Fox: Hello, sorry for the lateness once more. But yay for new readers!!
girlX901, dreamerxofxroses, wierdunusualchick, ironjaw, Shi Kage, Ellis Sullivan and of course all of my older readers too!
You guys are great and I'm very happy that everyone is enjoying and liking the story.
I do hope you enjoy!
Chapter Six: Rampaging Powerhouse
Ichigo and Ruika spit out their tea once news of Kiki's training reached their ears. Ichigo began to gag on the hot liquid while Ruika questioned the shopkeeper. "Yes, yes, it's all true. Kiki is near -almost above- Ichigo's level." Urahara explained, as he fanned himself. Ichigo regained his closure and looked at Urahara. "Is okay? That's all my main concern."
Urahara nodded. "She's sleeping as we speak. All safe and sound."
Ruika cleaned up the mess she and Ichigo had made when she asked. "How did you awaken her powers?" Urahara snapped his fan closed and slipped it inside his robes. "Her trigger seemed similar to Ichigo's. Fear." Urahara glanced at the orange haired Shinigami through his bangs. Ichigo kept his lips sealed. Ruika sighed. "I hope she cause as much trouble as Ichigo." Ichigo flinched. Urahara let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha, Miss Ruika, I do so enjoy your sense of humor!" He exclaimed.
"What the hell?! I don't cause trouble! Trouble finds me!" Ichigo yelled, banging his fists on the table.
Ruika smirked. "It must find you because your odor has a hint of strawberry about it?"
"....." Ichigo's face flared red in anger.
"Pfft!" Urahara now held his fan before his face in order to contain his booming laughter.
Ichigo held up his hand to say something more when another comment sent him further into the embarrassing chaos. "Maybe they're mistaking Ichigo for that children's character 'Strawberry Shortcake'. Haha, you're attracting a small girl's enemies!" Jinta mocked from the door, that he was leaning on. Ichigo nearly lost his fuse until little Ururu appeared from behind the red haired boy. "You guys have it all wrong." She said. Everyone -excluding Ichigo- gave her a shocked look. "He's got orange hair, right? So, he smells like oranges." She announced proudly. And Ichigo's fuse went up in flames. "I'm gonna get you two for this!" He shot up from his seat like a rocket and chased after the screaming kids. Urahara chuckled and took a sip of tea. "Ururu is developing a bit of a backbone. I'm overjoyed." He smiled. "Yeah, she's getting more funny every time she opens her mouth." Ruika agreed. Urahara stared at her.
"Oh no, I meant her attitude. Always quite and shy, very depressing."
Ruika had a look of disbelieve. "You're a strange guy, you know?"
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Kiki tossed and turned in the mat she was sleeping in. Images flooded her mind. Things she never saw before and some that were tattooed into her mind forever. Her family, friends, that Hollow, and...whose that?
A small little pink haired girl stood had her back facing Kiki. She had on a smaller version of a Shihakusho. The girl turned and giggled. Kiki couldn't see her eyes because they were hidden beneath her pink hair. The child kept laughing until she ran off. Kiki rubbed her eyes and chased after the girl.
"Hey, wait! Who are you?!" She yelled.
The young Shinigami paid Kiki no attention, just remained running. Kiki felt like she was getting farther from the girl, not any closer. She was about to give up when someone else appeared. The tiny Shinigami let out a yelp of delight and hoped on the shoulder of the person. The man was tall and looked like he was massive. Kiki came to a stop, trying to regain some her lost air. She looked up at the pair and saw the girl beginning to talk. But nothing came out. It was like she was mouthing the words. "I can't hear you. What are you saying?" Kiki looked closely at the girl's lips, trying to see what she was saying. Kiki could tell that she was repeating herself. But what exactly was she repeating?
"....-chan!" The girl said.
"Huh?"
"...nny-chan!"
"Chan?"
"...enny-chan!"
It was getting louder and more clear.
"Kenny-chan!" The girl giggled once more.
The tall man turned and Kiki gasped.
"You're-!"
Kiki shuddered awake. Sweat formed on her brow. The newly awakened Shinigami wobbly rose herself from the bed. Kiki groaned and rubbed her head. "Kenny-chan...is that..." She cut herself off when someone knocked softly on the screen door. "Come in," She whispered. Ichigo opened the door and sat next to Kiki. "Wow, you look like you've been run over." He joked. Kiki let out a shaky laugh. "Feels like it too," Ichigo touched her shoulder. "You'll be okay. I promise. I went through the same thing. Well, not exactly, but very close." Kiki smiled weakly and grabbed his hand. "I get it." Ichigo grinned and stood up. "Want a drink?" She shook her head. "Yeah, I think that would be great." He nodded and exited. Kiki sighed and thought about all of this.
"What a load of crap..."
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Ichigo had gotten Kiki her drink and returned to the others. Urahara, Ruika, and the rest were seated at the table. Ichigo sat down near Ruika. "Alright, now that everyone is here, I can begin." The shopkeeper's usual cheerful and laid back demeanor melted into a serious and monotone attitude. "Miss Kiki has successfully woken her abilities and survived. The first stage." He said grimly. Ichigo glared at Urahara. "What do you mean 'first stage'?" Urahara cleared his throat. "You all know the risks of forcing a to be Soul Reaper before it's time." Ichigo closed his eyes and remembered what had occurred when Urahara brutally made his jump start. "There's a very high chance of Kiki forming an inner Hollow, much like Ichigo." Ruika quickly glanced at Ichigo. His jaw was firmly set. "When you set a Bankai into overdrive, or force it, there's a risk of Hollowfication." The group lowered their heads. "Yes, I feel bad as well. But I think it is necessary for us to be aware of what could possible happen." Urahara continued. "Unless we keep a close eye on her for a few days. If anyone sees her acting strange or even having nightmares, find me immediately."
Ichigo abruptly jumped from his sitting place. His brown eyes flickering with determination. "Kiki's my friend, dammit! I will do everything in my power to keep such a curse from her!" He clutched his chest. "I know what it's like having a demon inside you." Ichigo bit his lip.
"And I hate it."
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Two days passed and Kiki slept peacefully. Ichigo took care of things at school for her and Ruika as she stayed behind to watch Kiki. Urahara and his group took care of the measures that would have to be taken if Kiki developed a Hollow Mask. Ruika was beginning to nod off before she realized what was happening. "Damn Gigai. I don't sleep." She growled. She looked at Kiki, who was sleeping away. Ruika sighed and stared at her. Once again, her eyes began to droop.
"Bwahahaha!!!"
Ruika was startled out her drowsy mood. Kiki had laughed out loud in her sleep! "What a strange human..." Ruika muttered. Kiki had a goofy grin on her face before rolling over on her side. Ruika was about to settle down when an alert jingled on her phone. She huffed and looked at the glowing screen. It was a message from Renji. Ruika quickly opened the cyber letter and scanned it. Her eyes grew wide. She looked at the time in the right bottom corner of the screen and bolted out of Kiki's room. Kiki flinched. She unconsciously scratched her cheek. Unknowing to her and Ruika, white spikes poked out of Kiki's pale skin.
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Ichigo was walking towards the Urahara Shoten when Ruika came dashing out.
"Ichigo!"
He saw the urgency in her expression and ran to meet her.
"What's up? Did something happen to Kiki?!"
"No, she's fine. But, I just received this."
Ruika held up her cell.
Ichigo ran his eyes over the text message.
Sender: Abarai Renji
To: Kuchiki Ruika
"Ruika, I pray this reaches you in time. We have big trouble in the Soul Society. Kenpachi is on a rampage for some unknown reason and even your brother can't stop him! Please, bring Kurasaki and anyone else you may know with Spiritual Powers. We're gonna need all the help we can get."
-Renji
Ichigo and Ruika exchanged words without speaking. They were going to the Soul Society.
"We're not taking Kiki, though." Ichigo said more like was set in stone.
"I understand. She would be a great asset but she is recovering now."
Ruika slid on her glove and snatched Ichigo's soul. He drew his Zanpaku-to. "Urahara will have to watch over her now. We've got to help." Ruika nodded and removed herself from the Gigai. The two Shinigami raced off to where Urahara kept the portal to gain access to the Spirit World. Urahara stepped out just in time to the two run off. "Hey, where are you two heading off to?!" He shouted after them. Ichigo yelled back. "Soul Society. Kenpachi is stirring up trouble!" Urahara shuddered. 'Ugh, Kenpachi, that man gives me the creeps.'
"Watch Kiki, okay?" Ruika asked.
"Of course!"
The Reapers disappeared from sight and Urahara returned inside. A trickle of fear ran like electricity down his spine. Nothing spooked him like that for awhile. He followed the eerie feeling all the way to Kiki's room. 'Please don't be what I think...' He pleaded. Slowly opening the screen, Urahara peeked inside. Kiki wasn't moving except for the movement of her chest, showing she was breathing shallow. Urahara let out a breath of relief. She was still asleep. His eyes crept over her form. And not a single piece of Hollow Armor had seemed to form. "Maybe I'm finally losing my mind..." He muttered. He shut the door and walked away. Leaving Kiki in her deep slumber. The white spikes were now growing into what appeared to be some sort of plate...
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Ichigo and Ruika had just now crossed over to the other Side when they noticed all the flames. The outer rim of the Soul Society was caught on fire! Ruika gasped. All of this was caused by Captain Eleven: Zaraki Kenpachi. Ichigo was impassive. He knew the power of this particular Shinigami. And deep down...The man truly scared Ichigo. He gulped as they drew closer. Buildings looked as if they were to fall to their knees at any second. The two cautiously walked the grounds in case Kenpachi showed up.
Wood cracked and smoldered as the fire ate away it. Ruika seemed saddened by the whole situation. Her thoughts were on the text. Renji didn't seem sure that he would make it before they arrived. Her heart ached as she imagined losing yet another close companion. Ichigo picked up on her gloomy energy and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure everybody is okay. Kenpachi may have just lost his temper." Ruika grinned. But inside she knew Kenpachi didn't lose his cool this easily. Something pissed him off. Big time.
'Snap'
The sound of a piece of smashed wood caught their attention. They drew their Zanpaku-to's and prepared themselves for the worst.
'I'd rather have my brother than Kenpachi.'Ruika was amazed at inner thoughts.
'Be calm. Be cool. Don't be Kenpachi!' Ichigo pleaded within himself.
Their grip on the swords grew tighter with each step the shadowy figure took.
Out of the flames came Renji.
"Hey, guys, I'm glad you came!"
The red headed Shinigami was covered in blood and had cinder marks on his Shihakusho . He looked as if he had battled for his very life. "Whew, has this guy finally lost it!" Renji whistled. Ichigo and Ruika lowered their weapons. "Where is everyone else?" Ruika asked. Renji jabbed his thumb behind him. "Over near the square. They've managed to halt Kenpachi there. For the moment anyway..." He trailed off. "And why are you here?" Renji gazed over at Ichigo. "The Captains wanted the Lieutenants to retreat and find help." He looked back over at Ruika. "That's the chance I got when I texted you." Ruika studied the ground. "What has upset Kenpachi so much?" Renji shook his head. "We have no idea. But there is one thing. Yachiru hasn't been seen for a day at the most." "She's missing?" Renji looked back to where the fight was taking place. "Yeah, and that's all we can assume has made him so infuriated."
Ruika glanced between Ichigo and Renji. "Listen up, Renji and I will go help the others while Ichigo searches for Yachiru." Ichigo lashed out. "I can be more of help fighting Kenpachi more than finding some little girl!" Ruika sent a glare in his direction. One that was commonly used among the Kuchiki clan. It was colder than anything Ichigo ever gazed at. He shuddered and jumped away in defeat. If he found the missing girl then maybe Kenpachi would calm down!
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It seemed to take an eternity before Ichigo spotted anybody would be of some help. There was a lonely spirit wandering the forest Ichigo had been jumping around in. He landed directly in front of the ghost. It let out an 'Eep!' and hovered away. "Wait, don't float away! I need some help!" Ichigo dashed after it. The see through figure flew faster. 'Damn it!' Ichigo dove and took it down.
"Gah, p-p-please don't hurt me! I'm just a harmless spirit!!" It cried out.
"I'm not going to harm you. I just need some assistance." Ichigo explained.
The ghost nodded quickly.
"An-anything you want!"
Ichigo let it up and he stood face to face with it. "Have you seen a little Shinigami girl with pink hair and really hyper?" The ghost touched where it's chin would have been. "Shinigami girl with pink hair? Hmm, nope haven't seen anything that strange." Ichigo's shoulders bent down. "Thanks anyway..."
"Ah, but wait! I do recall hearing someone shout 'Wolf, wolf!' over and over. I suspected someone was in trouble so I steered far away."
'A wolf?'
Fox: (Le gasp) What has happened?! What's growing on Kiki? Another head? A mushroom? Who knows?!?! Oh yeah, I do =] Hehe, thanks for reading! I hope to see you next chapter! Please review. They're nice to read :]
Oops, I forgot the meanings for the Japanese words from last chappie O.o
1: Behime: 'Red Princess'
2: Amarante: 'The Flower That Never Wilts'
3: Shihakusho: 'Soul Reaper Uniform'