The Devil's Bleached Tears
Part 7
The Serpent's Fang.
OooOOooOO
Thunder rumbled as the rain fell outside the small sake factory. Rukia shielded her eyes from the flash as she staggered back from the voice behind her. ôWhat?ö A set of fangs and an open mouth was all she could see as her focus came back as her vision faded back. There was another flash of bright white, and the sound of breaking glass.
ôLook out!ö cried a voice that seemed familiar, but she couldn't place it.
She shifted her weight and dashed aside, only to feel something slam into her side and toss her into the air. ôNo!ö cried the fallen Shinigami as she realized there were three more mouths headed for her in the air, all of them open with their fangs stabbing at her.
ôYoung lady!ö cried Don Kanoji as he appeared at her side. The man thrust his staff forward and there was a rush of air as he grabbed her around her waist and landed nearby with a scowl on his face. Something that looked like a thick mass of writhing tentacles landed in the shadows and hissed in rage. ôThat creature? A hollow!ö
ôThat's not a Hollow,ö said a vaguely familiar voice from beside them. ôIt's a demon.ö
Rukia gasped as she found herself set back on her feet and looked over. ôIshida? What? What are you?ö She was getting her bearings back.
ôYou dare compare me to such a pathetic creature!ö snarled the angry demon voice as the thing rushed forward again.
A loud bang sounded giving everyone else a start. Ichigo was standing on top of a box overlooking the scene. He had a scowl on his face and rested his smoking shotgun on his shoulder. ôA demon? Who the hell are you anyway? What are you doing here?ö Some sort of light beam had knocked the thing away from Rukia from the window and he'd jumped through. He was wearing an odd white outfit with a short cape.
ôKurosaki...ö The boy turned to glare at him. ôI'm not sure what's going on. We'll discuss this later. That thing isn't a Hollow. We should leave. Hurry up and get out of your body, or you won't be of any use.ö
The blond boy frowned at that. Rukia was near the other side of the room anyway. ôNah. I'll be fine.ö
ôAre you stupid?ö snapped Ishida in irritation. ôYou'll need your sword. That thing is different than a Hollow, but your spirit sword should be able to hurt it.ö
Don Kanoji was confused. ôLeave, his body?ö
ôHeh. You think I'll let you fools escape me so easily?ö The monster hissed in rage in the darkness. The door they'd come through burst into flames, and a wall of fire came to life along the walls, blocking the windows as well. An orange glow filled the room surrounding them on every side, and revealing the creature's form to them all.
It was a giant white snake, easily fifty feet long, with multiple necks and tails waving in the air in front of and behind it. The eyes of the thing were red and it hissed at them all with foot long fangs that dripped with dangerous looking venom, creating small clouds of toxic vapor as it hit the floor and burned into the stone flooring. ôPathetic fools. You've found yourselves in my lair, and I'm not about to let a meal just walk out of my den.ö
ôCrap,ö grumbled Ichigo as he looked around.
ôIt seems we must prepare for battle,ö Don Kanoji spread his feet and scowled at the thing with a serious expression.
ôGreat, two Shinigami and an idiot.ö Uryuu wasn't sure why he'd done something so stupid. Seeing the demon had panicked him he supposed. It was a bit of a surprise. He should have known better, Ichigo's reiraku was red, but tinged with black as well. Much darker than Kuchiki's power. He was trapped now, and had no choice but to help them fight. He had been planing on taking the first opportunity to leave, and had thought that the Shinigami would be of the same mindset. They had no business fighting demons, that was the duty of angels. Both were a rare sight in the human world.
Ichigo hopped down off his box and glared at the thing. ôYou sure that's not a Hollow?ö He couldn't see a hole.
Ishida gave a nod. ôYes, human reiraku is white, but a demons is black. I'm not an angel, I've got no business fighting that thing.ö He closed his hands around a bow made from his power. ôIt seems I have no choice though. We must fight to escape.ö
The monster seemed to tire of the conversation and was annoyed by Ichigo's words. ôYou'll all die!ö It rushed at them and sent it's heads out to lash out at the group.
Rukia went pale as four of the heads went for her. She stumbled back moving between a few boxes away from it.
The other three forced the group to scatter. Ishida sidestepped and notched an arrow as he slipped behind it. Kanoji ducked under one of the heads and managed to roll over to a shelf to put some distance between it and him.
Ichigo went into the air and fired his weapon into the thing's mouth. The jaws snapped shut before it reached him and it shook it's head.
The girl found herself stumbling through boxes and shelves, having them smashed in the wake of the creature as it focused on her. She ran into the wall and gasped as she whirled around with a frightened expression on her face. All of the creature's heads were rushing at her at one time, it's fangs bared and ready to tear her appart.
It jolted to a stop as the things all snapped their jaws at her at once, inches away from her. The weakened Shinigami was pressed against the stones on the wall as hard as she could be. Her teeth were gritted and her eyes wide.
Ichigo had one of the eight tails in his grip as he scowled at the monster. He had it clutched in one hand, and his firearm was resting against his shoulder. The eight heads turned around to face him as one and narrowed their eyes as they growled.
ôHey, ugly. Didn't anyone ever tell you that you shouldn't pick on girls?ö
The monster hissed. ôI'm a demon. I was told that I should always pick on the weak. It's entertaining, and they make for easy meals.ö
Ichigo snapped his hand back and shifted his weight. The monster was pulled back and snapped like a whip in the other direction. As soon as it went tight in his hand, Ichigo released his fingers, sending it flying into the opposite wall. The stone held, but the monster crumpled and coiled up against it from the force of the impact. ôAround here, that's considered rude.ö An aura of power had formed around his body, and he seemed far more calm and collected than anyone else in the room.
Uryuu had taken a shot at it from behind, and was near to where it had landed. His arrows bounced off it's scales, but he'd noticed Ichigo's weapon had hurt it when it struck it in the mouth. The strange gun had surprised him, but he didn't think anything of it and had notched another strike. He was planning on aiming at the eyes and mouth. All that was furthest from his mind as he lowered his am and looked on with wide eyes and a hanging jaw as the blond boy threw it across the room. ôWhat?ö He looked over his shoulder at the boy as he backed away. ôWhat...is he?ö The power coming from him was not that of a Shinigami.
Rukia was gasping for breath and looking relieved. ôWhat took you? That thing almost ate me!ö she snapped at her saviour.
He narrowed his eyes. ôYou could say 'thank you'.ö
She scowled at him. ôThere's no time for that. Use your sword and kill it. We can't get out until we kill it. That fire isn't normal, it's a barrier.ö
Ichigo grumbled and frowned towards the serpent. It was recovering and sliding back to face the four of them. ôYou had time to say all that though.ö
The monster lashed out at Don Kanoji and Uryuu, both of them backed away, but it didn't chase after them. The marksman shot an arrow at the thing as it snapped at him, but it bounced off the scales of it's nose and into the ceiling. A few small stones clattered to the ground and it continued forward towards where Ichigo and Rukia were standing.
The heads converged on the pair, and the blond boy punched and kicked at them in a flurry of motion. The heads were jolted back, but the thing kept coming snapping at him one after another. He hooked a kick across one of them and began firing at it with multiple shots of his weapon. It forced the thing back, but did little damage.
The creature waved it's heads around shifting from side to side, seeming to try to find an opening in the boy's defenses, but a few blows from his shotgun kept it from backing the pair against the wall.
ôKannon Ball!ö cried Kanoji as he thrust his palm forward. The monster didn't seem to notice the slow approach of the projectile and ignored it. It screeched in anger as the small ball exploded, sending it on it's side against the wall. The tails lashed out at Kanoji, one struck him against his jaw and sent him flying into the side of one of the shelves. It toppled with him on top of it and he groaned in pain, unable to stand back up.
Rukia took the opportunity to smack the blond boy on the back of his head. ôThe Spirit sword fool! Use it! That gun of yours won't kill that thing!ö
Uryuu gave a nod. ôShe's right. That's an interesting toy Kurosaki, but you've just managed to piss it off.ö
ôRight. Spirit sword...ö grumbled Ichigo as the monster recovered again.
ôPathetic human!ö it snarled as it rushed forward. Ichigo gasped as it passed right by him and made a bee line for the black haired girl behind him. ôJust die!ö
Rukia screeched and tried to jump aside. One of the heads slammed into her side, but missed biting her. She was thrown into the stones and in front of it again.
Ichigo jumped into the air, bounced off the ceiling, and landed feet first on top of the pair that lunged after her. The pair of serpent heads were driven into the ground, but three others all converged on him. Ichigo cried out in pain as he was impaled on the fangs. One latched onto his shoulder, and two others bit into his torso from either side. His belly and chest were pierced by the foot long fangs.
The monster lifted him into the air and shook him violently. The three heads released him and tossed him aside. ôI'll deal with you later, whelp.ö
Rukia gasped in shock with her eyes growing wide. ôIchigo!ö His body crumpled to the ground face down when he landed. She was too shocked to move and stayed in front of the monster.
ôDamn,ö growled Uryuu as he readied another arrow.
ôBoy!ö cried Kanoji as he reached forward. He had managed to fumble off of the fallen shelves and was on his hands and knees next to it. He staggered to his feet as he saw Ichigo thrown away.
The monster turned and fanned out facing Rukia. ôNow, Shinigami, you die!ö It converged on her from every direction.
The monster was pushed aside, not hard enough to throw it, but enough to make miss her. The medium had thrust his cane towards it with a scowl on his face. ôFoul creature!ö
The monster snapped at Rukia as she got enough of her senses back to move aside and out of it's way. ôShit!ö One of the heads wasn't going to miss and she pulled up her arms to shield itself.
A flash of light impacted the inside of one of the monster's mouths. The arrow of light penetrated through the back of it's skull, sending it onto the ground limp. The monster screeched in rage and lashed out with it's eight tails at him. He hopped aside and bent his back as they passed over him, notching another arrow. One of the eight tails curled around his ankle though, and jerked hard. He hit the stone before being pulled into the air and thrown into several crates. They broke as he impacted them, and rice poured around his body. He grunted in pain from the impact, and was covered from head to toe in the grains. ôDamn it.ö
Kanoji pulled on Rukia's arm, pulling her behind him. ôStay with me girl. That monster...it is after you.ö
She gasped and looked at him in surprise. ôWhat?ö
Ishida sputtered out a few grains of rice as he staggered to his feet. His arm was in pain, but not broken. He had it pulled against his side and gasped. ôHe's right. It's only kept us at bay. Every time it's attacked, it's targeted you.ö
The monster's seven heads hissed as they fanned up. The one Uryuu had impaled remained limp on the ground. ôThat's right. When I was released from my prison, the one who freed me made one request. 'Kill the Shinigami Kuchiki Rukia'.ö
The girl looked at it with wide eyes. ôWhat? Who would...?ö She was confused. Who would want her dead? She knew that she would likely get in trouble when she returned to the Soul Society. Still, they wouldn't want to outright kill her.
The monster narrowed it's eyes at Kanoji. ôStep aside human, this does not concern you.ö
ôI am not such a coward, beast.ö He raised his staff and focused his power.
ôLook out!ö cried Rukia as she tried to push him out of the way. It was too late. The monster's tails hit him from the side and he was thrown halfway across the room. He ended up on his side and reached for the girl as he tried to climb to his knees. ôNo! Run young lady!ö
Uryuu tried to shoot it again, but two of the heads moved up to protect the one that was striking at Rukia. The arrow bounced off it's scales. One of them glared back at him. ôI'll deal with you soon enough.
Rukia's feet were kicking as she found herself up to her waist inside the monster's mouth. She tried to scream, but all she felt was a cold disgusting wetness. Her senses were flooded with the stench of rotting flesh. Her feet were kicking at the air as the monster tried to lift her up and swallow her whole. She felt one of her legs stop as a firm grip latched onto her ankle.
Ichigo stared the head swallowing his friend down as he gripped at her leg. His free hand pointed his shotgun weapon right between its eyes. ôHey. Don't eat her, she's not a very nice girl, and she'll upset your stomach.ö He pulled the trigger and a loud report sounded.
The fallen Shinigami was coughing as she hung from his grip, face down on the ground. She was still screaming with her eyes shut.
Ichigo frowned at her. ôHey. Knock it off.ö
The girl stopped her scream and blinked, looking up over her shoulder as he looked down at her with her leg still in his grip. Her skirt was hiked up over her back, and she was covered in goo. ôIchigo.ö
He smirked. ôYeah. I gotta admit it stings a bit, but no way is that enough to take me down.ö His torso had four bloody holes in it, and his shoulder had another.
She blinked and narrowed her eyes as she noticed her own state. ôHey! What are you looking at you pervert!ö She kicked him in the face and pulled her skirt back up over her legs.
ôUngrateful...ö growled the boy from under her foot as he released her leg. She staggered to her feet and turned to face the monster. ôWhat the hell are you doing? Where is your spirit sword? Stop goofing off and kill it! Take out the damn sword and...ö
ôI dunno how,ö muttered the blond boy as he flushed a bit.
Kanoji was on his feet as well and thrust his weapon at the monster. It hissed in irritation and shifted away. ôYou humans are becoming irritating.ö It launched himself at the man and Kanoji staggered back putting his arms up. He couldn't use his power again so soon after a strike and was defenseless.
An arrow of light slammed into one of the heads, this time impacing one of the monster's eyes. It screeched in anger and shook violently as the charge was stalled. The medium skittered out of the way and gave Ishida a nod. ôYou have my gratitude boy.ö
Uryuu gave a nod and pushed his glasses up his nose with one of his fingers. ôIt's weakest in it's mouth.ö He saw that the eye was damaged, but the arrow had not penetrated far enough to kill the head.
ôWhat do you mean 'you don't know how'?ö snapped Rukia as she grabbed the half demon by his collar. ôI saw you do it! When we met Mr. Kanoji!ö
ôI dunno how I did that. It just sort of happened,ö He shrugged at her. ôSorry.ö
ôFine, I'll just knock you out of your body then.ö She scowled and pulled her glove out of her pocket. Before she managed to pull it onto her hand, she was struck from the side by the monster's tail. The girl was thrown across the stone floor and rolled to a stop about ten yards away.
ôRukia!ö cried the boy in shock as he started towards her.
The demon was charging at her as well. It meant to rip her in half as soon as it got a hold on her and struck at her torso and legs with two of the heads.
The monster screeched. Ichigo appeared in front of her, his sword in his hand, with one foot stopping the head going for her legs. He hacked across the monster's open mouth and half the head continued forward, the other half hit the ground with a dull thump, kicking up dust.
The demon beast backed away snarling in rage. ôPathetic fool! I'll destroy you all!ö It's eyes began to glow.
ôUh oh,ö grumbled Ichigo. He turned and lifted up Rukia and turned to face Kanoji and Uryuu. ôCatch!ö he tossed her across the room.
The pair managed to catch her, but barely so as they were surprised and confused.
ôBoy! Look out!ö cried Kanoji as he noticed the glowing in the remaining six heads mouths.
ôThat's...ö cried Uryuu as he fumbled with the irate and struggling girl. She hit the ground on her rear and looked up at him in anger. ôHey! You jerk!ö He'd just dropped her.
ôI'm not here to help you.ö He scowled down at her.
She gasped in frustration. ôYou...you're an assh...ö The fallen Shinigami was cut off as a whooshing sound filled the just after a bright orange glow.
Ichigo put up his arms as the six heads spewed flames from their mouths. He shielded himself with the flat of his blade, but it wasn't enough to cover him. He cried out in pain and fell to his knees with the blade stabbed into the ground as the fire surrounded him and consumed him.
ôIchigo!ö cried Rukia from nearby as the fire died down.
ôJust die!ö snarled the demon as three of the heads charged him at once.
Before he realized what was happening, he was on his feet with the blade extended behind him. The three heads fell to the ground behind him as the air was sprayed with blood. He felt it covering his skin on his exposed chest, cooling the heat and sizzling against it. He was extremely hot, but did not feel burned. The boy was panting for breath and glared at the three remaining heads with glowing red eyes.
The three serpents screeched in shock and rage, the body tried to back away from him, but it was too late.
Ichigo made another swipe with his weapon, and cleaved through the three heads in one stroke, sending them tumbling down like cut trees and another spray of blood into the air.
He stood there and panted, gasping for breath. His muscles felt like they were on fire and his skin was cooked. The blood tingled with something dark. A voice echoed in his mind. ôPower...give me more. I need more....I want more!!ö He clutched at the sides of his head.
Rukia was looking on in shock. ôWhat the?ö
ôBoy!ö cried Kanoji. ôAre you all right?ö He started forward.
Uryuu put his arm up to bar his path and scowled. ôWhat...is he?ö Using a spirit sword, a Shinigami weapon, was impossible to do in a body. He didn't know that much about them, but that was one thing he was certain of. He'd called forth a spiritual weapon without leaving his body, and a dark flame was still burning around him.
Ichigo fell to his knees. He clutched at his head and groaned. His eyes wide and still glowing with power. The voice of the monster he'd just killed was echoing across the inside of his skull. ôYou have defeated me utterly boy. You have proven yourself stronger, worthy. Take my power, and make it your own.ö
He gasped as he looked up. Three of the tails were glowing with energy. The beasts form was turning to ash and embers, floating into the air and vanishing before him. It burned quickly, turning into a dark vapor as it vanished in front of him. The tails became bright orange, almost too strong to look at.
Uryuu, Rukia, and Kanoji were forced to shield themselves from the light and heat from the event.
Ichigo looked into it, his eyes not blinded, and the heat burned at him, but it was not painful. It wasn't comforting, or pleasant, but it still had an odd feeling of satisfaction behind it. Before him, from the tails, three objects appeared from within the fading light. A sword, a rope necklace with jade Magatama jewels, and a mirror.
He stood up and reached for the sword with a strange expression on his face.
ôNo! Don't touch it!ö cried Uryuu as he took a step forward. His expression looked shocked and concerned.
Ichigo gave him a dark looking grin as he glanced over his shoulder. ôDidn't know you cared.ö
ôIchigo! Wait!ö Rukia looked much the same.
ôIt's a dark weapon boy! You don't want it!ö agreed Kanoji.
He ignored them. ôYeah. I do.ö His hand gripped the weapon's hilt He pulled it from the air, and took the mirror and necklace with his other hand. The mirror was small, about six inches in diameter, but had a strap on the back of it. He hooked it through his left arm and clenched his fist as the strap grew tight on it's own. He pulled the necklace over his head and hung it from his neck, and then turned his attention to the blade. ôAma no Morakumo no Tsurugi.ö He spread his feet and held the weapon in an Iaido stance. He pulled it out in a fast curving strike, his eyes still glowing with power. The lighting struck outside again as he did so, and the air in front of him was instantly shrouded in a thick mist.
The wall crumbled away after his single stroke as if it had been cut eight times in a circular pattern, creating an octagon shaped hole in the wall that fell forward revealing the outside of the building.
Ichigo paused to regard the weapon with a frown on his face. It was dark, but the rain was letting up, and a few stars and some moonlight was now shining down. He could see it in the light that shined down on him from outside. The weapon was a cloudy silver, polished, but not reflective. It was about three feet long, and had an ornate octagon shaped hand guard that depicted eight serpent heads biting into each other's necks. ôKusanagi? You've got to be kidding me.ö It was etched into the side of the blade in very old characters. He replaced the weapon back into it's scabbard and looked at the mirror on his arm.
He gasped as he looked at it, the thing looking back at him was cruel and mean looking. It's eyes were glowing with power and two horns curved down the sides of it's face from it's forehead. The skin was black and red, and sharp gnarled teeth leered at him. He gasped in shock and blinked. The face was gone when his eyes opened again, replaced with his own, but with a strange violet aura surrounding him. His irises glowed red, but he looked mostly human, and his expression actually mirrored his real one. ôWhat was that?ö The mirror was strange, and had some sort of power within it.
ôYou idiot! What the hell are you thinking!?ö snapped Rukia as she charged up next to him. ôThose are demonic weapons...they're...ö
Ichigo looked down at her with his normal serious expression. ôDevil Arms.ö
She gasped and looked at him with wide eyes. ôHuh?ö
ôWhat the hell is going on here?ö Ishida looked cautious and scowled at Ichigo.
Don Kanoji seemed a bit worried as well. ôIndeed. You should never have touched...ö
The boy snapped at them both. ôShut the hell up would you? I'm fine.ö
Rukia glanced back at the pair. ôAll right. Look, just get rid of them. You don't need them.ö
ôWho the hell are you anyway? What are you doing here? Thanks for the help, I guess.ö Ichigo ignored her and looked towards Uryuu.
He looked surprised. ôYou...don't know me?ö
The blond boy scratched at his head. ôShould I?ö
Ishida hung his head a little. ôI'm in your class. My name is Ishida Uryuu, and I hate Shinigami.ö
Rukia scowled at him. ôWhy did you help us then? Who are you anyway? I've never seen a human like you before.ö
Don Kanoji was confused and kept silent. He looked back and fourth between the group and leaned against the nearby wall in what he hoped was a cool pose.
Uyuu scowled at her. ôThat demon surprised me. I wasn't expecting to find something like that here. As for the rest, it's none of your business Shinigami. We're not allies, I only helped you out because I got stuck inside that barrier with you.ö He walked out of the hole in the wall and away from the scene.
ôMan, what crawled up his ass?ö grumbled Ichigo. ôI guess we kind of owe him. What's up with that guy though? He had that weird bow and arrow.ö
Rukia scowled at him. ôI'm not sure. I suppose he's not an enemy. He didn't attack us or anything. I'm not sure what the deal is with him and Shinigami. I guess he can see us, he's got very high spiritual power for a human.ö
Don Kanoji looked confused. ôYou...are invisible? What's a Shinigami anyway? Something to do with those Hollow things?ö
Rukia seemed to remember he was there. She tensed up, but then relaxed. ôI guess you're okay. It's not that big a secret, but we don't like humans to find out about it. I'm not human. This body is fake. Shinigami guide human souls into the next life. We try to do it before they become hollows when we can. If a human soul stays on this plane of existence for too long, it becomes a Hollow. It is also the duty of the Shinigami to cleanse souls that become Hollows and then send them into the next life as well.ö
The man nodded. ôI see, like that creature my Number One Student and I fought at the hospital?ö He seemed to be doing his best to take it all in.
She nodded. ôThat's right. Normally it's my job, but something happened and I lost my powers. So, Ichigo has been helping me.ö
The medium nodded. ôVery noble.ö
Ichigo rolled his eyes. ôWell, that thing is dead now. I guess we should go.ö He didn't seem to notice that the three objects he'd picked up had vanished.
Rukia nodded at that. She looked at Kanoji. ôLook, I appreciate your help and all, but hunting Hollows is the duty of the Shinigami. Humans shouldn't get involved. I suppose knowing about it might be helpful seeing your job and all, but...if you ever see a Shinigami fighting a Hollow, get out of the way and let them do their job. They won't be happy with you if you interfere. I suppose you're useful, and I can't really turn down you help given the circumstances. You can help out Ichigo until I get my powers back and can go back home. I'm bending the rules as it is, so I guess there's no harm in it. Don't get in the way of a real Shinigami though, they know what they're doing and don't need help from humans. They're trained professionals after all, it takes many years and special training to become one.ö
Don Kanoji frowned a bit at that. ôYes. I understand.ö He didn't really, but then, she was just a girl. She obviously didn't understand his manly duty. He would continue to help his student, it was obvious he had to face a dark power, and those weapons he'd picked up were dangerous. ôBoy. About that sword...ö
Ichigo scratched his head. ôLook, don't worry about that.ö
Rukia narrowed her eyes at him and poked him in the chest. ôYou'd better. Devil Arms are...ö
ôI know,ö he replied a little sharply. ôI need them.ö
ôFor what?ö she snapped. ôYou've already got a Spirit Sword...ö
Ichigo frowned at her. ôI won't after you leave. I've run into Hollows too much for my own liking since I met you, and not all of them were because we've been looking for them. I'm gonna need protection to keep them from killing me, and I don't feel like spending the rest of my life trying to beat them with my bare hands.ö
She sucked in a quick breath. ôWhat?ö
Don Kanoji frowned at that. ôThose weapons hold a dark power, it could consume you. It is best not to meddle in such things boy. There are other ways to fight such battles. Demonic weapons are dangerous, such power is not for humans to wield, it corrupts and can control you.ö
The blond boy looked over at him. ôI'll be fine. I can control it.ö
Kanoji narrowed his eyes. ôDon't be a fool. Throw them away.ö
Ichigo smirked at the man. ôNot on your life. Look, I guess I sort of like you and all. I'm not human either. My Mom was a demon, and I can control weapons like this. I'm half demon.ö
The man froze whit his jaw hanging a little while holding his finger up.
ôWhat?ö muttered Rukia with a blank expression on her face. ôYou...ö
The boy frowned at them both and crossed his arms. ôWhat do you think Akuma has been doing? He doesn't beat me up just for fun, though, I guess that's part of it.ö
Rukia took a step back and a shocked expression crossed her face. ôHe's...showing you how to use your power?ö
The boy gave a nod. ôThat's right. That's how I'm able to use this.ö He held up his shotgun. ôIt's just one of those models from some store in Akihabara. It's my own power that makes it work. It's a pain in the ass, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to stop running into stuff like this after you... go back.ö He shifted his eyes away from her. He hadn't really thought about Rukia leaving in a while. Though, he wasn't surprised to hear it either. He knew she wasn't going to hang around forever. In fact, it was taking longer than he'd expected for her powers to return. They didn't seem to have come back even a little. ôI'll be fine. That thing was called Yamatano Orochi. This is some sort of legendary sword. There's an old folklore tale about it and some demigod named Susanoo used to use it. He gave it to Amaterasu's grandson, and some stuff happened I guess. It's no big deal.ö
Don Kanoji looked at him with wide eyes. ôS-Susanoo? That blade...is Kusinagi no Tsurugi?ö
Ichgio nodded. ôYeah. Pretty cool huh?ö
ôAmazing.ö The man seemed to think on it. ôI admit, that is something of a relief. Still, he was a God. I suggest you take care. Such a dark power is not to be taken lightly.ö
Ichigo gave a small sigh. ôAll right, can we just go?ö He turned and walked out of the hole he'd made.
ôIchigo! Wait!ö called Rukia.
He glanced over his shoulder. ôHuh? What is it?ö
ôAre you sure...you want to be walking around outside naked?ö she replied.
ôHuh?ö his face fell a little. ôWhat do you...?ö He looked down and his eyes went wide. ôWhat?ö His clothes were gone. He dropped his hands to his crotch and turned beet red. ôWhat the hell?ö
Don Kanoji pulled off his cape and handed it to him. ôYes. Do you not remember? That monster burned them off.ö
He looked at him as he took the cape and covered himself. ôI've been standing around naked for that long?!ö
Rukia was chuckling. ôYou just now noticed?ö
He glared at her. ôAfter you hit me for being a pervert? You go and let me stand around naked for ten minutes and don't say anything? You bitch! ô He had the cape wrapped around his waist.
She narrowed her eyes at him. ôWhy would I want to look at that? I wasn't staring at you or anything. I thought you just didn't care.ö With that, she crossed her arms and turned her back on him.
Don Kanoji laughed. ôI too thought you were just unconcerned. Don't worry, I have some spare clothes in my trunk.ö
ôWhy didn't you say so sooner?ö grumbled Ichigo dejectedly. He was very embarrassed.
While they went towards the car, Rukia slapped her fist into her palm as she remembered something. She looked over her shoulder. ôHey, I dropped my glove. I'm gonna go find it while you get dressed.ö
ôWhatever,ö grumbled Ichigo from behind the now open trunk.
She walked into the darkened and wrecked remains of the old sake factory. After a few moments of scanning around the room, she found it near the wall. Rather, she found what was left of it. It had fallen into the barrier, and was now a charred hunk of leather. ôGreat. Totally destroyed.ö She picked it up and tossed it back to the ground. It was useless, and beyond repair.
She scowled at it for a moment and looked towards the hole in the wall. It didn't matter much anyway, she could replace it, but she didn't have any need for it. Ichigo didn't need to leave his body to help her out. Though, it did make things easier. It could disrupt his schooling and make it more difficult for them to slip off during classes. ôI guess I'll have to replace it tomorrow.ö It wasn't a necessity, just a convenience though. They couldn't get Kon out of his plushy body without it so he wasn't useful if they didn't have it. ôCrap, it's going to be expensive.ö She had enough though. She and Ichigo had been pretty busy over the past two months. Taking down Grand Fisher had garnered quite a bounty as well. Still, she was cheap, and it was frustrating.
ôHey. You ready to go? We shouldn't hang around.ö Ichigo said from behind her.
ôYeah. I...ö Rukia turned and burst into laughter.
The boy was wearing a flashy shirt and pants that were both studded with rhinestones. Kanoji had tried to give him a hat, jacket, and cape to go with it, but he'd refused. ôIt's not funny damn it.ö
ôYes it is!ö She was bent over holding her belly and slapping her knee. She looked up at him and another fit of laughter struck her.
He growled and looked even more embarrassed. It was only slightly better than being naked in his mind. ôCome on. We've got to go. We'll get arrested if we get caught hanging around here. I want to hurry up and get home so I can change.ö He'd considered refusing the clothes and just keeping himself covered with the cape, but figured that would be even harder to explain than what he was wearing when he got home. He'd been forced to accept them.
cont...
Part 7
The Serpent's Fang.
OooOOooOO
Thunder rumbled as the rain fell outside the small sake factory. Rukia shielded her eyes from the flash as she staggered back from the voice behind her. ôWhat?ö A set of fangs and an open mouth was all she could see as her focus came back as her vision faded back. There was another flash of bright white, and the sound of breaking glass.
ôLook out!ö cried a voice that seemed familiar, but she couldn't place it.
She shifted her weight and dashed aside, only to feel something slam into her side and toss her into the air. ôNo!ö cried the fallen Shinigami as she realized there were three more mouths headed for her in the air, all of them open with their fangs stabbing at her.
ôYoung lady!ö cried Don Kanoji as he appeared at her side. The man thrust his staff forward and there was a rush of air as he grabbed her around her waist and landed nearby with a scowl on his face. Something that looked like a thick mass of writhing tentacles landed in the shadows and hissed in rage. ôThat creature? A hollow!ö
ôThat's not a Hollow,ö said a vaguely familiar voice from beside them. ôIt's a demon.ö
Rukia gasped as she found herself set back on her feet and looked over. ôIshida? What? What are you?ö She was getting her bearings back.
ôYou dare compare me to such a pathetic creature!ö snarled the angry demon voice as the thing rushed forward again.
A loud bang sounded giving everyone else a start. Ichigo was standing on top of a box overlooking the scene. He had a scowl on his face and rested his smoking shotgun on his shoulder. ôA demon? Who the hell are you anyway? What are you doing here?ö Some sort of light beam had knocked the thing away from Rukia from the window and he'd jumped through. He was wearing an odd white outfit with a short cape.
ôKurosaki...ö The boy turned to glare at him. ôI'm not sure what's going on. We'll discuss this later. That thing isn't a Hollow. We should leave. Hurry up and get out of your body, or you won't be of any use.ö
The blond boy frowned at that. Rukia was near the other side of the room anyway. ôNah. I'll be fine.ö
ôAre you stupid?ö snapped Ishida in irritation. ôYou'll need your sword. That thing is different than a Hollow, but your spirit sword should be able to hurt it.ö
Don Kanoji was confused. ôLeave, his body?ö
ôHeh. You think I'll let you fools escape me so easily?ö The monster hissed in rage in the darkness. The door they'd come through burst into flames, and a wall of fire came to life along the walls, blocking the windows as well. An orange glow filled the room surrounding them on every side, and revealing the creature's form to them all.
It was a giant white snake, easily fifty feet long, with multiple necks and tails waving in the air in front of and behind it. The eyes of the thing were red and it hissed at them all with foot long fangs that dripped with dangerous looking venom, creating small clouds of toxic vapor as it hit the floor and burned into the stone flooring. ôPathetic fools. You've found yourselves in my lair, and I'm not about to let a meal just walk out of my den.ö
ôCrap,ö grumbled Ichigo as he looked around.
ôIt seems we must prepare for battle,ö Don Kanoji spread his feet and scowled at the thing with a serious expression.
ôGreat, two Shinigami and an idiot.ö Uryuu wasn't sure why he'd done something so stupid. Seeing the demon had panicked him he supposed. It was a bit of a surprise. He should have known better, Ichigo's reiraku was red, but tinged with black as well. Much darker than Kuchiki's power. He was trapped now, and had no choice but to help them fight. He had been planing on taking the first opportunity to leave, and had thought that the Shinigami would be of the same mindset. They had no business fighting demons, that was the duty of angels. Both were a rare sight in the human world.
Ichigo hopped down off his box and glared at the thing. ôYou sure that's not a Hollow?ö He couldn't see a hole.
Ishida gave a nod. ôYes, human reiraku is white, but a demons is black. I'm not an angel, I've got no business fighting that thing.ö He closed his hands around a bow made from his power. ôIt seems I have no choice though. We must fight to escape.ö
The monster seemed to tire of the conversation and was annoyed by Ichigo's words. ôYou'll all die!ö It rushed at them and sent it's heads out to lash out at the group.
Rukia went pale as four of the heads went for her. She stumbled back moving between a few boxes away from it.
The other three forced the group to scatter. Ishida sidestepped and notched an arrow as he slipped behind it. Kanoji ducked under one of the heads and managed to roll over to a shelf to put some distance between it and him.
Ichigo went into the air and fired his weapon into the thing's mouth. The jaws snapped shut before it reached him and it shook it's head.
The girl found herself stumbling through boxes and shelves, having them smashed in the wake of the creature as it focused on her. She ran into the wall and gasped as she whirled around with a frightened expression on her face. All of the creature's heads were rushing at her at one time, it's fangs bared and ready to tear her appart.
It jolted to a stop as the things all snapped their jaws at her at once, inches away from her. The weakened Shinigami was pressed against the stones on the wall as hard as she could be. Her teeth were gritted and her eyes wide.
Ichigo had one of the eight tails in his grip as he scowled at the monster. He had it clutched in one hand, and his firearm was resting against his shoulder. The eight heads turned around to face him as one and narrowed their eyes as they growled.
ôHey, ugly. Didn't anyone ever tell you that you shouldn't pick on girls?ö
The monster hissed. ôI'm a demon. I was told that I should always pick on the weak. It's entertaining, and they make for easy meals.ö
Ichigo snapped his hand back and shifted his weight. The monster was pulled back and snapped like a whip in the other direction. As soon as it went tight in his hand, Ichigo released his fingers, sending it flying into the opposite wall. The stone held, but the monster crumpled and coiled up against it from the force of the impact. ôAround here, that's considered rude.ö An aura of power had formed around his body, and he seemed far more calm and collected than anyone else in the room.
Uryuu had taken a shot at it from behind, and was near to where it had landed. His arrows bounced off it's scales, but he'd noticed Ichigo's weapon had hurt it when it struck it in the mouth. The strange gun had surprised him, but he didn't think anything of it and had notched another strike. He was planning on aiming at the eyes and mouth. All that was furthest from his mind as he lowered his am and looked on with wide eyes and a hanging jaw as the blond boy threw it across the room. ôWhat?ö He looked over his shoulder at the boy as he backed away. ôWhat...is he?ö The power coming from him was not that of a Shinigami.
Rukia was gasping for breath and looking relieved. ôWhat took you? That thing almost ate me!ö she snapped at her saviour.
He narrowed his eyes. ôYou could say 'thank you'.ö
She scowled at him. ôThere's no time for that. Use your sword and kill it. We can't get out until we kill it. That fire isn't normal, it's a barrier.ö
Ichigo grumbled and frowned towards the serpent. It was recovering and sliding back to face the four of them. ôYou had time to say all that though.ö
The monster lashed out at Don Kanoji and Uryuu, both of them backed away, but it didn't chase after them. The marksman shot an arrow at the thing as it snapped at him, but it bounced off the scales of it's nose and into the ceiling. A few small stones clattered to the ground and it continued forward towards where Ichigo and Rukia were standing.
The heads converged on the pair, and the blond boy punched and kicked at them in a flurry of motion. The heads were jolted back, but the thing kept coming snapping at him one after another. He hooked a kick across one of them and began firing at it with multiple shots of his weapon. It forced the thing back, but did little damage.
The creature waved it's heads around shifting from side to side, seeming to try to find an opening in the boy's defenses, but a few blows from his shotgun kept it from backing the pair against the wall.
ôKannon Ball!ö cried Kanoji as he thrust his palm forward. The monster didn't seem to notice the slow approach of the projectile and ignored it. It screeched in anger as the small ball exploded, sending it on it's side against the wall. The tails lashed out at Kanoji, one struck him against his jaw and sent him flying into the side of one of the shelves. It toppled with him on top of it and he groaned in pain, unable to stand back up.
Rukia took the opportunity to smack the blond boy on the back of his head. ôThe Spirit sword fool! Use it! That gun of yours won't kill that thing!ö
Uryuu gave a nod. ôShe's right. That's an interesting toy Kurosaki, but you've just managed to piss it off.ö
ôRight. Spirit sword...ö grumbled Ichigo as the monster recovered again.
ôPathetic human!ö it snarled as it rushed forward. Ichigo gasped as it passed right by him and made a bee line for the black haired girl behind him. ôJust die!ö
Rukia screeched and tried to jump aside. One of the heads slammed into her side, but missed biting her. She was thrown into the stones and in front of it again.
Ichigo jumped into the air, bounced off the ceiling, and landed feet first on top of the pair that lunged after her. The pair of serpent heads were driven into the ground, but three others all converged on him. Ichigo cried out in pain as he was impaled on the fangs. One latched onto his shoulder, and two others bit into his torso from either side. His belly and chest were pierced by the foot long fangs.
The monster lifted him into the air and shook him violently. The three heads released him and tossed him aside. ôI'll deal with you later, whelp.ö
Rukia gasped in shock with her eyes growing wide. ôIchigo!ö His body crumpled to the ground face down when he landed. She was too shocked to move and stayed in front of the monster.
ôDamn,ö growled Uryuu as he readied another arrow.
ôBoy!ö cried Kanoji as he reached forward. He had managed to fumble off of the fallen shelves and was on his hands and knees next to it. He staggered to his feet as he saw Ichigo thrown away.
The monster turned and fanned out facing Rukia. ôNow, Shinigami, you die!ö It converged on her from every direction.
The monster was pushed aside, not hard enough to throw it, but enough to make miss her. The medium had thrust his cane towards it with a scowl on his face. ôFoul creature!ö
The monster snapped at Rukia as she got enough of her senses back to move aside and out of it's way. ôShit!ö One of the heads wasn't going to miss and she pulled up her arms to shield itself.
A flash of light impacted the inside of one of the monster's mouths. The arrow of light penetrated through the back of it's skull, sending it onto the ground limp. The monster screeched in rage and lashed out with it's eight tails at him. He hopped aside and bent his back as they passed over him, notching another arrow. One of the eight tails curled around his ankle though, and jerked hard. He hit the stone before being pulled into the air and thrown into several crates. They broke as he impacted them, and rice poured around his body. He grunted in pain from the impact, and was covered from head to toe in the grains. ôDamn it.ö
Kanoji pulled on Rukia's arm, pulling her behind him. ôStay with me girl. That monster...it is after you.ö
She gasped and looked at him in surprise. ôWhat?ö
Ishida sputtered out a few grains of rice as he staggered to his feet. His arm was in pain, but not broken. He had it pulled against his side and gasped. ôHe's right. It's only kept us at bay. Every time it's attacked, it's targeted you.ö
The monster's seven heads hissed as they fanned up. The one Uryuu had impaled remained limp on the ground. ôThat's right. When I was released from my prison, the one who freed me made one request. 'Kill the Shinigami Kuchiki Rukia'.ö
The girl looked at it with wide eyes. ôWhat? Who would...?ö She was confused. Who would want her dead? She knew that she would likely get in trouble when she returned to the Soul Society. Still, they wouldn't want to outright kill her.
The monster narrowed it's eyes at Kanoji. ôStep aside human, this does not concern you.ö
ôI am not such a coward, beast.ö He raised his staff and focused his power.
ôLook out!ö cried Rukia as she tried to push him out of the way. It was too late. The monster's tails hit him from the side and he was thrown halfway across the room. He ended up on his side and reached for the girl as he tried to climb to his knees. ôNo! Run young lady!ö
Uryuu tried to shoot it again, but two of the heads moved up to protect the one that was striking at Rukia. The arrow bounced off it's scales. One of them glared back at him. ôI'll deal with you soon enough.
Rukia's feet were kicking as she found herself up to her waist inside the monster's mouth. She tried to scream, but all she felt was a cold disgusting wetness. Her senses were flooded with the stench of rotting flesh. Her feet were kicking at the air as the monster tried to lift her up and swallow her whole. She felt one of her legs stop as a firm grip latched onto her ankle.
Ichigo stared the head swallowing his friend down as he gripped at her leg. His free hand pointed his shotgun weapon right between its eyes. ôHey. Don't eat her, she's not a very nice girl, and she'll upset your stomach.ö He pulled the trigger and a loud report sounded.
The fallen Shinigami was coughing as she hung from his grip, face down on the ground. She was still screaming with her eyes shut.
Ichigo frowned at her. ôHey. Knock it off.ö
The girl stopped her scream and blinked, looking up over her shoulder as he looked down at her with her leg still in his grip. Her skirt was hiked up over her back, and she was covered in goo. ôIchigo.ö
He smirked. ôYeah. I gotta admit it stings a bit, but no way is that enough to take me down.ö His torso had four bloody holes in it, and his shoulder had another.
She blinked and narrowed her eyes as she noticed her own state. ôHey! What are you looking at you pervert!ö She kicked him in the face and pulled her skirt back up over her legs.
ôUngrateful...ö growled the boy from under her foot as he released her leg. She staggered to her feet and turned to face the monster. ôWhat the hell are you doing? Where is your spirit sword? Stop goofing off and kill it! Take out the damn sword and...ö
ôI dunno how,ö muttered the blond boy as he flushed a bit.
Kanoji was on his feet as well and thrust his weapon at the monster. It hissed in irritation and shifted away. ôYou humans are becoming irritating.ö It launched himself at the man and Kanoji staggered back putting his arms up. He couldn't use his power again so soon after a strike and was defenseless.
An arrow of light slammed into one of the heads, this time impacing one of the monster's eyes. It screeched in anger and shook violently as the charge was stalled. The medium skittered out of the way and gave Ishida a nod. ôYou have my gratitude boy.ö
Uryuu gave a nod and pushed his glasses up his nose with one of his fingers. ôIt's weakest in it's mouth.ö He saw that the eye was damaged, but the arrow had not penetrated far enough to kill the head.
ôWhat do you mean 'you don't know how'?ö snapped Rukia as she grabbed the half demon by his collar. ôI saw you do it! When we met Mr. Kanoji!ö
ôI dunno how I did that. It just sort of happened,ö He shrugged at her. ôSorry.ö
ôFine, I'll just knock you out of your body then.ö She scowled and pulled her glove out of her pocket. Before she managed to pull it onto her hand, she was struck from the side by the monster's tail. The girl was thrown across the stone floor and rolled to a stop about ten yards away.
ôRukia!ö cried the boy in shock as he started towards her.
The demon was charging at her as well. It meant to rip her in half as soon as it got a hold on her and struck at her torso and legs with two of the heads.
The monster screeched. Ichigo appeared in front of her, his sword in his hand, with one foot stopping the head going for her legs. He hacked across the monster's open mouth and half the head continued forward, the other half hit the ground with a dull thump, kicking up dust.
The demon beast backed away snarling in rage. ôPathetic fool! I'll destroy you all!ö It's eyes began to glow.
ôUh oh,ö grumbled Ichigo. He turned and lifted up Rukia and turned to face Kanoji and Uryuu. ôCatch!ö he tossed her across the room.
The pair managed to catch her, but barely so as they were surprised and confused.
ôBoy! Look out!ö cried Kanoji as he noticed the glowing in the remaining six heads mouths.
ôThat's...ö cried Uryuu as he fumbled with the irate and struggling girl. She hit the ground on her rear and looked up at him in anger. ôHey! You jerk!ö He'd just dropped her.
ôI'm not here to help you.ö He scowled down at her.
She gasped in frustration. ôYou...you're an assh...ö The fallen Shinigami was cut off as a whooshing sound filled the just after a bright orange glow.
Ichigo put up his arms as the six heads spewed flames from their mouths. He shielded himself with the flat of his blade, but it wasn't enough to cover him. He cried out in pain and fell to his knees with the blade stabbed into the ground as the fire surrounded him and consumed him.
ôIchigo!ö cried Rukia from nearby as the fire died down.
ôJust die!ö snarled the demon as three of the heads charged him at once.
Before he realized what was happening, he was on his feet with the blade extended behind him. The three heads fell to the ground behind him as the air was sprayed with blood. He felt it covering his skin on his exposed chest, cooling the heat and sizzling against it. He was extremely hot, but did not feel burned. The boy was panting for breath and glared at the three remaining heads with glowing red eyes.
The three serpents screeched in shock and rage, the body tried to back away from him, but it was too late.
Ichigo made another swipe with his weapon, and cleaved through the three heads in one stroke, sending them tumbling down like cut trees and another spray of blood into the air.
He stood there and panted, gasping for breath. His muscles felt like they were on fire and his skin was cooked. The blood tingled with something dark. A voice echoed in his mind. ôPower...give me more. I need more....I want more!!ö He clutched at the sides of his head.
Rukia was looking on in shock. ôWhat the?ö
ôBoy!ö cried Kanoji. ôAre you all right?ö He started forward.
Uryuu put his arm up to bar his path and scowled. ôWhat...is he?ö Using a spirit sword, a Shinigami weapon, was impossible to do in a body. He didn't know that much about them, but that was one thing he was certain of. He'd called forth a spiritual weapon without leaving his body, and a dark flame was still burning around him.
Ichigo fell to his knees. He clutched at his head and groaned. His eyes wide and still glowing with power. The voice of the monster he'd just killed was echoing across the inside of his skull. ôYou have defeated me utterly boy. You have proven yourself stronger, worthy. Take my power, and make it your own.ö
He gasped as he looked up. Three of the tails were glowing with energy. The beasts form was turning to ash and embers, floating into the air and vanishing before him. It burned quickly, turning into a dark vapor as it vanished in front of him. The tails became bright orange, almost too strong to look at.
Uryuu, Rukia, and Kanoji were forced to shield themselves from the light and heat from the event.
Ichigo looked into it, his eyes not blinded, and the heat burned at him, but it was not painful. It wasn't comforting, or pleasant, but it still had an odd feeling of satisfaction behind it. Before him, from the tails, three objects appeared from within the fading light. A sword, a rope necklace with jade Magatama jewels, and a mirror.
He stood up and reached for the sword with a strange expression on his face.
ôNo! Don't touch it!ö cried Uryuu as he took a step forward. His expression looked shocked and concerned.
Ichigo gave him a dark looking grin as he glanced over his shoulder. ôDidn't know you cared.ö
ôIchigo! Wait!ö Rukia looked much the same.
ôIt's a dark weapon boy! You don't want it!ö agreed Kanoji.
He ignored them. ôYeah. I do.ö His hand gripped the weapon's hilt He pulled it from the air, and took the mirror and necklace with his other hand. The mirror was small, about six inches in diameter, but had a strap on the back of it. He hooked it through his left arm and clenched his fist as the strap grew tight on it's own. He pulled the necklace over his head and hung it from his neck, and then turned his attention to the blade. ôAma no Morakumo no Tsurugi.ö He spread his feet and held the weapon in an Iaido stance. He pulled it out in a fast curving strike, his eyes still glowing with power. The lighting struck outside again as he did so, and the air in front of him was instantly shrouded in a thick mist.
The wall crumbled away after his single stroke as if it had been cut eight times in a circular pattern, creating an octagon shaped hole in the wall that fell forward revealing the outside of the building.
Ichigo paused to regard the weapon with a frown on his face. It was dark, but the rain was letting up, and a few stars and some moonlight was now shining down. He could see it in the light that shined down on him from outside. The weapon was a cloudy silver, polished, but not reflective. It was about three feet long, and had an ornate octagon shaped hand guard that depicted eight serpent heads biting into each other's necks. ôKusanagi? You've got to be kidding me.ö It was etched into the side of the blade in very old characters. He replaced the weapon back into it's scabbard and looked at the mirror on his arm.
He gasped as he looked at it, the thing looking back at him was cruel and mean looking. It's eyes were glowing with power and two horns curved down the sides of it's face from it's forehead. The skin was black and red, and sharp gnarled teeth leered at him. He gasped in shock and blinked. The face was gone when his eyes opened again, replaced with his own, but with a strange violet aura surrounding him. His irises glowed red, but he looked mostly human, and his expression actually mirrored his real one. ôWhat was that?ö The mirror was strange, and had some sort of power within it.
ôYou idiot! What the hell are you thinking!?ö snapped Rukia as she charged up next to him. ôThose are demonic weapons...they're...ö
Ichigo looked down at her with his normal serious expression. ôDevil Arms.ö
She gasped and looked at him with wide eyes. ôHuh?ö
ôWhat the hell is going on here?ö Ishida looked cautious and scowled at Ichigo.
Don Kanoji seemed a bit worried as well. ôIndeed. You should never have touched...ö
The boy snapped at them both. ôShut the hell up would you? I'm fine.ö
Rukia glanced back at the pair. ôAll right. Look, just get rid of them. You don't need them.ö
ôWho the hell are you anyway? What are you doing here? Thanks for the help, I guess.ö Ichigo ignored her and looked towards Uryuu.
He looked surprised. ôYou...don't know me?ö
The blond boy scratched at his head. ôShould I?ö
Ishida hung his head a little. ôI'm in your class. My name is Ishida Uryuu, and I hate Shinigami.ö
Rukia scowled at him. ôWhy did you help us then? Who are you anyway? I've never seen a human like you before.ö
Don Kanoji was confused and kept silent. He looked back and fourth between the group and leaned against the nearby wall in what he hoped was a cool pose.
Uyuu scowled at her. ôThat demon surprised me. I wasn't expecting to find something like that here. As for the rest, it's none of your business Shinigami. We're not allies, I only helped you out because I got stuck inside that barrier with you.ö He walked out of the hole in the wall and away from the scene.
ôMan, what crawled up his ass?ö grumbled Ichigo. ôI guess we kind of owe him. What's up with that guy though? He had that weird bow and arrow.ö
Rukia scowled at him. ôI'm not sure. I suppose he's not an enemy. He didn't attack us or anything. I'm not sure what the deal is with him and Shinigami. I guess he can see us, he's got very high spiritual power for a human.ö
Don Kanoji looked confused. ôYou...are invisible? What's a Shinigami anyway? Something to do with those Hollow things?ö
Rukia seemed to remember he was there. She tensed up, but then relaxed. ôI guess you're okay. It's not that big a secret, but we don't like humans to find out about it. I'm not human. This body is fake. Shinigami guide human souls into the next life. We try to do it before they become hollows when we can. If a human soul stays on this plane of existence for too long, it becomes a Hollow. It is also the duty of the Shinigami to cleanse souls that become Hollows and then send them into the next life as well.ö
The man nodded. ôI see, like that creature my Number One Student and I fought at the hospital?ö He seemed to be doing his best to take it all in.
She nodded. ôThat's right. Normally it's my job, but something happened and I lost my powers. So, Ichigo has been helping me.ö
The medium nodded. ôVery noble.ö
Ichigo rolled his eyes. ôWell, that thing is dead now. I guess we should go.ö He didn't seem to notice that the three objects he'd picked up had vanished.
Rukia nodded at that. She looked at Kanoji. ôLook, I appreciate your help and all, but hunting Hollows is the duty of the Shinigami. Humans shouldn't get involved. I suppose knowing about it might be helpful seeing your job and all, but...if you ever see a Shinigami fighting a Hollow, get out of the way and let them do their job. They won't be happy with you if you interfere. I suppose you're useful, and I can't really turn down you help given the circumstances. You can help out Ichigo until I get my powers back and can go back home. I'm bending the rules as it is, so I guess there's no harm in it. Don't get in the way of a real Shinigami though, they know what they're doing and don't need help from humans. They're trained professionals after all, it takes many years and special training to become one.ö
Don Kanoji frowned a bit at that. ôYes. I understand.ö He didn't really, but then, she was just a girl. She obviously didn't understand his manly duty. He would continue to help his student, it was obvious he had to face a dark power, and those weapons he'd picked up were dangerous. ôBoy. About that sword...ö
Ichigo scratched his head. ôLook, don't worry about that.ö
Rukia narrowed her eyes at him and poked him in the chest. ôYou'd better. Devil Arms are...ö
ôI know,ö he replied a little sharply. ôI need them.ö
ôFor what?ö she snapped. ôYou've already got a Spirit Sword...ö
Ichigo frowned at her. ôI won't after you leave. I've run into Hollows too much for my own liking since I met you, and not all of them were because we've been looking for them. I'm gonna need protection to keep them from killing me, and I don't feel like spending the rest of my life trying to beat them with my bare hands.ö
She sucked in a quick breath. ôWhat?ö
Don Kanoji frowned at that. ôThose weapons hold a dark power, it could consume you. It is best not to meddle in such things boy. There are other ways to fight such battles. Demonic weapons are dangerous, such power is not for humans to wield, it corrupts and can control you.ö
The blond boy looked over at him. ôI'll be fine. I can control it.ö
Kanoji narrowed his eyes. ôDon't be a fool. Throw them away.ö
Ichigo smirked at the man. ôNot on your life. Look, I guess I sort of like you and all. I'm not human either. My Mom was a demon, and I can control weapons like this. I'm half demon.ö
The man froze whit his jaw hanging a little while holding his finger up.
ôWhat?ö muttered Rukia with a blank expression on her face. ôYou...ö
The boy frowned at them both and crossed his arms. ôWhat do you think Akuma has been doing? He doesn't beat me up just for fun, though, I guess that's part of it.ö
Rukia took a step back and a shocked expression crossed her face. ôHe's...showing you how to use your power?ö
The boy gave a nod. ôThat's right. That's how I'm able to use this.ö He held up his shotgun. ôIt's just one of those models from some store in Akihabara. It's my own power that makes it work. It's a pain in the ass, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to stop running into stuff like this after you... go back.ö He shifted his eyes away from her. He hadn't really thought about Rukia leaving in a while. Though, he wasn't surprised to hear it either. He knew she wasn't going to hang around forever. In fact, it was taking longer than he'd expected for her powers to return. They didn't seem to have come back even a little. ôI'll be fine. That thing was called Yamatano Orochi. This is some sort of legendary sword. There's an old folklore tale about it and some demigod named Susanoo used to use it. He gave it to Amaterasu's grandson, and some stuff happened I guess. It's no big deal.ö
Don Kanoji looked at him with wide eyes. ôS-Susanoo? That blade...is Kusinagi no Tsurugi?ö
Ichgio nodded. ôYeah. Pretty cool huh?ö
ôAmazing.ö The man seemed to think on it. ôI admit, that is something of a relief. Still, he was a God. I suggest you take care. Such a dark power is not to be taken lightly.ö
Ichigo gave a small sigh. ôAll right, can we just go?ö He turned and walked out of the hole he'd made.
ôIchigo! Wait!ö called Rukia.
He glanced over his shoulder. ôHuh? What is it?ö
ôAre you sure...you want to be walking around outside naked?ö she replied.
ôHuh?ö his face fell a little. ôWhat do you...?ö He looked down and his eyes went wide. ôWhat?ö His clothes were gone. He dropped his hands to his crotch and turned beet red. ôWhat the hell?ö
Don Kanoji pulled off his cape and handed it to him. ôYes. Do you not remember? That monster burned them off.ö
He looked at him as he took the cape and covered himself. ôI've been standing around naked for that long?!ö
Rukia was chuckling. ôYou just now noticed?ö
He glared at her. ôAfter you hit me for being a pervert? You go and let me stand around naked for ten minutes and don't say anything? You bitch! ô He had the cape wrapped around his waist.
She narrowed her eyes at him. ôWhy would I want to look at that? I wasn't staring at you or anything. I thought you just didn't care.ö With that, she crossed her arms and turned her back on him.
Don Kanoji laughed. ôI too thought you were just unconcerned. Don't worry, I have some spare clothes in my trunk.ö
ôWhy didn't you say so sooner?ö grumbled Ichigo dejectedly. He was very embarrassed.
While they went towards the car, Rukia slapped her fist into her palm as she remembered something. She looked over her shoulder. ôHey, I dropped my glove. I'm gonna go find it while you get dressed.ö
ôWhatever,ö grumbled Ichigo from behind the now open trunk.
She walked into the darkened and wrecked remains of the old sake factory. After a few moments of scanning around the room, she found it near the wall. Rather, she found what was left of it. It had fallen into the barrier, and was now a charred hunk of leather. ôGreat. Totally destroyed.ö She picked it up and tossed it back to the ground. It was useless, and beyond repair.
She scowled at it for a moment and looked towards the hole in the wall. It didn't matter much anyway, she could replace it, but she didn't have any need for it. Ichigo didn't need to leave his body to help her out. Though, it did make things easier. It could disrupt his schooling and make it more difficult for them to slip off during classes. ôI guess I'll have to replace it tomorrow.ö It wasn't a necessity, just a convenience though. They couldn't get Kon out of his plushy body without it so he wasn't useful if they didn't have it. ôCrap, it's going to be expensive.ö She had enough though. She and Ichigo had been pretty busy over the past two months. Taking down Grand Fisher had garnered quite a bounty as well. Still, she was cheap, and it was frustrating.
ôHey. You ready to go? We shouldn't hang around.ö Ichigo said from behind her.
ôYeah. I...ö Rukia turned and burst into laughter.
The boy was wearing a flashy shirt and pants that were both studded with rhinestones. Kanoji had tried to give him a hat, jacket, and cape to go with it, but he'd refused. ôIt's not funny damn it.ö
ôYes it is!ö She was bent over holding her belly and slapping her knee. She looked up at him and another fit of laughter struck her.
He growled and looked even more embarrassed. It was only slightly better than being naked in his mind. ôCome on. We've got to go. We'll get arrested if we get caught hanging around here. I want to hurry up and get home so I can change.ö He'd considered refusing the clothes and just keeping himself covered with the cape, but figured that would be even harder to explain than what he was wearing when he got home. He'd been forced to accept them.
cont...
