Arrival
The midmorning sun was spreading its warmth across Karakura Town. Raising the spirits of its citizens some of who were still dealing with some repairs from damage suffered during the last 'gang' fights. Rumour was abound the town of two of more gangs of people fighting it out in the streets causing all the damage around town. However exact reports of offenders were slim at best, but all reports pointed to one gang wearing traditional shihakushō (1) and another group with masks. But life went on and the citizens weren't going to let a little thing like a gang war get them down.
The sun was warming the roof of the Urahara Store in but no one was around to enjoy it. Inside the store was empty, however there was a door leading to a basement that was open. The basement, if it could be described as such, was an immense cavern like structure, resembling a rocky desert, with a cloudy blue sky. To any normal person the sheer mechanics of the thing would have been mind boggling.
Sitting on a rock ledge was a man wearing a green and white bucket hat and black haori watching a small group of students practice through some basic combat moves. The two boys won't amount to anything for some time yet, but the girl has a small amount of promise though. Eyeing Tatsuki as she was going through her forms with Yoruichi, infusing spirit energy, reiatsu, into her attacks Yoruichi is having fun with her. He chortled to himself.
Sensing a disturbance in the spirit particles in the air the man jumped down to stand with the children motioning them to stop. Suddenly the air fifteen feet away appeared to bend and warp before snapping open into a void of darkness disgorging a large group of Shinigami. Picking out their friends from among the Shinigami Tatsuki and her two companions rushed over to greet Ichigo and co.
"Orihime, Orihime! You're okay!" Tatsuki was hollering at she enveloped her friend in a whirlwind of hugging. Orihime had a look of shock etched into her face while suffering the brunt of her friend's assault.She looks worn out something shocking Kisuke Urahara thought to himself. She has a long way to go yet, she had better be able to cope. Tatsuki was jabbering at her friend, commenting on the odd clothing she was wearing asking where she got it. "What was that? I couldn't hear you."
"Aizen-dono…" Orihime glanced at the lady standing next to her. Urahara did a double take An Arrancar! Oh this is interesting. "That… b…" she blushed slightly when she noticed everyone staring at her in complete silence "Aizen gave them to me, it was to be my uniform. U-Ulquiorra… told me that wearing them meant that I was one of them body and soul." She finished in a rush, looking like she wanted to melt into the floor. Tatsuki had a fierce look on her face that could have flayed skin at twenty paces. Even Aizen would take pause at that look. Tatsuki embraced her friend again muttering something about not letting anyone harm her again. For some reason Ichigo was coping her glare over Orihime's shoulder.
"Ooooh welcome back. How was Hueco Mundo." He decided it was time to chime in to break the silence. "It looks as though things went to plan with Miss Inoue's rescue." He said drawing everyone's eyes towards him. "Even, better then expected it seems." Focusing on the Arrancar female "Who may this lovely lady be?"
"Neliel Tu Oderschvank, Arrancar, and former number three Espada. Until I was betrayed that was, by Aizen's cronies." The tall green haired woman responded with a slightly bitter tone at the end. A big grin broke out on her face "Ichigo helped me to remember myself, he's my new bestest buddy." She finished with child like glee eliciting a groan from Ichigo.
"Well, I'm looking forward to having a long chat with you." He said tapping his fan against his chin.
"She should come back to Soul Society." The slimy 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi hissed. The other Captains appeared to be considering the options. Better head this off quickthought Urahara.
"She can stay here at the store. In Soul Society she would be too much of a disturbance. Here she can provide information while being less of a burden. Security wise we can take care of her well enough. Between myself, Yoruichi, and Ichigo and his friends, we can make sure she behaves." The look of anger directed at him from Mayuri gave him a warm feeling. He is not worthy of his position. He thought eyeing the withered body of a Shinigami held in the Captains arms.
Surprisingly the most assistance came from an unlikely source. "Her presence in Soul Society is not required at this time. Leaving her here will allow for preparations on this side to be made faster. She may also be able to identify any incoming Arrancar." The quiet measured tone of Byakuya Kuchiki allowed for no argument. "In the meantime she can provide us with information on the Espada."
Nel was nodding her head fairly emphatically and saying that she was willing to help in anyway she could as long as she could stay near Ichigo and his friends. Kurostuchi made a disgusted sound, and announced that he was leaving then as he needed to get to work on fixing Nemu. Quickly the other Captains decided to dismiss their Lieutenants and send them back to Soul Society, but decided to stay for a little while longer to question Nel further.
"Well, lets all go upstairs for some tea, shall we." He offered while the Shinigami were departing through the senkaimon (2).
The snowy darkness stretched out into infinity, white swirling particles of spirit energy were the only thing to give this seeming infinite space any texture. The watcher had left Hueco Mundo just over an hour or so after the Shinigami. Dondo and Pesche had been surprisingly forth coming with information once they had recognised the watcher. They should be fairly well hidden by now mused the watcher they sure could run when given the need.
"Heh, you trained those two well Nel." The watcher chuckled.
Stopping the watcher looked around. Seemingly this place was no different to anywhere else in this void, but they knew different, this wasn't too far from where Nel and her companions had exited. Standing on the path of condensed spirit particles the watcher thought hopefully not to close as they opened the Garganta and stepped through to the Living World for the first time in nearly three hundred years.
Jerking suddenly in shock Nel completely forgot about the question from the female Shinigami Captain and whipped her head around looking towards the upper corner of the room staring hard enough as though she was trying to look through the wall to see what was on the other side. She was oblivious to the others in the room around her not noticing the looks everyone was giving her. She could feel the Garganta opening. But before she could open her mouth to tell them the entire room seemed to vibrate with a sudden burst of reiatsu. Who ever it was that opened the Garganta had stepped through to the Living World. Moments later the reiatsu pulse disappeared as the intruder quickly masked their reiatsu. That reiatsu, she frowned it is familiar but who.
"Nel, stay here with Orihime." Ichigo told her as the Captains made for the door. Nel didn't hear him though. Renji and Rukia who had asked to stay with the Captains were ordered by Byakuya to stay behind as well to guard Orihime. Then the Captains were gone. Nel was chewing her mind trying to pin down who this reiatsu belonged to it was so familiar to her. It was old, something old, from a long time ago. Her eyebrows climbed to the top of her head in realisation and she spun towards the door, stopping only when Urahara called out to her.
"AHHH Nel-san, you recognise who this reiatsu belongs to?"
Looking at Urahara Nel nodded solemnly "I think… He was a friend, long ago. I have to get to him before the others do. I don't think they will want to talk to give him a chance to explain himself." to herself she added "I think he is probably looking for me."
"Ooh, an olf friend? An old flame perhaps?" he continued with a cheesy smile "Well that's different then! Since someone needs to stay here with Miss Inoue, you best be off to catch them before something happens!"
Nodding her thanks she disappeared in an instant using sonido and set out to catch the Captains and Ichigo. What's insufferable man doing here of all places.
The watcher stepped out of the Garganta allowing it to close behind him and quickly suppressing his reiatsu. Suddenly there were reiatsu spikes not far from him. Closer then he expected. Well crud,this is no good. The watcher spun blurring away in a burst of static using sonido and made his get-away. Dashing across the rooftops he began looking for a place to make a stand or lay low.
Moving across the rooftops of the town he could sense those following behind him and knew that he wouldn't be able to keep this up for very long. Sonido is designed for short bursts of speed, not extended marathons it also revealed his position to his followers although he was using very small amounts of spirit energy. I guess that I didn't suppress far enough.
He needed a distraction, something to throw them off his tail for the time being. Focusing a small amount of his reiatsu into a ball of energy in his hand the watcher hurled it off to his right before going to his left in a buzz of static, keeping lower to the ground he slowed his pace and kept moving until reaching what looked to be a park of some sort, and began to look for a place to lay low. That trail should throw them off for the moment he thought as he moved deeper into the park. Leaning against a tree he thought luck might be on his side, and he would be able to get to Nel if it held.
…
Leaping away from the tree he prepared to sonido away when four Shinigami appeared not far from him. The female one and two of the males were dressed the same, the fourth, a male as well, lacked the white haori of the others, and had some giant kitchen knife hanging off his backHis zanpakutō? One of the Shinigami, the male with the cold look on his face demanded "Who are you?"
The watcher considered the man for a moment before opening his mouth to answer, but was interrupted when Nel arrived between them punctuated by a burst of static and a look somewhere between worry and shock on her face.
Forgive me but I'm unsure how to go about the use of the word Sonido (the Hollow version of Shunpo, flash steps) in sentences like – Nel sonido behind Mr X. It doesn't seem to fit but – Nel sonido'd behind Mr X. seems to work. If someone could point out the correct way to say that, and sonido'ing it would be much appreciated.
(1) The standard shinigami uniform, called shihakushō (死覇装,lit. garment of dead souls) - a white kosode, a black kimono and hakama, and a white obi sash.
(2) The gate through which the Shinigami can access Soul Society and the Living World, looks like a pair of rice paper doors.
Oh and sorry, I thought I was going to reveal the name for the character this chapter but it's in the begging of the next chapter. :)