I realized that I never updated chapter 22 like I was supposed to a long time ago, so some of you were probably confused with a chapter skip. Well, it's out now, so you can read it. Enjoy!


24

Recap: Akio pocketed the seed and nodded his head in agreement. "Let's get out of here. I want to plant this in my underground garden as soon as possible."

The four of them were just leaving the cave when the ground started to shake more violently than it had ever before.

Ichigo swore he heard Tenebris whimper but decided to not comment on it. He couldn't blame her for getting scared, especially since the ground continued to shake.

"We got to move, NOW!" Tenebris shouted and then ran out of the cave with Ichigo, Akio, and Shiro right behind her.

As they ran, tons of plants, bigger and deadlier, sprung out of the ground, ceiling, and walls. No matter where they looked, there was some crazy-looking plant trying to kill them.

Ichigo ducked under this one plant that looked like a giant venus flytrap, but the colors were inverted. He lifted his sword and sliced upward to cut the mouth part of the plant off, and then moved onto the next plant that was trying to attack him from behind.

"Duck!" Ichigo heard Tenebris' order and quickly did as told. The next thing he knew, heat filled the area above him and burnt all the plants surrounding them. He looked up to see the man-eating plants cry and burn under the jet of fire.

Tenebris then grabbed him, Shiro, and Akio, placed them on her back and began running for the way up and out of the mountain. As she ran, the ground continued to shake and more killer plants attacked them. Tenebris would get the ones attacking from the front, Akio and Shiro would take care of the ones on the sides, and Ichigo would kill the plants from behind. They all worked together to get out and escape the cave with their lives intact.

Tenebris charged up the uphill slope as fast as a cheetah. Plants were still trying to attack them, but now they were all coming from behind. Ichigo held up his Quincy zanpakuto and fired a getsuga tensho. The shockwave from his attack pushed them into the cave that led them to the crossroads. Tenebris quickly stood back up with them still on her back and went by memory down the path that led them out of the cave.

"There it is!" Tenebris called out joyfully and pushed herself to run faster. Ichigo heard something from behind them and looked to make sure it wasn't any more killer plants. His eyes widened in fear. It wasn't more plants attacking them, the noise came from the cave falling in on them.

"Tenebris! You need to go faster!" Ichigo shouted, knowing that she would understand. She leaped for the exit and made it outside just as the cave-in caught up to them. She rolled on the ground, throwing her passengers off. They all looked up to see that the cave was now blocked off.

Ichigo breathed a sigh of relief and turned onto his back to look up at the dusk sky. 'Were we really in the mountain for that long?' he questioned.

"Akio, you better still have that seed on you, or so help me I'll make sure to kill you slowly." Ichigo turned his head to see Tenebris glaring and growling at Akio. Her teeth may not be showing, but Ichigo could surely hear the rumbling.

Akio stuffed his hand into his pocket. "Don't worry, I still have it," he said and pulled his hand out to show the seed he took earlier from the giant, man-eating plant. Ichigo felt himself relax again, he didn't notice that his body tensed up in anticipation at the prospect that Akio may have dropped the darn thing while they were making their escape.

Tenebris huffed and stood up. "Well good. Now I'm going to go into the Dark Forest to soak in a warm lake. I think I've earned that much for my effort," she said and then turned to him and Shiro. "I'll see you guys later." Then she was gone.

Akio placed the seed back into his pocket. "Well, I'll be seeing you guys around. Thanks, Ichigo, Shiro. Tell Tenebris that I thank her too. She kind of left before I could." Ichigo nodded his head and told his cousin that he'll make sure his soul sister got the message. Akio thanked Ichigo again before using his zanpakuto like a key to open a gate back to the Soul Society and then walking through.

Ichigo groaned and stood up from the ground. "I'm going home," he said.

"Agreed," said Shiro, but he paused and looked up, sniffing the air.

"What's up?" asked Ichigo.

"There is a hollow close by. I'll meet you back at the house after I kill it." Shiro vanished, but Ichigo saw which way he went. He turned to face the opposite direction to Shiro and flashed-stepped home.


This chapter is painfully short. *sigh* Oh well… Next chapter will be longer than this. We'll be starting the 1,000 Years Blood War arc. But first! I need to refresh myself on the arc and change it a bit to make it go at the pace it needed. So it will take some time before I come back to this. For now it's ON HOLD.

Ichi: We're already on the last arc?

Enj/Dark: Yes, and it will take some time before I finish it.

Shiro: Since this is mostly in King's POV, it should go by faster, right?

Enj/Dark: Yes and...no? I'm not sure. Ichigo wouldn't really need to go to the soul palace since he already has his true zanpakuto.

Ichi: Would the quinces be able to steal my bankai?

Enj/Dark: If they want to die, maybe.

Ichi: Die? Why would they die?

Shiro: Hollow reiatsu is poisonous to Quincies, remember?

Ichi: Oh yeah…! Please review!