Chapter 18 – Ketu, A New Power and Past The Sea of Menos (Continued from chapter 16, sorry about this jumping of chapters by the way)

Drip, drip, drip the sound of water was enough to wake anyone up and it was no different for Ratiasu, she slowly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She was lying down in a makeshift bed (just a thick mattress) with a blanket on top of her. It was a dimly lit room with nothing to accompany it. The door was opposite her, except there was no door there just a large whole where the door should be. Pipes interlinked with the ceilings dripping water through its leaks the walls and ceiling was coloured in a dark red colour and it was rather damp.

'This place is familiar. Hmm... I wonder where I've seen this place before,' she thought glancing round to try and make out where she was. She looked down and realized that someone had changed her clothes and she was wearing clean dry ones now. Suddenly slow footsteps noises sounded outside and she got up immediately grabbed her sword which was next to her bed. She unsheathed it and stood in a ready position as the footsteps gradually got louder. Until a face turned into the room, Ratisu breathed a sign of relief when she saw Ketu walking in.

'Agh, don't kill me,' said Ketu stopping and backing off a bit with a sarcastic face. Ratiasu smiled and sheathed her sword. Ketu walked towards her and directed her to lie down. 'You may be awake but I don't think you're strong enough to just start walking again. You need your rest, it's safe here.'

Ratiasu didn't know what to say so she asked the first questions that came to her mind, 'Where are we? And did you change my clothes?'.

'We are in the underground pipe systems, where I've noticed that no one goes, so this is the perfect place to hide, and as to your other question, yes I did change your clothes I brought them from your house, I visited just before then, I hope you don't mind.'

Ratiasu's face went bright red, 'No… no of course I don't mind.' She took a deep breath and calmed herself, 'so, do you know what happened to the others? All I remember is Hikari and Haruka blasting off in different directions.'

'Sorry, I don't know where they went, I was too worried about you, I'm sure they're fine, after all, Rika is the strongest out of our group and I'm sure Kari can take care of herself.'

'Yeah, you're right, I need to be more optimistic.' She stood up and walked around the perimeter of the room. 'We need to get going, our friends may be in danger.'

'No, no, no, we're not going anywhere until you're feeling much better, and as you probably know my healing techniques aren't exactly the best so I wasn't able to heal you properly so I don't think you should be moving around.'

'But Ket,' she began, but Ketu put a finger to her mouth to shush her.

'Listen, if you go out in that state you'll just get seriously injured again and I'm sure Kari and Rika wouldn't want that, and neither would I. So just rest up and take it easy for the time being.'

'Alright,' sighed Ratiasu in defeat. 'What about you?'

'I don't know, probably stay here, I doubt that anyone's going to bother us down here.' And just as if to disagree with him the ground shook and Kenpachi's all so familiar laugh filled the underground.

'Hide and seek eh? A ha ha ha ha, I love this game, come out, come out where ever you are,' shouted Kenpachi at the top of his voice smashing anything he saw.

'Guess I spoke too soon,' said Ketu who stood up, 'come on Terri, we need to get out of here.' He grabbed Ratiasu's hand and guided her out of the room. The underground was like a maze of tunnels, Ratiasu had no clue as to where they were going, but Ketu seemed to know his way. They weaved left and right in the tunnels and didn't look like they were going anywhere until Ketu stopped.

'There,' he said pointing at what looked like a manhole cover above them. Ketu went through it first and helped Ratiasu climb up.

'Where are we?' asked Ratiasu as she climbed out of the underground into the bright sunny daylight. It looked exactly like where they last fought Kenpachi but all the debris from the fight has been cleared.

'This is the path that leads to the fourth gate.' He grabbed Ratiasu's hand once more and raced towards some stairs that was directly in front of them, there was nothing else there except for four large walls that boxed the place in.

They didn't get far up the stairs before Kenpachi catches up from behind them. 'I found you, game's over. You lost.' He said laughing as well and he flipped to the front of them. 'Sorry kid, I can't let you pass here. But I will let ya, if you defeat me. You should know by now, I always enjoy a good fight. So, what do ya say?' He gave a vicious and crazed smile and licked his lips.

'So be it,' said Ketu he drew his sword out in a flash. Ratiasu did the same but Ketu put a hand across her. 'No, you still haven't recovered yet. Stay back, this won't take long.'

'Please Ketu. You can't do this along, he's too strong.'

'Don't you have any faith in me?'

'Of course I do, but…' She knew it was no use trying to convince him so she resheathed her sword.

'Your faith is all I need.' Ketu immediately flash stepped further up to face Kenpachi. 'Stay in a safe place Terri, this fight may get ugly.'

'Good luck Ket,' she whispered as she went to find a suitable place to hide. 'I need you in one piece, you got that.'

'Whatever you say, my love.' He held his sword up.

'Finished chatting yet?' asked Kenpachi with an annoyed tone.

'Yep.'

'Then let's get started.' Kenpachi launched his first attack in which Ketu dodged without even trying and flash stepped a bit backwards.

'Time to show you what true strength is.' He chucked his sword up in the air and as it span he shouted, 'BANKAI.' A huge mass of spiritual pressure exploded from Ketu. A huge wind blew like a hurricane above Ketu which took the form of a dragon. 'Kazetatsujin.' He waved his hand in the direction of Kenpachi and the dragon shot at him like a bullet. Kenpachi had not expected an attack so quickly so he could only try and block. The dragon swooped through him (sword can't block wind now can it?). And then the dragon returns to its original position above Ketu's head.

'That's some strength you have there,' said Kenpachi who dropped to one knee and about a hundred cuts appeared on him at the same time blood dripping from each one. He laughed the pain off, 'Not bad, not bad at all. But still, you're defenseless.'

Kenpachi charged forward (still laughing like a maniac) whilst Ketu stood there showing no signs of panic what-so-ever. Kenpachi put his immense strength into his blade and striked at Ketu hard, the blade somehow stopped a few inches short of harming Ketu as if there was an invisible barrier blocking the way.

Kenpachi's smile disappeared, 'Huh? So what's this?' he asked pulling his sword back and slashed down again blocked by the same barrier.

'This barrier you mean? This is a barrier I perfected during my long absence away, it concentrates the air around me and raises its density so high that it's almost solid, it is constantly flowing like the wind and can stay there for as long as I need it to. Don't bother trying to over power it, I know you're strong Kenpachi, but not even you can penetrate this barrier, known as the Wind Screen.'

'I can't break it? Is that so? Well, I disagree,' said Kenpachi who took off his eye patch. 'I'll fight you with full power and then we'll see who can't break who.' The sign on his forehead also glowed. He burst out laughing and put all his strength in one attack and smashed into the Wind Screen causing a huge explosion.

'KET,' screamed Ratiasu coming out from where she was hiding, but she didn't dare go any closer because she didn't want to break her faith in him. Kenpachi smirked.

The dust cleared and the next scene was almost unbelievable. Kenpachi's smirk had disappeared and now he had a face of worry, his sword had come in contact with the Wind Screen, but only the Wind Screen. It had stopped the sword and Kenpachi's humongous spiritual pressure. Ketu stood there behind the Screen with a smile across his face, 'Ha ha ha, a ha ha ha ha,' he laughed and continued laughing like he had a fit. Ratiasu had the expression of 'what the hell' on her face and Kenpachi backed off. 'A ha ha ha ha (2 minutes later) ha ha, ohhhh, it's not that funny,' he said wiping tears from his eyes. 'Sorry about that, but to be honest with you I actually didn't think my Wind Screen would hold against your attack, but oh well. If that's all you have then you might as well clear off.' Ketu's face suddenly became serious. 'Go to the depths of hell where you belong. Kazeken.' He pointed his hand at Kenpachi, the dragon above him dove down at Kenpachi forming the shape of a long blade and pierced straight through Kenpachi. Kenpachi had a blank expression on his face and then collapsed into his own puddle of blood. Ketu dropped to his knees, 'I guess I used up too much spiritual pressure blocking that attack, oh well, at least Terri wasn't hurt.' And he fell to the ground.

'Ket,' Ratiasu's ear piercing scream sounded through the area as she ran up and knelt down by Ketu.

'Hey, thanks for having faith in me Terri,' he whispered breathing heavily. Though he had no visible signs of injury.

'No problem,' she said holding back tears.

'Don't worry, I'll be fine, I just need some rest, that's all.' And with that he fell asleep. Ratiasu smiled just as two drops of tear ran down her face and fell on Ketu.

--

A day has passed and Ratiasu and Ketu was sleeping together in front of the fourth gate (don't get any ideas). They both yawned as they got up.

'Ah, now that was refreshing,' said Ketu, feeling fully reenergized again.

'Yep,' agreed Ratiasu next to him. They both stood up and stretched a bit.

'Alright, I think we've had enough time to rest. It's high time we get going, especially before Kenpachi wakes up, come on Terri let's go.'

'You got it.' And they set off through the fourth gate. But what was there only dampened their spirits. As soon as they entered the through the gate they were faced with a sea of Gillian class menos. Hundreds of them spread out for as long as the eyes could see and just opposite them was the gate, which was opened.

'Oh my god, I really can't be bothered dealing with this lot,' said Ketu annoyed.

'Maybe we don't have to, if we can just clear a path to the gate then we can make it through.'

'Sounds good I guess, yeah. Let's see how it goes then.' Ketu and Ratiasu both only made one step beyond the gate before about a million cero attacks smashed into the ground in front of them. Ketu and Ratiasu both jumped back and he turned to her, 'got a plan B?'

'No, but maybe someone else has, look.' She pointed at a figure slaying the menos as she/he went.

'Who's that?'

'I'll think we'll find out soon.'

And just as Ratiasu said that, the person suddenly cried, 'Blossom, Rozehana.' And a barrage of blades slammed into the nearby menos.

--

It was late at night and at last Hikari awoke.

She sat up and felt her head, 'Oh god, my head hurts.' She stopped and looked around, 'Where am I?' No one answered no one was there, it was all dark, all quiet, like you would get on a normal night. But this isn't a normal night and there won't be normal nights for a long time.

She got up and glanced around, it was pitch black but she could make out the tall stone wall on either side of her and a clear path in front and behind.

She advanced forwards with no sense of direction and suddenly out of the dark sprang out three hollows, and because her reflexes are amazing they were sliced up before they even got within a metre of her. She didn't put her sword away in case of anymore attacks, but nothing came as she slowly and carefully walked forwards.

Twenty minutes passed and she entered a large area of empty ground similar to the one whereKenpachi, Ratiaus and Ketu fought, just in another location. The sun was rising bit by bit to the east just peeping over the hills and giving a faint glow of light. Then she found out that she wasn't alone. In front of her stood many hollows gathered in a large circle, but they were looking the opposite way. So she silently crept around them, until she somehow manage to step on a twig. The crunching sound immediately came with a fast reaction by the hollows, they all turned and faced her and for a second it looked like they weren't going to do anything but a second after that they all charged for her.

'Oh bugger me.' She ran forwards flash stepping at times and a large flight of stairs loomed above her, she instinctively climbed them. It took a few minutes to reach the top and she was already out of breath, but luckily and for some odd reason the hollows stopped short half-way up the stairs with scared looks on their faces. 'Hmm? I won't be what could be scaring them.' She turned and came face to face with a menos, 'Ah, so I see.' She thought calmly as a cero blast missed her by an inch. She flash stepped up and sliced the menos down the middle. 'Piece of cake.' The sun has just risen above the mountains of the outskirts of soul society and dawn has changed to morning. Behind the slayed menos was a large gate. 'Gate four here I come.' And without further ado she stepped through.

'Oh, crap,' she screamed as she came in contact with a few hundred menos. They all turned towards the direction of the sound and fired cero as soon as they saw her. She flash stepped up and dodged them. 'Screw this,' she thought backing off. But her retreat was blocked by another menos appearing from no where. 'No choice then.' She jumped up high into the air and screamed, 'Blossom, Rozehana.' Short blades rose out of the guard and encircled the handle. She pulled her sword back ran two fingers across it, 'Ben dansu.' The blades slammed into the surrounding menos and destroyed them. But there were too many, when one was taken down more came up in its place. 'No matter how many I knock down, more pop up in its place, gotta get out of here.' She frantically looked around for a place to run to but everywhere she saw was blocked by menos.

Just as she was about to give up and fight her way out, a blast of wind blew out from behind a menos and disintegrated it. Behind it stood Ketu and Ratiasu.

'Hey Kari, having a fun time?' said Ratiasu smiling.

'Oh, Terri, Ket, it's so good to see you.'

'Time for pleasant talk is over, let's go. There's a gate over there,' said Ketu poiting to the large gate. 'We just need to clear a path there and we'll be fine.' He turned to Ratiasu, 'As they say ladies first, you go on ahead, I'm sure your speed is more than a match than these sluggish menos.'

'Alright, be careful and arrive in one piece.'

'Of course.' Ratiasu was off, she flash stepped past a few menos and then flash stepped in one to the other side.

'Good, she's safe. Okay now Kari, let's go.'

'You got it. Bankai.' Her sword shatters and each piece grew into red blades and rose above her. A menos instantly reacted and fired cero at her, the blades moved in front of her and formed a shield which stopped the cero, then she waved her hand and a few blades bashed and pierced the menos and slayed it. She gave a chilling laugh, 'As they say, even a rose has its thorns.' And she flash stepped forwards clearing any menos that stood in her way. Ketu followed closely behind shooting the wind at any menos that came close.

They cleared most of the menos and came closer to the gate but just then a horde of menos stepped in their way.

'Damn it, too many,' said Hikari. Stopping and was about to attack.

A voice from behind the menos said, 'I call upon the twilight, Mirokumaru.' A large tornado was whipped up and blew away the horde of menos with ease. Ketu and Hikari flash stepped towards the gate when there was nothing in their way to see that Ratiasu had her sword out but she was kneeing down using her sword for support.

'Terri,' shouted Ketu and ran over to support her. 'I told you not to do anything overboard, and what do you do, use your bankai,' he sighed. 'Well, at least you're safe.'

Ratiasu lay in Ketu's arms, 'Sorry, but I just wanted to help.'

'It's okay, you just take it easy now.' Ratiasu stood up on her own, stumbled a bit and walked on.

'Come on, let's get moving.' He three of them set off past the gate and advanced forwards to the next gate, which was no where in sight. All there was, was a gigantic castle off into the distance.

'Is that where we are headed?' asked Ratiasu.

'Yep, so we better get moving, we got a long ways to go,' replied Ketu. Hikari nodded in agreement and they set off walking through the desert.

They walked for a few hours with nothing to see but sand and they arrived at a closed gate with massive thick and tall walls on either side of it.

'How do we open this? I don't see any guards,' asked Ratiasu in a thinking position.

'There must be some sort of mechanism that can open this gate then,' said Hikari feeling around the gate. Ketu sat down and waited calmly.

All of a sudden the two gates swung open and revealed many flight of stairs leading up to the top of the castle. And Hisaigo's voice boomed out, 'I congratulate you on making it this far. So please, come and join me in my throne room, I welcome you all.' The three of them cautiously climbed up the stairs.

'Geez, you don't need that many stairs even if it is for a castle,' said Ratiasu panting when they've finally reached the top after half an hour of stairs.

'I'm just surprised nothing came to ambush us, I was sure that Hisaigo set a trap.' They walked forwards towards another set of gates and as they approached it swung forwards.

'Yes, come my friends. Don't be afraid.' Hisaigo's voice was now clearer and much louder than before.

'Tch, who does he think he's kidding,' said Ketu.

They all walked through the gate and stopped abruptly as they came into a most grotesque scene.