Chapter 8: Faux Respite

The hours could not pass fast enough for Baldo as he grew more and more anxious unable to eat, sleep, or relax. Urahara's original estimate of a couple days turned into a full week.

Only a few comforts gave Baldo the power to make it through the days. First came from Draco whom aided Baldo in strengthening his spiritual pressure. Baldo's plan to reclaim his spiritual energy was to raise it a minute amount at a time.

Large bursts like Transference left the Squad 14 captain feeling weak and exhausted but the gigai seemed to weaken when Baldo raised it in smaller increments. His elemental Kido spells regained some of their explosive power.

The second comfort had an abundance of happy energy and pink hair. Yachiru's child-like innocents radiated hope and calmness. Whenever Baldo feared for his father, Garland, or Rotondo, Yachiru punched him in the arm hard enough to send him into walls.

"Don't worry. Koma-Koma, Ton-Ton, and Woof-Woof will be okay," she beamed with confidence, "Kenny's with them." Then she would run off playing again leaving Baldo hopeful.

"Thanks Rotondo," Baldo watched Yachiru kick a ball into the atmosphere.

"What's that," Ichigo asked.

His greatest comfort came from Ichigo Kurosaki. The Substitute Soul Reaper visited everyday along with Orihime and Tatsuki. Entering Baldo's inner world whenever Draco thought Baldo needed an opponent, Ichigo grew into a living conscious offering out loud reassurances such as 'No news is good news' and 'That the captains are smart, strong, and resilient.' They were cliché that Baldo needed to hear.

"What," Baldo asked.

"How come you thanked Rotondo," Ichigo elaborated.

"Because he came up with the official Squad 14 motto," Baldo watched Yachiru play with Orihime and smiled, "Protect the Innocent."

Ichigo stared at Baldo a moment before smiling, "That sounds like something Captain Komamura would say." He drew Baldo's attention, "I can't imagine a better person for him to call son and you to call father."

Baldo nods shifting his attention back to Yachiru.

"It's a good motto to live by," Ichigo continued, "Would it be alright if I joined the Beast Squad when I become a full fledged Soul Reaper?"

"Absolutely," Baldo replied, "If we're still around."

"Thank you, Baldo, for everything," Baldo turns to Ichigo who was looking at the three girls, "I never got to thank you for saving them."

"It was nothing."

"No, it was," Ichigo interrupted, "Garland said the Kido spell you used, Transference, drains your spiritual pressure to almost zero. Why did you use it if you only had 8% of your power?"

"It was the fastest way to protect them," Baldo answered, "I couldn't flash step in time to create a barrier thanks to this damn gigai. Transference got them out of harm's way."

"But it left you weak and defenseless."

"It was worth it," Baldo said, "They're my friends, too, Ichigo." Baldo looked solemnly at the orange hair kid, "At least I hope they are. I had so few."

"Of course they are. Why wouldn't they?"

"Because they saw the beast within me," Baldo's eyes narrow watching the girls playing, "Now when they look at me…" Baldo trailed off.

"Garland said that technique, also, drains your energy."

"No, it actually strengthens my spiritual energy."

"Really," Ichigo looked shocked.

"And it's not limited to just fire. I can inhale any element Draco can breathe," Baldo listed, "Fire, Earth, Water, Wind, and Lightning."

"Then why don't you use it more often?"

"It's cripplingly painful," Baldo explained, "The process my body uses to breakdown the element feels like Kurohitsugi."

Ichigo gasped, "The Black Coffin technique" recalling the memories of Aizen ensnaring both the wolf captain in the Soul Society and Baldo in the fake Karakura town while Baldo was alive.

"It's like thousands of blades slicing me apart from the inside out until the element is completely converted into spirit energy," Baldo flinches from the memory, "And absorbed into my body.

"I don't collapse from being drained of energy. I collapse from the pain. I try not to use it except as a last resort but with this gigai I was desperate," Baldo laughs softly, "Luckily Luminaire's flame wasn't as hot as he thought. The more intense the element the faster I pass out."

"Wow, I have no doubt it was because you were protecting them," Ichigo said, "But you still passed out pretty quickly."

"Yeah but I believe Head Captain Yamamoto's flame helped me build a little tolerance."

Ichigo's eyes widen, "You ate the old man's flame?"

"Only a little and it knocked me out for a week. It was shortly after I became a captain," Baldo said, "Yamamoto demands mandatory Kendo matches to gauge our level of strength and to see how we've progressed as captains.

"They're private matches so only Captain Yamamoto and his lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe acting as the judge were in the room. Since we both had sticks, we used our zanpakuto instead of the usual bamboo swords," Baldo smiled recalling his memories, "I defended myself with the basics and even managed a point. After that Yamamoto employed a flash step and knocked me down.

"In the third match all hell broke loose. We both used flash steps and the match quickly escalated to a level even his lieutenant couldn't keep up with us," Baldo laughed, "When I thought I had gotten the upper hand, Captain Yamamoto woke his zanpakuto and released Ryujin Jakka's flame.

"With nowhere to dodge, I panicked and somehow ate the flame," he thought back continuing his story, "When I woke up in the infirmary, Captain Yomamoto greeted me apologizing for losing control and rescinded his position on animals wearing the full Shihakusho.

"He even smiled and thanked me for the match and said he looked forward to our next one," Baldo looked at Ichigo with a smile, "I think I'd have a place with Squad 1 if 14s disbanded."

"I can't imagine them doing that with such a strong captain," Ichigo answered.

"Strong? I can't get out of a blasted gigai to save my dad," Baldo responded, "I'm pathetic."

Urahara appeared behind them, "The Senkaimon will be ready tomorrow."

"You mean we can save Kenney," Yachiru asked.

"Yes."

"Yeah," she disappeared inside the candy shop followed by Orihime and Tatsuki.

Baldo looked up, "Any word from Yoruichi?"

In addition to Garland and Rotondo running reckon in the Soul Society, Yoruichi Shihoin former Captain of Squad 2 and close friend of Urahara, volunteered to investigate in her feline form. She claimed to have a better chance going unnoticed as a common house cat then a wolf and a bear did.

"Yes. She found that the captains were scattered around the Soul Society cut off from one another," Urahara replied, "Though all their exact locations are still unknown. She said Garland and Rotondo are very close to finding them. She's impressed by their tracking, fighting, and healing skills.

"Yoruichi said their tracking rivals the punishment force, fighting is comparable to Squad 11 and healing even puts some of Squad 4 to shame. How do you do it?"

"We run a lot of support missions. Though most of their tracking skills are instinctual, Sui-Feng honed them with low ranking pursuit assignments.

"As for fighting, we train everyday with intensity and I've asked Captain Unohana to help strengthen their healing Kido in case one of us is injured and unable to make it back to Squad 4 in time for treatment," Baldo answered looking at Ichigo, "I collapsed once while pursuing a Hollow in New Jersey."

"Well either way, Yoruichi's impressed and that rarely happens," Urahara added.

"Ichigo," Yuzu yelled appearing, "Hi!"

"Yuzu, what are you doing here?"

"Dad is at Karin's soccer match so I thought I'd come see Garland and Rotondo," she smiled, "Hi Baldo."

"Hi Yuzu," Baldo replied, "I'm sorry but they aren't here right now."

"When will they be back," Yuzu sounded disappointed.

"Not for awhile," Baldo answered, "But I have another friend here name Yachiru. She just has to finish getting dressed."

Yachiru appeared in a pink haired gigai, "Hi, I'm Yachiru," with a smile.

"I'm Ichigo's sister Yuzu," the girl responded.

"Zuzu," Yachiru yelled grabbing Yuzu by the hand and started playing.

"Yachiru," Ichigo shouted, "Don't hurt my sister."

"Kay."

"Mr. Urahara any candy they eat you can bill me," Baldo smiled.

"Really," Yachiru's hands rise to her giant eyes and grin. She pulls Yuzu by the hand, "Come on Zuzu" and they enter the shop.

"My how generous of you," Urahara hid his face behind his handheld fan, "I better make sure I have some inventory left over."

"You didn't have to do that," Ichigo said.

"It's okay. Your sister reminded me of somebody else who took on too much responsibility as a kid," Baldo said, "Your sister's special."

"Yeah, but I'm worried. Karin's too young to see monsters," Ichigo sighed.

"I mean Yuzu."

"But she's never been able to see Hollows or Soul Reapers."

"Yeah, but she can see animal spirits even when they're in a gigai," Baldo replied, "They're harder to see since animals don't usually linger in the World of the Living. That's how my power started. She's special Ichigo."

Ichigo just stared for a couple hours before he took Yuzu home for the night. Tatsuki hugged Baldo and left with Orihime.

That night Baldo could not fall asleep to save his life. Tossing and turning Baldo decided it best to meditate and see Draco in order to keep from waking Yachiru.

Almost immediately, Baldo was in Ashdum Park along with Draco who stares deep into Baldo's eyes.

"What is it, Baldo?"

"We're going back to the Soul Society tomorrow."

"Yes."

"And I'm scared. I'm not strong enough to protect my friends and save my dad."

"I know."

"I'm going to be confined and limited in my spiritual pressure."

"I know."

"I'm tired of passing out," Baldo said, "I need to get stronger."

"How do you want to do that?"

"I need you to teach me to breathe!"

It was late morning when Baldo returned to the World of the Living. Yachiru shook him violently.

"Baldo, wake up."

"I'm up. I'm up. Sorry Yachiru," Baldo was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. His body tensed under her touch.

"You were screaming and shaking," her eyes were full of concern, "What happened?"

"Sorry. Some last minute training," Baldo stood up, "Is it time to go?"

"Yeah everyone's waiting in the training area," She led Baldo by the hand after he washed up.

"E- Everyone," Baldo stammered.