiger with black stripes. The creature never spoke, only attacked her before she could get a single word out.

Closing her eyes she suddenly felt a strange spiritual pressure coming from near by. It seemed to be trying its best not to be noticed. Frowning, she examined it and realized it was the same presence she had sensed earlier in the day. She didn't want to leave her post, but something about the other presence would not leave her. Taking a step forward, Verena was about to follow it, only for the presence to ultimately vanish.

Beyond the cemetery was a forest with a serene path. On the path both Lieutenant Abarai and Captain Kuchiki stood. Sensing no enemies nearby, the two shinigami made their way to the edge of the forest overlooking the cemetery where they spotted the orange haired girl from earlier. Renji bent down to one knee to stay hidden as Byakuya took a position behind a tree to watch the girl. He took in her shinigami clothes along with a mark on the back of her haori that he did not recognize, as for the other; it was the quincy emblem.

It wasn't long before the moon hung high in the sky. It was then that Ichigo showed up with Karin next to him. The younger sibling looked a bit winded. "Flash step?" she asked her twin, who grinned.

"Ichi is faster than me." Karin told her. "I may have fallen behind." Her cheeks turning a nice pink from both exertion and embarrassment.

"We will have to get Yoruichi to teach you a few things." Ichigo told his younger sister before taking on a more serious look. "Rukia had Urahara look into the seriousness of these attacks and he agrees that it's a hollow attacking people." he told the two girls. "He's not sure how strong the hollow is, so be careful." He looked at Karin. "I want you to stick close to Vere."

"But-" Karin began as she felt that she didn't need babysat.

"You're still in training Karin," he began. "Vere and I didn't even begin fighting hollows until our second year. The only reason I allowed you to come is for you to see and fully understand what we are up against." Upon seeing her shoulders slump Ichigo knew he'd gotten his point across. "Now, I'll take the hills. I want you two to stay down here by the river and entrance. I want to see if I can't lure this creature out." Both sisters gave a nod in agreement, even if one of them disagreed with this idea.

Back upon the hill Renji looked up at his captain. "Sir?" He said with a questioning tone. "Is that Urahara the same as the wanted fellon from a hundred years ago that killed all those people."

Byakuya didn't seem to be as affected by this fact but more so by the fact that Yoruichi was alive and somehow connected to these humans. "Stay hidden, do not let them sense you." He warned his lieutenant. "If Urahara is connected to them then these children may be more dangerous than we know." Kurotsuchi may not have been too far of with his claim. he thought as he flash stepped away to follow the young male.

Hidden within the dark shadows a slim figure lay in wait watching the captain of the sixth and his lieutenant. Upon seeing the red head as not much of a threat the figure followed the captain.

Ichigo slid to a stop in front of a shrine he stood still as he expanded his senses as far as he could. While he could sense his sisters l, along with one unknown, he did not sense the hollow. "Come on. Where are you?" He asked no one in particular. He felt kind of exposed out in the middle of a clearing. Ready? he asked his inner spirits. The white haired albino gave a cackle of anticipation as the old quincy spirit just smirked. "Right." Ichigo said as he gathered as much of his power as he could causing his eyes to glow a bright blue color as a blue outline of power covered his body.

Byakuya watched from nearby as the youth gathered his power and then with one blast of pulsing energy he released it out into the surrounding area. As the power washed over him, Byakuya was reminded of the time he learned from his grandfather about the dangers of playing bait to a hollow. Sliding his hand towards his sword, Byakuya readied himself for a the inevitable backlash that would come from such a powerful release. The power he felt from the boy was strong but it felt...strained somehow. It was as if something was holding the power back.

Just then a screech was heard, followed by a hollows howl. The sudden increase of spirit pressure meant that more than one hollow was coming to the bait that was being dangled in front of them. The captain saw that the boy was no grasping his sword as of yet but seemed to be still reaching out for something with his hand. It was as if he was searching through the hollows that were coming his way for something.

"Gotcha." Ichigo's voice echoed into the night just as the first of the weak hollows came his way. Pulling the impossiblely large sword off of his back, Byakuya watched the youth swing his sword and kill the first onslaught of hollows in an instant.

Small hollows were killed by the first swing without trouble, but the larger ones got back up and came at the young soul reaper. Twisting his body away from the attacks and slicing through the hollows, killing them, Ichigo engaged his flash step past the weaker hollows and went towards the monstrous energy he felt up ahead of him.

Verena and Karin were near the river when they felt Ichigo release a tremendous amount of energy. Moments later hollow howls could be heard along with cries of death. "Talk about creepy." Karin muttered under her breath.

Verena had to agree, the sounds the hollows were making were a bit creepy. It was then that Verena sensed them, the hollows were headed towards them. "Get ready, here they come." she announced to her sister. Damn it, Ichi. What'd you do this time? she thought as a dozen smaller, but still deadly hollows, burst from the treeline.

Renji looked towards the trees as the hollows came out. A dozen small hollows, verying in size from a small dog to a car size, came rushing out of the forest as if they had been herded out by something. Grasping the handle of his zanpakuto, Lieutenant Abarai prepared himself for a possible fight when he heard the younger girl yell out a kido spell.

Karin held her hand out and yelled out. "Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!" A ball of fire formed into her hand. "Shakkaho!" The ball of fire shot out into the gathered hollows. Burning those closest to her.

Renji felt his left eye brow twitch in annoyance. One of many kido spells he still had a hard time with and of course a girl that was tens of times younger than himself could shoot it off like it was nothing at all. Some things in life were just unfair.

"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws." Blue fire exploded in a wider area as more power was used to destroy the dozens of hollows. "Sokatsui." Karin looked towards her sister with a dropped jaw as nearly all of the hollows were destroyed.

"Holy shit!" Karin yelled out. Renji has to agree with that statement. Even he was impressed by the destruction the other girl had caused.

Slamming her zanpakuto into one of the few surviving hollows, Verena grinned at Karin. "Stop spacing out and help me get rid of the stragglers."

"Right!" Karin agreed as she took off after two tiny hollows. Killing them easily she headed back towards Verena when she suddenly came to a stop near a headstone. Sensing someone near her, Karin looked up to see Verena.

"He'd be proud of you." She told Karin as she read the name on the headstone. Isshin Kurosaki.

"I don't even remember him." Karin told her.

"He saved Mom and us." Verena told her before running towards the edge of the forest. "Let's go help Ichi!" She yelled out. Just before she engaged her flash step Verena swore she had seen a man with red hair disappear into the forest. Shrugging her shoulders, Verena vanished as she engaged her flash step with Karin catching up to her in a few moments.

Renji jumped out of his hiding spot, flash stepping down to the battlefield he looked at the headstone the two girl's had stopped at and made a mental note to tell his captain about this. Perhaps it was important, though he wasn't sure why it would be. Engaging his flash step, he went to follow the two girls and find his captain.

Ichigo had to admit, he hadn't been expecting the creature before him. His hollow kept giving him a heads up each time the monstrosity was about to use it's tentacles to grab at him. It wasn't as if he wasn't paying attention, it was just that there were so many of them. It was, quite literally a tentacle hollow. He couldn't even see where it's mask or hollow hole were! Then there was the problem he'd run into. It seemed this hollow was like his own, in that it had regenerative abilities. The energy being released from it also didn't quite make sense. It looked like a menos level hollow but it's spiritual energy was too large. It would seem that the creature was about to force him into his bankai.

We ain't merging King. His hollow told him in a tone that made him blink in surprise. For his hollow to not want to merge while in bankai could only mean something was up. You stupid or something? the albino being asked. We're being watched! Ichigo would've frozen except that at that moment five tentacles came at him.

Suddenly three beams of light shot out of the forest, locking in on the hollow in three places creating a perfect triangle around the creature. With itself pinned to the ground the hollow let out a screech. Verena and Karin showed up a second later. "Your doing?" Ichigo asked his sisters who just grinned at him.

"Couldn't resist Ichi." Verena teased him as she examined the still screeching creature.

Behind them, hidden from sight Lieutenant Abarai took his spot next to his captain. "Those girls are stronger than we first thought captain." Renji said softly. "They dispelled a dozen or so low level hollows with kido spells. One of which is a bit advanced."

Byakuya remove his hand from his sword. "The boy is stronger than we were led to believe as well. His ability to find this hollow out of all of the others is impressive." He then frowned.

"He is still human though." Renji muttered under his breath feeling a bit disgruntled.

"We knew this already, Abarai." Byakuya said in a chastising tone.

Renji bowed his head. "I know sir." he said softly, as he did not want to give away their position when one of the girls spoke.

"Is it me, or is there something different about this hollow?" Verena inquired causing Ichigo to nod.

"Yeah, my spirits are on edge about it." He touched his short sword. "Including the old man." Both spirits appeared in his mind's eye, seeming to be a bit nervous about something. "We need to kill this hollow, and quickly."

Girl. Karin looked startled as she heard a voice in her mind. Use me.

"Huh?" Karin paused as she suddenly realized that it was her sword that was asking to be used. "Ichi, my sword wants me to use her to destroy the hollow."

Verena and Ichigo gave each other a look. Ichigo knew all too well about what a sword wanted. If her sword was telling her to use it, then it was possible they needed her sword to do so. "Sure, but if things go bad, we will take over." he assured her.

Byakuya and Renji watched the younger girl step forward. Estimating her age to be around eleven or twelve, had she gone through the academy, she may have been considered a protege. "Ignite! Moeru Mikadzuki." Red flames burst around the girl's form as her shihakusho changed slightly. Red flames swirled up her black hakama pants as the kimono top became sleeveless with red singe marks on it though leaving the white kasode spotless. The katana too changed from a plain sword to one with a deep red fringe tassel hanging from a lighter red handle with a hexagonal tsuba. The katana was a short sword in it's released form with a curve that led to the pointed end. Every two inches had a series of small spikes on either side of the blade, making it as deadly as it looked.

Byakuya heard his lieutenant gasp. "She's got her shikai?" he asked, not believing what he had just seen. "It would seem Captain Kyoraku withheld a lot about these kids."

Byakuya remained silent, but he silently agreed. He truly was wondering if these children really were of the Shiba line or if they truly were part of an experiment. There was only one way for him to tell. He had to fight the heir, the eldest of the two older children. Only then could he tell if they were Isshin Shiba's children. The heir would have a sword whose name would be similar to their father's.

As soon as she spoke her release flames shot outwards away from her form towards the hollow. The kido binding spell broke instantly. Tentacles shot out towards her causing both of her older siblings to grasp at their own weapons, preparing to defend her when she yelled out. "Hi no tsuki!" Swinging her sword upward into an arc. Heated red flames burst out from the sword, super heating the air around her. The tentacles were burnt off from the hollow, who screeched in pain before launching itself into the air, intending to land on her and eat her.

Upon seeing what the hollow was about to do, Ichigo and Verena moved as one. As his sister grabbed Karin out of harm's way, Ichigo yelled out, "Getsuga Tensho!" A black arc of energy shot out of his sword, cutting the hollow in half at the amount of energy Ichigo had released; however, this was when the hollow showed it's true nature.

The two pieces crawled towards each other before growing into a larger tentacle hollow, only now it had a humanoid face and mask. It began laughing at the attempt to kill it. "You soul reapers have no idea who you are fighting!" it yelled out. "I am unstoppable. I have lived for a thousand years and eaten many of your kind." He licked his lips. "I am Kraken and you three smell so delectable. You two," He pointed at Verena and Ichigo. "have spiritual energy as high as a captain! My lucky night! Especially with a yummy lieutenant level as an appetizer."

Karin made a face at being called an appetizer. Ichigo smirked. "I think I know why you're not dying now."

The hollow's smile vanished. "Oh?" he asked. "Why?"

"You not only regenerate at a higher speed, but you have an ability to split yourself into two separate beings." Ichigo looked at Verena. "Just like that one we fought with Captain Kyoraku and Ukitake a few days ago."

Verena nodded as she recalled that short fight. "So that means he does have a weakness." she said with a grin. "Kraken, eh?" She looked at her brother who grinned. "In other words, a big ass squid."

This seemed to annoy the hollow at being called something so lowly as a squid. "You will regret those words girl!" he threatened as his form changed back to the tentacle monster, this time attacking furiously at the three soul reapers.

"Karin, Verena, now!" Ichigo yelled as the dozen of tentacles rushed towards them with intent of doing harm.

"Hi no tsuki!" Karin's flames shot out in a horizontal arc as at the same time Verena called out a kido spell.

"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!" A ball of fire formed into her hand. "Shakkaho!" She yelled out as flames shot out of her hand, hitting the hollow. Once again the hollow screamed in pain and once more it was cut in half by Ichigo's sword as it went to attack, only this time Verena went after the second half with her sword.

Bright white energy gathered in the sword's blade before being released into a downward arc of energy that was light heated fire as it hit into the second half of the hollow's body, destroying it and turning it into ash. The other half, now weakened with a broken mask gasped out, "Impossible."

Ichigo just grinned. "Nothing is impossible when it comes to us, the Kurosaki siblings." he stated as he slammed his sword into the hollow, killing it.

A clapping sound filled the air. "Impressive, especially for a bunch of hybrids." A shadowy figure stood near the opposite end of the clearing.

"It can't be." Renji muttered as he recognized the voice. Oh but it was...

"Who the hell are you?" Ichigo said with defensiveness in his voice as Verena took up a spot in front of Karin while Ichigo stepped between his sister's and the newcomer.

"Oh yes, how rude of me." the strange stepped forward out of the shadows.

Ichigo's first reaction was to be dumbfounded that anybody could wear so much white make-up, as at the same time his hollow was cackling at why in the world would anyone want to look like a clown. Indeed, the man's face was painted white except for the center which was black, with the exception of his nose; which was white as well. Golden eyes and bared teeth, made him look quite unfriendly. Both of his ears were covered by golden cones, as his fingernails were painted blue, and with the exception of one middle finger, they seemed to be cut short. He was also wearing a strange white hat that was pointed at the right side and wore a purple scarf around his neck, but the damning thing that caught their attention was the white haori he wore over his shoulders; meaning he was a Captain from Soul Society.

"Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, of the twelfth division."

Ichigo and Verena both had heard of this man and his ethics from both Shinji and the others. Urahara had warned them to never engage this man in a fight if they ever came in contact with him. "What do you want?" Ichigo asked, hoping the man would leave them be.

No such luck though. "Oh, I wanted to see how strong you were." he stated. "So I released Kracken, though I'm quite disappointed by how he reacted to you and his fighting abilities." His grin widened. "However, I am quite curious as to why you are holding back your power. I can tell you are powerful, how powerful, I am unsure; which is why I am taking you with me."

"In your dreams clown." Verena snarled as she went to moved out from behind Ichigo.

"Hmph." Mayuri shrugged. "You have no choice in this. Your rights of refusal is out of your hands." Out of the corner of his eye, Ichigo saw a blur move with speed that could have been mistaken for Yoruichi. A black haired girl jumped out of the forest at Ichigo and was about to hit him with a needle in her hand when suddenly a second blur appeared.

"Yoruichi!" Verena and Karin cried out with joy.

The Shihoin woman stood proud and tall in front of the Kurosaki children. Over the years she'd made it a habit of following them. She was so glad tonight was one of the nights she'd done so. After seeing Byakuya, she had known something was going to happen tonight. Never had she thought Mayuri, of all people, would show up. After sending out energy flare for help, she had come to stop the crazy scientist from harming these children.

"You never change, Mayuri." she said gaining a look of annoyance. "Byakuya, come on out! I know you and your red haired lieutenant are out there!"

"Oh?" Mayuri asked as he turned his head towards the side as Byakuya and Renji came out of hiding.

"I can't believe you're working with this slime." Yoruichi said with a chastising tone.

"Captain Kurotsuchi is an honored member of the gotei 13." Byakuya stated in a monotonous tone. "You used to be the same."

"Until my eyes were opened to the truth." Yoruichi answered. "I made my choice a long time ago."

The black haired girl looked from her master to the three siblings. She was trying to see a way around the Shihoin woman, but could tell that even if she was distracted Yoruichi was still paying attention to her. She was about to take a chance at attacking the boy once again when suddenly a beam of red energy shot out of the sky before a man stood before them in a striped bucket hat and matching haori, his wood shoes making noise as he stood next to Yoruichi.

Byakuya pulled his sword from his sheath in that moment. "Kisuke Urahara, I knew you would show up!" Mayuri laughed as he and Kisuke stared each other down. The tension began to rise between the former and current captains of the twelfth as the former captain of the second and the current captain of the sixth prepared to fight. At the same moment help was coming in an unexpected way, but whether that help would show up in time or not was all up to whether fate would allow it.

M-Angel: I made this chapter a bit longer due to my tardiness in updating this story. Also, I just realized that I forgot to mention what Karin's sword name means. Moeru Mikadzuki - flaming crescent moon and her shikai attack means hi no tsuki - fiery moon or crescent. I had to look this up. It took me a long time to find it. Also, the next chapter ends this arc and the Soul Society arc will begin on chapter 40.

Antex- The Legendary Zoroark - Sorry it took two week, but at least it wasn't a month this time around. LoL! Yep, Karin has her release now.

MugetsuIchigo - Aw. I'm glad you enjoy this story. Sorry Double Trouble doesn't interest you as much as this one does. Today was my day off, so I decided to update this story. Can only update when able.

GunBlade2018 - Verena did, but she obviously didn't say anything to anyone about it.

Megapanda34 - Thank-you.

NekoMimiR - Rukia will heal within time and the ice princess will rise.

Ryuko Kurosaki - I'm so glad you are enjoying my story.