SailorStar9: This is Chapter 8 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.
Uryū: (Sips tea when three of the Visoreds appear) Who are you?
Hirako: I'm Hirako Shinji.
Aikawa Love: I'm Aikawa Love.
Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō: I'm Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō.
Uryū: (Twitches and points) Hirako Shinji, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, Aikawa Love.
Aikawa: (Points to self) I'm Aikawa Love.
Ōtoribashi: (Points to self) I'm Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō.
Uryū: (Turns away) Either way works for me.
Ichigo: (Pops up onscreen) Ishida, you can't remember, can you?
Uryū: (Fumes) What?
Yoruichi: (Sheds off Ichigo guise) Got ya!
Ichigo: (After curtain closes) Yoruichi, you're terrible!
Chapter 8: Breakthrough! The Shinigami's Encompassing Net
"Are you able to feel a little regret?" Ishida inquired. "Over the misfortune of having met me, as another projectile user?"
"Me?" Ikkanzaka echoed. "Regret? Insolent boy!"
"You realize, don't you?" Ishida fired another two more arrows are Ikkanzaka's foot. "I missed just now on purpose. And the next won't miss."
"Incredible." Ikkanzaka voiced. "You are incredible. The speed, power, and accuracy of your techniques. It seems you exceed me in all categories. I never thought I would be confronted with such a caliber of opponent. I am utterly defeated."
"I'm a Quincy." Ishida lowered his bow. "I have no sympathy to spare for Shinigamis. It's just I do not really like tormenting the weak. Disappear quickly." he ordered, recalling his weapon. "Before I change my mind."
"I see you are a kind man." Ikkanzaka remarked. "However, that will be your death!" he turned his attention to Orihime.
"If you can't beat me, you'll at least kill Inoue." Ishida was before Ikkanzaka in an instant. "Is that what you thought? Or was she to be your hostage? I don't like tormenting the weak, but I don't mind unmasking cowards. From the moment you appeared, you were after Inoue, not me, weren't you?" he drew an arrow. "A heinous act like attacking a woman by surprise isn't something just anyone can do. If a man had any real pride, he could never do it. It is a coward's way of fighting. Incredible and goodbye. Time for regret would be wasted on you." with that, he dispatched Ikkanzaka with two shots to the chest.
"Is he dead?" Orihime blinked.
"No," Ishida replied. "I just shot two crucial points called the 'Spirit Link' and 'Soul Sleep', which controls the generation of spirit power. He won't die. But he'll lose his Spirit Power. And when he wakes up, he'll be unable to return to being a Shinigami; Tula doesn't need such a person within her ranks. That's a good enough way to end a fight."
Elsewhere...
"Why am I the only one getting chased around over and over?" Ganju exclaimed, fleeing from his pursuers. "What did you say?" he glared back, overhearing the ugly insult thrown at him. "That other guy was kind of good-looking, but no matter how I look at it, you have no place to comment on my looks. Ichigo!" he spotted the orange-haired Shinigami ran out from the intersection in front of him. "Reinforcements. Just in time... or not." he corrected himself, seeing the group of Shinigami behind Ichigo. "Wait a minute!" he stammered. "Why are you getting chased around too? It makes no sense to get together! Idiot! Stop waving at me! You're riling up the guys running behind you! I said don't come this way!"
"Let's go, Ganju!" Ichigo kicked one of Ganju's pursuers off. "Duck!"
"That was dangerous, you idiot!" Ganju scolded. "Why'd you swing that blade out of the blue like that?"
"What?" Ichigo fired back. "I told you to duck, didn't I?"
"Let's see..." Ganju stated. "So, now what? We got away with a surprise attack just now, but just cause we showed them some muscle, these guys don't look like the type to back off. Ichigo," he smirked, seeing Hanatarō being pushed right in front of them. "I've got an easy plan to get us out of here."
"What a coincidence." Ichigo concurred. "Me too."
"Hey, open a path, you punks!" Ganju demanded, he and Ichigo snatching Hanatarō up.
Meanwhile...
Elsewhere, with the directionally-challenged Yachiru on his back, Zaraki was running around Seiretei finding to prey.
The camera pans out to reveal that they were actually in the opposite direction of their objective.
Elsewhere...
That Spirit Pressure just now... Sado stepped out of the broken wall, having smashed through the concrete and giving Ichigo and Ganju the opening they needed. I thought it was Ichigo's, but... I guess we just missed him.
"Hey, you there." one of the reminding Shinigamis barked. "Was that you just now? You've done it now, bastard! You're friends with those other two?"
"Those other two..." Sado echoed. "Probably, yeah."
"Perfect!" the 11th Division Shinigamis snapped. "Damn you people taking 11th Squad too lightly. Don't think you'll leave here a..." the group was cut off by Tula's immense Spirit Pressure.
In the 4th Squad, General Relief Station...
"You sure you don't feel like spitting it out?" Mayuri interrogated. "Eh, Madarame Ikkaku? Why don't you say something?"
"Nothing to spit out." Ikkaku replied on the sick bay. "I don't know anything. Not the Ryoka's goal, not their destination. Nothing."
"Then what?" Mayuri pressed. "Even though you crossed swords with the Ryoka firsthand, you just got beat down and came back without a single piece of information, is that it?"
"That's exactly right." Ikkaku replied. "What's more, I didn't see the face, nor hear the voice, of the enemy. So there isn't anything, at all, I can tell you."
"Very well." Mayuri growled. "Then you're receive an appropriate punishment for your failure."
"This is a surprise." Zaraki stopped Mayuri from finishing Ikkaku off. "Since when do you have the authority to pass judgment on men from other squads, Kurotsuchi?"
"Zaraki..." Mayuri hissed. "Since the Captain's here, there's no choice." he shook himself free. "No reason for me to go out of my way to interrogate him. We'll part ways for now."
"Captain." Ikkaku looked at his squad leader.
"Hey, you sure get knocked around." Zaraki remarked. "I heard, they said you lost."
"I am very sorry." Ikkaku apologized. "I returned even though I know it is a shame to survive a defeat. But, Captain, those Ryoka... they're protecting Tula-sama."
"She's returned, has she?" Zaraki raised a knowing brow. "So that Spirit Pressure from before was hers."
"Yes." Ikkaku confirmed.
"Is he strong?" Zaraki questioned.
"He is strong." Ikkaku replied. "Outwardly, he looks like a Shinigami. Shinigami robes, short orange hair, a hilt-less, guard-less sword as tall as he is. His destination is the Shrine of Penitence, cell four-deep."
"The death-row prisoner?" Zaraki echoed.
"I told him of your appearance and to be careful." Ikkaku added. "If he remembers my words, wherever you meet him, you should be able to enjoy an excellent fight. He is strong and his strength is probably still developing. When he meets you, he may have become much stronger."
"That so?" Zaraki grinned. "What's his name?"
On the roofs...
"Ken, you seem happy." Yachiru remarked.
"Huh?" Zaraki echoed, dashing across the rooftop. "Me?"
"Yeah." Yachiru beamed. "It's been a long time since I've seen you this happy."
"That so?" Zaraki chuckled. "You could be right. He's part of the group guarding the Goddess. He fought Ichimaru and survived. He fought Ikkaku and won. Ikkaku said he's strong. Ikkaku said he'll become stronger. Where? Where are you? I, Zaraki Kenpachi, am waiting for you. Come on out, Kurosaki Ichigo!"
SailorStar9: In the next chapter, with Hanatarō's help, Ichigo and Ganju begin to move towards Rukia's location. However, Renji Abarai, the lieutenant of the sixth division, confronts them. Ichigo begins to fight him, and Renji reveals that he is five times more powerful than when they fought previously. Now that's done, read and review.
