Continuation of chapter 11~
(Post FullBringer Arc)
[Hint:You guys remember the episode: Ichigo and the Magic Lamp? ;) ]
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Ichigo feels his arms are strapped to the side of him in restraints attached to the bed. He pulls at them but his strength is too weak to undo the specialized straps with his meager pulling. Last thing he remembered was being grabbed by Unohana and dragged into Soul Society before she knocked him out with a crack to the neck. Damn it. They meant business then, not that he blames her.
Thinking back to when he escaped the last time... he must have really pissed her off. But in all honesty, what did they expect? When he snuck away in the dead of night he knew there would be repercussions when he came across her again. They didn't call her First Kenpachi for nothing, oh yes, he thinks back to Rukia's 'Scared Straight' talks after finding him.
"You made a big mistake Ichigo, do you know what they used to call Captain Unohana? Well, do you!?" Rukia grabs him and tosses him to his bed. Ichigo rolls his eyes, ready for the lecture.
"Rehab Retsu?"
"Very funny." Rukia deadpans. "No, she was actually known as the First Kenpachi, and for good reason. And now that you deceived her Ichigo, I honestly can't tell you what may happen. Maybe if you stopped all this nonsense-"
Blah blah blah, Rukia had gone on and on.
Ichigo closes his eyes and lets out a breath. Inside he can't help but feel guilty about this whole thing. Everyone is so focused on him right now over an insignificant issue, but when he really needed them, when he really needed their help... where were they?!
He clenches his fists and weakly struggles, and groans, how is this fair! How!? He has every right to do what he needs to get through his pain! The torment he has been through with his own soul and mind was torture and smoking took it all away, it gave him freedom and peace of mind, gave him all he ever needed when he had NOTHING! He was NOTHING.
They care about you. That soft voice that nags at him from time to time, and reminds him of his mother. They care about you and you're not even trying. What about your sisters?
Ichigo growls and looks up at the ceiling. The room dark and quiet, almost peaceful, and the window curtains are slightly drawn so only a peak of light is shining into his room giving him an idea of the time. Suddenly the light starts wavering.
"Huh?" He turns his head and finds a dark shadow in the corner.
"Who's there!" He growls and desperately tries to get himself out of the restraints.
"You don't know how long I have been waiting for this moment. Finally I can use you as the test subject I should have been entitled to from the moment you set foot here all those years ago!" Clown Face comes forward showing himself in the light. "Ah yes! This truly is a marvelous outcome."
This isn't good, he realizes and his struggles are met with even more resistance, if possible the straps tightening with each pull he gives.
"Stay the hell away from me!"
"Nemu! Grab the test subject and bring him to the lab!" Captain Kurotsuchi demands of his Lieutenant.
The Clown's Lieutenant emerges from the other dark corner of the room shocking Ichigo even further. Were they there this whole time!? Is he really that out of it or... Nemu stalks forward with a massive gun looking weapon in hand.
"No! What is that thing!?" Ichigo is staring horrified at the tranq gun then turns to Clown Face, "I swear, when I get out I will kill you, you hear-Wait-Stop!"
Nemu stabs the nose of the gun to Ichigo's neck and pulls the trigger, "Be still now."
"You like drugs so much, I am certain you will enjoy this one immensely. It's a sedative I made myself, called Benzatriptaphine, and it looks like you're feeling the effects already. Let's go Nemu, I wan't to get readings immediately!"
"Yes Captain!" She releases the straps and picks up the orange haired boy feeling slightly bad for him.
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Is he floating? Ichigo tries to open his eyes, aren't his eyes already open? He can see but he feels asleep. He looks around and finds himself staring back at him.
"Uoy yako?" His face says but the words aren't registering. These words have no meaning and his thoughts are leaving before they are coming. The dark eyes staring at him are watching with strange observance. The whiteness of his face, so unlike him. He frowns trying to concentrate.
Ichigo reaches out and touches his white face. "Stra-nge" he tries to speak but the word he's about to say leaves his mind like sand escaping an hourglass and just like that he doesn't remember what he's doing, what he's saying, why he's being.
He looks around and feels himself sit down and then lay down to look up at the darkening sky above. The clouds overhead are rapidly becoming darker and larger with the growing wind. Low rumbling that was only just behind him is now above him much louder than before. The Hollow above him looks sad and the other figure that joins beside him, a familiar man, doesn't even spark a memory. His mouth feels glued shut and his eyes suddenly feel very heavy. The two are speaking to him but he can't understand them, their foreign language lulling him into the darkness that blankets his mind and soul.
...[0]...
"Chigo! Hello~! Chigo! Heyyyy-" Is that... Orihime? Why does it smell like sand? "He's not waking up. Maybe if I kick him..."
"Wait.." Ichigo groans still half asleep and lifting up from where he's laying struggling but managing to open his eyes a crack.
"I knew he was pretending." The annoying voice only known to belong to Uryu says.
Ichigo blinks and wearily looks around to see his friends gathered around him, they're clearly in Hueco Mundo. What is going on? Ichigo tries to figure out what the situation may be by observing their actions. Orihime is looking happy, Chad looks content... Then theres Uryu who always looks annoyed. But why are they all here and all wearing green?
Ichigo stands up brushing the sand off, "What's going on?"
"We were just on our way to get the Golden Nugget, don't you remember Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime informs him while pointing at one of the large pillars of sand miles away from them. A shining light is beaming up into the sky like a beacon from the pillar.
"But then you passed out, haha, Uryo said you couldn't handle that last hit but you did it anyway!" She continues to laugh at him.
"Huh?!" Ichigo strains his memory but there's nothing.
"It's actually called the Dankest of Dank." Uryu pushes up his glasses correcting her. Chad crosses his arms. "No we agreed earlier to call it the Kushiest of Kush."
"No we didn't Chaido, we definitely agreed on the Golden Nugget!"
Ichigo sits back down in the sand as a strange feeling of nostalgia waves over him.
...[0]...
Retsu Unohana has just walked out of the critical ward when she is met with Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu frantically coming up to her eyeing her wearily before announcing.
"Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki is missing again!" No wonder her Lieutenant is nervous.
"Those restraints can withstand Kurosaki's power... Which means," She grabs the hilt of her Zanpakuto. There's only one way he got out. "He's been taken."
"Who-"
"Go tell the Head Captain that Ichigo Kurosaki has been abducted, we need a thorough search."
"Yes, Captain!" She bows then looks up and watches her Captain take off down the hall, the pressure of her reiatsu on blast making the Lieutenant grimace. Whoever took Ichigo Kurosaki must be some sort of ignoramus to mess with her Captain.
Unohana stalks out of the fourth quarters on a mission to retrieve what is hers and makes way to the labs. This wouldn't be the first time the scientist nabbed someone from her medical ward.
But this time there will be hell to pay.
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The immense pressure that blasts through the air is enough for everyone within a hundred mile radius to feel.
Kenpachi is sitting on the floor, his arm propped by his sword, looks up towards the window. "Wow Kenny!"
"Yeah, she's mad..." Kenpachi frowns for a second before bursting into laughter. "Great, it's been a while since I've felt her this pissed and that means someone is going to get it!"
Kenpachi gets up and heads out with Yachiru. Madame and Ayasegawa flanking behind him as he's running down the hall on full alert, his hand on his weapon with eagerness, the smile on his face only growing as he thinks of the shit show that is about to happen.
"Captain, we just received word from Isane that she's on her way to alert the Head Captain Ichigo has been abducted! Captain Unohana wants us to search everywhere."
Kenpachi barks out a laugh, "Change of plans, looks like we're gonna go looking for this kid."
It's been a while since he fought Ichigo since he lost his powers, and now that the kid has some of his...He grips his sword and turns another corner.
"It's like a game of Hide and Seek Kenny!" The pink haired lieutenant laughs.
"Perfect. Whoever finds the brat first gets to spar him!" Zaraki takes off down another hallway at break neck speed following Yachiru's navigational skills leaving the other two in the dust.
Ikkaku looks over at Yumichika and they decide to go off in another direction. "Ichigo better hope the Captain doesn't find him first, he's been itching for a fight since the kid left." Ikkaku laughs out.
Yumichika tucks a lock of hair behind his ear, "Then we better find him before the Captain." "Don't think we will need my lucky dance for that."
"Isane said Captain Unohana seemed to know who did it." Yumichika says as they round a corner almost bumping into Renji.
"Whoa, where you guys off to in a hurry?" The red head asks after them following suit. "Kurosaki is in trouble again, there's a full on search for him." Ikkaku says.
Renji groans, "You gotta be kiddin, we just got back here! Don't tell me he actually escaped again!"
Yumichika lets out a laugh, "Escaped again, you mean he's done this before?"
"Well you know how Ichigo is..." Renji sighs, "Kid's stubborn. But if he's left rehab again there's no telling what Captain Unohana might do. I should've warned him about her, you'd think it would be common sense!"
"Rehab?!" Ikkaku yells, "For what!? Hey! There he is!"
The two Shinigami turn their heads towards Ikkaku's pointing finger to see their orange haired friend being unceremoniously hauled around a corner by two of Captain Kurotsuchi's lab techs.
"After them!" Renji shouts and they all sprint down the hall but once they're there there's no sign of them.
"Damnit! They must have used a hidden door or something." Yumichika starts to look around trying to find seams in the wall but to no avail.
Ikkaku starts dow the hall, "They have to be bringing him to the labs, let's go!"
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Captain Kuchiki is walking towards the thirteenth division when something catches his eye. He watches as two Shinigami, looking to be from the sketchy science division is hauling down the hall with none other than the Substitute Soul Reaper, Kurosaki, whom is clearly unconscious and is lolling every which way. The orange hair being a dead give away. Damnit all, he sighs not really interested in getting involved but it's the least he can do for Rukia.
"You two, stop right there!" He yells to them.
He watches with disdain at the blatant lack of disrespect of his orders as the two ignore him and accidentally drop Kurosaki with a thud. They scramble frantically and pick him up by the legs and arms and take off in a hurry down the hall, the substitute soul reapers head banging on the side of the wall as they turn the corner.
"You dare!" Byakuya takes off after them but when he turns the corner they are long gone. Impossible! He glares, this can only be the work of that bastard Kurotsuchi, and that means nothing good for Kurosaki.
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Captain Ukitake and Captain Kyoraku are walking down the hall in response to the Head Captains call for an emergency meeting when they spot in a blink of an eye two Twelfth Seat Shinigami dropping Ichigo Kurosaki, picking him up, then taking off down the hall and out of sight in a flurry.
"You think..."
"The reason for the meeting?" Shunsui Kyoraku tilts his woven hat down while frowning. "Yare, yare, that would explain Captain Unohana's rage earlier."
"Well, better go in." They both sigh.
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"Oh my goodness, Captain look! Isn't that?" Lieutenant Matsumoto shouts pointing over at the body being tossed over a training ground fence. The body's crash to the ground can be heard from where they stand from all the way over across the grounds.
"That's Ichigo!"
Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya is only half paying attention as he is responding to the butterfly alerting him of the Captains meeting. Finally turning to look at what Rangiku is squawking about his jaw drops as he watching the body of Ichigo is being tossed into a cart and wheeled off by members of the Twelfth Division.
"What the hell!?"
"Should we go after them Captain?"
Toshiro grits his teeth, "I have a meeting, but I want you to rescue Kurosaki, lord knows what he's gotten himself into now."
"Yes Captain!"
Toshiro takes off urgently towards the Head Captain, he has a funny feeling.
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"With everyone thinking that dummy is the real Ichigo I will be able to conduct more time consuming experiments, starting with what is inside the subject. He is a Hollow after all, it would be interesting to see if this has any affect to his human core." Mayuri tightens the straps on Ichigo's legs and arms on the operating table.
"Is that so?"
Mayuri freezes for a millisecond then turns around. "You've had your time with him! It's only fair I get to use him for research!"
Unohana points her Zanpakuto at the Twelfth Division Captain and lunges forward, Mayuri blocks the attack but just barely struggling against her force, he growls and pushes against her then jumps back to give room. Mayuri clenches his teeth in frustration as the lab gives him the disadvantage of calling out his shikai, the last thing he wants to do is destroy his lab.
Unohana takes his hesitancy and jabs her sword into his shoulder sticking him to the wall. Mayuri takes hold of her blade and starts to laugh, a small bubble comes from his sleeve and pops, a mist like gas evaporates into the air.
She holds her breath but still begins to feel herself becoming sluggish, no matter, she slices her blade downward at him but he jumps out of the way, her sword crashing into the machines creating sparks and sirens.
"You fool!" Mayuri comes at her again and is interrupted by a loud crash!
"Knew I'd find you here." Kenpachi says, standing in front of the hole in the wall he just created. "You better not be messing with the kid you stupid Clown."
"What did you just call me! You disgusting pig- I'll be sure you're the next one I dissect!" Mayuri is shaking in rage.
Unohana goes over to Ichigo and releases him from the straps, "Kenpachi would you do me a favor and bring him to the medical ward."
Kenpachi who's still staring off at Mayuri decides to hold off on his murder for the time being and goes over to Ichigo and picks him up placing him on his shoulder opposite of Yachiru.
"Go, Kenpachi, I have something to finish here."
"Let's go Kenny!"
Kenpachi looks over at Unohana one last time before taking off, too bad, he would have liked to witness the fear she was about to instill in the rat.
...[0]...
"Yes! We did it! We got the Golden Nugget! After all that work!" Ori Mei shouts in victory holding the large green gold bud the size of her hand in the air.
"Yeah, all that work," Ichigo mutters, they just had to beat about fifteen hundred replicas of Pesche's and Dondochakka's guarding the sacred pillar, then they had to scale that pillar with their bare hands, get past the secret entrance, and yell out the almighty password written over that entrance three times to gain access to the chamber.
"Look!" Chaido picks up something else inside, "It's the Hollow Bowl!"
"Here Chigo! You take the first hit!" Ori Mei hands him the Golden Nugget which he takes hesitantly.
"You sure?" He asks looking over at Uryo expecting him to complain.
Uryo just looks back, "Don't look at me, Chigo... besides, this isn't real anyway. You should know that by now."
Eh!? Not real! But! The Golden Nugget slowly disappears from his hand, no wait! After all that...
"Till next time!" Is the last thing he hears Ori Mei say.
...[0]...
"He's waking up!" Ichigo hears someone shout nearby. The sound of foot steps get closer to his bed and he forces his eyes open to check who it is so nearby, the feeling of paranoia is overwhelming.
"Who.." Ichigo blinks and squints his eyes up to see a big goofy grin, "'Ey, Renji... what's happened?"
"You idiot!" Renji says causing Ichigo to groan. "Can't you stay outta trouble for once!"
Ichigo turns putting his face into the pillow, "You woke me from a good dream asshole."
"Well get your ass ready!" Renji smacks him.
"I didn't see that Abarai." Captain Unohana walks in with a slight smile on her face, "Ichigo, how are you feeling?"
"I-I'm feeling very well Captain Unohana, Ma'am." Ichigo sits up and glances at Renji's rigid posture before looking back over at the Fourth Division Captain. "Thanks for taking care of me, I promise to do better. And... I'm sorry about last time." He bows his head.
Ichigo feels a hand pat his shoulder, "I know you are, Kurosaki. You are free to leave as I am now working with Urahara in something that may help you going forward." Unohana starts for the door, "That will be for another day though. Renji make sure you set a good example or you will also be in here."
"Yes, Captain Unohana!" Renji bows to the Captain as she leaves.
Once gone Renji turns to Ichigo looking sweaty, "She's scary as hell."
"You're telling me. I don't know what happened but last I recall is her bringing me here. I feel like I got hit by the Cleaner. She didn't drop me on the way here did she?" Ichigo asks the red head who is looking shifty all of a sudden.
"No! Of course not!" Renji says and they both take their leave.
As they walk through the Seireitei he notices a lot of people waving and smiling politely at him.
"Something weird happened..."
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
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The Head Captain scowls at the Twelfth Division Captain in front of him, along with all the other Captains in the meeting.
"Your actions if followed through could have caused a magnitude of problems for the world of the living and here in the Seireitei. Even if we did restore his powers, he is not on your list of test subjects, is that understood?"
Captain Kurotsuchi glares, "Yes, Head Captain."
"Now, this never happened, as I hear the boy does not recall a thing and that is to stay that way. Am I clear!"
All the Captains confirm in unison. "Yare, yare."