The Legendary Quincy.
Bed-rest.
The word that Ryuji has come to hate a lot this past month. How often does he have to end up in the clinic because of not fighting when others are around? Well, the answer would not be something he'd like. He'd rather be in school studying or riding his skateboard than sit all day and do nothing. He did have something to do, namely, watch the live broadcast of 'Spirit Hunter' in Karakura town on TV.
'Uh oh! Ichigo's going to be in a lot of trouble for that!', Ryuji thought to himself while gulping down juice as he watched Ichigo go over the barrier and run towards Don Kanonji on camera.
The Next Day,
"You need to rest!", Isshin told Ryuji.
"I'm fine…", Ryuji replied putting on his running shoes.
"You had a fatal wound on your back. You need to rest!", Isshin told him.
"It was healed the day before yesterday and I was home watching 'Spirit Hunter' of all things because I took a rest.", Ryuji replied.
"Are you the doctor?", Isshin asked him.
"…No.", Ryuji replied.
"Am I a doctor?", Isshin asked.
"No.", Ryuji replied bluntly.
"Ouch! That hurts!", Isshin said dramatically.
"It was meant to hurt.", Ryuji stated.
"Ah! Y-You bully!", Isshin screamed like a kid.
"Look, you let me take 2 rounds of jogging and I'll rest till tomorrow, as you wished.", Ryuji bargained.
"2 hours.", Isshin agreed.
"Be back soon.", Ryuji said as he took off.
'Seems like visiting her grave made him more restless…Masaki, what should I do to make sure that our son doesn't kill himself in his search for vengeance?', Isshin thought to himself as watched Ryuji go out.
The Next Day, Karakura High,
"Third place? You always do so well.", Tatsuki said as she petted Orihime on the head while standing in front of the school board where first-term exam results are hung.
"Wow! Orihime, I didn't know you were smart!", Michiru stated in surprise, standing right next to Tatsuki.
"She doesn't look it though, huh?", Tatsuki commented.
"Wonderful! You are my Hime, after all!", Chizuru praised as she cuddled with Orihime.
"Oh…Well, besides the girls doing well, no one betrayed us by getting into the top 50.", Keigo stated to Mizuiro as he checked the results.
"Look carefully.", Mizuiro told him, pointing at the results.
"Huh? W-W-What? 23rd place?! No way! How can you be up there?!", Keigo asked Ichigo in surprise with tears falling down his face.
"Shut up. I study because there's nothing else to do at home.", Ichigo answered Keigo.
'Here we go…', Ryuji thought to himself with a sigh as Keigo began ranting.
"Here, keep these nerd glasses-", Keigo teased Ichigo with an imaginary glass on his face.
"I don't want it.", Ichigo said as he broke the imaginary glass, making Keigo rant on the side.
"So you actually study, Ichigo?", Mizuiro asked Ichigo.
"Well yeah…It can be tough when you have orange hair like this.", Ichigo replied.
'That is a fact…', Ryuji thought to himself.
"I see. I guess everyone has their unique circumstances in life. I think you need a nerd headband-", Keigo stated before teasing Ichigo with an imaginary headband.
"I told you, I don't want it.", Ichigo said as he cut the headband with his imaginary scissor.
"Ah! Fine! I get it! I'll never ask you to hang out again! Hey Chad, c'mon and join me. You're not in the top fifty, right?", Keigo told Ichigo with a pissed-off tone before asking Sado to hang out.
"Hmm.", Chad pointed to his score, showing them he was in 11th place.
"Ahhh! I-I never thought you guys were so evil! Never! I'll play with you again!", Keigo ranted with Mizuiro joining him this time and they both took off crying.
"Uh-oh…you made him cry.", Tatsuki commented.
"Good thing he didn't see my results…", Ryuji stated.
"Which place did you get anyway?", Ichigo asked him.
"There…", Chad pointed to the scores, showing them Ryuji was in 2nd place.
"You're more evil that us…", Ichigo commented with a sigh.
"If we're evil, what about the guy in 1st?", Ryuji asked Ichigo, looking at the scores.
"Ishida Ametatsu? Never heard of that name.", Ichigo misread the name and commented.
"It's Uryu. Ishida Uryu.", Orihime corrected him.
"You know him?", Ichigo asked her.
"He's in our class.", Orihime replied.
"Huh?", Ichigo was shocked and embarrassed at that.
'Nice job, Ichigo.', Ryuji thought to himself, holding back his laughter.
"Forget it, Orihime. He never remembers a person's name or face. Let's go.", Tatsuki said with a scowl and dragged Orihime off.
"Hmm…was he in our class?", Ichigo asked himself.
'…He never changes.', Ryuji thought to himself with a sigh as he walked off toward class.
In the evening, the warehouse,
"It seems you have recovered from your injuries.", Senjumaru stated.
"Yes…Senjumaru?", Ryuji agreed before calling her name.
"Yes?", Senjumaru asked him.
"I…saw it.", Ryuji replied with the aura going dark.
"What did you see?", Senjumaru asked him in concern.
"The hollow…that killed my mother.", Ryuji answered.
"At the trip?", Senjumaru asked him.
"…", Ryuji nodded.
"What happened?", Senjumaru asked him.
"I…couldn't get revenge.", Ryuji let out those words before telling her everything.
"I see…", Senjumaru said as she heard everything.
"…", Ryuji stood there without a word.
"Ryuji-kun! Do you remember why you wanted to become a Shinigami?", Senjumaru asked him.
"To fight hollows.", Ryuji replied.
"Why did you want to fight Hollows?", Senjumaru asked him.
"Because they destroy innocent souls' peaceful afterlives.", Ryuji replied.
"Is that all?", Senjumaru asked him.
"…", Ryuji became silent.
"Why did you want to fight hollows?", Senjumaru pushed the question.
"BECAUSE A HOLLOW KILLED HER!", Ryuji yelled out.
"Your desire for vengeance…As I thought.", Senjumaru said with a sigh.
"Don't act surprised now…I told you this the first time I met you.", Ryuji stated.
"Then, there is no changing your mind. I can't offer you words of wisdom or encouragement. All I can say is…Good Luck.", Senjumaru told him.
"Thanks…Now, shall we start our training?", Ryuji asked her.
"We sha-", Senjumaru's reply was cut short by her sensing something.
"What's happening?", Ryuji asked her.
"It looks like there is something you should take a look at.", Senjumaru told him before the two disappeared and reappeared on a building watching Ichigo and Rukia.
Meanwhile Ichigo and Rukia,
"After all this! No Hollow, after all!", Ichigo yelled in frustration.
"Shut up! Get back into your body now! Damn!", Rukia scolded Ichigo before scowling at her phone.
"Do something about that useless cell phone!", Ichigo told her.
"Are you saying that it's my fault?! I just relay whatever comes through the Soul Phone.", Rukia asked Ichigo while he was going back inside his body.
"So hurry it up and fix it!", Ichigo told her before getting up.
"I want to as well.", Rukia replied.
"Breaking up?", A voice came up from the dark alleyway.
"Huh?!", Ichigo and Rukia turned to the voice.
"Good Evening, Kurosaki…Kuchiki.", The voice revealed to be a bespectacled teenager of average height and slender build. He has straight, chin-length black hair framing both sides of his face, and is fair-skinned with blue eyes.
"Who are you? How do you know our names?", Ichigo asked the guy.
"Kurosaki, you can see spirits, right?", The guy asked Ichigo, shocking Ichigo, and Rukia.
"W-What're you saying?", Ichigo asked the guy.
"A new hollow has appeared.", The guy stated as he looked toward the left.
"What? H-He's right. It's an order.", Rukia asked before being surprised at her phone notifying her that a hollow had appeared.
"Which way?", Ichigo asked Rukia.
"Over there. You don't know the basics and yet you call yourself a Shinigami?", The guy said as he pointed with his right hand, carrying a cross hung on a small chain.
"Tch.", Ichigo's lips twitched in anger.
The cross that hung off the guy's right hand began to condense blue flames that took the form of a bow. Using his left hand, he pulled a string from the bow with an arrow forming automatically.
"Go!", The guy ordered as he shot his arrow in the hollow's direction.
The arrow roared through the sky and hit the hollow on its head and destroy the hollow as it appeared, shocking Ichigo, Rukia, and Ryuji, who stood near Senjumaru far away from the three.
"It disappeared.", Rukia said as she looked at the phone.
"Who are you?!", Ichigo asked the guy after checking Rukia's phone.
"Ishida Uryu. A Quincy. I hate Shinigami.", The guy replied.
"What?", Ichigo asked Uryu.
"Don't you understand? I'm saying…Kurosaki Ichigo, I hate you.", Uryu stated, making Ichigo's eyes dilate in surprise.
With Ryuji and Senjumaru,
"…", Ryuji watched with his eyes widened.
"Did you see, Ryuji-kun?", Senjumaru asked her.
"Who are these Quincy?", Ryuji asked her with his eyes closed.
"The Quincy are living beings that have the ability to detect the existence of Hollows and other Souls.", Senjumaru started.
"So do I. But, I don't remember being able to make weapons like that.", Ryuji stated.
"Quincy is spiritually aware Humans that are able to absorb and manipulate Reishi into spiritual weapons.", Senjumaru continued.
"And every Quincy inherits the ability to manipulate Reishi from lineage?", Ryuji asked her.
"Yes. But, it also requires extensive training to use that ability in the manner that you witnessed.", Senjumaru finished with that answer.
"And you wanted to witness this?", Ryuji asked her.
"Do you know why he hates Shinigami?", Senjumaru asked him.
"Why?", Ryuji asked her.
"Because we Shinigami destroyed them 200 years ago.", She answered.
"What?", Ryuji asked surprised, and listened to Senjumaru explain everything.
"To prevent the collapse of the worlds, huh?", Ryuji asked taking a breath.
"Yes.", Senjumaru answered.
"Again, why did you want me to witness this?", Ryuji asked her again.
"…There may be a time… when the two of you face each other in battle.", Senjumaru told him.
"If that is the case, I'll be prepared.", Ryuji stated with his Reiatsu flaring and his eyes turning red with tomoe inside.
The Next Day, Evening,
"You came here before me?", Senjumaru asked Ryuji as she appeared through a portal.
"Left school early. Arrived just 5 minutes ago.", Ryuji replied.
"That suggests that I'm on time.", Senjumaru stated.
"You are.", Ryuji replied.
"Hmm…What do we do now?", Senjumaru asked her.
"Teach me how to detect hollows like how Ishida Uryu did.", Ryuji replied.
"Yesterday has impacted you, hasn't it?", Senjumaru asked with a skeptical look.
"I have destroyed 65 hollows in 5 weeks. That gives 13 hollows per week, without knowing when and where hollows appear. Now, if I got to know, I'd complete my trial by this week.", Ryuji finished his reasoning.
"Your calculations are impressive…in theory. If taken pragmatically, it falls flat to its face.", Senjumaru stated.
"Teach me and I'll prove it to you.", Ryuji told her with a smirk.
"Alright then.", Senjumaru stated as she started the training.
An hour later,
'It's been an hour since he started to focus on hollow reiatsu. I know he is on the level to see spirit ribbons but learning this technique in an hour is just…difficult.', Senjumaru thought to herself as she was watching Ryuji concentrate with his eyes closed.
"It's there!", Ryuji claimed as he opened his eyes in desperation and pointed upwards.
"It's not that easy…how is this possible?", Senjumaru started to say but was interrupted by hollow reiatsu and it appeared exactly where Ryuji pointed.
"Rrrraaawwwwrrrrrr!". The hollow roared from the sky as it flew down somewhere else.
"Not a chance! Hado #4. Byakurai!", Ryuji said before using Kido to shoot a lightning bolt at the hollow's head.
"It's been knocked down.", Senjumaru stated as she watched the hollow lose its balance and fall.
"…and dead.", Ryuji stated after slashing its head with his Zanpakuto.
"Well done…". Senjumaru clapped while the hollow disintegrated into a Jigokuchō.
"I know…More are on their way.", Ryuji told her with a concerned face.
"What?", Senjumaru asked as she looked up to witness hollows appearing left, right, and center.
"Are the hollows planning an invasion?", Ryuji asked.
"Hollow bait…Quincy's use this substance to attract hollows.", Senjumaru explained to her.
"I take it that there are going to be more than 100 hollows in total.", Ryuji stated.
"Low-level…but yeah. They're going to attack the spiritually aware humans of this town.", Senjumaru replied.
"I won't give them a chance.", Ryuji stated as he drew his Zanpakuto out.
"The people in the town will be fine. There are enough fighters in this town than you think.", Senjumaru stated.
"What should I do then? Polish your beautiful nails?", Ryuji asked her sarcastically.
"I think it's time I made you impress me.", Senjumaru told him.
"What?", Ryuji asked her.
"If you finished your count by tonight, you'd have impressed me, saved lives…", Senjumaru started.
"…and pass the trial to become a full-fledged Shinigami.", Ryuji completed.
"Your perceptiveness is top-notch.", Senjumaru stated. "Let's see who wins…", Senjumaru told herself as Ryuji took off with a smirk to continue the mission.
15 minutes later, With Ryuji,
"Rrrrraaaawwwrrrr!", A hollow roared as it pounced on Ryuji.
"…Slow.", Ryuji said as he dodged the hollow by jumping up and slashing its head while landing.
"Rrrrraaaaawwwwrrr!", Another hollow roared as it attacked him.
"…80.", Ryuji stated the count after he dodged the attack by moving to the side, took off towards it at insane speed, and slashed the hollow's head.
"You have successfully defeated 15 hollows today. You just need to search and cleanse 20 more hollows.", Senjumaru stated after witnessing everything.
"No need, they're coming here.", Ryuji stated as he witnessed hollows coming towards him.
"Rrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwrrrrrrrrrrrrr!", The collective roar of the hollows was as loud as it could get.
"Help!", Ryuji took off towards one of the hollows and slashed its head.
"Watch out!", Senjumaru warned as she saw the hollow behind Ryuji attack him.
"Hmm…", Ryuji smirked as he disappeared and appeared behind the hollow.
'His speed has gone up.', Senjumaru observed as Ryuji slashed the hollow's head off.
"Rrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwrrrrrrrrr!", The rest of the hollows roared at Ryuji and started to run towards him like a pack of Hyenas.
"Haaaaaa!", Ryuji took off toward them, clenching his Zanpakuto, like a Tiger.
End of Chapter – 5.