I do not own Bleach or any of the characters.
Recovery
Kurai groaned and opened his eyes. He was in Urahara's shop again and Yoshino was in the bed beside him.
"I'm glad you're okay," Yoshino smiled over at him. "I was worried you may have traded places with me. It's been more than a day since you saved me. The girl with the orange hair, Orihime, was it? She tried to heal you but apparently she was unable to."
"I see," Kurai nodded. "Guess I got sidelined. You okay?"
"I'll be fine in a while," Yoshino smiled. "Thank you for saving me. I don't know how I'll repay you."
"You won't," Kurai said looking up at the ceiling. "I don't like seeing friends die. I knew how Uryu felt about you so I didn't want to see him in that kind of pain. I know all too well how hard it is to let go."
"I see," Yoshino nodded. "Well, thank you anyway."
Kurai smiled at her and nodded then pushed the blankets off of himself and pushed himself up, wincing but managing to stand and pick up Haruko.
"I'm going to go get something to eat," Kurai stated. "You hungry?"
"Not right now," Yoshino said shaking her head. "I just ate a little while ago."
Kurai nodded and made his way down the hallway to the dining room where Kisuke and Tessai were sitting.
"He's awake," Tessai reported and Kisuke looked back at him in surprise.
"Well, good morning sleeping beauty," Kisuke greeted.
"You must have lowered the bar a lot," Kurai smirked sitting down and wincing. "Tessai, may I please have something to eat? I'm starving."
"I would expect so after you used that much Spirit Energy," Kisuke nodded. "That was an impressive trick you pulled. How do you feel?"
"Like crap," Kurai stated. "Where is everyone?"
"Out looking for the Bounts or those Dolls they made," Kisuke stated. "Except Uryu. He has been looking after Yoshino and you."
"I figured he'd look after her," Kurai nodded as Tessai set a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast down in front of him. "Thank you."
He began to eat, finding that his body tried to reject the food from weakness but was too weak even for he finished, he looked around again.
"I sense a Soul Reaper," Kurai stated.
"Yes," Kisuke nodded. "The Squad Two captain was here relaying a message from Yoruichi. As well as dropping off a letter for you."
Kurai raised an eyebrow, taking it from Kisuke and opening it. It was from Nemu.
"Kurai, the footage you sent confirmed my belief. The tests were a success. Your power has been increased greatly by the experiments and the same medicine that can heal me and my captain can now also be used to heal you. When you return I will give you a supply of it in case you need it in battle. In addition, I believe that injecting our Spirit Energy into each other should be capable of reviving the other from death if it is fairly recent. Hopefully it will work if needed but will not need to be used. This would be a result of me injecting some of my own Spirit Energy during the tests as a catalyst for the power increase. I apologize for not telling you sooner. P.S. Kanisawa would like me to tell you that she says hello."
Kurai smiled and put the letter back in the envelope and closed it, then stared at it as he was lost in thought.
"Watcha thinkin' about?" Kisuke grinned. "The Squad Twelve Lieutenant?"
"None of your business," Kurai growled pushing himself up.
"Hey, it's alright, she's quite attractive, especially for a Gigai," Kisuke stated suddenly finding a sword to his throat.
"Allow me to explain something to you," Kurai said through gritted teeth, the effort of holding his sword up taxing him greatly. "Nemu is not a Gigai, and even if she was, what different does it make? She's as much a person as you are."
"I meant no disrespect," Kisuke said holding his hands up. "Though, I think you should put that sword away before you collapse. I only meant that for being designed by someone as...uncommon as Mayuri, Nemu is quite...well put together."
Kurai narrowed his eyes at him but put his sword away.
"You're lucky I'm still weak," Kurai growled.
"I don't doubt it," Kisuke smiled.
Just then, the door slid open and Jinta entered, dragging Renji and a young boy along with him. Kisuke and Tessai hurried over and took the two to the back room, then Kisuke picked up a phone and dialed Hanataro.
"Hanataro will be here in a bit," Kisuke reported. "They should both be fine."
"I need to talk to Nemu," Kurai stated. "I'll need that medicine after all."
"I don't think you should worry about it," Kisuke smiled. "Hanataro will have something to fix you right up."
Kurai nodded and a couple minutes later, Hanataro arrived and Kisuke led him into the back room where Kurai was sitting in one corner and Renji and the young boy were laying in the middle of the room.
"Here Kurai," Hanataro said tossing him a medicine ball the Fourth Squad used to restore their energy. "Basically all you did was use a nearly fatal amount of energy so it should heal you."
Kurai nodded and ate it, feeling his energy return instantly and stood, picking up Haruko.
"I have to go," Kurai stated. "I have to stop Kariya."
"I wouldn't," Uryu spoke up, stepping into the room with Yoshino. "He's a lot stronger than you give him credit for."
"Sucks to be him then," Kurai stated. "I'm going to find him and kill him. Kisuke, do you know where the Bounts fought the Quincy?"
"No," Kisuke said shaking his head. "However, you could simply catch one of those new Dolls and let it lead you home. You could give it an Artificial Soul so it would think it was full."
Kurai shook his head and walked over to the door. He stopped and looked back at Yoshino.
"Do you know anything useful about Kariya's power, or where he would go?" Kurai questioned.
"I never saw him use his full power, he never needed to," Yoshino apologized. "As for where he went, there's a cave not far from here where the Soul Society attacked the Bounts the first time. All Bounts know of it, even if Kariya is the only one still alive who was there that day. He will likely be there. But be careful. The Dolls, the Bittos, are feeding them a nearly endless supply of living souls to feed their power. They will be stronger now than before."
Kurai nodded and opened the door, stepping out and sliding it closed after him. He looked around then sighed and left the shop, heading in the direction Yoshino had pointed when she mentioned to the cave. He could sense that the others were fighting but within a couple of minutes the fights all ended. He also sensed Yumichika ahead of himself at the cave. He arrived about three minutes before Hisagi, Rangiku, and Izuru did.
"Kurai," Izuru blinked.
"Izuru," Kurai nodded. "It's good to see you. I'm guessing there are going to be traps, and probably at least one Bount waiting. Stay alert."
"Who put you in charge?" Yumichika demanded.
"The fact that I outrank you," Kurai smirked.
"But all three of us outrank you," Hisagi stated. "Either way, he's right, stay ready. But Kurai. I'm the one giving the orders."
"When did we decide on a chain of command?" Izuru questioned.
"We didn't Rangiku stated. "Now can we go kill a few Bounts please?"
Hisagi and Kurai both nodded and the five of them turned and walked into the cave.
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