Chapter 29 – A New Ally

'Oh dear, I think we've gone the wrong way,' said Ketu suddenly stopping before he entered a room in the Doge's Palace. They had only just entered the building and gone through one room.

'We've only just got here and you say we're in the wrong place? You are really useless aren't you?' said Byakuya though he didn't have an insulting tone.

'Well… I only just started to have a bad feeling about this.'

Renji stared at Ketu with annoyance before his mobile started ringing, 'hang on a moment.' He picked it up and answered, the call was short and all he said was, 'we'll be on our way.'

'So, what was that about?' asked Byakuya.

'Captain, a huge hollow of some sort has appeared in that place we were at before,' replied Renji.

'St. Mark's square?' asked Ketu urgently.

'Yes, soul society wasn't able to send any reinforcements to tackle the hollow because either they in Hueco Mundo, or they're guarding soul society. Basically, we're the only ones who can make it there fast enough.'

'Let's move it,' said Byakuya without hesitation and flash stepped away.

'Captian.' Renji followed.

'Geez, a hollow, now? Tch, annoying,' groaned Ketu as he went after them.

A few minutes later they have arrived back at St. Mark's Square on top of the clock tower to a horrific scene, there were dead bodies scattered across the floor, it was literally a sea of blood. Decapitated bodies lay motionless on the ground with blood still pouring from their necks. A few heads here a few heads there all with the same frightened and surprised expression. Limbs and other body parts were still being flung all over the place. People were screaming and running blindly everywhere with no clue as to who is killing them.

'Agh, that's just sick, good thing Terri isn't here,' thought Ketu.

The hollow was slap bang in the middle of the square. It wasn't any ordinary hollow either. Firstly it was HUGE, it was just short of the clock tower that stood behind it. The hollow looked basically like a venus fly trap, except it had millions of sharp, thorned vines flying about smashing people from their limbs.

'Gah, I can't take much more of this,' said Renji and he charged in without thinking.

'You idiot,' said Byakuya under his breath, but he made no attempt to help him.

Renji looked like he was about to release his sword but before he could react a sharp vine that came from behind him had pierced through his back. The hollow had already knew about his arrival.

Ketu's eye widened with shock while Byakuya stood there and just stared.

'He's your subordinate isn't he? Aren't you going to help him?' shouted Ketu urgently at Byakuya.

Byakuya stayed calm, 'in my division, if you lose one on one then you deserve to die. I thought you already knew that, Captain Zakura.'

Ketu looked annoyed and angry, 'fine, do as you wish, I'll get him myself then.'

He flash stepped next to an unconscious Renji, and grabbed him. A vine flew out of no where from behind him, but his reflexes were way too quick for something like this and he easily managed to avoid it. A second later he was on the roof of the clock tower next to Byakuya again.

He put Renji down, 'we'll have to take him back to squad four immediately after this fight.'

'Fine, I'll do it, only because there's no one else here.,' said Byakuya thought he sounded as if he doesn't care.

While they were talking they didn't notice as the hollow had turned around to face them and send five large thorns their way.

'Look out,' shouted Ketu as he drew his sword, but Byakuya was already prepared and his sword was in front of him in his hand.

'Scatter, Senbonzakura,' he said calmly. His sword broke apart into little small pink blades and zoomed towards the incoming thorns shredding them to pieces within seconds.

'So. Every man for himself?' asked Ketu, but Byakuya didn't say anything, 'I'll take that as a yes then.' He was off, and already he was above the hollow. He threw his sword up into the air, 'Fly, Kazedoragon.' The sword vanished, but in its face now stands a dragon consisting of a hundred percent wind.

The hollow didn't waste another second and sent a shooting vine at him. Ketu waved his arm downwards and the dragon dived down at the vine. The vine was coming at too fast of a speed and had plowed through the wind dragon. Ketu was too astonished to move, the vine was still going up, and was just about to hit him when it stopped suddenly and dropped back down. Ketu looked down at what had happened. It was Byakuya, his bankai was out and he had just crashed his blades into the hollow forcing it back a few metres.

'Ha, not bad I guess,' thought Ketu though he wasn't praising him.

The hollow was already back on its 'feet' and had blasted hundreds of thorns at Ketu and Byakuya's direction.

'Bugger this, Bankai.' The dragon above him grew to an enormous size and quickly flew in front of him acting as a shield blocking the thorns. 'Kazetatsujin.'

Below him, Byakuya charged, with his bankai in front of him blocking the thorns. He jumped as he near the hollow, raised his hand, and without saying anything shot a hadou four at the hollow. His sword pieces all followed and bashed into the hollow's face pushing it back more and more.

'Wave of destruction number one, white thunder,' shouted Ketu as he too joined in the attack and blasted a stream of lightning into the hollow. The huge hollow toppled backwards and caused a mini earthquake.

When the attacks ceased and the dust cleared the hollow became visible again, its face was sliced up pretty badly with blood dripping everywhere. It wasn't moving and looked like it was dead.

Byakuya obviously wasn't going to take any chances, he walked up the the hollow. He waved his hand out, 'senkei,' he said and at once the little pieces of blades formed together around him into sword and surrounded him and the hollow. 'Die, you vile hollow,' he shouted, but just as he was about to command all the blades to attack the hollow his entire body was suddenly wrapped by one of the hollows' vine. The hollow 'got up' and 'smiled'!

'Watch out,' shouted Ketu warningly as he began his descent to help Byakuya. But too late, a second later sharp thorns had poked out of the vine that had grabbed Byakuya and pierced him in many places. A pool of blood already formed below his feet. The vine then grabbed onto one of Byakuya's hands and threw him at Ketu. Ketu didn't dodge but timed a perfect catch. Byakuya was unconscious and his clothes were completely drenched with blood with hundreds of holes.

'Shit,' cursed Ketu. Byakuya's breathing was faint but he was still alive, for the moment. Ketu laid down Byakuya next to Renji on the same clock tower. 'don't worry, I'll finish this up and be right back to get both of you to squad four, hand in there.' He flash steps back to face the hollow. 'Alright you hollow, I didn't want to have to do this, but it looks like I've got no choice. Wind Screen.' He moved his right hand upwards and you could feel the wind whooshing towards him and surrounded him with a powerful barrier of wind.

The hollow raised its head upwards at Ketu and shot all its vines at him. Ketu charged also raising a hand in front of him. He weaved in and out of the vines dodging every one of them and at the same time rapid firing hado fours at the hollow each striking it in its face. The hollow backed off as Ketu got closer, it pulled back half its vines and stabbed them into the ground and immediately a wall of rock rose up from the ground and blocked Ketu's way. Two vines was able to hit him just as he stopped before he hit the wall, but the Wind Screen held strong and the vines were unable to hit him.

'Wave of destruction number one, white thunder,' he shouted hitting the wall with streams of thunder, but that had no effect and the wall still stands strong. 'Damn.' Unfortunately the hollow had attacked again and Ketu was forced backwards. The wall was high enough to touch the skies so he had no hope of flying over it, but it was very long, so there was a chance for him to go around it.

'Gotta, think this through,' he thought to himself, but before he could think about anything, the hollow took the preemptive and attacked him first. He jumped out of the way then suddenly an idea came into his head, it wasn't a hard one, but it was an effective one.

He raised both hands and directed a barrage of non-verbal hado thirty ones 'red flame cannon' at the wall. Thought they were weak they were able to raise a large dust cloud and distract the hollow long enough for it not to have noticed that Ketu was trying to go around the wall. Ketu saw the hollow, it was still looking the other way. He moved as quickly as possible and attacked. When the hollow realized what had happened it was too late. 'Kazeken,' said Ketu as he arrived before the hollow. His wind dragon dove at lightning speed towards the hollow forming a sharp wind blade, and crashed straight through the hollow coming out the other side completely piercing threw the hollow. A terrifying scream from the hollow and it burst into pieces disintegrating away into nothing. The stone wall also fell back into the ground.

What was left, was a large stone block in the middle of where the hollow disappeared with the eye of benevolence safely hovering above it.

'Well, at least the eye is easy to get,' thought Ketu as he cautiously stepped up beside the stone block. He reached out his hand and tried to grab the eye but was suddenly blasted back by an invisible force, he did a back flip in mid air and landed on his feet.

'What the? A force field.' Idiotically he tried again, but resulted in the same outcome. 'Damn, I can see it but I can't get it. Guess I'll have a look at how Byakuya and Renji are doing,' he thought as he flash stepped back to the tower block. Renji looked better, sleeping, but Byakuya's breathing was still very faint and it looked as if something was done quickly then he was about to die (Oh no I'm so worried… sarcasm…). 'I'll go back for the eye later then, I'm sure if I can't touch it no one else can.' He was about to grab Renji when a person appeared behind him, Isane.

'Don't worry captain Zakura, I'll take captain Kuchiki and vice-captain Abarai to squad four for you. And don't worry about the mess down there, I will send out some squad four members to clear this up,' requested Isane politely.

'Oh? That's handy, but how did you know that they were injured?' asked Ketu curiously.

'Vice-captain Iba suggested I come down here incase you need medical help.'

'Good old Tetsuzaemon, alright, take these two to safety then please, I'll continue to look for the eyes myself,' said Ketu.

'Ok, but if you need some reinforcements from soul society just give us a phone call,' said Isane as she picked up Byakuya and Renji.

'Will do,' said Ketu giving a thumbs up. Isane departs.

Ketu, as soon as he sees Isane leave, went back to the stone block. This time he tried to get it with his sword but was blown off his feet again. He stood there and stared at the eye for ages without noticing that a bunch of squad four soul reapers have started cleaning up the bodies, healing anyone that could still live, etc.

Ketu sat down on the ground deep in thought, the squad four members were busily running quietly past him, not daring to disturb his thinking. When he suddenly got up, a few of the squad four member actually stopped thinking they disturbed him, but when Ketu just started walking round the stone block in circles, the squad four people quietly walked away.

Ketu circled the stone block for ages studying it closely, but he found nothing.

Until a familiar voice pops in to say 'hi, how are you Captain Zakura,' asked a cheerful Hanataro. The other squad four members stared with disbelief that he dared talk to someone like Ketu so they just slowly edged away.

'Oh hi Hanatarou, having fun here?' said Ketu thought he didn't even look at him.

'Not really, I hate being in command, it's intimidating at times when so many people surround you asking what to do next.'

'I know what you mean, after all I do command squad seven. So then this is the fourteenth advanced relief unit?' asked Ketu finally looking around him.

'Yep, it is the unit I command, thought I wish I wasn't,' said Hanataro just as one of the squad four people came running over to report.

'Reporting in sir. The dead human bodies have all been cleared away and taken care off, what shall we do with the injured humans?'

Hanataro stood there looking a bit scared, 'well… er… heal up the injured, then er… erase their memories ad leave them somewhere same. Yeah, do that.'

'Yes sir,' bowed the soul reaper. He then turned to Ketu, 'good afternoon captain Zakura sir,' and then he left. Ketu just stood there with an expression on his face that was saying, what the hell.

'See what I mean, I'm no good at this, I'm always too slow,' said Hanataro sounding a bit down.

'I think you did a fine job, you make a great leading,' encouraged Ketu, and Hanataro seems to liven up a bit, 'by the way, why did Isane send you? Any particular reason?'

'There was actually two. One, because I was the only idle relief unit. And two because I know you.'

Ketu nodded, 'that would make sense.' He bent down and carefully surveyed on side of the stone block looking for anything of interest.

'So, what exactly are you doing?' asked Hanataro looking interested.

Ketu stood back up, 'trying to find out how to get that eye,' he said pointing at the floating eye.

'Well have you tried looking at that side of this stone block?' asked Hanatarou pointing to the left side of the one Ketu was currently looking at.

'Oh?' Ketu walked round and amazingly there were some inscriptions written at the very bottom of the side of the stone block. 'Wow, how come I didn't notice this?'

'Dunno, but I only noticed it just then,' said Hanataro as he bent down next to Ketu. 'It appears to be some sort of ancient language (same language as Haruka's riddles). Damn, we need someone like captain Ukitake here.'

'No wait, I can read it,' exclaimed Ketu touching the carved inscriptions.

'Really, wow. You're amazing. So what's it say?'

'If you want to get the eye, then all you need is not to touch it, but able to get it as well.' Ketu looked completely bewildered, same with Hanataro.

'What? Does tha-' started Hanataro, but Ketu cut him short.

'Wait, let me think about this.' He stood there for over five minutes until something finally came into his mind. 'I know, I think what it's saying is that I need to get the eye next to me without touching it.'

'I guess that makes sense, but how are you suppose to do that?'

'That's what we need to find out,' said Ketu thoughtfully. He walked around the stone block carefully thinking about it. He stopped ten minutes later and still wasn't able to think of anything.

'Hey, why don't we just grab it anyway?' asked Hanataro.

'Be my guest,' said Ketu without paying attention to what he was saying, and a second later he witnessed a comical Hanataro flying backwards through the air. He couldn't help himself as he laughed himself hoarse.

'That wasn't nice Captain Zakura, you could've told me it had a force field around it.'

'Sorry, I was just lost in thought and didn't hear you, my dead,' laughed Ketu.

'Hmm…' Hanataro stood close by the stone block in a thinking pose. 'How about we blow it?' joked Hanataro.

'Hey wait, that's it!' exclaimed Ketu as he ran joyessly away from the stone block putting some distance between them.

'Hey, er, what exactly are you doing?' asked Hanataro nervously.

Ketu pulled out his sword, 'I suggest you move.' As soon as Ketu pulled out his sword Hanataro gave a little screamed and jumped out of the way. 'Fly, Kazedoragon.' Once again the wind dragon appeared above his head. He waved his hand in front of him very slowly and delicately. The dragon gingerly approached the stone block, carefully swooped up the eye and flew back to Ketu.

Hanataro clapped, 'nicely done Captain Zakura.'

'Thx, and you can stop calling me Captain Zakura, we've been friends before, just Ket will do,' said Ketu cheerfully.

All of a sudden the eye started glowing brightly with the same colour as his spiritual pressure and it emitted a low male voice, 'congratulations on obtaining the eye of benevolence, do not waste time, the darkness is approaching. The next eye is on an consealed island in the middle of the ring of fire, benevolence will be the key and the eye will reveal itself to you.' The eye vanished into his necklace and said no more.

Ketu made a thoughtful face, 'interesting, very interesting.'

'Oh, so you know where it spoke off then? You know where you can get your second eye?'

Ketu shrugged, 'not a clue.' Hanataro made a funny face.

Just then someone appeared behind him. 'I can help you Captain Zakura,' said the calming voice of Retsu Unohana.

'Oh hi, didn't notice you were here. What do you mean you can help me?' asked Ketu surprised but happy to see another ally.

'Basically I know where the ring of fire is, and I know where it spoke off. But firstly, may I make a request?'

'Go ahead.'

'Will you allow Hanataro to go with you? I know his swordsmanship skills aren't great, but I also know that he used to be a good friend of yours and I'm sure his healing abilities will come in handy.'

Ketu looked around at Hanataro with a smiling face, 'of course Hanataro can come along, it's been a while since we've seen each other, this gives us a chance to catch up on lost time.'

'Wonderful, then instead of me telling you where the island is I'll give the map to Hanataro and he can lead you there. Your sense of direction has never been your strong point, and Hanataro here is surprisingly good at map reading, so he'll guide you,' said Retsu handing Hanataro a large sheet of paper which Hanataro had a glimpse at before folding it up and pocketing it.

'Sounds good to me,' he turned to Hanataro, 'shall we go then? Oh wait, you can't flash step can you? Well at least that how I remember you being anyway.'

'Don't worry, in the past few decades I have finally mastered the flash step,' said Hanataro proudly.

'Wonderful, then let's go, the eye told me not to waste any more time.' He turned around, 'thanks for the help Captain Unohana, much appreciated,' and at that he flash stepped off.

'Hey wait for me,' shouted Hanataro, he went to Retsu and bowed, 'thanks for your help Captain.'

'It was my pleasure, just don't cause Captain Zakura any trouble. I think you better go now he's probably miles ahead by now, he's not a captain for nothing.'

Hanataro stood up straight, 'thanks again.' And he flash stepped after Ketu as quickly as he could.

Note: Hanataro and Ketu had a small friendly relationship back in the day, but I won't go into it any further.

Next chp next week, A-level results tomorrow, i'm so nervous, all you who do english A-levels will know what i'm talking about, hope i did well, wish me luck