Chapter 30 – Into the Skies (I'll do the last eyes in a random order, but Ratiasu's will be the last one chronologically i.e. the other two will have got their last eyes before she gets hers)
It was night time, all was quiet except for a few chirping crickets, but the silence was soon about to be disturbed by three soul reapers hastily trying to find a small village called She Xian.
Hitsugaya, followed by Haruka and Rangiku jumped out from the forest and carried on running.
'Captain, are you sure it's this way?' asked Rangiku sounding uncertain.
'Well this is the way that man from earlier said and also Haruka can sense it's this way, right?' he said turning to Haruka who nodded but didn't say anything.
They ran throughout the night, crossing fields and farmland with no one in sight which was obviously helpful; incase they bumped into someone. Morning was soon upon them so they decided to take a break and look around in a small town called Ji Zi Li. It was a rather poor residential area, the roads were uneven and rocky. The houses were poorly built from rock by the people who live there. The streets were disease ridden and trash was scattered everywhere. The people look malnourished but happy, living normal lives. Hitsugaya used his gigai and bought some food from the local 'convenience store' and brought it back to the two girls.
'Thanks Captain,' said Matsumoto gratefully as she took the food.
'Yeah thanks Toshiro,' said a smiling Haruka.
'Grr… it's Captain Hitsugaya to you, I may be helping you on this mission but at least show some respect,' growled Toshiro. Haruka didn't answer she just sat there and smiled at him. Toshiro let out a sigh, sat down and ate with them.
It was just passed noon before they started moving again after getting more supplies from the village shop. It was a hot day with virtually no clouds in the sky. The air was moist and hard to move in, but that doesn't seem to disturb the three soul reapers as they speedily ran through the green countryside. They ran parallel to a railway that was headed into a mountain tunnel but jumped on top of the mountain instead of going through the tunnel. It was a magnificent scenery, the luscious forests and hills, the beautiful grass fields, not a bit of pollution in the air. It was peaceful and quiet, a great calming feeling. The gentle breeze gave the scenery a bit more added touch. The flowers bloomed at the sight of the sun, the trees happily waving around in the breeze. But Haruka didn't have time to waste enjoying the scenery so she kept on moving without looking twice and without second thoughts.
Ah hour passed, but who knows how long it has been, especially in this humid hot weather, it could've been hours for all they know. They had arrived at their destination and now they stand before a large Chinese style arch with two massive Chinese words on the top saying 'She Xian.'
'Well, well looks like you are good for something after all,' said Haruka.
'Tch, no respect. After all, I did say I was going to get us here,' said Hitsugaya.
'Yeah you did, and I never doubted you for a second Captain, good job,' congratulated Rangiku joyfully.
'Spread out and look around the town, if you see anything suspicious just report it when we're all back here. Return here in three hours, let's go,' commanded Hitsugaya and at once the three of them flash stepped in various directions.
Hitsugaya looked around the streets and the shops in the middle of town which was rather difficult being the middle of the day and everyone was out and about. The tremendous amount of dust in the air was incredible and made everything a bit harder to see, but for some reason no one seemed bothered about it, they're probably used to it. But after three hours of roaming the roads and shops and even witnessing a lunchtime Tai Chi session at some park in the town, he found nothing of interest. So he just went back hoping someone else found something.
Rangiku went to the lake that was nearby and instead of looking, sat down by the lake and fell asleep. She woke up two hours later and only just realized what she was suppose to be doing so for the next hour she, surprisingly, made an effort to looking for the eye searching the wide lake. But, still she couldn't find anything, she also went back to the meeting point empty handed.
Haruka explored the residential areas of the town, which was nearly empty except for a few elderly people. Now you'd think that Haruka should be able to find something seeing as she can sense it when the eye is nearby. But alas, she too wandered around house and house finding nothing. So in the end she went back to their meeting place when the three hours were up.
'Anyone found anything?' asked Hitsugaya as soon as everyone had returned. Rangiku and Haruka both shook their heads. 'Damn, looks like we'll be here for a while.' Hitsugaya sighed and looked around them, surprisingly there were still as many people out and about as before. 'Well, we need to find some place to rest for the night then, and it can't be anywhere here incase someone accidently bumps into us.'
'I know captain, how about that mountain over there, I'm sure it's empty,' said a cheery Gangiku pointing at a tall mountain far away on the other side of the river across a bridge.
'Oh? That sounds good. Well we've still got time let's go check it out,' agreed Hitsugaya and him and Rangiku went first in the direction of the mountain. Haruka appeared deep in thought about something but followed anyway.
A few seconds later they all had flash stepped to the foot of the mountain at the same time despite Haruka leaving a second late. To their astonishment someone was already there waiting for them.
'Hey, long time no see, Haruka,' he said with a sly voice.
Haruka instantly pulled out her sword without hesitation.
'You again, what do you want this time,' said Hitsugaya with so much force and hatred in his voice.
'Usaitar,' whispered Rangiku as she grabbed the handle of her sword but didn't pull it out just yet.
'Well now, don't we all look like a happy bunch?' sneered Usaitar, surprisingly he wasn't carrying a sword, but still wearing that same white soul reaper outfit.
'Get out of our way, we don't have time to deal with you,' warned Haruka as she stepped forwards, her sword poised.
'Like we'd accept help from you,' shouted Hitsugaya as he jumped up, 'Reign over the frosted frozen sky, Hyorinmaru.' The head of his ice dragon charged at Usaitar, but he just stood there and held up a finger. The dragon crashed into Usaitar but he took no harm as the dragon wasn't able to touch him, it was stopped by some sort of invisible shield. A second later the dragon shattered. 'Damn you,' cursed Hitsugaya.
'As you can see, I've come here unarmed. I just came to help Haruka find her last eye, that's all,' he said politely.
'And why should we trust you?' asked Haruka with an accusing tone.
'Because all I want is to face someone strong, and for that to happen I need you to get your new release. It's just that simple, and that's the only reason I want to help you.'
'Alright, let's say your intentions were to help us. But how would you know where the eye was?' asked Haruka her sword unlowered.
'Put it this way, I found it before you and I tried to get it for you, problem was only the owner of Hidoragon can get it. So I know exactly where it is, the only reason you haven't found it is because you aren't looking in the right places.'
'Can we trust him?' asked Rangiku.
'I don't know, but what choice do we have. We're up the creek without a paddle at the moment, and he seems to be telling the truth,' said Haruka still thinking.
'And another thing, I could easily have brought my sword along and killed all of you with ease but I didn't, isn't that enough?' said Usaitar calmly approaching them.
Finally Haruka made up her mind, 'fine we'll go with you, but if you make one wrong move then I'm going to have to kill you.'
Usaitar laughed, 'alright fine.' He walked off in the opposite direction allowing them to follow.
Hitsugaya put his sword away and Rangiku let go of hers and walked behind Usaitar, Haruka was the last but she didn't dare put it away. The mountain was extremely high full of bamboo instead of trees. There were barely any sign of life as they walked up. They passed several graves as they continued their hike, the high they got the more Haruka sensed the eye. It was late at night, and the air has cooled down quite considerably. As they climbed the lights of houses and buildings looked like tiny dots of yellow and the river was sparkling brightly in the moonlight.
Everyone had stayed quiet the entire hike until Rangiku tried to break it, 'quite a pretty moon out tonight, don't you think?' she asked looking around, but still everyone kept their silence, so Rangiku gave up and didn't say anything else.
They were nearing the peak of the mountain and by that time the town was almost impossible to see due to them being in the middle of a cloud.
'We're here,' said Usaitar as they had reached the very top of the mountain. As soon as Haruka stepped up a massive glow came from behind her, she immediately turned around and saw a huge glowing mansion of some sort. It looked like any other mansion; large door, three stories, very well decorated exterior and rows of windows, except it was sitting on top of the cloud.
'What the hell?' exclaimed an astonished Haruka.
'Oh? It's glowing? It didn't do that when I was here,' said Usaitar thoughtfully.
'Hey wait, you don't mean to tell me that this is-'
'Yep, this is where your final eye should be, Haruka. I mean just look at it glow for you, I'm sure it's glowing because of your presence. Shall we take a closer look then?' suggested Usaitar but at that moment his phone rang. 'Excuse me a moment,' he picked up his mobile, 'Oh? Really? You sure? Alright then, I'll be right there. Oh call Circe back first, I'll be there shortly, don't do anything until I'm there.' He put his phone back into his pocket. 'Well it seems I have an urgent matter to attend to back in Hueco Mundo, sorry but I must take my leave. Just go up to the door and it'll open for you Haruka, good luck.' Usaitar smiled, opened a gateway to Hueco Mundo and disappeared into it.
'Hey wait,' shouted Haruka, but he had already disappeared, 'darn him.'
'Come on, let's go,' said Hitsugaya, Haruka unwantingly turned around and all three of them approached the glowing mansion.
They cautiously stepped across the cloud incase it they fell through but surprisingly it was as solid as rock. So they made it to the entrance with no problems. Haruka stepped forwards, the entrance door looked like any plain door except with a bigger key hole that could fit a sword.
'That some key hole,' said Gangiku studying it closely.
'Hmm… I wonder,' thought Haruka, and she stabbed her sword into the hole turned it anti-clockwise and pulled it out. There was a small click and the double doors swung open. They walked in. The main entrance hall was lit by a massive chandelier hanging from the ceiling, there was two stair cases going up on either side of the entrance hall, but they lead to no where as there were no doors upstairs. The entrance hall was the only room as they entered the mansion. There was just another set of doors in front of them in the middle of the hall. But the room, from the exterior, looked no bigger than a bathroom.
The three of them went around the hall examining the room, but found nothing. Haruka felt something coming from the middle room a presence of some sorts. So instinctively she went and opened it, it was dark as she entered the room, like an empty void. But as soon as she walked one step the door automatically shut behind her and couldn't be opened. The room's light switched on and Haruka knew that someone was behind her, she turned around and saw an amazing yet disturbing sight.
Sorry about the lateness of submitting this chapter, i finished it yesterday and just forgot today, but at least it's up now, same day next week, bye