The Bird of Hermes is my name; eat my wings to make me tame.
The voices inside my head are speaking to me…they tell me to welcome you to the next chapter on our adventure…they crave your opinions on the matter at hand…they advise me to find chocolate…so read on and enjoy.
Oh yes a note on the 'guest appearances' in the future. Sorry guys, but they will happen. The voices demand them, so it's not just for pure lemony goodness and they will help the plot out in their own way. (Hint: Think of Ichigo's tendencies and Alucard's words, DON'T YOU DARE POST IT IN THE REVIEWS IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN! Ahem my apologies for that outburst.)
Disclaimer: All characters are property of their respective owners, of which I am not.
"Normal speech"
"Kido/Zanpakuto release"
'Inner speech/thoughts'
"Alucard/Kurohime"
'Ichigo and Tatsuki's link'
XXX
Chapter 14: The Resolve of a Dragon.
As the group of teens and the residents of the Urahara shop made their way toward Karakura General Hospital, Kisuke noticed that Ichigo was strangely withdrawn from the group, walking in silence as he brought up the rear.
"Is there something on your mind Kurosaki-san?" he said slipping back to join the brooding teen.
"Sorry what?" Ichigo asked as he was broken out of his thoughts by the jovial shopkeeper.
"I said, is there something bothering you?" Kisuke repeated with some concern in his voice.
"Oh nothing Urahara-san, just talking with Alucard as to what our next move should be," Ichigo said nonchalantly.
"Really now?" Kisuke said in surprise. "Care to share your plans with the rest of us?"
"Come now Urahara-san, you are hardly forthcoming with all your plans, so I feel you deserve to stew a bit before I tell you," Ichigo said with a grin.
"Ah you wound me Kurosaki-san," Kisuke said in mock hurt, flicking his fan open as he hid behind it.
"Better me than Tatsuki don't you think? After all who knows what she would do if you really manage to piss her off," Ichigo said as they neared the hospital.
"What are you two whispering about?" Tatsuki shouted over at them as she saw they were lagging behind.
"Ah nothing Arisawa-san," Kisuke said hastily.
"Right," Tatsuki said raising an eyebrow at them as they entered the hospital, heading to the front desk to find out where Uryu's room was.
Entering his room they found the young Quincy sitting up in bed his head wrapped in bandages, while a fair looking nurse bustled out about him propping up his pillows and making him comfortable. She left with a smile, informing them that she was downstairs since he was the only patient on the floor.
"My oh my Ishida, with such wonderful service, I can't see you wanting to leave anytime soon" Ichigo said with a grin. "Should we also dress up and play nurse for you? I'm afraid I would decline, but having Tatsuki, Rukia and Orihime tend to you would be rather entertaining."
"Shut it Kurosaki!" Uryu said, his cheeks reddening while Orihime and Rukia blushed and Tatsuki smirked. "I go and get kidnapped and the first thing you do is mock me, some friend you are."
"Oh so you admit you are friends," Tatsuki said with a grin, "Well maybe I just might dress up then." Orihime and Rukia blushed even more at how forward Tatsuki was being and how they might get dragged into it, Renji's jaw was precariously close to the floor, while Chad and Tessai played the silent giant card with Kisuke hiding behind his fan once again and Yoruichi had feral grin.
"I…what I meant to say was…that's not…you know what just forget it," Uryu said flustered. "Just for that I won't tell you what I found out from the Bount that took me."
"Empty threat Ishida," Ichigo said with a smirk. "You know quite well the powers I have at my disposal."
Uryu mumbled under his breath about nosy soul reapers and their unethical powers, but told them what he knew nonetheless. "From what I gathered from the Bount Yoshino, is that they have rallied behind a man called Jin Kariya and are gathering their strength. His plans are unknown even to them, but what she did know, is that it requires a Quincy to work."
'Hmm this may very well play into our hands Alucard' Ichigo said to his zanpakuto spirit as he manipulated his plans to take advantage of this new information.
"What are you thinking of, my master?" Alucard asked, his voice showing how eager he was for battle.
'All in good time Alucard, all in good time,' Ichigo said as he turned his attention back to the group where he caught them discussing a protection detail around Uryu. "That's excellent news everyone, you guys sort out protecting Ishida while I follow up on a lead," Ichigo said causing everyone to turn to him with their mouths open in shock.
"But Ichigo," Rukia said with slight annoyance in her tone, "Our plan calls for you to be here, since you and Tatsuki are our heavy hitters, it's essential you stay near their main objective until we know more about their plan."
"Ah stop worrying Rukia-chan," Ichigo said with a wide smile, mussing up her hair. "I have absolute confidence that you guys can watch him for the few hours I'll be gone. Ah Tatsuki, a word outside if you will?" Ichigo said gesturing at the door.
As the two left the room, leaving their friends in shock, Tatsuki found herself being dragged by Ichigo down a passageway toward an empty break-room. As they entered the room, she yanked her arm free of Ichigo's grip, her tone filled with a bit of anger, "Just what the hell are you playing at Ichigo? Now's not the time for that."
"Ah you wound me Tatsuki-chan" he said with a mock hurt, his hands across his chest as if she stabbed him in the heart, "I didn't drag you all the way here to have my way with you, I simple wanted to speak to you in private. I agree with everyone that Ishida needs to be protected, but I know that you'll be able to handle this on your own, while I find out more about their plans."
"Glad to see you're so confident in my abilities," Tatsuki said as her shoulders slumped, "because I sure as hell don't at the moment."
With a sigh Ichigo grabbed her by her waist, pulling her towards him as his lips met hers in a passionate kiss. Shocked at his sudden action, Tatsuki was slow to respond, but eventually melted into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. Pulling away to catch his breath, Ichigo grinned at her.
"There now, no more depressing thoughts about that. Remember, you've yet to fail me when it counted Tatsuki-chan," Ichigo said vanishing out the door, leaving Tatsuki still in a daze. When she returned to Ishida's room, she found that Kisuke, Yoruichi and Tessai had left, leaving just the Karakura teens together with Rukia and Renji.
"Well then, we may as well get started. Rukia and I will take the first watch, Orihime, Chad and Renji, try and get what rest you can. There's an empty break-room a few doors down, you can make yourselves comfortable there since we'll be staying here all night," Tatsuki said, surprising the others with the way she issued orders.
"Yes mam," Orihime said attempting a salute causing everyone to sweat-drop from her actions.
XXX
As Ichigo stepped outside the hospital, he started to make his way back to the Urahara shop, pausing only when he felt a familiar reiatsu following him.
"You know, what you're doing right now is considered stalking Yoruichi-chan," he said looking over his shoulder at the small black cat that was perched on the wall next to him.
"Humph, some might call it that, but when people are so secretive it sometimes calls for more…extreme measures," she said leaping down onto his shoulder.
"I have no idea, what you're talking about Yoruichi-chan," Ichigo said as he continued walking towards the shop. "Is that some kind of feline perfume you're wearing or is it just your natural scent. Either way it's incredibly pleasant."
"Don't lie to me Ichigo and stop calling me chan. And I don't smell of anything," Yoruichi said pouting.
"Aww is Yoruichi-chan feeling outdone by her younger student, you know I heard of this really good movie where a guy and his teacher end up 'closer' than normal, maybe you'd like to see it," he said with a grin. He stopped once again when he felt something brush against his cheek. Looking at Yoruichi, he almost fell over laughing as said feline stared in horror at her claws, which on contact with his skin had broken off at the tips. "You know, it seems a lot of people are coming to the conclusion that it'll take more than just their fists to hurt me anymore," he said continuing on his way once again. "If it will make you feel better, we're going to drop my body off at Urahara-san's place, and then we're going to have some fun." Yoruichi could only groan at what he could possibly consider fun, but she resigned herself to staying with him anyway.
XXX
The first hour of guard duty passed uneventfully for the Karakura teens. Orihime, Renji, Chad and the mod souls got what sleep they could in the break-room before it was their turn, leaving Rukia and Tatsuki to watch over their sleeping charge. As they both sat in silence, reading magazines to pass the time, Tatsuki watched as Rukia began to fidget uncomfortably.
"Is there something bothering you Rukia?" she asked, causing Rukia to pause in her movements.
"It, it's nothing Tatsuki," Rukia replied not lifting her eyes from her reading.
"If it's nothing, then why haven't you been able to look me in the face the entire day?" Tatsuki said as she closed her magazine, leaving it on the table next to her. "It's about what happened this morning isn't it?"
"Yes," Rukia said with a sigh in defeat.
"Well, it certainly was a bit forward of Ichigo to place us like that, but then again to him it was all just harmless fun. I honestly wouldn't mind waking up to find you next to me again," Tatsuki said with a grin causing Rukia to blush. "Hell I'd say we should get back at Ichigo, but knowing him, he'll just enjoy whatever we do to him."
"Yes, of course," Rukia said with a cough, "But I'm sure we could think of something he would find unpleasant though."
They continued to talk about possible things that Ichigo would dislike, causing another hour to pass quickly and uneventfully. Their conversation was brought to an end when the taps in the room and bathroom began to rattle uncontrollably, startling the two of them and waking up Uryu.
"Uh Tatsuki, I don't think that's supposed to happen right?" Rukia asked as they watched the taps open on their own, flooding the room.
"No, something tells me our evening is about to get a lot worse," Tatsuki said as they both took up guard positions next to Uryu.
They rounded on the door, fists at the ready, when it was slammed open. Much to their relief though, it was just the rest of their group.
"There are two Bount nearby," Kurodo and Ririn shouted at them as they rushed into the room, slipping on the wet floor causing them to slam into the wall.
"Tell me something I don't know," Tatsuki said as she gestured to the sink and bathroom that were rapidly flooding the area.
They weren't given time to answer though, for the next moment, the water gathered itself into a ball, charging straight at Uryu. As it engulfed him, everyone watched on in horror as it caused him to drown. Charging in, Chad tried to beat the water away, but was soon trapped in the liquid prison with Uryu.
"Dammit," Tatsuki cursed, reaching for Ririn, popping the mod soul into her mouth, freeing her soul form. "Stand back," she shouted at everyone as her hands were engulfed in flames. A moment later she hurled a small fireball, causing the water around the two to turn to steam.
"Are you crazy!" Uryu shouted at her. "What the hell were you thinking when you nearly burned us alive?"
"Look it was either minor burns or watch you drown!" Tatsuki shouted right back at him. "And from where I'm standing, that's not exactly a hard choice to make. Now Chad, grab him and let's get out of here." As Chad grabbed Uryu, carrying him on his back, everyone rushed out the room, with Tatsuki slamming the door closed after her. It was no surprise to them though, when the water simply slid under the door.
"We need to move now," Renji said as he led the way down a flight of stairs away from the doll.
They were waylaid though when the water doll formed again, barring their path.
"Not again," Rukia grumbled as they were forced to dodge the doll's attempts at engulfing them again. As Renji sliced through the water, Rukia used kido while Tatsuki slashed through it with her flame enhanced fists.
A strangled gasp though, forced them to turn around, coming face to face with another water doll that was in the process of drowning Chad and Uryu. Gathering the energy for a fireball, Tatsuki let it fly once more, freeing the pair, but setting off the fire alarm in the process. In response, the sprinkler system above them activated drenching them even more.
"This just keeps getting better and better," Tatsuki muttered as they watched the dolls form once again. "We need to get out of here. Anyone know the way out?"
"I saw a map not too long ago, if I'm correct one way to the exit should be right down that hallway," Orihime said pointing to a passageway just past the dolls.
"Of course the exit would be blocked by them," Tatsuki said with a sigh. "Any chance of some support Rukia?" Nodding her head, Rukia and Tatsuki stood with their arms outstretched facing the dolls.
"Hado no. 31, Shakkaho," Rukia yelled firing a red ball of kido, while Tatsuki added her own fireball. Their attacks struck the dolls dead centre, causing them to dissipate once again.
"Now's our chance, everyone move," Tatsuki yelled at them as they started to run past the dolls. As they ran down the passageway toward an elevator that would help them escape the hospital, the lights started to flicker before suddenly going out.
"This can't be good," Ririn said from where she ran next to Tatsuki, causing the already agitated teenager to round on her.
"Look Ririn, I like you, really I do. BUT COULD YOU PLEASE STOP STATING THE OBVIOUS!" Tatsuki yelled at the mod soul in exasperation.
They were finally able to make it to the elevator, but much to their distress the dolls had caught up to the yet again.
"Okay you guys head down the elevator and get out of here, I'll catch up once you're out of the building," Tatsuki said as she held the door open for them.
"What?" Rukia yelled. "That's a foolish plan and you know it, you'll need all the help you can get if they keep on reforming themselves after each attack."
"I know Rukia, but what I also know is that I stand the best chance here at the moment considering I can fight at my full power, of course I need us to be outside before I even think about going all out," Tatsuki said with a smile. "Now get going, there's no point in waiting here any longer."
"Heh, Ichigo would have my head if I allowed you to fight alone, so don't think you can get send me away that easily," Renji said with a smirk as he held his zanpakuto at the ready.
As everyone entered the elevator, Rukia called out to them just as the doors closed, "Don't you dare go and die now, either of you, because I don't want to have to be the one to explain to Ichigo why we allowed you to do this."
"Heh, if these weaklings manage to kill me, then I really deserve whatever punishment he can think up," Tatsuki said with a grin as she faced the dolls. The pair of them were able to keep the dolls at bay with a combination of Tatsuki's flaming blows and Renji's swordsmanship, but the constant stream of water wasted their efforts. When the display indicated that the others had finally reached the ground floor, Tatsuki hurled one more fireball at the dolls, before breaking through the elevator doors.
"It's time to leave Renji!" Tatsuki yelled and leapt down the shaft, extending her wings as she fell. Flapping her wings to slow her descent, she grunted when Renji crashed into her, causing her to lose her balance sending them crashing into the roof of the elevator with incredible force.
"What the hell Renji," Tatsuki yelled at him as she wrenched the doors open. "I thought you'd be able to slow your descent otherwise I would have carried you down you dumbass."
"How the hell was I supposed to know you were going to jump!" Renji shouted right back at her as they rushed out after their friends, puzzled when they found them gathered within the lobby of the hospital.
"What are you guys still doing here?" Tatsuki asked in confusion. "You were supposed to run while we stalled them allowing you to escape unimpeded."
"We can't," Orihime said with a sad look on her face as she watched something outside.
Walking up to her, Tatsuki cursed inwardly when she saw that it was raining heavily.
"This can't possible get any worse can it?" Kurodo asked from where he hung from Orihime's shoulder, Noba secured in his pouch.
A sudden rumbling from behind them caused them all to turn on the spot, facing the elevator they had taken. The doors were slid open allowing a flood of water to rush toward the group of teens, sweeping them outside into the pouring rain. Staggering to their feet, they coughed and sputtered as they tried to breathe.
"Ah so you've finally arrived, so nice to finally meet you," said an unknown voice from behind them.
Turning to face the stranger, they found themselves face to face with two young boys, in matching green shorts, orange t-shirts and brown jackets. Their hairstyles were different though, one had short hair and a red cap, while the other had longer hair and a white beanie.
"Allow me to introduce ourselves," the one with a red cap said. "I'm Ho and he's Ban, you've already met our dolls Guhl and Gunther." As he spoke the two water dolls formed in front of them.
"We'd love to stay and have fun with you, but…" Ban said as the dolls began to charge the teens, "We have more pressing matters to attend to. Master Kariya wants to meet the Quincy as soon as possible."
Before any of the teens could do much more than cry out, they were engulfed in the water dolls, causing them all to drown. Despite Renji and Rukia's efforts at using kido to blast their way out of it, neither of them had the strength to cause significant damage. As Tatsuki began gathering her reiatsu around her, she was suddenly wracked by terrible pains originating from within her body.
"We'll be having none of that now," Ho said with a smirk. "We were watching you while you hurled those fireballs at our dolls, so don't think for one minute that we'll just allow you free reign to do as you please."
Tatsuki watched on helplessly as one by one her friends began to slip into unconsciousness, before black finally began to creep into her vision signalling that she was about to pass out too. She was surprised though when time seemed to come to a halt around her.
"Pathetic," Alucard said appearing before her. "I thought the master had made the right decision choosing to keep you at his side, it seems though that we were both fooled and that he chose a weak little girl as his partner."
"I agree," Kurohime said appearing next to Alucard, towering over everyone present. "I agreed to serve a strong mistress, not a snivelling little girl that needs someone else to fight her battles for her."
Tatsuki felt stung by the pair's harsh words, but couldn't help the doubt that crept into her heart from them. 'Is this all I really am capable off? Useless unless I become a mindless berserker, reliant on someone else to help me?'
'Ridiculous,' came Ichigo's voice from within her mind. 'Do you honestly think I chose wrong Tatsuki? The girl I fell in love with was brash, headstrong, driven and beyond all else loyal to her friends. Do you honestly believe that such a person would just give up in the face of what's before you now?'
Images of her friend's graves flashed through her mind, as well as a brooding Ichigo as he mourned over her own.
'Don't give up for even one second Tatsuki Arisawa,' Ichigo said to her once again. 'For no matter what the situation, remember that I am always with you, to aid and support. Now remind these fools why you are not to be trifled with.'
Ho and Ban watched as Tatsuki finally stopped struggling. "Well it looks like it's all over," Ban said as they began walking over to their dolls. A sudden wave of reiatsu passed over crushing them to the ground as it flared higher and higher. Looking up they found the source was Tatsuki. Gone was her normal coat and in its place were her gauntlets, greaves and wings. Unlike their normal black armour form though, each was covered in flames burning away at the water around her. The next moment she opened her eyes, causing the flames around her to flare around her friends, freeing them from the doll's clutches.
"You know you idiots really managed to piss me off now," Tatsuki said as she stalked towards the pair of them. "You'd best pray that I finish you off quickly, or who knows I might just make this exceedingly painful for you."
"Guhl," "Gunther," the twins cried out respectively, their dolls reforming once again.
"So be it," Tatsuki said as the dolls charged at her. Dodging to her left, she avoided the speeding dolls, before retaliating with a fire-enhanced kick, temporarily disabling the one doll. As the other doll tried to engulf her again, its actions were in vain as her armour effortlessly melted it. Growing tired of this futile resistance, Tatsuki charged the Bount themselves delivering a devastating kick to Ho's chest, the bladed greaves ripping into his chest, stifling his scream as his lungs collapsed.
"Ho!" Ban screamed in worry, but he was not given a chance to say more as Tatsuki backhanded him into a light pole, causing the metal to buckle under the force of the blow and crashing to the ground. As he struggled to get to his feet, he looked up as Tatsuki walked towards him, her eyes containing a bright red flame as she finally came to a stop before him.
"I once told someone near and dear to me, that they shouldn't become a person that revels in the pain of others," Tatsuki said as she lifted him by the collar of his jacket. "After everything you've done to us tonight though, I know that he would have a problem being merciful towards you. In a way, you're lucky that you fought me and not him." Drawing her fist back, it erupted in flames as she sent a vicious jab at his chest, the combined force and fire eating through his body leaving a gaping wound where his heart would be. Dropping his lifeless corpse, she watched dispassionately as it turned to dust along with his twins in the distance, before being washed away in the very water they used as a weapon. Remembering the fate of her friends, she rushed back to check on them, surprised when Uryu's body was missing.
XXX
High above them, seated on the edge of one of the surrounding buildings was Ichigo and Yoruichi.
'Atta girl Tatsuki,' Ichigo thought with a grin plastered over his face. He knew she was feeling down and all she needed was a fight to remind her of who she was.
"You play a dangerous game Ichigo," Yoruichi said from next to him, watching as Tatsuki roused everyone before they split up in search of Ishida. "And just what in the hell were you up to by having those 'dogs' of yours drag Ishida away?"
"All in good time Yoruichi," Ichigo said with a smirk as he turned to face her, a hellhound materialising next to him, which he proceeded to pet affectionately. "Everything is now in place and I promise you that this conflict will soon be brought to an end." Standing up Ichigo vanished in a whisper of flash step, leaving a confused Yoruichi to hurry after him.
XXX
That's a wrap for chapter 14 then. I wonder what Ichigo has planned, who truly knows what the combination of Alucard and Ichigo could think up. Now as to why there was no Hanataro or Ganju. Honestly the idea that Ganju was needed to defeat something Ichigo, Renji and Rukia couldn't, no just no way in hell. Now that I think about it, I really don't like a lot of the things that happened in the Bount Arc, oh well who cares.
Now before someone asks why Tatsuki was briefly powerless against the twins, her abilities are highly destructive, thus using them indoors would hurt others and when they finally got outside, the twins attempted to rip her apart from within.
So let me know what you thought in your reviews and sorry that updates are random, but I can't do much about it at the moment.