CHAPTER 74

[That's classified… tell you what, let's do this… Let's play a game…] Houryu continued with a playful tone now in his voice.

[...Your mission is to bring Rukia back here… to me… and then I'd answer your questions] Houryu telepathically said to him, sounding extremely mischievous.

"What are you playing at…Aren't you on the same side…??" Byakuya asked, confused at what Houryu was requesting.

[...That is not of your concern] Houryu answered back.

"... What makes you think I'll even take part in this game of yours…?" Byakuya said again, his tone rising a bit.

[...hehe… I'm not the one that has something to lose…] Houryu chuckled annoyingly inside Byakuya's head.

'...Tch… do I have to go along with his annoying game when he's putting both Rukia and Hisana's life in danger…' Byakuya thought as he kept his eyes on Houryu's form that was hovering just above him.

'... I'll still be with Rukia if I bring her back… so I can protect her before he can do anything to her…' Byakuya thought before turning towards Ichigo and then flash-stepping towards him.

Ichigo who just finished dealing with the vice captains suddenly felt someone coming towards him. He quickly grabbed Zangetsu and blocked Byakuya's sword.

"I told you I can see your every step. Kuchiki Byakuya…!" Ichigo said with a smile on his face as he blocked Byakuya's attack.

"Why do you… so persistently… keep getting in my way…!" Byakuya asked him, irritated.

"You're her brother, why don't you try to help Rukia at all…?" Ichigo asked again.

'This annoying kid…' Byakuya thought.

"Even if I told you… you wouldn't be able to understand... you're obviously stupid…" Byakuya said as he stepped back.

"There is no point in this dialogue…"

"Here I come… Kuchiki Byakuya…!" Ichigo shouted as he charged at Byakuya

*CLANG* Their swords clashed, and sparks flew.

Hour flapped his wings and perched on the broken soukyoku stand and then turned towards where the remaining captains were and watched the drama unfold itself as Captain Ukitake wanted to save Kiyone who ran towards her sister that was just knocked out by Ichigo, but Ukitake ended up getting blocked by Yamamoto who also kept a watchful eye on Houryu who was perched on the stand and seemingly just watching them.

[Take your junior brother and the old man with you and fight somewhere else…] Houryu telepathed to Captain Kyoraku.

"...! Huh? Who…?" Kyoraku almost jumped startled, but then at the corner of his eye he saw Houryu looking directly at him,

[There is someone who'll take of ninja girl over there, so go wild…hehe] Houryu said agai to Kyoraku.

Kyoraku just put his hand on his hat and sensed around and after noticing that Houryu was speaking the truth, he nodded and then grabbed Ukitake and pulled him.

"Let's just get the hell out of here Ukitake." He shouted to him as he leaped off the cliff, dragging him along.

"Stupid kids," Yamamoto said as he looked at them running away, he was tempted to stay behind and watch over this unknown enemy, though he seemed to not be doing anything at the moment, but at the same time, he knew that leaving Ukitake and Kyoraku to their own devices and letting them help the criminals would lead to a worse situation.

In the end, after casting a wary look at Houryu, Byakuya and Ichigo's fight and then at Unohana, he followed after Ukitake and Kyoraku, quickly giving chase.

Back on the cliff…

Yoruichi had just appeared and dragged Soi fon off also down the cliff.

Houryu then turned to Unohana who at the moment was also looking at him.

[...So, Unohana Retsu or Unohana Yachiru, which one would you prefer to be called…] Houryu said craftily in her head.

Unohana opened her eyes and gave a seemingly amenable smile at Houryu as she answered him

"...Call me whatever you want…" She said with her smiley face.

[...You can take your vice-captain with you and be on your way to the Central 46 now… there are interesting things for you to discover over there…hehe] Houryu said smilingly to her with a mischievous tone.

"...!" 'How did he know…!?' Unohana thought as she still looked at him smilingly

"Thank you… I'll be on my way… Minazuki" Unohana turned away and held out her sword. It started flowing out of its sheath in a green mist form and enlarged until it became a huge green stingray.

Unohana got on its back after getting all the fainted vice-captains on Minazuki's back.

Houryu watched as she left while sighing, '…So boring… I'm finally in this form but there's nothing to blow up… its fun messing around with those guys though…hehe.' He thought as he focused back on Ichigo and Byakuya's fight.

Ichigo kept egging Byakuya on to use his Bankai but Byakuya like the prideful person he was, wasn't interested in listening to Ichigo's rants and was actively trying to cut him out of the way, until he finally got impatient and used his Bankai, sweeping Ichigo away.

Ichigo, like the cockroach he was stood up again and then also used his Bankai, causing a blast wave of spiritual energy that blew across the cliff towards Houryu.

Just as it almost hit Houryu, a wall of flames appeared from the ground and quickly rose up and blocked the spiritual energy.

'Idiot kid… watch where you shoot all your attacks…Tch… it's annoying how I can't use Susanoo right now.'

'... Tch…When is that Aizen guy gonna get here…'

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I got news guys... I may have to change my update schedule as my classes are thickening my already tight schedule... and I also recently started work on a new project... So, I may end up having to reduce the chapters I release weekly...

You may also have noticed that the chapters end up shorter than usual and I'm not covering as much as I think I should per chapter... the stress seems to be getting to me especially as I have to update everyday...

So sorry guys... I'll check my schedule to adjust the release schedule... also I haven't forgotten that i owe you guys an extra chapter from the powerstones voted this week... I promise to release it sometime this week...

Thanks for continuing to read my book and don't forget to keep voting powerstones everyday and let's rise up the rankings.