Chapter 25 – Step into the real world (now I'm going to follow each character missions in turn, starting with Ratiasu's first dragon eye)
'Sorry we're late, here we are,' shouted Shunsui as he, Ratiasu and Crystal arrived at the eastern exit gate of seireitei.
'Tch, what took you so long, I was getting bored with all this waiting,' shouted back Kenpachi who was sitting on the floor, Yachiru sitting on his shoulder. Crystal, Shunsui and Ratiasu all flash stepped instantly and arrived next to him.
'Sorry, we got held up by a little something,' smiled Shunsui in an amusing voice.
'Whatever let's just get going,' Kenpachi stood up and his height towered above them all.
'Yaaayyyy, let's go have some fun Kenny'll beat up the bad guys easily,' cheered Yachiru on Kenpachi's back.
'Glad of you to make it Terri, let's do our best,' said Rukia walking over to Ratiasu and patting her on the back.
'I'm happy to have you with us Rukia, you've been a great help to me,' said Ratiasu beaming.
'Alright people, shall we?' shouted Shunsui as he stood next to the gate.
'About time,' said Kenpachi. Ratiasu stepped forward through the gate and everyone followed behind.
The six of them rushed through the dark tunnel that linked the two worlds at high pace and was on the other side within a couple of second. They jumped out and landed on a soft patch of grass. This patch of grass was on a hill or some sorts two sides surrounded by two long fences, the other two boxed in with half fences and three streets leading off the field. Two on two corners of the field and one in the middle of a fence. Houses loomed over the fences and even more houses could be seen downhill. Also what looks like a few large fields were a mile away surrounding a large building. It was morning by the looks of where the sun was and there wasn't anyone here.
'So anyone know where we are?' asked Crystal looking around.
'Ha ha, I know, we're at exactly where we are meant to be right?' shouted an overexcited Yachiru.
'No, actually. Hmm.. Wait a minute, I borrowed a map from the library,' Shunsui took out from underneath his Kimono a small book titled 'Map of Wirral.' 'Hmmm…. Jushiro actually taught me how to read this, just wait here a moment.' He flash stepped off.
'What more waiting, screw this I'm off,' shouted Kenpachi.
'Yeah Kenny and I can find the way no problem,' said Yachiru.
'We'll meet you there, wherever it is,' and without another word Kenpachi ran off with the speed of a jet and disappeared down one of the streets with Yachiru on his back.
'Hey, wait, you can't just-' started Ratiasu who looked like she was about to run after them.
'Leave it, I doubt he'd listen to us anyway,' said Rukia holding out a hand to stop her.
Ratiasu sighed, 'I guess so,' and sat down. There was a light breeze that blew over this hill, the sun was shining brightly with only a few clouds in the sky. By the looks of things it was the beginning of spring. A minute later Shunsui arrived back.
'Helloo, guess who's back,' said Shunsui.
'Just cut to the chase cous,' said Crystal who was lying on the grass.
'Alright, well we are at a village called Oxton, after studying the streets I've determined that we aren't far from Bebington. It should take us only a few minutes to flash step over there, problem is we weren't told where to go when we get there.'
'We'll know, I have this feeling that I'll know where I need to go as soon as we get there,' said Ratiasu.
'Wonderful, then that's that sorted, well then,' he looked around, 'where's Kenpachi and Yachiru?'
'They kinda went off,' said Crystal, who was standing up now and ready to leave.
'It's always them two,' sighed Shunsui, 'oh well, I'm sure Kenpachi can take care of himself, but for the moment we'll just set off on our own then. Let's go.' Everyone nodded and flash stepped off with Shunsui leading the way.
They all flash stepped up into the sky and traveled swiftly along rooftops with Shunsui in the lead one eye on the road one on his map. They traveled parallel to a busy road which despite the rush-hour had only a load of vehicles going in one direction. There were teenagers everywhere in school uniforms chatting to each other happily, not a care in the world. A few bus stops with more students and working age people. A few busses went along the road stopping occasionally at the lights and stops. Shunsui reach a crossroad and stopped on top of a two storey high building.
'Hmm...' He looked left and right. And a second later pointed right, 'this way' he said flash stepped off without a moment's hesitation.
'Slow down dammit,' shouted Crystal flash stepping after him. Ratiasu and Rukia followed closely behind.
A minute later Shunsui stopped abruptly again making Crystal crash into him nearly causing him to fall off the roof he was standing on.
'Woah slow down there little cous,' said Shunsui in a lazy voice.
'Shut up, if you didn't flash step off so fast I wouldn't have needed to speed up,' she shouted at him, as Ratiasu and Rukia both appeared next to her.
Shunsui completely ignored Crystal and just kept looking at his map. This time they had stopped on top of a semi-detached house which was next to a road that had a small forest across the roads. A few other streets linked up with this one by two roundabouts at the end, only a few cars drove on this road.
'Let's go,' said Shunsui suddenly and he disappeared in a flash. Ratiasu and Rukia wasted no time and were behind him in an instant. After letting out a cry of annoyance Crystal flash stepped after him as well.
They flash stepped on rooftops fast a two small churches, one had a cemetery. They passed a small group of shops and a petrol station. Soon they were into another residential area, a primary school came into view as they turned a left at the end of a row of houses. Shunsui kept going until they reached what looked like two secondary/high schools.
'Well, here we are. Welcome to Bebington,' said Shunsui stopping just short of the schools. 'Feel anything yet Terri?'
'Yeah, I do, my instincts tell me to go into that school over there,' said Ratiasu pointing to one of the high schools that seemed to be a boys' school as only boys went in. And the other school only girls went in.
'Let's check it out then,' said Rukia, and they all flash stepped in front of the entrance to the school. The school from the outside looked normal, a long building with two doors, one was labeled visitor's entrance and another labeled student's entrance. Also the school had a gate on the far left where cars could get in. There was currently some sort of construction work going on in this school as there was an unfinished building with several cement fixers scattered around. A file of steel poles and sheets dumped on one side and a lorry was bringing in more steel. The school was two storeys tall except the far right end of the building which was a tower block at five storeys high. They looked around and there was no one around so they entered the school through the student entrance way.
'Anything?' asked Shunsui turning to Ratiasu, as they walked around a few corridors of the school.
'Yeah, it's like the necklace is guiding me towards the eye, I know exactly where it is.' Ratiasu started walking but then suddenly the bell rang.
'What's this?' asked Crystal looking around the corridor they were in.
'Well if you didn't know it's called a bell ringing,' said Shunsui in a humorous voice.
Crystal frowned at him, 'I know that much, but what does it mean?'
'I think we're about to find out,' said Shunsui as people's voices and footsteps grew louder and many children and teenagers started appearing from classrooms and hallways. 'Looks like it's getting a bit crowded, we need to disappear.' As soon as he said that he flash stepped away and out of the school, the others did as well.
'Hmm… looks like we won't be able to get anywhere with so many people around, they may not be able to see us but if they bump into us then that may cause problems. We should come back later.'
'Can't we just go get some gigais and search like that?' asked Rukia curiously.
'Well by the time we manage to get the gigais it'll probably be night and there'll be no one in anyway, and even if we do get gigais I doubt we'll be allowed in the school,' answered Shunsui.
'Yeah I guess you're right, we'll wait then.' And they did, when lunch came they had to move further away because people wearing suits kept coming out and going back in, probably the older students of the school. Nothing interesting happened until they saw a comical Kenpachi up in the sky literally flying at top speed going in a completely wrong direction.
'Well, as always that Kenpachi has no sense of direction. It's almost laughable even, a captain ranked soul reaper who can't tell his left from his right. Ah well, at least he know his way back to seireitei.' Shunsui lay down on the field of grass close to the school and immediately fell asleep!
Suddenly Ratiasu stood up and walked off, 'I'm gonna go check out a few things, stay here, I'll be back.'
'Alright, wake me up when you return,' said Shunsui still lying on the grass.
'Hey wait, I'm going too,' shouted Rukia, walking after her.
'No, if two people go there's more of a chance someone will bump into us, it's safer if I go on my own. Besides,' she turned around and smiled, 'I'll only be a minute.' She flash stepped away. Rukia sighed and sat down.
The time was exactly 1:50pm Ratiasu entered the school through the student entrance again and wandered around the place. The corridors and hallways were empty, it seemed that everyone was at lessons. She walked by what seemed like a computer room. Suddenly the sounds of footsteps loomed behind her, one of the sounds was distinctively louder than the others. She turned around and two people were approaching. She moved out their way and flash stepped behind them, only to crash into someone who was running after them.
'Argghh, what the hell,' he said as he fell down.
'You're retarded HD, how the hell did you manage trip over the floor,' laughed one of the boys ahead.
'I don't know, though, it felt as if I bumped into something,' said the boy getting up thoughtfully.
'Did you bump into air? Awww poor you,' taunted the other boy.
'Shut up, let's just get going or we may not get a computer,' the boy ran ahead of them.
'Eh wait up HD.' Both the other boys went after him.
Ratiasu let out a sigh of relief as she saw all three boys disappear. 'Phew, that was a close one, guess I need to be more careful in the future. Good thing those three couldn't see me as well.' After that she kept was constantly alert as she explored the school. She had to hide twice more when the bell rang again and again. Eventually after exploring the music rooms, the tower block, the rest of the down stairs and second floor, she went outside to two modern square buildings, one with a flat roof and the other with a pyramidal roof, next to each other, one was larger than the other. The smaller one had two doors visible from the front quite a ways apart from each other; one of the doors was labeled 'Chemistry Lab 2' and the other was 'Science Lab 1'. She walked past them and went to the other building which was labeled 'Design and Technology. She sensed nothing so she carried on moving. There were a few mobiles in the yard of the school. Suddenly she sensed a faint presence of the eye, so she moved towards where she sensed the eye was. But just as suddenly the bell ran once more and within minutes, teenagers were flooding out of classrooms, she didn't dare risk being there again so she flash stepped back to where the others were.
'I'm back,' said Ratiasu as she walked back towards her friends.
'About time too, the people are leaving the school,' said Shunsui who was already standing up looking as if he's ready to go somewhere.
'Oh?' Ratiasu turned around and looked at the entrance of the school. But she couldn't see it as it was blocked out of sight by four busses with students hastily clambering on.
'Looks like we can investigate soon hope it doesn't take too long,' said Crystal.
'Oh, by the way, I think I know where the eye is. I had this sudden feeling where I could sense its presence, so I'm sure we'll be able to find it pretty quickly when we get back in there,' reassured Ratiasu.
'That's good.' Everyone was ready, and the busses left one by one and the students scurried off home. An hour later and the place was completely deserted. They waited until they saw the last teachers go and for the caretaker to lock the gate.
'Ok, let's move,' commanded Shunsui as they all jumped over the gate.
'This way, follow me,' said Ratiasu and she took the lead. A minute later they arrived at the music room. A single mobile building that was on the far left side of the school near the tower block surrounded by two metal fences.
'Erm, are you sure it's here?' asked Crystal.
'Yes, I'm sure, the feeling's getting stronger, I know it's in there.' Ratiasu tried to push the door open but it won't budge.
'Allow me,' said Shunsui as Ratiasu moved out the way. Shunsui moved back a bit and ran full speed at the door and smashed it door with ease.
'Nicely done,' complimented Crystal. They entered the music room. Immediately to their left was a row of guitars lying next to each other on a rack similar to a bike rack. The centre of the room was filled up with up to forty chairs. A desk stood behind the chairs. A white board was at the very front of the room along with a drum kit and a piano. They walked further in; at the back were two rooms which both doors were locked. There were a few large shelves that was stacked full of instrument cases such as violin, flute, oboe and such like.
'Thanks. So er Terri. Any ideas?'
'Yes,' said Ratiasu quietly as she slowly approached the piano. She cautiously stood next to it and touched a key. As soon as her hand came into contact with the key her necklace started to glow. The floors shock violently for a split second and a ceramic crown rose out slowly from the top of the piano and a silver orb sat on top of the crown. 'The eye of Virtue,' thought Ratiasu, then she shouted with excitement, 'we've found it, this must be it. This was easier tan expected' She joyfully reached for it, but before she could lay her hands oh it the ground below her exploded and she went flying into the air. 'Crap, guess I spoke to soon.'
Eight huge tentacles shot out of the ground and a giant octopus creature emerged from below. Rukia quickly rushed up and grabbed Ratiasu before she fell.
'You okay?' asked Rukia as she let Ratiasu down.
'No need to worry,' Ratiasu replied. They both turned back to face the creature and saw that Shunsui and Crystal were both unconscious lying on the floor with pools of blood beneath them. 'Shit, what happened to them.' Just as she said that the monster dug one of its tentacles into the ground and it immediately appeared out of the ground underneath Ratiasu. She moved swiftly and it only cut her arm a bit.
'Does that answer your question?' said Rukia as they both backed off further from the monster until their backs was against the fence that surrounded the music room. They both drew their swords and prepared to attack.
'We'll take it down with speed,' and she charged at the monster, 'Flash, Doragonsumiyaka,' she said and disappeared instantly a second later a tentacle was cut and blood burst out of the wound as Ratiasu appeared behind the monster.
'Nicely done, dance, Sode no Shirayuki,' said Rukia as her sword was released. 'Second dan-' suddenly one of the tentacles appeared through Rukia's chest, blood streamed out and she collapsed forwards. The monster carried on its attack, picked Rukia up and threw her into the music room smashing a hole in the roof and shattering the windows as well.
'Rukia,' screamed Ratiasu and she tried to run towards her but she didn't notice that one of her legs was caught by the monster's tentacles and she tripped as the monster lifted her up by her ankle, she dropped her sword. 'Get off me you freak,' she shouted as she tried to get the tentacles of her feet.
The monster didn't listen instead it raised its remaining six free tentacles transformed each one into a pointed end and directed them all at Ratiasu.
'Shit, I'm in trouble,' she thought as she stared at her doom. The tentacles moved and darted straight for Ratiasu, she quickly shut her eyes. Without warning a maniacal laugh which she recognized as Kenpachi's came form above her. The laugh was then followed by a higher pitched cheery laugh, which obviously belong to Yachiru. She opened her eyes and was just able to catch the moment when Kenpachi's spiritual energy surrounded self blasted into the monster. The ground shook violently and cracked open. The buildings next to this toppled and crumbled away into the ground raising a dense dust cloud around it.
Ratiasu was instantly released and she wasted no time going straight for her sword.
'You can't have a rumble without me now, can you?' said Kenpachi as he stepped out from the dust cloud.
'Yeah, only Kenny can beat up the bad guys,' Yachiru joined in smiling happily as if it was all fun and games. Ratiasu just frowned at them, until an abrupt roar from behind Kenpachi broke up the silence. The monster wasn't dead and it was back up tentacles flying around in the air ready for attack.
'So, not dead yet huh? Guess I'll have a bit more fun,' Kenpachi didn't even wait a second; he rushed straight in and attacked.
'Yay, go get 'em Kenny,' cheered Yachiru jumping up and down.
'Hey wait, don't be so hasty,' shouted Ratiasu, but it was too late and anyway Kenpachi was never going to listen to her. 'Dammit, forget him, I need to get that eye,' she thought. She searched around and saw that the eye in the crown was sitting on top of the octopus's head.
'Damn, if only Hikari was with me. She'd have thought of a plan with ease. Guess I'm on my own with a freaky maniac and a crazy pink haired kid,' she sighed. Kenpachi was swinging his sword left and right blocking the tentacles attacking him that have become as hard as rock. Yachiru was just jumping up and down near him screaming, 'go Kenny, go Kenny.' Kenpachi tried to get close for a close ranged attack but the tentacles always blocked his way.
'Hmm… Maybe, if Kenpachi can keep the monster occupied I'll be able to shoot it down with a ranged attack. If it doesn't kill it, it'll at least stun it long enough for me to get the eye,' thought Ratiasu. 'Alright then. Bankai.' She glowed brightly with spiritual energy as two wings sprout from her back. Surprisingly nobody noticed that she had released her bankai. Probably because both Yachiru and Kenpachi's ability to sense spiritual pressure is minimal. She jumped up silently high above the monster and Kenpachi. 'Ok, gotta aim this right.' She pulled her sword back as it shortened, she took aim, 'shoot 'em dead, Shinso.' The extended out with the speed of a bullet and went directly for the monster's head where the crown was.
Kenpachi saw the blade approaching and jumped back away from the monster. Unfortunately the monster had also seen the blade approaching and raised two tentacles to block. The force of the blade pushed the monster backwards into the wall of a gym. The walls collapsed on top of it, and it was completely hidden behind a veil of dust once more.
'Hey, ya missed,' shouted Kenpachi up at her. Ratiasu ignore him and kept an eye on where the monster disappeared. A sharp tentacle shot out from the dust unexpectedly aimed at Ratiasu.
'Oh I didn't see that coming,' she said sarcastically. She flash stepped to dodge and charged straight down for the monster. A few more tentacles shot at her. 'Snap, Tobiume.' She swung her blade at the monster and blasted a few fireballs at the tentacles. They hit and exploded due to the impact, the tentacles stopped and gave her a few seconds of time, she raised her hand and chanted 'One thousand years of the world, words that were never spoken, carried away by silver wings. Time will never pass, but the white dragon flies at midnight, the blue eyes will shine and the moon will be silenced. Wave of destruction, number one: white thunder.' A huge beam of lightning fired out of her hand and crashed into the monster's head. The blast sent a huge shockwave around it shattering all the windows near by. The force of the blast also sent the crown and eye flying.
She smiled, seeing the eye fly and flash stepped immediately to grab it. 'Gotcha.' As soon as her hands were gripped around the eye, a horrible screech came from the monster below as if glowed yellow for a split second and disintegrated.
'Tch, that wasn't even enough for a warm up,' said Kenpachi, unsatisfied.
'Ah well, you'll get another fight soon, don't worry Kenny,' said Yachiru still in her happy high voice.
Ratiasu landed her hand clutching the eye. 'So, what am I suppose to do with this?' to answer that question the eye started to glow and floated out of her hand.
'Well done Ratiasu, you have obtained the Eye of Virtue,' said a voice that came from the eye. 'There's one more to go. Be at the pyramid of Abu Rawash in twenty days and be prepared,' you could barely make out the last few words as the eye floated closer to Ratiasu and disappeared into her necklace.
'Abu Ra-what?' Pyramids?' what the hell was that about,' asked Kenpachi.
'Sounds like a load of fun,' said Yachiru joyously.
'Don't know, but let's worry about that later.' She walked over to Rukia and picked her up. 'Come on Kenpachi, could you get Shunsui and Crystal?'
'What a pain, it's their fault for getting stabbed,' complained Kenpachi but he did as she asked. Yachiru jumped on his shoulders as well.
'Let's not linger any longer, I don't want to be here when everyone returns and they see that we've trashed their school,' said Ratiasu jumping on a roof.
'Whatever.' Kenpachi followed, and they both flash stepped out of sight.
The fight left its mark on the school, which had to be closed for a while after. The students were ecstatic.
Note: I just gave some random information about the area I live in.
I'm off to work at the Open Golf Championships in Royal Birkdale now, but i will be able to get the next chp up next week i think anyway. My school finishes this week, yay