Hello Everyone... Sorry about the lull of the last few chapters. Bear with me a little longer. The Story should pick up again in a little bit...
Chapter 9: Back to the Soul Society
Leading Baldo by the hand, Yachiru pulled him down hundreds of steps to a large desert area with giant rock formations. Waiting by a couple of cliffs forming a base of a valley, Baldo found Ichigo, Orihime, Chad and Ishida. Ichigo was dressed in his Soul Reaper uniform.
"Yo Baldo," Ichigo said.
"Hi guys. What are you all doing here?"
"We're coming with you," Orihime smiled.
"I can't ask you to risk your lives," Baldo said, "Not for me."
Ichigo's eyes rolled to his left as he tapped his index finger against his chin, "We're not."
"We have friends in the Soul Society," Chad followed up.
"You're not the only one that needs help," Ishida fixed his glasses.
Orihime nodded, "Yachiru needs our help, too."
"And I don't remember asking," Ichigo said placing his hand on his hip, "Besides you can't save the Soul Society alone."
"T- Thank you everyone," Baldo bowed then even lower to Ishida, "Thank you for helping me even though I'm your enemy."
"I found that not all Soul Reapers are my enemies," Ishida responded, "Truthfully, I've grown quite fond of the Squad 14 members."
Baldo looked at Ishida confused. Orihime whispered in Baldo's ear, "He really liked Rotondo. Ever since they helped each other defeat Naru Terrock."
"He was amazing in battle. He was always there to cover my blind side," Ishida pushed up his glasses, "We were in sync from the very start. I owe him."
"We almost left without you," Ichigo crossed his arms, "Where were you?"
Baldo laughed, "Sorry, I was learning to breathe." He winked at Ichigo who nodded his understanding while the others stared blankly.
"Baldo, I'm glad you could join us," Urahara appeared with Tessai atop wooden beams halfway up the cliff walls, "I'm sorry for the delay. I know how important getting to the Soul Society is for you.
"Unfortunately all the Senkaimon were sealed on their side until the one you willed open. Garland and Rotondo were able to secure it long enough for Yoruichi to get through.
"With my instructions, they constructed a new Senkaimon hidden outside of the Seireitei. This one will suppress the spiritual pressure exerted crossing worlds," Urahara finished, "Since Yoruichi is still gathering information you'll have to find her and the others."
"How are we supposed to do that," Ichigo asked.
"Leave it to me," Baldo answered, "I'll find them."
"I'd expect nothing less from the captain of the Beast Squad," Urahara held his fan across his face.
"Will I get more of my spirit energy back," Baldo questioned.
"I suspect maybe about 40% at best," Urahara answered, "Everybody ready?"
"Wait," Tatsuki yelled descending into the training area with a little girl. Baldo's eyes immediately swelled.
"Who's the girl," Ichigo asked pointing.
"Gena," Baldo gasped as the little girl ran directly into Baldo's arms.
"I couldn't let you go again without saying goodbye," Tatsuki said, "It's not fair to Maria."
"Maria," Chad spoke up, "Didn't he just call her, Gena?"
"Gena's Baldo's cousin and only living relative," Orihime answered, "Baldo saved her during a Hollow attack when she was a baby."
"Since they were both kids, they were put up for adoption and sent to different homes," Tatsuki finished Orihime's explanation, "Gena's mother changed her name to Maria so she could have a fresh start."
Gena pulled from their embrace, "Only Baldo can call me Gena. Goodbye, Baldo, comeback and play."
"I- I'll," Baldo started crying, "I'll try my best." He hugged her again. "Tatsuki, could you take Gena home?"
"Of course. I'm just sorry I'm not able to do more to help."
Baldo shook his head. "No, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on fighting if I knew she was unprotected," Baldo hugged her, "Your help today Tatsuki has been invaluable."
Tatsuki pulled back misty-eyed and punched Baldo's arm, "Just comeback, jerk."
She ran away leading Gena by the hand. They disappeared up the stairs.
"Oh Tatsuki," Orihime whispered.
"Oh Baldo," Yachiru leapt on Baldo's back and grinned, "Let's save Koma-Koma."
"And Kenny," Baldo smiled back. He turns to the group, "Let's go everyone."
Urahara and Tessai activated the Senkaimon and without delay Baldo lead the others inside. It closed immediately behind them.
Exiting the Senkaimon in a cave, Baldo lead the team through the darkness with Yachiru still on his back.
"Everyone suppress your spiritual pressure as low as you can," Baldo ordered, "It'll help keep the Espada from detecting us once we get outside."
"So what if they find us," Ichigo chirped, "Isn't that why we're here?"
"Our strongest element right now is surprise," Baldo answered, "What good will it do us if we're worn out by the time we reach their leader?"
"Whatever," Ichigo rolled his eyes.
"Is there a plan," Ishida asked as they exited the cave into a wooded area.
"Yeah," Baldo sniffs the air, "This way. I'll explain it when we find Yoruichi."
Baldo walked silently through the forest. He stepped on sticks and branches without breaking them. The silence was unnerving.
"He's really quiet," Orihime whispered.
"Yes, but he's moving with purpose," Ishida whispered back, "He knows where he's going."
"Hey Baldo, why the secrecy," Ichigo asked.
"I'm hunting," the group freezes, "Soar, Draco!"
Baldo's hands and feet transformed into dragon claws and talons with wings protruding from his back. In a blink, Baldo was gone.
"He's fast," Chad sounded shocked.
Orihime squeaked, "Kurosaki can you see him?"
"No which way did he go?"
"That way," Ishida pointed.
Running from the forest into a small clearing, they found a human looking Baldo with Yachiru on his back helping Captain Unohana of Squad 4 and her lieutenant a grey haired woman, Isane Kotetsu, off the ground. Seven figures were disintegrating.
"He beat all of them on his own," Orihime gasped.
"They were all Espada class," Ishida pushed his glasses on his nose.
"Hey Baldo, I'm beginning to think you could do this yourself," Ichigo waved.
"No, I just had the element of surprise," Baldo responded before turning back to Unohana and Kotetsu, "Are you okay Captain Unohana? Lieutenant Kotetsu?"
"Yes. Thank you, Captain Komamura," Kotetsu bowed speaking for both of them.
"Yoruichi has a camp around here," Baldo said, "Follow us." The captain led them into the forest back the way they came.
"Baldo, this way looks familiar," Ishida said, "Didn't we pass here earlier?"
"Yeah, but we weren't looking for Yoruichi yet," Baldo replied.
Yachiru squeaked, "We weren't?"
"Nope," Baldo answered, "We were looking for the strongest, Captain."
"But Kenny's not here."
"I think he meant Capt-," Kotetsu started.
"Isane, that's enough," Unohana interrupted.
Baldo looked over his shoulder, "We're here."
"It looks just like the forest," Ichigo gasped as Baldo stepped forward disappearing. The forest rippled, "What?"
"It's a spiritual barrier," Captain Unohana smiled gently, "Though it's very well constructed. I even had trouble sensing it."
"It wasn't that hard Hana," Yachiru exclaimed leading the rest of the group through.
Inside the barrier was a small farming village with grass huts and a drinking well at the center. A group of kids ran along a fielding playing with a bear dressed in a Shihakusho.
"Hey Captain," Rotondo shouted, "So you found the place!"
"Don't act so surprised. I am the captain after all," Baldo gave Rotondo a hug. "I'm glad you're alright."
"Don't act so surprised. I am your lieutenant after all," Rotondo's eye wandered, "Hey Ishida!"
"Wait. Where's Garland and Yoruichi," Baldo yelled when Rotondo hurried in the Quincy's direction.
The bear shouted over his shoulder, "In the barn."
Entering the barn, Baldo's greeted by Garland and Yoruichi standing around a table and a few low ranking Soul Reapers.
"Baldo about time you got here," Yoruichi joked.
"We took the scenic route," Baldo smiled, "But found some reinforcements."
"Captain Unohana? Lieutenant Kotetsu? What an unexpected surprise," Yoruichi smirked as everyone entered the barn.
"What's the situation," Baldo asked seriously.
"Not good," Yoruichi answered, "After it became apparent that the Espada that followed Yachiru through the Senkaimon weren't coming back, the enemy changed their tactics.
"Now almost the whole Seireitei is under enemy control even the captains," she grabbed her arm wincing, "Compliments of Sui-Feng."
"All the captains," Baldo questioned.
"No. Captains Yamamoto, Hitsugaya, and Komamura are all unaccounted for," she informed, "All the others are brain washed or under some kind of hypnosis except Kenpachi. He's just fighting."
"Baldo that's a good sign," Garland said seeing Baldo lift his hand to his chin.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Dad's with Captain Yamamoto," Baldo smiled, "I'm just trying to figure out their endgame."
Ishida fixed his glasses, "Endgame?"
"Are they trying to take over for their own sake or are they trying to save Aizen," Baldo said. He turned asking, "Lieutenant Kotetsu, can you find the location of as many captains and lieutenants as you can using Kakushitsuijaku?"
The lieutenant looked at Unohana who nodded her approval. Kotetsu drew a circle on the ground with symbols in specific quadrants, "Heart of south, eye of the north, finger of the west, foot of the east, arrive with the wind and depart with the rain.
"Captain Zaraki is battling in the Seireitei against Squad 8 and 13 captains Kyoraku and Ukitake. Captain Kurotsuchi is in his office in the Squad 12 Research and Development building. Lieutenants Hisagi, Kira, and Sui-Feng are patrolling the Seireitei.
"Captain Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Matsumoto are in the mountains. Rest of the personnel locations are unknown," Kotetsu stopped breathing heavily and exhausted.
"Good job. Thank you Lieutenant Kotetsu," Baldo said.
Ishida fixed his glasses, "Baldo back in the forest you said you had a plan?"
"Right first step is to search the area for as many Soul Reapers as possible especially for Squad 4 members," Baldo said looking at Ichigo's group.
"Really, Squad 4?"
"They're going to be invaluable in this fight," Baldo said, "Orihime please stay here and aid Captain Unohana with incoming wounded."
"Yes, Captain," She saluted making Baldo smile.
"I'll be back," Baldo motioned toward the exit.
"Where are you going," Ichigo asked.
"I'm going to grab a dragon by the tail," only him and Yachiru laughed. Baldo sighed elaborating, "I'm going to see if Hitsugaya's friend or foe."
"I'm coming with you," Yachiru hopped on his back, "If Hitsy and Moto-Moto are both foes, they maybe too tough to fight in that gigai especially without Bankai."
"Y- You're in a gigai," a brief expression of shock crossed Unohana's face.
"Yes, it melted to me while in the World of the Living," Baldo opened and closed his fist, "But I feel it weakening. I'll have my strength back soon. Ready Yachiru?"
"Ready Koma-Koma 2," she shouted in Baldo's ear.
"You have your orders," Baldo looked over his shoulder, "Soar, Draco." Before the transformation finished, Baldo left a trail of dust leading out of the village.