(A/N: wow it has been a while since I updated on this. But I hope it was worth it for you all)
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Tales of the Abyss
Luke's pov
Fast as I could I went immediately to the 4th Division. I went right to the medical ward looking for either Isane or Unohana-taicho and I found the latter.
"Unohana-taicho!" I called out to her.
"Fon Fabre-san please don't shout your in a medical ward," she said.
"Sorry," I apologized. "Do you know where Ion is?"
"Is there something the matter Fon Fabre-san?" Unohana-taicho asked me.
I explained my situation, "There's been a bit of a mess down at the West Gate, we need a healer stat, and I trust Ion so…"
"I shall get him for you wait here," Unohana-taicho left and came back with Ion.
"Luke what happened?" he asked.
"I'll explain on the way," I said grabbing his wrist, "Come let's go!"
West Gate
Ion's pov
Luke brought me to the West Gate. When I saw Jidanbo missing an arm and the gate leaning against his good arm I immediately knew what was wrong "Ion we need you to path up Jidanbo," Luke told me.
"All right, but I'll have to go out into Rukongai," I said since Jidanbo's arm was laying out there, "Did the Ryoka do this?" I asked.
"No, Captain Ichimaru," Asch answered, "The Ryoka are unconscious on the other side of the gate." I swallowed at the mental image of Captain Ichimaru cutting Jidanbo's arm off with his Zanpakuto.
"Will you be all right outside of the Seireitai by yourself Ion?" Luke asked me.
"I should be fine," I said, "I am a 4th Seat after all. If the Ryoka try something, I'm sure I'll be able to protect myself."
"Alright, just don't get yourself into trouble. I'm not around to bail you out if that happens got it?" Luke asked me.
"I know," I said.
"Let's get going," Asch told Luke, "The Gotei is going to want to know our version of events so we might as well head to our divisions to get the paperwork started."
"Yeah, you're right," Luke said, "Take care of yourself Ion."
"You too," I said. He and Asch then took off. I walked onto the other side of the Gate. Jidanbo you can relax now. Grunting Jidanbo let the gate down with his one arm.
"Lay down so I can properly reconnect it," I told him.
"Right," he said.
Ichigo's pov
Agh, what the hell happened I feel like I just got kicked in the head by my dad only 10 times worse, I groaned getting up off the ground. I took a look around, the gate was closed and everyone besides me was unconscious, we were defeated, I said and clenched my fist, "We were defeated." I then noticed that there was a Soul Reaper, with green hair, standing next to Jidanbo doing something to him. "Hey what are you doing?" I shouted rushing towards him.
"Huh, I'm just healing Jidanbo. I was asked to come down here by Luke to help Jidanbo because Captain Ichimaru cut his arm off," he responded.
Huh, they sent someone down here to…do that? I wondered. All of a sudden out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of blue. I turned to see Uryu with his bow trained on the Soul Reaper in front of me. "Ishida what are you…"
"Kurosaki restrain the Soul Reaper! If we act maybe we can capture him and try to get him to cooperate with us," Ishida said.
"W-wait a minute," the Soul Reaper said putting up his hands in defense, "I'm just doing my job!" I took his distraction of Uryu and grabbed him by looping my arms underneath his shoulders and pressing my palms to the back of his head, pushing my elbow against his Zanpakuto and sticking my left leg in between his, making sure he couldn't fight back.
"Hey, wait a minute, I don't want to fight," the guy protested, "I'm just trying to help Jidanbo."
"A likely story, that Captain seemed to have no problem with cutting his arm clean off, how do we know you're not hear to finish the job he started and then finish us off," Ishida told the guy.
"Look I'm not here to cause trouble with you guys at all. I was just asked to come down here and help fix Jidanbo's arm," the green haired boy said, "If you'll just let me go maybe we can talk this out."
"Ah Kurosaki-kun good job you captured a hostage!" I heard Inoue call out pointing to me, "Let's interrogate him right away. We can start by beating him with a newspaper until he talks!"
"H-huh?" the kid freaked out.
"That's awfully violent for someone like you Inoue-san," Ishida commented.
"Ah well I saw this show on television the other day where they beat the hostage with a newspaper and other equipment until he told them everything they wanted to know," she said.
"I don't necessarily think we have to be that violent," Yoruichi-san said walking forward.
"A talking cat?" the guy said looking down at him.
"I apologize for my comrades foolish actions, this whole incident is one big terrible misunderstanding. Why don't we sit down and talk? Perhaps we can sort out this whole mess," Yoruichi-san said.
"That's all I wanted to do in the first place," the guy I was holding said.
"Fine," Uryu keep your bow trained on him, "Ichigo let the kid go." I did so reluctantly. "Right then, what's your name and your rank among the Gotei?"
"M-my name is Hakutan, Ion Hakutan, I'm the 4th seat of Squad 4," he answered.
"Squad 4? Good I suppose that means your willing to listen to reason?" Yoruichi-san asked him.
Ion crouched down, "Well no matter your reasoning I can't let you all in the Seireitai I'd get in a lot of trouble, but I can at least hear you all out," Ion stood up, "I don't want to hurt good people," he stated.
"So why did you come out here?" Yoruichi-san asked him.
"Like I kept telling this guy," he pointed to me "and the Quincy I was sent here by Luke to heal Jidanbo because his arm got cut off."
"Who's Luke?" I asked.
"I presume he means Luke Fon Fabre," Uryu answered, "That's the vice-captain we faced."
"Oh right him," I stated.
"Would it be safe to assume you're friends with Vice Captain Fon Fabre?" Yoruichi-san asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Ion asked.
"What are his opinions on Rukia's execution?" Yoruichi-san asked him.
Ion acted like a light bulb went off in his head, "Huh, are you guys trying to break Rukia out of prison?" he asked. We were all surprised that he got our goal so quickly.
"Kill him he knows to much!" Orihime shouted. We all looked at her, "Sorry I always wanted to say that."
"Never mind that," I said and grabbed Ion again, "Uryu knock him out!" I shouted.
"H-hey let me go, I thought we were past this!" Ion shouted struggling.
"Ichigo, relax I don't believe we need to take such extreme measures," Yoruichi-san said.
"B-but Yoruichi-san," I said.
"Put. Him. Down."
"Y-yes sir," I submitted letting go of Ion.
"Sorry about that," Yoruichi-san apologized to Ion.
"It's all right," he said, "I'm used to things like this by now."
"As you can tell by everyone's reaction what you inquired is precisely our objective," Yoruichi-san said.
"I see," Ion said and then looked at me, "So are you the person Rukia gave her powers to?"
"Yeah," I answered, "and that's why I have to rescue her, it's my fault she got locked up and sentenced to death so it's my responsibility to bust her out."
"Luke also feels responsible for what happened to Rukia, he hides it on the outside, but inside I can tell it's killing him. He signed off on the mission to have her sent to the world of the living so I know that if there was a way to save her he'd be really happy…I'm…I'm going to help you!" Ion announced. This shocked us all.
"Hakutan-san will you really?" Inoue asked him
"To be honest Rukia's sentencing has a lot of whispering going about through the Seireitai some people believe her sentencing his too harsh, Captain Kuchiki even tried to appeal her case, but failed to succeed. So…so I want to help you all save her. Rukia means a lot to Luke, so I want to help her, because Luke's my friend and friends help friends out."
"Are you willing to risk your position by helping us?" Yoruichi-san asked.
"Asch, the other Soul Reaper you faced was demoted for doing what he believed was right as opposed to following orders. I want to do what's right…Rukia's execution…this whole thing is one big mess," Ion announced, "So I'm going to help you, it's the right thing to do."
I put a hand on his shoulder, "Good, glad to have you as part of the team," I said.
"We should find a place to rest," Yoruichi-san said, "We can discuss how we're going to get into the Seireitai once we've found shelter for the evening."
"I should probably heal Jidanbo first," Ion said, "I'll catch up with you guys later."
"I'll help you Hakutan-san," Inoue said.
"No that's okay," he said, "It's my task to heal him, though I appreciate the offer."
"I…okay," she submitted.
"We'll come get you once we've found shelter," I said.
"No you don't have to," Ion said, "I can easily pick out your spiritual pressures and find you easily that way."
"Baka," I heard Ishida mutter under his breath.
"You shut up," I said.
"We'll catch you later then Hakutan-san," Inoue told him.
"Yeah see you," Ion said as he waved and watch us go.
13
th DivisionEvening
Luke's pov
My hand was cramping from all the writing I had been doing because of all the paperwork I had to fill out. Man when the Seireitai gets thrown into Chaos it really puts strain on all of us. I slouched forward, arms and chin on my desk, looking pathetic, and drained, when there was knock at my door.
"Ah don't tell me I got more paperwork," I complained going to open it, only to find neither Kiyone nor Sentaro, but rather Isane. I looked at her, bewildered, "Isane-san?"
"Luke, have you seen Hakutan-san at all?" she asked me.
"Huh, what do you mean I haven't seen him since I brought him to Rukongai to heal Jidanbo," I said.
"But then…" Isane-san fainted. I grabbed her and helped her prop herself up. I let her come inside and got her some tea. I asked her to tell me what was wrong and apparently Ion hadn't come back from his mission. This worried me. I told Ion to be careful, what if those Ryoka had captured him and were torturing him for information, worse what if they killed him? I was now extremely frustrated. The situation with Rukia was bad enough, but now I have to worry about another friend on top of that, this was just great.
"L-Luke," Isane-san spoke, "w-will, will Hakutan-san be all right?"
"I think Ion will be just fine Isane-san," I lied. I didn't want to tell her I was extremely worried about Ion, from the expression on her face she was worried enough for the both of us. I wanted to do the nice thing and ease her apprehension, after seeing her faint, I didn't want to know what would happen if I told her I had no confidence in Ion being ok. A picture of what Unohana-taicho would do to me if I did something to upset Isane flashed in my mind. I gulped, my face turning blue.
"Luke," Isane said again. I looked down at her sitting down on the couch in my office, "Do…do you mind if I stay here tonight?"
Weird question, I thought, "Uh sure," I scratched my head, "but why?"
"I'm…I'm just extremely worried about Hakutan-san, when I'm worried or scared or stressed or tensed I can't sleep without being in the same vicinity as someone I trust. Normally I stay with my taicho or with Hakutan-san, but I don't want taicho to see me all broken up over Hakutan-san not yet returning, I know what she'll say, 'Don't worry about it, he'll be back'," she leaned forward with her eyes clenched shut, "but the truth is I'm incredibly worried about him." She put her tea down and clenched her knees, hanging her head, "I know…I know Hakutan-san isn't as frail as he used to be and that he has the strength and skill to be a fourth seat…but the truth is…if he got hurt…or if something happened to him…I just couldn't bear it," I watched as tears splashed Isane-san's hakama, she sniffed as she let out stifled sobs. "I…one time, after you had already come to the Seireitai, Hakutan-san and I were dispatched to heal a squad of Shinigami that had been injured on Reconnaissance. While I was healing someone a hollow tried to attack me and…and Hakutan-san protected me by throwing himself in front of me," Isane-san's eyes were open, but there were tears in her eyes, "I…It was the bravest thing I ever saw him do, but he got hurt really bad. One of the already healed Shinigami went after the hollow, but I…"
Flashback
Isane's pov
"Hakutan-san!" I shouted rushing to his side. I cradled him in my arms.
"Are you okay Kotetsu-fukutaicho?" he asked me.
"Baka, why did you do that?" I asked.
"It's an officer's job to protect their superiors," he smiled, "Besides that's what he would do if he was in this situation. I'm just glad you weren't hurt Kotetsu-fukutaicho."
"Hakutan-san," I said, my eyes starting to water.
"Please don't cry," he told me, "if you cry I'll…" he lost consciousness.
"Hakutan-san!"
"Isane," I turned to see my captain standing over me.
"T-taicho," I said shocked to see her.
"Hakutan-san will be okay, he only fainted, heal him ok?" she asked me.
"H-hai," I said and let Hakutan-san down on the ground
Hakutan-san, I thought to myself, Thank you
End Flashback
Luke's pov
"Ion did that?" I asked.
Isane-san nodded, "It made me really happy that Hakutan-san protected me, but when I saw him lying there, injured, I became so scared…I know he's healthier than he's ever been, but…he's not as durable as some of the other seated officers at and around his rank. I was afraid that even an injury that minor might have been fatal to him. I didn't want him to die."
I looked at Isane-san with a compassionate gaze, "Well don't worry," I told her, "Ion will be ok."
"But what if he's not okay?" she asked me, looking at me, a hand placed over her chest, tears streaking down her face.
"If he's not I'll bash up whoever hurt him and you can heal him, it's as simple as that, so don't cry ok?" I asked her. I really hated seeing her like this.
"Thank you Luke, it means a lot to me that you're being so kind to me like this," she said wiping her eyes.
"Hey that's what friends are for," I said.
"Yes I suppose your right," she said.
"Do you want me to get anything for you from your barracks or will you be all right?" I asked her.
"No, I'll be fine, Kiyone has some of my things so I can go get them from her," Isane stated.
"Well okay," I said, "As long as you'll be ok."
"Um Luke," Isane-san spoke up again.
"What is it?" I asked.
Isane's expression was different than before, her eyes were soft and she was smiling, "Can you keep a secret?"
"Sure," I said.
"I mean you can't tell anyone especially Hakutan-san!" she said getting flustered.
"I promise I won't tell anyone, go ahead," I told her.
"Ah well…" she said tapping her pointer fingers together, "The truth is," her face flushed, "The reason I'm so worried about Hakutan-san and why I'm so fond of him, it's because…I'm in love with him."
That took me by complete surprise, "For real?"
Isane nodded, "I-I don't have the courage to tell him upfront. Every time I want to tell him I get weak in the knees and my voice escapes down into my stomach, but I'm afraid it might be too late now."
"Well maybe, when Ion gets back you should tell him how you feel," I told her.
"But what if he doesn't come back," she said.
I grabbed her wrists gently, "He will come back," I told her, "I just know he will. So please, don't worry, ok?"
"Ok," Isane smiled.
"Good," I smiled, "Now let's get some sleep."
The next day
Rukongai
Ion's pov
Last night I had managed to find out more about the Ryoka…excuse me the group I was traveling with. They all seemed like really nice people and they meant well…I really wanted to help them with their objective. If Luke were here, instead of me, he'd help them. Also last night we met a really interesting fellow by the name of Ganju who seemed to have a thing against Soul Reapers and tried to attack Ichigo and me, but Ichigo beat him down. Now we were all on our way to meet a friend of Yoruichi's by the name of Kukaku. Apparently his friend was the type to move around a lot, but at the same time Kukaku-san's house design never changed. Yoruichi-san said he would recognize it instantly.
When we finally found the place, I could tell why. It looked like a normal cottage, if two large arms sticking out of the ground didn't surround it. The arms were holding a banner that read Shiba Kukaku. No doubt this was the place with an annunciation like that. For some reason Ichigo and Ishida-san seemed a bit troubled about entering the house at first, but Yoruichi-san got them to follow quickly us inside.
"Halt!" someone shouted as we approached the house as two identical looking men with small mustaches and muscular builds stood on top of the arms of the house, "Who are you strange looking people?"
"And I see two of you are Shinigami!" the other man stated.
They jumped down from the arms and said in unison, "Very suspicious."
"I Koganehiko…" the one said
"And I Shiroganehiko…" the other stated.
"Shall never let you pass!" they said together
"Begone!" Koganehiko shouted.
"Otherwise you shall die!" Shiroganehiko added.
"More gatekeepers," Ichigo said irritably, "Man Soul Society is full of hassles."
Things looked like they were about to heat up but then Yourichi-san made herself known to the two men and we were let inside without question. We went down the stairs, which were there at the very entrance of the house and found out, to everyone's surprise that Kukaku was a woman, though unlike myself, who's been mistaken for a woman, there was no way anyone would ever mistake Kukaku as a man by her appearance, given her…assets. Kukaku immediately heard Ichigo and his friends out saying that she "loved danger".
"I see," she said, when they all finished, "I think I get the picture." She picked up her pipe and smoked on it and then said, "Aw what the hell I'll take the job?"
"Excellent," Yoruichi-san seemed pleased
"Yeah," she confirmed, "If Urahara's all knee deep in this also, I couldn't say no if I wanted to. One thing though," she stood up, "I trust you, but that doesn't mean I trust those kids, or the Shinigami tagging along with them. Therefore I'm going to send an overseer to keep an eye on all of you."
"Overseer?" I asked.
"Yeah, well I call him that but he's actually my kid brother," Kukaku said, "He's a complete doofus and almost completely useless, but he'll have to do." She walked over to a closed door, "Hey you ok in there?"
"Yes, yes, I'm ready," her brother said from behind the door.
"Good I'm opening the door so behave yourself," she told him.
"Ok, I promise," her brother answered.
The man was bowed onto the ground and said, "It's an honor to meet you, my name is Ganju Shiba and it is an honor to be of service."
That's the man we met the other day, I said realizing who it was. Kukaku was surprised Ganju and Ichigo already met and the two suddenly broke out into a fistfight, trashing Kukaku's place in the process. I wanted to say something to stop the fight, but all that would come out of my mouth when I tried to speak was nonsensical drivel. The fight went on until Kukaku's pipe was knocked out of her hands and stepped out to which she completely torching the whole house. After giving a scolding to Ganju and Ichigo Kukaku led us to another part of her house, which contained her method of getting us all into the Seireitai, without using the gate: a giant cannon. As it turned out, Miss Kukaku was the number one fireworks maker in all of Soul Society. She planned to fire us all in a giant cannon by use of spirit orb.
"All you gotta do is put a little spirit energy into the orb to make it work," she said. Unfortunately, Ichigo couldn't use Kido so he didn't know how.
Being a 4th seat this was second nature to me, "Ichigo let me see that for a minute," I said.
"Huh, sure," he handed it to me. I focused my spirit energy into the orb and became engulfed in a large blue orb, "Hey check it out," I said, "I did it."
"That's great Ion," Ichigo complimented.
"All right you brats listen up," Kukaku said stepping forward and explained to Ichigo's group about Sekisekki stone and its properties, "That's where this thing steps in," she said tapping on the dome of the cannonball I was in, "This is a special barrier which I developed, if you all put spirit power into this orb, you can create a cannonball that can momentarily punch through the barrier. Then I'll use my cannon to launch you guys into the sky and it'll launch a hole straight through the barrier. Any questions?" She didn't even wait for a response before dismissing everyone to the basement to practice learning Kido. She even told Ganju to go and help everyone practice and then turned her attention to me.
"Ion Hakutan was it?" she asked.
"Ah yes," I said.
"You seem to be pretty good at handling Kido what squad are you in?"
"I'm the 4th Seat of the 4th Squad under Captain Unohana ma'am," I responded.
"4th eh?" she asked. "That would explain how you wound muscled into working with these brain surgeons," she said sarcastically and then added, "Are you hungry?"
"Huh?" I asked.
"While there all practicing why don't you and I have a bite to eat and perhaps some drink some Sake. I hate to not give one of Captain Unohana's highly ranked proper guest treatment," Kukaku said to me.
"Ah thank you, that's very kind of you," I said.
"Good, then follow me."
5 hours later
Kukaku's pov
I've made a lot of mistakes in my lifetime, and now I could add getting Ion drunk to the list.
"Kukaku-sama," he said, completely intoxicated, "Look, look I'm flying," he said strutting around the room on one foot and flapping his arms before falling flat on his face.
I sighed and began thinking about Kaien and how he would scold me if I weren't helping Ichigo and his friends. My thought process was ruined when Ion fell on my back and made me spill my sake. I was about to floor him for ruining my thought process and wasting good alcohol, but I could tell by his breathing that he was asleep. I sighed and piggybacked him, "Let's go sleepyhead," I said and carried him to one of the guest rooms and laid him out on the futon and threw a comforter over him, "Sleep well kid," I told him, "Tomorrow's a big day." I shut the light off and left the room.
To be continued…
(A/N: So yeah this chapter REALLY focused a lot on Ion, not only did we get to see a bit into his relationship with him and Isane, and also got a confirmation that Isane is in love with Ion, but we also now know what kind of drunk he is…dear god that last part was embarrassing to write. Anyway hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Xerosonic has been working really hard on the next few chapters of Noble Flames so expect to see updates pop up like wildfire in the near future. Anyways plz review. And if you like this subscribe and fave. Adios Amigos!)