Ch. 11

A couple of hours have passed since Dante and Nemu left the SRDI. Moving with stealth and agility, the two managed to evade any shinigami who they encountered. By the time they reached the maze of tall buildings at the center of the Seireitei, the two warriors decided to use the rooftops instead of having trekking through the paths and getting caught.

They're plan of evasion seemed to work. At least, it did before they encountered a large shinigami with two braids. The left side of his upper body was left bare, revealing a tattoo on his shoulder. "Stop right there, ryouka!" ordered the man. "You will not pass!" The man turned toward the maverick and the lieutenant with folded arms and a cocky smile. "Finally, a chance to redeem myself! By taking you in, I, Tatsufusa Enjoji, shall be held in high regard once more."

As Tatsufusa laughed haughtily, Dante merely dug in his ear to clear out the wax. "Sorry, Pipi Longstocking, but my hearing was a little off. Can you repeat that?" the black teen asked as he flicked the wax to the side.

"What!?" Tatsufusa replied. "How dare you insult me, ryouka! You're no match for me!"

"You know, you're not the first shinigami to get all offended so fast. I mean, I barely even got to use a segue yet. Guess scrutiny to a Soul Reaper is like a drug charge to Amy Winehouse: surprising but never new. Course with she calls that the end of a Saturday night run."

"Allow me to give you a brief description on the individual, Dante," Nemu explained. "That is Tatsufusa Enjoji, third seated officer in Squad 8 which is lead by Captain Shunsui Kyoraku."

"Kyoraku? Oh yeah, Captain Pimpin'!" Dante replied as he playfully smacked his head. "Yeah, he's a pretty cool cat. Wonder how he's doing lately."

"However, among the those holding his same position, he is among the weakest."

"Hey! I'm still here! Don't ignore me!" shouted Tatsufusa, who was now feeling somewhat belittled. Dante and Nemu turned to the enemy with flat gazes. "So it you who was responsible for giving the captain the idea of having the subordinates call him this 'Captain Pimpin'!"

Dante rose his eyebrows in astonishment. He was indeed surprised by the news. "Heh… Didn't think he'd actually go through with it…" thought the black teen as he scratched the back of his head.

Tatsufusa then turned his attention to Nemu. "And you!" he pointed. "You're that lieutenant of Squad 12, aren't you? Not only did you call me weak, which is untrue by the way, but you're following the ryouka. You should be apprehending him. Why are you doing this?"

"The reasons for my actions are of no concern to you, Mr. Enjoji," Nemu answered stoically. "Now, as lieutenant, I order you to stand down and return to your squadron immediately."

"Never!" replied the third seat. "I had already let one of these trespassers slip through my fingers. And even if I wanted to, you joining with this ryouka brands you as a conspirator against the Soul Society. I'll take you in, too!" Realizing that his chance to increase his accolades were standing right in front of him, the shinigami face was decorated with a cocky smile. "With two suspects captured, I may get a promotion and finally catch the eye of Captain Soi Fon!" Dante glanced at Tatsufusa with a raised brow, confused by the sudden quote. Pulling his sword from its sheath, the third seat began brandishing his blade, swinging it in high speeds. Coupling his wild swings and loud noises, the third seat believed his strategy to be a useful intimidation tactic. "Ha ha! What will you do now?" he replied arrogantly. "Using this technique, my defenses are impenetrable! Give in to my expert swordsmanship, you lowly invader! There's no way you can win!"

Dante sighed as sweatdrop slid on the side of his head. He then turned to Nemu, who glanced at the black teen with a plain frown. It was evident that the two could not believe that such a man managed to gain his current position. Especially given his unusual style of fighting. Looking back at Tatsufusa, Dante then said earnestly, "Are you friggin' serious? I've seen five year olds that can use a butter knife better than this chump does with his own sword!"

"If you like, I would be glad to rid us of this nuisance," Nemu said.

"Um… Sure," Dante said, accepting his ally's offer. The black teen then looked down and saw a small round pebble on the ground next to his feet. Picking it up, the young swordsman began casually juggling it in his hand. "How about I give you an opening."

"As you wish." With Nemu standing patiently in a fighting stance, the enemy death god charged forward while still flailing his zanpakuto. Dante hurled the rock at the foe where it hit the enemy straight in the forehead like a baseball pitcher, damaging the foe's ego in the process. Tatsufusa staggered back, his strokes slowing down as he rubbed his bruised head.

"What the hell!?" he shouted. With the distraction made, Nemu went on the offensive. With blinding speed, the lieutenant punched and kicked the foe numerous times before using a spinning attack that knocked him back a few feet. Even after the strong blows, the third seat returned to his feet, bruised by the flurry of attacks. "Damn you, traitor!" Tatsufusa then rushed at the lieutenant, swinging his sword once more. Just as the death god reached her, Nemu managed to avoid one of the strikes and punched him in the chest. She then kicked him in the air before jumping up and performing a spinning attack. The move tossed Tatsufusa to the next roof over, where he laid unconscious with his body splayed out on the landing site. With no traitor or intruder to show for his efforts, the foe's pride as a soul reaper had just taken another drop.

"The enemy has now been disabled," Nemu said calmly. The short fight was nothing more than an exercise for the young woman.

"Damn…" Dante said with an impressed smile. "You got some nice moves, girl! Remind me not to get on yo' bad side."

"Thank you, Dante," Nemu said with a blush. "Now, let us proceed to our destination."

"I heard that!" The black teen walked to the edge of the roof and scanned his surroundings. Turning to the northeast, he saw the Senzaikyu's white tower off in a distance. Knowing that the hideout was not too far from the site, Dante knew he was close. "We're almost there," he said. "We just need to get to that cliff near the tower."

"You mean Sokyoku Hill. I estimate that our time of arrival at our top speed would be about forty minutes."

"Forty, huh? Can't have that. How about we shave off some time by taking to the wing instead?" suggested Dante as he drew one of his swords. He turned his head to Nemu, who looked at him with a quixotic eye. "Burst with the fury of the future. Akumu hi Ryuujin." With his sword release, Dante used his transformation ability. However, instead of the familiar Mare Embryo, Dante was now a different breed of dragon. A rather bizarre creature with a white nearly skeletal body streaked in luminescent light, it had large spiked wings with a web-like membrane, a short tail with a fin running along the top, and a relatively small head with a long raised horn above its snout, two smaller horns on the bottom of its lower jaw, and a pair of fangs jutting from the front of said jaw. Its legs and feet were long and slender, with spikes protruding from the joints and ends of its feet. This form was Heavy Wing, a fully evolved aerial berserker. "Whoa…" Dante thought as he checked himself over. "This shit is wicked! I'm lookin' like one crazy ass mo' fo' now!"

"Interesting…" Nemu mused as she inspected the dragon. "Never have I witnessed such drastic and sudden transfigurations. And then to see such instant changes in morphology within the forms is almost unheard of. It defies the very basis of evolution or natural selection." Turning around, Dante lowered altitude, his body hovering just below the rooftop's ledge. At first Nemu was rather reluctant. After all, she had never ridden on anything living or not. Yet here she was, standing a feet away from a living air transport. It felt rather surreal to say the least. Still, Nemu knew that there was no time to waste. With a nod, the lieutenant distanced herself before running forward and jumping onto Dante's back. "This is unexpected. Given your wing structure and body design, I can't help but wonder how you can still keep airborne."

"That's like wondering how a hedgehog can run so damn fast. Go ask the guys at Sega," Dante screeched. "Well, let's fly." With a flap of his wings, Dante flew forward to the destination, his body rocking back and forth. Seated in a kneeling position, Nemu looked down at the ground below. The soul reapers were like little ants in a garden, small black dots seemingly unaware of what was soaring above them. She then turned her attention ahead as the Senzaikyu and Sokyoku Hill quickly come into view. In a few minutes, the two arrived at a cliff just beneath the execution site. Dante noticed the boards, which were destroyed by Ichigo's last exit, were replaced. Nemu jumped off the dragon and onto the platform before the black teen resumed human form. "This is the spot where my homies be chillin'," Dante said.

"An abandoned entrance. How odd. I cannot detect any spiritual energy beyond here."

"That would explain why no one could follow," Dante said. "Guess it's some of Yoruichi's mojo." The black teen opened the door and both he and the lieutenant walked inside. Passing through the first room where Dante recuperated the day before, the two arrived inside a large open chamber. It was a rocky terrain covered in large jutting stones with dead trees scattered about the area. Above was a sun set high in the sky, which was odd since they were in a thick mountain and it was still early morning in the outside world. "I don't remember this being here," Dante said.

"Well, look who finally came," said a sensual voice not too far. Dante turned to his left and saw Yoruichi standing against a rock. "It took you long enough. I figured that you got caught."

"Who moi? Please! I'm like the Pink Panther, sexy Ninja Lady," Dante said with a smile. "It takes more than an entire squadron and captain to take down your boy!"

"Really? And this captain you say you've encountered. Who was he?" Yoruichi quizzed.

"He was my father," Nemu answered.

Yoruichi turned her attention to the rather silent lieutenant, eying her curiously. After all, none of the captains had any children as far as she knew. Nemu only looked down submissively, her shyness keeping her from making eye contact. "So, Dante," the dark-skinned woman asked. "Who's your new friend?"

"Well, she's Nemu Kurotsuchi," Dante answered. "She's the lieutenant of Squad 12 and the daughter of that crazy clown Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Nemu said as she bowed respectfully to Yoruichi.

"Same here. I'm Yoruichi Shihoin," Yoruichi said with a smile. "So you said you're the daughter of Mayuri. It's been a while since I've seen him. How is your father doing these days?"

"Well, he became a captain sometime after Ex-Captain Urahara's exile and has ran the SRDI with much success."

"I would expect as much. Kisuke always had an eye for potential. Even if it did come from a prison cell."

"This all sounds very cool and all, and maybe we could discuss this between arcs in a flashback sequence about resetting old clock parts," Dante replied, earning a questioning glance from Yoruichi. "But, what's with the mountain in a mountain thing going on here. And where's Ich?"

"To answer your first question, this is a secret training ground. It's an area unknown by most of Soul Society. You are one of the first outsiders to set foot here."

"Sweet," Dante said with a smile. "I almost feel a bit special."

"As for your second question…" Yoruichi turned around, watching something not too far away.

Dante and Nemu looked in the same direction and saw Ichigo in a garden filled with various swords. His opponent was a middle-aged man with a shaved beard and long black hair with a flowing black coat. The fight was fierce as Ichigo struck his opponent with powerful blows, but the man managed to counter and use a strike with equal if not strong force, breaking the substitute's blade with relative ease. Quickly, Ichigo moved in for another sword and tried attacking, over and over. "Such spiritual pressure…" Nemu said. "It's incredible. Is this the Ichigo you were talking about, Dante?"

"That's our little hero, alright," Dante answered. "And before you ask, yes that's his natural hair color. Personally, I think he drank a little too much carrot juice." He then turned to Yoruichi, who stood on top of the rock, watching the substitute shinigami battle. "Yo, Ninja Babe, what's Ich doin'? And who's that Rob Zombie lookin' mo' fo' he's goin' up against?"

"What you are watching is a battle to determine whether or not Ichigo will ascend to the next level of power," Yoruichi explained. "The man Ichigo is fighting is actually the embodiment of his zanpakuto, Zangetsu."

"So Ichigo is trying to reach the bankai state," Nemu said. "I didn't think that an individual was even able to manifest his zanpakuto on his own in such a short amount of time."

"That's because he wasn't," Yoruichi said, gaining Nemu's attention. "At least not without some help."

"What do you mean?"

Walking around to the other side of the rock, Yoruichi grabbed a white human-shaped cutout. "It's called Tenshintai, a device used to speed up the process of achieving bankai. With it, the spirit of the zanpakuto will be able to manifest itself into the real world. Including yours, Dante."

"So wait! You mean to tell me I can also use bankai too!?" Dante asked with widened eyes as he pointed to himself.

The ninja complied with a light nod. "That's right. By using shiki, you've displayed a level of dialogue and harmony with both of your zanpakuto. This is evident by your transformation ability and how your forms constantly change as you grow stronger. This includes your battle with Kenpachi Zaraki. By accomplishing this, you are displaying your manifestation status or a very similar state."

"So my power to transform and that time I fought Zaraki shows that I got this manifestation thing down?" Dante asked. Thinking about the forms he took and his encounters with the spirits of his zanpakutos made the black teen chuckled. "Man, I'm just so pimpin'," he said with a smile. "So tell me, Ninja Lady. What does a brother gotta do to get his bankai?"

"Simply strike this Tenshintai with one of your zanpakuto and its spirit will be forced into this world. The manifestation period would normally take three days."

"Three days? All the time in the world," said a confident Dante.

"I believe she said 'normally.' There is a chance that an implication is involved." Dante looked at Nemu with a cock-eyed glance.

"Nemu's right. You wield two different zanpakutos and can only use one at a time. Both swords share the same source of power, meaning your spiritual energy is unstable. If you were to fight with both weapons at once or battle in the three day maximum with one weapon, your spiritual power would burn out and cause your body to shut down. This means that the only way you can reach bankai would be in a period of thirty-six hours for each."

"So, wait! I only get a day and a half? That's a rip-off! " Dante replied. "I demand a lawyer! Since we're in the Soul Society, bring me Johnny Cochran! He'll figure a way around this!"

"Anyway…" Yoruichi continued, paying no attention to Dante's rant. "If you do not defeat the spirit by the end of that time, then you will die."

Dante only stood quietly as he assessed the situation. "Only three days to beat a dragon and a raptor," he thought. Not only they were the source of his abilities, but they were a part of his very soul. "Whoever said anything about conquering their inner demons sure as hell didn't have this in mind." Dante turned to Nemu, who stood quietly with a blank stare. "You think I have a chance?"

"Dante…" Nemu said with some astonishment.

"Seriously, give me a quick number crunch."

Nemu turned away as she thought over the calculations. "Given that the average shinigami with a single zanpakuto's spirit has a 50% chance off success, I determine that yours, given the dual spirit factor, is along a 33.33% chance of survival. Granted it is a repeat number."

The black teen only sighed as he returned to his thoughts. "Well, compared to some of the shit I've done, the odds are lookin' pretty good."

"Dante, do you wish to go through with this? I understand if you wish to-"

Before Yoruichi could finish, Dante unsheathed one of his swords. "Shred with the rage of the past! Kowa ro Shii Maru!" Releasing his blade, Dante stabbed the blade into the cardboard dummy. Still holding his imbedded blade, the black teen started to smile. "If I only have thirty six hours, then I better get started. Time's a wastin'."

Before long, a strong gale began to kick up, forcing the three back. The Tenshintai was surrounded by a strong, swirling vortex of wind almost like a small twister. Suddenly, the object disappeared in seconds. At this time, Dante felt something strong, yet familiar spiritual pressure from behind him. He turned and saw the form of a large Deinonychus standing from a ridge above him, its red snake-like eyes locked onto him as its black and red striped plumage rustled in the wind. The spirit Kowa ro Shii Maru had finally arrived. "We meet once again, Dante," Kowa's voice echoed as it turned its head in a bird like manner. "It's been a while."

"It has, hasn't it, Kowa," Dante said. "Haven't heard from you since the omake."

"So this is the spirit of one of the zanpakuto my father created," Nemu said. "A large specimen belonging to the Deinonychus antirrohopus species."

"Nemu, was it?" said the raptor as it move its head to the side, focusing one eye on the lieutenant. "It is so good to see you in person. In a way, the two of us would be considered siblings due to the machinations of your scientist father. Would you not agree?"

"It is possible that would be the case."

"Hey, sorry to crash this family reunion, but the two of us have some business to take care of," Dante replied.

"Indeed." Pulling back, Kowa leaped off the hill and to the ground below, landing just in front of Dante. The raptor began preening, using its teeth to clean its back and moving on to the fan-like tail. "You have summoned me to initiate your bankai training, correct?"

"That's right, Kowa. The shiki's cool an' all, but if I'm right about the party that's about to go off, I'm thinkin' I'll be a little underdressed. You know what I'm sayin'?"

"I see. It is hard to believe that the two of us first only met two days ago. Now look what came after 48 hours."

"How time flies, right?" Dante smirked. "So how are we going to do this? An eating contest? A race? Trivial Pursuit of pop culture between the years 1972 to 2008? Rock, paper, scissors? Give me something!"

The raptor turned to Dante, grinning while the black feathers on its head rose. The dinosaur then turned to Yoruichi and asked, "You do not mind if I take over from here? As you can see, he is such a precocious young one."

"Not at all. His training is in your hands."

"Excellent." Kowa returned his gaze to Dante. "Here is the challenge." With a stomp of the raptor's foot, Kowa ro Shii Maru's zanpakuto dropped from above, it blade landing into the ground.

Dante turned back, surprised by the sudden arrival of the blade and noticing that it was in its shiki form still. "Where the hell did that thing come from?" he asked. "And why's it still in shiki?"

"For this challenge, you will need all your swordsmanship to defeat what I have prepared for you." Taking a deep breath, the Deinonychus began making various loud screeches and honks.

Dante backed away as the cries rang in his ears. Opening behind Kowa, a large portal began to form, its frame rippling like the surface of water. Dante gazed at the rift with curiosity. He slowly walked toward it, inspecting the strange vortex. "What the hell…?" Dante said as his hand slowly stretched to touch it. Suddenly, a large rectangular head popped out just a few feet above the black teen, a pair of small bumps just above each eye. Noticing the maverick, the creature peered down, displaying its sharp teeth. Dante slowly looked up as he heard a low growl coming from above. "Holy shit!" Dante yelped as he quickly distanced himself from the portal. The beast proceeded forward, walking on long legs and carrying two long arms like a bird's wing. Dante walked back armed with both Kowa ro Shii Maru and the sealed Akumu hi Ryuujin. The creature measured nearly forty four feet in length and twelve feet tall. Its dark blue with thin black stripes was balanced by a long tail. Tall scales jutted from the back of its head, the base of its back, and the end of its tail. Towering over Dante, the dinosaur held its head high and roared. The black teen stared at the colossal creature speechlessly. "God damn it!" he finally exclaimed "Is this a motherfuckin' raptor-lookin' T. Rex!? Why the hell is there a motherfuckin' raptor-lookin' T. Rex up in this bitch!? I thought this was Bleach, not goddamn Jurassic Park or Dinosaur King!"

"I believe that genus is a Deltadromeus agilis," Nemu nonchalantly informed, undeterred by the carnivore before her. "A large and slender carnivore from Egypt currently grouped in the noasaur family who are said to be descended from-"

"Yo Nemu, as cool as it might sound, I'm pretty sure the readers would rather go to Wikipedia if they really gave a damn," Dante interrupted. "Now back to my question: Why is there a big-ass motherfuckin' lizard up in this son of a bitch!" Taking offense to the remark, the Deltadromeus roared loudly, saliva flying from its mouth and covering the black teen. Dante froze as it slowly registered that he was covered in spit. "This is so not cool…" he said as he shook it off.

Kowa sighed, tired of the maverick's ranting. "Perhaps I should explain. I have summoned this Deltadromeus as a part of your test. You will defeat this theropod using Kowa ro Shii Maru. Here are the rules. You may use Akumu hi Ryuujin as a partner sword in its standard form. You cannot use its shiki. All berserks and transfigurations are band from this challenge."

"What!?"

"This test is to determine your skill in your swordsmanship. The only specialties you may use are your support class berserks and laser locks. Is that understood?" Dante only groaned but reluctantly nodded. "This solo battle is to determine your worthiness to take the next step into bankai. You have thirty-six hours to defeat this D. agilis. Fail or break the demerits and you will die."

"Well, look on the bright side. At least it isn't Chuck motherfuckin' Norris," Dante replied. "I mean seriously? Who wants to fuck with Walker Texas Ranger? That's like pissing on Stone Cold Steve Austin's front lawn, dissin' Three 6 Mafia while at one of their rap concerts, saying that Haseo's an emo bitch to his face, and telling Wolverine that Deadpool's better than him all at once! Of course, the last one's pretty true. Still, it's a death sentence! I mean, it's said that Chuck Norris once roundhouse kicked someone so hard, his foot broke the sound barrier, traveled back in time, and then killed Amelia Earhart while she flew over the Pacific Ocean. I ain't fuckin' with that shit! I'd rather take on this super-sized walking bear trap instead," Evidently, the Deltadromeus understood its new label and snarled, its body low to the ground and poised to attack.

Yoruichi and Nemu only turned to Kowa skeptically, wondering if the raptor had any clue as to what his wielder was saying. Only an embarrassed sigh escaped the dromaeosaur's jaws,. "You're guess is as good as mine. Still, I feel there will be some very busy workers fixing many broken walls." Kowa quickly shook off the confusion and turned to the black teen. "Well, Dante. Are you ready to go?"

"Heaven or Hell! Let's rock!" Dante replied as he played "Holy Orders (Be Just or Be Dead)" from Guilty Gear 2: Overture. Giving a loud roar, the Deltadromeus charged forward, its jaws opened wide. Dante also ran to the theropod, both swords trailing behind. Once they met, Dante quickly leaped over the creature's jaws before they snapped shut and ran on its back. He slashed the dinosaur with powerful strikes and stabs. "Yippie kai yay, you Cretaceous son of a bitch!" he shouted as the giant carnivore roared and kicked like a wild stallion. Soon, the Deltadromeus managed to buck Dante off its back before using surprising speed to slam the midair teen's body with its tail. The attack knocked the wind (and some blood) out of his body before he landed hard on the ground. Dante was motionless, trying hard to catch his breath as the African noasaur drew near his limp body, the scratches it sustained were slowly closing. "Okay… This guy's tougher than I thought," Dante said as he struggled to pick his injured body from the ground. However, the strike from the Deltadromeus broke one of his ribs, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Dante, you must return to your feet," Nemu replied. "Time is running out." Dante tried to get up once more, but he felt a sharp pain at the side of his body. A broken rib received by the foe's tail lash. "You haven't the time for a rest."

"Recover quickly, Dante," Kowa said with a stoic demeanor. "Or would you rather end up as prey for your competition."

"No offense, but your cheerleading really needs work!" Dante called back before rolling on his back. That's when he saw the Deltadromeus looming over him, its gold eyes scanning him. The dinosaur roared once more as it picked up it's large bird-like foot and proceeded to slam it to the ground. Dante rolled to the right and evaded the stomp until he reached a large boulder. Pushing his back against its surface, Dante desperately charged his spiritual energy to use one of his support berserks. "Healing Wing!" he shouted as a white glow surrounded his body and recovered his health. The Deltadromeus quickly turned and fired a laser which raced to the black teen's location. The maverick was stunned that this creature could use such an attack. Still, he shook it off and quickly hurried behind the boulder just before the particle beam hit. He then ran around the side and rushed the dinosaur. The giant noasaur fired another round of lasers, but they missed as the black teen evaded the streams. Once in range, the rogue jumped in the air and struck with his long red katana. However, the dinosaur blocked the zanpakuto with one of its three-clawed hands before slashing with the other. The strike tossed Dante into the air and before he knew it, the black teen was struck from behind by the Deltadromeus' headbutt. Dante crashed into the side of the training area, his body now lying flat against the vertical surface. The black teen pried himself off the rock face and saw the large dinosaur glaring at him. "This fool's… just pulled a goddamn Zidane…" he said as he panted heavily. The black teen then turned to Kowa and scowled. "'Ey, yo! Since when the hell did a bus-sized lizard move like Speedy Gonzalez and learn to fuckin' shoop da woop!?"

"Since I transferred some of my power," answered the raptor. "As you have noticed, this creature is no mere dinosaur. I have augmented its combat abilities in order for it to be a worthy adversary. Due to this, the Deltadromeus' exhibits a fighting style similar to your own. Think of it as a large scale version of yourself."

"What do you mean, man?"

"In order for a warrior to become strong, their skills must always be improved. Even at their peak, one must always push past their personal bounds. This dinosaur represents your current state of power. Defeating this symbol of your strength will mean that you have grown more powerful."

"My current state of power…" Dante thought as he slowly picked himself up from the surface. He then turned to the scowling Deltadromeus and smiled. "I get it now," Dante said. "This is all about going past my limits. No holds barred. Man to monster. Straight up survival of the fittest." The imitation soul reaper reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of sunglasses given to him by Rangiku the previous day. "I'm starting to like this," he said as he placed them on his face with smirk. Charging spiritual energy again, Dante used another support berserk. "Defense Wing!" he called as his body was wrapped in a green aura. Now with his durability increased, Dante hurried down the slope and rushed the Deltadromeus, who in turn awaited the black teen's arrival.

It was afternoon outside the Sokyoku Hill as an investigation was being carried out in the demolished zone of Squad 12's area. Overseeing the inspection was a tall man in a white robe with spiked black hair. Resting on his forehead were three small horns (two on the left side and one on the right). This was the gigai expert and high ranking member of Squad 12 known as Akon. Scanning his surroundings, he stood with a frown and pondered over his findings. "This must have been where Captain Mayuri fought with the ryouka. Judging from the left over residue found at the scene which hold trace elements of his DNA and spiritual energy, these people managed to defeat him in battle. There is an unusally high concentration of spirit particles in the immediate vicinity. This perhaps indicates the involvement of a Quincy." His train of thought was then interrupted as he noticed a slight chill in the air and a strong presence behind him. Knowing who it was, Akon turned around as he casually came face to face with Captain Hitsugaya. "Captain Hitsugaya, it's good to see that you made it," he said.

"You're Akon, right?" Toshiro asked. "Why did you wish to see me?"

"You have heard of what happened here last night. Our captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, was engaged in battle with the intruders. Due to the partially disintegrated objects near here and the copius amounts of spirit particles in the air, we believe there was a Quincy here."

"A Quincy?" Hitsugaya asked, somewhat surprised by the news, though still maintaining a calm demeanor. It's been years since he heard of that race. Last he checked, they were a group of spiritually aware humans who went extinct years ago. He then remembered a report he read a short while ago. "I heard from Central 46 that mentions a Quincy," he began. " Evidently, Captain Kaname Tosen of Squad 9 captured him earlier this morning. So what happened to Captain Kurotsuchi?"

"Our captain was defeated in combat and is recovering at his secret lab, repairing his physiology as we speak." Hearing this gave the young captain some sense of satisfaction. It was no secret that there was little love between the scientist and the prodigy (or anyone else for that matter). Still, he was surprised that this Quincy was able to defeat Mayuri in battle. "We have also found something else here." Hitsugaya turned to Akon with a risen eye. Following him down the street, the two stood next to a large footprint. The Squad 10 captain was stunned as he gazed upon the odd trace. It was very large with two long toes and a smaller print at the center. Whatever created this print was a large and heavy beast. Then there was something unexpected: a smaller print just in front of it which appears to be from the bottom of a shoe. "As you can see, there was something or someone else here at this site. A partner of the Quincy, perhaps?"

"Perhaps," the young prodigy said knowing full well what these tracks meant. "So you were here, too, Dante," he thought. He then looked around the investigation site and scanned the crew before realizing someone was missing. Mayuri's daughter and lieutenant was not present. "Akon, where is Lieutenant Kurotsuchi?" he asked.

"She hasn't been seen since yesterday. Nor has she reported into the Shinigami Women's Association," Akon answered. "Given her position, she would have taken charge while the captain was indisposed. It is possible that she was caught in the line of fire. Even so her body has not been recovered."

"This is odd," Toshiro thought. "Unlike a certain lieutenant of mine, Nemu is not one to simply procrastinate with her duties. If she's not here and she's not at the meetings…" The captain's eyes widened as he realized there was one possibility left. "Is it really possible that she was kidnapped?" He then turned to Akon with a dutiful glare. "Akon, tell your men to be alert. There's a possibility that Nemu has been abducted."

"My thoughts exactly. I had already sent a search party to investigate."

"Good. I'll let you know if I find something, too."

"Yes, Captain." With his business with Squad 10's captain over, Akon left the scene and continued to the Shinigami Research and Development Institute with samples from the scene in hand.

Toshiro turned his attention back to the pair of footprints lying before him. "There's no doubt in my mind you're the one responsible for this, Dante Blaine," he thought as he scowled at the print with cold eyes. "It's as if your presence here only brings disrespect to the Soul Society. I wouldn't be surprised if you also have a hand in the constant change in Rukia's execution date. No matter what form you take or how strong you may become, I'll make you pay."

"This is so boring," Rangiku mentally whined as she rested her head in hands, both elbows plastered on surface of her work desk. Right now her table was covered in documents ranging from work reports to schedules. Though she did write up a good amount of the forms, the work load was still a real killer. Especially when the papers that have yet to be touched are twice the height of the ones she initialed.

"Why is it there are so many of these papers?" she sighed. "Half of them aren't even that important." Rangiku took off a few forms off her desk and read them. "Here's one for allowing chinchillas on the grounds. And then there's another one for extra heaters in each barracks. And then there's a document which allows for the permission of video game systems…" Before she threw the paper down, she scanned it once more. From her travels to the world of the living, these entertainment devices did peek her interest. She remembered one day when she was in a store playing Dance Dance Revolution. Oh how she loved the music and gameplay (as well as the fact that most of the men stopped to ogle her amiable body as she racked in the high scores). Giving this proposition a second thought, the young lady decided to sign her name on the document. "Maybe it will do the Captain some good," she told herself. "After all, I'm sure he and Shuhei would love playing Guitar Hero."

Getting out of her chair, the lieutenant left her workload and table. She stretched her arms and back, yawning as she did so. The busty blonde then turned back to the still unsigned documents. Even from her current position, the stack gave the voluptuous woman a sweatdrop. "Maybe I'll have the time for it a little later," she said to herself as she examined the pile unfavorably.

Rangiku left the room and stood outside her door, breathing the fresh air. Though the remaining ryouka were still running rampant, the lieutenant still saw a chance to take things easy. "Perhaps I need a little something to drink," she thought before sifting her mind for any suitable drinking buddies. She knew at this time, Shuhei would be in the middle of paperwork and then go for his scheduled training excercises. Shunsui was also too 'busy' (a term even she used loosely when in regards to the captain) doing his 'duties'. The only person that came into mind was the new recruit from Squad 12 she had recently met. "Hm… Maybe I should see what Dante's up to? We had a good time yesterday. I doubt someone like him has a lot of work to do." Then she remembered the sudden burst of spiritual energy that occurred in the Twelfth Division's court last night and how her comrade rushed in to investigate. "Besides, maybe I should look up on him to make sure he's alright." With her decision made, Rangiku shunpoed from her location and made her way to the 12th Division.

Late afternoon soon came to the Seireitei. Though the area was still on high alert, a rare sense of calm swept through the complex. Still, even on a day as relatively quiet and uneventful as this, the feeling of restlessness was shared among many of the soul reapers. Especially when trusted, dutiful officers were now being detained.

One of these officers was Hanataro Yamada, 7th Seat of Squad 4. At first, he was a reluctant victim, kidnapped by three of the ryouka. Soon it was revealed that these supposed intruders were on a rescue mission to save fellow shinigami Rukia Kuchiki, something he felt proud to be a part of. Hanataro believed that, as a soul reaper, it was his duty to do what was right and just.

Now here he was sitting on a bench behind bars within a jail cell. "Was what I was doing really the right thing?" he asked himself. "Or did me helping Rukia only make matters worse?" Images of Rukia flooded his mind from the time he spent with the ex-shinigami to their reunion at the Senzaikyu. "Maybe it was all a waste of time," he thought with a solemn gaze. "Maybe I shouldn't have done anything."

Then Hanataro remembered what his lieutenant, Isane Kotetsu, said to him as she escorted him to his cell. "I believe you listened to your heart and acted on what your true feelings told you. I wish I was that strong."

With the message replayed in his head, the healer pondered over his decision. "Maybe it was right for me to try and help Rukia. And to be honest, I would do it again if I had the chance." Hanataro pulled himself from his seat and turned to the bars of his prison. "Still, it's not like I could escape. All my equipment is gone and my zanpakuto is back in my room at Squad 4 headquarters. The only thing I can do now is hope that Ichigo and Dante can save Rukia in time. Because in two more days…" The shinigami stopped in mid-thought and shook his head. He didn't want to think of the failing result and instead replaced fear with optimism. "No, I know those two will rescue her. They're just too strong loose to anyone. If they managed to beat Kenpachi Zaraki, then they can beat anyone."

Now in the 12 Division territory, Rangiku searched high and low for Dante. Using her shunpo, the lieutenant sped through the area like a missile. However, her drinking comrade was nowhere to be found. She asked anyone she could find, but oddly enough, they had no idea who she was talking about. "This is pretty strange," Rangiku thought to herself as she strolled down the street. "I never imagined someone like Dante to be something of a shut-in."

After turning a corner, Rangiku's walking speed slowed to a stop and her face went from aimless thought to surprise. Before her was the damage from the large scale battle between Captain Mayuri and the ryouka. "Just look at this place," she thought out loudly as she treaded through the ground zero. "It's a mess. Whatever was going on must have been big."

As she walked, the lieutenant couldn't help but feel the density of reishi which filled the air. She could also feel the left behind reiryoku which still remained from the battle. Besides the traces of Squad 12's captain and another ryouka, Rangiku felt the left behind essence of someone familiar. She pressed forward for a few steps before she froze in her tracks, her eyes glued to a large footprint pasted on the ground before her. "Make that very big," she thought as she knelt down to the ground. "What could have made this? If I remember, Mayuri's bankai looks like a cross between a baby and a worm." Before she could continue to ponder, the spiritual power she sensed before was back, this time clustered near the footprint. "This left behind spiritual power… There's no doubt about it. Dante was here," she said. "But why am I sensing him here in this spot?"

Rangiku stood up and placed a hand under her cheek, trying to find a plausible theory. "Maybe he got get stepped on by whatever made this track?" she figured at first. But after scanning her surroundings, she found nothing to support her thought. "…No way! There's nothing here that says that happened. Besides, I doubt he would let himself be crushed. Still… why would his spiritual pressure be here?" Rangiku looked up at the sky. "Whatever happened, I hope he's alright." Before long, the lieutenant began to yawn, stretching her arms above her head in the process. "Well, I better get back to my room and finish a few more forms. I'm sure the captain's wondering where that paperwork is." Rangiku turned back to the footprint one last time. "I hope you're still alive," she thought before she shunpoed from the scene.

The dark cover of night soon shrouding the Soul Society. In the skies above, a pale white moon shone over the horizon. Aside from the few patrols marching through their assigned positions with lit torches, the outside world was relatively silent. However, back inside the Secret Training Area within Sokyoku Hill, things were far from tranquil.

Jaws and katanas collided as Dante used his swords to block the Deltadromeus' sharp fangs from reaching his body. For a few seconds, the two individuals were locked in a shoving match. However, the larger dinosaur still managed to push the black teen back before quickly lowering its head and ramming the black teen and breaking his guard. It then spun around and used its long tail to knock Dante into the air. The dinosaur then followed up with a quick laser blast. However, Dante noticed the particle beams coming and recovered. He deflected the laser attack right before they met their mark. One of the streams hit its user as the rest blasted the ground around it.

A cloud of dust kicked up in the impact, covering the field. Dante landed in clear center, surrounded by a thick dust cover. The maverick was on high alert as he shifted into a defensive position to brace himself for an attack. He constantly turned his body, hoping to spoil the prehistoric enemy's ambush tactic. He also started whistling to the enemy like it were a dog, thinking it would to bait it out of the thick cover. "Here boy! Come here!" he called. "I ain't gonna hurt you." "I'm just gonna cut you down..."

Meanwhile, distanced from the battleground, Nemu and Kowa sat on a large boulder overlooking the swordsman's duel. The lieutenant analyzed Dante's battle with the dinosaur. "Dante's combat prowess is improving at a drastic rate," she thought. "Earlier on, his recovery time was relatively slow and his blocking was sub-par. Now, it seems that he has learned to counter more effectively and his restoration time is quicker. Does this mean Dante is becoming less dependent on his zanpakuto's ability and is relying on his own skill?"

"Nemu, there is something I wish to ask you," Kowa said. Nemu turned her attention to the raptor. "Exactly why did you choose to accompany Dante? Since you've found our location, you could have sent a battalion of shinigami here to soundly capture us."

"The reason is because I feel that their motives are just," Nemu said. "I know that these ryouka do not harbor any negative goals upon the Seireitei. Also, I feel a sense of obligation toward Dante."

"Is that so? You truly are a considerate woman, Nemu," Kowa said. "Perhaps that is why Dante has become fond of you."

Nemu turned away and focused her eyes on Dante. Luckily for her, the raptor was too busy watching its wielder to notice a hint of red coloring the young woman's cheeks. "Perhaps the feeling is mutual…"

Back on the battlefield, Dante was still trying to lure the dinosaur from the dust. Inside the thick cloud, the Deltadromeus was partially blinded from the airbourne sediment and had to rely on its keen since of smell to pinpoint the target's location. Once it located Dante, the creature navigated behind the target, its yellow eyes peeking through the cloud of dust as it approached. Dante quickly spun around as he sensed the dinosaur's oncoming sneak attack. However, he just missed the carnivore. "This fool's close. I can feel it…" he thought just as a small gust of wind hit the back side of his body. "It's almost like it's breathing down my neck… Like I can smell its nasty-ass breath…" He then stood still and realized what he was thinking and compared it to what he was experiencing. "Wait a minute… Breathing...? And a nasty-ass smell...? Uh-oh." From behind, the Deltadromeus rushed forward and snapped down, its sharp teeth seizing its catch. The enemy shook its prize with vicious force and threw it to the ground. However, it inspected the supposed corpse and realized that it only had Dante's hooded cloak. Now in the hot seat and feeling outsmarted, the Deltadromeus gave a loud roar.

"Oh, I know you didn't just fuck up my gangsta cloak, nigga!" Dante shouted through the dust. "Don't you know that shit was sown by hand from my boy Bruce Willis after I hooked up with him at the club on the day his movie Die Hard 3 hit theaters back in '95 and he made it for me so I can be a matador? You best get ready for an ass-whoopin' you're 100 million years overdue for!" Just then, a laser shot through the cover and hit the dinosaur's left flank. The creature roared in pain and turned to the direction of the source, firing a blast in that direction. However, what the Deltadromeus failed to see was Dante coming from the other side. Before the enemy could react, Dante spun in the air, his swords slashing the foe's face. The noasaur growled as it reached at its face. "Sora and Lloyd ain't the only sword brothers that got hops!" gloated the black teen. The Deltadromeus turned on the maverick, its head coming toward its target. However, Dante backed into the cover before the enemy's jaws grabbed him.

"Dante's now using the cloud as cover," Nemu noted as she watched another beam hit the carnivorous colossus. "By ducking in and out of the dust and using his speed, he is attacking the opponent on all sides. And thanks to the glasses he's wearing, his sight is not impaired by the dust. The only thing the larger Deltadromeus can do is hope its attacks can hit."

Continuing his raid, Dante slashed and razed the enemy with powerful blasts and strong strikes. The damage was adding up fast. As the assault continued, the Deltadromeus began gathering power, biding time as Dante kept going strong. "Oh what's good, pimpin'!? You runnin' out of steam already!?" gloated the maverick as he sped around his competitor with amazing speed. The giant noasaur continued gathering spirit energy, its power levels increasing. From the hill nearby, Nemu and Kowa noticed the sudden buildup and watched warily. Soon, Dante also noticed the increase and stopped his attack. "Somethin's up," he thought. "This fool's soul power's on the rise. I best shut this sucka down." Acknowledging the enemy's tactic, Dante hurried back in the dust and raced around to the enemies front. At this time, the dinosaur's spiritual pressure was reaching a critical point. Once Dante reached the location, he leapt forward, both zanpakutos held high and ready to slash. Before the black teen's strike connected, the Deltadromeus released its spiritual pressure with a loud roar. The black teen was thrown back and crashed to the ground before bouncing for about a few yards. The dust that surrounded them was also blown away.

Gathering his bearings, Dante rose to his feet, feeling the pain riddling his body. No doubt that sudden release caused internal bleeding. He turned to the Deltadromeus, which was sitting on the ground and panting. The enemy dinosaur's trump card expended its strength and making it critically weakened. "That overgrown lizard's out of juice!" he thought. "Since it's a sitting duck, I better make this hit count!" Charging his reiryoku, the black teen used another ability. "Lagi style: Agility Wing!" With his body covered in a faint yellow glow and swords in hand, he rushed toward the recuperating ceratosaurian. Ignoring the pain that might be indicating broken organs or bones, he sped forward with determination. Seeing Dante was arriving, the Deltadromeus fired its laser blasts. However, the black teen's boost in speed helped him evade the blasts. In less than a minute, Dante was in range to unleash the final blow. "Coup de gras with a straight-up hi-ougi!" he shouted. With the effects of Agility Wing coupled with his flash steps, Dante moved at blinding speed as he slashed the Deltadromeus in all directions. The enemy was helpless as it was at Dante's mercy. The black teen then jumped toward the enemy, ready to finish it off. "Gyakujo Taka Kiritateru!" he shouted as he slammed his swords straight on the dinosaur's head. The giant ememy gave its final roar as it fell in defeat just before Dante landed on the ground. The battle was finally over and the black teen gave a weak chuckle. "You just got knocked… the fuck out…" he said before he collapsed to the ground. Not long after, the body of the Deltadromeus disappeared without a trace.

Nemu and Kowa arrived on the scene with the lieutenant kneeling next to his body to check his pulse. It was rather shallow and his breathing was irregular. Still, Nemu smiled, knowing he was alive and that he won. "Before you, there was a rumor of a captain who mastered the bankai technique in less than three days. When I first heard of it, I only dismissed it as idle gossip," she said. "But that was before I watched you break that record. Now it appears I have no choice but to believe."

Kowa glanced down at the black teen, his head moving down to the black teen's body. Looking closely, the dromaeosaur noticed a small smile decorating Dante's face. "Dante, you have accomplished a great deal today. Countless men before you have tried to obtain such a power. Now here you are, proving how deserving you to use such a sacred technique. My strength is now at your full disposal. I wish you all the success on the path you walk." Pulling its head back up, Kowa returned to Nemu, who continued staring at Dante. "He's a real catch, this one," the raptor spoke. Nemu turned to the dinosaur with some skepticism. The spirit only cracked a small smile. "Take care of him, would you?" Before long, the raptor's form was replaced with the tenshintai board and fell backwards to the ground.

Shortly after the fall of the board, Yoruichi arrived at the scene, picking up the device. "Well, that was impressive," the ex-captain said with satisfaction. "He actually managed to achieve one of his bankai forms in about a day. Kisuke would be proud to know that there was someone just as strong as Ichigo who mastered his device in such a short time."

"Miss Yoruichi," Nemu began. "Though Dante is victorious, the wounds he has suffered are quite grave. I believe without proper treatment, there is a chance he might be die."

"Don't worry," Yoruichi assured cooly. "There's a hot spring on the other side of that rock. Just place him in and the waters will heal his wounds."

"I understand. Thank you, Miss Yoruichi." Nemu carefully lifted Dante over her shoulder and followed Yoruichi to the hot spring.

An hour passed before Dante became conscious. Opening his eyes, the black teen placed his hand against his head as he felt as though his face were hit by a sledgehammer. "Oh man, what a headache…" he groaned. "I could use some sake…" As Dante dropped his left arm, the black teen heard a sudden splash and a warm wet feeling hitting his face. He looked down at his scratched limb and noticed it was underwater. Then he scanned the immediate area and realized that everything below the shoulders was submerged in water. Pulling his arm up again, he noticed the scratches that once decorated the limb were now gone. "That's pretty weird."

"Hey. Good to see you're back," a voice said from across the hot spring. He looked forward and saw Ichigo also laying in the pool, his head resting against a boulder where the water snaked into the pool. The orange-haired teen lounged in the pool, basking as the warm waters relaxed his body.

"Yo, Ich, what it is," said the black teen with a short wave of his hand. "Haven't seen you since the Senzaikyu. I hear you've been trainin' hard since I was gone."

"That's right. Yoruichi said that I can use bankai if I beat the spirit in my zanpakuto. Let me tell you, I had a feeling Old Man Zangetsu was tough, but having to pick out a sword from thousands of others is nuts. But then I found this one sword that I was sure I could beat him with had it not been for Yoruichi pulling the plug."

"Hey, man. I'm sure you'll get that blade tomorrow. Hell, you're Ichigo motherfuckin' Kurosaki. By the time you're finished, you'll be lookin' at this like it was child's play."

"Oh yeah?" Dante nodded as he rested his head on the edge of the spring. "Hey, what was all that commotion over there?" Ichigo asked, earning a raised eyebrow from the black teen. "I thought I saw you fighting some giant monster."

"Yep. That Deltadromeus was straight-up whack. Kowa made me have to pull out all the stops on that busta. But as you know, I is the real Don Mega. You should've seen me in the end there 'cause I was ballin'!" he said as he rose his arms like he was shooting a hoop.

"So you already reached bankai with one of your zanpakuto? Not bad for one day."

"No kidding. And tomorrow, I'm thinking it's gonna be double." With a sigh of relief, the black teen sunk his body deeper into the water, allowing the spring's healing properties to continue their work. Ichigo also lowered his form. After the fight he's had with his zanpakuto's spirit this was a well-deserved break. "Hey, Ich."

"What is it?"

"After we finish business with Rukia and all that, how about you and I go a round?"

"You mean you want a sparing match?" Ichigo asked as he opened one eye to see the black teen's smile come across his face. After a short thought, the orange-haired shinigami returned with a smirk of his own. "You're on, Dante. But don't think I'll go easy on you."

"Hey, you stole my line." Feeling an impending match coming in the near future, the two comrades exchanged competitive smirks. The water in the hot spring felt like it rose by a few degrees as their egos clashed.

However, their staring contest came to an abrupt end as Yoruichi and Nemu arrived at the edge of the hot spring. "Hey there, you two," Yoruichi called. "How's the water?"

"It's awesome," Ichigo said.

"For real! It feels like one of them saunas," Dante added. "But without the overcharged prices and unwanted fat dudes."

"It's that good, huh?" Yoruichi asked as she began to strip off their clothes. "Well then, how about we join the two of you."

Upon hearing this, two opposing reactions took place. With Ichigo, it was one of clear objection as he screamed with horror. For Dante, he was starry eyed with as a large lecherous smile on his face stretched from ear to ear. "No wait! Don't come in!" Ichigo shouted.

"Why? Is there something wrong?" Yoruichi asked innocently.

"Of course not!" Dante invited. "Jump on in! There's plenty of room!"

"Shut up, Dante!" Ichigo screamed. He then turned to the two women and shouted, "You're not supposed to be pulling off your pants in front of us like that!"

"Judging by his racing heart beat and tense muscles, it seems that Ichigo is feeling rather stressed," Nemu examined with a frown.

"Don't mind him," Dante continued. "He's being a big cry baby."

"Damn it, shut up!" Ichigo replied as he splashed water at the black teen's face.

"Dante has a point," Yoruichi replied. "You need to be a little more loose. Don't be so tense."

"Hey, stop making fun of me!" the orange-haired swordsman shouted as he covered his face. "Don't come in!" The last thing Ichigo heard was a small tap against the water's surface. He moved his hands out of his face and only saw a black cat swimming across the water.

"I don't know what you're getting so worked up about," Yoruichi said. She then turned to Ichigo, who seemed rather relieved yet surprised. Then she looked at Dante who frowned. "Well, it looks like you two were expecting something else. My, what perverts you are."

"I should just drown you!" Ichigo replied.

"Hey, where'd Nemu go?" Dante asked.

"I'm right here," a voice behind the black teen replied. Dante turned around and looked up. Standing just over him was Nemu in a black string bikini with the bra part revealing most of her bust (including the bottom portion of her breasts). Seeing this, the black teen's jaws hung open by the lieutenant's rather attractive figure. "I was just tightening the strings. So, what do you think?" she asked with a blush.

Once more, Ichigo was in shock while Dante gazed upon her with a stunned smile. Only after a few minutes did the black teen finally reply. "Hot damn, you is fiiiiinnnne!" he exclaimed. "I mean, look at them curves. And your… assets," Dante said as his eyes scanned Nemu's backside and chest. "Tell me, you wouldn't be an assassin would you? 'Cause you're killin' with that body!"

"Oh my," Nemu said as she turned her head to the side in order to hide the beat red now on her face. "Am I really that noticeable?"

"Noticeable!? You barely have any clothes on!" Ichigo shouted.

"Yo, dog," Dante called. "That's what bathing suits are for."

"That's not what I mean! Where did you even get that thing in the first place?"

"Actually, it was Yoruichi who gave me this swimwear," Nemu answered as she slowly went into the water. "She said that she had no need for it and decided to lend it to me."

"Of course. Why am I not surprised," Ichigo replied as he rested his back against the large rocks. The four were silent as the soothing waters relieved their bodies. A small smile grew on Nemu's face. It's been a long time since she felt so at ease. "You know what I'm starting to realize?" Ichigo began. "That this place almost looks like the one under Urahara's Shop."

"So you just noticed," Yoruichi said. "Well, we tried to model that area after this one after we built it."

"Wait, so you built this place?"

"Yes. Back when Kisuke and I were kids, we wanted a place to play. So we built this area and made it our secret little hideout."

"This is a secret hideout?" Dante asked. "No offense, but I don't think a 'Do Not Enter' sign would keep anyone out of this big room."

"Well, during the time, we were the only ones who knew of this place and because of the location, no one would think of coming over here."

"Makes since," Dante thought. "After all, an execution spot doesn't exactly say 'funhouse.'"

"After we grew up, I became a member of the Stealth Force while Kisuke joined the Gotei 13. Still, the two of us would always stop by to hone our skills."

Ichigo was shocked by this and turned to Yoruichi. "So hold on! You mean you two-!?" before the orange-haired warrior could continue, he fell in the water after seeing the dark-skinned woman's naked body.

Dante noticed this and laughed like at his misfortune. "Haha! You just got punked, son!"

"Oh? So this is a topless pool? I had no idea," Nemu said. Dante turned to the lieutenant with a quizzical expression, not expecting to hear Nemu say such a thing. He then saw her top come off and placed on the side of the pool, revealing her rather sizable features. Dante silently stared for about a moment as his brain processed the information. "Holy Kubo…" he whispered as he stared at them like a crow on a shiny object (or two). At this time, he did not notice the blood flowing from his nose or that he was sinking into the water. "I might be feeling lightheaded, but I still think this is the best day of my life."

A few minutes passed for the male occupants of the pool to calm down. Once they mellowed down, the young men turned away from the women, their faces a full shade of red. Yoruichi examined the two with a clever grin. "Well, I understand Ichigo's reasons for acting like he is. But Dante, I don't know why you're turned around."

"Well, I am a young black man with sexual desires. Which makes it pretty hard to pay attention when there are two pairs of titties hovering near your face."

"If you want, I can put back on the bra section of my swimsuit," Nemu said humbly.

"No, no!" Dante quickly replied as he shook his hand. "You just… Just have some fun… It's almost Spring Break and since Cancoon's closed… let's have some laughs."

"What the hell are you talking about!? It's the middle of the summer!" Ichigo hollered.

"Right… Course it is."

The flustered substitute groaned. There was no point in arguing with this guy if all he was going to get was a migraine. "Look, how about we get back to what we were talking about. That Hat-and-Clogs is really a shinigami too."

"That's right," Yoruichi said.

"Makes since. I always wondered how he knew so much about the Soul Society. Plus the fact that he had a zanpakuto. Tell me more about the man who trained me."

"The truth is that he was the captain of Squad 12. Also, he was the one who founded the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, serving as its first chief."

Ichigo gasped. "I had no idea! Who could have thought he was such a big shot."

"Squad 12, huh?" Dante said. Ichigo turned his attention to the black teen's back. "Talk about a coincidence. Last night, Uryu and I had a run in with the current head hancho. Let me tell you, that fool makes me look sane." He then turned to Nemu, making sure to not fall below the shoulder line. "No offense, my rather ample vixen."

"None taken, Dante," the lieutenant agreed with a flat tone. "Actually, his eccentricity is well known among the soul society. Of course, that always leads to problems relating to ethics and morals."

"Okay, so who's this Mayuri guy?" Ichigo asked.

"Well back then, I remember he was the third seat in Squad 12 and one of the most gifted geniuses in Soul Society. Back then, Mayuri and the lieutenant at the time Hiyori Sarugaki had a fierce rivalry over who had the most authority under Kisuke. He said their bickering nearly drove him nuts."

"That does sound like my father alright," Nemu said nostalgically.

"Wait, you said you were with Uryu when you faced that guy?" Ichigo asked. "Where is he? And what about the others?"

"Well, I think Uryu was heading here and I didn't catch Orihime. As for Ganju and Hanataro, I think they were thrown in the slammer after that little fight with you and that Kuchiki guy." Ichigo sat back silently, thinking about what he could have done. However, he knew no matter how he went about it, e realized it would have all been in vain. "Look, you were able to get to the tower before, right? Then all you need to do is get up there again. After you get that bankai technique of yours down, you gonna be a straight-up pimp. Ain't no one gonna mess wit' your swag. You feel me?"

Ichigo turned to Dante with some confusion, but knew he had a point. With the bankai technique he was so close to mastering, he knew its power would be more than enough to save Rukia and his comrades. "I still have no idea what you said," the orange-haired swordsman said. "But what I do know is that when I reach bankai, I'll save Rukia and I won't let anyone stand in my way of that."

Yoruichi and Dante smiled at their comrade's resolve. They two wanted to do whatever they could to help Ichigo succeed. Nemu gave a stoic frown as she eyed both young men. Hearing how much they wanted to succeed in their mission, the lieutenant began to formulate an idea of how she might be of assistance.

Author's Note 1: Well that was a long chapter. Took me a whole week to finish this baby. Anyway, for a few of you that noticed, there is an attack Dante has learned called 'Gyakujo Taka Kiritateru.' For the many readers who don't know, it's a literal translation for 'Frenzy Falcon Slash.' I think it's a pretty fitting attack for someone of Dante's caliber. While we're on the subject of translations, I'm pretty sure I owe the readers a definition of Dante's zanpakutos. 'Akumu hi Ryuujin' is the scythe which literally means 'Nightmare Flying Dragon God.' For the gamers out there, this is based on the translation to what the word Dragonmare (which Dante morphed into) means in Panzer Dragoon Orta: the Nightmare Dragon. As for 'Kowa ro Shii Maru', that's a translation I found on a Japanese version on Wikipedia used to translate Deinonychus. It literally means 'Clawed Fear of the New Route.' And there you have it. Some food for thought. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.