Chapter: 21
"What do you mean they left?"
The Soul Reapers guarding the gate trembled before Squad 1's Lieutenant. They knew they were in trouble.
"We're sorry. They just... They wanted to leave and they did."
"If it matters, that girl was with them. You know the one. She hangs around those two strange men."
The Lieutenant paused. This was important information.
"So, uh... Are we cool?"
He didn't answer their question. He knew what this meant. If Linnette was involved, it was no wonder those Captains were so determined to leave.
For the time being, he would keep this information to himself. Speaking of it too soon would cause trouble.
Ichigo turned his head, looking at Rukia who was placing another damp cloth on his forehead.
"Want something to drink?" she asked him when she saw him looking at her.
"Little bit."
She sat him up and helped him drink.
"I'm dizzy."
"I know," she told him. "I'm trying to bring your fever down a little bit. I think it's helping a little."
He was set back down on the ground to rest. His body was in so much pain. He was so weak and tired.
"I don't know what to do for you," Rukia said quietly. "This isn't normal Hollowfication. This is... I don't know what this is. It's... It's a poison. Holowfication doesn't kill you or make you weak like this. He injected you with poison. We're working on a cure, but I don't know what else I can do for you."
All she could do was be near him and give him water. She was trying to bring down his fever but she wasn't sure if that was helping his condition in the slightest. She felt so helpless. She always knew what Ichigo needed. Whether it was a pep-talk or a kick in the pants. This was very different. She didn't know what to do for him.
"You... could hold my hand..."
Rukia looked down at him. "Wh- what are you saying? C- come on. This is not time... Don't do this to me now. You're..."
"It's not romantic. I just need a hand to squeeze." Ichigo grimaced in pain. "My body is... It feels like someone has my limbs in a vice. I need a hand to squeeze. That's all."
Before Rukia was embarrassed at his statement. Now she felt sympathetic. He was in pain and needed someone there. "Ok." She slipped her hand into Ichigo's and he squeezed it tight.
His grip was so strong and hot. His temperature had not gone down by much.
She felt the strength leave his hand and he relaxed, the pain in his body subsiding.
Ichigo started to close his eyes.
"Stay with me, Ichigo." She nudged him. "If you pass out, you might lose control and your Hollow will return."
"Not my Hollow," Ichigo said weakly. "He's not the one in control. He's hurting, too. But I know what you mean. Shinji said the same thing. But I don't know how much longer I can do this. My body is weak enough as it is. Eventually it's going to give out on me whether or not I want it to."
His body needed rest. Even if he didn't want it to, his body would shut down. Rukia knew that.
Ichigo needed all the strength he could get. Resting was the best way to do that, but it was also dangerous. His body was under stress as a Hollow because of the serum. He would become weaker the longer he was a Hollow, but he would also become weaker in his normal state because he was using all his strength to suppress the Hollow. It was another no-win situation.
Rukia adjusted the cloth on his head. "Just hang in there, Ichigo."
Ichigo didn't admit it out loud, but there was another reason he wanted to hold her hand. His body was numb most of the time and he was so disoriented, he didn't always know where he was or what was happening around him. Having her hand in his helped remind him that someone was close by. That he had someone with him.
Shinji opened his eyes and found himself on the ground. He realized he was outside the Seireitei. "What the hell happened? I don't remember..." If he was just waking up, then he did not leave the Seireitei willingly. Someone must have taken him.
He sat up, looking around. He spotted two other Captains with him sprawled out on the ground nearby.
"Rose, Kensei. Get up."
Rojuro responded first. "Why are you..?" He sat up quickly, looking around. "Wait a minute... This isn't the Seireitei. I thought we were... How did we get out here?"
"What's with the complaining? I'm trying to take a nap here." Kensei sat up, just as confused as the others. "Where the hell are we?"
"Outside the Seireitei," answered Shinji.
"How did we get here?"
"I don't remember a thing," said Rojuro.
Shinji kept looking around for clues. That's when he noticed they were not alone. A girl was with them, sitting on a rock looking straight ahead.
"Aw, dammit. I should have known it would be her," Kensei grumbled.
"Ohh!" Rojuro whined loudly. "And we tried so hard to avoid her for this very reason."
Linnette finally turned their way. "Sorry."
"Sorry?" Kensei snapped. "You're sorry? I'll give you something to be sorry about!"
"Hold on there!" Rojuro stepped in front of his friend. "You're seriously going to beat up a young girl? And one who can't even fight back? Have you no shame?"
"I wasn't really going to thrash her. Just scare her a little."
"You know she can control you, right? Do you really think she would let you?"
"Who cares?!" Kensei threw his hands into the air and paced the ground. "That's it. We're done. It's over. That's it. It's blown. That's it."
"Stop your ranting," said Rojuro.
"It's a rant worthy situation!" Kensei pointed. "Does she even know what she's done?"
"I got you to leave the Seireitei with me by having your Hollow selves take control over your bodies," said Linnette. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry don't cut it!" Kensei said loudly. He sounded like he was reprimanding a disobedient child. "Do you have any idea what you've done? What that sparked? Any clue?"
Linnette flinched at his tone. She didn't like being yelled at and Kensei was pretty intimidating. If he decided to punch her, she didn't have Victor or Cedric here to protect her.
"Easy, easy!" Shinji tried to calm him down. "She doesn't know our laws. She probably has no clue."
"All the more reason she shouldn't have acted!"
"I'll talk to her," Shinji insisted.
Kensei paced the ground again, trying to cool down.
Shinji tried to reason with her gently, though he was pretty upset about this himself. "Listen, there's kind of this rule we Soul Reapers have about not having Hollow powers and stuff. That's why we were living on the run kinda. Only after we defeated this bad guy called Aizen did the important Soul Reaper guys agree to give us another chance. They were worried about our powers being out of control. But when they saw us work together and help out a lot, they figured we weren't dangerous. There was a whole bunch of stuff that went on. Lots of conditions and meetings and talks and a whole thing."
"Basically, they agreed to let us be Captains again and gave us our old jobs back," said Rojuro. "Once we convinced them that we weren't a threat or anything. I guess you could say we were given a pardon."
"Anyway..." Shinji continued. "We had to convince them that we had full control over our Hollow powers and that nothing would happen. You doing what you did could have changed that for us. They'll think we lost control and there will be consequences."
"The whole thing was blown thanks to her!" Kensei ranted as he paced. "They're gonna think-"
"I said I was sorry but it was the only way," Linnette interrupted.
"Only way? Ha!"
Linnette folded her arms. "Ok. Then would you have come with me and helped me leave the Seireitei if I asked you nicely?"
"Hell no."
Linnette raised her brow at them. "Well."
They sighed.
"Look..." Linnette said with a sigh. "I needed your help and no one else was willing. I had no choice. You were the only ones I could get. I'm sorry I did that to you and without your permission, but I had to do it. It was an emergency." Linnette gave them a smile. "But on the plus side, you guys won't be in any trouble."
Kensei frowned. "How the hell do you figure?"
"Because I was the one in control. You weren't," she explained. "Therefore you were not in control of your actions because I was the one pulling the strings. You didn't willingly disobey an order. I made you do it. So you can't be in trouble."
"But... Our Hollows were still... We couldn't stop our Hollows from taking over so... They'll see it as..."
"It's my power and they understand that." Linnette crossed her legs, keeping her arms folded. "They know I can control Hollows and you have no say in the matter. I can make you do anything I want. It's not a matter of control. So they can't find you at fault. Anymore than they can find it your fault for the Seireitei being attacked by Quincies. It's out of your hands and you have no say in what happens."
They looked at each other.
"See? You have an excuse. The whole blame goes on me and they can't do anything to you."
Shinji shrugged. "She has a point."
"It's true," added Rojuro. "She's the one who did it. We weren't willing participants. I'm fairly sure they'll see it that way. She already said she would take the fall so we wouldn't get blamed."
"We have a perfect excuse. We weren't acting on our own and we didn't lose control. She kidnapped us. That's all. It's actually a pretty good excuse."
Kensei sighed. "Yeah, I guess... But what the hell are we doing out here?"
"I need you to help me help Ichigo," said Linnette. "I can't do it alone and need your help."
"Aw, jeez..." Kensei rubbed the back of his neck. "We've been over this back at the meeting. No one's allowed to leave in case we're attacked. And anyone who is out here is bound to be picked off by the Quincies. They're waiting for us, I'm sure. That's their game plan. We send strong guys out here to do something about Ichigo and leave the Seireitei vulnerable. Not a good idea."
"But Rukia can't do it alone. What if she's attacked by a Quincy? Ichigo's too weak to do anything."
"And what about us?" he asked her. "So we go out here to get our ass kicked? We agreed to stand by until an actual plan is thought up. So far we're just running out here and running back with injuries. Back and forth, back and forth. It's stupid."
"I'm not leaving them out here!" Linnette said sharply.
"Then you do something about it!" Kensei threw back just as loud. "Don't rope us into it."
"Kensei... she's just a girl. She's not even a Soul Reaper," said Rojuro. "You really expect her to be able to do something?"
"And she expects us to? Come on, Rose. She's too weak to do anything herself so she uses others. How fair is that? She had a goal but she has other people do the work for her. It's pathetic. She has a goal, she should be the one to see it through and-"
Shinji cleared his throat and tilted his head in Linnette's direction.
When Kensei looked, he saw Linnette with her head down. She looked like she was crying. He didn't mean to upset her. Maybe a little to get his point across but he didn't want to make her cry. Now he felt bad. He didn't want to appear weak in front of them so he held his ground and kept a stern expression, even though he felt like apologizing on the inside.
"You're right," she admitted. "I often let other people do things for me. I'm too weak to fight so I have other people do the fighting for me. It's not just fighting. I can't cook either. Not without help. I can't drive yet, either, so I have Victor do the driving for me. There are places I can't reach so I have Cedric reach it for me or lift me up so I can. There are a lot of things I can't do on my own. Not because I'm lazy, but because I can't. You're right. I'm not a Soul Reaper so I can't fight like one. I can't do it. I'm not like you guys. That's why I need your help."
Most of her life, Linnette felt that things were out of her control. Being abandoned by her real mother, waiting to be adopted, living on the street for a year, getting put in another orphanage and waiting all over again for someone to come and take her home. Her bedtime was decided for her. What she ate was decided for her. The orphan the parents wanted to take home with them. Everything. She always lived with things being out of her hands.
Creating Victor and Cedric was one of the few things she actually had a say in. She got to pick her family. They still have wills of their own, and they also chose how she should live. They chose the best path they thought would be right for her. Even they decided things for her.
However, there was a slight difference. They did allow her some independence. Sometimes they even asked her permission or had her decide if what they chose was alright with her. They didn't control everything and neither did she. She was given room to grow and learn for herself. To do things on her own if she desired.
"Even when Victor and Cedric let me do things for myself, I still ask them for help. There's so much I still don't know. I'm learning slowly and getting better. But I can't get better if people don't show me the way and help me. I know I can't live without help. And that's nothing to be ashamed of. People make it sound like a bad thing, but no one can live without help. Even you guys didn't become Captains without someone's help. Someone had to train you and approve you and things like that. You weren't born as you are. You got there over time and with help from lots of people."
Linnette thought back to all the times Ichigo helped her and how she wanted to return the favor. She wasn't able to do much but she was still able to help him.
"It's not that I use people. I rely on them. I need help from a lot of people. And now Ichigo needs my help. I can't do it on my own and I know you want to help him, too." Linnette lifted her head to look at the three Captains. "Even if other people won't let you, even if your hands are tied, I'm giving you an excuse. Now you can help Ichigo, and you can help me help him. I can't do it alone so please help me. Let's do this together."
They exchanged looks.
"What do you think?"
"Well, she is right. We do want to help him."
"Ichigo does need help. And this is a good excuse. A loophole."
"And even we can't do things on our own. That's why there's a bunch of Squads and plenty of members. No one person can do it all. That's unrealistic. I guess it was wrong to criticize and judge her for things we've done ourselves. And besides, it's not like she's making us do anything we don't want to do in the first place. She's just giving us an excuse to do it so we won't get in any trouble."
"That's true."
"And Rukia being out here on her own... We can't abandon her. The Head Captain thinks she'll come back to the Seireitei if there's trouble, but I doubt she'd be willing to leave Ichigo for a second. Especially if he's going to be alone."
"The enemy is still out there. Nothing's going to get done by sitting around."
"We'll be walking into a trap. Everyone else who faced them got hurt."
"Ah, that's part of the job. We're always facing dangers. What's the difference here? Same thing."
"What do you say?"
"Oh, I think you know."
"Yup, I agree."
"Ok, then."
The Captains turned to face her.
"Alright," said Shinji. "We'll help. We're out here anyway so we might as well."
"And we sort of owe Ichigo anyway," said Rojuro. "He's done a lot for us and everyone else. We should really repay him."
"He helped us, we help him. It's only fair."
Linnette jumped to her feet. "Thanks you guys! Thanks so much."
"I just hope you have a plan," Kensei said folding his arms.
Linnette pointed. "Shinji was the last one with Ichigo and Rukia so he should know where they are."
"Thereabouts. They could have moved. But that's what sensing Spiritual Pressure is for. Ichigo sucks at that but we're pretty good at it."
"I also had an idea." Linnette stepped closer. "I was thinking we could find the enemy's lab. If we do that, we can gather a lot of information. Maybe even destroy it to prevent this from happening again."
"There's a thought. But do you have any idea where it would be?"
"No," she said. "But Ichigo does. If he's still himself, we could ask him."
"Any other ideas?" asked Rjuro.
Linnette told them the ideas she had come up with. She wasn't the best at devising plan, but some of her ideas were pretty good. Having three Captains around helped formulate better plans and come up with new ideas.
This could work after all.
Restless, Veneno paid the lab a visit and asked about how the cure for Ichigo was progressing. Mayuri had created two different concoctions which seemed promising. He was just about to send them through different trials to see if they would be effective on Ichigo. Veneno stuck around to wait for the results.
When Akon passed by, he asked if the tests were over. Akon had a disappointed look on his face.
"The tests came back negative. They won't cure Ichigo. One would only end up killing him faster."
Veneno's heart sank.
He tried to remain positive. The fact that Mayuri was in the testing phase meant that they were one step closer to finding an actual cure. He had to keep that in mind. He left the lab and wandered around the Seireitei to pass the time. Hopefully the next time he paid them a visit, a cure would have been successfully found and ready to give to Ichigo.
He passed by several buildings. One of which happened to be where Cedric was also passing time helping Soul Reapers with their heavy-lifting and delivery of tea.
Cedric entered a room where he found Renji speaking with a Captain he also knew. Byakuya and Renji seemed to be having a debate. Cedric stood to listen out of curiosity. Using the hot tea in his hands as an excuse to be there, he stood and waited for them to be finished.
"Enough, Renji. I am not her Captain. That is Ukitake's job and his responsibility."
"But she's your..." Renji didn't want to be disrespectful. He was worried about crossing a line or saying something Byakuya might misinterpret. This conversation coupled with his tone of voice was already pushing it. "I'm just worried about her."
"She is a Lieutenant now. Same as you. Do not worry needlessly." Byakuya continued to file his papers. "It was her choice to leave and her choice to return."
"But what if she doesn't? What if she's hurt or worse? What if she needs help?"
"The lock-down applies to all. You are not permitted to leave. And I am not giving you permission to do so. I am, however, giving you an order to take these files to where they belong." Baykuya handed him a stack of papers.
"Yes, sir," he sighed and took them.
Cedric watched Renji leave the room without a word.
Byakuya did not glance up or acknowledge him, continuing to file papers instead. Cedric stood as still as a statue until Byakuya finally spoke to him.
"What is it?"
Cedric held up the cup on the tray he was holding. "I brought you some tea."
"You can set it there." Byakuya gestured to the coffee table. He had no interest in it just yet.
Cedric did as he was told and set the cup down on the table in the middle of the office. It was far from his reach so Cedric got the feeling Byakuya couldn't be bothered at all and didn't want it.
"Was he talking about Rukia by chance?" he asked Byakuya.
The Captain continued to file. "Yes."
"She is your sister, correct?"
"Yes."
"She is with Ichigo right now. Outside the wall."
"I am aware of that."
Cedric kept his eyes on Byakuya, looking for a change in his expression. "You don't seem too concerned."
"Should I be? She is a Lieutenant. I'm not going to trouble myself by worrying needlessly. She can take care of herself."
"You truly believe that?"
"I do."
"So you think highly of her."
Byakuya said nothing.
"It's good that you care. It's also good that you trust in her and believe in her." Cedric paused choosing his next words carefully. "But even so, I would think that you would be a little concerned."
"Why would I do that?" Byakuya grabbed another folder off the stack of papers and sorted through it.
"With care comes concern. If you care about your sister, you would also worry about her."
"Worry doesn't help. It won't make it better."
"I understand that. But it is an emotion nonetheless. You can't always help it."
Byakuya continued to work.
Cedric remained where he was. He wasn't finished. He wanted an answer.
After a few minutes he went on. "I think Renji was trying to get a little sympathy from you. Someone he could share his feelings with who would also understand."
"There is little time for that. And giving in would only encourage the behavior."
"Aren't you worried that your Lieutenant will think you do not care?"
"I said that worry doesn't help. He can think whatever he wants." Byakuya signed a form and put it on the stack. "We can't get distracted when there is work to be done. I need Renji to understand that."
"I think he needs to understand you're understanding."
Byakuya stopped working and looked up. "What do you want me to say? If I tell him that I share in his concern, he will think there is something to worry about. He will lose focus."
"So you're being distance and aloof for his sake? You don't want him to know what you're feeling?" Cedric asked. "Or is it that you're trying to hide it from yourself?"
Byakuya frowned. "I don't appreciate your accusation."
"It was just an observation." Cedric approached the desk. "I know it is hard to sit there knowing the person you care about is out there doing who knows what and being unable to do anything about it. It's natural."
"You are talking about that girl you take care of."
"Linnette."
"Yes, her."
"Of course it's hard. There are times I can't help her and it's hard for me to accept that."
"Are you suggesting that I disobey an order and leave the Seireitei and go on a wild goose chase? We were told to remain here until a plan has been made. That is the wise thing to do. Leaving against orders would only hinder us further. I will not be a part of that."
"So she's on her own?"
"Yes, for the time being."
Cedric sighed. "Haven't you ever gone against orders for someone you love?"
Byakuya's pen froze on the paper he was about to sign.
"Do you know what it's like to care so deeply about someone you would do anything for them? And when you are helpless to do so, it's painful?"
Byakuya's pen left a spot of ink on the form. Noticing this, he set the pen down before it could cause more ink to bleed through the papers.
"That is how I feel," said Cedric. "I felt that way when Linnette was injured and I feel it now. She wants Ichigo to live. She wants him to be alright but I cannot cure him. I do not know how. Aside from that, this business with the lock-down... I understand that while we are here we must abide by your rules. However, if Linnette desires it, I must go against your ways."
Byakuya looked up at Cedric. For the first time during the conversation, their eyes met. "Why are you telling me this?"
"It is not to waste your time, if that is what you're thinking," said Cedric. "I tend to be shy and not speak as often as my brother. I was given a reputation of being a 'strong silent type'. A quiet observer. And what I observed was that you may have some understanding of how I feel. What it means to love someone you would do anything for them. Even going against orders. That someone else is more important."
For a while, Cedric could sense that there was something about Byakuya he could relate to in a small way. That on the surface he appeared to be one way but very different on the inside. One might assume he was cold and unfeeling by his actions and his words. In truth, he was actually very caring and loving. He just had his reasons for being the way that he was. Cedric didn't know what those reasons were and chose not to pry. He didn't know Byakuya's past and didn't want to bring it up if Byakuya wasn't willing to share it with him. He would leave it at that.
"It was just an observation," he said to the Captain. "I'm sure you have your reasons for doing what you do. I can understand that. I just hope that Renji is that understanding and doesn't get the wrong impression. Again, that is your business. I am not his Captain. And Rukia is not mine to protect."
Cedric started to leave but the last thing he said was something Byakuya could not ignore.
"A long time ago, I was married. To Rukia's older sister."
Cedric stopped and turned around to listen.
"She told me that she had a sister she had to abandon because she could not take care of them both. They were orphaned and in a poor District. She searched for her sister everyday. She never stopped looking. She became ill and before she passed, she told me to continue the search. If and when I found Rukia, I was not to tell her that they were related. My wife was ashamed that she had to abandon her and had no right to call herself her sister. She made me promise to look after her and welcome her into the Kuchiki family. I found Rukia the next year."
As he spoke, Byakuya's voice showed no emotion. Cedric felt like he was at a business meeting.
"Rukia looked so much like her sister that I could not bear to look at her. Rukia noticed this and I wondered if she thought it was something she did. That she was a failure and unworthy. I don't know for certain. Others noticed how distant I was towards her, but it was not her."
"But you made her think that."
"That was not my intention. She just looked too much like her sister and I..."
"You were still grieving."
Byakuya looked down. It was true. He was still heartbroken over her death. Seeing Rukia's face haunted him. It was so bizarre. In a way it was comforting, but in a larger way it was uncomfortable having a face that resembled his wife's so much stare at him and follow him wherever he went. During Rukia's first week at the Kuchiki house, Byakuya felt as if he were having breakfast with a ghost. He almost called her Hisana once and it startled him. He also couldn't look at her and not remember the promise he made. Both promises in fact.
"Rukia had broken the law once when she gave her Soul Reaper powers to Ichigo. She was sentenced to be executed. But I had a duty to uphold the law no matter what. At the same time, I had a promise to keep."
"You were conflicted."
Byakuya didn't nod but the look on his face said it all.
"I feel strongly about upholding the law. I even visited my parents' grave and told them that bringing Rukia, someone with no nobility, into the Kuchiki family would be the last time I broke the law. When she was going to be put to death, I didn't know what to do. Keep my promise to uphold the law, or my promise to protect her?"
Cedric already knew the path he had chosen. "Judging from the fact that Rukia is still alive, I'd say you kept the promise that truly mattered."
"Even though I did not look at her directly for some time, I was rather fond of her," said Byakuya. "I do care about Rukia. I knew she didn't intend to break the law for the sake of being defiant. She did it for the same reasons I did. I knew her execution was wrong, but I was bound by the law."
Cedric nodded his head. "I see. So all around you knew it was wrong and had to do something. Sounds like your decision was made easy."
"I did not uphold my promise by finding excuses."
"I'm sure you didn't. You did it because you're a good man."
Byakuya shuffled some papers around before speaking. "I don't think that's why I did what I did."
"I know," said Cedric. "You did it because your wife asked you to. Keeping the promise you made to her does make you a good honorable man."
Byakuya kept his gaze down. "Do you know why her words were more important to me than what the law said? Why I kept my promise to her? Why her final wish meant more to me than the law? Why I did what I did?" Byakuya lifted his gaze briefly to answer. "I did it because I loved her."
When Byakuya said that word, Cedric could hear a little emotion in his voice. The woman he loved mattered more to him than anything else.
Cedric gave Byakuya a soft smile. "We are not so different in that respect." Cedric opened the door and left.
Veneno polished off his fifth plate and added it to the pile on the table. He grabbed the biggest pork dumpling from the bunch and took a big bite out of it. The dumpling was about the size of a grapefruit, easily bigger than the hand holding it. Veneno put his feet up on the table and stared out the open window in front of him.
Should he try making another clone and send it out to see Ichigo against Rukia's suggestion? Keeping himself hidden, they had the element of surprise. The two Quincies who saw him die would think he was dead and not expect to see him again. He could take them by surprise, as Rukia suggested.
There was a problem with that, though. Veneno thought about the Quincy admitting that he only knew as much as he did about them, Veneno included, because he had hacked into their system and read all about it. If he had read all about Veneno, then he would already know that he could clone himself and therefore be expecting it. Having the element of surprise seemed less likely now. The Quincy might not think he was dead.
In any case, Veneno wanted to see Ichigo. He wanted to help him. Sitting here wasn't going to do anything.
Having eaten his fill and back up to full strength, Veneno saw no reason to stay put. He stood up and went out the open window. He had heard that there was a lock-down in place, but chose to ignore it. He would make for the gate anyway.
Upon arriving at the gate, a group of Soul Reapers stopped him from going any further. Security had been increased since the escape of three Vizard Captains. No one was taking any chances.
"Let me through!" Veneno demanded.
"I told you no! Now back off before-"
"Whoa, whoa!" Akon came sprinting from the other street and wedged himself between the two. "Take it easy. There's no reason to start a fight."
"This guy wants to go through the gate and I told him to move along. He won't take no for an answer."
Veneno stuck out his tongue.
"Tell him to get lost before I use force."
"Chill, ok?" said Akon. "With everything that's going on, you want to start a fight? Let's not do the enemy's work for them."
The Soul Reaper backed down.
"Soul Reapers are dropping like flies around here. Let's not forget the Captain of Squad 2 is in the sickbay as we speak. We're all under stress, so let's all just take a breath and chill out." Akon took Veneno by the arm. "Come on. Let's get out of here."
Veneno was going to pull his arm free when he sensed that Akon wasn't being serious. He was taking him away from the Soul Reapers for another reason. He had to trust him. Maybe he was showing him another way out. There was more than one gate. This was just the most direct one to where he wanted to go, and the most used.
"You can't keep doing that," Akon whispered to him. "Everyone's already pretty tense. It won't take much to set them off. And there is a lock-down in place. Why the hell are you trying to get out of here so badly?"
"Ichigo's out there," he said simply.
Akon sighed. "I know he's a really good friend to you. But be smart about this."
"I have to go," Veneno said firmly.
"And do what? What are you going to do once you've found him? Do you have a cure to bring him? Do you have the answers?"
Veneno looked down. "No..."
"Then what would be the point? When Ichigo loses it, he's on a warpath. Nothing can stop him. We don't want to hurt him but if he starts attacking us, we may not have a choice." Akon sighed. "Let's be honest. Sending people out there was a bad idea from the start. Whenever we send someone out there, they come back injured, if at all. It's risky. And they can't do anything for Ichigo anyway. The main reason people were sent out was to observe him the first time. After that, it was to make sure he stayed away from populated areas. Other than that, there's really nothing we can do. The Head Captain's choice to put a lock-down into effect might seem cruel, but he's looking out for everyone here, Including you. He's worried if you go out there, you'll get hurt just like everyone else. Not to mention how we need as much manpower as we can get when it comes to the Quincies. They're coming back here, we all know it. The more people we waste by sending them out, the less we'll have for when they attack us directly and it's coming."
Even Veneno knew that was what the enemy was doing. They send out small groups of Soul Reapers to check on Ichigo and the Quincies pick them off. They either end up dead or return badly injured. After this is done enough times to weaken them, the Quincies will move in and attack when they know there are too many weak Soul Reapers recovering from their wounds. They won't have enough power to fight back.
Veneno stayed firm. "I get that. I know the enemy is trying to weaken you guys so they can move in when too many of you are already injured. But... But I have to see Ichigo. I feel like I can do more out there than in here. And since I sent a clone out there that ended up killed, they might not be expecting me."
"Ven-"
"And there's more. I noticed that whenever Ichigo is not in a Hollow state, the head Quincy comes out and stays near until Ichigo goes Hollow again. I was looking for their hideout before. I think I was close. The lead Quincy spoke to me while I was heading away from Ichigo and further into nowhere. I think I must have been close to their hideout. Why else would he call out to me if I wasn't anywhere near him or Ichigo? I must have been close to something he didn't want me to find and that's why he stopped me. I think if I go back out there while Ichigo isn't a Hollow, the lead Quincy will be where Ichigo is and not near the hideout, so he won't be able to stop me if I get close this time."
Akon listened to what he had to say and nodded. "That is a good theory. Makes sense. But even if you do get past the leader without issue, do you even know what you're looking for?"
"I'll find the hideout somehow."
"Then what? Do you have a plan?"
Veneno held up his fist. "Smash it. I'll go there and smash up his lab to make sure he never does anything like this to anyone again. And if by some chance I happen upon a cure, I'll bring it back."
Akon knew Veneno was sensitive when it came to experimentation and couldn't forgive anyone who used it on innocent people for fun. He would show no mercy towards any person who experimented on a friend of his either. He was going to smash Yagi's lab out of anger and a sense of justice.
There was no point in stopping him. Even Akon agreed and wanted to let Veneno off his leash. He approved of Veneno tearing apart the enemy's lab and might even consider helping him if he weren't conflicted over the loss of valuable data.
"Well," Akon said with a sigh. "I can't really stop you if your heart's set on it. I'd love to help Ichigo, too. That's why I'm working around the clock in the lab. I only came up here to get some supplies and a snack. But with the lock-down in place, I don't see how you can get through. You can't go over the wall and tunneling isn't an option."
"I was thinking of knocking a few heads or something."
Akon was still thinking of other options. "Hmm... Well, why don't you just use a Garganta? You can open a gate into Hueco Mundo and open another one on the other side of the wall?"
Veneno's eyes were wide with surprise. "I can do that?" he gasped.
"Sure. I think all Hollows can use a Garganta. You never used one before?"
Veneno shook his head. "No. How do I do it?"
"How? Uh..." Akon didn't have an answer. Only theories. "I'm not sure. It's a Hollow thing so I wouldn't know how to do it myself. If you don't know what you're doing and can't coordinate how to go where you want, I don't recommend trying now of all times. Could make trouble. But I would imagine it's very similar to opening a Senk-"
Before Akon could finish, the gate behind them began to open. The injured members from Soi Fon's Squad had returned and needed help dragging themselves through the gate.
Veneno turned to Akon. This was his only chance. "I have to go."
Akon gave him a nod. "Then go and... come back alive."
Veneno nodded back and flashed toward the gate. He ran between Soul Reapers and jumped over one's head. When a Soul Reaper yelled a warning, Veneno shoved the heel of his foot in the man's face and launched himself towards the gate. "Sorry!" he called back and ran outside. The Soul Reapers couldn't go after him. Not only was it against orders to leave, they also had to take care of the injured right now.
Akon watched the gate come to a close and stood shaking his head with a smile. "It's livelier with him around." No wonder he missed him.
Veneno did not look back. He kept running. He was going to help Ichigo. He could do more out here than in there. "I will be back. I promise." Veneno picked up speed and disappeared in a cloud of dust.
Ichigo took long deep breaths. He felt like there was a weight on his chest that wouldn't go away. He could feel his heart racing. He was trying to keep calm and breathe. He also needed something to take his mind off what was happening to his body so he focused on his breathing.
He had lost feeling his his fingers so he could no longer feel Rukia's hand in his. The only way he knew she was there was by the sound of her voice calling out to him every few seconds. She was trying to keep him conscious.
"Ichigo!"
That wasn't her voice. Ichigo could have sworn that was Linnette's voice. Was he losing his mind, too?
"Ichigo!"
He couldn't move his head so he looked as far to the right as he could and saw Linnette's dark hair draw over his face like a curtain as she leaned over him. She looked very worried but happy to see him in one piece.
He could hear other voices, too.
"You doing ok?"
"Rose, of course he's not ok, you moron."
"You don't have to be so mean, Kensei. I was being courteous."
"Lay off it, you two."
Kensei, Shinji, Rojuro. They were all here.
"What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked weakly.
"It was Linnette's idea but we wanted to come here, too. We're all concerned about you."
Shinji turned to speak with Rukia. Ichigo couldn't hear everything he was telling her. Something about a lock-down and Soi Fon. It wasn't because Shinji had his head turned away from him. Ichigo's hearing was starting to fade.
"Linnette was thinking about heading to the leader's lab. Ichigo told me where he was heading but not the exact place. I doubt even he knew exactly where it was at the time. But since he got injected with that drug, his must have found the hideout and knows where it's located now. If he can tell us where it is, we can head there ourselves and get some information before wrecking the place."
"It's worth a shot," said Rukia. "But I don't know if he'll be able to tell you much. He hasn't been himself for this long before. This is the longest he's ever gone that I'm aware. He's fading fast. He won't last much longer."
"Ichigo?" Linnette started nudging him. "Ichigo?"
Everyone turned their attention to Ichigo. He was laying perfectly still, staring straight ahead. He looked frozen. Even his body had gone stiff.
All of a sudden, Ichigo's spine bent like a bow and started screaming. His hands started to turn white and claws were beginning to form. He went into convulsions and continued to scream.
Linnette reached for him but Shinji pulled her away. Ichigo had become dangerous. He started to Hollowfy.
"What do we do?" Linnette asked, panicked.
"Nothing. We just have to let him be and watch."
Kensei and Rojuro watched in horror. "This isn't Hollowfication," they were saying. "I don't know what this is, but it's not normal. This isn't what we trained him to control. What the hell did this guy do to him?" This was their first time seeing Ichigo in this state.
They backed away as Ichigo grew more unstable and started roaring.
"It's about time."
Knowing that voice, Rukia turned, her sword drawn.
Yagi was watching them. Again, no one was able to sense him until he opened his mouth. Not even Shinji.
The lead Quincy did not look pleased. He looked annoyed. "This is taking far too long," he growled. "I thought Ichigo would have made it to the Seireitei by now but with all these distractions and his strength being absurd, we'll be lucky if he makes it to the Seireitei within a week's time! He'll be dead long before he makes it that far at this rate."
Linnette clenched her fists and tried not to make a sound. Hearing how little time Ichigo had left made her want to burst into tears. She wanted to attack this man, but he was the one who nearly killed her. If it weren't for this man, Ichigo wouldn't be like this.
"I've had more than enough. Ichigo is reaching the Seireitei," said Yagi. "Even if I have to step in and make sure of that. Time is ticking."
Ichigo stood tall and turned his gaze toward the group, ignoring Yagi who was further away. Ichigo roared and fired a cero. They got away in time but Ichigo was still coming for them.
"We got him!" said Kensei.
"You handle that guy," added Rojuro.
The group split up. The two Captains went to distract Ichigo and Rukia, Shinji and Linnette stood before Yagi.
"I really thought he would have killed you by now," said Yagi. "Or at the very least, made it further than this."
"Change Ichigo back right now!" Linnette yelled.
Yagi looked her way and she flinched. "So you're here? I didn't think I would find you here without those two men." Yagi looked around. "Are they near? Where are they hiding?"
Linnette kept her mouth shut. She wasn't going to tell this man anything. Maybe she could fool him with a bluff, making him think they were nearby when they weren't. He would be expecting them to pop out at any time. This could work to their advantage.
Yagi scoffed. "It doesn't matter. They know if they even try to harm me, you will not survive. Neither will Ichigo. I alone hold the cure. Get rid of me, get rid of your chances."
"We already have a cure," Shinji lied. He wanted to see Yagi's reaction. Based on how he reacted, Shinji had a pretty good idea he could figure him out.
Yagi laughed. "No, you don't."
"Yes, we do," Shinji insisted. "Why do you think we're out here? He have to get a hold of Ichigo to give it to him. Mayuri will be here shortly to give it to him. Just you wait. Then what will you do? Inject him again?"
"I won't have to," said Yagi, "because there is no cure."
"So you admit you don't have one?" Shinji pried.
"Why must you twist my words?" said Yagi without missing a beat. "I have a cure and you do not. I know you will never be able to find one."
"And why's that?"
Yagi sighed loudly. "Enough stalling. If Ichigo will not kill you, I'll do it myself. Maybe I'll just cripple you and have him pick you off one by one as you lie there."
Rukia pulled on Linnette's arm. "Get behind me." Fighting Yagi was going to be difficult with Linnette so close. She was in danger here and Victor and Cedric were nowhere to be found. They would have to fight Yagi and protect her at the same time.
Yagi glanced over at Ichigo. He was too far away for him to be involved in their fight. Kensei and Rojuro were luring him further away and not in the direction Yagi wanted him to go.
He needed time and he needed space. What he needed was something else to keep their attention. He honestly didn't want to fight two Soul Reapers if he could help it. The odds were not in his favor if the other two decided to join and leave Ichigo for later. Or worse, lure him back over to where Yagi stood. He definitely needed a distraction.
"What I need is another Hollow..." Yagi said aloud. A smile crept onto his face. "And I know just the one."
Yagi snapped his fingers and called for an ally.
"Sharif!"
D:
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