You know I hate these, I'll keep it brief. There's a Playlist on Youtube with tracks, in order, that correspond with the story. It's entirely optional, but I'll add notes where to start and stop the tracks. S at (time) will mean start a track at a specific time. S means start track || means stop the track. Playlist for chapter 15 is (add after the standard youtube adress) playlist?list=PL0EAF72BBFBBF642C .TRACKS ARE IN ORDER, PLAY IN ORDER.
Chapter 15
The Hollow and the Warrior Woman
S at 0:35
Ichigo approached his own home... and saw Kon asleep outside on the doorstep.
'...the hell?'
He kneeled down and tapped Kon on the shoulder.
The young man awoke in surprise, uttering something about giant hollows made of cottage cheese.
"What're you doing out here, Kon?" Ichigo asked.
"Your sisters didn't believe me and made me sleep outside." The soul reaper pouted.
"Wow, harsh. I'll explain everything." Ichigo got his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door.
As he went in, Kon stopped him.
"Where were you last night?"
"Where do you think? Orihime's house, obviously."
Kon's jaw dropped at the nonchalant response.
The blonde grabbed Ichigo's shoulder.
"Hold on there, you can't just go around forcing yourself on Orihime whenever you feel like it, god like being or not! That isn't right!"
"Please! I'm not forcing myself on her. We've only had sex twice! Well, if you count the boobjob, three times. All consensual."
Kon's jaw hit the ground.
"ONLY three times?"
"Yeah, only. Keep your mouth shut about it around the family. Dad would be stupid, poor Yuzu would be traumatized, and Karin... I don't know. Just keep it on the down low. Alright? Or I'll hurt you."
Kon nodded; the threat was very real now that he wasn't in Ichigo's body.
"It's not worth getting into his business anyway, too much trouble." A voice in his head argued.
He looked around for a source, but found none.
"We'll meet face to face later today, Kon. Right now get a move on."
Kon did as instructed.
The two entered on breakfast.
"Hey." Ichigo said, getting the attention of his sisters.
Yuzu stopped what she was making and ran over to Ichigo, embracing him.
"Big Brother, this stranger came here saying he was you for the last two years! He's a weirdo!"
"Who're you callin' weird, little miss Brother Complex!" Kon retorted.
"Now, now everyone calm down." Ichigo reasoned. "He has been playing me for the past two years or so. His name is Kon. Remember that stuffed animal you found in my room a couple of times, Yuzu? That was him. Well, before he became who he is now."
Yuzu was happy with this answer, for the moment at least, and returned to cooking, making preparations to cook more food to fit the new number of people.
Ichigo sat down at the table and sighed. It was good to be-
"Ichigo," Karin said in a low voice so Yuzu wouldn't hear. "You turned into one of those things... why did you look so human when you were here with Orihime?"
Ichigo winced at the term 'things'. "I found a way." Ichigo replied.
Meanwhie, Kon was trying to start a discussion with Nozomi.
"So? What do you think? Not bad for a Gigai, right?"
"You look like the same stupid pervert from before. Not an improvement."
Kon sighed, dejected.
"Hey now, Nozomi. You shouldn't be that mean to Kon; he did try to give his life to save you. I just stepped in because he ran out of power. This time, I put enough power into him to let him keep his soul Reaper powers for good." Ichigo said.
"Yeah! Give me some credit! At least stop calling me a stupid pervert! If anything Ichigo's the pervert here! He-!" Ichigo glared at Kon, who lowered his voice. "He's had sex with Orihime twice!"
Nozomi and Karin gave skeptical looks at Ichigo.
"Ichigo? Really? You're joking right, Kon?" Karin said.
"Well... it was consensual both times..." Ichigo muttered, blushing.
The table grew silent until Yuzu brought food over.
Ichigo began eating again... normally. He didn't feel the hunger he did in his gigai.
As he ate he looked over to Kon.
"Hey Kon, after this we need to head out somewhere. Meet a few old...friends of mine."
Kon shrugged his shoulders, clearly caring more about the food than Ichigo's words. "Whatever."
X
Ichigo saw the warehouse and slammed his forearm into the barrier around it.
Soon a familiar figure approached. She crossed her arms.
"Hey, it's baldy! And he brought a friend!" Said Hiyori.
The rest of the remaining Vizard soon appeared.. Hachi lowered the barrier and the two walked in.
Hiyori slapped Ichigo in the face with a sandal almost immediately.
"Yer' an idiot baldy! Now who's this guy?"
"Kon. According to my inner hollow, he's just like I was at one point."
Kon raised an eyebrow. "What? But I don't have a hollow."
"What did you asssume I was? Your sword? No. I am a hollow. Play along for a while. We need to meet face to face."
'O-okay...'
"You do," Ichigo said. "My hollow saw it when you were fighting Ginjou."
The Vizard then donned his glove and knocked Kon out of the Gigai, which retained Kon's form.
Ichigo grabbed Kon's body and the two entered the warehouse.
"He's about my level. Not quite. Better put him on the Stupid Trainer." Ichigo said.
"It's super, SUPER!" Yelled Hiyori.
"Whatever. You still have it, right?"
"Yeah, of course!" The blonde girl fetched the device.
Ichigo shoved Kon over to it. "Get on. Just keep running until you get tired out. This is to tell how much spirit pressure you have exactly. Depending on length, that's how we'll start. I skipped it mostly because of my power." Ichigo explained.
Then he took a small pill from his pocket and swallowed it. It was a freebie from Urahara, so Ichigo didn't know what he was getting.
"Hey, take my body over and watch Kon's."
The thing saluted. "Yes Sir, Ichigo!"
The Vizard groaned. Urahara definitely hated him; it was a Chappy model. IT was damn creepy to see him doing the eccentric motions of Chappy.
"You haven't seen it, have you?" Ichigo asked Hiyori. "My Perfect Hollow form."
"Do I care?"
S at 0:16
"Oh you should. Watch this. Soak the moon in blood." He transformed in a flash of black and red spirit energy.
"Impressed?"
"Not really."
"May I? It's been so long since we've seen one another I'm just dying to say hello." His hollow begged.
'Fine. Don't kill her though.'
Ichigo released control to his hollow.
"Hello. You remember me, right? The one who kicked your ass when Ichigo came here the first time"
Hiyori slowly unfolded her arms and looked up at "Ichigo".
"What..."
"Yeah, I'm his inner hollow. We've come to a working agreement here. I don't get out much, but more than I used to! OF course if I do somethin' he don't like I get pulled away from control. I just wanted to remind you it was me who kicked yer ass. This is what true hollowfications is, both of us sharing a body. Well, later ya little bitch." Ichigo was given control.
"That's what there is to my powers." Ichigo returned to Soul Reaper form and then to his body, hacking up Chappy.
||
X
Four days later, Kon had finally run dry.
Sweating and panting, he fell off the Super Trainer.
"I...Can't... run... any...further..."
"Good. Get your ass up, we're going on to the next part. You're gonna fight your hollow for control." Hiyori commanded.
Ichigo grabbed his arm and tossed Kon over his shoulder, carrying him to the underground area of the warehouse.
"H-Hey! What are you-!" Ichigo used the same Kido that was used to knock him out on Kon.
"So how're we gonna divide the time?" Asked Love.
"We aren't. I'm going alone. I'm the only one here who can keep up with him." Ichigo answered, once again swallowing Chappy.
Hachi, put up the barriers. This one's gonna be a tough one."
The massive man did so, binding and sealing the area around Kon. Ichigo entered through a hole and transformed.
"Alright, let's see what you've got."
X
S at 0:19
Kon looked up from the grassy ground.
Grassy? No more like overgrown streets. Towering over him for what seemed like eternity were skyscrapres, run down and overgrown with vines.
"So you finally arrived," Said a voice.
Kon stood up and turned to face a white version of him, with black hair and black sclera that were around blue irises.
"Greetings. I'm your inner hollow, formerly your fullbring. Tell me, Kon, what's the difference between a king and his horse? I don't mean childish answers either."
"That's a tough question, " Kon answered. "I know it's a metaphor, but for what?"
"Instinct. Killer Instinct. Something you severely lack, Kon. Your old ways of pacifism won't cut it on the battlefield. You have yet to kill a living being, the Regai excluded as what you did was destroy copies. When you first drew upon my power, you wanted the strength to protect those you cared about,"the hollow explained, "More specifically, Nozomi. Despite all her insults, you harbor feelings for her, one sided feelings. You're a fool, Kon. Grow up! You cannot keep thinking that killing is bad. It is a necessary evil, a system of checks and balances. IF you don't want Nozomi to get hurt, you should kill for her. DO not let our strength go to waste in cowardice! Right now I'm playing horse to a merciful king, a pushover! He has yet to truly face war! I want you to be prepared. Therefore, I shall train you here. One moment while I address your comrades."
X
"Cease your attacks for a moment and lend me your ears." The hollow requested. "I wish to train Kon myself. However, our body will go berzerk in the mean time. I trust you, Ichigo Kurosaki, to keep us safe. Give us three days. IN three days I shall mold my King into a warlord. Will you accept my terms?"
"Yeah. Just hurry up."
"Thank you."
X
"What was that?" Kon asked.
"I just spoke with Ichigo. He said he'd keep our body busy while we trained."
"Wait.. trained? What about keeping my body busy?"
"You will hollowfy while we fight. Ichigo will keep it at bay. This is an instinct even I can't control."
"Wait.. what happened to my Zanpakto? Why aren't they here?"
"I am the current dominant power. I can speparate her from me if you wish, but she's kind of a bitch."
"Wait.. her? My sword's female?"
"Yes. Like I said, she's a bitch. I trapped her so I wouldn't have to listen to her bitch about everything. That, and she's bloodthirsty."
"..."
"I thought so. Either way, you're getting the same powers. Let's begin, we have no time to waste."
X
Meanwhile back in Soul Society, they seem to have developed a tendency to get their heads shoved up there asses, because they were, once again, in peril.
This time, from a rouge Zanpakto named Muramasa.
Rukia had been saved by Urahara, seeing as the other Shinigami were...busy.
He had sent Nozomi and Orihime to the Vizards' hideout.
Orihime disrupted the barrier and the two entered the warehouse.
X
S at 1:21
"Stop blocking! You won't ever get better if you just block! You need to get the will to cut your enemies!" Kon's hollow yelled as he continued to strike at the Mod Soul Reaper.
"I'm trying! It's not like I'm Ichigo!"
"That's the point! At least he caught on quicker than you! You haven't fought the same amount of grueling battles he has, so you need to be trained properly!"
Kon raised his sword. "Getsuga..."
His hollow sighed. "Foolish." The hollow immitated the gesture.
"TENSHO!"
"Idiot."
The two blasts collided.
His hollow raised his blade to shoulder level.
"We're taking it up a notch. Bankai."
Kon did the same and they went at it again.
His hollow raised an eyebrow when he was cut.
"Now we're getting somewhere! But this isn't enough. Time to fuck with your head a bit."
Kon's vision blurred and an image Nozomi, bound, appeared.
"You've failed," a voice said.
Kon looked to his right and saw Inaba.
"What..how? Ichigo killed you!"
"He failed. Now watch as I take care of a useless being. Without her power she's nothing!" The imaginary Inaba moved to behead Nozomi.
Something finally clicked in Kon's head.
'Instinct.'
Kon charged with a war cry and impaled Inaba with his sword.
The illusion faded and he found his Hollow on the end of the blade.
"Very...good. You've found your killer instinct. Now all you have to do is master your mask. The Vizard will aid you in that. Until we meet again."
His hollow faded into spirit particles and Kon was thrust back into control.
X
In the real world, Nozomi and Orihime had just arrived underground.
"Um...hello?" Voiced Orihime.
Lisa looked over to them.
"You again? It's dangerous! We have two hollowfied Vizard going at it in that barrier!"
Nozomi was frozen, looking at the two beings.
One had long dirty blonde hair and a mask. It charged a Cero, which Ichigo deflected with his own.
"...Kon?" She was trembling.
Then the Hollowfied Kon's skin cracked and shattered, revealing Kon in Bankai, who fell to the ground, face down.
Inside the box of energy, Ichigo changed back to Soul Reaper form.
"You good, Kon?"
Kon gave a weak thumbs up. "Never better."
Ichigo turned to Hachi and nodded. The Vizard lowered the barrier.
Ichigo noticed Orihime and a terrified Nozomi. He winced.
"Come on over you two. What's up?"
Orihime explained the situation to Ichigo.
"What're you coming to me for? Not my problem if they can't keep up with their sword spirits."
"Ichigo! They're our-!"
"Orihime, I already said whether I help them or not is my discretion. Besides, we need to teach Kon how to use his mask effectively."
"But-!"
"No buts. I'm not going to help them, and that's final."
"Wow, baldy you've turned into an asshole." Hiyori commented.
"Shut up, midget. I don't need your imput."
"Who you callin' a midget?"
Ichigo ignored the small Vizard.
"Please help them, Ichigo! For me?" Orihime asked with pleading eyes.
Ichigo sighed. "That's not fair, Orihime..."
Her eyes changed to big puppy dog eyes.
"Alright, fine! I'll send Kon."
The newborn Vizard looked up. "What?"
"You're going to aid in the quelling of the Zanpakto Rebellion in Soul Society. After we get you used to your mask. Try summoning it. Like this," Ichigo ripped his hand in front of his face and summoned his Vasto Lorde mask.
"See? Not that hard. Holding it is the part you need to work on. Just summon it and forget about it. Thinking about timing makes it vanish due to your will."Ichigo explained, dissmissing his mask.
Kon put his hand in front of his face and tried it.
He felt the power flow into him.
"Woah! This is insane!"
"I know right? Now get ready, here I come!" Ichigo charged Kon, who swiftly blocked.
Nozomi sat down on the sidelines.
"We need to leave, Nozomi. We should tell Urahara that Kon's going to help!"
"No. I'm staying."
"Like hell ya are!" Fumed Hiyori, stomping over to Nozomi.
Then something appeared in front of her.
"Touch Nozomi and die." Kon growled. "She can stay if she wants. Got it? I may not be as tough as Ichigo, but I'm pretty damn close."
"Get outta the way, blondie. Ya don't scare me."
"Really?" Kon swiftly grabbed Hiyori by her throat and held her off the ground. "That's funny. I should. She's special to me, even if I'm the only one who feels that way."
Kon tossed Hiyory away about 30 feet.
He slid his mask to the right and looked back at Nozomi. "I don't mind you sticking around, just keep your head down, because between me and Ichigo, it's gonna get messy. Understand?"
"Of course, idiot." She said not looking him in the eyes.
"Alright then." Kon slid his mask back into place and reengaged Ichigo.
X
Later that day, Orihime returned.
"Ichigo! Kon! Rukia's gone!"
The two both looked up.
"What! That idiot! Why is it that short seems to equal stupid!" Ichigo growled.
Ichigo was promptly hit by a sandal flying at roughly the speed of a professional baseball pitch.
"Shut up, Baldy!"
"So she went back to Soul Society?" Kon said under his mask.
He'd managed to maintain it a whopping 5 minutes on his first day.
This was largely due to the fact his Inner Hollow was doing what he could to keep it on as well.
"Then you'd better go. Remember, you can only hold your mask half of what I could. Use it sparingly." Ichigo informed.
Kon discarded his mask. "Right."
As he ran for the stairs he was stopped by Nozomi.
"Come back in one piece, Idiot."
"I planned on it." Kon replied with a goofy smile.
'She's concerned!' Kon though full of hope.
X
S
"So hear you've been training, Kon! How long can you hold it?" Urahara greeted.
"Five minutes, even." Kon replied.
"Impressive!"
"But it's still kind of shaky; if I focus too hard, it dissipates, if I don't focus enough, it dissipates."
"I see. Well, Youroichi here will take you to Soul Society. Good luck, Kon!"
The two left for soul society together.
X
Kon arrived on the scene just to stop an attack from Rukia' rogue sword, Sode no Shirayuki.
S at 0:03
"Hey, sis'. How's it going?"
"...Kon?"
"Yeah. Sorry I'm late. I've been... training."
"Be careful, she's strong."
"Well, she is your Zanpakto after all." Kon said before vanishing into a flash step.
Sode launched several ice shards at Kon, who dodged again.
The Zanpakto then fired a crescent of Ice at Kon.
Once again, the move missed.
'Man, this is probably a lot of money in porperty damage.' Kon thought abesentmindedly.
Kon and Sode had a staredown for a moment before the Sword Spirit asked:
"What are you doing?"
No answer.
"I see..."
In reality Kon was busy concentrating. trying to locate his Inner Hollow, to no avail.
"So you are holding back because you think I am Rukia Kuchki's Zanpakto. You'll soon regret it."
The being summoned her sword likeness, in Shikai.
"Some no Mai... Tsukishiro!"
An ice blue circle appeared under Kon's feet.
"Shit!" Ice began growing up his left leg.
Kon smashed it and flash stepped away.
Sode appeared behind him and Kon barely blocked her strike in time.
The spirit smirked as Kon's blade began to freeze in ice, heading to his hand.
Kon backed away and smashed the ice.
"Dammit!"
Then Sode appeared in front of him and let out a chilling breath that turned into a miniature blizzard, sending Kon to the ground and freezing part of his face.
"Kon..." Rukia addressed.
"Did you come to Soul Society to protect Rukia?" asked Sode.
"What if I did?" Kon asked smugly.
"How foolish."
"Oh really?" Kon smashed the ice on his face and blood triclked down.
He placed his left hand on his right forarm and began charging an Aoi Getsuga.
"What will you do with that? Your arm's frozen over." Sode pointed out.
She was right; Kon couldn't even feel his right arm
"So what?"
The spirit raised her sword.
"You're a fool. I"ll finish this-!"
Rukia stopped her sword's blade with her own.
"Rukia..." Kon murmured in surprise.
After an epic speech and an even more epic attack, Rukia hit the ground, alongside the spirit of her sword.
"Do you intend to die here?" A voice asked.
Kon looked over and saw a rather flamboyant man in white clothes holding a sword.
"Who're you?" Kon asked.
"I am Muramasa. I have come to free all the Zanpakto from their Soul Reapers."
"Free them from...?" Kon's eyes widened. He was dangerous.
"You have come to stop me I assume?"
"Yeah. What're you gonna do about it?" Kon asked, his arm losing its numbness.
"I see. That's how it is. Very well. Come at me."
Kon attacked the man swiftly but the man blocked all his strikes with ease.
Eventually, they moved deeper into the city, the identical alleys surrounding them.
"AOI...GETSUGA!" The attack was stopped easily by Muramasa.
Then things got weird. Kon felt the world start to liquify around him and he stumbled before falling to the ground.
Muramasa floated over him, his right hand reaching out.
"Rip the moon."
Kon screamed in agony as his Zanpakto spirit was pulled from his body.
He momentarily blacked out, waking again to a woman in her early thirties dressed in a hide tank top, hide skirt that went to her knees and was split on the right side to the top of her thigh, and grey wolf pelts over those. She had black hair that went down to the small of her back and a grey cloth tied around her head covering her left eye. Her other eye was a deep navy blue. In her right hand... was Zainengetusu in shikai form.
"What..." Kon managed from his spot in a small crater on the ground, now in Shikai as well. "You must be.. Zainengetsu."
"That's right! You've been speaking to that hollow of yours more than me. I don't like it. On top of that, you've just barely grasped your killer instinct! It's pathetic! No, you're pathetic!"
Kon looked to his right. "He was right, you are a bitch."
"What was that? Just one more reason to crush your skull!"
Kon slowly rose and readied his sword. The two engaged in combat.
"So what you're saying is you hate me because I"m new at this thing? Really? Cut me some slack, I've been a pacifist for, like, ever!"
"Shut up you bumbling fool! Honestly, you're putting the safetly of that girl before your own power! It's sad!" Zainengetsu swung her blade down and launched Kon through a wall.
"Kon... you can't handle her in combat yet. I'm transforming us."
'What? What do you mean-!' Everything went black.
"Take a nap, Kon. I'll deal with her."
S
A mask had formed over the left side of Kon's face, the number of lines having multiplied since last time.
"You're heartless, you know that? You know Kon isn't ready to fight you yet." A deep, gruff, watery voice said.
"So it's you, Crossbones. I wondered when you'd show up to save that wimp." Zainengetsu said with a smirk.
"You don't give Kon enough credit. He's trying and did very well. He can use my mask for 5 seconds after only a few hours of training."
"With your help! Face it, he's nothing but a weakling! A tree hugger who's afraid to kill anything!"
"You want a fight? Fine." Crossbones charged at Zainengetsu and grabbed her face, launching her through a few walls and onto an open pathway.
"You think that can stop me? You're just lucky he hasn't been trying to use me as our source of power! Getsuga Tensho!"
"Aoi Getsuga."
The two attacks collided. Then Zainengetsu landed a cut to Crossbones' chest... which healed.
"Instant Regeneration? I didn't know you could do that yet."
"Even I keep my secrets."
"That's fine," She said as she carved a deep gash into Kon's chest and shoulder. "I'll cut you until you can't fight."
Crossbones went into spasms of pain before calming and rising.
His left arm was now hollowfied.
"Interesting, " commented Muramasa.
S
"Idiot. You're only screwing yourself over. Once I fully hollowfy, you won't stand a chance. I'll beat you down and let Kon finish the job."
Then a giant worm like creature burst from Kon's chest, attacking Zainengetsu.
"What the hell? Getsuga Tensho!" She destroyed it.
Then a black and blue aura surrounded Kon.
When it faded a large hollow stood in his place.
It was strikingly similar to Ichigo's first hollow form, but the markings on his body were light blue and the fur around his wrists and ankles were the same color.
The two entered a swift combat, each blocking the other's strike, leading to the Hollow landing a hit on Zaningetsu.
Blood sprayed out of the wound on her shoulder as she put distance between them.
"Cero." the hollowfied Kon fired a beam of red energy, which Zainengetsu tried- and failed- to counter with a getsuga tensho.
"Shit!"
Muramasa then slashed Crossbones' back, which healed over instantly.
"Not a good idea, Zanpakto."
The hollow struck back, sending Muramasa back a few feet.
'Hey. Mind if I fight for a bit? I'm kind of bored in here.'
'Are you certain? I am unsure what will happen when I relinquish control.'
'Yeah. Don't make me force it.'
'Very well.'
The mask shattered, along with the hollow form and Kon passed out.
X
Inside his mind, Muramasa appeared.
"How did you get in here?" Kon demanded, brandishing his blade.
S
"It is within my power." Muramasa replied. "Now stay out of my way."
Kon felt himself restricted by an invisible force.
A black cloth appeared from the ground and then dissolved to reveal Crossbones.
"What do you want, Zanpakto?"
"Why do you ally with him? Aren't you hollow and he soul reaper?"
"It goes back further than that. I wasn't always 'his' anything."
"So, the question is, would you like to join me?"
"What can you offer me that I do not have here?"
"Freedom. A chance to do as you wish, instead of being a slave to this Soul Reaper."
"...Alright. I"ll bite the hook."
'No...' Kon growled inwardly.
Muramasa opened his hand... and Crossbones vanished.
X
He reappeared in the outer world behind Muramasa in his Hollow form.
Then he started charging a Cero... right at Muramasa's head.
S
Zainengetsu swiftly removed his arm with her sword.
"Not a problem." he vanished and reappeared along side Kon. His shoulder twitched and a new arm grew.
He flexed his hand and Kon rose.
"What...?"
"I figured it would be better if it were two versus two instead of one versus two, don't you agree, King?"
"Yeah... wait did you just call me King?"
"Is there a problem?"
"No, it's just...new. I'll take Zainengetsu. You keep Muramasa off of me."
"Right."
The two vanished in blurs and engauged their opponents.
Kon somehow managed to keep up with his sword's spirit.
"Not bad, kid! But you can't win as you are now! Bankai!"
She vanished in a flash.. and was replaced by a teenager, about sixteen.
She's gotten a little shorter and her hair was done up in a ponytail.
She wore a solid black bodysuit and the jacket and slacks Kon wore in Bankai.
That, and her breasts were smaller.
"Hey! What're you staring at?"
The sharp, violent voice reminded Kon of Hiyori a little.
"You got younger."
"Of course! Bankai reduces the size of my sword! You know what it does to my speed too...right?"
She vanished and appeared behind Kon, who barely blocked a strike.
Thankfully, he had a trick up his sleeve, one Rukia had taught him during the Regai incident...
"Hado Number 31! Shokkaho!"
The Zanpakto spirit's eyes grew wide as the red ball of energy exploded in her face.
She was launched back about ten feet. Kon decided to go for one of the tricker ones he'd learned.
"Bakudo Number 61! Rikujōkōrō!"
Six rods of light slammed into Kyoshoku Zaningetsu's midsection.
"What the hell?" She struggled against them.
"Dont' bother. I pumped so much energy into them, you'll never get out."
Crossbones slid next to Kon, breaking from his battle.
"Behead her! You will be victorious and she'll return to you! I'll come back and see what I can do to keep her quiet. When I do, hollowfy and finish him off!"
Kon walked up to the girl and raised his sword to her neck level.
"W-wait! You wouldn't hurt a girl, would you?"
"Maybe not before. But you're the enemy. And your name is savage moon fang."
When his blade met her neck, she turned to particles and then a broken Kyoshoku Zaningetsu sat on the ground.
Kon reached down and it dissolved into his blade. He entered Bankai and Crossbones transformed into a black and blue blur of energy before reforming into Kon's mask, which he donned.
"Aoi Getsuga."
The massive blast tore along the path right toward Muramasa... who deflected it. However, his arms were burnt; he was wounded.
The Zanpakto frowned and vanished in a blur.
Kon's mask dissapated. "Dammit! What does it take?"
"Ha! I knew you couldn't beat him!"
"Silence, girl, before I absorb you back into my being."
"Kon wouldn't let you do that, right?"
'IF you got annoying enough I might.'
"Hmph. Fine, I'll just leave."
'Wha!'
A light came out of his sword and formed Kyoshoku Zaningetsu.
"Why can you still exit my body?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "Beats me."
Then a black energy flew out of him.
"I'll keep her in line," Crossbones informed. "Just keep the other soul reapers from attacking me."
"R-right..." Kon sighed. This was way past awkward.
X
S
"So what you're telling us," Toshiro began, "Is that she is your Sword, and that your hollow is harmless?"
"In a nutshell, yeah."
The hollow bowed, an odd motion. "I agree to aid the situation in any way possible.. .and to keep her in check. Unlike Ichigo's hollow, I'm the rational one of the two of us."
He grabbed the girl, who was getting very close to Toshiro and pulled her away.
"Stop trying to flirt with the Captain. It is undigified."
"You're boooooring."
"Kon would you please release your Bankai so I don't have to deal with this brat?"
Kon returned to Shikai and the teenager changed, in a puff of smoke, into her older self.
Crossbones released her.
"Very well. You have our trust, for now, Hollow."
"He has a name, you know." Kon interjected.
"Really?"
"Yes. My name is Crossbones, based on the design of the emblem on the Combat Pass, the affinity item of Kon's fullbring."
"I see. Well, you said you had information on how to get our zanpakto back?"
"When I faked fealty to him, I felt his power. It manipulates the instinct in a Zanpakto, allowing him control over it. The only way to get your powers back is by defeating your sword in combat. However, did Abarai not mention he used his power before he defeated them, activating Shikai?"
S
"Yeah, I used it before. Wonder how?"
"Yeah, I wonder how an idiot like you used Shikai without our say so?" Taunted Snakey.
"Why you brat! Come here!"
They circled the room a few times before Crossbones grabbed them both.
"ENOUGH! It's bad enough having one Zaningetsu around, let alone another one! You're giving me a headache, and when I get headaches, the source gets wounded in some way, and I don't even remember it." Crossbones growled.
"R-right...SOrry." The two answered meekly.
The hollow dropped them to the floor.
"So what're we gonna do about this? Stand around doing nothing?" Demanded Zaningetsu.
Crossbones elbowed her and shook his head.
"Here's the plan," Started Toshiro.
X
Later that night, a guard had been attacked, and Zanpakto had been sensed.
Kon looked at the wall.
S
"Are you sure this is a good idea Zaningetsu?"
"It's fine! Just do it!"
Kon sighed and kicked the wall in front of him.
The piece slammed into the Lieutenant of Squad 2, Omaeda.
"Oops..."
"It's fine, nobody will care." Said Ikkaku.
"R-right..."
Zaningetsu was in hysterics over the incident, while Crossbones just sighed.
"Can it, old lady. We've got a job to do."
Zaningetsu put on an evil grin. "What did you just call me, squirt?"
"Uh..."
"I SAID ENOUGH!" Crossbones grabbed them both by the neck. "Stop your tomfoolery and get your heads on straight! We have a mission to do! We can't let the Zanpakto get away! Now quit bickering like children and get a move on!"
He dropped them both, and they gasped for air.
Crossbones walked through the hole.
"You're a Zanpakto." He said flatly to the overweight being in front of him.
"Yeah. What're you?"
"Inner Hollow. The most sane out of the three of us, that is my Soul Reaper, his Zanpakto, and myself. What's your name?"
"Gegetsuburi. What about you?"
"Crossbones. We can do this one of two ways: You can give up now and return to your owner, who I assume is lying beneath that chunk of wall, or I can pulverize you. Which do you prefer?"
S
"Neither! I'm gonna kick your ass! Crush em'!"
A ball and chain appeared and was swung at Crossbones, who caught it and sighed.
"This is stupid. You aren't even worth fighting really. What kind of no good Soul Reaper do you belong to?"
"H-Hey! I'm right here!" Said Omaeda.
Crossbones looked over to the overweight man. "Figures. SO what is he, fifth seat?"
"I'm a Lieutenant! Show some respect!"
"That's difficult to do given your appearance and your joke of a sword. Are you going to defeat it while I have it held down or what?"
"I don't need your help! I can beat him alone, thank you!"
"Alright." Crossbones released the mace. "Play nice you two. I'll go tell Kon and the lot that you're fine. Alone."
Kon appeared from the wall, and looked in the direction Ikkaku had run; he was in combat with a large dark skinned man.
'His Zanpakto,' Kon asssumed.
Then his face ate tile as Zaningetsu shoved him out of the way.
"Geez what were you doing there, growing roots, squirt?"
"Stop calling me that! I"m a Soul Reaper, you know!"
"A louzy one. The only fight you've had has been the one with me!"
"What did I JUST say?"
"Sorry..." the two replied.
"Come. We must see if we can aid Ikkaku. Feel is Spritual Pressure? It's dropping."
The three set of in that direction.
When they arrived, the two combatants had been surrounded by the Steal Force.
Then the rouge Zanpakto made a run for it.
"Hey, hold it!" Yelled Kon as he gave chase.
Crossbones sighed. "Out of all the soul reapers out there I get the one who's almost as dumb as Ichigo. Why me?"
X
S
"Scatter."
Kon's eyes widened and he turned around.
"Bankai!" He slashed away the blades and turned to face Senbonzakura.
Then he looked behind Senbonzakura.
On a tower nearby... was Byakuya.
The Captain flash-stepped away.
X
S
Meanwhile, Crossbones had requested the aid of Soi-Fon in tying up Zaningetsu in her Bankai form.
"Thank you. She is extremely annoying to keep track of. This makes it easier."
"Right...who are you again?" Soi Fon said, eyeing him supiciously.
"I am the Inner Hollow of Kon, former mod soul and current soul reaper. I was the one who gave information on Muramasa's technique and I have pledged my aid to you Soul Reapers. I know you; you hate Ichigo. I was part of him for almost all of his life, after all as his fullbring."
"I see...I"m watching you, Hollow." She replied.
"As expected from you."
X
S at 0:26
A group of Gillian hollows vanished.
"Not what I need." Muramasa commented.
He walked a little more before being attacked by another hollow.
He swiftly dispatched it as well.
"Not that either."
Then he was confronted by a hollow with two mismatched horns.
The Zanpakto smiled.
"Ah, there we go."
X
END CHAPTER 15
Byakuya a traitor?
Muramasa in the Menos Forest?
Kon met his Zanpakto and his Hollow face to face, and discovered the three of them get along about as well as two rabid squirrels.
How as the Soundtrack?
Fitting?
Too complex?
Good?
Shit?
LET ME KNOW IN REVIEWS! I LIKE THEM! THEY LET ME KNOW YOU'RE READING AND WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED!