Back at the Kurosaki Estate, Lieutenants Kira and Hisagi had arrived early at the same time and Hisagi was sitting back while watching Kira's lesson in basic Kido. Yuzu was having difficulty with it but Karin seemed to be getting the hang of it. Nel, Orihime, Tatsuki, Chad, and Isshin were sitting on the porch and watching as well.
Shuhei then approached Isshin.
"I know this might sound like a foolish suggestion at the given moment, what with a Ryoka alert out and all, but perhaps we should take them out to the forests outside of Rukongai or at least to the top of Sokyoku Hill. It'll at least be a change of scenery for them and they'll have plenty of room to practice." Shuhei suggested as Isshin pondered.
"Actually you've got a point. When Kenpachi Zaraki get's here he's going to need a lot of room. Besides with a Captain, a powerful Arrancar, and these three, I'd say Yuzu and Karin will be overprotected." Isshin said as Nel looked towards him curiously.
"There is a drastically lower threat level now. I could feel Ichigo's spiritual pressure coming from Rukongai a few minutes ago along with Byakuya Kuchiki's own Spiritual Pressure. Word has spread that one of the Ryoka has been exterminated but that there are two others confirmed to be here. They also seem to be able to take the form of normal people." Nel explained.
"Well then what do you think Nel?" Isshin asked as the Arrancar smiled.
"I think it sounds like fun." She replied.
"Then we'll leave a note for Zaraki and all the teachers after him that we'll be in the woods near Kukaku's place." Isshin said as Shuhei nodded.
"I'll go tell Izuru." He said.
Later in the woods outside Rukongai…
The group is hiking along through the woods. Uryu was even along and carrying his sowing equipment and what he already had made of Nel's new attire in a bag by his side.
"Does anyone get that feeling that we're being watched?" Uryu asked curiously.
"You worry too much Uryu. Who would honestly want to attack us? We're not worth anyone's time or effort." Tatsuki said with a wink. Uryu picked up on the hint that she was downplaying their importance to anyone who might be listening in.
"I just have this eerie feeling that we're being watched…It's a presence that just feels so…familiar." Uryu replied as he tugged at his collar. He knew he could feel a familiar presence nearby but he couldn't tell whose it was.
"Tatsuki's right Uryu. Besides there's nothing to worry about out here." Isshin said as they reached the clearing. The group quickly dispersed, with Yuzu, Karin, Izuru, and Shuhei in the center and the others scattered around somewhat aimlessly within the clearing. As the Kido lesson continued, Uryu turned his attention towards his sewing to try and shake off the strange feeling of being watched.
He didn't realize it but his suspicions were correct. They were being watched by the LeBlanc Ihsoy who glared angrily at Uryu.
"It's him…the Quincy fool who killed me!" Ihsoy growled mentally as she held up her fan.
"Zeige Dich Nieder." She whispered as her fan quickly expanded and a sword appeared on a long chain attached to the bottom of the fan and the hilt of the sword.
"Patience my dear." Igaka whispered as he bleu sautered up behind her.
"What?!" she whispered angrily.
"We cannot take them on our own. We must find a way to isolate them one by one and then we can destroy them." Igaka whispered.
"Fine. But I want the Quincy boy for myself. Besides, taking him first will allow us to grow stronger with every direct hit." Ihsoy whispered with a sinister grin.
"You have learned well young one. Very well…we shall draw out the Quincy first." Igaka replied as they both slunk deeper into the forest.
Soon it was Shuhei's turn and this time Tatsuki was acting as assistant. However Shuhei didn't expect Tatsuki to not be the subordinate punching bag. Instead he would pull a move and quickly get flattened before he knew it. It took getting decked a couple of times before he finally just surrendered and let Tatsuki teach the hand to hand combat. This time Chad was the unfortunate punching bag, but he didn't mind he hardly felt pain as it was anyway…well not that he would let on at least.
Orihime was helping to heal Shuhei's injuries from Tatsuki and Isshin was standing a fair distance behind the twins as he practiced his martial arts along with them. He was good but not that good since Tatsuki was the second strongest woman in Japan and he wanted to possibly get the upper hand on Ichigo one day. Izuru was obediently staying with the group.
Uryu was still seated in the shade beneath a tree as he continued his sewing. He took a glance over towards Nel and saw her sitting Indian style with her hands on her knees and rocking side to side as if she were a child watching a children's show.
"The former third Espada…one of the most powerful Arrancar in existence and she naturally acts like a little child. I guess that's a good thing since she doesn't tend to fight unless threatened or ordered to." Uryu said mentally as he stitched on a long white sleeve to the upper torso of the shirt portion.
Uryu then heard the bushes rustle behind him. He paused then quickly packed his sewing up. He reached into a small pouch on the side of his bag and removed a small white box with the Squad 12 insignia on it. He opened it up to reveal his Quincy cross with the green gem attached to it in the center. He quickly donned it and carried the bag over towards the two lieutenants.
"I just thought you might want to know that there seems to be something in the bushes over there." Uryu said as Shuhei and Izuru looked at each other.
"We'll investigate then." Izuru said with a nod as he and Shuhei headed towards the bushes with their Zanpakuto drawn. Nel and Isshin noticed their departures.
"Hey Nel…are you getting that strange feeling that something's up?" Isshin asked as Nel's serious side emerged.
"Indeed. Were it not for the fact that it would leave Yuzu and Karin more vulnerable, then I would suggest we both go and investigate." Nel said as Isshin nodded.
"Yeah. I don't like it." Isshin said as he placed a hand on his Zanpakuto's sheath.
"Perhaps then one who is not otherwise occupied should go as well." Nel pondered.
"If what Ishida's boy said is true and he's found a solution to his problem, then maybe he should go." Isshin suggested as Nel nodded.
"Agreed. Uryu Ishida!" Nel called as Uryu's bow appeared on his wrist.
"I'm going. I'll call you if there's trouble." Uryu said as he stalked off into the woods after Izuru and Shuhei. In the trees, stood Igaka as he watched the training young ones in silence.
"Hmm…the spiritual pressure from those few kids is curious. They're nothing to worry about, nor is the sister of the key. I know what the key can do and I must keep my distance. But that girl with the hollow mask on her head…her spiritual pressure is massive for one so young…what is she anyway? But that Soul Reaper man with the Captain's robe hanging from his shoulder…who is-…no…no it cannot BE!" Igaka yelled mentally as he recognized Isshin.
"Kurosaki?! Impossible! That runt could never have made Captain!" Igaka shrieked mentally before using Bleu Sauter to vanish away. He didn't notice that Isshin's mouth formed into a Kenpachi styled grin shortly after he had disappeared.
Meanwhile Izuru and Shuhei were walking through the woods, in search of whatever it was that might be lurking in wait for them.
"Do you see anything Shuhei?" Izuru asked as Shuhei shook his head.
"No, nothing but trees and bushes. Something probably just spooked the Quincy. He's probably just paranoid." Shuhei replied. They then heard a twig snap from behind a tree and they raised their weapons. Just then, a man in Soul Reaper attire emerged.
"Lieutenants! I'm glad I found you! I have orders from your Captains. They say to return to the Seireitei immediately. The Ryoka have been found and dealt with accordingly." The Soul Reaper reported as the two sheathed their Zanpakutos.
"Very well then. We'll head back. Be sure to tell our friends in the clearing back there the same thing so they know where we went." Izuru said before he and Shuhei flash stepped away. The Soul Reaper merely grinned sinisterly.
"Oh no worries Lieutenants…I will." The Soul Reaper said as he used bleu sauter to disappear again. It had been Igaka the whole time. At the edge of the forest however Izuru and Shuhei reappeared with their arms crossed and glaring at each other.
"Ryoka?" Izuru asked knowingly.
"Definitely. Otherwise he would have known of our respective Captain's and their acts of treason." Shuhei replied.
"What do you think we should do? Find Captain Zaraki and lead him here or stay here and pray he finds his way in time?" Izuru asked.
"Both. I'll go and you stay with the others." Shuhei said as Izuru nodded.
"Hurry back." Izuru said before Shuhei flash stepped away. However just as Izuru was about to leave to return to the others, he had an idea and flash stepped away to a different location.
Meanwhile back in the forest, Uryu was wondering through with his bow readied. He then came across a clearing similar to the one where the others were training only larger. He walked out into the center and stopped when he felt a strangely familiar Spiritual Pressure. He whirled around to see someone he never expected to see again in his whole life.
"You! How did you get here?!" Uryu shouted as Ihsoy approached.
"Did you miss me Quincy boy?" Ihsoy asked in her human disguise.
"Yoshi of the Bounts! I never missed you for a second!" Uryu growled at his old foe.
"I was once the Bount known as Yoshi once, but now thanks to you I'm much stronger and more powerful than ever before." Ihsoy said as she lifted the left side of her shirt slightly, revealing the glowing blue hole in the lower left of her abdomen where Uryu's arrow had delivered it's fatal blow.
"So it's true. My arrows don't kill their foes, only make them stronger. If that's the case than everything the Quincy's have been doing since their creation was to build an army of powerful enemies!" Uryu exclaimed as he created an arrow in his bow.
"Oh and what are you going to do? Shoot me with that and make me stronger?" Ihsoy asked tauntingly as Uryu let the arrow fly. Unfortunately it grazed her left leg but that was enough as a glowing dark blue liquid started oozing from the wound. Ihsoy could feel the pain in her leg.
"What…is this?" She winced as she grasped her leg and her disguise started melting away.
"It's called Reishi-gig. It effectively turns my arrows into a Zanpakuto made of energy. That means you cannot gain power from my arrows anymore…it also means that I can kill you one more time." Uryu said calmly. Ihsoy glared at him angrily through her mask before straightening up.
"You forgot something Quincy…I'm still part Bount which means that I can still heal myself by absorbing the Reishi around me here in the Soul Society." Ihsoy said and sure enough, the small blue chunks of Reishi started flying towards her wound which healed quickly.
"Now then Quincy. It's time you get reacquainted with my doll, Nieder!" Ihsoy said as her left arm morphed into a large round shield and her right morphed into a sword connected by a chain.
"Oh and that little weakness I had where I had to switch to my basic form before switching to either offence or defense…that's no longer an issue now with my LeBlanc powers." Ihsoy chuckled as Uryu silently realized he hadn't killed an enemy, but instead he had created a monster.
Meanwhile…
Back at the clearing where the others were training, Isshin and Nel both sensed Uryu's spiritual pressure spike suddenly.
"I guess that means that they're here alright. You want to help him?" Isshin asked as Nel pondered.
"I do not sense Lieutenant Kira or Lieutenant Hisagi are anywhere nearby. Perhaps I should hurry to him." Nel said as Isshin nodded.
"Sure. Oh and Nel…have fun." Isshin said as Nel nodded then used Sonido to disappear. Her sudden disappearance caused the others to stop and turn towards Isshin in confusion.
"What just happened? Where's Uryu and Nel?" Orihime asked as Isshin motioned to wait.
"I know you're watching us. You can come out now." Isshin said with a hand near his Zanpakuto. Suddenly he drew it and whirled around just in time to block a blow from what looked like a Soul Reaper. The sudden attack took everyone off guard.
"Long time no see Akagi…if that's what you still call yourself." Isshin said casually as their two blades scraped against each other, though Isshin only had to use one hand on the hilt of his sword while Igaka had to use both of his hands.
"Isshin Kurosaki. You still draw breath." Igaka sneered in annoyance as his disguise started to melt away.
"Whatever made you assume that I had stopped doing so?" Isshin asked curiously, almost tauntingly.
"You were a pathetic weakling when we served under Kenpachi Adachi in the eleventh squad! You somehow managed to achieve the rank of Captain and snatch that title out from under my very nose when it was I the third seat who should have had it!" Igaka growled.
"You only held that rank because you were good with your Zanpakuto. But you were lousy with strategy and tactics…both of which are needed to attain even the rank of Lieutenant. A straight forward hack and slash to the death tactic is no good when outnumbered, no matter who you are." Isshin said as the two backed off.
"Oh I've learned my lesson on that one Kurosaki, and now I'm going to prove to you that I was the rightful candidate for Lieutenant than you!" Igaka growled as he pointed his Zanpakuto at Isshin.
"Captain Isshin Kurosaki. I hereby challenge you to a duel to the death!" Igaka shouted as Isshin smiled. He then started laughing.
"What? What is it you find so humorous Kurosaki?!?!" Igaka asked angrily.
"Because I'm not a Captain anymore. True I wear the robe but only as a symbol of my former rank. You should know that when a Captain wears their robe clasped to their shoulder as such, that they have retired from active service. So I'm not the one you need to challenge." Isshin said as he sheathed his blade.
"I don't care! You are the one I have challenged!" Igaka growled.
"Tell that to him." Isshin said, pointing towards Igaka. Igaka's glowing blue eyes arched curiously as he turned behind him and saw that Shuhei had returned but he wasn't alone. He had a couple of friends with him.
"Isshin, thanks for inviting me to the party." Kenpachi Zaraki said with a grin as he stared down at the LeBlanc before him. On his shoulder sat Yachiru.
"Alright we found Ichi's daddy!" Yachiru exclaimed.
"Yachiru! Hey!" Orihime exclaimed as she waved to the young Lieutenant.
"Hey Jiggles, what's up!" Yachiru said as she suddenly appeared next to the orange haired woman.
"Jiggles?" Tatsuki asked curiously.
"It's her nickname, Firecracker." Yachiru replied as Tatsuki pondered her nickname for a moment.
"So you're a LeBlanc…heh I was expecting something more impressive than you." Kenpachi said with a grin.
"I have not come in the hopes of challenging the current Captain of eleventh squad…my business is with the former Captain…the only Captain of eleventh squad to have ever reached a retirement age and accepted it. My challenge is for Isshin Kurosaki and Isshin Kurosaki alone." Igaka growled as he held is Zanpakuto ready.
"I have no reason to fight you Akagi…You don't understand how things work. Look around you. Including myself, I see two Captain Level Soul Reapers, two Lieutenant Level Soul Reapers, two cadets one of whom has unknowingly achieved Bankai, a girl who can literally add fire to her already formidable martial arts skills, a girl who can defy fate with her Shun-Shun Rikka, and a man who feels no fear. Do you honestly expect that you can win this fight Akagi?" Isshin asked as Igaka narrowed his eyes in anger.
"I'm surprised at you Isshin…I thought you prided yourself on accepting only fair fights?" Igaka hissed.
"I do. Consider this. No matter the outcome of our fight, you're gonna die, because if I fail, these jokers will undoubtedly finish you off in a matter of seconds. The odds are not equal and I like having a challenge Akagi…you should know me well enough to know that by now." Isshin explained.
Igaka started thinking carefully. He could tell that the current eleventh squad Captain had enormous amounts of Spiritual Pressure at levels he could only fathom. Even so, he had also heard what happened when the Punissons angered the young key girl.
"Then I suggest that you get your companions to honor a gentleman's agreement and not intervene in the fight…if they do, it is considered an automatic forfeit for you and I am aloud to take the key girl as the prize for my victory." Igaka sneered as Yuzu glared angrily at him. Isshin then looked at his Soul Reaper Companions.
"Kenpachi, Shuhei, Kusajishi…will you honor the agreement?" Isshin asked as Shuhei nodded. Kenpachi groaned but nodded anyway.
"I like a fair fight too but usually when I'm the one fighting." Kenpachi said as he joined the group.
"Let's set some ground rules then. The trees are the barriers for our fighting area. Passing beyond them is considered a forfeit. No use of Kido, Shikai, or Bankai…sealed Zanpakutos only. Also no use of Flash steps or that blue glowy thing you do." Isshin said as Igaka nodded in agreement.
"The last one still breathing is the winner. I win, the key girl is mine. You win, nothing changes. Oh and if any of your companions cross the tree barriers then it counts as a forfeit for you." Igaka said as Isshin nodded in agreement.
"Then it's settled." Isshin said as the group passed behind the barriers and the two combatants drew their swords.
The two stared at each other patiently, waiting for the other to make the first move.
"The hardest part in a fight like this is who will make the first move." Shuhei said as Tatsuki nodded.
"It usually is in my experience." She said.
"Ichi's daddy's got plenty of experience, so I know he'll beat him easy right Kenny?" Yachiru asked from Kenpachi's shoulder. Kenpachi however looked unconvinced.
"Isshin Kurosaki hasn't fought an opponent like this in nearly one hundred and ten years. I fear he might have gotten rusty in that time." Kenpachi replied.
"Dad has to win. If he doesn't that big blue eyed freak will try and take Yuzu." Karin said as Yuzu remained silent yet looked hopeful.
"You can do it dad." Yuzu whispered.
Suddenly the two combatants launched forward and their blades came together with a loud clang.
The fight had begun…
End Chapter 22.
Who will win? Will Uryu defeat Ihsoy? Will Isshin defeat Igaka? Find out in the chapters to come.
Soul Reaper Illustrated Guide…
At Urahara Shop, Kisuke was intensely reading from a manga, as Tessai walked in carrying a large box over his shoulder.
"You've been reading that book for almost three straight hours and I haven't once seen you turn the page. Is what's on that one page that intriguing to you?" Tessai asked as he walked around to the other side to see the page then silently groaned inwards.
"Somehow I suspected that there was something about that particular manga that caught your attention. I just wish it wasn't that." Tessai grumbled as he went about his chores.
Hours later…
"Did someone just say something?" Urahara asked confused as he looked up from an advertisement for a (then) future volume of the Bleach manga. It was an image of Nel and Halibel with one of their breasts touching one of the others.
"I've been here for hours and haven't heard a thing." Kon said from Urahara's lap as he stared intently at the advertisement. Urahara glanced down at the mod soul with a curious expression. Finally he shrugged and returned to staring at the advertisement.
End
A/N: You can find that image using a Google search…not that I know anything about that image however…(innocent whistle).
