jychan: *tries to get off the electric chair* I'm sorry! I know! I know! It's my fault for being too busy and lazy at the same time to refuse to upload any chapter for Kurohime! *thinks* If you release me now, I'd be starting off the chapter, OK? OK? *released from the wheelchair but is forced on the laptop* Lastly, I don't own Bleach, nor its plot not even its characters!
11. Violet As The Rhododendron
I looked at Kuchiki-taichou as I bit my lower lip. Should I fight or not? Aside from a life or death battle, this is also a battle on pride. Because I know that even if I do survive from a fight, I will be losing my pride as a shinigami. After all, shinigamis exist to fight hollows, aside from protecting the plus souls. And if I ever fail to defeat these Arrancars, even with the use of Bankai, then there would only be one thing to call myself: A weakling. Knowing my personality, I wouldn't want to be called a weakling. Therefore, the only way out if I fight is to win.
I must not give up. With that thought on my mind, I tightened my grip on Kurohime. I will have to decide to fight. I would not want to leave Kuchiki-taichou on his own here in this battle. I mean, I have Bankai. Although it's not on par with the rest of the captains of Gotei 13, but it should be enough for me to be able to fight. Right? I mean, Kuchiki-fukutaichou was able to do so, even if she wasn't able to achieve Bankai.
"Bankai. Kuroshite, Sai no Kurohime." I managed to let out five words. Five words which meant only one thing: I would fight against one of these Arrancars with Kuchiki-taichou. Noticing upon my release of Bankai, one of the Arrancars went near me and said, "Yoroshiku. I hope we get well. Although it sounds kinda weird, considering the fact that we are going to fight each other. Anyways, seeing that you've have used your Bankai already, I will be using my Resureccion as well."
As usual, my Bankai changed some parts of my shinigami clothes: the piece of ribbon draping on both of my arms, resembling a shawl, and a gray and delicate obi around my abdomen area. With the way I look, I have similarities with Kurohime, concerning the physical side. I looked at my supposed Arrancar opponent. It seems that it's a female arrancar. Nonetheless, she grinned and said, "By the way, I am Monide Leon. And this is my Resureccion. Oyogu, Ballena azul!"
A huge reiatsu engulfed the whole area as my eyebrows twitched on the level. But no. I am not going to be intimidated by this amount of result. I have seen worst. This level is just something low, if you compare it with the reiatsu that I have encountered in the past. Those levels can be compared with a baby and an adult, with this reiatsu being a baby. Therefore, I hope you can conclude with the fact that I barely survived when I had encountered that reiatsu.
"Ano, sumimasen? Are you still there?" She asked as I nodded while she asked for my name, to which I replied, "Nadeshiko. Yukinobu Nadeshiko." as she gave a grin which made me, raise an eyebrow to her action, "Yukinobu Nadeshiko, eh? Well then, you are going to be the next person in the book wherein I collected the names of the creatures I killed." I widened my eyes on her statement as she tried to slice me, to which, I blocked her move.
"Oooh. Quick. I guess, I'm going to have so much fun fighting with you, Yukinobu-san." She said as I grinned to her comment or rather, compliment. I noticed a number on the side of her stomach: #9. Afterwards, I gave a response to her compliment, "Of course. After all, I'll be trying my best to keep up with an Espada like you."
She chuckled on that as I sensed another reiatsu within the area. Another Arrancar, I presume? And with this reiatsu, it could be another Espada. What am I going to do? It's only Kuchiki-taichou and I who are here. I'm not sure if the other shinigamis in this area could've sensed the presence of these three Arrancars, so even if they would be able to sense it, then it would take time for them to get here. With the fact that there are three Arrancars here, then I am sure that there is a less chance for me to be able to get back to Seireitei 'alive'.
The Arrancar or rather, Espada, went near us while I did a defensive stance. "Monide, it was successful. Now, we can go back." The Espada said as I raised an eyebrow. Huh? Successful? What was successful? I turned to my supposed opponent, who nodded and gave a smile towards me, "I have to go now. We can have a good fight soon. Bye!" She said as she went away while I widened my eyes and shouted, "Wait! What do you mean?" She just gave a chuckle while she waved good-bye as I noticed that Kuchiki-taichou's opponent also left with the other three Arrancars.
I raised an eyebrow as Kuchiki-taichou shunpo-d near me. I turned to him as I asked him, "Kuchiki-taichou, do you know the reason why they left?" His confused yet stern look told me that he didn't knew the answer. "Okay. I guess we could go back to the Urahara Shoten?" I asked as he nodded while we both shunpo-d towards the Urahara Shoten.
The moon was still there in the sky, despite the fact that it was early in the morning. It seems that a few hours have just passed since I was still in Inoue-san's place. But after the confrontation with the two Espada-level Arrancars earlier, it felt like a couple of millenniums have passed. After all, that confrontation earlier could be called a life or death situation. I cannot help but sigh in relief after the earlier events.
As soon as Kuchiki-taichou and I arrived at the Urahara Shoten, I directly went inside wherein I saw a badly-wounded Hitsugaya-taichou and a fainted Matsumoto-fukutaichou, who were being healed by Orihime-san. "What happened? Why?" I asked as I looked at Urahara-san, who sighed and replied, "It seems they have made their move." "Eh? What do you mean, what move?" I asked as Hitsugaya-taichou gave a statement, despite the pain of the wounds that he was feeling, "Karin... They took Karin away."
"Monide, it's successful. Now, we can go back."
I remembered the earlier statement of one of the Espadas. Successful? "But how? I mean, Kurosaki Karin-san still lives with Kurosaki-taichou and Kurosaki Yuzu-san, right?" I asked as Hitsugaya-taichou nodded his head but replied, "He had to go to Seireitei earlier." I bit my lower lip as I bowed my head a bit. "I'll be going to the Kurosaki Residence first. I might find some clues there." I said as I exited the room and was about to shunpo towards the Kurosaki Residence when I heard a familiar stern voice, "Yukinobu, where are you going?"
"I'll be going to the Kurosaki Residence. I might find something there." I said as I felt something on my arm, "What if the Arrancars are still there?" Kuchiki-taichou asked as I replied, "Then, I'll fight him." "What if it is an Espada?" "I don't care. I will still be fighting him and try to find some information where they got Kurosaki Karin-san." "You were already in doubts whether you could defeat that Number 9 Espada earlier." He replied as tears fell down my eyes,
"I don't care, Kuchiki-taichou. I mean, it was my fault earlier. If I didn't go away earlier, then they might have not kidnapped Kurosaki Karin-san?" I replied as I closed my eyes, "What if you were to face a higher ranked Espada? Remember, the one that you were about to fight earlier was already Number 9 and if you were there then, you might have faced a higher-ranked Espada." I remained silent with what Kuchiki-taichou said as I replied, "I don't care ."
He slapped my face as I widened my eyes on his action, "Kuchiki-taichou...", "I don't care if you fight a hollow, Arrancar or an Espada, but please make sure that if you fight one then you would not die in the end. There are people who would be sad if you do die. Please do not forget about that. You have friends who care for you." He replied as I bit my lower lip on his statement. "But... But... I feel so guilty. I mean..." I said as tears continued to fall my eyes while I felt a pat on my head.
"It's not your fault, Yukinobu. It's not. So, please stop crying." Kuchiki-taichou said as I nodded while wiping my tears. "You know, Kuchiki-taichou, when a girl cries, she needs a hug. Not a pat on the head." He raised an eyebrow on what I said as I sighed and replied, "Just don't mind me. Anyways, Kuchiki-taichou, I will be going to the Kurosaki Residence." "I will go with you. In case there are still Espadas." He said as I nodded as we both shunpo-d to the Kurosaki Residence.
We went inside the partly-destroyed house as I looked for Kurosaki Karin-san's room, which I found after finding a sign on one of the doors: Karin. That alone was a proof that it was Kurosaki Karin-san's room. I opened the door as I found that the whole room was still in tact and there was a flower on the bed. It was as Violet as the Rhododendron. Wait. Who am I kidding? It really is a Rhododendron, which meant, 'Beware.'. It might be a warning from Kurosaki Karin-san, especially with the type of zanpakutou she has, which I'd rather not think about or I might get killed by that girl.
But why 'Beware'? Shouldn't it be something like 'Save Me' or some clue towards her being kidnapped? There must be a reason why Kurosaki Karin-san gave a warning. This war might be more dangerous than the Winter War in the past. I bit my lower lip as I sighed in confusion and took the flower on the bed as I went outside the room where Kuchiki-taichou stood. "Why didn't you go inside?" I asked as he replied, "I was about to when you opened the door."
We decided to go back to the Urahara Shoten to show the flower to the others as we hurried off. While we were going back to the Urahara Shoten, I couldn't help but think and ponder on the same thing that has kept me wondering ever since I found the Rhododendron on Kurosaki Karin-san's bed: Where should we be wary of? To whom? I sighed as I opened the door towards the Urahara Shoten.
jychan: FINISHED! FINISHED! *gets off the chair* Now, I would like to thank the people who added the story to their Favorite Story and Story Alert list! And also to those who added me to their Favorite Author and Author Alert List! Thank you very much, despite the fact that I have been a very 'sadistic' and lazy 'author'! And I apologize once again for making you wait, guys!
Kvaez Varetnai: Don't get blown away yet! This is still the beginning! Shikaiki and Gokaiki are also moves by Nadeshiko that she can use in Shikai and Bankai (only for Shikaiki). She still has to practice Gokaiki on Bankai. Their literal meanings are "Fourth Death Anniversary" (Shikaiki) and "Fifth Death Anniversary" (Gokaiki). I hope I was able to help! :)
ToshiroHitsugayagirlfriend: Thanks! I hope you'll enjoy this chapter!
monsterai: I already did! Sorry for making you wait! xD