SailorStar9: This is Chapter 2 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.
Coyote Starrk: Yeah... that's why I said I can't do your homework.
Lilynette Gingerback: C'mon. (Whines)
Chapter 2: 14 Days Before Rukia's Execution
"Nice hit, Bonnie." Ganju remarked. "But we don't have time today. Hurry up and gimme a ride."
"Hold it!" Ichigo barked as Bonnie tossed her rider into the air. "You're running away?"
"The hell I am!" Ganju snapped. "You dandelion! I'll settle the score with you tomorrow, count on it! Until then, wait there quietly! Don't turn into a seed and float away to escape!"
"Wha..." Ichigo twitched. "Don't be ridiculous! That's my..." his rant was cut off when the rest of the boars ran over him.
"He's gone." Orihime blinked.
"That sucks." Ishida tried to sooth the enraged Ichigo. "I don't want what to say."
"Goddammit!" Ichigo exploded.
"He isn't going to live it down, is he?" Yoruichi inquired.
"Nope." Hasu sighed.
Later that night...
Hasu let out a long sigh as she sat on the corridor. Ever since the Command Staff manifested, her memories came flooding back. She closed her eyes, trying to find peace in feel of the world she ruled over, trying to get her thoughts to still long enough to be able to think clearly.
Flash
"I see I wasn't the only one looking for an escape tonight."
Tula opened her eyes, smiling, her hand still trailing in the water of the fountain. "Not an escape, Lord Ryuzaki. I just needed a break."
He grinned, "I don't blame you, My Lady. These negotiations can get rather stuffy."
Tula raised an eyebrow, "From what I saw, you seemed to be quite popular. Your gaggle must be beside themselves without you."
Ryuzaki rolled his eyes, "Mmm… they don't seem to be able to tell when they're not wanted."
She blinked at him, "You seemed to be enjoying yourself."
The man shrugged, "Eh, they're entertaining. Annoying, but entertaining."
The Ice Goddess blinked at him, "I see. Your reputation suggests that you are willing to put up with a lot of annoyance to be entertained."
He shook his head, "Reputations are rarely accurate, My Lady. There is only one woman I'm interested in. A woman who is reputed to be completely uninterested in romance; some have even called her frigid. But I believe that her reputation, like mine, could not be further from the truth."
The dark blue-haired woman blinked harder, blushed, and then looked into the water in which she'd been playing. "Why would you be interested in such a woman?"
The Quincy Leader smiled. "Because, as smart and as beautiful as she is, she has a gentle and a musical spirit that calls to me. Because I must confess that one evening, I happened upon this striking woman when she thought she was alone. She was cradling a lyre, and the music she made with it emanated from her soul… and called to mine."
A sudden pressure pulled her from her reverie.
"You'll catch a cold out here." Ishida remarked, having draped his cape over her shoulder. "What was that for?" he exclaimed, barely dodging a 'Hungering Cold' blast from the Ice Goddess.
"Next time, don't sneak up on me." Hasu warned.
"I'll keep that in mind." Ishida winced at the ice-coated wall.
"Memory flood giving me a migraine." Hasu muttered.
"Ah..." Ishida nodded sagely, before blinking when he noticed Hasu nodding off against the pillar. Got to put her back to bed. He thought. And pray Kurosaki doesn't kill me. With that , he folded up his cape and carried the sleeping girl bridal-style back to the house.
"Ryuzaki..." Hasu moaned, snuggling against the blushing Quincy's chest.
So, she remembers. Ishida mused, settling her back on the futon. I'm sorry, Nymph. He stroked her fringe. But until I regain all of my former powers, I'm afraid we can't be together. Wait for me, okay?
The next day...
"I hope Jidanbō will be okay." Orihime voiced.
"I wonder what's keeping Kurosaki?" Ishida wondered.
"Want me to go get him?" Orihime offered.
"No, I'll go check on him." Ishida returned to the house.
"Don't bother." Hasu shrugged. "Aniki's being the stubborn ass that he is and he isn't coming."
"What?" Ishida exclaimed. "You're not going?"
"I ain't 'not going'." Ichigo corrected. "I said 'Go ahead without me'. I'll go after I settle things here with that ass-bitch from yesterday."
"What are you talking about?" Ishida snapped.
"I don't wanna!" Ichigo struggled against the Quincy. "He'll think I ran away."
"Aniki, three seconds to get your butt moving before I ice senbon your pressure point." Hasu growled.
"Fine, I'm going!" Ichigo leapt up, leaving a gaping Ishida.
"Wow, who shoved the kunai up her ass today?" Yoruichi blinked.
"She's been crappy ever since last night." Ishida adjusted his glasses.
"And you'd know, why?" Yoruichi trained at glare at the Quincy.
Uryū sweated and turned away, blushing.
"Look, I'm not blind nor stupid not to notice the looks you've been giving her." Yoruichi remarked. "And if my assumption is correct, you, too, have regained some of your memories. But, hurt her in any way, Ichigo won't be your only concern, got me?"
"Crystal." Ishida gulped.
In Soul Society...
"What is it, Renji?" Rukia asked from her cell. "Has the date of my sentence been moved up?"
"There are now fourteen days left before your execution." Renji reported. "Use of the Soukyoku has been approved. We're transferring you to the Shrine of Penitence; cell four-deep."
In the outskirts of Rukongai...
"Oh, there it is." Yoruichi stopped. "That's it. See? Instantly recognizable, no? Come on, let's go."
"HALT!" Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko chorused. "Who are you infidels? Yoruichi-dono?" the pair recognized the feline.
Inside the house...
"Please wait here a moment." Shiroganehiko led the group down before a room. "Yes, right away." he received Kūkaku's instructions. "Kūkaku-sama."
"Yo, long time no see, Yoruichi." Kūkaku greeted the feline.
"Kūkaku's a..." Ichigo gaped.
"Woman?" Uryū, Orihime and Sado exclaimed.
"No one said she was a man." Hasu shrugged.
"What's with the kids?" Kūkaku noticed the group.
"Actually, Kūkaku." Yoruichi started. "I've come today to ask a favor."
"Long time since we've talked like this." Kūkaku chuckled. "I see." she note after Yoruichi explained. "I think I get the situation. Alright. I accept. And if Urahara's got his teeth in this, too, I couldn't say no if I wanted to. One thing though," she stated. "I trust you, but that doesn't mean that I trust those kids. Among other things, as insurance, I'm gonna stick one of my minions with you. Well, I call him a minion, but it's my little brother. Hey, you ready?" she called to the next room.
"A pleasure to meet you." Ganju greeted once Kūkaku slid open the door. "I am called Shiba Ganju."
"Oh dear." Hasu remarked as silence engulfed the group. "This is going to take a while." she added as Ichigo and Ganju started pummeling each other. "Shiba-san, you don't happen to have more tea, do you?"
"You bastards!" Kūkaku exploded, the scuffle not only knocked her pipe from her hands, but had also broken her pipe into two.
"That's a little drastic to just stop the fight." Ishida death-panned, the rest of the group having dashed out for safety as the house was literally brought down.
"Understatement." Hasu muttered. "Although, I think I understand why she moves so often."
"Okay." Kūkaku voiced once everything was in order. "Everyone, stand up! Koganehiko, you go outside and help Shiroganehiko prepare. The rest of you, shut up and follow me. We're here." she stopped before a sealed room. "Open it, Ganju."
With a heave, Ganju pulled the metal door open.
"This is how I'm gonna get you guys into the Court." Kūkaku declared in front of her cannon. "From the sky, that is. My name is Shiba Kūkaku, Rukongai's Number One Fireworks Maker!"
"Well, guess that explains the chimney." Hasu mused.
SailorStar9: In the next chapter, In order to use the cannon to enter Soul Society, Ichigo and his friends must first learn how to focus their spiritual energies in order to use an item called a Spirit Orb, a task Ichigo finds especially difficult. He finally succeeds with the help of Ganju and creates the shell he will need to ride the cannon. Within Soul Society, a meeting of all the captains in the meeting room is being initiated. Now that's done, read and review.
