DV: Now, I know we said we'd have chapters out every Sunday...oops? But really, we're both uni students, and with school starting up again, we can no longer make any guarantees, though we'll do our best to not take too terribly long in between chapters.
US- Well, technically not a uni student. I'm starting my first year this September, but I suppose the principle is the same. If anything, be glad we've had such regular updates so far. Still, that isn't to say we won't be updating. Nah- we have plenty of good stuff planned in the future...
Disclaimer: Do we still need this part? It just serves to unnaturally pad our word count.
Minato III
"It is quite...convenient that the sewer system is so comprehensive," Minato thought, as he and Marcus trekked their way towards the tower where Rukia Kuchiki was being held. The system ran throughout the entirety of the Seireitei, while Minato also knew that one or two secret passages led beyond the walls themselves. He had always known that he would someday need to find his way around in here, and was glad that he had personally memorised the most detailed map of the tunnels available at some point during his centuries in service.
They were heading directly for Rukia Kuchiki, and consequently the Hōgyoku. If all went to plan…
"Hey Minato, we should double check our plan. Just to be sure, y'know." Marcus said casually, stretching his arms as he walked.
"Of course. The main sewers don't lead to a close enough entrance, so we'll have to take one of the side routes. I will warn you now, they are...not as open as these parts, and I'm sure we'll have to crawl at some point."
"...I hate your plans, and consequently you."
Minato smiled beautifully, wishing he was able to see the expression on his companion's face. Young people were just far too amusing, sometimes. "I am aware."
"So, are you going to cast the Bakudō spell to hide us, or shall I?" Marc prompted. "I know the spell, but you likely have more experience with it than me, don't you?"
"Possibly. It depends on how often you used it. While it was often a mainstay for me, I have not found its use needed for many years. I am quite possibly rather rusty. However...you are aware Kido can be double-layered, right?"
"I dabbled more in the physical properties. I'm the Harry Dresden of the Kido world- about as subtle as a brick. I was more interested in quick, tough spells. But screw it- let's do that then."
They stopped for a moment while Minato cast Bakudō No 26: Kyokko (Bent Light), and Marc overlaid his own illusion. Minato was right in noting that he was rusty- his time out of war had made him less capable than he once was. In this case, he was glad that he had Marcus to cover up that flaw.
"Well, at least it's simple once we get in there." though invisible, Minato was sure that the Ryoka Shinigami was smiling. "We sneak through the rest of the sewers, cross the bridge, knock out any guards near the cell discretely, you quickly extract the McGuffin while I wait on standby to intersect anybody that tries to interrupt. Then we just have to get the fuck out of dodge before Byakuya wises up, and then we're home safe and sound."
Minato smirked "Thank you for repeating what we discussed earlier- it's not like I was the one to conceive the plan now, was it?"
"Jackass." Marcus spat, but said nothing more.
After rolling his eyes, Minato gave a wayward gaze towards Marcus, "I just wanted to be sure. You strike me as the lone ranger, cowboy cop type. Most are in youth. We're trying not to attract attention, though we have a plan if we do. It's not perfect, but no plan is. Anyway, take a left up here."
"We here?"
"Yes, we are. Now mission silence."
The duo sunk into their own respective mission mind frames. The necessary tunnel was just ahead- it was time to begin.
XXXXXXXXXX
The journey was cramped and wet, and Minato just hoped that the bloody Hōgyoku was worth his literally soiled clothes now. The smell of the thin passage was almost enough to make him throw up his arms and just go for the 'overpower everyone and everything, take the treasure by force, and screw anyone that got in his way'.
Luckily, that voice was overshadowed by the practical part of his mind which reminded him of the purpose of this mission, and that he mostly certainly wasn't capable of overpowering everyone, not without measures that required more than he was willing to give.
Slowly, pushing the manhole off of the sewer exit, the duo climbed out. They were just out of sight of the passageway leading up to the bridge which would lead to the tower.
Minato took the lead, and invisibly they walked up the steps. Then, at the top, the elder man stopped Marcus casually, pointing out their opposition.
There, at the end of the bridge, looking out across it was Byakuya Kuchiki himself.
This was what the former Captain was afraid of. What he had anticipated, yes, but been afraid of none the less. Now they would need to slip past the Captain, or all subtlety would be lost. Luckily, they had both reigned in their spiritual presences as much as possible before leaving the sewers, so this was the best chance they had.
Slowly, step by step, they approached. Their double tiered illusion seemed to do the trick, as the Captain failed to respond to them once they'd reached halfway across the bridge. Maybe he wasn't expecting a stealthy, invisible approach? Maybe he was too comfortable and expected Ichigo or another unsubtle individual to attack? Maybe he was just in too much thought to notice?
"Either way, doesn't matter. The real question now is getting the door open. Luckily, it's only that brat Byakuya. If Ukitake was here now…"
As they approached the door, Minato started building up his reiatsu in his hand. Side-tracking to Byakuya, he placed his hand right behind Byakuya's head, "Bakudō no 47: Hakufuku." (White Crawl)
The Kido spell designed to knock people unconscious was quick to act. Without any preparation, Byakuya stood no chance, and he slumped to the ground unconscious.
Marc gave him a kick, then said quietly "Yup, he's down. A bit anticlimactic, actually."
"We move on." Minato grabbed his legs, and Marcus his arms. They dragged him inside then laid their own Kido onto his form to hide him. Sufficiently sure that he was out for the count, Minato tapped Marcus' invisible form and whispered that it was time to carry on.
They stalked through the tower, quietly slipping past most of the guards, before they reached the cell block. A double tap from Minato to Marc's shoulder- the signal for them to each take one side of the prison and knockout everyone. Nobody could be allowed to interfere in the extraction of the Hōgyoku.
Minato wasn't sure how Marcus himself was doing, but his own side went down easily. Standards had certainly slipped since he used to be a prime member of the Second Squad. Even while out of practice, he was still able to invisibly incapacitate everyone without the alarm being sounded. Casually walking down the cell corridor, he gandered a look through each cell for Rukia Kuchiki.
At last, he spotted her, meekly sat down and garbed in the traditional white clothes of the accused.
"Well, we found her." Marc said joyfully, removing his cloaking spell while rapping on her cell door.
"The original plan was to knock her out first before undoing the illusion, you realise?" Minato raised one eyebrow and slipped off his own spell, seeing the ruse was up.
"What!?" Rukia jerked upright, not expecting two random strangers to randomly appear out of midair.
"I realise. I just… well, actually I forgot we were in stealth mode for a sec." Marc scratched his head. "Sorry. I'm so used to the banter that it slipped out. You did say you needed to lose the spell before extracting anyway, so why does it matter?"
"Who are you?" The prisoner barked.
"Nobody you need to worry about." Minato waved her off, before turning to the more serious problem. "Marcus, we specifically went over the plan before we left. How did you forget?"
"Meh." Marcus shrugged.
"Are you ignoring me!?" Rukia stomped her foot petulantly.
"Not here for you, this time." Marcus said pointedly, still basically ignoring her. "You just sit there and look pretty, miss damsel in distress. We'll be out of your hair shortly."
"Who are you calling a shorty!?"
"I said shortly, you midget." Minato could tell that at this point he was just calling her that to piss her off. He sighed irritably, annoyed that the plan had not gone off without a pinch thanks to Marcus.
But, plans could always be adapted. And in this case, the most expedient thing would be to wrap this up as fast as possible.
"Screw it, just nab the McGuffin, Minato." Marcus told him sharply.
Minato frowned. "I don't take orders from you. But let's get this show on the road."
The centuries old man mentally prepared himself, grit his teeth, and grabbed his right arm. A stream of power flowed from the limb, covering it. It warped into a thrashing lipped tentacle before surging forwards.
Rukia barely had time to widen her eyes and scream before it plunged into her, perhaps a tad roughly. Minato was observing the procedure carefully, and noted her eyes rolling back and her body spasm as she lost all control. The only thing keeping her upright was the tendril now inside her.
Marc, meanwhile, had stepped out of his eyesight- likely to watch the passageway- leaving Minato to work.
Minato wasn't terribly concerned with Rukia's safety, and was thrashing about in her to find the Hōgyoku as fast as possible. He had to be as quick as possible. This power he was channeling, while amazingly potent, was quite toxic, so he couldn't safely maintain this for terribly long without there being...negative consequences.
Before long, the tendril retreated, reforming into an arm, blue jewel in hand. Rukia Kuchiki collapsed, bleeding out of multiple orifices.
Minato smiled, marveling at the small jewel he was now clutching in his bloody hand. For such a small item, it was amazing what it could do. He looked up from it, to tell his partner in arms that it was time to leave, only to see something unexpected.
Minato's ally was standing weakly behind him and bleeding, with a massive hole through his chest from a concentrated Kido beam which had torn straight through.
"You should have really underestimated me less, stranger." spoke a familiar voice. "That Bakudō spell was far too weak to keep a Kido Master such as me knocked out for long, and while I applaud you for being able to plant it on me in the first place, if you had wanted any chance of victory you should have slit my throat when you had the chance."
Without turning around, Minato pocketed the Hōgyoku and shook his head ruefully, "Byakuya Kuchiki. A valid point. Then again, you shouldn't overestimate your own ability. Everything is done for a reason. Even if it's not always clear at the start."
"Oh f-fuck off Minato." Marc spat through clenched teeth. "We got cocky and you underestimated Kuchiki, end of. Don't you even dare and pretend this was part of the script!"
Minato looked at Marcus as his lips peeled back further than humanly possible into a passable imitation of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland, "Since when were you under the impression this wasn't part of the plan, Marcus?"
Marc turned to Byakuya with a look of despair. "Please, oh please, take me into custody. I'm not sure if I want to be on the same side as this wannabe any longer."
The Captain reacted little to the humour, and instead unsheathed his blade. "I do not have time for this nonsense. State your name and your purpose, then submit yourself to my custody to be tried by the full might of the law, Ryoka. But first… you can hand over that jewel."