Next update will be on this coming Friday 30th October, 'kay?
Italics + ' = Thoughts (Etc. = 'What is that?')
Bold + '' = Inner Hollow/Secondary Spirit (Etc. = ''Fucking Quotation marks!'' He roared)
Italics + '' = Zanpakuto Spirit (Etc. = ''Do not hesitate, Ichigo'' Zangetsu said)
I DONT OWN BLEACH - FIRST OF MANY DISCLAIMERS!
Chapter 6: Double Confrontation - Dragons Shadow ARC
''Well good job Ishida-Baka'' I say, ducking under a hollows attack and throwing my fist into its mask, shattering it.
''Stop calling me that!'' Ishida grumbled.
''Heh, I like your new nickname, Ishida-Baka'' Ichigo teased, slicing through another hollow.
''Your not one to talk, strawberry'' I remark coolly as I avoid another hollow and crack another mask.
''It doesn't mean strawberry!'' He grumbled loudly ''Why aren't you using your Zanpakuto anyway?!''.
''I prefer hand-to-hand, that and these hollows are too weak for me to even consider using them'' I explain and grab the arm of an attacking hollow and tear it off, throwing it off-handily away and ignoring their slightly horrified expressions ''Besides, we've got bigger problems''.
I point up at the slowly-opening black rift as a long, white knife-like object peers out. The object reveals itself to the mask of a Gillian as it grabs the side of the Garganta and widened it enough for it to slowly emerge.
''What the hell is that?!'' Ichigo cried out in panic.
''A Gillian'' I explain calmly ''A hollow comprised of thousands of hollows, pretty powerful on a scale but nothing extreme''.
Ishida gave me a bewildered look ''That's not extreme?!''.
''When you've seen what I've seen, this is nothing'' I dismiss ''You two go have fun with him''.
''Eh?!'' Both cry out.
''I'll deal with the minor hollows while you two deal with it, consider it good battlefield experience'' I say.
''You sure you'll be okay?'' Ichigo frowns.
I raise an eyebrow ''I'm far stronger than you Kurosaki, I can handle myself''.
''...fine'' He said almost reluctantly ''Be careful''.
My eyebrow rose further ''Same to you, watch out for the Cero''.
Ishida runs off with Ichigo trailing slightly behind him who kept looking back hesitantly, it left me frowning at the way he behaved.
'Was he actually concerned for me? He barely knows me... strange'.
I shake my head to dispel the strange behaviour, flaring my Reiatsu slightly to draw the hungry hollows to their 'weak-looking' prey. It work stupendously, drawing all hollows that were chasing Ichigo and Ishida to me. I smirk slightly as they all surround me, waiting for the moment for me to be exposing a weak spot.
I look down at the two Zanpakuto in my sash; the silver and light blue handle with a pure moon-like silver guard on my right, the yellow and purple handle and golden yellow with purple trim on my left. I shake my head slightly, not finding anything of worth using them - too easy. My smirk turns ever-so slightly feral as the idea pops into my head.
My Reiatsu flared as a red aura built up around me, forcing the hollows to back off slightly. I take a battle stance, as my blood burns with excitement and power.
''Goka!'' I cry (Tran: hellfire).
''Mm?'' Inoue mumbled as she sat up sleepily ''What happened?''.
''I do not know'' I say and she jumps, clearly not realising I was sitting close by. At that moment the Shoji door across from me, a blonde man - shopkeeper? - walked out, his sandals clanking against the ground.
''Maa, Maa'' He smiled ''Look at you two, growing powers of your own from Kurosaki-san's Reiatsu''.
''Eh?'' Inoue squeaked ''What does Kurosaki-kun have to do with those monsters?''.
''Quite a lot'' He said and covered his hand with a fan ''Well first of all...''.
''Tch, all I had to do was activate it and that's it? Should've just beat em down with my fists'' I scowl, turning my gaze over to the Gillian who was being hit by flashes of blue on its barely marked mask. I roll my eyes and use my high-speed movement to appear at the tree line next to my father and Rukia Kuchiki, who widens her eyes upon seeing me.
''Yo'' I greet, turning my eyes to the battle ''Fancy seeing you here''.
''Beelov-san...'' She whispered in shock, though my attention was drawn to what those two idiots were doing.
''What the hell are they doing?'' I frown as Ishida wore the Kurosaki teens Zanpakuto on his head ''Idiots...''.
Ichigo eventually gets his blade back and charges at the Menos, all the while Rukia's eyes widen in horror and Ishida cries out at his idiotic actions as the Gillian charged a Cero. I was surprised when he blocked the Cero with his sword and reach a deadlock for a good quarter minute before redirecting the Cero, striking the hollow and forcing it to retreat back into the Garganta.
''That was... unexpected'' I muse as Ichigo collapsed, I move to scoop him up and take him to my fathers shop so he can recover when his Reiatsu fluctuates wildly, causing a slightly glow and an impressive wind gust. Ishida moved in and began transforming it into his arrows and releasing them into the air, slowly reducing the output. I appear next to the downed strawberry and place a hand on his arm and begin absorbing the excess Reiryoku, my eyes widen slightly at the amount of Reiatsu he had - easily that of a 3rd seat.
''What the hell are you two doing?!'' Ichigo cries in panic ''You'll kill yourselves!''.
''Shut up'' I say, drawing in more of his power and releasing it out harmlessly. It only hurt slightly and with my help we were rapidly bringing his Reiatsu back under control, it took another minute for his Reiatsu to be completely stable. We, in unison, sigh in relief as the disturbance is over. I get back to my feet and hold a hand out to the orange head, he takes it and I haul him to my feet - not easy considering the difference in size.
''Thanks'' He sighed stretching his back eliciting several cracking noises.
''No problem'' I reply before disappearing in a blur, landing far away next to my father.
''Maa, good job sweetie'' He smiled down at me.
''Don't call me sweetie'' I scowl.
''What would you like me to call you then?'' He teased.
''The person who will kick your ass'' I grin viciously, very reminiscent of Yoruichi.
Kisuke laughed nervously ''Point taken''.
''How long till the Shinigami come to take Kuchiki away?'' I ask seriously, in turn his expression hardens.
''Tomorrow night is likely'' He replied. ''Yoruichi is arriving tomorrow morning''.
''Mm, it'll be good to see her again'' I hum ''I will be going with my plan father, not yours''.
''Aw'' He pouted ''So mean~''.
I jump-kick him in the face ''Shut up!''.
''Yo''.
I stop and turn my gaze on Ichigo, Ishida stood behind him and adjusted his glasses. Hm, I thought they were enemies?
''What is it, Kurosaki?'' I ask evenly.
''I was wondering if you wanted to join me and Ishida-Baka for lunch with the other guys?'' He asked, behind him Ishida grew a tick mark on his head but said nothing.
I frown, concealing my slightly surprised demeanour behind a mask of indifference ''Would you not prefer it to be a guy-only thing?''.
''I never said it was, just wanting to know if you wanted to join us or not'' He scowled slightly, I pause for a moment, slowing time down around me.
'Why would he want me to join him and the other guys? Normally students have a general gender-exclusive lunch deal, he sure is a strange one... what the hell, I ain't got anything else to occupy my time till tonight'
''Sure'' I nod at him, he smiled and beckoned me after him. As we walk I raise an eyebrow at Ishida, who looks at me at the corner of my eye.
''How'd he rope you into this?'' I say softly so Ichigo wouldn't hear despite being only a few feet ahead.
''Keigo's paying'' He replied simply, I nod at him with my mask of indifference but inside I'm smirking.
We traverse through the halls, ignoring the whispers we generated. It was to be expected though; Uryu Ishida, #1 ranking this year and generally cold person. Ichigo Kurosaki, rumoured delinquent, constantly scowling fearsomely and gang-targeted. Me, new girl, girl who took down someone armed with a gun and broke his body with only my fists. I'd say we were some of the most infamous in the school right now, next to the karate champion Tatsuki Arisawa and the busty Orihime Inoue, the titan Sado Yasutora.
We reach a set of stairs and climb two flights before we reach a green door, Ichigo pushes it open and myself and Ishida follow suit. Keigo gaps as the three of us sit down, me with my back to the wall cross-legged. Keigo began ranting at Mizuiro about how Ichigo brought a girl (me) and Ishida up to their lunch, he attempted to do it quietly but everyone could hear it - though it went ignored. After a few minutes Sado comes and joins us, prompting Keigo to go ranting again. We sit in silence, well myself and Sado do while Ichigo and Ishida bicker over something I didn't bother listening to.
Out of boredom I expand my senses, searching the town for any Shinigami. Of course they aren't here yet, why would they? I search over the other students on the rooftop with me, Sado had the Reiatsu equivalent of an unseated officer, maybe 25-30. Ichigo was maybe 18th seat, 17th if he's lucky. Finally Ishida had that of a 20th seat, after which I scan him he looks at me out of the corner of his eye. I give a small shrug before turning my gaze to the sky.
'I won't follow your plan father, he doesn't need to lose his powers to grow stronger'.
'Damn it Rukia! Who just leaves a cryptic note and leaves?!'
Homing in as best I could on Rukia and was surprised when I faintly sensed Ishida too, I speed up as best as I could and keep running. My eyes widen as I see Ishida downed on the ground, bleeding profusely as a guy with red hair stood over him.
''...remember the name, Renji Abarai, because that's the guy who killed you!''.
With speed I didn't knew I possessed, I bolt forwards and block the strike from hitting him. The redhead snaps his head up to look at me, shock rolling off his features as it turns into an angry snarl. He leapt back and I stand in front of Ishida, the man charged forward again and I block the attack. The sheer force of his attack He made me pause for just a moment before breaking the deadlock and attempting a counter attack. He easily stops my attacks and forces me back into the defensive.
He suddenly lashed out with incredible speed, slashing down at my shoulder, I gasp in pain as my legs suddenly lose all control in them and I fall to the ground in agony.
''Tch, an overnight Shinigami like yourself could never hope to touch a lieutenant like myself'' She snarled ''Once your dead, Rukia will regain her powers and will be executed for her crimes''.
Anger flowed through my veins in an instant, my vision blurred red slightly as I lunge upwards suddenly and make a large gash on his chin. He leapt back again and I grin painfully as I get to my feet and stare my opponent down, though the other man spoke.
''You are being to relaxed about this, lieutenant'' He said ''We got a report about a Shinigami known as Ichigo Kurosaki who wounded the Menos Grande and forced its retreat''.
''Must be a false report captain, he can barely control his spiritual energy and doesn't know his Zanpakuto's name'' He said before turning to me and cocking back his Zanpakuto ''Roar, Zabimaru!''.
It changes shape into something between a cleaver and hacksaw before slashing at the air, the blade extends as it flies at me causing my eyes to widen. A flash of black and red draws my attention as the familiar brown hairstyle of Asami stood in front of me.
''How far has the Gotei 13 fallen?'' I ask rhetorically, catching the end of Zabimaru's Shikai in my palm with ease. Everyone's jaws drop in awe (or in Byakuya's case, widening eyes) or surprise, I wait for only a moment before the sword retracts back to the pineapple who was frowning at me.
''Who are you?'' He asked but Byakuya stood next to him with his sword drawn ''Sir?''.
''We must call for back-up'' He hissed more angrily than I've ever heard him.
''What?!'' Renji exclaimed.
''It may be wise'' I comment dryly ''That, or you leave now''.
Byakuya immediately brought his blade up to his chest ''Scatter, Senbonzakura''.
His blade dissolves into pink petals, fluttering around him as his Shikai was released ''I will get revenge for what you did five years ago''.
''Chiro, Toshiro'' I say and the two child-like Vizard Shunpo next to me ''Take Kurosaki and Ishida back to the store, have Tessai put them under a sleeping Kido if you must - I will handle the situation here''.
Both youngsters nod and immediately take off, Toshiro taking Kurosaki and Chiro taking Ishida as they disappeared into the distance. I keep my gaze on the captain, I could take them easily but I'd rather keep my abilities on the low-down. Minutes pass as Rukia keeps on crying out random pleas to escape, ignored by all as the stare-off continues. I wasn't dumb, I did inherit my fathers brains after all - they were waiting for back-up.
No sooner than the thought passed through my head, another Senkaimon opened next to them and Captain Soi Fon walked out with her fat-ass lieutenant and surprisingly, no other officers. I had expected half the stealth force would be on my ass, not the bee Soi Fon and the Omaeda flesh bundle.
''Humph, not surprising to see you here'' She snarled as she also drew her Zanpakuto ''Sting them to death, Suzumembachi!''.
''My, My'' I taunt ''Two captains releasing their Shikai before the battles even begun, I'm honoured''.
''Um, sir?'' Renji questioned slightly nervously ''Why are you releasing your Shikai already? She's just trash like the orange-head too... right?''.
''Watch your tongue'' I quip ''Or you'll lose that tongue''.
He tightened his grip on his Zanpakuto.
''Asami Beelov, the woman who single-handed put both myself and Captain Soi Fon in squad 4 with critical injuries unarmed'' Byakuya grimaced, causing both lieutenants and Rukia to go wide-eyed.
''Are you ready yet?'' I scowl ''Just for this occasion, since I'm fighting two lieutenant and captains Shikai, I'll use my blades''.
I grin a feral grin, causing Byakuya to pale slightly. My right hand lands on my left hilt and my left hand lands on my right hilt. I draw both Zanpakuto's swiftly and cock my right arm back so the blade is parallel to my eyes and facing towards my opponents while my left arm was down diagonally with the blade pointed out diagonally, like a 'tick' mark.
''Prepare yourselves'' I grin ''Cause I haven't had a good fight in a good few decades, so show me what captains are made of now days!''.
I disappear in a blur and appear behind the red-head, his eyes widen in pain as a large 'X' forms on his back as I land behind him. A moment later I raise my blades to an X shape to block the needle-like weapon, pushing her back with one blade before spinning with my blade and dealing a cut in her clothing but nothing more. I blur away to avoid the crash of pink petals where I stood, I appear in front of him and slash down with both blades but his Shikai blocks it just in time.
''That's an annoying Shikai'' I comment, dodging another stab from Suzumebachi ''Yours isn't much better, Soi Fon''.
She growled in response and began using a rapid flurry of Shunpo and stabs, all dodged or blocked. The 2nd divisions lieutenant was cowering slightly next to the collapsed Renji, while Rukia watched on in awe.
I attempt to strike at Kuchiki again but he blocks it with his damn petals, I growl out and disappear in a blur. I appear at the end of the street and the two captains watch from the battle site.
''Tch, looks like I'll have to use a Shikai to beat yours, if only to make this fight less irritating'' I scowl, sheathing both swords to everyone's confusion but I ignore them as my blood burns like before ''Goka''.
A pillar of fire explodes where Asami stood, the top of the pillar becoming more like a cross. The pillar dissipates as Asami walked out in confident strides, her eyes alight with blazing excitement as fire coated her whole body. Each step she took left scorch marks on the ground in the shape of footprints, before she suddenly disappeared in a blur. She appeared in front of Soi Fon and before the captain could react drove her fist into the woman's stomach, eliciting a scream of painful agony. She didn't stop there and reached up with a hand that had considerably less fire on it and grabbed the petite woman by the neck.
She removed the fist from the sizzling hole in her stomach, she likely would've cried out again if not for the fire on Asami's hand making the cry into a gargled scream from hell. Byakuya moved to execute the teen Shinigami but missed before she was in his face, striking his face and sending him shooting through a wall.
''You can't cut what you will never be able to kill'' She said evenly but confidently. It was true, Soi Fon was only alive because the fire cauterized the wounds and the severity of them kept her down and stopped her losing her life attacking ''Leave now and you'll leave with your lives, take Rukia Kuchiki if you want''.
My eyes went wide, wasn't she fighting to save me? I didn't want her to, yes, but what is she fighting for then?
Byakuya Shunpo'ed out to the group again, his faced burned slightly and his right arm hanging limply ''Abarai, arrest Rukia Kuchiki and head through the Senkaimon. Lieutenant Omaeda, carry your captain back through the Senkaimon... I will hold her off''.
''I'm not an animal'' Asami said dryly ''I'm letting you go, so go before I change my mind''.
Byakuya hesitated for a moment before turning and Shunpo'ing next to me. He began leading me towards the portal where Omaeda ran through with his agonised and dying captain in his arms, Renji was wounded slightly with the large X on his back impairing his movements while brother had what I assumed to be a damaged if not broken arm and slight burns. I support nii-sama slightly as we enter the Senkaimon, hurrying as fast as we could.
On the other side we were swarmed with medics, Soi Fon was already on a stretcher being taken away as Isane healed her grievous injuries. Men from the 2nd came up to me and put some cuffs on me, I was slowly marched away as I saw nii-sama and Renji healed.
''Let go of me!'' Ishida barked as he strained against the Bakudo chain, though both of us knew it was pointless. When we appeared in some strange shop the pair tied both us up in a golden chain-like thing around us and made it impossible to move our arms.
''Not until nee-san gets back~'' The recently named Chiro sing-songed.
''What if she's in danger?'' I try asking, only to get a giggle in response.
''Her sister is far stronger than you think, Kurosaki'' Toshiro commented ''I am a former captain and could match half of the captains in the soul society in a one-on-one, yet I can barely cut her at my strongest''.
''Mm'' Chiro agreed ''She even gives me trouble, with her huge arsenal''.
''Forgive me if I'm wrong but I don't believe you two kids are that strong'' Ishida commented.
''Heh'' Chiro grinned ''Yet who's the one tied up?''.
''Shut up!'' He replied, only eliciting a giggle.
''Why did you tie us up anyway?'' I sigh.
''Well you'll see'' She smiled just as the Shoji door opened revealing a completely unharmed Asami.
''They got Rukia'' She said and I felt my stomach tighten ''So plan A is a go''.
''How?'' Ishida narrowed his eyes ''Chiro said you were strong enough and your barely wounded, if at all. So how did you fail to protect her?''.
She was silent for a moment, entering a staring contest with Ishida before she spoke ''I allowed them to retreat with her''.
''What?!'' I snap but was quickly hushed by a tiny soft hand, courtesy of Chiro, covering my mouth.
''It was the best course of action'' She replied evenly but with (a) narrowed eye ''If I simply defeated the captains and lieutenants or even killed them, what do you think happens next?''.
Chiro removed her hand, silently issuing me to speak ''...they give up?''.
''They'll send more captains'' Ishida provided seriously.
''Correct'' Asami nodded ''If I beat them, then they send more, then more, then more until the captain commander himself arrives''.
''Captain commander?'' I frown.
''He leads the captains, he could easily take on all the captains at once and do it over several times'' She explained and my eyes widen, considering I was no match for a lieutenant let alone a captain ''I can match him, possibly. Problem being is I can't handle a dozen captains at the same time''.
''So it would be a fruitless effort'' Ishida sighed.
''Mm'' Chiro said sadly ''Even with everyone in this shop, we'd only hold out for so long before we all fell''.
''Dammit'' I curse, lowering my gaze ''There has to be some way...''.
''That's plan A'' Asami grinned slightly ''We go to soul society, kick some ass, save your friend, yada yada''.
''Then what are we waiting for?'' I ask and struggle against the binds again.
''But first you should train'' She deadpanned ''You need to''.
''We don't have time for training!'' I snap ''Rukia's in danger-''.
''You didn't last a second against that lieutenant'' Toshiro pointed out ''You wouldn't last a second against a captain, literally. How can you expect to fight through the homeland of Shinigami if you cant beat a measly lieutenant?''.
''He's got a point'' Ishida sighed ''I lasted even less than you Kurosaki, If we're going to rescue Kuchiki-san then we need to get stronger''.
''Your coming?'' I ask in disbelief, after all he did to resent the Shinigami.
''So is Sado and Inoue, myself and a friend named Yoruichi'' Asami pointed out ''Also Chiro and Toshiro''.
''You almost forgot us!'' Chiro whined.
''Shut up'' Asami growled but her voice held no malice ''I'll be training you guys, that includes you Ishida-Baka''.
''I will train on my own thank you'' He stated.
''Oh too bad'' Chiro pouted, putting her hand on her cheek and tilting her head cutely ''Then nee-san can't teach you Vollstandig, the better version of Letzt Stil''.
Ishida perked up and reluctantly nodded but remained silent, whatever that Vollstandig is it must be pretty impressive if it can coax Ishida into something.
''Training starts tomorrow morning, Kurosaki I will remove what remains of Kuchiki's Reiryoku so that you may access your own Shinigami abilities yourself. I'll train Sado for two days, Ishida for three and Ichigo for five - Inoue can be trained by my friend Hachi, since her abilities are somewhat similar to his''.
Both of us nod in approval of the plan ''Great, can you untie us now?''.
''This meeting is called to order!'' I boom as I look over captains and lieutenants alike ''Captain Kuchiki, report''.
''Hai, captain commander'' I nod ''During our capture mission in the world of the living we found Rukia Kuchiki fairly easily, as she had intentionally ran away from the human who took her in order to preserve its life. When we were in the process of capturing the convict we were approached by a Quincy, who claimed to be a classmate of hers and would not stand for us attacking an unarmed girl... lieutenant Abarai dealt with him easily enough''.
The Kuchiki head cleared his throat ''When he moved in for the kill the boy who took her powers intervened, there was a short bout between the two when my lieutenant decided to release his Shikai... that's when things went awry''.
Everyone was listening with rapt attention, with the exception of the senior captains who must be thinking about who comes next.
''A woman; Asami Beelov, intervened herself and stopped my lieutenants Shikai with her bare hand. I called for back-up and activated my Shikai, while my opponent called upon the escaped convicts Toshiro Hitsugaya and Chiro Beelov to remove the Quincy and Kurosaki from the battlefield, before she intentionally waited for back-up to arrive. Captain Soi Fon arrived after a minute or two with her lieutenant and she activated her Shikai as well, Asami drew both her blades are engaged in combat with us. She took down my lieutenant in one attack and we pushed her on the defensive with our combined attacks, eventually she claimed she was getting annoyed at our Shikai, saying they were to annoying for her to fight with her sealed Zanpakuto, so she sheathed them and activated some kind of technique called Goka''.
All the senior captains, myself included, perked up. This was undoubtedly the Asami we knew, regardless of last name.
''It took form as flames, similar to the captain commanders Shikai but encased her body. It enhanced her speed slightly and of course her Hakuda skills were greatly increased, dealing a critical blow to Captain Soi Fon's stomach and throat, to the point where she could barely breath and was in agony'' He sighed ''She was toying with us, she could easily have killed us all but only dealt me a broken arm and minor burns, ordering us to retreat. She willingly let us go, if she'd been trying to kill us we wouldn't have lasted a minute''.
'Most captains and lieutenants looked horrified, rightfully so'
Ukitake unfortunately muttered, and was overheard ''She's gotten much stronger...''.
''Do you know something, Captain Ukitake?'' Mayuri grinned madly, the white-haired man grimaced and send me a questioning look. I nod and all attention is drawn to me.
''Asami Beelov... a fake name'' I say and immediately get widened eyes ''Her real name... is Asami Urahara, daughter of exile Kisuke Urahara''.