SailorStar9: After getting the prologue out, this is Chapter 1 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.
Ichigo: Ishida, you really don't know the names of the Visored?
Uryū: (Twitches) I know them. I just don't know how to spell them. Hirako Shinji, Aikawa Love, Kuna Mashiro, Muguruma Kensei, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, Sarugaki Hiyori, Sarugaki Hiyori, Yadōmaru Lisa.
Ichigo: (Pulls out picture) And them?
Uryū: Those are Gate Guardians. I don't know their names.
Ichigo: (Pulls out another picture) And hers?
Uryū: Shiba Kūkaku.
A Menos Grande appears in the background.
Ichigo: Who's that?
Uryū: No clue.
Menos Grande: (Whines and tears)
Chapter 1: The Man who Hates Shinigami
"Who's that guy?" Ichigo snorted.
"3rd Squad Captain, Ichimaru Gin." Yoruichi supplied.
"Hey, that ain't right." Ichimaru chided, slashing Jidanbō's left arm before anyone could react.
"Jidanbō!" Ichigo gasped, the giant having fallen to one knee.
"That ain't right." Ichimaru added. "The gatekeeper ain't there to open the gate."
We were careless. Yoruichi admitted. We never thought someone like him would come this far out. Even if these kids have become stronger, a squad captain is beyond their imagination. Fighting him right now... is a worst case scenario that must be avoided.
"I lost." Jidanbō informed. "A defeated gatekeeper opening the gate makes perfect sense."
"What you talking about?" Ichimaru remarked. "A defeated gatekeeper don't open no gate. When a gatekeeper's defeated, it means death."
Hasu reacted by igniting her Spirit Power, the pressure stunning Ichimaru.
"Tula-sama..." Yoruichi gaped as the Goddess manifested, her Holy Spirit Power radiating outwards and rippling around the Soul Society wall.
Tula? Ichimaru mused. So, she's the one. "Oh, so it really is you. Then, all the more reason I can't let you through here." he walked backwards and drew his katana. "Shoot her dead, Shinsou." he commanded.
Ichigo jumped in front of his sister to deflect the shot with his Zanpakutō, only to blew away into Jidanbō by the sheer force of the attack.
"Oh no!" Yoruichi gasped as the gate started shutting. "The gate!"
"Bye-bye." Ichimaru taunted as the gate slid shut.
"Kurosaki!" Orihime rushed to the twins' side, Ishida in tow.
"The gate?" Ichigo pressed. "Damn!" he cursed at the shut gate.
"I see you're alright." Yoruichi noted.
"Sorry, I let the gate close." Ichigo apologized.
"Forget it." Yoruichi replied. "With him as your opponent, Ichimaru Gin, it couldn't be helped. Just be glad that you're not injured. But at the very least, we know that the traitor isn't working alone."
"What's with them?" Ichigo wondered, looking at the residents.
"Were they hiding until now?" Ishida mused.
"They were afraid of us." Yoruichi explained. "Souls that come to Soul Society improperly, without the guidance of Shinigamis, are called Ryoka, and are thought to be the source of all sorts of disasters."
"They think we're enemies?" Ichigo echoed.
"Please wait." the district's elder stepped forth. "I am the chief of Rukongai. I was watching that entire incident. As Jidanbō's saviors, I would like to welcome all of you."
"Rest assured." Tula declared, after analyzing Jidanbō's wound. "I'll heal Jidanbō's injury." turning back to the giant, she raised her Spirit Power, allowing her power to close the gaping wound.
That evening...
"Say what?" Ichigo echoed. "We're giving up breaking through the gate?"
"We're not giving up." Yoruichi corrected. "The gate, having been opened once, interior security must be tighter than ever before. That means that using the same tactic again is not a good idea."
"I feel the same." Ishida agreed.
"What about the other gates?" Ichigo inquired.
"There would be no significant difference from this one." Yoruichi replied.
"Then, what should we do?" Ichigo pressed.
"If the gates are no good, it just means that we'll break in from somewhere else other than the gates." Yoruichi answered. "Elder, do you know Shiba Kūkaku?"
"What?" the elder gasped.
"Apparently, Shiba likes to change residence at the drop of a hat." Yoruichi noted. "I can't figure out where the fool is now."
"Don't tell me you people intend to use that to get inside the wall?" the elder was stunned.
"What's that sound?" Ichigo asked, hearing the sound of a stampede.
"What could it be?" Orihime wondered.
"What?" Hasu blinked when Shiba Ganju tumbled into the room.
"Who's this guy?" Ichigo demanded. "A boar!" he exclaimed, seeing Bonnie step in.
"Man, my Bonnie threw me off again." Ganju dusted himself off. "Yo, long time no see, ouji-chan." he greeted the elder.
"Ganju?" the elder echoed. "What are you doing here?"
"What the heck?" Ganju chided. "I visit you for the first time in ages and that's how you greet me? Your guests are shocked. What's this?" he spotted Ichigo's Shinigami uniform. "Why is there a Shinigami in a place like this?"
"What?" Ichigo glared.
"Don't what me." Ganju snapped. "I asked why is there a Shinigami in a place like this? Say something, you dandelion-head..."
"Mind your manners." Ichigo punched him off.
"What the hell're you doing?" Ganju barked. "You picking a fight? Huh?"
"That's my line." Ichigo retorted. "You bust in here and start getting on my case? You boar-riding ape-man!"
"This is going to be messy." Hasu shook her head.
"We have to stop them." Orihime stated.
"Oh dear, I knew it would turn out like this." the elder remarked.
"You bastards." Ganju started. "You say you don't know me?"
"No, I don't." Ishida replied.
"I don't know you." Orihime added.
"I dunno." that was Sado.
"I don't even wanna know." Ichigo death-panned.
"Nope, doesn't ring a bell." Hasu shook her head.
"No choice then," Ganju shrugged. "I'll tell you. My name is Ganju." he posed. "Self-proclaimed, The Deep Crimson Bullet of West Rukongai. Self-proclaimed, Number One Want-To-Call-Him-Big-Brother of West Rukongai for 14 years. And finally, self-proclaimed, Number One Shinigami-hater of West Rukongai."
"They're all 'self-proclaimed'." Orihime, Sado, Yoruichi and Ishida gaped.
"Hmph!" Ichigo snorted. "What a hopeless loser."
"What?" Ganju glared.
"What?" Ichigo stared, the two starting their glaring contest again when Ganju tackled Ichigo out.
"Kurosaki!" Ishida was about to dash out when Ganju's lackeys blocked their path. "Goons..." he started.
"Incredible..." Orihime gaped.
"They're all..." Sado trailed.
"Riding boars." the group finished.
"I'm going to need a ton of aspirin after this." Hasu muttered.
"Hurry and get you ass out of here." Ganju barked. "While I'm alive, I won't let a Shinigami set one foot in West Rukon..." he was cut off when Ichigo landed a kick on his face.
"Geez." Ichigo muttered. "I've had enough of you! If it's a fight you want, I'll give you one."
"You bastard..." Ganju got up. "Not only once, but twice, you've hit my beautiful face."
"The second was a kick." Ichigo reminded. "Dumbass."
"Stop that, nii-san." Tula instructed. "Don't waste your energy on a meaningless fight."
"He's the one who picked the fight." Ichigo reminded. "If you wanna stop him, talk to him."
"It looks like it's your and my destiny to fight." Ganju remarked.
"Stop this, Ganju." the elder stepped out. "They aren't bad Shinigami."
"Shut up." Ganju snapped. "Shinigamis are Shinigamis. There's no good or bad about it. Here it comes." he readied his knife and charged.
"This is bad." Ishida remarked. "Kurosaki doesn't have his Zanpakutō."
"Thank you, Chad." Ichigo caught his blade which Sado tossed over to him.
"That's big." Ganju remarked. "That's your Zanpakutō? But..." both blade sclashed. "Don't think you can beat me just with the size of your sword. SINK!" he hollered, using his Seppa to disarm Ichigo and kicked the Shinigami away from his weapon.
"Damn you, using some weird magic." Ichigo cursed. Blocking Ganju's punch, he sent a punch across Ganju's face, forcing him to drop his knife.
Ganju moved in to attack, with Ichigo dodging the punch and leveling a fist onto Ganju's stomach.
"That's it!" Ichigo ducked the next punch and tossed Ganju over his shoulder. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Bring it."
Ganju readied his pose and charged when suddenly, a big clock rang, forcing Ganju to stop.
"Hey, what time is it?" Ganju shouted.
"We're in trouble, Bro!" Miyamoto Taichi squeaked. "It's already nine!"
"Oh crap!" Ganju gaped. "Come on, Bonnie!" he summoned his ride, the said boar jumping over Ichigo.
SailorStar9: In the next chapter, Yoruichi solicits the help of Ganju's sister, Kūkaku Shiba, who agrees to send them into Soul Society using her fireworks cannon. Meanwhile, Rukia's sentence has been moved to fourteen days, and she is transferred into a cell called the Shrine of Penitence. An emergency meeting is called among all the captains of the 13 Gotei. Now that's done, read and review.
