Chapter Eleven
The Hollow Takes Control
World of the Living...
Katie had just fallen asleep. Tabitha smiled as she passed the door to Katie's room and closed it quietly. Coming downstairs, she noticed a Hell Butterfly hovering above the coffee table. She went over and heard Jewel Simmons of the Visoreds. "Tabitha, long time no see. It's Jewel, if you haven't already figured that out. Nick is here with us. We're going to see what we can do, but I don't know how long we have before he loses control. Your daughter told us that his right eye had turned gold and back to his natural color. You know what that means. Anyway, we'll all do what we can, but with him, we can't guarantee anything. When we have an update, we'll contact you again." Tabitha nodded at the insect and it disappeared from sight.
Tabitha sighed. "So soon? Damn it! I guess it has to do with his future, but that doesn't mean anything right now, does it? He still has a long time to wait until he can take the position of Spirit King. I wonder what Raymond is doing to help with this situation?" She asked herself, shaking her head.
Squad Twelve Research and Development Facility...
Raymond Barrett, captain of Squad One and Captain-Commander of the Soul Society, walked into the research and development building. He stopped at the desk inside the entrance and pressed an intercom button on the wall.
"Who is it?" Said a rude voice.
"It's Captain Barrett. I would like to speak to your Captain, if you don't mind."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Captain Barrett! I'll get Captain Satoshi right away." The voice said.
From his side of the door, Raymond could hear hurrying feet and the lock on the inside of the door unlocking. When the door opened, Squad Twelve Captain Yoshino Satoshi came out. "Hello, Captain Barrett. For what do I owe this pleasure?" She asked kindly.
"I would like to talk to you about arranging surveillance around a certain home in the World of the Living. Is there somewhere a little more private where we could talk?"
"Yes, We'll go to my office." Yoshino said and led Raymond to her office on the second floor of the research and development building.
After closing the door, the Squad Twelve Captain locked it and sat at her desk, across from Raymond. "Alright, now what is it you need exactly?"
"Well, as you may already know, the twin children of former Squad One Captain Tabitha Lenora are both here training to become Soul Reapers, correct?"
"Yes, I know that they're here. What of it?"
"Tabitha's son has been bitten by one of Aizen's Hollows," Yoshino's face turned into a look of shock. "He is now in the watch of the Visoreds, but I have also learned that his girlfriend, who still resides in the World of the Living, is pregnant," Her face turned into an even more shocked expression, but Raymond went on. "So, I would like some surveillance put up around their house in order to keep them safe from Hollows. Tabitha would still be fighting, but she doesn't want to leave the girlfriend alone, worrying about her boyfriend. I am asking this because I want to keep their whole family safe, and not just because Tabitha's son just happens to be the next Spirit King." Raymond finished.
Yoshino's face froze. "Y… You mean…?" She couldn't even ask the question.
"Yes. Her son is the next King of Soul Society. But, Yoshi, he is also in a struggle over his own body, and he may be losing. The Visoreds are going to do everything they can to make sure he wins in the end, but their efforts may be too late, because the inner Hollow is already trying to take control, and it seems to be winning at the moment. So, I ask of you, will you help me protect them?"
Captain Satoshi stared at the Squad One Captain, her expression in turmoil. "Yes, I will help. Surveillance will be posted as soon as possible. Do you want to send her a message?"
"No. When you send someone, though, make sure they tell her that they'll be watching in case of a Hollow attack. Thank you, Captain Satoshi, but I must be going now."
"It isn't a problem, Captain Barrett. Have a good day." She said as Raymond left the research and development building.
The Residence of Elias Negron...
Elias looked out the back window of his residence. Oh, Tabitha, He thought, I'm sorry I died that night. I'm sorry I couldn't keep Nick from this problem. I'm sorry for never asking to come visit. I wish I could take it all back. I love you, Tabitha. A Hell Butterfly came out of his head and flew to the World of the Living. He heard a knock on the door and went over to the door.
When he opened the door, Elias found himself looking at Toshiro Hitsugaya, Captain of Squad Ten of the Japanese Soul Society and the youngest Soul Reaper to reach the level of Captain. "T… Toshiro? What are you doing here?"
"I came because I was told that you have a Visored-in-training. Is this true?"
"Yeah, it's my son. But, why did they send you? Why not Hiyori? Or Shinji? Hell, even Kisuke would be a good choice. Why did they send you?"
"Because none of the Visoreds in Japan would come, and Captain Hitsugaya was the only one who would take the job!" Laughed a feminine voice from the right of the door.
Elias looked around the door and saw the Lieutenant of Squad Ten in Japan, Rangiku Matsumodo. "Oh, hello, Rangiku. I guess you brought him to my house when you should probably be at the Visored base to make sure my son doesn't lose control?"
"She did, but that was only because she's stronger than me. So, she dragged me here, and she may be a little drunk. I'm not completely sure. Probably not, but you can never tell." Toshiro said.
"So, Captain Hitsugaya, how's your girlfriend?"
"Karin is just fine. She says hello to everyone. Well, everyone she's already met, at least. So, have you been allowed to go back to the World of the Living, yet?"
"No. Captain Barrett is letting me go back after my son and daughter, who's here as well and noticed Aizen's Hollow bite her brother, finish training. She's over at Squad Four right now, learning healing arts from Captain Highwind. So, would you like to go to the Visored base?"
"Why not?" Toshiro turned to leave and noticed that Rangiku was lying on the ground in front of him. "Rangiku, wake up. We're going to the Visored base now."
Rangiku's eyes opened and she looked into Toshiro's ice blue eyes. "You know," She said, the drunkenness showing. "Your eyes are so beautiful."
"Why do you have to get drunk at all times of the day? Come on, Elias. Let's both grab her and bring her to the base."
"Alright. By the way, how's the relationship between Rangiku and Renji?"
"Renji and her have been going steady, still. She wants to have a baby, but Renji keeps telling her that she would have to stop drinking for the pregnancy, and she tells him she'll stop, but she still hasn't. Renji is a little upset, to say the least."
"That sounds like him. Okay, let's get to the Visored base." Elias said, walking behind Toshiro, both of them holding Rangiku up off the ground.
Squad Four Training Facility...
Captain Tony Highwind walked into the training room where Jasmine Negron sat, waiting. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I had some paperwork that just appeared out of nowhere." He apologized.
"It's okay. So, are you going to teach me some healing arts, or what?"
"Alright, alright. I have a question I would like to ask you, however," Jasmine nodded her head, waiting for the question. "Why do you want to learn healing arts?"
Jasmine was taken aback by the question, but she recovered quickly. "I wanted to learn it because I want to make sure that I can help my friends when they get injured in battle. But, with my Zanpaku-to, I can also save them from being injured any further. I couldn't be there for Nick, so it made me realize that I wanted to help people even more," Tears were starting to form in her eyes. "Nick shouldn't have had to put himself in that situation. I should have been able to attack that Hollow before it came at me, but I failed. I failed my own brother, and now, he may never be himself again!"
Tony sighed. "I'm sorry for bringing it up. However, if you are ready to start training, wipe up those tears and we can get started."
Jasmine nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes, taking a few deep breaths to calm down. I just hope Nick is still okay. She couldn't help but think while she started her training in the healing arts.
Visored Base, Underground Training Level...
Nick had been in the Visored base for around an hour, and the other Visoreds around him didn't seem to like him. All, except for one: Derek Hale. Derek immediately saw that Nick was related to Tabitha, and he took him away from the others. He took him down into the training level and brought him over to what looked like a step master. "Well, this is what you'll be using to train until Jewel sees fit. It's called the Visored walker. Apparently, when you're tired enough, it makes it easier to defeat your inner Hollow in your Inner World, which will materialize on this level of the base when the time is right," Derek looked and noticed that Nick was holding the right side of his face. "Nick, are you alright, man?"
"Really?" Nick asked, his voice having a slight Hollow emphasis on it. "I don't know." He took his hand from his face and Derek saw why Nick's voice sounded the way it did.
"Nick, how many times has your right eye turned colors like that?"
"Again, I don't know. I think this is only the second time, but that's also the second time today."
Derek looked like he was about to go into shock. "Nick get on the walker. The longer you keep your legs busy, the less your inner Hollow can take control," Nick didn't move, but a white mist seemed to be appearing around the right side of his face. "Nick, go on it now!" He shouted.
"Nick isn't here right now. Please leave a message after the beep." Nick's Inner Hollow said and laughed manically, now in complete control of his body.
Derek knew what he had to do and used a flash step to get topside. "Everyone, he's losing already. It's taken control of his body! We have to stop this!"
Jewel nodded and looked at the other assembled Visoreds. "Let's go, people! Nick needs our help!" She shouted, all of them using flash step to get back downstairs.
When they had come face-to-face with Nick's Hollow, the mask fully formed on his face, they all got ready to attack. Then, as soon as the Hollow took Kyubi out of its sheath, Nick's body froze. Everyone looked amazed as Nick's right hand had moved to his face and, with much effort, pulled the mask right off. Once the mask was off, it dissolved and turned into a black mist that then faded into nothingness. Nick looked around, seeing all the Visoreds holding their weapons out. "What happened? Why are you all armed? I don't even have my weapon out."
Jewel looked at him, her face still full of amazement. "Nick you just took control of your body back from your inner Hollow. I have only seen that happen with one other person, but I know of a third who's been able to do it." She stated.
"Who would those two be?"
"Your mother, and the Spirit King, Ichigo Kurosaki."
"Nick's face now harbored an expression of shock. "M… My mother?"
A/N: Chapter Eleven, complete. I swear, it took me a while to figure out who should visit Elias but I finally settled on Toshiro and Rangiku. Also, the pairing of Toshiro and Karin is actually plausible, proof being how he helped Karin's soccer team when she got injured in episode 132. Rangiku and Renji, well that pairing actually seems best after Ichigo and Rukia get together, so I put it in.
Next Time: Nick completes the first part of the training that will allow him to control his inner Hollow. Jasmine, who has actually completed her medical training, decides to see how Nick is doing, and Elias arrives with Toshiro and Rangiku at the Visored base to see if Nick has progressed since the day Toshiro and Rangiku arrived. Meanwhile, in the World of the Living, Tabitha gets a visit from one of the Soul Reapers who will be watching over the house, and she also receives her husband's apologetic message while Katie stays asleep, still worried about Nick.