(Squad 14 Main Barracks)
"I love that kid, he brings me manga. I love that kid, he brings me manga. I love that kid, he brings me manga." Love recited to himself as a calming mantra, trying to avoid being angry with Ichigo for the increase in his workload. The training drills were improving teamwork and cooperation within and among the squads, everything was going smoothly for a change. Then Orihime was kidnapped and Ichigo let loose most of his Reiatsu over the entirety of Soul Society, creating mass panic throughout the Rukon and Seireitei. On top of that civil unrest was the announcement that multiple Hollows entered Soul Society and were hiding throughout the mid to lower Rukon districts. Estimations were around fifty in the initial wave and another hundred in a second, Zaraki's squad jumped at the chance for a fight while Unohana's set up multiple emergency clinics with squad six as protection The oddest thing was that the Hollows haven't attacked a single person, that they knew of, and seemed to be looking for something... or someone. "I love that kid, I'm punching him as hard as I can next time I see him."
"Captain Love." A member of the Onmitsukido patrol unit appeared. "We found two large Hollows in the North 54 and East 63."
"I'll get on it immediately." Love said, acting quickly as he looked to his three main officers. "Amagai, you're with me for the one in the Eastern district. Kibune, Ganju, take a unit and take care of the one in the Northern district." Before they left, Ganju and Love shared a glance, reminding them of their secondary task. "You have your mission, dismissed."
(Kasumioji Main House)
It was another day at the house of the Kasumioji, with two random guards standing watch over the family's private Senkaimon. The only oddity in their days was their missing princess, having suddenly disappeared one day with her closest attendants. Matters at the house were still proceeding as normal, thanks to the acting viceroy, but people still wished for the safe return of the young mistress. The doors of the Senkaimon suddenly began to open, surprising the guards. They weren't expecting anything to happen, especially with an unrecognized voice.
"So this is the Kasumioji house." Ichigo said as he was soon revealed from the light of the dimensional doorway. "Seems nice." The guards were unsure of how to act in the presence of a lieutenant, but they knew to bow when 'she' appeared.
"I hope you enjoy your time here Ichigo." Rurichiyo said happily as she and Orihime came out right beside him. "I'll be sure you get the proper treatment you desire."
"People backing off when I tell them to?" Ichigo asked, making Rurichiyo nod her head. Ichigo was tempted to yell out his thanks. Rurichiyo took notice of the two guards staring at them and composed herself.
"Thank you for your services. Return to your posts please." She said with a cheerful smile and a slight bow, prompting the two guards to blush. They returned to attention as Rurichiyo led her two friends deeper into her home's grounds. It didn't take them long before they encountered a rather unsavory character.
"Good morning princess." A wrinkled man with opaque glasses and a lavender robe over his white robes greeted in a gravely voice. Rurichiyo immediately glared at the man, not with her usual distaste when she spoke with him many times before, but with fury. After Ichigo's 'talk' with her attendants, Rurichiyo was filled in on everything that was happening. When they finished telling her, she chose action over cowardice. Something she could only do because she had the biggest confidence booster. "And to you to, young lord Kurosaki." Ichigo scowled at the man responsible for his latest annoyances, and watched him fidget nervously. The moment was immediately defused when the other members of the clan came flocking to Rurichiyo.
"Hello everyone." She greeted, acting as composed as regal as she could. "Sorry for worrying you all. Enryu and Kenryu heard great things about some relaxation centers in the world of the Living and wanted me to enjoy them." She lied with the cover story they came up with for this meeting. "I was unaware that they failed to inform anyone."
"Nevertheless, you need to conduct yourself more appropriately as princess of the-" Kumoi started saying before feeling as if his heart stopped. The moment passed as quickly as it came with his eyes meeting Ichigo's. The boy was smiling while patting the young princess on the head.
"Calm down, I've had a long talk with Rurichiyo about dealing with this kind of busy life." The girl nodded with a happy smile.
"It will be my duty to lead the Kasumioji as the current head." She spoke with conviction that the old viceroy never thought he'd see in the girl. "But I must take care that I can be in the right mind to perform that duty, making sure the stress of the job does not crush me and the Kasumioji. I will take care to do my parents proud." Her declaration earned her a small applause, even from Kumoi who was currently seething on the inside. "However, my stay here is unfortunately limited. I have an appointment and a promise to keep, which I intend to do."
"Shall I prepare the carriage then princess?" Kumoi asked, eager for any excuse to get away from the hybrid. Rurichiyo shook her head.
"No thank you. It's quite a lovely day so I'll walk." She took Ichigo and Orihime's hands and led them away from the house and toward her friend's. Once he got himself some privacy, Kumoi clutched at his heart and began gasping for breath.
"Damnit! No wonder Hanza was so rattled." He growled, furious that the bratty princess was now untouchable with that hybrid by her side. "Well, there is something else we could try."
(With Ganju)
"Alright, you know the rules boys!" Ganju called out as he and Makoto led the group into the inner sections of the North 54 district. "You help them, you protect them, we are here to ensure the safety and well being of all souls. If all goes well, we should be able to double the number of districts we can cover and triple the potential applicants joining." Squad 14 was getting the most funding out of all the squads due to its size and main purpose of peacekeeping within the districts. Love was often offered bribes, which he accepts, and immediately arrests the potential briber. All proceeds go to the squad, which going into schools and renovations and other things that are in short supply in the lower districts. Plenty of people join to try and get the easy life, they stay when they find meaning in their jobs... and sometimes Ganju's fist. He always believed in the Soul Reaper his older brother was, Kaien was always looking to help others. This was his way of honoring his brother after being a jackass for decades.
"Our main priority is the Hollow. Don't forget that." Kibune reminded them as they reached a shopping plaza in a city settlement. There were groceries and wares, but they didn't look like they would last much longer and most of the people didn't seem like they had a chance to bathe. Most of the Rukon citizens were looking at them with disdain, something Kibune was throwing right back at them. Ganju and several of the other members were watching with more sympathetic eyes, knowing what it was like in the lower districts. Ganju noticed a small group of kids that were ignoring them and eyeing a fruit stand. A look most Rukon brats would recognize as they've done it themselves at one time or another. He made his way to the stand at the same time the kids were moving.
"How much?" He asked, picking up some still fresh apples and pears and tossing them at the kids. The kids were shocked as they caught what they were about to steal, the vendor just raising an eyebrow at Ganju.
"250 Kan, for a pound." He said, not trying to cheat the Soul Reaper. Ganju dug around in his pockets before throwing some coins at the guy.
"Here's 300, keep the change." He told the guy before going toward the kids and pulling the oldest looking one along. The rest of the unit just shrugged and followed while the other kids ate the food.
"What do you think you're doing you old jackass!" The kid yelled out. He was barely taller than Ganju's waist with some freckles, a couple of missing teeth, and brown hair.
"I'm giving you a job." Ganju said sternly, a little annoyed at being called old. "I've met with plenty of street rats and they always have their ears to the ground." He held up a small bag of coins, shaking it some to let the kid know the quantity. "Food for your attention, and money for your services." The kid tried to grab the bag before Ganju pulled it out of his reach.
"What do you want?" The kid pouted, clearly upset at having to deal with the Soul Reaper but a little glad that he's letting them keep some measure of dignity by making it a trade. Ganju told him about the Hollow in the area and, to the kid's credit, he actually focused on remembering what he's heard. "I think I remember hearing about a monster in the northern grasslands of the district. That it noticed the people but it wasn't interested in feeding. Does that help?"
"Surprisingly enough yes." Kibune said, finally chiming in. "It appears even the weak have their uses." Ganju was about to retort when the third seat began running for the northern grasslands.
"Jackass." The Shiba man muttered before looking the kid in the eyes. "You've been a big help kid. Squad 14 is here to protect the Rukon."
(Squad 15: With Isshin)
The captain finished his packed dinner that his wife made as he reviewed his paperwork. One of which was a complaint and demand by Love about Ichigo's little high pressured stroll through Soul Society after Orihime was kidnapped... he wanted a hundred manga of differing titles as recompense. Nothing specific, just a lot of manga... sometimes he wondered we he took this job. He was about to head home when Lisa came in.
"Captain Isshin, Hiyori picked up several unsanctioned Senkaimon opening." She told the father quickly, prompting Isshin to sigh in irritation. "They appear to be more of the Kasumioji assassins as they are heading for the safehouse." Those two still haven't recovered from Ichigo's beating. "I shall inform Uryu and-"
"Don't bother Lisa." The returned captain said lazily, stretching his arms out. "I'll take care of this round personally. Masaki said I put on a few so I should get some exercise." The Vizard secretary looked at her commanding officer and adjusted her glasses.
"No reinforcements?"
"That'd be overkill. Just tell Tsukishima to get ready." Isshin ordered as he got out of his body and flashed to the safehouse, beating the assassins by a few seconds. When the first few tried their attack, they were met with a swift kick to the face that sent them flying back. "I wonder how many times you're going to attempt this before realizing that it just doesn't work." He said while the lead assassin appeared before him.
"You've got to be kidding me." Hanza groaned out, readying his bakkoto. "First that Quincy, then that girl with the weird powers, that monster, and now this!?" He felt his assassins mass behind him as he kept the captain's attention. "What the hell is this squad?!" Isshin raised his eyebrow and got into an Iaijutsu stance. Hanza tensed to charge forward, and Isshin drew his blade in that same instant, stopping him dead in his tracks. From behind, he heard the sounds of dying breaths and falling bodies. He looked over his shoulder to see his entire unit killed in just three swings.
"That 'monster' you're so afraid of happens to be my son."Isshin calmly explained like he was telling a coworker about his kid. "Sparing with him is how I managed to keep my skills from getting too rusty. Seems I did get a little slower though." Hanza gaped at the man and poured his power into the bakkoto on his hand. It consumed his arm to his elbow and he held up the mirror, catching the moonlight perfectly. Isshin, hearing the initial reports, closed his closed just as the flash happened. He expected to feel groggy as the attack tried to make him blackout, what he didn't expect was the paralysis. 'This is new.'
"That was a reject your squad dealt with earlier." Hanza said, confident now that the captain was restrained in an alternate dimension within his bakkoto, the mirror blade Saiga. Isshin opened his eyes to take in the new surroundings, watery rainbow light coming from above with an endless expanse of darkness on all sides. "So long as I can feed my Reishi into this blade, your consciousness is trapped in here. Frozen in place at my mercy." Isshin to move to test that theory and found himself quite stuck. Except for his Reiatsu.
"You clearly did not listen earlier." The captain said as his power poured forth. "I'm the captain of this squad. I'm one of the big deterrents that are keeping the human world safe." The mirror on the blade began to crack. "You just kill old politicians and dirty crooks. You've been out of your league since that little girl came here." Hanza made his bakkoto crawl further up his arm and most of his torso, trying to keep the captain at bay as he charged with the intent to kill the man. "Limit release." Isshin whispered and shattered the mirror. The world around them shattered with Tsukishima appearing right behind Hanza. Both Fullbringer and Soul Reaper swung their blades, Isshin's through the bakkoto and Tsukishim through Hanza's neck. At the end of their swings, Isshin thrust his palm forward and slammed it into the assassin's gut as the Fullbringer evaded. Recognizing a losing battle Hanza fled, earning a scoff from Isshin. "I think I'd prefer more Arrancar. They were fun."
(With Ganju)
The info was good and they found a Hollow in the form of an ant with a stinger and a bull's skull and horns... with massive serrated mandibles... taller than a double decker bus... and a prehensile tongue. Some of the squad members felt like they were not going to get any sleep for a while. Choosing caution over action, the Shinigami performed reconnaissance to try and form a strategy. True enough the Hollow kept scanning the area, insect antennae waving about wildly and it released a strange howl. Not out of hunger or rage, more like a dog calling for its master.
"Now that is one creepy Hollow." Ganju said, trying to think of a plan of how to fight this thing.
"It's behavior is quite odd for a Hollow." Kibune said, drawing his blade. "Here's the plan, someone needs to act as bait and distract it while the rest of us attacks the joints. Volunteers?" The plan was risky and relied on everyone trusting each other to make sure the bait didn't die.
"I'll go first." Ganju offered. "My fireworks should keep that beast's attention and distract him long enough for you to tie him down." His confidence seemed to bolster the rest of the squad's as the got ready for the attack. "3rd seat Kibune, you've got the killing blow." Not waiting for a reply, Ganju charged forward while pulling out a couple of concussive smokebombs. The Hollow noticed him pretty quickly and immediately lashed out with its tongue. Using what speed and agility he could muster, he dodged the beast's appendage to try and get within range,only to be caught and pulled towards the Hollow's waiting maw. To Ganju's credit, he had enough control over himself to light the fuses on his bombs as he was held to eye level with the monster.
"Where is he!?" The Hollow demanded, just as Ganju threw the bombs into its face. He didn't even have time to register what the beast said before the explosions blinded it and loosened it's grip.
"Now!" Ganju heard Kibune say as he fell on his back, slowly pushing himself up. The rest of his unit ran forward and used kido to create ropes that tied up the oversized ant. Legs and horns were caught in coiling spirit ropes as they pulled the Hollow towards them, instinctively making it pull back. Taking a chance, Ganju jumped back before running and drawing a circle on the ground with his hand. The smoke fully dissipated just as he finished.
"Turn to sand! Seppa!" He called out, creating a large pit of sand. The Shiba man ignored the drain of his Reishi as he pulled out his Zanpakuto, a copy of his original blade except for its name. "Erode, Asusheika!" The blade extended a couple of inches and became grittier. He raised his blade and the sand responded to his will, wrapping around the bull head, as he stabbed the blade down and pulled the Hollow down as well, exposing the neck. The fight didn't last much longer as a triple bladed glaive decapitated the beast, killing the Hollow. As the body dissolved, the squad began to relax and hear a chorus of cheers as the townsfolk from earlier followed them. Most of the group immediately flocked to Ganju, adults giving thanks and children praising his coolness, but no one noticed the glare that the third seat was giving to the Shiba man.
(With Love)
"That was a good job by all of you." Love complimented the squad after their reports were finished. "More Rukon citizens are beginning to trust in our squad and at the rate we're going, we'll be right back to regular police work." Most of the squad sighed in relief, though Kibune once again shows a masked irritation. The rest of the unit went about their duties, except for Ganju who stuck behind. The 4th seat was about to say something before Love interrupted. "Let me guess, your Hollow asked 'where is he?' didn't it?"
"Y-yeah." Ganju replied, a little surprised that Love was already aware. "How did you know?"
"Because mine asked the same thing." The Vizard answered as he made note of the occurrence for a report to Yamamoto and Urahara. Something like this definitely warrants an investigation.
"That's very unsettling. And we still don't know what's going on with this bakkoto mess." Ganju said, just before a box hit him in the face and dropping him to the ground. Acting quickly, Love caught the package that was addressed to him.
"Looks like Urahara is done with his latest project." He noted while Ganju pulled himself back up. "He got a bakkoto sample from a dead assassin and made some sensors for them." He unpacked a bronze pocket watch that had a radar face and activated it. "One for me because of Makoto, just to confirm our suspicions, and several for squad 15." The device pinged and noted what they already figured out, Makoto had a bakkoto. The shocking news was a second bakkoto that was with Amagai.
(Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers!)
Rurichiyo's Study time
"Mmmmmm." The young noble groaned, sort of regretting her choice to take her role as head of the family more seriously. She forgot how much she hated studying and the boring lessons. "AHH! I can't take this anymore! I wanna play with Sachi more! I want more of Orihime's cooking! I want... that's it!" She got up and ran out of her room, coming back seconds later pulling along Ichigo. She made him sit down in front of her desk and sat in his lap, wrapping his arms around her. "Much better~." She hummed before returning to her studies with renewed fervor.
'What the hell did that accomplish!' Ichigo screamed mentally.
Nap time
Her day finally settled down, but Rurichiyo was exhausted. Attending Sayori's tea party, seeing all her old friends, introducing Ichigo and Orihime to everyone, trying to convince themselves that Ichigo's 'talk' with Sayori's future husband won't end up with a missing person, it was a long day for the noble. She was making her way to her room when she saw Orihime basking in the evening sun, sleeping without a care in the world. Giving in to her own tiredness, she laid down next to Orihime, just in time for the busty girl to roll over and smother the noble with her large breasts. Rurichiyo immediately became annoyed, whether from jealousy or the lack of oxygen she didn't know.
Senna's progress
"What the hell am I looking at?" Urahara asked, watching a monitor of Senna's mind as she nears resurrection.
"I think most would describe this as a massive sugar high." Mayuri responded, just as confused by the lack of anything really concrete. All they were getting were memories of her running around, dancing, tight rope walking, and more running. "I'm getting flashbacks to little Yachiru."
"Let's take this as a good sign and move on."