Karakura Town - Streets

Hiro's just asked Ru-chan if she was OK to come with him... Ahh... Poor Ru-chan! What else can she say but yes? I know she’s dreading that! I give her a sympathetic look.

 But… wait… if she’s paired with Hiro. . . that means… I’m. . . SON OF A--! Way to make the worst possible partners Hiro! Me? With the Noble brat?! I mean c’mon! I mean… yeah she doesn’t act like your typical noble usually… but still! Isn’t this a bit much? I sigh. Well, no other choice but to agree. I just hope she doesn’t ruin my plans here to find Tsurai Taichou… well at least she’s skilled.  I return Satori’s gaze with a smile.

Hiro seems hesitant now.
Ahh… finally the brat is looking for my guidance. Hmm… but what to do…

“Hmm… Well… I think we should stop by Urahara-san’s shop first to get our gigai. Can’t really talk to the locals without it ya know? You’re right that the locals might have seen somethin’. Plus, we should get a good night’s rest since tomorrow will be busy as well. So better to have the gigai for that as well. After going to Urahara’s we need to secure a place to stay. Then we can split into our groups and investigate. Satori is right though. The high school might be a good place to start. One important thing though! When we break into groups be sure to check in with the denreishinki. Most importantly… don’t engage it alone! Call for back up and wait.”

I clear my throat.

“Yoshi! Now that that’s settled…. Let’s go to Urahara's shop!” I fist pump in excitement.

See: Kurosaki's House, splitting of the scouting team.


The map in one hand, my wife's in the other, I walk with my heart at peace on the sidewalk of Afra Issan Avenue.
Remembering what she said a little while ago about the matter at hand, I ask her again:

"So then, you said you'd rather stay at a woman's place, right?"

Putting the map between us, I start pointing out the marks.

"That doesn't give us many choices... Let's see... Here is Inoue Orihime. She's a very dear friend of Kurosaki-kun, on top of living by herself and being aware of our existence. Ikkaku told me she was extremely nice and Matsumoto-san also added she'd be delighted to help us out."

Stopping on another spot, I raise an eyebrow. I don't recognize this handwriting... Unagiya Ikumi? Oh wait there's a note below the name...
'My boss. Find a good excuse to stay at her place or she'll literally kick you out. Very reliable, doesn't know about Sereitei, has a young son. Ichigo.'


"Oh I see! Look honey, Kurosaki-san helped us while we were with him! Says we can try this out. Besides, I don't think there are any other woman ready to welcome us..."

All of a sudden, Ikkaku and Yumichika's experience echoes in my mind. Of course! Asano Keigo and his sister Mizuho took good care of my bros.


After telling Satori-chan about them, I look for her opinion.
"What do you think would suit us the best? A nice student close to Kurosaki, a warm-hearted dragon or cheerful siblings?"

I look at all the notes, thinking, eyebrows frounced.

"Hum, I think it would be easier and more sure to go with that Inoue-san. She seems to be very nice, and if she knows about Soul Society and all that, it will be easier for us to talk and get organized. If we go with the other women, we'll have difficulties, we'll have to keep the secret..."

I smile broadly to her answer.
"Way to go, Satori-chan, a smart analysis of our situation. Well then, let's go!"

After a few minutes walking while the sun rises above our heads, we arrive before a two-stories building.
I check the mailboxes, hoping to find what flat Inoue Orihime is in.

As my nose closes to the names on the metal plates a slamming interrupts my research.
Lifting my head up in the direction of the loud noise I end up facing her.

No room for doubts. The young woman Inoue Orihime has just opened her windows and resplendishes, her tight pullover emphasizing her astonishingly magnificent...
Oh shit. Satori-chan will kill me. 
...don't stare, you idiot!
Well taking a glimpse of her generosity can't be that bad, right?


Trying to evade my young wife's gaze I straightforwardly wave at the student.
She immediately waves back followed by a cheerful "Hellooo Mister!"

"Er... You must be Orihime Inoue, right?"

She tilts her head, obviously surprised.
"Yes, it's me indeed! Who are you? Do you need help?"

"I'm delighted. Yowaiseishin Hiroshinji. We're sent by Kurosaki-san he said you could help us out..."
I look around to check that no one could here us.
"...we're on a mission for Seretei and need a place to stay."

She puts up a smile. "Wah great! New Shinigamis! Please come on in, I'll go downstairs to open the door!"

It is opened a few seconds later. As she greets us and we exchange bows, I turn towards Satori.
"You were right once again." I mutter.

Follow us into Orihime's cosy place.

See: Inoue's B&B

As we hurry through the streets, Inoue-san keeps talking happily about her friends that we're about to meet.
They all seem to be very trustworthy, and a warmhearted group, with that. Our stay will be nicer than I expected.

Suddenly I stop.
Something's fishy.
What's with this presence?

The air around us trembles and a deep voice resonates.
"Har har har, today's meal will be exquisite! Two shinigamis and a Plus!"

I concentrate on the narrow street where the voice came from.
He's right there.

A Hollow three times my size with a bull shape and four strong arms, seizing us with all his height. His white mask gleams in the morning light, with four ram horns, round eyes, and two thick green tongues darting out of its mouth.

I reach for the Gikongan in my chest pocket.
The creature is already on us.
With a powerful fist sent in my torso, it blasts me ten steps away.
I crash into a pile of garbage.
Shit! I dropped the Gikongan when he punched me!

I stand back on my feet and wipe the blood coming from my mouth.
"Cough...so, Mr. Bullram...cough! ...Wanna play tough?"

No Gikongan?
No problem.

I take out my leather jacket and get into jujitsu guard position.
"Satori dear, Inoue-san, let's show that hunter who's ass is gonna get kicked today!"

This town is really simple, but also pretty. And so modern... I'm wondering what are those big cables tightened between posts. Has Matsumoto-san already told me about it ?

I was about to ask Inoue-san when the reiatsu suddenly appears. I turn around to see the Hollow.

Geez, already ? We didn't even have time to go to school !

Suddenly, the monster hits Hiro and pushes him away.

"Hiro !"

I catch my Gikongan and swallow a pill, leaving my Gigai. I don't have time to tell the Mod Soul in the Gigai to leave, because I have to dodge an attack. 
Hiro seems to be alright, ready to fight as always. But our Gigai are not as tenacious as us, there's a chance for it to be wounded easily, and it is not very convenient in combat. Hiro won't be able to fight well in it.
I take the risk to turn around, and catch the Gikongan from the hand of the Mod Soul, who was looking at me with a stupid smile.

"Hiro, catch this !"

I lauch the Gikongan in his direction, but at this moment, the Hollow attacks.
Will I have time to dogde ?!
Suddenly an orange barrier appears in front of me and blocks the creature's attack. Surprised, I look around me. Where did it come from ?
Inoue-san is tensing her arms with a determined look.
So that's it. 
I knew her name was familiar to me, and now I remember. In Soul Society, a lot was told about her power. Not very effective for attacking, but with a surprising power of guard and a amazing capacity to heal. A capacity as, or maybe more powerful than the Fourth Squad better healers' capacity.
I smile.

"Thanks !" 

Now it's time to reconcentrate. We're going to end this in one minute, top chrono !

My head feels heavy. Hands raised ahead of me, right fist clenched, back straightened, I'm waiting for my opponent to move.
Cool down. Let the blood pump slower.

Without even looking at it, I hear the Gikongan swiftly slicing the air.
Too bad. I could have used a bit of jiujitsu. I grab it from the side before swallowing a pill.

The Mod Soul that took my place in the fake human body immediately starts shrieking and dancing around. The moment he notices Inoue-san's curves, it's over.
"Woa! Boobie-chan let me squeeze those for you!"

"Eh? Kon-san?" she exclaims.

"It's Ryousuke, Miss!" he replies as he runs towards the poor child. 
Thankfully, she has a heart of gold but her reflexes are stronger. A black fairy springs out of her hazelnut hair and slightly hits her pursuer on the forehead. He crumbles with a gurgle into the pile of garbage where I landed earlier.
"S...Sorry, Ryousuke-san! Tsubaki flew out by himself!"

Meanwhile, the Hollow, heavily stunned by the triangular shield Inoue-san had deployed, prepares for a massive jump on us.

"Satori, on the right!" I shout as I dash on our opponent's left side. She's absolutely right. We gotta clean this quickly. No need to restrain ourselves here.

   As the Hollow tries to hit me with the two arms on his left, I jump from one limb to the other before reaching his head.
He opens his mouth in surprise as I catch one of his horns. The slick tongues quickly slash my torso with a burning feeling.
   Shit! Acid? Ugh...M...more scars for the ladies then, huh?
Enduring the pain, I clench my teeth and draw my sword from behind my waist, blade held under my forearm.
Now!
I smash his mask with the tip of my handle.
"Groove, Rizumu no Kabe!"

   As I'm falling, while the blade of my wakizashi shortens, the handle grows till I break it in two.
When I land on the tar, the single blade has completely changed into a pair of kantôs, knives with a large short blade and a long hilt. 

{So then, Brother, are we ready to teach him how to follow the Code?}
You bet we are!
...Rizumu-Dono, that guy's got a sturdy face. He barely twitched when I punched it just now. I doubt I can take him down while he's at full power. Let's weaken him a bit before going for the head again.
{Sounds like a plan. Wield me like you do, Hiroshinji.}

   I slide under the monster's huge upper body. Handling the knives with the blades facing down, I aim for his elbows, on the left again.
"Lesson 1: Shinzo Myaku!" (Heartbeat)
   Time seems like it freezes around me as I slowly hit the targeted junctions with each edge. A shining green circle appears on every point of impact as a deep sound resonates. I can hear the bones crack under the sonic blast.
The Hollow screams in a high-pitched voice as he collapses on his side.

{You've kept your beat going, Brother. I'm proud of you.}
Gotta honor my teacher, right?

Evading the body falling above me, I stand on the side before calling for my partner.
"Hanata, I leave the rest to you!"

I smile.

"Thanks Hiro, I'm gonna finish him !"

My Shikai won't be useful there, so I decided to not use it. Plus, the Hollow is nearly finished.
I join my hands in front of the monster and concentrate.

"Hadô number 33 ! Sôkatsui !"

A big blue ball finally comes out of my hands, and strikes the hollow's head with great violence. The monster doesn't have time to dodge or to realize what happened to him, still under the pain that Hiro's attack caused. He screams, his face smoking, his legs hitting and hitting the ground, attempting to escape the pain. I jump, ready to abbreviate his sufferings.
He doesn't look at me when I finally drive in his head with my sword.

A smothered cry, and it was over.

As the Hollow slowly disappeared, his mask broke, showing a face that was human a long time ago.
I look at him for a little moment, and put my sword back in its sheath.
Sorry, Kochikaze, but you'll  fight later.

I return to the ladies, the pair of kantôs back to their initial wakizashi form.

"Thanks for your help during this fight, Inoue-san. Without you, we could have been in a real pinch. I guess what they're telling in Soul Society was really true after all! An impressive power you've got there!" I say as I raise my thumbs up.

The student blushes and replies with multiple "Please, it was nothing, Yowaiseishin-san, Tsukihô-san!", before tidying her hair and inviting us to head for the school.

I wake poor Ryousuke-kun from his forced slumber and get him back into the Gikongan tube.
My clothes look pretty worn-out, but we have more important matters at hand.

"Please then, let's hurry for the first lecture at school!"