The Whole Hollow
I'm really sorry for the wait for this chapter. A lot of things were going on. I'm working full time, I lacked proper inspiration, and I kinda forgot what I had planned for this chapter. Not to worry because I've regained my muse and am now ready to continue here.
I was never going to really abandon this fic, as I have the story planned out for at least another arc. Thank the authors of Ichigo Awakens and the Sword the Pierces the Heavens for inspiration to continue this fic.
So, here we go.
Disclaimer: Tite Kubo owns Bleach…but his ending to the manga left much to be desired.
As Ichigo sat in Ukitake's office eating some manju that the captain had managed to acquire for him, he couldn't help but be surprised at how events had turned out. After he had explained everything to the white-haired captain, the man had helped him up and asked one of his Third-Seats to bring some food for the hungry Hollow.
Once the girl had been regained consciousness, Ukitake explained the situation to her and she had quickly headed out and retrieved some snacks to keep the Hollow from attacking souls out of hunger and the Shinigami Taicho explained that he intended to interrupt Rukia's sentencing with the help of an old friend and fellow Captain, Shunsui Kyōraku and an artifact from the Shihonin Clan vaults, and since Ichigo and his friends intended to do the same, they would work together to help their friend.
Ukitake informed Ichigo that the Central 46, the ruling body that governed the actions of the Shinigami in the Gotei 13, had decided that Rukia's actions, for some strange reason, warranted the imprisonment in the second level the Seireitei's most secure prison, The Central Great Underground Prison.
"So what's the plan?" asked Ichigo as he munched on some snacks.
"Well," said Jushiro, "if you are correct to assume that your friends would inevitably find a way to penetrate the Shakonmaku that surrounds the Seireitei, then I will send members of my Squad to intercept them so that they can regroup with us as we make our move."
"Why wait?" asked Ichigo, "Why not head over to wherever they are keeping her and break her free?"
"Because the Prison is only used for some of the most severe punishments barring execution," said Ukitake, "if they are planning to use it on her, then she will likely be imprisoned in the holding cells of the Division that captured her, which will be under heavy guard and scrutiny. Due to the amount of officers guarding her, you won't be able to simply force your way in. No, our best option is to plan and prepare."
Ichigo was about to say more, but he was interrupted when Kiyone Kotetsu, the Third Seat who had gotten him his food, burst into the room frantically.
"Ukitake-taicho!" she exclaimed, "There was just an alert from the Head Captain! An unknown projectile just impacted the Shakonmaku and scattered several Ryoka across the Seireitei. The Head Captain has ordered them to be hunted down and eliminated."
Ukitake nodded and stood to his feet, "Kiyone, select several Seated Officers and have them intercept and collect the Ryoka. Have them brought here while I tend to business with Shunsui."
"Hai, Ukitake-taicho!" said the girl before she vanished with a Shunpo.
"I would recommend that you remain here, Kurosaki-kun," said the white-haired captain as he turned to leave, "my Squad has been informed of your presence and won't panic, but the rest of the Seireitei might choose to attack first and ask questions later. It wouldn't help Rukia if you were caught and killed."
"I don't like just sitting around," said Ichigo.
"Sometimes the best action, is inaction," said Ukitake before he headed out of his office, leaving the Hollow sitting in the office.
"Everyone," muttered Ichigo, "I hope you're alright."
xXsceneXx
"Guh!" grunted Tatsuki as she pulled herself out of the sandpit that had been created to break her fall.
The group had proceeded to speak with Kukaku Shiba, who happened to be a woman by the way, and had learned about Yoruichi's plan to quite literally break into the Seireitei by riding inside a large cannonball that would be created out of their combined Reiatsu. While the teens had some hesitation about the plan, Yoruichi and Kukaku reassured them that it was foolproof.
Too bad they didn't take into account Kukaku's hotheaded younger brother messing up at the helm and scattering them once the cannonball successfully smashed through the barrier.
Still, she couldn't completely fault him, as, if it wasn't for him using a weird technique to create the sandpit, she might have several broken or bruised bones from slamming into the cobblestones.
"So where exactly are we?" asked Tatsuki as she shook some sand out of her bracers.
"Not sure," said Ganju as he got to his feet.
"Well well," laughed a voice, "looks like it's my lucky day."
The Karate girl turned and saw a pair of Shinigami standing on a rooftop, one bald with a savage grin and the other with finely groomed black hair that had red and blue feathers in it. The two of them watched them as they gripped their swords before jumping down into the street.
"Who the heck are you two?" asked Tatsuki as she slid into a fighting stance.
"Squad 11's Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame," said the bald one, "and Fifth Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa."
"We'll be dealing with you, Ryoka," said the one with the neat hair.
"Sorry," said Tatsuki, "but I don't have the time to mess around here, so I'm going to have to ask you to leave before I have to break some bones."
"Heh," laughed the bald one as he drew his sword, "you have guts girlie. Good, I like a strong opponent. Yumichika, take care of the fat one, the girl's mine."
"Guess there's no way out," said Yumichika, "a pity my opponent is so ugly."
Tatsuki grit her teeth as the one now identified as Ikkaku drew his Zanpakuto and held both the sword and its sheath in a ready stance. It looked like it was time to put all those Hakuda lessons she had received to the test.
As the Third Seat charged at her, she waited until he was close and swinging his sword, before vanishing in a blur of speed, reappearing behind him as she slammed a roundhouse kick into his back, using the metal bracer on her leg to deliver an even more powerful impact.
The blow was hard enough to send Ikkaku staggering forward before he spun to face her with a savage smile on his face despite the pain from the attack.
"HA! Now that's a hit!" he laughed, "This is definately gonna be one hell of a fight."
"Glad you approve," smirked Tatsuki before she vanished in another blur of speed, only for her next attack to be blocked by the sheath of Ikkaku's sword.
"You're pretty fast," said Ikkaku as she kicked off his sheath.
"Thanks," said Tatsuki as she dodged a slash from her opponent's sword, "I train hard."
"I can tell," said Ikkaku as he blocked a kick from her.
Suddenly, the girl twisted as her armored leg slammed into his sword, forcing his arms out of the way and leaving his torso exposed for her to slam a punch into it.
"Ikkotsu!" yelled Tatsuki as she hit the Shinigami with a powerful blow that sent him flying back, slamming him through the wall of one of the buildings before he came to a stop.
"Did that do it?" wondered Tatsuki before her eyes widened as she saw the Shinigami getting to his feet and climbing through the ruined building.
"Wow," smirked Ikkaku as he spat out a bit of blood, "I didn't expect you to know Hakuda. That attack actually did some damage, but I've been through a lot worse. On the bright side, you might actually be strong enough that I'll have to stop holding back!"
"Funny," said Tatsuki, "I was about to say that you might make me need to stop holding back."
Ikkaku froze before laughing enthusiastically, "Oh this is gonna be fun! What's your name girl?"
"Arisawa Tatsuki," said Tatsuki, "the strongest ranked girl in all of Japan, if that means anything to you."
"Well then," said Ikkaku, "you sound like a fighter! If I didn't have to capture you, I might just ask you out."
"Too bad for you," said Tatsuki as she got into a fighting stance and focused her Reiatsu through her body, enhancing her natural strength and durability.
"Heh maybe," chuckled Ikkaku as he readied his Zanpakuto, "now, Extend: Hozukimaru!"
Ikkaku slammed the base of his sword into the opening on the end of his sheath, causing the two items to transform into a naginata spear with a polished handle. Spinning the staff around himself, he got into a stance of his own before charging at the human teen. Ikkaku swung his spear down at Tatsuki, causing the girl twist out of the way and aim a punch at Ikkaku's ribs.
They continued this dance, with Tatsuki dodging Ikkaku's blows and the bald Shinigami enduring hers, until the Third Seat changed his tactics a bit. Ikkaku swung his spear down at the human girl, forcing her to block the shaft with her armored arm…just like Ikkaku wanted.
"Split: HOZUKIMARU!" yelled Ikkaku, causing his spear to undergo another change.
As Tatsuki blocked the attack, the shaft of Ikkaku's spear split in two places, revealing a chain holding it together, allowing the section with the blade to curve around the girl's arm and cut into her back.
"How do you like my Shikai?" smirked Ikkaku as he pulled his weapon back to him, "This is Hozukimaru's true form."
"Impressive," said Tatsuki, "using a bluff to catch your enemies off guard."
"Thanks," said Ikkaku, "y'know, I wish things could have been different. I would have enjoyed sparring with you, but it's time for me to end this."
"What?" scoffed Tatsuki, "You think a paper cut like this will hinder me? I'll show you why I'm the strongest girl in Japan when I kick your ass to next week."
"We'll see about that!" said Ikkaku as he swung his weapon, aiming to slice through the girl in front of him.
As Tatsuki watched the bladed end of the weapon sweeping toward her, time seemed to slow down for the martial artist. She pushed her reflexes to their limits as she twisted and caught the third section of the staff in her hand, holding it just under the blade's base.
"Checkmate," said Tatsuki as she yanked the weapon, momentarily knocking her opponent off balance and giving her the opening she needed to move in and drive her fist into the man's gut.
Tatsuki knew when she began training that she wasn't going to be the strongest member of their group. Sure she could channel Reiatsu to enhance her techniques and use the basics of Hohou and several Hakuda techniques, but compared to Sado's monstrous strength, Uryu's Quincy powers, or even the unusual powers Orihime possessed, her martial arts abilities fell short.
It was because of this that Yoruichi began teaching her advanced Reiatsu control drills, and upon learning those to satisfaction, she was taught how to use them in combat. Tatsuki learned that she could enhance the power of her punches to the level that they could shatter steel by building up Reiatsu in her fists and releasing it outward upon impact in an explosive burst. And that was exactly what she did here.
Ikkaku coughed up blood as he was sent flying through several buildings and into a solid stone wall, leaving a large crater in the stone around his body as he came to a stop, his sword reverting to its sealed state as he hit the ground. His last thought before succumbing to unconsciousness was a hope that Tatsuki would survive so they could fight again.
Tatsuki slumped to the ground as the adrenaline in her body wore off. The downside to using that technique was that it depleted all her energy in one go, making the move only one she should use to end a fight. As she too began to succumb to her weariness, she saw three Shinigami appear with a Shunpo.
"It's one of the Ryoka," said one, "like Ukitake-taicho said."
Tatsuki heard no more as her eyes closed and she succumbed to the darkness of sleep.