Chapter 3 because I can. If you have been reading/waiting for my ideas to unfold, here is where it begins.
I wrote this chapter first, and released it to a select community before deciding to continue with the fic, just to make sure it was decent, and I received a good review, so I hope it will perform well here as well.
Anyway, chapter three.
Round 2x: The Next Level
I was in the middle of class when I felt their spiritual pressure as they came through the gate. It was obvious to the others as well that someone or something with immense spiritual pressure had appeared, but just as usual, they just assumed it was a hollow, and let me take care of it. Kon looked forward to every hollow attack; getting into my body was always a highlight of his day.
"Miss I have to go!" Ichigo yelled as he ran out of his classroom, grabbing Kon out of his backpack on his way.
By this time, the class was used to his constant disturbances, and just let him go. Hollow appearences were quick work for even Orihime, so it never raised much of an alarm, but still needed to be rid of as fast as possible. He ran down the hall, and lept out the window closest to the edge of the school grounds, slipping Kon in mid air. Ichigo knew what troubles he caused when he forgot to use a mod soul for his body when he went to fight hollows, and quickly learned that it was a lot worse than the troubles caused when Kon was in control.
"I'll be back soon!" Ichigo called out to Kon as both fell through the air.
It didn't take him long to realise Kon was asleep after his body crashed to the ground. Ichigo frowned as he saw his wrists and shoulders bend into impossible positions. Thankfully his father was a docter, or at least claimed to be, and would be able to offer him at least a bit of aid when he returned to his now fractured body.
A perk of now being his shinigami self, was the clarity of the spiritual pressures he was sensing. A smile swept across his face when he realised who it was, but his mind quickly changed subject to why they were here as he flickered across the city in the general direction of their location. Why was such an honestly formidable force required after Aizens retreat? Surely it was too early for the Arrancar to have returned, and even then, if they had of, why didn't all the captains convene?
'Still, I get to see them all safe again' He thought as his great speed took him over his home. As he did, his father was out on the sidewalk, looking over the river. For a moment Ichigo thought he was watching, but he quickly ignored at, as he knew he was invisible to the general public. If he could see him, he would have certainly been trying to fly kick him in the face rather than simply observing him.
"It seems the man of the hour has arrived" Byakuya stated, who was the only one still standing awaiting Kurosaki's arrival.
Toshirou was communing with Hyorinmaru as he spent most of his spare time, as did Rukia with Shirayuki. Renji and Kenpachi past the time eyes locked, as if either was simply waiting for the other to make the first move. Though, at least Renji knew as long as their limmiters were still in place, there was no point in fighting.
As Ichigo lept over the top of Uraharas shop, Sandal~Hat emerged from the doorway.
"How nice of you all to pay a visit" Urahara said, his eyes covered by his hat. Though his tone was light, he picked up quickly on Toshirou's seriousness, obvious only in his stance. "Please, come inside"
Some motioning to follow, Kenpachi was left to forcifully drag Ichigo inside, who had barely grasped the context of the situation. Rukia was gestured by her elder to remain outside, an act that seemed to deeply undermine and disturb her.
"Hey!" Ichigo protested after being thrown inside and out of Rukia's earshot.
"Pipe down, idiot" Kenpachi replied.
Simply in his tone was enough to tell Ichigo there was something out of order. Usually the Captain of the 11th was harsh, but for once there was meaning behind his words. As the party adjusted to the situation, Urahara took a seat.
"So what brings you to my humble side of the known existance?" He said, directing his words to Toushirou.
After looking between Kenpachi, Byakuya, Renji and Ichigo, and sparing a thought for Rukia;
"We need your help with removing our Spiritual Limmiters, and providing us with untracable, but regenerative gigais" Toushirou replied, arms crossed, and eyes returning to their almost naturally closed state.
Still, at this time, Ichigo had no clue as to why his comrads needed such tools.
"I'm in the dark here" Ichigo stated as he raised his hand.
There was a slight moment of silence within the room, making it obvious Urahara had some idea of what was planned.
"We are defying the Seretei to preserve the life of Kurosaki Ichigo, substitute shinigami" Byakuya stated, coming out of his own, the breaking the rooms silence.
At this Ichigo simply stared at Byakuya, as if in arrogant disbelief of what he had just said. From what he counted, there were 7 of them here, and though it consisted of 5 that were at least at a captain level, Ichigo had come to the conclusion there would be no way to ensure their survival.
"And you've dragged me into this now" Kisuke stated, as he slumped, obviously not pleased with the current situation.
"There is also one other thing, Urahara" Renji began, stepping up and towards Sandal~Hat. "Rukia is the only one of us having unachieved bankai, and we are all aware how much of a liability she is without it."
Urahara absorbed this, and continued into a moment of thought, before Byakuya spoke again.
"She is also unaware of our plans, and I'm not sure she will take to them so easily" He stated, drawing Ichigo's attention once again. "She believes we are here to convince Kurosaki Ichigo to return to the seretei."
Again, Kisuke quietly took in the information provided.
"Knuckle head here can help with that, he's got a thing for that woman" Kenpachi said, patting Ichigo on the head, and his harsh tone returning.
It took Ichigo a moment to protest.
"You spend all your time with a 7 year old girl, Zaraki, I think you're in no position to talk" He replied, his tone giving the impression he was obviously proud of his comeback.
"You're sick Ichigo" Rukia said as she emerged from behind a pile of crates.
The 6 other shinigamis simply stared at Rukia for a moment, spare Urahara, who was still in quiet contemplation. Ichigo's main thought was wondering if she had been present for Renji's comment on her lack of Bankai, and secondly if she heard Kenpachi's comment. Toshirou had decided he was hungry.
"Well, the good news is I have a way to get rid of those pesky spiritual limmiters" Urahara finally said, breaking the awkward silence and situation. "And the gigai's should be no problem, but I will need some time. But they are the easy ones."
Renji caught on, as the final issue had not been addressed.
"So Rukia's bankai is the hard one?" He asked, glancing between Rukia and Kisuke.
Rukia had looked away. Though she knew that the power of Bankai was formidable, she was annoyed that Renji kept bringing it up.
"Won't it be no different to how you helped with mine?" Ichigo asked, sincere in his thoughts.
Urahara shook his head.
"It is probably well known that you're more Hollow than Shinigami" He replied. "Your Zanpakuto was materialized easily because of it essentially being a Hollow soul. Shirayuki being brought into our world from the entity of Rukia's mind would be like tearing out her spiritual power, and forcing it to endure."
Byakuya and Toushirou were not phased by Urahara's reply, but the remaining three Shinigami simply stood in awe of what the perverted man who spends all his time in sandals and a bucket hat had just said. Rukia was also still fathoming the fact that her companion was an aspect of a Hollow.
"The time we will have for Rukia to attain Bankai will rely on her spiritual power capital" Urahara simplified.
Renji and Ichigo were still dumbfounded, and their still blank stares forced a sigh from Kisuke.
"Rukia isn't strong enough to allow her Zanpakuto to be materialized for the three days we need for her to achieve Bankai". Urahara said, his tone stern, irritated by his students inedptitude. "Having her to re~materialize Shirayuki over and over would tear out her Zanpakuto's soul, and probably kill her."
Renji and Ichigo looked between eachother, Kisuke and Rukia.
"So, Rukia needs to get stronger before she gets Bankai?" Renji asked sincerely, obviously showing he needed confirmation of exactly what Urahara had just explained.
Kisuke looked around the room, making sure that everyone else didn't need a final, most simple re~explaination of what needed to be done.
"Yes, uhh, Toshirou, would you care to take Rukia..." He began, but what was required of the captain of the 10th was already obvious to him as he lead her down further into the shop.
Seeing the two leave, Ichigo and Renji sat up, Byakuya and Kenpachi glanced at eachother, and a simple deduction between them made it obvious that they too would be training partners.
"Sweet, well, come on Ichigo, there's work to be done" Renji said as he and Ichigo left in the same direction as the two before them, passing either side of Kisuke.
But before they could continue, two outstretched arms from the ex~captain halted their movement. Both shinigami both knew why they were being stopped, and a feint 'shit' could be heard from both parties.
"I'd rather have you train with Zaraki, if you don't mind, Renji" He stated, a noteworthy grin taken from Renji's face and applied to Kenpachi's.
Kenpachi erupted with laughter as he grabbed Renji by his fatigues, and threw him downward, smashing a sizable hole in the floor, and revealing one of Kisukes underground training grounds. Byakuya stepped back a moment before the floor opened wider, crumbling from the lack of support.
"Don't destroy and entire shop!" Urahara called as the captain of the 11th jumped down after his subordinate, drawing his Zanpakuto, and laughing wildly. He proceeded to stare at Byakuya, hoping for an explanation.
But neither Byakuya nor Ichigo uttered a word as the both walked in the same direction as Rukia and Toshirou had left. Urahara was left in a moment of unknowing, now able to empathize with how Renji had felt earlier.
"How did they all know where the grounds were...?" He asked himself, before remembering the issue of the untracable gigais.
It was around then I found out what set Byakuya apart from all the other captains, and I guess what put him one level above them. I had witnessed it before, but it wasn't until around that time that I was really able to piece it all together. Hell, I don't even think he understood when we first faught. But I would have never have thought he would have ended up being one of my greatest teachers. Well, not only mine, but all of ours.
I guess you could have called this phase 1 of our plans.