Chapter 16
Return of the Orange Haired Devil
"How long are you gonna run away?" Suzumibachi yelled, and dove for the final blow..
But was swatted away by a white hand.
"As long as she damn well pleases. Hey," Ichigo grinned under his mask. "Soi Fon."
"Kurosaki... What are you doing here?"
"Well, Orihime kept asking me to come help out, so I finally gave in." He looked away and added, "and she pulled the 'I won't have sex with you for a month' card."
"..." Soi Fon was speechless.
Ichigo spun around and batted Suzumibachi again.
"Stop doing that! That isn't fair!" the Zanpakto complained.
"Yeah, well neither is your cheap ass two strike kill ability either, but you don't hear me complaining." Ichigo countered.
"Shut up!" Suzumibachi slipped past Ichigo and landed a blow to his lower back.
"Shit!" He spun around and slapped at the fairy again. "STAND STILL YOU LITTLE PEST! OF all the times to not have bug spray..."
"Why are you helping me?"
"I explained that already. Shut your mouth and let me do what I came here to do!" Ichigo retorted.
"How DARE you command me! I-!" She brought her sword down, stopping Suzumibachi from striking Ichigo, but cutting him at the same time, earning a roar.
"What was that for?"
"I just saved your life! Be grateful you beast!"
"Hey, who're you calling a beast!" Ichigo fired a low power Cero that nearly took off Soi Fon's head, but scared off Suzumibachi.
"You, you mangy animal! You almost killed me!"
"I was stopping your crazed sword!"
"Shut up, animal!" She slashed at the flying fairy and missed, cleaving Ichigo's left arm off.
"SONOVABITCH! That hurt you know!" His regeneration kicked in and a new arm sprouted, and he used that arm to grab the fairy out of the air.
"What the-?"
"Stand still! We're busy growing closer and closer to kill each other here!"
Suzumibachi struggled in his grip. "Let me go you stupid ginger bastard!"
Ichigo snapped.
"What did you call me?" He started squeezing the fairy harder, intent on crushing her.
She gasped for air before being cut in half... along with Ichigo's hand.
"GOD DAMMIT! Do you know how much Reiatsu it takes to regenerate this shit?" He grew a new half a hand, flexing the fingers.
"I don't' give a damn! IT grows back, doesn't it!"
"Now now, you two. There's more fighting to be done. For you anyways, Ichigo. You look like you've had it rough, Soi Fon."
Soi Fon's expression changed to one of admiration and awe with a blush as she looked at her mentor.
"Lady Yorouichi!"
Ichigo sighed and stretched his arm.
"Whatever. Go swoon over your precious 'Lady Yorouichi' elsewhere. I have work to do, namely-!"
A pillar of yellow energy appeared on the horizon.
"Oh shit," said Ichigo.
Kenpachi had arrived.
Kon was fighting Senbonzakura when this happened.
The soul reaper visibly jumped at the sight of the crazed soul Reaper, who was letting out a laugh that would put Ichigo's hollow to shame.
He went for Byakuya, who was also on the scene, but Senbonzakura attacked the captain with his Bankai.
This was a bad idea.
Kenpachi removed his eyepatch and everyone nearby was sent hurtling backwards.
The two engaged in combat, and Kon watched, wide eyed.
X
Ichigo headed in that direction, along side Yorouichi and Soi Fon.
Then a familiar figure appeared in front of them, silhouetted by the moonlight.
"...Kon?" Ichigo asked. "Is that you?"
"No, I am his inner hollow, Crossbones. Ichigo, you have missed quite a bit. Let me fill you in."
Crossbones explained the situation to the best of his abilities.
"I see..." Ichigo said, arms crossed. "I have someone who wants a word with you."
"I can guess who..." the hollow replied.
"That's right, ya bastard," growled Ichigo's Hollow, now in control. "Yer' a sneaky bastard, I'll give ya that, but don't get cocky or try any of that holier than thou shit! You got a shit ton of nerve defyin' me like that."
"I was not willing to be trampled under your feet, horse." Crossbones explained, insulting the Hollow.
"You BASTARD! I'll-!" Ichigo reclaimed control.
"You'll bla bla bla shut up. Your voice is pissing me off." Ichigo said. "Thanks for the info. I'll be careful. Who knows what'll happen if that bastard takes over again..."
"Do not mention it. I owe you my existence, as well as my chance to evolve to my level."
"Which is...?"
"Currently Adhudjas."
Ichigo once again thanked the Hollow and vanished into sonido.
Senbonzakura was once again in combat with Kon, who was fending him off.
"Hado 90. Kurohitsugi. " A violet box appeared around Senbonzakura who dodged.
"Bakkudo 63. Sajo Subaku." The chains bound the Zanpakto.
"Bakkudo 9. Horin." The Zanpakto was flung to the ground.
Ichigo was mentally strained; he'd had Urahara and Tessai teach him some more Kido, but damn was it hard to do without it blowing up in your face.
He held the energy rope in his right hand.
"Yee haw."
Kon looked up at him. "Woah Ichigo! I had no idea you knew all those Kido!"
"Urahara. Tessai. Fast growth rate. You know, how I usually get new powers." Ichigo curtly explained. "Judging from the flower petals, that's gotta be Senbonzakura. Kenpachi's after Byakuya right now, so-!"
The sword shattered his bonds.
"Dammit, I lost focus."
The aforementioned petals of doom sped at Ichigo.
Then Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō appeared.
"Oh god..." Ichigo said. 'We good against this?'
'Hell if I know, King. That crazy scientist might have something we're susceptible to.' his hollow replied.
'Perfect. Maybe if we stay above ground lev-!'
He was swatted to the ground, into the purple gas.
His reaction was extremely violent compared to everyone else's.
HE went into spasms and a burning sensation filled his body. He felt like ants were burrowing out of his body from the blood vessels.
HE roared in agony and clawed at his own skin. His instant regeneration didn't kick in.
Eventually the smoke cleared and he settled, bleeding from various cuts on his body.
His breathing was heavy, as if something was suffocating him.
"Ohhh, that must've been some nasty shit he put in his sword. Well, for hollows anyway.'
'Shut... the fuck...up...'
Kenpachi had managed to get back up earlier and had caught the misfit Zanpakto, which then detonated, curtsey of Mayuri.
The same scientist first delivered a rather nasty shot to Kon, which actually helped him.
Then Unohana arrived, along with some Squad 4 members. They had already gotten an antidote to the cure and, noting Ichigo's position, hurried to administer it to the Vizard.
Ichigo gasped for breath as his system was cleared of the poison.
"What the hell did you put in that stuff?" Ichigo growled.
"Plenty of anti- hollow ingredients, which is why you took it worse than the rest of these imbeciles." The mad scientist replied matter-of-factly. "On that note, would you mind if-!"
"No. Whatever your question is, no. Just no."
Ichigo noted his instant regeneration had kicked in and healed the scratches on his body.
Mayuri muttered something about not caring about science and walked off.
Ichigo went to check on Kon... but was stopped when Kenpachi charged at him, forcing him to draw his blade, now in Shikai form on his back.
"Dammit Kenpachi! Now is NOT a good time to be infighting!"
"Shut up, Ichigo and have some fun! Remember back in Los Noches! Let's have some fun like that! Kon can deal with the trash!"
"Hey!" the mod soul complained.
"You're not bad, but Ichigo's still the most fun to fight!"
"I'm not sure whether I should be flattered or scared," said Ichigo, pushing the man back.
"Come on! Release your Bankai!"
"No! I dont' need to use it! IT doesn't affect my hollow powers!" Ichigo lowered his horns. "CERO!"
Kenpachi took the attack head on... and nothing happened.
"Good GOD what are you made of?" Ichigo asked in surprise and rage.
"Tougher stuff than you I bet."
Kenpachi slashed Ichigo down his right side.
The wound healed instantly.
"Look, Kenpachi, you can cut me all day, but it'll just heal or regrow. Eventually you'll get tired and pass out. Eventually." He didn't know how long 'eventually' would be though.
"I'll just take your head off! Let's see you regrow that!" Kenpachi took a swing at Ichigo's neck, which Ichigo blocked with his blade easily.
"Kenpachi. Look. I'm an evolved being. You are not. You can't beat me, no matter what, and I don't plan on killing you. Calm down for once, maybe find a girl or something. I did, never been better." Ichigo reasoned.
"Who cares if I win or not! It's just fun fighting! Don't you agree?"
"Maybe if the opponent doesn't just keep slashing at you," Ichigo grabbed Kenpachi's sword mid swing. "and uses some tactics." He ripped the blade from Kenpachi's grasp. "But you? It'd be more fun cleaning house all day than fighting you." He took the blade and tossed it aside. "See?"
Kenpachi's eyes were wide, before settling back into his crazed grin. He tore off his eyepatch and punched Ichigo in the jaw.
"OW! You sonnovabitch!" Kenpachi grabbed Ichigo by the neck and ran forward, digging his face into the ground for a while before tossing him into the air.
"Well that was different. You know what you really need to do? Learn your sword's name. It may be constant release, but I think I might be able to have a little fun if you learned Bankai." Ichigo said with a sigh.
"What in Hueco Mundo is going on over here?" Crossbones asked as he appeared.
"Kenpachi thinks he can use me for a punching bag and have fun. Seriously, he's gotten boring since I ascended."
Kenpachi frowned. "The only one here boring is you because you won't fight!"
"Tell you what, learn Bankai and I'll come here and fight you whenever you damn well please; if you're this strong now, you'll probably be about my level when you hit bankai. Until then, kindly take your psychopathic tendencies and shove them up your ass." Ichigo vanished in Sonido.
"The fuck...?" Kenpachi said, confused at what just happened. Then, he got his old grin back, heading back to his barracks. Yachiru jumped on his shoulder. "Where are we going, Kenny?"
"I'm gonna have a nice long talk with my sword."
They had found the Captain Commander.
Well, that was what Yorouichi said anyway.
Shunsui, Ukitake, Kenpachi, Yachiru, Crossbones, Kon and Yorouichi were going to rescue the Captain Commander.
Ichigo had declared the situation "helped" and went back to the mortal world, not wishing to confront Yamamoto again.
That, and he downright did NOT trust the Chappy model Artificial Soul.
So, the group had entered the cave system, splitting up.
Kon and Yorouichi had teamed up, and gone down a water filled path.
"Hey, Yorouichi?"
"What's up?"
"Do you know why Byakuya might be working with the Zanpakto?"
"Sorry, I can't say I know."
"That's a supr-WOAH!" Kon lost his balance and hit the water.
Then Yorouichi was attacked by two of the Zanpakto, Haineko and Tobiume.
Kon, never a strong swimmer, grasped to a stalagmite.
"Yorouichi!"
"Go on ahead! Do whatever you want after we save the Captain Commander! Understand?"
"Right!" He flash stepped out off of the stalagmite and began moving deeper into the cave.
Eventually he came upon a pyramidal barrier with the captain commander Inside.
Kon ran over and smacked the barrier with his sword, resulting in him getting burned.
Yorouichi was holding her own until one of the two managed a cheap shot.
She created a platform on the air and stood hunched, panting from the fiery attack.
"Looks like that's it for you! Did I ever tell you that jacket is horrendous?" Taunted Haineko.
"CERO!" the red blast nicked the cat girl in the shoulder.
Crossbones sonido'd to Yorouichi's side.
"I am here. I have your back on this. Seems like I have a habit of evening odds." The hollow muttered.
"How did you find me?"
"Sensed your spirit pressure. They both seem about as bad as Zaningetsu. You take your pick."
Yorouichi flash stepped over to Tobiume.
"Looks like I have to fight this one." He sonido'd over to Haineko.
"What're you supposed to be?"
"Inner hollow. You're a Zanpakto. Like Muramasa."
"You don't scare me! You can't even hit me once!"
The hollow vanished in sonido and appeared behind Haineko.
"You know what they say," he charged a Cero. "There's more than one way to skin a cat!"
Kon charged a Getsuga, now in Bankai.
Unfortunately, he couldn't hollowfy or use Aoi Getsuga, as they were both techniques his hollow, who was separate from him, allowed.
"GETSUGA TEN-!" He stopped the attack to block a blow from Muramasa.
"I don't think so, Soul Reaper."
Yorouichi noticed this, as did Crossbones.
"He's engaged Muramasa. We've been played for fools! Yorouichi! Let's-!"
The tunnel became blocked by the attack of Tobiume.
"We need to reach Kon!"
"Yes! He cannot hollowfy with me here, nor use Aoi Getsuga!" He stood in a combat stance facing straight ahead, spreading his legs for balance. "Stay back."
He opened his mouth and a red ball of energy formed in front of his face, growing to the size of a basketball.
"CERO!"
The blast cleared the way and the two rushed ahead.
Kon clashed with the rampant sword spirit again.
He was barely a match when he had his hollowfication, let alone now!
'Kon! Yorouichi and I are headed your way! I'll rejoin you when we get there so you can hollowfy!' Crossbones told him telepathically.
"It's about time you overgrown lizard!" Growled Zaningetsu.
The two beings burst onto the scene shortly after and Crossbones flared into black and blue energy, forming Kon's hollow mask.
"Alright! Let's kick some ass!" exclaimed Kon, ready to fight.
"Come then, let's see it." Muramasa taunted.
Kon took a stance and began charging the attack.
"You want it? You can have it!"
"Wait. Something's off."
"GETSUGA-"
"Wait... NO NO KON DON'T!"
"TENSHO!"
the blast tore towards Muramasa... who merged it with his strange powers and caused it to impact the shield, shattering it.
"HA! I got the barrier! Mission accomplished!"
"You young fool! Have you any idea what you've done? That barrier was to keep Muramasa from accessing my inner world!" Yamamoto yelled at Kon.
Crossbones split back apart, dissolving Kon's mask.
"That's why I told you to STOP! I realized something was off when he just so conveniently placed himself between you and that barrier."
By this point the other Soul Reapers had joined them, along with their swords.
Muramasa explained his plan in its entirety, angering the Zanpakto, Zainengetsu included, who charged Muramasa,
Suddenly, a wall of flames appeared, destroying two of them, Zaningetsu only barely being saved by Crossbones.
"We're doomed. That's the most powerful fire sword in existence. We cannot hope to defeat it."
Muramasa made his escape, while Ryujin Jakka surrounded the heroes with fire.
Crossbones charged another Cero, and aimed at the top of the cave, which was covered in flames, blocking the hole in the roof.
"CERO!" The flames were blown away... then came back.
"I can't do anything right! I try and be a hero and I screw up THIS bad?" Kon fell back on his ass and rested his hands between his legs, sulking.
Zaningetsu materialized and slapped him in the back of his head.
"Idiot! Don't go getting all depressed like that! We haven't lost yet!"
"You should not speak of that which you do not know."
Yamamoto then explained the history of Muramasa and the true final goal of his plans.
Of course, it involved possibly destroying Karakura Town.
"Why am I not surprised..." Kon said.
Back in the world of the Living, Urahara had sent Orihime to check out an Arrancar-like Reiatsu.
When she arrived, she was attacked by Muramasa... who collapsed.
She healed him, and Chad and Uryu soon arrived as well.
X
Kon, now hollowfied, tried again to destroy the wall of fire to no avail.
"Alright, that's it! One more time!" He tried to charge at it... but was ensnared.
As hope seemed lost, a voice came from the other side.
"Sit upon the frozen heavens!"
The fire froze and shattered, freeing Kon.
It was Hitsugaya and Hyorinmaru.
The two released their Bankai, allowing Kon escape.
"Go! We'll hold him back! Go stop Muramasa!" Yelled Toshiro.
"Right!" Kon sped out of the cave. He had to return to Karakura town, fast.
Muramasa had broken the seal and summoned hundreds of hollows, ranging from low level to Adhudjas (those fewer of course).
Kon arrived on the scene at that moment.
"Hollows...I'll be back." Crossbones appeared in the outside world and darted off to the hollows.
"Wait! What if I need...to...hollowfy..." Kon trailed off.
Crossbones bit into another gillian. He felt his power rise a little.
Then he spotted an adhudjas.
"Perfect. At this rate I'll evolve sooner than I thought!"
He dealt with the hollow easily and devoured it as well.
This was a variable buffet of hollows, ripe for the eating.
"Then...I'll be Vasto Lorde."
Kon had joined up with Rukia... and watched as Muramasa was stabbed by his own Soul Reaper partner.
"What..." Kon was speechless.
"You're useless since you wouldn't listen to me!" Koga growled.
"I..I couldn't even hear you...you.. were calling me?" Muramasa was confused.
"Just die!" Sneered the defunct Kuchki. He brought his blade down...
but it was stopped by none other than Byakuya Kuchki.
"Brother!"
"Byakuya?"
"You are a disgrace to the Kuchki family. Therefore, I shall kill you to cleanse our name." Byakuya told Koga.
"Let me help! I can-!" Muramasa was cut short.. .as was his physical blade.
Suddenly, dozens of Menos appeared, mostly Gillian.
Kon nodded to Rukia.
"Byakuya! We'll handle the Menos, you deal with Koga!"
No reply, but it was an obvious yes.
Crossbones' eyes widened when the new Menos appeared.
He immediately attacked another Adhudjas, one of the ten or so that had appeared.
"Closer..."
Another fell.
"Closer...!"
The last Adhudjas became food.
"..!"
Corossbones let out a horrible roar as his transformation began.
His skin cracked as the change began.
Kon looked in his direction... then both soul reapers were struck by his increasing power.
"...Crossbones."
"He is sneaky! He's been evolving this whole time! Commented Zaningetsu from inside Kon's mind.
"Evolving?"
"Yeah, he was adhudjas class. He just evolved."
"What does that mean for me... for us?"
"Don't know, don't care."
'Dammit...'
"What... what is this?" Rukia asked, trembling. "Is this... Vasto Lorde? HE ate a Vasto Lorde?"
"No," Kon answered. "That's Crossbones."
Crossbones looked down at his new form.
He stood up straighter now, and his bulky form was more humanoid.
He felt his long, straight, black hair brushing his mid back.
He looked at his hands. They were tipped with black claws, as were his feet.
He ran his hands over his mask. He detrmined that there were two horns of equal length on the sides, very angular.
He felt the fur around his neck. All the color on his body had turned navy blue from the lighter shade it once was.
He was complete.
He was strong.
He was Vasto Lorde.
Ichigo had sensed the spike in power and noticed its proximity to Orihime, so he had rushed off to fight whatever it was.
When he saw Crossbones he froze.
"...the fuck?"
"Like lookin' in a mirror. Sort of. His mask markings are different, so're the ones on his chest. They look like giant X's."
The hollow glimpsed Ichigo.
He lowered his horns...
"Oh shit,shit,SHIT!" Ichigo repeated the action.
Their ceros fired, met... and detonated.
"No way. He can MATCH our Cero, even? Wait... NO way. No. Fucking. Way."
"What?"
"That bastard! He evolved!"
"You mean..."
"..That's Crossbones?" Kon asked nobody in particular. "NO way! He looks like Ichigo!"
"Of course I do. Rather, he appears like his hollow in that form. Therefore, it's only logical I look somewhat like he does."
Rukia and Kon jumped as the Hollow appeared next to them via sonido.
"H-how did you..."
"I'm Vasto Lorde now, the strongest grade of hollow. My sonido is exceptionally fast; I may not have the strength to best Ichigo Kurosaki, but I have speed, speed that will put you in a position to out-move all of you enemies when your mask is on."
"Perfect. But now you've gone and-!"
"Comer here ya bastard!"
The voice was blatantly Hollow Ichigo's. He'd forced control to beat the tar out of Crossbones himself.
"Still out of control I see? You are a fool, Hollow. I'm much faster than you, even when you're combined with Ichigo."
"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP! I'm A THOUSAND times better than you! You're just a pathetic copycat!"
There was a shriek.
'Orihime! Give me my body you asshole!'
Ichigo forced control and sonido'd to help Orihime.
"I'm gald that's over with. Now we can focus on taking out these hollows."
'Zaningetsu! Let me use your sword, you stupid bitch!'
"Well since you asked so nicely..."
Crossbones held out his right hand and summoned a white Kyoshoku Zaningetsu.
"Thank you. Come! We must defeat these hollows!"
"Isn't that kind of messed up?"
"No. I'm an Inner hollow. Comparing me to them would be like comparing humans to chimpanzees."
The three got to work.
They didn't get far however, as Muramasa let out a roar of agony and literally collapsed into a spiritual black hole.
The hollows all were sucked in.
Then after a flash, a new being appeared.
Muramasa had hollwfied.
"Kon. I have a plan."
"What?"
"Ichigo has abandoned us. We must become a Perfect Vizard."
"NO WAY! I"m not getting stuck like that!"
"Listen to me. He was born of Instinct and Emotion. What happens when one is born of common sense and logic?"
"Maybe..."
"It's just an upgrade for your mask. You won't be able to hold it more than about three minutes though at your level. Are you ready, Kon?"
"...Alright."
Crossbones vanished into a blur of black and blue energy that engulfed Kon.
The Mod Soul Reaper screamed in agony as his chest was torn open and his proportions changed a bit.
When the transformation was complete, he stood almost identical to Crossbones, except with blonde hair and golden eyes.
"Woah... this is weird." Kon voiced.
"You don't have the luxury to stand around gawking like a fool! Go!"
"Right!"
Kon's actions were subtly altered in mid "flight" by his hollow's instinct, dodging blows and striking back.
Muramasa charged a Cero.
Kon lowered his horns and charged his own, which charged faster than Muramasa's and traveled faster as well.
It tore through the violet Cero and impacted the sword gone hollow.
The being roared and fired Bala at Kon.
"Can we do that?"
"I don't' see why not. Just focus your power in your hands like you were going to fire a Cero, but condense it and throw it with a punch."
Kon tried one and it impacted Muramasa with blinding speed.
Kon raised his sword.
"AOI GETSUGA!"
Muramasa collapsed... then began expanding.
"What the-!"
Kon was engulfed in the mass.
END CHAPTER 16
As you see, Kon's hollow is more about speed than power, like Kon himself.
His attacks are faster, his movement is faster, but in trade he can't enhance his Cero like Ichigo can, and his strength gets a minimal boost at best.
And no, he isn't a joke on Sonic the Hedgehog.
Although that would be funny as hell.
Also, no soundtrack because I'm lazy and only one of you lot actually mentioned it in a review.
Next time:
Kon VS Muramasa! Final clash!