18 Starrk!

Bikou wandered the sands of Hueco Mundo, testing the limits of his newfound abilities. And they were AMAZING!

Bikou could feel the strength in his legs. They were unlike anything ever before. Where he could feel his spiritual energy lacking, his physical capabilities more than made up for it. No longer did he starve for Hollow flesh, no it was like the sickness that had plagued him before had vanished completely. 

He didn't need to eat anything to maintain his strength. 

However, there was a problem that Bikou was now facing.

While he could see and use his new abilities. He didn't exactly have a good gauge to measure them against. 

" I have so much power. But nothing to really test it on..." Bikou muttered. " Starrk... I really need to meet you again." Bikou muttered. 

The sheer excitement of seeing his old friend thrilled Bikou to no end. 

Starrk's very presence was something he chased after for years, but now... Now he was on a level that could be considered his equal. Could he now bear his spiritual pressure? No. Could he exceed it?!

" Hehahahahaha!" 

Bikou laughed manically. Gripping his fingers together so tight that they tore into his skin, causing blood to drip onto the sand. 

He couldn't wait to see him again.

*Bzzt!

Bikou scanned for Starrk's spiritual energy. Having spent enough time around him, Bikou was able to now locate his energy, as easily as if he were using a tracking device.

[Bleach ost- Squad Zero]

Bikou began moving through the desert, using his sonido, a pure strength technique, which involves the user kicking the ground multiple times, Bikou hurtled himself across the desert, his spiritual energy reverberating across Hueco Mundo.

Those strong enough to sense the large energy, were alerted instantly.

" Hm?! What is this?" Barragan asked himself. " Szayelapporro. Do you feel that?"

Szayelapporro, Barragan's chief scientist and a powerful Vasto Lorde stood behind Barragan with a wicked smile on his face.

" That Spiritual energy... It's so... So, warm... Like I'm being engulfed in light." Szayelapporro raised his hands to the sky and smiled in glee.

Barragan merely grunted. " It's similar to my own." He spoke. 

Elsewhere in Hueco Mundo.

A female Vasto Lorde, felt the sudden eruption of spiritual energy radiating over her. Bathing her in a warmth that felt like being embraced by the SUN itself!

" This spiritual energy... I... I've felt this before. Back then... All those years ago. No doubt about it. It's his."

Tier Harribel, now a Vasto Lorde remembered the monkey she met all those years ago. 

To think that Monkey that changed how she viewed life and death.... To think after growing and getting stronger all these years to catch him!

" What a monster!" Harribel muttered softly. She shrugged her shoulders and continued pressing on towards her destination, a small cave where she had settled down and made a home. 

Finally, Bikou's presence was felt by none other than Coyote Starrk.

Waking from her slumber, Lilynette glimpsed Starrk with a look of joy on his face. 

" Starrk?"

" It's alright, Lilynette..." Starrk told the young girl. " Do you feel that?"

" It's warm." She replied lazily.

" Yeah... It feels familiar." Starrk muttered. " Hey, Lilynette wake up. Our friend is back." 

*Bzzt! Thoom!

A figure bathed in bright Amber spiritual pressure. 

The color radiated like with the brightness of the light that illuminates the very heavens itself. Truly a beautiful Golden Orange.

Starrk was impressed by how hot it felt up close.

Starrk's own spiritual pressure exploded from his body, bathing him in a bright and calming blue energy.

" That's some nice spiritual pressure you got there. It's been a while."

" Yeah? I can tell. Yours has gone up again. Starrk." Bikou emerged from his bright light, giving Starrk a pleasant smile, while lowering his spiritual pressure.

" Well... I had a lot of time." Starrk told the man. 

Starrk and Bikou stared at one another for a solid minute.

" Well, how do you feel?" Starrk asked the man.

" Honestly, I feel pretty good." Bikou explained. 

" Good."

" Well, now that we're reacquainted...." 

Bikou sat on the ground next to Starrk, with his staff resting over his shoulder. 

" How about you help me out a bit?" 

" Oh? What makes you think I wanna fight?" Starrk asked the man.

" Simple... You've gotta be curious too. Between the two of us... Who is stronger now?" Bikou told the man. " Even a downright moody guy like you can't help but be a little intrigued. Am I right?"

Starrk stared at Bikou for a moment, before letting out a breath of frustration.

" Honestly, where do you get off calling me moody, huh?" Starrk asked. 

He rubbed the back of his scruffy brown hair and looked down at Bikou with a look of bewilderment on his face. 

" You'd be surprised." Starrk muttered lazily. " Haaaa... But then again. You're the first person, I've met like us." Starrk spoke.

Bikou narrowed his eyes and felt the grip on his staff tighten. The fire was beginning to grow bigger and brighter within the depths of his stomach. He started watching Starrk's every move.

" I guess, I am a little interested in seeing what it's like.... At least a little." Starrk muttered. 

" Alright! Now you're speaking my language." Bikou exclaimed. He climbed to his feet, and brushed off his black robe, before staring at Starrk. 

" You ready?" Starrk asked the man.

Bikou let out a joyous laugh and nodded. " Oh, you bet. Let's see what you got."

Suddenly, without moving a single muscle, Starrk fired a blue Cero right towards Bikou, momentarily catching him off-guard.

*Bzzt!

Bikou used his sonido to avoid the oncoming attack. He then extended his right pointer finger and fired an Amber beam of energy right at Starrk, who also dodged. 

Starrk reappeared behind Bikou and fired another Cero, point-blank.

However, just like before, Bikou managed to avoid the attack and fired a blast of his own. 

The two men, carried on like this dodging and trading Cero with each other for a little while longer, before Bikou finally took a swipe at him with his staff. 

" Come on, Starrk. Stops running already!" Bikou shouted.

" You don't need to yell like that. I can hear you just fine." Starrk muttered softly.

*Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzzt!Starrk began teleporting all around Bikou, using his speed to try and confuse the Hollow, before firing a Cero directly above his head.

Bikou stuck his hand into the air and caught the blast within the palm of his hand, allowing the blast to envelop him, while laughing like a maniac.

When the smoke cleared, Bikou emerged from the smoke with barely even a scratch on him.

" Hey, now that's not bad at all, Starrk."

" Yeah. You're pretty good yourself."

Bikou and Starrk both flashed a knowing grin.

" But you're still holding way back."

" You're one to talk." Starrk complained. 

" Let's see where this goes next why don't we?" Bikou asked the man.

" Sure, why not."

Starrk and Bikou stared each other down for a long moment, before finally lunging towards one another once more. 

Their collision resulted in an explosion of spirit energy, that unfortunately ended up throwing poor Lilynette into the sand. 

" STAAAAAAARRRRRRRRK!!!!!!"

To Be Continued!