Chapter 6: The Aftermath
I'll be referring to Ishida as Uryu from now on and this chapter is an info dump.
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"It was stronger than I imagined it". After uttering those words, a rush of exhaustion surged through my body, forcing me to kneel to the ground, my breath ragged and labored.
"It was a bit overkill, but I bet that shit looked good," I managed to say with a faint smile, still struggling to catch my breath.
Glancing back, I noticed Ichigo and Ishida wearing expressions of astonishment. Summoning a triumphant grin, I looked back at them and remarked, "See, easy."
As I shifted my gaze, I spotted a man standing there – dressed in an all-green robe, a green and white striped bucket hat atop his head, a cane in hand, and a mischievous grin on his face. Rukia stood beside him, mirroring the shock that had overtaken Ichigo and Ishida.
Pushing against my exhausted body, I slowly rose from my kneeling position, a feat that required a considerable effort. Facing Ichigo, I playfully quipped, "why do you keep looking at me like that? Huh, are you into dudes?"
Shaking his head, Ichigo brushed off my remark and inquired, "Since when?"
"Since I came out of my mother," I responded sarcastically, my tone lighthearted.
"You know what I mean," Ichigo pressed on, his tone now serious.
"From the very first meeting, I could feel your leaking spiritual pressure," I answered, matching his seriousness.
"Why didn't you help with anything before this, then?" Ichigo's question carried a hint of frustration.
Offering a small smile, I explained, "It seemed like you could handle it. Plus, you needed the experience more than me. And if you truly couldn't handle it, well, I would've stepped in – just like I did now."
Ichigo fell into contemplation, ready to voice another question before Uryu tapped his shoulder. Uryu turned to me and straightforwardly challenged, "If you're really a Quincy, show me."
Without hesitation, I conjured a bow crafted from reishi and presented it to him. "Does this prove it? Neither Soul Reapers nor Hollows can absorb the reishi around them and utilize it like this."
Uryu appeared taken aback momentarily but then regained his composure, adjusting his glasses and acknowledging, "I see." After a moment of reflection, he turned to me and inquired, "Are there others?"
Meeting his gaze steadily, I responded with unwavering certainty, "Yes, but let's save that discussion for later," my tone transitioning from seriousness to elation. With a sudden burst of enthusiasm, I sprang into action, wrapping my arms around both Ichigo and Uryu's shoulders.
"Come on, let's not be down. We should find the others and grab some food. I know this fantastic Korean barbecue place," I suggested, my feet barely touching the ground as I dangled between them.
A fleeting thought about my height crossed my mind, but I dismissed it, focusing on the present situation.
"I really am short, but dwelling on that won't change a thing. Time to focus," I reminded myself, redirecting my attention back to our current circumstances.
Ichigo swiftly caught on to our initial goal, urging, "Oh right, the others. Let's locate them and ensure they're alright." Uryu and I nodded in agreement and began walking, but we hadn't moved far before a voice halted us in our tracks.
"Could we have a brief chat?" the man in the green and white striped hat inquired.
Battling my exhaustion, I replied, "Can it wait until tomorrow? I'm tired, starving, and need to check on my friends."
He regarded me with a calculating smile before conceding, "Sure. Here's where we can meet," handing me a slip of paper with an address scribbled on it. With that, he sauntered off in a random direction.
I tucked the paper into my pocket, turning to Ichigo and Uryu who waited for me impatiently.
"Rukia should be taken tomorrow. I guess I'll get my first real fight soon. I can't wait, I wonder who it'll be."
"Hurry up, Gremmy, we need to locate everyone," Ichigo urged, snapping me out of my reverie.
Teasingly, I looked up at Ichigo and advised, "I think you should start by finding your physical body. Walking around in Soul Reaper form won't get you far." He immediately recognized his oversight and dashed off to retrieve his body.
"Another eventful day tomorrow. Guess I'll need a solid night's sleep," I mused as I ran alongside Ichigo.
….Next Day….
As the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, I woke up from my nap with an exaggerated yawn, stretching out my limbs to shake off the drowsiness. Across the classroom, Rukia sat at her desk, lost in deep contemplation.
"Are you okay, Rukia?" I asked, my concern genuine.
My sudden question startled her, but she managed a fake smile and replied, "Yeah, I'm fine."
Walking by her, I offered a reassuring piece of advice, "Alright, if you say so. But remember, if something's bothering you, don't let fear stop you from asking for help."
Leaving the classroom, I headed home without waiting for Ichigo. Finding a quiet alley, I slipped into it, teleporting directly to my bedroom. Casting my backpack aside, I collapsed onto my bed, ready for my customary after-school nap. However, my meeting with Kisuke Urahara was today.
I thought for a second before coming to the conclusion that I don't need an alarm. There's no way a nap would be that long and just went to sleep with not worries.
....4 hours later....
Standing before Urahara's modest shop after waking up an hour late for our meeting, I found myself in a rather unflattering state, a puddle of drool and sweat accompanying my tardiness. Observing the shop's exterior, I mumbled, "Hmm, smaller than I'd pictured, but it's just as I remember."
With intentions to knock on the door, I was taken aback when it glided open instead, revealing a tall, tanned man with glasses and a handlebar mustache. He looked at me quizzically and inquired, "Are you Gremmy?"
I offered a quick shake of my head and replied, "Nope," before effortlessly gliding through him, as if I were a specter passing into the shop. The man appeared stunned for a moment before turning and walking inside, shutting the door behind him.
Moving towards the back of the shop, I spotted Kisuke Urahara sitting on a mat. His mischievous grin greeted me, and he motioned towards the space in front of him. "Have a seat, make yourself at home," he offered playfully.
"I'll take you up on that," I responded, conjuring a comfy bean bag chair, a small table, a pitcher of water infused with lemon slices, and a glass. Settling onto the bean bag, I poured myself a glass of water with a sense of ease.
"You want some?" I inquired, extending the offer to Kisuke, who responded with an eager smile, "Of course, I'll take some." Creating a glass for him as well, I poured the water, the atmosphere around us becoming more relaxed.
After sipping the water, Kisuke regarded me with curiosity, his expression shifting to one of intrigue. "Quite an intriguing ability you have there. It doesn't quite align with what I've learned about Quincies' abilities," he noted.
"True, most Quincies don't possess a power like mine. It's a special privilege reserved for a select few, chosen by Yhwach himself," I explained casually, though the mere mention of Yhwach seemed to cast a shadow over the room.
"Yhwach is still alive?" Kisuke asked, his tone turning serious, almost as if his previous playfulness had been a façade.
"Yes, not only alive but amassing an army. He's biding his time until he regains enough power to launch an attack on the Seireitei," I revealed, downplaying the gravity of the situation.
"Any idea when this attack might happen?" Kisuke's urgency was palpable.
"In about two years or so, give or take. But the specifics can be a bit unpredictable," I answered casually.
His contemplative silence gave way to a focused look as he questioned, "What about you? aren't you a Quincy apart of his army."
I clarified, "I was, and within his ranks, there are a handful of us Quincies marked by Yhwach's blood , Sternritters, they're called. Drinking his blood engraves a letter onto our souls, granting us power."
Kisuke then asked, "I'm guessing there's around 26 of those Quincies with letters engraved on them."
"Yeah, give or take since there's some special cases, but otherwise yes." I said back.
Kisuke then inquired, "So, what's your letter?"
"'V,' for the Visionary. But I'm a bit of a unique case even among the strongest," I responded.
Kisuke's curiosity was piqued, and he ventured, "Do you mind sharing details about the other Sternritters and their letters?"
I replied with "Perhaps another time. Let's refocus on why I'm here."
Agreeing with a nod, Kisuke shifted back to his initial purpose. "Ah, yes. I invited you here to assess your potential threat level and to determine if you could be of assistance in a future endeavor. However, I must ask, are you currently under Yhwach's control or influence?"
"No, when Yhwach bestows his power, he gains the ability to reclaim it at will. But I managed to sever his control while retaining my letter. Right now, they're probably unaware I've left or are seeking a new 'V' to replace me," I explained.
He regarded me thoughtfully before inquiring, "Why did you leave then?"
"When you possess the ability to manifest anything your imagination can picture, being confined to a basement stifles your creativity. Eventually, the desire for freedom outweighs servitude. Plus, I have no interest in being a weapon against the Shinigami, particularly for someone like Yhwach who would likely dispose of me once he's done," I nonchalantly remarked.
Kisuke's gaze sharpened, and he revealed his true purpose. "Understood, but my final reason for inviting you here is to prevent any interference in the upcoming events." As he spoke those words, we both sensed the presence of two distinct reiatsus. Our attention turned towards the source.
"Shinigami. I assume you're referring to the Rukia situation. Don't worry, I won't get in the way," I assured him, rising from the bean bag chair and making it vanish with a soft poof. "See you around, Urahara," I added before vanishing from my spot.
Kisuke's smile lingered as he contemplated the unusual encounter. "I never did mention my name."