Chapter 10: Soul Society

After the blinding white light disappeared, we found ourselves in a dark, unfamiliar space. I looked around with curiosity, but there was nothing to see except for a rectangular light in the distance. Before I could dwell on our surroundings, a voice abruptly interrupted my thoughts.

"Stop looking around and run. We don't have much time," Yoruichi said from my shoulder.

Her words snapped everyone out of their curiosity-induced daze, and we all began to run toward the distant light. As we ran, a dark, viscous substance started to chase us.

Ichigo, his eyes wide with shock, asked, "What is that?"

"It's the Restrictive Current. You don't want to be caught by it, so keep running and don't ask questions," Yoruichi warned from my shoulder.

Hearing this everyone began to frantically run in the direction of the light.

They were going fairly slow, but I didn't want to leave them behind, so I stayed with the group.

Uryu got caught by the slimy substance and was being dragged backward. I quickly grabbed him and threw him to Chad since I didn't feel like carrying him around like a purse.

Chad, taken by surprise, caught Uryu and slung him over his shoulder. Uryu shot me an annoyed look and asked, "Hey! What was that for?"

I shrugged and replied with a smug tone, "I don't feel like carrying extra baggage, plus you're like two times my size. It'd look weird if I carried you."

Uryu gave me an annoyed look and asked, "Can't you just use your ability to pick me up."

"I could but I don't feel like" I said childishly.

Uryu gritted his teeth but was about to say something when a loud noise from behind us interrupted us.

Turning around, I saw a train-like vehicle hurtling straight toward us. I wasn't particularly intimidated, but the cat on my shoulder had a different perspective.

"You guys need to stop arguing and run NOW, unless you want to be dead!" shouted Yoruichi.

Fear washed over everyone, and they began to run even faster. I, on the other hand, remained unfazed by her words but decided to follow the group anyway.

While everyone was running and shouting, the train, or Kōtotsu, was getting closer and closer. I wasn't worried because if everything went as it originally did, we would all end up being safe.

We were getting closer and closer to the light, but so was the Kōtotsu. Just as it was about to reach us, Orihime jumped out from in front of the group to create a barrier using her powers in an attempt to block the Kōtotsu.

I paid little attention to this, assuming it would unfold just like the original events. However, something unexpected occurred. Instead of blocking the Kōtotsu, I heard a loud cracking sound and turned around to find Orihime's shield shattered.

No one had time to save her, as the Kōtotsu was right in front of her. Orihime was about to get hit when, at the last moment, she disappeared from her position and reappeared in my arms.

I immediately grabbed Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu with telekinesis and whisked them through the white light.

After making it through, everyone found themselves suspended in mid-air. Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu fell to the ground with a comical crash, while Orihime, Yoruichi, and I descended slowly like feathers.

Setting Orihime down gently, I sighed and said, "Please don't do something risky like that again."

Orihime, putting on a cute expression, mumbled under her breath, "Sorry, I thought it would help."

I sighed again and added, "Well, the past is in the past. We don't have to worry about it now." My attention then shifted to Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu, who had fallen in exaggerated, cartoonish positions.

I couldn't help but cover my mouth, attempting to hide my laughter. Ichigo heard it and quickly got up, asking, "Hey, why didn't you carry us down?"

Still trying to suppress my laughter, I replied, "Because it's funny."

Ichigo's angry response was abruptly interrupted by Chad's question, "Where are we?" We all took a moment to observe our surroundings and realized we were surrounded by old Japanese-style buildings.

"We're in the Rukon District, where most of the souls in the Soul Society reside," Yoruichi explained.

Taking in the sight, we couldn't help but be intrigued by our new environment. Ichigo, however, was quick to spot something and pointed behind us. He started running toward it, cutting Yoruichi off mid-sentence.

"Wait, you can't do tha—" Yoruichi's warning was cut short as a massive gate fell from the sky, blocking Ichigo's path.

"What the hell?" Ichigo exclaimed as the dust settled, revealing a giant figure standing in front of him.

"It's been a long time since someone tried to get through these gates without a pass," the giant remarked.

"Who the hell are you," said Ichigo.

"I am the guardian of this entrance, kid, and I don't appreciate your manners," the giant man replied.

"Who the hell cares what you think? Since you say you're the guardian of this gate, I just have to defeat you to get through," Ichigo said, ending with a smirk.

"Haha, if you're so confident, kid, why don't you try?" the giant laughed.

Before they started, Ichigo asked, "What's your name?"

"I'm Jidanbō. And what's yours, kid?" Jidanbō inquired.

"Ichigo."

As they spoke, a distance away, Uryu, Chad, Orihime, and I watched with various expressions.

"Should we go help Ichigo?" Orihime asked, her concern evident.

"Nah, he'll be fine. They're both weak, but the big guy's weaker, so it should be an easy win for Ichigo," I remarked, my face devoid of concern.

Uryu, Chad, and Orihime exchanged surprised glances, all thinking the same thing: 'That guy is weak.'

As we discussed, a loud clash resounded, and when we turned to look, we saw Jidanbō on the ground, clutching his bleeding left shoulder in pain. This scene left us all surprised but for different reasons. Uryu, Chad, and Orihime were amazed at Ichigo's newfound strength, while I was astonished by just how much stronger Ichigo had become compared to the original anime.

"Is that all you got, Jidanbō?" Ichigo taunted, wearing a cocky smile with his Zanpakutō resting on his shoulder.

"Haha, I must be getting rusty, but since you've beaten me, I'll let you through the gate," Jidanbō said as he got up and approached the gate.

As he attempted to lift the gate, Uryu, Chad, Orihime, and I walked over to Ichigo.

"Hey, look who isn't as weak as he was a month ago," I commented with a mischievous smile, poking his arm.

Ichigo's expression turned annoyed, but he didn't say anything, instead pouting slightly.

"Yeah, Ichigo your so strong now," Orihime said with a beaming smile on her face.

In the midst of our conversation, I suddenly remembered Jidanbō's progress with the gate and wondered why he hadn't said anything in a while. I glanced over to see him holding the gate up, terror in his eyes as he stared at a figure in the distance.

Shifting my focus from Jidanbō to the distant figure, I spotted a tall man with white hair and fox-like eyes, wearing a robe with the word "Captain" on it. He had a snake-like smile and was gazing at us.

"What do we have here? Some unexpected guests," the captain remarked, fixing his gaze on me.

"Jidanbō, why are you letting in these intruders into Seireitei?" he inquired, his smile taking on a fox-like quality as he addressed Jidanbō.

Jidanbō, drenched in sweat and clearly intimidated, stammered, "They... they defeated me, so I... I had to let them in."

"You're meant to guard the gate, not grant unauthorized entry," the captain scolded. With a swift motion, he pulled down his zanpakutō to his waist, adding, "Since you won't fulfill your duty, I don't think we need you anymore."

"Shoot to Kill,"

"Shinsō"

He thrust his Zanpakutō forward in a lightning-quick spearing motion. The blade moved at astonishing speed, closing in on Jidanbō. But just as it was about to strike, a hand appeared out of nowhere and caught the lightning-fast blade.

"I had expected the captains to be stronger," I remarked casually, holding the Zanpakutō in my hand and wearing a confident smile.

The captain turned his attention to me and asked, "Oh, and who might you be?"