Ch14

Netto ran through the ruins of Scilab. "Dad!" His mind was racing with all that just happened. Saito how is he back? He didn't know what was going on with his brother's spirit or why it was hunting him but he right now all he cared about was making sure his father was ok.

"Dad!" He found his father with the other scientists trying to get the power back on.

His father hugged him, "Netto thank goodness you are ok."

"Dad your bleeding," he said looking up at his father's forehead.

"I know. I'll go to the infirmary right after I finish making sure everyone is ok," His father said.

"I'll help," he said quickly.

His father nodded and with that he helped do a head count. The explosion was blame on a gas leak and pipes. After the injured were sent to the hospital and his father was bandaged up he sat by his side.

"Dad are you ok?" he asked.

"Don't worry I am," His father said as he looked up at the ceiling. "You know I had the strangest thing happen to me when I was nearly knocked out."

"What was it?" He handed his father a glass of water.

After his father finished drinking he set the glass down and looked up at the ceiling. "For some reason I remembered your brother."

He froze. "Y-You mean Saito?"

His father nodded his face grim. It wasn't something they discussed outside the family, in fact very few people knew about it. "I remembered holding him just before he passed." His father shook his head, his face spasming in pain. "I'm glad he lives on in Rockman but I can't help but feel hurt at times."

A pit formed in his stomach. What could he say? Hey dad Saito is now an evil spirit that tried to kill you. I don't even know the whole story myself. He looked down at his PET, how could I even explain it?

"Netto is something wrong?" His father asked.

He shook his head. "N-No. I was just worried about you."

His father smiled at him. "Don't worry I'll get better don't worry. Go on home I'm fine."

"Right. Well see you later," he said forcing a smile on his face.

As soon as he left the hospital he breathed as sigh of relief. "What a day."

"Netto-kun what happened?" Rockman asked.

"Oh right," He picked up his PET and looked at his navi. Rockman's bright eyes were full of worry and his heart sank at how he could tell him. I can't lie to him.

"Rockman an evil spirit target Scilab," He said softly as they headed home.

"A-An evil spirit?" Rockman asked his body shaking. His navi shivered. "Did you take care of it?"

He shook his head. "It got away." Taking a deep breath he stopped and rested on a bench. "Rockman this spirit said it was Saito Hikari."

Rockman froze. "Wh-What?"

He sighed. "Spirits that come back aren't always friendly. This being claimed to be Saito." His heart fell as he remembered the gaze of the masked figure. He wanted to deny it but deep down something inside of him was telling him that it was his brother, or at least what was left of him.

His navi's jaw dropped. "H-How?"

"I don't know," he said as he got up. "Come on I'm sure Toshiro might know something."

As he headed home he found Toshiro and Yoruichi having a heated discussion with his grandfather. "Hey guys my dad is alright."

"Glad you both are safe," Yoruichi said. "Come on we need to talk."

"We do," he said.

Thankfully his mother wasn't home so he let them inside. Yoruichi quickly turned into her human form and thankfully she had clothes on.

"So can you tell me more about this Saito?" Toshiro asked.

He sighed and set Rockman down on the table. The blue navi looked at Toshiro and Yoruichi calmly. "Well it started when I was born," he said as he began to recount the story of how his twin brother passed and his father used a part of him to create Rockman.

Toshiro remained silent as he explained the story of how his father used a part of Saito's DNA to create Rockman while his grandfather and Yoruichi looked tense.

"Well that's the basics," he said. "No one in my family really talks about it. It's sort of a family secret."

"My son always cared about his family," His grandfather said his gaze hardening. "It was a stroke of genius but I always suspected something was wrong." Folding his arms his gaze hardened. "My son saw the navi as his actual son and saw him as a continuation in many ways."

"What do you mean?" Toshiro asked.

His grandfather's brow furrowed. "I never could find Saito's soul in the Soul Society. I used all the resources available but I never could find it." Tadashi Hikari paced around and looked at a portrait of the family. "I suspected the remainder of his his spirit may have become a hollow when your father used his DNA to create Rockman. Now his spirit wants revenge."

"Revenge?"

His grandfather nodded his face grim. "Unfortunately Saito's spirit grew more resentful and saw himself being pushed aside for Rockman in the family and now seeks vengeance."

Yoruichi nodded. "He asked me to look after your family. I tried tracking this hollow but never could."

A pit formed in his stomach as his mind tried to wrap his head around what had happened to his brother's soul. "So he is a hollow now?"

Saito. How could this have happened? Yet a part of him could understand it, his brother died young and never could experience life.

"Arrancar," Toshiro said. "They are formed when hollows remove their masks." His friend looked up at him with his calm blue eyes. "He can still be purified if we take him out."

"So there is a chance to help him?" He asked. His heart raced in his chest, if there was a chance to help his brother's soul then he would do it.

His grandfather nodded. "It is true. If you defeat him you can purify his soul."

"I'll do it," he said firmly. "Whatever it takes."

Toshiro nodded. "it won't be easy but I'll help you with what I can."

"Thanks," he said. "My brother seems pretty strong."

"Arrancar are very dangerous," Toshiro warned. "We'll have to plan accordingly."

The ground shook and Yoruichi quickly drew her weapon. "What was that?" he asked.

"Hollows are nearby lots of them," His teacher said.

"Lets go," he said as he turned to Rockman. "I'll be back ok?"

Rockman looked him in the eyes and nodded. "Be safe Netto-kun." He took the mod soul pill and his spirit was ejected from his body.

Rushing outside he was greeted by a sight of hollows. They were crawling everywhere and advancing towards his house while in the distance a tall hollow the size of a large house slowly advanced.

"A Menos Grande," Yoruichi said as she gripped her sword tightly. "Netto don't go too far."

"Got it," he said as he drew his sword. Toshiro came to his side while his grandfather went to assist Yoruichi.

The first wave of hollows came at them. He lunged at the first one and slashed through its mask with ease. Toshiro came at his side and the two of them fought through the rows of hollows.

I can't take them all like this. Gripping his zanpakuto he took a deep breath. "Shine brightly Taiyo!"

A bright light rippled through the area as he swung his zanpakuto. The hollows around him screamed in pain as they were eviscerated.

"Sit upon the Frozen Heavens, Hyornimaru!" A wave of ice hit the hollows sending them back. Toshiro swung his blade and created a small wall of ice around their area to prevent the hollows from advancing.

"Netto I'll take care of that Menos Grande," Toshiro said as an ice dragon ripped through the hollows around them.

He looked up at the large hollow and nodded. "But how? I don't know if can reach that far up?"

Toshiro slashed at another hollow and landed in front of him. The white haired boy held his sword in front of him. "Bankai." A cold blue aura enveloped Toshiro that spread throughout the area.

He winced at the cold as ice enveloped Toshiro before breaking. He stared in shock as he saw Toshiro wearing some kind of ice armor complete with a pair of ice wings.

Wow cool

Toshiro raised his sword in the air. "Daiguren Hyornimaru!" The white haired boy turned to him. "Be safe."

He nodded. "You too."

Toshiro flew up at the menos grande and swung his blade at it. A wave of ice hit the large hollow knocking it off balance.

"Netto focus!" Yoruichi snapped.

He shook his head just as another hollow came at him. Swinging his sword he slashed at the masks of the various hollow that came at him. The hollows crumbled with each slash of light.

Saito. I'll save your soul I promise. He along with his teacher and grandfather pushed the line of hollows back, taking care of each of them while Toshiro took care of the various menos grande that came at the house.

Gripping his zanpakuto he took out a hollow that tried going to Meiru's house. Luckily she and Yaito are out of town.

Using his zanpakuto he took out the remaining hollow before Toshiro lunged down and slammed his sword into the ground, freezing the remainder.

"My my good job little brother," Said a voice that made his blood run cold.

He looked up and saw Saito land a few feet down the street, a malicious grin on his face.

"S-Saito," he said his body shaking.