Fan Fiction: Filling The Void

Filling the Void
Author's Note: Hey there readers! Thanks for stopping by my first Bleach Fan Fic! I don't know if i'm allowed to put it here, but FanFiction.net was just too damn confusing for me to figure out. Damn waiting periods...

Anyway, Just have a good time reading! The Snazzy Hat

Chapter 1

My name is Ruisu Moru. I am a perfectly normal Highschooler in Japan. I live with my family, I go to class and everything’s fine. But I need to ask an important question.

Am I crazy?

It just seems so strange. I’m incredibly out of place at school, and at home, it’s not much better. So am I crazy, or is it everyone else?

Every day is the same to me. I wake up, hurry to get ready for school, get on the bus, insert my musical earplugs and wait for school to arrive. When I get there, that’s when time stops for me. The fence keeping me inside the confines of the school corridors aren’t tall, there is one tree that could easily be used in an escape, but the spikes on top seem to be more effective at keeping people in than out. Every day, I stalk the corridors, seeing people walk around me. Everyone is avoiding contact with everyone else to avoid… What, exactly? What do all these people do with their lives? Why do they treat others as if they don’t exist? Soon, these thoughts tire me and I climb the stairs to the library. I have read many of the books here, and those I haven’t just couldn’t hold my interest for long.

Bells ring, classes flash by with neither the time nor the drive to make me remember much of the lessons. We consume our lunch, and wait for the bell to resume our lessons. Then, when the final bell rings, we rush to the iron slugs lining up outside the spiked gate. We board the buses and wait for our homes to arrive. The world starts to move again.

When I come home, I feel the feelings of contempt wash away a little, knowing that my real home awaits me. I open the door, feed the dog, start the fireplace and look into the portal to my life. At last, the dream is over, and I can continue when I left off.

The wind rages around me as I stand atop the mountain peak, staring intently into the dust cloud concealing my nemesis. Then I see him. Too late. He’s teleported too close. I didn’t react fast enough. And he took my life.

Damn it! That’s the third time this week! I shut down my laptop and walk to the table. Dinner has been announced. The one variation of my endless days. I make small talk with my family and after dinner ends, I go back to my world.

How many days have passed since I last thought about my life? I keep moving endlessly and unquestioningly, doing the same thing every day, day in day out. So I’ll ask again.

Am I crazy?

Or is it the world?

Chapter 2

Months have passed, and now Winter has approached. It grips the close confines of the school. I have heard that we have new students coming to the school on exchange from another school. Big deal. It’s happened before. I walk into the school and immediately see a crowd of people. Not much has changed. Everything in this place follows the same formula. Something new happens, or someone decides to come to this school and everyone is excited. However after a week, everyone forgets it ever happened. I don’t think about it and walk past.

Classes are the same as always, except it seems we have more than students coming from the other school. As long as the students are staying, we have some teachers from Karakura High are taking over for the teachers that are away. I had noticed that our usual droning English teacher had been replaced by a woman. She had a very commanding presence that demanded instant respect. I think it was the quietest English lesson in the universe. She stared intently at all of us, almost wishing one of us would slip up so that she could make an example of us. Though I couldn’t help but notice that she had an eye on me especially. No idea why…

Classes came and classes went. I saw the object of the affection of the large group earlier. It was a very uncomfortable looking kid. He looked about my age actually. White hair and blue eyes were the only thing special about him from what I could see. But for some reason, I felt I had to keep an eye on him…

My library visit went on as planned. Well, except the explosive argument that interrupted between a group of seniors. I don’t even know what they were yelling about before they were sent out by the new librarian. She didn’t even change her kind expression when she told them to get out of the library. I don’t know what she did, but she spooked them good. Wait, new librarian?! Is every teacher at this school getting replaced?

Yes. Yes they are. I just had the most INSANE possible PE teacher. A massive man who looked like you could impale yourself on his haircut alone. Once we got changed, he just threw a couple of wooden swords on the ground and told us to fight! WHAT KIND OF TEACHER DOES THAT?! Fortunately before we could begin, the other PE teacher arrived. She had purple hair and for some reason… I can’t help but think there was something feline about her. Afterwards we learned ‘yoga’, but it seemed a bit too… Militant.

Okay, these people are DEFINITELY keeping an eye on me. There is at least one transfer student or teacher in all of my classes! But get this; I when I boarded the bus home, the white haired kid followed me on! This really just has to be a coincidence. It couldn’t be anything else, could it?

Chapter 3

It couldn’t. Turns out that the white haired guy moved into the next apartment after our previous neighbours suddenly ‘moved out’. His name is Tōshirō Matsumoto. Turns out he’s not just an exchange student. He moved to my town after his mother, Rangiku Matsumoto got a job with a major sales organization. One of her most defining features? GIANT FREAKIN’ BOOBIES!!! My family were invited over for dinner and we graciously accepted. Hey, they may be following me, but you can’t say no to a free meal.

I was playing on my laptop when I heard this weird monster roar. It didn’t sound like anything I had heard in-game before, and it certainly didn’t sound like it was coming from my headset. I took off my headset but I didn’t hear it again. This is getting weirder and weirder…

Oh dear god our science teacher. Oh dear god. No words can describe the horrors of whatever ‘science’ our teacher put us through. Let’s list some of his ‘science’.

        ·  Threat of injection of mysterious chemicals/dissection

        ·  Dissection of some poor animal I had never seen before that might not have been alive to begin with

        ·  Demonstration of proper dissection

        ·  And many, many more!

Seriously, science just isn’t fun anymore.

Chapter 4

Looks like a bunch of idiots from another school decided to drop by to pay a visit to someone they don’t like. One of the seniors with orange hair. I’m surprised that he hasn’t gotten insulted to no end about it. Anyway, they seemed to forget that there are multiple exits around the school. I guess I’m walking home.

Well this sucks. As I was walking home I got jumped by a couple of idiots that seemed to think I was the one they were after. Before they got a chance to bruise my bruises that orange haired guy showed up and promptly beat the snot out of them. After painfully dusting myself off I thanked him. Turns out the guy’s name is Ichigo Kurosaki. Seems like a nice enough guy. No idea why anyone would name their kid strawberry though…

I heard another one of those roars today while I was walking back home. This time it sounded a lot closer. I looked but I couldn’t see the source of the noise anywhere. Just when I was about to give up I heard people talking. Above me?

“Thank god we killed that hollow in time. If we didn’t it could have hurt a lot of people. And I doubt it would have been a pretty sight. That hollow was pretty ugly itself.”

“Yeah. Why the hell are hollows appearing in this town of all places? There’s hardly any spirit energy around at all!”

“Shut up Ikakku, I think someone’s watching us.”

It was at that moment the voices stopped talking and vanished. I need to talk to Toshiro about this.

Chapter 5

“You wanted to see me?” He asked, sipping his slushie. Why would he want one in winter?

We had agreed to meet at the old arcade after school. Here, with all the noise we could talk privately. Ironic really.

“Yeah. I’ve been hearing some really weird things lately.”

“Oh? Like what?”

“As I was walking home from school I heard this weird roaring. After chasing it around for about five minutes trying to find the source of the noise, it stopped and I heard people talking. Something about Spirit Energy, people getting hurt and something called a ‘Hollow’.”

Toshiro’s expression stiffened.

“What’s going on Toshiro? I’ve been hearing weird voices coming from seemingly nowhere and there are those monsters roaring.”

“Nothing.” He said hurriedly “You’re hearing things.”

He got up to leave but I grabbed him by the arm.

“Anyone ever tell you that you’re a terrible liar? If you’re hiding something, don’t. If there’s anything you can tell me, tell me now, before it gets awkward to.”

He relaxes slightly as he sits back down with a sigh.

“Alright. I’ll tell you, but you had better not get involved in our business.”

“Fine. Even though I don’t know what your business IS.”

The noise of the arcade should have drowned out our conversation, but for some reason I could hear every syllable as if the room was completely silent.

“The voices you’ve heard are what are called Soul Reapers. They are part of an organization known as the 13 Court Guard Squads who protect the Soul Society. They are invisible to normal humans unless said humans have higher spirit energy than most. You seem to be able to hear the Soul Reapers talking quite clearly, even though you can’t see them at all.

“As for the monsters, they are what are known as a hollow. Hollows are corrupted souls that reside in Hueco Mundo, which is an area which exists between the Soul Society and the World of the Living. They come to the World of the Living to devour human souls who have not gone to the Soul Society. We noticed you had higher spiritual pressure than most of your classmates, so we figured that the hollows would most likely be coming after you.”

This was shocking news. A bunch of monsters from another dimension were coming to eat my soul. This sounds like the plot of a bad video game.

“So what can I do about it?” I asked

“Nothing. You can’t do anything against these hollows if all you can do is hear them. You’ll just have to live your life as normal and pretend they don’t exist.”

“I was afraid you would say that. Besides, how do you know so much about Hollows and Soul Reapers in the first place?”

“That’s because I’m a captain of the Court Guard Squads.”

At that moment, Rangiku walked into the arcade. She saw us and walked over. She saw our expressions and her mood changed immediately.

“You’ve told him?”

“Everything.”

“Captain, are you sure this is wise?”

“It’s better we tell him now before he becomes endangered.” He said as he stood up “Come Rangiku. We’re leaving.”

Chapter 6

What Toshiro told me is pretty unbelievable. But it does explain a lot. So there are other people in the world that can see the souls of the dearly departed? That’s a pretty special gift. Shame some people squander it like that TV ‘personality’ Don Kanonji. This entire even has gotten me thinking. There are invisible monsters running around eating people’s souls, and there are even more invisible people running around and killing said monsters before they can eat any more people.

I hear something behind me. Footsteps. No, they’re too big to be a human. I run, but the footsteps keep following me. Must be one of those Hollows. I keep running. Eventually I run up into a dead end. I sigh with grief. My death is going to be so cliché. I can hear the Hollow in front of me in the entrance to the street end. Queue saviour! A bright blue arrow bursts through the invisible beastie and embeds itself in a wall. I look to the senior from my school. I recognise him as the person Ichigo was fighting with in the library. He approaches me and we begin talking.

“Thanks for that.” I say, extending my hand

“So you can see hollows?” he asks, shifting his glasses

“No, but I can hear them.”

“Well that might be problematic if you want to fight them.”

“Yeah, but how? I don’t have Soul reaper powers like you and your buddies.”

“Are you trying to insult me?”

“What?”

“Shall I explain it to you?” he sighs

“Just tell me who you are.”

“I am Uryu Ishida. I am a Quincy.”

“You mean like quince jelly?”

“Not in the slightest. A Quincy is someone who uses the spirit energy in the air to form a projectile weapon.” he sighed "Quince Jelly is a fruit extract."

“Alright, gotcha. But why do you hate soul reapers so much?”

“I’m not going to tell you.”

“Fine with me. Anyway, you suggested a way I could help fight these things? I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel comfortable with soul eating monstrosities hunting and killing those dear to me.”

“Well, maybe not fight them, but protect yourself from them.”

“How?”

“If I assist in building your spiritual pressure, I could give you the ability to see hollows.”

“But won’t that make me a bigger target for hollows?”

“Not necessarily. If there is an increase in your spirit energy, you might be able to use your spirit energy as an attack.”

“How the hell could I do that?”

“I don’t know!”

“What’s going on Uryu?” said another voice. It was Ichigo!

“I’m trying to talk with that guy you mentioned. Apparently he can only hear spirits.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah.” I say “I need more spirit energy if I want to see any spirits or hollows.”

I hear something land on the ground behind me.

“Well why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Chapter 7

Oh dear. It appears my science teacher has stabbed me. I feel a rush of intense pain throughout my body as something is injected into my bloodstream. I reel back in shock as I see the twitching corpse of the hollow Uryu had shot earlier. I immediately regret this decision as it forces the needle deeper into my back.

“Careful now! If this needle goes any deeper it might pierce your stomach!” tutted my assailant. He sharply removed the needle as I whirled around.

“GAH!” is all I could manage to say. The science teacher was covered in white and black makeup with a huge purple scarf and a gold headdress-y thing. He was wearing a black shirt type thing and pants with a white jacket.

“Now is that the way to respond to someone who has allowed you to see spirits?” he asks

“It seems that injection did more than that.” comments Uryu.

I looked around my body, to see if the nutty professor had done anything weird, like giving me a new arm coming out of my right lung. I couldn’t see much of a difference.

“What do you mean Uryu?”

“What I mean is that your physical composition has been improved and tuned exponentially.”

“Uh… English please Einstein?”

“It means you’re now powerful enough to fight weak hollows with nothing but your fists.”

“Cool!”

“It also makes you a bigger target for more powerful hollows.”

“That’s not so good.”

“Exactly. Fortunately I know of someone who might be able to help you fight hollows a little more effectively.” Ichigo put in

“Really? Who?”


 * clack*

I turned to see what the noise was. A man in a green coat and green stripy hat was walking towards us.

“Yo!” he called out

“Kisuke!” Spat my science teacher.

“I heard that you wanted a little assistance to fight hollows.” He said cheerfully, as if it were the lightest thing in the world to talk about right now

“Yeah.” I reply uneasily “But first, I want to know. Who exactly are you?”

“Me? I’m Kisuke Urahara. I own Urahara’s Shop!”

“Really? Would never have guessed…” I muttered sarcastically

Chapter 8

So I started training with Kisuke. Turns out this guy’s a soul reaper too. Why is everyone new I meet secretly a sword swinging demon hunter? Anyway, we Ichigo and the rest left me to training with Kisuke Urahara. When we entered the shop I wondered how we were going to train in such a small space. But then he pointed me to a ladder. I looked down and saw that it was completely dark down there. Then without warning, he kicked me into the hole! As I began falling, he called down:

“The first test is to see whether you can survive the fall!”

“You insufferable jerk!” I managed to call out before I was overcome with screaming. I looked around and saw that light had begun to surround me again. Suddenly I was in a gigantic cavern! How did he build this without anyone else noticing?! I had no time to think because the ground was coming towards me at an alarming rate. I reached out and grabbed the sides of the ladder in an attempt to slow myself down, but I only managed to give myself a bad friction burn. The ground was coming closer. I closed my eyes and waited for impact. Only to keep falling. I opened my eyes again and found that I was back at the top of the ladder! I looked around and saw Kisuke on the ground in the cavern.

“You have to find a way to stop yourself from falling! That is the first test I give you!”

God dammit I hate this man already. I try wrapping the cloth from my jacket around my hands to grab onto the ladder, but the ladder has disappeared.

“I’ve removed the ladder!” He calls again “If you don’t find a way to stop, you’re going to die.”

“Crap!” I yell. Then I remember those guys sanding in the air. I clam my nerves and visualise a wall behind me. As I approach the ground, I try jumping off my invisible wall. I land with a crash as I roll on the ground.

“Well done! Test one comple-*smack*”

I punch him in the face

“Next time, TELL ME BEFORE YOU ENDANGER MY LIFE!”

“Okay, okay. No need to be so violent.” He says, nursing his injuries “It’s time to move on to test two. And this might endanger your life a little.”

“Test two?”

He smacks his cane into my side as I fall over. I look at my own body, attached by a chain. Before I can react, he brings his foot down and breaks the chain in half. I double over in pain as it wracks my body.

“W-what the hell?”

“I shattered your soul chain. If you don’t act fast, you’ll become a hollow. And that means I have to kill you.”

“You bastard…”

Chapter 9

This guy. Seriously. I have no idea what kind of ‘training’ he’s putting me through. He hasn’t even told me how to not become a hollow! Anyway, he pulled a sword out of his cane and starts slashing through solid rock! All I can manage to do is run away!

“Oh look! You’re getting faster! Pretty soon you might be able to outrun me!”

I hadn’t noticed that. I’ve been running faster than I have ever in my entire life! And not just because I was running for my life. Then I realise something. Maybe I could catch the sword with the chain coming out of my chest! I whip around and catch the sword in the chain links.

“That’s a bold move, but a very stupid one.”

He effortlessly slices through the chain, leaving a small portion in my hand. I stare as it dissolves into nothingness.

“That soul chain is the only thing keeping you from becoming a hollow. I suggest trying to keep it safe.”

I grit my teeth and turn around to run, but he grabs my arm.

“Will you hurry up and learn how to fight? I’m tired of chasing you.”

He tries to stab his sword through my shoulder, but I get off with just a shallow cut. I try to punch him in his sword arm but he intercepts it with his other hand. He kicks me away and I feel fatigue begin to take its toll.

“How am I supposed to pass this test? All I know is that you just started slashing at me!”

“I was wondering when you were going to ask me that question. To pass this test, you need to knock my hat off.”

“Seems simple in theory.”

“Does doesn’t it?”

I think about how I can manage to defeat him. I try to think of a way to beat him. He seems far too skilled for me to take him head on. I have to take him from behind. How can I manage to get behind him? Does he even have a blind spot there? I can’t be sure!

“You’re thinking too much.” He says from… behind me! I barely have time to jump out of the way before he brings his sword down. I jump behind a rock and look down at my hands. Just before I close them into fists, I see a spark of purple energy dance across my hand. I get an idea.

“Giving up?” he asks as he appears in my face.

“Not even close!” I bring down my hand to the ground as an ivory spire erupts from the ground where he stands. He jumps back before I hit him, but I feel ecstatic! I just did some kind of weird magic! I look at my creation and I stare at what I created.

A five metre tall spiked cone shaped construct of bones had erupted from the ground. Skulls, forearms, shins and horns all jutted out from my pillar.

“Necromancy…” I say, looking down at my palms. I hadn’t noticed before, but a small, black and highly stylized skull emblem had emerged onto my right hand. I reached out and touched the pillar and withdrew my hand in shock when the bone started to melt over my hand. The ivory twisted and flowed, covering my entire arm. The bone flowed until it hardened, leaving my arm a disturbing mass of bone and flesh. Bones of all shapes and sizes crawled up my arm to a gaping horned skull adorning my shoulder. I looked at my hand. My fingers had become white, long and slender, tipped with black jagged claws.

“Well, that’s certainly interesting…” I say, flexing my hand and examining my new arm. “Well, Mr Urahara, I think I might have enough power to put up a fight.”

“You might.” He grins. “Remember, all you have to do in knock my hat off.”

I grin as I wonder what kind of powers my new arm has. I decide it might be best to train after I finish my training assignment. I feel surprised as my arm wrap itself in a dark purple blaze. I imagine what would happen if I tried punching Mr Urahara with this fire blazing around my arm. I think of what this attack might be called. People always call out attack names in animes. Even if there’s nothing to it, it’ll still be awesome. I decided on a name as I sprinted towards Mr Urahara.

“Ira Defunctorum!”

“Scream Benihime!”

Before me materializes a blood red shield just before I slam my fist into it. The darkness surrounding my arm burns against the shield, unable to penetrate it. Before it all drains from my arm, it forms into a ball before my fist and explodes, sending me hurtling back towards a rock wall. I collide with it, blood coming to my mouth. I look to where Mr Urahara was standing. I stare in disbelief as I see it. A green and white striped hat, gently floating to the ground.

“Well done.” He says, walking to pick up his hat “Lesson three, complete!”

Chapter 10

So that happened. I can’t believe this new power I have! So far, I’ve trained with Urahara for a few weeks, always coming to the shop after school. During many of my lessons where I do nothing, I think of a name for my abilities. Eventually I settle on Praecedebant Inritus, Vanguard of the Void. Overdramatic, kinda dorky and Latin. Perfect. I’ve been working on manipulating some of my abilities. So far, I’ve managed to be able to summon swords, minions and be able to cast some weak projectiles. But I haven’t been able to fully replicate what I did in my fight against Urahara though.

I was walking home from school. My right hand seems to feel chilled through my thick glove. Like the presence of death itself was in my hand. I stare up at the clouds just in time to see a hollow falling silently from the sky to attack me. I duck and roll out of the way before it slams into the ground where I was just standing.

“Hrm. You’re pretty fast for a human.” It says, staring at me hungrily. I stand up to get a good look at it. Wing like protrusions jut out of its back, feathers tattered and dirty. It has no arms, but its feet are taloned and wicked. It has a vaguely bird-like mask, but many of the features looked like that of the old Myan god sculptures. It was also had leopard like fur on it, despite it being very birdlike.

“I guess I’m not just an average human then.” I say, slipping off my gloves

“Ha! A mere worm like you could not harm me in the slightest! I am a predator, and you are my prey.”

“Prey huh?” I gather the familiar dark energy as it forms to bone and flows over my hand. “I don’t really like the sound of that.”

“Why you cocky, arrogant… DIE!” He yells and snaps at me but I roll out of the way. I stamp my foot on the ground and a crack opens in the ground. A sword leaps out and I grab it. A wide scimitar made from a single piece of bone juts from the onyx handle. The guard is two long antlers from some old beast. This should do nicely.

He snaps at me again with his huge beak but I doge again. I run to his exposed side and try to slash at him, but I am forced to block as his head whips around again! He laughs as he hisses. Wait, birds don’t hiss! I jump back to a safe distance as he begins to speak.

“You little punk! Did I not tell you? I am the ultimate predator! You are my prey, and I WILL devour you!”

“Go ahead and try!” I yell defiantly. Now how do I get out of this one brain?

His head whips around and lunges at me again, crashing into the wall of a building as I doge out of the way. He becomes frustrated and a snake-like tail jumps out of his spine. It rattles for a minute, then a red ball of energy forms in his mouth. I barely escape with my hair as a red beam obliterates a dumpster behind me. His tail rattles when he’s about to do that? Good to know.

I turn and run around him again. He whips his head around to see me, but I vault over his long neck. I stamp my hand on the ground and speak clearly

“Advocata de Mortuus: Custos!”

A rift opens in the ground again as a purple mist escapes from it. Bones begin to align as it forms into a human skeleton. It sighs and creaks as it picks up a thick iron tower shield and spear. This should hold him off for a while.

“Sending the dead to fight your battles? You have no honour!”

“What do you know of honour, predator?” I snap back. He charges me, but my skeleton intercepts his attack and sticks his spear into the neck of the hollow. This isn’t enough to kill it as it sweeps the skeleton to the side with a massive wing, shattering it against a building. But it has given me the time I needed.

I leap onto his neck and draw my scimitar down the back of its neck. It screams in agony as I leap off and land on the ground. The hollow disintegrates into a black mist and vanishes from the Earth.

“Good riddance”

Chapter 11

“Hey, Ruisu! What the hell just happened here?”

I look above me and stare at the orange haired senior.

“Ichigo? What the hell are you doing here? Also, how are you flying?” I say

“Never mind that! Just what the hell did you do?”

“Me? I killed a hollow.” I said, showing him my right arm “Neat huh?”

He descends to the ground and stares at my right arm.

“What the hell is it?” he asks, poking the skull on my shoulder.

“I think it’s some kind of necromancy or something. Bone manipulation maybe?”

“I dunno what this is, but I know someone who might.” He says “Hey Rukia! Come down and see this!”

A woman with black hair suddenly appears at his side. He pushes him out of her way as she studies my right arm.

“I have no idea what this is. It does look familiar though…” she says critically

“Yeah! It looks a lot like Chad’s Fullbring!”

“Who’s Chad? Also, what’s Fullbring?” I ask

“I’ll let him explain it when we get there.”

They turn and disappear, leaving me alone.

“Uh, guys?”

A moment later Rukia returns with a slightly bashful look on her face and takes me in her arms. She’s way stronger than she looks! Before I can object I feel the world rush by in a blur of colours. We stop suddenly and I am dumped onto the ground. My head spins for a moment before I can stand up.

“Sorry about that.” Ichigo explains, rubbing the back of his head “We didn’t know you couldn’t perform flash step.”

“Where are we anyway?” I ask, picking myself up

“Chad’s place.” Ichigo replies

Chapter 12

“Yup. This is definitely Fullbring.” Chad states, staring at my arm.

“Sooo… What exactly is Fullbring?” I ask. Whatever Fullbring is, it sounds interesting.

“Fullbring is the manipulation of the soul. So basically, you’ll be able to manipulate the shape and form of any object.”

“So objects have a soul now?”

Chad grunts in agreement. “Fullbringers also have a particular object that they are best at manipulating. For me, I have the skin on my arms.”

He clenches his fist as the skin on his arms gel and morph. It eventually turns into a black and red arm with a huge pauldron on his shoulder.

“Impressive” I whistle.

He nods in agreement. “Fullbring is first activated when you feel immensely proud of something. I felt proud of the skin on my arms when my Abuelo gave me the strength to stand up for those who didn’t have the strength to.”

“But that doesn’t make sense for me.” I say, letting my transformed arm return to energy that seeps back into my hand, forming the now familiar skull emblem “I’ve never been proud of my skin for much.”

“That’s because everyone‘s Fullbring’s are different. What have you felt proud of?”

“Well, not much. I’m not a very proud person. I suppose the things I’ve found myself most proud of are my hands. My hands have made my life all worth it. Video games, cooking, all the things I love are all possible because of my hands. I’ve never really thought about them that way before they were almost destroyed by Kisuke Urahara after he tried to slice them off.” I cringe at the memory “I guess that’s where this skull emblem came from.”

Chad nods in agreement

“Wow. Kisuke put you through the same training that I went through? It’s a small wonder you’re still here!”

“Is his training regime that bad?” Rukia asks

“Yeah! He…” Ichigo began, before he was interrupted by Chad.

“Ichigo, I think… Ruisu was it? Anyway, he needs to get a little more of an understanding of these hollows he’s fighting, and his abilities as a Fullbringer. That one probably would have had him if he hadn’t summoned that fragile skeleton.”

“Fragile?” I grumble under my breath

“Chad, I think you should teach him about being a Fullbringer while Rukia should brief him on why the hollows are attacking here anyway.”

“Good idea.”

Chapter 13

“So this ‘Bringer Light’ thing allows me to go super-fast and stand in mid-air like Ichigo and Rukia?”

Chad grunts in agreement. “Just try to get the ground beneath you to propel you into the sky and then solidify the air beneath your feet.”

“Uh huh.” I say “BUT DO WE HAVE TO DO IT ON TOP OF A BUILDING?!”

“Relax. Nobody is around to see you.”

“That’s not what I’m concerned about!” I hiss

“If you want to keep up with us, I suggest you learn how to do this.”

I sigh with defeat. I stare out onto the abandoned streets of the old working district. I concentrate on getting the ground to send me into the air. I open my eyes to see a pale green light surrounding my feet. I jump into the air and I feel surprised as I launch more than what I guess is fifty metres! I calm down enough to remember what Chad told me. Concentrate on solidifying the air into… WAAAAAGGUHHHHHHH!!! I slam into the solidified air just a few centimetres above the ground! Talk about close cut!

“Are you alright?!” Chad bellows from the top of the building

“I’m okay!” I yell back “Though I might need a change of pants.”

“Too much information.” He groans.

“Let’s get back to the house. I don’t want to be late for what Rukia has to say about these hollows.”

Chapter 14

I walk into the house and kick off my shoes. I look around for the door to where Rukia wanted to meet me. I walk through it just in time to catch a notebook. With my face.

“Oh now look what you’ve done! Ichigo, you idiot!”

“Me?! You’re the one who threw the book!”

“Guys…”

“I don’t care! You shouldn’t have insulted my drawings!”

“You should make sure that your drawings don’t suck so bad!”

“Guys…”

“Oh, that does it Mister! I’m gonna…”

“GUYS!!!” I yell

“Yeah, what?!” they shout in unison

“Stop shouting! You’re acting like an old married couple! And besides, I need to be briefed on what those hollows are doing here.”

“Grr…”

It took us a while to get settled, but eventually Rukia explained that the Hollows had been gathering in my town for a good while now. The weird thing was that there was little to no spiritual pressure in the area, and no one knows why they were gathering in this particular spot. The current theory was that hollows thought that since there was not much spiritual pressure, there would be less security. At first, it was only a few groups of the things. Eventually, it led to a massive army of hollows trying to invade this town!

To combat this, the 13 Court Guard Squads dispatched a team of experienced members, from captain to lieutenant level. Evidentially Ichigo, Chad, Uryu and a few others were also required to man the defence.

Eventually our lecture was interrupted when someone climbed through the window.

“Ichigo! Rukia! We’ve got a problem!” He shouted as he jumped onto the window.

“Renji?” Ichigo stammered “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you! You’re a real pain in the ass to find, y’know that?”

“Why do you need me anyway?”

“A large group of Menos have appeared!”

“Menos?” I ask “You mean like the Menos Grande you mentioned Rukia?”

She nodded.

“Who is this?” Renji asks, looking at me

“My name’s Ruisu Moru. Nice to meet you Red Pineapple.” I grin

“MY NAME IS NOT RED PINEAPPLE!”

“He’s just kidding around Renji, Don’t take it so seriously. But all joking aside, this is a serious matter. We need to stop this Menos before it seriously hurts someone.” Rukia put in

“We? Yes. Him? Not even close. No offense, but what is he going to do against a Menos?” he asks

“Don’t think for a second that I don’t know what I’m getting myself into. I’m a Fullbringer. I can handle myself.” I say, showing him my Skull Emblem.

“Fine with me kid. Just don’t get yourself killed. Let’s go!”

Chapter 15

We managed to get there before the menos arrived. We met with Uryu, Captain Kurotsuchi and Kisuke Urahara.

“Mr Urahara!” I say, appearing behind him.

“Oh, hey! Ruisu! What are you doing here?” he replied, deceptively friendly as ever.

“Just doing my bit to repel the menos invasion.”

“Well, you might want to reconsider your plans.” Captain Kurotsuchi put in “If you don’t leave this to us, you’re going to die.”

“Thanks, but I don’t plan on doing either of those things.”

“Cocky idiot.” Ichigo smiles

“Look who’s talking” Renji replies

“Shut up!”

“Ooh! Lookie there!” Kisuke points.

A huge dark rip opens up in the sky as the first of the giant monsters step out into the open. A terrifying mixture of shrieking and bestial roaring fills the air.

“Having second thoughts?” The captain puts in “No one will think less of you if you leave here.”

“Thanks, but no thanks.” I say, summoning my shoulder length armour.

I slice the air to the side open to reveal a purple swirling abyss. I reach in and drag out a large two handed sword. The blade’s serrated edge was deep, deep red while the rest of the blade was blanched white. The hilt was covered with slightly singed and tattered cloths strips, overlapping onto the pommel. A large fire blackened skull with huge fangs. What should I name this one?

“Ignis Morientes.”

As I say the name, the blade erupts into dull flames. The others look at each other and charge at the group of menos, leaving me behind. I look around to see one that isn’t being engaged. I spot one and charge down to it.

I land on the ground and jump, slashing the giant creature in the middle, until I reach the hole in its chest. I see a large shape come towards me in my peripheral vision, but I react too slowly. The menos swats me away like a fly as it roars in pain and I feel myself launched to the side. I managed to regain my stance before I crash into anything. I look at the menos and wonder how I could kill it. I remember my skeletons! I jump to a nearby building and slam my hand into the concrete.

“Advocata de Mortuus: Sicarius!”

The concrete breaks open as a skeleton clad in black leather armour steps out into the sky. He whips out two vicious looking knuckle knives from sheathes on his back and awaits orders.

“Distract that menos right there.” I say, pointing to the menos before me. The skeleton nods and disappears. He reappears in front of the menos’ mask and stabs both knives into his mask before disappearing again. The menos reels back in pain and smashes its massive hand into its face, driving the daggers in deeper. I jump onto the beast’s nose and slash through the menos’ mask, summoning a huge burst of dark fire as I do. The giant hollow melts away as I regain my footing on the air.

“What a distraction!”

I notice something behind me. A menos behind me was charging up some energy beam! It fired at me, but I couldn’t block, doge or evade it! Before I was obliterated, I felt something grab me and drag me out of the attack! The crimson energy beam blasted through the air, annihilating anything it touched. I felt the world flash by around me as whatever was holding me jumped.

I felt myself on solid ground again when I was dropped onto a building.

“Hey, thanks for that. If you hadn’t saved me, I’d probably be pushing up daisies by now.” I say, brushing myself off. I turn around and see a familiar face “Hey, aren’t you my PE teacher?”

The woman who saved me certainly looked familiar. Purple hair, dark skin, an orange jacket and golden eyes.

“I have a name you know.” She said

“May I ask it?”

“You may.” She chuckled “I am Yoruichi Shihoin. And I just saved your butt.”

“Yes, thank you for that. I would love to rest here for now, but I guess I have to return to the battle.”

“What battle?” she asks

“Seriously? The one I was just in?”

“No way kid. You may have the abilities, the strength and the courage, but really, you don’t have nearly enough experience. Experience can turn a good warrior into a legendary one.”

“Aww, come on! I managed to hold my own against a Menos Grande!”

“Uh huh. And promptly get shot by another’s Cero. Listen kid, you don’t have enough experience, so stay out of this!”

“I have a name you know.” I say, mimicking her words.

“And may I ask it?”

“You may.” I grin. “Ruisu Moru, at your service.”

“Well Ruisu, as long as you’re at my service, you can clean up all the lesser hollows in the surrounding area. I’m sure the arrival of the Menos has attracted quite a lot of attention. Good luck!”

With that, she disappeared.

“Well that sucks.”

Chapter 16

Yoruichi was right! There were more hollows than I had ever seen before! I hacked one to pieces, but another three appeared in its place! Eventually, I became surrounded and decided I needed a little help.

“Advocata de Mortuus: Rixator!” I yelled. The concrete cracked again as a skeleton climbed out of the ground. My skeleton brought up with him a large iron war hammer. He brought it down onto the head of an unfortunate hollow and its head exploded into darkness.

We fought them for what seemed like years. Hollows were sliced, crushed, stabbed, smashed and burned but they kept coming. Eventually I was separated from my skeleton and I decided I needed an escape. I jumped to the top of a nearby building, but I was pursued by flying hollows. I surrounded my sword in fire and flung it at the hollow and it went down screaming. But there were just as many flying hollows as there were grounded! I kept swinging fire at them but many more came out of seemingly nowhere!

Fatigue now had a firm grip on me. I was barely strong enough to lift my blade, and not nearly enough to run away, or conjure another skeleton. A large hornet like hollow finally mustered up the courage to attack. Before it could attack me, I heard a clear shout.

“Reign over the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru!”

A giant ice dragon smashed into the all of the hollows that were perusing me! At first I wondered where it came from, but my question was soon answered when a familiar white haired guy dropped out of the sky.

“Toshiro!” I cried “It’s great to see you!”

“I thought I told you to stay out of this Ruisu.”

“Yeesh. Just a little cold there aint’cha?” I say “Thanks for saving me by the way. It seems I’m going to owe more than a few favours after this is over.”

“Think nothing of it. But I do have a few questions.”

“Fire away.”

“First of all, why are you here?”

“I decided that since the menos were having a party, I’d come along to help crash it. Oh, and something about the fate of the town at stake here. It’s hard to remember which.”

“Uh huh.” He sighed “Secondly, what is that? Is it a zanpakuto of some kind?”

“You mean like one of your swords? No, this armour is actually something Chad called a Fullbring. The sword is just an extension of that. I can also summon three types of skeleton minion. I’m not too sure of any abilities beyond that.”

“Makes sense. I did sense some strange spiritual pressure coming from your weapon.”

“Okay. Any more questions?”

“Yes. Why are you killing all of these lesser hollows? Everyone’s fighting the menos over there.” He said, pointing to the large scale destruction.

“You don’t say?” I sigh “I did manage to liquidate one menos, but before I could crack open the champagne, another tried to blast me from behind. Fortunately, Yoruichi was in the area and saved me.”

“You killed a menos?” he asked in disbelif

“Yep. Then Yoruichi told me some long yarn about experience and told me to keep everyone safe by killing all of the lesser hollows in the area. I’d love to continue, but I can’t seem to move my arms.”

“Poison? Injury?”

“Fatigue.”

“Ah.”

“It kinda sucks.”

“I know the feeling.”

I plant my sword into the building’s roof and try to stand up. “I think I might need to go lie down now.”

“I think I can do better.” Said a calm female voice

“Captain Unohana!” Toshiro said as the woman appeared. The librarian! The kind looking woman walked over to me and crouched, placing something in my hand.

“Here, eat this.” She said.

I looked at the ball in my hand. It looked bigger than my throat and, to make matters worse, it had a skull on it.

“Umm, it has a skull on it. I don’t think I should…”

“Please. Eat it.”

Oh my god that was the scariest thing in the universe.

I put the yellow ball into my mouth and prepared to swallow, but the thing disappeared in my mouth! I felt energy flood to all parts of my body as my arms no longer felt like hams with lead in it.

“Wow, that’s actually pretty good!” I say, swinging my sword onto my shoulder “Shall we get back to business?”

“That depends.” came another voice, as Yoruichi materialised beside Toshiro “What have you learned from fighting the hollows?”

“Quite a bit actually.” I say “For example, if you slice a hollow’s cero while they’re still charging it, the cero has a fifty per cent chance of exploding, which can be a bit detrimental to their health.”

“Very good. Now block this!” she threw a knife from her crossed arms! I barely had enough time to bring my sword up to block it. She flashed behind me and kicked me in the side, sending me hurtling into a steel fence.

“What a cheap shot!” I groan, nursing my injury and picking myself up.

“Ever heard the expression ‘all is fair in love and war’?” she grinned

“Is that so?” I slam my hand into the ground and shout “Advocata de Mortuus: Sicarius!”

Sure enough, my familiar skeleton friend leaps from the ground and awaits my orders.

“Incapacitate her.” I say, pointing to Yoruichi. He nods and disappears, only to reappear behind her with both knives trained for her back. She expertly blocks the knives with her feet and I bring my sword around for another ranged attack. My skeleton disappears as Yoruichi hangs in mid-air. For a minute, it looks like I’ll hit her, but she flashes out of the way.

“Behind you.”

I whirl around expecting another painful kick, only to be playfully flicked in the forehead.

“Nice! You managed to block the dagger, AND hold off my attacks! Give or take a few years of training, and you might make halfway decent!” she laughs

“That’s reassuring.” I mutter, turning to my skeleton “You may leave us now.”

He nods and disappears back into the abyss.

“Well, I think the battle’s finished up now.” She says, looking over to where the pillars of black smoke were rising.

“What? Aww, come on!” I complain “Well, at least I managed to get one of them.”

“Sure. Now let’s go regroup with the others.”

Chapter 17

The battlefield was a complete wreck. The pavement was torn up, buildings were destroyed and many craters pocked the landscape as smoke rose into the air. I looked out to the ruined landscape and said to no one in particular,

“Who’s the poor soul who’s going to have to clean up this mess?”

The others ignored me as they talked among themselves. I sighed and looked around again. I opened the purple rift and returned my weapon. Closing it, I turned around to talk with the others.

“…Utter nonsense! IF the hollows were gathering here for an artefact of some description, we’d notice it as well for sure!” shouted Captain Kurotsuchi

“That’s the scary thing. When I was hunting that hollow before I met Ichigo, his spiritual pressure was blocking the hollows! I wonder if the same thing is happening here?” Rukia asked

“Not possible! If a spiritual pressure that large were to exist, the townsfolk here would have been crushed long ago!”

“Maybe it just has a strong barrier around it? One that has the capabilities to block spiritual pressure?” Kisuke put in

“I highly doubt it. Such a thing has not existed for years, with the exception of your gigai experiments.” He spat “Besides, the barrier would block the spiritual pressure for everything, and…”

Seeing that the conversation was going nowhere, I turned around to leave, but I saw another one of those gateways open!

“Hey, guys?” I say warily “We’ve got company.”

The others turned around, drawing their weapons. The portal opened the rest of the way, and out stepped…

A little girl?

“Nell?!” Ichigo shouted

“You know her?” I ask

“It’s complicated. We’ll fill you in when we get back home.” Rukia said

Chapter 18

“Das right! Nell is Itsygo’s friend!”

This girl is weeeird. She looks like a little girl, but I have this feeling that she’s not your average little girl. And that mask on her head…

“Are you a hollow?”

“Yep!”

Not quite the answer I was expecting.

“You see Ruisu, Nell here is an Arrancar. She’s the result of what happens when you remove the mask of a Hollow.” Ichigo explained

“Does it really matter? Arrancars don’t really gain much power by just removing their masks, do they?”

“Not off any run of the mill hollows. It’s a little complicated to explain…”

“Oh! Itsigo! Nell almost forgot! Nell needs you to come to Hueco Mundo, stat!”

“W-what is it Nell?”

“There’s something BIIIIG going on, and Nell doesn’t exactly know what! Nell found this group calling themselves Los Restos de la Arrogancia! Nell thinks that they’re trying to break into the Royal Palace where that Soul King guy lives!”

“What?! They’re going to make an Oken?!”

“Yet another one of the many items I know absolutely nothing about. Care to explain Rukia?”

“Now’s not the time for jokes Ruisu! This is serious! The Oken is the only possible way to enter the plane of existence in which the Soul King lives! And to create and Oken, you need at least one hundred thousand souls, and not to mention a huge area of spiritually enriched land!”

“But that doesn’t make any sense! There are nowhere near enough people here, and I haven’t heard anything about spiritually enhanced something or other.”

“But it would explain the enormous amount of Hollows that have been appearing all over town. All of our hollow extermination teams have been deployed to help stem the flow. Hollows may be evil, but they are souls none the less.”

“Yeah! From the undercu- underca- underce- Secret stuff Nell’s been doing, Nell saw that the Los Restos de la Arrogancia has huge armies of lesster hollows at their command!”

Ichigo stood up, picking up Nell as he did.

“Ichigo! Where are you going?!”

“To find Hat and Clogs! Ruisu, Rukia! You two stay here!”

“Oh, no you don’t! Remember the last time you left without me?”

The two continued fighting even when they jumped out the window. What a perfect couple.

“Wait, Ichigo! What am I supposed to do now?!”

“Go find Yoruich! Tell her I sent you!”

Chapter 19

I had been searching around town for hours! I couldn’t find hair nor hide of Yoruichi! Eventually I landed into an alley and sat against the wall. After sitting around for a few minutes, a black cat jumped off a stack of cardboard boxes.

“Hello little cat.” I say, stroking it.

“Mmm. That feels good.”

“GAH! A TALKING CAT!”

“What? You battle invisible demons with conjured swords and a magical gauntlet, and you find that a talking cat is an extraordinary occurrence?”

“Touché. Um, Mr. Talking Cat, do you happen to know where Yoruichi lives?”

“I might.”

“Well that’s helpful. Would you mind telling me?”

“Yes.

“Well that’s even more hel- Hang on a second! How do you know that I kill demons?”

“Whoops! Busted!”

The cat exploded into a huge white cloud and disappeared! Coughing, I cleared the smoke in front of me with a wave of my hand. Then I saw the shape of a woman.

“Yoruichi!”

“Well look on the bright side! You found me!”

The smoke cleared a little more. Then I realised something important. Cats don’t wear clothes do they?

“Oh don’t look so bashful. This isn’t your first time with a girl is it?”

“That’s. Not. Funny.”

"Gets 'em every time!"

Thank god we were in an alley. If anyone had seen, I think they might get the wrong idea completely.

After Yoruichi dressed, she escorted me to a local beef restaurant. About time too! I was getting hungry.

“So Ichigo and Rukia have run off to Hueco Mundo to investigate this gang of hollows?”

“Mmmf.” I couldn’t answer properly because my mouth was stuffed with beef and noodles.

“That idiot! Sounds exactly like something he’d do though. So tell me, why do you think he wanted you to come to me?”

“Well, probably some form of training.”

“I think I can manage that.” She grinned.

Chapter 20

“What… Is this?” I ask

In the centre of the warehouse she told me to meet her was a giant wheel. One you’d normally see in a game show. I didn’t have time to look at it in detail before I heard a noise from above as a spotlight flicked on. In a flash of white smoke, Yoruichi appeared wearing… A typical game show host outfit. I am beginning to sense a trend here.

“Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Urahara’s Shop Training Challenge! Will the contestants please take their positions?”

Three podiums rose from the ground and two soul reapers flashed behind theirs. Shrugging, I took the one in the middle. What could possibly go wrong?

“Now let’s introduce our contestants! On Red, we have Lieutenant Renji Abarai!”

“I can’t belive I went along with this.” I heard him grumble under his breath

“On Blue, Fullbringer Ruisu!”

“Fullbringer Ruisu? Sounds like a title.”

“And finally on Yellow, we have ‘Lieutenant Lucky’ himself, Ikkaku Madarame!”

No response, just a quick flash of blinding light from his head. Does he polish it or something?

“And now, to explain the rules of this competition, Referee Kisuke!”

You would not believe the madness that followed. Fireworks, live animals roaring and doves being released out of seemingly nowhere, Kisuke Urahara entered the building.

“Alright contestants, here are the rules! You may not leave the warehouse until one of you has been claimed the winner of all the Challenges! To win, you must earn points by completing challenges! First Place gets five points, Second gets three and Third gets diddly squat! Other than that, not much. Any additional rules will be explained in the briefing before the challenge! Oh, and between each round, you will have a fifteen minute rest period. Enjoy, and have fun!”

“How exactly is this training?” I wondered aloud.

“Well allow me to enlighten you.” Announced Yoruichi “This wheel here has a number of training exercises that you will strive to accomplish. Each requires different tactics, skills or knowledge. Some will see you hiding in the shadows and evading capture, while others will have you fighting on the rooftops, all within our specialised arena!”

“Well this shouldn’t be too hard.” I sigh. After all, it’s only training.

“Wait a minute. Isn’t that a picture of Captain Zaraki?” asked Ikkaku, pointing towards an incredibly tiny portion of the wheel. Upon looking closer, both Renji and Ikkaku began to break out in a cold sweat. I began to worry too. Whatever had these trained, battle hardened soldiers quaking in their boots has got to be scary.

“Now leeeets… GOOOO!!!” shouted Yoruichi, spinning the wheel with all her might

The wheel was spinning blindingly fast. I didn’t even have a chance to see any of the challenges, or the chance for them within the swirling vortex of colour. Eventually, the wheel began to slow down. After ticking loudly for a while, it came to a stop. I looked at the selected challenge and saw…

A pair of panties?

This could not possibly end well.

“Special Sneaky Challenge! Steal Sui-Feng’s Panties!”

Ah crap.

“The rules of this one are simple. Use any means necessary to steal Sui-Feng’s panties! Sui-Feng will be personally protecting her panties, and hunting you down while you search for them, so watch out! Also, as a bonus prize, the winner gets to keep them!”

“That’s sick.”

“Why did she even agree to this?”

“I have no idea.”

“I don’t even know who she is.”

“You don’t? She’s the Captain of Squad Two, AND the leader of the Stealth Force. Let’s just hope she’ll be using non-lethal force.”

“While we’re trying to steal her panties?”

“…”

“Well?”

“You’re right. We’re all dead men.”

Double crap.

“Good luck boys!” Yoruichi calls. The floor opens as our podiums sink to the ground. We enter an underground chamber similar to the one under Urahara’s Shop, but this one was completely plunged in darkness. I couldn’t see five metres in front of my face! I notice that both the others have flash stepped away, so I decide to do the same. After all, if this place is as expansive as Urahara’s cavern, it’s going to take a while to find what I’m looking for. I jump into the air, looking for any source of light.

Out of nowhere, I feel something kick me in the back! I am flung several metres away, and crash into the ground. How did she find me? Then it hits me. My technique, Bringer Light, creates lights at my feet whenever I jump! It’s essentially a beacon!

Getting up, I crouch and look around. Nothing. Suddenly, a nearby spotlight flicks on, revealing…

A chest?

I think that must be where the panties must be! Wow. That sounded really weird. Even inside my head. I shake the thoughts from my head as I summon my gauntlet. The energy I create doesn’t generate light, which is perfect for this situation. I tear a hole in reality to summon a helpful weapon, but then I realise something.

I can still see the chest.

Gradually, I poke a foot into the rip I created. Seeing that it didn’t dissolve, I jumped in. Sure enough, my footing was secure. I walked slowly towards the chest. I tried to put my hand on it, but it went right through! Ahhh. So when I’m voidwalking, I can’t interact with physical objects. Good to know. I look around and step outside the spotlight. Ripping reality again, I enter the physical plane. Planting my hand on a nearby rock I whisper

“Advocata de Mortuus: Sicarius.”

The skeletal assassin stepped out of the void and drew his daggers, waiting for orders.

“Retrieve the contents of that chest.”

The skeleton bowed and disappeared. I looked over to the chest, and he had already opened it. To my surprise, he simply looked over to me, and pointed into the chest with a confused look on his face.

“Yes, yes I know, but please hurry!” I hiss. Grumbling, the skeleton takes it from the chest, only to be smashed to pieces! I look to what killed my assassin, but instead of Sui-Feng, it was Renji!

“Ah ha! The prize is mine!” he shouted, obviously pleased with himself.

“Renji?! What are you doing?! Quit shouting!”

“Sorry Ruisu, but stealth just isn’t my style! I’m taking these by force!”

“Oh yeah? Well two can play at that game!” I reply, tearing the void once again, and pulling out another weapon. A large broadsword, engraved with skulls. The unique thing about this one was that it had two handles below the guard. And there was a very good reason for that. Grasping both handles, I split the sword into two halves, one in each hand. “Gemina Calvariae Gladius!”

“Make that three!” Shouted Ikkaku, teleporting in from out of nowhere “Extend! Hozukimaru!”

“A three way fight over a superior officer’s panties? What the hell did I get myself into?”

We all run to the centre of the triangle we created, but Sui-Feng spotted Renji first and kicked him into the ground, nearly splitting the rock! I altered course and charged at Ikkaku, raising my swords. I ducked under his initial thrust with the spear and tried to slash him from the ground, but he dodged out of the way. He brought the spear around to block my second attack, but I flipped the blade over and brought the two halves back together. Wrenching the spear from his grip, I separated them again and let the spear fall into the earth.

“Roar, Zabimaru!”

I brought my swords around to the side and blocked the blade just in time, but I was knocked back into a large boulder. Ikkaku made a move to grab his spear, but Sui-Feng appeared again with an evil look in her eye and kicked him into the same boulder I was up against!

Ikkaku slammed into me, sending us both crashing through the crumbled rock. Grabbing his belt, I flipped him over my head into the ground, eventually letting us skid to a halt. Jumping off Ikkaku, I sprinted for the chest. Before I could get anywhere close to it, Sui-Feng appeared in front of me! I skidded to a stop as I realised something.

“Hang on, you’re my English teacher!”

Great. I’m stealing the panties of an inter-dimensional demon hunter who’s the head of a clan of ninjas who also happens to be my English teacher. Not weird at all!

Sui-Feng disappears as she teleports behind me, but I’m ready. It’s a good thing I watch so many animes. I block her kick with one sword and try a horizontal slice with the other, but she moves away before I get the chance. I hear another sound behind me as she teleports into my blind spot. Perfect. I never stopped my sword and let the momentum do the rest.

I feel metal clash with metal as she draws her sword to defend herself. I should mention that she looks utterly furious at this point.

“Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi!”

The proverbial shit has hit the fan. I narrowly doge as she tries to stab me with her new finger blade thing, but I go flying as she whips her hand around and smacks me in the face! I feel my cheek and she’s cut me.

“No biggie.” I say, getting up “Just a scratch.”

“Oh, it’s more than a scratch.” She says in a mocking tone “Shall I explain to you the powers of Suzumebachi?”

“I have the feeling that you’re itching to tell me.”

“If I cut you in the same place more than once…” she disappears as she teleports behind me again “You die!”

I whip my swords around and snap them together again, just millimetres with her finger blade away from my last cut! I drop the sword and make a run for the chest.

“H-hey! Come back here! You dirty cheat!”

“Cheater?! Look lady, if playing by the rules means that I die, then to hell with the whole game!”

I’ve almost reached the chest now! I reach inside and take the triangle of fabric from the wooden box! All the lights snap on as Yoruichi appears.

“Congratulations Ruisu! Looks like you’re the winner for this round! Oaky everyone! Time for a break!”

Chapter 21

“So how did she rope you two into this?” I asked, sipping from a well-earned water bottle

“I owed Yoruichi a favour.” Ikkaku answered sullenly “I never thought repaying it would involve stealing someone’s underpants.”

“Same here. What about you Renji?”

“She told me I needed more training after she tripped me over in Urahara’s shop.”

“That’s it?”

“Yep.”

“Wow. You are really easy to manipulate.”

“Shut up!”

“So, Ruisu… What are you going to do with Sui-Feng’s panties?”

I stop to think for a second. These were really difficult to get…

“I’m going to mount them.”

“What?”

“I’m going to put them on a plaque on the wall. I managed to one up the head of a ninja clan for god’s sake! I think I deserve a trophy, no matter how weird and creepy it is!”

“…”

“Suit yourself kid.” Renji laughed “Just remember to hide whenever you see Sui-Feng or anyone from Squad Two!”

After he finished his sentence, an alarm went off and Yoruichi appeared again.

“Time’s up! Will the contestants please return to their podiums?”

“Alright. Let’s go guys.”

We returned to our places and Yoruichi spun the wheel. Eventually it clicked to a stop on…

Crap.

“Zaraki Challenge! Evasion!”

“Wait, Yoruichi! Ruisu wouldn’t be able to survive Kenpachi’s weakest strikes! How is he able to evade them?!”

“Don’t worry Renji! Ruisu has a little help, since he won the last round! But I’ll get to that later! Time for this round’s rules! First off, no flash step or similar techniques! Second, no weapons! You’re evading Captain Zaraki’s strikes, not blocking them! Finally, here’s what the game is all about!

“You guys are going back into the arena with the legendary Kenpachi Zaraki! All you have to do is evade his strikes and reach the other end of the arena in one piece! The first one to do so wins! Also as a precaution, Kenpachi will be using strictly non-lethal force, just like Sui-Feng was supposed to!”

“Crap.”

“Language please Ikkaku! This is going out live across the Soul Society!”

“WHAAAAT?!” we all shouted in unison

“You didn’t think this was a game show setup for no reason, now did you?”

“Why is this being done? Why do people need to watch our training?”

“Well, lemme tell you Ruisu! Entertainment is a bit stale over in the Soul Society, so Kisuke volunteered to make a TV program for them!”

“So the entire Soul Society… Saw me take Sui-Feng’s panties?” I asked in a small voice

Renji tried to hold in his laughter, releasing a few snorts and grunts. Ikkaku was less successful.

“BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”

The floor began to open again as we sank into the arena.

“Good luck boys!”

The arena was exactly the same, albeit well lit. On the far side was a podium with a big red button. What is it about big red buttons that are so tempting? As I stepped off the podium, a huge shape flew overhead and crashed into the centre of the arena! As the dust cleared, I saw a huge man, scarred from years of battle. I also noticed something else about him. He was my PE teacher that one time. I broke out into a cold sweat as he looked directly at me.

“So you must be Ruisu.”

“Uhh, yeah?” Ruisu

“Can you fight?”

“Well, I suppose s-“

“THEN LET’S FIGHT!!!”

OH MY GOD! This guy doesn’t mess around does he?! He lunged at me, swinging his wooden sword as he went. I jumped out of the way, narrowly avoiding a stomach full of wood, but he whipped around and kicked me in the side of the head! I couldn’t hear anything as I was flung to the side. Kenpachi wasn’t finished however, and lunged at me again!

I rolled out of the way as his sword smashed into the ground. I looked to the finishing line and saw that Ikkaku and Renji were fighting before the finish line! I picked myself up and sprinted towards them. Their swords clashed, and I vaulted over them, sending the ends into the earth. Kenpachi was on them like a one-man pack of wolves!

The finish line was within my reach! All I had to do was…

“Found you!”

Kenpachi’s wooden sword slammed into the top of my head and the world went black.

“Yo, Ruisu! Wake up!”

“Ugh… Renji? What’s going on?”

“You got knocked out by Captain Zaraki. If he were using an actual sword, you’d be split in half.”

“Oh god, it certainly feels like it. How long was I out?”

“Just over ten minutes. You’ve got about five minutes left of recuperation.”

“That’s great to know.”

Chapter 22

Challenges came and went. Sneaking, fighting, ducking and weaving. It was enough to make a person sick! And then we came to the final challenge.

“Okay ladies and gentlemen! So far the training scores are… Ikkaku Madarame on seventy eight points! Renji Abarai on sixty two points! And Fullbringer Ruisu, trailing behind on thirty one points!”

It showed too. The obvious differences in skill, training and that oh so elusive experience. Renji and Ikkaku had a few bumps and bruises between them, but I had grazes, cuts, bruises and bandages covering almost everything but my eyeballs! Who knew they added points for injuries sustained?

“Okay, let’s go to the Final Challenge! One-upmanship! A three way fight for Victory! Here’s the situation! It’s a simple battle. No holds barred except the use of lethal force. Other than that, no rules! However, before the fight begins, you must demonstrate any and all abilities that have not been used in previous challenges! Knocked out combatants will be removed from the battle until there is only one remaining! Knocked out combatants will also have a massive thirty point penalty!”

Maths time! If Renji and Ikkaku both lose thirty points, they’ll have thirty two points and forty eight points respectively, and unless I win the full five points, I’ll only come third! Ikkaku’s definitely won this for sure. So I guess it’s me against Renji!

The floor opens once more as we descend into the arena. I jumped off the podium and landed in…

A giant boxing ring?

“Well, I suppose it’s time to fight at full strength!” shouted Renji, landing behind me “Bankai!”

“Same here!” Ikkaku added “Bankai!”

Both soul reapers suddenly exploded into white smoke!

“Hihio Zabimaru!”

“Ryumon Hozukimaru!”

When the smoke cleared, I saw what their weapons had turned into. A giant snake made of what looked like bones and three giant weapons that looked like axes and swords were shoved into a blender, and had been connected up by chains!

“Come on Ruisu, show us your most powerful weapon. Otherwise, we’re going to beat you to a bloody pulp!”

So what is my best weapon? I summon my gauntlet and tear reality, dragging all my weapons into the physical plane. I count eight of them, even though I had only seen three of them before. Looks like I’m going to have to learn them on the fly. I throw them all in the air dramatically as they rain down, slamming into the ground.

“They’re all suited for different purposes. Not one is more powerful than the other.”

“Sounds like a good and bad thing.”

I look to the one closest to me, and yank it from the ground. An axe, black and heavy, with a crimson cat-like eye in the centre of the head. I swing it over my back and think of a name.

“This one shall be called… Ferrum de Senectus.”

“THAT IS NOT YOUR AXE TO NAME, BOY!”

The voice has come from my shoulder? I look at my gauntlet, and am surprised to see that the skull of the horned animal had been replaced with a crowned humanoid skull! Flowing from underneath it was a ragged purple fabric, edged with black fur. Not a bad improvement if I do say so myself.

“WHAT IS THIS? WHY CAN’T I MOVE?”

“It’s because you’re on my shoulder.”

“WHAT?!”

“It’s true. Who or, more accurately, what are you?”

“ARE YOU BLIND, HUMAN?! I AM THE UNDISPUTED GOD KING OF HUECO MUNDO! EMPEROR BARAGGAN LOUISENBAIRN!”

“Well, you sure don’t look like it at the moment. Wait, does that mean you’re a hollow?”

“YES. I WAS THE SECOND RANKED ESPADA WHEN AIZEN WAS LEADING US. I SIGNIFIED THE ASPECT OF DEATH THAT WAS AGING. MY POWERS REFLECT THAT.”

“Does that mean that you can age objects?”

“YES. MY POWERS ARE GODLY! NOTHING CAN STAND AGAINST THE POWERS OF THE GOD KING OF HUECO MUNDO!”

“If you’re so almighty and powerful, how’d you become a fashion accessory?”

“SCILENCE WORM!”

I smack my shoulder with the side of my axe.

“Stop insulting me and tell me what you’re talking about!”

“VERY WELL. THE AXE YOU’RE HOLDING IS MY AXE, ARROGANTE, IN ITS SEALED FORM.”

“Really? This sure as heck doesn’t look sealed.” I say, staring into the crimson eye of the giant axe “So how do I unseal it?”

“I DO NOT KNOW.”

“Oh well, I think I can do a good bit of damage with it in this state anyway!”

I hear a bell chime once as Renji and Ikkaku rush to the centre. Swinging my great axe, I rush in with them!

Ikkaku swings his left weapon, crashing it into the side of Renji’s snake, making it veer off course and come straight at me! I turn my weapon vertically, and keep the beast’s jaw open.

“Hikotsu Taiho!”

A red ball of energy begins to form right in front of me, and if I’m hit by it at such close range, there’s a good chance I’ll be killed! I jump out of the beast’s mouth, taking my axe with me just as the beam explodes outwards. I spot Renji furiously trying to move his unwieldy beast in such a tight space and Ikkaku spinning his weapons around. What could be the purpose of that?

Shrugging, I raise my axe and charge in towards Renji. To my surprise, he disconnects the hilt from the rest of the snake and raises it to block my attack! He can do that? Rad. Ikkaku finishes spinning up his weapon and charges at me with the centre blade! I try to block it, but I’m forced back into a corner from the sheer ferocity of the attack! Then I notice something. A tiny glimmer of light as a chip of Ikkaku’s weapon flies off into the distance. It’s powerful, but fragile!

I raise my axe again, slamming it down onto the centre blade. Another chip flies off! Before I can strike again, Renji slams his snake into me, knocking me into the ropes. I fight to regain my footing as Ikkaku battles Renji. More and more of Ikkaku’s weapon is flying away as he blocks more attacks! Renji’s back is turned, and I smack my hand into the ground.

“Advocata de Mortuus: Rixator!”

A rift opens as my hammer wielding giant climbs out of the abyss and lunges at Renji, swinging his hammer. Renji blocks it, but I’m not concentrating on him. Ikkaku has dropped his guard just long enough! I bring my axe around and smack him in the back of the head with the blunt side of the double headed axe, and he falls down unconscious. Before he hits the ground, he completely disappears! Before I have time to wonder about that, Renji is upon me yet again!

Renji tries to rush me with the snake again, but I’m too quick for it. I roll to one side and bring my axe through multiple segments of the snake. To my surprise, it just shatters! All the pieces of the snake fall down around me!

“Looks like your weapon just up and quit on you!”

“Don’t be so sure!” he grinned

Before I knew what was happening, I was surrounded by crimson beams of energy! I struggled to move, but the energy ropes were too tight!

“Wh-what the?”

“Sorry Ruisu. Looks like I won!”

Renji draw back his fist and punches me square in the face.

“Wake up! Wake up Ruisu!”

My eyes snap open and I’m lying in a hospital bed.

“Ouch… Renji? You didn’t have to hit me so hard! How long was I out again?”

“A few minutes. I’ll give you one thing Ruisu, when you get knocked down, it’s not very long before you get back up! I wold have expected you to be out for a few hours at least!”

“Right… So is the game show thing over now?”

“Yeah. Luckily for us.”

“Well, I want to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“Hold on. You’re still pretty beat up. You need to rest for now.”

“I guess you’re right. It hurts to breathe.”

Chapter 23

I’m back at school again. I seem to enjoy it more than usual. It’s slow paced but somehow, I enjoy it more. It’s just a little more peaceful than I remember.

I walk over to a nice secluded portion of the library to catch up on some reading. A slight breeze blows through my hair, but I take no notice of it. I notice something whip behind the bookshelves. When I went to investigate, I was pulled behind the opposite row of shelves into a private study room!

“Wha-What’s the big idea?! Lemme go!”

“Shut up you little twerp!”

I recognised that voice instantly.

“S-Sui-Feng? Th-this isn't about the uh, 'Training Incident' is it?”

“That’s CAPTAIN Sui-Feng to you! And i thought we agreed NEVER to speak of that! Now shut up and listen! Since Ichigo, Chad, Ikkaku, Renji and a few others have gone to Hueco Mundo to investigate this new threat, we still need boots on the ground here. That’s why I’m trusting you with this.” She said harshly, handing me a cell phone

“A cell phone? Why do I need this?”

“It’s not a cell phone you idiot! It’s a Denreishinki. This will allow you to communicate with other soul reapers as well as the detection of hollows. Also, since we’re short on man power, we’re putting you in charge of a group of rookie soul reapers, Assistance Team Theta.”

“But I don’t have the first idea of how to lead a group!”

“Relax. They already know what they’re doing, and they certainly don’t need you giving them orders.”

“I don’t know whether to relax or be insulted.”

“Now get out of my sight.”

Chapter 24

After school, I looked around the street. No hollows, no spirits, no nothing. Walking home, I noticed something fly above. When I looked up, it was gone. My hand wasn’t chilled, so it couldn’t be a hollow. Something else? Maybe. I continued my walk home.

Looking across my room, I had finally noticed something. My computer. It looked dusty now. A relic of times passed and long forgotten.

I felt like there was nothing better to do, so I summoned my gauntlet to experiment with my new powers. The crowned skull of the Fallen Emperor on my shoulder, I tore open the air and stepped into the void.

I walked around the plane of existence that was my Fullbring. Praecedebant Inritus. I looked around the Void. I felt it was so familiar. I used to feel so empty. Alone and hateful of everything. My powers grew inside of me until they reflected that. I had made friends, but the void remained empty. Why was that? I stared around the place. Maybe it wasn’t empty. I stepped through the wall of my house in the material plane and onto the street. I saw skeletons. Walking, crying, and hopeless shadows of former people. I walked over to one.

“Who are all of you people?”

“I was going to be someone… I just needed a few more days… So close…” was all I could hear out of the skeleton. One by one, I walked over to all of them, and found they had nothing to say. They only moped and wallowed in their own despair.

“Why is this place like this?” I asked to the Void.

“IT IS BECAUSE THEY HAD A DUTY TO FULFILL.”

“Barragan?” I asked “Oh yeah, I forgot you could talk.”

“SCILENCE! THESE PEOPLE WERE ONCE NORMAL. LIVING, BREATHING. HUMANS, HOLLOWS AND SOUL REAPERS ALIKE. THEY ALL HAD GREAT PLANS. BUT THEY WERE LEFT UNFULFILLED. BE IT AGING, DEATH OR LACK OF TIME, THE PURPOUSE THEY HAD LIVED THEIR LIVES FOR HAD BECOME MEANINGLESS, SINCE IT DID NOT EXIST.”

“Woah. And all of this exists inside of me?”

“HRMPH. YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY. NO. YOUR GAUNTLET ALLOWS YOU TO ENTER THIS WORLD. YOU PICKED MY WEAPON FROM THE VOID. IT WAS BY CHANCE THAT YOU DRAGGED ME WITH IT.”

I stare out into the purple tinged landscape. A place of sorrow, despair and misery. The powers of all the people I’ve seen reflect their personalities. It’s true I wasn’t the happiest person in the world, but this…

“I’ve seen enough. I’m going home.”

Moments later, I was back in my bedroom, talking with the ex-emperor.

“The undisputed God-King of Hueco Mundo. And this Aizen guy… Just up and kicked you off your throne?”

“ESSENTIALLY. I MADE A VOW THAT DAY TO KILL HIM AND RECLAIM MY THRONE. BUT THAT NEVER HAPPENED. THUS I WAS SENT TO THE VOID. I WAITED. I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG. BUT WHEN YOU REACHED INTO THE VOID AND TOOK MY AXE, I WENT WITH IT AND INHABITED YOUR ARM.”

“Well that seems a little farfetched. But since it actually happened, I’m inclined to believe you. But I feel like sleeping now. Goodnight.”

Chapter 25

I awake with a start the Denreishinki Captain Sui-Feng cave me started to buzz. I flicked it open and saw a miniature map of the town. Red dots were lighting up everywhere! I hurriedly dressed and threw open the window and jumped outside into the cold and dark.

I summoned my gauntlet and landed on the ground, tearing a hole in reality as I land. I pull out my two handled broadsword and swung it onto my shoulder. I hear the sounds of running footsteps as a group of soul reapers ran towards me.

“Sir! Assistance Team Theta reporting!” shouted the front runner. A short one with jagged looking blond hair and blue eyes.

“Okay. What’s your name?”

“Buraisurei. A recent addition to Squad 11.”

“Okay Burasurei, I need you to do what you guys do best.”

“And what might that be sir?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Oh god not this again.” I said, facepalming “Well, I guess you guys just have to watch my back and keep the lesser hollows at bay.”

“Can do sir!” he saluted “Is this guy actually leading us?”

I took no notice of the slight insubordination and ordered the squad to follow me. I grouped with the other defence leaders that had gathered in the air above the town. The group consisted of Kisuke Urahara, Captain Sui-Feng, a guy with feathers in his eyebrows, Yoruichi and some old man.

“Wait, we only have this many commanding officers? How many people went to Hueco Mundo to investigate? And who’s the old man?” I ask

Many of the present soul reapers stiffened with what looked like surprise, horror and contempt. The old man looked up from behind his giant eyebrows and spoke softly, with big stick in hand.

“You are ignorant child, so I will forgive you this once. I am Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto! Head Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads! You will learn this name, and never forget it!”

“Eep! Umm, s-sorry sir! Fo-forgive my mistake sir!” I whimpered. That was quite possibly scarier than Captain Unohna’s stare! The Head Captain grunted in satisfaction and addressed the other Soul Reapers while I breathed a sigh of relief that could blow out an inferno.

“Now then, I’m sure you’re all wondering what I’m doing here. We have recently received reports of a massive group of hollows about to invade this area, many of them Vasto Lordes. Since many of the captains and other valuable assets were sent to Hueco Mundo to investigate the threat, and there is still the possibility of invasion of the Soul Society, I have come to ensure this town does not fall under hollow control! Also, Fullbringer Ruisu will be given the temporary rank of Lieutenant, and the capabilities to give orders.

“As of now, I shall personally be in direct control of the defences in this town! Sui-Feng, Yoruichi Shihoin, you two will take the western side of town.”

“Y-yes sir!” Sui-Feng almost squealed, barely able to contain her excitement as they disappeared into the night

“Fifth Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa, you will accompany Fullbringer Ruisu to the south portion of town. Kisuke and I will defend the northern and eastern portions respectively.”

“Yes Head Captain!” saluted the other one, who I assume is Yumichika “Let’s go Ruisu.”

He disappeared into the night and I had no choice but to follow him. With a quick shout to my team, I jumped after him, lights sparking at my feet.

Eventually I caught up with Yumichika, and we had time to talk.

“So what Squad are you from?”

“Squad 11, the combat unit.” He replied. The guy had a really feminine voice for some reason.

“Oh yeah, I have a rookie member of Squad 11 in my assistance team. Where’s yours by the way?”

“I was never given one.” He replied smugly “Looks like the captains didn’t trust you enough not to die.”

“Oh, I think I’m going to get along with you just fine.” I hiss, sure a vein was popping in my forehead.

“So who was this Squad 11 member you were talking about?”

“Huh? Oh yeah. Buraisurei.”

“Ha! Buraisurei! I remember him. He scraped through into Squad 11 with the lowest scores possible! He couldn’t even spell Zanpakuto properly! He’s a decent fighter, I’ll give him that, but his technique is so ugly and unrefined that it’s highly ineffective! Also, he’s really easy to annoy.”

“What did you say about me you freakin’ dandy?!” shouted Buraisurei, forcing us to a complete stop in midair

“DANDY?! Why you ugly… How dare you insult a superior officer?!”

“Didn’t your mother ever tell you to call other people ugly?”

“It’s not my fault you’re ugly in the first place shorty!”

“SHORTY?!”

“Shut up both of you!” I scream, forcing them back from each other “Listen here Yumichika, Braisurei is my responsibility for this mission, and even if he is a rookie, I will not tolerate ANYONE insulting my soldiers! Not forgetting that as of this mission, I outrank you! Understand?”

“Hmph. Spoken like a true Lieutenant. Have you ever thought about joining the Court Guard Squads?”

With that, we set off again. Buraisurei jumped to my side as we were flying through the air.

“Thanks for defending me their Ruisu. I really don’t know if I could get myself out of a fight like that one.”

“Yeah, you really need to work on that temper of yours Buraisurei. My advice, get some anger management training from Captain Unohana. She’ll probably stare all that rage right out of ya.” I laughed.

“Yeah… Sir! Multiple lesser hollows inbound!”

Chapter 26

The lesser hollows were dispatched without much difficulty. The rookie squad was more than able to hold their own against them. After smashing the last one with the flat of my blade, I turned to face the others.

“Everyone okay?”

“No casualties sir!” Replied Buraisurei “Just a few minor injuries.”

An ear splitting shriek filled the air as a giant black tear opened in the sky. A group of Menos, ten strong stepped out into the chilled night air.

“Buraisurei!” I shouted “Get Squad Theta to safety!”

“You underestimate us sir!” he shouted in reply “We wouldn’t be much of an assistance team if all we did was stand around twiddling our thumbs!”

“Fine then. But it’s not my fault if you get killed!”

My Gemina Calvariae Gladius wouldn’t be much use against such a large enemy. I tore open the void and tossed it back into the mist. I reached in and grasped the sword from when I killed the predatory hollow.

“Acinacem Defunctorum Bufalus.”

I stared at the plain looking sword. I wondered what this one’s power was. I looked around. Everything seemed much… slower. Wasting no time, I jumped out to meet the Menos. I attempted the same upward slice from my first menos. I reached the hole when I remembered something. As I looked to the right I saw a giant white hand was slowly drifting towards me. I chuckled to myself as I sliced it off, leaving its arm an unresponsive stump.

Jumping up to the mask of the menos, I slashed clean across its mask. Looking around, I was surprised to see that none on the menos had taken any notice. I shrugged, and then sliced through every single one of their masks. I landed on the ground and returned to my squad.

“Woah! Sir, where did you come from?!” shouted Buraisurei

“What are you talking about? I just walked up to you guys.”

“It looked like you’ve used Shunpo, but I think there’s a different explanation. Fullbringers typically use an ability called Bringer Light, yes?” asked Yumichika

“Yeah. But I don’t just disappear like soul reapers do. Bringer Light just lets me jump high and fast. I remember when I used Acinacem Defunctorum Balfus, everything seemed to slow down around me.”

“Well sir, you haven’t gotten slower. Just incredibly faster!”

“Indeed. Personally, I think you could keep up with Kurosaki’s Bankai in this state. Even if it looks so hideous.”

“I tend not to worry about what my powers look like, but I’d be lying if I said they didn’t disturb me sometimes. Also you mentioned Kurosaki. You mean Ichigo?”

“Yes. His Bankai allows him to move at an incredibly speed. However I’m not sure of anything beyond that.”

The Denreishinki begins to buzz again and I flick it open. A message from Yamamoto?

“Time to pack it in guys. We’ve got orders to evacuate this location and regroup with the others.”

“What? Why might that be?”

“A huge army of Vasto Lorde are approaching.”

(Well, that's all for now folks! Keep stopping by for more!)