yeah, i haven't change this one either, been busy with school stuff...
Disclaimer: i am so not the owner of bleach, especially with how the manga goes right now..
Ch.3 Appealing Danger
On the tsubakidai park, Nero sat on a bench. He was using the karakura high grey uniform. He was planning to go to school today but he just couldn't get himself to do it. Going to school and obey the rules, that didn't fit his style. It was then that a black haired girl with a beauty unmatched to any thing in this world apeared beneath the shadows of the trees. as the wind blows, her long black hair, smooth as silk, wave gently in the gentle breeze. She has a slender body which enough to get any boys knell down with her beauty, even can't be compared with her, she's on a different level than she is. She was wearing a black and white school sailor uniform. Nero could only stare at her without moving a muscle.
"My… what's a great man such as yourself doing on a park all alone" said the black haired girl with a seductive tone. Nero quickly revert his eyes from her.
"What do you care" said Nero coldly.
"Why, you are one amazing man, you have a high level reiatsu are you not" said the girl as she lean close to kakizen who was still sitting on the bench.
After Nero heard the girl, he stand up straight and started to stare at the girl troughly. The word -reiatsu- has alert him of possible enemies. "What do you want" said Nero ferociously.
"Oh… you shouldn't be so hard" said the girl seductively "all I want is you"
"Huh!" gasped Nero who misunderstand her for the last spoken word as a right on confession, he made himself an opening to the girl. Then kyoka use her shunpo to get near nero in a second. She pierced Nero, with an orb, in his chest.
The bell rang, signaling the end of their lesson for today.
Kibou, shidou and tsukiko went back together along with tanimoto and hitomi. They are walking trough the quiet residential street
"Finally, I cant believe you guys are able to stand this for years, my body is... AH!" gasped tanimoto as he sensed nero's massive reiatsu. "This reiatsu is.."
The group went on a sudden halt. Both tanimoto and hitomi looked at each other.
"Yes it's him" said hitomi who also sensed the pressure.
"I'll check what's going on, hitomi, stay here in case any hollow get attracted to the reiatsu" said tanimoto as he shunpoed to the direction of nero's reiatsu.
After tanimoto left, a girl with white long hair and a grape colored eyes approached them from their back. she has a slightly pale skin and she was wearing a beautiful white dress. as she walk closer, She grinned.
"Ah, so here you are" said the girl
hitomi who heard her and felt the twisted reiatsu turned back to face the girl. But she vanish, a second after the girl is standing between hitomi and kibou's group who was a couple of step away.
"You have some interesting friends here" said the white haired girl while she look at them troughly And naturally, kibou gasped and so does her friends. It's shocking to them since they never see such a frightening speed before.
To think she went past me like this.. hitomi thought "kibou, tsukiko, shidou, move back!" said hitomi as she take the gikongan from her pocket and gulped it to release her soul from her gigai. When hitomi was about to slash the white haired girl with her zanpaktou, the girl jumped backwards. And now, Hitomi is standing between the girl and her friends.
"Who are you" said hitomi who was shocked with the girl sudden appearance.
The girl gives a wide smile "my name is shiragiku ichimaru, pleased to meet you"
Meanwhile, tanimoto who felt the surge of nero's reiatsu traced it all the way to the park. And he saw him standing in the middle of the road complete with his shihakusho and zanpaktou in hand.
"hey!" called tanimoto "Nero, what's going on, I felt your reiatsu…. Nero?" Nero didn't respond he stand as still as a statue. "oi, Nero what happened" said tanimoto as he shake nero's body, but he didn't get any respond. Tanimoto look at nero straight to his eyes, it gives him shivers when he sees the empty look in his eyes.
While tanimoto was pouring his whole attention to Nero, he didn't realize that he was being watched.
"oh.. This is a surprise, I tought you are fighting shiragiku" said a black haired girl who somehow managed to get beside tanimoto without him realizing. Tanimoto jumped back as soon as he felt her reiatsu.
What's with her reiatsu, its not that of a shinigami, not even hollow.. "who the hell are you" asked tanimoto as he placed his hand on his zanpaktou, ready to unsheathe it anytime.
The girl smiled, her mysterious charm and her beauty is giving tanimoto a hard time, I'll be ruined if these little things keeps on distracting me he thought.
"since you're here, tanimoto kuchiki, fifth seat of the 13th squad, why don't you help me test his strength?, surely a kuchiki lineage would not fail me" said the girl
"what!" excaimed tanimoto who was surprised how did she know! he thought.
Nero who was out cold, started to move. He ran toward tanimoto and did a shunpo. Nero vanish from tanimoto's view and reapear on tanimoto's left. Nero swings his zanpaktou, but tanimoto was able to block the attack as soon as he unsheathe his zanpaktou. Tanimoto jumps back to get some distance but Nero charged, he launched several attack to tanimoto who was pushed back with every attack. After several clashes of their swords, Nero swing his zanpaktou low and tanimoto evade the attack by jumping backward. right now tanimoto can only defend himself. since he can't hurt Nero, he have to find a way to free Him from his trance.
While tanimoto fought Nero to bring him back to his senses, hitomi was confronted by Shiragiku Ichimaru who just went to her out of the blue. Hitomi sensed the girl's weird reiatsu.
"Ichimaru, what are you, this reiatsu, is not a normal shinigami reiatsu" said hitomi who still put up her guard around shiragiku.
Shiragiku whose smiling innocently a second ago, charge at hitomi without warning with her zanpaktou in hand it looks like a normal zanpaktou and it has a light blue colored handle. Hitomi blocks her attack on time, just a little later, she is a goner.
"kuh..." said hitomi as she block shiragiku's attack, the attack is so heavy that she is struggling just to stand.
"Well done, so you are better than I thought " said shiragiku, who didn't break a sweat even when hitomi struggle so much
Hitomi can't take the strain any longer, she parry shiragiku's attack to the right which cause shiragiku's zanpaktou to hit the wall in front of it, in a stroke, it created an explosion. kibou and her friends gasped as she saw that girl's inhumane power.
What power, if I didn't dodge in time, I would have been flattened by her power. Hitomi thought. She is so tense that sweat is running trough her body.
"what is your purpose to attack us like this, and that sword you're holding, is it a zanpaktou "asked hitomi. Without realizing, hitomi releases notable amount of reiatsu due the current situation.
Shiragiku just stay silent but when she speaks, she didn't answer any of hitomi's questions, instead she give hitomi a warning.
"You shouldn't release your reiatsu like that, with Nero on rampage, tanimoto's reiatsu who was fighting him, and yours all together, it could attract a horde of hollow" said shiragiku with a smile
"What!" exclaimed hitomi, she just realized what's going on when shiragiku pointed that out. This reiatsu… impossible!.. nero and tanimoto is fighting! But why… hitomi thought. As hitomi has drowned on her thoughts, she heard a loud scream, it's the scream of hollow.
"this is bad" said hitomi as she saw the sky is tearing apart with gargata. Soon, the hollows started charging at hitomi and her friends. Kibou who could see what's going on can't believe her eyes. The hollows are coming from every side, they are swarming to get the most tasty soul around, without a doubt, kibou, tsukiko and shidou is in a serious trouble. What are they doing at this crucial time Hitomi thought.
Meanwhile, Tanimoto was busy trying to to find a way to snap nero out of his trance. Both of them are still dead lock on a close combat. Nero thrusted his zanpaktou several times, but Tanimoto managed to evade the attack. Then Nero lift up his zanpatou and swing it down hard. Tanimoto defend himself using his zanpaktou. the clash created a big wave that blow everything away on the nearest area, and tanimoto was pushed several meters back by nero's huge reiatsu. Damn what a reiatsu, At this rate, I won't last much longer tanimoto tought as he tries to catch his breath. reiatsu? that's right, his reiatsu is different somehow, as if something is interfering with...! Tanimoto furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to concentrate on sensing nero's reiatsu "i see!" Said tanimoto as he noticed something, then he get back to his battle stance.
Tanimoto cluched both of his hands on his zanpaktou and he strikes. tanimoto did a barrage of attacks to Nero, this time tanimoto is going all out. Tanimoto swings his zanpaktou to nero's left. Nero blocked the attack with his zanpaktou, however tanimoto quickly pull his sword and did a thrust, he was aming for nero's chest. Nero evade the attack quickly by turning left and tanimoto's zanpaktou went past in front of him, he sees an opening and swings his zanpaktou to counter attack. Tanimoto quickly regained his balance and jumped back, He was an inch from getting cut by nero. Tanimoto didn't waste anytime, he started to charge yet again. as the both of them clash, the hollows are aproaching.
Tanimoto, who was in the middle of the battle with nero, got a surprise attack from the hollows that has just appeared from a garganta behind him. Before the hollow's claw reched Tanimoto, he shunpoed out of the way and he jumped up to slash the holow's mask into two. nero jumped up to the air and he swings his sword toward tanimoto. Tanimoto who got distracted by the hollow didn't see Nero's attack coming, he was able to defend with his zanpaktou but he hurtled down to the ground by the extreme force. Tanimoto landed with a big crash.
"Uagh!" he exclaimed as he hit the ground hard, his landing has scraped the ground. Tanimoto is trying to get back to his feet, but he kneled down after he tried to stand. suddenly, another hollow apeared, tanimoto who wasnt ready for battle, cannot defend himself. however, just before the hollow's claw reached tanimoto, a gleaming red arrow pierced the hollow's mask.
"what!" exclaimed tanimoto. the hollow disintergrated, revealing ryuuki complete with his quincy uniform and a red colored bow in hand. he was walking toward tanimoto behind it.
"ryuuki, what are you doing here" asked tanimoto, surprised with the sudden appearance.
"isnt it obvious, your reiatsu lured the hollows. as a Quincy, I can't leave them alone" said ryuuki obviously "and after what you said about not doing anything crazy" smirked ryuuki.
"s..shut up" said tanimoto as he diverted his eye contact with ryuuki then, sternly, he looked at nero "this is a different case" tanimoto get back to his feet by the help of ryuuki. And prepare to continue the battle.
"two to one? I don't think its fair" said kyoka who appeared right behind ryuuki. Both Ryuuki and tanimoto did shunpo to open some distance, they didn't notice anything from the girl until the heard her. But when they look back, she vanished.
"so what are you boys looking at?" asked the girl who appeared beside nero.
What! Why can't I feel her reiatsu, only when i was aware of her that i could feel it, who in the world is she! "who are you" asked ryuuki whose on panic since his perceptual ability to sense reiatsu didn't work as well on her.
"oh, are you that courious with my name? Very well, I shall tell you my name. My name is shouko aizen, and you are ishida ryuuki I presume, a quincy." said kyoka, ryuuki flinched when he heard his name spoken by kyoka. Ryuuki is as alert as he can be.
"how did you know that, and why" asked ryuuki but kyoka just smile without saying anything.
Shouko disappeared again and reappeared just in front of ryuuki. "I'm afraid i had no obligation to tell you" said shouko with her usual seductive tone. She pointed her zanpaktou, which looked like a regular zanpaktou with a green handle, to ryuuki's throat. Ryuuki did a hirenkyaku right that instant, leaving tanimoto with nero to fight their own fight. but shouko is one step ahead. She was behind ryuuki when he arrived deep on the park. ryuuki quickly turn and jumped back while using his bow to shoot arrows to shouko. However, shouko disappeared from her spot and she appeared above ryuuki. Ryuuki evade by using his hirenkyaku to several meters back, then shouko appeared beside him. Ryuuki who didn't have anything to defend himself was pushed by shouko with a great force and slam him to the nearest tree.
"aren't bad for a mere human" said shouko as her arm was suffocating ryuuki. Then a burst of reiatsu happen it's from the direction where tanimoto and nero did their fight. shouko's focus was reverted. Ryuuki use this chance to break free from shouko.
Nero used his full burst of reiatsu in his attack and blow tanimoto high up to the sky.
"ugh!" exclaimed tanimoto as he was thrown up to the sky. What a strength tought tanimoto, then he did a back flip and hardens the reiatsu beneath his feet and created a place to stand on the sky. He used that to stop his movement. Nero did a shunpo and clash with tanimoto up in the sky.
Meanwhile, on hitomi's side, the hollows are coming down to them like rains of monsters. Hitomi who thinks she might not be able to protect her friends this way, she releases her shikai. "fukitobasu! Takahiro no Kaze!" she shouted. Her sword turns into two metallic fans that's connected by a chain. Her zanpaktou ability is to create a countless, piecing gust of wind that's as sharp as a blade. It works really well for weak enemies like these. the hollows that were attacking them were annihilated in an instant by the piercing wind.
When Shiragiku saw this she whistles.
"Ho.. So..That is your shikai…. then..." said shiragiku as she started to charge at hitomi again, she swing her zanpaktou up right. But evaded by hitomi who move backwards with shunpo. Then hitomi counter attacks by firing a gust of wind but shiragiku dodged the attacks by jumping up to the sky, She hardens the air with her reiatsu. The remains of hitomi's attack created a huge scraches on the ground.
Shiragiku was looking at the remains of hitomi's attack. a worthy opponent indeed she tought.
The fight has gone into a halt for the moment as shiragiku is looking down on hitomi. But hitomi is in a serious predicament. not only she need to fight shiragiku's monstrous power, she also have to protect her friends from hollows.
shiragiku stormed down, she swing her zanpaktou as she reached hitomi, hitomi fold both of her fan and it crossed each other as she defend shiragiku's attack. The impact created a wave. Kibou who could only witness the battle and cluched her hand, she loathe her own uselesness.
Hitomi was struggling with shiragiku's monstrous power. shiragiku lift her left hand from the sword and took an orb in her pocket, she pirced the orb to hitomi's chest. after the orb come in contact and embeded it self with hitomi, her reiatsu is going nuts, it created a huge wave that blow everything away, even the hollows. Hitomi screamed as she fight off the orb's influence using her reiatsu at full burst and soon she lost her consciousness.
"Hitomi!" screamed kibou. feelings of panic and dread filled her body as she witnessed the destructive wave of hitomi's reiatsu creating a chaos on nearby surroundings.
Kibou know she has to do something. she walk toward hitomi despite the crushing pressure. Tsukiko and shidou can't move, even trying to stand is a struggle. when she saw kibou walking trough the pressure, she want to stop her but she can't, her voice leave her.
At first, Kibou was walking slowly to hitomi, then she started to run, ignoring the crushing force from hitomi's reiatsu thats gotten even stronger than before. When she saw the glowing orb in hitomi's chest, she knew she has to do something about it. she grabed the orb trying to pull it out. Kibou felt a jolt of pain when she touched the orb and she screamed, but she can't leave her be. This kind of thing she tought as she griped the orb even harder. "this kind of thing wont beat me!" she exclaimed. Kibou let out a yell as she pull the orb. Her reiatsu was flowing out from her hand and disconnect the orb's reiatsu from hitomi. Then after the final burst of wave, she was able to take the orb out, it cracks and turned into crystal dust.
Shiragiku who saw all this didn't lift a finger, instead she was smiling. "how interesting" she said as she use shunpo and left the area.
Hitomi fell down right after, kibou grabed hitomi and put her down slowly. When she saw the grave injuries in hitomi's chest, she gasped. Her hand are trembling as she touched hitomi gently.
The day turned from bad to worse when the tear at the sky is getting larger. until finally, menos apeared, it's not only one but there are dozens of them. Right now their chances of survival is next to none. Kibou was felling helpless more than ever. But even so, there's still hollows around who would love to take their soul.
Tsukiko who saw kibou sat hopelessly on the ground ran towards her as soon as her body was able to move again. Shidou went with her. As she ran, she noticed that hitomi was laying in front of kibou. When she arrived, she gasped as noticed the grave wound on hitomi's chest. Shidou who arrived behind tsukiko also noticed and made a surprised face. then, hollows started to come for them, they were attracted by high reiatsu pressure that has been cast earlier. a hollow started to charge at them, but with hitomi out of the scene, they cant do anything about it.
Shidou, being the strongest of them all, took a stand. He was defending his friend from the hollows by cluching the hollows body and effectively stopping its movement. "shidou!" screamed kibou and tsukiko, they were horrified, if anyting happens to shidou.
"Go" said shidou as he tried to stop the hollow with his super strength. But it was hopeless as the hollow swings its giant hand. Shidou was brutally thrown to the wall and he loses conciousness right after. "shidou!" screamed kibou, Things just getting worse.
Up on the sky of karakura town, tanimoto and Nero was having a heated battle. Nero swing his zanpaktou and clashed with tanimoto again and again, then tanimoto jumped back to caught his breath. Damn, At this rate i wont be able to beat him tanimoto tought. Then tanimoto sensed a large reiatsu nearby.
"this reiatsu!, menos!" he exclaimed as he was watching a menos is steping out of a large garganta which was created from cracks in the sky. Tanimoto cluched his zanpaktou tightly, and he spoke "I'm sorry Nero-San, I have to finish this quick"
Tanimoto reiatsu was at full burst, his reiatsu is raging around him, then he shouts "Kuikorosu, kibakooru" Tanimoto's zanpaktou is enveloped by his reiatsu and changed it's form. It has a aqua blue colored blade with a sharp end. There is two thorn like fangs on the end his zanpaktou. the zanpaktou has different sections that is connected by an elastic material inside it's blue casing.
Tanimoto charged first. He streched his zanpaktou toward Nero. Nero hit kibakooru with his zanpaktou hard so it went out of his way, then he dashed to tanimoto and swing his zanpaktou but tanimoto use shunpo to kakizen's right as soon as his kibakooru returns. tanimoto charged at Nero and once again they clashed. Both of them quickly pull their zanpaktou in preparation of another attack. Nero was the first to attack. He swing his zanpaktou to tanimoto's right and tanimoto blocked it. then tanimoto did a counter attack, he swing his sword horizontally and Nero jumped back to evade the attack.
Tanimoto streched his zanpaktou again and Nero dodge to the left and start to dash toward tanimoto, however, tanimoto adjusted the length of kibakooru and he swings it to nero. Nero tried to jump back but it's too late, kibakooru has slashed him al the way from his shoulder to his chest. The orb on tanimoto's chest was destroyed. It created one huge wave which pushed tanimoto several step back. And nero is falling to the ground far below.
Ichigo and inoue was running to the scene while taking down several holows in their way. Since inoue isn't as young as she used to be her pace was slowed, and of course Ichigo can't leave her alone. When they get into the scene they saw hitomi and shidou lying low, And the hollow are about to attack. Ichigo focused his reiatsu on his left hand and materialized his zanpaktou. "ZANGETSU" he shouted and his zanpaktou get into shikai mode.
As the hollow are about to attack kibou and her friends, Ichigo shouts. "GETSUGA TENSHOU" and a blue piercing wave came out of his blade that destroys some of the hollows.
Kibou was awestruct by what just happend, so does tsukiko. she turned her head to look at the source of the wave, only to find her father wielding his zanpaktou.
"Dad!" shouted kibou
"sorry I'm late" Ichigo said
inoue who arrived after ichigo also lend her aid. "shun'ou, ayame" she shouts. "Sōten Kisshun, I reject!" then a shield open up. It surrounded hitomi.
"kibou, tsukiko, bring shidou here" said inoue and they did. Meanwhile the menos are gathering red loght in their mouth, they were preparing for cero attack.
"that is!" exclaimed kibou full of terror
"cero huh, this might be troublesome" said ichigo "orihime, you have tsubaki with you right"
"yes, you don't have to worry about us" answered inoue
"Then I'm counting on you" said ichigo as he ran towards the menos.
"Dad!" screamed kibou who was worried for the safety of her father.
"Don't worry, your dad is strong you know" said inoue as she was healing hitomi and shidou.
"But" said kibou, full of doubts.
As the menos about to fire, Ichigo fire another of his getsuga wich pierced the right of its mask and let the menos destroyed with its own cero. He proceeds to finnish the other menos. In a matter of minutes he finished all of them.
"Amazing" said kibou in disbelief, her father taking down those menos like it was nothing. It was just plain unbelievable for her. Then, ichigo shunpoed to his family And arrived just half a minute later.
"We should take them to the clinic, where they can rest" ichigo said as his zanpaktou disintergrated into tiny blue spirit particles.
Suddenly, someone fell from the sky with a loud thud. Ichigo, kibou and tsukiko come running to the spot. When they got closer, kibou gasped, she recognize him, it was Nero and his chest is bleeding badly.
"Nero!" exclaimed kibou horrified as she saw the fatal damage on kakizen's chest and shoulder, it looks like hitomi's injuries, but it was worse. Tsukiko is just to shaken to say anything. Ichigo lift kakizen to his palm and start checking his condition. Then tanimoto arrived with a realeased kibakooru.
"tanimoto!" exclaimed kibou who was really surprised to see him
"kibou! Tsukiko!" exclaimed tanimoto, surprised
Meanwhile, ichigo was focused on checking nero's condition then he lift him up. "we have to give him a treatment as fast as we can" ichigo bought Nero to inoue so that she could treat his wounds with shun-shun rikka.
"hey, wait!" exclaimed tanimoto who were worried with Nero's safety. for him, ichigo and inoue are the strangers who were treating Nero with an unknown way. When he was about to complaint kibou stoped him by touching his left elbow.
"dont worry about it, they are my parents after all, so just let them took care of things" said kibou as she Gaze at her parents.
Parents! Then that means, he is kurosaki ichigo? Tought tanimoto. He was surprised but relieved at the same time, however, his relief didn't last long, after he get closer to ichigo and inoue, he noticed that shidou and hitomi is laying on the ground beside Nero, his eyes widened and sweat starting to run down from his neck.
"Shidou! Hi..hitomi!" exclaimed tanimoto horrifically. as he gazed on the injuries on hitomi's chest, he felt an eerie chill on his body, taking the energy he has left. His heart sank, and his body is shaking but he managed to muster all the strength he has to keep him standing.
"what happened?" asked tanimoto weakly
"a girl named shiragiku atacked us after you left, then she placed an orb in hitomi's chest, but I managed to take the orb out of her" said kibou as she stand beside tanimoto.
"are they alright?"
"shidou is fine, he has stronger built than normal people so he just need some rest, as for hitomi and nero... I cant say much until i saw the situation later" said ichigo
Tanimoto cluched his hand, his eyes was sternly furrowed. There is only one person on his head, shouko aizen. His energy is returning to him now, he was flaming with rage. He turn around and walk several step ahead before jumped to the roof of one of the house and use his shunpo to get to the park where shouko and ryuuki are having their fight.
"wait!" exclaimed kibou as tanimoto used his shunpo. She didn't like this, the look on tanimoto's face was Clearly states that he knew something about this. Kibou cluched her hand and grit her teeth as she makes a decision, she's going to follow tanimoto despite the hollows which was all over the place.
"kibou!" exclaimed ichigo as she worries about her daughter safety, expecially when the hollows on the rampage. Ichigo wanted to follow his daughter but he was worried about inoue as well.
"go, ichi-kun, i'll be fine by my self, i have tsubaki with me" said Inoue who knows what ichigo is thinking about.
"becarefull orihime" said ichigo as he ran after his daughter. He was felling uneasy about this but he have to place faith on inoue. Inoue has her faith on ichigo, so he should place his faith on inoue as well.
"Wait!" exclaimed tsukiko as she was about to follow ichigo and look for kibou.
Before she left, inoue shouted. "stop it! Its dangerous out there, you cant protect your self!"
tsukiko gone to a halt. he turned back was about to retort, but she was silenced as inoue continued her speech. "Leave everything to ichi-kun, he will bring kibou back."
Meanwhile, kibou was now on the tsubakidai district, she didn't know how she knows but she was sure that tanimoto is somewhere around here. This place used to be full of people bristling all around the place busy with what ever they are doing, but now, the screams of terror are echoing on the district. all of the people are running away, frightened as the hollows are literally rampaging the place. kibou was in the middle of it all, when she saw this, she clenched her hand once again and stormed to the park trough the back current of panicking people.
Deep on the park ryuuki confronted shouko with all his might, even so, the fight is one sided. Shouko were overpowering ryuuki, nerveless, ryuuki was putting up a fight.
damn! This is bad, I'm on my limit already and she's barely using her power! thought ryuuki as he stopped and hide behind one of the huge trees on the park. He was trying to catch his breath while he tried to calm down. Acting tense like this wouldn't do any good. For now he was trying to calm his mind but was abrubtly interrupted.
"I never thought that you would last this long" said shouko with a smile. She sat above a tree trunk just above him which surprised ryuuki to the bone, and once again, the fight started. Ryuuki did hirenkyaku away from shouko but was intercepted by her. Shouko swings her zanpaktou and ryuuki take a step back. He narrowly escaped from it. ryuuki shoots more of his arrows but shouko successfully dodge all of them with her shunpo. Then ryuuki lost track of her, he can't fell any reiatsu, until shouko approached him from his back.
"then shall we end this meaningless struggle" said shouko behind ryuuki. She thrust her sword aiming for ryuuki's chest and soon shouko's zanpaktou went trough ryuuki's chest with ease. however ryuuki who noticed her on the last moment managed to slide his body several centimeter from his heart and managed to survive although he is gravely wounded. Ryuuki fell to the ground, He gasped, even breathing is hard work for him. his chest was bleeding badly, slowly changing his pure white Quincy uniform with the colors of his blood. his right hand is holding the fatal wound on his chest.
"a stubborn one I see" shouko said as she looked down on ryuuki with a sinister smile. "I'm afraid that what you have done has just prolong your life for several second, now die" shouko swings her sword in an attempt to kill ryuuki in one stroke however, she change the course of her zanpaktou right was as she deflected a blue colored blade comes from her right.
"oh... To think that you are able to defeat him, you are better than i thought you are" said shouko with a smile as tanimoto walk towards her.
"domo, arigato" said tanimoto coldly.
Tanimoto's eyes were furrowed as he looked at shouko. And he tighten his clutch on kibakooru. Tanimoto can't hold his rage any longer, and he started to charge at shouko. As their blade meets, it created a huge blast.
Kibou was several meters from the park, outrunning the hollows that were chasing her, normally this is impossible, but since kibou has well honed reflexes, she were able to pass the hollows that are running mad by the reiatsu. Suddenly, a blast burst out in the park, she stopped running as a strong wind that was created by the blast reached her. Tanimoto! What in the world is going on she thinks to herself. As she gaze to the park ahead of her.
After the wind calmed down a hollow apeared, then more of them appeared after it. Kibou might been able to went trough a hollow or two, but a bunch of them, it most unlikely that she's able to get out here alive. Fortunately, ichigo catch up at the right moment, once again, he formed his zanpaktou using his reiatsu and defeat the hollows before any of them managed to lay a hand on his daughter. Kibou was standing still several steps behind her father, she has no idea what to say to him.
"kibou, you shouldn't ran off like that, you're putting your family in danger" said ichigo as he finished exterminating the hollows.
"but, tanimoto, he..." said kibou. She was trying to find a good excuse for this but she can't so she stays silent leaving her unfinished sentence. knowing her protective father she would probably dragged back.
Ichigo sighed as he looked at his daughter speechlessness. "I guess it can't be helped"
"what?, come again?"
"it cant be helped, if it was me i would probably do the same thing." said ichigo as he soften his furrows and looked at his daughter with a smile. "since we have come this far, might as well see this trough the end"
Kibou was surprised, of course she was, if you have a father that was over protective of you that would not allow you to get into any kind of danger (except tatsuki's karate lesson which he thought that she need to learn to protect her self in case anything happen) suddenly giving you a pass to go into a battle field, it would be quite shocking. But kibou was glad that her father let her do this, she have to know, and she was having a bad felling about this as well.
Inside the park, tanimoto and shouko clashed their sword. shouko was deflecting kibakooru's attacks with ease, in fact shouko was smiling. On the other hand tanimoto was attacking her restlessly and he was in rage. He keeps his eyes furrowed the entire time. and after several rounds of attack, shouko was able to get in tanimoto's personal space and swings her zanpaktou vertically. Tanimoto use shunpo to evade her and re-appear several meters back.
Tanimoto stretched his kibakooru and swing it to shouko who was charging after him. the trees were falling to the ground as kibakooru cut the trees that lays between them. Shouko easily evade the attack by leaning down while kibakooru passes above her, then she use shunpo to get near tanimoto. in a flash, shouko swing down her zanpaktou to tanimoto and tanimoto blocked the attack with his kibakooru that was reverting it's length.
"well done" said shouko with her senile smile. "if i lost him, i might very well have you"
"what!" exclaimed tanimoto as he noticed the sudden move of shouko's left hand and she pierced him with the orb to tanimoto's chest. this time it was tanimoto who was taken over by the orb.
Kibou and ichigo arived in tsubakidai park, they were running as fast as they can trough the path. Kibou felt a crushing pressure onece again, it was the same with hitomi, exept this time it was tanimoto's reiatsu. As soon as she relized that, her face grown pale, her heart beats faster, responding her sudden burst of panic. She paced up her speed, hoping that she will be able to reach tanimoto on time. Both of them run deeper to the park, there is no more path, only green grass which flourished along the tall trees around them. They were planning went right to tanimoto but they stoped. Both of them gasp as they saw ryuuki covered in blood. ryuuki was gasping and drenched in sweat. ichigo sprint to ryuuki hoping that it wasnt to late, he hate it when someone gotten hurt in front of him, it reminded him of his own uselessness, but nevertheless, he has to do something fast, the wound was grave, the only thing that could save ryuuki now is his will to live.
The burst of tanimoto's reiatsu subdied, ichigo and kibou noticed this as well. Once again kibou ran leaving her father and ryuuki behind, ignoring her father's call. When she arrived she saw tanimoto with a girl. tanimoto was standing still beside her. Kibou knows there is something wrong, really wrong and she shouted "tanimoto!"
Shouko noticed the call and she looked at kibou in absolute couriousity. She kept silent for a while until kibou spoke up.
"tanimoto what happened, who is she?" asked kibou bewildered but she didn't get any response, as if the tanimoto in front of her was a statue, he didn't show any expression, much less an answer. soon a garganta apeared behind shouko and tanimoto, a man with white clothes step out of the garganta. Leaving the gate opened the man bowed to shouko. "shouko aizen-sama, the preparation is complete, we're ready whenever you are"
"I see, thank you for your report hidan" replied shouko.
Hidan straighten his body and he placed his eyes on kibou who looked at them with confusion.
"what should I do" said hidan as he glanced at kibou "with her"
shouko remind silent, she was looking at kibou as if she was trying to evaluate her of what she worth.
"shall i dispose of her" said hidan as he placed his hand on his orange colored zanpaktou. Hearing his words, kibou move back. She was positioning her body defensively in preparation of any hostile movement. Kibou was really tense right now, seeing that these guys definitly has powers and she don't. but there is one thing that keeps her here, there is something wrong with tanimoto. he didnt show any expresions when hidan threatened her, he didnt move from his spot even a little, he stand there just like a frozen statue, he didn't even blink. What on earth has happened to him, thought kibou.
Before kibou raise her voice, shiragiku walk past kibou as if she isn't there, shiragiku didn't even took a glance at kibou. "ah... I'm so sorry, I failed" said shiragiku with her carefree tone.
"i see" said shouko. However, she didn't feel troubled, only hint of seductive smile that was on her face. kibou was struck when she saw shiragiku, she knew her, she was the one who attacked them and place that orb.
"then, the girl" said hidan breaking the silent moment, still holding his zanpaktou.
"never mind her, she wouldn't be able to lift a finger against us" said shouko. The words was like a sword pierced right trough kibou's heart. They are right, she can't do anything, if they had defeated tanimoto and ryuuki, what chanche would she have?
Shouko turned her back to kibou and step into the garganta along with shiragiku, hidan and tanimoto. With a final hint of a smirk in shiragiku's face, the garganta closed, swalowed by the surroundings. kibou felt so helpless that she fell into her feet. "damn!" she screamed if only I was stronger this would never happen she thought as she griped the ground so hard that it turns white. I'm sorry... Tanimoto
Ichigo was frantic, he hurriedly patch up ryuuki to slow his wounds, carry him and went to search for kibou. that reiatsu he felt, it's surely is bad news. He should find kibou fast, He can't forgive himself if something were to happen to kibou. he gripped his hand on ryuuki as he ran around the vast greenery around him.
"kibou!" he shouted hoping to get an answer. it was then that he heard her scream. He paced up and heads towards the origin of the scream which came from his beloved daughter. He just hope that he's not too late. if anything bad happens to her...
Then he saw her crouched down beneath the dark shade of tall trees around her. when he looked at her un injured, a flood of relief washed over him.
"kibou! What happend!" he asked with voice that's a mixture of panic, concern and fear. He feared that something bad has happened and he isnt there to stop it.
"d..dad, i... I..." she stutered. Slowly she lift her face and saw ryuuki on her fathers hand. once again, she felt the stabbing felling on her heart. She clenched her hand and look away.
"kibou" ichigo called, his voice is soft and caring "let's go home, together okay, we could talk about what happen afterward"
"no... dad, please... I... want to be alone... For now..." she said, her voice wavering and heavy.
"I can't do that"
"please... dad..." she said with a pleading look. "Besides, you have to treat ryuuki as fast as you can... I...I'll be... Just a burden... To you"
Ichigo ponders it for several seconds. His daughter was right, he have to treat him as fast as he can, ryuuki's wound is grave. Some bandage and antiseptics won't do him any good. it seems everything has calmed down now, he cant fell anymore hollow around anyways, so his daughter would be save, and she needs some time alone. I guess, she needs space of privacy. he tought.
"alright, just promise me to be back before sun down... Okay"
Kibou nodded weakly but she managed to smile before her father used his flash step and disappear. leaving her alone to ponder at her troubles and mixed feelings.