MEANWHILE....
Inside of Shunsui's office in the 8th Division, two out of three captains were standing in the office room while one remained busy with the research. Both Captain Kyōraku and Captain Ukitake waited anxiously whilst Ramune was done placing Tobimaru after he fell asleep.
As for Excallibur, he was patiently waiting to leave the birdcage.
In front of them was Captain Kurotsuchi continuing his research on Koro's notebook, typing his laptop for more translation and a certain clue for the last item.
" Any good news, Mayuri- sangong*?" Ramune asked softly. Unfortunately for Captain Kurotsuchi, he sighed with disappointment.
"I don't know, princess. Out of all information, I've never in my life feel so perplexed about this. It seems like Koro was sending a child for something. More like a `rite of passage` for his age. He would've done the same thing to the other two." Captain Kurotsuchi explained as he sat comfortably on the chair.
" Wait, if old man Koro had sent that kid here for some adolescent rituals, could this mean_____?" Shunsui asked. Surprisingly, he was interrupted when Rukia kicked the door opened.
*BANG!*
It was so loud, that it woke poor Tobimaru from his sleep. Almost briefly, Jushirō grabbed his half asleep body and tried to send him back to slumber.
" Lieutenant Kuchiki, have you lost your mind? You almost woke him up with your carelessness!" He demanded and Rukia bowed down before the captains.
" Forgive me, Captain Ukitake. But we have a situation. The Soul society is under attacked by a mysterious smog and it's killing them. If you don't believe me, look outside." She responded and both captains decided to peep through the window. For what they've witnessed, chaos had resurfaced once again. From screams and loud whooping coughs of other soul reapers echoes through the tracks and alleyways, to bodies being thrown left, right and centre.
The Soul society was now a death zone for them. There's no way of escaping it. However, Captain Kyōraku spotted, what it appears to be a silhouettes of Jupiter riding a manticore hovering above the sky, moreover, fallen angels and sinners were attacking soul reapers.
" Well, this isn't good.", Shunsui stated, " Katsuya is at it again and this time he got help."
" It's impossible we'll get out of this and I'm not certain if the Soul society will survive this time." Ukitake added.
*DING!*
" Why'd you look at that? Holy shit, I've struck gold!" Mayuri shouted with joy when a computer clicking sound on the screen and everyone turned their attention on his new discovery.
In Mayuri's ascertains, a laptop screen showed an image, what it appeared to be a jet black gem and a boulder like island, which was mistaken as a mountain. All were translated well in order they'll understand better.
" Wait, did you find something?" Ramune asked.
" The last artefact. It's clear what Koro's intention to the child was. Yet, this sacred gem is worth billions of gold coins. If we find it on the Hakune island, I'm telling you now, the Soul society might be the first, in history to find it." Mayuri cheerfully explained. But no amount of excitement bursted in the room.
" I understand, Captain Kurotsuchi. On the contrary, there's a problem....well two problems. Lieutenant Kuchiki mentioned there's an annihilation going on and travelling from here to the Hakune island would take ages. Furthermore, remember that Kazumi is already planning to stamp that kid's head for Celestia knows what ritual she's intending to." Jushirō spoke, which also gave Mayuri a benefit of doubt.
" You're right, Captain Ukitake. I have no idea we'll be adding fuel to the fire." Mayuri said. It seemed clear they needed a plan first. Could they be able to escape the destruction or wait until the triplets are all dead? They need to think. Fast.
Shunsui remained calm as screams and wails echoed from the fragile window along with mayhem erupted below, incantations from entities and the sound of flames exploded.
He simply took a deep breath and sighed. Moreover, that's when he had an idea that might work. He turned to Rukia and asked:
" Lieutenant Kuchiki, are the kids with you?"
" Yes, Captain Kyōraku." Rukia answered.
" Qin ai de, what are you thinking?" Ramune curiously asked.
" Well, sweet rose. I have an idea." Shunsui answered.
~~~~~~~~~~
The triplets were outside waiting for Rukia to come out. Together with their shallow breaths, tingled with restlessness, they were all standing on the blistering cold wind as there hasn't been snowing that evening. The blue arctic cat Yoshimura was holding, took a nap on her arms. Whilst Ichitarō remained impatient and worried if Rukia was finished.
" What's taking them so long? Our bodies will freeze to death." Yoshimura complained, noticing Ichitarō wasn't the only one.
" I don't know. It's been a couple of hours and we're wearing that magical cloth like a surgical mask. Are they done yet?" Rangiku asked and the answers were already done in open doors.
Once it was opened, the three captains arrived along with Rukia and Ramune, clearly has shown they're already done. What they don't know, something was bound to happen.
Shunsui stepped forward and closed the distance between him and Ichitarō. He was clueless at first, but he remained calm when he stared the Captain's brown eyes, not knowing the news of their recent discovery.
" Hey, kid. We did some investigation and now it pinpointed on the last artefact's location. I think it's best you needed an adult to help you this time." Said Shunsui, but halted when Ichitarō wanted to ask him, then added; " We know you're capable of taking care of yourself, but that doesn't mean you are immune to any dangers lurking. We don't want anything bad happen to you nor any of your sisters. I urge you to please let us help you to finish your request, then we'll send you and your sisters back home."
Ichitaro couldn't believe it. For the first time, since he got here with no help from any entities or sometimes only was assisted by minor things, he actually got help. Yet, Ichitarō was hesitant when he learnt he won't be leaving the Soul society after overheard their conversation.
' What changes their mind, so sudden? Did Rukia have done something?' Ichitarō thought. He was going to give a second thought, but Yoshimura reassured him.
" Ichitarō, this is the best deal. Don't walk away from this." She whispered. Furthermore, she was right.
Ichitarō couldn't stop wondering about his parents and how Ichigo and the others reacted over his strange disappearance. Since he knew they were all worried, there was no second guess.
" Very well. I'll take your word for it. I accept your request." Ichitarō said, which pleases some.
A few minutes later, Mayuri handed over the printed paper and Koro's notebook to Shunsui, while Ramune collected two artefacts that Ichitarō had. By the time Mayuri was going to free Excallibur, in a corner of his eyes a metal rod was heading straight at Rangiku. He grabbed Rangiku and tilted his head, as the metal rod almost landed behind him.
The captains stopped at what they're doing and paid attention to their attacker. Katsuya swaggered from the shadows and his grin was plastered across his face.
" Well, well, well.", Katsuya chuckled ; " If it isn't Captain ` straw hat ` and his hot wife. I see you have a little backup on your side."
" You know I'm not in the mood to fight you and your stupidity. What do you want? You're here for round 2 of kicking your ass?" Shunsui calmly demanded, drawing his zanpakuto out from the scabbard.
" Oh dear Baltoh no. I'm not here for that. I'm here for one thing - your home, Soul reaper. Unless, If you want your home safe and sound, you'll give me these spirit demons. Then I'll be out of your head. The choice is yours." Katsuya sneered with confidence.
Mayuri froze when he stared at Katsuya and his request with eyes wide open and his eyebrows rose. Jushirō was as shocked as Mayuri, but his teeth gnashed with his mind engulfed by rage. The aggressive light wind blew over the Soul society, expressing the same feeling those captains had.
But for Shunsui, he wouldn't let someone like Katsuya's discourteous beseech. Especially when it involves lives of innocent teenagers. He gave Koro's notebook to Ichitarō before drawing another zanpakuto and pointed it both on Katsuya.
" You have a lot of nerves to ask me for shit. I refuse to hand over innocent children to a self-centred bitch like your sister. The Seireitei is off limit to flatheads such as yourself either. Hence, the Soul society will give you none of those things. We'll fight to the death!" Shunsui remarked and Katsuya wasn't happy with the answers he got.
" I was afraid you might say that,`straw hat`. Since you're as stubborn as your old Head captain.", Katsuya joked with anger and then bellowed as he summoned metal rods from his hands and charges towards Shunsui; " TIME TO DIE,`STRAW HAT` !!!!"
Shunsui blocked the attack with his zanpakuto and ducked any incoming assault from Katsuya, until he lost one of his metal rod. Furiously, Katsuya grabbed Shunsui on his neck and tossed him to the ground. He, then lifted his right leg and stamped Shunsui. However, he suddenly vanished and appeared behind Katsuya in mid air with a smirk on his face.
" You're just slow, you bald headed prick." He muttered, cross slashing deeply into his back and painted the floor with blood.
Katsuya fell on the ground as he kneel down on the blood soaked floor. With throbbing veins appeared across his neck and a tight lipped smile together with gnashing teeth on his face, he increased his spirit energy as he launched his fists to punch Shunsui in the face.
Shunsui tilted his head, placed his hand on his face to activate a rare kiddo, that only noble clans are strong enough to wield it.
' You're still too slow.' Shunsui thought.
{ HADŌ 36: OKASEN NO TAIYŌ }
A beam of light from his hand, similar to the sun was so bright, that Katsuya struggled to evade Shunsui's incoming attack. Despite not causing any damages to his eyes, he staggered back once he was released from his grip. The more he tried to open his eyes, the sharper the pain seared through him, although it's not permanent.
Watching Katsuya screaming in agony, they immediately evacuate and took the triplets away from him with no time to waste.
" I will find you, `straw hat` . Once I do, I'll kill you in front of your wife and fuck her on top of your corpse! DO YOU HEAR ME!?" Katsuya grunted, realising they were gone.
~~~~~~~~~
An instant flurry of panic stricken movements and noises surface the Soul society. Some soul reapers tried to escape from the annihilation but Jupiter's spell repelled them back and several others gave it all to protect their home from the invasion - one way or the other. Resulting, some soul reapers, fallen angels and sinners were killed and some og their bodies were destroyed.
In the southerly east corner of the 5th Division, the captains stopped for a few minutes of rest. Rangiku shrieked in fear, whilst Yoshimura comforted her sister. Ramune rearranged all of Ichitarō's artefacts with a sword sized blanket and wrapped them around until it's nicely packed without scratching all together at once. And Tobimaru was already awake.
Jushirō and Mayuri observed if Katsuya or other of his allies were following them by his commands.
" The coast is clear. I'm not sure if we'll ever going to make it." Jushirō stated.
" Oh good." We have to keep an eye on him. If he's here, it's just me against Kazumi's oath brother." Shunsui remarked, which distresses Ichitarō.
For the fact they wanted him dead, he wondered if he chose to run away and hide on other places, the more damages he created, all while struggling to survive on his own. As if he's blaming himself for all the destruction he's part of, though it wasn't his fault.
That's when he saw the little girl again in the same position as she was, still covered in her own blood.
Terrified, Ichitarō went slowly towards her, which sparked concerns to the other captains and Rukia as well.
" Ichitarō, are you alright? Is something wrong?" Rukia asked, but he ignored her as he paid attention to the little girl. As he took a step once again, Shunsui noticed something isn't right.
" Priscilla, you're here. I thought you're gone forever." Ichitarō said, but they all saw there was no little girl standing in the alleyway. By the time the little girl stepped closer to Ichitarō, Rukia stopped him.
" Ichitarō, what are you doing? Are you going to get yourself killed?" Rukia asked. Ichitarō finally saw her grabbing his arm and when he looked back, Priscilla was gone.
" I..... I thought I saw her. I thought she's here." Ichitarō stammered with answers. Rukia was worried about Ichitarō, yet he doesn't noticed it at some point where the Soul society was in crisis. Suddenly a shadow from above, was heading straight towards them and an incantation from that shadowy figure. By then, a greenish light appeared and like a disc, it aimed on Ichitarō.
Rukia saw it and shield him again, yet it did, horizontally, cut off her shoulder length hair. Thankfully, no one was harmed. The captains ran in to help them when the manticore appeared from the smog along with Jupiter.
" Wait a minute, I know you. We've met at the abandoned mine." Said Mayuri, with his smile plastered on his face, " You'll be a perfect `apprentice` for my experiment."
Jupiter deviously chuckled as he said, clicking his tongue:
" Oh, soul reapers. You never fail to amaze me. The moment you all died like little insects, the next you reappear like mices fucking and breeding each other. If your leader, Shigekuni wasn't so hardheaded on protecting his fortress or the Katumu clans influencing him, this fortress would've been turned to nothing but a mere dust. A wasteland for Hallows."
" Since you're the one who mess up with the Soul society." , Shunsui said, as three captains took out their zanpakuto to face off Jupiter and continued;" beating the shit out of you would be easier."
" I would count chickens before they hatch, if I were you. Soul reapers." Jupiter insisted. Both sides charged against each other and once again, in full force of combat, sounds of metals emitted loud enough for entities to hear.
Both Rukia and Ichitarō slowly rose up and unharmed. However, Ichitarō still couldn't believe what he'd done.
" Rukia, your hair.....are you hurt? What the hell was that?" He asked.
" No, I'm fine. It'll grow eventually. I just don't want you to get hurt." Rukia answered, but was worried about Ichitarō. Then she asked" I should be asking you something. Who is this Priscilla you're talking to? Why are they hunting you, Ichitarō?"
" Umm well _____." Ichitarō answered, but was disturbed when Mayuri was thrown like an old ragdoll. The minute they turned around, they next they saw Jupiter choking both Shunsui and Jushirō with his one arm. Both of them stood without a movement.
" You know, Spirit demon." Jupiter responded before magically punching both of them in the stomach and they crashed down to the ground.; " If you think running away and hide from this place can give you safety, then you're wrong. You should have agreed with Kazumi's requests, yet here you are in the spirit realm filled with bunch of good for nothing lazy bullocks, who served nothing but power. The day I saw you, I should have ended you long time ago."
" No, you're not! Stay away from him!" Rukia shouted, before she took out her zanpakuto, Jupiter incarnates a spell.
" Yes, I will!" Jupiter bellowed.
{ EXTERMINÕ DEL SOMBRA}
He summoned a shadow grey beam from the palm of his hand and shoot right at her. But Ichitarō took that beam and crushed it infront of Jupiter, which he could feel the impending danger, as if he saw a ghost. But this time the ghost awakened his terrifying crimson blood and black eyes and a skull face as if he was painted by the god of death.
" I won't be harming a little girl, if I were you." He said, but his tone was disembodied.
" It...it... it's you! Phantom!!" Jupiter responded with fear as he saw him smiling at him.