Chapter XXII
Hello to all, it is time for the newest chapter of Chaos Pawn of the Gremory. Hopefully the wait was not too long. I trust you all enjoyed the last chapter? Well, most of you I hope at least. As usual I would like to thank my coauthor TheLastNanaya and my secondary author Bakuto Masaki. Not too much else to say so might as well move on to the reviewer responses.
BANKAIZEN: That is good I hope.
Chayner: Yep, lots and lots of action. He will fight a couple, and a few in ways you will not expect.
It will go a bit differently, that is all I can say.
superpeirce: He may.
Nothing too extreme this time around in terms of reviews so I suppose it is time to move on to the chapter. Mild warning though, things are about to get...weird. You will see what I mean.
Aika, Orihime, and Uryu peaked out from behind a wall and looked around.
"Get back," Uryu said quietly.
All three ducked back as a group of Soul Reapers gathered near their position.
Uryu narrowed his eyes as he looked around. "It seems the situation has gotten really serious. Forget rescuing Erza, it'll be hard enough just to meet back up with Kazuma and the others. Although, if a fight were to break out somewhere we could figure out where at least one of them are." He looked around and thought. 'If I go out there and start a commotion the others might be able to hone in on our position.' "Do you think I should go out there and cause a scene?"
"I don't think so," Aika added. "What about you Orihime?"
No response.
The two turned around and saw that Orihime was gone.
"Where did she go…?" Uryu asked puzzled.
"No clue…" Aika responded curiously.
"Uryu! Aika!" they suddenly heard Orihime shouting.
The two stepped onto one of the roads and saw Orihime running towards them, pursued by two groups of Soul Reapers.
"We should probably leg it!" Aika suggested.
"Good idea!" Uryu responded as the duo took off running with Orihime right behind them and the Soul Reapers right behind her.
As the three ran Orihime apologized frantically through huffs, "I…I'm sorry for getting spotted while looking around!"
Uryu snarled and stopped and turned around. "Since we've already started a commotion I suppose there's not a choice but to fight."
Orihime stopped and put her hands on her hair. "I'll fight too!"
Uryu put up a hand and requested, "Leave this to me."
At that moment another group of Soul Reapers appeared in one road and yet another from another road.
Uryu began sweating heavily.
Aika adjusted her glasses with a snicker. "Well, what do we do now?"
"There's no way I can take on all these Soul Reapers…we run!"
All three ran off at high speeds as the three groups of Soul Reapers gave chase, only to crash into each other and give the trio time to escape.
Sado, Toyotama, and Yuuto still sat in one of the trees in the Soul Society, looking around.
"What's that?" Yuuto asked as he pointed towards a dust cloud moving through the streets nearby.
"Do you think it's Kazuma?" Sado asked.
Toyotama shook her head and pointed off in a different direction with her spear. "No, he's over there. I don't know who that is but it's not him."
Yuuto looked at her surprised. "How do you know?"
"I have a Bond with him. I can tell at least what direction he's in at all times, no matter how far away we are."
Yuuto looked down in thought before a small smile emerged. "How nice."
"Huh, you say something pretty boy?"
Yuuto shook his head. "No, it's nothing. We should probably get going and see who's behind that dust cloud."
Sado and Toyotama nodded in agreement as all three jumped down and gave chase towards the billowing cloud of dust.
In one of the many buildings throughout the Seireitei, Rowen sat with Rias and Akeno, all three drinking tea.
"I am quite surprised you agreed to have a drink with me," Rowen remarked with a light chuckle.
"Well I do prefer negotiations over fighting when possible," Rias replied.
"Hoho, how true. In my old age I prefer not to fight unless necessary."
Rias frowned in thought. "I was under the impression Soul Reapers don't age."
"Oh no, no. We age just the same as other beings. Except our aging processes vary from individual to individual. It's a lot of scientific wordage this old fogey's mind can't quite handle." After a moment of silence Rowen asked, "You wouldn't mind lending an ear to an old man for a time, would you?"
Rias shook her head. "Of course not. If you don't mind me saying I'm sure a Soul Reaper of your age has many stories to tell."
"Ohoho, I don't mind at all. And it is true. Now, where to begin…" Rowen stroked his beard in thought. "Ah, yes. I know the perfect spot to begin. The day I met a young man named Jude Mathis."
Ikkaku looked at the ground, where the chunk of fabric Ichigo had taken from Hozukimaru lay. His eyes widened when Ichigo stamped his foot on it.
Ichigo smirked and taunted, "Aren't you being a little too surprised? So have you lost the will to fight?"
Ikkaku hissed in annoyance.
Ichigo's smirk turned serious as he lowered his swords to strike. "If you won't go then I will!" Ichigo then leapt into the air towards Ikkaku.
Ikkaku, his shock wearing off as the cobwebs in his head cleared out, then rejoined Hozukimaru's pieces as Ichigo's blades clashed with his.
"Like I said before, the next one unable to hold his weapon will be you!"
"Fat chance!" Ikkaku rebutted as he pushed Ichigo away.
Ichigo swung his shorter sword at Ikkaku, causing Ikkaku to block the attack. Ichigo then smirked and swung the larger sword at Ikkaku.
Ikkaku's eyes widened. 'Damn, too close!' Ikkaku split the sections of Hozukimaru hoping to catch Ichigo off-balance but Ichigo swung the two swords in a scissor motion and severed the chain on the bottom section of Hozukimaru, the longer sword also slicing at Ikkaku's chest, carving a shallow gash, sending blood splashing down.
Ikkaku hissed in frustration and pain as he threw the now useless section of Hozukimaru to the side. "Heh, what's wrong?" he taunted. "Is that really all you've got? If it is, then all I can say to you is too bad – I'm still able to hold Hozukimaru!" He then grabbed the end, what was the middle, section of Hozukimaru with his hand and swung the blade above his head in a circular motion. "If you don't want me to hold my weapon the only way would be to take my arm!"
"Lower your sword," Ichigo asked.
"Yeah right, like I'd actually do that!"
"I'll say it again, lower your sword. This match is over and you've lost."
Ikkaku continued to swing Hozukimaru as he rebutted, "Tch, you idiot. This is a battle in which the difference between victory and defeat is life and death."
Palutena folded her arms as she looked at Kazuma. "I may not know every aspect of the universe, but I know this much, you're a Campione. So I have to wonder, what's a Campione doing in the Seireitei?"
Kazuma narrowed his eyes in annoyance.
"Campione, what's that?" Lisanna asked.
Rangiku put a hand on her shoulder. "It's a little hard to explain right now."
Lisanna raised an eyebrow in thought.
Kazuma sighed in response. "I'm really not excited about fighting a goddess right now, so if you don't mind I'd rather avoid it."
Palutena raised the staff in her hand towards Kazuma and narrowed her eyes. "I'd appreciate an explanation before we go any further."
Kazuma growled in annoyance. "Fine, I'll keep it simple."
Ikkaku immediately charged at Ichigo, swinging his Zanpakuto wildly at him, his angle of attack changing every few seconds.
Ichigo blocked each attack as it came in, however, in his mind, the target before him was not Ikkaku and Hozukimaru. Rather, it was Kazuma's clone and its katana, attacking in the same erratic manner as Ikkaku.
Suddenly Ichigo's eyes widened as he shouted, "Too slow!" sending one powerful thrust of his blades forward.
A line of blood formed up Ikkaku's arm as Ichigo sliced it.
Ikkaku took a few steps past Ichigo before falling to one knee. "Heh…you're strong. Guess my own luck isn't too good." He then collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"We both have bad luck…" Ichigo muttered as blood started seeping through his bandages.
Aoko looked around her, attempting in vain to see something, anything.
"How is it, a world of total darkness? This is the world I live in at all times," Tousen remarked before swinging his blade at Aoko, slicing a gash along her back.
Aoko shouted in pain as the gash in her back formed. She put a hand over her shoulder.
Tousen tensed as a blue light emanated from Aoko's wound before the wound, and any evidence of it, vanished entirely.
"I'm pretty sure you can hear me, Soul Reaper," Aoko remarked, looking straight ahead. "I'm not going to go down that easily." 'In that singular moment, I could see, hear, and feel. So when he strikes me…that's when…'
Tousen huffed in derision. "You're overconfidence is bothersome. It is ones like you, whose actions and powers go against the natural order, who oppose justice. And justice I shall impose onto you!" Tousen rushed forward, slashing at Aoko's side as he ran. Tousen frowned as he could sense her injury healing once more before suddenly feeling a blunt impact in the back of his head, causing him to tumble forward.
"Hey, I hit something!" Aoko said excitedly. 'Looks I calculated right.'
Tousen snarled and charged towards Aoko once more, but flinched as his sword impacted a wall of energy instead of her body.
Aoko then surged forward and sent a powerful punch at Tousen that slammed into his torso and sent him flying back.
Tousen grunted as he stabbed his sword into the ground, skidding to a halt. "Damn. Her reflexes are far superior than what I anticipated." Tousen grit his teeth. "I cannot allow someone like you to continue to exist." He then charged towards Aoko.
Aoko continued looking around in an attempt to guess Tousen's next moment to strike but was unprepared when he sent a vertical slice at her chest. She snarled in pain and put a hand over her chest, healing the injury.
However, just as soon as she healed the injury Tousen sent another slash at her, putting a small injury on her upper arm. He continued with another series of swings at her legs and arms.
Aoko thrust her hands forward, sending a powerful blast of energy that sent Tousen rocketing back. Aoko took several moments to catch her breath as her injuries faded away. She hissed in frustration. 'I can't keep this up. My mana will only last so long. Based on his last series of strikes he's probably going to try for a killing blow. So on his next strike I have to make it count.' "Endless river that is ever-changing, springing forth new currents!"
Tousen flinched as he heard her beginning to chant.
"May these words freeze you still, and bring all to a stop!"
Tousen lowered himself and then began circling Aoko, running around to behind her before charging forward.
Aoko gasped as she felt Tousen's sword pierce her from behind, piercing through her back and emerging from her abdomen. "Now!" she shouted as she wrapped her hand around Tousen's blade.
"What?!" Tousen shouted in shock.
"Frozen Clock!"
Ganju continued running through the streets of the Seireitei before stopping and then looking around. "Alright…where did pretty boy go…?"
Yumichika ran on the rooftops above and smirked before jumping down, Fuji Kujaku ready to smash down on Ganju.
However Ganju rolled away from the strike just as Yumichika hit the ground.
Yumichika sneered in annoyance. "Just how long do you plan to keep on running?"
Ganju pulled a cleaver-style sword from behind him and rebutted with a smirk, "I'll keep going until you give up."
Yumichika sighed in frustration. "Give me a break. I'm just about fed up with you. I will end this now with Fuji Kujaku." The blade then opened up to its four-sickled form.
Ganju snickered and sheathed his blade, reached into the barrel above the small sword, and pulled out a bomb before striking it against a series of panels on his left arm. "You're getting ahead of yourself pal." Ganju then threw the bomb onto the ground, causing the duo to be engulfed in billowing red smoke.
Yumichika began to cough as the gas caused his eyes to water. "Damn, this smoke is getting into my beautiful eyes."
Ganju laughed proudly. "This is Kukaku brand Chili Pepper Smoke Bomb, strong enough to make you cry blood." Ganju himself then began to tear and cough.
Still coughing violently, Yumichika chided, "You really are too ugly. Causing yourself damage with your own attack."
The two then tried to pathetically walk out from the smoke.
"Where are you, you oaf?!" Yumichika called angrily.
"Hah, you won't be able to catch me, even in here!" Ganju rebutted.
The two then, almost in sync, fell from the nearby ledge into one of the pits.
Ganju managed to grab onto the ledge but Yumichika managed to grab onto the barrel on his back.
"Hey, come on, let go!" Ganju demanded.
"Of course I won't let go you ugly fool!" Yumichika snarled.
Hibiki and Hikari ran through the streets of the Seireitei when they stopped at a four-way.
"Great, now which way do we go?" Hibiki asked in frustration.
"How would I know?" Hikari snapped, irritated.
The two looked around and then Hibiki pointed nearby. "Let's go this way."
Hikari shrugged but then nodded.
As they ran they stopped as they saw two people they didn't want to meet, two Soul Reapers.
The first was a young-looking man with short blonde hair combed into three points, two small points on the back of his neck and a third, large point combed over part of his face, hiding one of his blue eyes, who wore a Soul Reaper Lieutenant's uniform.
The second was a tall, lean-built man with short black hair, dark grey eyes, three straight, parallel scars down the right side of his face, the number "69" tattooed on his left cheek, and a blue, stripe tattoo over the bridge of his nose and the left side of his face who wore a sleeveless Soul Reaper Lieutenant's uniform along with a choker and matching armbands on both upper arms.
The second man turned and saw Hibiki and Hikari nearby. He narrowed his eyes and put his hand on his Zanpakuto. "Izuru, we've got company."
The first man, Izuru, nodded in agreement as he reached for his Zanpakuto. "I see them, Shuhei."
Hibiki narrowed her eyes. "I don't think we can run away from this one."
Hikari raised her hands, electricity sparking at her fingers. "Yeah, same here Sis."
Shuhei unsheathed his blade as Izuru did the same.
"Shall we?" Izuru remarked.
Hikari smirked as her body became encased in electricity. "Your funeral."
Izuru charged towards Hibiki and swung his blade at her.
Hibiki ducked under the swing and jumped back.
Shuhei narrowed his eyes as he raised his blade.
"If you won't go first then I will!" Hikari shouted as she fired a bolt of lightning towards Shuhei.
Shuhei disappeared in a flash of speed.
"What the…?!" Hikari turned as Shuhei appeared behind her and swung his blade. Hikari surged electricity behind her and forced Shuhei to jumped back to dodge.
"This fight isn't going to be easy, is it?" Hibiki asked.
"I doubt it."
Ikkaku grunted as he slowly opened his eyes. He frowned indignantly and asked equally irritated, "Why am I still alive?"
Ichigo, ignoring Ikkaku, held up Hozukimaru, now in its normal form, and said in thought, "I didn't know that one of these Zanpakuto things would go back to normal when the wielder goes unconscious."
Ikkaku twitched an eyebrow and snarled, "Hey, give that back."
Ichigo rubbed some of the ointment from Hozukimaru's hilt on some of his injuries and responded, "Calm down, I'm just using some of Hozukimaru's medicine." Ichigo then furrowed his brow in thought. "Huh…it's all gone."
"What?! You idiot!" Ikkaku then blinked in thought and looked down, and realized that his own wounds were covered in the ointment from Hozukimaru. "You fool, what have you done?!"
Ichigo twitched an eyebrow. "Well we were both injured so I thought I'd put this stuff on us so we didn't bleed out. Didn't realize I needed your permission baldy."
Ikkaku sighed in annoyance. "I thought it was weird I hadn't died of blood loss. Tch, it's such a disgrace to have survived because you saved me. If I could move right now I'd beat the crap out of you."
Ichigo hissed in irritation. "Well if I had known you'd get this pissed about it I wouldn't have helped you in the first place!" Ichigo then sighed in an attempt to calm himself. "Whatever, I don't give a damn if you're grateful or not. I just want answers."
Ikkaku sighed in resignation. "Fine, I'll answer your questions. What, you want to know my birthday?"
"I want to know where Erza Scarlet is."
Ikkaku looked at him confused.
Rias laughed in amusement. "Oh my, that's quite something!"
Rowen nodded in agreement. "Yes it was. She never forgave him for that. The other event that comes to mind is Jude's wedding to Milla. What an event that was."
"What happened?" Akeno asked intrigued.
"Well first Miss Elize and Leia pinked out a very large, bright pink cake. Jude was most displeased with that as he specifically requested white. Miss Elize spent the better part of an hour explanation the worth of the color pink. He eventually relented merely to please her. Moments later Miss Elize's best friend Teepo ate the cake in a single large bite."
Rias put a hand over her mouth in surprise. "Oh my, he must have quite the appetite."
"Ohohoho. Yes, Teepo could eat just about anything. Of course, what happened after that is probably what most of the guests remembered."
"What was it?" Rias asked with slight trepidation.
"Well, after Teepo devoured the original cake, which had Miss Elize and Miss Leia quite disheartened, Miss Muzet brought out a new cake that matched Jude's desires."
"That doesn't sound too awful, I imagine something else happened?" Akeno asked.
Rowen nodded. "Yes, at that moment Lady Presa emerged from the cake to greet Jude and Milla."
Rias and Akeno glanced at each other as he spoke.
"Of course what caused the moment to be memorable was the fact that Lady Presa was not clothed in any way when she emerged."
Rias and Akeno sweat-dropped as a small trickle of blood fell from Rowen's nose.
Rowen deftly wiped the small trickle away with a cloth. "Oh, deary me, it seems my old age is getting to me. Of course, with that event having set the mood for the wedding, most people were suitably unexcited when it was decided that, according the Auj Oule tradition, the groom and best man would have a duel after the ceremony. I do believe there was quite a lot of destruction that resulted. Gaius never did know how to hold back. Then again neither did Jude."
As Rowen laughed lightly to himself Rias and Akeno glanced at each other and nodded.
Ganju and Yumichika continued to hang off the ledge, Ganju's grip loosening. "Aw crap, I can't hold on for much longer. Come on flower-brow, you gotta let go o' me or we're both goin' down!"
"I'm begging you, don't let go! If we fall inside…!" Yumichika begged.
Ganju then remembered what Yumichika had said about the pits.
"The Seki-Seki rock of these walls prevent any who fall in from escaping."
"Damn, I don't want to…wait, crap, I can't hold it anymore!" Ganju shouted as his hand slipped and the two fell down into the pits.
Ganju expected to fall into a pit of death but when he looked around he deadpanned. "What the hell!? It's just a bunch of trash!"
Yumichika stood up, brushing pieces of garbage from his hair.
"Hey, flower-brow, why'd you say that if someone fell in here they'd never be able to get out!?" he shouted, pointing to the ladder behind him.
"I'd say it's of greater importance why you dropped someone as beautiful as myself into such a disgusting place as this!" Yumichika snarled. "I will never forgive you for this!" Yumichika shouted, punctuating his threat with a swing of Fuji Kujaku, which Ganju managed to dodge.
Ganju turned and climbed up the ladder, out of the pit, Yumichika hot on his heels as usual.
"Frozen Clock!" Aoko shouted as she held the blade of Tousen's Zanpakuto in place.
Suddenly, in that moment time stopped all around Aoko.
Aoko grunted as she pulled herself off of Tousen's blade, the blood from her wound emerging and then hanging in the air, however she kept one hand grasped firmly around his sword.
She put a hand over her wound, wincing as it bled slowly. 'Damn, the one thing I don't like about this spell is I can't heal while it's active.' She then placed a hand over Tousen's chest. "I'm sorry about this, but this is my only choice." After steeling herself she said, "Alright, I've only got one chance at this." She took a breath and then began chanting, "Flow of the temporal, Clock of Renewal. Changing hands from one to the next. Let these words let me heal, and end my foe. Time Exchange!"
A faint blue light then emanated from under her hand, she then pulled her hand back as multiple long streams of energy emerged from Tousen's chest and flowed in her hand slowly before suddenly speeding up and surging into her body.
Aoko flinched as images filled her mind from Tousen's.
Tousen's body began to glow before slowly falling apart, turning to ash.
Aoko watched as Tousen disappeared before vanishing completely, the last of the streams of energy entering her body. She frowned in disappointment as his Zanpakuto shattered. "I'm sorry Kaname Tousen, but you have your justice and I have mine."
Time then resumed around her and almost immediately the black bubble that was Tousen's Bankai burst and vanished.
Outside Tousen's Bankai, Toshiro approached the dome curiously. "That's Captain Tousen's Bankai, why would it-?"
At that moment he watched as the large dome burst and vanished.
"The battle must be over," Toshiro remarked as he vanished in a burst of speed.
He landed on a nearby rooftop and his eyes widened.
Aoko stood alone on the ground below, the shards of Suzumushi on the ground in front of her.
"This…can't be…" Toshiro remarked in shock. He turned to Aoko in thought before sighing. "It would do no good to attack now, I have to inform the other Captains." He then vanished in a burst of speed.
Aoko sighed as she finished healing her wounds, putting a hand over her head. "Ugh…I hate using that power."
Ikkaku looked at Ichigo curiously. "Erza Scarlet…you mean that death row inmate? What do you have to do with that trash?"
Ichigo frowned angrily at Ikkaku. "I'm here to rescue her."
"Is that so? So how many of you are there?"
Ichigo thought for a moment. "Uh, I guess…about…twenty maybe."
Ikkaku paled. "That's…quite a lot of people. Fine, since you beat me I'll tell you where to find your friend. Just south of where we are is the offices of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. To the west of that is a giant, pure-white tower. Your friend should be in there."
Ichigo looked at Ikkaku incredulously. "…I don't think you're telling the truth."
"I'm telling you the truth. It doesn't matter to me what you do with that Erza woman. So if you want to, go and save her."
Ichigo nodded in response.
"Now, you'd better get going. If you stand around here you're bound to get caught by some of the other Soul Reapers."
Ichigo nodded as he stood. "Yeah, thanks. I owe you one."
"Cut the mushy crap. You don't owe me anything." After a moment Ikkaku asked, "Hey, among your group, who's the strongest?"
Ichigo thought for a moment. "Hmm…Kazuma I guess."
"Well then your friend had better watch out for my Captain. He isn't interested in weaklings, he'll probably go after your friend, since he wants to fight the strongest."
"Is your Captain really that strong?"
"Let's hope you don't have to find out."
"Who is it?"
"The Captain of Squad Eleven, Kenpachi Zaraki."
In another area of the Seireitei, Kenpachi twitched an eyebrow in annoyance. "Yachiru…this is another dead end…"
"Don't look at me," the petite pinkette responded, "You're the one who went here."
"Whatever. On to the next one then!"
Palutena put a hand to her chin in thought. She then looked at Kazuma sternly. "And you're telling me the truth?"
Kazuma nodded in agreement. "Yeah. These Soul Society jerks are set to execute my friend on false pretenses."
Palutena folded her arms in thought. "Very well then."
"Very well then what?" Rangiku asked.
"I will be coming with you," Palutena said with a smile.
"Wh-what?!" Rangiku and Lisanna asked in surprise.
"If you're telling the truth, it's my job as head goddess of Olympus to carry out justice and prevent injustice. And, if you're lying, then in that same vain I can be close by to kill you."
Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. 'The peppiness with which she said that really bothers me.'
'Maybe she's just as nutty as Zeus,' Ddraig interjected.
'I doubt anybody can be as nutty as that superiority complex-filled serial rapist.'
'True.'
"So, shall we get going?" Palutena asked.
Kazuma nodded in agreement. "Yeah, if you don't mind I'd like to get going now."
The others nodded and resumed their path towards the Repentance Cell, now with Palutena in the group.
Ichigo ran through the streets of the Seireitei, looking around irritated. "Dammit, that Ganju. Where the hell'd he go? Grr…hey, Ganju! Where the hell are you?!"
Nearby Soul Reapers overheard Ichigo's loud shouting and began running towards the source.
Kazehana and Yoruichi continued making their way around the Seireitei when they heard a voice call out to them.
"You there, halt!"
Kazehana and the cat turned behind them and saw a young woman with long, waist-length blonde hair, cropped bangs reached her forehead, two long bangs framing her face, with blue eyes wearing a standard Soul Reaper uniform.
Kazehana chuckled weakly. "Oh boy, we got spotted."
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed in thought.
"Identify yourselves," the blonde demanded.
"Well if you can't tell I'm not from around here," Kazehana said nonchalantly.
"So flagrant. Very well, I, Squad One's Third Seat Alicia Pendragon, will take you out myself, Ryoka."
Kazehana blinked curiously. 'Pendragon?'
Alicia narrowed her eyes and then disappeared in a dash of speed.
Kazehana widened her eyes as she looked around frantically. She turned just as Alicia reappeared and swung at her. Kazehana managed to raise a hand in time, creating a shield of wind to block Alicia's strike.
Alicia jumped back to put distance between herself and Kazehana. "A wind user. Let's see how your wind fairs against my blade."
Kazehana tensed as wind began to stir around her.
Ganju continued to run from Yumichika, dodging and ducking under the feathered Soul Reaper's strikes.
"Geez, do you ever give up?!" Ganju shouted.
"Not until I catch my prey," Yumichika responded with a smirk.
Ganju snarled and pulled a bomb from the barrel on his back. "Alright you jerk, try this!" He then tossed the bomb towards Yumichika.
"I won't fall for your tricks twice!" Yumichika snarled as he slashed at the bomb which promptly exploded in his face. Yumichika snarled as the dust cleared but winced as he felt a sting of pain. He put a hand on his face and then widened his eyes in shock as he noticed the small cut on his cheek. "You…you ugly bastard! Look at what you've done to my beautiful face!"
Ganju snickered in amusement. "Heh, with that scar you actually look a little bit more manly."
"I'll make you pay!" Yumichika shouted frantically as he suddenly rushed forward and slashed at Ganju, putting a large gash in his left side.
"Gah!" Ganju growled in pain.
The two were about to resume their battle when they heard a familiar voice nearby.
"Ganju! Hey Ganju, where the hell are you!?" Ichigo shouted through the streets.
Yumichika huffed in derision. "What a fool. That shouting of his is only going to attract more Soul Reapers to his position."
Ganju sniggered in amusement. "If Ichigo's out there shouting like that, it means he beat your bald-headed buddy."
Yumichika's eyes widened in realization. "Tch, that's impossible."
Ganju then slammed his hand on the ground. "Seppa!"
"What the…?!"
The area around them suddenly turned to sand, causing Yumichika to leap into the air to dodge it.
"Take this!" Ganju shouted as he threw a bomb into the air that landed on Yumichika's head.
"Huh…" Yumichika blurted before widening his eyes in shock. "Nooo!"
Ganju turned as the bomb exploded.
Ichigo stopped as he noticed the explosion from Ganju's attack. "Hey, Ganju's gotta be over there." He then turned and ran towards the explosion.
At the same time, Kenpachi, with Yachiru on his back, also noticed the explosion.
"Say, Yachiru, what do you think that was?" Kenpachi asked in amusement.
"Whoever it was musta been strong, let's go Kenny!" Yachiru shouted energetically.
"Eat this blondie!" Hikari shouted as she sent several large bolts of lightning at Izuru.
Izuru dodged the first few and deflected the rest with his Zanpakuto.
However that distracted him long enough for Hikari to get close with a lightning-charged fist.
Izuru grunted as he kicked off to the side, barely dodging the swing.
Hikari went immediately from her punch to a spinning kick, which connected directly with Izuru's head, sending him crashing to the ground.
Izuru stood up, annoyed. "I've had enough of this." He raised his Zanpakuto parallel to the ground and called out, "Raise your head, Wabisuke!" The blade of Izuru's Zanpakuto then turned black on the inside half, straightened, and then made two forward, ninety-degree angles, forming an angular hook with the cutting edge on the inside.
Shuhei turned to Izuru in surprise. "He's already using his Shikai?"
"Pay attention!" Hibiki shouted as she punched at Shuhei.
However Shuhei swiftly dashed away from her attack and moved behind her to strike.
"Damn!" Hibiki hissed as he raised his blade. She lowered herself and kicked upwards, catching Shuhei's blade in the heel of her boot, spun, and then slammed the top of her other foot into the side of Shuhei's head, knocking him off balance, and then, with his blade still lodged in her heel, threw him towards the wall.
"Shuhei!" Izuru shouted as he stood up.
"Where do you think you're looking?!" Hikari shouted as she threw a punch at him.
Izuru smirked as her fist slammed into the side of his blade.
Hikari's eyes widened as she felt her arm get heavy.
"So, do you like Wabisuke's special ability? It causes anything it hits to become twice as heavy." He then reached out to hold her in place to attack but blinked as he noticed his hand hit something soft.
Hikari blinked before looking down, horrified, seeing Izuru's hand on her chest.
"Ah…well…it's very nice…"
Hikari's eyes lit up angrily. "Those aren't yours you pervert!" Hikari shouted as she fired a powerful blast of lightning at point-blank range, sending Izuru flying, slamming him into the wall at the end of the road, unconscious.
Hibiki smirked as she watched her sister take care of Izuru.
Hikari then turned to Hibiki. "How's it going on your end?"
"Almost done," Hibiki retorted.
"Don't count me out yet!" Shuhei retaliated.
Hibiki and Hikari then jumped towards each other, clasped their hands together and shouted, "Thunder Blast!"
A powerful blast of thunder shot up from them and then struck Shuhei with great force for several seconds.
After the blast ended Shuhei coughed lightly before collapsing onto the ground.
"Well I'm glad that's done," Hibiki remarked.
Hikari covered her chest with her arms. "I can't believe that jerk actually groped me!"
"Wanna give him one last zap?" Hibiki asked curiously.
"Hell yeah!"
The two turned and then blasted Izuru in unison.
Uryu, Orihime, and Aika crouched on a rooftop as they watched Kenpachi run off towards the blast Ganju caused.
"So, what do we do now?" Aika asked.
Uryu adjusted his glasses in thought. "I'm not certain, but we should probably not stay here for long."
"How about there?" Orihime asked.
"Where?" Uryu asked as he turned to her.
"There, I can see a tower in the distance," Orihime pointed.
Uryu's eyes turned as he saw a large figure standing behind her. "Orihime, look out!" he shouted as he dove to catch her as the attacker's sword slammed into the floor.
Aika responded instantly as her blades appeared in her hands.
Uryu turned and saw that Orihime's attacker was an extremely tall man with large lips and an equally large nose, with small round eyes and short black hair with curled sideburns wearing a standard Shihakusho with a bracelet of small beads on his left wrist and a necklace of large beads around his neck.
"Hmm…I missed," the man remarked as Uryu and Orihime stood up.
"Damn, how didn't I sense him?"
"Hmph, I'm not ordinary Soul Reaper, I am Jirobo Ikkanzaka, Fourth Seat of Squad Seven," the man declared proudly. "If our paths had not crossed in this way, perhaps you might have lived a while longer. I'll count to ten to give you some time to regret."
As Jirobo began counting, Orihime looked at Uryu surprised. 'It's like Yoruichi said. Uryu is…completely different, it's like he transformed, just from seeing that Soul Reaper.'
After another moment Jirobo shouted, "Now! It is time for you to experience another form of regret!" He rushed forward and then swung his sword down with incredible speed and power, shattering the roof tiles effortlessly.
Uryu and Orihime split up at the last moment to dodge. Uryu snarled and challenged, "Well come on then Soul Reaper, I'm the one you should be fighting!"
Jirobo grabbed some of the dust from the roof and threw it at Uryu, sending dust into Uryu's eyes and causing him to trip and fall down the sloped roof.
"Uryu!" Orihime shouted.
"Now, with just you two, this will be easier," Jirobo bragged.
Aika and Orihime tensed as the man turned to them.
"Take this!" Jirobo shouted as he rushed towards the duo.
They dashed to the side as his sword slammed into the ground. He then spun to slash at her.
Aika suddenly appeared and blocked the strike.
Jirobo widened his eyes in surprise. 'How can such a tiny girl be so sturdy?'
Orihime dashed to the side and put her hands on her hairpins. "Koten Zanshun, I reject!" Tsubaki then appeared from her hairpins and flew straight towards Jirobo.
Jirobo pushed Aika back and slashed at Tsubaki, nearly cutting the small flyer in half.
"Tsubaki!" Orihime shouted as she caught him.
"Stupid girl…" Tsubaki grunted as he returned to her hairpins.
"Hmph, time to end you!" Jirobo declared as he stood over her.
Orihime's eyes widened as he swung and snapped shut in fear. However, after a moment she reopened them and saw Aika standing in front of her, a wall of water flowing in front of her.
"Wh-what the…?" Jirobo asked in surprise and confusion.
Aika narrowed her eyes before vanishing.
Jirobo turned only to see Aika above him, wind and fire swirling around one of her blades, water and lightning surging around the other.
Aika then swung her right sword forward, sending blasts of thunder surging towards Jirobo.
Jirobo grunted and swung his Zanpakuto wildly, deflecting most of the blasts but getting hit by some.
Aika then vanished from view and reappeared behind him. She swung her left blade and sent a massive blast of wind-enhanced flame surging at Jirobo, sending him flying off the roof of the building. Aika then swung the blade down, causing a powerful gust of wind to slam him into the ground below, unconscious.
Orihime looked at Aika in shock as Aika's blades vanished.
Uryu finally managed to pull himself back onto the roof and asked in shock, "Kiryu, was that you?"
Aika nodded. "Yep, that guy wasn't all that tough. He was just talk."
Uryu narrowed his eyes in thought but then said, "We should get moving."
The girls nodded in agreement.
Arcueid made her way over the rooftops before stopping to have a look around. "I guess Aoko finally finished her battle." She raised an eyebrow as she heard amused giggling nearby. She looked down and paled.
On the street below, a petite girl with long, waist-length, wavy pink hair that was pulled back with two long bangs extending to just above her mild bust with blue eyes wearing a standard Shihakusho was riding on a giant carrot with legs that was galloping like a horse.
Arcueid sweat-dropped and asked to no one, "A-am I…seeing things or is that girl riding a carrot horse…?" She decided to jump down to investigate.
However, when she did the "carrot horse" suddenly stopped, causing the girl to be launched forward, slamming into Arcueid. The sentient carrot then turned and ran in the other direction.
The girl moaned before realizing she had landed on Arcueid and immediately bowed multiple times. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hit you like that!"
Arcueid stood up with a chuckle. "It's alright. Those funbags of yours softened the blow."
"Ah!" the girl shouted, crossing her arms over her chest with a blush. She then looked at Arcueid curiously. "Uhm…who are you…?"
Arcueid paled. "C-crap…"
She then put a hand over her mouth in shock. "Oh! I should introduce myself first. I am Squad Four's Fourth Seat Prim Bael-Pendragon."
Arcueid raised an eyebrow. 'Fourth Seat? That sounds pretty high. Wait, did she say Pendragon?' "Well my name's Arcueid."
Prim looked at her curiously. "You're one of the Ryoka, aren't you?"
Arcueid flinched. "Ah…y-yeah…probably…"
Prim smiled. "You don't seem like a bad person."
"Uh…th-thanks…"
In another area of the Seireitei, Mayuri began ordering his squad members. "Get out there you fools, find those Ryoka, now! I want them found and captured at any cost!"
The Soul Reapers under his command scurried around, heading throughout the Seireitei.
Mayuri sighed in frustration. "It's like commanding a bunch of mindless flies, not stylish."
"Captain, I have some news for you," a slender, well-endowed woman with black hair pulled back in a braid with slightly parted bangs, green eyes, wearing a black, mid-thigh length kimono which had narrower sleeves than most Shihakusho as well as puffed shoulders, with a white garment underneath, a wide, white obi, white gloves that only covered the backs of her hands and her wrists, and a red choker said.
Mayuri turned to her mildly annoyed. "What is it Nemu?"
"Ikkaku Madarame has been defeated by one of the Ryoka," Nemu reported.
Mayuri's eyes widened. "Why didn't you say that sooner!? We must head to Squad Four's barracks immediately. That Zaraki is already out searching for Ryoka. We can't let him get ahead of us!"
Kazehana and Alicia stood opposite each other, air swirling around Kazehana, preventing any of Alicia's strikes from hitting.
"It seems I've no choice," Alicia said as she raised her Zanpakuto in front of her. "Purge the world of corruption, Seinari Kisaki!" The blade of Alicia's Zanpakuto then lit up with a bright golden light and went from curved to straight with a double-edge blade as the hilt vanished, cloth then wrapped around the base of the sword, creating a hilt for Alicia to grab.
Kazehana looked at her surprised and concerned.
Alicia then pulled her sword back and swung it forward, shouting, "Shadow Cleaver!" A large blast of golden light then shot from her blade and soared towards Kazehana.
Kazehana created a large wall of wind in front of her to defend the attack. However, it proved ineffective as the blast sheared through her wall and shot straight towards her. Kazehana barely managed to jump out of the way of the attack, getting a small wound on her arm, and retaliated with shots of wind.
Alicia stabbed her sword on the ground in front of her and shouted, "Divine Wall!" as a large shield of golden energy appeared in front of her, dissolving Kazehana's attacks as they got close.
Kazehana widened her eyes in shock.
Alicia pulled Seinari Kisaki from the ground and then rushed at Kazehana, disappearing from the Sekirei's view momentarily.
Kazehana caught sight of the blonde as she reappeared behind her, just as Alicia swung her sword down, carving a large gash in the wind-user's back.
Kazehana stumbled forward and put a hand on her shoulder in pain.
"It's disappointing we had to meet this way, but unfortunately it is unavoidable," Alicia said as she raised Seinari Kisaki above her head.
Kazehana immediately retaliated by extending a hand outward, causing a powerful blast of wind to send Alicia flying back.
The blonde stuck her sword into the ground to stop from hitting the wall. Alicia raised her Zanpakuto to strike again but stopped when she heard a strange rumbling sound. She turned to the side and paled as several large slabs of beef with legs suddenly rushed towards her. "Wh-what the hell…!?" she hollered as the stampeding food took her away.
Kazehana breathed heavily before falling to one knee. "Well that was fortunate…if this had continued any further this might've been the end of me…"
"We should get moving before any other Soul Reapers arrive," Yoruichi remarked.
Kazehana nodded with a smile before standing up. She stumbled and then collapsed.
Yoruichi sighed. "I guess there's no choice at this point." Yoruichi glowed brightly before smoke erupted around the cat. "We should get moving quickly," a female voice directed.
Ganju was still running from the Soul Reapers behind him, winding through the streets in an attempt to get away. "Oh come on, give it up already!" he shouted angrily.
"Get back here you sideburn clown!" one of his pursuers shouted.
"You're gonna get a beating!" another taunted.
"For bein' so ugly!" yet another shouted.
"Huh?!" Ganju retorted. "That Yumichika guy was a pretty-boy, but you guys?! You're even uglier than I am, so you've got no right to shout that! Wait, aw crap, now look what you idiots made me say!"
"Hey, Ganju!" Ichigo shouted as he rounded the corner.
"Ichigo, so you've finally shown to-!" Ganju shouted happily, only to see the large collection of Soul Reapers behind Ichigo as well. "What the crap!? Now there's no point in us joining up since we're both getting chased you idiot!"
Ichigo then started waving at Ganju as he approached the bomb-user.
"Stop doing that! You're getting the idiots behind me riled up even more!"
The two then ran past each other and hit people on either side of the pursuing groups.
"Ganju, get down!" Ichigo shouted as his blades appeared in his hands.
"Geh!" Ganju grunted as he ducked while Ichigo swung his swords around him, hitting several of the Soul Reapers around them. "What the hell?! Swinging your sword around like that all of a sudden is dangerous! Are you stupid?!"
"I told you to get down," Ichigo responded plainly.
"You swung too soon after saying that, I didn't have time to respond!"
The Soul Reapers gathered around them looked at the two arguing curiously.
The group then looked up as the sky darkened.
"Hey, what's that!?" one of the Soul Reapers shouted as a giant potato fell from the sky and crushed several of the Soul Reapers around the two. It then stood up and started chasing the Soul Reapers away.
"Well…that was weird…" Ganju remarked.
"Y-yeah…" Ichigo agreed in confusion.
"So it was you guys after all," Kazuma remarked as he, Palutena, Rangiku, and Lisanna approached the two. "I was wondering where you two were."
Ganju paled as the four walked up.
Ichigo waved. "Yo. Was that you who threw that giant potato?"
Kazuma nodded. "Yeah. Don't ask why there are giant vegetables running around, it's too irritating to explain."
Palutena laughed uncomfortably.
Ichigo was about to say something else when Ganju stepped in front of him. "Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa! Stop and explain somethin' to me!"
Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. "What is it hog rider?"
Ganju grumbled at the name but sighed and then asked irritated, "Why am I stuck with this doofus and you're surrounded by hot chicks!?"
Kazuma tilted his head curiously and then looked around him. He raised an eyebrow and then shrugged. "It's probably got something to do with Norn."
"Who…?"
"Nevermind."
"Hey," Ichigo interrupted, "I found out where Erza's being held."
Kazuma nodded in understanding. "So did I, that's where we're headed now. The Repentance Cell."
"Might as well stick together then," Ichigo added.
Kazuma nodded. "Yeah." He then turned to Lisanna. "Continue leading the way."
Lisanna nodded and looked around. "Let's take this route, it'll get us back on track the quickest."
The others nodded and followed behind her.
Koneko ran with "Muffins" resting quietly on her head. She sighed as she looked around. "I'm lost." She looked down one of the nearby streets and ran down it.
After several moments of running the wall next to her suddenly exploded.
Koneko jumped back in shock as the dust cleared and she saw Kenpachi Zaraki standing in front of her. Koneko backed up slowly as the power he radiated was suffocating.
Kenpachi glanced to the side and saw Koneko nearby. "Well, well. A devil. So it seems the Ryoka we've got running around might be interesting." Kenpachi withdrew his Zanpakuto and raised it. "Let's have some fun, shall we?!"
Koneko's eyes widened as Kenpachi swung his blade, blood splashing on the ground nearby.
Sado, Yuuto, and Toyotama ran through the area when they noticed a large group of Soul Reapers approaching them.
"They certainly seem riled up," Yuuto said as a sword emerged from the ground, which he promptly grabbed.
"Yeah," Sado remarked as he raised his fists.
However, the three paled when they saw the large, mutant potato behind the Soul Reapers.
"Uhm…so what do we do now…?" Toyotama asked.
"How about run?" Yuuto suggested.
"Sounds good," Sado added.
The three immediately ducked behind a corner as the rampaging group of Soul Reapers ran past them with the mutant potato in hot pursuit.
"We should get going now," Toyotama recommended.
The others nodded and all three left the area.
Akeno and Rias sipped more tea as Akeno asked, "So what other tales do you have?"
Rowen stroked his beard in thought. "Ah, yes. The Xian Du debacle would probably be an entertaining one."
"Xian Du?" Rias asked curiously.
"Xian Du was a city back on Rieze Maxia. Very traditional city with a large and famous, or infamous by some standards, coliseum."
"Sounds fun," Akeno said with an overly sweet smile.
"Hmm…I suppose in some ways it was. At any rate, it all started when we entered Xian Du, Miss Elize was almost crushed by a huge boulder upon entry."
The two gasped in surprise.
"Fortunately she wasn't. But a poor cabbage salesman had his cart crushed by the falling rock."
"Cabbage salesman?" Rias asked curiously.
"Why yes. Surprisingly cabbage was a very popular food in my time. Of course, what happened after that terrified Miss Elize far more than the falling boulder."
"What was it?"
"A small, wormlike creature named Masakados landed on her shoulder. I've honestly never seen the poor girl look so frightened."
"How big was it?" Akeno asked in thought.
"Oh…a little under a foot long."
"That's a rather large worm…" Rias remarked, sickened.
"Oh, I've seen bigger."
Rias looked at her incredulously.
Akeno merely giggled in amusement.
"Do I even want to know what happened next?" Rias asked.
Rowen put a hand over his forehead. "Jude then proceeded to swallow the worm before he coughed up a different one. Magatama I believe he called them."
Rias put a hand over her mouth. "That's rather…unsightly…"
"Yes, I assure you that Miss Elize and the others were not impressed. Although he got some payback when Miss Leia sent him flying with a kick after he offered the Magatama he had just regurgitated to the rest of us."
Rias put a hand over her face. "Is that the debacle in a nutshell?"
"Ohoho, no, no. I haven't even gotten started on that, my dear."
Rias and Akeno sweat-dropped.
"After that, our group was in need of flight to a different area of Rieze Maxia. We had intended to use wyverns owned by a well-known family in the city but they told us we need royal approval. After a long series of conversations we agreed to participate in the coliseum's tournament in their stead. The tournament was wrought with mishaps however."
"Mishaps such as what?" Rias inquired.
"Well first of the events was an attempted poisoning. Fortunately we evaded that mess. But then Miss Elize was kidnapped by a terrorist group during the last round of the tournament."
"How horrible."
Rowen frowned with a nod. "Yes, the events that transpired as we attempted to rescue her hit the young miss quite hard. But those events behind us we made our way to the royal capital of Kanbalar and got royal approval to use the wyverns. Right before the entire city's guard came after us and tried to kill us. We made a daring escape from the city and then took the wyverns to our destination."
"Sounds like it was quite the adventure," Akeno remarked.
Rowen laughed lightly. "Yes, I suppose that is one way to put it."
Inside Squad Four's barracks, Mayuri and Nemu stood over the bed Ikkaku Madarame was lying on.
"Now you listen here, I don't take kindly to not getting what I want. So I suggest that you answer my questions," Mayuri snarled.
A nurse popped her head into the room, mildly irritated. "You should stop that. Semi-hostile acts are forbidden within the station."
Mayuri snarled and pointed a finger at her, firing a blast of energy at the wall next to her.
"Pardon me Captain but-" Nemu tried to add.
"Be quite you stupid girl, you're beginning to annoy me too. So do me a favor and shut up," Mayuri growled as he put a hand on her head.
"My apologies Captain."
Ikkaku looked at Nemu but then looked away from the two. "I told you, I don't know anything. I don't know the Ryoka's goals or his destination."
"So does that mean you crossed swords with that Ryoka and yet got beat down without getting a single piece of information?" Mayuri asked irritated.
"It is," Ikkaku answered.
Mayuri began to wriggle his fingers in irritation as he raised a hand. "In that case I'll make sure you get your just desserts for your failure!"
However, before Mayuri could do anything else, a hand grabbed his fist.
He turned and saw Unohana standing behind him. "I would appreciate it if you did not cause my patients any more stress than necessary, Captain Kurotsuchi."
"Tch, this man failed at his job and must be punished. Are you just going to ignore that?" Mayuri argued.
"Until his recovery is complete, yes. I will."
Mayuri huffed in annoyance. "Come Nemu, we're done here. This situation is most definitely not stylish."
Nemu bowed to Unohana before following behind Mayuri.
Unohana narrowed her eyes as the two left.
Lisanna peaked out from behind a wall before ducking in as several Soul Reapers ran past.
Rangiku sighed in frustration. "At this rate we'll never reach the Repentance Cell without encountering any of the Captains."
Lisanna put a hand on her chin and then turned to the group. "I think there might be a way we can get to the Repentance Cell without getting detected."
The others looked at her curiously.
Koneko widened her eyes as Kenpachi swung his blade, flinching her eyes shut as blood splattered on the ground. However, when she opened her eyes she realized she was unharmed and saw a figure standing in front of her.
She watched as the person collapsed to the ground.
When Koneko saw who it was her eyes widened in pure shock.
Kuroka fell to the ground with a large gash going from her chest to her abdomen.
"S-…Sister…" Koneko muttered in shock and confusion.
Kenpachi looked at Kuroka in thought. "Ahh, so the power I was sensing came from that woman. Not you. Too bad, with that wound she won't be any fun to fight. Guess all that's left is to kill you." Kenpachi raised his sword to strike but jumped to the side as a figure rushed past him and stopped directly in front of Kuroka and Koneko. Kenpachi looked ahead and saw Arturia defending the two Nekomata. "Well, well. I can tell from here you're no slouch in combat. Heh, make this interesting for me."
Arturia narrowed her eyes but glanced behind her as Yoruichi jumped on the ground nearby.
"You worry about Zaraki, I'll take care of these two," Yoruichi requested.
Arturia nodded as Yoruichi was enveloped in smoke before a figure dashed off carrying Kuroka and Koneko. Arturia then redirected her attention to Kenpachi.
Kenpachi raised his sword with a smirk. "Alright then…let's get started." He then rushed toward Arturia, however she vanished as soon as he approached. Kenpachi looked around for her only to get a gash in the back. Kenpachi grinned and spun around with a powerful swing, however he missed Arturia. "Hahah, now this is a fight!" he shouted as he swung again, his blade colliding with Arturia's invisible sword. "Come on, stop hiding your sword in the shadows! Bring it out and let out its full ferocity!"
Arturia narrowed her eyes as she raised her blade. She then rushed forward at immense speeds.
Kenpachi swung his sword down with great speed and power, knocking her sword toward the ground.
The blade of Arturia's blade then bent and extended towards Kenpachi.
"Huh?!" Kenpachi shouted in surprise as Arturia's blade embedded itself in his shoulder. "Ahahah, now it's getting interesting!"
Arturia sneered and spun and flung Kenpachi up over her head and slammed him into the ground.
Kenpachi stood up with a grin before charging forward once more.
Arturia vanished as he approached, his Zanpakuto slamming into the ground.
Kenpachi immediately rushed to her position and attacked once more, his blade slamming into the ground again as she vanished. Kenpachi frowned in irritation. "Quit running and fight me! What are you, some kind of coward!?"
Arturia raised her blade in front of her and smirked. "No, merely a strategist."
"Tch, who needs that strategy crap when all you need is a sword?!"
To the surprise, and mild concern, of Kazuma, Palutena, Rangiku, Ichigo, and Ganju, Lisanna's method of reaching the Repentance Cell without detection was to go into the waterways underneath the Seireitei.
"What is this place?" Ganju asked, looking around confused.
"As I said before, these are waterways that go all throughout the Seireitei," Lisanna answered.
"So do any of the other Soul Reapers know about this place? I mean, all we had to do to get in here was lift a floor tile," Kazuma remarked.
Lisanna shook her head. "No, none of the other Squads can get around down here without getting lost. Only Squad Four, specialized in relief and supplies, knows how to move around down here without getting lost."
"That's rather impressive," Palutena complimented.
Lisanna laughed weakly. "It's actually not the reason you're thinking of."
Palutena blinked curiously.
Lisanna looked down disappointed. "I'm sure you think it's because we use these tunnels to ferry supplies around. That's not it. Squad Four is considered the weakest squad and as such we get most of the chores the other squads don't want to do. So cleaning down here is also our job."
Rangiku frowned in response.
"That's not a way to do things," Kazuma remarked, irritated.
Lisanna turned to him surprised.
"People who take care of healing and getting medical supplies around the battlefield are the singular most important people in a battle. In any battle they're the ones that should take the highest priority. Treating healers like trash just because they can't fight deserves a good hit to the skull."
Lisanna widened her eyes slightly before smiling. "I'm glad someone thinks so."
As the group continued walking through the waterways, Kazuma suddenly stopped.
Rangiku grunted as she bumped into his back. "Ah, hey! Why'd you stop so suddenly?"
Kazuma pointed to a nearby wall.
Lisanna and the others looked at it as well.
On the wall was a small, bird-like marking carved into a single stone block.
Lisanna blinked curiously. "Is there something special about that rock?"
"Have you seen that symbol anywhere else?" Kazuma asked with a calm, even tone.
Rangiku shrunk back lightly. 'Uh-oh, he's pissed about something.'
Lisanna put a finger on her chin. "Now that you mention it, I think I've seen it a couple times before. Why, does it mean something?"
Kazuma stepped onto, and walked on top of, the water in between the stone paths to reach the path on the opposite side.
Lisanna looked at him surprise. "He must have good chakra control."
"What…?" Ichigo asked in confusion.
Lisanna waved a hand dismissively. "Nothing, nothing. Just thinking about back when I was alive."
"R-right…"
Eventually the others crossed over and Rangiku asked, "So are you going to tell us what's so special about this stone or not?"
Kazuma narrowed his eyes as he put his hand over the symbol. "This is the symbol for Geass. I can only think of a few people who would know it."
Rangiku raised an eyebrow as Kazuma stepped back. He pulled back a fist, causing to become encased in flame, before he slammed it into the stone wall, shouting, "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" The flames on his fist exploded forward when he hit the wall, destroying it entirely.
Lisanna's eyes widened in shock. "Th-that's…Fire Dragon Slayer Magic…"
"That what it's called?" Ganju asked as he watched the wall crumble.
As the dust cleared and the group saw what was behind the wall their eyes widened in shock.
In another area of the Seireitei, a man with swept-back, short blonde hair, a pointed chin, and eyes covered by sunglasses wearing a standard Shihakusho with the Squad Four medical kit thrown over his shoulders gave a report to a group of gathered Lieutenants, Shuhei, Izuru, Rangiku, Rowen, and Yachiru being absent.
"Almost every member of Squad Eleven has been hospitalized, and two high-ranking officers, Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame and Fifth Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa have both left the frontlines due to serious injuries. Squad Four is currently investigating the injury status of the other squads," the blonde-haired man reported.
The Lieutenants looked at him shocked.
He continued, "We have confirmed ten Ryoka, three of which have suddenly disappeared from our searches."
Renji narrowed his eyes in thought. 'That…it can't really be true. Is she really…?'
"Also, Lieutenant Shuhei Hisagi and Lieutenant Izuru Kira have also been hospitalized for severe injuries. Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto, and several seated officers have gone missing."
Tetsuzaemon then remarked, "Squad Seven's Fourth Seat, Jirobo Ikkanzaka has also not reported in for a long time."
Momo frowned in concern.
Renji put a hand to his face in exasperation. "Unbelievable. We're just falling apart here. Can no one catch these damn Ryoka?"
"I haven't seen you doing anything productive Renji," Tetsuzaemon rebutted.
Renji sneered and then walked out the door.
Momo turned to a tall, young-looking woman with short, messy silver hair with shoulder-length strands on the right side fashioned in braids with grey eyes wearing a Lieutenant's uniform and asked, "Isane, is something wrong with Renji?"
The silver-haired woman, Isane, shrugged in response. "I'm not sure. But ever since he got back from his mission to the human world he's been on edge."
Momo looked to the open door in concern.
Kenpachi and Arturia's blades crossed as the two attempted to overpower each other.
Arturia's blade extended upward and curved before shooting back down and slamming into Kenpachi's shoulder. To Arturia's surprise and dismay, Kenpachi seemed ignorant to the entire attack and kept pressing on against her. She grit teeth and recalled her blade, jumping back to put distance between Kenpachi and herself.
However Kenpachi jumped right after her and swung at her.
Arturia vanished in a flash and then reappeared right behind him.
Kenpachi immediately spun to attack her but she vanished once more. Kenpachi looked around increasingly annoyed. "Oh come on, stop hiding! This isn't any fun!" Kenpachi immediately turned and swung his sword, knocking aside Arturia's extending blade.
Arturia's eyes widened as he did. She retracted her blade and began to jump back, but to her surprise Kenpachi grabbed her sword's blade and pulled her towards him.
"Got you now!" Kenpachi shouted as reached out to grab her head.
Arturia tried to duck under him but her grabbed the Ahoge on her head and pulled. Arturia's eyes widened she slumped her shoulders.
Kenpachi noticed that she went limp and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, come on. Don't tell me you're down already."
Kenpachi tilted his head as he noticed Arturia's skin and hair begin to get paler and Kenpachi suddenly jumped back as black energy converged around her, her armor and clothing turning a deep black color with red marking forming on the armor.
Kenpachi blinked curiously and then smirked. "Now what's this? Looks interesting."
Arturia stood up straight and looked at her body curiously. "So I was right. The Witchblade's power still remains."
Kenpachi narrowed his eyes and then rushed at Arturia. "I don't know what this little costume change is, but that doesn't really matter!" He swung his blade but Arturia vanished. "What…?" Kenpachi suddenly was sent flying into one of the nearby walls.
Arturia reappeared after a moment and sighed. "I dislike this feeling." Arturia closed her and concentrated but then widened her eyes. 'What is this…normally it would respond to my will and deactivate. But it won't go away.'
A voice in Arturia's head then said, 'Sorry, but it's my turn to have a little fun.'
Arturia's eyes widened before she stumbled back. At that moment her green eyes then turned yellow.
Kenpachi stood up and smirked. "So, you've finally decided to stop playing around, huh?"
Arturia vanished and then reappeared behind Kenpachi.
Kenpachi tried to turn and strike her but she swung faster than he could and opened a gash on his back. Kenpachi grinned widely and swung at her, only for her to vanish again.
"Arturia" appeared behind him but vanished once more as he swung.
Kenpachi turned as "Arturia" appeared once more and clashed his sword with hers. He then grabbed her blade with his free hand. "I'm letting you use that little trick again."
"Arturia" smirked as her blade extended out, curved around, and embedded itself in Kenpachi's back.
Kenpachi looked at her surprised and then began chuckling before he started laughing loudly. "Now this is a fight! Isn't this fun!?" He then spun around, "Arturia's" blade carving another gash in his back before he slammed her into the ground behind him. "Looks like it's time for me to get serious."
"Arturia" looked at him puzzled as she stood up.
Kenpachi reached up and ripped off his eyepatch.
"Arturia's" eyes widened slightly as she felt the surge of his energy as it was removed. "I see that's no normal eyepatch."
"Of course not. It's a special eyepatch I had made that eats most of my spiritual energy. This way it makes things more fun for me!" Kenpachi's energy flared outwards in a massive shockwave of energy.
"Arturia" narrowed her eyes as she began to flare her own energy.
Kenpachi grinned. "Good to see you've still got some fight in you. Let's keep this fight going for as long as possible!"
"Sorry, but I've got something to do, so I'm interested in messing around with you anymore," "Arturia" rebutted as wind began to swirl around her sword before dispersing, exposing a long, double-edged, black sword with a red, chain-like ring pattern on the blade.
Kenpachi looked at the blade curiously for a moment before rushing forward.
"Arturia" pulled her sword back and then shouted, "Destruction!" and then swung her blade forward, causing a massive blast of black and red energy to surge from her blade and engulf Kenpachi, carving out a large trail as it went. "Arturia" narrowed her eyes in frustration. "This fake isn't as powerful as the original. How disappointing." After a sigh her sword vanished. "Well…he's here somewhere. So I might as well find him," "Arturia" said with a smirk.
Kazuma, Rangiku, Lisanna, Palutena, Ichigo, and Ganju looked through the makeshift door Kazuma had carved in the wall with shock.
Inside was a large room with many tables with scrolls, books, and equipment. Different parts of various creatures were suspended in luminous liquid inside jars throughout the room. A single large tube at the back of the room illuminated the space with an eerie green glow.
"What is this place?" Rangiku asked in confusion.
"I don't know but it stinks like hell," Ganju snarled.
Kazuma narrowed his eyes. "It's one of Kabuto's laboratories."
"Kabuto?" Rangiku asked in confusion before her eyes widened. "You don't mean…?"
Kazuma nodded. "Yeah. Looks like that bastard is here. You don't know of anyone he could be working with, do you?"
Rangiku put a hand on her chin in thought and then shook her head. "No, I can't think of anyone."
Kazuma sighed and then continued looking around. He then looked at the large tube in the back of the room and his blood ran cold. "Th-this is…impossible…"
"What is?" Rangiku asked before she looked at the tube. She gasped in shock.
Inside the tube was a naked woman with long, almost waist-length green hair, medium-length bangs extending over her forehead with two long bangs framing her face and extending down to her moderate bosom, which had a long scar in between them.
Kazuma clenched his fists as he looked at the woman. "C-Cera. She's still…that bastard…" Kazuma's anger turned to a smile before he turned around and saw Ganju and Ichigo gawking at the girl. He twitched an eyebrow and flicked a finger. "Out."
The two were suddenly thrown out of the room by a gust of wind.
Kazuma then looked around the room before sighing. He then pulled back and fist and slammed it into the tube, smashing the glass apart. As the green liquid dumped on the floor, Kazuma caught the woman as she fell out of the tube.
The woman flinched lightly before slowly opening her eyes, exposing her amber eyes. She looked at Kazuma surprised. "Uldin…"
Kazuma smiled as he set the woman down. "Cera…how are you feeling…?"
The woman, Cera, sighed as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Cold."
Kazuma nodded and looked around. He then pointed to the side. "Lisanna, would grab that for me?"
The silverette nodded and grabbed an outfit that was nearby.
Kazuma extended his hands and flowed a small amount of fire around Cera.
The greenette sighed in relief as she warmed up.
Lisanna brought the outfit to Cera and she slipped it on swiftly.
Cera looked at the outfit, which was a black outfit with many straps and zippers all throughout, a high collar, long sleeves that flared out near the cuffs, curiously. "It's a little…unorthodox but it'll do."
Kazuma nodded. "It's good to see you again."
Cera nodded with a smile. "I would like to ask that you address me by a different name under most circumstances. C.C."
Kazuma nodded in understanding. "Unfortunately we don't quite have the necessary time for a proper reunion."
As the group continued their trek through the waterways Ganju asked, "Is it just me, or is it getting' hot in here?"
Kazuma looked around curiously. "It's not just you. The temperature is rising swiftly." He then turned to Lisanna. "Is this normal?"
Lisanna shook her head in confusion. "No, it's not usually this hot."
As the group rounded a corner Kazuma widened his eyes as he saw a large sword wrapped in flames being held by chains.
And that brings this chapter to an end. Be sure to let me know what you thought of the chapter in a review, like it or did not like it. And if you have any questions feel free to post them in a review and I will do my best to answer them within the confines of a reviewer response. Well, that aside, hopefully the story did not get too weird for everyone. At any rate, not much to add here, so bye-bye.