16 Chapter 26: Farewell Old Friend

"So you have a grandson now?"

Soken had became an old man over the passed few years. He was no longer the young Quincy I meet. Now he was a wise old man with happy life.

"Yes, yes I have been teaching him the Quincy Craft, but his father says it's a waste of time" he explained

"Oh sorry to hear that"

"It is alright, so how have you been these days?"

I wasn't too good, in fact I was exhausted after Kaiens death it was just a little too much.

"Decent enough" I lied

"You should get some time to yourself, but maybe you should do something a little more active" he suggested

"Like what?"

"Don't know, but there are so many possibilities any one could work" he explained

"I don't know about that, but I have been teaching a bit"

"Well your choice"

Soken then began to cough harshly as if a lung was going to come out.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-yes, just a little sick is all" he reassured with a smile

"You should get yourself checked out" I suggested

"I may have to, good thing my son is a doctor" he joked

I smiled back as we sat quietly at the summer breeze. Though not wanting to admit it, I could feel him slipping. Soken may have felt it as well, but he didn't seem to mind his life coming a close.

"It sure is a nice day"

"Yes, it is Soken"

"...come on let's go for a walk"

We ended up walking by the river. The sun shining off the surface, we steadied our pace. Though I didn't mind it helps to take your time.

"Quincy, at one point they could say our friendship would be impossible, but here we are"

"I don't know much about the history between Soul Reapers and Quincy, but we had a good run" I agreed as he chuckled

"Yes, and I was happy to talk to you and I wish these old bones could take you up on one last mission" he said with regret

"Yes, one last would be enough for-"

A loud crash in the forest alerted us, we looked at each other and smiled. We hurried on over to the sight that which we had seen the blast. Soken would have to take a breath or two before moving again. We finally made it a large crater and powerful spirit energy.

"Must an Adjuchas nothing else could explain the size"

"Yes, but where is it? I can't feel it's presence" Soken asked

We looked around for a few minutes, but found no trace. Not claw marks, or even a sign anything had happened.

"It's gone, maybe it-"

"Move!" Soken shouted

As he pushed me a Cero had hit a tree blasting a few others. We turned to see a hollow, but it was different. It was humanoid in form, and its presence was strong. Its mask resembled that of an Oni, with red marks on it the white mask. A large blade on its back as well with bits of flesh being seen under it.

"What is that?" Soken asked

"I don't know, but it doesn't look friendly"

It didn't move for five minutes, or make even a slight sound. It flashed in front of me quickly, pulling out my blade I blocked the oversized blade. Clashing as sparks flew, its strength monstrous. I couldn't push it off, til Soken shot a an arrow as it flashed away.

"Kakashi are you alright?" He asked kept aim on the hollow

"Yes, it's strong"

It tilted its head as if asking a question, flashing again. This time going for Soken, intercepting him I kicked him away. Only sliding a few inches away it was like hitting pure rock. Soken didn't waste time as he fired a flurry of shots. All hit, but seemed not to faze the beast. Flashing behind it, I attempted a strike only for my blade to slide of its Hierro. Not seeing the incoming punch, I was struck in the head get knocked through a tree.

"Kakashi!"

Getting up fighting through the pain, as it flashed again in front of me. How did use flash step? A question for another time. It raised its blade as I dodged before it could hit. Soken shot flurry after at the beast. Still unable to get a single scratch on it.

"Howl, Los Lobo"

Turning to my Shikai as the blades were held tight in hand. Taking aim I shot a bolt of lightening. Only giving slight burns to its arm, still stoic as it could be. Soken had charged enough to blast a strong arrow at it. Only a small wound on the opposite side of my strike.

"Damn! Whatever this thing is its tought" I said

Turning to me it opened its jaws loading a Cero. I wasn't fast enough to dodge it, using my black limb to absorb most the impact. My uniform tattered, and massive burn marks to my body. Soken used a strong arrow to blast at the hollow, getting a us a distraction.

"Kakashi! Are you alright?" He asked returning to my side

"Yes, I'm alright, but we need to take this thing down or it could cause more trouble" I advised

"How? Nothing is working the beast" he asked as the creature now steadily walked towards us

"Bestía Relámpago!"

A horde of lightening Foo Dogs appeared rushing the enemy. Each striking had pushed it back little by little. Seeing my chance I got on my feet, I pointed one of my blades in the air.

"Kirin"

A strike of strong lightning came down. Hitting the hollow as a large explosion followed. We waited for anything to happen, but it had seemed it was dead.

"Maybe it's dead"

We were wrong as the beast flashed behind us. Unable to act fast enough, I was slashed at my shoulder. A flew to the ground, as did Soken though it affected him much more due to his age.

Blood rushed out cover me, looking I saw the Hollow still only burnt. It looked down on me, as it decided on what to do. Raising its blade I thought I was going to die. Til Soken shot an arrow, at it I could see my elderly friend was at his limit. Struggling to even pull an arrow back. The Hollow flashed, Sokens eyes widen as the blade went through is gut.

I looked on as my friend was stabbed, and I broke loose. My anger getting the better of me. As my eyes changed color, using my blades I stabbed into the Hollow. Finally landing a lethal blow, it still didn't make a sound. Blood spurted out, as landed hit after hit. I didn't know what had came over me, but I didn't stop til was dead in the ground. Strike each lethal as they landed, and the Hollow dead. Seeing it's body lay in the ground hacked and cut I turned to my friend who was holding his gut.

"Soken!"

"I'm alright Kakashi it'll heal"

"We need to get you out of here"

Hours Later...

I had gotten Soken back to the Quincy Compound just in time. Later sneaking in myself seeing my friend in his bed. He smiled once I had snuck in through the window.

"Sorry, couldn't stay away" I apologized

"It's ok...my grandson came to see me"

"How was he?"

"Scared just like any child, to see his grandfather in such state" he answered

"And you?"

"I'm not lying Kakashi...I may not make the night"

My heart sunk as he sat in his medical bed.

"What makes you think that?"

"I feel myself slipping in and out, but I don't think my Blute will last much longer" he answered

"Want me to stay?"

"No it's alright, we'll meet again soon anyway" he said with smile

As moved towards the window I looked back to see his smiling face. Leaping from the window I made it back to my Gigai. Walking the streets feeling the cold of the night, til I bumped into a woman walking with her child. She had an brown hair and the boy she was walking with had bright orange hair.

"Sorry, we're just coming back from his class"

"It's okay"

I kept my face hidden, but I didn't let the boy escape my sight. I could feel a very strange energy coming from him.

"Anyway we must be on my way" she said as they left

The young boy kept his stare on me, as I did mine. It was then a swallow colored bright blue, made of pure spiritual energy. As it sat on my shoulder, comfortably as if sitting in a nest.

"Soken"

AN: Next chapter, we finally begin on the mission that started everything.