Chapter Twenty-three
Bike…
Ichigo follows instructions and boards a plane to LAX. At LAX Ichigo met a classmate named Pearl. Pearl gave Ichigo a car and is ready to leave him with instructions when she changes her mind. Ordering Ichigo to drive Pearl flees from some unknown presence. Ichigo was supposed to go to the ocean but ends up inland when Pearl takes over the wheel and changes plans.
Ichigo and Pearl arrive at a meeting place a motor-inn where they meet Mark. Mark is revealed to be holding Rukia and Kon. At this meet up Ichigo learns that Pearl and Mark are Keiei, a group of hunters targeting the Gong-Si or soulless animated humans. The zombie humans have developed emotions for some unknown reason and they are led by a Keiei named Athen. Athen eliminated many of Keiei burying some alive. Athen is looking for a talisman and a spell. Mark and Pearl are looking for Keiei survivors and a spell caster among them. Because of Athen's ties to the Soul Society where he has a mole working for him, Mark and Pearl ask for Ichigo and Rukia's help.
Mark and Pearl are travelers who get around a lot. They know many languages and have visited many nations searching for their kinfolk.
000
Ichigo waited with Kon just outside the room Rukia stayed in. Kon continued to complain that Ichigo was doing nothing and Ichigo continued ignoring him. He wasn't sure how but it occurred to him that Kon's thoughts we're not being read by Mark at all. Mark confirmed it but said that it didn't matter what Kon tried they just need Ichigo.
Rukia opened the door and stuffed Kon in a backpack. Ichigo smiled at her and said, "Let's go."
Rukia followed his lead as they walked swiftly toward the diner. Ichigo paused in front of the green bike he saw parked in lot. Rukia glanced at the diner as she put on the helmet handing Ichigo the keys she pilfered the previous night. A figure jumped out the door of the diner as if on cue.
Ichigo started up the bike and Rukia held him tightly as they took off. Faintly she could hear Pearl screaming at Mark. She didn't dare look back knowing it wouldn't be long before Pearl's car followed after. Instead she squeezed Ichigo as he navigated the road. They didn't bother to discuss the plan or think about it knowing that Mark would read their minds. Instead Ichigo acted on instinct and knew he had to leave. Their story just did not fit and he was done being ordered around.
000
Ichigo drove for nearly five hours. Somewhere along the journey they ditched the bike for a car. The air in the car lulled Rukia to sleep and threatened to do the same to him. Making a note of the sign announcing a rest stop he decided it was time to pull over.
As he drove the car through the business turnoff he slowed the car and pulled into a driveway. The golden arches have never failed. The movements of the car awakened Rukia and she stretched looking around to see where they were.
The early rays of sunshine lightened the sky as people dashed in and out of the restaurant with coffee in hand. Ichigo put the car in park and leaned back on the headrest exhausted he shut his eyes.
"Oh good, food stop," Rukia said opening the passenger door.
"The road goes on for miles ahead," Ichigo grumbled placing an arm over his eyes, "I can't stay awake any longer."
"It's good that we stopped then," Rukia said still sitting with her legs outside the car.
"I didn't even think I was tired," Ichigo said.
"I'll get coffee," Rukia said getting out and shutting the door behind her.
It was Ichigo's fault that he was so exhausted, Rukia thought as she entered the busy restaurant. She couldn't believe he wouldn't let her drive. She ordered by number and carried the sacks of food and tray with coffee to the car. There was a lot of food but she couldn't decide what she wanted so she decided to get all her top three.
Setting the food on the hood of the car she knocked on the window. Ichigo frowned and hit the door locks. Cheerfully she handed him the coffee and passed a bag of food towards him.
"Are you trying to feed an army," Ichigo asked looking through the bag.
"We haven't eaten in a while and I couldn't decide," Rukia replied.
"Uryû's meeting place sure is out-of-the-way. Maybe I should just keep driving," Ichigo said taking a sip of the coffee.
"I could drive," Rukia said.
"That's alright I got it," Ichigo said.
"No you don't," Rukia said.
Kon finally decided to join in on the argument and to no one's surprise siding with Rukia. Ichigo considered it. Rukia could likely manage the boring Highway scene it wasn't like city driving. The coffee did nothing for him and he set the food aside yawning.
"Ichigo switch places with me and let me drive," Rukia ordered surprisingly she had driving gloves stashed away.
"No," Ichigo said defiantly finishing the coffee he threw the cup at Kon before he could interfere.
Ichigo started up the car and pulled out the restaurant as Rukia continued sampling from the bags of food.
The mountains covered in late spring snow shimmered against the bright blue of the morning sky.
"You could switch with Kon and let him drive," Rukia suggested.
"Hell no I'll pull over and we'll switch," Ichigo said driving into the rest stop parking lot.
Rukia smiled at him as she got out of the car and tossed the trash into the can.
"It is really nice here," Ichigo said walking towards her.
"CountryMountain living," Rukia lifted her coffee in mock cheers. Grinning she added, "Too bad we can't climb it."
"Some other time," Ichigo said putting an arm around her shoulder.
They stood breathing the clean cool morning air and watching the birds fly around.
"Hey don't just leave me in this stuffy car," Kon called out.
"Shut up," Ichigo called over his shoulder.
"Just let him out," Rukia said.
"Fine," Ichigo reluctantly let go of Rukia and stomped over to the car opening the door.
"RUKIA!" Kon jumped from the car and headed for Rukia.
"Give it a rest don't you see she's clearly not interested in you fur ball," Ichigo said slamming the car door.
"Just you wait I'll show you how interested she is," Kon said leaping into Rukia's waiting…Kick.
Ichigo just rolled his eyes and returned to Rukia's side.
"Reflex," Ichigo questioned.
"I guess so," Rukia said looking at the stuffed lion. It had been some time since she interacted with him in this form.
"Don't worry too much about me being stuck in this stuffed animal. Go on and enjoy the view I'll just wander around somewhere-
"I let you out of the car can't you just be quiet already," Ichigo complained.
"While you two argue I'm going someplace quieter," Rukia said walking off.
000
Ichigo and Rukia managed to meet up with their friends who were staying in an inn normally packed during the ski season but noticeably light now.
"What do we do now," Orihime asked as they crowded around the car in the parking lot.
"We'll get some rest here first and figure it out tomorrow," Ichigo said exhausted.
"By that time we will have lost any advantage we may have had," Uryû said.
"We knew they would eventually catch up," Rukia said.
"It is all just a matter of joining up with you guys for us," Ichigo said.
"That and we didn't want to go into this with just the two of us. All of us work better as a team. Besides that we have time to get information from the Soul Society now," Rukia said.
"There seems to be more corruption from the past sneaking into things," Uryû said.
"We'll change things then. Those two seemed willing to work with us. They are taking the right approach so I see no reason not to help them," Ichigo said.
"I disagree," Uryû said, "they haven't earned our trust yet. So far they poisoned Rukia, posed as students at our school and somehow forced you to come here to the United States."
"Uryû's right and there's more we learned about them," Orihime said.
"You were able to analyze the drug sample we sent," Rukia asked.
"Kisuke did get it but-
"It wasn't necessary," Uryû said pulling out a cell phone, "this device measures the contents of the drug. It is a human OTC so Kisuke said there is no need to research it further."
"But how can a human drug have that kind of power over me," Rukia asked.
"This sample isn't the one they gave you," Uryû said.
"What are you saying I'm really tired already," Ichigo asked.
"I'm saying we can't blindly trust these people. That drug was nothing more than Naproxen, a pain reliever. It couldn't have inflicted the damage to Rukia's spirit energy," Uryû said.
"So they knew you swiped it Rukia," Orihime said.
"Give the one's ability to read minds they were likely expecting her to do so. There is a possibility that they have abilities that we don't know about yet. The power of suggestion is conceivable," Uryû said.
"Out smarted by them, I'm impressed," Rukia said.
000
The inn had the setup of a ski lodge. The rooms were done up in log cabin style. Uryû may have out done himself with his seemingly unlimited credit cards.
"We really didn't need a place so fancy we're not going off on vacation," Ichigo said.
"This was the only place that didn't ask questions," Uryû said.
The lodging around the area all seemed to have policies requiring extra steps for anyone who wasn't of drinking age. Perhaps to curb partying kids who couldn't afford to pay the damages.
Uryû looked around commenting about various things in the room. Ichigo felt like taping the mouths of his roommates shut. Ichigo fell fast asleep the minute his head hit the pillow, despite the endless chatter of Uryû and Kon.
000
Ichigo, Rukia and Kon were gone once again. Uryû finished asking questions at the concierge post and headed back to deliver his findings to the group.
"The people working here recall seeing Ichigo and Rukia leaving here with another couple. They didn't say anything about Kon but it's safe to assume that he is likely with them," Uryû said.
"They wouldn't have us come all this way just to walk out on us," Orihime said.
"That's not all that is bothering me. They willingly left without a word or message. We were both unaware that they were gone until we woke up," Uryû said.
"Because we were still in the room the concierge wouldn't have a reason to speak to anyone. If Ichigo and Rukia walked out without a word it wouldn't be unusual to any of the staff. I've asked everyone and no one can tell me anything," Orihime said a little panic laced her voice.
Uryû didn't want to state the obvious about the absence of their spiritual energies. He did contact Sado back in Karakura to be vigilant about any messages he should get. After that they contacted Kisuke and the Soul Society.