Yo again everybody! Another chapter for you enjoyment! Ha ha! Of course, due solely to the fact that its mostly done already. I've just been adding and cleaning it up mostly. Regardless enjoy the second chapter today.
Chapter Three: Hollowed Souls, Soulless Men
Fugai District
Rukongai
"Hello? Anyone here?" Sakura shouted as they approached the apparently abandoned camp site.
The area was empty, save for a tent standing the middle of the site. It didn't make any sense. There should have been at least several soul reapers guarding the site. So where were they? And for that matter, why wasn't Karasu cawing to signal that they were approaching the camp site? Even if Kenshi had been sleeping, he would have had Karasu and his clones keep an eye on things. The fact that the air was quiet was a grave sign.
"I don't like this Hiyori. Something isn't right," Sakura said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Yeah," Hiyori replied as they walked around the tent. "Where the hell is..."
The second they rounded the corner of the tent, they saw the bodies of Eishima and Kasaki sprawled on the ground. Both girls dropped the equipment they were carrying and drew their swords. They slowly and carefully moved towards the bodies, fearfully that the thing that had attacked these men was still in the area, waiting for more prey. When they reached the bodies, Sakura knelt down and checked both bodies. They were dead which Sakura already suspected. But the wounds surprised her. They could only have been caused by a sword. A hollow didn't do this. Someone, likely a soul reaper did. But that left the question, why would a soul reaper attack other soul reapers?
Snap!
Sakura and Hiyori turned their heads towards the sound. Someone or something had stepped on a fallen tree branch. The sounds of heavy footsteps started to fill the air. Something was coming. It appeared in the shadows near a tree. Neither Sakura or Hiyori could tell what the thing was. But they could tell that it was big. It hit the tree shredding it in two before stepping out of the shadows. Revealing itself to them.
Both Sakura and Hiyori stared in horror at creature. It was Kensei. Or at least what had once been Kensei. Now he was some kind of monster. His arms had become bigger and longer while his hands and feet were covered in armor and a number of piston-like tubes were sticking out of his back, toping it off was a flat white mask devoid of a mouth or nose with its eyes consisted of six small rectangular slits. It reminded both of them of a hollow mask.
"Kensei? Is that you? Wh...What happened to you?" Hiyori managed to ask.
The Kensei-hollow roared in response and started running at them.
Captain's Meeting Chamber
First Division
"This is an emergency," Yamamoto said to assembled Captains. "According to the report from Ninth Division camp on standby, the reiatsu signatures of both Captain Muguruma and Lieutenant Kuna have disappeared. The cause is unknown. Therefore we must assume the worst case scenario. It seems that the disappearances that been occurring in the Rukongai are only one piece of the puzzle. By the pride of 13 Court Guard Squads, this must be resolved! Consequently, I will select five of captain rank and send them to the site to deal with this directly."
Suddenly, the main doors slammed opened, revealing a panting Urahara.
"You are late, Captain Urahara," the Captain-General said to the Squad 12 Captain.
"Please allow me to go," Urahara uttered the instant he caught his breath.
"No."
"But my lieutenant and fourth seat are both heading there right now!" he pleaded.
"Kisuke! You're pathetic!" Yoruichi shouted at her blond friend. "Stop running around like an idiot. Weren't you the one who chose to send them out there? Don't you see that running around like that is a disgrace to them?"
"Moving on," Yamamoto said, clearing his throat. "Captains Rojoru Otoribashi, Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, the three of you will be going to the site. Captain Shihoin will remain on standby for further orders. Captain Unohana is to make preparations for bringing in the casualties. The remaining captains will guard the Seireitei."
"Excuse me, Captain Yamamoto," Unohana quietly spoke up. "But should I not be there as well if we are concerned with the treatment of the injured?"
"The situation is unknown," Yamamoto answered. "I cannot allow anyone of importance from the Fourth Division going anywhere. I will, however, be sending others."
The doors opened again. This time, two men entered. Kido Crops Captain Tessei Tsukabishi and his lieutenant, Hachigen Ushoda.
"Tessai Tsukabishi...It's been a long time since he's shown his face in public," Jushiro said, surprised by the sight of the two.
"Well now...This is becoming something quite interesting, isn't it," Shunsui commented.
"You are both informed, I trust. I would like you two to head there as well," Yamamoto said to the pair.
Tessai bowed his head. "At once Captain-General."
"Hey Old Man Yama. Ah...Pardon me." Shunsui cleared his throat and continued, "But I was wondering. Isn't it bad to be sending both the Captain of the Kido Crops and his lieutenant to the front lines where no one really knows what's going on?"
"Hm...And what would you suggest?"
"Let my lieutenant go instead."
Ukitake raised an eyebrow. "You'd call her now? From here?"
Shunsui grinned. "Yup. Hey Lisa!"
Lisa's head shot up from the window from behind Shunsui. "What?"
"See. Oh...and the rest of you, stop hiding already. We all know that you've hiding here, watching us the moment you arrived."
Naruto's and Sasuke's heads appeared in window behind Captain Ukitake while Lieutenant Kojima and the Asano siblings appeared behind their Captains.
"I thought I told you Lisa, not to eavesdrop on Captains' meetings like this," Shunsui said to his Lieutenant. "And I thought I told you Naruto to try to stop her from doing that, not follow her on one of her spying missions."
"As if I'd take orders from the Fifth Seat of my own Squad," Lisa replied in annoyance. "Besides, none of the others were following me. They came here on their own choice."
"Captain-General Yamamoto, please allow Mizuro and I to accompany our Captains," Keigo said in a polite and respectful tone. "It is a Lieutenant's duty to accompany their Captain in the most dangerous of situations."
Suddenly, Keigo's sister struck him. "Who said you'd be going out there?" Mizuho exclaimed. "If anyone's going to accompany the Captain, it will be me!"
Love shook his head and rolled his eyes in annoyance at the continued antics of his subordinates.
"Please, Captain-General Yamamoto, allow us to go out as well," Naruto added, eager to help out with two of his friends in danger.
The ancient soul reaper shook his scarred head. "No. I will not allow anyone below lieutenant class to go out into an unknown and potentially dangerous situation."
"But Captain-General, neither of us wishes to just sit back while our friends are danger," Naruto argued.
"Jeez...You're just as bad as Kisuke," an irritated Yoruichi said. "Disrespecting them like that. Have faith in your friends. They're stronger than you give them credit."
"I don't care if it's disrespecting them dammit!" Naruto shouted back. "I rather disrespect them than have them die out there! How can either of us sit back after what's happened? A captain and lieutenant are down, possibly dead, and Kenshi was with them! And Sakura was heading there, if she isn't there already, unaware of what she's walking into! How can we sit back when our nakama are in danger?"
"I must agree with the dobe," Sasuke added calmly. "Let us accompany the Captains and Lieutenants."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah! It's not like we're asking to go there alone. Let us go with the team. We're strong enough to help out."
Yamamoto slammed his staff into the ground. "Enough! It is not a matter of strength. You are too emotionally close to the situation. It poses an unnecessary risk to the team."
"But-" Naruto started
Captain Ukitake cut him off. "Naruto, calm down. Yelling at everyone isn't going to help them."
"Yeah. It's only gonna get ya in trouble," Shunsui added. "The best thing you can do is wait and have faith." He then turned to Lisa. "Lisa, you heard everything right?"
Lisa nodded her head. "Yes."
"Can I count on you?"
"Of course," she said before taking off.
Yamamoto shook his head. "Such behavior..."
"Perhaps. But it's just the parental desire to want to see your subordinates grow. You of all people should understand that," Shunsui said with a grin. "Besides, it'll be fine. My Little Lisa is actually quite a toughie. So it's perfectly fine that I sent her out wasn't it, Kido Captain?"
"I do not mind. I suppose I shall return to my quarters."
"Very well then!" the Captain-General said as he slammed his staff into the ground again. "Captains Rojoru Otoribashi, Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, and Lieutenants Hachigen Ushoda, Lisa Yadomaru, Mizuro Kojima, Mizuho Asano and Keigo Asano shall be the ones to investigate the soul disappearances. Dismissed."
The aforementioned soul reapers ran out of the room and the courtyard surrounding the room, heading towards the Rukongai.
Shunsui started to walk out of the room. He stopped when he reached Urahara. "It'll be fine. Hiyori and Sakura are both strong. Well, not as strong as my Lisa, of course. Don't make such a worried face, Kisuke. And that goes for you two as well." Shunsui turned to Naruto. "Well Naruto, you comin'?"
Fugai District
Rukongai
"RWAAAAAAR!" the Kensei-hollow roared as it swung another fist at the two them.
Sakura and Hiyori barely jumped out way and keep on running. They weren't gonna last much longer unless they did something...But what could they do against one of their own, particularly a captain? Nothing but run like hell. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Added to this, they had heard two other howls coming from somewhere nearby. Meaning that there was at least two other creatures somewhere nearby. Of course, unless they could at least put some distance between them and Kensei, that wouldn't matter.
Sakura turned to Hiyori. "Hiyori, I have an idea. But if it doesn't work, forget about me and just keep on running."
"What? No way in hell am I doing that!" Hiyori shouted back.
"Just do it!" Sakura shouted as she spun around, facing the approaching Kensei-hollow. "Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six!" she chanted as quickly as she could. "Bakudo 61. Rikujokoro!"
Six beams of light pierced the Kensei-hollow's midsection, freezing it in place. But the spell didn't appear to be strong enough to hold it for long. Slowly, the hollow creature began to inch and squirm against its bonds, sending cracks through the beams.
"C'mon! Let's get out of here before he gets out!" Sakura shouted.
Both girls started running as fast as they could. Maybe ten seconds later, heard the Kensei-hollow let out a loud, frustrated roar followed by an explosion. "Damn...I had hoped that it would have stopped him for longer than that," Sakura said.
The Kensei-hollow flash-stepped, appearing behind them as it attacked. Both girls barely manage to jump opposite directions out of the way. The Kensei-hollow turned to Hiyori and ran towards her, preparing to deliver the killing blow.
Suddenly, Hiyori disappeared just before the Kensei-hollow struck and reappeared next to Sakura, being held like a sack in one of Captain Shinji Hirako's arms.
Shinji glanced Hiyori, then at Sakura. "Why haven't you two drawn your zanpaku-tos?"
"We did...until we saw what we were fight," Sakura grimly replied. "And how could we fight it?"
Then the Kensei-hollow stepped towards them, revealing itself to Shinji. "Kensei?" was all he could say at the sight of his friend and fellow captain.
"Shinji!" a voice from behind the three shouted. "Hiyori, Sakura, are you okay!"
It was Captain Love Aikawa, along with Captain Rojoru 'Rose' Otoribashi, and Lieutenants Lisa Yadomaru, Mizuro Kojima, Keigo Asano and Mizuho Asano, all were running towards them. But they froze the second they saw Kensei.
"What the hell is going on?" Love asked. "Is that really Kensei?"
"His body, that mask, that reiatsu...It's as if he's a hollow!" Rose exclaimed.
"I don't know if it's him or not. But if ya don't draw yer swords, yer gonna die," Shinji replied.
Kensei suddenly cranked his head back and let out a loud howl. Love, Rose and Lisa all drew their swords. Then two other howls were heard from nearby. "There's more?" Shinji shouted in alarm.
"We heard two others, but didn't see them," Sakura said before letting out a brief cough.
The Kensei-hollow flash-stepped appearing behind Love and swung one of its huge fists. The second the fist connected with Love, there was a large explosion, sending Love flying.
"Love!" Rose yelled out as Love crashed into the ground.
Love's two Lieutenants moved towards their fallen Captain, but he rose to his feet within seconds. "Man! That smarts!" Love said; the right side of his kimono completely burnt off. "But that's Kensei for you."
"Get out of here! Don't ya get it? You're fighting Kensei!" Hiyori shouted, still being held by Shinji. "If yo-" She was cut off by her own hacking coughs.
"Shut it already Hiyori," Shinji said. "If that really is Kensei, then it's all the more reason we have to stop him."
"He's right Hiyori," Rose said. "Kensei's important. That's why we have to stop him. No matter what."
"Don't worry Hiyori," Lisa said as she walked up alongside Rose. "There's plenty of ways of stopping someone without killing them. We're gonna cut his tendons. I'll take his left side, you take his right."
Rose nodded. "All right."
Both took off towards Kensei. Suddenly, Lisa saw something in the corner of her eye. A figure appeared behind Rose. Its leg raised over Rose's head. "Rose! Behind you!" she shouted, trying to warn him.
But it was too late; the leg came down, slamming Rose into the ground. However, before Lisa could do anything, something slammed into her from above, driving her into the ground as well.
The remaining soul reapers all stared at the two newest attackers. The first one had armored elongated legs and a heart-shaped, insect-like mask on its face. But they all knew who it was. The ditzy lieutenant who always annoyed her captain and many of the officers of the Ninth, Mashiro Kuna.
The second one was standing on Lisa's back, pinning her to the ground. A long tail, covered in segmented armor and pair of black bird wings was sticking out of it back, through a torn kimono and white coat. Its fingers were tipped with blade-like claws. Its mask was like some kind of demonic jester. Its razor-sharp teeth were permanently stretched into an insane, leering grin. The nose was simply a pair of small, narrow slits. The eyes were narrow, curved slits that where angled upwards. Three long red lines running down each eye. Like Mashiro and Kensei, they knew who it was. Though Sakura knew who it was the second she saw the Leaf forehead protector tied to its arm.
"Kenshi...No..." Sakura weakly said at the sight of her friend.
The thing that had been Kenshi turned to her and howled.
Shinji scowled. "Damn. Mashiro and Kenshi as well. How the hell did this happen?"
Both the Mashiro-hollow and the Kenshi-hollow charged Shinji, Sakura and Hiyori. Shinji raised his sword, blocking Mashiro's kick but Kenshi's claw stabbed into his right side.
"Bakudo 75. Gochutekkan."
Five thick iron pillars fell on the two half-hollows, pinning them to the ground.
"Sorry. Everybody runs faster than me," Hachigen Ushoda said as he approached the group, sweating from all the running he had been doing.
"Better late than never Hachi." Shinji said with a slight grin.
Hachigen glanced at the Kensei-hollow, who was fighting Love. "Bakudo 63. Sajo Sabaku."
Several large chains appeared and wrapped around Kensei, binding him. With the threat effectively contained, Hachigen turned his attention to the others. "Captain Hirako, what happened?" he asked. "How did Captain Muguruma and his-"
At that very moment, the Kensei-hollow started breaking the chains that held it while the iron pillars pinning Kenshi-hollow and Mashiro-hollow started shaking as they started pushing off the ground, trying to stand up. Moments later, Kensei shattered the kido spell binding, followed by Mashiro and Kenshi pushing the iron pillars off of themselves.
"Unbelievable! To be able to dispel high-level binding spells with pure strength," Hachi exclaimed in a combination of fascination and shock.
The three half-hollows all roar in anger. All of the soul reapers grimly stood ready for their next attack. They could tell that was going to be a long night.
Eight Division Barracks
"Dum dum dee dum," Shunsui hummed as he and Naruto walked through the Squad 8 barracks.
"How can you be so calm at a time like this?" Naruto asked.
"Truth be told, I am concerned," Shunsui said with a rare serious face. "But if I start panicking or shouting at everyone, what would that solve? So instead, I'll do the only thing I can do, calmly wait and have faith in the strength of my comrades."
Naruto hung his head. "Sorry but I'm still use to being able to come to the rescue when my nakama are danger like this."
"It's understandable. Two of your close friends are out there, in an unknown and highly dangerous situation. Most people in your shoes would want to do the same," Shunsui said as he put his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Don't worry. They'll be fine."
"Captain Kyoraku! Fifth-Seat Uzumaki!" two unseated members of Squad 8 said as they saluted.
"Hello there," Shunsui said. "Working hard?"
"Yes sir," the first eagerly replied. "But what are you two doing up so late? Is something wrong?"
"No no no...We couldn't get to sleep so we decided to take a walk."
Shunsui took a glance to the left. Lieutenant Aizen was walking on a nearby balcony. "Maybe I'm over-thinking things," he said to himself.
"Captain?" Naruto asked.
"Nothing. Forget it," Shunsui replied, pushing his thoughts aside. "Well, night you two. C'mon Naruto."
The two of them continued walking for awhile until they rounded a corner and came face to face with a small girl wearing a soul reaper uniform and oversized glasses, holding a book. Naruto recognized her as the youngest member of the Division, Nanao Ise.
"You're Nanao Ise, aren't you?" Shunsui said.
Eh? Ah...Yes sir! It's an honor that you remembered my name sir!" the little girl loudly said, trying to hide her nervousness.
Shunsui chuckled. "Well you're the youngest one in our Squad and I always like to keep track of all the young ladies' names. Besides, you always come to see me every month on the...Oh yeah. Today's the first."
An embarrassed look spread across Nanao's face. "Yes...And I wanted to read with Lieutenant Yadoumaru this time too..."
"Ah I see," Shunsui said. "Sorry kiddo but Lisa isn't around tonight."
"How come?" Nanao asked, a scared look on her face.
"She has an important job to do tonight. She helping find some missing friends," Shunsui explained to her.
Naruto hung his head again. He wanted to be out there. To help his friends. But he couldn't. Never before in his life (and afterlife) had he felt this helpless. Not even when Sasuke defected to Sound. Nor when he watched his friends die one by one at the hands of the Akatsuki in that final battle. But there was something he could do. He could alleviate the fears of a young girl.
Putting on his infamous goofy grin, he said to her, "Don't worry. She'll be back tomorrow. So why don't the captain and I read with you tonight."
The Kensei-hollow drove its fist into Lisa's stomach, sending her crashing into the ground. Kensei was about to hit her again, when a bloody and battered Rose fired off kido spell, hitting it in the side of the head. "Stop that," Rose said, scowling the half-hollow beast. "Kensei was never the kind of man who'd lower himself by picking on a girl."
"RWAAAAAAAAR!" the Kensei-hollow roared as it charged Rose.
The Squad Three Captain evaded its charge with a flash-step and struck back with his sword, slashing the creature's back, but it had little effect on the beast. The Kensei-hollow backhanded him, knocking Rose to ground. The half-hollow slammed its fists down on Rose's head, but the soul reaper was faster, rolling out of the way. The large fists crashed into the ground, creating a small explosion of grass, dirt and stones.
Elsewhere, Shinji was fighting off the Mashiro-hollow's fierce kicks while Love was battling the Kenshi-hollow in the skies above them. The Kenshi-hollow tried to stab at Love with its claws. But Love blocked the claws with his sword. Suddenly its armored tail swung at him. Love caught it with his free hand. "Damn Kenshi. I heard you were pretty strong for a Sixth Seat, but now...it's insane how strong you've become."
The Kenshi-hollow responded by opening its mouth and charging a cero. "Shit!" Love cursed as he pushed away from Kenshi. "Hado 33. Sokatsui!"
The kido spell hit Kenshi square in the chest, causing the cero to go wide and sent the Kenshi-hollow crashing to the ground, where the Asano siblings were waiting. Keigo leaped forward, slashing at the half-hollow creature with his sword. But the Kenshi-hollow was faster, grabbing his sword with its left hand, and stabbing Keigo in chest with his right. Keigo gasped while the Kenshi-hollow just leered at him. Its tail then shot out, wrapping around his neck, choking him, and with a mere flick, the Kenshi-hollow threw him.
"Keigo!" Mizuho screamed as her brother crashed into a tree. She turned back to the half-hollow, murder in her eyes. "You ugly son of a bitch! You're gonna pay for that! Ensnare Shinja!"
A dark green light glow covered her blade and it began to bend and move upwards, coiling in front of her right wrist and forearm, taking the shape of small round shield. The glow then faded away, revealing a round metal shield on her right arm, its surface made up of six metal serpents, coiled into smaller and smaller circles. Mizuho screamed as she threw her right fist at the half-hollow. The six serpent heads flew out, their bodies wrapping around its arms, legs, waist and neck, their heads biting down on its body. "Ha! Watch as Shinja's poison paralyzes your body while her snakes strangle you into unconsciousness!" Mizuho gloated as the Kenshi-hollow's body began to grow limp.
Suddenly, the Kenshi-hollow roared, its limp body suddenly coming back to life. But Mizuho could react, the Kenshi-hollow sharply pulled its body back, throwing Mizuho off her feet and breaking her zanpaku-to's grip. Mizuho pulled herself back up to feet, ready for more as the creature advanced towards her.
Nearby, Mizuro stood, chanting out a kido spell, his hand aimed at the half-hollow. "Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws. Hado 33. Sokatsui!"
A blast of blue energy struck the Kenshi-hollow, throwing it into its hollowified Captain.
The Mashiro-hollow brought another powerful left foot down on Shinji, who barely blocked it with his zanpaku-to. "Sho!" Sakura shouted.
The kido spell hit Mashiro's left side, causing her to lose her balance as it pushed her back. Shinji took that moment to fire off his own, more powerful Sho spell, sending her flying into the other two half-hollows.
The Kensei-hollow roared as it stood up, knocking Kenshi and Mashiro off of it. To everyone's surprise, it then turned and slammed both of its fists into the rising forms of Kenshi and Mashiro, driving them into the ground. The Kensei-hollow stared brutally beating the other two half-hollows with a seemingly endless rage.
"Bakudo 99! Kin!" Hachi shouted at the top of lungs.
Black leather straps appeared around the arms of all three half-hollows as well as Kenshi's wings, binding their arms together behind their backs and sending Kensei to the ground. They were finally subdued. It was finally over.
"A level 90 binding spell without the chant. That quite a feat," Shinji said with a slight grin on his face.
"I over did it a little," Hachi commented, referring to the leather straps that extended onto the ground from the bodies of the half-hollows.
"Well...Now what? I mean, what exactly happened to them?" Shinji asked Hachi. "Could this be some kinda kido spell or something?"
"I don't know. I've never seen anything like this," the pink haired Kido Crops Lieutenant replied.
Suddenly, both Sakura and Hiyori started coughing violently. Sakura fell to knees, clutching her chest. Sakura groaned. "What's...happening..."
"Sakura, Hiyori, what's wrong?" a concerned Shinji asked. "Ya'll right?"
"Shin...Shinji..." Hiyori tired to saw in between coughs. "Let me...go-AAAAARGH!"
A liquid poured out of her mouth and covered her face, forming into a skeletal mask with a row of diamond shaped markings running across its forehead and a single horn. Before anyone could do anything, Hiyori slashed Shinji across the chest with horn on her mask. Shinji fell to the ground.
At that same moment, Sakura screamed as the same white liquid poured out of her mouth and formed a mask. The mask was smooth and had no mouth or nose with an intricate dark purple design where the mouth and nose would have been. Sakura slowly stood up. She and Hiyori drew their swords.
"Hiyori, Sakura! What the hell is going on here?" Love shouted as he raised sword.
Love, Rose, Lisa, Hachi, Mizuro and Mizuho were about to restrain the two when everything went black. A few moments later, the blackness disappeared, revealing Hiyori, Sakura, Love, Rose, Lisa, Hachi, Mizuro and Mizuho were all sprawled on the ground, unconscious with fresh sword wounds to their bodies. And a man standing before them that Shinji recognized. The Fifth Seat of Squad Nine, Kaname Tosen.
"Tosen?" Shinji exclaimed as the blind man pulled off his mask. "Why? Why did you do this? Why did you betray your own captain?"
"I did not betray anyone," Tosen replied.
"He is loyal," a voice called out.
Shinji instantly knew who it was.
"But that loyalty is strictly reserved to me," Sosuke Aizen said as he and Gin entered the clearing. "Do you think you could find it in your heart not to blame him Captain Hirako?"
Shinji scowled. "Aizen..."
Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi ran through the forests of the Rukongai towards the area where the investigation team was headed to. When they heard voices coming from a clearing.
"Remember this; the betrayal you can see is trivial. What is truly fearsome, is the betrayal that you don't see, Captain Hirako. You were all wonderful material." the first voice said.
"Damn you Aizen!" a second, more frantic voice shouted.
Urahara drew Benihime and leapt into the clearing, slashing at Sosuke Aizen. But Aizen managed to sidestep the attack.
"Oh? It seems we have some more interesting guests," Aizen said. "Whatever could you two be doing here, Captain Urahara, Captain Tsukabishi?"
"This ain't good. We got found out," Gin commented at the sight of the two captains.
"I will kill them," Tosen said.
"No. It's fine," Aizen replied nonchalantly.
"But-"
"Kaname." Aizen said, a slight force tone in his voice. "I said, its fine."
Tosen instantly knelt down before Aizen. "Yes. Please forgive me."
"Ki...Kisuke..." Shanji weakly said to his fellow captain, the white half-formed mask hardening on his face. "Why'd...ya come...ya moron..."
"Whatever could you be doing wearing such a tacky mask?" Urahara asked back.
A slight grin formed on the uncovered half of Shinji's lips. "I don't wanna hear that from ya..."
Urahara smiled back but taking a look at the area. In the center of clearing was bound, hollowified bodies of Kensei, Mashiro and Kenshi. Around them, was the unconscious forms of the other Captains and Lieutenants, a white liquid was half-covering each of their faces. His gaze turned to his two subordinates. They were lying on the ground, complete hollow masks covering their faces.
Urahara turned to Aizen, his expression serious. "Lieutenant Aizen."
"Yes?"
"What have you done?"
"Why, nothing Captain Urahara," Aizen said innocently. "By chance, I found the members of the investigation team injured in battle. And I was about to help when you arrived."
"Why are you lying to me?"
"Lying? Is there a problem with a lieutenant trying to save his captain?" Aizen asked, his tone unchanging.
"No. That's not what I'm talking about," Urahara replied. "'Injured in battle' you say? There's no point in lying to me. Those aren't injuries. That's hollow transformation."
"I see," Aizen said. Suddenly Aizen's face turned dark and evil, startling Urahara. "It seems you are just the man I thought you to be." Aizen turned away from Urahara. "It's good that you came here tonight," he added. "Gin, Tosen, we're leaving."
"Wait!" Urahara shouted.
"Out of the way Urahara!" Tessai shouted, preparing to fire a kido spell. Urahara leapt out of the path of the Captain of the Kido Crops. "Hado 88! Hiryugekizokushintenraiho!" Tessai shouted, throwing forth a powerful kido spell.
"Bakudo 81. Danku," Aizen calmly replied without turning.
A barrier appeared behind the retreating soul reapers before Tessai's spell could hit them, exploding harmlessly.
Both Captains were shocked at what had just happened. "Impossible...A lieutenant blocked my kido with a chantless Danku?" Tessai exclaimed in disbelief.
The barrier shattered. Aizen, Gin and Tosen were gone. "I can't believe this. Somehow, they've escaped," Urahara said, shaking his head.
Suddenly, Shinji cried out in agony before collapsing alongside the others.
"We can deal with them later Urahara," Tessai said as they turned to their attention to their fallen comrades. "Right now, the treatment of Hirako and the others comes first."
Unfortunately, they weren't in a good situation. Kisuke had an idea on how he could possibly reverse this; however, he needed to get back to his lab first. Without what he had in his lab, there was no chance of reversing it. "Maybe I can," he quietly mumbled to himself, unheard by Tessai. "But...There's no way I can treat them here if they've progressed this far."
Tessai took a moment, studying his fellow Captain, noticing how he was looking at the others. "Urahara. It seems that you know something about this 'hollow transformation'. If so, you must know how we can help them."
Urahara hesitated. "...I know of a way. But it's a gamble."
"That's still better than nothing," Tessai said. "I will transport all of us to the Squad 12 Headquarters directly. If you have what's needed there, than we will save their lives!"
Kisuke was surprised by his words. How would they get them all to his lab in time? It was impossible for the two of them to carry back in time, even with the use of flash-steps. Urahara doubted even Yoruichi could do. "How?"
"I will use Temporal Stasis and Spatial Displacement. Both are forbidden spells. So for the next few moments, please close your eyes and cover your ears," Tessai explained, preparing to cast the spells.
Urahara complied, closing his eyes and sticking his fingers in his ears. Seconds later, Urahara, Tessai, Hirako and others were in the main laboratory of the Twelfth Division. "Hollow transformation or Hollowification is the single answer I arrived at while researching ways to strengthen the soul of a soul reaper," Urahara explained as he began searching for something within his lab. "As a result of that research, I created a material capable of instantly destroying the barrier between a hollow and a soul reaper." Urahara opened a panel in the wall of his lab, revealing a safe. He quickly unlocked it and pulled out a small object, wrapped in a white cloth. "With this, I can cure Hirako and the others...I hope anyway. I call it the Hogyoku."
He pulled off the cloth, revealing the most unassuming of objects. A marble-sized black orb within a glass case…
And done.
Now the next chapter won't be up until later tomorrow. Its going to get a much greater overhaul than these last two.
And as always, review!