"So how are we going to restore my powers?" Kaien asked. He was still down in the underground training area with Kisuke, Gin, and Grimmjow. They had just finished explaining the concepts of the Dangai precipice world and explaining that the image of the Adjuchas class Menos that they had shown Kaien was indeed Grimmjow.
"Well the first thing to do is to undo that seal placed on your powers. But for that, we'll need a little item I call Experiment Oh-one five." Kisuke said as Tessai slid down the ladder from above, a large box, one nearly as tall as he was, strapped to his back.
"How exactly does the seal work?" Kaien asked curiously. Grimmjow quickly raised a fist towards Kisuke and Gin.
"And if you say Arrancar daihyakka, my response will be Grind, Pantera!" Grimmjow threatened. Gin merely shrugged innocently.
"Such a party pooper." Gin said as he went to assist Tessai in opening the box.
"The seal is a variation of the limiter placed on Soul Reapers with an unusual amount of Spiritual Energy that are deployed to the World of the Living, like Captain and Lieutenant level Soul Reapers. The seal you have is much unique in that, whereas the limiter contains spiritual pressure, yours cuts off your access to all but your most basic spiritual energy." Kisuke explained.
"Basic spiritual energy?" Kaien asked, confused.
"The energy that everyone has? The energy that keeps even the ordinary humans alive?" Grimmjow answered, Kaien finally understanding the gravity of the seal's power.
"So I didn't actually lose my powers, just the ability to access them?" Kaien asked. Kisuke smiled and popped open his fan.
"That's right. The solution, however, is simple." Kisuke said as he turned to Gin and Tessai who had opened the box but stopped short of digging its contents out from under a sea of packing peanuts.
"What is this solution? You called it Experiment oh-one-five. What's it do?" Kaien asked as Kisuke approached the box.
"Fifteen years ago, your old man came to me with an idea. He feared that something might come up in the future that would require him to reenergize his spirit energy in a hurry. He asked me if I could come up with a way of storing a large quantity of his spirit energy so that, if he needed a boost of power, he'd have one standing by. He also suspected that his power might have waned by the end of his thirty years of downtime and he'd need something to bring him back to one hundred percent. So I invented this." Kisuke said as he reached into the box and pulled out a black sword with the symbol "Ban" for a guard and a short length of chain at the end of the hilt.
"That's it?" Kaien asked, unimpressed. Grimmjow, however, recognized what the sword was modeled after. Tensa Zangetsu.
"Wait, I recognize that blade. Isn't that Ichigo's-." "It's actually a recreation of it. Not the actual blade. Ichigo still has it, after all." Kisuke answered. Grimmjow smirking in realization.
"So how is that sword going to restore my powers?" Kaien asked as Kisuke smiled.
"This sword is loaded with your old man's spiritual energy, and you felt how much power he had during the fight the other day, so you have a pretty good idea of how much is in here." Kisuke said, holding the Tensa Zangetsu replica in his hand. Kaien eyed the blade in silent awe.
"That much…is in there?" He asked, his jaw hanging open slightly.
"In order to break the seal, the seal itself needs to be overloaded, allowing you to access your power once again." Kisuke said, approaching Kaien who arched a curious eyebrow.
"So giving me this sword will do that?" Kaien asked. Grimmjow merely grinned sinisterly.
"In a manner of speaking. Tessai!" Kisuke said with a snap of his fingers. Instantly Kaien found himself being held in place by Tessai, his arms pinned to his sides.
"HEY-WHAT-THE-HELL! LET ME GO YOU BASTARD!" Kaien yelled as Kisuke pointed the blade at Kaien.
"Brace yourself, this is gonna hurt!" Kisuke said in a singsong voice before rearing back and stabbing Kaien in the stomach with the blade. Almost instantly a bright red light started glowing from where the blade met flesh. Kaien began screaming, a crimson aura forming around him as the light from his stomach started growing brighter and brighter. Grimmjow soon had to shield his eyes from the glow, but as he watched, he saw the Tensa Zangetsu replica starting to turn grey and then to white. Suddenly Kisuke let go of the sword, which hung in place for a moment before suddenly shaking slightly and sliding itself into Kaien's stomach on its own. Tessai had let go the second Kisuke had released the sword.
"What the hell Kisuke! How is killing the kid helping him?" Grimmjow yelled as Kisuke stepped back towards him with Tessai flash stepping next to them.
"The sword itself is made of solidified reishi! It's designed so that the whole thing gets absorbed! Loosely translated, he's finishing every last drop!" Kisuke explained over Kaien's agonized screams before Kaien was finally enveloped within a pillar of crimson red energy that caused all four of them to brace themselves against the sudden powerful force that came rushing towards them from where Kaien stood. Finally the light began to fade, and where Kaien once stood was Kaien's body, while standing over it, once again wearing the black kimono, hakama, and crimson obi sash, clutching the two massive blades, was Kaien back in his Soul Reaper form and breathing heavily. Finally Kaien looked up towards the other four, Kisuke starting to approach him.
"Well, how does it feel?" Kisuke asked with a smile as he stopped in front of Kaien. He suddenly was dealt a punch to the face by Kaien.
"Why the hell do all your plans for breaking seals and the like involve STABBING ME!" Kaien roared angrily.
"KAIEN!" he heard two familiar feminine voices exclaim before he was suddenly glomped by the Ametsuchi twins.
"Gah! What the hell!" Kaien yelped as he felt himself get sandwiched between his Zanpakuto spirits.
"We were so worried!" "We thought we'd never hear you again!" "Don't ever leave us like that, Kaien!" "Please!" the twins said as they clung to their wielder. Kaien, noticing their expressions of pure relief, smiled warmly at them.
"I'm sorry for scaring you like that. I promise I won't let it happen again." Kaien said softly to them.
"We're glad to be back, Kaien." "Yeah, so let's get you back to one hundred percent and maybe even more!" the twins said as a recovered Kisuke smiled at the sight.
"Well I guess it's back to normal for you, Kaien." Kisuke said as Kaien nodded.
"Right. I'm ready to begin training right away." Kaien said with a determined smile, Ametsuchi standing next to him on either side, with matching smiles.
"And you will…tonight after you say your goodbyes." Kisuke said as Kaien arched an eyebrow.
"Huh?"
"I'll be frank with you, Kaien. We can't afford much delay. There's at least a month's grace period before they'll do anything to Lieutenant Kusajishi, and in that time, we need you to become as strong as possible, which means you're going to need to devote every ounce of spare time to training. But once you go in there, you'll be there for what will feel like two solid months when you'll only be there for one. In that time, I don't want your family worrying about you or vice versa. That's why you'll need a believable cover story for why you'll be leaving home for a month…or more." Kisuke said as Kaien remained silent, digesting what Kisuke had said.
"I assume you have a story made up already?" Kaien asked as Kisuke smiled and nodded.
"Yep. Here's the brochure." Kisuke said as he handed Kaien a small pamphlet. Kaien glanced at it for a second before pocketing it.
"Alright. I'll see you tonight." Kaien said as he turned towards his body.
"Hey, you're not even going to give this some thought?" Grimmjow asked curiously.
"I made up my mind the second I lost my powers and Yachiru got arrested. She doesn't deserve death for giving me my powers and, from what I've learned from Kisuke, she's being framed. If I can prevent an injustice from occurring, then I'll lay my life on the line to make sure it doesn't happen." Kaien said as Grimmjow grinned then started laughing, slapping Kaien on the back.
"You are so your father's son! Ichigo would do the same thing!" Grimmjow said as Kaien smiled appreciatively.
"Come together, Ametsuchi." Kaien said, the twins taking their Shikai form in his hands. Kaien then picked up and reentered his body before turning back towards the others.
"I'll see you soon. I've got to get a few things before I come back." Kaien said as he started for the ladder.
At the Kurosaki Clinic…
"You're-…-you're what?" Rukia asked in shock. She, Ichigo, Yuzu, Neko, and Hisana were all gathered around in the living room, sitting on the couch.
"I'm going on a month long trip to Hawaii. My employer wants me to help out one of his stores over there. It's an imports store and he requires all of his employees to go for at least one month to work at his store on the other end. I've been thinking about this for some time, and I finally decided to go." Kaien said as Rukia shook her head.
"Out of the question! Kaien you can't-." "Why not?" Ichigo interrupted, earning disbelieving looks from the other four around him, even Kaien was stunned.
"Ichigo?" Rukia said in disbelief.
"Kaien's a grown man. Besides this might be good for him. I mean, we've been to Hawaii before." Ichigo said as Rukia sighed heavily.
"That was for our honeymoon, Ichigo!" Rukia corrected.
"Well it's still a great opportunity for him. Get a chance to learn some new things, expand his horizons a little. I think it'll be good for him. I say he goes." Ichigo said as Neko rubbed her forehead, letting out a groan.
"I hear an invocation of his position incoming." She mumbled.
"Oh, thanks for the idea, Neko, I hadn't thought of that." Ichigo said, causing Neko to grimace while feeling the searing gazes of Rukia and Yuzu. Ichigo then stood up.
"As head of the Kurosaki clan, I hereby approve of Kaien's trip." Ichigo declared, Neko burying her face into her hands.
"So…I can go?" Kaien asked, surprised.
"Just be sure not to do anything stupid and be sure to write regularly. Stay away from the hula dancers too. You're too young to become a father." Ichigo said before getting socked in the gut.
"What kind of guy do you think I am?" Kaien asked in annoyance.
"What exactly would you be doing over there?" Yuzu asked, suspiciously.
"Well, stuff like, going to a new society, finding and rescuing some great deals, making sure people get what they truly need." Kaien said, looking straight at his mother who quickly caught onto what he was saying but Ichigo and the others seemed oblivious.
"Alright…fine. I may not like it, but, your father has a point. This'll be good for you." Rukia said a sad yet understanding smile.
"Question if you're going to another country for a month, do I get your stereo?" Hisana asked, earning a scowl from Kaien.
"You can have Kon." Kaien said, earning a Kurosaki scowl from Hisana.
"I'll pass, thank you." Hisana mumbled.
"So I suppose you best be getting packed." Rukia said as Kaien nodded.
"Yeah. I suppose so." Kaien said as he started up the stairs, Hisana sneaking along after him. Rukia quickly got up off the sofa and started for one of the closets, grabbing a suitcase.
"Ichigo, why did you agree to that?" Yuzu asked, suspiciously. Ichigo shrugged innocently.
"What? I studied abroad when I was getting my medical degree. Just ask Uryu and Chad. I don't why Kaien can't do some work abroad too." Ichigo said as he stood up and headed for the kitchen, leaving his sister and cousin to give each other confused looks.
Up in Kaien's room…
"Can I have your bed?"
"No."
"Can I have your room?"
"Hell no."
"Can I have your skateboard?"
"That you can have. I haven't used that thing since I nearly broke my leg when I was thirteen."
"What about your helmet?"
"Take it." Kaien groaned as he laid out several changes of clothes.
"What about this box?" Hisana asked, picking up a box off Kaien's desk. Kaien noticed it, his eyes widening as he recognized it, and attempted to swipe it from her hands.
"I'll have that." Kaien said but Hisana was playing keep away.
"Ooh I wonder what's in here." Hisana said playfully as Kaien scowled angrily.
"It's a gift to me from Uncle Kuchiki so give it back!" Kaien said, Hisana opening the box, revealing the pair of kenseikan that Byakuya had given him the night after the Summer Cultural Festival.
"Wow. Uncle Kuchiki gave you these?" Hisana asked in awe. Kaien quickly swiped the box from her, closing the lid.
"Yes, and I don't want you wearing them." Kaien said, putting the box in his pocket.
"You don't necessarily have the hair to pull it off, Kaien. Now me on the other hand." Hisana said, running a hand through her hair as if flaunting it.
"How would you like to have your head shaven?" Kaien asked with a challenging grin.
"Alright-alright, sheesh." Hisana replied, walking out into the hallway, leaving Kaien alone. Once he was alone, he reached into his pocket and pulled the box of kenseikan out, opening it and gazing at the polished hair rolls in thought. He quietly closed the box and set it with the rest of his clothes before turning towards a photo on the wall of him and his family.
"You guys have been there for me whenever I needed you. Thank you." Kaien said softly to the picture before he continued packing.
That night…
It was late into the night, well after midnight and after everyone had gone to bed. Kaien stuck his head out of his bedroom window cautiously, looking around before tossing a duffle bag out the window before carefully climbing out, closing the window, then jumping carefully down and landing safely on the ground below. He reached down and picked up the duffle bag, slinging it over his shoulder before turning and looking up at his home.
"See you guys soon." Kaien said with a saddened expression, his desire not to leave evident in his face. He finally turned and started walking down the street. He hadn't even gotten past his house when he heard…
"GOOD MORNING KAIEN!"
Suddenly Ichigo landed face first into the ground just in front of him.
"GAH! What the hell, dad! You can get yourself killed doing that!" Kaien exclaimed, Ichigo quickly leaping up onto his feet, a small trickle of blood running down from his forehead.
"No worries, I'm tougher than I look!" Ichigo said, giving him a thumbs up.
"You're an idiot! And what are you doing out here in the middle of the night?" Kaien asked.
"I came to see you off. See I did something kinda like what you're doing when I was your age. I ran off from home, went and saw some amazing things and met amazing people. It was an experience that changed my life and I know that this experience will change yours too." Ichigo said. Kaien, knowing what he was referring to, and knowing what would soon be happening in his own life, smiled at his father.
"Yeah." Kaien said, not really knowing how to reply.
"I've also got something for you." Ichigo said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.
"What is it?" Kaien asked, looking the box over.
"It's something to remember us by." Ichigo said as Kaien opened the box, inside was a white wooden carving with the number fifteen on it in black. Underneath the object was a photograph of Ichigo, Rukia, Hisana, and Kaien from a vacation they'd taken to the beach a year ago. Kaien smiled at the photograph and pocketed it while looking oddly at the strange number carving.
"What's this?" Kaien asked.
"That used to hang on the door to your room when I used to live in it. I took it down and hung it on the door to your mothers and my room in our first apartment back when we were first married. But when we moved into the clinic, I decided not to put it on our door; instead I decided to put it away for a while. When I was at university, I gave it to Rukia to remind her of me while I was away and when I went to study abroad. She kept it and it's become something of a good luck charm. It seems only fitting that I hand it off to you." Ichigo said, putting a hand on his son's shoulder. Kaien smiled at his father before pocketing the charm.
"I'll hold onto it, dad." Kaien said as Ichigo smiled. He then kneed his son in the stomach, causing the youth to double over.
"Good luck out there in America, kid." Ichigo said with a smirk as he walked back into the clinic, leaving Kaien, still doubled over, but smiling towards his old man.
"Thanks…dad."
End Chapter 34.
Soul Reaper Illustrated Guide…
Kaien arrived in the underground training area, bag slung over his shoulder.
"Alright, Urahara, I'm here!" Kaien called into the area.
"Great! Now that you're here, we need to get you into Soul Reaper form!" Kisuke said as Kaien smirked and reached into his duffle bag.
"No problem. I grabbed something before leaving home." Kaien said as he pulled Kon from his bag.
"HEY! What's the big idea stuffing me in your smelly duffle bag! It smells awful in there!" Kon groaned but Kaien ignored him and pulled the pill from his body. He then swallowed the pill, emerging into Soul Reaper form while Kon took over his body.
"Kon, behave yourself while you're in my body. If you make me come off as a jackass, I'll kill you." Kaien warned, a nearby Grimmjow grinning evilly at the Mod Soul for emphasis. Kon saluted with a sweat drop.
"You can count on me, Kaien!" Kon declared proudly. Later, Kon was searching through the magazine rack in the store upstairs when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Ah there you are, Kon. I've got something special in store for you." Kisuke said, earning a very hesitant expression from the mod soul.
"Like what?" He asked nervously. He knew full well what Kisuke was capable of.
"Come with me and in chapter 35, you'll find out!" Kisuke said, startling Kon.
"What?"
To be continued…