Chapter 35

Okay guys, these next few chapters are going to have some twists and turns, so get ready for a little ride.

I own nothing

It was late at night as Ichigo and Heller were overlooking the meet point. So far they had been here for a few minutes, but they couldn't see or sense Galloway. They stood there for a minute, not talking before Heller said "Ichigo, I got a question."

Ichigo didn't take his eyes off of the intersection, which was quite, due to the fact they were in blackwash territory a few blocks from a base, but there were no patrols, and said "shoot."

Heller had been thinking about the reason on why the commander had been sending in 3 more people, despite them not needing the help, and he had a theory. But it burned like acid in his stomach as he thought about it and said "do you think soul society is afraid of me? Of what I can do?"

Ichigo looked at Heller surprised. He hadn't been expecting that question, but more importantly, he didn't know how to answer. From what little he knew of soul society, from him fighting them to get back Rukia, soul society, and the commander, was an overly cautious and headed hard group. In fact, he had long suspected the deputy soul reaper badge they gave him was a way for them to find and track him, but he kept it since it showed he trusted them, and would never betray them.

but Heller, Heller, Heller was different. He had a great amount of power, yet he didn't have much love for soul society, or, for that matter, much hatred, but then they would see him as a wild card to control, or put said carefully, "truthfully? I think their cautious and Yamamoto, god knows, is very sure when it comes to how people think, and he believes he knows what that person can, will, and will not do."

Heller sighed. He wasn't surprised by Ichigo's answer. Ichigo had told him a good amount of soul society and he thought that Yamamoto would be trying to figure out his motives. Heller was about to comment when he felt heard something in the street below. He looked down and saw Galloway standing near the street light, not enough to put her completely in it, but enough to see a faint outline and a bit of her face as she swung her head around, looking for them.

he put a scowl on his face as he said "looks like we have company."

Ichigo noticed where Heller was looking, and when he saw who it was, he scowled as well. Neither spoke a word, but they did flash step down to the street, behind Galloway a ways. They walked forward and Heller said "about time."

Galloway whirled around, looking ready to fight, but she relaxed slightly as saw them approaching. Heller walked past her and said "now what the hell's so important?"

Galloway said, in her arrogant yet offended way, "hey a little more gratitude, I almost died getting this. And besides, you owe me."

Heller felt his anger snap at that comment. He turned and grabbed her by the jacket, showing her against the wall as he said "you want something don't you? What is it? Protection? A way out of this fucking hellhole?"

Galloway was still calm as she reached into her jacket while saying "what I want…"She pulled out a file stamped with the word classified in black block letters across it. "…is to live. I have information on a Blackwatch operation. And it's big. The man behind it is a commander Cantrell."

Heller snatched the file and flicked through it. He saw some decent info, nut then it cut off, sowing she hadn't gotten the whole looked at her and said "go back to Blackwatch and do some more digging."

He turned to leave as Galloway said in a disbelieving tone, "what? I almost died getting that much. Asking me to go back is suicide.

"Ichigo walked behind her and began to slowly release his energy o her. She felt her body get heavy as his energy rose, crushing her as he said "he wasn't asking. And I got a 'request' as well"

Galloway turned to look at him, Heller as well. Both of them saw his eyes were angry yet full of pain.

Ichigo said "mercer took my girlfriend recently. I want you to find out where he's holding her."

Galloway saw an opportunity. She said seductively "I can try. If it doesn't work out though…" she trailed a finger down his chest, never looking away from his eyes "...I'd be willing to…comfort you."

Wrong move.

Ichigo growled like an animal as his anger spiked. He felt his hollow pushing through and he let out just enough to color his eyes and roughen his voice as he growled. He thrust out his hand and grabbed her around the neck, lifting her up as he said "if it doesn't 'work out', they will never find your body." He wasn't afraid to release his energy and he did just that, making Galloway pale as she tried to pry off his hand and looked into his eyes. Those horrible eyes that held nothing but madness and death for her should she fail.

he squeezed just a little tighter to get the message through, and then dropped Galloway, making her fall straight to her knees as she coughed and sputtered. In the light Heller could see bruises on her neck that were quickly healing.

Ichigo reined in his power and walked past her to Heller. He walked past him then and said "let's go."

He and Heller flash stepped then, leaving Galloway to wonder what she had just gotten herself in to by contacting James Heller and Ichigo Kurosaki.

Back at the apartment

Ichigo and Heller were looking over the file that Galloway had given the while Dana was trying to dig up more on fire hawk. The reason they were at the apartment was to wait to see who the commander had seen fit to semd.

Helller suddenly growled "damn it. How long are we going to wait for those bastards to get here?"

As the words left his mouth, the Senkaimon suddenly appeared in the wall farthest from them and began to and Renji stood at attention in front of the gate as it slowly opened, Heller and Ichigo stood just watching it, and Dana was watching wide eyed, having never seen something like this.

the smoke from the Senkaimon began to clear, revealing 3 people who were walking forward. From the faint outlines from the light, they could see 1 shorter woman figure, one that moved like a man but with some sort of hat on his head, and the last one was a woman carrying what looked like several boxes, hiding her upper they stepped through the smoke, allowing them a clear view of the first 2 people.

the first was a relatively petite woman with gray eyes and black hair. Her hair was worn short with two long braids bound in white cloth, each ending in a large golden ring. She was wearing a traditional Shinigami captain's uniform with a sleeveless haori and a yellow obi tied around her waist, her sword hanging horizontal on the back of her waist, but it was short, only about 2 to 2 ½ feet long. Heller noticed she moved with the grace of an experience warrior whose main skills were speed and finesse rather than strength. She was also looking at them all with slight disdain, though he noticed it became deeper when she saw him. Heller resolved to keep an eye on her.

the next one would fit in a horror movie. His face was painted, creating a black cross upon the center of his face covering everything, but his nose and a small portion of his lower chin. He had some sort of ear attachments that were short and round but also fairly wide, while his chin had a long golden attachment reminiscent of an Egyptian Pharaohs beard. His teeth were a disturbing golden color, with a golden frame around his face. His hair was also styled into "horns," that sloped down from the top of his head and framed his face, which when viewed from the front looks much like a Pharaoh's crown. He had a maniac look in his eyes, one that grew when he spotted Heller, which was creeping him out. The guys reminded him of a movie he had seen as a kid, a mad scientist horror film who did horrific things to anyone and thing

He couldn't see the last one, as they were holding easily 10-12 boxes, which were covering the upper body. The only thing he could see were the legs, which were thin and long, suggesting a woman.

Heller noticed that Rukia, Renji, and Ichigo were all rather pale.

Rukia and Renji bowed, saying "hello captain Soi Fon, captain Mayuri. Welcome to the human world."

Okay, now Heller knew why they were freaked. He had heard about both of them from Ichigo. Soi fon. As he had been told, was the head of the assassination division of soul society, and was very accomplished at what she did, but she was also arrogant and, from what he had heard on the side, had a crush on Yoruichi, who she worshiped. The other mad scientist, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, was the head of the research and development branch of soul society. Heller had been told he saw nothing and no one as living things, but experiments, including himself. He had even been told that once, he had turned his own men into living bombs to try and capture Orihime and Uryū for experimentation in soul society.

chuckles (A/n: that's going to be a nickname for Mayuri because…well do I really need to explain it?) said with awful glee, "oh it's wonderful to finally be here. I've been dying to study the corpses here and the virus's effect on them."

Then he turned his attention to Heller and said "so, is this the test subject?" as he looked him up and down, rubbing his hands joyfully

Heller snarled "I have a name you freak."

Mayuri was deterred as he said to one in particular, "oh we have so much to learn, the effects of the virus, it abilities and limits, so much work to do… NEMU, WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG!?" he shouted at the third person, who was simply standing there.

the person stuck her head around the boxes, allowing Heller to see her face. Nemu, since that seemed to be her name, was slender and youthful, with light green eyes. Her black hair was pulled back into a long braid, with slightly parted bangs in front, with a dark red chocker around her neck. He couldn't see much about her uniform but it seemed she wore something similar to Shinigami robes, though they stopped somewhere around her thighs. But Heller saw nothing in her eyes. no anger, fear, excitement, not even calm. She reminded Heller of a doll

Nemu said quietly "I'm sorry captain. Where should I put the supplies?"

"JUST SET IT THERE AND START SETTING UP!" he shouted, seemingly mad at her for even asking.

Soi Fon said nothing during the exchange, but was scanning Heller like she was looking for a way to take him down. He said "nice to finally meet you. Heard a lot about you." He said, walking forward to shake her hand. He might not like her, but he wouldn't be unduly rude, no matter what he thought.

Soi Fon didn't raise her hand to shake, merely looked at him coldly as she said "I've heard a great deal as well. I must say though, you don't strike me as very strong."

That ticked Heller off, especially in the matter of fact tone she said it in, so he calmly said "and you strike me as the kind of person who has a 10 foot pole up their ass."

Well that went over well. Her eyes went wide and then narrowed in anger. Before anyone knew it, though Nemu and Mayuri weren't paying attention, she was behind him with her blade in her right arm and at his throat, pressed against his throat.

he heard her growl "do not test me, you abomination. You may be powerful, but I can kill you in two strikes."

Heller's anger flared and he growled back "and I could kill you now."He used flash step to get behind her, his hands now in claw form as he held one of them against her own throat, the other arm holding her right Heller could growl a threat, he heard a clatter and looked to see several boxes, which Nemu had set down, fall to the ground, the contents jostling and clinging around. Mayuri shouted "BE CAREFUL YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF MEAT!" as he hit her in the face, sending her backwards into the wall, a bruise forming on her face as she looked back with no emotion.

As he raised his hand to hit her again, Heller released Soi Fon and flash stepped in time to grab his arm, shouting "what are you doing!?"Mayuri looked at Heller and snarled "stay out of this test subject. This is between me and my daughter."

Heller was shocked as he looked between the two and said "Your…daughter?"

Mayuri growled back "I created her using the latest in soul pill and Gigai technology. You have no right meddling in things beyond your control or understanding."

That did it. Heller growled "I think it's time to beat through that thick skull of yours." Heller thought hard for an instant before the hole to the training area opened up. He flash stepped through, everyone but Dana and Nemu following through. Dana was taking care of Nemu and looking over the damage to her face while the hole closed, leaving them alone.

Training area

Heller stopped then threw chuckles, putting in some strength in his rage. Chuckles went flying, but was able to right himself in midair and land on his feet, skidding backwards. He looked up at Heller and snarled "looks like I need to teach you what it means to be a test subject."

Soi Fon and the others were standing by. Soi Fon said "enough with this foolishness Heller. We're not here to fight you."

Heller glanced at her and said "shut up. I'm not letting that bastard get away with that."

Ichigo put a hand on her shoulder as she opened her mouth to argue. She looked at him and said "word to the wise. Don't try to talk him out of this. He'll kill you."

That was all he got in as chuckles swept aside the front of his robes, then grabbed a sword handle that was in front of him. He pulled out the blade as he said "rip, Ashisogi Jizō." Heller narrowed his eyes. Looked like this guy was going hard core from the start.

Ashisogi Jizō's blade glowed and transformed into a deformed trident with curved, serpentine blades. The middle blade was straighter and longer than the side blades, and appeared to ascend from the guard, which was shaped like a baby's head with hands clasped in prayer (as Ksitigarbha is depicted), all mounted on the sword's normal hilt, which had more ornate spiky protrusions on either side, which resembled golden leaves right below the guard.

Mayuri said "time to tame you."

Heller shifted to blade as chuckles charged forward. They exchanged several blows, each one sending sparks with a collision. Heller was easily outclassing him, but Mayuri was still able to block each attack, or dodge using flash step.

then the battle began turning slightly as Mayuri began seeing through Heller's attacks. Heller would attack with a downward strike; Mayuri would dodge to the side and try to stab Heller. He would flash step behind and try to punch, only to miss.

Heller thought "time to take it up a step."

But before he could, Maruyi's sword did something unexpected. The mouth of the baby figure opened and began to blow out a light purple smoke, blowing it into Heller's inhaled in surprised, then coughed as Mayuri used the distraction to stab Heller in the arm and then kick his legs out from under him. But he wasn't done as he then spun on one foot to kick Heller with the other, sending him flying back 20 feet.

Heller wasn't able to righten himself and hit the ground on his back, skidding back some few feet.

"Heller!" Ichigo cried as he hurried forward.

"Stay back!" Heller shouted back, stopping Ichigo in his tracks. Heller began sitting up as he said "I'm going to take this bastard down on my own. I don't want any help."

Heller began to get to his feet, but then suddenly went limp and fell backwards again, hitting the ground on his back."WHAT THE…" Heller shouted. He tried to move, strain his muscles, even twitch a finger, but he couldn't move anything. "WHY CAN'T I MOVE!?"

Mayuri began to laugh madly as he stood over Heller. Heller looked at him angrily as Mayuri said "looks like it's taking effect. It normally takes a little longer, but no matter."

Heller's eyes went wide then narrowed as he said "you used a paralytic on me?"

"NONSENSE!" chuckles shouted, hanging his sword over Heller's right eye. He seemed insulted as he began to explain."I don't deal with that cavemen technology. This sword makes a very complex drug, that when introduced to a subject's body, stops the neural impulses in the brain responsible for movement in the limbs."

As he spoke, he moved the sword from Heller's eye to his chest, then stomach, then stopped said with pleasure "but this drug also has one more wonderful effect. Unlike normal paralysis, the receptors responsible for feeling, or pain, are completely unaffected."

And with that, he stabbed Heller in the grunted in pain, but Mayuri, being the sick twisted creature he was, wasn't done yet. He then took his sword and sliced off Heller's blade arm, causing him to shout in pain while blood began pooling under the wound, creating a river of blood. But the problem was Heller's arm was healing very slowly, like the creep of water on a flat rocky surface.

Mayuri said in a delighted tone "now I can begin some experiments." As he keep stabbing Heller in several places, each one causing him to shout in pain, especially since the wounds wouldn't heal at their normal speed.

"STOP IT!" Ichigo shouted. He was about to flash step forward and stop Mayuri before something incredible happened

.Heller's P.O.V

I felt pain. Deep pain, and while it was nothing compared to some things I had felt, my bodies' endurance and healing powers seemed to have been lowered from being paralyzed. It also seemed to have slowed my body's ability to adapt.

As I looked into Mayuri's twisted face, twisted with glee, I felt anger begin building in me. How can this bastard be so uncaring, so delighted in causing pain, and see nothing as anything other than an I felt something. Something different, something that felt…sad.

I couldn't figure out what was going on, then I felt my Zanpakutō spirit shift inside me, and shadow shifter began talking."Heller, do you feel it?"

'That feeling that something's sad? Yes. what's going on?'

"Look at his Zanpakutō. Look at the guard."

I did what he said, and when Mayuri rose his sword to stab me, when I looked at the guard, I saw the eyes of the baby were open. They were glowing a light purple, and they were looking down at me. And he could see unbearable sadness and regret in those eyes, like they had been abused just as bad, if not worse.

'What's going on?'

Shadow shifter began explaining. "When 2 Zanpakutō sprits cross, the spirits inside can resonate with each other, seeing memories from the other spirit and feeling the emotions of it. That's what's happening now. The spirit is sharing it's memories with us."

Heller was about to speak when his mind was suddenly flooded with memories. He could see everything to happen to this Zanpakutō, but the most powerful memories to him were more recent ones. The battle it had been used for in fighting Uryū in soul society, where it had been forced to strike both him and Nemu at the same time. How in the battle with the 8th Espada, it had been let loose in Bankai, eaten him, then taken over by the 8th Espada and made to attack Mayuri. But he had anticipated this possibility, and modified his Bankai to self-destruct if it should attack him. The self-destruct sequence had been very painful, forced back into a sealed state without him manually doing it. Then, to punish it for attacking him, he had stabbed the 8th Espada in the chest, then broken the blade in half.

he saw many other memories. Memories of being experimented on, modified, poked, prodded, and put through a series of experiments that had broken its spirit and that pushed Heller over the edge.

General P.O.V

"Heller!" Ichigo shouted as he prepared to flash step he was stopped as something incredible began unfolding.

jsut as Mayuri's sword began to descend to stab Heller again, Heller's eyes flash red and he grabbed the blade in his remaining arm, stopping it cold.

but that wasn't all. The stump where Heller's arm had been cut off shot out tendrils, quickly finding hi sword and reattaching it to his body. Heller's newly reconnected sword flashed as it cleanly sliced off Mayuri's arm, just below the elbow.

Mayrui looked at Heller in shock as he tried to retreat. That didn't work as Heller flash stepped behind him and kicked him in the lower back, sending him flying forward.

Mayuri flipped in the air and hit the ground, looking at Heller. The only problem Heller wasn't where he had last been.

"You bastard." He heard in his ear. He looked behind him to see Heller looking right at him, eyes glowing red and filled with rage. Mayuri put some distance between them while bringing out a needle filled with a green liquid. He quickly injected it into his own injured arm, causing it to heal back to its normal form, but with a good amount of pain.

Heller was still holding Mayuri's sword in his other hand, but his own sword arm was out. Heller's aura had formed now, blowing like a tornado around him.

on the side lines, everyone was looking at Heller in shock. Ichigo choked out "I've never seen him so angry."

Renji and Rukia shook their heads while looking at the power Heller was sending out. It was currently equal to a captain and they knew he could go even farther.

Soi Fon was looking at Heller calmly, but her face was white and she was thinking "the commander will not be happy about this. He has too much power!"

Heller was looking Mayuri and snarling as he said "you bastard. You've put your own Zanpakutō, your own partner, through a living hell, simply for some experiments?"

Mayuri looked angry as he said "what I do with my belongings is none of your concern, creature. Now give me back my sword you inferior beast!"

Heller looked at the blade, his expression softening slightly as he did. Then he looked back at Mayuri and said one word. "No."

And then tendrils began to cover the sword, slowly absorbing it into his body. In a few seconds the sword was now gone, absorbed by his body.

Mayuri looked livid as he shouted "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY SWORD!?"

Heller looked at him in rage but something a bit more, something that looked…smug.

"Your sword seems to like me a bit better. I managed to communicate with it and it wants to be with me."

Mayuri looked stunned as he snarled "what?"

Heller shrugged and said "if you don't believe me, listen for yourself."

He then closed his eyes and seemed to relax. As they watched, his aura changed from red to a light pink, and his body squirmed under the surface as his biomass shifted. When his eyes opened again, they were glowing pink and the open rage was gone, replaced with quite anger and loathing as he looked at Mayuri. He spoke in a higher pitched voice, like a small child, as he said "hello master Mayuri."

Mayuri said "what are you doing Ashisogi Jizō? I am your master!" he shouted in rage.

Ashisogi Jizō looked at him with the same expression as he said "you were my master. I was forced to go through a living hell of experiments and abuse as you punished me for the smallest things. I was broken in half, shattered, blown up, and destroyed, all to settle your curiosity."

Everyone was listening in awe, but they were looking at Mayuri with anger at how he had abused his partner, except for Soi Fon, who didn't seem to care, just watching Heller with a calculating look.

Ashisogi Jizō kept talking, and 'his' face softened as it said "then I met this person, this James Heller, and he has his own Zanpakutō."

Mayuri and Soi Fon looked shocked as Mayuri said "what?"

"And unlike you, he treats his with kindness and respect. He knows that his Zanpakutō gives him its power because he understands and treats it well. You only understand how to take by force. That is why I left you. To be with James Heller. to fianlly be respected and treated like a person, not an object."

Mayuri looked shocked. Heller had his own Zanpakutō? How on earth had he been able to get his hands on a weapon that should belong solely to soul reapers? And his own sword had left him to be with that man, that human, that abomination?!

Ashisogi Jizō seemed to have spoken it's fill as it said, "good bye, Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

As they watched, Heller's aura changed back to red and his eyes changed back, then his aura faded as his power was reined looked at Mayuri and said "so you heard what your own Zanpakutō thinks of you. And I'm telling you right now, I will not be simply used to satisfy your curiosity on the effects of the virus, and I will not tolerate how you treat Nemu. If I see you ever hit her again, I will not hesitate to end you."

When he made no response, merely stood there smoldering, Heller turned and opened the 'door' back to the apartment and walked through. He saw that the boxes had disappeared and Dana was typing at her laptop while Nemu was holding a pack of ice to her face.

She looked at Heller and stood, then bowed and said "greetings James Heller."

Heller nodded and said "hello Nemu. And Heller is fine, I'm pretty informal now."

Everyone else walked through to the apartment and Mayuri immediately left, looking through the rooms until he found where Nemu had put his equipment, then slammed the door shut and locked it.

Dana looked at them and said "that well huh?"

Heller chuckled and said "did you find anything?"

"As a matter of fat, yes I did."

Everyone excluding Nemu and Soi Fon crowded around the computer as Dana pulled up a report. She explained "I wasn't able to find any more on fire hawk, but I was able to find where that commander is. He's at a Blackwatch base and seemed to have called a emergency meeting. I'll send you the coordinates."

He nodded and said "let's go guys."

Here Soi Fon stepped forward and said "I'm coming with you. I have enough experience with infiltration and assassination to be of help."

Heller didn't know why, but he didn't like the way she said shrugged and said "let's go."

They all walked to the door as Soi Fon thought "now I can find out his strengths. I'll need to tell the commander."

Flash back, general P.O.V

Soi Fon and Mayuri were standing at attention in the commander's office as he sat at his desk and gave them their mission.

He began by saying "I've been hearing disturbing reports from the team in NYZ, on how this James Heller is growing in strength and seems to be slightly hostile to us."

Soi Fon and Mayuri said nothing, simply listened.

The commander continued, saying "I am sending you two into the team with 2 goals in mind."

"And those are?" Soi Fon said, still standing at attention.

"the first is to figure out the the limits and weaknesses of the virus. I want this threat to be contained and exterminated."

Mayuri nodded with delight as he said "I can easily figure out the effects as long as I can bring some equipment to the human world."

"Done."

Soi Fon said "and the other goal?"

The commander seemed all business as he said "the strength and limits of James Heller. If he turns on us, or becomes unstable, I want a way to stop him. That will be your primary goal. You will report back, via phone, to me when you have critical information. Am I clear?"

"YES SIR!" Soi Fon shouted as she bowed.

End flashback

"I will find your abilities James Heller. And I will find a way to kill you. Such is my mission." Soi Fon thought with a small smile as she looked at Heller's back

In Mayuri's room

Mayuri was typing away at a computer he had brought with him from soul society, muttering to himself while other equipment was set up around the room on tables, specimen tanks, chemicals, centrifuges, and other more mysterious and sinister as Mayuri was typing rapidly, figuring equations into the computer, the green electric glow making him look even more sinister, he thought "you will pay for this humiliation James Heller. You will know a living hell unlike any other." and he chuckled madly as he worked on his sinister plans

well, how about that for a twist? What plans does Mayuri have planned for James Heller? Will Soi Fon find a way to kill Heller? And will Heller find out of this treachery? All this will be answered in future chapter. As always, please favorite, review, and take a look at Dante Price: multiverse jumper chronicles.