Episode 9: Substitute I

Fishbone D and I travel through a dark space called the garganta for the better part of a day. Whilst there, we try and make conversation but things are still awkward ever since our confrontation with the Adjuchas.

"Um...Sorry Fishbone D about that incident earlier."

"Oh that...oh it's okay as long as you now to be more careful next time."

"Of course." We remain silent for a few more seconds. "Hey Fishbone D."

"Yes?"

"Would it be possible for us to maybe one day become as strong as the Adjuchas?"

"You mean evolve into an Adjuchas?"

"Yes."

"It would take a long time and lots of souls before we can reach that level."

"How many would it take until we get there?" I'm feeling a bit giddy now. The possibility of becoming that string entices me to do (or eat) whatever it takes.

"Well you firstly must reach Gillian class before you can reach Adjuchas."

"So what...just tell me how many souls I need to reach Menos?"

"Well I'm not sure if it's that simple...I think you actually need to devour other hollows, or at least 1000 or more souls."

I feel confident that this could be something I can achieve. "Well then, we better start in Karakura Town then."

We arrive in the twilight hours. The sun has almost set and most souls are out wandering as the humans settle in for the night.

I scan the area for prey but all I see are a group of youths arguing with a strange looking boy with orange hair. "Tch what a punk...How about it Fishbone D...?" I turn but my fellow hollow has already moved in on his target. "Hey wait up."

The youths have a brief fight. The orange haired boy manages to beat them all up and begins comforting a small girl.

Wait a minute! How can he see that soul?

I approach the boy but he amazingly doesn't spot me. I decide to follow him back to his home. He intrigues me with his gift of seeing ghosts.

"KYAH!" The shrill scream of a child alerts me. The young soul that the boy had just communicated with had disappeared. Only her shoes and some of her blood were left behind.

"Hey Fishbone!" I spot him on some powerlines eating the poor child.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" He rakes out his claws.

"What has become of you? I thought we were going to become Menos together."

"I've changed my mind...I don't want to have any involvement with you anymore, filthy hollow."

"Snap out of it Fishbone, your not like the other hollows."

"I said get the hell away from me! GRAAAAOOWWW!" He swipes at me chest with his claws but I don't retaliate. I'm worried my only hollow friend has become driven by instinct. Was it something to do with that boy perhaps?

He raises his head and sniffs the air. Once he finds the scent he leaps across the rooftops. "WAIT!" But he's too fast for me.

Now that I think about it. That boy did have a strange aura around him. I know he isn't a Shinigami or a hollow but I felt something. If I can follow the trail perhaps I can catch up to Fishbone D and sort him out.

I search for hours and night has already filled the sky. I travel along some powerlines until I bump into a small black object.

"OWW!" The small object made a noise.

What kind of person sits on powerlines?

"Halt hollow." I realise now that the small dark object was in fact a small Shingami woman.

Yikes...I was hoping to avoid a confrontation with a Shinigami

"Let the little Banzai boy go up against a Shinigami and we'll consider that his punishment."

"Oh that's right. So you want to fight me little girl?" I speak in an overconfident manner.

She grips her katana she is no mood for jokes. "I Rukia Kuchiki will shut your trap."

"Oh! You sure are feisty. If you pleasure me I might just keep you alive as a trophy." My perverted self kicks in.

"En Guarde." She charges forward to which I block with my claws. She is nowhere near as strong as Mitzuki so I decide to take things a little easy. I nudge her back but she's persistent. She goes for my leg but I easily dodge, slamming my fist onto her back which makes her plummet several metres to the ground. She rises from the dusty crater and goes in for the third attempt. I swat her to the side with my large hand. I almost feel sorry for her because she is that weak.

I yawn. "Surely you Shingami aren't that much of a pushover, show me what you've got or I'll leave here disappointed."

Her breathing is heavy as I see her puffing her chest. "BAKUDO 4 HAINAWA"

"What's this gibberish?" I ask but before I can finish a glowing rope wraps around my arms keeping me restrained. "AGH! WHAT IS THIS SORCERY!"

"It's called kido...you were foolish not to kill me when you had the chance."

"Dammit..." I squirm as my body is tied down by these ropes of energy.

She begins the incant another spell while she raises her palm flat. "Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of man!"

"Ungh...Ungh..." I can't move...I'm toast...

"Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your..." She pauses and averts her gaze. "Another hollow?"

Fishbone D!

"Grr...You wait here..." And so she flies away deep into the night.

"Come on let's go." I prop myself up and follow her reatsu. I'm getting a little better at this but it's still a difficult skill to master. It's almost like a faint aroma, the scent of Shinigami, the scent of souls. This is what reatsu feels like. It is the smell of your meal ahead.

A while later I hear the commotion of a nearby accident. I follow the sounds of smashing glass and rubble till I find them all, staged on the quiet street. My fellow comrade holds a young girl in his arms whilst two others challenge him. One of them is the female Shinigami from before, Rukia Kuchiki. However it is the other person that really grabs my attention.

It is the orange haired boy. He gives Fishbone D a vengeful look, and the hollow salivates – he wants the boy as his next snack.

My comrade has been hypnotised by the boy's amazing reatsu. What is it about him - other than his hair - that makes him so...unique...? Find out in the next chapter.