Chapter 4:
Normal POV
"So you're basically telling us the hollow disappeared to another world?" Ichigo confirmed raising an eyebrow at Kisuke.
Kisuke nodded. "Yep, that's right," He replied fanning himself.
Ichigo, Renji, Rukia, and Hitsugaya were sitting crossed legged on the floor in Kisuke's shop. Rukia had reported to him what had happened to the hollow Hitsugaya was battling. Kisuke had told them that he would schedule a time for him to explain and talk about what it was, which was exactly what was happening now. Ikkaku and Yumichika had gone back to the soul society because another matter had arisen.
"But how did it happen exactly?" Hitsugaya questioned rubbing his chin.
Kisuke folded up his fan as Yoruichi, cat form, padded through the doorway. She licked one of her front paws and curled up next to Kisuke. He whispered a couple words in her ear before she drew in her breath and let it out in a soft meow.
"Its actually quite simple how it opens. When a large amount of spiritual pressure gets mixed with magic, the other force, it creates link between our two worlds," She began explaining. "This isn't the first time it happened. A couple hundred years ago a bunch of soul reaper captains got into a fight with Bankai and everything. At the same time to the other world a battle was ragging as well. Due to the large amounts of both forces it opened up a portal that connects our two world together," She finished.
"So to get it to open you need a large amount of spiritual pressure and the other force to mix at the same time?" Renji confirmed.
Yoruichi nodded and turned towards Kisuke. He cleared his throat and stood up.
"Of course its very dangerous when this happens and we need someone to close it," Kisuke began as he narrowed his eyes towards the group. "Its simple to close it, we do the exact same thing," He began to explain.
"But if we go to the other side to close it won't we be stuck on the other side?" Renji pointed out.
"True, but not true simultaneously," Kisuke replied.
"Huh?" The whole group says at once sounding as stupid as ever.
Kisuke rolled his eyes and walks out of the room. Ichigo gives Yoruichi a puzzled stare; she gives him the same blank look. Kisuke walks back into the room a couple minutes later, holding a dark blue box lined with silver. Renji raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to say something, but Rukia cut him off.
"Two questions. One, we're supposed to go to an unknown world just to close a portal? And two, why are you sending such a large group just to close a portal?" Rukia asked.
"You're not going over there just to close the portal!" Kisuke laughed. "I'm sending you there to investigate it as well. I would like to know more about the people there. Collect any information that you find interesting," Kisuke held up the box. "This box contains a little bit of magic, the other force, so when you closed the link you open this. This releases enough magic to re-create the link temporarly so you can safely return here," He explained.
"I'm not even going to ask how y-" Hitsugaya stopped when he felt dread wash over him.
The group froze stopped when a frightening spiritual filled the room. Ichigo growled under his breath and balled his hands into fists. Renji gasped, he knew what his feeling was. It was the espada; they were back in Karakura Town. Ichigo stood up and rushed out of the room quickly, changing into a soul reaper in the process.
"Ichigo! Wait!" Rukia cried after him.
She popped a soul candy into her mouth before she took off running. She was separated from her body in a flash of blue light. Her gigai ran after her, followed by Renji and Hitsugaya. She leaped over Ichigo's soulless body and rushed out of the shop.
Ichigo ran through the streets with only one thought in his mind. Grimmjow. He promised himself he would not lose to him again. As he neared the espada's presence became clearer. Grimmjow wasn't alone but with two other espada, judging by their spiritual pressure.
Meanwhile, Grimmjow, Hailbel, and Starrk continued to search the streets of the town for the portal Aizen had told them about. Starrk was resultant because he was sure Aizen was drunk at the time. But them again Aizen was on a strict "No Drinking" diet. Everytime he thought about going to a bar, Gin or Tousen would tie him up for an hour. Grimmjow stopped when he felt a familiar spiritual pressure. It was Ichigo, most likely wanting a re-match.
"Grimmjow, don't think about it," Hailbel warned as Grimmjow grabbed his sword handle. "Aizen-sama doesn't want us fighting. Save your strength for when we get the other world," She told him sharply.
"All I wanna do is get revenge on the kid! Can't I just strike him and run?" He demanded.
"Nah, then he'll come after us and we'll get dragged in," Starrk pointed out. "Plus I don't want to fight," He added with a grumble.
"How did someone as lazy as you become the first espada anyway? All you do is nap!" Grimmjow yelled.
"Don't do it. If we run into him then we'll fight. We most likely will judging by how close he's getting," Hailbel assured.
Grimmjow reluctantly put his sword back and the team of espada took off running through the streets. If they saw a blurry it would be sort of easy. If they saw anything that was more blurry then what they were seeing, it was they're portal. Halibel turned and rushed down a dark alley, followed by Starrk and Grimmjow. Karakura town was big but judging by the unfamiliar vibe they got every five seconds, there were quite a few.
Stark almost stopped when he thought he saw something usual. He turned around and ran towards it again to get another look. Yes, it was it! A blurred spot was on floating above the roof of a building with a blue edge to it.
"Hailbel! Grimmjow! I found a portal!" He called after them.
Hailbel flash-stepped over to him and smirked as Grimmjow's face settled into a pout. He would not get to fight Ichigo as he had wished. He followed his comrades to the building and jumped onto a windowsill. He jumped onto a balcony and leaped onto the roof. Hailbel and Starrk were waiting impatiently. Hailbel was about to step through when the sound of cutting through bricks made them all turn.
A thick cloud of smoke blocked their view, but Grimmjow caught the sight of a dark shadow. When the smoke cleared, Ichigo was standing in mid-air his huge sword in hand.
"What are you doing here?" Ichigo demanded as Grimmjow drew his sword.
"Ah, dang! I was hoping I could avoid battling for at least one mission!" Starrk complained.
"I got this soul reaper to myself then!" Grimmjow yelled happily running towards Ichigo at full speed.
Grimmjow swung his sword at Ichigo but Ichigo blocked it easily. Ichigo jumped above Grimmjow and raised his sword above his head, reading to strike. Grimmjow swung his sword at full force at Ichigo, throwing him to the ground. Ichigo stood up and wiped to the blood off his chin as Grimmjow charged at him. Ichigo raised his sword above his head again and swung it at Grimmjow.
"Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo yelled as a blue shock wave shot towards Grimmjow like a bullet.
Grimmjow jumped above Ichigo, avoiding his attack. Grimmjow stood in mid-air as a red dot charged up in the palm of his hand. He smirked as he fired the cero at Ichigo. Ichigo barley had time to dodge, the force so strong it knocked Ichigo off his feet and his sword out of his hands. Grimmjow took advantage of Ichigo's weakness and jumped on him. Ichigo coughed up blood as Grimmjow raised his sword and prepared to register the killing blow.
He swung his sword as another sword blocked his attack. He gasped in confusion and looked down. Rukia stood firmly in front of Ichigo, her zanpakto in hand. She jumped above Grimmjow and swung her sword at him, making a large cut on his arm. Grimmjow growled under his breath and charged towards her. Grimmjow swung his sword at full at Rukia, which she just barley missed. She stumbled back as Hailbel jumped off the top of the building and landed beside Grimmjow barley, making a sound.
"Don't waste your time, we need to follow Aizen-sama orders," He whispered.
Grimmjow put his sword back and jumped onto a windowsill before jumping onto the roof again.
"Ichigo! Rukia!" Renji yelled as he ran towards the two.
"Follow the espada! They're going through the portal!" Ichigo commanded as he put his sword back on his back.
The group drew their weapons and followed the espada onto the roof. The espada were gone, but the view above the building was blurry, due to the portal. Ichigo ran determinedly towards the portal before it turned into a crown. Ichigo ignored the sudden change and leaped through the portal. Rukia hesitated before following Ichigo through the crown. Renji and Hitsugaya followed them through as the crown disappeared.
Their wild adventure had only begun.