Chereads / The Warlord System / Chapter 7 - Bleach Arc - 6

Chapter 7 - Bleach Arc - 6

Khan returned to the hideaway and resumed watching everything that was happening. Then decided to check on the council, they were panicking over the invasion by the Ryoka.

Their building was sealed, and they were arguing about what to do. Some wanted to push up the execution, others wanted to exile Rukia and hope the Ryoka would follow.

The only thing they actually agreed on was that if they did anything to alter their decision it would make look weak and incompetent. Khan was considering killing the council himself, but decided not to, at least not yet.

Khan decided it would be fun to let the Soul Society know they hadn't left yet. Khan used Shadow Sight to see potential targets when he spotted the fight between Ichigo and Kenpachi. Khan enjoyed watching Ichigo get his ass kicked, and when Kenpachi thought he won and began to walk away only for Ichigo's power to explode, for the come-from-behind victory.

After watching that, Khan decided to ambush Toshiro Hitsugaya, figuring it be amusing. Khan found Toshiro walking with his lieutenant. Using Shadow Movement Khan appeared in a alley they just passed. Khan overheard Toshiro tell Rangiku that the whole affair with Rukia's execution seemed strange. Rangiku asked, "how so?" Toshiro said, "while it's forbidden for a Soul Reaper to give their power to a human, having Rukia executed in a matter reserved for traitorous captains is unheard-of."

Khan could help but interrupting saying, "I can see why they call you a genius, pointing out something so obvious." They both turned hands on their weapons, but Khan was a little faster. First Khan immobilized Toshiro and then he tried Sandman's Embrace on Rangiku she passed right out. Khan grabbed Toshiro and said, "I'm sure you're aware I could kill you right now, and no one could stop me."

Toshiro still immobilized, began struggling to keep breathing, then Khan said, "but I'm not going to, I want to see if you will rise or break, the next time we're in this position, if you haven't impressed me, I'll kill you in the most painful way possible."

After saying that Khan threw Toshiro through the adjacent wall. Khan got an eye full of Rangiku before returning to the shadows and the hideaway.

Khan reflected on the skills he had, and while they were useful, he was disappointed the shop didn't allow him to improve or alter them. Khan went back to the matter at hand, the day of Rukia's execution was rapidly approaching. The members of Central 46 were still alive, only now they're panicking by the fact at least one of the Hollows were still around. Khan and the others were enjoying the hot spring, when Yoruichi dragged an unconscious Ichigo. Khan after taking a moment to admire Yoruichi's human form, said, "Welcome Yoruichi, how have you been?" Yoruichi looked at Khan clearly wanting to give some snarky remark but found herself unable to. Yoruichi instead said, "it's been rough." Khan looked at Ichigo and said, "is that Byakuya Kuchiki's handy work per chance?" Yoruichi begrudgingly nodded then said, "I need a relaxing soak in that hot spring." With that she removed her clothes and took a dip. Kukaku, who had just been quietly sit in the hot spring asked, "Yoruichi, what are you going to do now?"

Yoruichi looked at Khan then back at Kukaku and said, "I'm going to teach Ichigo how to use his Bankia." Then Khan asked, "why did you look at me before you said that?" Yoruichi looked concerned trying to find the right words. Then Khan off-handedly dismissed the comment.

An hour or so later Ichigo regained consciousness, after the initial shock of seeing Yoruichi naked, Ichigo demanded to know why she didn't save Rukia. Khan spoke up saying, "don't blame Yoruichi for your lack of a plan, but seriously did you think Rukia would save herself and leave you to die." The statement was causing Ichigo both guilt about getting angry at Yoruichi and confusion about what a Hallow was doing there. Ichigo, after regaining his thoughts turned to Khan and asked, "what could you possibly know?" Khan gave quick laugh then said, "let's recap, most of your friends have been captured, you're stranded in hostile territory, and you clearly charged in with no exit strategy. What did you think that if you grabbed Rukia and escaped the powers that be would just let you go? Rukia has been sentenced to be executed, and even if most of the members of the Gotei 13 are conflicted about this whole ordeal, Central 46, who are the ones who sentenced Rukia, by the way, still have other methods of see her dead, don't believe me ask Yoruichi."

Ichigo flinched throughout the tongue-lashing Khan gave, first looked at Yoruichi who gave him confirmation that what Khan said was true, then he regained his nerve and said, "could I have done things better probably, but why do you care?" Khan acted annoyed but was amused because this was going exactly how he wanted. Khan said, "I have my reasons, but you know what I'll make a wager with you. Yoruichi here is going to teach you to use your Bankia and you have three days to learn it. The only one who would pursue you with any real dedication is Byakuya Kuchiki." Ichigo listened with suspicion in Khan's motive as he continued, "here is my wager if you can beat Byakuya and maintain complete control over the fight, then I will personally cover your escape from the Seireitei, but if you can't, you have to leave Rukia's safety to me."

Ichigo was completely floored by what he just heard and then asked, "why would I ever agree to something like that?" Khan simply said, "because at the end of the day you don't really have a choice, if you rescue her and you're not strong enough then they might target your family in order to break you, if I'm the one who grabs her then we can make it look like a kidnapping giving the people in charge, false satisfaction thinking that Rukia has been taken care of, and they wouldn't be able to question anything if she were to turn up in the living world."

Ichigo wanted to argue but didn't know if what Khan said was true, he turned to Yoruichi who thanks to the seed planted in her could only begrudgingly agree. Ichigo caught between a rock and hard place said, "fine, I'll accept your wager, but if I think for a moment that you did anything to hurt Rukia, I'll kill you." Khan who didn't care about the hollow threat made by Ichigo, was more intrigued by the new notice that he got.

[Notice you have convinced Ichigo Kurosaki to willingly hand over Rukia Kuchiki to you.

Reward - 1x Lover Lottery Ticket, 1x Soul Resurrection Pod Blueprint]

While the Lover Lottery Ticket will only be usable after he leaves this world, Khan found the Soul Resurrection Pod Blueprint intriguing with the right materials and MacGyver Intellect, he could build that when he has the time.

Harribel went to Khan and asked, "ma- boss, are we really going to help him?" Khan said while looking at Ichigo who was already talking with his Zanpakuto, "we're going to use him, the fact that he thinks he benefits from just makes it easier for us." Khan's eyes drifted towards Kukaku who was talking with Yoruichi, then back to the girls who were standing beside him and said, "we have three days before are departure so let's hammer out a plan."